MC Recon Helo idea...

[JDR Dragoon]

As you noted, this is yet another area where "Reality" simply doesn´t translate very well into the "Simulation". Helicopters are essentially a special kind of ground unit. It has special supply rules and enemy units shoot at it use their AA rating instead of SA/HA. In addition it can "fly over" enemy units and automatically gets retreated in an assault. But in all other aspects it is a ground unit: It can block LOS and movement through the terrain it occupies.

I see another problem with your proposal: Scope. Let´s do a quick "back of the envelope calculation". Let´s just take the Bundeswehr alone, they are not particularly dense in helicopters:

-Each Division has a Staffel of 10 Observation and Liason type Helos (Alouettes or BO 105). That is at least 11 helicopter recon missions extra (or 22, if you retain the current 2x5 organization in the OOB)

-Each Corps Level Helicopter Regiment (be they attack Helos or light/medium transport types) also has Obs and Liason type helos in abundance. Lets call it 3 recon missions more (at least).

-In addition there is the extra Recon and Liason helicopters for the Territorialkommandos and directly under NORTHAG/CENTAG and TerritorialKommando Schleswig-Holsteain. That is another 5 or so Recon missions.

So that is about 19-20 extra recon missions for the Bundeswehr ALONE. Then we can start adding in the rest of NATO. It wouldn´t surprise me if you ended up w. something like a 100 extra recon missions once you account for everything.

Of course, you might then scale it back. Say, each NATO corps adding an extra Recon Mission on behalf of their helicopters. Perhaps w. a US Corps getting 2x Recon Mission on behalf of it having more helicopters.

(I will follow up the other thread at some point in the future, don´t have the time now).