Company of Heroes

Understanding The Half-Track

by Kleatus

The Unit

Background

Half-tracks were used extensively in World War II by all sides, especially the Germans and Americans, but fell out of favor soon after, replaced with fully-tracked or fully-wheeled vehicles. Half-tracks were used primarily as armored personnel carriers, but also saw duty as mortar carriers, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, self-propelled anti-tank guns, artillery haulers, armored fighting vehicles and many other tasks.

One of their main advantages is that they could be driven by anyone able to drive a conventional car or truck, with additional steering automatically being provided by track braking applied from the steering wheel.

Description

The Allied M3 Half-Track is a unit available from the Motor Pool. It's primary purpose is to provide a safe and reliable way for infantry to be protected from enemy fire, such as MG-42s. With a maximum capacity of 12 units the Hal-Track is capable of transporting 2 squads and recieves a machine gun on top when it is occupied making it capable of combat, to some degree. Unit's can be reinforced when near a Half-Track similar to the way they reinforce near a headquarters or forward barracks. Like most Allied vehicles, it is capable of being upgraded with what many consider to be an infantry killing machine.

Vital Stats

Hit points: 315
Build time (seconds): 40
PopCap Modifier: 4

Acceleration: 3
Deceleration: 5.5
Rotation Speed: 50
Max Speed: 7

Resource Cost

Manpower: 220
Fuel: 20

Abilities

Ability 1: Upgrade to Quad .50cal Anti-Aircraft Gun (125 munitions)

Veterancy Upgrades

Veterancy 1: Max Speed increased by 25%
Veterancy 2: Weapon accuracy increased by 25%
Veterancy 3: Weapon damage increased by 25%

Weapon Ratings

Halftrack Front-Mounted M2 Machine Gun: 4 vs. infantry
Quad .50cal Anti-Aircraft Gun: 5 vs. infantry

Vehicle Weapons

M3 Halftrack M2 Machine Gun

Firing Range

Max: 35
Distant: 35
Long: 35
Medium: 22.5
Short: 11

Accuracy

Distant: 0.2
Long: 0.2
Medium: 0.45
Short: 0.45

Accuracy Whilst Moving: 0.5%

Damage

Max: 7
Min: 7

Weapon Penetration

Distant: 1.0
Long: 1.0
Medium: 1.0
Short: 1.0

Reload (Seconds)

Max: 6
Min: 5

Weapon

Quad .50 cal M2 Machine Gun

Firing Range

Max: 45
Distant: 45
Long: 45
Medium: 22.5
Short: 11

Accuracy

Distant: 0.2
Long: 0.2
Medium: 0.4
Short: 0.4

Accuracy Whilst Moving: 0.5%

Damage

Max: 5
Min: 5

Weapon Penetration

Distant: 1.0
Long: 1.0
Medium: 1.0
Short: 1.0

Reload (Seconds)
Max: 12
Min: 10

Weapon Rotation Speed: 75
Weapon Vertical Speed: 60

*All stats taken from PlanetCoH.com, and may be out of date due to patching!

When to get a Half-Track: The best time for a half-track ot take the field, is, in essence, as soon as you can get it out. You want to have one ready as soon as you can if you need to counter an infantry-heavy strategy.

Below are some different techniques players use with a Half-Track:

Raiding

Since it is classed as a light vehicle, the Half-Track is capable of taking advantage of the Armor Companies 'Raid' ability that allows the players light vehicles to "Advance and capture territory" as the in-game voiceovers like to say it. Using its speed and protection from most small arms fire, it can capture points with little or no fear of being attacked depending on your enemies tech level, and then quickly move on to the next point.

Fast Response

When you upgrade the .50 Cal Quad, the M3 becomes an infantry killing machine, even Grenadiers with Panzershreks WILL suffer losses unless they are extremely lucky or the M3 is microed extremely poorly. This makes it an ideal unit to blitz across the map to give your forces that extra firepower they might need to attack a territory successfully, defend themselves, or deal the maximum damage they can inflict upon their enemies.

Field Reinforcements

This is the M3s second most useful ability, unless you have not bought the upgrade for it. The M3 can reinforce squads anywhere on the map as long as they are relatively close to it. It can give you the extra manpower you need to be successful in a battle you might of otherwise lost due to being outnumbered.

NOTE: This ability remains active when you get the .50 Cal Quad, you just can't load squads into the vehicle!

Covering Fire

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your opponent has taken over your AT Guns simply because your Rifleman just could not hold the line? The M3 can provide a solution to that with its .50 Cal Quad Cannon. The Quad Cannon acts in a very similar way to a machine gun, suppressing and pinning enemy troops, as well as inflicting heavy damage/losses. This is a very deadly combination that many players overlook when they go Motor Pool.

Micro

The M3 handles in a similar way to a tank. It backs up, turns around, and has a rotating gun on top of it that can fire in all directions if needed. Its speed in reverse is the same as going forward, so try and keep the front of the vehicle facing the enemy, since it will take extra damage when hit from behind. Shift + Click is a very usefule technique to master to get the full micro potential out of this vehicle.

"When dealing with Panzershreks, they have terrible accuracy at a distance and will have to reload if you keep moving out of their range, effectively kiting in a similar way to the Puma."
- ShizzlePizzle

That's the end of this one, with more to come on other Allied Units!

Kleatus

NOTE: Will update with screenshots, I played a great game with a quad and forgot to save it