BLUFOR

BLUFOR (short for "Blue Force") is one of the possible Sides in any ShackTac mission. The term is used by Shack Tactical Wiki to describe any Side belonging to NATO (the United States and its European allies) or exclusively using NATO equipment. The term is borrowed from U.S. military terminology: During combat simulations, the force being tested or trained is marked in blue, whereas the opposition (often using captured or purchased Soviet equipment) is termed "OPFOR".

BLUFOR weaponry and vehicles is quite varied, given that the equipment of various NATO nations is all included in this category. Nevertheless, the equipment is not significantly more varied than OPFOR equipment. BLUFOR vehicles are often lighter and/or faster, their infantry equipment is easier to use and more disposable in general, and they put more emphasis on survivability and comfort in vehicle design. Better vehicle optics and guided weaponry are also slightly more common in BLUFOR.

The vast majority of missions in ShackTac feature only two Sides, with BLUFOR fighting against OPFOR. Shackers typically play BLUFOR in those scenarios, with OPFOR being controlled by the Game Master and AI. The reverse, while rare, does occur from time to time.

BLUFOR is rarely, if ever, pitted against BLUFOR.

Historical Background
World War II ended with a long border slicing Europe in half: Eastern Europe was under the control of the Soviet Union and its client states; whereas Western Europe was split back into independent nations, under the protection of the victorious Allied superpowers (The United States, United Kingdom, and France). The tenuous alliance between the West and the Soviet Union collapsed almost immediately, and the Western allies were certain that the Soviet Union will seek to capitalize on its wartime gains by attempting to conquer the rest of the continent.

To counter this threat, an organization called NATO (the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed as a permanent military alliance between the United States and most nations of Western Europe. NATO's task was to establish a defensive counter to any possible Soviet invasion. With the Soviet Union quickly ramping up its production of military equipment, NATO's response was to advance technologically to always stay one step ahead.

The variety of independent nations involved in this endeavor meant that NATO had a corresponding variety of equipment available. Each member nation's armed forces used either home-build equipment or American equipment sold to them at subsidized prices. NATO kept its technological advantage throughout the entire period of the Cold War.

The largest force in NATO is the United Stated Armed Forces, and is also the most technologically advanced. Many NATO members use weaponry developed in the United States, some of it refitted to home-built specifications. As part of the agreement, the United States also keeps large military forces stationed within the NATO states along the eastern border of the alliance. This allows the United States to provide a quick response to a Soviet (now Russian) invasion into NATO territory. Nevertheless, other NATO member armies are not push-overs, and are still some of the strongest military forces in the world.

ShackTac BLUFOR
The term "BLUFOR" is almost never heard in ShackTac videos, but may occasionally appear in Briefing Texts. Both this Wiki and ShackTac use the term similarly, to refer to any Side that has an official military nature and uses NATO equipment exclusively.

Additionally, ShackTac may also refer to PMCs as "BLUFOR" when they are the only player-controlled side in a mission; Here on the Wiki the PMCs are regarded as INDFOR, since they are not an official military force.

When Shackers are playing OPFOR (a Soviet-style force) in a Cooperative mission, the enemy Side will only be called "BLUFOR" if it fits the definition above.

As with everything else in ShackTac, exceptions to the rule are always possible.

Weaponry
BLUFOR weaponry is as varied as OPFOR weaponry, and there are models to fill pretty much any role that an OPFOR weapon might have. However, there are several differences in emphasis of some weapons/vehicles over others. BLUFOR weaponry is easier to use and occasionally lighter, and is typically more modern than OPFOR weaponry (especially where optics and/or guidance are a factor). Nevertheless, the weapons on both sides are similar in capabilities, and in the players' hands can often be equally effective.

Below is a list of all BLUFOR weaponry, divided into weapon categories and subcategories. This list is most likely incomplete, and may be subject to changes as the ShackTac modset (and ArmA assets) expands over time.

Small Arms

 * M-16 and M4: These are the two main types of standard-issue Assault Rifles. The M4 is mostly a modernized, shorter version of the M-16 (the latter dates back to the Vietnam War). M-16 and M4 both fire 5.56mm rounds, which are typically carried in 30-bullet magazines. 20-bullet magazines for the M-16 do appear occasionally, but only in Vietnam-era missions. In-game these rifles are about as effective as the Russian AK rifles.
 * M249 SAW: The most common Automatic Rifle on the BLUFOR side fires the same ammunition as the NATO Assault Rifles (5.56mm), but can fit Belts and Boxes of ammunition containing 100 or 200 rounds each. In real life, the SAW also has a heavier barrel than Assault Rifles and can sustain fire for longer without overheating (this is not modeled in ArmA).
 * M60: A trusty Vietnam-era Light Machine Gun firing 7.62mm rounds, and fed from a Belt of 200 rounds each. The 7.62mm is a "full-sized" bullet that was phased out from Assault Rifle designs decades ago, but remains useful for heavier supporting fire. The M60 is difficult to use without being properly set up on a Bipod.
 * M240: Also known as the "MAG", this Light Machine Gun is the modern replacement for the M60. It fires 7.62mm bullets from large Belts, and is difficult to use without a bipod.
 * FN FAL, M-14: Common in early Cold-War missions, the FAL and M-14 are Battle Rifles firing 7.62mm ammunition from a 20-round magazine. They are more deadly per-bullet than modern NATO Assault Rifles, but are either incapable of -- or plain rubbish at -- fully-automatic fire. Instead they are best used in semi-automatic mode, taking the time to aim each shot.
 * Other Assault Rifles like the G3 and L2A2 are featured in some missions where BLUFOR represents German, British, Norwegian, or other armies. They are functionally similar to the M4, with relatively few differences.

Anti-Tank Launchers

 * AT4: A disposable Light Anti-Tank Launcher for use by Infantry. All BLUFOR units in ShackTac use this launcher, which is much rarer in real-life. It has no guidance system, and the launcher can't be reloaded after firing. All AT4 rockets carry a HEAT warhead.
 * SMAW: A multi-use Medium Anti-Tank Launcher for Infantry. This launcher tube can be loaded with a variety of rockets. The most common SMAW rocket carries a tandem explosive warhead that is powerful enough to penetrate tank armor. Unlike the AT4, the SMAW launcher can be reloaded after being fired. The launcher also includes a secondary barrel that fires 9mm bullets to simulate the flight-path and impact of a rocket.
 * TOW: The most common type of ATGM used by BLUFOR, this missile is manually guided towards its target through a wire that connects it to the launcher. The TOW is light enough to be carried by an Infantry HAT Squad, but is more commonly seen installed in Vehicles such as the TOW HMMWV and Bradley. It may also fired by certain types of Attack Helicopters.

Grenades

 * M67: The standard-issue hand-thrown Fragmentation Grenade for BLUFOR, this grenade causes a large explosion with relatively few fragments, making it a good defensive grenade, but slightly less deadly in large, open spaces than the Soviet RGD-5.
 * M203: An under-barrel Grenade Launcher attachment for the M-16 and M4 (usable on other modern NATO Assault Rifles as well) that fires 40mm grenades of various types. In ShackTac, both the weapon and its grenades are known as "GP"s, despite this actually being the name of the OPFOR grenade launcher.
 * M27: A hand-held 40mm Grenade Launcher. This is a stand-alone weapon that is often carried slung on one's back, to be drawn only when needed. This weapon usually only appears in scenarios where an M203 would not be available, such as World War II or Vietnam.

Heavy Automatics

 * M2: This .50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun (also called a "50-Cal" or "50") is the standard in the United States military, and comes in both crew-served and vehicle-mounted varieties. In fact, it is by far the most common HMG used on NATO vehicles, and has been since World War II, attesting to its design and reliability.
 * M85: Another, older .50 Cal model, found only on some older American vehicles like the AAV.
 * M242 Bushmaster: A 25mm Autocannon, the primary weapons of the Bradley IFV. This is typically the only single-barreled autocannon found on BLUFOR ground vehicles of any kind.
 * BLUFOR Attack Helicopters carry various single-barreled or multi-barreled Autocannons firing HEDP ammunition.
 * Mk19: A fully-automatic 40mm Grenade Launcher system, which can lob a barrage of grenades over long distances to eliminate large groups of enemy infantry very rapidly. It can be found on a variety of BLUFOR APCs and IFVs, including some varieties of the Bradley, AAV, and V-1117.
 * Minigun: A six-barreled Gatling Gun firing Small Arms ammunition (7.62mm) at an extremely high rate. The Minigun is most commonly found mounted in the doors of Transport Helicopters and Gunships, as well as on AH-6 helicopters.
 * GAU-19: A three-barreled Autocannon firing .50 Cal bullets. Found occasionally on the AH-6 in the ArmA 3 era, it provides a fast-firing weapon against enemy vehicles (up to and including APCs), but is too slow to effectively engage infantry from the air.
 * M61 Vulcan: A six-barreled Autocannon, commonly found on the M163 anti-aircraft vehicle (also known as a "Vulcan"). It fires small High Explosive-tipped 20mm shells at an extremely high rate. In ShackTac these weapons are typically used against enemy infantry.
 * GAU-8 Avenger: A unique seven-barreled Autocannon firing 30mm shells, typically made with depleted uranium. It is only found on the A-10 Warthog Jet. This weapon is powerful enough to destroy enemy Tanks.

Cannons

 * BLUFOR IFVs do not carry cannons, instead relying on Autocannons.
 * The Stryker MGS is a wheeled Tank Destroyer carrying a 105mm cannon. Similar to the one found on the M1 Abrams tank. While not common in ShackTac (seen only in ArmA 2), they are the only non-Tank vehicles on the BLUFOR side that carries such a weapon.
 * BLUFOR Tanks carry a cannon of either 105mm or 120mm diameter. Within the context of ArmA, they are roughly as effective as OPFOR cannons.

Air Weapons

 * DAGR: A laser-guided ATGM carried by smaller Attack Helicopters like the AH-6 littlebird. The gunner/Co-Pilot must continuously guide the missile to its target by keeping the crosshairs on the target.
 * Hellfire: A laser-guided ATGM carried by the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter.
 * FFAR (Hydra): A 70mm rocket-pod carried by various Attack Helicopters. FFARs are tipped with HEDP warheads, making them useful against both clusters of infantry and armored vehicles. They can occasionally defeat (or at least disable) Tanks.

Vehicles
BLUFOR maintains its edge over OPFOR by fielding advanced technology on the battlefield and above it. BLUFOR vehicles typically carry more advanced weapons, better protection for crews, better vehicle optics, and more comfortable crew compartments. This makes vehicles more expensive and often less numerous than what OPFOR can field (though this has less relevance to ArmA missions).

BLUFOR uses highly-specialized Light Vehicles and Heavy Vehicles more often than anything in between - relying either on fast movement or powerful armor rather than on medium vehicles with a flexible role. That is, if there are two different battlefield roles for vehicles to fill, BLUFOR will typically field two different vehicles to perform those roles, rather than a single vehicle that could handle both.

Design Philosophy
While BLUFOR vehicles largely fill the same roles as OPFOR vehicles, the design principles behind them are often very different, resulting in some advantages and disadvantages. While some of these differences have no impact in a simulated environment, others certainly do.

BLUFOR vehicles tend to be designed with more crew comfort features. Whereas in real-life, vehicle crews are often very thankful for the air-conditioning systems installed in modern Tanks and other armored vehicles, this has no effect in the game. On the other hand, the spacious interiors do come into play as most BLUFOR vehicles have great line-of-sight for vehicle crews to peer out from inside the vehicle. This has a great impact for Drivers, who can easily see where they are going in most BLUFOR vehicles (there are some exceptions, especially in older models like the M113).

Another important feature is protection. BLUFOR Tanks and IFVs, in particular, are often covered with Explosive Reactive Armor. These are packets of explosives that will automatically detonate in the direction of an incoming projectile or rocket, negating some or all of its deadly potential right before impact. Slats provide a similar function for some lighter vehicles like the Stryker, and are particularly effective against HEAT-tipped Anti-Tank Launcher rockets. Furthermore, many BLUFOR vehicles carry more armor overall than their Soviet counterparts.

Finally, BLUFOR vehicles tend to be equipped with significantly better optics than their Soviet counterparts. Practically all BLUFOR Tanks and IFVs have Thermal Vision and/or Nightvision equipment, whereas only the most modern OPFOR vehicles carry such equipment.

In return for these advantages, BLUFOR vehicles are far more expensive to produce and more difficult to maintain. This means that fewer vehicles can be fielded for the same amount of money. This factor, fortunately, has no fundamental bearing on ShackTac missions, but a Mission Designer may have to take it into account in order to maintain Balance.

Light Vehicles

 * M35 2.5-ton truck, M939 5-ton truck: Two varieties of basic 6-wheeled Truck, capable of carrying a large number of soldiers (2+ Fireteams), or a large number of Resupply Crates.
 * HEMTT: A modular 8-wheeled Truck with a distinctive shape. HEMTTs are used pretty much exclusively by Logistics units for transporting Resupply Crates and ammunition for vehicles.
 * HMMWV: The "Humvee" is a lightly-armored 4-wheeled vehicle. Various models of the HMMWV are used in ShackTac.
 * Unarmed HMMWV, capable of transporting up to a Fireteam.
 * HMMWV armed with a pintle-mounted M240 7.62mm Light Machine Gun. The weapon is mostly used for self-defense rather than providing fire-support to Infantry.
 * .50 Cal HMMWV, with a mounted M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun on the roof, either behind a protective shield or completely surrounded by a turret with bullet-proof windows. This HMMWV is much more capable at providing fire-support to Infantry, though it is usually much too vulnerable to fight effectively on its own.
 * TOW HMMWV, armed with a TOW ATGM. This vehicle may be used by a HAT Squad instead of lugging a launcher around on foot. The TOW HMMWV is capable of moving rapidly from one firing position to another, providing anti-tank fire support wherever it is needed.

Medium Vehicles

 * M1117 Commando: A 4-wheeled Armored Car similar to the Soviet BRDM. Its turret carries an M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun, alongside a Mk19 fully-automatic Grenade Launcher.
 * M113: A small Vietnam-era tracked APC with several different variants:
 * Basic M113, capable of carrying about 2 Fireteams. Typically armed with an M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun for self-defense and fire-support, though unarmed versions also exist. The M113 can also carry various types of cargo, and is occasionally used as a field ambulance (carrying medical supplies).
 * TOW M113, armed with a TOW ATGM launcher. This may be used by a HAT Squad instead of lugging the launcher around on foot. Though slower than a TOW HMMWV, it is also better armored and thus more survivable.
 * Vulcan, an M113 carrying a weapon of the same name: a six-barreled Vulcan Autocannon firing 20mm shells armed with small HEDP warheads. This vehicle is deadly against infantry, and can also destroy some types of light and medium vehicles as well as Aircraft.


 * Stryker: A relatively-rare 8-wheeled APC, similar to the Soviet BTR. Strykers typically carry M2 .50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun, though some are unarmed, while other available models carry heavier weapons like the Mk19 or Bushmaster.
 * Stryker MGS: A fast-moving 8-wheeled Tank Destroyer based on the Stryker chasis, carrying a 105mm Cannon. It can quickly flank and destroy enemy armor. This model was used occasionally in ArmA 2, and has not been seen since.
 * AAV: An amphibious tracked APC used by the U.S. Marines. It is armed with a Mk19 fully-automatic Grenade Launcher as well as an M85 .50 Cal Heavy Machine Gun. The AAV can easily drive into water and turn into a boat. It can carry a whole Squad of infantry with some room to spare.
 * LAV: A small, 8-wheeled amphibious APC/IFV. Its turret carries a Bushmaster Autocannon, making it roughly as dangerous as the typical IFV, though its armor is not as thick. It can carry a Fireteam as passengers.
 * Bradley: A family of IFVs with various weapons, typically used as either heavy infantry support or as part of a Tank Platoon. The basic Bradley is fitted with a Bushmaster 25mm Autocannon, which can potentially defeat most enemy vehicles or large numbers of infantry. Some models of the Bradley carry a Mk19 fully-automatic Grenade Launcher, while others carry a TOW ATGM launcher. Bradleys can also carry a Fireteam, though they are rarely required to do so.
 * M6 Linebacker: A unique variant of the Bradley, the Linebacker is an anti-aircraft vehicle seen in several ShackTac videos. Instead of a TOW launcher, the Linebacker carries a set of Stinger SAMs alongside its 25mm Bushmaster Autocannon. These weapons make the Linebacker a dangerous tool against enemy Aircraft.

Tanks

 * M1 Abrams: The mainstay of American armor, the M1 and its updated variants (TUSK, M1A1, M1A2) are pretty much the only American tanks seen outside of historical-era missions. They are extremely well-armored and can survive multiple hits from enemy Cannons or Anti-Tank Launchers. The Abrams is fitted with advanced optics and stabilization, making it very easy to operate even in difficult terrain and weather conditions.
 * Leopard: A much rarer German Main Battle Tank with similar properties to the Abrams (and even using the same exact Cannon).
 * Merkava: An Israeli Main Battle Tank seen in only a handful of videos so far. It is flat and low, making for a harder target to hit. The Merkava can also carry a few passengers, in emergency situations.

Helicopters

 * Littlebird: A small, multi-role Helicopter with several variants, each suited for a completely different role:
 * MH-6: A small, light Transport Helicopter. It can carry a Fireteam of passengers, or around two Supply Crates. The tiny size of the MH-6 compared to other Transport Helicopters allows it to land in very confined spaces.
 * MELB: "Mission Enhanced Littlebird". This is a modern version of the MH-6 fitted with an advanced nose-mounted camera, operated by the Co-Pilot to accurately observe enemy movement from the air. Typically used as a Scout Helicopter, while retaining the ability to transport troops.
 * AH-6: A small Attack Helicopter fitted with various weapons, most commonly Miniguns, GAU-19 Autocannons, FFAR ("Hydra") rockets, or more rarely a DAGR ATGM. AH-6s are used to provide Close Air Support against whatever type of targets its weapons can defeat - mostly clusters of enemy infantry and light/medium vehicles.
 * UH-60 Blackhawk: A medium Transport Helicopter. Though rather large, the Blackhawk is surprisingly nimble for its size. Variants may include door-mounted Miniguns (used mostly for self-defense). The Blackhawk can carry a Squad of infantry or multiple Resupply Crates. It is strong enough to lift a HMMWV to the battlefield.
 * CH-47 Chinook: The largest Transport Helicopter available to BLUFOR, this massive twin-rotor aircraft can carry 2+ Squads or very large quantities of Resupply Crates. Due to its size and lack of maneuverability, it requires plenty of landing space.
 * UH-1 Huey: A Vietnam-era Transport Helicopter, sometimes used by less-advanced military forces in modern scenarios as well. It can carry a Squad of infantry. Hueys are occasionally fitted with door-mounted M60 Light Machine Guns for self-defense, and can also be fitted with wing-mounted FFAR rocket pods.
 * UH-1Y Venom: A modernized version of the Huey, typically used as a helicopter Gunship with various weapons - most commonly FFAR rocket pods.
 * AH-1 Cobra: A light/medium Attack Helicopter model. The Cobra carries multiple weapons, including a nose-mounted Autocannon, FFARs, and/or Hellfire ATGMs.
 * AH-64 Apache: An modern Attack Helicopter. The Apache is fitted with a powerful Autocannon, and also carries Hellfire ATGMs and/or FFARs. It has advanced targeting and guidance equipment that make it deadly against pretty much any target, though it is most commonly used to interdict enemy Tanks.
 * RAH-66 Comanche: An experimental Attack Helicopter seen at least once in a ShackTac video. Though functionally similar to the Apache, the Comanche's primary advantage is stealth; Its design makes it much harder to detect with radar.

Planes

 * C-130 Hercules: A 4-engine prop-driven Transport Plane capable of transporting and dropping 2 Squads of Paratroopers, or large quantities of Resupply Crates. It is instantly identifiable by its stubby little nose and high-mounted wings. C-130s are often seen providing a way to escape no-Extract situations by stealing one from an airfield.
 * AC-47 Spooky: A variant of the DC-3 Transport Plane converted into a Gunship. It carries door-mounted 7.62mm Miniguns, allowing it to rain fire down on enemy Infantry while Orbiting over friendly troops.
 * A-10 Warthog: A powerful CAS Jet, designed for attacking enemies in direct support of friendly forces. The A-10 carries an Autocannon that is powerful enough to destroy Tanks, as well as other types of very deadly weaponry. It flies low and slow over the battlefield, engaging any threat to friendly forces.
 * Harrier: This multi-role Jet is capable of taking off vertically like a Helicopter, though otherwise it acts as a Plane. It mostly carries weapons for Interdiction, attacking enemy Tanks and other heavy vehicles on their way to the battlefield. The Harrier also carries an Autocannon and occasionally AAMs, both used to destroy enemy aircraft.
 * F/A-18 Hornet: A twin-engine multi-role Jet used by BLUFOR, this aircraft is equal parts dominant interceptor and ground-attacker. It flies too fast to attack enemy Infantry (except with Bombs), but can easily Interdict enemy armor trying to reach the battlefield. It is also capable of shooting down most models of enemy aircraft easily.
 * Osprey: This Transport Helicopter/Plane hybrid has two large rotors that can be swiveled from a horizontal angle to a vertical one. This allows it to take off and land vertically like a Helicopter, while otherwise cruising like a Plane. The Osprey is a rather large transport aircraft, on par with the CH-47 Chinook, capable of carrying 2+ Squads of Infantry or a large quantity of other cargo.