Mil Mi-24 Hind

The Mil Mi-24 helicopter, NATO callsign Hind and often called Krokodil (crocodile) or Flying Tank by its Soviet crews, is a powerful multi-role helicopter of the Soviet Union. Unlike the real-life Hind, it is not only a powerful gunship, but can also carry light to medium vehicles in a special apperture on its underside, a feature possibly inspired by the Mil Mi-10 Harke, a "flying crane" design. The Hind has further passenger space for up to 8 human-sized people (or fewer of larger-than-human build). It is armed with a nose-mounted chaingun and pylon-mounted rocket pods, alternating between the two as it fires. Both weapons fire rapidly and as a consequence, the Hind goes through it's ammo supply rather quickly. Unlike the allied helicopter gunships, the Hind is unable to combat aerial targets and does not bring quite the firepower to bear that its allied counterparts can. It is however quite well-armored for an aircraft, ready to confront ground forces with limited anti-aircraft capabilities.

Stats

 * Type: Vehicle
 * Class: Gunship
 * Prerequisite
 * Path #1: Helipad
 * HP: 225
 * TechLevel: 9
 * Cost: 1200$
 * Points: 40
 * Crewed: yes
 * GuardRange: 30
 * Tags: Helicopter, CarryAll

Equipment

 * Chaingun
 * Hydra rockets (Ammo x12)

Crew
Each Hind is piloted by a pilot who will attempt to make a daring escape with his parachute if his craft is shot down and will succeed to do so at 40% (Rookie), 55% (Veteran) and 80% (Elite). Surviving pilots inherit the experience points of the downed Hind.

Stats

 * Speed: 12
 * Turn: 4

Hydra rockets
Showers the target area with multiple rockets. Requires the Rocket Pods upgrade.

Upgrade: AP Ammunition
Received upon promotion to Elite level; increases chaingun damage against armored targets by +25%.

Upgrade: Speakers
Upgrades the Hind with a set of propaganda speakers on its underside, blaring messages at forces below and around.

Effect

 * The Hind gains a propaganda aura.

Strategy
The Hind is a true multi-role unit, and that in more than on paper. Its chaingun is highly effective against infantry and even light vehicles and although it suffers from accuracy issues when attacking single infantry targets, its sheer volume of fire spells instant doom for infantry formations of any size.

The Hind is surprisingly well armored (medium), and heavier than many comparable Allied designs. This allows it to withstand small arms fire and even some anti-aircraft rockets far better than most other helicopters. But, all things considered, it is still an aircraft, not an armored vehicle, and hence should be kept out of range of anti-aircraft weapons.

The Hind excels in hunting down both infantry and tanks and in rapid deployment of powerful ground forces. Overall, a highly valuable and powerful unit with the only drawback, if you can call it that, of limited utility against aircraft and anti-aircraft positions.