August 12, 2024: Recently the U.S. Marine Corps reactivated one of its two light helicopter squadrons. Deactivated squadron 269 had its personnel reassigned and its helicopters put into storage at the end of 2022 while the reactivation took place in early 2024. Some marine commanders realized that the reactivation was likely because the need for these helicopters was not going away despite U.S. government efforts to keep out of overseas conflicts.

Squadron 269 operated both AH-1 Viper helicopter gunships and UH-1Y Venom utility, or transport, helicopters. The AH-1A Viper entered service in the late 1950s and was sent to southeast Asia in 1962. This design kept evolving and by 2020 it was the twin-engine 8.3-ton AH-1Z with a crew of two, a pilot and weapons officer. Top speed was 411 kilometers an hour while cruise speed was 300 kilometers. Combat range, with a 1.1 ton payload, was 232 kilometers. Armament consisted of a three-barrel 20mm autocannon with 750 rounds. A pair of stub wings could carry up to 2.6 tons of missiles and unguided rockets.

The twin-engine 8.4-ton UH-1Y Venom utility transport helicopter has a crew of two, a pilot and co-pilot. Max capacity is three tons of cargo or ten passengers. Cruise speed is 293 kilometers an hour while max speed is 304 kilometers. Endurance is three hours, the same as the AH-1.

The AH-1 and UH-1 are so similar that 85 percent of their components are used in both helicopters. The AH-1 has a 72 percent readiness (available to fly) rate while it is 68 percent for UH-1. The marines have 284 AH-1 and AH-1s and are in the process of reactivating all of them.

The current version of the AH-1 Viper entered service in 2010 and the UH-1 Venom in 2008.