This guide highlights the crucial role of logistics in ArmA gameplay, echoing General
Omar Bradley's perspective on logistics' superiority over tactics. It introduces essential
logistics concepts, including gear prioritization—especially the shovel—and vehicle and
supply management. Detailed strategies for capturing objectives and building key
installations like radio relays and arsenals are outlined. Emphasis is placed on the
strategic loading of supplies and the broad impact of effective logistics on combat
efficiency. The guide also discusses the importance of choosing objectives wisely based
on strategic importance and managing supply chains for resource flow. It addresses
common issues such as resource wastage by teammates and underscores the need for
fortifications to strengthen defenses. By offering practical tips and instructions, this guide
aims to equip players with the skills needed for impactful logistics management in their
gameplay.

Originally posted by General Omar Bradley:

"Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals discuss logistics"

captures the essence of military efficiency, emphasizing the critical
importance of logistics over mere battlefield tactics. This principle is equally vital in
ArmA, where understanding and managing logistics can significantly impact gameplay
success. This guideline seeks to equip players with the insights and tools necessary for
mastering logistics, thereby transforming their approach from tactical improvisation to
strategic excellence in the virtual arena (Hall, 2021).

Supply Chain, FOB, Construction, Resource management.

In order to maintain proper combat effectiveness of your team it is vital to understand
the importance of logistics, how you can assist it and how you can harm it. In the
following sections we will discuss everything step by step so that by the end even a
player who just joined is able to perform every aspect of this process.

The main principles to keep in your mind:

• Make sure your vehicle is loaded.
  
• Have a shovel.
  
• check your objectives and what is built there.
  
• Most people don't care about logistics - then your team loses

When first respawning on the server you will face yourself surrounded by many other
players running around and doing something. Most of them will run straight to the
armory and start dressing fancy for a fight, being organized, and having things planned in their heads.




There is nothing wrong about it, and you can do the same, but the first thing that you
have to keep in mind apart from a nice looking multicam pants is a shovel...the mighty
shovel. It doesn’t take much space and allows you to bring a change on the battlefield
sometimes.

In order to get a shovel, you have to ;

1. Approach the righ box with equipment and open beacon arsenal editor.
   
2. In the top left corner select an icon with dots
   
3. Select a place where you want to place shovel (backpack)
   
4. Click on a shovel corresponding to your faction (either Us or Ussr shovel) and then it should be added to your inventory

In order to take shovel into your hands - press a quick access button that is corresponding to shovel (Usually number 0 on keyboard)

To put it back - press TAB + Z

Since you are geared now - it is time to grab a logi (Logistics truck)



To do so you have to get a vehicle depot



Find a palette with some sort of a technical poster on it and hold F to request a vehicle.

You will enter a bird view or something similar to game master view. In the bottom line
you will see a set of vehicles to choose from. Some of them are locked behind a ranking system (you are probably holding a rank of a private right now). But it doesn’t
matter for our case, logistics trucks are available for anyone.
Select a second menu with a truck and select yourself an open top Ural truck on the
left. It holds 600 supplies but can transport soldiers only inside the cabin when loaded.



Now just approach a truck from behind and you will have a menu appearing on the
screen, scroll down to an option “Load supplies” and hold corresponding button to
load up your truck.

Please note! Your truck has to be close to supply crates at the place where you
spawned it so that you can load it. If the button to load is grey – that means you are not
close enough to the supplies. You can easily identify them as a set of military crates
under a tent and the vehicle depot where you spawned your vehicle.

Once your truck is loaded you can get in to a driver position and select a point to
which you want to go (more about this aspect in a section 3.4). Go there, if it is colored
green – this means it is under control of the bots so you will have to kill them first. Now
proceed to the next section soldier.



Many people are missing the point that they can bring supplies with almost any vehicle
that they have (even a BTR-70). To do this simply do the same steps as with a truck and
you will be ready to go.

As you can see on the picture below a simple Humvee can hold up to 315 supplies –
which is almost enough to build an arsenal at the objective or build a radio relay.



In "Normal" Mode you will find supplies on the Point. Be careful AI will spawn next to it to defend it.

Where to get supplies and how to start building.
Good, so you have arrived, cleared the area and probably wonder what to do now.
Next – you have to bring a loggy close to a command tent, it is usually in the middle of
the objective and has a flag nearby. You want to park your vehicle on the left side of
the tent entrance since that is where supplies are unloaded or loaded.


Once parked go the back of your vehicle and unload it, it is done with “Unload
Supplies” button at the back of your truck/car.

Once unloaded – proceed inside the tent.
Inside you will find a board with papers on it. Come to it and you will see a start building
menu, open it using the corresponding button.

Now you will have a similar bird view which you had when choosing the vehicle, but
instead of them you will have buildings. They range from arsenal, radio relay to
roadblocks (switch menus to a corresponding type of structure if needed).



Different servers have different procedure to building in terms of what to build first.( for [UA]RU] Conflict in europe ) servers

• 1pp – no radio relay when captured from bots.
  
• 3pp – radio relay is present when objective captured.

The first two important structures in the opinion of the author are radio relay and
arsenal/armory. Without them troops won’t be able to respawn and conduct
defensive/offensive actions effectively.



We will place arsenal as an example. It will allow troops to grab their gear, ammo or
change weapons in case if situation changes.

To place it – do the same thing as with a vehicle that you grabbed, once placed – quit the building mode by clicking “Play as character” in top left. Then go to the place where you placed construction and get a shovel in your hands. You will see a white hologram which you can approach and there you will have an option to start building by holding corresponding button. Once you have reached 100% - what you built is operational. You can then do the same with other structures if needed.
nB! You can’t build anything when enemy is close!

When choosing a place where you want to build – try to communicate with your team using radio. Apart from that in the opinion of the author – you have to prioritize objectives gradually, from those closest to your main base – towards the frontline. The reason for such an advice is that objectives closest towards the frontline tend to go from hands to hands, which puts you in risk. Moreover, an empty objective behind you means that you can’t defend it effectively if frontline moves towards them (this can happen in a matter of minutes). Therefore, on a screenshot above you would prioritize building at Minesota and Missouri first as they serve as a backbone of your frontline.

In addition to that make sure that you don’t drive around main roads to often closer to the midgame. The reason for this is ambushes and mines. Enemy expects you to take the road since it is the easiest place to set up an ambush and predict enemy movement. Once you get into the ambush – you will die (these guys planned where you might go, how you can react and what resources they have to use to eliminate you, so you are an easy target).

nB! If you see an ambush or mines on roads – inform your team and place a marker on map.

The main income for each of the forward operating base (FOB – objectives that you capture) is based on connection of your FOB towards the frontline FOBs that are under your control and main base (MOB/HQ). As you can see on the picture below, Delaware has an active connection to our MOB. It gives +1 supply point per 5 seconds. In order to increase this income – we have to capture the other two FOBs connected to Delaware (they are in the end of those red lines going left).

This is a topic that author cannot emphasize enough for other players. After reading the
document you can see how complex logistics can be, and how time consuming it is
(especially when most players don’t do logistics runs).

One of the main enemies of the supply runners – are their own teammates.

The reason for that is lack of knowledge. When choosing to respawn players have an
opportunity to choose 2 different gear sets: Default or Saved.

You remember those resources that you brought to an FOB? Imagine that out of 500
that you bring – 400 will be gone. The reason – your teammate just respawned with a
saved loadout. Saved loadouts consume FOB resources! Therefore, author encourages
everyone to use a simple principle when respawning. If there is an arsenal/armory –
respawn with a default kit, it doesn’t cost anything for the base. Considering that you
probably are geared up – it will cost around 200 resources to respawn you with a
saved/custom kit.

How do i know if there is an arsenal?
- Image below, Icon on the left is white - indicates that arsenal is built.

In conclusion, the essence of strategic gameplay in ArmA lies not just in the immediate
tactics on the battlefield but significantly within the realm of logistics. This guide
endeavors to shift the player's focus from mere combat to the nuanced art of logistics
management, emphasizing the indispensable role of preparation, resource
management, and strategic planning. By adopting the practices outlined herein—from
the efficient use of vehicles and supplies to the strategic construction of assets and
mindful resource allocation—players can enhance their operational effectiveness and
contribute more significantly to their team's success. Ultimately, mastering logistics is
about transforming chaos into order on the battlefield, ensuring that victory is not just a
product of might but of foresight and meticulous orchestration. Through this guide,
players are equipped not only to survive but to thrive in the demanding and dynamic
environments of ArmA, underscoring the timeless truth that in the art of war, as in life,
preparation and strategy are the keystones of triumph.

MOB (Main Operating Base): A Main Operating Base is a larger, more permanent and
well-defended base used by military forces. In the context of ArmA and similar military
simulation games, an MOB serves as the primary logistical and administrative hub from
which operations are planned and supported. It typically houses command and
control elements, extensive logistical facilities, and robust defensive capabilities. MOBs
are critical for sustained operations in a theater, providing the backbone for supply
chains, reinforcements, and strategic planning.

FOB (Forward Operating Base): A Forward Operating Base is a secured forward military
position used to support tactical operations. FOBs are established closer to the
operational area than MOBs, serving as a launch point for missions, resupply, and
personnel rest. In ArmA, FOBs are often used to extend the operational reach of a
force, allowing for quicker response times and closer support for ongoing operations.
FOBs usually have less infrastructure and defense compared to MOBs but are crucial for
maintaining the momentum of offensive or defensive efforts in the field.

Logi (Logistics Truck) - "Lo - G , Lojee," is colloquial slang for a logistics vehicle, typically a truck
or other vehicle designed to transport supplies, equipment, ammunition, or personnel.
These vehicles are essential for the efficient management of logistics operations within
the game, enabling the movement of necessary resources from Main Operating Bases
(MOBs) or other supply points to Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and front lines. Utilizing
a loggy effectively can significantly impact the success of missions by ensuring that
troops are well-equipped, supplied, and ready for combat.

Hall, B. N. (2021). Civilian Specialists at War: Britain’s Transport Experts and the First World
War, by Christopher Phillips. English Historical Review, 136(582), 1361–1362.
Civilian Specialists at War: Britain’s Transport Experts and the First World War, by Christopher Phillips[academic.oup.com]