Revell 1/32 Alouette II PAH Attack (04478)

During the 1960s the West came under increasing threat from the ever-growing tank regiments of the Eastern bloc and the Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces) began to consider using helicopters to combat these units. Initially the Bundeswehr had ordered 130 helicopters of the type SE 3130 Alouette II. This was followed by a further order of 117 Alouette II with the first aircraft delivered in mid 1959. The helicopters were fitted with the Nord 5210 - also known as the SS-11 - and this missile could be used to attack targets on the ground. This SS-11 could achieve a maximum speed of 492 km/h. For flight testing of the Alouette II helicopter armed with the SS-11 in the anti-tank configuration, a comprehensive range of modifications was carried out. The control system for the SS-11 was installed in front of the left-hand seat and could by operated via a weapons sight by the on-board weapons officer. Two weapons pylons - one on each side of the helicopter - could carry two SS-11 missiles each. The firing trials were carried out by the testing unit of the Heeresflieger-Lehr-Staffel 700 (Army Air Corps training squadron) in Achum close to Bueckeburg, Germany, in 1962. Results from testing the first five helicopters did not, however, come up to expectations and the programme was soon discontinued.