Great Fictional World War III book (China & allies VS US & allies)

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Hello there new to forum,would like to say hi to everyone,never been in military but keen interest in subject.Just read downloaded version of book think its great!!!Realise its a fiction book so dont mean to be picky but wasnt the Commanche project cancelled?
Again great work,any chance of a follow up?

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

lcortez said:

Hello there new to forum,would like to say hi to everyone,never been in military but keen interest in subject.Just read downloaded version of book think its great!!!Realise its a fiction book so dont mean to be picky but wasnt the Commanche project cancelled?
Again great work,any chance of a follow up?

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Thanks.

In answer to your question, yes, in real life the Commanche project was cancelled...but this fictional work examines what its impact might be if it was reinstated and finshed through to completion and then deployed in a major (Word War sized) conflict.

Of course, Jess Simmons storyline revolves around that entire scenario.

However, the AH-1Z modernization of the Cobra helicopter (which Jess Simmons son ends up flying in the book) has gone ahead and the first production AH-1Z helicopter was delivered to the USMC in September 2006.

As to a follow-up...who knows? The entire book sort of represented an itch I had to scratch, so I guess if another itch like that comes along, I may well do it. Thanks for asking.

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Jeff Head said:

Thanks.

In answer to your question, yes, in real life the Commanche project was cancelled...but this fictional work examines what its impact might be if it was reinstated and finshed through to completion and then deployed in a major (Word War sized) conflict.

Of course, Jess Simmons storyline revolves around that entire scenario.

However, the AH-1Z modernization of the Cobra helicopter (which Jess Simmons son ends up flying in the book) has gone ahead and the first production AH-1Z helicopter was delivered to the USMC in September 2006.

As to a follow-up...who knows? The entire book sort of represented an itch I had to scratch, so I guess if another itch like that comes along, I may well do it. Thanks for asking.

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Jeff, are the AH-1Zs going to be previously exsisting aircraft modified or will they be built from scratch?

All I can say is that the Cobra is one of the best designed military machines ever. You can tell that from its service life alone.

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Looks awesome! Lokks like sidewinders on wingtips,does AH 1Z have anti air capability?

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

lcortez said:

Looks awesome! Lokks like sidewinders on wingtips,does AH 1Z have anti air capability?

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The older models of AH-1s have Sidewinder capability allowing them to kill other helicopters and even fighters. There's a thread about helicopter vs. helicopter combat in the Iran-Iraq War in the World Armed Forces forum.

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Finn McCool said:

Jeff, are the AH-1Zs going to be previously exsisting aircraft modified or will they be built from scratch?

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As I see it, the previous AH-1W was a completely new design compared to earlier versions, the -1Z is remanufactured from it, with many new components.
It will get a four-bladed bearingless, hingless rotor wich will result in an improved flight envelope.
It will get a new avonics and sensor suite. (New radio, GPS, displays, RDR- and missile warner, 3rd gen FLIR and most notably IMO, a longbow like radar.) It will also employ Sidewinders, among many other weapons.
This rotorcraft will be pretty well suited for future battle fields.
Nonetheless it's sad the Comanche was canceled.

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Finn McCool said:

Jeff, are the AH-1Zs going to be previously exsisting aircraft modified or will they be built from scratch?

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180 of the AH-1W inventory will be modified to the AH-1Z.

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Thanks for the info Scratch and Jeff.

Scratch said:

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Nonetheless it's sad the Comanche was canceled.

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I don't cry for the Comanche. It was full of cost overruns and of doubtful value anyway. I don't forsee a need for it for years. And by that time it might be obsolete

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Finn McCool said:

Thanks for the info Scratch and Jeff.



I don't cry for the Comanche. It was full of cost overruns and of doubtful value anyway. I don't forsee a need for it for years. And by that time it might be obsolete

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...and with the advent of the new ARH-70A bell helicopter to replace the OH-58D kiowas, the need for an armed recon helo will be met. It's FLIR is not mast mounted, it is nose mounted, meaning it will be observable for a longer period during engagements. But is is faster, much more hight tech, and will have just as much ECM and other survivabilty capabilities built in outside of that.

The specs for the commanche were more impressive...but it was also much, much more costly. Still, I would like to have seen a helo with those specs and with those stealth characteristics come off the line.


Maybe some day I will rewrite the book to include the ARH-70A as the aircraft Jess Simmons flies...but, OTOH, since it is a fictional novel, and since the Commanche is so exotic, I will probably just keep it as it is.

Bill it as what might have been.

Re: Great China VS U.S war book

Something that comes to my mind in that regard is the use of lidar. Wouldn't that be a great improvement for a recce helicopter? I've read about the DP-5X programm wich is to elaborate that technology. I somehow believe it's a tech of the future, fast ground mapping and target discrimination, plus low level navigation help for helis, aircraft, CMs ...

BTW, that ARH-70A seems to be named Apraho. A article said the Aprahos were a tribe stealing horses from the Comanches, that's funny; and just a coincidence?
With Comanches cost I see it's difficult because having those helis only in small numbers doesn't really help either way.