Original Item: Only One Available. Original Vietnam Era Hydra 70 Rocket with Warhead. Rocket and engine have been demilitarized for training purposes. These were fired from rocket pods attached to Huey UH-1B, and AH-1 Cobra Gunships during the Vietnam War in a surface-to-ground role. This particular Rocket is composed of an M-423 Fuze Assembly, a 2.75” High-Explosive FFAR warhead, and a Mark 66 Rocket Motor Assembly. Fuse is not marked but is noted as inert on the warhead. The MK66 Motor Assembly is still equipped with it’s original spring loaded stabilization fins. Weighs about 20 lbs and measures approximately 48" in overall length with a 2.75" diameter.

Markings on the warhead:

(Stenciled)
2.75 IN. PRACTICE
WHD WTU-1/B
DEL 86H001-071A

Markings on Motor:

2.75 INCH ROCKET MOTOR MK 4 MOD 10
LOT BBG-12-2-73 A

Motor Size:
2.75” Diameter
39 ½” Length
Total Rocket Length: 52 ½”

This is a complete and wonderful example of a heavily used type of rocket used during the Vietnam War. The condition and paint is wonderful and is welcomed into any ordnance/Vietnam collections!

Unloaded or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar devices, which are cut or drilled in an BATF-approved manner so that they cannot be used as ammunition components for destructive devices, are not considered NFA weapons. This example is in total compliance and is NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.

History of the Hydra-70 Rocket
The HYDRA 70 (70mm) Rocket System is a family of 2.75" unguided rockets.The 2.75 inch Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR) was originally developed by the US Navy for use as a free-flight aerial rocket in the late 1940s. Used during both the Korean and Vietnam wars, their role has expanded to include air-to-ground, ground-to-air, and ground-to-ground. The 2.75 inch rocket system has a rich history of providing close air support to ground forces from about 20 different firing platforms, both fixed-wing and armed helicopters, by all US armed services. When the requirements of this system were changed to a new air-to-ground role for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, new fuzing and warhead performance characteristics, as well as a modified motor for low speed aircraft became necessary. The HYDRA 70 family of rockets was designed to fill this role. The Hydra 70 rocket system is used by US Army Special Operations Forces, the US Marine Corps, the US Navy, and the US Air Force. The Hydra-70 rocket is fired from all armed Army Helicopters and the armed helicopters of most sister services. The rocket is also fired from many U.S. fixed wing platforms and is a major export munition to many allied nations. The Army's Hydra-70 PM at Rock Island, IL is assigned as the single item manager responsible for meeting the rocket needs of all users.

Literally millions of these munitions were fired in Vietnam. Helicopters armed with HYDRA-70 rockets were also deployed in Operation Just Cause as well as Desert Storm. The APACHE helicopters that opened the air campaign by destroying two radar sites inside Iraq with HELLFIRE missiles also used HYDRA-70 rockets which hit and scattered thousands of razor-sharp flechettes across the sites. The 2.75-inch munitions also proved useful during the ground phase of the Gulf War. Members of the 2d Battalion, 229th Attack Helicopter Regiment from Fort Rucker, Alabama, used primarily 30-mm chain guns and 2.75-inch rockets against the fortified positions and large bunker complexes they encountered during the second day of the ground offensive.

The war reserve unitary and cargo warheads are used for anti-materiel, anti-personnel, and suppression missions. The Hydra 70 family of Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR) also includes smoke screening, illumination, and training warheads. These rockets are used by rotary, wing, fixed and ground platforms. The most widely used application is on helicopters for air-to-ground engagements.

Currently, In the US Army, Hydra 70 rockets are fired from the AH-64A Apache/AH-64D Apache Longbow using M261 19-tube rocket launchers, and the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and the AH-1F "modernized" Cobra using seven-tube M260 rocket launchers. The AH-1G Cobra and the UH-1B "Huey" used M200 19-tube rocket launchers. The Navy uses the 19 round LAU-61C/A and the seven round LAU-68 D/A rocket launchers.