Fire Support

Fire Support is a mechanic in *Insurgency: Sandstorm* that involves the Commander and Observer classes coming together to call in various forms of support at a specific location on the map. This mechanic returns from Day of Infamy, New World Interactive's previous title and appearing in a contemporary setting for the first time.

## Overview

To use fire support, the Commander must select their desired option using the fire support menu. Afterwards they equip their binoculars and aim them at the desired spot before selecting. If an observer is within ten meters then the support will be called in. If no observers are nearby then the commander will request an observer and any friendly observers in game will be notified.

If the commander meets these requirements, he or she will order the observer to radio the base for support. The observer will then spend a few seconds performing this. If the observer is killed at any point before the base radios back confirming the order, the fire support will be cancelled. In this case, the base will radio that the request was interrupted, prompting the commander to redo the request should he/she wish to do so.

Once support has been called, colored smoke will appear indicating to the team the spot it was requested.The color of the smoke will depend on what support was called in.

The Commander must wait for the fire support to finish before they can call in another one. However if there are two commanders present, they can call in fire support concurrently, although having multiple Observers is advised as they can only call in one at a time and the second request will interrupt the first if they have not finished ordering.

It is important to note that both Commanders draw from the same pool of fire support options and as such, the amount of support that can be called in does not change. Some degree of co-ordination is recommended to save rare options for when they really matter.

Fire support does not discriminate between friend and foe; caution is advised not to call it in on top of teammates.

## **Avaliable support**

### **Both Factions**

Two fire support options are avaliable to both sides.

#### Explosive Artillery/Mortars

Calls in a barrage of explosive shells which scatter in a large area, killing anyone within. This works very effectively as an area denial weapon.

The Insurgents' mortar barrage have a 50% longer duration than the Security artillery. (Update 1.6)

This can be used a total of four times during a Versus match.

Explosive Artillery can be used up to three times in Security Checkpoint.

#### Smoke Artillery/Mortars

Similar to explosive artillery, covers a large area in smoke. This smoke works the same as other smoke grenades in-game, albeit scaled up. This can concealing large scale movement if placed well. It can also be dropped on an enemy objective to prevent them from seeing the advancing team. While this smoke is completely harmless in itself, it will cause anyone not wearing a gas mask to audibly cough, potentially revealing your position to nearby enemies.

Smoke mortars have a 50% longer duration than smoke artillery. (Update 1.6)

This can be used a total of four times during a match.

### **Security**

There are three fire support options exclusive to the Security faction.

#### Autocannon Strafe Run

The fastest fire support option to arrive from being called in. An A-10 Warthog will fly over the map and strafe the targeted area with its cannons, perpendicular to the position of the Commander.

This can called in up to two times during a Versus match, and four times on Checkpoint.

#### Minigun Support

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter (callsign "Cleric") will hover over the area and shoot any enemies it detects and engage with its GAU-19 .50 caliber minigun. The minigun does not have a wide area of effect, meaning it is reasonably safe to call it in near your own teammates without any worry of friendly fire. The helicopter can be shot down by the opposing team. A well aimed RPG or any other rocket can bring it down in one shot.

This can only be called in once during a match so it is a good idea to save it for when it's really needed.

#### Helicopter Gunship

Calls in an AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter (callsign "Assassin"), armed with an M230 30mm cannon and rockets. The rockets are very powerful with a large area of effect, and will hit wherever the Commander calls in the fire support. This can be shot down by the opposing team. After the rockets hit, the gunship will switch to its chain gun that fires explosive rounds. While considerably more powerful than the Minigun Support, there is a much higher risk of friendly fire so calling it further away from your teammates is advised.

Like the Minigun support, this can only be called in once during a match.

### **Insurgents**

There are four fire support options exclusive to the Insurgent faction.

#### Chemical Mortars

Similar to smoke mortars, except it covers a large area in toxic smoke, creating an excellent area denial weapon. This can be negated with a gas mask, however this costs the Security faction one supply point while being free to the Insurgents.The smoke can also conceal enemy movement although this can only be used twice during a match so using this instead of a smoke mortar is ill-advised.

#### Rocket Barrage

A salvo of multiple artillery rockets land on the designated area. The rockets deal devastating damage but are largely inaccurate and can land far from the targeted position. As of Update 1.6, the rockets come down in several salvos instead of all at once unlike the mortars and artillery support. This makes the rocket barrage linger longer and potentially be more dangerous, which can keep enemies suppressed and holed up.

#### IED Drone

A single drone, with an IED strapped on it, will fly to the targeted area and exploding once it lowers to a specific height. The drone can be shot down, but it is a much smaller target than a helicopter. If shot down, it will explode once it hits the ground. The radius is similar to that of a single mortar/artillery shell.

#### Bomber Drones

Orders a bombing run of several drones to strike an area.