Allied Combat Helicopter 'Hell Raider'

Inspired by the music 'Freight Yard' composed for the Opposing Force remake Operation Black Mesa: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNmIFf…

Unlike its much larger cousin the Flying Battleship, the co-axial rotor Allied Gunship 'Hell Raider' is the ubiquitous workhorse of the Allied Air Force. While the Flying Battleship's total number is classified and believed to be in the low double digits, the Hell Raider is believed to number over two million in active units when involved in major continent wide theatre operations. The Hell Raider was built out of a desperate need to find a fully dedicated combat helicopter. While it was known among the boots on the ground that helicopters that carried men and weaponry was doing a trade-off to both, the top brass was slow to catch on until the body count started piling up too fast for them to ignore and the enemy's introduction of energy beam-cutter weapons changed the face of the battlefield.

Its twin 50mm cannons bring forth as much firepower as a Hellfire missile, however aiming and clear line of sight for shell trajectory is needed. Together with unguided rockets, .50 cal tail gun and dual chain gun turret (30mm) makes it a deadly threat against all but the heaviest enemy armor and infantry on the battlefield.

Sensors in the front are for night time fighting while the two disc sensors on the front and the rotor shaft (also found on tanks) are this Alternate Universe's target acquisition systems. Pusher propellers and co-axial rotors are a standard requirement for all combat helicopters for more lift capability and battlefield survivability. The tail boom is larger for ammunition storage. Even if the tail boom is shot off completely, as long as the co-axial rotors are functioning the gunship can execute a controlled landing.

While technically an aircraft, its function as an anti-armor, anti-infantry mobile gunship platform (in addition to a helicopter's lower combat ceiling by design) puts the gunship under the direct command of land based division commanders in the Marines and Army. The vicious nature of engagements requires that all landing gear be in the form of more durable but heavier caterpillar threads to have a functioning landing gear after such an engagement.

The Flying Battleship's basic weapon layout was inspired by the Hell Raider. As the saying goes,

'Before the Hammerhead, there was the Hell Raider;
Where the Allied Forces goes, the Hell Raider flies;
First to Enter, Last to Leave;
We are the Air Cavalry.'

Sources:
Tracing the front and tail fin: sofdmc.deviantart.com/art/AH-6…
Inspired the hangar background: sofdmc.deviantart.com/art/Rapt…
Unique flash suppressor as requested by a friend: sofdmc.deviantart.com/art/Fsc5…