Company of Heroes cover, suppression and squad survival
Keep squads fighting from the right side of cover and retreat before a wipe.
Edition covered
The original 2006 Company of Heroes campaign and American-versus-Wehrmacht multiplayer foundations. Pictures show the original game. Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor add factions, campaigns and units that are outside the core tables here.
Read cover direction
Sandbags, walls and craters provide protection only in the relevant direction. A squad behind a wall can become exposed when the enemy moves around the end, so reposition as the firing angle changes.
| State | Meaning | Tactical response |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy cover | Strong protection from the covered direction | Use it for a sustained firefight |
| Light cover | Partial protection | Improve position when possible |
| Open ground | Little terrain protection | Cross quickly or with support |
| Negative cover | Especially exposed terrain such as roads | Avoid fighting there unnecessarily |
| Garrison | Building-based protection and firing positions | Check windows, damage and enemy weapons |
Flank a machine gun
A heavy machine-gun team covers a limited arc. Use another squad, smoke or indirect fire to create a safe approach rather than marching the whole force through the same suppressed lane.
| Situation | Useful response | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| One squad suppressed | Attack from a second angle | Forces the weapon to choose a target |
| Known MG position | Use mortar fire | Attacks without crossing its arc |
| Blocked approach | Use smoke where available | Reduces the defenders firing advantage |
| Nearly destroyed squad | Retreat early | Preserves the squad for reinforcement |
| Flanked support weapon | Reposition or retreat | A fixed arc cannot cover every direction |
Reinforce a surviving squad
Retreat sends infantry toward headquarters with defensive benefits, but does not make it invulnerable. Use it before the last few models are trapped; surviving squads retain value through experience and upgrades.
Inspect buildings before garrisoning
Buildings protect infantry but have fixed windows and can be damaged or destroyed. A garrison with no useful firing side may contribute little, and flame or demolition weapons can make staying inside dangerous.
Buildings protect infantry but have fixed windows and can be damaged or destroyed. A garrison with no useful firing side may contribute little, and flame or demolition weapons can make staying inside dangerous.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Publisher game and edition listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Original publisher manual | cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com |