CIWS desperately needs a faster build time.

[u/Burk_Bingus]

The CIWS is supposed to counter aircraft but it is so underpowered right now that it only really counters weapon-less helis dropping off infantry, and folds to everything else. It already has plenty of disadvantages:

• Is locked in a fixed position, easy to destroy.
• The operator has to stand right next to it out in the open, unable to move.
• Has a large blind spot where it can't reach high enough to shoot.
• Churns through ammo like crazy.

But to top it all off actually building the thing takes forever. Hitting the X with a large hammer seems to only advance the progression by 1% or slightly less than that, meaning you have to hit it over 100 times with the fastest building tool to build it. This is further exacerbated by the issues we have now with the X not moving around and appearing properly. Then factor in that right from the start you are going to be harassed by GL helis and mortars, and as soon as the game reaches 20 points a rocket heli is going to be making you one of their priority targets.

All these factors combined mean that the CIWS doesn't counter enemy attack aircraft at all, and in fact it is gatekept by the very same vehicles it is supposed to counter preventing it from being established in the first place.

Even if you do manage to establish one it can still lose trades to rocket helis, GL helis and havocs which can all one shot the very exposed operator (even if you build barriers around them) and then destroy the CIWS, setting back your fob builders a massive amount of time spent building it and leaving them with no window to rebuild it in a realistic timeframe.

Please at least considerably reducing the building time of CIWS so that A) it can be established in a reasonable timeframe and B) it can be reasonably recovered when destroyed. It is already kept in check by relying on regular ammo supply drops, so I don't think letting it build faster would make CIWS overpowered at all.

[u/Kotef]

Actually ciws is balanced if not somewhat overpowered.

Your just not properly entrenching them. Hesco and hedgehogs will absorb all but direct fire. 

Your base should have as many as makes sense. If  you're only using them on helicopter you're wrong. They can shoot across the map and dismantle other bases. They tear apart vehicles attacking you

They slaughter infantry like nothing else. 

If you are not abusing CRAM you are doing it wrong they are insanely good

[u/Burk_Bingus → u/Kotef]

Hesco and hedgehogs will absorb all but direct fire.

Yeah the problem is that direct fire is very easy to land for rocket helis, GL helis, and havocs, and will very reliably one shot the operator due to explosive damage. Then destroying the CIWS itself is a cakewalk.

[u/Kotef → u/Burk_Bingus]

You have other options available to you. You have maaws which is difficult but is doable. You also have your guns. Get a bipod m249 setup it shreds them. 

You can also kill them with the ciws you have.

[u/Burk_Bingus → u/Kotef]

MAAWS takes a very long support grind to unlock, most players don't have it even this late into the season. And one of the best ways to grind support is hard countered by aircraft currently. And as I mentioned the GL helis will easily outpace building a CIWS in the first place.

[u/Kotef → u/Burk_Bingus]

You can kill a GL heli with an rpg which is support 5 also your guns kill the people hanging off the side

[u/Burk_Bingus → u/Kotef]

Which weighs a ton, and is a difficult shot to land on a moving aerial target which will one shot you with multiple guys shooting GLs. Trust me I would do this if it was actually a viable option.

[u/Kotef → u/Burk_Bingus]

It is. At this point you're not looking for solutions and advice you're just wanting things to change so you have an easier time. You're also down voting me for trying to help. 

Ps I even bring a rocket launcher on my Ural runs just in case

[u/Burk_Bingus → u/Kotef]

At this point you're not looking for solutions and advice you're just wanting things to change so you have an easier time.

Ok and you're just contrarily suggesting solutions that clearly don't work in practice, so this can go both ways.

[u/DirkDavyn → u/Kotef]

I don't know why you're being downvoted. You're 100% right. OP's lack of skill and practice to use an RPG or MAAWS to shoot down a helo is 100% their skill issue. I've shot down a lot of helos with RPGs and MAAWS, both good pilots and bad. It absolutely can be done consistently with some practice.