This latest book in the Osprey 'Elite' series deals with  Airmobile Tactics during Vietnam. Though vertical envelopment was used on a very small scale during the French war in Vietnam and again in Algeria, the greatest use of the helicopter in those conflicts was much the same that was practiced in Korea; medical evacuation or medevac. Helicopter armament was also pretty well limited to what the crew could carry in terms of hand held weapons.

Much of the Army's interest in using helicopters in direct combat came from the results of US Marine use during Korea in 1951 where they were used in a limited way for all the various missions that would later be used in Vietnam, aside from the use of armed gunships. Slowly the various services started building up forces. This growth was held back as much by suitable helicopters as anything else, but by 1960, the Army had the H-21 and the Marines the H-34, both capable of carrying a sufficient number of troops to make air assault a worthwhile endeavor. In early 1962, the first large scale assault operations were held when the Army transported ARVN (Army of Vietnam) troops into battle. This was followed by experimental use of attack helicopters around the same time.

It was realized that the H-21 was too large and too slow to be an effective assault helo, though it could carry a goodly payload. What really moved things along was the development of the UH-1 or Huey. This was a relatively fast helicopter and while smaller than the H-21 and without its load carrying abilities, was easy to build and equally easy to maintain. Other types of helicopter were developed for heavy lift, light observation, and other tasks, but it was the Huey that was the mainstay of the Army's aviation assets in Vietnam. This basic airframe was also developed into heavily armed attack helicopters and eventually led to the dedicated Cobra gunships.

Gordon Rottman was in country during the later years of the war and so has an insight into operations that many writers would not have. He has done a superlative job on this book, dividing it into several major sections. He first concentrates on the helicopter itself discussing its development and use, threats to the helo and armament carried by various types. Then the development and testing of the theories of airmobility, which eventually led to the first operations of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the mid 1960s. That success spawned a number of other units in both the Army and the Marine Corps to take advantage of what was learned. He then moves on to describe the various missions that are used by airmobile units, for dropping off and picking up troops are only the beginning. The book then covers that basics of air assault from the initial deployment of the ground troops through keeping them supplied and taking out wounded until the mission is over and all are removed. This is then finished up by a discussion of the gunship and how it is used.

All of this is enhanced by the super illustrations of Adam Hook and an excellent selection of period photographs. This makes for a truly outstanding book on the subject and should be required reading for all who are interested in helicopter development or the Vietnam war.

May 2007

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