Oberkommando West

The Oberkommando West is the German faction introduced in The Western Front Armies expansion pack, along with the US Forces.

Overview

The Oberkommando West is the second Axis faction featured in Company of Heroes 2. It is paired with the Wehrmacht Ostheer against the allies. Similar to their Wehrmacht brothers, their force relies on a well-trained army with a mix of versatile and specialized units. Their tanks are generally considered superior to the Allied tanks, but they are fewer in numbers and often more expensive.

The Oberkommando faction is intended to represent Germany's military situation near the end of the Second World War. As a faction, they have access to cutting-edge military innovations, such as STG 44 Infrared scopes and the Jagdtiger heavy tank destroyer as well as some older, early war technologies such as the MG34 and the Walking Stuka rocket half-track. However, as a result of the worsening German economy, they cannot build caches on territory points and rely on salvaging wrecked vehicles and abandoned weapons to supplement their fuel income and with the right doctrine, munitions. Unlike the Ostheer Wehrmacht, the Oberkommando forces are aggressive and harassment oriented as their early forces are strong enough to rush territory points but generally have difficulty holding them. Some units, such as Obersoldaten, can booby-trap territory points to punish capturing enemy infantry with an explosive charge. Deployed units and vehicles must be carefully preserved, as the Oberkommando generally have difficulties collecting the resources (except manpower) to replace destroyed vehicles or squads with the same efficiency as other factions. This emphasis on unit preservation is also reflected in the Oberkommando's experience system: unlike the other faction units, which can only gain a total of three experience ranks, all Oberkommando units can achieve a total of five experience ranks.

The Oberkommando West is generally strong early-game with aggressive infantry but becomes arguably weaker mid-game with below-average early AT, but regains power late-game with advanced tanks.

OKW Buildings, Units and Vehicles

Oberkommando West
Command Headquarters	Sturmpioneer Squad Volksgrenadiers Kübelwagen Raketenwerfer 43 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher MG34 Heavy Machine Gun Team Tiger B 'Königstiger' sWS Supply Halftrack
Battlegroup Headquarters	7.5cm le.IG 18 Infantry Support Gun Sdkfz 251/20 Half-track w/Infrared Searchlight Sdkfz 251/17 Flak Half-track
Mechanized Regiment HQ	Panzer II "Luchs" Light Tank SdKfz 234 ‘Puma’ Heavy Armored Car SdKfz 251 "Stuka zu Fuß" Half-track
Schwerer Panzer HQ	Obersoldaten Jagdpanzer IV Panther PzKpfw V Panzer IV
Defensive Structures and Constructions	Reinforced Barbed Wire Schu-mine Bunker S-Mines Field 10.5cm leFH 18 Howitzer Pak 43 88mm AT Gun
Doctrines	Special Operations Doctrine Luftwaffe Ground Forces Doctrine Breakthrough Doctrine Elite Armor Doctrine Scavenge Doctrine Fortifications Doctrine Firestorm Doctrine Overwatch Doctrine

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Command Headquarters

The Command Headquarters serves as the OKW's main building for the recruitment and construction of infantry, gun teams and other essential OKW units. It can produce the following units:

• Sturmpioneer Squad: Sturmpioneers are a 4-man unit who serve as assault infantry and engineers. Armed with STG-44s, this unit is extremely effective at close range. They have the ability to build reinforced barbed wire and Schu-mines. Upgrades allow the unit to gain either a Panzerschreck rocket launcher or a minesweeper and wire cutters used to remove battlefield obstacles.
• Volksgrenadiers: Volksgrenadiers are the basic combat infantry of the OKW. They are strong at long range, but vulnerable to light vehicles due to their lack of an AT snare in the early game but can later on use Panzerfausts to cripple vehicles. Can be upgraded with STG-44's at the cost of munitions. They can also throw incendiary grenades that explode upon impact, setting fire to an area. In terms of skill, they are superior to Conscripts and Ostruppen but weaker than US Riflemen, Wehrmacht Grenadiers, and British Infantry Sections.
• Küblewagen: The Kübelwagen is a very light scout vehicle with very low health and very weak armour and is armed with an MG34 Machinegun. Unlike most other vehicles, the Kübelwagen has the innate ability to capture territories just like infantry, even though it's not a transport unit. Capturing points is its speciality as the process is 15% faster than normal. Generally not very good in sustained combat against most units, the Kübelwagen is primarily used for scouting and raiding undefended territory points and potentially cutting supply lines. Like other vehicles, they can bust through barbed wire that would normally stop infantry.
• Raketenwefer 43 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher: The Raketenwerfer 43 is an anti-tank gun that fires rockets at long range. Though lighter than most AT guns, it can garrison structures and and fall back if needed and is still a good threat against medium tanks.
• MG34 Heavy Machinegun team: The MG34 Heavy Machine Gun Team is the OKW's mobile fire support to provide suppressive fire against enemy infantry. While generally weaker than other heavy machineguns, the MG34 is cheaper to deploy and still enjoys a large arc of fire. It works well with other infantry, particularly Sturmpioneers; the MG34 suppresses enemy infantry and the Sturmpioneers move in and put the enemy troops down with their MP44 assault rifles.
• sWS Supply Halftrack: The sWS (Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper) trucks allow the Oberkommando West to build their three other headquarters. They do not have any other purpose.

Battlegroup Headquarters

The Battlegroup Headquarters serves as the OKW's main building for the recruitment and construction of gun teams and vehicles needed to dislodge enemy positions. The HQ can be upgraded to either act as a retreat point and/or as a field hospital. It can produce the following units:

• 7.5cm le.IG 18 Infantry Support Gun: Le.IG 18 or Leichtes InfanterieGeschutz 18 is a fairly cheap and mobile howitzer, to provide indirect fire support. The gun even has a barrage ability that when toggled, the gun rapidly shoots a few rounds in the designated area. It is very useful against infantry, can make a pretty good job if it is close to the enemy base and well defended by infantry and/or Flak emplacements. The barrage ability cost nothing and cools down in 20 to 10 seconds. The range is short, and it's most effective against light armoured vehicles, infantry, and static structures. 
• Sdkfz 251/20 Half-track w/Infrared Searchlight: The IR Halftrack- also known as the "Uhu" or "Eagle Owl" allows the player to see into the Fog of War. It is an extremely useful utility if positioned correctly and paired with the "Stuka zu Fuß" rocket half-track or other long range units although it is quite vulnerable if not protected.
• Sdkfz 251/17 Flak Half-track: The Sdkfz 251/17 flak half-track is armed with a 2cm Flak cannon that is effective against infantry, aircraft, and light vehicles and can suppress units, but needs to be stationary to fire and takes a couple seconds to set up. It is a lightly armoured vehicle and can be destroyed quickly by anti-tank weapons, but enjoys the ability to create a smoke cloud to block line of sight, allowing it a better chance to reposition.

Mechanized Regiment HQ

The Mechanized Regiment HQ serves as the OKW's main building for light vehicles to provide support and harassment against enemy forces. The HQ can be upgraded with repair pioneers to automatically fix nearby damaged vehicles.

• Panzer II "Luchs" Light Tank: Needs Text.
• SdKfz 234 "Puma" Heavy Armored car: Needs Text.
• SdKfz 251 "Stuka zu Fuß" Half-track: Also known as the "Walking Stuka" this rocket halftrack is generally more expensive than its Soviet and Ostheer counterparts but often available earlier. The 28cm high explosive rocket fired in creeping barrages can wreak havoc on troop concentrations, weapon teams, light vehicles, and most civilian structures. Keep it out of direct contact as while it has an MG42 to defend itself and halftrack armor to deflect some bullet fire, it falls easily to tanks and AT guns.

Schwerer Panzer HQ

The Schwerer Panzer HQ serves as the OKW's building for elite infantry and medium/heavy tanks. This HQ is a firebase armed with a 37mm cannon that can suppress and tear apart infantry and light vehicles with ease, though it is no match for heavy tanks or massed medium tanks and is generally outranged by AT guns.

• Obersoldaten: The Obersoldaten are elite infantry that can be upgraded with an MG34 that can fire while moving. They are tough and accurate with their weapons but are mainly effective against infantry unless they happen to pick up AT weapons on the ground. Can throw bundled grenades to wipe out tight troop clusters and weapon teams. Obersoldaten have the ability to booby trap territory points with an explosive charge that detonates when the enemy begins to capture the point.
• Jagdpanzer IV: The Jagdpanzer IV is the OKW's main assault gun and specialized tank destroyer with a powerful, long range forward facing gun effective against all vehicles. Its sight if somewhat forward focused as the peripheral views are very short compared to the front, making the unit very vulnerable to flank attacks, particularly from AT infantry.
• Panzer IV Ausf J. Medium Tank: An enhanced version of the Ostheer's Panzer IV Medium Tank, this vehicle is more expensive but better armored and just as powerful and versatile in combat.
• Panther PzKpfw V Medium Tank: Needs Text.

Doctrinal Units

Doctrinal units are units that are called in from off map locations. Usually, these units are extremely effective at what they were designed to do. These will be units from the eastern and western fronts, large artillery guns and command units. They are the following units:

• Fallschirmjägers: This elite unit of paratroopers are available with the "Luftwaffe Ground Operations" doctrine. They are dropped in by a JU-52 "Tante Ju" transport plane but require the player to reach 3 Command Points to do so. They take up 8/100 space and cost 440 manpower to deploy.
• The Sturm Offizier: The Sturm Offizier becomes available for deployment if the player uses the "Breakthrough" doctrine and requires the player to reach 1 Command Point. He can both makes the troops fight harder and weaken enemy units. His death will result in the retreat of nearby friendly units. He takes up 8/100 space and costs 280 manpower.
• Flakpanzer IV Ostwind: This medium tank is available to commanders with the "Scavenge" Doctrine. It functions similar to that of the Ostheer Wehrmacht unit of the same type, only it can gain up to 5 stars of veterancy. The Flakpanzer is basically a beefed up version of the Panzer II; more expensive and slower, but tougher, harder hitting, and capable of downing enemy aircraft. The Flakpanzer is one of the less expensive versatile units in the OKW.

Doctrines

• Special Operations Doctrine:
• Luftwaffe Ground Forces Doctrine:
• Breakthrough Doctrine:
• Elite Armour Doctrine:
• Scavenge Doctrine:
• Fortifications:
• Firestorm Doctrine:
• Overwatch Doctrine: