OH-6 Close Escort Gunship

[Burncycle]

Some may be familiar with this gag picture of an OH-6 rigged up with two 19 round rocket pods and a 40mm grenade launcher from a UH-1 Huey Gunship variant



Of course it couldn't hope to take off with that payload

There was also a field modified OH-6 with a door mounted minigun







So it got me thinking -- what about an OH-6 close escort gunship as a complement to the AH-6 Gunship.  While the AH-6 (or other asset) provides top cover to work over landing zones, this could operate more closely with the MH-6 bringing troops in to provide close security.    Armed with two flexible miniguns (one on each door) and a 40mm HV Grenade launching turret operated by the copilot.  Could it work, weight wise?

Turns out it might be plausible with some back of the napkin calculations.

If we assume the M134D-H (Dillon's lightweight aerial minigun variant coming in around 43 lbs), Titanium arm mount (Similar to the UH-60 Blackhawk's titanium window mount) weighs in around 24 lbs, and titanium or aluminum in certain other areas (Ammo bins) then keep the ammo load modest (2,000 rounds per minigun, 150 rounds of 40mm HV) all that's really left is the 40mm turret -- the M129 grenade launcher is an improved M75, and very compact. While I could not find weight information on the M129 or the 40mm XM5 turret subsystem, we can make educated guesses.  The Mk47 Stryker grenade launcher weighs in around 40 pounds, so we'll go with that figure.  Adding another 56-60 pounds or so for the turret, sight, and ammo bin subsystem (assuming titanium again where possible), with the ammo bin attached under the length of the helicopter and 150 rounds of linked 40mm HV...

Weapons + Mounts, ammo, crew, and basic 62 gal fuel load (no extended tank) and I'm getting around ~1,904 lbs, which clocks in roughly comparable to the ~1,872 lbs I calculate with an MH-6 carrying 2 crew, 4 fully equipped soldiers, and 62 gal fuel (no extended tank).  Those are known to still be quite nimble (See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX4fbsUsgc4 )

The only issue I'm unsure of is the CG shift with the turret forward (as in the first picture on the post), but the grenade launcher and turret is quite compact and shouldn't be that much heavier than something like the MD500 defender TOW sighting system...
 
Reminds me of the Old Bell Sioux Scout (Not me  )




Video of the old Sioux Scout in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KloeR0ecvBE

[Mondria]

would not be a bad idea to have a modern Sioux scout, the tandem layout would save weight and streamline, not really how you want it but it would look very nice, I think Iran made something like it a couple of years ago but based on the Bell 206 frame

[AS.12]

From Jane's Weapon Systems 1970 -71

XM129 in Armament Subsystem XM8 for OH-6A:
53kg for launcher, mounting frame, feed chute without ammunition
107kg with 156 rounds in container aft of pilot
Elevation limits:+10 -24 at 15 to 30 deg / sec
300 to 450 rpm

M75 in Armament Subsystem M5 for UH-1B/C
Elevation limits: +15 -35 at 15 to 30 deg / sec
Traversal: 60 degrees each left and right
150 or 315 rounds carried for 230 rpm
Weight not specified but considerably heavier than XM8 as it also included a reflexr aiming sight, lead compensator and rotary ammunition can

[kitnut617]

I've got a kit of an OH-6 with a minigun and pods, can't remember if it 1/48 or 1/72 though and possible Italeri.