AH-1 Series Cobra

M97A4 AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT SUBSYSTEM

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The Gatling Gun
M137 Electronics Systems Test Set

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M197 20mm AUTOMATIC GUN (M97A4 AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT SUBSYSTEM)

The M97 series armament subsystem, with the M197 20mm cannon, replaced the M28 series armament subsystem on the AH-1 series "Huey" Cobra. The M197 is a lightweight short-barreled three-barrel Gatling type gun mounted on the 20mm/30mm universal turret system. The M97 series aircraft armament subsystem was used on the Upgunned AH-1S and AH-1S Modernized Cobras. The M97A4 is used on the current configuration AH-1F Modernized Cobra.

M97 Series Aircraft Armament Subsystems

Aircraft Model No.	Upgunned AH-1S	Modernized AH-1S	Modernized AH-1F
Armament Subsystem	M97A1	M97A2/M97A3	M97A4
Weapon System	20mm gun	20mm gun	20mm gun
Other Weapon Systems	TOW missiles	2.75 inch rockets TOW missiles	2.75 inch rockets TOW missiles
Exterior Characteristics	Tapered rotor tips No rocket launchers	ADS above right side of canopy	ADS above right side of canopy

The M197 utilizes a rotary action mechanism, contained within a fixed rotor housing, and a rotating barrel cluster. Drive power is provided by an electrically driven gun drive mechanism. The M197 automatic gun has a firing rate of 730 ± 50 spm (shots-per-minute). The M197 gun consists of the following major components:
M197 20mm automatic gun on AH-1F Modernized Cobra (Copyright Butch Lottman)

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M137 ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS TEST SET

The M137 electronics systems test set is used in Aviation Unit Maintenance (AVUM) and Aviation Intermediate Maintenance (AVIM) test and maintenance of the M197 20mm automatic gun on the M97A4 Aircraft Armament Subsystem. These two systems are commonly referred to as the Universal Turret System. The M137 test set is microprocessor controlled and automatically performance tests a 20mm/30mm Universal Turret System either as a complete system or as line replaceable unit (LRU) components. After the M137 test set is connected to the equipment to be tested, the operator selects testing sequence codes and initiates the automatic test. Malfunctions in the unit under test (UUT) are identified by numerical codes.
M137 Test Set [cpm137ts.gif], 10.5k

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Revised 07 Oct 2005.

 

 

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