USMC Helicopters' ammo in Vietnam

void1984 · #1 September 14th, 2010, 11:01 AM

Hi

I have used some USMC helicopters in Vietnam in 1967. They are armed with two MMGs. Why they have ammo only for 20 bursts, when infantry MMG section is able to carry few times more?

Griefbringer · #2 September 14th, 2010, 11:42 AM

AFAIK this is a design convention mentioned in the Mobhack manual.

Other OOBs tend to have similar amounts of ammo for their helicopter mounted MGs.

void1984 · #3 September 14th, 2010, 11:55 AM

Is it pure gaming decision to weaken the helicopters, or were they carrying really so few ammo?

Imp · #4 September 14th, 2010, 02:21 PM

Air mounted MGs & cannon tend to have a much higher rate of fire than ground counterparts as used to straffe, often have low ammo loads to so it does not last long.
In the case of the Huey think early ones just had a M60 MG mounted on each landing skid. Infantry can reload it not so easy in a helicopter.

Suhiir · #5 September 15th, 2010, 03:31 PM

The early "attack" helos generally had fairly low amounts of ammo. They were intended to make one, perhaps two, passes at a target.

The troop helos generally have a door gun operated by the crew chief, and should probably have 1) only one MG 2) more ammo.

Marek_Tucan · #6 September 15th, 2010, 03:41 PM

Unfortunately have no ammo values for various external mounts, but here are few doorgun etc. examples:
M23 mount (M60D doorgun, UH-1): 550 rounds
M24+M41 mounts (CH-47 doorgun + ramp): 200 rounds
HH-3 doorgun: 750 rds,
XM8 (OH-6, OH-58, 40mm M129 AGL): 150 rds,
M27 (OH-6, OH-58, Minigun): 2000 rds,
XM1 (OH-13, OH-23, M37C 7.62mm) : 500 rds
M2 (OH-13, 23, M60C): 650 rds,
FN Light Mount (FN-MAG): 250 - 1000 rds,
FN Heavy Mount (M3P): 300 - 600 rds.