In 2019, a 72-year-old Taiwanese man was killed by a discarded Hydra rocket which he had cut into with an electric saw, believing it to be a length of pipe. Designationħ-Tube LWL (LightWeight Launcher, 35 lbs, 15.9kg)ġ9-Tube LWL (LightWeight Launcher, 80 lbs/ 36.3kg)ħ-Tube LAU-68C/A variant compatible w/ Mk 66 rocket motor external thermal protection coating launcher supports single and ripple firingġ9-Tube LAU-61B/A variant compatible w/ Mk 66 rocket motor external thermal protection coating launcher supports single and ripple firing The tips of some of the rockets are white (and the rockets are shorter in length, and they are attached to the launcher via umbilical connectors) because they have a different type of warhead and fuze. Mk 66 compatible launchers ĭummy Hydra 70s in an M261 launcher on a Dutch AH-64 Apache. The Hydra 70 rocket system is also used by the U.S. Marine Corps because they were not compatible with the Mk 66 rocket motor. The AH-1G Cobra and the UH-1B "Huey" used a variety of launchers including the M158 seven-tube and M200 19-tube rocket launchers designed for the Mk 40 rocket motor however, these models have been replaced by upgraded variants in the U.S. Hydra 70s have also been fired from UH-60 and AH-6 series aircraft in US Army service. The Mk 66 has a reduced system weight and provides a remote fuze setting interface. The M260 and M261 are used with the Mk 66 series of rocket motor, which replaced the Mk 40 series. Marine Corps, either the M260 or M261 launchers are employed on the AH-1W SuperCobra and AH-1Z Viper, depending upon the mission. Army, Hydra 70 rockets are fired from the AH-64A Apache and AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters using M261 19-tube rocket launchers, and the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior using seven-tube M260 rocket launchers. Hydra 70 rockets are known mainly by either their warhead type or by the rocket motor designation, Mk 66 in US military service. The Hydra 70 family of folding-fin aerial rockets also includes smoke screening, illumination, and training warheads. The war reserve unitary and cargo warheads are used for anti- materiel, anti-personnel, and suppression missions. The family of Hydra 70 (70 mm) 2.75 inch rockets perform a variety of functions. Hydra 70 rockets on an AH-1 Cobra helicopter Mk 66 Mod 4/5 variant designed to reduce the tendency of secondary launch gasses to combust in the parent aircraft’s engine, primarily with the AH-64 helicopter Mk 66 Mod 4 variant Incorporates propellant venting during fast cook off Mk 66 Mod 2/3 variant incorporates a Salt rod to reduce exhaust gases for all services Mk 66 Mod 1 variant HERO safe Mk 66 Mod 2 for US Army Mk 66 Mod 1 variant HERO (Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance) safe for US Navy and US Air Force Mk 66 variant production variant for US Army Mk 66 rocket motor variants Designationħ0 mm (2.75 in) WAFAR universal motor common motor for the GD Hydra 70 series of rockets original prototype for US Army Today, the OH-58D(R) Kiowa Warrior and AH-64E Apache Longbow, as well as the Marine Corps' versatile UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra, carry the Hydra rocket launcher standard on its weapon pylons. To improve stability during the time the fins are still opening, the four motor nozzles have a slight cant angle to impart a spin while the rocket is still in the launch tube. The fins of the Mk 40 flipped forward from the rear when the rocket left the launching tube, but in the Hydra they are curved to match the outside diameter of the rocket fuselage and flip sideways to open, which is referred to as WAFAR (Wrap-Around Fin Aerial Rocket) instead of FFAR (folding-fin aerial rocket). 66 motor which uses a new propellant that offers considerably more thrust, 1,335 pounds-force (5,940 N) (Mod 2/3) 1,415 pounds-force (6,290 N) (Mod 4). The main change made to produce the Hydra was the Mk. The Mk 40 was used during the Korean and Vietnam wars to provide close air support to ground forces from about 20 different firing platforms, both fixed-wing and armed helicopters. The Hydra 70 is derived from the 2.75-inch (70 mm) diameter Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket developed by the United States Navy for use as a free-flight aerial rocket in the late 1940s.
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