During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army fielded the first designed attack helicopter to fulfill its emerging tactical reliance on close air support in 1967. Prior to the addition of organic attack aviation, the Army had deployed the first air mobility unit, the 1st Cavalry Division (1st CAV), in the midst of the Vietnam War in 1965. Using helicopters as a mobility asset was in its initial stages of military tactical deployment when it was thrust into the spotlight in Vietnam. The premature deployment of 1st CAV forced the Army to become reactive to the tactical needs of conducting airmobile operations. The tactical needs of air mobility during the Vietnam War influenced and in many ways, expedited the U.S. Army's development of organic attack aviation between 1965 and 1967.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)