AH-64 ● Destroying Bridge ● In-Cockpit Video from Desert Storm ● Jan 20, 1991 ● Apache Helicopter

[@mohammed.f5607]

till today, that bridge is still the same broken parts but still hanging out there, i live very close to this area P:

[@mitchellrivers922]

Interesting!

[@Bluedevil82nd]

How are things going in Iraq?

[@mohammed.f5607]

@@Bluedevil82nd It's quiet in the south but there is attacks from time to time on the west-northwest part of iraq , still have ISIS presence.

[@markcarr1605]

@@mohammed.f5607 be safe there..

[@zacharypelphrey6166]

Why can’t anyone in Iraq fix anything? Your country is a dumpster why not try and fix it up?

[@milescallamy6815]

Fun fact: Desert Storm saw the Apache become the first attack helicopter in history to receive the surrender of infantry.

[@Apoquinador]

What does the surrender of infantry? Like enemy infantry surrendering to an apache flying over them?

[@Mamiya645]

@@Apoquinador Yes, in one documented operation they gave up defending their base, marched out unarmed and signalled for peace with white cloth held high above their heads, to the direction of the helicopter many kilometers away.

[@juicyj3819]

Fun!

[@theboogerbeater]

I just got smarter

[@romans6696]

Probably the only time it didn't blow everyone up

[@GTRNights]

This is exactly the reason why Apaches have codes. If each one will use direct fire, they have their own codes. Codes are kinda complicated and have different pulses and shit, but if you have two Apaches, and one of them loses their LRFD, the other Apache can simply tell him his laser code. In the MPD under the weapons page for the missiles, at the top you have the ability to change both the code that you're using for LRFD (and LST) as well as what channel your missiles are going to look for. So if you're code A and your buddy is code B, your laser stops working, you can just set your missiles to look for code B and when you fire, your missiles will follow his laser. Also has other cool tech built in like first/last pulse, and outside of direct fire you have LOAL as well. So let's say you have an enemy tank in a treeline, you'd select last pulse, so the missile knows to look for the last pulse and hit the tank, and not the trees in front of it, and since the tank has equipment that can detect when a laser is being pointed at them, you want to give them the least amount of time possible to react, so you can launch the weapon first, and then once it's about halfway to the target, you'll get a notification on the TEDAC to lase the target. So you lase the target and then just a few seconds later, the missile tracks and hits. You can also fire multiple missiles, one after another depending on your distance to the target. Say you have 2 targets and you want to hit them relatively fast (let's just say a pair of tunguskas because those things are f'in nasty.) Let's say you've got about a 15 second flight time at about 7k out. At about 7 seconds left to impact, you can fire a second missile. When the first one hits, you slew the TADS over to the second target and lase it. 7 ish seconds later the second one will hit. This way, you're not wasting time. There's so much cool shit you can do with an Apache man. The enemy is right to be terrified of it. Especially at night.

[@joeandjoe2]

Well achually !!

[@GTRNights]

@@joeandjoe2 Well actually, I worked on the Apache for years in the Army.

[@ApacheRanch]

Well done! And thank you. Our 67-Romeo’s keep them flying!!

[@rem45acp]

And now Apaches and Commanches are being phased out of service for drones because they cost half as much and less risk to human life of course. Although I think the human element is important on the front line

[@chuckenomics]

Cooks think they knoweverything.. ;) hooah

[@otpyrc]

I don't know where this bridge is at but I have to give props to the people who built it.

[@issakonkurse]

It's in Iraq :p

[@mook528]

They are firing 100lb hellfire missiles designed to take out armored vehicles at a bridge. That would be like trying to disable a car with a 9mm

[@windowsvistasuxalot]

@@mook528 tire then radiator 9mm. Disabled. But yeah, Bridges are really hard to knock down. Thus why laser guided bombs were born.

[@lenn55]

The Hellfire has such a small warhead I'm surprised it did this much damage. The higher ups should have just sent an aircraft with a 1k LGB to attack it.

[@alanhess9306]

I keep think an F-15 dropping one MK 84 would have immediately destroyed the bridge. Hellfires seem to be fairly ineffective here.

[@cshubs]

When the air war started in 1/20, I was test driving a car in Vermont. The salesman's brother was a fighter pilot, so when the announcement came on the radio, things got real for him real quick.

[@marcs990]

I’m ex British Army JTAC n I can tell u it was like hell on the main MSR, it was strewn with Iraqi dead in vehicles or on foot and they were all burnt to a crisp. Miles n miles of the same n it was awe inspiring regarding the intense firepower but also made u sick to ur stomach. Hard to take in at 17.

[@davidca96]

It gave us a glimpse of how it looked when we went into Germany in WW2, miles and miles of dead people, horses, vehicles and tanks in every direction. Must have been quite a horrible sight for you Mark.

[@marcs990]

@@davidca96 yup it wasn’t nice & 1 situation we were sure there was a guy unharmed & sitting up in the front of a truck with his hands grasped around the steering wheel, it wasn’t until we got closer & I opened the door to the cab that I could see he was burnt to a crisp. I can only explain it by thinking he must of been flash fried as his outside shell looked in human for but his insides were , well just not there? Happy that it must of been a very quick death. I just couldn’t stop myself from thinking, ok these guys are heading north out of Kuwait so we are we still shooting them like fish in a barrel? Anyhow that’s out of my pay grade. I was actually part of the desert rats 🐀, was posted to Germany 1BR Corps, 7 Armoured Brigade & loved my time in Germany just as the Cold War ended. Went to Bosnia twice which was worse than Desert Storm, then 911 & I was back in Iraq again in 2003 the Afghanistan in 2007 then Iraq again in 2009 then finally Afghanistan again wars in 2011 whereupon my 22 years were coming to an end & my last 3 years were in the stores. I would never of thought I would of been a lifer but I just certainly didn’t go through it with my eyes closed or my thumb up the RSMs backside. Maybe a silly question but how was Germany for you, I loved the place. Obviously VERY different circumstances plus I also married a German girl from the town. Thanks for your kind response. Mark

[@effemesseyeveethefourth2841]

@@marcs990 was there 2x, loved it! Before and after the wall. Played in the 'Desert Worm' & 'Fonzia', nix zer gut!

[@marcs990]

@@davidca96 yup 👍 I agree it must of been awful in WW2. Thanks for replying

[@marcs990]

@@effemesseyeveethefourth2841 where were you based on your 2 tours of Germany ? Thanks

[@mtjarrott]

6:00 "Ok, we got 58s out your left door, no factor" refers to the presence of an OH-58D Kiowa scout helicopter off the left side of the Apache. No factor means they are not in danger of getting hit by the firing operation.

[@jameshigginbottom6512]

Thank you for translating those call codes.

[@JimboVR.]

One of the CPG's seemed reluctant to fire on a bridge with civilians on it. I respect that. 🙏

[@EmotionalSupportCube]

Sad they fired anyways, but it seems like they made it off the bridge intact.

[@JimboVR.]

@@EmotionalSupportCube it seems they had no choice, in spite of their conscious telling them otherwise, they would've been in trouble had they not fulfilled their duty

[@calk3181]

@@JimboVR. great attitude

[@thesaltybrit9321]

@@calk3181 How do you know it's his attitude? It might be that he understands the reasons but disagrees. It might be that it's his view.

[@calk3181]

@@thesaltybrit9321 “they would’ve been in trouble if they hadn’t fulfilled their duty” is a poor excuse, it didn’t work in Germany WW2 and it won’t work now

[@rjmercer042]

Wow, this was 30 years ago... now I feel old.

[@NaimSayuthi]

“It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand. ” - Apache

[@codystout5353]

I used to love when air support rolled in. You want to see the enemy run away. Have a couple Apache helicopters roll in.

[@tjcambre5236]

That at a10s

[@christopherjames5895]

Certainly made those civs run ......SMH

[@codystout5353]

@@christopherjames5895 no civilians guys who were trying to kill me. Let me guess you have never put the uniform on and served your country right?

[@christopherjames5895]

@@codystout5353 If shooting missiles at civs is serving your country , then thank god I was not allowed to !

[@codystout5353]

@@christopherjames5895 you keep saying civilians... You have zero clue what you are talking about. If you weren't there. The moment they picked up a wepon makes them combatants.

[@kennypeshlakai2416]

This is one of the best video/audio combat films I’ve ever seen. Great job ! Stay safe my friends

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

This takes me back to the early 90s, thanks for the nostalgia boost!

[@ApacheRanch]

Thanks for your comment!

[@shonseibert48]

I was Fuel Systems Technician on A-10s n I remember being deployed to Gulf in 91 n watching video like this from the HUD pods n Maverick missile cams as a morale boosters. It was brutal watching them hit those vehicles n ppl with 30 mm rounds, n missiles......🇺🇲

[@Max_R_MaMint]

@@mahdisarrami9904 Arabian Gulf*

[@Max_R_MaMint]

I was there as well. XVIII ABN, at the top of the column way over on the western flank. Never got to see any videos until years later, lol. It's crazy how times have changed just since then as far as video and internet, etc.

[@2BachShakur]

Shout out to the engineer of that bridge.

[@thaduke7242]

Wouldn't it be better to aim for the centre of a span section rather than the more reinforced areas around the support columns? I'm no engineer but surely the bridge would be weaker there and under a lot more tension meaning it would take less damage to reduce the structural integrity enough for it to collapse. Or just leave it there in a weakened enough state that the extra weight of the enemy tanks does the job for you mid crossing.. 😁

[@milescallamy6815]

That's a good question. The column can't be repaired as easily as a span. By hitting the column, you also take two spans out, as well as removing the support point between those spans so the bridge can't even be makeshifted. It's not just about destroying it, it's about affecting their ability to repair it.

[@penelopelgoss2520]

🤪 yes, structurally, aiming at the base of the column to collapse the column thus dropping and damaging the 2 spans that are supported at the center point up the column would have been best! All in all the pilots hadn't a clue as to how to best carry out the mission other than to blow it up. It didn't look damaged to me whatsoever. Thus they left it in a state it could be repaired in short time

[@scottlin7876]

I was thinking the same. Also wondering who repaired the bridge. Probably America or it's allies

[@penelopelgoss2520]

@@scottlin7876 LOL, you're probably correct. If we, the USA, didn't provide the Corp of Engineers and laborers we may have given the locals and the elders the funds to rebuild.

[@johnnytdufc]

After the First Gulf War we didn't rebuild anything as a nation. We did send in contractors, well they went on their own. However, the reason that the bridge wasn't coming down with those missiles is that the warheads they carried were not the same as today. They were the earlier version of that specirfic missile, but they were not built the same. And, a bridge made for vehicles in iraq would certainly have been engineered by either American or Western Europeans. That means that it was very, VERY strong. But the warheads were designed to limit collateral damage. A 500lb bomb would've taken it out much faster.

[@randyhall161]

They can control a missile from another apache? That wild.

[@ApacheRanch]

They use 4 digit codes. Just match up the code for both laser and missile, and the missile will look for that specific laser spot. Also works with infantry lasing from the ground with a hand held laser.

[@MehulSaxena081]

@@ApacheRanch Holy Moly!! Proud Indian Air Force bought few of these bad boys 👍👍😅😅

[@MehulSaxena081]

@@yiannimil1 Probably yes..!! If I see current deployment of Apache it's towards Chinese border..With Pakistan we have a indigenous developed Light combat helicopter, that's enough for them. 👍

[@christobelcoleslaw6214]

@@ApacheRanch NEAT! That's cool af

[@Nikolai_The_Crazed]

The Apache can also track over 100 targets through radar, engage sixteen at a time, and remotely connect to a UAV for a drone strike. These things are BEASTS for sure

[@johns8902]

This is'91. Imagine the technology we got now that we don't hear about lmao. Love our military, nothing but support to you guys!

[@PaPaPOVEY]

Hey I know I was 1 at the time an I know how far we've advanced, but to think of the stuff we're not shown... OneLove

[@skankhunt3624]

UFOs 🛸 (Advanced military Tech)

[@fariborza.e.7755]

US in decline. Also it's military

[@skankhunt3624]

@@fariborza.e.7755 fake news.

[@caleblee7897]

Fun fact the Apache JUST got a colored display. It had upgraded FLIR but until recently no color.

[@mykeybarbee2587]

Does anyone aside from me, remember the Strike series games for for SNES? Dessert Strike, Urban Strike, Nuclear Strike, Jungle Strike? All featured the Apache Longbow! Super fun on the Super Nes!

[@XAMBUSH1X]

a had desert strike for the sega megadrive and loved it ✊️

[@dominiccoscarelli305]

Damn thats one tough bridge.

[@Cruor34]

No it isn't. Hellfire missiles have 3 warheads, Anit Tank, Anti personel/soft target/anti bunker/bridge. These were likely anti tank/soft target. AT missiles shoot a thin jet of molten metal that goes through tanks and kills people, it's not designed to blow up reinforced concrete. It would be like shooting a tree 1 foot thick with .50 cal a few times and thinking its a tough tree when it doesn't fall over. The same bullet would kill an elephant but it's ineffective on a tree. A Chainsaw will take the tree down but good luck killing the elephant with it. Also, I could have told you that you want to hit the span between the supports, not hit the support. The support is the toughest part, weakest is the section furthest from support, which they should have known from the start.

[@alanhess9306]

@@Cruor34 They should have called in fixed wing aircraft. A couple of MK 84s would have easily demolished the bridge.

[@jbenthere627]

Facinating! Kudos for sparing human life.

[@jeromes58]

The original hellfire rocket motors produced a lot of smoke. His last shot must have been an old motor. They would leave a smoke trail from the aircraft.

[@dukecraig2402]

He seemed genuinely surprised by it that's for sure.

[@foodog3026]

Excellent shooting/teamwork

[@kdw75]

What is that WaWaWa sound I keep hearing in Apache videos? Sounds like something rotary rubbing around the 0:58

[@ApacheRanch]

It’s interference from the old analog video tapes used in the A-model Apache.

[@comeandtakeit5183]

Anybody know what caused the last hellfire to smoke so much? Curious if the missle would have still tracked if the target wasn't being lased by a different bird. Would the designator be blocked by the smoke trail?

[@kangarooklown9841]

if he couldn't get a good lase, i think he wouldve gotten a backscatter error in tads, smoke and dust will do that as well as an obscurant , but it seems his lase was fine was fine

[@FarmerFpv]

Its like they're sitting having a casual conversation over some lunch, lol.

[@madpatriot7464]

IDK what that noise is but it would drive me absolutely insane

[@madpatriot7464]

@Worzal Gummidge okay, I thought it may have been passive detection, or a lock on tone. Thanks for answering 😉

[@davem145mxr]

The US could use some of the engineers that designed that bridge

[@lovecchio420]

Why, the bridges in Chicago are fine, and they take RPG's all the time.

[@KB4QAA]

DM: The pilots of this helo could use a 2 minute lesson from an engineer about where the weak points of a bridge are. They were not aiming at the best points.

[@tonyv8925]

Commander: "uh, someone call the manufacturer and tell them their Mavericks are not working so well..." lol

[@FuriouslyFurious]

Hellfires, not mavericks. But yes, that smoker at the end was wild.

[@michaeljg420]

“Run. Get off the damn bridge.” Fires missile “Now they’re running” 💀

[@ctguy1955]

Atari 400 in 1981, Commodore 128 1985, Amiga 500 with side one meg hard drive + memory slots for extra ram, then on to My first PC. I bought every fllight sim I could get my hands on, and now at the end of 2021, the new DCSW AH64 is going to be the most realistic flight sim ever made for civilian use ! Chain Weapon ( B-3-3 FT Dix NJ in 1972 taught Me never to use the "G" word.) in the Demos are awesome !

[@ApacheRanch]

Well done! Yes DCS is something amazing.

[@josephfranzen5626]

That’s awesome man my dad went to basic at Ft. Dix before they turned it into some sort of administrative post. When he came to my graduation at Benning in 04 he was blown away that we had running shoes for PT and told me he ran in boots and utilities. No PT shorts/sweatsuits and running shoes for them. It’s unfortunate how soft the Army has gotten even in the short period since I ETSed in 08.

[@sirmalus5153]

One Grand Slam with a laser guide head would have saved a lot of missiles and fuel. Sometimes the old ones are the best ones.

[@lightweight3908]

The logistics, time and fuel will be costly too. You need heavier bombers for that and a grand slam is heavy ass bomb which consumes more fuel. We have new and powerful bombs than grand slam but have so much considerations for the options that you'll choose. War is not like it n a video game that you can choose whatever you want and click here and there. Think for it in a minute.

[@tunaconsuma]

That would be really inefficient tbh, a 250lb paveway woulda worked fine

[@GeFlixes]

Does anyone know what the "whoop whoop" sound is on the tape? Is that electronics or radar interfering with the signal?

[@ApacheRanch]

That sound is really common on the AH-64A video tapes when there is no other radio calls happening. I don’t remember the sound ever being in the actual aircraft while flying a mission but the sound is very familiar to me from reviewing our tapes afterwards in the pilot room. These old AH-64A recordings could only be made by filming the screen of the proprietary playback machine with another camera like an 8mm on a tripod. That sound is so familiar I didn’t even notice it! It’s just the sound you hear when all else is quiet and the TADS is searching around for a target. For some reason the tapes would pick up some interference from it and that’s what you hear on the tape!

[@josie4065]

Excellent footage

[@jhon9186]

The noise sound of the engine turbine gave me a creepy feelings.

[@imBingus]

I find it calming by how, well, calm they are.

[@MaxB-el7bi]

I find it pretty unsettling to be honest...

[@halojump123]

It is calming. They where NOT trigger happy cowboys shooting anything in site. A calm thought out engagement.

[@MaxB-el7bi]

@@halojump123 I just can't get the thought of the the people on the other end out of my head. Being so calm while causing so much destruction doesn't feel natural in my world view

[@poker_dealer]

@@MaxB-el7bi it isn’t natural. It’s endless hours of training to counteract natural reaction.

[@rfcdgaf]

Anyone know what that whoo who whoo noise is when they aren't speaking? Mic feedback?

[@ApacheRanch]

That sound is really common on the old AH-64A video tapes when there is no other radio calls happening. I don’t remember the sound ever being in the actual aircraft while flying a mission but the sound is very familiar to me from reviewing our tapes afterwards in the pilot room. These old AH-64A recordings could only be made by filming the screen of the proprietary playback machine with another camera like an 8mm on a tripod. It’s just the sound you hear when all else is quiet and the TADS is searching around for a target. For some reason the tapes would pick up some interference from it and that’s what you hear on the tape.

[@0I0II000]

“Man that thing smoked!” - Genuine reaction if I ever heard it.

[@benincyprus]

Can anyonetell me what the humming sound is, often when moving?

[@xRepoUKx]

Other than give the crew some experience, that seems to have been a complete waste of time and money. A few 500lb Jdams would have done the job for a fraction of the cost. Prices vary depending on batch but these are indicative 1991 costs. 500lb JDAM - $500. Hellfire - $40,000.

[@Richard-on6os]

U sure know it better than the trained military guys. Right

[@Tsarbomb117]

Right, a GPS or laser guided bomb costs as much as an Xbox.

[@xRepoUKx]

@@Tsarbomb117 look up the numbers yourself then, I did, I didn't guess.

[@357Maxim]

@@xRepoUKx JDAM start at USD 25,000 per unit, and hellfire at USD 150,000....

[@xRepoUKx]

@@357Maxim those are 2021 costs, the video was shot in 1991; 30 years ago.

[@MrIzzy11B]

That looks damn fucking good for being 1990-1991

[@getothechoppa114]

I was thinking the samething

[@GeneralG1810]

Imagine what the tech is like now?

[@swill1020]

Can anyone tell me how far away the helicopters are from their targets? I’ve seen video where the target didn’t seem to be aware of the helicopters proximity. I can hear a helicopter from a long way. Whatever the case Im glad Im not a bogie

[@flyguy68]

2/6 cav 11 avn my brothers we did great!❤. Apache all the way.

[@NoneYaBidness762]

2/1 Avn 1st Armored. Checking in.

[@thudthud5423]

Yeah, as I suspected the first missile gave the civilians proper warning.

[@LindaHartman-d5r]

Mr GTRNight, amazed how much I know after reading your owners manual. Tks

[@military-vehicles]

And the apache is still in use!

[@bushyboy8376]

Apache warriors is a great documentary if you haven’t seen it.

[@marcsandias6367]

Love anything involving Air Force. As a father of a marine that was there so enjoyed his stories about two things. The snippers he had supporting him while he did his explosives stuff and the air support when those wanting to kill him were dug in and needed our Air Force to dig them out.

[@imluna6455]

Apaches are a US army exclusive aircraft, the Air Force mainly focus on fixed winged and black hawks

[@georgeizziednu7983]

Ur sick get a help

[@Hosidius]

@ i mean hes not wrong. It is indeed sickening. I get why people want to kill us because we are the people who come and invade and in the process kill their family and friends and make life worse..and ontop of that their economy goes into the gutter... and thats all theyve ever known. Im american and I love merica but war is sickening and the original comment isnt exactly in the right lol

[@slightlyirradiatedmuffin3257]

@@Hosidius Do you know anything whatsoever about desert storm? We didn't invade anyone, the Iraqi's invaded Kuwait so the coalition kicked them out. Also, "their economy goes into the gutter", is _complete_ bullshit. Iraq's GDP nearly multiplied by 10 in the 10 years following the second Iraq war. Afghanistan's GDP per capita saw its longest period of uninterrupted growth during U.S. occupation and only turned around when we began withdrawing in 2013. Meanwhile the median lifespan in Afghanistan increased by a decade and literacy rate went from less than 20% to 50%, even higher amongst youths. Alongside billions upon billions in infrastructure, educational institutions, hospitals, etc.

[@donkeyshins5736]

@@slightlyirradiatedmuffin3257 Hey man, just remember that the taliban had to paint over a George Floyd monument when they took over…

[@versoarmamentcompany]

Great video

[@ВолодимирОлександрович-п2л]

what is the strange sound heard throughout the video?

[@wanjevi]

Laser locking on the flock of birds 3:25

[@hotfightinghistory9224]

Why did the last Hellfire puff out such a big plume of smoke when it was fired? Was that a bad motor or something?

[@Bryan-cs9to]

Nice work

[@youmightberightorwrong]

how far away were ypu?

[@arravYT]

Looks like they need a JDAM instead

[@Spearhead45]

I cant find much in terms of location. But i did pull a NSIAD report and see that the 101st did hit alot of hard targets and bunkers, witch is maybe why they tried to go for the bridge lol . i love this old footage

[@mahcheeksajiglin6540]

Some men go to school for years on how to correctly demolish structures. Apache pilot: Ya want me to send another one? See if we can cut it in half?

[@ethandunn6498]

anyone got an accurate guess of their altitude? I would say a mile or two but at the end they look only a couple hundred feet off tree level.

[@GTRNights]

80 feet AGL according to the TADS display. You don't want to be high up. Not just because of seeker radar in the area, or manpads, but also you have to understand pod depression. The pods that carry the hellfires can only tilt up and down within a limited angle, so if you're too high up in relation to the target you want to hit, then you'll be "outside of constraints". it's a bad idea in general to launch in that condition, so you may need to lower altitude first. There are times when it can be acceptable, especially if you're still getting a primary channel lock report from the missile prior to firing and there's other battlefield conditions, but proper procedure is to make sure you have a solid box that's in constraints before lasing and firing the missile just to make sure.

[@NoName-mi8bm]

Great vid

[@fredflintstone3714]

So exactly how did you convert the 3/4” NTSC 875LRV videos into NTSC 525LRV video? Why did you tint them green when the original tapes were B&W ?

[@ApacheRanch]

No tint. We are talking 1992 here. 8mm camera on a tripod filming the green monitor connected to the tape player in the debrief room.

[@fredflintstone3714]

@@ApacheRanch I worked at Martin Marietta at that time as their video editor and we O-scanned B&W 875 LRV monitor playing back 3/4” originals fresh off the AH-64’s provided to me by a U.S. Army Maj. The original videos were B&W as they had no color burst - they were never green. They were classified and we blocked out symbology to hide it from adversaries (aka Soviets). We also did the same with 2” Quad tapes during test flights in early 1980’s using RCA TPR-10’s.

[@ApacheRanch]

Not disagreeing with you. B&W film - agreed. But some units had monitors that were shades of green. No idea why. Those display decks didn’t have output ports and digital video wasn’t a thing yet for most people so we recorded the screen with a film camera. You can see the edges of the physical player in most videos of that timeframe.

[@TsunaXZ]

How far are the Apache from the bridge? Why the people aren't noticing the heli?

[@ApacheRanch]

9 kilometers away from the bridge per the laser display on the right of the word "RECORDER". About 5 miles distance.

[@TsunaXZ]

@@ApacheRanch I see, thanks

[@ApacheRanch]

Watch the 2017 "Apache Warrior" movie on Amazon Prime: amzn.to/35aSmvs

[@nexus888]

Good for the story to listen to the interviews but there isn’t any flying..

[@prestonnoel6944]

They got beat up eh !! But they did get the job done

[@Sanderly1820]

Whats that humming is it thee rotorbldes

[@flyback_driver]

Think you've got a wheel bearing going out lol. Also, hearing pilots saying woah after seeing a hellfire smoke more than usual seems to be the barbers equivalent of whoops. It was unsettling to hear and I had a bit of experience talking with apaches haha.

[@dystopian..]

Why is Charlie Browns Teacher involved in this?

[@JimRedHawk]

Why didn’t they take out the support beams?

[@jamielancaster01]

Don’t destroy the bridge other people need to use it

[@propdoctor21564]

Fascinating video

[@migueljerez6057]

It sounds like the guy with the southern twang In His voice is a rookie, so he keeps mentioning he fact that civilians are on the target but every one else just ignores him or dismisses the concern because they’ve already done multiple tours of duty and are now just numb to the realitys of war. Maybe they knew the bridge was never gonna be civilian free until they shoot some ordnance danger close to civilians then they can finish their important task. Maybe it’s just my imagination but the video makes it sound like they were gonna shoot the bridge civilians be damned until the rookie made it an issue. Dudes sounded like they normally fire upon targets and wether or not civilians are in danger wasn’t a factor until the rookie spoke up

[@michaelsmith7425]

It's a shame that the pilots here did not comprehend basic physics of compression, support and spans. It's tough to take down a well designed UDL. But the compresssion support for that span is primed to crumple.

[@hoghogwild]

@The Bear JDAM werent in existence yet. A Hornet would have difficulty hitting that bridge.

[@comeandtakeit5183]

Probably could've dropped it with 30mm in the right places.

[@spets4265]

Given this is 1991 and the Cold War was in its last, dying breaths. They were trained to shoot their missiles at swarms of T-72's and T-80's in central/Western Germany, not a bridge in Iraq. Likewise their missiles do not have the same explosive impact that a 1000lb or 2000lb bomb has, they are essentially launching a laser riding RPG with more penetration at cement. I think they and their missiles did fine.

[@secretsquirrel572]

It has nothing to do with the bridge construction. Back when this was recorded, Hellfires were not designed to hit bridges, houses, etc. The hellfire was designed to penetrate tanks and blow up when they hit the internal void. Since the bridge is solid, the charge of the hellfire does minimal damage to the surface.

[@secretsquirrel572]

@@BurntPlaydoh I can tell you I’ve been an AH64 guy since 1999 and you don’t have a clue how a Hellfire missile works.

[@dr.elisaas8500]

what is that rumbling sound in the beginning?

[@maximuslt90]

What's with the harmonics?

[@donaldhamilton5345]

You'd think the USA could afford something better than a Bigfoot cam .

[@ApacheRanch]

Worked pretty good in 1991…

[@oO-_-_-_-Oo]

that dam cross wind was tearing thru the valley

[@smithnwesson990]

Trying to use hellfire anti tank missiles to take out a concrete reinforced bridge. Guess they kinda overestimated how powerful the warheads were. Needd to drop a 500lb bomb on it

[@cherylstevens9370]

That’s awesome

[@raulnovoa6098]

Damb that bridge. Was. Stubborn.

[@secularsunshine9036]

*A Rebirth in an Ancient Tomb.* The Grand Passage Tomb is located in Ireland and was constructed over fifty-two-hundred years ago, it defines the winter solstice and celebrates a Rebirth of the Sun. "Let the Sunshine In." Have a Wonderful Winter Solstice and a Happy Holiday Season. E pluribus Unum.

[@brustar5152]

Wait; destroying the bridge was the mission and after firing four hellfires, the thing still standing is deemed a success? Mmmmokay.

[@oneshotonekill8176]

Good shot

[@Brokenrocktail]

“He doesn’t think I can see him, I’m gonna blind him” what does he mean ?

[@justonhale1]

Lol they just spent more money destroying that bridge then it cost to make

[@starfighter1043]

Pretty much anything we do when we're at war w these middle eastern countries cost us more than it for their equipment and such....its like the rich kid on a sports team he always has the newest cleats gloves helmet and you have the regular team handed out shit, but yall still play the same game w different equipment....

[@Niko-vh8jh]

We only spent 2 million dollars on this mission, the bridge costs more.

[@kenmacfarlane8744]

@@Niko-vh8jh $2m. to bring down a bridge that wouldn't hold a fat lad on a bicycle. Americans more money than sense.

[@Niko-vh8jh]

@@kenmacfarlane8744 2 million isn’t that much.

[@kenmacfarlane8744]

@@Niko-vh8jh Are ye American ? You'd never get that past an Aberdonian Finance Dept ! They'd get the Polis on to you.

[@fekii._.]

Usually how far away are the Apache helicopters, when they start to firing at there targets

[@mdejoss1311]

5 to 10 km as i know...

[@alyssadavenport629]

@Professor raccoon 900 FEET for ARMOR?! bruh lol try nearly four miles. in this specific case you can calculate it from the speed of the missile and time to target. these are hellfires going about mach 1 (330 m/s) for 5 seconds so they’re 1.5 km away, or about a mile.

[@alyssadavenport629]

@Professor raccoon cannon range is about half a mile if they want to be accurate. anything on the ground can kill them from that range too, so it’s only used to kill infantry or vehicles that aren’t able to shoot back

[@ApacheRanch]

Notice the display reads 7913 meters from the laser rangefinder. They are 4.9 miles away from the bridge. The aircraft day tv camera sight is capable of 127x power zoom.

[@MoneyTrees2012]

What's that weird noise that comes in every now and then? I'd hate to hear that constantly in DCS haha

[@ApacheRanch]

Feedback on the old analog tapes.

[@texan2u]

Explaining the term "move with a sense of purpose" to the ass dragging civilians.

[@mohawksniper79]

They had the right idea wrong angle if they flew along the bridge and hit the top in that same spot it would come down because they were hitting where all three pieces came together they all were taking the brunt of the explosion so not doing as much damage. If they got the top a little left or right of the pillar it would have fallen. Those two pieces on top sit on top of the pillar.

[@paristo]

You can't destroy bridges with those warheads. Too ineffective. The HE is too weak, and the penetrator is like a shooting with a laser. That is why you have special forces to place proper detonators all over the bridge to get it destroyed in controlled manner. Even if they would have dropped a 900 kg Mk.84 bomb (2000 lbs) on it, it would not have gone down. This has been seen in the Vietnam, in the Iraq and everywhere, that you just don't waste time to destroy even that simple bridges. And weapons that are declared as "bridge destroyers" are really just not really doing anything of that.

[@UltimateUltimaRS]

Should have sent Harry Tasker in to shoot it with some Mavericks from his Harrier.

[@bumpedhishead636]

Hellfire seems like a poor weapon for taking down a reinforced concrete bridge. The old Maverick would have been much more effective. Hellfire has a 20 lb warhead, the Maverick had a 300 lb warhead.

[@timsparks1858]

Probably did this bridge as a secondary target. Was looking for a tank or APC and found only that Technical instead. He wasn't going to waste chain gun ammo or Hellfires on that!

[@foxco2378]

Semper Fi! Was there. 3rd mardiv

[@azurazdandaridae9158]

Find the engineer who designed that bridge and get him to design bridges for the U.S.

[@ismiismael]

why

[@GeorgeFloyd2]

DCS looks sick

[@preston74]

When it's a bad ass helicopter, no one gets offended they named it Apache.

[@semco72057]

Those AH-64 Apache helicopters was very dangerous to the Iraqi forces and destroyed Saddam Hussain's assets quickly once sent in to do their jobs.

[@effemesseyeveethefourth2841]

I was armament for those birds back then

[@charliewerchan7252]

Lots of folks stating Apaches didnt take out the bridge....but the pilots sure seem to enjoy it anyway

[@mikewatte4478]

Last missile said Hold my beer

[@douglasbedell1917]

Look to me like a totally failed mission. The bridge was still intact.

[@Aereaux]

Apaches do not carry weapons that are designed to take out a bridge.

[@douglasbedell1917]

@@Aereaux then why were they stationed there for so long and trying so hard? Why even bother?

[@drewby613]

@@omgwtflmaololrotfl2368 Welcome to it.

[@medicineman360]

@@douglasbedell1917 That's what we Americans do best. Blow shit up. (For better or worse)

[@brinsonharris9816]

They dropped a span at about 6:18. Bridge cut from one support column to the next.

[@bellator11]

Not sure why they didn't just aim for the pillar...

[@-ShootTheGlass-]

It looked like they couldn’t get a firm lock on it, the sight kept drifting.

[@wanjevi]

The laser designator isn't locking ...its all over the place...he even request for another aircraft to lock it for him

[@OttoBKilt-hu4iu]

What is that obnoxious fucking sound? My god that’s hard to listen to with headphones in.

[@ApacheRanch]

That sound is really common on the old AH-64A video tapes when there is no other radio calls happening. I don’t remember the sound ever being in the actual aircraft while flying a mission but the sound is very familiar to me from reviewing our tapes afterwards in the pilot room. These old AH-64A recordings could only be made by filming the screen of the proprietary playback machine with another camera like an 8mm on a tripod. It’s just the sound you hear when all else is quiet and the TADS is searching around for a target. For some reason the tapes would pick up some interference from it and that’s what you hear on the tape.

[@luisomargavanchoanaya2739]

Looks only for pedestrian and community use bridge, I wonder what kind of strategic use could be to destroy it or it is destroy all bridges and roads.

[@otablott7779]

To utterly destry any Arab country which dares to challenge western domination of the middle east

[@realomon]

How much does Hellfire cost nowadays?