Under a hot Northern Territory sun, a ‘hot refuel’ (refuelling without shutting down the engine and rotors) is performed during Exercise Northern Predator

The Possum just didn’t have it any more. While the Bell 47G-3B1, more commonly just called the Possum in Australian defence circles, had only been in service since the early 1960s, it was a very light helicopter with limited carrying capacity. Although providing excellent Army support for the Task Force then serving in South Vietnam, the spectacular advances in rotary aviation technology during the 1960s meant that the Possum was rapidly becoming obsolete. So attention turned to finding a replacement. Two likely contenders were quickly distilled from the pack: the Anglo-French Gazelle, and the United States Bell OH58A Kiowa. During the early part of 1971, it was decided that the civil version of the OH58A, the Bell 206-B1 ‘Jet Ranger’, suitably militarized, would be the replacement light observation helicopter (LOH). These were to be built under licence in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at their Fishermans Bend plant in Victoria.

Of course, preparing, building, testing and training would all take time to achieve, and with the Australian Army still deeply involved with the war in South Vietnam, it was decided to lease eight OH-58A Kiowa helicopters from the US Government. This was to gain both operational experience with the type, and provide greater capability to the Task Force. Progressively replacing the Possum from late July 1971, the Kiowas flew operationally until the final withdrawal of Australian ground forces in March 1972. Seven were handed back still serviceable while one had been shot down and damaged beyond repair during a reconnaissance mission in November 1971. Although the time was only a little over seven months, the experience gained with the type was invaluable, with many operational lessons learned.

Meanwhile, the order for 75 (later reduced to 56 due to defence spending cuts) Bell Model 206-B1 Jet Rangers was proceeding, with the first 12 being imported as Complete Knocked Down (CKD) kits for assembly in Australia. These were delivered to Army from November 1971, and were then followed by the locally constructed helicopters, with the first of these delivered in November 1973, and the last in March 1977. Curiously, although the Australian Army calls their version a Kiowa, it is actually a militarized Jet Ranger, differing in several respects from the US Army’s OH58A. Basic to these differences is the engine, as the Australian helicopters were fitted with an Allison 250-C20 turbo shaft rather than the T63-A-700 fitted to the US Army aircraft. The tail boom was also longer and there were differences to the fuel system and main rotor blades.

While the Army have been the primary users in Australia, the Navy also acquired several Kiowas at various times, on loan from the Army. Like the Army, the primary roles are aerial observation, light transport of personnel and stores, liaison and to a limited extent, medical evacuation.

Although not designed as a battlefield helicopter in the first place, the Australian Army’s Kiowa has nevertheless soldiered on for more than 30 years, providing a unique and versatile capability to both the Army and the Navy.

A17-021 over Delamere Station in the Northern Territory. Finished in the standard olive drab-black-tan camouflage scheme, the Australian Army’s Kiowa LOH helicopters have provided the aerial reconnaissance, liaison and light transport duties to the Army for more than 30 years.