When using a c-47

[Father.May.I]

at what alt/speed should I drop the troops? And how many are needed to take over an airfield? Is there a specific spot I should drop them at? the one time I managed to drop them over the airfield, the aircraft on the ground mowed them down.

[Saintaw]

I did it just once, so i am no expert :
Dropped the troops above the runway at 500Ft alt...speed was 200Kts...
Open the doors first (O key)

make sure that you have : A a large escort...or B, that there are no cons at the Airfield you want to take and that the Ack ack is down...


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Saint
DCO 186th Wardogs (Falcon4 Squad)
 http://www.wardogs.org/
"Firepower Mate, that is what separates the men from the boys..."

[Azrael]

Can't say much about minimum altitude (rarely fly a 47) but you can also drop the troops when you stand on the runway.

The troops will always run to the map room (the bunker-like structure near the tower), so best drops are near the map room.

Az

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Azrael

Erprobungsgruppe 177

[dolomite]

The way the game stands now?

Fly your whole trip to the enemy field at as low an alt as you can manage (you won't show on radar this way). Circle around approach from a low traffic direction. If you are at a sea level field, you can drop from 100ft if you have to. Speed is unimportant.

If possible, approach the field from behind the spawn point for aircraft; this will allow vultching fighter cover to get them before they can get you. Drop troops at a point where tower is between the troops and the spawning fighters to prevent the enemy from mowing them down.

You can survive C47 runs, if you use your head.  

[Father.May.I]

Thanks for the help. Am I to understand there is no min alt for dropping? The troops seem to pull their cord as soon as they're away from the aircraft but whenever I parachute low to the ground I always end up 6 feet down under  

[Pongo]

As it currently works the only reason you would go higher then 5 ft is to see the bunker. The only thing that I would disagree with Dolmite about is that I like to approach the bunker from directly oppisite the spawn point. This allows my stricken 47 to ditch behind the spawn point.If there is a persistant defensive fighter spawning but your vulch is tight, only drop 1-2 at a time.
Drop them close to the door,  put in some fake drops. They should be able to get in before the fighter can get them. If you have no vulch set up and are relying on suprise, consider landing by the bunker.....
Good luck, count on dying even if you succeed.

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Pongo
Sturm Gruppe

[bloom25]

Things may have changed, but back in .40 for sure, if you dropped troops below about 400ft, they don't survive.  I once lost a capture by dropping at 200ft because of this.  However, I have heard of, and performed a successful drop at about 5 ft off the ground.
So the answer to your question is 400ft minimum for parachute drop IMO.  Also, your target is the little dome by the tower (map room), drop as close as possible to it.  My method usually consists of a run at 20 ft off the ground until right over the base.  I then pull up to around 450 ft and try to fly a spiral around the map room while dropping the troops.
There is one more method I've used successfully that is very tough to counter.  Land your c47 and taxi over to the map room, then begin releasing your troops.  As long as troops can be deployed while on the ground, this is the fastest way.
If a good quality vulch-fest is taking place, this is usually the best method IMO.
These are the two ways that I prefer to drop, but I'm sure there are others.

Hope this helps you.

[This message has been edited by bloom25 (edited 01-24-2000).]