Company of Heroes 3: British Forces Battlegroups Guide

The British Forces faction has access to three Battlegroups in Company of Heroes 3, each offering a substantially different playstyle and the tools to counter specific enemy builds. Choosing where to spend the constant stream of Command Points is one of the most important decisions in any Company of Heroes 3 Skirmish, and players should get the full picture of what they'll be getting before they commit to a Battlegroup.

Indian Artillery Battlegroup

The Indian Artillery Battlegroup is one of the most specialized in Company of Heroes 3, and focuses entirely on infantry and artillery. Although devastating to defensive positions or infantry-heavy factions, the Battlegroup offers no vehicle-based or anti-tank capabilities.

Infantry Assault Tree

The Infantry Assault tree starts with a choice between Volunteer Infantry and Valour, followed by the Gurkha Rifles Section, and ends with a choice between Pillage and War Cry.

Volunteer Infantry (3 Command Points)

Reduces the cost and production time of all British Forces reinforcements by 33%.

Valour (1 Command Point)

Improves all offensive and defensive capabilities of infantry squads when they take casualties, with stacking bonuses for each soldier that dies.

Gurkha Rifles Section (1 Command Point, 360 Manpower, 10 Pop)

An elite 6-man infantry squad with high HP and accurate Lee-Enfield rifles for long-range combat.
Best used to tackle enemy infantry and support friendly anti-tank units, as they have zero anti-tank capability themselves. Can either deal solid damage from range or quickly clear out entrenched positions with the Grenade Assault and Submachine Gun Package.
Has the ability to perform a Grenade Assault (35 Munitions), with each member of the squad throwing a frag grenade for heavy damage.
Has the ability to throw a Smoke Grenade (30 Munitions) to block line of sight.
Can be upgraded with either the Thompson Submachine Gun Package (60 Munitions), which swaps all six rifles for close-range SMGS, or the Bren Light Machine Gun (75 Munitions), which grants the squad an LMG for increased firepower at all ranges.
Gains the Ayo Gorkhali ability at Veterancy Rank 1, increasing speed and rate-of-fire while weakening enemy infantry for a short time.

Pillage (3 Command Points)

Allows infantry squads to gain resources when killing enemy infantry and destroying enemy vehicles. +5 Munitions for each soldier, +10 Fuel for each vehicle.

War Cry (1 Command Point, 125 Munitions)

Globally boosts speed, accuracy, damage, and fire-rate of all British Forces infantry for a short time. It can also force enemy infantry to retreat when they're at low health.

Artillery Support Tree

The Artillery Support tree begins with a choice between the Heavy Mortar and Artillery Saturation, followed by the Off-Map Airburst Barrage, and ends with a choice between Perimeter Monitor and the BL5.5 Artillery Emplacement.

Towed ML 4.2-Inch Heavy Mortar (1 Command Point)

CoH 3 British Forces Indian Heavy Mortar

A 5-man heavy weapons team equipped with a 4.2-inch mortar, capable of dealing heavier damage than other mortar weapons in Company of Heroes 3.
Will automatically target enemies in range, but can also fire a High-Explosive Barrage or Smoke Barrage to block line of sight.
Can fire a Recon Flare to reveal an area at long range.
Gains the ability to fire an Airburst Barrage (30 Munitions) at Veterancy Rank 1, dealing increased damage to infantry over a wider area.

Artillery Saturation (1 Command Point)

Causes all artillery and mortar barrages to fire additional shells.

Off-Map Airburst Barrage (2 Command Points, 90 Munitions)

Calls in a widespread Airburst Barrage that is particularly effective against infantry and units in cover.

Perimeter Monitor (3 Command Points, 150 Munitions)

Calls in an off-map artillery barrage on any enemy unit that is visible in a friendly frontline sector within the next 60 seconds.

BL5.5 Artillery Emplacement (2 Command Points, 320 Manpower, 40 Fuel, 12 Pop)

CoH 3 British Forces Artillery Emplacement

Allows Royal Engineers to construct the BL5.5 Artillery Emplacement, a heavy fixed artillery with an extremely long range, manned by Indian soldiers of the British Army.
Won't automatically target enemies, but has the ability to fire a long-lasting High-Explosive Barrage every 60 seconds.
Gains the ability to fire a Precision Barrage (35 Munitions) at Veterancy Rank 1, which consists of a single shell fired with much higher accuracy.

British Armored Battlegroup

Company of Heroes 3 British Forces in North Africa

The British Armored Battlegroup offers access to some of the heaviest tanks in WW2, and some of the most powerful options in the British Forces roster. Despite the focus on tanks, the Armored Battlegroup also offers some good choices in the early to mid-game through the Field Support and Logistics tree.

Heavy Armor Support Tree

The Heavy Armor Support tree starts with a choice between Rigorous Vehicle Training and Radio Net, followed by the Crusader AA Tank, and then a choice between the Churchill IV and the Churchill Black Prince.

Rigorous Vehicle Training (1 Command Point)

Globally increases the Veterancy gain of all vehicle units.

Radio Net (1 Command Point, 75 Munitions)

Increases sight range, accuracy, and rate-of-fire for all vehicles for a short time.

Crusader AA Medium Tank (4 Command Points, 360 Manpower, 70 Fuel, 9 Pop)

A moderately-armored tank armed with a 40mm cannon effective against WW2 aircraft, infantry, and light vehicles.
Best used to counter enemy airpower and light vehicles in the mid-game, or support friendly anti-tank units against infantry.
Gains the Rapid Fire ability at Veterancy Rank 1, greatly increasing rate-of-fire for a short time.

Churchill IV Heavy Tank (4 Command Points, 460 Manpower, 120 Fuel, 18 Pop)

A slow but heavily-armored tank that can resist all but the strongest Axis anti-tank weapons. Armed with a 6-pounder gun and two Besa machine guns for a mix of anti-tank and anti-infantry firepower.
Best used as a tank in the classic RTS style, supporting friendly infantry or team weapons by drawing enemy fire, though it struggles to penetrate heavy Axis armor.
Large enough to plow directly through tank traps and other obstacles.
Gains the ability to deploy Infantry Support Smoke at Veterancy Rank 1, blocking line of sight behind the tank and creating a safe space for friendly infantry to advance.

Churchill Black Prince Heavy Tank (6 Command Points, 690 Manpower, 180 Fuel, 20 Pop)

CoH 3 British Forces Churchill Black Prince

A slower, more expensive, and even more heavily-armored version of the Churchill IV, upgraded with a 17-pounder gun for much greater damage and penetration.
As one of the most expensive tanks in Company of Heroes 3, the Black Prince can single-handedly secure a victory if used well, but is vulnerable to being overwhelmed and disabled by enemy abilities.
Can penetrate even the heaviest Wehrmacht or Deutsches Afrikakorp armor, and is tough enough to duel any other vehicle in the game.
Large enough to plow directly through tank traps and other obstacles.
Gains the ability to use Infantry Support Smoke at Veterancy Rank 1, creating a cloud of smoke behind the tank that protects infantry and blocks line of sight.

Field Support and Logistics Tree

The Field Support and Logistics tree begins with Engineer Detachments, followed by a choice between Light Vehicle Withdraw and Refit and Forward Repair Assembly, and ending with a choice between Recon Artillery and Designate Targets.

Engineer Detachments (1 Command Point)

Reduces the deployment and reinforcement cost of Royal Engineers by 25%.

Light Vehicle Withdraw and Refit (1 Command Point, 30 Munitions)

Allows the player to order a light vehicle off the field to refund its production and Population costs. This is an early-game version of the free ability offered at the Company Command Post building, and allows for some unique RTS tactics.

Forward Repair Assembly (1 Command Point, 150 Manpower, 20 Fuel)

Allows Royal Engineers to construct a support emplacement that auto-repairs nearby vehicles while stationary and out of combat.

Recon Artillery (4 Command Points, 180 Munitions)

Calls in a recon plane to circle the target area for 30 seconds, granting line of sight and calling in off-map artillery on any revealed enemy units. Essentially an upgraded version of the Recon ability from the US Forces Air Support Center.

Designate Targets (4 Command Points, 80 Munitions)

Calls in a recon plane to circle the target area, granting line of sight and marking all revealed enemy units. Marked units are easier to hit for both the player's units and any units belonging to their co-op teammate.

British Air and Sea Battlegroup

The British Air and Sea Battlegroup is the most versatile of the British Forces Battlegroups in Company of Heroes 3, granting access to elite infantry, a specialized medium tank, and a range of powerful support abilities.

Royal Navy Support Tree

The Royal Navy Support tree starts with a choice between Supply Surplus and Naval Blockade, followed by the Centaur Medium Tank, and ends with a choice between Assault Flares and Naval Bombardment.

Supply Surplus (1 Command Point)

Allows players to upgrade resource points with Resource Caches and strategic points with Field Infirmaries without having to use Royal Engineers.

Naval Blockade (2 Command Point, 80 Munitions)

Prevents enemy units from capturing neutral territory for 60 seconds.

Centaur Medium Tank (4 Command Point, 360 Manpower, 80 Fuel, 12 Pop)

A fast and moderately-armored tank, armed with a high-explosive 95mm howitzer and two Besa machine guns, which fills a similar role to the Deutsches Afrikakorp's Flammpanzer.
Best used alongside anti-tank infantry or vehicles to deal with clumps of enemy infantry, emplacements, and garrisoned buildings.
Gains the ability to fire a Smoke Shot at Veterancy Rank 1, blocking line of sight.

Assault Flares (1 Command Point)

Grants line of sight over all enemy frontline sectors for 60 seconds, and boosts the speed and offensive abilities of all infantry units during that time.

Naval Bombardment (2 Command Point, 160 Munitions)

Calls in a brief but devastating heavy artillery barrage after a moderate delay.

Royal Air Force Tree

The Royal Air Force tree begins with the Commando Section Paradrop, followed by a choice between the M1 Pack Howitzer Paradrop and the Commando LMG Section Paradrop, and ending with a choice between the Incendiary Bombing Run and Anti-Tank Rocket Loiter.

Commando Section Paradrop (2 Command Points, 400 Manpower, 10 Pop)

An elite 6-man infantry team equipped with suppressed Sten submachine guns and a range of useful abilities, able to match the best infantry of the other factions.
Has the passive ability to become camouflaged when in cover, allowing them to ambush enemy infantry at their preferred close range.
Can throw a 'Cooked' Mills Bomb (25 Munitions) for an anti-infantry blast on a short fuse, or a Sticky Bomb (30 Munitions) to damage and slow enemy vehicles.
Has the ability to place a High-Explosive Demo Charge (60 Munitions) which is hard to spot and can be detonated by the player at any time by clicking on it. When detonated, the Charge is powerful enough to instantly collapse a building or bridge, wipe out multiple infantry squads, or destroy a heavy vehicle.
Gains the ability to use Concealment Smoke at Veterancy Rank 1, quickly concealing the squad in a cloud that blocks line of sight.

M1 Pack Howitzer Paradrop (1 Command Points, 340 Manpower, 8 Pop)

A 5-man Commando team manning a 75mm howitzer, which can be dragged across the battlefield or towed by a support vehicle.
Best used to surprise enemy infantry and entrenched positions with an unexpected barrage, then to provide supporting fire during both assaults and defense.
Can be used to drop an unexpected barrage on an axis headquarters, potentially finishing off any retreating or reinforcing infantry.
Cannot target enemy squads directly, but has a shorter cooldown for its High-Explosive and Smoke Barrage than most artillery units.

Commando LMG Section Paradrop (1 Command Points, 350 Manpower, 9 Pop)

CoH 3 British Forces Commandos LMG Section

An elite 4-man infantry squad equipped with accurate Lee-Enfield rifles and a single Vickers light machine gun for long-range firepower.
Has the same ability to camouflage in cover as the regular WW2 Commando Section.
Gains the ability to perform Suppressing Fire at Veterancy Rank 1, lowering accuracy but increasing rate-of-fire and granting suppression.

Incendiary Bombing Run (1 Command Points, 110 Munitions)