The Commander Series Forum

I played my first game of CWC yesterday using attack helos - which raised a large number of questions:

1. Does the air superiority result apply to helos?
2. Do you apply the air support modifiers when requesting helo support? (in particular can multipule attack helos be called in as a single unit).
3. When calculating AA is AA based on line-of-sight/range to the helo or los to the target (as for aircraft)?
4. If hit by AA is the effect calculated in the same way as aircraft?
5. If a helo suffers reduced attacks from AA hits does this also apply to the secondary weapon (which is usually ATGW)?
6. Do helos evade ATGW attacks?

Grateful advice.

Peter W

On the same subject, under 'Visibility' on page 6 it states that high area terrain blocks LOS to aircraft and helicopters, but under the pop-up rules it states that a helicopter can make use of high area terrain to reduce hits against it at the expense of an attack die.

Both rules seem to contradict each other?

Been thinking about some these myself. My take is;

1) No, as Helos are not called by FACs so are not air suppport assets.
2) No, see above.
3) To the Helo as they can be placed anywhere on the board, but they need LOS to target template.

These nexts ones not sure about and i will defer to those of superior knowledge on the topic.

4) Yes.
5) I would think so.
6) I don't see why not.

Under normal circumstances in the game, you can't. The helicopters are placed on table, AA and HQ fire is resolved, Helicopter fire is resolved, helicopters leave.

I think the only time that hey can be hit with ATGW is if you have an FAO/FAC in a helicopter on table permanently.

"How do you attack a helicopter with an ATGW?"

They can be as long as the helicopter is low flying (they are classed as low flying in the game). I've read that ATGW can be used against helicopters and slow moving aircraft, and Soviet ATGMs fired from tanks can be used against helicopters according to Zaloga (T-62 from Osprey) and Koch (Soviet Tanks 1946+).

Pete,

Any views on the orignal questions re attack helo rules?

Peter W

I assume you could fire an ATGW at an attack helo (as well as an FAO/FAC helo) using opporuntiy fire as long as it was placed on the board further than 20cm away from the firer?

Peter W

1. Does the air superiority result apply to helos?

Yes

2. Do you apply the air support modifiers when requesting helo support? (in particular can multipule attack helos be called in as a single unit).

Yes

3. When calculating AA is AA based on line-of-sight/range to the helo or los to the target (as for aircraft)?

To the helicopter

4. If hit by AA is the effect calculated in the same way as aircraft?

Yes

5. If a helo suffers reduced attacks from AA hits does this also apply to the secondary weapon (which is usually ATGW)?

Yes

6. Do helos evade ATGW attacks?

Yes

I assume you could fire an ATGW at an attack helo (as well as an FAO/FAC helo) using opporuntiy fire as long as it was placed on the board further than 20cm away from the firer?

Yes

Thanks

Peter W

I don't understand the answer to 3 above.

If AA fire is calculated based on the point of aim not the helicopter's position then why do Helicopter attacks have range and what benefit is there to using attacks from behind high terrain. Unless I'm missing something these only seem to make sense if the AA fire is directed against the Helicopter model once it has been placed on the table and not against the point of aim (as is the case for Aircraft)

Sorry I got that wrong (and corrected it above). It states what you should do on p.32 - do you guys read the rule book?

Fair comment. The rule on p.32 seemed clear - however I was equally convinced from reading P.32 (like Panzerleader 21) that air superiority and FAC modifers did not apply to attack helos so I am glad I asked (even if I didn't like the answers).

Peter W