picture 191128

While playing a prominent role on the southern battlefield early during the war, most of IrAAC’s SA.342 Gazelles were re-deployed towards the north later during the conflict. With anti-armour warfare being of lesser importance in these areas, they were frequently armed with 20mm GIAT M621 cannon (always installed on the right side of the helicopter only), and Brandt 68x12 or 68x22 launchers for 68mm SNEB unguided rockets. Some examples had improved exhaust pipes, illustrated in the inset, to decrease their exposure to infra-red homing MANPADs. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)