FAC Squads

[SkaterCrush]

How viable do you think they are? The pilot are usually stuck in a squad on their own. So there are places for people to direct with CAS. I was thinking about trying a Forward Air Controller squad, being able to target tank, enemy armor and large masses of infantry.If I did go through with it how good would this setup be?

Officer (Setup rallies, a GTLD, since the sniper will most likely be looking through his scope)
Sniper (for engaging enemies before they get to you, especially on maps like Kashan)
Medic (Obvious)
Pilot (can't have a FAC squad without a pilot)

Now this squad isn't PUG friendly, and it would be best to do with clan members and/or people you know well. The pilot could be in another squad, especially if you're all on Mumble, but it's easier if he can see the markers and you've still got BF2 VOIP if for some reason Mumble stops working. A second way of setting your FAC squad would be adding a HAT or LAT kit, or maybe an LMG if this get hairy (but I think one of the squads goals should be remaining hidden), and I think it would be wasting assets that would be getting much more use somewhere else, and you've still got you pilot to call for immediate support if you need it

[SkaterCrush]

Bumping thread for a response

[cyberzomby]

haha now now, 4 hours isnt that much for a bump I'd say

Anyway, I wouldnt want to take a sniper kit away from his usual work. Wich arguably is kinda the same but his rifle is wasted on armor. I'd just go with Rifleman specialist and Officer (keepin the next patch in mind) as forward air controller. I think it sounds fun! Never thought of this so Im going to try this some day!

To give you some arguments for this load-out: Specialist to get up on buildings to spot and provide red-dot close quarter combat support incase you get attacked. Officer with SOFLAM for lase and contact reports incase theres a CO.

[SkaterCrush]

The loadout I had then was mostly for Kashan, and it definitely would vary map to map, but I would take a sniper kit, especially if I'm in a non PUG, because then you just get noobs running around all over the place with them and getting killed.

[AnimalMother.]

This came to mind with me the other day actually, cept i had a different concept


with mumble set up a JTAC channel, similar to the SL channel, in here goes all the CAS pilots and a designated member from a squad who acts as the JTAC operating in a normal inf/armour/apc squad, the JTAC will be in direct comms with the pilots and can advise on what to use how to use it and where (obviously)

before my internet died last night i was gunning in a havoc, we were quite high and had a SL and sniper in squad as JTACs, the sniper spotted an enemy HAT in the bunkers, there was a rough attack marker but the sniper managed to talk on target so i knew exactly were he was and where he was running, nailed him with a short burst and the sniper confirmed the kill.

now imagine the above scenario but with the ability for any squad to call it in through a JTAC channel on mumble or another 3rd partay VOIP


unfortunatly never gonna happen in pub play, though with a few mates in a couple of squads it might be effective

[Dunehunter]

Please wait longer than 4 hours before bumping. I had a really succesful FAC squad on Karbala a while ago, where me and my gunner were joined by a sniper, and we racked up loads of kills between the three of us.

[SkaterCrush]

Please wait longer than 4 hours before bumping. I had a really succesful FAC squad on Karbala a while ago, where me and my gunner were joined by a sniper, and we racked up loads of kills between the three of us.

I'll remember that ^.^

Sars your idea is ok, except mine is more the pilot and the whole squad working together, but yours is more just asking the pilot to bomb here when needed. This squad is doing surveillance (not necessarily recon) and calling in for air support when enemy armor and infantry comes in, but the squad is armed in case they run into opposition or the pilot is busy (rearming, enemy jets...). So the FAC squad is an extra set (of eight or so) eyes on the ground spotting targets that he can't.

I was thinking of adding a AA kit into the mix, to knock out enemy air support to take some extra worry of the pilots back and to prevent from getting raped by an assault heli. I don't think a squad of 4 will attract more attention than a squad of 3...although the kit would severely diminish the stealthiness of the squad, so IF I was going to have a 4th person on the ground, I would want a LMG or something to pin down and mop up enemies.

[Oddsodz]

The ideal CAS/JTAC/FAC squad should be

1 SL for lazing and markers.
2 Pilots for the JETS - same for A-helos. Make a 2nd squad if you have 2 a-Helos
2 Crewmen to drive a backline AAv
1 sniper for extra lazer cover in remote parts of the map.

[SkaterCrush]

The ideal CAS/JTAC/FAC squad should be

1 SL for lazing and markers.
2 Pilots for the JETS - same for A-helos. Make a 2nd squad if you have 2 a-Helos
2 Crewmen to drive a backline AAv
1 sniper for extra lazer cover in remote parts of the map.

True...I would want a medic though, because you'd be left out there to bleed to death if you got shot and ran out of field dressings. Imo the crewman is point, it would ruin your stealth (the vehicle) and if you needed to get into a vehicle you could request a kit from one that you trod along by. Or just get a heli, apc pickup from transport squad. I never though of 2 pilots, I think it would become a bit confusing, but I guess if you know your pilots (which you would, because this isn't a PUG) it would definitely would be better than one. Never knew you could get 2 jets (play insurgency mostly, this is mostly for Kashan), and I guess it would be cool having 2 different types of air support available, and while one is rearming you have another one in the air so you can always direct fire at the enemy.

[Oddsodz]

When I am on the SL spotting job. I Don't want anybody near me at all. The quickest way to get killed is by having friendly units around you. They will give you away every time. A good FAC/SL will hear the OP4 team coming every time if he is on his own. And then be able to hide. The AAv is a back line defensive role for the jets to run to when needing help to shake a tailing OP4 jet on there ***.

And when I am spotting. I Will hardly take a ride form a truck or a HELO to get to where I want to be. I Will most of the time walk from the main base. This may take time. but I can guaranty I get to where I want to be with out the OP4 knowing I am there.

[SkaterCrush]

True, I (note "I", your idea is more stealthy ) intended the squad to be a surveillance squad, but also to engage. Like if there is an enemy squad to ambush, I would engage and take them out. Although I would generally do recon from unvisited positions, but I would arm them a bit differently if we were going to go on that hill(in Kashan), I would include a SAW gunner for sure, and add another rifle to the squad.

[Hitman.2.5]

JTAC

Nice one

Some one knows the actual ground controller term, Isnt FAC done from an aircraft? :S

[SkaterCrush]

Nice one

Some one knows the actual ground controller term, Isnt FAC done from an aircraft? :S

JTAC is the US term basically, and FAC is the universal one. Also, the FAC is more of a damage assessment group than JTAC, at least from what I'm reading. I guess my bad XD

[Masaq]

I'd simply pop an officer into a sniper squad, split the squad up and use each of the members as an individual to cover a good portion of the map with the long range scopes and use team chat, VOIP and mumble to call in positions on other squads.

Then you've got got three sets of eyes over a wide distance, you can place rallies if need be, you can keep track of several areas or high-priority targets like tanks and AAVs, and you're not tying up a full 1/8th of the team purely in observation; instead you're only using less than 10% of your team's members.

[AnimalMother.]

JTAC is the US term basically, and FAC is the universal one. Also, the FAC is more of a damage assessment group than JTAC, at least from what I'm reading. I guess my bad XD

Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Forward Air Control; same thing really, ones historically US army the other NATO


i only said JTAC because i recently read Apache Dawn (about some of the first british apaches to go operational in Afghan) and JTAC is the term used when referring to both British and US forces that are directing fire support from both apaches and fast air.


back on topic more i'd agree with masaq, rather then having multiple people in one spot have several spread over the map to cover the entire map, that way if needed you could have a second set of eyes on target but still be able to call targets out from all over the place.