Artillery Firing Function Reference

Artillery Firing Function Reference (FireArtillery and friends)

Source-verified 2026-06-21 against master 0139a346. Paths relative to Missions/[55-2hc]warfarev2_073v48co.chernarus/ unless noted. Arma 2 OA 1.64.

This page is the function-contract reference for the artillery firing pipeline compiled from Common/Functions/: the fire-mission entry point FireArtillery, its Fired event-handler companion HandleArtillery, the gun discovery/identification helpers (IsArtillery, GetTeamArtillery), the ammunition selection/loading helpers (GetArtilleryAmmoOptions, LoadArtilleryAmmo, EquipArtillery), and the reload tweaks (HandleArty, HandleCommanderReload). It documents parameters, the WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_* config arrays each function reads by type index, return shapes, guards, and live callers. This is distinct from Artillery-Reference-Per-Faction (which tabulates the per-faction config DATA those arrays hold) and from Counter-Battery-Radar-System (the detection hook). All function names below are the Compile preprocessFileLineNumbers aliases registered in Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf.

Function Registration

Registered name	Source file	Compiled at
FireArtillery / WFBE_CO_FNC_FireArtillery	Common/Functions/Common_FireArtillery.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:23,122
WFBE_CO_FNC_HandleArtillery	Common/Functions/Common_HandleArtillery.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:151
IsArtillery	Common/Functions/Common_IsArtillery.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:71
GetTeamArtillery	Common/Functions/Common_GetTeamArtillery.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:48
EquipArtillery	Common/Functions/Common_EquipArtillery.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:21
WFBE_CO_FNC_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions	Common/Functions/Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:50
WFBE_CO_FNC_LoadArtilleryAmmo	Common/Functions/Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:51
HandleArty	Common/Functions/Common_HandleArty.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:15
HandleCommanderReload	Common/Functions/Common_HandleCommanderReload.sqf	Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:7

Note that FireArtillery is registered under both the bare alias and the prefixed WFBE_CO_FNC_FireArtillery (Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:23,122); the live callers all use the prefixed form (Server/AI/Commander/AI_Commander_Strategy.sqf:273, Client/Functions/Client_RequestFireMission.sqf:15).

Per-Type Config Arrays Read By This Family

Every function below indexes per-side, per-artillery-type arrays via the integer returned by IsArtillery. The arrays are read with missionNamespace getVariable Format ["WFBE_%1_ARTILLERY_<NAME>", _side], where _side is the side TEXT ("WEST"/"EAST"/"GUER").

Array (WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_…)	Read by	Read at
_CLASSNAMES (list of classname-lists, one per type)	IsArtillery, GetTeamArtillery	Common_IsArtillery.sqf:6, Common_GetTeamArtillery.sqf:21
_RANGES_MIN / _RANGES_MAX	FireArtillery	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:16-17
_WEAPONS	FireArtillery, GetTeamArtillery, ammo helpers	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:18, Common_GetTeamArtillery.sqf:22
_AMMOS	FireArtillery, GetArtilleryAmmoOptions	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:19, Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:23
_VELOCITIES	FireArtillery (passed into HandleArtillery)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:20
_DISPERSIONS	FireArtillery (passed into HandleArtillery)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:21
_TIME_RELOAD	FireArtillery (burst pacing)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:22
_BURST	FireArtillery (shell count)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:23
_EXTENDED_MAGS / _EXTENDED_MAGS_UPGRADE	EquipArtillery, GetArtilleryAmmoOptions	Common_EquipArtillery.sqf:20,23, Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:41-42
_AMMO_SADARM / _AMMO_ILLUMN / _AMMO_LASER / _DEPLOY_SMOKE	HandleArtillery (round-effect routing)	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:32,38,46,68

The faction-specific contents of these arrays are tabulated in Artillery-Reference-Per-Faction; this page documents only how the firing functions consume them.

Gun Discovery And Identification

Function	Params (_this select …)	Returns	Source
IsArtillery	0=unit/classname, 1=side text	Type INDEX (0-based) into the _CLASSNAMES array, or -1 sentinel if the classname is in no type-list	Common_IsArtillery.sqf:2-12
GetTeamArtillery	0=_team (group), 1=_ignoreAmmo, 2=_index (type), 3=_side	ARRAY of vehicle objects of the given type owned by the team (AI-gunner, non-player, with ammo unless _ignoreAmmo)	Common_GetTeamArtillery.sqf:2-81

IsArtillery walks WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_CLASSNAMES (itself a list of classname-lists, one entry per artillery type) and returns the index _i of the first sub-list containing the classname (Common_IsArtillery.sqf:8-10). It initialises _retVal = -1 (Common_IsArtillery.sqf:5); the -1 is the canonical "not artillery" sentinel that every caller checks before continuing.

GetTeamArtillery filters units _team to vehicles whose typeOf is in the selected type's classname list, requiring a non-null, non-player gunner, and (unless _ignoreAmmo) _vehicle ammo _weapon > 0 (Common_GetTeamArtillery.sqf:29-39). It additionally extends the search to commander-built guns: when _team is the side's commander team, it scans all vehicles tagged with a matching WFBE_CommanderArtillerySide getVariable and located within WFBE_C_BASE_AREA_RANGE + WFBE_C_BASE_HQ_BUILD_RANGE of the side HQ or any registered base area (Common_GetTeamArtillery.sqf:46-78).

Side-text vs side-value normalization

GetTeamArtillery, EquipArtillery, GetArtilleryAmmoOptions, and LoadArtilleryAmmo each accept either a side VALUE (west/east/resistance) or side TEXT ("WEST"/"EAST"/"GUER"/"RESISTANCE") and normalize both ways: config getVariables need the text form, while WFBE_CO_FNC_GetSideUpgrades needs the value form (Common_EquipArtillery.sqf:6-17, Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:11-20, Common_GetTeamArtillery.sqf:7-16, Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:11). The normalization switch defaults unknown text to west (Common_EquipArtillery.sqf:15). By contrast IsArtillery and FireArtillery take the side as-passed and do NOT normalize, so callers must pass a value the config-variable name interpolation accepts.

Fire Submission

FireArtillery — [_artillery, _destination, _side, _radius]

The fire-mission entry point (Common_FireArtillery.sqf:3-6). Spawned, not called, by both live callers (Server/AI/Commander/AI_Commander_Strategy.sqf:273, Client/Functions/Client_RequestFireMission.sqf:15).

Step	Behavior	Source
Lock	Sets restricted = true on the gun and force-ejects any player in the crew (getOut action)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:7-8
Identify	_index = [typeOf _artillery, _side] Call IsArtillery	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:9
Guard: no type	exitWith + log warning if _index == -1	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:12
Guard: null gunner	exitWith + log warning if isNull _gunner	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:13
Guard: player gunner	exitWith + log warning if isPlayer _gunner	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:14
Read config	Pulls _minRange/_maxRange/_weapon/_ammo/_velocity/_dispersion/_reloadTime/_burst by _index	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:16-23
Prep	[_artillery] Call ARTY_Prep (engine off, wait speed < 1, 3s settle)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:26
Solve	Computes direction from atan2, _distance (range minus _minRange), firing _angle capped at 70	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:29-36
Guard: out of range	exitWith (no shot) if _distance < 0 OR _distance + _minRange > _maxRange	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:37
Attach Fired EH	Compiles a Fired EH that spawns HandleArtillery with the 11-element payload	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:39
CBR hook (conditional)	If WFBE_C_STRUCTURES_COUNTERBATTERY > 0, attaches a second Fired EH routing the firer position to WFBE_SE_FNC_CounterBatteryCheck (server) or SendToServer "CounterBatteryFired" (client)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:45-56
Aim	Disables gunner MOVE/TARGET/AUTOTARGET, doWatch a position elevated by distance/tan(90-_angle)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:58-61
Settle	sleep (10 + random 4) before firing	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:63
Fire burst	for _i from 1 to _burst: sleep (_reloadTime + random 3) then _artillery fire _weapon (aborts if gunner/gun dead)	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:75-80
Cleanup	Removes the Fired EH(s), sleep (_reloadTime + 20), re-enables gunner AI, ARTY_Finish, then restricted = false	Common_FireArtillery.sqf:84-96

_maxRange is divided by the global WFBE_C_ARTILLERY (the artillery enable/range tier: 0 disabled, 1 short, 2 medium, 3 long — Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:224) at Common_FireArtillery.sqf:17, so a higher tier shrinks the effective max range divisor. The same /WFBE_C_ARTILLERY divisor appears in the AI commander's own pre-flight range check (Server/AI/Commander/AI_Commander_Strategy.sqf:271). The firing _radius parameter is forwarded verbatim into the HandleArtillery payload and governs impact scatter (see below); the AI commander passes a fixed 60 (AI_Commander_Strategy.sqf:273) while the player path passes the client-side artyRange (Client_RequestFireMission.sqf:15).

The Fired-EH compile at Common_FireArtillery.sqf:39 bakes the per-type config values into the handler at attach time, then forwards _this select 4 (the ammo classname) and _this select 6 (the projectile object) from the engine's Fired payload. The two-EH cleanup at lines 84-86 guards against restricted-stuck guns by removing both the main and the conditional CBR handler.

HandleArtillery — the Fired-EH worker (11-element array)

Spawned by the compiled Fired EH, NOT called directly (Common_FireArtillery.sqf:39). Parameters in payload order:

Index	Name	Meaning	Source
0	_ammo	Fired ammo classname (from _this select 4 of the Fired EH)	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:4
1	_projectile	The shell object (from _this select 6)	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:11
2	_ammoList	The per-type _AMMOS allow-list	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:5
3	_destination	Target position	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:12
4	_velocity	Muzzle velocity for the relaunch	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:13
5	_dispersion	Per-axis random spread	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:14
6	_cannon	Firing gun position	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:15
7	_distance	Solved range to target	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:16
8	_radius	Fire-mission spread radius	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:17
9	_maxRange	Max range for scatter scaling	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:18
10	_side	Side text (for ammo-class lookups)	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:19

The handler returns nothing; its job is to relocate and relaunch each shell so the round lands inside the requested radius, and to route special-ammo behaviors:

Behavior	Condition	Source
Ammo allow-list gate	Whole body runs only if _ammo in _ammoList	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:8
Land-area randomization	_distance = random (_distance/_maxRange*100) + random _radius; random 360 bearing; per-axis ± random _dispersion jitter	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:24-28
SADARM	If _ammo in WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_AMMO_SADARM: spawn ARTY_HandleSADARM, destroy original shell	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:32-35
ILLUM	If _ammo in WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_AMMO_ILLUMN: spawn ARTY_HandleILLUM, destroy original shell	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:38-41
LASER	If _ammo in WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_AMMO_LASER: snap to nearest LaserTarget within WFBE_C_ARTILLERY_AMMO_RANGE_LASER (175m) and quarter the dispersion	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:46-52; range Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:606
Standard relaunch	setPos shell to a 1000m-high spawn line toward target, setVelocity with z = velocity*2.03*-1	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:55-73
Vanilla MLRS fix	If WF_A2_Vanilla and _ammo is "R_MLRS"/"ARTY_R_227mm_HE_Rocket": hard setPos to land destination	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:75-80
Smoke-on-impact	If _ammo in WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_DEPLOY_SMOKE: poll shell position to last-known, spawn ARTY_SmokeShellWhite at impact	Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:68,85-100

The setVelocity z-component multiplier of 2.03 (Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:73) is the descent-steepness constant that turns the relaunched round into a near-vertical plunge; the SADARM/ILLUM paths set _keepShellAlive = false (lines 34,40) so the standard relaunch block, guarded by if (_keepShellAlive) at line 44, is skipped (Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:34,40,44).

HandleArty — restricted-flag GetIn guard [veh, ?, unit]

Attached as a GetIn event handler when an artillery vehicle is built (Client/Functions/Client_BuildUnit.sqf:388). Reads _unit = _this select 2, _vehicle = _this select 0 (Common_HandleArty.sqf:3-4), then waituntil the gun's restricted flag is set AND a player is in the crew, at which point it ejects the player with a getOut action and hintSilent "ARTILLERY MISSION RUNNING" (Common_HandleArty.sqf:7-8). This is the player-side counterpart to the restricted lock that FireArtillery sets at line 7 — it prevents a player climbing into a gun mid-fire-mission.

Ammunition Selection And Loading

GetArtilleryAmmoOptions — [_side, _artilleryIndex]

Returns the selectable ammo choices for one side and one artillery type (Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:8-9). Each entry is a 4-element array [displayName, projectileClass, magazineClass, ammoIndex] (Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:1-5,71).

Step	Behavior	Source
Index guard	Returns [] if _artilleryIndex < 0 or >= count _AMMOS	Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:24-25
Weapon magazines	Collects magazines from every muzzle of the type's _WEAPONS entry (defaults muzzle list to ["this"])	Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:28-39
Candidate mags	Concatenates weapon mags with _EXTENDED_MAGS for the type	Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:41-49
Upgrade read	_currentUpgrade = (GetSideUpgrades) select WFBE_UP_ARTYAMMO	Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:50
Match + gate	For each projectile in _AMMOS, find the magazine whose CfgMagazines ammo equals it; include only if _currentUpgrade >= _extendedUpgrade (extended-mag upgrade level, else 0)	Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:52-73

WFBE_UP_ARTYAMMO is upgrade index 17 (Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:54). Base (non-extended) magazines carry an implicit upgrade level of 0 and are always offered; extended mags are gated by their per-index _EXTENDED_MAGS_UPGRADE value (Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:64-68). The display name falls back to the projectile class when CfgMagazines has no displayName (Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf:70).

LoadArtilleryAmmo — [_artillery, _side, _artilleryIndex, _ammoIndex]

Loads one selected magazine onto a player-owned gun (Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:7-10). Returns true on success, false on any guard failure.

Guard / step	Behavior	Source
Null / dead	exitWith false if gun is null or not alive	Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:13-14
Gunner	exitWith false if gunner is null OR a player	Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:15-16
Resolve option	Looks up the matching option from GetArtilleryAmmoOptions by _ammoIndex; exitWith false if not found	Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:18-27
Find turret	Locates the turret path whose gear contains the type _WEAPONS entry via WFBE_CO_FNC_GetVehicleTurretsGear; exitWith false if absent	Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:31-45
Load	addMagazineTurret (if not already present) then loadMagazine [turretPath, weapon, magazine]	Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:47-51
Persist selection	setVariable ["WFBE_A_ArtilleryAmmoSelection", [_artilleryIndex, _ammoIndex], true] (public)	Common_LoadArtilleryAmmo.sqf:52

The public WFBE_A_ArtilleryAmmoSelection variable set at line 52 is read back by the fire-mission request to label the team warning with the chosen round (Client/Functions/Client_RequestFireMission.sqf:40).

EquipArtillery — [_unit, _index, _side]

Adds the special/extended magazines (WP, SADARM, …) that the side's current artillery-ammo upgrade has unlocked (Common_EquipArtillery.sqf:2-4). It reads WFBE_<side>_ARTILLERY_EXTENDED_MAGS for the type (early-exitWith if empty), the parallel _EXTENDED_MAGS_UPGRADE thresholds, and the side's WFBE_UP_ARTYAMMO level, then addMagazine for each extended mag whose threshold is met (Common_EquipArtillery.sqf:19-32). Unlike the selection helpers it does NOT pick a turret — it adds to the unit's general magazine pool, so it is called at build/upgrade/rearm time rather than per-shot.

Callers (all pass the type index from IsArtillery):

Caller	Context	Source
Construction_StationaryDefense.sqf:164	Base gun built by the construction worker	server
Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf:73	Artillery-ammo upgrade researched	server
Client_BuildUnit.sqf:376	Mobile gun built by a player	client
Client_FNC_Special.sqf:262	Special-action top-up of newly unlocked mags	client
Common_RearmVehicle.sqf:47 / Common_RearmVehicleOA.sqf:34	Rearm restocks extended mags	common

Reload Tweaks

HandleCommanderReload — Fired-EH [unit, …]

Attached as a Fired EH on commander-built guns (Server/Functions/Server_BuyUnit.sqf:117, Client/Functions/Client_BuildUnit.sqf:410). It reads the commander's current muzzle and, only for the affected weapons M242BC/M242, drops the reload time to 0.5s via setWeaponReloadingTime; any other weapon exitWith no-op (Common_HandleCommanderReload.sqf:4-15). This is a per-weapon rate-of-fire correction, independent of the _TIME_RELOAD config array that FireArtillery uses for burst pacing.

Support Helpers (compiled separately)

FireArtillery brackets the fire mission with two Common/Module/Arty/ helpers compiled in Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:93-94:

Helper	Contract	Source
ARTY_Prep	Engine off, re-enable driver AI, waitUntil {speed _vehicle < 1}, 3s settle	Common/Module/Arty/ARTY_mobileMissionPrep.sqf (called Common_FireArtillery.sqf:26)
ARTY_Finish	Re-enable driver AI, point gunner lookAt a depressed forward position (lowers the barrel)	Common/Module/Arty/ARTY_mobileMissionFinish.sqf (called Common_FireArtillery.sqf:93)

The special-round handlers ARTY_HandleSADARM and ARTY_HandleILLUM invoked from HandleArtillery (Common_HandleArtillery.sqf:33,39) are documented under Arty-Module-Special-Munitions.

Live Caller Summary

Caller	Function	Notes	Source
AI commander	WFBE_CO_FNC_FireArtillery	[_p, _artyTgt, _side, 60] after friendly-fire and range guards	Server/AI/Commander/AI_Commander_Strategy.sqf:273
Player fire mission	WFBE_CO_FNC_FireArtillery	per-gun forEach _units from GetTeamArtillery	Client/Functions/Client_RequestFireMission.sqf:9,15
Player fire mission	GetTeamArtillery, GetArtilleryAmmoOptions	discovers guns; labels the team warning with the selected round	Client/Functions/Client_RequestFireMission.sqf:9,39
AI commander	IsArtillery	pre-flight type + range check before firing	Server/AI/Commander/AI_Commander_Strategy.sqf:269

Continue Reading

• Artillery-Reference-Per-Faction — the per-faction config DATA (ranges, weapons, ammo, dispersion) that these functions index.
• Arty-Module-Special-Munitions — the SADARM/ILLUM/LASER/smoke round handlers spawned from HandleArtillery.
• Counter-Battery-Radar-System — the conditional Fired-EH detection hook attached inside FireArtillery.
• Side-Team-State-Function-Reference — the side/team helpers and side-text/side-value pattern reused across the artillery family.
• Config-Lookup-Helper-Reference — the config-array lookup helpers neighbouring this firing pipeline.