Use of Guships

[Bernard]

I often play generated campaigns 1965-67 USMC/USA vs Viet Cong.
I can't help noticing how the AI always rather sensibly purchases a couple of ZPU-2 AAMGs and can deny most of the map to my gunships.
However cautious I am, I can barely get near the enemy with them.
Now I know IRL helos gave the Viet Cong forwarning of US forces approaching and were very vulnerable to ground fire, so no criticism of the game engine or realism there, but does anyone have any advice to keep my gunships (UH-1Es)as useful assets on the battlefield rather than burning wrecks?

[junk2drive]

If you've played any WWII games, treat them like halftracks.
As a mobile reserve. Bring them in after the infantry has ID'd the enemy and suppressed it.

[Bernard]

Thanks for the tip. I have probably relied on them for recon too much.
Thinking about it, charging deep into enemy territory in what is essentially a highly visible soft vehicle isn't too smart...

[serg3d]

I'm playing mostly 1995+ campains, what I'm doing is trying to identify and suppresss enemy SPAA/SAM at the beginning. I'm buying couple of UAV (or observation plane) and SEAD element, and overfly enemy area, until all SPAA/SAM identified. After that I hit them with arty/MRL and overfly with SEAD/spotters, until they are destroyed or out of missiles. After that use my gunships in depth(still beware of atgm though).I also use gunships in the beginning, but behinde my armor as overwatch.

[IanWilliams]

I mostly play in the modern era.

IMHO one or two strike elements of Hellfire UAVs are more cost effective that one SEAD strike. Their small size and high EW rating make them devilishly hard to hit with SAMs. I like to have them attack what are likely to be empty sections of the map on turn 0. Just try to avoid flying them over vehicle concentrations as they don’t last long around AA Mgs. I view these essentially as “SAM-bait” and the extra hellfire shot as a bonus.

I have also Mobhacked HE tow missiles onto the Apache to create a MANPADS sniper. Even Infantry SAMs with TI vision of 40 are overmatched by the 60 vision of the AH-64D.

Ian

[JaM]

Why you dont use DAGR rockets against them? They are quite accurate and powerfull to kill SAM team with one blow

[Cameronius]

In Vietnam era scenarios I use spotter planes, recce helos and strike aircraft to spot AA early. I then use smoke to cover gunship and transport movement to obective areas. I then hammer all known or relevent AA positions with arty and air strikes. If need be I finish them off with point blank fire from helos, approaching with 2 or more helos alternating movement to force the AA to fire on a different target every time. After all AA fire in the area is eliminated I then land infantry to take objectives and cordon and area close by the objective to land mortar support and ammo carriers with heavy helos as a fire base. Gunships can then use the fire base to reload ammo so they can support the infantry assault and help defend against counter attacks. Using these tactics I usually end up with only a handful of my choppers bugging out with light damage and very rarely one is shot down.