Mi-4 Hound – PDF

The Mil Mi-4 “Hound” was developed in the early 1950s as the Soviet Union sought to rapidly expand its military helicopter capabilities. Designed by the Mil design bureau, the Mi-4 was a large piston-engine helicopter capable of transporting troops, cargo, and equipment into areas inaccessible to conventional transport aircraft. Its spacious cabin and rear-loading arrangement made it particularly useful for supporting ground forces and helped establish the helicopter as an important component of Soviet battlefield mobility.

Entering Soviet service during the 1950s, the Mi-4 was employed in a wide variety of roles. Transport versions carried troops and supplies, while specialized variants performed reconnaissance, command, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and other missions. Naval versions were developed for anti-submarine warfare, giving Soviet naval aviation an early helicopter-based capability for detecting and attacking submarines.

The Mi-4 was exported extensively throughout the Warsaw Pact and to Soviet-aligned nations in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. China also produced the aircraft under license as the Harbin Z-5. Mi-4s and Chinese-built Z-5s consequently appeared in numerous Cold War regional conflicts. North Vietnam operated the Mi-4 during the Vietnam War, using the helicopter primarily for transport and logistical support, making the Hound particularly relevant to Cold War gaming beyond its Soviet service.

The Mi-4 was eventually replaced in Soviet service by more capable turbine-powered helicopters such as the Mi-8, but it represented an important stage in the development of Soviet rotary-wing aviation. Its combination of battlefield transport, naval applications, widespread export service, and participation in Cold War conflicts made the NATO-designated “Hound” one of the characteristic Soviet helicopters of the 1950s and 1960s.

Service Branch: Soviet Air Forces; Soviet Naval Aviation
Soviet Service: 1953–1980s
Number Built: 4,000+ (including Chinese production)

What’s Included:

For both the USSR and North Vietnam versions

• 12 1.5” square counter images
• 24 1” square counter images
• 35 .75” square counter images
• 40 .625” square counter images
• Numbered Images to assist with game organization and tracking
• Printable PDF format for personal gaming use

Each image size is contained on a ½ sheet.

• Enables users to save paper and print 2 types of aircraft on the same page.
• Print one set of aircraft images then reverse the page in the printer and print a second type of your choice on the same page.