Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies

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Warnings & Ratings

Important Health Warning About Playing Video Games

Photosensitive Seizures

A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these “photosensitive epileptic seizures” while watching video games.

These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby objects.

Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms—children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures. The risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by taking the following precautions: Sit farther from the screen; use a smaller screen; play in a well-lit room; and do not play when you are drowsy or fatigued. If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor before playing.

Precautions to take during use

Sit a good distance away from the monitor.
Avoid playing if you are tired or have not had much sleep.
Make sure that the room in which you are playing is well lit.
Rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes per hour while playing a video game.

© SEGA. Originally developed by Relic Entertainment. Developed for and published on Linux and Mac by Feral Interactive Ltd. Uses Miles Sound System. Copyright (C) 1991-2016 by RAD Game Tools, Inc. MPEG Layer-3 playback supplied with the Miles Sound System from RAD Game Tools, Inc. MPEG layer-3 audio compression technology licensed by Fraunhofer IIS and THOMSON multimedia. Company of Heroes 2 uses Havok: © Copyright 2012 Havok.com Inc. (or its licensors). All Rights Reserved. See www.havok.com for details. Uses Autodesk® Scaleform® Copyright © 2012, Autodesk, Inc. SEGA, the SEGA logo, Relic Entertainment and Company of Heroes are either registered trade marks or trade marks of SEGA Corporation. All rights reserved. Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. Mac and the Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Feral and the Feral logo are trademarks of Feral Interactive Ltd. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

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The Western Front Armies

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies brings the war to the Western Front with two armies for multiplayer battles and single-player skirmishes. Play as the Oberkommando West, Germany’s late-war army, or as the US Forces, Eisenhower’s expeditionary corps.

Using this manual

This manual lists both general controls and controls specific to each of the armies in Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies.

You may also wish to read the Company of Heroes 2 manual, which includes detailed explanations of the tactics you'll need to master to succeed in Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies. Please note that if you do not own the base game, Company of Heroes 2, some information in the manual will not be relevant. However, the general controls, strategies and tactics will still apply.

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Oberkommando West

The Oberkommando West, battle-hardened and freshly re-equipped, are a resurgent and very dangerous foe. Despite being challenged by an economy crippled by years of continuous war, the Oberkommando West still manages to field some impressive heavy armor. Germany’s technical prowess is on full display as its devastating armored force, equipped with a new generation of super-heavy tanks, repeatedly counterattacks the US Forces attempting to drive into the heart of Germany. Seventy-ton “King Tigers” are supported by well-trained infantry: assault Sturmpioneers lead the charge, while Volksgrenadiers take on enemy infantry and vehicles alike.

For a list of the building and unit hotkeys for the Oberkommando West, see Controls: Oberkommando West.

US Forces

Under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, US Forces have come ashore on the beaches of Normandy and fought their way deep into Europe, driving back the German war machine. Now battle-weary and spread thin on enemy soil, an army made of citizen soldiers is pitted against a hardened professional military force with over four years’ hard-fighting experience. Facing the best Germany has to offer, the US Forces fight desperately to push back the frontlines.

An adaptable army that will bend but not break, the US Forces have some extremely versatile infantry and vehicles at their disposal, while their unique base structures reflect the temporary nature of the frontlines. Fast light- and medium-armored vehicles, such as the renowned M4A3 Sherman, provide mobile firepower to support their versatile riflemen, while elite paratroopers and airpower disrupt enemy plans deep in German territory.

For a list of the building and unit hotkeys for the US Forces, see Controls: US Forces.

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Controls

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies requires you to right-click in order to perform many commands. If you are using a Magic Mouse or Trackpad, your secondary click may not be activated by default. For detailed instructions on how to enable secondary click, see Can I play Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies using my Magic Mouse or Trackpad in the FAQs.

Classic and Grid Hotkeys

In Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies, you can choose between using “Classic” hotkeys and “Grid” hotkeys.

Classic hotkeys are the default option. They’re easy to remember, because the key you need to press often refers to the thing you want to do (for example, you press A to “Attack” or G to “Attack Ground”).

Grid hotkeys are organized close together, so that you can reach them all easily with your left hand. With grid keys enabled, the layout of the hotkeys is always the same as the layout of abilities in the Abilities grid shown in the bottom-right corner of the screen, so by looking at the Abilities grid, it’s easy to know which key to press.

To change the hotkey type, select Menu → Options from the Main Menu, then select the Gameplay tab. On this tab, Classic Hotkeys is enabled by default; disable it to use grid hotkeys.

The controls listed below and in the rest of this manual assume that you are using the classic hotkeys.

Camera

Move camera	Move Mouse to edge of screen Middle Mouse button (hold) + move Mouse Arrow keys
Zoom in	Mousewheel up OR Page up
Zoom out	Mousewheel down OR Page down
Rotate and tilt	Alt + move Mouse
Reset camera tilt	Backspace
Reset camera rotation and zoom	Backspace (tap twice)
Move camera to starting position	Home

Universal Unit Controls

The hotkeys below are the same for all units. For example, any unit with the “Retreat” command can be ordered to retreat using the T key.

NOTE: Not all units can use all of the abilities listed below.

Attack move	A
Attack ground	G
Stop	S
Retreat	T
Reinforce	R
Reverse move	U
Enter primary build menu	V
Enter secondary build menu	B

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Unit Selection

Infantry
Select all infantry units	Command (⌘) + .
Select all idle infantry units	Command (⌘) + Alt + .
Select next infantry unit	.
Select next idle infantry unit	Alt + .

Vehicles
Select all vehicles	Command (⌘) + /
Select all idle vehicles	Command (⌘) + Alt + /
Select next vehicle	/
Select next idle vehicle	Alt + /

Sturmpioneers/Rear echelon troops
Select all sturmpioneers/rear echelon troops	Command (⌘) + ,
Select all idle sturmpioneers/rear echelon troops	Command (⌘) + Alt + , OR Command (⌘) + F1
Select next sturmpioneer/rear echelon troops	,
Select next idle sturmpioneer/rear echelon troops	Alt + ,

Miscellaneous
Select all units	Command (⌘) + F2
Select all units currently on screen	;
Select next unit in a group of selected units	Tab
Select previous unit in a group of selected units	Control + Tab
Clear all selections	Escape

General

General
Select	Left Mouse button
Give orders (move, attack, etc.)	Right Mouse button
Open in-game Pause menu	F10 OR Escape
Pause and issue orders (single-player games only)	F16 OR Fn + Escape (esc)
Toggle team chat (online games only)	Return
Toggle chat to all players (online games only)	Shift + Return
Set “Attack here!” signal	Command (⌘) + A
Toggle tactical map	O

Building Selection
Select production building 1 (HQ)	F1
Select production building 2	F2
Select production building 3	F3
Select production building 4	F4
Select production building 5	F5

Groups
Assign selected unit(s) to control group 0-9	Command (⌘) + 0-9
Select control group 0-9	0-9
Move camera to control group 0-9	0-9 (tap twice)

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Oberkommando West

Buildings
Command Headquarters
Sturmpioneer Squad	S
Volksgrenadiers	V
Kübelwagen	W
Raketenwerfer 43 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher	R
Tiger B ‘Königstiger’	T
Battlegroup Headquarters
7.5cm le.IG 18 Infantry Support Gun	G
SdKfz 251/20 Half-track w/ Infrared Searchlight	S
Jagdpanzer IV/70	A
Retreat Point Unlock	R
Establish Retreat Point	E
Mechanized Regiment Headquarters
SdKfz 251/17 Flak Half-track	A
SdKfz 234 ‘Puma’ Heavy Armored Car	U
SdKfz 251 “Stuka zu Fuß” Half-track	S
Munitions Transfer	M
Fuel Transfer	F
Schwerer Panzer Headquarters
Obersoldaten	O
Panzer II Ausf. L ‘Luchs’ Light Tank	A
Panther PzKpfw V Medium Tank	T
Panzer IV Ausf. J Medium Tank	V

Units
Command Headquarters
Sturmpioneer Squad
Field Defenses	B
Wire Cutters	W
Repair	E
Salvage Operation	O
Concussive Grenade (veteran ability)	D
Medical Supplies (veteran ability)	V
Volksgrenadiers
Field Defenses	B
Throw Incendiary Grenade	D
Salvage Operations	O
Kübelwagen
Detection (veteran ability)	D
Raketenwerfer 43 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Camouflage	C
Tiger B ‘Königstiger’
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Spearhead (veteran ability)	E
Combat Blitz (veteran ability)	B

Battlegroup Headquarters
7.5cm le.IG 18 Infantry Support Gun
Hold Fire	H
7.5cm HE Barrage	B
SdKfz 251/20 Half-track w/ Infrared Searchlight
No special abilities
Jagdpanzer IV/70
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Cautious Movement (veteran ability)	C
Mechanized Regiment Headquarters
SdKfz 251/17 Flak Half-track
Concealing Smoke (veteran ability)	C
SdKfz 234 ‘Puma’ Heavy Armored Car
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Smoke Screen	C
Aimed Shot (veteran ability)	E
SdKfz 251 “Stuka zu Fuß” Half-track
28cm Creeping Rocket Barrage	B
Incendiary Rockets (veteran ability)	N

Schwerer Panzer Headquarters
Obersoldaten
Bundled Grenade	D
Booby Trap Point	P
Blendkörper 2H Frangible Smoke Grenade (veteran ability)	E
Panzer II Ausf. L ‘Luchs’ Light Tank
Hold Fire	H
Cautious Movement (veteran ability)	C
Panther PzKpfw V ‘Medium’ Tank
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Combat Blitz (veteran ability)	B
Panzer IV Ausf. J Medium Tank
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Combat Blitz (veteran ability)	B

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US Forces

Buildings
Barracks
Riflemen	R
Rear Echelon Troops	S
WC54 ¾ Ton Ambulance	D
Grenade Package	G
Weapon Rack Unlock	U
Platoon Command Post
Lieutenant	L
M2HB .50 cal Machine Gun Team	H
M20 Utility Car	U
M15A1 AA Half-track	R
Company Command Post
Captain	C
M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun	T
M1 75mm Pack Howitzer	R
M5A1 Stuart	S
Battalion Command Post
Major	M
M4A3 Sherman Medium Tank	S
M36 ‘Jackson’ Tank Destroyer	T
M8A1 Howitzer Motor Carriage	H

Units
Barracks
Riflemen
Mk 2 Frag Grenade	D
M23 Smoke Screen Grenade	M
Anti-Tank Rifle Grenade (veteran ability)	N
Rear Echelon Troops
Field Defenses	B
Repair	E
Wire Cutters	W
Volley Fire	F
WC54 ¾ Ton Ambulance
Distribute Medical Supplies	D
Medics Disembark	T
Platoon Command Post
Lieutenant
Mk 2 Frag Grenade	D
M23 Smoke Screen Grenade	M
M2HB .50 cal Machine Gun Team
Sprint (veteran ability)	N
M20 Utility Car
M2 Smoke Pots	E
M6 Anti-Tank Mine	M
Vehicle Crew Disembark	T
M15A1 AA Half-Track
Vehicle Crew Disembark	T

Company Command Post
Captain
Supervise	E
On Me! (veteran ability)	N
M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Fire Armor-Piercing Discarding-Sabot Rounds	D
Take Aim! (veteran ability)	T
M1 75mm Pack Howitzer
Hold Fire	H
High-Explosive Barrage	B
White Phosphorous Barrage (veteran ability)	W
M5A1 Stuart
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Vehicle Crew Disembark	T
Shell Shock	E
Point Blank Engine Shot	B

Battalion Command Post
Major
Recon Flight	F
Rapid Barrage	B
Establish Retreat Point	E
Fake Rapid Barrage (veteran ability)	K
M4A3 Sherman Medium Tank
Main Gun: Load High-Explosive	M
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Vehicle Crew Disembark	T
Smoke Screen	E
M36 ‘Jackson’ Tank Destroyer
Prioritize Vehicles	H
Vehicle Crew Disembark	T
T30E16 HVAP-T Armor-Piercing Rounds (veteran ability)	V
M8A1 Howitzer Motor Carriage
Hold Fire	H
Vehicle Crew Disembark	T
Mobile 75mm Barrage	B
Mobile Smoke Barrage	E
Concealing Smoke (veteran ability)	C

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Technical Support

Every effort has been made to make Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies as compatible with current hardware as possible. However, if you are experiencing problems when running Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies, please read on.

The latest version of the FAQs can be found by selecting the FAQs button in the Support tab of the Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies pre-game Options window (this is the window that opens when you launch the game), or by going straight to the Feral website: http://support.feralinteractive.com

Contacting Feral

If the FAQs and/or updates do not solve your problem, then please feel free to contact us. The following information must be obtained before contacting Feral Technical Support:

The error message displayed when the problem occurred (if any).
A Company of Heroes 2 Report.txt file. This contains:
- An Apple System Report of your Mac
- Any crash logs that exist for Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies
- A list of the game's contents

All the information required can be obtained by opening Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies and clicking on the Support tab in the Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies pre-game Options window. In the Support tab, click on the Generate Report button. Once the report is generated it will appear as a file in your ~/Downloads folder (the “~” symbol refers to your home directory). Now click on the Create Email button. Remember to attach the Company of Heroes 2 Report.txt file to your email.

In your email, please include a brief description of the problem you have experienced with Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies.

email: support@feralinteractive.com

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