At Strategic DCS, we love a player controlled ground war and making use of Combined Arms
¶ Slots
¶ JTAC
All users that have combined arms have access to JTAC slots to control units individually.
¶ Tactical Commander (TacCom)
Tactical commander slots increase the abilities of JTAC, enabling the way pointing of AI units.
At present, TACCOM is unrestricted.
In the future, we will add a self-qualification to obtain taccom access rights that will help ensure server stability by having player learn and acknowledge the risks of “bad waypoints” and commitment not to push units across mountains or deep forest areas where the AI struggles to handle path finding
¶ Cargo Codes
These codes are referenced in later sections:
¶ Predefined Cargo Descriptions
Due to space constraints on the spawn menu, these are the following pre-defined compositions, you may also obtain this list in-game using
F10 (Other) → F4 (Help) → F1 (Freight)
| Marker Content | Description | Contents Blue | Contents Red | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARGO TANK | Tank platoon | 4x Abrams, 1x LAV-25, 1x JTAC | 4x ZTZ96B, 1x BTR-82, 1x JTAC | 18 RP2, 2 RP1 |
| CARGO INFANTRY | Infantry platoon | 4x Bradleys, 1x Gepard, 1x JTAC | 4x ZBD, 1x Tunguska, 1x JTAC | 11 RP2, 2 RP1 |
| CARGO DEFENSE | Defense platoon | 4x Linebackers, 2x Gepards, 1x Roland | 4x Chapparals, 2x Tunguska, 1x Tor | 15 RP2, 4 RP3 |
| CARGO RECON | Recon platoon | 4x JTAC, 2x LAV-25 | 4x JTAC, 2x BTR-82 | 4 RP2, 8 RP1 |
| CARGO AT | Anti-tank platoon | 2x Stryker ATGM, 2x LAV-25, 1x Gepard, 1x JTAC | 2x VAB Mephisto, 2x BTR-82, 1x Tunguska, 1x JTAC | 11 RP2, 2 RP1 |
| CARGO ARTY | Artillery platoon | 4x Paladins, 1x LAV-25, 1x Gepard | 4x Firtina, 1x BTR-82, 1x Gepard | 37 RP2 |
| CARGO TRINITY | Base SAM defense | Patriot, Hawk, SA15 | SA10, SA11, SA15 | 75 RP3 / 77 RP3 |
| CARGO LOGISTIC | Logistics trucks | 6x Trucks | 6x Trucks | 6 RP1 |
¶ Unit / Composition Codes
These codes are available in game using the F10 (Other) → F4 (Help) → F1 (Freight)
| CODE | JTAC Marker code | Blue | Red | RP Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EWR | EWR | Dog Ear radar | Dog Ear radar | 5 RP3 |
| JTAC | JTAC | Hummer | Tigr | 2 RP1 |
| IFV-L | IFV | LAV-25 | BTR-82A | 2 RP2 |
| IFV-H | IFV | M-2 Bradley | ZBD 04A | 2 RP2 |
| AT | AT | M1134 Stryker ATGM | VAB Mephisto | 2 RP2 |
| MBT-L | MBT | Merkava 4 | T-72B3 | 4 RP2 |
| MBT-M1 | MBT | Merkava 4 | T-80UD | 4 RP2 |
| MBT-M2 | MBT | Challenger 2 | Leclerc | 4 RP2 |
| MBT-H | MBT | M-1 Abrams | ZTZ-96B | 4 RP2 |
| ARTY | ARTY | M-109 Paladin | SAU Msta | 8 RP2 |
| AAA-L | AAA | Vulcan | Shilka | 3 RP2 |
| AAA-H | AAA | Gepard | Tunguska | 3 RP2 |
| IRSAM-L1 | IRSAM | Linebacker M3 | Chapparal | 3 RP2 |
| IRSAM-L2 | IRSAM | Linebacker M3 | Chapparal | 3 RP2 |
| SHORAD | SHORAD | Roland ADS | Tor | 4 RP2 |
| SPECIAL | IRSAM | Linebacker | Osa | 3 RP2 |
| UTIL | TRUCK | Utility Truck | Utility Truck | 1 RP1 |
| UTILB | TRUCK | Utility Truck with Base Crate loaded | Utility Truck with Base Crate loaded | 1 RP1 |
| UTILF | TRUCK | Utility Truck with Factory Crate loaded | Utility Truck with Factory Crate loaded | 1 RP1 |
| UTILJ | TRUCK | Utility Truck with JTAC Tower Crate loaded | Utility Truck with JTAC Tower Crate loaded | 1 RP1 |
| PATRIOT | PATRIOT | Patriot Composition | 50 RP3 | |
| NASAMS | NASAMS | NASAMS | 9 RP3 | |
| ROLAND | ROLAND | ROLAND Composition | 9 RP3 | |
| BOFORS | BOFORS | BOFORS Composition | 9 RP3 | |
| HAWK | HAWK | HAWK Composition | 16 RP3 | |
| SA15 | SA15 | SA-15 Composition | SA-15 Composition | 9 RP3 |
| SA10 | SA10 | SA-10 Composition | 50 RP3 | |
| SA11 | SA11 | SA-11 Composition | 18 RP3 | |
| SA2 | SA2 | SA-2 Composition | 12 RP3 | |
| SA3 | SA3 | SA-3 Composition | 4 RP3 | |
| SA6 | SA6 | SA-6 Composition | 7 RP3 | |
| S60 | S60 | S-60 Composition | 1 RP3 | |
| EWR | FPS-117 Dome | 55G6 EWR | 10 RP3 | |
| JTAC Tower | JTAC Tower | JTAC Tower | 6 RP1 |
¶ Compositions
When landing with a composition, you will unpack a ZIL Truck that houses the composition. This Truck is worth the value of the site, so they may be exceptionally valuable.
You can find out what a truck contains by selecting the unit on the F10 Map and viewing the Callsign, in this case, a BOFORS composition
¶ Relocating
You may load this truck as internal cargo (F10 (Other) → F2 (Cargo) → F2 (Internal Cargo Actions) → F3 (Load Internal Cargo) to eligable logistics player units (FW/RW) Allowing you to transport and unload / unpack the units in any location you wish using the same Internal Cargo Actions Comms Menu, or by using the -unload and -unpack chat commands.
Note: When carrying this internal cargo, you remain liable for the cost of the units if you die.
¶ Unpacking Compositions
¶ JTAC/Taccom First Person
In either of these roles, you may unpack the composition by jumping into the vehicle and using the standard internal cargo unpack item or -unpack chat command
¶ Chat Command
You may also append the unit id to the -unpack chat command.
For example, in the bofors truck above, we have a callsign of 5487 | BOFORS, in which case we could use -unpack 5487 to unpack the truck into a composition build site.
This is very useful if you jump in TacCom, set some way points and then jump into an aircraft, and wawnt to unpack it once it has reached the intended destination.
¶ Creating New Units
There are multiple ways to spawn units to enable options that best suit the players
Most ground units are obtained from Factories with the exception being base elements such as:
- Ammo Depots
- Shelters
- Factory Crates
Which are obtained from the airbase itself within a distance from the center runway marker or FARP pad.
¶ Player Flown Cargo
Available to players flying in one of the following airframes:
- TF-51
- C-101
- L-39
- MB-339
- Mi-8
- UH-1H
- Mi-24P
- F-86
- MiG-15
- MiG-19
- CH-47F
¶
Via Chat Command (Either pre-defined or custom cargo options)
If you want something other than the pre defined cargo collections, you may load a custom selection of units / compositions using chat commands.
When loading custom cargo, you are allowed to have upto 6 slots. Most ground units take up 1 slot, but compositions may take up more than 1 slot.
To do this, we use a chat command -load CARGOCODE where CARGOCODE is replaced with what you wish to load.
Examples:
| Chat Command | Blue Content | Red Content |
|---|---|---|
| -load 4JTAC,4MBT-H | 4 JTAC, 4 Abrams | 4 JTAC, 4 Leclerc |
| -load IRSAM-L2,2UTIL,IFV-L | Linebacker, 2 Utility Trucks, M-2 Bradley | Chapparal, 2 Utility Trucks, ZBD-04A |
| -load L-ATT | Large attack predefined group | Large attack predefined group |
- Once loaded, fly to a nearby FARP or Airbase, and the units will be automatically unloaded
- For Rotary Wing, they will spawn around where you landed
- For Fixed Wing, they will spawn randomly within one of our pre-designated spawn areas at the location
¶
Code Validation
If you want to know what units you'll get, and how much RP it will cost, use the chat command -cargocode CODE
For Example:
 |
 |
¶ AI Deployed Units
When your team is not significantly outnumbering the opposition, you may use AI to deliver freight from the nearest factory, to a friendly FARP or AIRBASE
If the Factory is a significant distance from the destination, the AI may use a combination of Rotary wingf, and Fixed wing aircraft to achieve their goal in the shortest time
That could be a Rotary wing flight direct from factory, or a Rotary wing at the factory, to an origin-local airbase, followed by a Fixed Wing flight to a destination-local airbase, and then a Rotary Wing flight to complete the journey
¶ Marker
Marker based AI Freight Spawns allow much more control, and open you up to custom compositions using the same format as player flights.
Create a Marker within 5nm of the target airbase, or 1km of a Factory with the text CARGO CODE
When placed near an active factory, the units will immediately spawn around the marker position
Examples:
| Chat Command | Blue Content | Red Content |
|---|---|---|
| CARGO 4JTAC,4MBT-H | 4 JTAC, 4 Abrams | 4 JTAC, 4 Leclerc |
| CARGO IRSAM-L2,2UTIL,IFV-L | Linebacker, 2 Utility Trucks, M-2 Bradley | Chapparal, 2 Utility Trucks, ZBD-04A |
| CARGO PATRIOT,2JTAC | Patriot Composition Truck and 2 JTAC | Not Applicable (they can't spawn PATRIOTS!) |
Note: When using Markers, you can request the AI go from factory to local airbase, to the destination by fixed wing by adding “FW” to the end of the mark
Example: CARGO PATRIOT FW
Note: Best practice using markers to deliver freshly created units is using the closest FARP or airbase instead of delivering them directly to the farthest point/frontline.
Good chain is the following: Factory → Closest FARP/Airbase → Closest Airbase to frontline by fixed wing airframe (An-30/C-130) → Closest FARP by helicopter.
Note: There is a restriction that says you can only have 2 flights from point to point. For example, you can send only 2 C-130/An-30 flights between 2 airbases, but can't send 2 more cargo helicopters same route - it is always two. Same goes for factory delivery flights - you can't have more than 2 in total.
E.g. sending units from Factory directly to frontline FARP is blocking whole supply chain and makes it inefficient.
¶ Chat
You can also use -spawn CODE chat command to call AI units in, or spawn units around the factory.
Functionally this works the same as creating a marker on your current position with the CODE text and follows the same rules and format.
¶ Relocating Existing Units
As the ground war progresses, we will find ourselves needing to move units around the front
Each relocation flight can take 8 units and relocate them to an Airbase or FARP, you can not relocate units into the field
You may always relocate units, by player, or AI regardless of the connected players, and there is no minimum range.
If you disconnect, are shot down, or otherwise fail to deliver your cargo, the RP will be added to cooldown
¶ Nearby Units (Human flights only)
You can load nearby units through the F10, or chat command
- Land near by the units you wish to relocate
- These can be anywhere on the map!
- Load the nearest 8 eligible units within 500m
- Comms Menu:
F10 (other) → F6 (Player Freight Loading) → F1 (Load Nearby Units) - Chat Command:
-load near- If you wish to load units less than 500m to limit extraction, you can add an optional distance
-load near 50to get 50m
- If you wish to load units less than 500m to limit extraction, you can add an optional distance
- Comms Menu:
- Fly and deliver them to the destination FARP or Airbase
- Units will be automatically unloaded at the destination upon landing
- Fixed wing: random spawn point around the base
- Rotary Wing: In a circle around you, so best avoid rolling landings
- Units will be automatically unloaded at the destination upon landing
¶ Map Marker (AI Flight)
Map marker based loading is useful for AI flights, and for human fixed wing flights whilst sat on the runway / apron.
- Create a Map Marker near the units you wish to extract with some text example: “units”
- Consolidate your units within 500m of the marker
- Create a marker near your destination Airbase or FARP with the text:
CARGO MARK units- This will load the units around the closest marker with the text units, and spawn a suitable AI flight
- The marker can be removed, and it is not case sensitive
- The flight will head to the destination and land, unpacking the units
- If you wish to load units less than 500m to limit extraction, you can add an optional distance
CARGO MARK 50 unitsto get 50m - If the start and end point of the flight are both airbases, you can choose to use a C130/AN30 instead by ending with
FWto have:CARGO MARK 50 units FWto load units within 50m and use a Fixed Wing
As with spawn flights, appending FW to the marker, will force a fixed wing flight from A to B, which maybe useful in nearby airbase to airbase relocations
¶ Map Marker (Human Flight)
- Create a Map Marker within 1km of a FARP or center of an Airbase (Run way marker) with some text example: “units”
- Consolidate your units within 500m of the marker
- Use chat command
-load mark units - Fly to the destination and your units will automatically unpack when you land
- Fixed Wing: random spawn point around the base
- Rotary Wing: In a circle around you
- If you wish to load units less than 500m to limit extraction, you can add an optional distance
-load mark 50 unitsto get 50m
¶ Unit Limits
There is a limit on the number of units that your coalition can deploy at any given time and these can be viewed using the F10 menu.
The base number of units is determined based on the number of units within a campaign initial units miz file and so is variable for each campaign and as we make adjustments to the default pre-allocated units.
You are able to increase the limits by capturing objective points