228^th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion "C" Company "What More Can We Do" Patch - 1^st Cavalry - Camp Evans An Khe and Phuoc - In late 1965, the first Armed/Armored Chinook CH-47 Helicopter were officially rolled out and testing begin. The Chinook used its large payload capability as a advantage by mounting an extensive array of armament, as well as armor to protect the crew and vital parts of the aircraft against heavy caliber ground fire. The Chinook's had nose mounted M-5 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher. This turret-mounted weapon was controlled by the co-pilot, who was able to cover an extensive area on either side of the flight path. Complementing this nose turret, pylons on each side of the aircraft carried fixed forward- firing weapons including a 20mm gun and either a 19-round 2.75 inch rocket pod, or a 7.62mm high-rate-of-fire Mini-Gun (Gatling Gun). The flanks of the aircraft were protected by four gunners stationed two to either side of the cabin. Each of these gunners was provided with either a 7.62mm or 50 caliber machine gun on flexible mounts. Another gunner was stationed aft with the same type weapons mounted on the rear loading ramp. From this vantage point, the gunner could protect the aircraft from ground fire after the aircraft had passed, a capability not present in previous armed helicopters. This aircraft carried a ton of expendable munitions. Chinook's were also provided with a new type of steel armor plate which was built into the crew seats and protected their torsos. Other steel plates protected components of the aircraft. The rugged components of the Chinook and extensive dualization of systems, combined with over a ton of armor plate, assured a high degree of survivability for the aircraft.