1990 Gulf War

AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter in the 1990 Gulf War

U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters flew Operation Desert Storm close-air-support and anti-armor missions, including HMLA-369 strikes around al-Khafji in January 1991.

Weapon profileAH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter
SideCoalition forcesRoleFire SupportAnti-Armor
AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter, Marine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - 1990 Gulf War
Image source: Marine AH-1W Super Cobra Tallil AB Iraq.jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Marine AH-1 SuperCobras from HMLA-369 launched on January 17, 1991, in response to air-support calls near the Saudi-Kuwait border and attacked Iraqi observation posts.

Sources: Marine Corps University Desert War

Four HMLA-369 AH-1Ws operating from Mishab on January 18 destroyed mortar tubes, ammunition trucks, and two buildings with TOW missiles, rockets, and 20 mm guns.

Sources: 3D Marine Aircraft Wing Gulf War

HMLA-369 Cobras stood alert at Mishab, rearmed at Safaniya, and supported reconnaissance and surveillance teams around Khafji under Iraqi artillery threat.

Sources: 3D Marine Aircraft Wing Gulf War

Marine Corps AH-1W squadrons in Operation Desert Storm are credited by the National Naval Aviation Museum with destroying Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles.

Sources: National Naval Aviation Museum AH-1W

Timeline

AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter In 1990 Gulf War

  1. HMLA-369 AH-1s launch north of al-Khafji

    Marine Corps University says HMLA-369 AH-1 SuperCobras launched at 0400 on the first day of Desert Storm to investigate reports of Iraqi tanks north of al-Khafji and attacked Iraqi observation posts with TOW and Hellfire missiles.

    Sources: Marine Corps University Desert War

  2. Four AH-1Ws strike targets from Mishab

    The Marine Corps History Division records four HMLA-369 AH-1Ws operating from Mishab destroying mortar tubes, ammunition trucks, and two buildings with TOW missiles, rockets, and 20 mm guns.

    Sources: 3D Marine Aircraft Wing Gulf War

  3. Desert Storm combat phase ends

    The National Naval Aviation Museum credits Marine Corps AH-1W squadrons in Operation Desert Storm with destroying Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles during the campaign.

    Sources: National Naval Aviation Museum AH-1W

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The AH-1W Super Cobra is directly documented in the 1990 Gulf War through official Marine Corps and naval aviation sources. Marine Corps University describes Marine Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helicopters from HMLA-369 launching on January 17, 1991, in response to air-support calls from Marines and Navy SEAL personnel along the Saudi-Kuwait border north of al-Khafji.

A Marine Corps History Division account gives AH-1W-specific detail for the following day: four AH-1Ws from HMLA-369, operating from Mishab, reported destroying two 120 mm mortar tubes, ammunition trucks, and two buildings with TOW missiles, rockets, and 20 mm gunfire after reconnaissance teams near Khafji came under artillery fire.

Sources: Marine Corps University Desert War, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing Gulf War

Timeline

The first sourced AH-1W-related Gulf War milestone in this record is January 17, 1991, the first day of Operation Desert Storm. HMLA-369 AH-1s launched at 0400 to investigate reports of Iraqi tanks north of al-Khafji and instead attacked Iraqi observation posts with TOW and Hellfire missiles.

On January 18, four HMLA-369 AH-1Ws flew from Mishab and struck mortar tubes, ammunition trucks, and buildings with TOW missiles, rockets, and 20 mm guns. The Marine Corps History Division account says the Cobras stood alert at Mishab and used Safaniya to rearm while responding to artillery threatening Marine reconnaissance and surveillance teams around Khafji.

Sources: Marine Corps University Desert War, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing Gulf War

Operational role

The sourced record places the AH-1W on the U.S.-led coalition side of the war, operated by U.S. Marine Corps light-attack helicopter units rather than transferred to another Gulf War participant. The documented operator in the detailed January missions is HMLA-369, using Super Cobras for alert close air support, anti-armor search, and attacks on Iraqi artillery-support and observation targets near al-Khafji.

The National Naval Aviation Museum gives the broader campaign result for Marine AH-1W squadrons, crediting them in Operation Desert Storm with destroying Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles. In the detailed Khafji-area record, the aircraft's documented weapons included Hellfire, TOW, 2.75-inch rockets, and the 20 mm cannon.

Sources: Marine Corps University Desert War, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing Gulf War, National Naval Aviation Museum AH-1W

Related Weapons by Role

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Sources