OV-10 Bronco as a small CAS/Transport Aircraft.

[Squeezee]

I've seen a few suggestions about adding CAS aircraft (Gunship to Op. Archer comes to mind) to maps, and I thought of adding the Bronco as a small CAS aircraft. It is almost like a helicopter, in terms of size and speed. It is also capable of operating from a carrier or LHD (What is referred to as the carrier in PR/BF2).

Here is a picture:

It's armament is as follows (This info is from Wikipedia and is not my own):

Armament

Guns: 4 × 7.62x51mm M60C machine guns
Total stores stations: 5 fuselage and 2 underwing
Bombs: Bombs up to 500 lb
Rockets: 7- or 19-tube launchers for 2.75" FFARs or 2- or 4-tube launchers for 5" FFARs
Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder (Wing pylons only)
Other: SUU-11/A or Mk 4 Mod 0 gun pods

It was crewed by two people, or the second seat could be removed, and five paratroopers could sit single file in the back. In PR I can't see each pilot having a weapon though (unless the copilot controlled the bombs, like in the Tornado).

For PR, I think a reasonable armament would be the 4 main guns, two 19 round 2.75 FFAR pods (Basically the same amount of hydras the Cobra carries), and either two more rocket pods (Even if they were two 7 round pods, 52 hydras is kinda overkill for a light CAS plane, and 76 hydras is just stupid) or two GBU-39 guided bombs.

Sadly for some of us Bronco fans, it was phased out of service after the First Gulf War, but now there is mention of it being brought back into service. Boeing has designed a similar plane titled the OV-10X to compete with other small propellor planes for use in a COIN role.

Some of you might read this and say "This sounds just like an attack helo."Well, it kinda is in terms of armament (Except the bombs). There are some advantages to planes instead of helicopters though:

*Ability to carry varied types of ordnance.
*Harder to shoot down with MANPADS (Yes, it's slow, but I'd like to see a helicopter do an Immelman turn or pitch straight down).
*Greater manuverabilty

I think this plane could be applied to maps like Op. Archer, Ramiel (Maybe), and some of the newer Afghan maps. Maybe even Korengal if an airstrip was added, but due to the nature of the map, you'd pretty much have to fly a tight orbit to stay within the confines of the map.


Comments? Questions? General Feedback?

[HangMan_]

2km maps according to PR mapping guidelines cannot have planes/fast-air... So archer will not be getting this i believe. Plus this suggestion means that new models are required, if u are a modeler then by all means make it, if not, then i doubt this is going anywhere

[gazzthompson]

has this been used in iraq and/or afghanistan ? ive had a quick look and i cant find anything....

[DankE_SPB]

Sadly for some of us Bronco fans, it was phased out of service after the First Gulf War, but now there is mention of it being brought back into service.

this is what kill your suggestion, if its phased out - you wont see it ingame, especially if it requires completely new vehicle

the only way to see it, if other countries actually use it , but i doubt they do

[SkaterCrush]

Most operational U.S. Broncos were reassigned to civil government agencies in the U.S., while some were sold to other countries.

At least 157 OV-10As were delivered to the USAF before production ended in April 1969. The USAF lost 64 OV-10 Broncos during the war, to all causes.[5] At the beginning of the 1990s the USAF had replaced their OV-10A fleet with OA-37B and OA-10A aircraft.

Although there are talks of making a very modern one. Its not deployed anywhere, but it could be used if someone models it.

[Squeezee]

2km maps according to PR mapping guidelines cannot have planes/fast-air... So archer will not be getting this i believe. Plus this suggestion means that new models are required, if u are a modeler then by all means make it, if not, then i doubt this is going anywhere

I'd love to make it once I figure out how to model stuff, but sadly I'm not quite there yet. Anyway, I never knew about those mapping guidelines, but I wonder if this could be an exception since it's max speed is not that much more than that of the Cobra helo. Plus it could be slowed down a bit, it doesn't have to go 281 MPH .

has this been used in iraq and/or afghanistan ? ive had a quick look and i cant find anything....

Not currently, but they are contemplating bringing a modified version of it back into service, and since PR a a "future-ish" mod, I thought it would fit in.

[SkaterCrush]

There is another problem. These things will get RAPED by AA, I'm not sure if the missile would be able to lock on to the heat produced by the engines, but if this thing goes slow AA vehicles will have a field day. You definitely want to make it go faster than a heli if its going to be in-game.

[Squeezee]

There is another problem. These things will get RAPED by AA, I'm not sure if the missile would be able to lock on to the heat produced by the engines, but if this thing goes slow AA vehicles will have a field day. You definitely want to make it go faster than a heli if its going to be in-game.

Hmmmmm, I see your point . I wasn't thinking about this being used on maps that are conventional army vs conventional army (Like USMC vs MEC), more like USMC vs Taliban. Sure, the Taliban have MANPADS, but the Bronco has flares. In a pinch I guess you could fly really low and hope to use the terrain to mask you, or just put a berm between you and the missile. Probably the biggest threat would be the ZPU-4s, seeing as they put up a metric shitload of fire.

[SkaterCrush]

It would be interesting to have on a map like Ramiel, but there are like 3 ZPU's that could all attack it at once...

[Priby]

It would be interesting to have on a map like Ramiel, but there are like 3 ZPU's that could all attack it at once...

There are ZPUs on Ramiel?

[Squeezee]

Yeah, I was thinking that, but just because there are 3 ZPUs doesn't mean 3 ZPUs will be active .

And if they are, then I guess troops could be sent in first to eliminate them, or at least one.

This might also work on Jabal, as long as it stays away from the MEC main and any APCs that are actively engaging it. The only thing is that for this to be on a carrier map, you need A- Skilled pilots and B- A clear flight deck. That means all the helos gotta be parked off to the side.

Priby, I'm pretty sure there is one near the landfill in the back of the map, but that was on the PRSP map. Dunno if that one differs from the regular PR maps.

[SkaterCrush]

There are ZPUs on Ramiel?

Uh AA emplacements of some sort My bad

[Squeezee]

Not to mention technicals. Hopefully though, the Bronco would be able to avoid technicals until they have them in their sights and let a ripple of rockets loose .

[gazzthompson]

i HIGHLY doubt the DEVs will add something that *might* be used in the future......

[Hunt3r]

Makes more sense to just have the apache.

[Squeezee]

i HIGHLY doubt the DEVs will add something that *might* be used in the future......

I completely understand what you are saying, but we have an entirely fictional faction, so there's hope .

[SkaterCrush]

Yes it would be interesting. It would also put that airstrip to good use.

Well it is a 4x4 map isn't it? I always wondered why there wasn't an A-10 or something; the US always seems to loose and the runway must be used for something