- Yes
- No
The subtree of Polish helicopters
In today’s suggestion, I present a subtree of Polish helicopters for War Thunder. Since 1957, the Polish army has been equipped with helicopters of various designs and origins. In this suggestion, I will present the most interesting Polish helicopters (without the Soviet Copy-Paste)
History
At the beginning of the 1950s, the Polish People’s Army (Poland was a communist country from 1944 to 1989) noticed the phenomenon of helicopters in the armies of other countries (the USSR and the USA) and began to look for opportunities to acquire its own helicopters. When the Russians developed the new Mi-1 helicopter in Poland, a decision was made to purchase a license to produce this helicopter. The manufacturer was to be a small plant of WSK Świdnik, which had previously produced aircraft components for WSK Mielec. In 1955, the documentation of the Mi-1T helicopter was purchased and delivered to Świdnik, and a year later, with the help of the Mila factory, the production of a new helicopter was started, which received the designation SM-1. SM-1 helicopters served as transport, liaison or medical helicopters. At the end of the 1950s, Poland supplemented its helicopter fleet with Mi-4 helicopters and an improved SM-1 helicopter designated SM-2. At the beginning, Polish helicopters were either not armed at all or had only defensive armament. In 1965, Polish received licensed production of Mi-2 helicopters (Poland was their main manufacturer), these helicopters entered service in the Polish People’s Army in 1968 together with the Mi-8 heavy transport helicopters. In the following years, armed versions of the Mi-2 helicopter were developed in Świdnik, and these were the versions Mi-2 US, Mi-2 URN, Mi-2 URP, Mi-2 URS, Mi-2 URP-G .In 1978, the Poles received Mi-24 heavy attack helicopters version D and V (in Poland called W). In 1981, Poland purchased Mi-14 helicopters for the Navy, in the Mi-14PŁ, Mi-14PS, Mi-14PX versions, which were used for anti-submarine and rescue purposes. In 1986, the army took over Mi-6A helicopters, which had previously served as flying cranes. In 1988, Mi-17 helicopters were delivered to Polish, and in 1989 Świdnica W-3 Sokół helicopters were introduced into service. In 2002, the Polish Navy received four SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters. In 2006, the SW-4 light helicopter was introduced into service. In 2007, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation acquired the PZL Mielec plant and since 2009 S-70i helicopters have been produced there. In 2010, the PZL Świdnik plant became part of the AgustaWestland company and the production of AW101 and AW149 helicopters began. In 2023, three AW101 helicopters went to the Polish Navy, and in the same year, three AW149s went to the Polish army. On August 13, 2023, a contract was signed at the Latkowo airport in Inowrocław for the purchase of 96 AH-64E helicopters worth USD 10 billion. This is where the long history of helicopters in the Polish Army ends.
The concept of Polish Helicopters for Japan in War Thunder
Someone will say that this is a strange concept, but Polish-Japanese relations have been very good for over a hundred years. Poles learned about the existence of Japan thanks to the Marko Polo expedition in the 15th century, and the first direct Polish-Japanese contacts took place in 1585, when three Japanese emissaries from the Tenshō Mission in Rome met with the Pope and the Polish bishop Bernard Maciejowski. Until the 19th century, Poles and Japanese did not maintain permanent diplomatic relations. In the years 1892-93, during his trip to Berlin-Vladivostok, Colonel Yasumasa Fukushima became acquainted with the Polish independence movements in Russia and the convicts in Siberia, which moved him very much, and he presented it in Japan, which moved the Japanese. In 1904, two of the most important Polish independence activists, Józef Piłsudski and Roman Dymowski, came to Tokyo. Piłsudski wanted to encourage the Japanese to support the Polish uprising in Russia in exchange for help in conquering Manchuria. However, Roman Dymowski believed that it would end badly for the Poles, which is why he discouraged the Japanese from Piłsudski’s plan. Dymowski reached Tokyo first and nothing came of Piłsudski’s plans, but both politicians tried to improve the situation of Poles who served in the Russian Army and ended up in Polish captivity. On March 6, 1919, Japan recognized Polish independence as the fifth country in the world and established diplomatic relations. In the years 1920-22, the Japanese helped Polish orphans from Siberia. The Japanese saved 765 children, who were first taken to the Fukudenkai center in Tokyo (visited by the emperor) and then brought to Polish. In 1928, on the initiative of Józef Piłsudski, fifty-one Japanese officers were awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari (the highest Polish designation). In 1939, after the Polish capitulation, the Japanese embassy operated in Warsaw, which operated for two more years. In 1940 in Kaunas, the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara began to issue transit visas to Jewish families of Polish origin without restrictions. He issued 2139 family visas, which saved several thousand lives from the Germans. In December 1941, Poland declared war on Japan (the only war declared by Poland in the 20th century), but the Japanese consul stated that the Poles were declaring this war under British coercion and did not accept it because of good relations. Despite the declaration of war between Poland and Japan, the cooperation of intelligence services against the USSR and Germany continued, which continued until the end of the war. In 1957, Japan recognized the Polish People’s Republic and on February 8, 1957, the Polish-Japanese War ended and diplomatic relations were reestablished. In 1980, the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” was established, which was joined by Yoshiho Umeda, for which he was expelled from Polish in 1982 (he returned in 1989), for his merits he was awarded by Poland. Since 1989, Polish-Japanese relations have become more and more cordial. Poles sent aid to the Japanese after the Cataclysms of 1995 and 2011. In 2002, the historic Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko (Emperor of Japan for the first time in Poland) took place. In 2015, during his visit to Japan, the President of the Republic of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, established a strategic partnership between Poland and Japan. In 2019, 100 years of Polish-Japanese relations were celebrated, and then Poland was visited by the Japanese heir to the throne, Prince Akishino, together with Princess Kiko. Poland and Japan cooperate economically, culturally and scientifically.
These long diplomatic relations allow (if I will) for the Japanese in War Thunder to host Poles in their tech tree.
Presentation of the Polish subtree
Era V
Regular Vehicles
Mi-2 URP “Salamander” (Salamandra)
At the beginning of the 1970s, it was decided in Poland to arm the Mi-2 helicopters. The first version was the Mi-2 US armed with 1 NS-23 cannon and 4 PTK rifles. The army decided that this armament was too weak, so it developed other versions of the armed Mi-2 helicopters. The first was the Mi-2 URN (armed with unguided missiles) and the Mi-2 URP, which was armed with 9M14M Malyutka missiles. This variant was created in 1974 and was produced from 1975 to 1984. 46 copies were built.
General characteristics
Crew: 4
Length: 11,94 m
Width: 3,25 m
Height: 3,75 m
Empty weight: 2400 kg
Gross weight: 3700 kg
Powerplant: 2 x GTD-350 engines with 400 hp
Main rotor diameter: 14,5 m
Main rotor area: 165,15 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 210 km/h
Range: 580 km
Service ceiling: 4 000 m
Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x Fixed NS-23 cannon (100 rounds) and 2 x PK machine guns in the windows
Rocket: 4 x 9M14M “Malutka” (4 Rockets Reserve) or 2 x 16 S-5 missiles
Era VI
Regular Vehicles
Mi-2 URP-G “Gniewosz”
The Mi-2 URP-G is a modernization of the Mi-2 URP helicopter from 1988. Added the ability to mount four 9M32M Arrow-2M anti-aircraft missiles at the ends of the 9M14M Malyutka rocket holders. 6 of these helicopters were built.
General characteristics
Crew: 4
Length: 11,94 m
Width: 3,25 m
Height: 3,75 m
Empty weight: 2400 kg
Gross weight: 3700 kg
Powerplant: 2 x GTD-350 engines with 400 hp
Main rotor diameter: 14,5 m
Main rotor area: 165,15 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 210 km/h
Range: 580 km
Service ceiling: 4 000 m
Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x Fixed NS-23 cannon (100 rounds) and 2 x PK machine guns in the windows
Rocket: 4 x 9M14M “Malutka” (4 Rockets Reserve) and 4 x 9M32M Arrow-2M or 2 x 16 S-5 missiles or 4 x 9M32M Arrow-2M
Source
Mi-2 – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Mil Mi-2URP Salamandra [Kód NATO: Hoplite] : Mil (valka.cz)
WSK Mi-2URP - Opisy Broni
Mil Mi-2US: The Polish Utility Gunship - Suggestions / Heli - War Thunder — official forum
W-3WA Sokół
The W-3WA is a modernized multi-role W-3W helicopter. The modernization consisted in receiving the FAR-29 certificate. This version was created around the 2000s, all W-3W helicopters were modified to the W-3WA version. 36 helicopters of this version were built.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 14,21 m
Width: 1,75 m
Height: 5,14 m
Empty weight: 3900 kg
Gross weight: 6100 kg
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów PZL-10B turboshaft engines with a power of 671 kW (900 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 15,70 m
Main rotor area: 193,6 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 255 km/h
Range: 734 km
Service ceiling: 6000 m
Rate of climb: 9,3 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x Fixed GSz-23Ł cannon
Rocket: 2 x UPK-23-250 pod with GSh-23 cannon, 4 x 16 S-5 missiles , 4 x 10 S-8 missiles , 2 x 2 9M32M Arrow-2M, 4 x Platan minelaying system
Source
PZL W-3 Sokół – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Уголок неба ¦ PZL W-3W/U Sokół/Anakonda (airwar.ru)
samolotypolskie.pl - PZL W-3 “Sokół”
PZL W-3WA Sokół : Polsko (POL) (valka.cz)
W-3PL Głuszec
The W-3PL Głuszec is an upgrade of the W-3WA to the role of a combat support helicopter. The modernization of the W-3WA helicopters was undertaken in 2007, and the first three helicopters were delivered in 2010. The modernization consisted in mounting a 12.7 mm HMGWKM-Bm mobile machine gun in a movable turret under the nose of the machine. The helicopters are equipped with the FADEC system, autopilot, digital cabin, INS, GPS, ILS, HUD systems, the “friend-foe” system and the m.in RWR countermeasures and flare systems. 7 copies were made.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 14,21 m
Width: 1,75 m
Height: 5,14 m
Empty weight: 3900 kg
Gross weight: 6100 kg
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów PZL-10B turboshaft engines with a power of 671 kW (900 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 15,70 m
Main rotor area: 193,6 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 255 km/h
Range: 734 km
Service ceiling: 6000 m
Rate of climb: 9,3 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x 12.7mm HMGWKM-Bm movable machine gun (350 rounds)
Rocket: 2 x UPK-23-250 pod with GSh-23 cannon, 4 x 57 mm or 70 mm unguided missile launchers , 2 x 2 9M32M Arrow-2M, 4 x Platan minelaying system, ZR-8 bomb pods
Premium Vehicles
W-3K Huzar
The W-3K Huzar is a trial export version of the W-3 helicopter to South Africa. In 1992, cooperation with companies from South Africa took place. This is how the W-3K (Kentron) was created, which was equipped with a day/night HSOS optronic head, ZT-3/ZT-35 anti-tank missiles and a 20 mm GA-1 cannon with a helmet sight. Only one prototype was built.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 14,21 m
Width: 1,75 m
Height: 5,14 m
Empty weight: 3900 kg
Gross weight: 6100 kg
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów PZL-10B turboshaft engines with a power of 671 kW (900 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 15,70 m
Main rotor area: 193,6 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 255 km/h
Range: 734 km
Service ceiling: 6000 m
Rate of climb: 9,3 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x 20 mm GA-1 cannon
Rocket: 2 x UPK-23-250 pod with GSh-23 cannon, 4 x 16 S-5 missiles, 4 x 10 S-8 missiles , 2 x 2 9M32M Arrow-2M, 4 x Platan minelaying system, ZR-8 bomb pods, 8 x ZT3 Ingwe ATGM
Photos W-3K Huzar
Era VII
Regular Vehicles
W-3U Salamandra
The W-3U Salamandra is a prototype W-3 helicopter that was armed in the same way as the Mi-24W. Only one copy was built in 1990, but the army rejected it, so it was sold to Burma as the W-3UT.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 14,21 m
Width: 1,75 m
Height: 5,14 m
Empty weight: 3900 kg
Gross weight: 6100 kg
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów PZL-10B turboshaft engines with a power of 671 kW (900 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 15,70 m
Main rotor area: 193,6 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 255 km/h
Range: 734 km
Service ceiling: 6000 m
Rate of climb: 9,3 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x 23 mm GSh-23L gun (250 rounds)
Rocket: 2 x UPK-23-250 pod with GSh-23 cannon, 4 x 16 S-5 missiles, 4 x 10 S-8 missiles , 2 x 2 9M32M Arrow-2M, 4 x Platan minelaying system, ZR-8 bomb pods, 4 x 9M114 Shturm, 6 x 9M14M Malutka, 4 x 9M17P Falanga-P
Photos W-3U Salamandra
Source
PZL W-3 Sokół – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Уголок неба ¦ PZL W-3W/U Sokół/Anakonda (airwar.ru)
Przeciwpancerny Głuszec - Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM
W-3WB Huzar
The W-3WB Huzar is a modified W-3K Huzar helicopter with European armament. The helicopter was equipped with a Sagem Viviane observation and targeting head and a HOT-3 ATGM. The 20mm GA-1 cannon was left. The helicopter was part of the Huzar program, which ended in 1999. Only one prototype was built, tested in 1999.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 14,21 m
Width: 1,75 m
Height: 5,14 m
Empty weight: 3900 kg
Gross weight: 6100 kg
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów PZL-10B turboshaft engines with a power of 671 kW (900 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 15,70 m
Main rotor area: 193,6 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 255 km/h
Range: 734 km
Service ceiling: 6000 m
Rate of climb: 9,3 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x 20 mm GA-1 cannon
Rocket: 2 x UPK-23-250 pod with GSh-23 cannon, 4 x 16 S-5 missiles, 4 x 10 S-8 missiles , 2 x 2 9M32M Arrow-2M, 4 x Platan minelaying system, ZR-8 bomb pods, 16 x Hot-3
Source
PZL W-3 Sokół – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Przeciwpancerny Głuszec - Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM
samolotypolskie.pl - PZL W-3 “Sokół”
AW149
AgustaWestland AW149 is one of the newest helicopters in the Polish Armed Forces. The Polish Armed Forces purchased 32 AW149 helicopters and 800 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles as part of the perkoz program. The first two AW149 helicopters were delivered on October 30, 2023.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 17,57 m
Width: 3,06 m
Height: 5,14 m
Empty weight:
Gross weight: 8 300 kg
Powerplant: 2 x General Electric CT7-2E1
Turboshaft engines with FADEC (2,000 hp each) and 1 x Safran e-APU (60 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 14,60 m
Main rotor area: 167,42 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 287 km/h
Range: 958 km
Service ceiling: 3 948 m
Armament
Guns: 2 x 7.62 mm movable machine guns mounted in windows
Rocket: 28x FZ231, 28x FZ275, 8x AGM114K Hellfire II, 20mm gun pods, 12,7 gun pods,80mm rocket pods
Source
Beznazwy-2 (pzlswidnik.pl)
Leonardo AW149 - Suggestions / Heli - War Thunder — official forum
AgustaWestland AW149 – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
W-3PL 2016
The W-3PL 2016 is a prototype model of the W-3PL helicopter modernization presented for MSPO 2016. This helicopter was equipped with Spike-ER and Spike-NLOS ATGMs. The helicopter is equipped with a Toplite 3 optical head.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 14,21 m
Width: 1,75 m
Height: 5,14 m
Empty weight: 3900 kg
Gross weight: 6100 kg
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów PZL-10B turboshaft engines with a power of 671 kW (900 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 15,70 m
Main rotor area: 193,6 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 255 km/h
Range: 734 km
Service ceiling: 6000 m
Rate of climb: 9,3 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x 12.7mm HMGWKM-Bm movable machine gun (350 rounds)
Rocket: 2 x UPK-23-250 pod with GSh-23 cannon, 4 x 57 mm or 70 mm unguided missile launchers , 2 x 2 9M32M Arrow-2M, 4 x Platan minelaying system, ZR-8 bomb pods, 8 x Spike-ER , 12 x Spike-ER, 8 x Spike-NLOS , 12 x Spike-NLOS
Source
Uzbrojone śmigłowce: nie tylko Black Hawk i Głuszec | Konflikty.pl
Przeciwpancerny Głuszec. Świdnik proponuje rakiety Spike | Defence24
Przeciwpancerny Głuszec - Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM
AH-64E
In 2023, the AH-64E helicopters were the winner of the kruk program, which aims to replace the old Mi-24D and W helicopters. Poland has ordered 96 AH-64E helicopters along with a logistics package for USD 10 billion. The first helicopters are to be delivered in 2028.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 14.68 m
Height: 4.72 m
Empty weight: 5165 kg
Gross weight: 6,838 kg
Powerplant: 2 x General Electric T700-701D with a power of 1487 kW (1994 hp)
Main rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Main rotor area: 177,31 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 279 km/h
Range: 476 km
Service ceiling: 6,096 m
Rate of climb: 14.2 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x 30 mm M230 Chain Gun (1200 rounds)
Rocket: 4 x 19 Hydra-70 M247, 4 x 2 AGM-114 Hellfire II, 4 x 4 AGM-114 Hellfire II, 4 x 7 APKWS II, 2 x 2 AIM 92
Premium Vehicles
S-70i
The Sikorsky S-70i is a military export version of the UH-60 helicopter produced by PZL Mielec. It is an export variant of the UH-60M, but it is lighter by 500 kg and has only equipment without export restrictions. It has been produced since 2010. It has been in service with the Polish army since 2019.
General characteristics
Crew: 4
Length: 15,26 m
Width: 2,36 m
Height: 5,33 m
Empty weight: 5347 kg
Gross weight: 9979 kg
Powerplant: 2 x General Electric T700-GE701D with take-off power of 2974 kW (3988 hp)
Main rotor diameter: 16,36 m
Main rotor area: 210.15 m2
Performance
Maximum speed: 302 km/h
Range: 496 km
Service ceiling: 6096 m
Rate of climb: 11,43 m/s
Armament
Guns: 1 x M134 Minigun machine guns caliber 7.62 mm in windows , 12.7mm FN M3M machine guns in the door
Rocket: 4 x 19 Hydra-70 M247,4 x 7 Hydra-70 M247, 4 x 2 AGM-114 Hellfire II, 4 x 4 AGM-114 Hellfire II, 7,62 mm gun pods, 12,7mm gun pods
Summary
The Polish helicopter base is very large and provides a variety of armament without the boring Copy-Paste. For the Japanese, there was a huge support in War Thunder.
Additional sources
Uzbrojone śmigłowce: nie tylko Black Hawk i Głuszec | Konflikty.pl
Polish Helicopter Tech Tree - Other Nations - War Thunder - Official Forum
Polskie Śmigłowce PZL W-3 Sokół latają na całym świecie. Wojsko odebrało kolejne zmodernizowane egzemplarze (wp.pl)
Lista śmigłowców Wojska Polskiego – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Konsultacje polsko-japońskie w Tokio - Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych - Portal Gov.pl (www.gov.pl)
Stosunki polsko-japońskie – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Japan–Poland relations - Wikipedia
Japonia - Polska w Japonii - Portal Gov.pl (www.gov.pl)
日本とポーランドの関係 - Wikipedia