U.S. Forces Commanders

Welcome to the U.S. Forces Commander Guide for Company of Heroes 2. This guide will describe the commanders available to the U.S. Forces, both "Common" and "Rare." Each commander has five "doctrinal abilities" that are unlocked by command points (CP) as you progress through a multiplayer game. The guide will be updated as new commanders are added or current commanders are changed.

"Focus your strategy around Allied air superiority. Deploy elite infantry units from the air and support them with weapon drops from cargo planes. If the enemy deploys heavy armor, call in a P-47 Thunderbolt to strafe the target."

!Pathfinders are a long-range support squad with two sniper rifles. When firing on enemies with low health, Pathfinders have a chance to instantly kill a squad member (100% chance to snipe entities below 40% hit-points on next shot). They have an 80% chance to hit at long range. Use Pathfinders to deploy an Airdrop Beacon that allows Paratroops to drop in safely, and reinforce.Tips from COH2.ORG

!Be careful about dropping Paratroopers into the fog of war, too deep behind enemy lines, into forested areas, or urban environments. Unlike in COH1, Paratrooper soldiers can die if they land in trees or other obstacles! Use Pathfinder beacons to reinforce in the field, especially after airdropping an MG or AT gun. Paratroopers can be upgraded with either Thompson SMGs or Browning LMGs, the latter of which are extraordinarily good at long range. So good, in fact, that we recommend you get LMGs every time with the current weapon profile.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The P-47 Rocket Strafe is expensive, so use it wisely and in combination with other fighting units. See if you can prevent mobile targets from escaping by getting an engine crit first, then hit them hard with the rockets. The ability deals massive damage, but it is only good against vehicles.Tips from COH2.ORG

"Infantry combined with artiillery support, hold the enemy in place while bombardin them to dust. Advanced weapons such as the M1919A6 help infantry to hold the line while mobile artillery units move into place to break the attack. When the enemy is locked down, time on target artillery ran rapidly destroy them."

!Watch for grenades when in cover using these LMGs.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The Priest is an artillery platform with a very long range. To protect itself, the Priest can engage targets directly using its 50cal HMG mounted on it, but it can just deal damage vs. infantry and not tanks.Tips from COH2.ORG

"Overwhelm the enemy with elite American armored vehicles and supporting infantry. Assault engineers can clear fortifications to allow vehicles to advance, while Sherman Bulldozers can be used to setup a roadblock or defensive line. The enemy's strongpoints can be bombarded with 240mm artillery prior to an attack."

!Assault Engineers are one of the few American units that are capable of being upgraded with flamethrowers, making them very important and useful on city maps with lots of garrison-able buildings. They can also plant demo charges and repair vehicles. Trade with your teammate and take their WC51 Truck for a Pseudo M3-A1 clown car.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The Wolverine should not engage directly with tanks. Its low armor is made up by its speed, so use it as a Hit and Run vehicle versus enemy tanks, and aim for their rear armor.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The Bulldozer cannot engage armor effectively, but can provide support to tank destroyers and build barriers to provide cover and prevent enemy armor movement.Tips from COH2.ORG

"Focused on intelligence and reconnaissance, this Company Commander relies on its ability to observe enemy movement and react quickly. This agile Commander will provide vital enemy intel using forward observers and high altitude recon sweeps while also being able to swiftly respond with light operation support in the form of M8 Greyhounds and Airdropped Combat Groups."

!Hop from building to building to take full advantage of the extra sight range, while also protecting your squad from hidden surprises.Tips from COH2.ORG

"Light Vehicles provide valuable support to advancing American infantry units. Take advantage of a wide range of light US vehicles along with air support, as the battle escalates withdraw lighter units to replace them with more armored counterparts. Heavy artillery can be used to destroy infantry or provide a support role against enemy vehicles."

!Mechanized Company is a great for players who want to field armor early and often. Make your early game Riflemen even harder to deal with by deploying a WC51 Jeep to flank enemy MG-42s and Kubelwagons. Refund the cost of your light vehicles with Withdraw and Refit and use those resources to get heavier armor. When enemy positions prove too tough to break with armored assaults you can rely on the 155mm Barrage to crack them open. Mechanized Company creates a perfect double threat for the enemy: great US infantry and armored support at all stages of the game.Tips from COH2.ORG

! The Jeep has a vehicle crew just like all other tanks so it can repair itself when out of combat and capture points. A squad can ride in the back of the Jeep but they will die if the Jeep dies. An extremely useful unit that pushes the US early game to a new level. If in a 2v2+ with an Armor company teammate,disembark the crew and give it to your Armor Company teammate with flamer assault engineers for a USF clown car.Tips from COH2.ORG

!Units that withdraw with this ability refund 75% of their cost back to your resources. The unit will move to the edge of the map and disappear. The process cannot be reversed. Replace your WC51 and other vehicles when the battlefield becomes too dangerous for them! Remember, the crew of the vehicle is lost when you Withdraw and Refit it. Save your best veteran crews by replacing them with cheap Rear Echelon squads.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The Assault Engineers in the back can be upgraded with a Flamethrower and fire out of the back of the M3 Halftrack. They can also lay AT mines and battlefield defenses. Be aware that the M3 Half-track is lightly armored,and not durable,with only 200 hitpoints. -- small arms fire will hurt it, so be sure to repair it in between attacks.Tips from COH2.ORG

!Recon Sweep targets a line across the map and gives brief vision across that line. You can choose the direction that the plane will fly.Tips from COH2.ORG

!This is one of the most well rounded artillery strikes that the US Forces get. The shells start dropping quickly and offer a strong payload. This is a solid barrage that is effective against all targets.Tips from COH2.ORG

"The Rifleman is the backbone of the American army emphasizing the American doctrine of versatility and individual firepower. Rifleman receive additional time in training to be more experienced against multiple threats as well as having access to more versatile weapon packages. Mobile vehicles and a smokescreen can be used to support the rifleman advance."

!Use this ability to cleverly flank weapon teams and out-manuever to enemy squads. Squads cannot fire on the move while this ability is active.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The Sherman "Easy Eight" provides mobile firepower greater than the standard Sherman. It was nicknamed thusly because this version had the new HVSS (Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension) suspension type which unlike previous Shermans, gave a smooth, "easy", ride. This Sherman is buildable from the Battalion Command Post as a passive commander ability,meaning you can build it at any time(no command point restriction) as long as you have selected Rifle Company and have the Battalion command post unlocked.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The US Forces lack a flamethrower in their base faction, and Flamethrowers add a boost to firepower and garrison clearing ability.Tips from COH2.ORG

!Use White Phosphorous to obscure an advance, or cover a retreat. The added bonus of doing damage over time against infantry can help simultaneously clear AT Guns, Machine Guns, and other weapon teams before an advance. If the opponent attempts to move out of the smoke they can be caught off guard by an assault. The phosphorous itself won't kill the enemy units, but it can take them down to 1 hit-point.Tips from COH2.ORG

"A smoke barrage is fired at the target area. This will obscure the sight of units. Blocks sight of weapon teams and is cheap and fast to recharge. "

!Use this smoke to obscure an advance, or cover a retreat. If the opponent attempts to move out of the smoke they can be caught off guard by an assault. .Tips from COH2.ORG

"Vehicles and infantry within a radius of 30 ingame meters will coordinate together to improve their potency. Lasts 30 seconds,so time well."

!"Infantry: -20% Reload +30% Accuracy, +35% sight Vehicle: +35% sight, -30% Reload, +5 range"Stats from COH2.ORG

!Definitely fight Heavy Tanks toe-to-toe. Use your range advantage(45) and/or a spotter vs other heavy tanks. Use the Combined Arms ability to further exacerbate this range advantage.Tips from COH2.ORG

!Watch for grenades when in cover using these LMGs.Tips from COH2.ORG

!You cannot reinforce with the quad-mount upgrade.Tips from COH2.ORG

!The Sherman calliope is helpless to direct enemy assaults. Protect it with other units. It may look like a tank, but it is not a tank. It is a rocket launcher.Tips from COH2.ORG

The tools are at your fingertips. Get out there an use them. France, Belgium and the Netherlands ain't gonna liberate themselves! It's on you, noble young Commander. As in the motto of the mighty 101st Screaming Eagles, you sir, have a rendezvous with destiny.