Under the nose is a pod that fires grenades and a “Mini Gun” (Automatic Gatling Gun). With rocket pods mounted on both sides of the cockpit the “Cobra” is a formidable weapons platform. It can safely place rounds on an enemy in very close contact with our own soldiers. It attacks while diving at high speeds (most helicopters do not “dive” safely) . Viewed from 90 degrees at night, the stream of tracers (1 every 5 rounds) from a Mini Gun looks like a river of fire. For our side, their arrival was better news than the cavalry showing up in a Western movie.