Based on the SA 313B, the SA 316 Alouette III was developed by Sud-Aviation and later built by Aerospatiale. It took its maiden flight on February 28, 1959, with production following in 1961. It was a larger design that allowed being attached with heavier armament, making it a decent light attack helicopter; however, its main task was for transport of both troops and cargo, being capable of insane amounts of power at high altitudes for the time thanks to its 570 hp engine. Thus, it remained as a very trusted and respected helicopter for search and rescue operations. This good reputation was also due to its good reliability, ease of maintenance, and low price tag. The military variants were fitted with all sorts of armament, from 7.62 mm machine guns to fixed 20 mm cannons, SS.11 ATGMs, Mk.44 torpedoes, and rocket pods. The SA 316A was replaced in 1968 by the SA 316B model, which had more durable main and tail rotor blades, which improved performance.
Introduced in Update 1.87 "Locked On", the SA 316B Alouette III is slow, very sluggish and a very big target. This poses a threat to the player, since it's very easy to be shot down by enemy SPAA if it's not played properly, thus it is only recommended for players that already have experience in flying helicopters. Its main asset is the SS.11 ATGM and its decent range for its BR. While it may lack the thermal sights found in other helicopters and perhaps not match their agility or mobility, these shortcomings can be offset by the skill and proficiency of the player. Excellent situational awareness is essential to staying alive. Use terrain and hide behind trees and hills, peeking up just to launch an ATGM. If possible, ask a team member to mark potential targets using the map or even better, a scout drone if available.
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