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was so planned that when the lead aircraft completed its firing run the next aircraft was in position to engage the target. This tactic placed continuous fire on the target until it was neutralized. Rocket fire was used when necessary to reinforce the fires of the machine guns.
The techniques of fire for all weapons systems were based on maneuvering the helicopter and manipulating the weapons during the firing run. The flexibility of the armed helicopter's weapons systems allowed targets to be engaged without a requirement to maintain the armed helicopter on an aircraft-to-target line. This feature was exploited whenever possible to minimize helicopter exposure to the target engaged. When using rockets to attack targets obscured by trees or overhanging foliage, it was found that best results were obtained with a delayed fuse.
Fire of the armed escort helicopters during the enroute phase was controlled by the armed escort leader. The pre-mission briefings identified the probable insurgent areas and prescribed fire control procedures to be used by both the armed escorts and transports enroute and during the landing phase. In the landing zone, before friendly troops were on the ground, armed escort fire was controlled by the escort leader. After the ground force arrived in the landing zone, the ground commander often marks and identified insurgent targets so that suppressive fire could be quickly and accurately placed on them. On medical evacuation missions and other missions of this type, when the ground unit was in control of the landing zone, the fire of the helicopters was controlled by the ground commander. He designated targets, marked friendly areas, and determined if escort fire could be used without endangering friendly forces. In mountain and jungle terrain, where targets were obscured, the suppressive fire had to be accurately controlled and fire discipline maintained in order to avoid hitting friendly troops and to prevent needless expenditure of ammunition.
The armed escort was under operational control of the transport commander during the enroute and landing phases of airmobile operations. If the armed escort remained in support of the troops in the landing zone, the ground commander assumed operational control.
During this period of time opinion varied on the necessity for door gunners on transport helicopters. Generally speaking, those not close to the action favored elimination of the door gunner for the additional weight and space, while the transport helicopter pilots favored the retention of the door gunner without exception.