It was capable of firing 2400 rounds per minute, or about 40 rounds per second. The Army further tested a full-size Vulcan cannon firing out the door of a UH-1. The size of the weapon allowed very little room for movement. The Army desired weapons with large calibers and high rates of fire, which led to the testing of a 20 mm cannon on a large mount bolted to the cabin floor. The Army tested a great variety of experimental weapons on the UH-1 nearly anything that could be carried. In air cavalry troops (i.e., companies) UH-1s were combined with infantryscouts, OH-6 and OH-58 aero-scout helicopters, and AH-1 attack helicopters to form several color-coded teams (viz., blue, white, red, purple, and pink) to perform various reconnaissance, security, and 'economy of force' missions in fulfilling the traditional cavalry battlefield role. Devotees of the UH-1 in the gunship role cite its ability to act as an impromptu Dustoff if the need arose, as well as the superior observational capabilities of the larger Huey cockpit, which allowed return fire from door gunners to the rear and sides of the aircraft. The increasing intensity and sophistication of NVA anti-aircraft defenses made continued use of UH-1 gunships impractical, and after Vietnam the Cobra was adopted as the Army's main attack helicopter. UH-1B/C gunships were replaced by the new AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter from 1967 to late 1968. The UH-1B and C performed the gunship, and some of the transport, duties in the early years of the Vietnam War. The UH-1A, B, and C models (short fuselage, Bell 204) and the UH-1D and H models (stretched-fuselage, Bell 205) each had improved performance and load-carrying capabilities. During the course of the war, the UH-1 went through several upgrades.
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