chinese helicopter Aérospatiale Gazelle SA 342L: China's First Tankbuster!

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

Aérospatiale Gazelle SA 342L in Chinese Service

Background:

When China first began its attempts to establish domestic helicopter production, they needed to start with something reliable and capable, though not too expensive. As a result, they reached out to France during the 1980s and, after some negotiation, purchased a small number of the venerable Gazelle SA 342L helicopters from Aérospatiale (one source says 6, another says 8 were bought). These were the first helicopters with anti-tank capabilities in the Chinese military, and although the negotiations to purchase more along with a license to produce them fell through, they were an invaluable part of the development of Chinese military rotorcraft, as well as the operation of the helicopter branch of the PLA. These helicopters remained in frontline or reserve status with the PLA up until at least 2005 according to one source. Because of the significance of this helicopter to the Chinese helicopter development and their military as a whole, I think it deserves a spot in the Chinese helicopter Tech Tree now that we know it is coming!

Details:

In Chinese service there were effectively no changes to the helicopter. It was the SA 342L model, meaning it is equivalent to the in-game Gazelle SA 342M we already have for France, though without the stabilized missile sight. Besides this, the helicopter remains the same, mounting the Astazou XIV engine and capable of carrying a similar array of armaments.

 

Armament Details:

EDITED TO INCLUDE THE HJ-8 (Thank you @PlanyKaanere)

The helicopter carries mostly the same armament options as the one France has in-game, though with a few key differences. As far as I have found, the Chinese were never given the Matra Mistral ATAM, meaning it would have reduced capabilities against air targets, though this is unlikely to be much of an issue given the role it is mostly going to be used for. Other than that it can carry the usual SNEB and FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets, HOT missiles, and 7.62mm machine gun pods (which, by the way, ought to be added to the French machines too). Later on the HOT missiles were replaced by the second-generation domestic Hongjian-8 (HJ-8) ATGM, which has increased penetration and range, and can even equip tandem-charge warheads. The first variant would be the HJ-8B, which was just an adaptation of the A model to fit on helicopters along with a range upgrade. The C model was the first to include tandem-charge, and the D model improved upon the C. Further developments were more ground-focused and likely aren't relevant here, but at least the B and C models and possibly the D are. China would be able to carry 4 or 6 HOT/HJ-8 missiles into battle, which is perhaps an acceptable tradeoff for the Mistral. In the first photo of the gallery you can see it armed with HOT missiles, two different types of rocket pods, a machine gun turret, and machine gun pods, all of which should also be able to equip the French Gazelle, but that's another post...

 

Specifications:

Specifications are identical to the French SA 342M Gazelle already in-game with one or two minor tweaks:

Missile sights are not stabilized.

No access to Mistral AAMs

 

Crew: 2 (Pilot, Gunner)

Engine: Turbomeca Astazou XIV Turboshaft generating 50 kgf @ takeoff

Max Speed at Sea Level: 164 MPH AB, 155 MPH RB/SB

Max Altitude: 16,400 ft

Armor: None

Optics: 20x

Armament Options: FFAR Mighty Mouse 70mm Rockets, SNEB 68mm Rockets, HOT/HOT-2 (possibly) Missiles, HJ-8B/C/D Missiles, 7.62mm Machine Gun Pods

All other details are identical

 

Gallery:

Spoiler

If there is anything I may have forgotten to add, please let me know in the comments below. Thank you for reading, voting, and sharing, and please do check out my other posts!

 

Sources:

Spoiler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aérospatiale_Gazelle#China

https://www.helis.com/timeline/china.php

https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=93

https://www.defencetalk.com/military/photos/c/sa-342l-gazelle-china.3306/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HJ-8

 

Edited July 1, 2022 by JamesPond1200@psn
Added info on the HJ-8

[Headnaught 503]

Approved and open for discussion.

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

13 minutes ago, Headnaught said:

Approved and open for discussion.

Thank you! Been waiting ages to get this one through! I've got another on the way!

[Jarilo-VI 一般兵 139]

+1. SA342 and SA365 play a great role in Chinese helicopter. So we need them.

[PlanyKaanere 722]

+1 but

 

On 27/06/2022 at 04:57, JamesPond1200@psn said:

 

I f there is anything I may have forgotten to add, please let me know in the comments below. Thank you for reading, voting, and sharing, and please do check out my other posts!

 

In these pictures the Gazelle is equipped with domestic HJ-8 missiles and not TOWs. That would be another difference from the French ones.

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

29 minutes ago, PlanyKaanere said:

+1 but

 

 

In these pictures the Gazelle is equipped with domestic HJ-8 missiles and not TOWs. That would be another difference from the French ones.

I will add those as an option, though I would like to point out that when China first operated the Gazelle, they used the HOT missile.

[Milocat 4,854]

+1, would be a great addition to the Chinese helicopter tree.

[NAYEONnaise 1,936]

+1 for 9.0, then after this, the chinese heli tree can split into the ROC/PLA lines. 

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

3 hours ago, NAYEONnaise said:

+1 for 9.0, then after this, the chinese heli tree can split into the ROC/PLA lines. 

I had a similar thought, actually! It'd start with the Harbin Z-5, then go to this, then split into the ROCA and PLA lines. The ROCA would get the OH-58D, AH-1W, and AH-64E. The PLA would get the Z-11W, Z-9W, Z-19, and Z-10. Premiums could include the Mi-171Sh and Z-9WA.

[DoneDirtCheap 370]

+1 bring it on!

[hienapunk 1,064]

May as well be the second entry behind the z5, unless someone cam find evidence the z6 was ever armed, in which case this thing would be third.

[DoneDirtCheap 370]

Looking forward to this now! Bit concerning that the HJ-8 missiles apparently only has 3km range though...

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

4 minutes ago, DoneDirtCheap said:

Looking forward to this now! Bit concerning that the HJ-8 missiles apparently only has 3km range though...

I'm super excited! I don't know if it was because of my suggestion or not, but I'm proud to say one of the vehicles I recommended has been added! I hope the rest will be too!

[DMYEugen 688]

Though I would liked to have seen the Z-8 as the starter helicopter, this one's pretty neat too.

Edited September 3, 2022 by DMYEugen

[DoneDirtCheap 370]

Just now, JamesPond1200@psn said:

I'm super excited! I don't know if it was because of my suggestion or not, but I'm proud to say one of the vehicles I recommended has been added! I hope the rest will be too!

Might as well take credit 

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

4 minutes ago, DMYEugen said:

Though I would liked to have seen the Z-8 as the starter helicopter, this one's pretty neat too.

In the stream they did say that more Chinese helicopters were in the works but weren't ready at the moment, so it may still be coming.

4 minutes ago, DoneDirtCheap said:

Might as well take credit 

Believe me I do! 

[NAYEONnaise 1,936]

19 hours ago, DoneDirtCheap said:

Looking forward to this now! Bit concerning that the HJ-8 missiles apparently only has 3km range though...

m-maybe they're gonna be an SS.11 equivalent? slooooooooooooowwwww, short range, etc. but the tiny profile of the gazelle should compensate 

[DoneDirtCheap 370]

9 hours ago, NAYEONnaise said:

m-maybe they're gonna be an SS.11 equivalent? slooooooooooooowwwww, short range, etc. but the tiny profile of the gazelle should compensate 

Hope so! I am nonetheless really looking forward to Chinese helis, and it will be awesome to finally complete my 8.3 lineup with a heli too! 

 

[leroyonly 4,311]

As Chinese SA.342L Gazelle has been implemented with Update 2.19 Drone Age,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.