AH-64 Apache

This article is about the HECU helicopter. For the Combine helicopter, see Hunter-Chopper.

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AH-64 Apache
General information
Faction	HECU Black Ops
Type	Attack helicopter
Health	150/250/400
Crew	2
Weapon(s)	Chain gun Guided rockets Missiles
Game information
Entity	monster_apache monster_blkop_apache hvr_rocket (missile)
Designer(s)	Ken Birdwell (artificial intelligence)

 

The AH-64 Apache is a US military attack helicopter used by the HECU and the Black Ops during the Black Mesa Incident.

Overview

The AH-64 Apache is armed with rockets and a 360-degree swiveling turret, making attempts to engage it without cover futile. Several Apaches were stationed at Black Mesa before the Resonance Cascade occurred, and more were brought in from nearby Santego Military Base, Arizona, after the event.

Appearances

Half-Life

The Apache is first seen during the train ride in Half-Life's first chapter, Black Mesa Inbound, idling on a helipad. The player first encounters it in a combat situation in the chapter Surface Tension, in which one is providing close air support for some dug-in HECU troops guarding the Hydro-Electric Dam Freeman must cross. It pursues Freeman through desert areas until it is defeated with the RPG on a steep cliff preceding the Topside Motorpool.

Half-Life: Opposing Force

A Black Ops Apache can be seen in the ruined Ordinance Storage Facility during the chapter "The Package". It is fighting Race X creatures and attacks the player when they are all defeated.

Half-Life: Blue Shift

The Apache can be seen flying above Area 8 Topside Dormitories at the very start of the game, over a Black Mesa flag.

Half-Life: Decay

In Decay, several Apaches can be seen passing by through the lobby's roof in Sector C during the fourth chapter, Resonance.

Tactics

The Apache is a tough and effective foe. It is armored against small arms fire, meaning that, although it is possible to take one down with bullets, destroying the Apache with anything less than explosives or experimental weaponry is difficult. The RPG is by far the most effective weapon against the Apache, but it (or sufficient ammunition for it) may not always be available. In these cases, the Tau Cannon can destroy it with only a couple of hits with a charged shot (only one in Easy mode). If both are unavailable, shooting the main rotor works, though it takes a long time and wastes ammo and health.

Trivia

• The Apache is primarily used by the US Army (the "Army" decal is also visible on the model). As the United States Marine Corps uses the AH-1 SuperCobra as their attack helicopter, this suggests joint involvement between multiple military branches for the same operation.
• The missile model seen in Half-Life does not represent the actual standard missile used by the AH-64 Apache, the AGM-114 Hellfire.
• Although difficult to see, HECU Apaches have shark-face nose art designs painted onto their fronts.

Gallery

Pre-release

• 

  The cabal of a cut large HECU camp, including an Apache above a Land Mine field on the bottom left, like in the final version.

• 

  Stukabats flying at the player in an Apache hangar.

• 

  Two Apaches flying over a desert area.

• 

  Ditto.

• 

  Ditto.

• 

  Near a cliff.

• 

  Ditto, with the Tau Cannon in the foreground.

• 

  HECU soldiers attacking the player.

• 

  The Apache in an early Sector G.

• 

  Two Ospreys and an Apache in the Topside Motorpool.

Retail

• 

  Missile model with the original low-res texture.

• 

  Missile model with the original hi-res texture.

• 

  An Apache as seen at the beginning of Half-Life.

• 

  An Apache hovering over the dam.

• 

  Missiles fired by the Apache at the dam.

• 

  An Apache ready to attack Gordon on the cliffs.

• 

  An Apache circling the desert.

• 

  An Apache flying alongside Adrian's Osprey.

• 

  A Black Ops Apache.

• 

  Ditto.

• 

  In Blue Shift.

• 

  In Decay.

List of appearances

Main games

• Half-Life
• Half-Life: Opposing Force
• Half-Life: Blue Shift
• Half-Life: Decay

Other

• Half-Life: Day One (First appearance)
• Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar

External links

• AH-64 Apache on Wikipedia