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Bell AH-1W Super Cobra (ROCA)
Introduction
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The final variation of the Super Cobra line, the Bell AH-1W Super Cobra, was developed as a twin-engine configuration of the Cobra and a further enhancement of the Sea Cobra. The twin-engine design of the AH-1W was specifically aimed at improving safety during operations over water, as mandated by the United States Marine Corps. Equipped with General Electric T700-401 turboshaft engines, each producing a continuous power of 1,700 SHP, the AH-1W had the capability to reach up to 2,082 SHP for a duration of 30 minutes. Notably, the AH-1W was equipped with advanced features such as a laser designating system, thermals, and the ability to mount AIM-9 Sidewinders and AGM-114 Hellfires.
In 1984, the Republic of China (ROCA) expressed interest in acquiring a dedicated gunship helicopter for its army. The ROCA considered both the MD500 and the Bo 105 for this purpose. Under the program led by Lu Peng, the ROCA aimed to upgrade its helicopter fleet and submitted a request to purchase 18 AH-1W Super Cobras, along with OH-58 helicopters. The official order was placed in February 1992, and the initial delivery of 9 AH-1W helicopters took place in April 1993. Subsequently, several batches of AH-1W helicopters were procured and delivered to the ROCA, totaling 42 helicopters by the mid-1990s. In 1997, an additional order for 21 AH-1W helicopters was placed, with the final delivery completed in 2001.
The 601st and 602nd Air Cavalry Brigades, located in Longtan and Hsinsher respectively, were assigned the AH-1W Super Cobras. Furthermore, AH-1W helicopters were also operated by the Aviation Training Command in Kueijen. As of 2020, the ROCA still maintains a fleet of 61 AH-1W Super Cobras, out of the 63 received, with two helicopters lost in accidents in 1999 and 2009. The AH-1W continues to serve as the primary attack helicopter for the foreseeable future of the ROCA.
Technical Data
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Specifications
Crew - 2 (Gunner/Pilot)
Fuselage Length - 13.3m
Whole Lenght - 13.6m
Width - 3.3m
Height - 4.1m
Main Rotor Diameter - 14.6m
Tail Rotor Diamter - 2.97m
Max Takeoff Weight - 6,690 kg
Engine - 2 x General Electric T700-401 Turboshafts (1,553 kW each)
Max Speed - 352 km/h
Range - 587 km
Rate of Climb - 8.2 m/s
Avionics
AN/APR-39 + AN/APR-44 RWR
AN/ALQ-144 IRCM
AN/ALE-39 CMD
Engine Exhaust Infrared Suppression
Night Targeting System Thermal Camera
AN/AVS-6 Helmet Mounted Night Vision
Laser Rangefinder + Laser Designator
Armament
Turret Mounted 20mm M197 3 Barreled Gatling Gun (750 Rounds)
76 x 70mm Hydra 70 Rockets
8 x BGM-71 TOW-2A/B ATGM
8 x AGM-114K/M Hellfire II ATGM
8 x AGM-114C Hellfire ATGM
2 x AIM-9M Sidewinder
2 x AIM-9S Sidewinder
Photos
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Taiwanese AH-1W Super Cobra Walk Around Page 2
this one would make a good GE or Task camo ^
^ROCA AH-1W Mounting Aim-9M^
Sources
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ROCA Bell AH-1W Supercobra
中華民國陸軍 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书
AH-1眼鏡蛇直升機 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书
Vertipedia - Bell AH-1W SuperCobra
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra - Wikipedia
Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/army-inventory-overview.htm
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/navy/ntsp/ah-1w.pdf
Republic of China (Taiwan) Army (RoCA) Bell AH-1W SuperCob… | Flickr
AH-1W Super Cobra
AN/AWS-1(V)1 Night Targeting System
https://www.proquest.com
Suggestion made with aid from Bell AH-1W Super Cobra (Republic of China) - Passed for Consideration - War Thunder - Official Forum old forum post.