Redesignated 1 September 1968 as the 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery; concurrently, withdrawn from the Army Reserve, allotted to the Regular Army, assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, and activated at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The battalion arrived in Vietnam on 17 October 1968.

The battalion was redesignated 1 September 1971 as the 4th Battalion, 77th Field Artillery. The Battalion departed Vietnam 4 January 1972 when it returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

From 1972 to 1976, the battalion continued to fly the AH-1G Cobra that was used as an artillery platform from which 36 pairs of 2.75in rockets, 1,500 rounds of mini gun ammo and 400 M-40 grenades could be launched in a close combat artillery support role. In 1975, the Battalion found themselves becoming an anti-tank battalion.

The formation of an attack helicopter battalion from divisional units was part of the answer by the 10lst Airborne Division (Air Assault) to provide a quick-fix to kill tanks on a mid-intensity battlefield.

The 4th Battalion (Attack Helicopter), 77th Field Artillery (Provisional) was formed in January 1976. It was tested at Fort Campbell, KY, in air assault tactics and deployed to Europe in August 1976 to participate in Reforger 76.

Inactivated 21 January 1978 at Fort Campbell, and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division.