Tactical Vest (ArmA 3)

Tactical Vest
Faction	A3 WS EF NATO CTRG FIA Loyalists (BH) CSAT AAF Smugglers (TEW) Syndikat L'Ensemble (OM) LDF Civilians NATO ION UNA SFIA Tura MJTF
Armour rating	Level I
Mass	40
Storage capacity	100 mass
Games

The Tactical Vest is a ballistic-resistant vest worn by several BLUFOR, REDFOR and INDFOR factions in ArmA 3.

Overview

Commonly worn by vehicle/aircraft crews of NATO, CSAT, both the AAF and Livonian Defense Force and even CTRG operatives, the Tactical Vest provides basic protection against small arms fire. It has a weight of 40 "mass" units and provides enough space for 100 units worth of ammunition/items.

Tactical Vests cover most of the wearer's torso, ranging from the chest to their diaphragm and abdomen. However, because Tactical Vests are rated at Level I protection standards, they offer only the bare minimum of protection from ballistic projectiles. At point blank range, the wearer will be able to consistently survive a hit from a 5.56 mm rifle round.

Larger rifle calibre rounds (e.g. 7.62 mm) will only be survivable if the wearer is not struck at point blank range. At distances below 400 metres, hits to the torso from large calibre rounds fired by 7.62 mm light machine guns and DMRs will always remain lethal unless most of the bullet's velocity has been lost at the time of impact.

Due to their poor surface coverage, they also do little to protect the wearer against harm from explosions. This is because aside from the torso, no other part of the body like the wearer's limbs, neck, and pelvis, is covered by protective guards. As a result, blast damage from frag grenades and other forms of explosives will remain lethal at very close distances.

Variants

Gendarmerie

Tactical Vest (Gendarmerie)
Faction	Gendarmerie
Armour rating	Level II
Mass	50
Storage capacity	100 mass
Games

Law enforcement version worn by the Horizon Islands' Gendarmerie. It was added with the release of the Apex expansion pack.

Unlike the standard variant, the Gendarmerie Vest is rated at Level II protection standards. Surface coverage of the torso is identical, but each of the three parts have higher base armour values. Thanks to this "upgrade", the Gendarmerie Vest will consistently allow its wearer to survive a single hit from a 7.62 mm DMR bullet even at point blank range.

However, its storage capacity has not been altered compared to regular Tactical Vests (100 "mass" units). Its enhanced protection also adds ~ 22% additional "mass" to the vest, resulting in a higher (unloaded) weight of 50 "mass" units rather than 40.

Police

Tactical Vest (Police)
Faction	Civilians
Armour rating	Level II
Mass	50
Storage capacity	100 mass
Games

Another law enforcement derivative but specifically for Altian policemen.

The Police variant is statistically identical to the Gendarmerie Vest, weighing the same as the Gendarmerie Vest (50 "mass" units) and providing an identical storage capacity of 100 "mass" units.

Protection-wise, it is also rated at Level II protection standards and covers the user's chest, diaphragm and abdomen. Just like the Gendarmerie Vest, the Police vest provides enhanced ballistic protection, allowing the wearer to consistently survive being struck by a single 7.62 mm DMR bullet at point blank range.

Stavrou

Tactical Vest (Stavrou)
Faction	FIA
Armour rating	Level I
Mass	40
Storage capacity	100 mass
Games

Exclusively worn by FIA guerilla leader Kostas Stavrou. His version of the Tactical Vest is statistically identical to regular Tactical Vests but always has a unique woodland camouflage pattern applied. Unlike the stock woodland camouflage, the colours on Stavrou's vest are slightly faded out in comparison.

Hitpoints

LEGEND
Green = Abdomen
Orange = Chest
Violet = Diaphragm

Tactical Vest/Tactical Vest (Stavrou)

Body part	Base armour value	Damage reduction modifier (vs. ballistic)	Damage reduction modifier (vs. explosions)
Abdomen	8	50%	50%
Chest	8	50%	50%
Diaphragm	8	50%	50%

Gendarmerie Vest/Tactical Vest (Police)

Body part	Base armour value	Damage reduction modifier (vs. ballistic)	Damage reduction modifier (vs. explosions)
Abdomen	12	60%	60%
Chest	12	60%	60%
Diaphragm	12	60%	60%

Camouflage

• Black
• Blue (Gendarmerie)
• Blue (Police)
• Brown
• Camo
• Camo (Stavrou)
• Khaki
• Olive

1/8

• Black: Faded dark grey colour scheme.
• Blue (Gendarmerie): Medium blue colour scheme with GENDARMERIE written on the back strap and front-right pouch. Only used by Tanoan Gendarmerie officers.
• Blue (Police): Dark blue colour scheme with POLICE written on the back strap. Exclusive to the Police variant utilised by Altian law enforcement officers.
• Brown: Mud brown colour scheme.
• Camo: Woodland camouflage scheme with olive green-coloured straps. Comes in two derivatives, the basic scheme and a unique version exclusive to Kostas Stavrou's version of the Tactical Vest (its colours are mostly faded out).
• Khaki: Khaki brown colour scheme.
• Olive: Faded olive green colour scheme.

Trivia

• The Tactical Vest currently remains as the most ubiquitous vest in ArmA 3. Almost every faction has at least two or more units wearing some iteration of it.
• Although it was added in the Apex expansion, the Gendarmerie Vest is not considered to be a premium item as it was included alongisde the expansion's platform update.
• Its model is oddly reused for NATO's Deck Crew Vest (the pouches are simply removed on the latter's model). Furthermore, the latter somehow retains higher protective qualities despite being clearly intended for non-combat roles.
• At launch, only CSAT's specialist infantry classes had access to Tactical Vests. Snipers and helicopter pilots were later given access to the vest after the release of Game Update 1.02 and 1.06 (respectively).

Gallery

Kostas Stavrou's (right) unique woodland-camouflaged vest.

Config/script references

CfgWeapons Scripts