Smoke laying helo?
 

When I was flicking through ‘Russia’s Arms’ the other day I noticed a Russian smoke pot called the KDSh-2 which can be dropped by helicopter. It can be dispensed using the VSM-1 heliborne system - which according to Jane’s was designed for use with the Mi-8T/Mi-8MT (Mi-17).

Does anyone know whether the Mi-8T/Mi-8MT (Mi-17) is used to lay smoke screens? Moreover, if it is used in such a way, would it be possible to add smoke ammo to Mi-8s in the game?

Re: Smoke laying helo?
 

There have been aerial smoke screen laying equipment for various Russian and Western helicopters. I haven't actually attempted to add this functionality myself in my OOB editing, but since adding smoke dischargers to helicopters causes the field to go red in Mobhack I assume its a nogo. I would think its likely hardcoded somewhere that helicopters do not have smoke ammo, and therefore you can add 99 smoke dischargers and it won't change anything. Smoke ammo (not dischargers) cannot be edited in using Mobhack and is hardcoded to unit class IIRC.

Re: Smoke laying helo?
 

While certainly that has been and still case that Helo can lay smoke. IMHO it is really out of the scope of the game and for most purposes would be suicidal against any enemy with any sort of AA assets. Most "smoke" dispensers have "other" wartime uses but smoke is used in exercise situations. As for dropping a smoke pot, again an expensive asset for a mission far better covered by arty or even hand thrown smoke grenades. Try and imagine a HIP or a Slick laying 500m of smoke in front of trigger-happy troops. ;)

Bob out

Re: Smoke laying helo?
 

Actually, this was the plan in the dawn of airmobile tactics in the US Army. Helos with smoke gear would lay smoke screens to make by definition vulnerable LZs more isolated from immediate fire. While most of the Russian equipment was for chemical spraying, the majority of the helicopter systems used by the US were intended for operational use in both capacities.

This was the first link I could find using google.

Re: Smoke laying helo?
 

Thanks for your replies.

I asked about the HIPs because I was wondering whether (a) many are even equipped to lay smoke and (b) whether they actually lay smoke in practice. When I’ve read Russian articles about the use of heliborne infantry they haven’t mentioned the use of smoke pots for the protection of LZs.

The VSM-1 was originally designed for another ‘wartime’ use - as a mine dispenser. The KDSh-2 is usually deployed with the mine dispensers (PKM and UWZ) used by ground troops (usually engineers). It is a nifty device that creates a screen - visual and infrared – 50 to 80 metres long.

Thanks for the link about the Huey in Vietnam. I haven’t seen a photo of a ‘Smokey’ in action before.