#178 Bell UH-1B Huey (1/72 Amercom) US Army

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, nicknamed the "Huey", is an American multipurpose helicopter. In the early 1950s, the U.S. Army announced a competition to design such a helicopter. In 1955, the Bell Helicopter Company's design was chosen from the proposed designs. The first of three prototypes, designated the XH-40, made its maiden flight on October 20, 1956, at the company's Fort Worth factory airfield. This was followed by another batch of six machines intended for field testing and nine pre-production HU-1 helicopters. The military designated these helicopters as the UH-1 Iroquois. However, it was the initial designation, HU-1, that led to the helicopter's nickname, "Huey". On June 30, 1959, the first six-seat UH-1A production helicopters began entering service with the U.S. Army. In March 1961, an improved version of the Iroquois, the UH-1B, entered service with a slightly more powerful engine. The helicopter could carry two pilots and seven fully equipped soldiers, or five wounded individuals (three on stretchers) and one escort. The fire support version of the helicopter had machine guns and rockets mounted on the sides of the fuselage. The UH-1 debuted during the Vietnam War, where it was used as an attack helicopter and for transport and other purposes. The UH-1 remains in service with the U.S. Navy (in the UH-1Y variant) and is used by more than 50 countries worldwide, making it one of the most widely used helicopters. The UH-1B was introduced in Update 1.81 "The Valkyries". While not the fastest helicopter, the Iroquois is highly maneuverable and can carry a large payload of rockets. It can also be equipped with six missiles for destroying enemy armored vehicles from a safe distance. For hunting enemy helicopters, it can be outfitted with powerful, rapid-fire miniguns.