OH-58D (China)
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Contents
Description
The ␗OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, known as OH-58D戰搜直升機 (lit: combat reconnaissance helicopter) represents the 39 helicopters purchased and used by the ROCA Aviation and Special Force Command (陸軍航空特戰指揮部). The OH-58 Kiowa originally started as the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program to upgrade US Army observation helicopters which Bell Helicopters won the contract for in 1981; this project eventually developed into the Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP) and the new OH-58D joined US Army in 1985. The ROCA then purchased 39 helicopters in 1992 (26 purchased alongside the fleet of AH-1W) and 1999 (13 helicopters), and deployed them at the only two helicopter companies in the ROCA and Army Aviation Training Command. Although 2 helicopters have crashed during its service since 1992 (2000 and 2020), the ROCA will still likely use OH-58D for the time being thanks to sufficient spare parts for up to 12 years bought from US.
Introduced in Update "Sons of Attila" and marking the arrival of ROCA helicopters, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior performs identically with its US cousin. Not only does it have a mast-mounted camera to make good use of terrain or tree tops to conceal itself, the four AGM-114K or AIM-92 will make sure enemy vehicles will have to think twice before hunting the OH-58D down.
General info
Flight performance
Describe how the helicopter behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.
| Characteristics | Max speed (km/h at _,___ m) |
Max altitude (metres) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | ||
| Stock | ___ | ___ | 4575 |
| Upgraded | ___ | ___ | |
Survivability and armour
Due to its nature of being an observation helicopter, there are very little need for extra protection other than the flak jacket for the pilots; this also means flying into the main combat area equals to kamikaze and should only be considered in dire situation.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Offensive armament
The OH-58D (China) is armed with:
- A choice between three presets:
- 36 x countermeasures
- 36 x countermeasures + Flak jackets
- 36 x countermeasures + Flak jackets + IRCM
Suspended armament
Describe the helicopter's suspended armament: additional cannons under the winglets, any bombs, and rockets. Since any helicopter is essentially only a platform for suspended weaponry, this section is significant and deserves your special attention. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in a helicopter, the features of using the helicopter in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Small profile and agile, good for switching locations to hit enemies
- Mast mount cameras for minimal visibility to enemies
- Access to AIM-92 for self-defense against aircraft
- Powerful AGM-114K with good range
- Laser-guided rockets for precise hit on enemies
Cons:
- No extra protection
- Slower than PLAGF Aviation Corps counterparts
- Relatively low payload weight
History
Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the helicopter in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the helicopter;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| Bell Aircraft Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | |
| Fighters | P-39N-0 · P-39Q-5 |
| P-400 | |
| P-63A-10 · P-63A-5 · P-63C-5 · ␠Kingcobra | |
| Jet Fighters | P-59A |
| Export | ▂P-39K-1 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · ▂P-39Q-15 · ▄P-39Q-25 |
| ▂P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-10 · ▂P-63C-5 · ▄P-63C-5 | |
| Helicopters | |
| Attack | AH-1F · AH-1G · AH-1Z · AH-1W |
| OH-58D | |
| Utility | UH-1B · UH-1C · UH-1C XM-30 |
| Export/Licensed | ▅UH-1B · ◄UH-1D |
| Tzefa A · Tzefa B · Tzefa D/E · ▅AH-1S early · ▅AH-1S · ▅AH-1S Kisarazu · ␗AH-1W | |
| ␗OH-58D | |
| See Also | Fuji Heavy Industries · Agusta |
| China helicopters | |
|---|---|
| Attack/Utility | Z-9W · Z-9WA · Z-10 · Z-11WA · Z-19 · Z-19E |
| ␗OH-58D (USA) | |
| Attack | ␗AH-1W (USA) |
| Utility | SA.342L Gazelle (France) |
