Military Model Scene

Title: UH-1 Huey vs NVA/VC Forces
Author: Peter E. Davies
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-4515-3

Vietnam 1962-1975, possibly one of the most iconic images from 20th Century warfare has to be the American Huey helicopter, the days of 'Slicks' and 'Snakes'. Number 112 in Osprey's Duel series, this is the story of the Gunship variants of the Bell UH-1 helicopter, the 'Hogs', and how the enemy, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) learned to fight them. A soft-cover 80-page book, and filled with plenty of archive images and the super artwork which we have come to expect in these Osprey books.
The book is divided into 9 main sections, beginning with an Introduction and a Chronology of significant milestones between 1955 and 1973. Then we get into the detailed elements, with Design & Development and then Technical Specifications. These cover not only the various marks of the Huey but also the different types of armament that were tried over time. These technical specs apply not only to the US built UH- helicopters themselves, but also the assorted anti-aircraft weaponry of the NVA. It moves on to consider the Strategic Situation, and how both sides learnt their skills, and new tactics which carries on into Combat, the formations flown by the US and AVRN helicopters and those of the NVA who prepared hot receptions for the possible landing zones. That leaves it to a Statistics & Analysis which details the number of helicopters deployed to Vietnam over the years, the casualties they suffered as well as their successes, along with a final assessment of the Aftermath.
The helicopter gunship and the tactics and technology they use has advanced a lot since the Vietnam war, but it is very much where it all began. Not two highly mechanised armies fighting each other, much more a mechanised army facing an agile and capable infantry force. The early 'Hog' gunships are sometimes overshadowed by the slim lines of the dedicated Cobra gunship, but they still played a very important part in the development of the armed helicopter during the war in Vietnam.
Thanks to Osprey for our review copy.

Robin