Company of Heroes 3 Factions - All Four Launch Factions and Their Battlegroups

Company of Heroes 3 launches as the biggest entry in the series’ history and, whether you’re all about single-player, enjoy teaming up in co-op, or competing in multiplayer, mastering and understanding the game’s factions and their battlegroups is instrumental to emerging victorious.

CoH 3’s playable factions each have their own playstyle and units, giving players the chance to pick between more versatile, defensive, or mobile armies prior to setting foot on the battlefield. While the majority are returning from previous entries, the third entry in the series also sees a new and highly requested faction being introduced. The tech trees of past games have also been reworked into battlegroups.

Company of Heroes 3 Factions and Battlegroups

Simply put, Company of Heroes 3 will launch with four factions that can be controlled across its various game modes. Its dynamic campaign focuses on the Allied efforts to gain a foothold in Italy, while its narrative-driven North Africa operation is all about the Deutsches Afrika Korps. The Wehrmacht then neatly rounds off the roster.

Although you’ll encounter them during the North African Operation in a more limited sense, Company of Heroes 3’s battlegroups mainly come into play in skirmish matches and multiplayer.

They basically replace CoH2’s commanders, granting more specialized abilities that you can unlock using commander points earned while playing.

Each faction has access to three Battlegroups when CoH3 launches. Each battlegroup has two trees comprised of different abilities, some of which are mutually exclusive.

You can equip three battlegroups into your loadout prior to entering a match, but have to commit to a single one during the match proper.

Here is how Company of Heroes 3’s factions and Battlegroups appear in-game at launch. It’s worth keeping in mind that commander point amounts and effects may be altered for balance purposes in future patches.

British Forces

Company of Heroes 3 depicts the British forces as a younger and more mobile army than past entries did. They’re meant to be the easiest faction to engage with as you head into the game, boasting a simplified tech tree and streamlined units which can be used both defensively or offensively.

Indian Artillery Battlegroup

Focused on elite Gurkha infantry and artillery bombardment.

Infantry Assault

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Volunteer Infantry (2 CP): Reduces the reinforcement cost and time of all infantry squads by 33%.
• Valour (1 CP): Improves offensive and defensive capabilities of infantry as they take casualties.
• Tier 2
• Gurkha Rifles Section (1 CP): Deploys a Gurkha Rifles Section.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Pillage (3 CP): Infantry squads Grant Resources to the player when they kill enemy infantry squad members or vehicles.
• War Cry (1 CP): Globally increases the speed and offensive capabilities of all infantry squads when active.

Artillery Support

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Towed ML 4.2-inch Heavy Mortar (1 CP): Deploys a CMP 15cwt Truck towing a ML 4.2-inch Heavy Mortar.
• Artillery Saturation (1 CP): All artillery units and mortars will fire additional shells during barrages.
• Tier 2
• Off-map Airburst Barrage (2 CP): Designate an airburst barrage over the target location.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Perimeter Monitor (3 CP): Designates off-map artillery to overwatch all friendly sectors.
• BL 5.5 Artillery Emplacement (2 CP): Enables Royal Engineer Sections to construct BL 5.5 Artillery Emplacements.

British Armored Battlegroup

Focused on supporting infantry with armored vehicles.

Heavy Armor Support

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Rigorous Vehicle Training (1 CP): Globally increases the experience rate gain of all vehicle units.
• Radio Net (1 CP): Increases vehicle accuracy, sight, and rate of fire when active.
• Tier 2
• Crusader AA Medium Tank (4 CP): Deploys a Crusader AA Medium Tank.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Churchill IV Heavy Tank (4 CP): Deploys a Churchill IV Heavy Tank.
• Churchill IV Black Prince Heavy Tank (6 CP): Deploys a Churchill Black Prince Heavy Tank.

Field Support and Logistics

• Tier 1
• Engineer Detachments (1 CP): Reduces the deployment rate and reinforcement cost of Royal Engineers by 25%.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Light Vehicle Withdraw and Refit (1 CP): Orders a light vehicle to be withdrawn from the battlefield.
• Forward Repair Assembly (1 CP): Allows Royal Engineer Sections to construct the Forward Repair Assembly.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Recon Artillery (4 CP): Designate a recon loiter over the target area that will call-in off-map artillery strikes on hostile units.
• Designate Targets (1 CP): Designate a recon loiter over the target area that will mark targets in the area.

British Air and Sea Battlegroup

Focused on utilizing air and sea support.

Royal Navy Support

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Supply Surplus (1 CP): Resource points can now be upgraded with Resource Caches and Strategic Points can now be upgraded with Field Infirmaries.
• Naval Blockade (2 CP): Enemies cannot capture neutral territory and resource points when active.
• Tier 2
• Centaur Medium Tank (4 CP): Deploys a Centaur Medium Tank.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Assault Flares (1 CP): Illuminates all enemy front-line sectors with off-map flares. Infantry units have increased Speed and Offensive when active.
• Naval Bombardment (2 CP): Designates a 356mm naval barrage at the target area.

Royal Air Force

• Tier 1
• Commando Section Paradrop (2 CP): Paradrops a Commando Section at the target location.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• M1 Pack Howitzer Paradrop (1 CP): Paradrops an M1 Pack Howitzer at the target location.
• Commando LMG Section Paradrop (1 CP): Paradrops a Commando LMG Section at the target location.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Incendiary Bombing Run (1 CP): Designates a heavy incendiary bombing run over the target area.
• Anti-tank Rocket Loiter (3 CP): Designates two Hawker Typhoons to overwatch an area.

US Forces

A staple of the series, the US Forces will certainly feel familiar to returning players. This CoH 3 faction boasts flexible infantry, aggressive light vehicles, and its fair share of tanks. Each unit can also pick between two Veterancy abilities at Veterancy level 1, helping them specialize to more efficiently deal with the battle ahead.

Airborne Battlegroup

Focused on using deadly airstrikes and airdropped elite infantry to dominate the battlefield.

Aerial Support

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Smoke Bombing Run (0 CP): Rapidly airdrops smoke pots onto the battlefield.
• Recon Loiter (1 CP): Designates a recon loiter over the target area.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Supply Drop (1 CP): Paradrops two Munitions and two Medical Supply Crates to the target location.
• Paradrop Reinforcements (2 CP): Designates a reinforcement loiter over the target area.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Dual P-47 Rocket Strike (3 CP): Designates a dual rocket strike over the target area.
• Carpet Bombing Run (5 CP): Designates a wide-area carpet bombing run after a long delay.

Paradropped Infantry

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Pathfinders (0 CP): All current and future Scout Squads are upgraded to Pathfinders.
• Heavy Machine Gun Paradrop (0 CP): Paradrops a .30cal heavy machine gun team to the target location.
• Tier 2
• Paratrooper Squad Paradrop (1 CP): Paradrops a Paratrooper Squad to the target location.
• Tier 3
• Anti-tank Gun Team Paradrop (2 CP): Paradrops an M1 57mm Anti-tank gun Team to the target location.

Armored Battlegroup

Focused on improving vehicle production, survivability, and performance.

Engineering Corp

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Assault Engineers (0 CP): Bolsters Engineer squads with an additional soldier, health, and improves their offensive power.
• Veteran Crews (0 CP): Grants Veterancy Level 1 to all vehicles.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Field Repairs (2 CP): Vehicle crews automatically repair their own vehicles when stationary and out of combat.
• M31 Recovery Vehicle (1 CP): Deploys an M31 Recovery Vehicle.
• Tier 3
• War Machine (3 CP): Reduces the Manpower cost of all vehicles from Production Buildings.

Armored Doctrine

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Fast Deploy (1 CP): Reduces the production time of vehicles from Production Buildings.
• Strength in Steel (2 CP): Reduces the population costs of all vehicles, reducing Manpower drain and enabling the creation of a larger army
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• M8 Scott SPG (3 CP): Deploys an M8 Scott armed with a 75mm light howitzer.
• Seek and Destroy (2 CP): Globally increases vehicle speed, rate of fire, and accuracy while active.
• Tier 3
• M4A3E8 Combat Group (8 CP): Deploys an M4A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight with a Riflemen Squad escort.

Special Operations Battlegroup

Focused on using versatile light vehicles, air support, elite commandos, and raiding tactics to cut through the frontlines.

Combat Support

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• M29 Weasel Recon Vehicle (0 CP): Deploys an M29 Weasel.
• M29 Weasel Assault Team (1 CP): Deploys an M29 Weasel, with an Engineer Squad armed with an M2 Flamethrower.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Mark Vehicle (2 CP): Designates a reconnaissance plane to mark an enemy vehicle.
• P-47 Strafing Runs (3 CP): Designates a dual strafing run over the target area.
• Tier 3
• M4A1 Sherman Whizbang (6 CP): Deploys an M4A1 Sherman Whizbang.

Combat Operations

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Raiding Flares (1 CP): Designates a flare barrage at the target area.
• Smoke Screen (1 CP): Designates a smoke barrage at the target area.
• Tier 2
• SSF Commando Squad (2 CP): Deploys an SSF Commando Squad.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Assault Operation (2 CP): Globally increases infantry capture and decapture speeds while making them harder to hit when active.
• Air Re-supply Operation (3 CP): Paradrops an M1 57mm anti-tank gun, M1919 machine gun, and a fuel crate to the target area.

Afrikakorps (DAK)

Company of Heroes 3’s sole newcomer rolls in as a mobile, mechanized force that focuses on utilizing speed and mixing infantry units with powerful vehicles. Light vehicles and heavy support weapons keep the faction in the battle early on before it transitions towards becoming a more robust armored force in the later stages of a match.

Italian Infantry Battlegroup

Focused on Guastatori Assault Engineers, artillery, and counter attacks.

Combat Support

• Tier 1
• Guastatori Squad (2 CP): Deploys a Guastatori Squad.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Defensive Operations (1 CP): Enables Panzerpioneers and Guastatori to build Teller Mines, Tank Traps, HMG Bunkers, and Reinforced Barbed Wire.
• Territory Booby Traps (2 CP): Enables Panzerpioneers and Guastatori to plant Booby Traps on captured territory and Victory Points.
• Tier 3
• Towed Cannone da 105/28 Field Howitzer (4 CP): Deploys a 2.5-tonne Utility Truck towing a Cannone da 105/28 Field Howitzer.

Defensive Warfare

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• L6/40 Light Tank Combat Group (2 CP): Deploys two L6/40 Light Tanks.
• Hold the Line (1 CP): Designated friendly sector will improve the performance of infantry within the sector and be more difficult to capture.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Registered Artillery (2 CP): Designates a light artillery barrage over the selected territory or Victory point.
• Propaganda War (3 CP): Designates a barrage of propaganda leaflets over the target area.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Prepared Positions (3 CP): All team and weapon emplacements have increased line of sight and take less incoming damage.
• Obice 305 mm Barrage (4 CP): Designates a 305 mm barrage over the target area. Flares are launched during the barrage.

Italian Combined Arms Battlegroup

Focused on using a mixture of air, infantry, and mechanized forces to gain the upper hand.

Combined Arms

• Tier 1
• Bersaglieri Squad (0 CP): Deploys a Bersaglieri Squad.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Bersaglieri Bolster (2 CP): Increases the size of all Bersaglieri Squads by 1.
• Vehicle Support - Secure Location (2 CP): Increases the capture and decapture rate of infantry when they are near vehicles.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Breda Model 30 Light Machine Guns (2 CP): Globally upgrades Bersaglieri and Panzergrenadiers with one Breda Model 30 Light Machine Gun. Squads can be further upgraded with one additional Breda Model 30.
• Vehicle Support - Force Recon (2 CP): Increases the life of sight of infantry when they are near vehicles.

Italian Armor

• Tier 1
• Semovente da 75/18 Assault Gun (3 CP): Deploys a Semovente da 75/18 Assault Gun.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Carro Armato M13/40 Light Tank (2 CP): Deploys a Carro Armato M13/40 Light Tank.
• Strafing Run (1 CP): Designates two JU-87s to strafe the target area.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Pact of Steel (2 CP): Reduces the cost of all light vehicles.
• Artillery Cover (2 CP): Designates light and medium off-map artillery to overwatch the target area.

Armored Support Battlegroup

Focused on armored assaults and mechanized warfare.

Support and Airpower

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Vehicle Awareness (1 CP): Enables vehicles to utilize the Vehicle Awareness ability.
• Salvage Kits (1 CP): Enables Panzerpioneers and Panzergrenadiers to utilize the Rapid Salvage ability.
• Tier 2
• Panzer Storm (3 CP): Globally increases the speed of all vehicles and grants them immunity to engine criticals when active.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Stuka Dive Bomb (4 CP): Designates a dive bomb run over the target area.
• Stuka Anti-tank Loiter (3 CP): Designates two Stukas to overwatch an area.

Armored Warfare

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Veteran Gunners (2 CP): Improves the penetration of all vehicle units.
• Superior Fire Drills (2 CP): Improves the performance of coaxial and hull machine guns for all vehicle units.
• Tier 2
• Flammpanzer III Medium Tank SD.KFZ. 141 (3 CP): Deploys a Flammpanzer III Medium Tank.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Command Panzer IV F Medium Tank (3 CP): Deploys a Command Panzer IV Medium Tank.
• Battlefield Salvage (3 CP): Enemy vehicles that are destroyed by affected units grant Manpower and Fuel when active.

Wehrmacht

CoH3’s Wehrmacht faction remains a robust, defensive force that’s also capable of mounting powerful counterattacks when it needs to pierce enemy lines. Its tech structure has changed a bit from their previous iterations, players being required to make a choice between “investing further in their buildings, unlocking units such as the Wirbelwind or StuG, or progressing upwards to the likes of the Panzer IV.”

Mechanized Battlegroup

Focused on using light vehicles, artillery and assault groups to puncture the enemy lines before heavy armor reaches the front.

Mechanized Armor

• Tier 1
• Raid Package (2 CP): Globally allows light vehicles to capture territory and all vehicles can use the Smoke Canisters ability.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• StuG Assault Group (3 CP): Deploys a StuG III D Assault Gun with a Panzergrenadier Squad escort.
• 8 Rad Armored Car (2 CP): Deploys an 8 Rad Armored Car.
• Tier 3
• Panther Heavy Tank (8 CP): Deploys a Panther Heavy Tank to the target location.

Mechanized Support

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Fuel Seizure (1 CP): Infantry that capture a fuel point immediately grant +5 fuel.
• Spotting Scopes (1 CP): Enables vehicles to be upgraded with spotting scopes to improve line of sight.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Mechanized Assault (2 CP): Vehicles slowly auto-repair and improve the survivability of nearby infantry.
• Zeroing Artillery Barrage (3 CP): Designates an artillery barrage at the target position.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Stoßtruppen Assault Package (2 CP): Enables Stoßtruppen to be upgraded with StG 44 assault rifles and Camouflage.
• Wespe Self-Propelled Artillery (4 CP): Deploys a Wespe Self-Propelled Artillery to the target location.

Breakthrough Battlegroup

Focused on using assault infantry and breakthrough tactics to prepare your economy to support heavy armor.

Assault Forces

• Tier 1
• Assault Grenadiers (0 CP): Enables Grenadier Squads to be upgraded with the Assault Package.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Breakthrough (1 CP): Globally increases the capture speed of all infantry when active.
• Smoke Bombing Run (1 CP): Rapidly drops smoke pots onto the battlefield.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Mechanized Assault Group (3 CP): Deploys a 251 Medium Carrier with a Stoßtruppen Squad escort.
• Incendiary Bombing Run (2 CP): Designates an incendiary bombing run over the target area.

Armored Offensive

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Rapid Production (1 CP): Enables vehicles to be manufactured at blistering speeds to bolster the front lines.
• 2.5-tonne Cargo Truck (1 CP): Deploys a 2.5-tonne Cargo Truck.
• Tier 2
• Blitzkrieg (3 CP): Globally increases vehicle speed, rate of fire, and vehicles are harder to hit while active.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Panzer IV Command Tank SD.KFZ. 161/1 (4 CP): Deploys a Command Panzer IV Medium Tank.
• Tiger Heavy Tank SD.KFZ 182 (9 CP): Deploys a Tiger Heavy Tank.

Luftwaffe Battlegroup

Focused on using airborne infantry and heavy emplacements alongside additional air support.

Luftwaffe Air-to-Ground Support

• Tier 1 (mutually exclusive)
• Reconnaisance Run (1 CP): Designates a recon run over the target area.
• Stuka Strafing Run (2 CP): Designates a strafing run over the target area.
• Tier 2
• Fallschirmjäger Squad Paradrop (1 CP): Paradrops a Fallschirmjäger Squad to the target location.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• Fragmentation Bombs (2 CP): Designates a fragmentation bombing run over the target area.
• Stuka Loiter (4 CP): Designates two Stukas to overwatch an area.

Luftwaffe Field Support

• Tier 1
• Fallschirmpioneer Squad Paradrop (0 CP): Paradrops a Fallschirmpioneer Squad at the target location.
• Tier 2 (mutually exclusive)
• Infantry Reserves (3 CP): Reduces the reinforcement cost of all infantry units and infantry-based team weapons by 25%.
• Luftwaffe Combat Group (3 CP): Calls in a Wirbelwind Flakpanzer with a Jäger Squad escort.
• Tier 3 (mutually exclusive)
• LG40 Recoilless Launcher Paradrop (1 CP): Paradrops an unmanned LG40 Recoilless Launcher to the target location.
• Flak 36 Anti-tank Gun Emplacement (3 CP): Enables Pioneers and Fallschirmpioneers to construct Flak 36 Anti-tank Gun emplacements in the field.

Able to field units of different nationalities, Company of Heroes 3’s faction roster is the most varied we’ve seen from a game in the series at launch. For more on the game, check out its available console commands and cheats.

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