Operation Hastings

Operation Hastings is a multiplayer map featured in Battlefield Vietnam, and remade in Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam.

Battlefield Vietnam
"July 18, 1966 - Operation Hastings was the largest combined operation in the war to date. Elements of the U.S. Marine Corps, the South Vietnamese, and the Republic of Vietnam participated in one of the first "Search and Destroy" missions of the war. Operation Hastings is a Head On Map. Each force begins with one Control Point. The force that controls the majority of the Control Points will cause the other team begin a constant ticket loss."

- Introduction screen

Operation Hastings is one of the original maps in Battlefield Vietnam. It is a very large map, consisting of a network of waterways dividing small islands and plateaus, surrounded by highlands, and all covered in jungle. The most prominent features of the map is the temple on the East side of the map.

US Base
The US Base is the starting point for the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (USMC). It consist of three flat levels leading downwards to the water. The top level is an airstrip and a helicopter pad where the fighter jet and transport helicopter spawn. The next level is the largest and is where, to the East, there are two helicopter pads where the attack helicopters and the anti-air turret spawn and a few bunkers made of sandbags and wooden beams, and where, to the West, there is a camp made of three tents where an APC spawns around. The last level is associated to the height of a few wooden docks where a few two boats spawn. It, like the NVA Base, is particularly difficult to capture, as the timer for a single person to capture the flag starts at 1:27, instead of 0:30 for any normal flag.

Under USMC control, one M113, one A-7 Corsair II, one UH-1D, two UH-1Cs, two Patrol Boat Rivers and one M55 spawn here. Under NVA control, all American vehicles will remain until destroyed, and two sampans will spawn, but only once the PBRs are destroyed or displaced.

Forward Fire Base
The Forward Fire Base is the closest flag to the US Base. It consists of a camp on a plateau, surrounded by sandbags, tents and bunkers. There is also another bunker and agglomerations of sandbags in a lower level, along with a helicopter pad. From the plateau, there is a road that leads directly to The Temple.

Under USMC control, an M113 spawns. Alternatively, under NVA control, a BTR-60 spawns.

The Temple
The Temple is notable the most prominent flag of the map. It consists of a large and tall temple that players can climb by a long set of stairs, either from in front or from in back, leading up towards a small open chamber. It's from this chamber that players can capture the flag. In front of the temple is a small lake with a singe waterway in and out. This lake is surrounded by road, one direction leading towards the Forward Fire Base, another leading up a hill that heads towards The Plantation. The Temple is closer to the US Base, but, with the proper haste and initiative, any faction can capture the flag first.

Under USMC control, one M551 Sheridan and one Patrol Boat River spawn. Alternatively, under NVA control, one PT-76 and one sampan spawn.

The Plantation
The Plantation is a flag in the center-East of the map. It consists of a slopped road with a dock and a semi-destroyed concrete house at the bottom, where the vehicles spawn, and a few rice terraces along the way. There is a road leading to the West, upward a hill towards The Temple, and another leading South towards The Fishing Village.

Under USMC control, one M551 Sheridan and one Patrol Boat River spawn. Alternatively, under NVA control, one PT-76 and one sampan spawn.

The Fishing Village
The Fishing Village is the closest flag from the NVA Base. It consists of a small village made of wooden huts along a river. Many of the structures stretch out within the water and are elevated on terraces by bamboo sticks. The was apparently a bridge to cross the river towards The Plantation, but it collapsed and the extremities remain along the shore. For this reason, APCs wll have a problem crossing the river, since the two pieces of bridge can actually stop the APCs, and leave them floating in the water. There is a path on the East, past the last house in the village, that can lead the APCs safely across the river.

Under USMC control, one M113 and one Patrol Boat River spawn. Alternatively, under NVA control, one BTR-60 and one sampan spawn.

NVA Base
The NVA Base is the starting point for the 5th Battalion, 812th Regiment (NVA). It consists of a few levels, like the USMC base. The top level is the airstrip, where the fighter jet and light tank spawn. The second level consists of a few bunkers made of sandbags and wooden beams, with two helicopter pads in the back surrounded by sandbags, where the two attack helicopters spawn. Finally, the is the last level which consists of a concrete dock extending into the water and a wooden dock along the a road, where an APC and boat spawn. In singleplayer, the boats spawn more within the water and to the right of the dock.

Under NVA control, one PT-76, one MiG-17, two Mil Mi-8 Hips, one BTR-60 and one Sampan spawn. Under American control, all the NVA vehicles will remain until destroyed or displaced, and one M113 and one Patrol Boat River spawn here, once their equivalents have been destroyed or displaced.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam
"It is what many are calling a revisiting of hell. American forces geared up and prepared for action along the demilitarized zone. Only a few years ago, a similar battle was fought in the same general vicinity, with devastating consequences. Learning from that action, U.S. command has ordered major elements of all branches into action, including fighter jet squadrons, helicopter units, and armored vehicles of all types. Following the immediate briefing, CENTCOM provided these choice words: 'the N.V.A. are about to feel the full wrath of American might.'"

- Operation Hastings Loading Report (one of two)

Operation Hastings is one of the five maps included with the download of Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam. However, it is not directly available. Much like Coral Sea for Battlefield 1943, Operation Hastings only became available once 69 million team actions (revive, heal, spot assist, resupply, and repair) occur on each of the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 game systems. The counter for team actions began on December 21, 2010 and can be found here. The PC community was the first to unlock the map, reaching 69 million actions at around 12:00 AM (UTC) on December 30, 2010, whilst Xbox 360 players were still at around 36 million, and PlayStation 3 users at around 27 million. On January 1, 2011, DICE released the map for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as a present for the new year, despite neither reaching the 69 million collective team actions. The loading music for the map is "Memphis Guitar Soul" by Anders Lewen.

US deployment
It is located on the south side of the map, and is very close to flag A. Two M48s and one M151 spawn here.

NVA deployment
Located on the north side of the map, this spawn is very close to flag D. Two T-54s and one GAZ-69 spawn here.

A: Military Base
Located directly north of US deployment, on the south side of the map. The flag itself is in between a few dug-in barricades, and there are a few small, metal shacks nearby to take cover in. Under US Army control, one M151, one UH-1 and one PBR. Under NVA control, one GAZ-69, one UH-1 and one PBR.

B: Temple Ruins
Flag B is located on the easternmost side of the map, in the temple ruins. As obviously stated, the whole area is a rundown temple, with Flag B in the middle. There are a lot of corners around the flag, close enough to capture it, so be on the lookout. Under either US Army or NVA control, one Tuk-tuk and one PBR spawn here.

C: Marketplace
This flag is located on the western side of the map. There is moderate cover here, but it is situated atop a small hill, but there is higher ground above it. There are a few buildings to the east of it, and one right next to it. This building is very helpful to capture the flag, as you can still capture the flag inside of it, and its gives you a fair amount of protection. Under US Army control, one M151, one Tuk-tuk and one PBR spawn here. Under NVA control one GAZ-69, one Tuk-tuk and one PBR. Note that the Tuk-tuk spawns near the buildings across the river from where the PBR spawns.

D: Village
Flag D is located on the north side of the map. It is south of the NVA deployment. The flag is located between a few small buildings, which all provide decent cover. Also, there are some barriers to protect the player. Under US Army control, one M151, one Tuk-tuk and one UH-1 spawn here. Under NVA control, one GAZ-69, one Tuk-tuk and one UH-1 spawn here.

Outcome

U.S Victory

2 F-4 phantoms come and bomb the area

Trivia

 * In Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam, a surfboard can be found during Operation Hastings, lying around the military base to the south of the map, which is a reference to the film "Apocalypse Now".

Videos
Video:BFBC2 Vietnam Operation Hastings|The Battle for Hastings trailer of Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam Video:BC2 Vietnam Operation Hastings Loading Song|Loading screen song for Operation Hastings in Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam