 In 1971 the 4/77th provided fire support for ARVN units involved in the invasion of Laos (Operation Lam Son 719).At the battle of An Loc, on April 13, 1972, an AH-1G from Battery F, 79th Artillery became the first helicopter in history to engage and destroy an enemy tank, thus helping to secure the helicopter's place on the modern battlefield.Perhaps the greatest lasting accomplishment of ARA was to fully validate the concept of armed helicopters.