Solution to the HAT-problem (guided AA-weapon)

[EmBra]

I didn't find a topic about this but I know it have been discussed in various random threads.

The HAT is being used as a guided AA-weapon and it is impossible for the helipilots (mostly attack-chopper pilots) to avoid this AntiTank-weapon effectively.

After being shot down with HAT a couple of times I decided to test it myself.

On 3 different rounds at three different times (days) I have had 100% success rate in killing the helicopter I was aiming for even if they were moving. Especially the Cobra on Muttra is easy to kill this way. The pilot get no warning that the missile is on the way and he must fly relatively smooth and slow for the gunner to hit anything, unfortunately this makes it an ideal target for the Heavy AntiTank AA-guided Weapon (HAT ) to be guided and kill the helicopter.

My idea to solve this problem and unrealistic use of the HAT weapon is this.

Make the HAT able to lock on to ground vehicles but let it take 10 seconds for it to lock on. Give it a faster deployment time to compensate for the 10 seconds locking time. Remove the ability for it to be guided manually.

Flame away!

[[R-DEV]strima]

I do like this idea and it would reduced the amount of Heli taken out by HAT and slightly balance the RPG side of life. The only downfall I can foresee is of armour is cutting across open ground into cover but as you pointed out reduce the deployment time and the increased lock time should reduce snap shots.

Off topic slightly, not sure if Javelin has ever been used against an air target though!!!

[[R-DEV]Eddie Baker]

There is only one HAT kit missile in game that is in real life SACLOS guided and that's the Eryx. The Predator/SRAW is just a holdover from BF2. And since the only fire-and-forget, man portable ATGM in service is the Javelin, I doubt this is going to happen in game. At least not for every faction.

Originally Posted by [R-COM]strima

Off topic slightly, not sure if Javelin has ever been used against an air target though!!!

The "Other Javelin (TM)" is an AA missile. Though the Javelin ATGM can theoretically be used against low and slow aircraft, I haven't seen any kind of test footage to that effect.

[nick20404]

That is why you don't hover your chopper in one place, its called shoot and scoot.

[[R-DEV]Eddie Baker]

Originally Posted by nick20404

That is why you don't hover your chopper in one place, its called shoot and scoot.

Exactly. US TOW gunners even train to engage low flying helicopters. And you know they're itching to do it.

[EmBra]

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Eddie Baker

There is only one HAT kit missile in game that is in real life SACLOS guided and that's the Eryx. The Predator/SRAW is just a holdover from BF2. And since the only fire-and-forget, man portable ATGM in service is the Javelin, I doubt this is going to happen in game. At least not for every faction.

I realise this but it will not be more unrealistic then it currently is. Since as you say, only the Eryx is manually guided IRL.

Unlike IRL the helicopter pilots and gunners in PR only have a limited viewdistance, from 500m - up to appr. 900m on the various maps. This is not specially realistic now is it So you have to find a middle ground where it can be somewhat realistic and fun at the same time.

Originally Posted by nick20404

That is why you don't hover your chopper in one place, its called shoot and scoot.

Yes, unfortunately in PR you are forced to operate within combat distance of these weapons due to limited viewdistance and if you want to give close air support for your infantry on the ground you are forced to fly lower then you would like to do (you have to see the ground, no?).
And with these manually guided HAT weapons you can even hit moving helicopters without any hassle, I myself have 100% killratio on moving helicopters using the guided HAT.

[[R-DEV]strima]

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Eddie Baker

The "Other Javelin (TM)" is an AA missile. Though the Javelin ATGM can theoretically be used against low and slow aircraft, I haven't seen any kind of test footage to that effect.

I keep on forgetting about the 'old' Javelin even though the RA used to have Javelin Regiments back in the good old days of the Cold War. I would love to see some footage of the new Javelin taking out a Fast Jet, that would be sheer pwnage!!!

[Alex6714]

Solution, 2000m view distance, hat = max range of 600m (i think that is the realistic value?) tanks + apcs etc at 1500m, helicopters at 2000m and aa at 2000-2200m, therefor simulating engagement distances.

But meh, I don´t think there is a weapon in game you can´t take down a helicopter with.

Can´t do the lock on hat stuff, cos otherwise helis could also lock on, although that would increase realism even more, and balance to the point where the word balance can be used.

[TF6049]

550-600 is the engagement "butter-zone" for attack helis. If you're going to hit an unknown area, go not less 550m from the target, but not more than 600. Some units may see you, but it's less likely to happen (and if it does, it's an easy escape to 600m where they CAN'T see you).

[cyberzomby]

I agree with the :than dont hover that chopper. I rarely see the attack choppers using there hydra's as well. Instead they just go hover over the mountain range in muttrah and get shot down by hats because the pilot is hovering at 0/kph

Why dont they do strafing runs like the huey's. I'd do a mixture of hovering and strafing runs. And maybe only hover when theres a tank around to take him out with that guided missile.