MISSION 04: Carentan Counterattack

Your guide to Mission 04: Carentan Counterattack in Company of Heroes. Learn how to establish defenses, defeat the German counterattack, and earn the Bronze Star.

Alright, let's get you through MISSION 04: Carentan Counterattack. This one's a bit of a nail-biter, as the Germans aren't happy about losing Carentan and are launching a major counterattack just before sundown. You'll be facing elements of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division. ## Mission Description Having secured Carentan, Fox Company must now face a determined German counterattack. Shortly before sundown, lead elements of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division launch an offensive to regain Carentan. ## Mission Events This mission reuses the map from the previous mission, Carentan. Your units and captured territories carry over, and importantly, any terrain alterations like mines or barbed wire remain. This means you can actually prepare for this mission in advance! To help you out, you'll get two unmanned allied AT guns, two new Airborne Squads, three new Engineer Squads, and one new Jeep. You'll have 15 minutes to prepare your defenses. Use this time wisely to dig in around Carentan. If you missed any points in the last mission, now's your chance to grab them, but watch out for those snipers in buildings if you didn't clear them out previously. Once the 15 minutes are up, the Germans will start their assault. Expect mostly Volksgrenadiers, Grenadiers, and Pioneers, along with some StuG IV assault guns. You might rarely see BMW R75 Motorcycles or SdKfz 251 Half-tracks, and there's a Gr. 34 8cm Mortar Team north of the bridge that won't push forward. Keep an ear out, because a few minutes into the attack, you'll get warnings about incoming artillery strikes. There will be three waves: 1. The first strike hits the north side of the bridges, the bridges themselves, and the river. 2. The second strike targets the south side of the bridge. Simultaneously, four barrages will hit the street north of the town hall, and two more will engulf the area south of the east bridge. A small alleyway connecting the east bridge to the town center will also get hit. 3. The third and final strike will completely cover the town hall, town center, and the area south of the east bridge. After the last artillery barrage, the Germans will launch a massive push from across the bridges and also from the west. A smaller detachment will even attack from the south, aiming for the church. About four minutes after the main assault begins, Allied reinforcements will arrive: Able Company. This force includes four M4 Sherman tanks (as of Update 2.602) and four Riflemen Squads. Two Shermans might arrive a bit later, so keep an eye on your unit bar if you need them quickly. ## Mission Objectives ### Primary Objectives 1. Establish Defensive Perimeter: "Prepare for imminent Axis Counterattack. Establish defenses around all three bridges and deploy additional troops from the Town Hall or Church." 2. Defeat Axis Counterattack: "Prevent the 17th SS from re-capturing Carentan and hold out until Allied reinforcements arrive." * Defend the Church: "Fall back to the Church and prevent the 17th SS from capturing it. Hold out at all costs. Carentan cannot fall to the enemy." 3. Destroy all Axis Armor in Carentan: "The 17th Panzer is falling back! Destroy all Axis Stugs and force the 17th SS Panzer out of Carentan." ### Secondary Objectives * None for this mission. ### Medal Objective * (Difficulty: Easy) Inflict 200 casualties on the Axis * (Difficulty: Normal) Inflict 250 casualties on the Axis * (Difficulty: Hard) Inflict 300 casualties on the Axis * (Difficulty: Expert) Inflict 350 casualties on the Axis ## Medal Earned ### Bronze Star To earn the Bronze Star, you'll need to inflict the required number of casualties on the Axis forces, depending on your chosen difficulty.