Post by lordroel on Oct 14, 2024 15:21:28 GMT
With permission from Matt Wiser over at HPCA, Mi-24: the Soviet rotary-winged terror-known as HInd in the war and what is cannon in Red Dawn + 40.
Mil Mi-24 (Hind) in World War III
The Mi-24 Hind was the primary attack helicopter used by the Soviet Union and its allies during the Third World War. First seen in 1972 in the Hind-A version, the helicopter was widely used during the war as a gunship, artillery spotting aircraft, and for NBC reconnaissance. Called by its crews “the Crocodile”, the Mi-24 demonstrated lethality as well as reliability, along with the ability to withstand punishment and bring the crew home. The aircraft also generated fear amongst American guerrilla groups, especially those without any kind of surface-to-air defense, and respect among American tankers and attack helicopter pilots. The aircraft not only saw service during the Third World War, but also in Afghanistan, postwar Mexico, the Second Russian Civil War, the Baja War, and the fall of the Rump USSR. The Hind has also turned up in a number of Middle East conflicts, and in hot spots around the world. This work covers the Hind in North America during and after the war.
Variants:
Mi-24 Hind-A: Early production version first seen in 1972. Able to carry eight fully-equipped infantrymen in a rear compartment, or a flight technician and reloads of its ordnance load (rarely seen). Four S-5 57-mm rocket pods and four AT-2 Swatter ATGM on each wing. One 12.7-mm machine gun in the nose, large cockpit.
Mi-24A Hind-B: Second production version; same as Hind-A but without machine gun.
Mi-24U Hind-C: Training version without nose gun or wingtip stations.
Mi-24D Hind-D: Improved version with tandem seating for pilot and weapons officer, armored cockpit and overpressurization system for operating in NBC conditions. Nose gun replaced by four-barreled 12.7-mm Gatling-type gun, retains the AT-2 Swatter ATGM. S-5 or S-8 (80-mm) rocket pods, gun pods, CW spray tanks, free-fall bombs also optional. Some fitted with R-60 (AA-8) Aphid AAMs for the helicopter air-to-air mission (rarely encountered).
Mi-24V (Hind-E): Similar to Hind-D, but AT-6 Spiral ATGM in place of AT-2. Most widely produced version.
Mi-24P (Hind-F): Replaced 12.7-mm Gatling gun with twin 30-mm Gsh-30 cannon.
Mi-24VP (Hind-E Mod): Gatling gun replaced with twin-23-mm gun in nose turret. Some converted from Hind-D.
Mi-24RR (Hind-G1): Radiation Reconnaissance model. Sensors replaced ATGM, but gun and rocket armament retained.
Mi-24K (Hind-G2) Artillery spotter version. Mainly used by air-assault brigades.
Mi-25: Export version of Hind-D.
Mi-35: Export version of Hind-E.
Users:
Soviet Union: Mi-24A used in both Northern and Southern Theaters for COIN work. Mi-24D and V served as primary gunship versions with VVS attack helicopter regiments at Army level. Mi-24P arrived 1987 in Southern Theater, 1988 in Northern, as replacements for war losses in D and V regiments.
Czechoslovakia: One squadron deployed to North America with Hind-D. Combat in Central Europe in 1989.
Cuba: Mi-24 in Southern Theater. Combat in National Uprising in 2010 on both sides.
East Germany: One Regiment of Hind-E (KHG-5) in Southern Theater. Combat with the remaining Regiment (KHG-3) in 1989.
Libya: One squadron with Mi-25 in Southern Theater.
Nicaragua: One regiment with Mi-25 in Southern Theater, mainly for COIN.
North Korea: One regiment with Mi-24A in Northern Theater, mainly for COIN operations.
Poland: One squadron deployed to North America with Mi-24D. Combat in the 1989 campaign.
Postwar User:
Mexico: Numerous ex-Soviet and ex-Cuban examples left in Mexico were passed to the FARM (Revolutionary Air Force of Mexico) after the Armistice. Used mainly for COIN in the 1990s and 2000s. Encountered by U.S. Forces in the Baja War, and survivors still used by the FARM in the COIN role today.
Captured Examples:
A number of Hinds of various models were captured, mainly in the Southern Theater, but a number fell into Allied hands after the Soviet surrender in the Northern Theater. Those captured in the Southern Theater were shipped to Fort Rucker, Alabama for evaluation, with some retained by the U.S. Army for OPFOR training during and after the war. Several examples captured in Canada were shipped to Britain for evaluation and later display. Many captured examples passed to museums in the U.S., Canada, and the UK.
Mil Mi-24 (Hind) in World War III
The Mi-24 Hind was the primary attack helicopter used by the Soviet Union and its allies during the Third World War. First seen in 1972 in the Hind-A version, the helicopter was widely used during the war as a gunship, artillery spotting aircraft, and for NBC reconnaissance. Called by its crews “the Crocodile”, the Mi-24 demonstrated lethality as well as reliability, along with the ability to withstand punishment and bring the crew home. The aircraft also generated fear amongst American guerrilla groups, especially those without any kind of surface-to-air defense, and respect among American tankers and attack helicopter pilots. The aircraft not only saw service during the Third World War, but also in Afghanistan, postwar Mexico, the Second Russian Civil War, the Baja War, and the fall of the Rump USSR. The Hind has also turned up in a number of Middle East conflicts, and in hot spots around the world. This work covers the Hind in North America during and after the war.
Variants:
Mi-24 Hind-A: Early production version first seen in 1972. Able to carry eight fully-equipped infantrymen in a rear compartment, or a flight technician and reloads of its ordnance load (rarely seen). Four S-5 57-mm rocket pods and four AT-2 Swatter ATGM on each wing. One 12.7-mm machine gun in the nose, large cockpit.
Mi-24A Hind-B: Second production version; same as Hind-A but without machine gun.
Mi-24U Hind-C: Training version without nose gun or wingtip stations.
Mi-24D Hind-D: Improved version with tandem seating for pilot and weapons officer, armored cockpit and overpressurization system for operating in NBC conditions. Nose gun replaced by four-barreled 12.7-mm Gatling-type gun, retains the AT-2 Swatter ATGM. S-5 or S-8 (80-mm) rocket pods, gun pods, CW spray tanks, free-fall bombs also optional. Some fitted with R-60 (AA-8) Aphid AAMs for the helicopter air-to-air mission (rarely encountered).
Mi-24V (Hind-E): Similar to Hind-D, but AT-6 Spiral ATGM in place of AT-2. Most widely produced version.
Mi-24P (Hind-F): Replaced 12.7-mm Gatling gun with twin 30-mm Gsh-30 cannon.
Mi-24VP (Hind-E Mod): Gatling gun replaced with twin-23-mm gun in nose turret. Some converted from Hind-D.
Mi-24RR (Hind-G1): Radiation Reconnaissance model. Sensors replaced ATGM, but gun and rocket armament retained.
Mi-24K (Hind-G2) Artillery spotter version. Mainly used by air-assault brigades.
Mi-25: Export version of Hind-D.
Mi-35: Export version of Hind-E.
Users:
Soviet Union: Mi-24A used in both Northern and Southern Theaters for COIN work. Mi-24D and V served as primary gunship versions with VVS attack helicopter regiments at Army level. Mi-24P arrived 1987 in Southern Theater, 1988 in Northern, as replacements for war losses in D and V regiments.
Czechoslovakia: One squadron deployed to North America with Hind-D. Combat in Central Europe in 1989.
Cuba: Mi-24 in Southern Theater. Combat in National Uprising in 2010 on both sides.
East Germany: One Regiment of Hind-E (KHG-5) in Southern Theater. Combat with the remaining Regiment (KHG-3) in 1989.
Libya: One squadron with Mi-25 in Southern Theater.
Nicaragua: One regiment with Mi-25 in Southern Theater, mainly for COIN.
North Korea: One regiment with Mi-24A in Northern Theater, mainly for COIN operations.
Poland: One squadron deployed to North America with Mi-24D. Combat in the 1989 campaign.
Postwar User:
Mexico: Numerous ex-Soviet and ex-Cuban examples left in Mexico were passed to the FARM (Revolutionary Air Force of Mexico) after the Armistice. Used mainly for COIN in the 1990s and 2000s. Encountered by U.S. Forces in the Baja War, and survivors still used by the FARM in the COIN role today.
Captured Examples:
A number of Hinds of various models were captured, mainly in the Southern Theater, but a number fell into Allied hands after the Soviet surrender in the Northern Theater. Those captured in the Southern Theater were shipped to Fort Rucker, Alabama for evaluation, with some retained by the U.S. Army for OPFOR training during and after the war. Several examples captured in Canada were shipped to Britain for evaluation and later display. Many captured examples passed to museums in the U.S., Canada, and the UK.