[forcerecon85]

Correct me if I'm wrong but should the 174th AHC Shark's "Ace of Spads" #170 have either 4 M60 machine guns or 2 M134 miniguns since it has M158 rockets? If it does have M158 7 shot rockets they were only used with the M16 subsystem (4 M60's and rockets) or the M21 (2 M134 miniguns with rockets). I know its a Huey Frog but that only means it's a Huey with the M5 subsystem (M75 40mm grenade launcher) according to UH-1/AH-1 by Jerry Scutts, end of page 24. Former Vietnam helicopter crew chief Pete Harlem which served with the 174th had a book called "Crewchief 1: The UH-1C Huey" and said "This XM-21 with seven-shot pods was the most common weapon setup used on the UH-1C in Vietnam."

Most of my information and pictures are from the 174th Assault Helicopter Company (174th AHC Front Page) and armament subsystem websites (UH-1 Armament and U.S. Army Helicopter Weapons Systems. From what I've seen all 174th AHC
Sharks from 1971 all have XM-21 armament subsystems. Personally I won't buy it if it doesn't have M134's or 4 M60's. I was so excited when it came out but without the right equipment it will ruin it for me. If anyone knows more feel free to comment. Maybe William can straighten this out.

I have pictures of 174th AHC #170

[STARMAN 352ND]

I like the pictures you posted there forcerecon.....It does look a little different then HM version.
JP

[Lakota Mechanic]

Being a former aircraft armament mechanic on UH-1M's. All those systems are interchangeable. In my Air Cav troop of 9 UH-1M's we usally had two of the nine configured with the M5 subsystem which consisted the 40mm gernade launcher mounted in the turrent on the nose and two 19 shot rocket pods. Which we could only load 16 or 17 rockets in each pod because of weight restrictions. We called this a Heavy Hog. we never flew with the 7 shot pods. which during the war was called a FROG Which HM is doing for it's release.
The XM-21 system was two M-134 miniguns and two seven shot pods. on a side note we had to change our windshields from glass to plexiglass because the Rockets would pit our windshields. Much later the AH-1F model had to be modded with sheetmetal over the engine inlets because the exhaust from the rockets were fodding the engines causing them to have coppressor stalls and a few AH-1's were lost. Hope this helps.

My issue with the HM UH-1C is that it does'nt have a 540 rotor system. Which is a totaly different hub and blade. along with a heavier swashplate and support assy and a friction collet and droop stops.

[forcerecon85]

Would anyone welcome the addition of the M21 (2 M134 7.62mm minigun) subsystem or would they be against it? I've grown to love it with them and its something HM hasn't done yet. I know I'll sure welcome it haha.

[Cavtanker]

Maybe HM could provide us with some interchangeable armaments for the model...

[forcerecon85]

That would be awesome. I never even thought of that! It could work just like armament stations of aircraft and it wouldn't take much to interchange it. Maybe a future possibility for HM since there's so many options