Sud Aviation Alouette III in Portuguese service
Sud Aviation Alouette III in Portuguese service | |
---|---|
Portuguese Air Force Alouette III | |
Type | Light utility helicopter |
Manufacturer | Sud Aviation Aérospatiale |
Serial | 9251–9316, 9332–9401, 9412–9417 |
First flight | June 18, 1963 |
Owners and operators | Portuguese Air Force |
In service | 1963–2020 |
The
Acquisition
Prior to the acquisition of the Alouette III, Portugal had operated a single
With the start of the
All helicopters introduced into service were allocated a serial number from one of three sets: 9251 to 9316, 9332 to 9401, and 9412 to 9417.
Operational service
Introduction into service
The first twelve Alouette III of the Portuguese Air Force were directly sent from Sud Aviation installation's in France to Angola. These aircraft arrived on April 25, 1963, and were based at Air Base No. 9 (Portuguese: Base Aérea Nº 9, BA9) in Luanda, where the first flight of a Portuguese Alouette III took place on June 18, 1963.[3]
The remaining helicopters were sent to the units in Africa with only a few being sent to Portugal, where they were based at Air Base No. 3 (Portuguese: Base Aérea Nº 3, BA3), in Tancos, for training. The latter equipped the Airplane and Helicopter Mix Instruction Squadron (Portuguese: Esquadra Mista de Instrução de Aviões e Helicópteros, EMIAH).[2]
In
The Alouette III in Angola was operated by 94 Squadron, based at Luanda, while operating in all of the Angolan territory. They were initially mainly used in the north area and permanent detachments were later established in Cuito Cuanavale until the end of the war.[2][4]
In 1969, with a high number of Alouette III in service, the Air Force established 402 Squadron "Saltimbancos" at the Luso Auxiliary Aerodrome, part of the
Alouette III operations in Mozambique started in 1967. These helicopters were operated by 503 Squadron "Índios", based at Base Airfield No. 5 (Portuguese: Aeródromo Base Nº 5, AB5) in Nacala, and 703 Squadron "Vampiros", based at Base Airfield No. 7 (Portuguese: Aeródromo Base Nº 7, AB7) in Tete.[2][3][4]
503 Squadron was stationed at
703 Squadron maintained temporary detachments at Furancungo, Macanga, and Mutarara. It later started maintaining a permanent detachment in Estima due to the increase in terrorist attacks against the Cahora Bassa Dam's construction site.[2][3]
In 1968, the EMIAH was re-designated as Helicopter Complementary Instruction Squadron (Portuguese: Esquadra de Instrução Complementar de Helicópteros, EICH) No. 33 "Zangões" (Drones). Starting in March 1971, this squadron was temporarily transferred from Tancos (BA3) to Montijo (BA6) due to sabotage at the aforementioned air base.[2]
Combat in Africa
Portugal became the first country to use the Alouette III in combat during the Overseas War, where it was operated extensively by the Portuguese Air Force in the Portuguese overseas territories until the end of the war and the subsequent withdrawal of all Portuguese troops from Africa in 1974 and 1975. Helicopters, particularly the Alouette III, became an important asset during the conflict in counter-insurgency operations, as they allowed for rapid deployment of ground forces, as well as close air support, and delivery of supplies to remote areas and the ability to withdraw wounded troops during combat.[4][5]
The Air Force also operated the Alouette III in the general transport, liaison, and reconnaissance rules. In addition to its squadrons operating from their assigned bases and maintaining detachments at forward airfields, squadrons in Africa would also occasionally maintain temporary detachments at remote
The use of the Alouette III in
In 1964 the units in Angola modified some Alouette III helicopters with a wider side door and installed a pair of M2 Browning machine guns in the rear capable of being fired from the left side door. After initial operational testing these modified aircraft, nicknamed Falcão (Falcon), started being used in the protection and support of the non-armed Alouette IIIs, nicknamed Cotovia (Lark).
Two years later, in 1966, the Air Force adopted a permanent solution for their armed Alouette III: a special version with a single
In addition to supporting air assault operations, the heli-canhão was also used to support horse mounted combat patrols of the Army.[6][7] Later in 1973, the use of rocket launcher pods on the Alouette III was tested but was never used in combat during the war.[1]
The Alouette III helicopters used for tactical transport in air assault operations differed from other versions by having the front left seat facing backwards to allow its occupant to exit the helicopter more quickly through the back side door.
Portuguese air assault operations were executed by a group of five to six transport helicopters and a group of one or two helicopter gunships, which made the final approach to the target area at low altitude and by taking advantage of the terrain and vegetation as cover. Each transport helicopter, later nicknamed canibais (
After the troops landed the canibais would leave the combat area and the Alouette III gunship would stay and provide support to the ground forces during the ground assault, by destroying the enemy resistance and providing firepower with its 20 mm autocannon. Finished the ground combat, the transport helicopters would return, in a first wave collecting the wounded and subsequently the remaining troops.[8]
As the war progressed, and as enemy forces were equipped with improved
During the war, from 1963 to 1974, a total of 30 Alouette III were destroyed, resulting in the loss of 30 crew members and 10 passengers.
Post-war
In 1975, with the end of the war in Africa the previous year, all surviving Alouette III returned to
In April 1976, 33 Squadron formed a four Alouette III
With the 1978 reorganization of the Air Force, the Alouette III started being operated by the following squadrons:
- 111 Squadron based at Tancos, responsible for fixed-wing multi-engine aircraft and helicopter training;
- 551 Squadron based at Montijo, responsible for tactical transport, offensive air support, and search and rescue, with some Alouette III being equipped with a winch and floats;
- 552 Squadron (former 33 Sqn.) based at Tancos, responsible for tactical transport and offensive air support.
That year the Air Force operated a total of 36 Alouette III helicopters, which was reduced to 26 helicopters by 1988.
The Alouette III was also employed in the combat of wildfires from the late 1970s to early 1980s by being used to transport first response firefighter teams and as forward air controllers for other firefighting aircraft.[9]
Further reorganization of the Air Force in 1986 resulted in 551 Squadron being disbanded in September and all helicopters being transferred to 552 Squadron. Later in 1993, 111 Squadron was disbanded, with all its helicopters being transferred to 552 Squadron, which was relocated to
552 Squadron maintained a detachment with four Alouette III helicopters and 31 personnel, between February 2000 and July 2002, in East Timor as part of the United Nations missions. During that time, a total of 127 personnel served in East Timor and executed a 2,700 flight hours, transporting 10,000 passengers and 131 wounded people.[10]
Presently, 552 Squadron provides helicopter flight training to PoAF,
In May 2017, the Portuguese Air Force finally decided to replace the aging Alouette III fleet which then counts 8 helicopters.[11] Five AgustaWestland AW119 Koala plus two options are ordered in October 2018 for €20 million ($23 million). Deliveries of the helicopters begin in late 2018, running until 2020.[12]
See also
- Portuguese Air Force
- Aérospatiale Alouette III
- Portuguese Colonial War
- South African Border War
- Parachute Troops School
- Caçadores
- Alcora Exercise
- Cold War
- Rotores de Portugal
- List of Portuguese Air Force bases
- List of Portuguese Air Force aircraft squadrons
References
- ^ a b c "Helicópteros". Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Esquadra 552 Zangões - Em perigos e Guerras Esforçados". Walkarounds-CCADF. January 21, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Alouette III, Contributo para a divulgação da História em Portugal". April 22, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Esquadra 552 - Zangões". Portuguese Air Force. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ Comissão para o Estudo das Campanhas de África (1990). Subsídios para o Estudo da Doutrina Aplicada nas Campanhas de África (1961–1974) (Report). Portuguese Army General Staff. pp. 127–128.
- ISBN 9780313046575.
- ^ Cann 1996, p. 268
- ^ a b Cann 1996, pp. 251–254
- ^ Mais Alto 404, p. 9
- ^ a b "Sobre a Esquadra 552 - Zangões". 552 Squadron. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- ^ 40 Dias E 40 Noites - Substituto do Alouette III (M1896 - 33/2017) ~ PÁSSARO DE FERRO
- ^ Portugal has ordered five Leonardo Helicopters AW119Kx light-singles for multirole missions in a deal worth over €20 million ($23 million).
Bibliography
- Cardoso, Adelino (2000). Aeronaves Militares Portuguesas no Século XX. Lisbon: Essencial.
- Cann, John P. (1996). Portuguese Counterinsurgency Campaigning in Africa - 1961-1974: A Military Analysis (PDF) (Thesis). University of London. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- "Os 50 Anos do Alouette III na Força Aérea Portuguesa". Mais Alto (in Portuguese) (404). Lisbon: Portuguese Air Force: 11–14. July–August 2013.
- "Dossier 50 anos Alouette III - 1º Parte". Mais Alto (in Portuguese) (404). Lisbon: Portuguese Air Force: 15–39. July–August 2013.
- "A Formação no Alouette III". Mais Alto (in Portuguese) (404). Lisbon: Portuguese Air Force: 40–47. July–August 2013.
- "Dossier 50 anos Alouette III - 2º Parte". Mais Alto (in Portuguese) (405). Lisbon: Portuguese Air Force: 21–34. September–October 2013.
External links
- Alouette III information, 552 Squadron official website (in Portuguese)
- Portuguese Air Force Alouette III fleet chronology (in Portuguese)