Purpose in-game:
Many of the currently in-game utility helicopters does not feature any defensive mechanism for enemy aircrafts, take for example the german UH-1 with only rocket pods and ATGMs, and the ones they have them, usually consist of fixed gun pods that replace rockets/missiles pylons.
And so thats when the door gunners come to shine, not only they do not require pylon space, but they also have a wide angle of attack against threats on your sides (some behind). Its basically the same defense bombers have, and with the help of AI gunners, they can help you pasively while you are busy doing other things.
How it would work?
For short, its literally the same way bomber gunners work. But with a different way to have them equiped.
Helicopters that can effectively employ door gunners will carry additional crew members tasked with operating the weapons; these crew members will have access to the same AI to automatically fire upon any aerial threat that comes within range. And it would also require an additional crew training for this gunners.
The door guns will be researchable in the modification tab of the helicopter and in case the vehicle has more than one type of weapon historically equipped, it will have a research priority order of:
Obviusly, in case a helicopter never fielded a 12.7 minigun, for example, it will not be added in the modification tab.
Additionaly, the door guns will have to be equiped in the secondary armament tab, taking the 3 center slots, left for left gunner, center for rear gunner, and right for right gunner. The reason of this its because some helicopters are not compatible of having door gunners and certain weapons on their pylons, and because some people would like to only bring door gunners for helicopter hunting, roleplay or whatever, I mean if the game currently lets you to spawn in a Kiowa with only 2 miniguns, why not.
- Yes
- No
