OK, I have not found that underslung figure and as I was indicating the troops number came from a blurb [= on the optimistic side]SW1 wrote:Probably more like 8 plus 2 door gunners. Be interesting to see what the underslung load requirement might be.
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... y-setbacks
where the 16 was contrasted with one of their own
[The 8.6-tonne AW149]
" between the 6.4-tonne AW139M (which can carry 15 passengers or up to 10 fully equipped troops), and the 10.6-tonne NH90 (which accommodates 20 fully equipped troops)."
... and with the toughest competitor.
You would not want to go anywhere nasty without the door gunners... so
- make it (?) a section
- plus one or the other of these crammed in: Tactical Air Control Party, TACP, with an officer and SNCO and 2 signallers, which typically deploy at the company level, embedding with the unit's HQ element. Or if there are several companies engaging then an FAC as part of a Fire Support Team (FST) alongside Mortar Fire Controller(s) and Artillery Forward Observation Officer(s).