COD MW4 Stranded Map Guide: All 26 Yellow Crates & 50 Notes Locations Explained

The Stranded mission in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a marathon, and the collectibles scattered across its frozen landscape make it one of the most demanding completionist challenges in the campaign. If you're staring at a half-finished checklist and wondering where the last few crates are hiding, this COD MW4 Stranded map guide breaks down every yellow supply crate and note location so you can wrap up the mission with your achievements intact. Understanding the COD MW4 Stranded map layout isn't just about bragging rights — the supplies and weapons you pull from these crates directly affect your base camp upgrades and your ability to earn the Scavenger trophy.

Below, we've compiled coordinates, keypad solutions, and route strategies drawn from player experience and community reports to help you navigate the mission efficiently.

What Makes the Stranded Map So Demanding?

Stranded is the tenth main mission in MW4, and it's absolutely packed with side content. According to community reports, there are 26 yellow supply crates spread across the map — 24 in fixed locations and 2 that move along patrol routes. On top of that, there are 58 collectible notes, though you only need 50 for the associated achievement.

The mission rewards exploration heavily. Every crate you open grants gear based on how many you've already collected, so the order matters less than the total. Meanwhile, notes unlock weapon blueprints and loadout options at base camp — tactical boots, snow ghillie suits, silenced snipers, and grenade launchers all become available as you find them.

COD MW4 Stranded Map: Keypad Codes and Locked Containers

Several yellow crates are locked inside shipping containers that require four-digit keypad codes. The good news? Each container has a note nearby that reveals the pattern. Here are the confirmed codes from player experience:

A crucial tip from community reports: opening any yellow crate inside a shipping container grants intel that marks other coded containers on your tacmap. This means your first coded crate effectively becomes a treasure map for the rest.

How the Code Puzzles Work

Each locked container follows a simple numerical pattern rather than requiring memorization. For example, the Cliff Near Base Camp container shows previous codes of 9300, 6400, and 3500 — subtracting 2900 from the last entry gives you 0600. The Big Sign container follows 1000, 1200, 1230, and the next step adds a 4 to the final digit for 1234. Once you understand the logic, these puzzles take seconds to solve.

Static Yellow Crate Locations by Region

Navigating the COD MW4 Stranded map efficiently means grouping crates by region rather than chasing them randomly. Here's how the 24 static crates break down geographically.

Base Camp and Radio Tower Area

Two crates sit immediately outside your starting area. The radio tower crate requires a vertical climb using copper pipes and red-and-white marked ledges after you speak with Kal and cross the old bridge. At the top, you'll find supplies and a note alongside the crate. The Cliff Near Base Camp container (646, 158) is just north, tucked in a green shipping container beside a truck.

Outpost Crates (11 Total)

Every outpost on the map contains a yellow crate, typically inside the main command building or guard structure. Clearing each outpost is mandatory for full completion anyway, so treat these as two birds with one stone.

Objective-Linked Crates

The Jamming Station objective hides a crate at the base of the comms tower (671, 121). The SAM site offers one at the foot of the statue (610, 125), and the Bunker mission places one at the entrance (657, 205). Three crates also hide in trickier spots: a locked house at 651, 134 (climb the awning and drop through the roof), a tower at 648, 192 (use the copper pipe near the tree), and a booby-trapped store at 605, 115 (lob a grenade inside before entering).

The Two Mobile Crates: Train and Convoy Truck

Two of the 26 crates don't stay put, and these are the ones that trip up most players. Community reports confirm both follow fixed patrol routes.

The Train Crate: A train circles the map continuously. The easiest interception point is Logistics Station #10 in the southwest, which functions as an enemy train depot. Hop aboard when it passes and search the container car.

The Convoy Truck Crate: An enemy convoy truck circles the mountain where Base Camp sits, appearing as a red marker on your tacmap. If it doesn't spawn naturally, fast travel to Infantry Checkpoint #3 and start a firefight — reinforcements often arrive in the truck itself. Alternatively, equip your tracking device from your backpack and follow the signal; the larger the red number, the closer you are. You can destroy the truck with a mortar strike and still loot the crate from the wreckage.

Sewer Puzzle: The Hardest Crate on the COD MW4 Stranded Map

Southwest of base camp, a white-and-blue water treatment building hides a ladder into the sewer system. This is arguably the most complex collectible on the entire COD MW4 Stranded map, requiring you to follow two directional patterns while avoiding traps.

Take your time and go prone through the tunnels. A single wrong turn triggers traps, though the checkpoint after section one lets you retry without starting over. According to player experience, the final room contains a note, a yellow crate, and a pile of supplies worth grabbing before you exit.

Yellow Crate Rewards: What You Get and When

Rewards are tied to your running total, not the specific crate you open. This means no crate is "better" than another — the sequence determines your loot. Here's the reward progression from community documentation:

If you've already picked up an item through normal exploration, the crate substitutes armor plates and base camp supplies instead. For a broader look at how MW4's mission structure compares to earlier entries, see the official Call of Duty site.

Achievement Tips: Scavenger and Incoming

Two achievements tie directly into map completion. The Scavenger trophy requires you to repair every base camp item, so spend your salvage liberally — buy grenades, Molotovs, Semtex, and every available upgrade before finishing the mission. Hoarding supplies won't help you.

For Incoming, reach the SAM site at the end of the mission and prepare before triggering the defense. Equip drones and mines, then destroy the incoming reinforcement vehicles as they arrive. Grab the three collectibles near the statue first so you're not distracted mid-fight.

FAQ

How many yellow crates are on the COD MW4 Stranded map? There are 26 total — 24 in fixed locations and 2 on moving patrol routes (the train and the convoy truck).

Do I need all 58 notes for the achievement? No. The achievement only requires 50 notes, giving you a buffer if you miss a few during your playthrough.

What is the code for the Cliff Near Base Camp container? The code is 0600, derived by subtracting 2900 from the previous code of 3500 shown on the nearby note.

Can I find the moving crates after destroying the truck or train? Yes. The convoy truck's crate can be looted from the wreckage, and your tracking device will still point you toward it if you've already blown it up.