Caspian Border

Caspian Border (Persian: مرز خزر) is a map featured in Battlefield 3 as well in the Battlefield 4: Second Assault expansion.

Battlefield 3
Caspian Border is a map featured in Battlefield 3's multiplayer. Caspian Border is a multi-faceted, vehicle heavy map that exemplifies classic Battlefield gameplay. This map is one that is fit for all classes as a result of a wide variety of vehicles and different terrains. It pits the United States Marine Corps against the Russian Ground Forces and was revealed through Battlelog 14 to be set on the border between Iran and Turkmenistan near the Caspian Sea.

It was exclusive to PC players in the Battlefield 3 Beta and was, until the release of the Back to Karkand expansion pack, one of the largest maps in the game.

Background
A Russian recon force has set up camp over on the Turkmenistan side of the Iranian border and proceeded to take over the heavily built up border checkpoint.

Antenna
This flag only appears on the Conquest Large variant available to PC players. Players from either side can still use the antenna area regardless of map size, as a side road (between the US deployment and Gas Station) gives easy access. A tank and a ground transport will spawn here.

Players can also use the built-in ladder to reach the lower platform, and aircraft or Radio Beacons to get to the higher platforms. Javelin teams have a good vantage point from which to assault the US deployment. The railings also provide defense against gunfire from below.

Checkpoint
This area is more developed than other flags, with many buildings (both permanent and portable) and cargo containers adjoining the border post. A creek running parallel to the main service road gives some cover to attackers.

Forest
This is the only flag that doesn't have an emplacement. Overlooking the flag area are several ridges, one adjacent to the creek, another along the border, and several outcroppings from the remaining side. There are portable buildings at the second border crossing between here and Antenna.

Gas Station
This is one of the more developed bases on the map. Since it has a small village in the base, players can be seen hiding in buildings, behind cars, etc. It is very prone to be attacked by enemy vehicles such as tanks and helicopters. A tank and a ground transport vehicle spawn here. Like the small radio tower on the Hilltop, the base's water tower can be brought down.

Hilltop
From here, players have good vantage point over all the flags, though the surrounding forest provides plenty of visual cover. Two roads provide access from the main service road, and many footpaths allow access from all sides. A ridge across the service road gives the Russians some vantage to the slope leading to the flag, but not the hilltop itself.

Rush
The three sets of objectives on this map are spaced far apart, although the game mode ensures that players will attack them.

Stage 1
The checkpoint holds the first set of Russian M-COMs, one inside the smaller building beside the border, and the second in the cargo container area. The field between here and the US deployment leaves attackers highly exposed. The fence on the opposite side of the main service road and the hilly area leading towards the antenna provide some opportunities for flanking.

Stage 2
The gas station holds the second set of objectives. M-COM A is located in the set of buildings near the water tower, and M-COM B is set inside the gas station itself.

Stage 3
Attackers must climb the slope leading up to the airbase housing the third set of objectives. The M-COMs are both housed in warehouses on opposite sides of the airfield.

Attackers Deployment
The attackers spawn at the same area as the Checkpoint flag.

Stage 1
The first M-COM is located at the small building closest to the Attackers Deployment where the Hilltop flag would be normally.

Stage 2
The second and last M-COM is located at the building nearest to the gas station itself at the Gas Station area.

Team Deathmatch
The Gas Station area provides the setting for Team Deathmatch.

Squad Deathmatch
The setting for Squad Deathmatch encloses the Forest, Hilltop, Checkpoint and Gas Station areas.

Battlefield 4
Caspian Border returns in Battlefield 4 as one of four maps featured in the Second Assault expansion pack and was first seen in the Battlefield 4: Premium Trailer. The map has been significantly changed since Battlefield 3, but retains the same layout and general features.

Conquest
The map has 4 objectives in Conquest and 5 objectives in Conquest Large.

US Deployment
Located on the southernmost side of the map directly next to the large, paved road, it has direct access to the Antenna and the Checkpoint through a network of road systems. Just like the RU deployment, in the immediate proximity there is an airstrip meant to provide means of allowing jets on either side to take-off. However, unlike the Russian runway, this airstrip is made mainly of packed dirt. In the general vicinity of the US deployment, it is largely open area, with trees scattered about.

RU Deployment
Located on the northernmost side of the map, it has direct access to the Gas Station through a network of road systems. Just like the US deployment, in the immediate proximity there is an airstrip meant to provide means of allowing jets on either side to take-off. However, unlike the American runway, this airstrip is actually a paved airfield, with hangars, crates, and supplies strewn about it. In the general vicinity of the RU deployment, it is somewhat open, with trees scattered about more frequently than the US deployment.

Antenna
In regards to its location on the map, the Antenna is the farthest from all of the other objectives, and also is only seen as a capture point when playing Conquest Large. Although the map is divided in half by the security wall (which can be destroyed) and the objective is on the U.S. side, it can be accessed directly from both deployments through a small, paved, dirt road that either an M1161 ITV or VDV Buggy would handle well on. At the capture point, the ruins of the antenna from the previous game reside there. The original antenna was never rebuilt, and sections of it remain in the field where they fell some time prior. The long grass can be set fire to by a blowtorch. No vehicles spawn here when captured.

Checkpoint
When compared to the prior version of this objective in Battlefield 3, the general area itself remains unchanged, but the border checkpoint has been enhanced. Some improvements include a high security wall that runs the length of the map and vehicle barriers that can be activated and deactivated at the guard posts directly outside of them. Not only that, but there are certain parts of the security wall that house watchtowers, complete with functioning security shutters. A player is able to enter them and reach the top through an inner staircase, but the doorway is on the Russian side of the map. When the levolution event occurs, the newer radio mast will fall, effectively destroying a large portion of the wall. No vehicles spawn here when captured.

Forest
One of the three objectives on the Russian side of the map, it is also the closest to the Hilltop. Just like the Checkpoint, the Forest remains largely unchanged from the past variant. As it did in Battlefield 3, it overlooks the flag area from many vantage points. These include several ridges, one adjacent to the creek, another along the border, and several outcroppings from the remaining side. Since the actual flag is on lower ground, these ridges provide the high ground advantage, allowing for excellent cover and suppression. When captured, no vehicles spawn as a result.

Hilltop
Another objective on the Russian side of the map and the closest to the Forest, the Hilltop features an antenna with an underground complex built there, replacing the radio tower seen in Battlefield 3. It features an elevator to allow players to ascend the structure. The base still provides a good vantage point as well as numerous paths to allow for infiltration. Inside the complex is a fuel container that can be rigged to explode, triggering the levolution event. There is also a hidden tunnel entrance found in a vent nearby the fuel container which leads to a sewer that runs to the creek outside. After the fuel container has detonated, the Antenna will topple as a result, either destroying a large portion of the checkpoint wall or collapsing towards the gas station, and allowing for infantry to use the fallen Antenna as a new pathway to reach the flag. After the fuel tank has been destroyed, the air in the underground area is subsequently filled with toxic gases that will slowly deplete health. No vehicles spawn here after capture.

Gas Station
The Gas Station is the closest objective to the Russian deployment, thus making it the most accessible and frequently the first capture point to be taken by them. Just like in Battlefield 3, it still takes place in a small village and remains mostly identical, with the exception of the water tower's replacement by the radio tower that was formerly at the Hilltop. The area itself was damaged from previous fire fights, damaging some nearby buildings. The entire village has also now been enclosed with concrete walls and watch towers, which can provide cover from various firefights. When captured, it results in the spawning of an M1161 ITV or a VDV Buggy as well as either an M1 Abrams or a T-90A.

Stage 1
The M-COMs are located at the checkpoint, next to the security wall.

Stage 2
The M-COMs are located in the small village at the gas station. Unlike in Conquest, the antenna will fall toward the village, littering the surrounding area with debris.

Stage 3
The M-COMs are located at the RU Deployment.

Battlefield 3

 * During the Battlefield 3 Beta, the Antenna had a ladder which could be used to reach an area on the antenna. The ladder was removed in the final version of the game.


 * The antenna could not be collapsed in the final version of the game until the release of the Back to Karkand DLC. The antenna now collapses when one team has less than 10–25 tickets in Conquest, depending on map size. Players can hear radio chatter describing the artillery barrage that is targeting the antenna.


 * The antenna is long enough to reach to the portable buildings by Checkpoint and it will kill and/or destroy any vehicles beneath it as it falls. If the player is on the antenna when it starts falling, he will simply fall through it or be launched upwards randomly, as if they were ejected from a jet.


 * It is one of the three maps that feature dynamic events during the gameplay (the others being Operation Metro with the JDAM strike over the subway in Rush, and the F-18 that blows up the hotel in Strike at Karkand).


 * During the load screen, the USMC cadence named "Delayed Recon Cadence Count" can be heard.


 * The American side of the map is set in Iran, while the Russian side across the border checkpoint is set in Turkmenistan.


 * Despite the map's location, text on the gas station is in some sort of Latin script. Writing in Persian can also be found on shipping containers, which suggests it is in fact in on the northern Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea.


 * The water in the river outside of the map boundaries is solid, as tapping it with an air vehicle will cause it to take damage as if it crashed;  occasionally, the water will instantly destroy the vehicle.


 * This map has four towers in total that are capable of being brought down. The radio tower at the RU spawn, the water tower at the Gas Station, and the radio tower on the Hilltop can all be brought down with the addition of the scripted antenna collapse.