Aviation Assets.

[Abbott Shaull]

Hearing the local Coast Guard Helo fly by had me thinking.

What would the US or for that fact any NATO member would have in actual usable helos. I know the US Divisional Aviation Brigade has been quite enlarged, by moving assets from upper levels down and new units.

Yet, in the t2k original time-line. Would there be enough left around, especially in Europe to be of much use. I do understand the Middle East assets having a large number of them left, then again with the 101st Air Assault and 6th Air Combat Cavalry Brigade accounted for the large number still in operational use by both units after Army helos were consolidated into those two units.

Yet, in Europe and Korea, we don't get any information on if there any that are still operational at any level, at least from the modules. I know there were air modules in the Challenge Magazine. Also in Krakow there was 1 Helo. From what I have seen of helo compliment at Pact Divisional level and losses this wouldn't seem too far fetch. I mean they make a big deal of giving AFV info even if they M728 CEV or LAV-75, but only give helos to 6th ACCB and 101st. I am sure there are more helos in Europe than that, granted fuel was the main problem, but somewhere I am sure someone would try to consolidate them into such units as the pre-war 11th and 12th Aviation Brigade and scrounging up what every they could find for fuel....

So as GM are we to assume that most Helos have been consolidated at some level above Division or are there too few to even worry about. Yeah, I know their is limit supply of fuel for them, but I still find hard to believe that even the limited Offensive of 2000, that NATO didn't try to get something of operational unit to support the 3rd German Army at least even if they didn't have enough to give assets to Corps levels.

I do know Grae had the 5th Mechanized down to few aircraft that were grounded due to lack of fuel for the most part.

Any thoughts.

[Adm.Lee]

I just assumed if there was any jet fuel left in 2000, it would be saved for fast-movers, rather than helos.

Maybe a lift ship or two for a really important special-ops mission.

[Raellus]

Spare parts would also be an issue in 2000.

I went to a local airshow a couple of months back and a CH-53 crew chief said it took like 60 man-hours of maintainance for every hour flying. If you don't have the spare parts to make repairs, your bird is grounded. After the manufacture of new spares comes to a halt in late '97, the only way to get spares is to cannibalize other birds. Over time, you'd have very few operational helis left, even if fuel for them was available.

On the other hand, I think helicopter gunships and/or CAS aircraft like the A-10 or SU-25 would be more valuable in 2000 than the "fast movers" like the F-16, F-15E, and Tornado IDS. With the state of things in 2000, I just think direct battlefield support would be a bigger priority and a better investment than interdiction and deep strike.

[Abbott Shaull]

You know I understand the spare parts. Yet in Europe the US Army has probably 1.5 times to twice as many helos than they do in the Middle East. Granted too many two Stars would want to keep assets but when a three Star or four Star ask for something, they generally tend to cough up what was asked, even if they do so begrudgingly...

[HorseSoldier]

Everybody in Europe were also operating in what was probably the most lethal air defense environment in human history, Attrition of aviation assets on both sides must have been staggering during the pre-nuclear phase of the war.

[Abbott Shaull]

Yes, I also realize this too, that is one of reason why I believe that helo assets would be consolidated more quickly. Too keep those that were operational with the ability to perform their functions. Never bough into the theory into units operating at less 50% of their authorized TO&E before the Nukes dropped in late 1997 and 1998. If Aviation unit or Armor unit dropped below they would be relieved of front-line service and sent to the rear for rest and reoragnization. Which could include the handing over of equipment and personnel to other units to keep them functional.