Conversion to a Huey Hog

The aero-rifle platoon requires five UH-1 aircraft and I had six new models - so I decided to make a quick 'conversion' in order to produce a Huey 'Hog' gunship to accompany the ARPs.

The conversion was very simple and used two matchsticks and a piece of thin dowel. I cut the heads off of two matches and glued them into place, threaded between the skids of the aircraft - as in the picture. Once the glue was dry, I painted the matchsticks black. These were to represent the armament mountings.

I then cut two short lengths of dowel and glued these onto the ends of the protruding 'arms' of the matchsticks to produce an M156 Armament Subsystem with what I intended to be two 19-tube M200 2.75 inch rocket launchers. The rocket pods were then also painted black.

Finally, I painted both the rocket pods and the mounts to match the aircraft and that was it - a Huey 'Hog' in about 10 minutes! This could now be used to support my aero-rifle platoon.

This sort of conversion takes only a short time and a few bits from the ubiquitous 'bits box'. The result is an aircraft that adds yet another dimension to your games and is well worth the limited amount of effort required to produce.

Using the Huey 'Hog'

The 'Hog' is a very useful fire-support platform to have around. Not only is it extremely mobile, but it also carries a reasonable amount of firepower.

There are two ways in which the US player may receive the support of this type of helicopter gunship;

• It may be the result of an Air Support Request - in which case it functions as per Incoming! rule 7.1.3 (Air Support)
• It may be allocated to players as part of a scenario - in which case it will function as per Incoming! rule 11.1.3 (Helicopters)

Note that there are distinct differences in the way that helicopters operate on the table depending on the manner in which helicopter support is made available.

When used as part of an Air Support Request, the primary difference is that movement is restricted and the number of 'firing passes' is limited. Rules regarding anti-aircraft fire are also significantly different depending on whether the aircraft is used as part of an Air Support Request or scenario specific.

If allocated as part of a scenario, the aircraft is much more flexible. The 'Hog' may have a variety or combination of forward firing weapons (rockets, miniguns, grenade launchers etc.) but, irrespective of armament, it has 5D6 fire-dice for these weapons. This means that it is not necessary to have all weapon systems physically visible on the model since the armament is 'assumed' although it is only fair to make it clear that this is a gunship by using some sort of externally identifiable feature such as rocket pods.

Side view of converted M156 armament subsystem

Note also that the forward firing arc for these weapons is as per heavy weapons. The 'Hog' also has door-gunners who fire each side of the aircraft as a fire team with 3d6 fire dice each. With a total of 11d6 fire dice, the 'Hog' can lay down some withering support fire. Bear in mind also, the forward firing weapons have a 'kill potential' of two fire-teams or stands, and can therefore have an impact beyond their primary target. When on an attacking run, the door-gunners can be used to suppress enemy fire directed at the aircraft from it's flanks.

The finished 'Hog'

When used in support of the ARP's, the gunship(s) will prep the LZ prior to the insertion of the platoon. Even if no clear and identifiable targets are available, it is probably still a good idea to carry out some recon by fire of terrain features likely to be harboring enemy units lying in wait for the landing - in using recon by fire, the gunship uses only 2-dice and must score at least one roll of 6. Once the ARPs have been inserted, the gunships then remain on station to provide fire support if direct contact is made with the enemy.

Completed UH-1 Huey 'Hog' Gunship mounted on base

When the extraction of the platoon takes place, the Hogs will provide suppressive fire in order to keep the enemy's heads down as the lift ships move in to the PZ.