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Grumman OV-1 Mohawk

1959 COLD WAR VIETNAM WAR

History of the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk

The development of the OV-1 Mohawk platform grew out of a common U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps requirement for a "battlefield reconnaissance aircraft" that would demonstrate powerful and versatile qualities on a changing frontline.

Grumman's twin-engine G-134 model proved convincing enough that both service branches were using the selected design. Although the U.S. Marine Corps would eventually withdraw from the program, the U.S. Army continued and successfully used the system, from the Vietnam War to Operation Desert Storm.

The system's strengths lie in its STOL (short take-off and landing) performance and ability to carry a complex array of sensors and camera equipment.

The Mohawk uses two Lycoming turboprops, each producing 1,005 horsepower, mounted on a center-wing monoplane. An easily recognizable feature of the series is the three-fin tail structure. The two crew members sat side by side in an armored cockpit with bulletproof glass.

The cockpit offers excellent forward, sideways, upwards and to some extent downwards visibility, thanks in part to the curved side windows. Equipment on legacy models is not standard, although the system is ready to mount rocket and cannon pods on two underwing hardpoints (one per wing) as needed.

The G-134 evolved into nine grade models known as the YAO-1 and later the YOV-1 series. The original production model was the OV-1A ordered for the U.S. Army, primarily for day and night visual reconnaissance centered on traditional camera systems.

The OV-1B followed, offering a different set of radars, the SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar), mounted in a large, prominent pod under the fuselage, although the platform was deployed without the optics of the previous model camera. Next was the similar OV-1C, with the AAS-24 infrared surveillance system, and the final OV-1 was the OV-1D, with improved engine specs, side cargo doors for minimal cargo and additional sensors to the other earlier ones personal model.

Earlier "B" and "C" models were later upgraded to this ultimate standard. Delivery of approximately 375 Mohawks continued from 1961 to 1970.

Grumman OV-1 Mohawk Spec

Basic

Year:

1959

Staff:

Production

[375 units]:

Grumman Corporation - USA

Roles

- Reconnaissance (RECCE)

Dimensions

Length:

41.01 ft (12.5 m)

Width:

48.00 ft (14.63 m)

Height:

12.66 ft (3.86 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

5,020 kg

MTOW:

8,722 kg

(difference: +8,162 pt)

Performance

2 x Lycoming T35-L-701 turboprops, 1,400 hp each.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

297 mph (478 km/h; 258 knots)

Service Limit:

35,007 ft (10,670 m; 6.63 mi)

Maximum range:

1,678 miles (2,700 km; 1,458 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

716 m/min (2,350 ft/min)

Armor

None by default. Missile and artillery pods on two underwing mount points.

Changes

G-134 - Grumman Project Model Design Assignment; 9 evaluation examples created.

YAO-1 (YOV-1A) - Initial evaluation aircraft designation; later renamed YOV-1.

OV-1A (AO-1AF) - Original production model designation used by the US Army; day/night visual reconnaissance; traditional camera system.

JOV-1A - Armed OV-1A and OV-1C models; 169 copies made.

OV-1B (AO-1BF) - Production model designation used by the US Army; the SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) kit is mounted in a large pod under the fuselage; no optical camera.

OV-1C (AO-1CF) - Based on OV-1B but equipped with AAS-24 infrared surveillance system.

OV-1D - Definitive Mohawk; improved engine performance; side-mounted doors; IR, SLAR and optical sensors; B, C models switched to this standard; 37 new units, 82 conversions.

RV-1C "Quick Look" ELINT - Dedicated Electronic Surveillance Platform; 2 conversions.

RV-1D "Quick Look II" ELINT - Dedicated Electronic Surveillance Platform; 31 converions.