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byron13 -> (1/23/2003 2:17:13 AM)
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Where is Sabre when you need him? Typical Cav attitude.
I forget, Robert: what time period does this game take place? In the late 70s/early 80s the Army did some tests with Cobras v. armored formations called the Ansbach tests or Ansbach trials. Maybe a web search would find something. I believe the results were that Cobras were only three feet wide and very hard to spot a max TOW range, and the opposing force was not able to engage the Cobras at that range - even if they did see them. These trials dictated tactics for a long time.
My guess is that most of the time, the AH units will be called for by a unit in visual contact with the enemy and will be aware of where the FEBA is. Their tactics would be to stay behind cover while the Scout pops up and finds targets - preferably at long range. The unit that called them in probably had good defensive positions with good fields of fire; the rotorheads would plan their firing position to be at least as good if not better/longer. As before, a Kiowa or Loach would be hard to spot at 2-3 kms, so little risk there. Now that most of the front line scouts have that goofy looking golf ball/sensor suite mounted on the mast, there is even a smaller target to see. In the old days, the AHs would then pop up, shoot, guide the missile, and drop down again - providing little time to call in accurate direct fire. The Hellfire used on the Apaches should be fire and forget, so they pop up, shoot, and duck down again within seconds. Haven't kept up with the literature, but there's a chance that they can shoot Hellfires while masked.
If done right, the AHs aren't going to take heavy losses. If they're ambushed, that's another matter. This could easily happen if the good guys lose track of the FEBA or your in a fluid situation to begin with. I'd have to say, though, that a fast moving helicopter would be hard to hit at close range (500m or less) with most AFV mounted systems unless you knew they were coming. You'd have to slew the turret, have the gunner find and identify the target, then you'd have to track for awhile to get a computer-generated lead. If the helicopter is close enough, his aspect would probably change, throwing your lead off. Your best chance would be when they're approaching or when they've already flown by and you get an ***-end shot with a constant rear aspect. If you had constant visual on a helicopter at 1km - 2km range, I'd think you could take him out regardless of speed. Tanks would have a good shot at long range against a hovering helicopter, though 3km is a long shot - especially against a narrow head-on helicopter - and you have to be able to see him in the first place.
I don't believe cannister (if that's beehive) is in the inventory anymore. Personally, I'd shoot sabot since it's faster and has a flatter trajectory. Against a head-on helicopter, there's not much I could hit with a sabot round that wouldn't ruin their day. From the side, I guess its possible you could just punch a hole in the skin of the a/c and do nothing, and HEAT would give you an explosive punch. Still, for a rapid engagement, the HEAT round would take too long to get there, and if I ranged wrong or the range changed since I lased the target, the HEAT round has enough of an arc where I might have the round fly over or under the target.
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