Bell Model OH-58A Kiowa

The Bell Model OH-58A Kiowa did not have a role that I am aware of while I was in Vietnam.  Maybe the reason was they were brand new at the time, first appearing in Vietnam in 1969.  I never saw one used other than for officer transportation.  I read that in the early 70's they were used as an artillery spotter during battles and for battle assessment afterward.

 An early prototype of this helicopter competed for an Army contract with Hughes Aircraft and Fairchild-Hiller in 1965 to supply the Army with a light observation helicopter.  The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse or Loach won the competition.  Hughes however could not build enough OH-6's.  So the Army went back out to bid in 1967.  By that time, Bell had an improved version, the model 206A.  The Army agreed to a contract to purchase the new version from Bell then designated the helicopter an OH-58A Kiowa in honor of the American Indian tribe.

The Army continued on with this helicopter well after Vietnam.  They modified it nine times, creating armed versions as well as versions that served the Canadian, Austrian and Australian Armies.  New Kiowa's were built until 1989.  They are still in service today.