The utility chopper designation I'd like to see in game

[moj]

Inspired by Cassius' Chinook thread, I've decided to post what I think would be the best (if possible to implement) layout of utility helicopters for the various factions. I know that this would take a very long time and lots of hard work, and of course there's every chance that the DEVs would differ in opinion (and probably will) but what the hell, I think it'd just be interesting to get some community thoughts on the subject. Choppers we already have in-game are highlighted in bold.

British Army

0 supply crates - Lynx (holds 9 seated troops)
1 supply crate - Merlin (holds 24 seated troops)
2 supply crates - Chinook (holds 33 seated troops)

US Army

0 supply crates - MH-6 Little Bird (holds 5 seated troops)
1 supply crate - UH-60 Blackhawk (holds 14 seated troops)
2 supply crates - CH-47 Chinook (holds 33 seated troops)

USMC

0 supply crates - UH-1N Twin Huey or UH-1Y Venom (both hold 8 seated troops)
1 supply crate - CH-46 Sea Knight or MV-22 Osprey (both hold 24 seated troops)
2 supply crates - CH-53E or CH-53K Sea Stallion (both hold 37 seated troops, in standard configuration)

MEC

0 supply crates - Eurocopter EC 635 (holds 7 seated troops)
1 supply crate - Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin or Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (hold 12 and 16 seated troops respectively)
2 supply crates - Mil Mi-17 (holds 32 seated troops)

PLA

0 supply crates - Changhe Z-11 (holds 6 seated troops)
1 supply crate - Harbin Z-9, Chinese-built AS 365 Dauphin (holds 12 seated troops)
2 supply crates - Mil Mi-17 (holds 32 seated troops)

Russia

0 supply crates - Kamov Ka-115 Moskvichka or Kamov Ka-226 Sergei (hold 5 and 9 seated troops respectively).
1 supply crate - Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (holds 16 seated troops)
2 supply crates - Mil Mi-17 (holds 32 seated troops)

IDF

0 supply crates - MD 500 Defender (holds 5 seated troops)
1 supply crate - Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk (holds 14 seated troops)
2 supply crates - Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion

Finally, about the CH-46 Sea Knight and MV-22 Osprey. I'm aware replacement of the CH-46 by the MV-22 started back in 2006 and is due to be complete by 2014, but in the near future (whre PR is set) it's always possible that things could change. Think about it, if the US was drawn into a large-scale, massive resource-draining global conflict against the Middle East and China, I think it's fairly reasonable to say that the 2014 deadline would be very hard to meet. Hell, some previously retired CH-46's could even be taken out of mothballs and reinstated. As for the MV-22, I'd love to see it in game but from what I understand the current model is too bug-ridden and unusable. I'm hoping in the future this could be resolved, if not there's still the CH-46.

[xatu miller]

I wish it could be done but there is no way to get more then 8 seats in a veichle.

[McBumLuv]

I think he knows that, he's only posting the numbers to get an idea about the size of each helicopter and why they would hold the number of crates that he suggests. Anyways, good idea overall, but thats a lot of modeling in store for any dev actually interested.

[moj]

I think he knows that, he's only posting the numbers to get an idea about the size of each helicopter and why they would hold the number of crates that he suggests. Anyways, good idea overall, but thats a lot of modeling in store for any dev actually interested.

Indeed, thanks man

In all 6 new choppers would need to be modelled and then there's also the issue of reskinning some of the existing ones. Like I said in my original post, a lot of time and hard work. But, a man can dream right?

[Blakeman]

I wouldnt even mind the chinook in place of the CH-63 since they do look a bit similar, as long as the huey was gone. The amount of hueys in the USMC seems to be way overstated by what is represented in PR compared to the amount of usage in reality.

[AnRK]

A blackhawk can get 14 people crammed in it?!

Anyway, I think those are all pretty close if not exactly the same as what the DEVs are intending to go with.

[arjan]

2 supplie crates and a jeep for the big boys would be nice

[sheggalism]

I like this idea. It could compensate for the 8 seats limit.

PLA
1 supply crate - Harbin Z-9, Chinese-built AS 365 Dauphin (holds 12 seated troops)
2 supply crates - Mil Mi-17 (holds 32 seated troops)

The Z-9 would be a nice addition to the Chinese airforce indeed.
I think the Z-8 (Chinese-built SA 321 Super Frelon) is more suitable than the Mi-17 (think variety !). It carries up to 27 troops (and there's a vBF2 model, quite bad-looking though)

MEC
1 supply crate - Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin or Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (hold 12 and 16 seated troops respectively)

Maybe the Mi-24 Hind with some cargo capacity instead ? ^^

Are the MD500 and these Kamov light choppers widely used anyway ?

[M_Striker]

This is good, but that's quite a few models that need to be made. Too many IMO. It would take very long. I thought about a variant of the HIND being used by maybe the Militia or something, that is a gunship and carries troops at the same time.

[Tirak]

This is good, but that's quite a few models that need to be made. Too many IMO. It would take very long. I thought about a variant of the HIND being used by maybe the Militia or something, that is a gunship and carries troops at the same time.

Ice has got a Sea Knight model and a Sea Stallion Model he's never finished.

[SFOD_F HaXXeD]

Ooh ohhhhhhh v-22 pleaseeee

[Proff3ssorXman]

A blackhawk can get 14 people crammed in it?!

Bugger landing in a hot LZ

[moj]

I think the Z-8 (Chinese-built SA 321 Super Frelon) is more suitable than the Mi-17 (think variety !). It carries up to 27 troops (and there's a vBF2 model, quite bad-looking though)

I agree, that's a nice idea, however since the Mi-17 is in game already, and there are many more choppers needing to be modelled, it's a bit lower priority.

Maybe the Mi-24 Hind with some cargo capacity instead ? ^^

I thought of that, but I think it'd present too many balancing issues, since the other medium utility choppers couldn't double up as gunships.

Are the MD500 and these Kamov light choppers widely used anyway ?

According to my source, the IDF has 32 MD 500's, the Russian military currently only fields 7 Ka-60's but has 200+ on order.

[Eagle345]

Phrogs-4-life!! (Sea Knights for of you who dont know)
That is exactly what is needed for that "Real War" feel. Imagine, your flyin in the back of the 46 and you land in one of the Paddies in Basrah, The Co-pilot Opens the rear, and you run out and get ready to ask for him to come back for an extract .... Sounds great

[moj]

This is good, but that's quite a few models that need to be made. Too many IMO. It would take very long. I thought about a variant of the HIND being used by maybe the Militia or something, that is a gunship and carries troops at the same time.

I reckon that could possibly work with the Militia, without presenting too many balancing issues (they're pretty under-equipped in many other areas, and the opposition could have dedicated gunship and utility choppers). Could be a problem with Russia or the MEC though.

Ice has got a Sea Knight model and a Sea Stallion Model he's never finished.

Yeah, I've seen his great work I really hope one day he completes them. So far though I gather the Sea Knight is on-hold, due to the DEV's reluctance to use it in the game.

[Tirak]

Yeah, I've seen his great work I really hope one day he completes them. So far though I gather the Sea Knight is on-hold, due to the DEV's reluctance to use it in the game.

Part of this was a misunderstanding between the Devs and RL, they mistakenly were under the impression that the Sea Knight was just a seaborne Chinook, whereas in reality they only bear a passing resemblance to each other due to the tandem rotor design and have a vast difference in terms of size.

[Renan]

How you forget M-113 Zelda,a ifv vehicle, the tank very famous,and Saab Gripen NG the best jet of europe, and a A-400M the new transport airplane of europe and EUA, it's very similary with C-130 Hercules, a big airplane is a big fun, and with he you can have paratroopers and suplies in parachutes,light vehicles in parachutes and light tanks in a parachute, we can made russian recoinciment choper KA-50 BLACK.

[Hitman.2.5]

2 supply crates - Chinook (holds 33 seated troops),
2 supply crates - CH-53E or CH-53K Sea Stallion (both hold 37 seated troops, in standard configuration)

TBQH it holds around 44 fully equipped soldiers and can be increased to 55 in an emergency and the Ch-53 can carry 50 battle ready soldiers.

Nice research though man

[Solid Knight]

You give the militia an old beat up HIND-D.
Give it:
64 (32 x 2) S5 rockets (less effective than Hydra) with low splash relative to other rockets.
2 YakB gun pods (440 total ammo capacity) with low splash and doflocked.
4x wire guided ATGMs with limited camera rotation range.
1 YaKB chin mounted with 1470 rounds and low splash damage.

8x passenger capacity.

I set up a HIND like this before and it's really not that powerful in game. The key is the maneuverability. The HIND D, as I've read, had many hovering issues and couldn't climb very fast either nor did it have the systems or maneuverability for nape of the earth flying. You have to rig the controls in such a way that encourages the player to do gun runs much like an attack jet would.

Other interesting things about the HIND D is that it can withstand 14.Xmm fire in a variety of places on the hull and that the cockpit's glass is not armored glass.

You can create other downsides in the HUD for the gunner--to which I am still experimenting on--such as the lack or restriction of the gunner camera. A lot of the targeting and sighting systems are nearly impossible if not impossible to portray in BF2 so you might have to make some up.

[Tannhauser]

No need to nerf the HIND honnestly, it's already weak compared to the new dedicated attack helos out today (KA-50, Apache, Cobra, Tiger...) and like said, is not so manoeuvrable as them. I think for the sake of asymmetrical gameplay HINDs are a great idea as a secondary role transport helo for MEC and as a primary role transport helo for militia. And IMO, the BH owns the Mi17 because they aren't meant for the same job. the BH is more comparable to Hind as a faster and less armed counterpart than it is to the Mi17. The Mi17 is big and weak, and more comparable to the Chinook so I think giving some Hinds to MEC is logical and adds to gameplay a lot!