Robbing Uncle Sam Mission Guide: Forklift Controls & Ryder Protection

Robbing Uncle Sam is one of the most notoriously chaotic early missions in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Given by Ryder outside his home in Ganton, the mission requires Carl Johnson to infiltrate the heavily guarded National Guard military depot at Ocean Docks, breach a secure munitions warehouse, operate a motorized forklift to load six heavy wooden crates, and escape armed military jeeps.

The mission is notorious among players because of Ryder's suicidal artificial intelligence. While you are slowly maneuvering the forklift inside the warehouse, armed military soldiers continuously spawn outside and attack Ryder. If you do not dismount frequently to eliminate them, Ryder's health bar will drain in seconds, resulting in immediate mission failure.

Mission Briefing & Key Data

Storyline Context: Ryder's Military Ambition

Ryder believes the Grove Street Families are losing ground to the Ballas because their weapons are outdated scrap provided by Emmet. He convinces Carl to pull off an audacious daylight raid on the United States National Guard depot at Ocean Docks to steal crates of military-grade firearms and explosives. Carl reluctantly agrees to drive the getaway Boxville truck.

Recommended Loadout Before Starting

• Full Body Armor: Visit the Ammu-Nation in Downtown Los Santos or pick up the free armor under the bridge near Ganton. National Guard soldiers carry high-damage weapons that shred unarmored health.
• Micro-Uzi or Tec-9 (500+ Rounds): You need a weapon with rapid target acquisition to snap between guards when dismounting the forklift.
• Full CJ Health: Eat a meal at Cluckin' Bell or Burger Shot before triggering the mission cutscene.

Step-by-Step Tactical Walkthrough

Phase 1: Infiltrating Ocean Docks

1. Climb into the driver's seat of the brown Boxville truck outside Ryder's house.
2. Drive south through East Los Santos down to the Ocean Docks military compound.
3. Stop the truck outside the locked iron security gates.
4. Climb over the perimeter wall on foot or shoot the electronic switch located beside the gate post. The gate will slide open.
5. Eliminate the two National Guard soldiers patrolling the compound driveway.
6. Return to the Boxville and drive it inside the yard, parking its rear doors facing the large warehouse bay entrance.

Phase 2: Breaching the Munitions Warehouse

1. Shoot the red electronic control panel on the warehouse exterior wall to raise the security shutter.
2. Immediately draw your weapon and eliminate the two armed soldiers waiting inside the warehouse doorway.
3. Step inside to confirm the area is temporarily clear.

Phase 3: Forklift Loading and Ryder Defense (The Crucial Stage)

Inside the warehouse, you will see a small yellow motorized forklift and four large wooden munitions crates. Two additional crates rest outside in the loading bay. You must load all six crates into the back of the Boxville truck.

Heist Phase 3

Forklift Controls by Platform

• PC: Numpad 8 to lower the forks, Numpad 2 to raise the forks. Steer using standard driving keys.
• Android Mobile: Dedicated Up and Down hydraulic fork buttons appear above your vehicle accelerator.
• Controller: Push the Right Analog Stick up or down to adjust fork height.

The Ryder Survival Golden Rule

Critical Survival Rule: Do not attempt to load all crates consecutively! Every 30 to 45 seconds, a new National Guard soldier will run into the compound yard from the street. Ryder will yell: "CJ, they're on me!" Whenever Ryder shouts, press the vehicle exit key immediately, run out to the yard, and gun down the attackers before returning to the forklift.

Optimal Crate Loading Sequence

1. Load Crate 1 (Inside Warehouse): Lower forks to floor level, drive straight into the crate slots, lift the forks 12 inches off the ground, drive out to the truck, position the crate over the truck bed, and lower forks. Back away cleanly.
2. Clear Incoming Wave 1: Dismount the forklift and sprint outside to eliminate the soldier shooting Ryder.
3. Load Crate 2 (Inside Warehouse): Repeat the loading process.
4. Clear Incoming Wave 2: Kill the guard approaching near the gate.
5. Load Crate 3 & 4 (Inside Warehouse): Clear the final interior boxes.
6. Load Crate 5 & 6 (Outside in the Yard): The final two crates sit outside near the warehouse wall. Because you are already in the yard, you can keep direct visual contact with Ryder while loading them.

Phase 4: The High-Speed Getaway to Emmet's

1. Once the sixth crate is placed inside the truck bed, Carl and Ryder climb into the cab.
2. Floor the accelerator and burst through the Ocean Docks gates.
3. Two heavily armored National Guard Patriot military jeeps will pursue you at high speed.
4. Horn Detonation Tactic: Tap your vehicle horn button (Caps Lock on PC or the horn icon on touch controls). Tapping the horn commands Ryder to toss an explosive ammunition crate out the back of the truck directly into the path of the pursuing Patriots, detonating them instantly!
5. Drive smoothly through Willowfield and park the Boxville inside the marker at Emmet's warehouse to complete the mission.

Video Walkthrough: Robbing Uncle Sam

Frequently Asked Questions