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West Germany (formally known as the Federal Republic of Germany) is a BLUFOR faction in ArmA 3. It was added with the release of the Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany Creator DLC.
Overview[]
A brigade-sized formation of panzergrenadiers from Panzerbrigade 2[1] are stationed along the border with East Germany. They represent the bulk of the NATO presence in the region, serving as the alliance's first line of defence in the event of a minor skirmish or a potentially major crisis.
Panzerbrigade 2[]
Assigned with the responsibility of deterring aggression from its hostile Communist neighbour, the forces of Panzerbrigade 2 primarily consist of motorised/mechanised infantry battalions.[2] They are backed by several companies' worth of heavy armour units and Kampftaucher[3] special operations teams.
Bundesgrenzschutz[]
Units from the BGS (Federal Border Guard) are tasked with patrolling the fortified border with East Germany.[4][5]
Grenzschutzgruppe 9[]
The GSG 9, a special operations unit of the Bundespolizei (German Federal Police)[6], also remain on standby to assist the BGS in times of emergency.[7]
Equipment[]
1980s[]
Camouflage schemes used by 1980s forces:
- Olive (Left)
- Winter (Centre)
- Woodland (Right)
Conventional West German soldiers wear field dress uniforms adorned in either a flat olive drab or winter camouflage colour scheme.
Only special operations units are issued the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) camouflaged in the U.S. Woodland pattern shared with their American allies, while federal border guard officers wear distinctive battle suits and vehicle/aircraft crews don olive drab coveralls and flight suits.
The M62 steel helmet is the most commonly distributed helmet worn by conventional troops, though some reserve units and border guards tend to utilise older M35/53 helmets while SOF don simple boonies and wool hats. Body armour is seldom available and is usually reserved for helicopter pilots, who additionally wear American-made SPH-4 flight helmets. Line infantry and vehicle crews mostly wear loading bearing rigs customised depending on their role, while ammunition bearers haul canvas rucksacks.
For operations that take place during harsh winters and extreme weather conditions, conventional soldiers and SOF alike wear parkas with gloves and winter-themed M62s, often overlaid with a camouflaged mesh. Units attached to UN missions will also don light blue coloured helmets to signify their protected status as peacekeepers.
1990s[]
Camouflage schemes used by 1990s forces:
- Flecktarn (Left)
- Winter (Centre)
- Wüstentarn (Right)
With the Cold War drawing to a close, the armed forces has begun to modernise itself for the imminent arrival of the 21st century. Matching its transition into the new millennium, the iconic 7.62 mm-chambered G3 battle rifle has been replaced by the polymer-based G36 5.56 mm assault rifle.
This has been accompanied by a slew of changes to the personal gear of every German soldier. All infantrymen are now issued new combat suits camouflaged in the latest Flecktarn woodland pattern rather than their traditional field dress uniforms.
Alongside this, soldiers are issued flak vests with optional load bearing rigs and the new M92 combat helmet. They are similarly equipped with a pair of protective goggles to shield their eyes from the dangers of shrapnel and other hazardous particles. Cold War-era backpacks have also been replaced with newer, more ergonomic rucksacks with greater storage capacity.
As German troops increasingly find themselves deployed outside of Europe to accompany other NATO forces, particularly on the battlefields of the Middle East and Central Asia, the new Wüstentarn camouflage pattern is used in lieu of Flecktarn. However, with the pattern being relatively new and the armed forces itself still in the process of transitioning, Flecktarn gear is often mixed in with their arid-themed equipment.
Arsenal[]
Armoury[]
TBA
Motor Pool[]
| Vehicle | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 110 mm SF2 LARS 2 |
Self-Propelled Rocket Artillery | - Rocket-based artillery system - Cannot transport any passengers |
 BPz 2A0 |
Armoured Recovery Vehicle | - Cannot transport any passengers - Repairs nearby ground vehicles |
 BrPz 1 |
Combat Support Vehicle | - Cannot transport any passengers - Is able to deploy/undeploy a bridge for other vehicles to cross over |
 CH-53G |
Medium/Heavy-Lift Helicopter | - Can transport up to 24 passengers - Can utilise Slingloading - Can utilise Vehicle-in-Vehicle Transportation |
 Do 28 D-2 |
Transport Plane | - STOL plane; can take off or land without a dedicated airstrip - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant |
 FlakPz 1A1 |
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun | - Cannot transport any passengers - Commander can manually override gunner's targeting |
 K125 gl |
Motorcycle | - Can transport a single passenger |
 KPz 1A1 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers - Commander's sight has access to a rangefinder and night vision |
 KPz 1A1A1 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers - Has dedicated sub-variant outfitted with night vision optics |
 KPz 1A3 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers - Has dedicated sub-variant outfitted with night vision optics |
 KPz 1A4 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers - Commander can manually override gunner's targeting |
KPz 1A5 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers - Gunner's sight has access to thermal optics |
 M109G |
Self-Propelled Howitzer | - Gun-based artillery vehicle - Cannot transport any passengers |
 M113A1G |
Modular Armoured Personnel Carrier | - Amphibious - Variable transport capacity depending on variant - Has dedicated sub-variants that can heal wounded infantry |
 PAH 1 |
Light Utility Helicopter | - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant - Can utilise Slingloading |
 Pkw 2 |
Sedan | - Can transport up to 3 passengers |
 Pkw 5 Seats Transport |
Light Commercial Vehicle | - Can transport up to 4 passengers - Has dedicated variants that can utilise Vehicle-in-Vehicle Transportation |
 RakJPz 2 |
Tank Destroyer | - Cannot transport any passengers |
 Service Bicycle |
Bicycle | - Cannot transport any passengers |
 SpPz 2 |
Reconnaissance Armoured Fighting Vehicle | - Amphibious - Can transport up to 4 passengers - Has dedicated sub-variant outfitted with thermal sights - Commander can manually override gunner's targeting |
 SPz 1 |
Infantry Fighting Vehicle | - Can transport up to 6 passengers - Has dedicated sub-variants outfitted with either night or thermal vision optics - Commander can manually override gunner's targeting |
 TPz 1 |
Modular Armoured Personnel Carrier | - Amphibious - Has dedicated mobile command vehicle variant - Has dedicated sub-variant that can heal wounded infantry - Variable transport capacity depending on variant |
 Truck 0.5t tmil gl |
Light Utility Vehicle | - Variable transport capacity depending on variant |
 Truck 2t mil gl |
Utility Truck | - Variable transport capacity depending on variant - Can utilise Vehicle-in-Vehicle Transportation - Has dedicated variants that can repair ground vehicles and heal wounded infantry |
 Truck 5t mil gl |
Utility Truck | - Variable transport capacity depending on variant - Can utilise Vehicle-in-Vehicle Transportation - Has dedicated variants that can rearm and refuel ground vehicles |
 Truck 7t mil gl |
Utility Truck | - Can transport a single passenger - Can utilise Vehicle-in-Vehicle Transportation |
 Truck 10t mil gl |
Heavy Truck | - Can transport a single passenger - Can utilise Vehicle-in-Vehicle Transportation - Has dedicated variant that can rearm nearby ground vehicles |
 Typ 253 |
Light Commercial Vehicle | - Can transport up to 8 passengers |
 W123 |
Executive Car | - Can transport up to 5 passengers |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Excluding the KSK in ArmA 2 (who are special operations rather than conventional troops), Global Mobilization marks the first semi-official appearance of regular German military forces in the series.
- Special operations units were not initially available upon Global Mobilization's release and were only included after Update 1.2.[8]
- 1990s units equipped with post-Cold War, pre-Kosovo Force (KFOR) deployment equipment such as G36s, Splitterschutz vests and M92 combat helmets were only added after the release of Update 1.3.[9] No dedicated 1990s-era SOF units were included alongside the update, however.
- The GSG 9 were not included as a sub-faction to the BGS until the release of Update 1.5.[10]
References[]
- ↑ ARMA 3: Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany 2019 [Video Game], Vertexmacht, State Scarlet, First Impressions Matter, "STATE SCARLET STATE SCARLET STATE SCARLET EXECUTE STOP Enemy crossed border BAB2 occupied BGS reports: Helmstedt - Wolfsburg - Wittingen - Uelzen no contact. Enemy is GDR. React immediately. At will. STOP. Division order to Panzerbrigade 2: Assume defensive posture. STOP."
- ↑ ARMA 3: Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany 2019 [Video Game], Vertexmacht, State Scarlet, First Impressions Matter, "Brigade orders to PzGrenBtl 23: Defend along designated line. STOP."
- ↑ Mondkalb 2021, Again, the BDU we have here were never meant for US forces (since we dont have any) and only meant to represent the fairly irregular equipment of the Kampftaucher special forces., Discord [Social Media], viewed 18 March 2023, <https://discord.com/channels/245546995874267147/568048874887970816/819613512485044245>.
- ↑ ARMA 3: Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany 2019 [Video Game], Vertexmacht, Weferlingen, "The former road from Grasleben to Weferlingen is bounds to two sectors of the Bundesgrenzschutz: GSA Nord 3 and GSA Nord 4. In the east this road marks the two sectors of 10. GK Döhren and 11. GK Walbeck."
- ↑ GalComT 2021, as for the BGS, definetly not, they were the first speedbump incase of a surprise attack, and there to prevent sabotage incursions through the border. But they were not expected to take part in major combat operations, Discord [Social Media], viewed 4 March 2025, <https://discord.com/channels/245546995874267147/730855471971303454/856518404895014943>.
- ↑ Vertexmacht 2023, OPREP - GLOBAL MOBILIZATION UPDATE 1.5, Arma 3, viewed 12 December 2023, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/oprep-global-mobilization-update-15>.
- ↑ Mondkalb 2022, Q: Where they part of the military? A: Bundesgrenzschutz, so part of the Border Guards., Discord [Social Media], viewed 4 March 2025, <https://discord.com/channels/245546995874267147/245546995874267147/1032740371819659314>.
- ↑ GalComT et al. 2020, Global Mobilization - Changelog, Bohemia Interactive Forums, viewed 18 March 2023, <https://forums.bohemia.net/forums/topic/223833-global-mobilization-changelog/?do=findComment&comment=3411467>.
- ↑ GalComT et al. 2021, Global Mobilization - Changelog, Bohemia Interactive Forums, viewed 18 March 2023, <https://forums.bohemia.net/forums/topic/223833-global-mobilization-changelog/?do=findComment&comment=3433609>.
- ↑ GalComT et al. 2023, Global Mobilization - Changelog, Bohemia Interactive Forums, viewed 12 December 2023, <https://forums.bohemia.net/forums/topic/223833-global-mobilization-changelog/?do=findComment&comment=3474524>.
See also[]
- Denmark
- East Germany (REDFOR counterpart)
| Factions of Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany | |
|---|---|
| BLUFOR | Denmark • West Germany |
| REDFOR | East Germany • Poland |
| INDFOR | Revolutionaries |