Written by Snake
The Iron Gator
MEC Special Forces have launched an attack on the USS Essex Aircraft Carrier. Their intelligence was impeccable, allowing them to coordinate their assault with only a skeleton crew of U.S. Navy SEALs onboard. Even so, the SEALs are well equipped, and prepared to put up a fierce fight in defense of their ship, affectionately referred to as “The Iron Gator”. This close quarters fight inside the halls of the carrier will be won by the team working as coordinated squads and practicing superior infantry tactics.
US NAVY SEALS vs MECSF
| 16 Player | 32 Player | 64 Player |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
General Tactics
Probably one of the most intense maps in the game focuses on a daring raid being made on a US aircraft carrier. Combining helicopters, infantry, AA and even a bit of armour, this map combines them all into an all-rounder map.
Starting with a raid to actually get onto the ship, the MECSF have their work cut out for them against plenty of SEAL defenders with AT rockets. However, once aboard the ship the infantry battles commence in crowded, narrow hallways and high catwalks, providing a battleground of high and low level combat, combined with both close and long range fighting. Add in some helicopters and a lot of explosive barrels, and you have a map that provides some of the best infantry combat and strategy in the game. Note that there is also NO artillery on this map.
This is the only SEAL and MECSF map which isn’t a night time map, and even though it may appear to be a dark map - adjusting your lighting levels in the options can sort this out. As a result, most people who have the awards associated with these two armies have earnt them from this map alone.
Be sure to check out The Iron Gator: For Dummies Guide for this map on the bf2s wiki, which includes comparisons of the lighting levels.
16 Player
Details pertinent to the 16 player version of the map. Note that all of the RIBS around the ship spawn depending upon who controls the Engine Room CP. Even though the 6 RIBS run alongside the entire length of the ship, they spawn with this CP.
16P Map Spawn Points
The map’s spawn points and some information about each point as it is at the beginning of a round.
| Hangar Bay Fore | First Floor, Mess Hall | First Floor, Storage | First Floor, Engine Room |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
|
 |  | |  |
|
| | NONE | NONE | NONE | 6 RIB |
| | NONE | NONE | NONE | 6 RIB |
16P Commander Assets
Where to find the goodies that need some C4’ing.
| UAV & Sat | UAV & Sat |
|---|---|
| | |
 |  |
32 Player
Details pertinent to the 32 player version of the map.
Note that all of the RIBS around the ship spawn depending upon who controls the Viewing Deck CP. Even though the 6 RIBS run alongside the entire length of the ship, they spawn with this CP.
32P Map Spawn Points
The map’s spawn points and some information about each point as it is at the beginning of a round.
| Coastal Village | Flight Deck | Viewing Deck | Hangar Bay, Fore | Hangar Bay, Aft | First Floor, Mess Hall | First Floor, Engine Room |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|
| | | | | | | |
|
| | NONE | 1 AH-64 Apache 1 WASP Gun Mount | 6 RIB | 1 M249 LMG | 1 M249 LMG | NONE | NONE |
| | 1 Mi-35 HIND 1 Mi-17 Hip H 1 BTR-90 APC 1 Tunguska M1 2 ATV 3 RIB 3 Jet Ski 2 IGLA 2 RPK-74 LMG | 1 Mi-35 HIND 1 WASP Gun Mount | 6 RIB | 1 RPK-74 LMG | 1 RPK-74 LMG | NONE | NONE |
32P Commander Assets
Where to find the goodies that need some C4’ing.
| UAV & Sat | UAV & Sat |
|---|---|
| | |
| | |
64 Player
Details pertinent to the 64 player version of the map.
Note that all of the RIBS around the ship spawn depending upon who controls the Viewing Deck CP. Even though the 6 RIBS run alongside the entire length of the ship, they spawn with this CP.
64P Map Spawn Points
The map’s spawn points and some information about each point as it is at the beginning of a round.
| Coastal Village | Flight Deck | Viewing Deck | Hangar Bay, Fore | Hangar Bay, Aft | First Floor, Mess Hall | First Floor, Engine Room |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | |
|
| | | | | | | |
|
| | NONE | 1 AH-64 Apache 1 WASP Gun Mount | 6 RIB | 1 M249 LMG | 1 M249 LMG | NONE | NONE |
| | 1 Mi-35 HIND 1 Mi-17 Hip H 1 BTR-90 APC 1 Tunguska M1 2 ATV 3 RIB 4 Jet Ski 2 IGLA 2 RPK-74 LMG | 1 Mi-35 HIND 1 WASP Gun Mount | 6 RIB | 1 RPK-74 LMG | 1 RPK-74 LMG | NONE | NONE |
64P Commander Assets
Where to find the goodies that need some C4’ing.
| UAV & Sat | UAV & Sat |
|---|---|
| | |
| | |
Iron Gator Oddities
On both the 32 and 64player versions of the map, the Helicopters (HIND & Apache) as well as the Essex Gun (WASP) actually spawns according to who controls the Flight Deck CP, and not the Viewing Deck as you would expect.
Every oddity about the map is also covered in The Iron Gator: For Dummies Guide