Quote:
Originally Posted by cosmicfish
They are terrible in either a med-evac OR gunship role. They were designed as scout helicopters back in the day when the sensor package was the Mk I Eyeball.
- There is zero reason for boltholes to all be the same size. Indeed, the variety of team sizes and vehicles combined with environmental factors all but ensures that boltholes are all but unique.
- How much lower maintenance? Given that the scaling of maintenance requirements in helicopters is primarily a function of the very same systems that get replaced by fusion in TMP, the difference in maintenance between a UH-60 and OH-6 is primarily going to be in the added mission systems in the former.
- Fusion engines will kill some sound, but the Project's mission would not seem to make aircraft noise a particular issue.
- Civilian airframe
- If the Project can acquire all the other military assets it has, acquiring a few more helicopters would hardly seem an issue.
- Many of the spare parts would not be stock anyway, but regardless, the former point still applies - if the Project can get V-150 (or whatever) parts and scads of 20mm ammo, then this would seem a minor point. On top of that, civilian parts do not generally reach MILSPEC performance even when they come from MILSPEC suppliers - relying on civilian parts is asking for something to fail when the feces hit the giant fan over your head.
Small drones are unsexy, but they make tremendous sense for field teams. They require minimal skill to use, risk little in their operation, and are perfectly acceptable for most tactical needs. |
Drones are possible now, and if I plan a modern game with a modern wardate I use them everywhere (down to a 40mm disposable one fired from an M203). I still like to plan for an earlier wardate as well.
Duningan's how to make war has the OH-6 beating the UH-60 in Attack rating, Sortie rate and Average Availability. Personally I would go with the UH-1 over the UH-60 as there are literally thousands of retired airframes that could be brought into the program.
My project plans to use the stealth (sound) factors of the AH-6 for placement of initial recon teams. As far as my bolt holes go, yes all are generally custom, but I expected my aircraft boltholes to be placed in abandoned railway tunnels, The dimensions of the OH-6 would allow for tighter turning (not flying of course) inside of such a small space.
Yes I admit the OH-6 would not be as good as a UH-60 (or UH-1) for Medevac, but it could certainly perform the role as well as the OH-1 (as made famous by M*A*S*H) did. It did perform the role in Vietnam, so I am guessing it maybe saved a life or two.