I seem to recall that Tom Pruter might also know the story. 700# of weights under pilots' seats were added before delivery to bring the c.g. forward enough to offset the far-aft weight of the TATs, and with that, the story was that you could have taken off in the Tonkin Gulf density altitudes with fuel OR with ammo, but not with both. As I recall, it was delivered to HC-7 in Cubi, but the TATs were removed along with the weights before it ever got employed. -bob cameron On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 6:27 PM Marc Liebman <marc@marcliebman.com> wrote:
Ron would probably know more than the rest of us.
Marc Liebman
https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g
*From: *Mike Brattland <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> *Date: *Monday, August 31, 2026 at 4:43 PM *To: *'Brian Miller' <brianjmiller1977@gmail.com>, Mike Brattland < mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> *Cc: *'HeloBubbas' <helobubbas@helobubbas.com> *Subject: *[Helobubbas] Re: FW: Where is this Photo Taken/TATs
Nice find Brian
*Ron Milam thinks the picture is Cubi, but doesn’’t lok like Cubi to me, nor Imperial Beach*
*From:* Brian Miller <brianjmiller1977@gmail.com> *Sent:* Monday, August 31, 2026 1:36 PM *To:* mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com *Cc:* HeloBubbas <helobubbas@helobubbas.com> *Subject:* [Helobubbas] Re: FW: Where is this Photo Taken/TATs
Here is perhaps some amplifying information on those helicopter (to include the exact photo) that might shed some light. I know nothing of a Quonset Point, but it seems to be listed as an option.
https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2025/09/sikorsky-hh-3a-sea-king-for-comb...
On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:27 PM <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> wrote:
*From:* Harold Brattland <habrattland@arvig.net> *Sent:* Monday, August 31, 2026 12:32 PM *To:* mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com
So here are a couple shots with CH-3E SOS helo with TATs mounted before my time In 212stSOS. h
*Subject:* Re: [Helobubbas] Where is this Photo Taken
The pod mounted machine gun (multi barreled) hung on rear mounts was called a TAT. Remotely controlled by cockpit sight. Tried on AF CH-3E SOS helo at right drop tank mount on sponson. with control by crewman. Considered too heavy for real usage., in favor of M-60 dis-mountable machine guns left and right sides. H-53 added mini-gun on ramp and pike mounted mini's left right window and door. When the bird stopped flying, you had something to take with you with these options. So TAT was effused in favor of two A-1s with wall to wall munitions and several 50cal guns.
I suspect some unit was doing forward tests and grabbed the Navy H-3 as capable to carry the TAT....ARMY had no Chinook configured to care heavy stores.. Must have been short term as your Navy H-3 not repainted to jungle camo---And not even dulling the metal panel on the engine!! Suspect they would have been labeled "Dumb-Ass" first thing on arrival.!! h
On 8/31/2026 14:05, mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com wrote:
This photo of an armored HC-7 HH-3A showed up in my FaceBook feed this morning….appears to be a Army Ch-54 Skycrain over in front of the nose on the ramp, but I do not recognize this location. Is this in Japan or? mgb
*CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) **mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com* <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com>
*mgbrattland@brattland.org* <mgbrattland@brattland.org>
*Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events*
*sandiegocarguys@brattland.org* <sandiegocarguys@brattland.org>
*619 454-0496 <(619)%20454-0496> ’38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan*
*Webmaster for **www.brattland.org* <http://www.brattland.org/> *www.overthehillgang.com* <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> *www.overdrivehotrodnews.com* <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> *www.gerlecreek.org* <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> *www.helobubbas.com* <http://www.helobubbas.com/>
*www.prowlers.org* <http://www.prowlers.org/> *www.gerlecreek.com* <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> *www.ford6vcarburetion.com* <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/>
*www.westcoastwillysclub.com* <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> *www.nssha.org* <http://www.nssha.org/>
_______________________________________________
Helobubbas mailing list -- helobubbas@helobubbas.com
To unsubscribe send an email to helobubbas-leave@helobubbas.com
--
*Harold & Elaine Brattland*
609 Granger Rd, Detroit Lakes MN 56501-4112 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/609+Granger+Rd,+Detroit+Lakes+MN+56501-4112?entry=gmail&source=g>
Home Phone 218.846.1283 <(218)%20846-1283>,
habrattland@Arvig.net | embrattland@Arvig.net
_______________________________________________ Helobubbas mailing list -- helobubbas@helobubbas.com To unsubscribe send an email to helobubbas-leave@helobubbas.com
_______________________________________________ Helobubbas mailing list -- helobubbas@helobubbas.com To unsubscribe send an email to helobubbas-leave@helobubbas.com