Another addition to the Cold War unit database for mission planning: recent updates to several Cold War add-ons for Arma2* have been reflected in our database.

Both Vilas (for his Project85 units) and the CWR2 team added to their already extensive range of vehicles. Vilas added the M551 Sheridan tank, BTR-80 and recovery tanks. The CWR2 team added the US Rangers.

The real highlight, however, are Marseille77's re-textures of Vilas' German (FRG and DDR) vehicles, adding detail, late 1980's DDR camouflage patterns and vehicle signs, and FGR/DDR helicopters. See the screen shots below.

FRG Leopard 1A5 platoon (P85 retex) (Arma2)

FRG Marder 1A2 platoon in combat (P85 retex) (Arma2)

DDR BMP-1 advancing (P85 retex) (Arma2)

FRG Raketenjagdpanzer 4 Jaguar 2 (P85) (Arma2)

CWR2 US Rangers advancing (Arma2)

P85 M551 Sheridan tank in MERDC camo (Arma2)

Also new, and meant to spice your Arma2:CO missions are two "logic" modules, dealing with civilians and empty civilian vehicles being spawned around the player. These modules have been created by BI Studios (as ALICE/ALICE2 and SILVIE), and are supported by most maps but not all (in which case no civilians and vehicles are spawned). Although the presence of civilians adds a nice twist to battles (be sure you're not targeting a civilian!), the civilians aren't able to use the empty vehicles.

I've also restricted the amount of vehicles appearing, in order to not confuse AI convoys; the AI drivers make an excessive effort to avoid hitting empty vehicles, and slow down or may get stuck. Recommended!

(Scared) ambient civilian (Arma2)

DDR SPW-40P2 recon vehicle and civilian vehicles in background (Arma2)

Civilian fleeing (Arma2OA Alice2 ambient civilians module) (Arma2)

William

Few games are technically capable of this: 100+ men (simultaneous) para-drops in a single player mission!

Fifty-four VDV paratroopers just before the jump (Arma2)

One of the Il-76 aircraft dropping its paratroopers (Arma2)

One hundred and eight (108) paratroopers in the air (Arma2)

The following changes were implemented to enable a single para-drop by seven VDV "double" squads (7 x 12 = 108 men) from a single flight of two Ilyushin Il-76 'Candid' aircraft:

• the number of cargo units (squads) per transporter unit (aircraft section) has been increased to seven (so I could load 7 VDV "double squads" into the single group containing two Il-76 aircraft);
• the para-drop script has been changed so the paratroopers jump per group, enabling squads to land more compact;
• the aircraft better stick to the intended flight path (instead of diverting due to threats spotted), speeding up the drop and reducing the distance to the drop-zone for paratroopers. Setting the aircraft's skill to 1.0 proved to be the secret here...;
• some aircraft (notably the C-130 Hercules) were given higher default flying levels (AGL), in order to avoid crashes while flying in formation.

Obviously, these changes work for all para-drops.

A sky crowded with parachutes (Arma2)

On the ground, a M136 Vulcan AA gun is waiting (Arma2)

VDV paratroopers advancing immediately after touching down (Arma2)

In one of the screen shots below, you'll find the exact inputs I used to create the 108 men para-drop mission, using Vilas' P85 VDV, Wings of Russia's Il-76 and CWR2's Su-25's against CWR2's US Army forces.

Alternatives for large para-drops include flights of for C-130 Hercules aircraft, or the French (OFrP) C-160 Transals.

Paratrooper 'trails' from four C-130s (Arma2)

Planning input for the large 108 men VDV para-drop

French CPA10 landing near Zargabad (Arma2)

For me, these large para-drops have been exciting, deadly and maxing out my PC. Have fun creating your "Only in Arma" moments!

William

With this update, PlannedAssault expands its support for generating Cold War era missions. The Arma2CO unit database received significant additions for you to use in your missions:

• new US Army Chinook CH-47D and FIA freedom fighters from the Cold War Rearmed 2 project (CWR2). Pachira defined the FIA squads, sections, and platoons.
• a huge range of Soviet infantry and armor for the European and Afghanistan theaters from Vilas' P85 Soviet pack, including 'Panamka' units for the Soviet Afghan wars and large caliber self-propelled guns (2S3 Gvozik 122mm, 2S5 Akatsiya 152mm, and 2S7 Pion 203mm).
• artic variants of UK SAS and Royal Marines soldiers as wells as new sniper units of the CWR2: British Armed Forces Expansion
• the Sukhoi Su-15TM 'Flagon' intercepter aircraft by Citizensnip

Troubles are brewing in Schwemlitz (Arma2)

Cold War Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon over Schwemlitz (Arma2)

Schwemlitz being invaded (Arma2)

Soviet infantry with PK and 6B2 vests (Vilas' P85) (Arma2)

Two CWR2 Chinook CH-47Ds inserting cold-war infantry (Arma2)

CWR2 US Army infantry and armor attacking Schwemlitz (Arma2)

What better map for Cold War era missions than the actual terrain where NATO prepared to fight Warsaw Pact forces? Falcon & Lancer have recreated real-life's Schwemlitz and its surroundings. Schwemlitz is small village in Northwestern Germany, in the former NATO NORTHAG sector, between the form inner-German border and Uelzen (along the WL-191 road).

The Schwemlitz world stands out because of its details, and of its realistic recreation of small hamlets and farms, with houses and sheds placed and connected together with garden paths and drive ways. See the screen shots on this page.

Three 2S7 Pion self-propelled 203mm guns firing a mission (Arma2)

P85 Soviet artillery crew in Afghanistan (Arma2)

Soviet infantry with 'Panamka' hats being inserted in Takistan (Arma2)

Several hooded Cold War Spetsnaz soldiers from Vilas' P85 (Arma2)

Soviet AT-4 Spigot anti-tank missile launcher (Arma2)

CWR2's UK Royal Marines in artic outfit (Arma2)

William

Today's update brings more cold-war era content, and new terrain to generate missions for. From Vilas' Project 85 German army add-on, it adds former East Germany (DDR)'s Nationale Volksarmee soldiers and vehicles. Rated as one of the strongest Warsaw Pact armies, the NVA soldiers come with Soviet-made equipment and their distinguishing 'strichtarnmuster' pattern uniforms.

P85 DDR Fallschirmjaegers advancing near Gorka (Arma2)

Chernarus Gorka terrain now available for mission creation (Arma2)

BAOR Bedford MJ trucks traveling near Gorka (Arma2)

To counter the Warsaw Pact addition, the cold war British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) units have been extended with Trouble's FV438 Swingfire anti-tank vehicles and the Bedford MJ series of trucks. When hcpookie's 'Deployable Camo Nets' add-on for Arma2:CO is enabled, the generated mission orders the Swingfire units to set-up camo-nets for concealment.

Vilas' P85 DDR BMP-1s advancing (Arma2)

P85 DDR NVA crew manning a D-30 howitzer (Arma2)

BAOR FV438 Swingfire anti-tank units too close to their threats for comfort (Arma2)

In response to popular demand for mission planning on the default Chernarus world, I've added another (large, 6km by 4.4km) Chernarus area to the terrain database: Gorka. Gorka is a small town in the eastern part of Chernarus, in between the eastern coast and the forested hills. Compared to the Vybor area, the Gorka area has more hills and is more cumbersome for wheeled vehicles to move about. Tracked vehicles have less troubles climbing the hills and are recommended to transport infantry in a timely fashion to their destination.

Compared to the Chernogorsk area, the Gorka area has more open areas and smaller towns.

Enjoy your missions!

William