War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

A129CBT

2022-11-25T04:40:27Z

U74873915: Correction. The Mi-28NM is the other Russian top tier heli at the same BR as the Ka-52 nowadays

{{About
| about = Italian attack helicopter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = AW129 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=a_129_cbt
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian attack helicopter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Hot Tracks"]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Heli-Flight}}
[[File:A129CBT in flight.png|thumb|300x300px|A129CBT in flight]]
Outfitting the A129CBT with general payload options (Hellfires, rockets, air-to-air missiles) does not make the helicopter any slower than its adversaries, in fact at times you'll easily be one of the fastest helicopters on the battlefield. The A129CBT is able to do manoeuvres other helicopters can only dream about, even with full payload options. In Ground RB matches however, there should not be many times you'll have to move too much to avoid enemies. You are able to get good positions thanks to your speed, and, if done right, you will be able to dodge incoming missiles from enemy SPAA or jet aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 1,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 269 || 253 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}}
|-
! Upgraded
| 319 || 295
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Heli-Armour}}

[[File:A129CBT armour.png|300px|thumb|A129CBT - Survivability]]
The A129CBT is not very survivable. Like many helicopters at its battle rating, it is prone to exploding into many pieces after a hit from a missile. It does have some armour on the cockpit area, but in battles that won't really protect you from anything you'll face. The A129CBT uses Kevlar boron carbide, a composite material which is limited only to instrument, floor and side panels around the cockpit. It does not provide the same level of protection as seen on other helicopters.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Heli-Armaments}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Heli-Offensive}}

{{main|TM197B (20 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* A choice between three presets:
** 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon, nose-mounted ball turret (750 rpg)
** 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon + 90 x countermeasures
** 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon + 90 x countermeasures + IRCM

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Heli-Suspended}}

[[File:Hellfire rack.png|thumb|300px|A129CBT missile rack fully loaded with AGM-114B Hellfire air-to-ground missiles]]
{{main|AGM-114B Hellfire|ATAS (AIM-92)|BGM-71C Improved TOW|BGM-71D TOW-2|Mistral}}
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Hydra-70 M247|FN M3P (12.7 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:

* Without load
* 28 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
* 76 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
* 4 x BGM-71D TOW-2 missiles
* 8 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
* 8 x BGM-71D TOW-2 missiles
* 4 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
* 8 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
* 8 x ATAS (AIM-92) missiles
* 8 x Mistral missiles

==== Custom loadout options ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
| rowspan="9" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg)
| || 1* || 1* ||
|-
! FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
| || 3* || 3* ||
|-
! Hydra-70 M247 rockets
| 7, 19 || 7, 19 || 7, 19 || 7, 19
|-
! AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
| 2, 4 || || || 2, 4
|-
! ATAS (AIM-92) missiles
| 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
|-
! BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
| 2, 4 || || || 2, 4
|-
! BGM-71D TOW-2 missiles
| 2, 4 || || || 2, 4
|-
! Mistral missiles
| 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
|-
| colspan="6" | * FFAR rockets can only be carried concurrently with the FN M3P gunpods on the same hardpoint
|}

== Usage in battles ==


'''Ground RB'''

The A129CBT is a great helicopter for its battle rating and is effective both in downtiers and uptiers. For Ground RB, it is recommended you bring in a light vehicle able to scout, with access to the "Air strike" modification. This will mean that once you have captured a point, and scouted a vehicle, you'll be able to get into the helicopter with Hellfires straight away if you happen to get knocked out early. This is the best strategy as if you manage to pull it off inside a match that has only just started, you will likely surprise unsuspecting enemies who might think it's still to early to worry about enemy aircraft.
[[File:A129CBT.png|thumb|300x300px|A129CBT - Weapons]]
For Ground RB, you have two options:

With enough spawn points, you can bring Hellfire missiles, the best overall loadout for the A129CBT. With the Hellfires, you'll easily be able to pick off players from a distance. If spawning in during the early minutes of a match, the Hellfires will be a dangerous weapon for pretty much any enemy vehicle you'll be able to track. If you run out of Hellfires during your match, it is advised you return to base to rearm. If not, and you haven't had the chance to use your rocket pods yet, utilize them whilst still being useful to your team. With rockets, you'll need to stay low to avoid any incoming SPAA or, if there are no SPAA, fly above the battlefield and take out priority targets. Usually, sticking behind mountains or tree lines will suffice. This should not pose a challenge as the A129CBT has access to the ballistic computer. You'll need to quickly scan, engage, and then disengage. If you feel as if you are still able to fight, you still have access to your main 20 mm cannon, which is effective against soft targets and Western MBTs.

For a first spawn, you can bring the AIM-92 Stingers or Mistral air-to-air missiles and Hydra-70 M247 rockets, or a full load of Hydra-70s. Do keep in mind that the A129CBT flies a bit sluggish with the full rocket load compared to the AAMs and half rocket load for obvious reasons. You won't be as manoeuvrable whilst bringing a full rocket load, so you must be sure that you can score multiple frags with them and the ballistic computer. This is where bringing air-to-air missiles comes into play. AAMs are great for destroying enemy first-spawn helicopters and enemies on CAS duty if you survive until the middle of the match. The Mistrals were once inadequate against helicopters, specifically Russian ones, that were the most common in matches before their respective BR increases. Since the [[Mi-28NM]] and the [[Ka-52]] now reside at 11.0, it's physically impossible to face them unless you put a 10.0 vehicle in your lineup. These helicopters were the reason Mistrals weren't effective; they were the most common and deadly helicopters, and they were quite modern as well, as these helicopters had MAW systems on board. This meant that, upon firing a Mistral at them, dozens of flares and chaff would spit out of the side of their helicopters, leading your missile off-course, whereas with a Stinger, they wouldn't do that, as they're more resistant to countermeasures than the Mistral. However, the Stingers pull less than the Mistral, and against aircraft, you'd have to shoot a Stinger when an aircraft was in a straight line. With the Mistral however, you can just fire them and the nimble 12G missile is on its way to score you yet another air frag. And since the [[Mi-28NM]] and the [[Ka-52]] are 11.3, the main drawback of the Mistrals were eliminated. The only enemy you can still face with MAW systems on board is the [[Ka-50]], but since most of their pilots sit back in a comfortable spot far away with Vikhrs, you won't attain a missile lock on them at range anyways.
[[File:A129CBT Stinger.png|left|thumb|300px|A129CBT firing an AIM-92 Stinger AAM]]
38 rockets are more than enough if you are precise with the ballistic computer. You have 19 clicks - 19 shots to destroy the enemy with 38 rockets. With enough precision, especially accounting for the ballistic computer, that could be 19 frags. With 38 rockets, you'll be more manoeuvrable compared to a full rocket load, as well as have an early anti-air capability for your team if there are no first-spawn SPAAs on your team. This is a great way to deter all helicopters, and later, CAS jets like the [[A-4B]], [[A-4E Early]], [[G.91 R/4 (Germany)|G.91 R/4 (Germany),]] and others.

'''The tactical part'''

All of this unearths a new playstyle for the A129CBT: playing tactically. You can bide your time and shoot down enemy CAS jets and helicopters that may spawn both early and later in the match, or you can fly around terrain, even capturing zones, supporting a team to a strategic point, and destroying ground targets with the sizable amount of Hydras on board the helicopter. The A129CBT is very functional when supporting allied ground units right on top of them.

One strategy is to actually take a capture point yourself. For example, in Domination matches with three capture points, the amount of enemies at each capture point is rarely balanced evenly. This leaves you to attack the capture point with the least amount of enemies and potentially capture the point yourself if the enemies are eradicated from said point and there are no nearby enemies to fire at you. Long range maps like Maginot Line and Fields of Poland are great for this. It is best to do this on long range maps, but this is doable in close range/urban matches if the player amount is small during that match or the capture point has a lot of cover for you to hide behind while capturing.
[[File:Lurk.png|thumb|A129CBT - Flying above the battlefield searching for priority targets. This is a great example of what is described here.|300px]]
Make sure not to put yourself into the fray and crosshairs of half the enemy team while close to the ground. To avoid this, fly up a bit as soon as you spawn. If you are prompted with a laser warning and you know it's an SPAA, dive while firing countermeasures and lower your collective to prevent a crash at low altitude. Usually, a laser warning means an MBT is pointing a laser at you, which isn't much of a threat. If not, you can utilize the thermal sight to determine where most of the enemy team is going and where they will be, if there are any SPAAs that haven't spotted you yet, and who will be the knot in your team's battle on the ground (for instance, an MBT in a sniper spot or a M3A3 Bradley in a hull down position.)

While you're up there, try to plot a route where you can engage while taking as minimal fire as possible, while also setting yourself a priority target like an SPAA, an MBT in a good position, or a group of light tanks/MBTs going to one area. Then, fly back down to the safety of the terrain and initiate your attack or stay high up if you haven't been spotted by enemy tanks. There are both advantages and disadvantages for flying high and low, and choosing which way to fly is usually map dependent.

When flying high, you are able to see the battlefield and identify priority targets for both you and your team. You can initiate SPAA duels if enemy SPAAs happen to spawn first or mark nearby enemies for teammates and squadmates. Diving back down low gets you to the helicopter's cruising speed of around 230-250 km/h, where you can initiate your attack run and you are able to destroy tanks of all types with the turret alone (top-down) once directly above the battlefield. Staying up at altitude with a turret is not a bad strategy at all. It's a great way to spot enemies for your teammates as well as get assists if you'd like to spawn in an aircraft afterwards.

The downsides are that you run the risk of being spotted by the entire enemy team. There is also no radar clutter for the enemy SPAAs and diving back down can result in crashing.
[[File:A129CBT 4.png|thumb|300x300px|A129CBT firing the cannon]]

On the other hand, flying low gives you the element of surprise and keeps you safe from potential SPAAs. You're also able to retreat faster as the helicopter is usually at maximum speed. However, crashing is more likely and entering the battlefield will have you subjected to a hail of bullets. If you bleed all of your speed in a turn, you will be a sitting duck and finding good targets is way harder while flying at 230 km/h just a few feet off the ground through a warzone.

With enough practice (and rockets), you can even clear out groups of light tanks rushing the capture points early in the game at range. Sniping can be applied to soft targets as well. However, it is advised that you avoid sniping MBTs unless absolutely necessary as it is seen as a waste of rockets as they can take more hits than light targets. It is best to only fire rockets at immediate threats like SPAAs.

Sometimes the enemy SPAA isn't an SPAA at all. Enemy IFVs and tanks like the [[Leopard 2K]] and the [[AMX-40]] will proudly take the role of an SPAA if one didn't spawn early on their team. This is what you need to watch out for. While flying above the battlefield, 20 mm autocannon fire and well-placed shots with ATGMs is nothing to sneeze at. Make sure to always stay vigilant against these types of tanks. The turret is more than enough to deal with the light targets like the [[M3A3 Bradley]] or the [[Type 89]], but the bigger targets like the Leopard 2K may need some Hydras down range to take out swiftly if you aren't high above them already.

In Arcade Assault, you won't have to worry about going back to base to reload your weapons as they will automatically replenish once every munition has been expended. It's recommended you bring either Hellfires + rockets, or rockets + air-to-air missiles, or a full loadout of rockets. A full rocket load is also a good choice because the rockets fire individually, meaning you can clear out entire rows of enemy tanks and greatly benefit your fight towards victory.

'''Helicopter Battles'''

When playing helicopter battles, your best shot at staying alive and being effective is to bring a load-out of air-to-air missiles and rockets. The air-to-air missiles should be used against the more dangerous helicopters like the [[Ka-50]]. They can be easily taken down, and considering that you have 4 missiles at your disposal, that is a potential of 4 easy kills. With rockets, you'll be able to take out ground AI targets. Usually, they will take 1 or 2 shots at minimum to destroy. Rockets are also quite effective in close range as a last ditch effort to come out on top when fighting a 1-vs-1. Your main 20 mm cannon is an absolute monster in this mode. Here you'll be able to easily get kills with it. It does overheat however, so shoot with moderation and pick your targets whilst keeping any other nearby enemies in mind.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very good and in most cases, unmatched manoeuvrability
* Good speed
* Deadly 20 mm autocannon
* Can carry AIM-92 Stinger or Mistral air-to-air missiles
* Very effective anti-tank capabilities
* Has access to countermeasures and a ballistic computer

'''Cons:'''

* Fragile, cannot tank as many hits as its counterparts
* Armament is lacklustre compared to other helicopters
* Air-to-air missiles launch downwards

== History ==


The story of the A129 Mangusta "Combat", (also known as A129 ESS, A129 CBT and A129 Mangusta) began during the late stages of the Cold War. The helicopter began to be developed at the request of the Italian Army, whom saw the need to equip its air units with a dedicated attack helicopter with anti-tank capabilities. The A129 was the first dedicated attack helicopter fully designed and built in Western Europe. Its project began in 1978 and its final project was ready only in 1982. The A129 made its first official maiden flight on the 15th of September of 1983, at the Agusta company Cascina-Costa facilities. The flight lasted about 30 minutes. Agusta pilots were extremely happy with the results, and went on record and said that the helicopter had great handling. They had previously only performed shake down flights twice prior to the first official flight. It was given the name Mangusta by the Italian army and Agusta employees. This name was mainly chosen due to the fact that the A129 was a direct competitor of the Bell A-1 Cobra that at that time rivaled the Agusta project. (The mongoose is known for its ease in killing poisonous snakes).

One of the many characteristics that pushed the A129 Mangusta was also how versatile it was. It was able to carry many types of weapons, such as Hellfires, BGM-TOW, anti-tank missiles, Mistral/Stinger air-to-air missiles, 81 mm Medusa rockets, 70 mm Hydra rockets, and much more. At the time, the first variants of the A129 had access to the latest avionics, and incorporated both day and night capabilities and also was able to be used in bad weather, where there is low visibility. The testing and evaluation program lasted until mid-1987, when a production contract would be signed for that model, that would later generate several different variants during its career. That early version would only ever be seen with BGM TOW ATGM's and rockets. However, more armament options would be able to be fitted if needed.

Later down the line, Agusta had generated a lot of interest for this type of helicopter, so they developed a newer version of the A129 Mangusta in line with export market specifications and needs. This new version of the A129 would go under the designation A129 "International". The International went through several variations, each version had different armaments and engines fitted, such as one having access to the T800 engine, and different types of thermal imaging sights, a .50 cal turret, an enclosed 20 mm cannon, or what is now staple of the A129CBT, the 20 mm M197 three-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon.

No country had decided to pick up the A129 International, however in 1986, the governments of Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an improved version of the A129, called the Joint European Helicopter. The memorandum called for the installation of more powerful engines, a new rotor system, retractable landing gear, better sensors, and more powerful weaponry, but the project collapsed in 1990, when Great Britain and the Netherlands decided to buy the American AH-64 Apache, while Spain opted for the joint made French-German Eurocopter Tiger. This however was not the end of the A129 International. Although it was not bought, everything that had been learned from that version of the helicopter would actually be re-utilized for an upgrade for the Italian Army's A129s. This lead to what we know as the A129 Mangusta "Combat" or "CBT" for short. The CBT was an updated version for the Italian Army, incorporating the same advances of the International version, A-129, where the avionics were modernized and the motorization kept original with Rolls Royce Gem 2-1004D's that produced a maximum unit power of 1120 HP. The Italian Army CBTs would be used in many theaters of war, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Italian Army CBTs did not go out of service. Instead, another upgrade program was made which gave birth to the A129 Mangusta "Delta". The Delta was presented in 2011. The "D" variant improves the armament and optics of the Mangusta, incorporating Israeli-made Spike fire-and-forget ATGMs. The A129 Delta will then go out of service and be replaced with an entirely new helicopter, called the A249.

=== [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|Devblog]] ===
The modern A.129 attack helicopter is successfully used by the Italian armed forces, as well as by a number of foreign operators. The helicopter has excellent flight characteristics, outstanding speed and superb manoeuvrability. The CBT modification was created from combat experience in modern armed conflicts. The Mangusta is armed with a 20 mm autocannon and carries a good arsenal of unguided and guided weapons, including Stinger air-to-air missiles and Hellfire II ATGMs.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a_129_cbt Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" caption="A129CBT Devblog Images" heights="200">
File:A.129 CBT WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:A.129 CBT WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:A.129 CBT WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the helicopter;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|[Devblog] Italian Helicopters]]

{{AirManufacturer Agusta}}
{{Italy helicopters}}

A129CBT

2022-11-25T04:37:54Z

U74873915: Either an error, or text is outdated but Ka-50 and Mi-28NM are 11.3

{{About
| about = Italian attack helicopter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = AW129 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=a_129_cbt
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian attack helicopter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Hot Tracks"]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Heli-Flight}}
[[File:A129CBT in flight.png|thumb|300x300px|A129CBT in flight]]
Outfitting the A129CBT with general payload options (Hellfires, rockets, air-to-air missiles) does not make the helicopter any slower than its adversaries, in fact at times you'll easily be one of the fastest helicopters on the battlefield. The A129CBT is able to do manoeuvres other helicopters can only dream about, even with full payload options. In Ground RB matches however, there should not be many times you'll have to move too much to avoid enemies. You are able to get good positions thanks to your speed, and, if done right, you will be able to dodge incoming missiles from enemy SPAA or jet aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 1,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 269 || 253 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}}
|-
! Upgraded
| 319 || 295
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Heli-Armour}}

[[File:A129CBT armour.png|300px|thumb|A129CBT - Survivability]]
The A129CBT is not very survivable. Like many helicopters at its battle rating, it is prone to exploding into many pieces after a hit from a missile. It does have some armour on the cockpit area, but in battles that won't really protect you from anything you'll face. The A129CBT uses Kevlar boron carbide, a composite material which is limited only to instrument, floor and side panels around the cockpit. It does not provide the same level of protection as seen on other helicopters.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Heli-Armaments}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Heli-Offensive}}

{{main|TM197B (20 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* A choice between three presets:
** 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon, nose-mounted ball turret (750 rpg)
** 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon + 90 x countermeasures
** 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon + 90 x countermeasures + IRCM

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Heli-Suspended}}

[[File:Hellfire rack.png|thumb|300px|A129CBT missile rack fully loaded with AGM-114B Hellfire air-to-ground missiles]]
{{main|AGM-114B Hellfire|ATAS (AIM-92)|BGM-71C Improved TOW|BGM-71D TOW-2|Mistral}}
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Hydra-70 M247|FN M3P (12.7 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:

* Without load
* 28 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
* 76 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
* 4 x BGM-71D TOW-2 missiles
* 8 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
* 8 x BGM-71D TOW-2 missiles
* 4 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
* 8 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
* 8 x ATAS (AIM-92) missiles
* 8 x Mistral missiles

==== Custom loadout options ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
| rowspan="9" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg)
| || 1* || 1* ||
|-
! FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
| || 3* || 3* ||
|-
! Hydra-70 M247 rockets
| 7, 19 || 7, 19 || 7, 19 || 7, 19
|-
! AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
| 2, 4 || || || 2, 4
|-
! ATAS (AIM-92) missiles
| 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
|-
! BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
| 2, 4 || || || 2, 4
|-
! BGM-71D TOW-2 missiles
| 2, 4 || || || 2, 4
|-
! Mistral missiles
| 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
|-
| colspan="6" | * FFAR rockets can only be carried concurrently with the FN M3P gunpods on the same hardpoint
|}

== Usage in battles ==


'''Ground RB'''

The A129CBT is a great helicopter for its battle rating and is effective both in downtiers and uptiers. For Ground RB, it is recommended you bring in a light vehicle able to scout, with access to the "Air strike" modification. This will mean that once you have captured a point, and scouted a vehicle, you'll be able to get into the helicopter with Hellfires straight away if you happen to get knocked out early. This is the best strategy as if you manage to pull it off inside a match that has only just started, you will likely surprise unsuspecting enemies who might think it's still to early to worry about enemy aircraft.
[[File:A129CBT.png|thumb|300x300px|A129CBT - Weapons]]
For Ground RB, you have two options:

With enough spawn points, you can bring Hellfire missiles, the best overall loadout for the A129CBT. With the Hellfires, you'll easily be able to pick off players from a distance. If spawning in during the early minutes of a match, the Hellfires will be a dangerous weapon for pretty much any enemy vehicle you'll be able to track. If you run out of Hellfires during your match, it is advised you return to base to rearm. If not, and you haven't had the chance to use your rocket pods yet, utilize them whilst still being useful to your team. With rockets, you'll need to stay low to avoid any incoming SPAA or, if there are no SPAA, fly above the battlefield and take out priority targets. Usually, sticking behind mountains or tree lines will suffice. This should not pose a challenge as the A129CBT has access to the ballistic computer. You'll need to quickly scan, engage, and then disengage. If you feel as if you are still able to fight, you still have access to your main 20 mm cannon, which is effective against soft targets and Western MBTs.

For a first spawn, you can bring the AIM-92 Stingers or Mistral air-to-air missiles and Hydra-70 M247 rockets, or a full load of Hydra-70s. Do keep in mind that the A129CBT flies a bit sluggish with the full rocket load compared to the AAMs and half rocket load for obvious reasons. You won't be as manoeuvrable whilst bringing a full rocket load, so you must be sure that you can score multiple frags with them and the ballistic computer. This is where bringing air-to-air missiles comes into play. AAMs are great for destroying enemy first-spawn helicopters and enemies on CAS duty if you survive until the middle of the match. The Mistrals were once inadequate against helicopters, specifically Russian ones, that were the most common in matches before their respective BR increases. Since the [[Mi-28N]] and the [[Ka-52]] now reside at 11.0, it's physically impossible to face them unless you put a 10.0 vehicle in your lineup. These helicopters were the reason Mistrals weren't effective; they were the most common and deadly helicopters, and they were quite modern as well, as these helicopters had MAW systems on board. This meant that, upon firing a Mistral at them, dozens of flares and chaff would spit out of the side of their helicopters, leading your missile off-course, whereas with a Stinger, they wouldn't do that, as they're more resistant to countermeasures than the Mistral. However, the Stingers pull less than the Mistral, and against aircraft, you'd have to shoot a Stinger when an aircraft was in a straight line. With the Mistral however, you can just fire them and the nimble 12G missile is on its way to score you yet another air frag. And since the [[Mi-28N]] and the [[Ka-52]] are 11.3, the main drawback of the Mistrals were eliminated. The only enemy you can still face with MAW systems on board is the [[Ka-50]], but since most of their pilots sit back in a comfortable spot far away with Vikhrs, you won't attain a missile lock on them at range anyways.
[[File:A129CBT Stinger.png|left|thumb|300px|A129CBT firing an AIM-92 Stinger AAM]]
38 rockets are more than enough if you are precise with the ballistic computer. You have 19 clicks - 19 shots to destroy the enemy with 38 rockets. With enough precision, especially accounting for the ballistic computer, that could be 19 frags. With 38 rockets, you'll be more manoeuvrable compared to a full rocket load, as well as have an early anti-air capability for your team if there are no first-spawn SPAAs on your team. This is a great way to deter all helicopters, and later, CAS jets like the [[A-4B]], [[A-4E Early]], [[G.91 R/4 (Germany)|G.91 R/4 (Germany),]] and others.

'''The tactical part'''

All of this unearths a new playstyle for the A129CBT: playing tactically. You can bide your time and shoot down enemy CAS jets and helicopters that may spawn both early and later in the match, or you can fly around terrain, even capturing zones, supporting a team to a strategic point, and destroying ground targets with the sizable amount of Hydras on board the helicopter. The A129CBT is very functional when supporting allied ground units right on top of them.

One strategy is to actually take a capture point yourself. For example, in Domination matches with three capture points, the amount of enemies at each capture point is rarely balanced evenly. This leaves you to attack the capture point with the least amount of enemies and potentially capture the point yourself if the enemies are eradicated from said point and there are no nearby enemies to fire at you. Long range maps like Maginot Line and Fields of Poland are great for this. It is best to do this on long range maps, but this is doable in close range/urban matches if the player amount is small during that match or the capture point has a lot of cover for you to hide behind while capturing.
[[File:Lurk.png|thumb|A129CBT - Flying above the battlefield searching for priority targets. This is a great example of what is described here.|300px]]
Make sure not to put yourself into the fray and crosshairs of half the enemy team while close to the ground. To avoid this, fly up a bit as soon as you spawn. If you are prompted with a laser warning and you know it's an SPAA, dive while firing countermeasures and lower your collective to prevent a crash at low altitude. Usually, a laser warning means an MBT is pointing a laser at you, which isn't much of a threat. If not, you can utilize the thermal sight to determine where most of the enemy team is going and where they will be, if there are any SPAAs that haven't spotted you yet, and who will be the knot in your team's battle on the ground (for instance, an MBT in a sniper spot or a M3A3 Bradley in a hull down position.)

While you're up there, try to plot a route where you can engage while taking as minimal fire as possible, while also setting yourself a priority target like an SPAA, an MBT in a good position, or a group of light tanks/MBTs going to one area. Then, fly back down to the safety of the terrain and initiate your attack or stay high up if you haven't been spotted by enemy tanks. There are both advantages and disadvantages for flying high and low, and choosing which way to fly is usually map dependent.

When flying high, you are able to see the battlefield and identify priority targets for both you and your team. You can initiate SPAA duels if enemy SPAAs happen to spawn first or mark nearby enemies for teammates and squadmates. Diving back down low gets you to the helicopter's cruising speed of around 230-250 km/h, where you can initiate your attack run and you are able to destroy tanks of all types with the turret alone (top-down) once directly above the battlefield. Staying up at altitude with a turret is not a bad strategy at all. It's a great way to spot enemies for your teammates as well as get assists if you'd like to spawn in an aircraft afterwards.

The downsides are that you run the risk of being spotted by the entire enemy team. There is also no radar clutter for the enemy SPAAs and diving back down can result in crashing.
[[File:A129CBT 4.png|thumb|300x300px|A129CBT firing the cannon]]

On the other hand, flying low gives you the element of surprise and keeps you safe from potential SPAAs. You're also able to retreat faster as the helicopter is usually at maximum speed. However, crashing is more likely and entering the battlefield will have you subjected to a hail of bullets. If you bleed all of your speed in a turn, you will be a sitting duck and finding good targets is way harder while flying at 230 km/h just a few feet off the ground through a warzone.

With enough practice (and rockets), you can even clear out groups of light tanks rushing the capture points early in the game at range. Sniping can be applied to soft targets as well. However, it is advised that you avoid sniping MBTs unless absolutely necessary as it is seen as a waste of rockets as they can take more hits than light targets. It is best to only fire rockets at immediate threats like SPAAs.

Sometimes the enemy SPAA isn't an SPAA at all. Enemy IFVs and tanks like the [[Leopard 2K]] and the [[AMX-40]] will proudly take the role of an SPAA if one didn't spawn early on their team. This is what you need to watch out for. While flying above the battlefield, 20 mm autocannon fire and well-placed shots with ATGMs is nothing to sneeze at. Make sure to always stay vigilant against these types of tanks. The turret is more than enough to deal with the light targets like the [[M3A3 Bradley]] or the [[Type 89]], but the bigger targets like the Leopard 2K may need some Hydras down range to take out swiftly if you aren't high above them already.

In Arcade Assault, you won't have to worry about going back to base to reload your weapons as they will automatically replenish once every munition has been expended. It's recommended you bring either Hellfires + rockets, or rockets + air-to-air missiles, or a full loadout of rockets. A full rocket load is also a good choice because the rockets fire individually, meaning you can clear out entire rows of enemy tanks and greatly benefit your fight towards victory.

'''Helicopter Battles'''

When playing helicopter battles, your best shot at staying alive and being effective is to bring a load-out of air-to-air missiles and rockets. The air-to-air missiles should be used against the more dangerous helicopters like the [[Ka-50]]. They can be easily taken down, and considering that you have 4 missiles at your disposal, that is a potential of 4 easy kills. With rockets, you'll be able to take out ground AI targets. Usually, they will take 1 or 2 shots at minimum to destroy. Rockets are also quite effective in close range as a last ditch effort to come out on top when fighting a 1-vs-1. Your main 20 mm cannon is an absolute monster in this mode. Here you'll be able to easily get kills with it. It does overheat however, so shoot with moderation and pick your targets whilst keeping any other nearby enemies in mind.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very good and in most cases, unmatched manoeuvrability
* Good speed
* Deadly 20 mm autocannon
* Can carry AIM-92 Stinger or Mistral air-to-air missiles
* Very effective anti-tank capabilities
* Has access to countermeasures and a ballistic computer

'''Cons:'''

* Fragile, cannot tank as many hits as its counterparts
* Armament is lacklustre compared to other helicopters
* Air-to-air missiles launch downwards

== History ==


The story of the A129 Mangusta "Combat", (also known as A129 ESS, A129 CBT and A129 Mangusta) began during the late stages of the Cold War. The helicopter began to be developed at the request of the Italian Army, whom saw the need to equip its air units with a dedicated attack helicopter with anti-tank capabilities. The A129 was the first dedicated attack helicopter fully designed and built in Western Europe. Its project began in 1978 and its final project was ready only in 1982. The A129 made its first official maiden flight on the 15th of September of 1983, at the Agusta company Cascina-Costa facilities. The flight lasted about 30 minutes. Agusta pilots were extremely happy with the results, and went on record and said that the helicopter had great handling. They had previously only performed shake down flights twice prior to the first official flight. It was given the name Mangusta by the Italian army and Agusta employees. This name was mainly chosen due to the fact that the A129 was a direct competitor of the Bell A-1 Cobra that at that time rivaled the Agusta project. (The mongoose is known for its ease in killing poisonous snakes).

One of the many characteristics that pushed the A129 Mangusta was also how versatile it was. It was able to carry many types of weapons, such as Hellfires, BGM-TOW, anti-tank missiles, Mistral/Stinger air-to-air missiles, 81 mm Medusa rockets, 70 mm Hydra rockets, and much more. At the time, the first variants of the A129 had access to the latest avionics, and incorporated both day and night capabilities and also was able to be used in bad weather, where there is low visibility. The testing and evaluation program lasted until mid-1987, when a production contract would be signed for that model, that would later generate several different variants during its career. That early version would only ever be seen with BGM TOW ATGM's and rockets. However, more armament options would be able to be fitted if needed.

Later down the line, Agusta had generated a lot of interest for this type of helicopter, so they developed a newer version of the A129 Mangusta in line with export market specifications and needs. This new version of the A129 would go under the designation A129 "International". The International went through several variations, each version had different armaments and engines fitted, such as one having access to the T800 engine, and different types of thermal imaging sights, a .50 cal turret, an enclosed 20 mm cannon, or what is now staple of the A129CBT, the 20 mm M197 three-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon.

No country had decided to pick up the A129 International, however in 1986, the governments of Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an improved version of the A129, called the Joint European Helicopter. The memorandum called for the installation of more powerful engines, a new rotor system, retractable landing gear, better sensors, and more powerful weaponry, but the project collapsed in 1990, when Great Britain and the Netherlands decided to buy the American AH-64 Apache, while Spain opted for the joint made French-German Eurocopter Tiger. This however was not the end of the A129 International. Although it was not bought, everything that had been learned from that version of the helicopter would actually be re-utilized for an upgrade for the Italian Army's A129s. This lead to what we know as the A129 Mangusta "Combat" or "CBT" for short. The CBT was an updated version for the Italian Army, incorporating the same advances of the International version, A-129, where the avionics were modernized and the motorization kept original with Rolls Royce Gem 2-1004D's that produced a maximum unit power of 1120 HP. The Italian Army CBTs would be used in many theaters of war, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Italian Army CBTs did not go out of service. Instead, another upgrade program was made which gave birth to the A129 Mangusta "Delta". The Delta was presented in 2011. The "D" variant improves the armament and optics of the Mangusta, incorporating Israeli-made Spike fire-and-forget ATGMs. The A129 Delta will then go out of service and be replaced with an entirely new helicopter, called the A249.

=== [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|Devblog]] ===
The modern A.129 attack helicopter is successfully used by the Italian armed forces, as well as by a number of foreign operators. The helicopter has excellent flight characteristics, outstanding speed and superb manoeuvrability. The CBT modification was created from combat experience in modern armed conflicts. The Mangusta is armed with a 20 mm autocannon and carries a good arsenal of unguided and guided weapons, including Stinger air-to-air missiles and Hellfire II ATGMs.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a_129_cbt Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" caption="A129CBT Devblog Images" heights="200">
File:A.129 CBT WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:A.129 CBT WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:A.129 CBT WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the helicopter;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|[Devblog] Italian Helicopters]]

{{AirManufacturer Agusta}}
{{Italy helicopters}}

A.109EOA-2

2022-11-25T04:34:44Z

U74873915: grammatical fixes

{{Specs-Card
|code=a_109_eoa2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian utility helicopter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Hot Tracks"]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Heli-Flight}}


Outfitting the A.109 with general payload options (TOW ATGMs, rockets, gunpods) does not make the helicopter any slower than its adversaries, in fact at times you'll easily be one of the fastest helicopters on the battlefield. The A.109 is at times able to do manoeuvres other helicopters can only dream about, even with full payload options. In Ground RB matches however, there should not be many times you'll have to move too much to avoid enemies. You are able to get to good positions thanks to your speed and at times you will be able to dodge incoming missiles from ground anti-air or enemy jet aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 1,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 255 || 239 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}}
|-
! Upgraded
| 303 || 280
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Heli-Armour}}


The A.109 is not very survivable. Like many helicopters above and below its battle rating, it is prone to exploding into many pieces after a hit from an anti-air missile or a barage of anti-air fire. It does not have any armor. If your enemy is not very accurate and manages to damage you without hitting key components of the helicopter, you might luck out and be able to make it back to the base to repair. It is advised that you stay away from machine gun fire too, generally just stay away from everything that poses a threat, this is the only way to truly maximize your survivability.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Heli-Armaments}}
=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Heli-Suspended}}

{{main|BGM-71C Improved TOW|FFAR Mighty Mouse|FN M3P (12.7 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* 28 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 20 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets

== Usage in battles ==


The A.109 is a great helicopter for its battle rating, there are great line-up options to pair the helicopter up with, and if you manage to get down-tiered you just might be able to easily dominate the game.

For Ground RB, it is recommended you bring in a light vehicle able to scout, with access to the "Air strike" modification. This will mean that once you have captured a point, and scouted a vehicle, you'll be able to get into the helicopter with TOW-2's (once you've researched them) straight away if you happen to get knocked out early. This is the best strategy as if you manage to pull it off in a match that has only just started, you will likely surprise unsuspecting enemies who might think it's still to early to worry about enemy aircraft. At the battle rating, you have access to the Centauro ROMOR, so this vehicle will be the one in which you should use to quickly get inside a helicopter.

With enough spawn points, you can bring the best overall load-out for the A.109: 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets. With the TOW ATGM, you'll easily be able to pick off players from a distance. If spawning in during the early minutes of a match, the TOW will be a dangerous weapon for pretty much any enemy vehicle you'll be able to hit. Do keep in mind who exactly you are choosing to engage, as you'll realise soon enough that killing a player with spawn points backed up will usually lead them to spawn in either an anti-air ground vehicle or an aircraft. In that case you'll get overwhelmed with everything you need to watch out for, which will lead you to be less effective in the CAS department for your team.

If you run out of TOW's during your match, it is advised you return to base to get rearmed. You only have access to 4 of them so every shot you take counts. If not, and you haven't had the chance to use your rocket pods yet, there can be situations where you'll be able to utilize them whilst still being useful to your team. With rockets, you'll need to stay low to avoid any incoming SPAA. You'll need to do that as the helicopter is not very armoured, so most if not all ground targets will easily make short work of you if you are not careful. Generally speaking sticking behind mountains or tree lines will suffice. Once you feel you've gotten close enough to the battlefield, it's time for you to come out, quickly find your targets, and engage. This might pose a challenge as the A.109 doesn't have access to many rockets, so you'll need to pick your targets carefully and make sure most of your shots actually land and hit your targets.

The A.109 doesn't have any main cannon/machine guns but it is good to note you are able to bring in gunpods in replacement of the rockets. These gunpods aren't very effective against ground targets, but they should be more than enough to defend yourself from incoming enemy air vehicles. Against enemy air vehicles they will be your only line of defense, as the A.109 does not have access to air-to-air missiles or flares/chaff, so if you're not careful you could become a very easy kill for them. The main problem with trying to engage at close range is that doing so in most cases will put the A.109 in huge amounts of danger. Survivability features of the A.109 are poor, as previously mentioned enemy tanks and SPAAs will be able to quickly destroy the helicopter with their main guns or machine guns, so it is recommended that you only get into the actual battlefield near the end of the battle, once most threats you'll encounter will not be present, or at the very least, threats that can be dealt with safely.

In '''Arcade Assault''', you won't have to worry about going back to base to reload your weapons as they will automatically replenish once every munition has been used up. It's recommended you bring either TOW ATGM + rockets, or rockets + gunpods, or a full load-out of rockets. This is so as to maximize your overall effectiveness for your team.

'''Helicopter Battles'''

When playing helicopter battles, your best shot at staying alive and being effective is to bring a load-out of gunpods and rockets. The gunpods you have access to are usually able to deal with most helicopters you'll be facing, due to many of them not being very armoured. With rockets, you'll be able to take out ground AI targets. Usually, they will take 1 or 2 shots at minimum to destroy. Rockets are also quite effective in close range as a last ditch effort to come out on top when fighting a 1-vs-1. Try stay away from any helicopters with air-to-air missiles as you'll more than likely get destroyed, best way to maximize your efforts in this game mode is by trying and flanking the enemy side of the map and getting rid of ground targets undisturbed.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can be equipped with 4 x TOW anti-tank missile launchers
* Considerably faster than its counterparts
* Very responsive, usually able to manoeuvre with ease

'''Cons:'''

* Lacks any form of countermeasures
* Only has access to night vision devices, no thermal imaging.
* Not very survivable

== History ==


During the 1960s, Agusta was looking to break into the export market by designing the A109. Mainly intended for commercial use and a civilian market, it would be also later be tailored during development to the military market. It was redesigned in 1969 as there was a need for twin engines to actually compete with other contenders: this lead to the A109 to be fitted with 2 Allison 250-C14 turboshaft engines. From December 1968 until September 1969, at least 10 separate possible configurations were worked out. This lead to construction of the first three of the prototypes to carry out flight tests. In 1971, the A109 made its first maiden flight which yielded great results for the machine. The test flight was encouraging both in regards the reduction of vibration and handling qualities, and the overall advantage achieved by adopting an articulated four-blade rotor. Noise abatement was also promising, with an especially designed markedly tapered leading edge of the blade tip section. Testing was halted following a minor accident but quickly resumed in 1972 with to the demand and interest of many countries.
[[File:A.109EOA-2.png|thumb|A.109EOA-2 at helipad in Italy]]
Finally, in 1973, the first ever military prototype was presented along with its possible configurations, this officially changed the vehicle from being centred only for civilian use, and allowed it to gain the reputation of also being for military purposes. Many tests were conducted on the military versions of the A109, the first set of armaments being equipped on them were Hughes Aircraft-built anti-tank TOW missiles. The A109 was also tested with a wide variety of rockets, machine guns and any weaponry that could be installed on the machine. Between 1976 and 1977, the tests that were conducted allowed 2 different military variants to emerge, one of them being for light attack/close support missions and the other one for shipboard operations.

Once Agusta's helicopter was ready, many civilian versions of this aircraft started being exported around the globe, mainly in the Middle East and Africa. In Italy, the Army obtained the A109CM as the "A109EOA" utility/scout helicopter, with "EOA" standing for "Elicottero d'Osservazione Avanzata" ("Advanced Observation Helicopter"). This helicopter's entry into service helped put out of service the very old Agusta-Bell helicopters that were, at the time, still used in a multi-role aspect. In Italian service, the A109 was able to carry rockets, various ATGMs, and gunpods. The launchers installed on the A109 allowed for the installation of TOW, ITOW, TOW2 and TOW2A missiles. Other armaments included 12.7 mm general purpose door-mounted machine guns on both sides of the helicopter, allowing the vehicle to be very versatile and well-defended. Initial variants of the A109 usually lacked any form of countermeasures, but these would be installed in more modern variants of the helicopter. It was in service for a very long time, and was liked by those who operated the vehicle. Some export variants of the A109 included special options such as the A109BA, which was exported to Belgium, equipped with 8 x TOW launcher instead of the 4 x one in service in Italy. Currently, 32 additional countries are using the A109 either in civilian or military configurations. The A109 keeps on being in service and continues to be upgraded to not lag behind other countries' helicopters to this day.

=== [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|Devblog]] ===
In the early 70s, the Italian aircraft manufacturer Agusta began testing a new multi-purpose helicopter, the A.109, which was originally created for the civilian market, but immediately drew the attention of the military authorities. A.109 EOA-2 is a reconnaissance version, designed to destroy various targets including enemy armoured vehicles. In addition to machine-gun pods and rockets, the helicopter can be equipped with four TOW anti-tank missile launchers.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a_109_eoa2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
File:A.109EOA-2 shotting rockets.png|
File:A.109EOA-2 Salvo.png|
File:A.109 EOA-2 WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:A.109 EOA-2 WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:A.109 EOA-2 WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|7J6c4D5MVRg|'''The Shooting Range #235''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:44 discusses the A.109.}}

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the helicopter;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|[Devblog] Italian Helicopters]]

{{AirManufacturer Agusta}}
{{Italy helicopters}}

A.109EOA-2

2022-11-25T04:32:49Z

U74873915: The previous edit was innacurate and said the cockpit of the heli has some armor. It does not

{{Specs-Card
|code=a_109_eoa2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian utility helicopter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Hot Tracks"]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Heli-Flight}}


Outfitting the A.109 with general payload options (TOW ATGMs, rockets, gunpods) does not make the helicopter any slower than its adversaries, in fact at times you'll easily be one of the fastest helicopters on the battlefield. The A.109 is at times able to do manoeuvres other helicopters can only dream about, even with full payload options. In Ground RB matches however, there should not be many times you'll have to move too much to avoid enemies. You are able to get to good positions thanks to your speed and at times you will be able to dodge incoming missiles from ground anti-air or enemy jet aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 1,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 255 || 239 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}}
|-
! Upgraded
| 303 || 280
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Heli-Armour}}


The A.109 is not very survivable. Like many helicopters above and below its battle rating, it is prone to exploding into many pieces after a hit from an anti-air missile or a barage of anti-air fire. It does not have any armor. If your enemy is not very accurate and manages to damage you without hitting key components of the helicopter, you might luck out and be able to make it back to the base to repair. It is advised that you stay away from machine gun fire too, generally just stay away from everything that poses a threat, this is the only way to truly maximize your survivability.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Heli-Armaments}}
=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Heli-Suspended}}

{{main|BGM-71C Improved TOW|FFAR Mighty Mouse|FN M3P (12.7 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* 28 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 20 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (250 rpg = 500 total) + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets

== Usage in battles ==


The A.109 is a great helicopter for its battle rating, there are great line-up options to pair the helicopter up with, and if you manage to get down-tiered you just might be able to easily dominate the game.

For Ground RB, it is recommended you bring in a light vehicle able to scout, with access to the "Air strike" modification. This will mean that once you have captured a point, and scouted a vehicle, you'll be able to get into the helicopter with TOW-2's (once you've researched them) straight away if you happen to get knocked out early. This is the best strategy as if you manage to pull it off in a match that has only just started, you will likely surprise unsuspecting enemies who might think it's still to early to worry about enemy aircraft. At the battle rating, you have access to the Centauro ROMOR, so this vehicle will be the one in which you should use to quickly get inside a helicopter.

With enough spawn points, you can bring the best overall load-out for the A.109: 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets. With the TOW ATGM, you'll easily be able to pick off players from a distance. If spawning in during the early minutes of a match, the TOW will be a dangerous weapon for pretty much any enemy vehicle you'll be able to hit. Do keep in mind who exactly you are choosing to engage, as you'll realise soon enough that killing a player with spawn points backed up will usually lead them to spawn in either an anti-air ground vehicle or an aircraft. In that case you'll get overwhelmed with everything you need to watch out for, which will lead you to be less effective in the CAS department for your team.

If you run out of TOW's during your match, it is advised you return to base to get rearmed. You only have access to 4 of them so every shot you take counts. If not, and you haven't had the chance to use your rocket pods yet, there can be situations where you'll be able to utilize them whilst still being useful to your team. With rockets, you'll need to stay low to avoid any incoming SPAA. You'll need to do that as the helicopter is not very armoured, so most if not all ground targets will easily make short work of you if you are not careful. Generally speaking sticking behind mountains or tree lines will suffice. Once you feel you've gotten close enough to the battlefield, it's time for you to come out, quickly find your targets, and engage. This might pose a challenge as the A.109 doesn't have access to many rockets, so you'll need to pick your targets carefully and make sure most of your shots actually land and hit your targets.

The A.109 doesn't have any main cannon/machine guns but it is good to note you are able to bring in gunpods in replacement of the rockets. These gunpods aren't be very effective against ground targets, but they should be more than enough to defend yourself from incoming enemy air vehicles. Against enemy air vehicles that'll be your only line of defense, as the A.109 does not have access to air-to-air missiles or flares/chaff, so if you're not careful you could become a very easy kill for them. The main problem with trying to engage at close range is that doing so in most cases will put the A.109 in huge amounts of danger. Survivability features of the A.109 are poor, as previously mentioned enemy tanks and SPAAs will be able to quickly destroy the helicopter with their main guns or machine guns, so it is recommended that you only get into the actual battlefield near the end of the battle, once most threats you'll encounter will not be present, or at the very least, threats that can be dealt with safely.

In '''Arcade Assault''', you won't have to worry about going back to base to reload your weapons as they will automatically replenish once every munition has been used up. It's recommended you bring either TOW ATGM + rockets, or rockets + gunpods, or a full load-out of rockets. This is so as to maximize your overall effectiveness for your team.

'''Helicopter Battles'''

When playing helicopter battles, your best shot at staying alive and being effective is to bring a load-out of gunpods and rockets. The gunpods you have access to are usually able to deal with most helicopters you'll be facing, due to many of them not being very armoured. With rockets, you'll be able to take out ground AI targets. Usually, they will take 1 or 2 shots at minimum to destroy. Rockets are also quite effective in close range as a last ditch effort to come out on top when fighting a 1-vs-1. Try stay away from any helicopters with air-to-air missiles as you'll more than likely get destroyed, best way to maximize your efforts in this game mode is by trying and flanking the enemy side of the map and getting rid of ground targets undisturbed.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can be equipped with 4 x TOW anti-tank missile launchers
* Considerably faster than its counterparts
* Very responsive, usually able to manoeuvre with ease

'''Cons:'''

* Lacks any form of countermeasures
* Only has access to night vision devices, no thermal imaging.
* Not very survivable

== History ==


During the 1960s, Agusta was looking to break into the export market by designing the A109. Mainly intended for commercial use and a civilian market, it would be also later be tailored during development to the military market. It was redesigned in 1969 as there was a need for twin engines to actually compete with other contenders: this lead to the A109 to be fitted with 2 Allison 250-C14 turboshaft engines. From December 1968 until September 1969, at least 10 separate possible configurations were worked out. This lead to construction of the first three of the prototypes to carry out flight tests. In 1971, the A109 made its first maiden flight which yielded great results for the machine. The test flight was encouraging both in regards the reduction of vibration and handling qualities, and the overall advantage achieved by adopting an articulated four-blade rotor. Noise abatement was also promising, with an especially designed markedly tapered leading edge of the blade tip section. Testing was halted following a minor accident but quickly resumed in 1972 with to the demand and interest of many countries.
[[File:A.109EOA-2.png|thumb|A.109EOA-2 at helipad in Italy]]
Finally, in 1973, the first ever military prototype was presented along with its possible configurations, this officially changed the vehicle from being centred only for civilian use, and allowed it to gain the reputation of also being for military purposes. Many tests were conducted on the military versions of the A109, the first set of armaments being equipped on them were Hughes Aircraft-built anti-tank TOW missiles. The A109 was also tested with a wide variety of rockets, machine guns and any weaponry that could be installed on the machine. Between 1976 and 1977, the tests that were conducted allowed 2 different military variants to emerge, one of them being for light attack/close support missions and the other one for shipboard operations.

Once Agusta's helicopter was ready, many civilian versions of this aircraft started being exported around the globe, mainly in the Middle East and Africa. In Italy, the Army obtained the A109CM as the "A109EOA" utility/scout helicopter, with "EOA" standing for "Elicottero d'Osservazione Avanzata" ("Advanced Observation Helicopter"). This helicopter's entry into service helped put out of service the very old Agusta-Bell helicopters that were, at the time, still used in a multi-role aspect. In Italian service, the A109 was able to carry rockets, various ATGMs, and gunpods. The launchers installed on the A109 allowed for the installation of TOW, ITOW, TOW2 and TOW2A missiles. Other armaments included 12.7 mm general purpose door-mounted machine guns on both sides of the helicopter, allowing the vehicle to be very versatile and well-defended. Initial variants of the A109 usually lacked any form of countermeasures, but these would be installed in more modern variants of the helicopter. It was in service for a very long time, and was liked by those who operated the vehicle. Some export variants of the A109 included special options such as the A109BA, which was exported to Belgium, equipped with 8 x TOW launcher instead of the 4 x one in service in Italy. Currently, 32 additional countries are using the A109 either in civilian or military configurations. The A109 keeps on being in service and continues to be upgraded to not lag behind other countries' helicopters to this day.

=== [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|Devblog]] ===
In the early 70s, the Italian aircraft manufacturer Agusta began testing a new multi-purpose helicopter, the A.109, which was originally created for the civilian market, but immediately drew the attention of the military authorities. A.109 EOA-2 is a reconnaissance version, designed to destroy various targets including enemy armoured vehicles. In addition to machine-gun pods and rockets, the helicopter can be equipped with four TOW anti-tank missile launchers.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a_109_eoa2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
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File:A.109EOA-2 shotting rockets.png|
File:A.109EOA-2 Salvo.png|
File:A.109 EOA-2 WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
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</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|7J6c4D5MVRg|'''The Shooting Range #235''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:44 discusses the A.109.}}

== See also ==

''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the helicopter;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6989-development-italian-helicopters-en|[Devblog] Italian Helicopters]]

{{AirManufacturer Agusta}}
{{Italy helicopters}}