Mission 10 - Lublin | The Campaign Mode Company of Heroes 2 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Main Objectives:
1. Seize the main square in Lublin
2. Seize two of the three marked territories
3. Destroy the castle gate using ISU-152
Bonus Objectives:
1. destroy the castle gate without losing ISU-152 on the General difficulty level
2. Neutralize all Elephants and PaK-43s, before they destroy any vehicle
3. Seize the Lublin main square without losing a soldier or a vehicle
1. Your first objective will be to seize the nearby main square. Before you do, however, secure the access to the HQ since, within several of the beginning of this mission, you will be, most probably attacked by an enemy infantry squad. The base will be attacked, on a regular basis, by small squads. Usually, it is going to be a battalion or two, or an engineer squad that will come to set explosives here. A covered HMG from the North and a sniper will definitely suffice to secure the base.
When it comes to attacking itself, your armies should rely mainly on tanks and M5 with engineers in this mission. Bringing the infantry in should be limited mainly to seizing the equipment left in the ruins. You should be wary of the mines that are plentiful here everywhere. You can equip one of the squads with a mine diffusal package but, it is not necessary. A single mine will not cause much damage and, the damage dealt to your units can be quickly fixed by the engineers from M5. Play slowly and calmly, you should not hurry in this mission. Before you attack the main square, you need to clear the area to the West of the HQ, by using the M5 with flamethrowers and the SU/t-70.
You then need to attack the main square, using the M5 to eliminate the infantry, and follow with tanks. You should be able to perform the bonus objective (3) this way. What is important, the killed engineers in the M5 (or any other soldier type inside the truck) will not count as the killed soldiers. Even if one or two engineers die during the attack, this will not prevent you from performing the bonus objective.
2. After you capture the main square, secure it with, at least, one HMG and e.g. a mortar. Now, you need to capture at least two of the three marked territories at the edges of the map. It is best to go East first, where there are tanks stationed. Removing them at the beginning, will make the rest of the game easier. Produce one or, even better, two SU-85s . Also seize the two AT cannons left behind by the Germans. Send the M5 to do the reconnaissance job. Among the ruins there will be the enemy infantry men hidden, including snipers with flamethrowers and panzergrenadiers with Panzerschreks. Take them out with your M5 and, do not forget to unload the engineers and order them to do repairs once the truck is damaged, e.g. by a mine. If you encounter any German Panzer, try to lure it towards your troops where there should be an SU-85 waiting for it. (it is a good idea to turn the focus on to increase the range of vision: SU-85 are more vulnerable at close quarters).
It is a good idea to learn the middle section of the map before you launch an attack to the East. There will be mortars, snipers and a lot of other units in there. Also, do not forget about your tank destroyer that you should use to fight tanks of the Reich. Once you clear the area, move slowly your cannons, M5 and tanks to the East, towards the repair point. A part of the forces, e.g. the swift T-70, that are effective against infantry, should be left in the middle, just in case there are still some remnants there, or, the enemy launches an attack.
Before the onslaught, make sure that the two AT cannons are deployed, and lay mortar fire on the territory. Also the commander's abilities will prove useful, especially the IL aerial attack. Unfortunately, it consumes tremendous amounts of munitions so, do not use it too frequently to be able to use the abilities of individual units. As far as it is possible, try to eliminate the Panzers one by one. An also do not forget about the engineers inside the M5 that can repair tanks even under heavy fire. The M5 itself should also be used to eliminate AT weaponry of the enemy and the enemy infantry.
Seizing the repair point will really make things easier for you. Further to the East, in the territory that you need to seize, is the Elefant which needs to be destroyed before it destroys any of your vehicles, if you want to perform the bonus objective (2a). Fire your mortars at it. Remember about the cannons and, first of all, about the SU-85. If necessary, get back to the repair point. Also remember about the infantry that you need to set on fire with the M5.
After you seize the territory, the first part of the task will be done. Now, along the map's rim go to the North. On your way, you will encounter single tanks but, they should not be too much of a threat. The main armored divisions of the enemy has been shut down so, you will not have to worry about the German tanks anymore.
The observation point that you encounter on your way to the next point should be neutralized from afar with the use of mortars and special abilities. To the North of the map, there are the enemy Panzerwerfery 42s, i.e the German counterparts of the Katyusha rocket launchers, which can quickly and effectively decimate your troops if they are immobile. After you weaken the defenses, capture the observation point quickly and then launch an attack on the enemy's Northern HQ.
Using the tracking ability, locate the nearby infantry and lay mortar fire on them. Have the tanks deal with the transportation units, which are going to be ample here. Also, do not forget about the always-reliable M5 and its flamethrowers. The Paznerwerfers are completely defenseless when approached so, they will pose no threat to you. After you seize this point, the second objective will be completed. You can now set out to the castle but, if you want to achieve total victory, and make the end phase easier (especially if you want to complete the bonus objective 1), you should seize control over the last point to the West of the map.
You will receive two mighty ISU-152. Use them alongside wit the remaining units that you received in the middle of the map and set out for the last point. Order your forces stationed to the North to go there also, to corner the enemy. The enemy forces on both roads will be nothing out of ordinary. A lot of snipers, infantry with grenade launchers and mortars. There is no point in hurrying so push forward slowly to prevent losing your soldiers (especially that, since you received the ISUs, you are probably way above your unit count) and, if necessary, make stops to repair your tanks. On the Northern road, there is still the issue of the PaK-43 cannons that are the bonus target (2b). watch out for these. Lay mortar fire on them or send out the M5 to burn the teams up at closer distance. On your way, there will be three such cannons.
Also, make sure that you do not expose your forces when close to the castle because they can get under the enemy fire. Especially the artillery team is vulnerable to that.
After you finally deal with the enemy forces, deploy all your units, apart from the ISU where the game tells you to. There will still be small forces that need to be dealt with.
Once you have dealt with all of them, position your tanks all along the houses opposite the castle's gate. Keep your SU-85s and AT cannons on the right and on the left ends. You can now position your ML-20, if you can, but you should be able to manage with the battle without the howitzer. Repair all of the tanks with your engineers and only then, order both ISU-152s to their positions.
The Germans will launch an attack but, they will be completely harmless against such deployed and prepared forces. If necessary, send out the engineers to repair the tanks that have been damaged. After a few shots, the tanks will breach the gate and another mission will make it to the history.