Helo Scouts-Recon by Suicide?

[Akmatov]

Finally, getting into WinSPMBT a bit. Last night was playing a generated 1980 scenario and was using a helo as a scout to locate enemy forces. As far as I can tell, based on just a little experience, the only time a helo sights an enemy unit is after the enemy unit fires on the helo. This leads to two questions:

1) Do helos commonly sight enemy units without first being fired upon? Sorta Recon by Suicide.

2) I seem to be unable to either move or change the altitude of a helo once it is fired upon until the firing event is concluded. While this makes sense for gunfire, it seems wrong as I sit there and watch the missile getting closer and closer and even closer - seems like the helo should be able to dodge during this looonnnng wait to be hit. It the helo a sitting duck or am I missing something that would enable my helo to dodge?

Thanks for any advice.

[Suhiir]

Finally, getting into WinSPMBT a bit. Last night was playing a generated 1980 scenario and was using a helo as a scout to locate enemy forces. As far as I can tell, based on just a little experience, the only time a helo sights an enemy unit is after the enemy unit fires on the helo. This leads to two questions:

1) Do helos commonly sight enemy units without first being fired upon? Sorta Recon by Suicide.

2) I seem to be unable to either move or change the altitude of a helo once it is fired upon until the firing event is concluded. While this makes sense for gunfire, it seems wrong as I sit there and watch the missile getting closer and closer and even closer - seems like the helo should be able to dodge during this looonnnng wait to be hit. It the helo a sitting duck or am I missing something that would enable my helo to dodge?

Thanks for any advice.

Best way I've found to use Scout Helo's is to put them in an overwatch position. Someplace they can see opposition uits firing at your units, they do a good job of spotting firing units. If you try to use them to actually locate opposition units themselves then yeah...they'll normally find one or two as they're blown out of the air.

No way to dodge missiles I'm afraid. You get one shot at you you about all you can do is pray it misses. Keep in mind, that while a missile may be moving at slow speed on your computer screen it may well travel at mach 2 in real life.

Scout helo's aren't ment to be on the front lines like scout infantry.

[hoplitis]

It depends on what kind of forces you anticipate it to "identify". Infantry under cover in that small patch of trees beside the crossroad? Nahhh. Armor columns moving in the distance? Yeap! Gamewise, what I find annoying is that they don't locate AAA guns on clear terrain. Anyway "scouting" in any form is one aspect of the game that really troubles me but hey! thats good! we have a problem to solve and tactics to improve! :)

[Wdll]

The only two times I find scout helos usefule are

a) to draw enemy fire so that my main air assets get less.

b) to be on the watch way behind the front line, to locate any sneaking enemy unit that tries to outflank your main forces.


c) (bonus) if you have total air supremacy and the enemy's air defences are out, to hunt down enemy retreating units or artillery. This only works of course if your scout helos have weapons.

[Akmatov]

Thanks guys - good to know it is not just me, so I will not keep poking at it to try to figure out how to make them do what they actually can not do.:)

[Imp]

Wiyh an incoming missile you will often get a message saying evading so the helo or vehicle has seen it & is doing its best, reduces hit chance.
As Suhiir rightly says pairs so multi eyes they can be very effective at finding ATGMs HMGs back from the front line & AAguns. One probably wont see the AAgun as its suppressed or busy avoiding it. When scouting with like any unit the faster you go the less you spot so dont move flat out & expect to see much.
The other thing as said newish if think troops about flying high reduces the chance of a hit by them but of course makes you more of a target for AAA assets.

[gila]

In Vietnam or before, I'd pop them up occasionally way behind in over watch and to spot flanking forces or atry smoke.

As imp has said they are pretty good for calling in atry or airstrikes.