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Post by oldpop2000 on Oct 12, 2019 14:29:55 GMT -6
I would like to see research and development of single rotor helicopters, if it hasn't already been added. Sikorsky had a successful helicopter by 1940- VS-300. We have Stanley Hiller developing all-metal blades in 1940. That's actual history, but it was conceptualized before that.
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Post by stevethecat on Oct 13, 2019 5:51:32 GMT -6
While I always like more options it might be tricky to find a role suitable. For the first 15 years or so helicopters were used for ferrying rather than combat.
For the amount of deck space they would take up it's a hard sell!
Unless they are given a huge ASW effect? Adding the Westland Wasp with its nuclear depth charge would be useful...
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Post by Adseria on Oct 14, 2019 8:13:25 GMT -6
The period covered by the game seems a bit early for helicopters. Also, in terms of gameplay, what would helicopters actually add? Aside from maybe adding a small amount of ASW to small ships (destroyers and light cruisers) I don't imagine they would be much use. They certainly wouldn't be much use in the anti-ship role; there's a reason we still use fixed-wing aircraft to this day.
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Post by wlbjork on Oct 14, 2019 8:39:43 GMT -6
Agreed. It wasn't until the 1960s and the development of the turbo-shaft powerplant, that the helicopter became really useful as we know it today. This technically puts it just outside the timeframe of the game, sadly.
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Post by oldpop2000 on Oct 14, 2019 9:03:18 GMT -6
I would have to disagree. The US Army send a detachment of Sioux helicopters to Korea in November 1950. They were MEDEVAC helicopters and more came later. There was the light utility and observation helicopter the Bell H-13 of MASH. The Bell Model 47, which is a light multi-purpose, both were developed and deployed by 1946 and 1947. The Hiller OH-23 Raven in 1948, the Piasecki H-25 tandem-rotor transport helicopter, the Sikorsky Multi-purpose Chickasaw which was used from 1947 to 1991. There was the Sikorsky H-5 light utility from 1945. The German's developed helicopters but they were never deployed. I think the game's time period could and should have helicopters.
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Post by stevethecat on Oct 14, 2019 9:13:01 GMT -6
The time period certainly covers them. But what feature would they add in game?
Automated search and rescue for a few points there?
An ASW boost?
Ship to shore deliveries for supporting ground forces?
It's tricky to see a good specific role for that era of helicopter, especially when it would mean giving up quite a bit of the all-valuable deck space.
Maybe with bit of blurry historical development you could get a helicopter with light anti ship missiles at very late game...
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Post by oldpop2000 on Oct 14, 2019 9:25:23 GMT -6
The time period certainly covers them. But what feature would they add in game? Automated search and rescue for a few points there? An ASW boost? Ship to shore deliveries for supporting ground forces? It's tricky to see a good specific role for that era of helicopter, especially when it would mean giving up quite a bit of the all-valuable deck space. Maybe with bit of blurry historical development you could get a helicopter with light anti ship missiles at very late game... The helos would be good for air-sea rescue, ASW, many different roles including reconnaissance by AMC's. With guns added, they could attack transports when placed aboard the AMC's and they could be a welcomed addition to surface ships instead of seaplanes.
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Post by dohboy on Oct 14, 2019 12:08:01 GMT -6
Helicopters had completely replaced floatplanes on ships in the US Navy by 1950.
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Post by oldpop2000 on Oct 14, 2019 14:14:38 GMT -6
Helicopters had completely replaced floatplanes on ships in the US Navy by 1950. Yes and it could have happened earlier. The Sikorsky R-4 was used for rescues in Burma and China. They were also used to ferry parts between the floating aviation repair units. This was around 1944. So, All in all, it could be done much earlier.
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