Operation Metro
The first Battlefield 3 map to be showcased is Operation Metro, which was playable during E3 2011. The map is set in Paris, where the battlegrounds range from parks, to city streets, to underground subways
Caspian Border
Caspian Border is large, open Battlefield 3 maps with 64 player support and features both jets, helicopters, tanks, APCs and many other vehicles.
Operation Firestorm
Operation Firestorm is a desert map set around an oil refinery. It features both jets, helicopters, tanks and more.
US vehicles
- M1 Abrams tank (3X)
- LAV-AD anti-air (1X)
- AH-1 Super Cobra attack helicopter (1X)
- Huey transport helicopter (1X)
- F/A 18 Super Hornet jet (2X)
Russian vehicles
Grand Bazaar
Grand Bazaar is an infantry-focused map with a dense urban setting.
Grand Bazaar layout
Grand Bazaar is set in a tight, urban environment, where fast movement and good infantry skills are key. The map retains its urban and dense setting regardless of what mode is played, whether its Conquest or Rush, Team Deathmatch or Squad Deathmatch.
There are 5 capture points in Grand Bazaar, 4 of them are centered around the main flag called “Alley”, which is the focal point of many tense battles.
Grand Bazaar tips
While most of the action is centered around the Alley capture point, which is hard to capture and easy to defend, the key to victory on Grand Bazaar lies in capturing and holding the outer capture points, which are much easier to take control of.
Vehicles
Grand Bazaar is mainly an infantry focused map, and is therefore light on vehicles, with just two available per team.
US vehicles
Russian vehicles
Damavand Peak
Damavand Peak is set around the snowy mountains of Damavand in Iran.
Damavand Peak layout
Damavand Peak is based on a central tunnel system that runs under the mountain. In Conquest, there are five capture points, two on each side and one critical capture point in the middle of the tunnel. Each team has a helicopter at their disposal, which can be used to fly over the mountain and attempt to flank the opposing team.
Vehicles
Each side starts out with the following vehicles on Damavand Peak:
US vehicles
- M1A2 Abrams tank
- Humvee (2X)
- Little Bird helicopter
Russian vehicles
Damavand peak tips
The most important objective/control point in Damavand Peak is the center “Tunnel” control point, which is very hard to take once the opposing team has established their defenses. Therefore, you should always use the vehicles available and go straight for the Tunnel capture point at the beginning of the map. Alternately, if the opposing team has the Tunnel, you should use the chopper and try and flank and capture the points on the opposite side of the mountain.
Tehran Highway
Tehran Highway is a nighttime map set in and around the capitol of Iran, Tehran.
Tehran Highway layout
Unlike most other Conquest 64 maps, Tehran Highway has only 4 capture points, which are divided by a highway. This layout usually results in a stalemate with both sides each controlling two flags, with heavy exchange of gunfire and battles across the highway.
Tehran Highway tips
Capturing and holding more than two flags is key to victory, as all other conquest maps. The best way is a head-on assault with vehicles on one of the control points across the highway. Because of its dark setting and plenty of buildings and elevated positions, Tehran Highway is a great place for snipers, who can position themselves above the battle to spot and take out enemies.
Vehicles
Being a mostly urban map, Tehran Highway has a modest amount of vehicles per side. In addition to the starting vehicles, each capture point offers 1 transport vehicle once the flag has been captured.
US vehicles
Russian vehicles
Kharg Island
Kharg Island is based on the real-world island off the coast of Iran.
Kharg Island layout
Kharg Island in Battlefield 3 has 5 capture points, with one capture point that’s relatively close to each team, while the other 3 are up for grabs. The main action usually centers around the middle of the map, between the “Construction Site” and “Offices” flags. The 5 control points/flags in Kharg Island are: Docks, Construction Site, Offices, Army Outpost, and Gas Station.
Kharg Island tips
While Kharg Island is primary a vehicle map, infantry plays a big part as well. Because of much cover on almost all flags, there is plenty of opportunity for ambush and flanking of tanks and other vehicles. The main action usually happens at the Construction site and Offices points, which are the most important, and hardest, flags to capture and defend.
Vehicles
Kharg Island is a vehicle heavy map, and each side have plenty of tanks, jeeps and aerial firepower.
US vehicles
- M1 Abrams tank (2X)
- Growler (2X)
- LAV-AD anti-air
- Little Bird helicopter
- AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter
- F/A 18 Super Hornet (2X)
- RHIB boat
Russian vehicles
Seine Crossing
Centered on a crossing of the famous French river Seine.
Seine Crossing layout
Seine Crossing is split into two parts by a river. There are two flags on each side, which are easily accessible by both sides, while the main flag that tips the balance is situated on a bridge on the east side of the map, a bridge with very little cover that is hard to re-take once the enemy has it. The control points of Seine Crossing are: Back Streets, Market Avenue, East Bridge, Canal Courtyard, ad Garden Alleyway.
Seine Crossing tips
Seine Crossing has a big focus on defense. If a team can capture the majority of flags (3 out of 5 flags, at least), they are for the most part easy to defend due to plenty of options where defenders can dig in, including many buildings that can be entered and provide an overview of defensive areas. The map is also very well suited for mortar attacks and snipers, which have plenty of places to hide.
Vehicles
Being an infantry-focused map, there are only two vehicles per team in Seine Crossing: one tank and one transport vehicle.
US vehicles
- M1A2 Abrams tank
- Humvee
Russian vehicles
Noshahr Canals
Noshahr Canals is based on the Iranian province of Noshahr in northern Iran.
Noshahr Canals layout
The map has five capture points, four of which are easily accessible to either side. The focal point of the map is the center control point, called “Train Yard”, which is hard to defend and often changes control many times during a match, unless it’s defended properly (see under “tips”). There 5 control points in Noshahr Canals are: Train Yard, Dry Dock, Container Area, Storm Drain, Canal.
Noshahr Canals tips
The best tactic is the focus on the three main control points which are very close together and therefore easier to defend: the triangle of “Canal”, “Container Area” and “Train yard”, can, with a good team, be held by staying inside the triangle of those three control points, with fast and easy access to all three flags.
Vehicles
Noshahr Canals is mainly an infantry map, and has a modest amount of vehicles.
US vehicles
- AAV amphibious vehicle
- RHIB boat (3X)
- Huey transport helicopter
- AH-Z Viper attack helicopter
- F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet
Russian vehicles
- T-90 tank
- VDV buggy (2X)
- Mi-28 Havok attack helicopter
- Su-35 fighter jet
Gulf of Oman
A Battlefield 2 remake, Gulf of Oman for Battlefield 3 will retain much
of the same visual style and a very similar desert setting, with both
urban areas and more wide-open spaces for tank and jet combat.
Gulf of Oman unique features
Gulf of Oman is a large map with a lot of capture points. The US and Russian forces start at their respective bases and/or at some of the capture points they already control. The Russian side starts with 3 capture points, while the advancing US side starts with 4 capture points. Both teams start out with an wide selection of jets, tanks, APCs and helicopters.
Sharqi Peninsula
Sharqui Peninsula was a tight, urban map in Battlefield 2, and it looks
to continue that style in Battlefield 3, set during the evening, which
provided interesting and warm colors.
Sharqi Peninsula Features
Sharqi Peninsula is centered, as the name suggests, on a tightly packed peninsula with a lot of urban environment. The US forces control 5 capture points, while the Russians start from 3 main bases. Both sides have access to a helicopter each and tank each, while the Russians have an additional APC to help them.
Wake Island
Wake Island takes a big departure from the Battlefield 2 version.
Instead of lush, tropical visuals, we get a more darker and gritty map
which has been ravaged by war and combat.
Wake Island Features
From the beginning of the round, Wake Island is controlled by the Russian side, and it’s up to the US to advance and capture the island, flag by flag, to the end at the main Russian airbase. Wake Island is dominated by air combat, with both sides having several jets and helicopters at their disposal.
Strike at Karkand
Strike at Karkand was a dusty, grim map in Battlefield 2 with low
visibility and almost no colors besides khaki. The Battlefield 3 version
is more colorful and lifelike.
Strike at Karkand unique features
Strike at Karkand is set in the fictional city of Karkand, with little or no open areas. Most of the combat happens on the streets of the city, where each team only have one tank and one APC at their disposal.
