Page:Airmobility 1961-1971.pdf/266
In summing up the exploits of his air cavalry troops, Colonel Molinelli said: "I think that the use of air cavalry in Laos pretty much proved two major points that those of us in Aviation have always maintained. One, our aircraft are not as vulnerable as many people think in a mid-intensity environment; two, we certainly proved that Army aircraft are capable of attacking enemy armor."
Describing the limitations of current armed helicopters, General Berry commented on 20 March 1971 as follows:
...We need now tank-defeating armed helicopters. Had we entered LAMSON 719 with a helicopter armed with an accurate, lethal, relatively long-range anti-tank weapon, we would have destroyed many more NVA tanks and would have rendered more effective close support to Vietnamese ground forces. As I consider our experience against NVA tanks in LAMSON 719 and ponder what would face us on a European-type battlefield, I am absolutely convinced that the US Army must field immediately an armed helicopter with an effective tank-killing capability. If the AH-1G "Cobra" mounting the TOW gives us that required capability the soonest, fine. I hold no brief for any particular weapons system, but I do hold the firm conviction that we need now the armed helicopter tank-killer.
On this same date, General Berry comments on several other aspects of LAMSON 719. These comments—which were made before the actual close of the operation and right where the action was happening—bear repeating:
...Our experience in conducting airmobile operations in support of LAMSON 719 confirms the soundness of the concept and principles of airmobility developed by the U.S. Army. We have, of course, modified and adapted specific tactics and techniques to cope with the operational environment. But airmobility principles and concepts have proven sound and valid.
...Living and operating in the ground soldier's environment, the armed helicopter escorts troop-lift helicopters flying the soldier to and from his operations, escorts helicopters delivering ammunition, food, water, supplies, and mail to the soldier, and escorts the medical evacuation helicopter rescuing the wounded soldier from battle. The armed helicopter flies underneath ceilings measured in hundreds of feet to locate targets threatening or attacking the solider to deliver timely, responsive, accurate fire within tens of feet of the soldier's position.
The fighter-bomber has a unique capability to place heavy firepower and a variety of ordnance in close support of the ground soldier. The fighter-bomber's most distinctive characteristic is its ability to deliver heavy bombs in support of the ground soldier. The fighter-bomber flies underneath ceilings measured in thousands of feet, to deliver heavy bombs within hundreds of feet of the ground soldier's position and lighter ordnance even closer.
The armed helicopter and fighter-bomber team works effectively in LAMSON 719. Armed helicopters of the air cavalry reconnoiter objective