Help support TMP


"Hueys" Topic


15 Posts

All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.

For more information, see the TMP FAQ.


Back to the Vietnam War Message Board


Areas of Interest

Modern

Featured Hobby News Article


Featured Recent Link


Featured Showcase Article

C-in-C's 1:285 Soviet SAU122

Need some armored artillery vehicles?


Featured Workbench Article

Painting Copplestone Castings' Corporate Babes

I supplied Stronty Girl Fezian with some 'babes', and she did the rest...


Featured Profile Article

Military Playsets at Dollar Tree

Personal logo Editor in Chief Bill The Editor of TMP Fezian locates some hard-to-find military toys at the dollar store.


Current Poll


970 hits since 21 May 2020
©1994-2025 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?


TMP logo

Membership

Please sign in to your membership account, or, if you are not yet a member, please sign up for your free membership account.
uglyfatbloke21 May 2020 3:26 a.m. PST

How many infantry could a Huey carry?

Eumelus Supporting Member of TMP21 May 2020 6:16 a.m. PST

IIRC, about six fully-equipped infantry (about half a squad). For planning purposes, count on twice as many Huey sorties as Blackhawk to airlift a given force.

Personal logo Extra Crispy Sponsoring Member of TMP21 May 2020 6:49 a.m. PST

A UH-1B had a 9 person capacity, so 8+pilot. Or 3 stretchers in medevac.

uglyfatbloke21 May 2020 8:46 a.m. PST

Cheers gents…google results were contradictory to say the least – anything for 7 to 12.

ScoutJock21 May 2020 9:07 a.m. PST

Hueys had a crew of three, pilot, co-pilot and crew chief, who would also double as a door gunner. If the mission anticipated enemy contact, a second door gunner could also be on board. That would leave room for about six grunts in a B model or 8 in an H model, although the load could vary based on fuel requirements and aircraft seating configuration.

Garryowen Supporting Member of TMP21 May 2020 12:16 p.m. PST

Also the number carried was generally less in Vietnam due to having less lift capability due to the hot and humid air. In Vietnam it was not seating capacity, but rather lift capability.

Having said that, you read of many grossly over weighted helicopters taking off from a hot LZ when the chips were down.

Don't forget as far as hauling infantry is concerned, you have not only a pilot, but a co-pilot, crew chief and door gunner. All three of these were virtually indispensable in action.

Tom

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP21 May 2020 2:40 p.m. PST

Scout & Tom +1 thumbs up

Yes the Hueys could normally carry about 9 or so +, as noted, the crew. But 7-12 is a good range depending in weather, LZ/PZ conditions, etc. You could even slingload something under it. If it was not too heavy.

In Panama by about noon the air got so hot & thin, we may of had to reduce the Allowable Cargo Load to about 6 or so Grunts. And the birds would literally have to take a running start. Flying down the LZ/PZ at speed catching all the lift it could to get airborne.

Skarper21 May 2020 4:51 p.m. PST

From the book chickenhawk each mission would have a number from 6-8 grunts per slick. Variables being weather, altitude, how much weight the troops were carrying Etc.

raylev323 May 2020 7:42 p.m. PST

Six to eight passengers is a good planning factor….plus pilot, co-pilot, and two door gunners (one on each side) depending on model and configuration.

there are multiple variables in how much a huey, or any helicopter, can carry. Altitude (the higher the altitude, the less the payload), weather, mission, range (amount of fuel required impacts payload, and even humidity.

uglyfatbloke24 May 2020 4:32 a.m. PST

OK…I asked a 'how long is piece of string question did n't I? Overall, if we go for 8 that would fit in with how our rules work and not be out of order?
Thanks for all the help people; it's appreciated.

Garryowen Supporting Member of TMP24 May 2020 7:17 a.m. PST

There were Hueys and Hueys. As the war progressed, the engines became more powerful. One should be careful in comparing postwar Hueys, particularly the N model. The N model did come in in 1970, with limited use, but it saw more service after the war than in it.

Tom

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP24 May 2020 8:08 a.m. PST

Overall, if we go for 8 that would fit in with how our rules work and not be out of order?
Yes …

could normally carry about 9 or so +, as noted, the crew. But 7-12 is a good range depending in weather,
I should have may myself clearer. old fart But "short" answer, when you talk about a Huey load, the number of Troops, sometimes referred to as "packs", you have to include the crew in total number. The load on an aircraft was called the "ACL" – Allowable Cargo Load. Would vary especially with weather conditions, etc. E.g. the ACL is 8 Packs + crew. Chances are if the Huey was carrying 12, that would include Packs & the Crew total. Then you maybe flying heavy, i.e. overloaded. huh?

After I was a Rifle and 81mm Plt Ldr, I was assigned as the BN S3Air. I.e. the Bn Air Ops Officer … Spent a lot of time in UH-1s. Until we got the UH-60s in about '81 or early '82, IIRC. old fart The definition of a "Game changer". evil grin


From the book chickenhawk each mission would have a number from 6-8 grunts per slick. Variables being weather, altitude, how much weight the troops were carrying Etc.
Yes as I said, weather is always a factor …

Six to eight passengers is a good planning factor….plus pilot, co-pilot, and two door gunners (one on each side) depending on model and configuration.
Yes, that was generally how we did it … thumbs up

Hueys, particularly the N model. The N model did come in in 1970, with limited use, but it saw more service after the war than in it.
Yes they have 2 engines. When I was in Panama in the early '80s. The USAF was flying N models as gunships.

Blutarski27 May 2020 12:40 p.m. PST

Just thought I'd share the title of a good book on Huey ops in VN, not only the Huey flying into the LZ through storms of fire, but the wear and tear on crew and machine and the challenges of performing upkeep and maintenance while under nightly mortar harassment.

The book is Angel's Wing" by Joseph R Finch. Worth a read if you are interested in the subject.

B

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP27 May 2020 2:53 p.m. PST

Yes, helicopters like a lot of tech require a lot of maintenance. And it would even be more challenging when taking fire.

Pyrate Captain14 Jul 2020 6:57 a.m. PST

More in temperate climates. An acquaintance who was with the 1st Air Cavalry in 65-66 indicated 4-5. This he says is due to air temperature and altitude.

Sorry - only verified members can post on the forums.