What is a good counter against Helicopter armies?

[Leathaface]

I was playing a game on Emperor there and Cyrus DOWed me. He sent Infantry and some field cannons first, which I could handle, but he eventually sent 2 Helicopter Armies my way and I couldn't handle them at all.

Even my Machine Gun Corps were getting ran over by them, it seems like they were getting one shotted by the helicopter armies. Plus i've a feeling even Machine Gun Armies wouldn't fare well. What is a good counter against Helicopter Armies?

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Modern AT armies?

 

[Smity2k1]

Machine guns are a ranged class unit and therefore they get mowed down by cavalry (helicopters and tanks). Like Eagle Pursuit said AT should do the trick as they are the era appropriate anti-cavalry.

 

[Canadian Bluebeer]

AT should, but I'd expect (IRL) that fighters would do it, same for SAMs.

Of course, your own helicopter armies would at least make an even fight.

Since they are light cav, tanks (heavy cav) would also have a shot.

 

[zhivik]

In real life, as proven in Afghanistan, the most effective counter to helicopters is a surface-to-air missle (SAM). It could be mobile (put on a vehicle) or stationary. However, modified rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) were indeed used by the mujahideen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, with not so bad results. Still, when the CIA started to provide them with Stinger SAMs, RPGs were no longer used for that purpose (their main purpose is to hit armoured vehicles like tanks).

In the game, it is much more straightforward. Helicopters are in the light cavalry line, while Modern ATs are in the anti-cavalry line, so there you have it. Given the historical context, their use is not that inappropriate. Unfortunately, the Anti-Air Gun and the Mobile SAM are support units and they protect only against "proper" air units, like fighters and bombers. Technically, fighters and heavy cavalry could also be a counter, though not so effective.

Back to real life, heavy cavalry units (i.e. tanks) are completely useless against helicopters. In fact, modern helicopters are known as "tank killers", because their greater mobility and modern weaponry allows them to hit tanks at weak spots before they can be even fired upon.

 

[Mummiesforpeace]

Lots of encampments. In the game I'm currently playing, Arabia invaded me with numerous units, including four helicopter armies. None of my units could stand up to them (at the time), but because I had plenty of encampment districts, I was able to hold on until they got themselves shot to pieces. It also helped that they were distracted by a city state that I control. The AI lacks common sense and focus, and so is easily led astray.