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Message no. 1
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Rockets and Attack helicopters (was Re: Cyberpirates errata and
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 22:25:57 +0100
Alfredo B Alves said on 7:53/18 Jun 98,...

> >They're just 70 mm FFARs (Folding Fin Aerial Rockets), the later
> >versions are often called "Hydra 70" after the manufacturer. The
> >Mighty Mouse (I don't know the correct designation) was
> >developed for air-to-air use, and had a 2.7 kg warhead. Assuming
> >that's rating 4 explosive in SR terms it would cause 6D damage
> >provided it doesn't have a fragmentation warhead.
>
> Actually, I hadn't thought about it too much but wouldn't be just a
> generic rocket (Total weight for the Anti-vehicle rocket is just 3 kgs
> ...)?

The high-explosive warhead weighed 2.7 kg. The full rocket (that
is, the warhead and the rocket booster together) weighed 8.6 kg -
- at least, the Mk. 4 FFAR does. This from a book called "World
Encyclopedia of Modern Air Weapons" (1988) by Christopher
Chant, ISBN 1-85260-028-4.

The damage code I came up with, BTW, was done by assuming
rating 4 explosive and multiplying that by the square root of 2.7.

> >Later models have warheads weighing up to 7.7 kg (most likely
> >including fragments), so you could put the stats for that at, say,
> >15D, -1 per meter.
>
> It would seem that the stats for the standard rockets conflict with the
> stats you're coming up with (unless the 16D for the generic anti-vehicle
> rocket is actually 8S against vehicles ... but that doesn't make sense
> ...)

Those would be 16S against vehicles (or if it's anti-vehicle,
remain at 16D). Under SR1 rules, they would do 8S.

> ... I'm not saying you're wrong or that the BBB is wrong (I don't
> know enough to say either way), but rather I'm saying it
should be
> determined what the stats -SHOULD- be and correct as needed
:)

I just guessed at the stats, especially since the HE warhead for
modern FFARs has fragmentation effects.

> >Hellfire only for the AH-64, TOW for most of the AH-1's versions
> >except the G and W models.
>
> Actually, My WMP book list AH-1S Cobra with TOWs and AH-1T with TOWs or
> Hellfires ...

AFAIK only AH-1W Cobras can use Hellfire, but perhaps the USMC
has upgraded their T-Cobras to fire them as well since the books I
have on the subject came out.

The AH-1G could not fire any guided missiles, being the original
HueyCobra used in the Vietnam War. They were limited to
miniguns, grenade launchers, FFARs, and a 20 mm Gatling gun.
FFARs proved ineffective against Chinese-built MBTs, even with a
HEAT warhead, so the AH-1P was developed to carry TOW
missiles. From there the E, F, and S models were built for the US
Army, all of them TOW-carriers.

> Also, I was under the impression that it wasn't a matter of
> the AH-64s not being able to mount TOWs but rather that they didn't mount
> TOWs (because it would be a major step down from the Hellfires and/or
> because the fire & forget Hellfires were more suitable to the AH-64's
> role) ... hmmm ... could it be because the AH-64's don't have shaft
> mounted sights? (I doubt it, but you never know ...)

From what I've read, it seems to me that AH-64s don't have the
necessary electronics to fire TOWs fitted as standard. I'm sure it
would be _possible_ to mount and fire TOWs, but not without
adding bits to the helicopter's fire control system. Mast-mounted
sights don't have anything to do with it; Cobras don't have those
either (the only US Army helo with a MMS is the OH-58 Kiowa).

ArcLight said on 16:22/18 Jun 98,...

> IMHO, military vehicles are the next thing not to argue with
> Gurth...; ))

*grin* That doesn't mean anyone has to stop argueing with me
over them :)

> AH-1 and AH-64 share the same role.. AH = Attack Helicopter
> The AH-1 is currently in use by USMC and Army, Ah-64 only in
use by
> Army (hmh, currently means '93... maybe incorrect by now)

Still not changed, AFAIK.

> And Hellfires are not fire&forget, IIRC...

Funny thing is that the name does (did?) stand for just that:
helicopter-launched fire-and-forget...

--
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-> NERPS Project Leader * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
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