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Posted: 7/9/2017 4:55:29 PM EDT
[#1]
I imagine you would a bad day if one hit you in the face.
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Posted: 7/9/2017 4:59:27 PM EDT
[#2]
@Snake_driver
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:01:11 PM EDT
[#3]
OST!
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:02:09 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@Snake_driver 
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:02:55 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@Snake_driver In case you didn't know, they put HEAT warheads on them and used them to take out NVA armor too. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:03:29 PM EDT
[#6]
When you're deaded, it doesn't matter what got you.
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:03:32 PM EDT
[#7]
They were pretty effective in Iraq when I was slinging em... that is if I could hit what I was aiming at.
ETA there's a reason why the design/warheads haven't changed until recently to be laser guided. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:04:59 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@Snake_driver 
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:05:37 PM EDT
[#9]
 Cobra Firing Flechettes Vietnam War  2.75 Inch Rockets |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:05:59 PM EDT
[#10]
Flechette
nails... |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:07:51 PM EDT
[#11]
 1944 FFAR ROCKET DESTRUCTIVE TESTS OF ARMOR PLATING WWII 76744 |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:12:15 PM EDT
[#12]
The TF little birds still use them, at least they did when I was messing with that stuff. They're no longer in the inventory and they had to be procured as needed to maintain inventory. So that says something about the 2.75s
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:15:44 PM EDT
[#13]
They were unguided and were fired in salvos making firing 2.75s much like firing a shotgun. A whole pod of 2.75s would be fired at a target in hopes of one hitting close enough to do damage. The 2.75 FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) was originally designed as an air to air weapon for early jets like F-80s to use against Soviet bombers. Accuracy was only enough to allow the fighter to sit back out of range of the bomber's guns and hose down the bomber with explosive rockets.
Individually they were like a rocket propelled stick of dynamite. If you weren't where it hit, you were probably good to go. If you were targeted by a salvo you were going to get hit, just like being missed by a single bullet versus a cloud of buckshot flying at you.  Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:19:07 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@Snake_driver I am wondering what level of effectiveness they had. Obviously, there was more explosive power than a grenade. I'm sure the shotgun effect mentioned here and that is obvious on helo videos worked, as well. Lots of near misses can be almost as effective as a hit, when it comes to such things, it seems. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:30:08 PM EDT
[#15]
Just in case anyone is wondering who Snake_driver is.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1605475_Best-of-Snake_driver-s-Vietnam-Cobra-Tales.html |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:39:15 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The TF little birds still use them, at least they did when I was messing with that stuff. They're no longer in the inventory and they had to be procured as needed to maintain inventory. So that says something about the 2.75s Also, lasers! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Precision_Kill_Weapon_System |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:45:27 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thought they just called them 70mm now... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_70 Also, lasers! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Precision_Kill_Weapon_System Same for .45ACP. They would order 5 million rounds of brown box match at a whack and that would last a few years. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 5:56:18 PM EDT
[#18]
Bottom of paragraph 8 after the title in bold references them
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1124952_The_Rescue_of_Ranger_Team_76___A_Cobra_Tale.html In a later paragraph "The 2.75 in dia. warhead on the rockets had an explosive capability similar to a 105 mm artillery round. " |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:00:19 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
They were unguided and were fired in salvos making firing 2.75s much like firing a shotgun. A whole pod of 2.75s would be fired at a target in hopes of one hitting close enough to do damage. The 2.75 FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) was originally designed as an air to air weapon for early jets like F-80s to use against Soviet bombers. Accuracy was only enough to allow the fighter to sit back out of range of the bomber's guns and hose down the bomber with explosive rockets. Individually they were like a rocket propelled stick of dynamite. If you weren't where it hit, you were probably good to go. If you were targeted by a salvo you were going to get hit, just like being missed by a single bullet versus a cloud of buckshot flying at you.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh7g2xFntWQBattle of Palmdale |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:00:31 PM EDT
[#20]
I was attached to one of the two ARA (Aerial Rocket Artillery) units ever created. We were Blue Max, initially there were 3 batteries of 2/20th Artillery created for support of the 1st Cavalry. Later when the 1st Cav. started departing Vietnam and only th 3rd Brigade remained as Task Force Garry Owen, we were redesignated F Battery, 79th Artillery. 4th of the 77th ARA "Griffins" were up north attached to the 101st Airborne.
We used heavy hog Cobras armed with 4-19 shot 2.75" FFAR's pods, so that would equal around 76 rockets in each ship. We flew in groups of 2, 3 or 4 ships and used high angle of attack diving fire. Most dives would exceed 60 degrees down angle, usually closer to 75 degrees. With that we were very accurate with our fire and were allowed to fire "Danger Close" (within 50 meters) in support of ground troops in contact. The HE (High Explosive) rockets came in two varieties, 10 lb. and 17 lb. The more popular was the 17 lb. that supposed to be close in destructive power to a 105mm cannon round. There were several different fuses, proximity, delay and contact. The delay-fuze tore-up bunkers like crazy. We rarely used the 10 lb. rockets, since bigger is better. There were also willie-pete rockets and flechette rockets that were very popular. Occasionally we fired CS rockets too. In 1972 during the Eastertide Offensive when the rolled out of the woods in Division strength a la Warsaw Pact with hundreds of T-54 & 55 main battle tanks Blue Max succeeded in defeating scores of tanks. We were the first Cobra unit of the Vietnam War to do so. We did so using 11 lb. HEAT (High Exposive Anti Tank)rockets "Black Beauties". They ate through the heavy armor and were very effective. They weren't TOW's or Hellfire's, but did the job. We fired thousands & thousands of 2.75" rockets and felt that they were the best thing going on the Cobra, although I did like the 20mm Vulcan on one wing for extra reach against large caliber AAA weapons.  Attached File Attached File17 lb. rockets inboard and flechettes outboard were a typical loadout.  Attached File |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:01:56 PM EDT
[#21]
Depending on Warhead.
A shit load of hurt. 
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:11:00 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
"The 2.75 in dia. warhead on the rockets had an explosive capability similar to a 105 mm artillery round. " |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:12:29 PM EDT
[#23]
@Snake_driver
I was watching a documentary, specifically of the "heavy hog" units. Thank you very much your service to our country, and for sharing. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:15:24 PM EDT
[#24]
We fired thousands & thousands of 2.75" rockets and felt that they were the best thing going on the Cobra, although I did like the 20mm Vulcan on one wing for extra reach against large caliber AAA weapons.
Did you guys ever use the 5 inch rockets? How did they compare to the 2.75? |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:18:45 PM EDT
[#25]
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:19:24 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Depending on Warhead. A shit load of hurt. http://combatace.com/uploads/monthly_08_2015/post-15260-0-38264400-1438886842.jpg  Attached File |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:22:49 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Also posted by Snake_Driver below. That's very eye-opening. Much heavier than I would have thought. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
"The 2.75 in dia. warhead on the rockets had an explosive capability similar to a 105 mm artillery round. " |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:24:33 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
We fired thousands & thousands of 2.75" rockets and felt that they were the best thing going on the Cobra, although I did like the 20mm Vulcan on one wing for extra reach against large caliber AAA weapons. Did you guys ever use the 5 inch rockets? How did they compare to the 2.75? |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:25:46 PM EDT
[#29]
While we are discussing Cobra's
 Oats Studios - Volume 1 - Firebase [warning! Contains heavy gore] The chopper being levitated off the ground @ 2:41 is a later model right? It wouldn't have been flying around in 1970? There is an air museum in Carson City that has an older model Cobra that they fly around from time to time. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:27:58 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No I never fired anything bigger than the 2.75" rocket. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:28:53 PM EDT
[#31]
I know that some of don't detonate and will stick out of the ground like a lawn dart.
I also know that not running them over is a good policy. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:31:51 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218014/Cobra-Firing-Rockets-249908.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218014/fleshette-rockets-249909.JPG 17 lb. rockets inboard and flechettes outboard were a typical loadout. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/218014/Blue-Max-at-Quan-Loi-1970-249910.JPG |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:38:16 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Flechette nails... |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:49:26 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Have you written a book about your experiences? Would love to read about it. 
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:51:51 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This. I'd buy it Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Have you written a book about your experiences? Would love to read about it. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:52:28 PM EDT
[#36]
I'm in just to read @Snake_driver 's posts. Dude has a ton of neat stories and info.
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Posted: 7/9/2017 6:56:41 PM EDT
[#37]
Years ago I read a book of stories from pilots, gunners, and other US aircrew about their experiences over Vietnam. It wasn't one of Matthew Brennan's books, but it was a similar theme. One of the stories had to do with a gunship covering the extraction of a surrounded LRRP team's surviving members.
They were firing rockets 'danger-close' to cover the team, and were soon out of 10lb rockets, but had a few 17-pounders left, so they rolled in and fired them very close to the team. Immediately after their run, the radio was filled with the screams of the wounded LRRPs, and the crew flew back to rearm, knowing that they had hit their own men. The team had been extracted while they were refueling and rearming, so the pilot ran to the aid station, hoping to talk to someone. He found one and was almost in tears, but the LRRP told him not to worry. He told the pilot that they had never seen 17lb rockets hit before, so they stood up to watch the impacts.... and all caught shrapnel from the blasts. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:05:03 PM EDT
[#38]
@snake_driver
Were those rockets fairly consistant? All fly in a straight line or would you get one that zig zaged off every so often like a bad RPG? |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:06:55 PM EDT
[#39]
nail your ass to a tree pretty quick
some Cobra pilots would fire a salvo horizontal to the front door of VC bunkers along the rivers we worked that was always welcome. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:10:08 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
While we are discussing Cobra's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm0V24IEHao
[warning! Contains heavy gore] The chopper being levitated off the ground @ 2:41 is a later model right? It wouldn't have been flying around in 1970? There is an air museum in Carson City that has an older model Cobra that they fly around from time to time. I have lived in Carson City for 13 years and never knew about an "Air Museum" around here. The is the Carson Airport. Is it in there? |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:16:52 PM EDT
[#41]
Canadian defense establishment made them more better
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:20:18 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Where? I have lived in Carson City for 13 years and never knew about an "Air Museum" around here. The is the Carson Airport. Is it in there? |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:21:56 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Where? I have lived in Carson City for 13 years and never knew about an "Air Museum" around here. The is the Carson Airport. Is it in there? |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:24:38 PM EDT
[#44]
the rocket dispersion was usually based on pilot proficiency. They have a tendency to seek into relative wind. Even if you could eliminate all of the human and other external factors, the tubes in the pods don't all point true. The 58 only carried 7 shot pods and even those were all over the place... of course we used a grease spot on the windshield as reference.
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:28:01 PM EDT
[#45]
My cousin was an AO during Desert Storm, and said that 50-60% of the 70mm's never left the tube, or were duds.
He said that they were the only weapon system that scared the shit out him, and avoided working with them like the plague. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:29:38 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
@Snake_driver I was watching a documentary, specifically of the "heavy hog" units. Thank you very much your service to our country, and for sharing. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:32:16 PM EDT
[#47]
I'm just here for the Snake_driver posts.
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:33:33 PM EDT
[#48]
As I'm sitting on the toilet at my Dads house and he's an old timey Recon Marine, I just yelled through the door and asked him.
His response? "They fuck shit up really good." So there's that. Of course he's taken a back pill and is two drinks in, but still. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:34:27 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My cousin was an AO during Desert Storm, and said that 50-60% of the 70mm's never left the tube, or were duds. He said that they were the only weapon system that scared the shit out him, and avoided working with them like the plague. |
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Posted: 7/9/2017 7:47:20 PM EDT
[#50]
 Rambo First Blood 2 (1985) - Helicopter Attacking Scene (1080p) FULL HD Answered for me years ago... |
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