Atacama Desert - Rush Defense

Disclaimer
This is a NEW MAP! Therefore, our strategies are limited and this map needs to be addressed in terms of rush strategies, so here we are! Also, please find that all the zones of Atacama Desert can be found near the bottom of this tactics guide.

I've taken the liberty of exploiting EA DICE's BC2 War Room functionality on their home website to create these maps with symbols. Feel free to use the pictures both here and at the bottom for your use in other strategies; I want to see this thread filled with discussion for this map.

Intro
Men, welcome to Atacama Desert on Rush! Here we have the whole overview of the map. This one dreaded map as attackers can come from all directions from far ranges! Defenders, steel yourselves against the foe not just from foot, but as armor and air!

Atacama as a defender cannot be taken lightly. As you can see, Atacama is divided up into four separate zones. I will only be discussing Zone 1 as my experience shows that Zone 1 is held the best against the enemy.

Figure 1: Atacama Desert can be seen here.


Atacama Desert's layout is fundamentally the same as it would be in Conquest. However, the choice attack helicopter is not a Havoc or an Apache, but rather a 4-person Hind. It lacks the firepower or maneuverability as the other choppers and is typically easier to shoot down via tracer-rocket combos or the VADS found in each zone.

Note: The VADS is a new anti-air emplaced weapon. It is a vast improvement on the ZU-23 AA weapon as it can be described as a UH-64 Blackhawk's minigun. It does SO MUCH DAMAGE SO QUICKLY! It even alter's an aircraft's vector of flight so that a helicopter could be charging you one moment then it could be veering off course the next moment. It is of paramount importance that when on defense that you control these emplacements ASAP!


Zone 1 - What the attackers see.
Figure 2: Atacama Desert Z1 for the Attackers


As you can see, the Attackers have a plethora of choices for assaulting Zone 1 base. As a defender looking at the Attacker's base, the left flank or the beach/water side confers a couple of main attack routes with a stairway leading up to the VADS. These routes need to be closely monitored.

The right flank as depicted on the left of the map shows that there are few more choices for the attacking team to flank the defending team. MCOM B is also very susceptible to flanking and destruction as it is collapsible! Be war of the sniper dunes to the right of B.

The main approach is the most direct way into the base as it must also pass through the forward base. Mines should be placed in the forward base but not much else should be going on there. There is a choke point for fast-movers between the forward base and the main base. You should plan on placing mines there.

A strong defense and perimeter on or around the yellow lines should do well against the attackers.

Light green dots depict gun emplacements, please take note of the VADS for Zone 1 is on top of a green construction building just North of MCOM A. MCOM A is in an open area and is relatively easier to defend than B as there is no immediate threat should a building collapse.

Keep note of the very many sniper positions denoted as blue dots in the expanse between the forward base and the attacker's base.


Zone 1 - What the defenders see.
Figure 3: A simple battle plan against the attackers.


This map overlay shows viable locations for mining. Enemy staging areas should be checked often by all teammembers as these are important grounds for preparing and launching an attack on the base.

Please note the light green dots are emplacements. They are Heavy MGs unless otherwise noted. NOTE: It isn't marked, but there is also an Auto GL just north of MCOM B.

Attackers like to flank directly behind the Zone 1 base and stay in buildings to wait for their teammates to spawn. Recons with sensor balls will be essential to covering this expanse of a base.

The three stairs from the desert sands also leave the area around the VADS extremely valuable real estate therefore a VADS operator should have 1-2 people nearby for back up.

MCOM A can be easily surrounded by both friend and foe, keep this in mind while defending. MCOM B on the other hand is susceptible to instant destruction.

A tight perimeter around both MCOMs while manning the emplacements should provide a solid defense in Zone 1 of Atacama Desert Rush.

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Atacama Zones

These are templates of Atacama Desert Zones 2-4. Please USE THESE when you are making descriptions. Pop them in GIMP, Paint, photoshop, whatever!

Zone 2


Zone 3


Zone 4 - CloseUp


Zone 4 - Far

Thread added to the master tactics thread. Thanks Crazy!

No prob byte!

At this point I absolutely despise this map. Mainly because my exposure to it is limited and I don't know the intricacies. Number 1 should be cqb recon dropping sensor balls to identify enemy locations. If the enemy gets in the buildings it's hard to root them out therefor a priority in the beginning is to destroy all buildings they could potentially hide in. Vads is critical. Don't let the take it or destroy it. If a man or two can be spared, it might be worth it to send them to the enemy spawn to skirmish (note NOT camp) steal a tank or two and take out uav or chopper. Defense has tatical advantage of height, but we are wide open to attack from any and all approaches. Multiple sets of engineers with mines early to get a good grid going and the one or two to maintain it afterwards. Also and engineer or two with rockets and tracers to hit hind with or buildings to help take down. With the vastness of this map, vehicles are key in transporting the enemy. Limit that and they are stuck running out in the open begging to be shot.

the VADS owns all on here. u get a good gunner and it's tough for the attackers to make advances. plus, there are a lot of heavy mgs at the first set of units. make use of all of them.

a couple snipers to take out recons on the other end and some engineers with some assaults to resupply. there are so many vehicles on this map that it's imperative.....mines, c4, rockets. a couple medics should be able to handle this defense just fine.

I could be wrong, but I don't think you can get to the enemy spawn in Rush mode like you can in conquest. I tried to sneak over to possibly steal the Helo and got the 10 second dead zone warning. I did not have much time to search because I got killed soon after by an ATV.

Byte's right, you can't sneak into their spawn in Zone 1. You and your team will really have to turtle up, use the Heavy MGs and Auto GLs, use sensor balls, and mine the approaches if you want to win @ Zone 1.