December Patch Reaction

This year is coming to an end. It's soon Christmas and people think about presents... including the employees at Relic! On this Thursday the Company of Heroes 2 community get an early Christmas present - the December patch that holds a lot of changes and new content!

New commanders

Oberkommando West - Overwatch Doctrine

Goliath
Forward Receivers
Early Warning
For the Fatherland
Sector Assault

!Definitely a B-tier commander. From play testing, it performs very poorly in 1v1s as it kinda pushes the player to do Battlegroup(T2) into Schwerer Panzer(T4) builds because you need the Obersoldaten.

The doctrine offers no elite infantry call ins, so it performs rather poorly when you go Mechanized and try to get light vehicles out. The Goliath costs 100 munitions and is basically a moving demo. While it can be a very serious threat, it can also be focused down on approach and its engine noise is significant.

The Stuka loiter in the commander is a powerful tool for area-denial. Units inside are strafed, and if units continue to stay there they will be bombed.LemonJuice

!I think the goliath will make squad wipes easy, when combined with the commander's scouting tools: Flares on points and 70 sight range, on the tactical map, trucks.

However, this commander is really munitions heavy, FTF+goliath+sector assault, and does not have any doctrinal call ins. So, probably, it will not be among the top 3 commanders for the new Oberkommando West 1 versus 1 competitive roster.Hector

United States Forces - Tactical Support Company

M1919A6 Light Machine Gun
P47 Recon Run
M5 Haltrack Transport
P47 Strafing Run
Sherman Calliope

!A very strong doctrine in my opinion, and a very good (if not better) alternative to Rifle Company.

The halftrack can help sustain pushes and deal with Anti-Air if needed. The recon plane can scout and find targets for the Calliope.

The doctrine as a whole is very focused on killing infantry, and if players over invest into Calliopes they might find themselves losing to heavy armor.

You'll see this commander used a lot in 2v2s+ from now on.LemonJuice

!Riflemen with halftrack support and m1919 LMGs are really potent. Quad at 3 command points can serve as a good suppression platform while a Stuart and Captain will counter any armored threat from the Axis. The Plane strafe can pin Axis infantry blobs.

A very good mid game commander if used in conjunction with the Captain -> Sherman build order. This commander may become one of USA top 3 commanders.Hector

Oberkommando West Revamp

General Changes

Resource income increased from 66% to 100%
Starting Fuel decreased from 40 to 10
Starting Manpower increased from 240 to 340

!
In combination with the increased resource income for the Oberkommando West, this is a great change. It opens up for a lot of different and viable strategies: One could rush a Luchs, rush an even faster flak half track or even produce a puma in case you need it.

With the reduced cost of Sturmpioneers and the increased fuel income, call in infantry is less necessary, which makes it possible to use different commanders. The increase of munitions income also affects the faction a lot. Now it is not necessary to save up all your munitions for Panzerschrecks, which means that more mines can be placed. The same goes for the medic package that the Sturmpioneers can lay down.

Overall the changes are great and its really fun to play with the Oberkommando West now, because you can do something different every match, and still win.E-zy

Tech Tree Changes

Command Headquarters

Volksgrenadiers
Sturmpioneers
Kübelwagen
Raketenwerfer 43 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher
sWS Supply Half-Track

Volksgrenadiers

Manpower cost increased from 235 to 250
Kar 98k Rifle Damage increased from 10 to 12

!Their damage increase will make them more powerful in the early game. With the need to pay for Oberkommando West trucks and the slight manpower increase per model, you'll probably see less Volks than before.

If there are concerns about Volk schreck-blobs, then go back to the basics with machine guns and infantry screens or weapons meant to scatter them.

The Veterancy changes also makes them less powerful when they do get their Veterancy quickly from schreck hits. And they are still out-scaled by Allied infantry.miragefla

!
Do not expect Allied infantry to walk over Volks in the early game now! Fighting in the open versus Volks in cover will be a losing battle. Fight with even cover to have the advantage, or else you will find yourself losing map control.

A lot of people are concerned about the fact that Panzerschrecks remain on Volks, but personally I do not think it is that much of a problem. There are a wide variety of counters, ranging from superior Allied infantry, to explosives, and artillery. Remember to keep medium tanks outside the range of schrecks.LemonJuice

Sturmpioneers

Manpower cost decreased from 320 to 300
Flame Explode critical removed

!
This makes them into grenadiers with an STG44. Their reinforce cost is now 30. Totally eliminating any sort of bleed with sturmpioneer heavy builds.CookiezNcreem

!The Feuersturm doctrine, with double flamethrower pioneers, will be a potent strategy on urban maps with all the changes.Hector

!This slight manpower(32->30 reinforce) buff, and the Volk changes, should help you be less dependent on call-in infantry.AchtAchter

Kübelwagen

Capture added (15% faster capture rate)
Suppression removed
Range decreased from 40 to 35
Manpower & Fuel cost decreased from 240/5 to 210/0
Armor increased from 4 to 4.5
Rear armor increased from 2 to 4.5

!The new Kübelwagen is probably my favorite part of the Oberkommando West overhaul. It is a decent skirmish unit. It can take on any starting unit in a 1 versus 1 and be able to inflict model losses, while any damage taken can be quickly repaired by Sturmpioneers.

In the midgame, it transitions into a harassing unit, which annoys the enemy by constantly capping points with its mobility and 15% faster capping speed.

For build orders: I highly recommend building the Kubel as your first unit to maximize capping speed.LemonJuice

!Complete change of the unit role. Holds the potential to be used for "pushing cheese".AchtAchter

sWS Supply Half-Track

Manpower & Fuel cost increased from 0/0 to 100/15

Battlegroup Headquarters

Fuel cost decreased from 40 to 25

Buildable Units:

7.5cm le.IG 18 Infantry Support Gun
SdKfz 251/20 Half-Track w/ Infrared Searchlight
SdKfz 251/17 Flak Half-Track (moved from Mechanized Regiment Headquarters)

!We will definitely see more flak halftracks in the future as it is now in the mandatory Battlegroup Headquarters. And with the resource changes it becomes less of an investment spending 55 Fuel for the flak.AchtAchter

Mechanized Regiment Headquarters

Fuel cost increased from 40 to 50
Munitions/Fuel Transfer abilities removed

Buildable Units:

Panzer II Ausf. L “Luchs” Light Tank (moved from Schwere Panzer Headquarters)
SdKfz 234 “Puma” Heavy Armored Car
SdKfz 251 “Stuka zu Fuß” Half-Track

!This change makes it possible to play without call-ins and rush a mechanized HQ. Fast Luchs can prove fatal for any allied player that sits too long on a Tier without an AT gun.
This should create match-ups that are interesting, thanks to the earlier Luchs which is a great shock unit. Allies will need to counter it, while preserving their own mid-game light tank to stay in the game. Hector

Luchs

Fuel cost increased from 50 to 65.
Penetration decreased from 25 to 20.

Schwerer Panzer Headquarters

Fuel cost increased from 80 to 105

Buildable Units:

Obersoldaten
Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) (moved from Battlegroup Headquarters)
Panzer IV Ausf. J Medium Tank
Panther PzKpfw V Medium Tank

!The Oberkommando West's hard AT unit will come later now that the Jagdpanzer IV/70 has been moved to the flak truck, giving allies a better window for early vehicles.Van Voort

Tiger B “Königstiger”

Now unlockable call in unit
Limited to 1
Population cost decreased from 26 to 21

! This is a serious buff for competitive games. With the building time of 90 seconds gone, and the pop cap reduced, the King Tiger can now be fielded quicker while impacting your economy less.AchtAchter

! Finally, the King Tiger has been capped at one. Best Christmas present ever.Van Voort

Veterancy 4 & 5 Toned Down

Since the Oberkommando West's resource income is now normal, the vet 4 & 5 bonuses will be decreased. According to Relic, the Veterancy levels 4 & 5 is now about ~25 % stronger than the Veterancy 3 of the other factions.

Full changes:

Volksgrenadiers

Veterancy Rank 4 Squad Sight Radius buff decreased from 1.4 to 1.2
Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Accuracy buff decreased from 1.3 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Cooldown buff increased from 0.7 to 0.8

FallschirmjÃ¤ger

Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Accuracy buff decrease from 1.3 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Accuracy buff decrease from 1.3 to 1.15

JÃ¤ger Light Infantry

Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Range buff decreased from 5 to 2.5
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Cooldown buff increased from 0.75 to 0.8
Veterancy Rank 5 Squad Received Accuracy buff increased from 0.71 to 0.8

Obersoldaten

Veterancy Rank 4 Squad Received Accuracy buff increased from 0.71 to 0.8

MG34 Heavy Machine Gun Team

Veterancy Rank 4 Squad Received Accuracy buff increased from 0.71 to 0.8
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Accuracy buff decreased from 1.2 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 5 Squad Sight Radius buff decreased from 11 to 6

Raketenwerfer 43 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher

Veterancy Rank 4 Squad Movement buff decreased from 1.25 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Range buff decreased from 10 to 5
Veterancy Rank 5 Squad Sight Radius buff decreased from 16 to 12

7.5cm le.IG 18 Infantry Support Gun

Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Penetration buff decreased from 1.3 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Damage buff decreased from 1.5 to 1.15

SdKfz 251/17 Flak Half-Track

Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Penetration buff decreased from 1.25 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 5 Squad Movement buff decreased from 1.3 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 5 Squad Rotation buff decreased from 1.3 to 1.15

Flammpanzer 38 âHetzerâ

Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Range buff decreased from 8 to 5

Flakpanzer IV Ostwind

Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Damage buff decreased from 1.25 to 1.15
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Range buff decreased from 1.25 to 1.15

Jagdpanzer IV/70

Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Reload buff increased from 0.75 to 0.85
Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Accuracy buff decreased from 1.3 to 1.15

Panzer IV Ausf. J Medium Tank

Veterancy Rank 4 Weapon Scatter buff increased from 0.75 to 0.8
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Accuracy buff decreased from 1.5382 to 1.25

Panther PzKpfw V Medium Tank

Veterancy Rank 5 Squad Sight Radius buff decreased from 16 to 11
Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Accuracy buff decreased from 1.5382 to 1.25

Tiger B âKÃ¶nigstigerâ

Veterancy Rank 5 Weapon Reload buff increased from 0.7 to 0.8

Economy Manipulation Removed

OKW

Munitions/Fuel Transfer abilities removed (Mechanized Regiment Headquarters)

The Ostheer

Close Air Support Doctrine & Osttruppen Doctrine:
Removing the Redistribute ability that allows players to manipulate their resource with no counter play involved.

Redistribute Resources ability replaced with Supply Drop Zone ability

! The ability is now the same as the one in the Luftwaffe Supply Doctrine, which means that you can give resources to your team mates. Additionally, Relic nerfed this drop. The planes now fly the longest route to the resource points, in order to allow enemy players a chance to shoot the planes down.AchtAchter

The Soviets
Soviet Industry Tactics:
Removing the Soviet Industry ability that allows players to manipulate their resource with no counter play involved.

Soviet Industry ability replaced with Allied Supply Drop ability

!The ability is now the same as in the Lend-Lease Tactics Commander. It allows giving resources to your team mates.AchtAchter

!Direct economy manipulation is out, it was impossible to counter and too hard to balance. Soviet Industry varied between "God Like" and "Pudding" even within the same game, whilst Fuel->Munitions would give you a plethora of over-equipped blinged-out Landsers along with more planes than Richard Branson.Van Voort

Purchasable Vet Removed

Ostheer: Elite Troops Doctrine

Elite Troops ability replaced with Stormtroopers call-in

!People talk about how bad stormtroopers are, but to me stormtroopers are only bad because of the doctrine they were previously limited to. Tactical movement sturmgewehr stormtroopers coming out of camouflage can basically wipe anything. They are the Ostheer commandos.CookiezNcreem

Ostheer: Mobile Defense Doctrine

Osttruppen Reserves: Removing the Veterancy bonus from the ability as it interfere with the general pacing of unit Veterancy.

!A severe nerf. Right now, you pay 425 manpower for a 3 CP call in with two Veterancy 0 units, which are available at the beginning of game for the cost of 200 MP each in the Ostruppen commander. Also, the LMG 42 has only a 20% chance to come with the squad, so you cannot expect it most of the time.Hector

United States Forces: Rifle Company

Elite Rifleman call-in replaced with Fire Up! ability

!Fire Up! - Squad will move at maximum speed for a period of time, then after will suffer from exhaustion for a period of timeRelic

!Fire up arouses me. Perfect ability for flanking and taking on the long range based axis squads by closing the distance rapidly. CookiezNcreem

!Riflemen walk slower after fire up. So you better fire up and rush into cover, or else you will be stuck in a compromising positionLemonJuice

!"Buying" Veterancy has been eliminated. There are now no commanders that will let you bring in veteran units or Veterancy up existing ones. Elite Troops and Rifle Company were two of the most banned commanders in tournament games and these changes will help bring the automatch and tournament environments closer together.Van Voort

Have a break, Private.

Loitering Planes Changed

So-called "Skill planes" receive nerfs.

All loitering Planes receive the following changes:

Sight decreased to 0
Mini map icon added
Can no longer be targeted in base sectors

!These are really significant changes to how strafes work. First off, all loiter planes have no sight, which means that the player will have to get sight of targets manually, whether it will be with boots on the ground or with recon planes, for the loiter planes to target anything. This is a significant nerf. Players will no longer be able to call in a JU87 loiter on the frontlines, then have the plane self spot an ambulance and come in and take it out. Second, each strafe will only target a specific enemy type, instead of targeting everything. This can be seen as both a nerf and a buff.LemonJuice

! Loitering Planes will no longer provide vision like the Recon planes. In addition, the strafes will be marked with red circles on your mini map.AchtAchter

Ostheer
Stuka Close Air Support:

Only targets vehicles now

UKF
Strafing Support:

Rockets now can only target vehicles
Strafing runs can only target infantry

Soviets
IL-2 Sturmovik Attacks (Loiter):

Can only target infantry

!All great changes. Now your Planes will not waste their strafes on stuff they cannot damage, and the infantry strafes will not brutally destroy riflemen blobs and team weapons. The Close Air Support doctrine strafes are not affected by this.CookiezNcreem

Noteworthy Minor changes

Leaderboards Update

Leaderboards and stats are now accessible in-game via the player card and in the automatch lobby.

!Great improvement for E-sports aspect of the game.Hector

Pathfinding Improvement

Specifically better pathfinding when moving unit backwards (better reversing behavior).

Pack Howitzer / LeiG support gun

Suppression removed
auto facing added back
garrison damage multiplier increased from 0.25 to 0.35 (this helps them clear out buildings easier)

!Le.IG
With the removal of the suppression, the le.IG will be in a worse place than the pack howitzer due to its lower Area Of Effect Damage, though both units are still relatively accurate which makes the cheaper le.IG capable of at least forcing units to relocate. It may need to be brought closer to the front to reduce its scatter and inflict casualties, but it has more than enough range to be capable of doing so, even in auto-fire.miragefla

!Pack Howitzer
A needed change due to its accuracy. The Pack Howitzer will still be useful at bombarding weapon teams thanks to its accuracy. And it will force units in cover to shift position, exposing them to fire from your units.miragefla

Bazooka / Panzerschreck

Reduce infantry sniping: Added infantry target table modifier of 0.5

!What it is says on the tin. it reduces the already low chance of hitting infantry on pure accuracy(2% at far, 5% at near) to 1% at far, and 2.5% at near. I really do not understand why they did not just make the modifier 0.1 to reduce the chances even further.CookiezNcreem

Guard Rifle Infantry / United States Forces's Officer Units

will no longer move to cover when given an attack move order

!Now that these units do not jump around so much, they are a lot more useful than before. PTRS will fire more often, and in addition to the bazooka buff, the Captain provides a real threat to light vehicles.

In play testing, Guards provided a good counter to light vehicle rushes.LemonJuice

! Before, those units did a "Raindance" before attacking. This chapter in the history of Company of Heroes 2 can finally be closed.AchtAchter

Changes to the United Kingdom Forces

Field Headquarters

Bolster Infantry Squads Manpower & Fuel cost increased from 100/25 to 150/35

!Some players liked to bolster their squads in the beginning of the game. With the cost increase for the upgrade, this will definitely delay your tech too much, thus the upgrade is more suited for the mid & late game.AchtAchter

Infantry Sections

Lee Enfield Rifle Reload penalty decreased from 1.5 to 1.4
Lee Enfield Rifle Cooldown penalty decreased from 1.3 to 1.2
Lee Enfield Rifle Target Size increased from 0.8 to 0.9
Veterancy Rank 2 Received Accuracy buff increased from 0.66 to 0.76
Veterancy Rank 3 Weapon Accuracy buff decreased from 1.4 to 1.2

!Infantry Sections do slightly less damage out of cover now. They received a severe survivability nerf with the target size and Veterancy 2 changes. They will now receive more damage from small arms fire. In addition, with the Volks change, you have to depend on cover way more.AchtAchter

Tank Hunter Infantry Section

Boys AT Rifle Accuracy increased from 0.035(F)/0.048(M)/0.063(N) to 0.253(F)/0.575(M)/0.69(N)
Boys AT Rifle Damage decreased from 40 to 27
Boys AT Rifle Bonus Damage vs. Vehicles increased to 13
Veterancy Rank 2 Received Accuracy buff increased from 0.66 to 0.76
Veterancy Rank 3 Weapon Accuracy buff decreased from 1.4 to 1.2

!The Boys AT Sections are brought in line with the Guards infantry & PTRS Conscripts. Their AT rifles can actually hit infantry units now and do significant damage to them.AchtAchter

Royal Engineers

Heavy Engineers Upgrade Munitions cost increased from 0 to 70
Heavy Engineers Upgrade Research Time increased from 10 to 30 seconds

!
While the ability is now pricey, and slows down the unit when in combat, one should remember they still gain an LMG and an additional point of armour. Together with the faster repairs and construction rate. They are still useful in defence and can outdo, by a considerable margin, the engineers of other factions when it comes to support tasks.miragefla

.55 cal Armor-Piercing Sniper

Coordinated Fire ability requirements removed
Critical Shot ability Veterancy Rank 1 requirements added
Chance to damage engine on penetration removed

!The sniper now has to gain Veterancy 1 in order to snare vehicles. This allows light vehicles to be a larger threat in the mid game. British players will have to rely more on mines and the AEC in order to counter light axis vehicles.AchtAchter

Churchill Mk. VII Infantry Tank

Fuel cost increased from 150 to 180

Churchill Crocodile

Flamethrower Range decreased from 32 to 25
Command point requirement increased from 12 to 13
Manpower cost decreased from 700 to 640
Fuel cost increased from 180 to 230
Veterancy Rank 1 requirements increased from 2020 to 2525
Veterancy Rank 2 requirements increased from 4040 to 5050
Veterancy Rank 3 requirements increased from 8080 to 10100

!Churchills saw a severe cost increase that will have a big impact on their cost efficiency. They are definitely not spammable any longer.AchtAchter

Ordnance QF 6-Pounder Anti-Tank Gun

Manpower cost increased from 280 to 320

! This AT gun is practically a more accurate Pak40, stats wise, so these cost adjustments seem fair.

The British AT gun costs less popcap, while the pak40 has the omnipotent target weak point ability.

Valentine Mk. XI Tank

Command Points requirement decreased from 8 to 6

The British metagame will completely change with the nerfs to the Infantry Section, the Churchill and the Crocodile. A faster Luchs will make its mark as well.

The British will depend more than ever on their support weapon teams, armored cars, fast medium tanks and infantry upgrades. AchtAchter

Changes to the United States Forces

USF faces nerfs this patch. The biggest focus on the Rifle Company Commander.

Rifle Company

M2 Flamethrower upgrade moved from Riflemen to Rear Echelon Troops
M2 Flamethrower Command Point requirement decreased from 1 to 0
Elite Rifleman call-in replaced with Fire Up! ability

!Flamethrowers on a weak 4 men squad with low DPS and which are easily targeted down is fine, but flamethrowers on a strong 5 men squad with good DPS was problematic. They would force you out of cover, using the flamethrower, and punish you with their BAR DPS, thus ruining the core game mechanic of cover.

Now, the United States Forces player will need to think and use combined arms to defeat superior positioning.Hector

Rear Echelons

Manpower cost increased from 160 to 200
M1 Carbine Rifle Damage increased from 8 to 10

!Even with their boost in damage, they will still maintain their role as cappers and support units for the United States Forces while Riflemen do most of the fighting. While they are more expensive both cost and reinforce wise, they will still be the ideal handlers for the new and improved Bazooka, as you do not lose much when a carbine is replaced, compared to a Garand for Riflemen.miragefla

!This change is neglected by many, but if you increase the cost of a unit by 25%, you also increase the model reinforce cost by 25%. So they will cost a whooping 25 manpower to reinforce - only 3 less than riflemen, while being worse than them.Hector

Riflemen

Veterancy Rank 3 requirements increased from 2240 to 2576

! It will take longer to reach Veterancy 3 with Riflemen now.AchtAchter

M10 “Wolverine” Tank Destroyer

Manpower & Fuel cost increased from 270/80 to 300/90

!The M10 was spammable, now less so. Although, it is still fast and capable of crushing any infantry, while fighting off any axis armor, cost effectively.Hector

!Tying it to tech would have made more sense. The M10 is only useful because it is cheap.CookiezNcreem

Bazooka

Weapon Accuracy increased
from 0.029(F)/0.043(M)/0.058(N)
to 0.034(F)/0.048(M)/0.063(N)

!Bazookas will now be about ~12% more accurate on all ranges.AchtAchter

!
With its higher rate of fire over the Panzerschreck, and the improved accuracy, bazookas will be a major threat to light armour, even more so than they already are.

This change will be useful for providing security for LT tech against approaching light armour, particularly the Luchs. Even with the price increase to the squad, Rear Echelon will still be the most ideal weapon handlers outside the Captain squad thanks to their lower price, fast Veterancy gain, and the fifth man at Veterancy 2.miragefla

!Players should be able to feel this buff, bazookas are quite accurate now and are able to nail even light vehicles at farther ranges. With the very real threat of Luchs rushes, bazookas got buffed to offer a soft counter. Essential, if you choose to go the Lieutenant instead of the Captain. Keep in mind however, the Luchs still outranges the Bazooka, so you'll have to set up ambushes instead of just attack moving.LemonJuice

Changes to the Soviets

KV-2 Heavy Assault Tank

Population cost decreased from 24 to 19
Health increased from 800 to 1040

!Maybe, with this change, the tank will bring the Soviet Industry commander out of extinction.CookiezNcreem

!The KV2 will still have no defined role. If you want a strong main battle tank you go for the IS2, and if you need a squad wiper you will go for the ISU152. It is a hybrid that fails its job at both. With the economy changes to the Soviet Industry commander it will be at least affordable.Hector

Changes to the Ostheer

G43 Upgrade

Command point requirement decreased from 3 to 1

!
This is a pretty cool buff. It lets Grenadiers get G43s really fast, often after the first few engagements, and way before any other faction has access to any other weapon upgrade other than flamethrowers. Gives your Grenadiers an early game edge. However, I would not recommend getting G43s on all your Grenadiers because they do not have the late game firepower that the LMG42 does.LemonJuice

!Will make commanders like Lightning War more valuable, particularly on urban maps where G43s excel thanks to their effectiveness on the move and up close. With the timing changes, G43s can help Grenadiers hold back units such as Rifles or Conscripts who prefer to fight up close after the first major engagement or a small series of skirmishes as building T1 provides a considerable boost to the Ostheer's starting CP value.miragefla

Other Changes

Map Updates

Sturzdorf

Minor balance Improvements from community creator
Tac-map art added

Achelous River

Tac-map art added

Minsk Pocket

Minor balance improvements
Tac-map art updated

Road to Kharkov

Major balance improvements
Tac-map art updated

Faymonville Approach

Minor balance improvements
Tac-map art updated

Bug Fixes

General

"Remove" Text in Polish is now present when right-clicking on an intel bulletin in the inventory screen
Fixed a crash that would occur when using the Request Artillery Barrage ability in a saved game from the Elsenborn Ridge - Ardennes Assault campaign mission
Rounded off all infantry population cost

Oberkommando West

Sturmpioneer Squadâs backpack is now replaced when a flamethrower is equipped
Volksgrenadierâs can no longer skip the Panzerschrecks reload time by building sandbags
FallschirmjÃ¤gerâs FG42 Rifle reload animation now appears correctly
SdKfz 251 âStuka zu FuÃâ Half-Trackâs vet 3 Weapon Range buff now properly increases with the UI
SdKfz 251/17 Flak Half-Track can no longer receive engine criticals from small arms
Flammpanzer 38 âHetzerâ side deflect VFX has been added
Flammpanzer 38 âHetzerââ now uses the proper medium tank mini map icon
Flammpanzer 38 âHetzerâ decals now appear right-side up
Jagdpanzer IV side deflect VFX has been added
Sturmtigerâs vet 3 Weapon Reload buff now properly takes affect

Wehrmacht

Festung Armor Doctrine, the Pak 43 Emplacement and the Command Tank call-in now appear in the correct order on the command bar
Jaeger Armor Doctrine, the Stuka Bombing Strike ability and the Elefant Tank Destroyer call-in now appear in the correct order on the command bar
German Mechanized Doctrine, the leFH 18 Artillery emplacement and the Command Tank now appear in the correct order on the command bar
Supply Drop Zone ability now has proper SFX when the planes fly overtop

Soviet

Guard Rifle Infantry will now display the PPSh-41 Submachine Gun indicator when equipped with one
M4C Shermanâs Hull MG and Co-axle MG VFX have been added
KV-2 Heavy Assault Tank hatch now properly closes when itâs Firing Position Mode is active
Partisan Tactics, the Spy Network ability and the Partisan Tank Hunters call-in now appear in the correct order on the command bar
IL2-2 Sturmovik Attacks ability will no longer target infantry casualty

US Forces

Infantry units that recrew a Raktenwerfer 43 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher now cloak when using the Camouflage ability
The M3 Grease Gun and Thompson SMG have proper reload animations
M4A3E8 Sherman âEasy Eightâ wrecked texture now appears correctly
M26 Pershing Heavy Tank call-in now works when your pop-cap is 84

UK Forces

Fixed an issue where shots from the Comet, Firefly, or 17 Pounder would fail to damage enemy vehicles
The BAR Rifle now has a proper reload animation when held by Infantry Sections
Air Landing Officer will no longer move to cover when given an attack move order
The Sten SMG now has VFX when firing
QF 17-Pounder Anti-Tank Gun Emplacementâs reload animation now matches itâs reload time
The Hold the Line ability now plays the proper speech

Conclusion

WOW! Compared to other patches, this patch changes more things and introduces new content. The December patch can be seen as one of the major patches in Company of Heroes 2's history. It is not common to receive patches of this size 2 1/2 years after release. Now, we just have to wait and see how these severe changes will influence the game.