Helicopters can't fire

[HobbesACW]

Hi folks, I noticed helicopters will not fire if low on ammo. I assume this is deliberate and not a bug?
I don't remember reading about this.

Chris

[Jason Petho]

Helicopters that are low on ammo need to return to their parent headquarters in order to be remedied.

Question – Why is my Conserving Ammo unit unable to regain Combat Efficiency?

Answer 3
If the unit in question is a helicopter unit, it may be suffering from a mechanical failure. The helicopter unit will be required to land at the parent headquarters (not just any headquarters unit). After the helicopter has landed with the parent headquarters , the unit will be repaired and will regain its Combat Efficiency status. If the parent HQ is not on the map or included in the scenario, this is by design, and you are SOL.

[HobbesACW]

Thanks very much Jason.

Chris

[HobbesACW]

P.S. Can you clarify range with helicopters. I have a helicopter that has far higher fire power at a two hex range than one. If I am adjacent to a target at nap altitude is this considered a one hex range? Low a two hex range? At a high altitude damage might be limited for other reasons? I keep meaning to test this out but I keep forgetting.

Chris

[Jason Petho]

It will depend on the helicopters.

For example, a HOG is armed with a rocket package that has a 2 hex minimum, so they will fire more effectively at 2 hex range. SNAKES on the other hand will have better attack values at 1 hex range due to their weapon load out. You can see this when you select a helicopter and select F2 to see it's attack values.

Firing at NAP of the earth (whether one or two hexes away or more) will allow you to fire at the maximum firepower value.

Firing at Low will reduce the attack value by 20-25%.

You can't fire at High at all, that's by design as High is meant for transit.

[Crossroads]

^ Low air level effectively adds one hex to weapon range, but also to visibility from helicopter. With visibility say at 6, a recon Help at Low will see 5 hexes forward (and one down), and at High 4 hexes forward (and two down).