Comanche 3
Shelter from the Norm: Most military helicopters have all the
subtlety of a city bus. They're big, they're loud, and so they
normally attract a lot of attention. Boeing Sikorsky's RAH-66
Comanche is different. Besides being the Army's most technologically
advanced rotary aircraft, the Comanche is designed to survive on the
modern battlefield thanks to its low-observable (LO) stealth
characteristics.
Comanche 3 is NovaLogic's newest helicopter simulation. Its five
campaigns (referred to in the game as operations) feature a diverse
mix of fast paced combat missions. Players will find themselves
performing everything from long range surgical airstrikes to
defensive combat air patrols. There are advancing enemy tank columns
to halt, submarines to hunt down and sink, trains to de-rail, even
nuclear reactors and chemical warfare plants to destroy. But what
really sets this simulation apart is its emphasis on the importance
of evading detection.
In this respect Comanche 3 is shelter from the norm. It's one
simulation that provides you with a change from all the
cookie-cutter flight simulations that flood the marketplace these
days. This game uses no linear detection equations or artificial
radii with pre-set thresholds. All detection routines are handled
dynamically. As a pilot, you can't look at a given situation and
think to yourself "everything will be okay if I stay this far away
from the enemy." If only it were that simple...
Comanche 3 manipulates an enormous amount of data just to determine
whether you've been spotted so it's easy to get lost trying to keep
track of it all. Fortunately, a lot of what you need to remember is
all common sense. But before we get into all the ways you can
maximize your stealthiness, let's first take a look at how this
simulation handles detection. Knowing how things work ahead of time
will make it easier for you to figure out ways to beat the system
later on.
There are two basic means of detection in the Comanche 3 "world":
general visibility and radar. All military objects (such as AAA
guns, radar towers, tanks, APCs, aircraft, etc.) are surrounded by a
general zone of visibility. Each zone is unique to that object and
is based upon the object's capacity to hear and see things going on
around it. The size and shape of the zone depends entirely upon the
object doing the viewing. A naval vessel like the Nanuchka, for
example, has a much larger zone of visibility than a tank crew
buttoned up inside a T-80. What's more, the Nanuchka has a zone
which fans out 360 whereas a tank crew is limited to looking
straight ahead through vision slits in the armor.
This general zone of visibility is based primarily on sight but it
takes into account thermal and audio detection also. Objects have
the ability to detect other objects based on the amount of noise
they make. Loud objects like tank engines or helicopter rotors can
be heard from a long way away. Even at night when vision-based
detection is degraded, objects equipped with thermal imagers can see
just fine, thank you... and of course, sound travels just as far at
night as it does during the day.
The second means of detection is based upon radar. Modern combat
revolves around the use of radar. Once spotted by radar, the enemy
knows how high you're flying and how fast you're going. They can
tell the direction you're heading and can guess where you came from.
A good radar set can even tell what make and model aircraft you
happen to be driving.
Getting picked up on radar is like stepping on the proverbial third
rail. It's only a matter of time until something nasty shows up in
your vicinity. Luckily, not every object in Comanche 3 is equipped
with its own radar. Fixed wing enemy aircraft all have radar but
ground vehicles, unless they are air defense vehicles, typically
will not. Naval vessels, on the other hand have very powerful radar.
You will want to stay away from them whenever possible. Finally,
important high-dollar targets like air bases or industrial complexes
will either have a radar installation nearby or will be defended by
a radar equipped object.
Between these two zones of detection you'd think that much of the
map is covered, but it isn't. There are some real gaps in the air
defense- gaps large enough to drive a truck through. Your job is
easier, however. You don't need to drive a truck; you only need to
fly a Comanche through it. Here's how to do it.
Your Comanche is built to deflect radar waves rather than reflect
them. Its smooth external lines cause radar waves to flow around its
fuselage instead of catching on something and bouncing off. Things
like exposing your bay doors or leaving your landing gear down only
serve to break up the Comanche's smooth appearance and make it more
vulnerable to detection. In fact, your helicopter is almost twice as
likely to be spotted on radar when your bay doors are open so keep
them closed. Having your landing gear extended does not have quite
the same impact, but it still has an affect.
Most of the radars in Comanche 3 happen to be of the pulse-Doppler
variety. These radars detect movement much easier when it is moving
at a 90 angle in relation to the direct of their beam. Crossing
targets are easier to spot than those approaching head-on so you're
somewhat less likely to be detected when traveling directly to or
from the radar emitter itself. Always try to fly directly toward or
away from these radars where possible.
One last thing to keep in mind about radar is that it works
according to direct line-of-sight. In other words, it ain't
Superman. It can't see through mountains or around corners.
Therefore, if you can keep solid terrain features between you and
the radar, it won't detect you. This technique of flying low to
avoid enemy radar is called flying "Nap of the Earth (NOE)." You'll
be doing a lot of this when flying the Comanche so get used to it.
Basically, if you're flying more than 50 feet off the ground you're
screwing up. Stay low and hug the terrain like a long lost relative.
It may take you longer to get where you're going, but that's okay.
These missions are not foot races so take your time. Keeping low
breaks up a radar's line-of-sight. It also lets you lose yourself in
ground clutter and false echoes.
Staying low also helps minimize the chances of being spotted
visually. Believe it or not, this simulation takes flying in shadows
into account- even during the daytime. It actually reduces the
chance an enemy object will detect you if you are in a shadow as
seen from the enemy's perspective. By the same token, if you are
back-lit by open sky, the enemy has a much easier time spotting you.
Enemy units are notorious gossips as well. They can't wait to tell
their comrades that they've spotted a Comanche in the neighborhood.
Once an enemy unit detects you, figure on everyone getting the
message sooner, rather than later. Of course, this can work in your
favor also. Get the enemy's attention focused on looking for you in
one area, then move. Strike suddenly in one spot, disappear, then
strike again somewhere else. This is the Comanche way.
Here's one final little tip to keep in mind. The saying "There's
safety in numbers" doesn't apply here. When flying a Comanche,
you're much safer on your own. Consider this fact the next time
you're blissfully flying along accompanied by an "escort" of AH-64
Apaches; the enemy may not be able to hear your super stealthy
Comanche but they can damn sure hear those Apaches coming! Once the
enemy starts looking in their direction it won't be long before
their attention is drawn to you.
Flying a Comanche for a living is a dangerous profession but then
again, so is driving a cab in New York. If you'd rather go
"tank-plinkin'" then worry about picking up fares, just follow the
common sense rules laid out for you in this article. You'll do
wonders for your chances of reaching retirement.
Fly low, fly slow, and try to keep something between you and the bad
guys. Oh... and whatever you do, keep those bay doors shut. It is
often said the Comanche has a radar cross-section the size of a
postage stamp. A moment's inattentiveness can turn this postage
stamp into something akin to the broadside of a barn. Good luck and
good hunting.
by Lawrence T. Russell
