Helicopter Capabilities/Operations

Question 1

Helicopters operations are:

Answer 1

• Tactical movements of Marines, weapons, and material by helicopters to support the ground tactical plan.
• Deliberate, precisely planned and vigorously executed combat operations designed to allow friendly forces to strike over extended distances and terrain barriers to attack when and where the EN is most vulnerable.
• Conducted with maximum speed, flexibility, and timeliness.

Question 2

What must be considered when planning helo operations?

Answer 2

The capabilities, limitations, and vulnerabilities of heliborne operations.

Question 3

Helicopterborne operations capabilities allow Marines to:

Answer 3

• attack enemy positions from any direction
• overfly or bypass barriers and obstacles and strike objectives in otherwise inaccessible areas
• conduct deep attacks and raids beyond the forward line of our own troops
• rapidly concentrate, disperse, or redeploy to extend the area of influence
• provide responsive reserves allowing commanders to commit a larger portion of their forces to action
• conduct fast paced operations over extended distances
• rapidly reinforce committed units
• conduct nigh terrain flight with the use of night vision devices, which allows them to locate a landing zone and without illumination

Question 4

Helicopterborne operation limitations are

Answer 4

• severe weather, extreme heat and cold, and other environmental conditions such as blowing snow and sand that limit flight operations, helicopter lift capability, or flight visibility
• Reliance on airborne communication
• reduce ground mobility once inserted
• limited accessibility to supporting arms, especially indirect fires
• increased logistical considerations (fuel, maintenance, spare parts, facilities, and AC availability)

Question 5

What are the vulnerabilities of the helicopterborne force?

Answer 5

• attack by enemy air defense weapons systems during the movement phase
• attack by NBC systems, because off limited NBC protection and decontamination.
• attacks (ground, air, artillery) during the loading and unloading phases
• electronic warfare (jamming), due to the heavy reliance on radio communications for communications for command and control.

Question 6

Five stages of planning

Answer 6

Ground Tactical Plan 
Landing Plan 
Air movement Plan 
Loading Plan 
Staging Plan

Question 7

Helicopterborne Operations Key Personnel

Answer 7

Mission Commander
Air Mission Commander (AMC)
Helicopter Unit Commander (HUC)
Assault Support Flight Leader (AFL)
Escort Flight Leader (EFL)

Question 8

Mission commander’s role is ?

Answer 8

his presence and role ensures a unity of command throughout the operaton. He must determine where he can maintain comm with his subordinate commanders.

Question 9

AMC is responsible for:

Answer 9

• planning and executing all aviation functions relative to the assigned helicopterborne mission
• establishing liaison with the helicopterborne HUC (the commander responsible for the ground tactical plan) to conduct concurrent and parallel planning.

Question 10

HUC is what?

Answer 10

The ground officer who has been designated commander of the helicopterborne force and is charged with the execution and accomplishment of the ground tactical plan.

Question 11

The Assault Support Flight Leader (AFL) is what?

Answer 11

an experienced aviator in command of the assault support flight.

Question 12

Escort Flight Leader is?

Answer 12

an experienced aviator in command of the escort (attack) flight and reports to the AMC. He also assists in the planning of LZ preparation.

Question 13

Explain L-Hour.

Answer 13

is the time when the first helicopter in the first lift is touch down in the LZ.

Question 14

CH-46E DIMENSIONS

Answer 14

AIRSPEED:
endurance:70 KIAS
max range:110 to 130 KIAS
max airspeed 145 KIAS
ENDURANCE:
payloads- 4300 lbs  / 18 PAX
Endurance- 2+55 hours
WEPONS SYSTEMS:
2 x .50 cal XM218

Question 15

CH-53D DIMENSIONS

Answer 15

AIRSPEED:
max endurance: 70 KIAS
max airspeed: 130 KIAS
ENDURANCE:
payloads- 8000 lbs / 37 PAX
Endurance - 5 + 30 hrs
WEAPONS:
2x XM218 .50 cal, 1x M-3M .50 cal ramp gun(opt)

Question 16

CH53E DIMENSIONS

Answer 16

AIRSPEED:
max endurance- 75 KIAS
max airspeed-150 KIAS
ENDURANCE:
payloads- 20k lbs iternal /  37 to 55 PAX
Endurance- 4 hrs
WEAPONS:
2 x XM-218 .50 cal, 1 x M-3M .50 cal ramp gun

Question 17

MV22 DIMENSIONS

Answer 17

AIRSPEED:
max endurance- 150 KIAS
max airspeed- 280 KIAS
ENSURACE:
payloads- 15k lbs internal/ 10k external
endurance- 3 hrs
WEAPONS-
M240 ramp gun (optional)