Hammerhead (Kane's Wrath)

"Heavy gunship airborne!"

- Hammerhead

A curious element of the GDI air arsenal, the Hammerhead is a conventional helicopter, based on transport designs dating back to the 20th century. This is perhaps an extreme example of GDI's trend of returning to old, but extremely reliable technology following the Second Tiberium War. Its speed matches than of a Orca Gunship, allowing for fast deployment.

The Hammerhead is a Ground-Support Aircraft that serves a dual role as both a long range infantry transport, and an anti-infantry gunship. Its central compartment is capable of housing one infantry squad, with sufficient internal space to allow the squad to fire out of the Hammerhead. Promotional materials of the unit claim the helicopter can house an entire regiment, but this is clearly an exaggeration. For loading and unloading infantry, the Hammerhead has to land; initial experiments involving jump-jetting infantry into the Hammerhead's cargo compartment met with unfortunate results.

The Hammerhead is equipped with two intermeshing rotors, giving it immense lift and high stability, as well as twin automatic cannons that can plow through enemy infantry and could be used to clear landing zones from hostiles. The damage capacity of these weapons can be increased with optional Armour piercing ammunition. The amount of ammunition and fuel carried by the Hammerhead is sufficient to allow the aircraft to operate independently for days without refueling or rearming.

However, the Hammerhead's cannons cannot target other air units; so to counter enemy air power, the Hammerhead would need to be loaded with a Missile squad or Zone Raiders to defend itself against airborne threats. It also has two wing-mounted fog lights that act as searchlights capable of detecting stealthed units. Hammerhead aircraft issued to battlefield commanders operate with the lights turned off however. This forces the commanders to rely on other means of stealth detection, such as Pitbulls and Zone Troopers or Zone raiders.

ZOCOM Hammerheads can be additionally upgraded with Ceramic armour.

Assessment
Pros:


 * Good on infantry and even the most armored trooper can't survive its gun
 * Available to all 3 GDI Factions and Sub-Factions
 * It is fast moving
 * A VTOL aircraft, to counter Nod's Venom.
 * Unlike other GDI Assault Aircraft, Hammerheads don't need to be rearmed. It carries enough ammunition and fuel to mantain operations indefinitely.
 * It can be repaired at the Airfield.
 * It can carry up to one squad of infantry and it is a good choice for transporting infantry across the battlefield, instead of the GDI Ox Transport, which is far more vulnerable and much less cost effective ($ 500 per squad for the Ox, compared to a one time charge of $ 1500 for each Hammerhead, which can transport as many infantry units as it wants).
 * Can be built in unlimited numbers just like Nod Venoms.
 * With the armour piercing ammunition upgrade it can defeat light vehicles.
 * Loading the Hammerhead with Zone Troopers makes it effective against even Redeemers, Eradicators and rogue MARVs.
 * Anti armour units like the Zone Trooper or Missile Squad being garrisoned in Hammerheads are effective against Harvesters.
 * Loading up Rifle Squads allows the Hammerhead to make short work of infantry.
 * With a Nod ally, Black Hand garrisons make for an incredibly effective anti structure unit.
 * When allied with Scrin, Masterminds garrisoned inside it can help it to make a quick getaway.

Cons:


 * When ordered to load up and drop off infantry it takes time for landing.
 * Storm Columns can destroy it in one hit.
 * Without upgrades or the right infantry garrisoned it is weak against tanks
 * Cannot attack air units without Missile Squads or Zone Raiders loaded up.
 * Expensive ($1500) and slow to build (15 sec.)
 * Mantis is extremely effective against it.

Behind the scenes
The unit was the basis of the WWIII-Era Soviet Twinblades, USA Combat Chinooks and PRC Helixes, sharing its weaponry and transport abilities.