The Vertol Model 107 became the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight. It has been a fabulously successful helicopter; development began almost *70* years ago, and some are still in service.
One suggested modification from 1961 would have seen the helicopter (designated HC-1A at the time) modified into an anti-tank variant using wire-guided anti-tank missiles. The artwork depicts the Model 107 modified with a “trapeze” that would lower from the belly holding one such missile (appears similar to the SS.11 / AGM-22) ; after launching the missile the launcher would retract back into the cargo bay where it would be reloaded and redeployed. At the rear of the bay is a manually loaded rocket launcher (though it looks more like a recoilless rifle to me) that would, after loading, swing down into a forward-firing position. Further rocket launching tubes were built into the extended rear landing gear sponsons; machine guns were fitted ahead of the cockpit.
5 responses to “Anti-tank Vertol 107”
Having been NCOIC of a 106mm recoilless rifle section “back in the day”, I can only imagine the mayhem and hilarity that would ensue if one so mounted was touched off inside a helicopter. The backblast on those contraptions is awesome, so it must be something else.
The launcher was intended to rotate down. As shown it’s pointed aft; before firing, it would be pointed forward and hanging below the chopper. Complex and clumsy, but how else would you reload the thing in flight…
Ooopsie, I missed that!
Sorry about that, Chief!
There is what looks like a belt-fed grenade launcher in the tips of the sponsons. Or maybe a minigun.
I worked with some guys at Lockheed who were experimenting with two recoilless rifles on a Huey one on each side during Vietnam. The Army liked it just fine except you couldn’t reload in flight. They didn’t have multiple round recoilless rifles like they do now. I think Rhinemetall makes one. Anyway the war ended and the idea just went away.