This topic is locked
Tanktastic in-game Close Air Support (CAS):
In military tactics, Close Air Support (CAS) is defined as air action by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets, that are close to friendly ground or naval forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.
Patch 1.22 version; last update: 30/09/15.
Tanktastic Close Air Support (CAS) overview:
Close Air Support (CAS) is, without any doubt, one of Tanktastic's most prominent in-game features.
These units only show up during "Team Deathmatch", "Capture the Flag" and "Control Points" battle modes; precisely, whenever their specific box is picked up; by either you, a member of your team or the enemy. There are two different types of boxes, very similar in appearance to the one that restores your units' hit points:
- A green box with an assault helicopter icon on it: which, obviously enough, grants the player who picked it up, the support of an assault helicopter.
- A blue box with a ground attack aircraft icon on it; which, obviously enough, grants the player who picked it up, the support of a ground attack aircraft.
Assault helicopters and ground attack aircraft will spawn right after their specific box has been picked up.
Controlled by the AI, they will start roaming the battlefield attacking enemy players. Any kill they'll score will be granted to the player who picked up the box.
These units attack with their cannons, rockets or missiles, and have their own health pool, meaning they have to be shot down from the ground; killing the player who picked up the box won't make them disappear. However, be wary that they will start engaging any given unit that it's shooting at them: make sure to have enough hit points to withstand their returning fire.
It's also worth mentioning that ground attack aircrafts are way faster and, therefore, way more difficult to shoot down than assault helicopters.
Tanktastic Close Air Support (CAS) units:
As of patch 1.22, Tanktastic Close Air Support (CAS) counts 4 different assault helicopters and 5 different ground attack aircraft.
-Assault helicopters:
The Bell AH-1G, company designation: Model 209, also referred to as the "HueyCobra" or "Snake". is a two-blade, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter; it was developed using the engine, transmission and rotor system of the Bell's UH-1 Iroquois.
The AH-1G was the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service. Upgraded versions continue to fly with the militaries of several other nations.
> Armament:
- Two 7.62mm multi-barrel miniguns, or two M129 40mm grenade launchers, or one of each, in the M28 turret. (When one of each was mounted, the minigun was mounted on the right side of the turret, due to feeding problems.)
- 70mm rockets: seven rockets mounted in the M158 launcher or nineteen rockets in the M200 launcher.
- M18 7.62mm Minigun pod or XM35 armament subsystem with XM195 20mm cannon.
-Bell UH-1C "Huey Hog": (NATO)
The UH-1C was specifically developed as a gunship version until the "interim" attack helicopter, the Bell AH-1G "Huey Cobra" was available and to correct the deficiencies of the UH-1B when it was used in the armed role. The UH-1C was widely referred to as the "Huey Hog" in US Army service.
Development on the "C" model had commenced in 1960, with production starting in June 1966. A total of 766 "C" models were completed, including five for the Royal Australian Navy and five for Norway. The balance went to the US Army.
> Armament:
- Two 7.62mm M60 machine guns, or two 7.62mm GAU-17/A six-barreled machine guns.
- Two seven-round or nineteen-round 70mm rocket pods.
- Two 7.62 mm Rheinmetall MG3 (German Army and German Luftwaffe).
- Two .303 Browning Mk II (Rhodesian, twin machine guns mounted on port side).
-Mil Mi-24D "Hind-D": (WAPA)
The Mil Mi-24, NATO reporting name "Hind", is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for eight passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and has been operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force and its successors, along with more than 30 other nations. Soviet pilots called the Mi-24 the "flying tank", or "летающий танк".
The Mi-24D was a purer gunship than the earlier variants and entered production in 1973. The Mi-24D has a redesigned forward fuselage, with two separate cockpits for the pilot and gunner.
> Armament:
- GUV-8700 gunpod, with a combination of a single 12.7mm Yak-B four-barrel Gatling gun and two 7.62mm GShG-7.62 four-barreled rotary machine guns, or one 30 mm AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher.
- UB-32 S-5 rocket launchers.
- S-24 240 mm rockets.
- 9M17 Phalanga (a pair on each wingtip pylon) MCLOS radio command anti-tank missiles.
-Mil Mi-8T "Hip" : (WAPA)
The Mil Mi-8, NATO reporting name "Hip", is a Soviet-designed medium twin-turbine transport helicopter. The Mi-8 is among the world's most-produced helicopters, used by over 50 countries, though Russia still remains the main producer and the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter.
There are also armed gunship versions, like the Mi-8T, which is armed with rockets and anti-tank guided missiles, in addition to carrying 24 troops.
> Armament:
- 57mm S-5 rockets.
- 9M17 Phalanga MCLOS radio command anti-tank missiles.
-Ground attack aircraft:
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American twin-engine, straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. It is the only United States Air Force production aircraft designed solely for Close Air Support, including attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets with limited air defenses. Hence, the A-10's airframe was specifically designed for durability, with measures such as 540 kg of titanium armor to protect the cockpit and aircraft systems, enabling it to absorb a significant amount of damage and continue flying.
The A-10's official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II, a fighter that was particularly effective at close air support. The A-10 is more commonly known by its nicknames "Warthog" or "Hog". Its secondary mission is to provide airborne forward air control, directing other aircraft in attacks on ground targets. Aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements, the A-10's service life may be extended to 2028, though there are proposals to retire it sooner.
> Armament:
- One 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling cannon.
- Four LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods, each with nineteen / seven Hydra 70mm rockets, respectively.
- Four LAU-5003 rocket pods, each with nineteen CRV7 70mm rockets.
- Six LAU-10 rocket pods, each with four 127mm Zuni rockets.
- Two AIM-9 Sidewinders air-to-air missiles for self-defense.
- Six AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles.
- Mark 80 unguided iron bombs.
- Mk 77 incendiary bombs.
- BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, Mk20, BL-755 and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs.
- Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs.
-Douglas A4M Skyhawk II: (NATO)
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single seat carrier-capable attack aircraft developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later by McDonnell Douglas; it was originally designated A4D under the U.S. Navy's pre-1962 designation system.
Skyhawks played key roles in the Vietnam War, the Yom Kippur War, and the Falklands War. Sixty years after the aircraft's first flight, some of the nearly 3000 produced remain in service with several air arms around the world, including from the Brazilian Navy's aircraft carrier, São Paulo.
The A-4M Skyhawk II was a dedicated Marine version with improved avionics and more powerful J52-P-408a engine with 11200 lbf (50 kN) thrust, enlarged cockpit, IFF system. Later fitted with Hughes AN/ASB-19 Angle Rate Bombing System (ARBS) with TV and laser spot tracker. 158 aircraft built.
> Armament:
- Two 20mm Colt Mk 12 cannons.
- Four LAU-10 rocket pods, each with four 127mm Mk 32 Zuni rockets.
- Four AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
- Two AGM-12 Bullpup Air-to-surface missiles.
- Two AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missiles.
- Two AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided glide bombs.
- Two AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles.
- Six Rockeye-II Mark 20 Cluster Bomb Unit (CBU).
- Six Rockeye Mark 7/APAM-59 CBU.
- Mark 80 unguided iron bombs.
- B43, B57, B61 nuclear bombs.
-McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II: (NATO)
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor aircraft/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their respective air wings.
The F-4 was also operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations. Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat in several Arab–Israeli conflicts, while Iran used its large fleet of Phantoms in the Iran–Iraq War. Phantoms remain in front line service with seven countries, and in use as an Target drone in the U.S. Air Force. Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5195 built, making it the most numerous American supersonic military aircraft.
> Armament:
- Four AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses plus four AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons.
- One 20mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barrel Gatling cannon,
- Four AIM-9 Sidewinder.
- Four AIM-7 Sparrow.
- Four AIM-120 AMRAAM.
- Six AGM-65 Maverick.
- Four AGM-62 Walleye.
- Four AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-78 Standard ARM.
- Four GBU-15.
- Eighteen Mk.82, GBU-12.
- Five Mk.84, GBU-10, GBU-14.
- Eighteen CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-58.
- Nuclear weapons, including the B28EX, B61, B43 and B57.
-Sukhoi Su-25 "Frogfoot": (WAPA)
The Sukhoi Su-25, NATO reporting name "Frogfoot", is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide Close Air Support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975. After testing, the aircraft went into series production in 1978 at Tbilisi in the Soviet Republic of Georgia. Russian air and ground forces nicknamed it "Grach" ("Rook").
The Su-25 has seen combat in several conflicts during its more than 30 years in service. It was heavily involved in the Soviet war in Afghanistan, flying counter-insurgency missions against the Mujahideen. The Iraqi Air Force employed Su-25s against Iran during the 1980–88 Iran–Iraq War. Most were later destroyed or flown to Iran in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Abkhazian separatists used Su-25s during the Abkhazian War from 1992 to 1993. The Macedonian Air Force used Su-25s against Albanian insurgents in the 2001 Macedonia conflict and, in 2008, Georgia and Russia both used Su-25s in the Russo-Georgian War. African states, including the Ivory Coast, Chad, and Sudan have used the Su-25 in local insurgencies and civil wars.
> Armament:
- One GSh-30-2 30mm cannon.
- UV-32-57 57mm or B8M1 80mm rocket pods.
- S-24 240mm or S-25 330mm rockets.
- Kh-23 (AS-7), AS-9, Kh-25L (AS-10), Kh-29 (AS-14) air-to-surface missiles.
- K-13 (AA-2) or R-60 (AA-8) air-to-air missiles.
- FAB-250, FAB-500, KAB-500 laser-guided bombs.
-Sukhoi Su-7B "Fitter-B": (WAPA)
The Sukhoi Su-7, NATO designation name "Fitter-A", was a swept wing, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union in 1955. Originally, it was designed as tactical, low-level dogfighter, but was not successful in this role. On the other hand, soon-introduced Su-7B "Fitter-B" series became the main Soviet fighter-bomber and ground-attack aircraft of the 1960s. The Su-7 was rugged in its simplicity but its shortcomings included short range and low weapon load.
Su-7B and its variants became the main Soviet ground-attack aircraft of the 1960s and were also widely exported. However, the very short combat radius and need for long runways limited its operational usefulness. On the other hand, despite its notoriously heavy controls, the Su-7 was popular with pilots for its docile flight characteristics, simple controls and considerable speed even at low altitudes. It also had a reputation for easy maintenance. From 1977-1986 the Su-7s remaining in Soviet service have been replaced by Su-17 and MiG-27.
> Armament:
- Two 30 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30 cannons.
- S-5 57mm spin-stabilized unguided rockets in UB-16-57U pods.
- A combination of 250kg or 500kg bombs.
- One 8U69 5-kiloton nuclear bomb.
![[TANKTASTIC TOURNAMENT] - Qualifiers - last post by Drestdave](http://forum.tanktastic.org/uploads/profile/photo-thumb-6074.jpg?_r=1497937602)
![[CONTEST] - March's lottery - last post by Fatt 88](http://forum.tanktastic.org/uploads/profile/photo-thumb-6863.jpg?_r=1505736342)
