What are the giant booms on the side of the helicopter?

[ally of communist china]

Are they supposed to be like that, or is it a graphical glitch, and what are they? I was under the impression they are machine guns that are too large for some reason because the chinook has what looks to be a giant minigun when you load special forces into it.

[Agrippa HX]

I think you're referring to the refueling probe on the front of the helicopters when transporting spec. ops.

This is a link to an article with some photos of the boom on the Chinook.[www.americanspecialops.com]

[strykerpsg]

Nope, supports to enable fast roping in remote, non landable areas. They are present on Mi8, UH-60 and Chinook when embarking SF or SAS.

Not available for ANA

[ally of communist china]

No, these ones are on the blackhawk. Two very large booms coming out the side of the helicopter when you load regular US infantry. I can't take a photo atm but I will soon. Absoultely no clue what they are.

[ally of communist china]

https://ibb.co/cdhJs9 I tried my best to get a screenshot, I know its a micro image but its the best I can do at the moment, this shows up when you load regular infantry into a blackhawk or chinook, is a really large horizontal pole coming out of the door(s) of the helicopter

[strykerpsg]

Again, for fast roping. Allows them to place units in unlandable terrain......think of them as anchor supports for the Fast Rope system, gives them distance from the aircraft, rather than having to rappel over thedoor edge.

[ally of communist china]

ah, okay. I still think there might be some sort of glitch though as i only get them on regular us infantry, not spec ops (which seems backwards)

[strykerpsg]

Update, the fast rope anchors are indeed present when transporting Infantry or SF type units and while the anchors are a bit exagerrated in size, they only show when embarking dismounted Soldiers or Marines on the Blackhawk, Mi-8s and Chinooks only. I did not play skirmish long enough to train ANA Infantry so cannot verify they also get the feature, but they are not refuelling probes, though in real life the MH-60 and MH-47s do have them installed. That feature is not present currently in game.

[Agrippa HX]

Actually, refueling booms are added to the helicopters carrying special forces. My error was that I misunderstood which particular decoration the OP was referencing. I was just talking about something different, but it does exist in the game too.

[Agrippa HX]

But, no, there is no in-air refueling. It's just a decoration. None of these skins interact with the game mechanics in any way.

[Agrippa HX]

Here's the thing I was talking about. :P

screenshot

[ally of communist china]

Originally posted by strykerpsg:

Update, the fast rope anchors are indeed present when transporting Infantry or SF type units and while the anchors are a bit exagerrated in size, they only show when embarking dismounted Soldiers or Marines on the Blackhawk, Mi-8s and Chinooks only. I did not play skirmish long enough to train ANA Infantry so cannot verify they also get the feature, but they are not refuelling probes, though in real life the MH-60 and MH-47s do have them installed. That feature is not present currently in game.

Ok, thank you for confirming it. I do wish they were downsized a bit because they look kinda goofy big imo

[Agrippa HX]

Originally posted by ally of communist china:

Ok, thank you for confirming it. I do wish they were downsized a bit because they look kinda goofy big imo

Agreed on that!

[EverySingleSoldier]

When infantry are loaded in helo's, the side guns appear along with the nationailty flag. When special forces are loaded the refuel rod appears along with 'blacking out' the Helo. These are exagerated to enable the player to see at a glance what is in the helo

[ally of communist china]

Originally posted by EverySingleSoldier:

When infantry are loaded in helo's, the side guns appear along with the nationailty flag. When special forces are loaded the refuel rod appears along with 'blacking out' the Helo. These are exagerated to enable the player to see at a glance what is in the helo

OK, so they are guns, thats what i thought. Thank you for confirming! Its great to see a dev actually answering questions and stuff on steam.

Also, it may be a little nitpicky, but is there any way to shrink them, or an option to do so? They really bug me lol

[strykerpsg]

Originally posted by EverySingleSoldier:

When infantry are loaded in helo's, the side guns appear along with the nationailty flag. When special forces are loaded the refuel rod appears along with 'blacking out' the Helo. These are exagerated to enable the player to see at a glance what is in the helo

I stand corrected and humbled! On a side note, Blackhawks use booms for fast roping, hence the confusion, rather than over sized weaapons.