Vehicle Combat — Call of Duty 2 Guide

Vehicle Combat

While Call of Duty 2 primarily focuses on infantry combat, several missions place you in or around vehicles, requiring specific strategies to succeed. Mastering vehicle combat, whether you're driving, gunning, or defending against armored threats, is crucial for survival and mission completion. Throughout all campaigns, you'll encounter various vehicle-related challenges that demand adaptability and a keen understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.

Operating Tanks (British Campaign)

The British campaign features several missions where you'll directly control a tank, most notably in North Africa. These sections demand a different tactical approach than standard infantry engagements, emphasizing positioning, target prioritization, and armor management.

Mission: "Tankers" (British Campaign)

• Objective: Advance through the desert, destroying enemy tanks and anti-tank guns.
• Vehicle: Crusader Tank.
• Key Threats: German Panzer IV tanks, 88mm Flak anti-tank guns, and occasional infantry with anti-tank weapons.
• Strategy:
  1. Prioritize Threats: Your primary targets are enemy Panzer IV tanks and 88mm Flak anti-tank guns. The 88s are particularly dangerous due to their high penetration and damage. Always engage the most immediate or dangerous threat first.
  2. Hull Down Positions: Whenever possible, use terrain features like dunes, ridges, or destroyed vehicles for cover. Expose only your turret to minimize the target profile, making it harder for enemy shells to hit your vulnerable hull.
  3. Flanking Maneuvers: While not always possible in the linear mission design, try to maneuver to hit the side or rear armor of enemy tanks. German tanks have significantly weaker armor on their flanks and rear, making them easier to destroy. This is especially effective against stationary targets or those preoccupied with your AI allies.
  4. Targeting Weak Spots: Aim for specific weak points on enemy tanks. For Panzer IVs, target the turret ring, driver's viewport, or lower glacis plate for increased damage. Against 88mm guns, a direct hit on the gun shield or crew compartment is usually sufficient to neutralize the threat.
  5. Coordinated Fire: Your AI gunner will often engage targets automatically, but you are the primary cannon operator. Think of it as managing your resources; ensure all threats are addressed, sometimes requiring you to finish off targets your gunner has engaged or switch to a more critical threat.
  6. Reload Management: The Crusader's main gun has a decent reload speed, but don't expose yourself unnecessarily during reloads. Fire your shot, then retreat to cover or reposition while reloading.
  7. Infantry Support: Be mindful of enemy infantry with Panzerfausts or anti-tank grenades. While your tank is heavily armored, repeated hits can disable it or cause critical damage. Use your coaxial machine gun to suppress or eliminate nearby infantry before they can get close enough to deploy their anti-tank weapons.
  8. Mission Flow: The mission progresses in stages. After clearing an area, an objective marker will guide you to the next engagement zone. Always scan the horizon for enemy armor and AT guns before advancing.

Mission: "The Desert Fox" (British Campaign)

• Objective: Clear out enemy positions and destroy a supply convoy.
• Vehicle: Crusader Tank.
• Key Threats: Panzer IVs, 88mm Flak guns, and a significant increase in infantry presence, some with anti-tank capabilities.
• Strategy: Similar to "Tankers," but with more varied terrain and combined arms engagements. Expect more infantry threats alongside enemy armor. Use your tank's mobility to your advantage in the more open desert sections to outmaneuver slower enemy tanks. The convoy destruction often involves a race against time or a need to quickly neutralize multiple targets. Prioritize the trucks in the convoy once enemy escorts are dealt with.

Mounted Machine Guns (All Campaigns)

Throughout all campaigns, you'll frequently encounter opportunities to man fixed machine gun emplacements, often a .50 Cal Browning or MG42. These provide immense firepower, excellent suppression capabilities, but leave you highly vulnerable to enemy fire.

General Strategy for Mounted MGs:

1. Situational Awareness: Before mounting, observe the battlefield. Identify choke points, enemy spawn locations, and potential flanking routes. Understand where the immediate threats are coming from.
2. Suppressive Fire: Mounted MGs are excellent for suppressing large groups of infantry. Lay down continuous fire into enemy positions or known spawn points to keep enemies pinned down, allowing your AI teammates to advance or reposition.
3. Target Priority: Focus on immediate threats first, such as enemies directly engaging your position, those attempting to flank, or enemies carrying anti-tank weapons if applicable. Snipers are also a high priority as they can quickly eliminate you.
4. Overheating: Be mindful of the machine gun's overheating mechanic. Firing continuously for too long will cause the weapon to jam, leaving you defenseless for a critical few seconds. Fire in controlled bursts (2-3 seconds) to prevent it from jamming, especially during intense firefights.
5. Vulnerability: You are a stationary target when manning a machine gun. Be aware of snipers, grenade throws, and enemies attempting to rush your position. If taking heavy fire, dismount and find cover. It's often better to dismount, clear the immediate threats with your primary weapon, and then remount the MG.
6. Utilize Cover: Position yourself behind sandbags or other fortifications that offer some protection while still allowing a clear line of sight.

Specific Missions Featuring Mounted MGs:

• "Counterattack" (British Campaign): You'll use a mounted machine gun to defend against waves of German infantry attempting to overrun your position. Focus on the main approach routes and be ready to switch targets quickly as enemies emerge from different angles.
• "Crossroads" (American Campaign): Defend against a German counter-attack using a .50 Cal. This mission often involves both infantry and potentially armored vehicles. Prioritize enemies with anti-tank weapons (Panzerfausts) if any vehicles appear, then focus on infantry waves.
• "The Battle for Hill 400" (American Campaign): After securing the hill, you'll often have opportunities to use captured MG42s to defend against German counter-attacks. These positions offer excellent fields of fire over the approaches to the hill.
• "The Crossroads" (Russian Campaign): Defend a key intersection from German advances. Mounted MGs are crucial for holding back infantry assaults.

Anti-Tank Tactics (All Campaigns)

When facing enemy tanks as infantry, you'll need to rely on specialized anti-tank weapons and clever positioning. Engaging a tank head-on with small arms is futile; you must exploit its weaknesses.

Anti-Tank Weapons & Equipment:

• Panzerfaust: A German-designed, single-shot, disposable anti-tank rocket launcher. Highly effective against all enemy tanks. Always aim for the rear or side armor for maximum damage. Often found in specific locations or dropped by enemy anti-tank infantry.
• Anti-Tank Grenades (Sticky Bombs/Magnetic Mines): These grenades stick to vehicles and detonate after a short fuse. Requires you to get dangerously close to the tank. Throw them at the engine deck (rear top) or tracks for best results.
• Satchel Charges (Demolition Charges): Powerful explosives that must be manually placed on a vehicle and then detonated remotely (usually by pressing the action key again). Extremely effective but requires direct contact with the vehicle, making it very risky. Ideal for destroying stationary or disabled tanks.
• Rifle Grenades (Limited Use): Some rifles can be equipped with grenade launchers. While less powerful than dedicated anti-tank weapons, a well-placed rifle grenade can damage or disable lighter armored vehicles or tracks.

General Anti-Tank Strategy:

1. Cover and Concealment: Tanks have powerful main guns and coaxial machine guns that can shred infantry. Stay behind solid cover (buildings, large rocks, destroyed vehicles) and use smoke grenades if available to obscure your approach. Never stand in the open when a tank is aware of your presence.
2. Flanking is Key: Never approach a tank head-on. Its frontal armor is the thickest and most resistant to all but the most powerful anti-tank weapons. Try to get to its sides or, ideally, its rear. The engine compartment at the rear is almost universally the weakest point on any tank.
3. Distraction: Sometimes your AI teammates will draw the tank's fire, creating an opening for you to attack its vulnerable sides or rear. Use these opportunities wisely.
4. Target Tracks: If you can't destroy the tank outright, disabling its tracks with an anti-tank grenade or Panzerfaust shot can immobilize it. An immobilized tank is an easier target for follow-up attacks, or it allows your team to advance past it without being threatened.
5. Ambush Tactics: Tanks often follow predictable paths. Set up an ambush from a building or alleyway, waiting for the tank to pass before striking its weak points.
6. Retreat and Reload: If you've fired your anti-tank weapon, immediately retreat to cover to reload or find another weapon. Do not linger in the open.

Specific Missions with Anti-Tank Challenges:

• "The Tiger" (British Campaign): You'll encounter the formidable Tiger I tank. This requires multiple Panzerfaust hits, preferably to the rear. Use the ruined buildings and rubble for cover as you circle it. Be patient and wait for the tank to expose its rear as it maneuvers. There are often Panzerfausts strategically placed in the mission for this encounter.
• "Bergstein" (American Campaign): You'll need to destroy several German tanks and armored cars. Utilize the Panzerfausts found in various buildings throughout the town. The close-quarters urban environment allows for effective flanking and ambush tactics.
• "The Battle for Hill 400" (American Campaign): After taking the hill, German tanks will often counter-attack. You'll need to use any available Panzerfausts or anti-tank grenades to defend your position.
• "Decoy" (Russian Campaign): You'll be tasked with destroying German tanks and armored vehicles to create a diversion. This mission often provides ample anti-tank weaponry.

Vehicle-Mounted Weapons (Not Player-Controlled)

While you don't directly drive these, you'll often be a passenger in vehicles equipped with powerful weapons, requiring you to act as a gunner.

Jeep-Mounted .50 Cal (American Campaign)

• Mission: "The End of the Beginning" (American Campaign)
  • Objective: Provide covering fire from a moving jeep.
  • Vehicle: Willys MB Jeep with a mounted .50 Cal Browning machine gun.
  • Strategy:
    1. Continuous Fire: Keep the .50 Cal firing almost continuously at enemy infantry and light vehicles. The jeep is moving, so leading your shots is crucial.
    2. Target Priority: Focus on enemies directly in your path or those firing at your jeep. Eliminate any enemy machine gunners or anti-tank infantry first.
    3. Overheating: The .50 Cal can overheat. Fire in controlled bursts, but don't be afraid to lay down sustained fire during critical moments. A brief pause will allow it to cool.
    4. Environmental Hazards: Be aware of environmental hazards like exploding barrels or enemy vehicles that can be shot to create chain reactions, clearing groups of enemies.

Truck-Mounted MG42 (Russian Campaign)

• Mission: "The Volga River" (Russian Campaign)
  • Objective: Defend a convoy of trucks from German aircraft and infantry.
  • Vehicle: Soviet truck with a mounted MG42 (captured).
  • Strategy:
    1. Anti-Aircraft Role: Your primary role is to shoot down Stuka dive bombers and other German aircraft. Lead your shots significantly, as the planes are fast-moving. Listen for the distinctive siren of the Stuka to anticipate its attack run.
    2. Infantry Defense: When not engaging aircraft, sweep the ground for enemy infantry attempting to ambush the convoy.
    3. Ammo Conservation (Less Critical): While not explicitly limited, try to be efficient with your bursts to ensure you have enough firepower for incoming air threats.

Defending Static Positions with Vehicles

Sometimes, vehicles aren't just for combat; they can be used as temporary cover or obstacles.

• Destroyed Tanks/Vehicles: Throughout all campaigns, destroyed tanks, trucks, and jeeps often provide excellent hard cover from enemy fire. Utilize them to advance, take cover during reloads, or set up ambushes.
• Improvised Barricades: In some missions, you might be able to use abandoned vehicles to block pathways or create chokepoints, funneling enemies into kill zones. This is more common in urban environments.

Mastering these vehicle combat scenarios will significantly improve your chances of success in Call of Duty 2. Remember to adapt your tactics based on whether you are operating a vehicle, using a mounted weapon, or engaging armored threats as infantry.