Quote:
Originally Posted by Falcon Jun
Yes, I agree with all of you that the helicopter around World War II was at its infancy. Still, what I am saying is that it is plausible that a better type of helicopter could've been developed had more resources been allocated for its development.
The helicopter wouldn't be suitable for an air-to-air mode, of course, but as pointed out in one of the replies here, it could conceivably contribute to the battlefield as a transport or close support role. I doubt, though, that a helicopter could've helped the paratroopers at Arnhem because that is generally a built up area. Lots of hidden places there to shoot down a chopper.
There are, I think, many WWII campaigns whose results could've been altered had this aircraft type been available. One such campaign could be North Africa.
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But had more resources been moved from somewhere else, then that particalular area would have suffered, especially if it was tank or aircraft research. ALthough removing the super weapon resoureces could have obtained the resources need for the development of the helicopter.
I guess you have to look at range and vulnability, is the risk worth the payoff? I dont think the payoof would be enough, they wouldn't be more then a mobile heavy machine gun platform, probably very unstable making accuary difficult. The enemy would surely figure this out and in the case of the Germans do a today rebel attack in an urban area with an RPG (panzerfaust) fired right at the helicopter blowing to pieces, also losing the crew. Also just a few good bursts at a helicopter from a machine gun mounted on an AA mounting or from an STG would probably be enough to finish of the helicopter.
So there disadvantages would probably rule it out of combat situations and it could not be more then a troops transport, wounded, reinforcments although small in number, something is better then nothing, or even a heavy machine gun or infantry antitank weapons, onto a lacking infantry platoon would be good. So it would be only used in a support role not a combat one.