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Not to be confused with the Allied Longbow Liberator.

Confederate Longbow Helicopter Mk. 1[]

Westland AH-53 Longbow Attack Helicopter
File:IconLongbowmk1.png
Longbow Helicopter Mk. 1 In-Game
A Longbow attack helicopter
Faction ConfederateLogoThumb Confederate Revolutionaries
Unit Type Attack Helicopter
Designation Anti Tank/Anti Infantry
Production Building Airpad
Secondary Ability Switch Rockets/Chain Gun
Anti-Tank/Anti-Infantry
Cost Unknown
Production Time Unknown
Heroic Upgrade Improved munitions
• Afterburn for chaingun
• Armour debuff for missiles
Dev. Status In game
Country of Origin  GreatBritainthumb United Kingdom
Recovered from  USAthumb Homestead Joint Air Reserve Base, Miami
Key Features  » "Lynx" T53 turboshaft engine
 » M144 “Archer” HEAT rockets (x6)
 » MX-198 20mm "Pyrocumulus" autocannon
 » Retractable landing skids
 » Seating for two

"Let's do us some target practice!"

- Longbow pilot, showing no regard for grammar

Tactical Analysis[]

  • Still packing a hell of a punch: Speedy and capable of striking from almost any angle, the Longbow is a devastating anti tank helicopter, armed with a loadout of six short ranged anti-tank rockets. Uniquely, the Longbow is the only aircraft capable of hiding under a PAWI field.
  • I ain't going out without a fight: Though the Longbow's rockets lack effectiveness against infantry, it can switch to a stolen 20mm chain gun. The change may only be done at the Airpad, however.
  • It isn't the 50s anymore: The Longbow's weapons cannot track air targets, leaving it extremely vulnerable against enemy aircraft. Additionally, the Longbow must reload its rockets at an Airpad after expending them.
  • Joining the modern age: Experienced Longbow pilots get priority for better munitions, usually in the form of incendiary bullets and missiles equipped with miniature seismic generators that make tank armour easier to penetrate.

Operational History[]

During the Second World War, the Westland AH-53 Longbow was the linchpin of Allied defences against Soviet aggression. Fast, sleek, powerfully armed and long ranged, the Longbow was specifically designed to counter Soviet tank divisions, a job it excelled at. Swooping low out of cover to deliver its payload of “Archer” HEAT rockets from beyond retaliatory range, hundreds, and later thousands of Longbows were deployed from forward airbases, and its descendants continue to arm the Allied military to this day.

The Longbow was almost impossible for early Soviet tank divisions to counter. Though infantry with rocket launchers, anti air "Flak Tracks" and the rocket pods on the JS-2 Mammoth Tank could fight them off, most tanks were helpless against these machines, which scored the highest kill ratios against the Soviet war machine of any vehicle in the war.

The only real threat to the Longbow was Soviet aircraft, particularly the MiG-9, so the Longbow was initially constrained in its abilities due to the constant risk of interception by enemy air patrols. The appearance of the Hawker Jumpjet and the subsequent disintegration of Soviet air supremacy allowed the Longbow to operate freely, and in the last year of the war Longbows managed to completely neutralise the Soviet tank divisions, finally forcing the Soviets on the defensive.

One of the biggest advantages of the Longbow is its ability to hover extremely low to the ground; it could hide in a GAP field, pop up over the cloud to fire its rockets at enemy vehicles, and then sink back into the protective cloud. These rockets retain their lethal effectiveness against even more modern tanks, but their lack of guidance systems means they can only be employed at short ranges.

The Longbow is possibly the most modern of all Confederate assets; it has been upgraded with components stolen from Longbow Liberator assembly plants, including 20mm chain guns that give them some anti-infantry capability. The unparalleled armour penetration the Longbow provides makes it invaluable for keeping Allied armour at bay, and it is a staple of Confederate strike forces.

Behind the Scenes[]

  • The Longbow is a mix between an Apache Longbow and Korean War era helicopters such as the Bell 47. Its tail armour plating was presumably removed for maintainability and reduced weight.

Just the Stats[]

Longbow Helicopter

Attack Helicopter
Cost
Build Time
Health
Speed
Armour Type Thin Skinned
M144 Rockets
Lock-On(3s), Dumb-Fire, Vehicles and Structures Only, Limited Ammo(6)
Cannon
Range 500
RPS 2
Damage 50
Suppression N/A
DPS 100
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Indian Shortbow Helicopter[]

AH-53S Shortbow Helicopter
IconBlueChina
Shortbow
An Indian Shortbow over the South China Sea
Minor Faction BlueChinaLogoThumb Indian Reservist Reinforcements
Other Faction(s) None
Unit Type Attack Helicopter
Designation Anti-Tank
Production Building Indian Reinforcements
Secondary Ability Land and Repair/Take Off
Cost Unknown
Production Time Unknown
Heroic Upgrade Longbow upgrade
• Increased armour and health
-Weapons gain Tracking
Dev. Status Conceptual
Country of Origin  Indiathumb India
Produced by/
Recovered from
 Gajraj Air Frames, Patna
Key Features  » "Lynx" T53 turboshaft engine (knockoff)
 » M970 anti-tank rocket pods (x2)
 » Self-repair kit (behind pilot seat)
 » All terrain landing skis (reinforced)
 » Tank identification poster (rolled up)

Tactical Analysis[]

  • Swarm Copter: The cheaply-made Indian Shortbow helicopter may not be the most effective gunship around, but in large numbers can slaughter tank battalions.
  • Armour-Piercing Downpour: The Shortbow is armed with two rocket pods, each of which can rain dozens of anti-tank rockets onto enemies below.
  • Crash Landing: Shortbows can also be ordered to land on flat ground to conduct repairs, then lift off to join the fight.
  • Pretty Lights: The rocket pods are only effective against heavily armoured targets, which combined with the Shortbow's weak armour and mediocre speed makes the gunship rather specialised.

Background[]

India has been hard-pressed to fully outfit its armed forces with the limited money it can pour into funding them. With many other countries ahead on the list to receive Allied military aid, India must face the prospect of sending in her massive infantry divisions without sufficient armour or air support. In particular, modern anti-tank weapons are rare on the ground (or above it), and in actions during WWIII, Indian infantry divisions were often forced to take on Communist tanks with anti-tank rifles.

Mid-way through WW3, with the introduction of the Multigunner Copter and the Longbow Mk 2, the Allied Nations decided to decommission most of their Longbow Mk. 1s. However, as so often was the case, only a handful of the helicopters went to the Indians. Rather than being limited to using the gunships sparingly, the Indian Army Command had the Longbows be shipped off to several local aircraft manufacturers, with the intent of having the helicopters examined so they could be manufactured for the Indian Air force.

The aircraft companies came back with their product; a much cheaper but still effective gunship nicknamed the "Shortbow". Almost a straight duplicate of the Longbow Mk. 1, the Shortbow is made of cheaper aluminum, uses a knockoff engine, and is armed with two anti-tank rocket pods. These rockets are much cheaper and easier to use than guided missiles, but too inaccurate to hit smaller targets. This means that the Shortbow is frighteningly effective against tanks, but is considerably less so against infantry. The Shortbow was quickly adopted by the Indian armed forces, and has seen use over China, where large swarms of these helicopters are the bane of Communist tanks. The several dozen Longbow Mk. 1s are kept in reserve, flown by only the most experienced pilots.

Though not directly vulnerable to the swarms of infantry posed by the swarms of Clones, and what's left of the Red Guard, the Indian Shortbows & Longbows lack a counter to these forces. While this would normally be handled by NRA Crossbows, these helicopters are either all gone or taken by the insane warlords for their Blue Fiefdoms. An upgrade kit was soon fashioned enabling the mounting of an MX-234 RoCa (Rotary Cannon) to give Shortbows & Longbows the ability to shred infantry and light vehicles. Unfortunately as these upgrade kits have only just begun their production run these are limited to Indian Shortbows & Longbows embedded with NRA Fiefdoms under direct Allied protection.

Behind the Scenes[]

  • The Shortbow is an accepted suggestion by TLhikan.
BlueChinaLogo
BlueChinaLogo
National Revolutionary Army

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Blue China Crossbow Helicopter[]

AH-53C Crossbow Helicopter
IconBlueChina
An NRA Crossbow Helicopter gunning down charging Red Guards
Minor Faction BlueChinaLogoThumb Indian Reservist Reinforcements
Other Faction(s) None
Unit Type Attack Helicopter
Designation Anti-Infantry
Production Building Warlord Reinforcements
Secondary Ability Drop Bomb
Cost Unknown
Production Time Unknown
Heroic Upgrade Flak rounds/Cluster bombs
• Attack and ability deal splash damage
Dev. Status Conceptual
Country of Origin  RepublicChinathumb Republic of China
Produced by/
Recovered from
 
Key Features  » "Lynx" T53 turboshaft engine (barely functional)
 » Vickers .303 in machine gun (x2)
 » 500 lb. gravity bomb (underneath)
 » Whats left of the pilot (bolted in)
 » Broken speaker (used to warn deserters)

Tactical Analysis[]

  • Still Patrolling: The heavily modified Chinese Crossbow helicopter was built to counter against the PLA swarms of infantry and patrol an area for sneak attacks, with an equipment sensor to find any cloaked units.
  • Gun The Runners: The Crossbow is armed with two Vickers machine guns, each of which can fire a stream of lead to kill any infantry and interfere with the sights of vehicles.
  • Bomb Voyage: Crossbows are also armed with a large, high-explosive, bomb beneath them. And upon order they can drop it directly on top of a target. Its blast easily destroys most vehicles and infantry. Though it's highly advised to not use them against anti-air vehicles as the Crossbow must be directly over the target to drop their payload.
  • Grudgebuster: Before the bombs fell prototype flak rounds and cluster bombs were being distributed to the Crossbows. But due to the nuclear exchange both these rounds, and the ability to make them, has severely limited. Thus Warlords will only give these bombs and flak rounds to Crossbows who faced the most combat.

Background[]

Before the Bombs[]

During the Civil War the NRA was given many of the Allies old equipment and vehicles, many of which they modified. The Longbow was no exception.

During the War it was said the Chinese Longbow, alongside its Indian knockoff the Shortbow, had fought the most battle against the NRA. During which they found some parts not suited for their doctrine. Despite the Longbows efficiency against the PLA many tanks, it had to return to an airpad to reload, compared to the Shortbow which could fight without need to reload for a long time, and even with the PLA vehicles gone they still had to contend with a wave of charging, fanatical, Red Guards, who often then not overran their defense through sheer numbers.

Thus the NRA Crossbow Helicopter came to be. Replacing the Longbows missile tubes with a pair of Vickers and a rack of bombs mounted in the leftover spaces, the Crossbow was soon feared by the Red Guards, as these helicopters could suddenly swoop in and rip them apart like wheat before a scythe, and Battlemasters and Armageddon soon loathed it too, as their bombs often have enough power to severely damage to outright killing them. With the appearance of Crossbows a known highlight being the battle of Nanjing, where a squadron of Crossbow gunned down countless numbers of charging Red Guards before knocking out the Overlords and Armageddon Cannons with precise bomb strikes.

But soon the Crossbow gained a darker reputation.

As the War dragged on many NRA soldiers began questioning the cause, why are they fighting? What do they fight for? How many of them must die before the War ends? Soon these questions led to desertion, with many soldiers, either disgusted by the war or wanting to save themself, running away from the battlefield, and rarely heard from again. This was unacceptable.

Soon many Crossbows were tasked with gunning down any soldier who runs and finding/executing deserters, to make sure that their soldiers will fear them more then they fear the tide of PLA forces, since their helicopter is suited for the job. But many had objected, unable to comprehend why they want them to kill their fellow countrymen. With many discipline turned execution cases emerging, and worst yet Crossbow pilots deserting, until a solution was found, in order for these Crossbows to do their role their pilots must be loyal. Thus all Crossbow pilots were soon butchered and directly connected to their helicopters and had to follow their commanders orders, done thanks to the NRA necro-science.

From then on, to the fall of the nukes, the NRA feared the Crossbows, some might say their fear of it is greater than the PLA. As these pilots, who are reduced to nothing more then flesh and blood robots, now gun down any soldier who thinks of deserting, and nearing the end the thought of retreating, with their Vickers, patrolling the trenches searching for the PLA and monitoring their forces, making sure they hold the line or die trying.

After the Bombs[]

Before the devastating atomic exchange severely crippled the Nationalists' production capabilities, a large number of Crossbows were being given prototype flak rounds and cluster bombs. These weapons proved immensely useful in combat, as their bullets now explodes on a cloud of shrapnel while their bombs releasing smaller bombs had allowed them to devastate larger swathes of PLA forces. As it is, following the atomic exchange, the Blue Chinese had lost most of the infrastructure to build these munitions in large quantities. With only a limited number of ammunition made a day, use of them must be carefully rationed to remaining Crossbows, with those seeing the most combat given priority.

Due to many Crossbow patrolling the trenches on the front, many were destroyed in the nuclear firestorm.

But even so there were also many Crossbow patrolling the cities of the NRA, tasked with finding any PLA infiltrator or gunning down any traitors, which were quickly snatched up by the Warlords.

But, due to the effects of the nuke, many Crossbow pilots were barely functioning or dying, requiring the Necro-scientist to use more advanced techniques to keep them alive, and the loss of many original equipment manufacturer parts meant that it was harder to keep what remaining Crossbow functional, having to rely on the Indians and the Confederates to provide spare parts. Thus, in an echo of the past, many Crossbow were relegated to patrol the Warlords kingdom, tasked with shooting enemies at the gate or any unruly subjects. But in times of war a Warlord might be willing to use these Crossbows to help their army, their guns easily cutting down infantry like the past. But unlike the past these Warlords need not worry of their soldiers deserting, for many of them had nothing left to live for.

BlueChinaLogo
BlueChinaLogo
National Revolutionary Army

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