GM-64 (April Fools)

General info

The GM-64.

The GM-64 is a Rank IX German attack helicopter with a battle rating of 14.3. It was introduced in Update 1.67 as part of Rank IX Open Testing lasting from March 31st to April 3rd.

The main purpose, usage and tactics recommendations

General play style
The GM-64 is played like an airborne tank destroyer. With its lethal guided missile, keep in the air and accurately guide each missile onto a target, a direct hit can instantly kill the enemy.

How to vs MBTs and Helicopters
Fighting MBTs require a careful placement of the guided missiles onto their hull. Rockets and auto-cannons will not do more than damage components like the gun barrel and tracks. However, all these will help immobilize the enemy MBT enough for even allies to take care of.

Fighting other helicopters will be crude, but possible. Though one could use the rockets and missiles to take out the enemy rockets, the most viable method would be to riddle their general area with the auto-cannon. A good hit can send them plummeting to the ground.

Tactics
Historically, the best method for helicopters is to take advantage of the terrain. Using a hill for cover, a helicopter would emerge, fire at a target, before lowering back down behind the hill for cover. This is in an ideal situation, but it is entirely possible to simply fly over the battle space and engage targets in an attack pass, just beware of enemy SPAA and tanks willing to snipe the helicopter down.

Use the terrain to also get away from an enemy field of fire. Getting low increases the helicopter speed as it pitch forwards, and speed makes the helicopter harder to hit. Use this for evasive maneuvers around a tough location.

Specific enemies worth noting
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" and Flakpanzer I Gepard are the greatest enemies of the helicopters. The best protection against these is distance and movement. The best way to counter these vehicles is to fire a guided missile at their location, as even a close miss may destroy them. If out of guided missile, an airstrike with rockets and the auto-cannon is also a good way to take these out.

Ambitious tanks may also try to snipe the GM-64 from the air with their large cannons. Keep moving and keep the distance to avoid meeting a deadly end via a HEAT or APDS round.

Describe the vehicle in the game - its distinctive features, the tactics used against major opponents, recommendations for using the vehicle in different situations.
The GM-64 is distinctive to its counterpart by its more slim size, thus making it a smaller target. Also compared to the other helicopter, the GM-64 is painted with a duller desert camouflage color rather than with any brightness on it. The helicopter contains 8 useful anti-tank guided missiles, a limited number as such it is not expected to last in the battlefield for very long before having to withdraw to reload.

What to expect, if it would be in command of the enemy.
The GM-64 would be played like any other helicopter in the game, firing a distance away with guided missiles and eliminate targets with extreme precision. However, the GM-64 has a disadvantage of only having 8 missiles available, as such the enemy is sure to use these missiles conservatively, only hitting targets that are close by and on target.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Agile helicopter
• Large ammo stowage for auto-cannon
• Large rocket count
• Slimmer profile makes it a relatively smaller target than its counterpart

Cons:

• Limited amount of guided missiles

Specifications

Armaments

The GM-64 is equipped with a 30 mm auto-cannon as well as 38 rockets and 8 guided missiles.

Main armament

1 x 30 mm M230 cannon (1,200 Rounds)

Payloads

38 x 70 mm Hydra rocket
8 x 178 mm AGM114F missile

Engine & Mobility

Weight: 7.3 ton
Max Speed: 276 km/h

• Engine Power: 2 x 1927 hp
• Max altitude: 4465 m
• Rate of climb: 13.4 m/s

Additional information (links)

[Devblog] GM-64: Rotary-Wing Chieftain

Trivia

The GM-64 model is taken from a 2010 game also developed by Gaijin Entertainment: Apache: Air Assault