Subscribe to download
A3 Tank Platoon - BETA

This is a re-make of the original M1 Tank Platoon by Microprose. Please help it become a reality by supporting the kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1386692932/m1-tank-platoon-for-arma-3

CURRENT VERSION
19/02/2016 - v1.1 Please see update notes for details

NEW THINGS
- Installations for UAV, C3 and FARP secondary targets
- FARPs have supporting troops and supply helicopter flying in and out
- Full support for the latest CUP and RHS vehicle addons.
- Realistic force compositions based upon real world examples.
- New mission generator with secondary/optional mission targets.

OVERVIEW

Anyone familiar with the original M1 Tank Platoon will know what to expect.

You are in command of a platoon of 4 tanks. You will be assigned a random mission to engage and destroy enemy forces on Altis. Enemy forces are now based upon real world compositions and the mission area may contain 1 or more secondary targets.

As part of the mission you may (or may not) be assigned additional assets for you to control. These can take the form of other allied armoured units, air support or artillery.

INSTRUCTIONS

When you first start the mission you will see a line up of the available tanks. The tanks you see will vary depending on any other mods you have installed.

Simply approach a tank and activate it to select it as your tank for the upcomming mission.

Your platoon of chosen tanks and crew will then be lined up ready for inspection. You should see an Action Menu already open. If not, use your mouse wheel (or controller button) to open up the action menu and select PLATOON COMMAND. This will give you access to some very important controls.

Select "Tank Crews LOAD UP!" to automatically load up your tanks and start the mission.

Once the mission has started you will be transported to the mission area. You will be able to read a mission briefing in the map screen as well as view any assigned assets.

Assigned assets such as allied tanks or mechanised infantry can be controlled using Armas High Command system (CTRL + SPACE).

Off screen assets such as artillery and air support can be called in at any time using the PLATOON COMMAND action menu and selecting Mission Support.

You can switch tanks by using the PLATOON COMMAND > Switch Tank option (you must be in the commander seat of a tank to do this or on foot.)

The PLATOON COMMAND > Unit Command menu gives you access to a lot of extra commands. Most of them you will probably never need but the important ones are the Transport Orders which gives proper access to load and unload troops from units in the High Command.

To unload troops simply select the group in high command then press 0 then 8 to bring up the Command Menu the choose Unit Command > Transport Orders > Group Unload. The Infantry will get out of the vehicle and you will now be able to control them via the High Command.

To loadup troops simply select the infantry group (or multiple groups) as well as the group you want them to load into and press 0 then 8 to bring up the Command Menu the choose Unit Command > Transport Orders > Group Load. The Infantry will get in to the vehicle group selected.

AIRCRAFT AI

Any helicopters and/or aircraft assigned as support is fully controlled by the AI and will not appear in the High Command. They both use a modified AI script which will try and keep them as safe as possible. Planes will try and maintain a high speed and make attack runs. When they fire on a target they will try and turn away from enemy forces and line up again.

Helicopters will also try to stay away from enemy forces.

The AI is not yet perfect and any enemy forces with AAA will take out aircraft quite quickly so use them wisely.

MISSION END

The mission never ends. Once you have moved your units into the target location and held it for about 60 seconds the mission controller will inform you that the mission is a success. Select Return To Base from the Command Menu to go back to base. You will then be able to start another mission if you wish by simply loading up your units once again.

MULTIPLAYER

This mission can be run as a multiplayer mission. There will be 4 slots, one for each commander. The host must choose the squad leader slot as they will get the PLATOON COMMAND menu.

All players must have the same addons.

Only the commander will get mission briefing and support unit controls.

There are no re-spawn points. If you die then you are dead (except the squad leader).

SUPPORTED ADDONS

For a more authentic M1 Tank Platoon simulation this mission is compatible with the following addons, but you DO NOT need to have them installed to run the mission...

1. Community Upgrade Project - Includes most of the units from Arma2.

2. Red Hammer Studios USAF & AFRF - includes a huge number of US and Russian vehicles. Also changes targetting to be more like the original M1 Tank Platoon (e.g. you need to lase for target range).
http://www.rhsmods.org/

3. RAID M1 Tanks - http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=25669

OTHER NOTES

This is still a BETA which means you will probably encounter some issues. Please report them and I will fix as best I can.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

The idea of this mission is to fully replicate M1 Tank Platoon. These are the things still to be added...

1. More mission types (attack, defend, patrol etc)
2. More maps
3. Persistant trainable crews. At the end of each mission you can train your crews making the more effective. If they die they will be replaced by a rookie.
4. Dynamic campaign which will depend on your success or failure.
5. Better helicopter AI. There's nothing worse than seeing your attack chopper charging in to battle instead of hiding behind hills!