ITALIAN ARMY FOR COH 3

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

As anybody know Company of Heroes 3 has been announced and also, we were provided the chance to
play a pre alpha.

The faction that we could observe are 3: British, US, and Wehrmacht. Since the game is set in Italy it could
be the time that a new axis faction could pop out instead of the overused second (copy paste with some
difference) German faction.

WHY AN ITALIAN FACTION IS BETTER THAT SOME ITALIAN BATTLEGROUP?

As we saw in the cover art there are featured three main characters representing the faction that are
portrayed in the game. The fourth character is a German Afrika Corp soldier, suggesting that the upcoming
fourth faction will be another German faction.

What will a complete standalone Italian faction will bring to the table? First of all, the opportunity for Relic
to make money. An Italian faction DLC would in my opinion intrigue the players since Italian faction are
rarely seen in strategic games, also there are room for more microtransaction of specific Battlegroups for
this Italian faction (double the money).

Coh players already know the capabilities of a hypothetical Afrika Korps German faction since it’s infantry
and vehicles are already been featured in the previous two instalment (the new units would be few like
panzer III or panzer II for example). An Italian faction would bring a complete refreshing vibe to the game
with it’s never seen vehicles, playstyle and armament.

REGARDING GERMAN SUPPORT

Most of the Italian faction that has been made as a concept in the previous years were heavily influenced
by German doctrines. Usually, the makers made the inclusion of several German unit.

This never happened unfortunately in the reality, Italian forces until the armistice never used German
vehicles or weapons, the only instance of Italians with German equipment is in 1943 with the creation of
the elite black shirt M armoured division. This division was employed only during the defence of Rome and
refused to participate to the battle against the old German ally, the division didn’t fire a single shot and
after the battle the Germans requisitioned all the panzers that were previously gifted.

The only German equipment that were used by Italians before the armistice were some at guns (37mm Pak,
some flak 88 and some captured French guns) regarding vehicles Italians used only captured French tanks
that were gifted after the fall of France.

So, in my opinion a true Italian faction should not have German units in it. Of course, the Italian faction
won’t have the Germans big cats, but this is the true meaning of a coh faction, Variety. Coh have proven to
us that there are many ways to deal with heavy armour that are not another heavy armour and an Italian
faction would play in a new way that players don’t have experienced yet.
MY ITALIAN FACTION CONCEPT

The main focus of my concept is not to provide the perfect faction for coh3 but instead to show that an
Italian pure faction is possible and Italian faction have all the units that are needed to be considered
complete.

My Italian faction is modelled on the Royal Italian army until 1943, I think is the best decision since is the
most non-political faction and the strongest of the possible Italian faction (Italian social republic was
essentially a puppet state and have a very limited number of divisions, they had access to German weapons
in some cases and mostly used the same tanks of royal Italian army. The co-belligerent Italy is essentially
British with Italian voices, they were given weapons and equipment from the British, also they didn’t
employ any tanks. Partisan are irregulars and by definition they lack any vehicles or air support).

The faction is modelled on coh2, since coh3 is still a work in progress and we the players don’t have full
knowledge on all the games mechanics. I used the classical commanders for the doctrinal units since coh 3
battlegroups have not been fully revealed.

I have gathered a quite good knowledge on the Italian army in ww2 I own many books on the subject but I
understand that may players are not familiar with Italian stuff so in my concept I provided with as many
picture as possible.

The starting unit of my Italian faction are the Italian engineers, also the barracks must be built in order from
1 to 3.

SOURCES
• Volume 1 and 2 of N.Pignato and F.Cappellano, Gli Autoveicoli da combattimento dell’esercito italiano (The
Figthing Vehicles of the Italian Army) published by The Italian Army General Staff, historical office 2002, ISBN:
978-8887940282, ISBN: 978-8887940299.
• P.Crociani, P.Battistelli Camicie nere. La milizia volontaria per la sicurezza nazionale 1935-45 (Blackshirts. The
Voluntary Militia for National security 1935-45), LEG Edizioni 2016, ISBN: 978-8861022539.
• L.Caeddu, A.Castagnotto, A.Ceccotto, U.Correale, P.Maccagano, L.Malatesta, A.Nardin,D.Rossi Storia della
fanteria italiana(History of Italian Infantry)Editoriale Programma 2018, ISBN: 978-8866435471.
• Filippo Cappellano, Le artiglierie del Regio Esercito nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale(The Artillery of Royal
Italian Army in WW2), Albertelli Edizioni Speciali 1998, ISBN: 978-8887372038.
• F.Cappellano N.Pignato, Andare contro i carri armati(Fighting Against Tanks), Gaspari editore 2007, ISBN: 88-
7541-059-3.
• N.Pignato, Armi della fanteria italiana nella seconda guerra mondiale (Weapons of italian infantry during
WW2),1971 Parma, Ermanno Albertelli Editore

CONTACT

Made by Lorenzo De Florio

Email: loredef@live.it
 HQ
Genieri(engineers), 4 men 210 MP Stats Description
Weapon x4 carcano carabine They perform
Ability Plant: demolition charges 65 Same as the in game very
MU, Russian similar to
Build: sanbags, barbedwire, engineers soviet
mines 30 MU engineers,
Upgrades Hazard package 30 MU Same as other similar in
Flamethrower Mod.35 60 MU factions combat and
ability

Fucilieri(riflemen), 5 men 250 MP Stats Description

Weapon x5 carcano 91 rifle Same damage as They perform
mosin nagant in combat
Ability srcm.35 stun grenade 30 MU Hand grenade similar to OKW
Type L at-grenade 25 MU similar to OKW volksgrenadier,
sturmpioneer good from
stun grenade distance also
At-grenade same they have
stats as soviet at some at-
grenade grenades to
Upgrades help fight
vehicles like
soviet
conscripts
47/32 light at gun, 4 men 200 MP Stats Description
Weapon x1 47mm 47/32 at gun, Same as soviet Very similar to
x4 carcano carabine M42 light at-gun, soviet 45mm
can shoot like at gun, helps
the soviet one to repel light
anti-infantry vehicles and
shells also repel
Ability HE shell (swich ammo) Same ability as infantry if
the russian one supported by
Upgrades infantry with
HE grenades
L3/35 tankette 260 MP 10 FU Stats Description
Weapon x2 8mm breda 38 mg 2 MG like the Armor like the
Stuart Bren, also act
Ability Suppressive burst 10 MU Same as Bren like the Bren
ability, supress carrier in
infantry combat, good
Upgrades • Solothurn 20 mm 60 20mm cannon support for
MU work like a infantry, can
• Flamethrower 75 MU guard’s ptrs, and be upgraded
flamethrower with an at-rifle
like bren wasp to help fight
upgrade, one light vehicles
upgrade locks
the other
 BARRACK 1 160 MP 30 FU
Bersaglieri, 5 men 280 MP Stats Description
Weapon x5 carcano 91 rifle Same as fucilieri Advanced
Ability srcm.35 stun grenade 30 Same as fucilieri infantry they
MU Sprint like the are stronger and
Sprint 10MU soviet uraa ability more durable
Upgrades x2 wz.35 at rifles 60 MU Same stats as than fucilieri
Russian ptrs much as guards
are stronger
than conscripts.
Can be upgrades
wit at rifles.
Bersaglieri are
famous for their
physical fitness.
81mm mortar team 4 men 240 MP Stats Description
Weapon x1 81mm mortar, Same stats as Usa Copy paste the
x4 carcano carabine mortar since both USA M1 mortar,
army used the Italian and USA
same copy of the are the same
French Brandt identical mortar
mle 27/31 mortar
Ability Mortar barrage
Smoke barrage
Upgrades

Fiat mod.35 MG team 4 men 260 MP Stats Description

Weapon x1 8mm Fiat mod.35, Arc wide as vikers A modernization
x4 carcano carabine mg of ww1 mg. It
Ability was changed
Upgrades the caliber to
8mm, it was
added a belt fed
mechanism an
the barrel is
now air cooled
UNLOCK LIGTH VEHICLES 50 MP 20 FU
A37 transport 190 MP 15FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 8mm breda 38 mg Stats similar to A wheeled
soviet scout car transport can
Ability transport 1
Upgrades 47mm at gun upgrade Ligth at gun squad.
60MU upgrade can Can be
Flamethrower 90MU shoot only from upgraded with a
the front. flamethrower or
Falmethrower a light at gun.
upgrade like
wehrmacht sdkfz
251
AB 41 scout car 200 MP 30 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 breda 35 20mm same stats as 222 Similar in
autocannon main gun performance to
x2 8mm breda 38 mg German 222
Ability scout car

Upgrades x1 pintle mounted 8mm

breda 38 mg 50 MU
 BARRACK 2 240 MP 85 FU
75/32 at gun 4 men 280 MP Stats Description
Weapon x1 75mm at gun, Same stats as Medium at gun,
x4 carcano carabine usa/british 57mm similar in
at gun performance to the
Ability EPS shell (HEAT) 30 Similar to usa hvap Zis-3 gun, like the zis
MU, 15 sec ability ability of 57mm at it was originally
gun employed as a field
Upgrades Barrage, 6 HE rounds Same as zis ability gun but it’s good
60MU head shell and
decent 75 caliber
proved effective
against armour
75/18 ligth howitzer 5 men 380MP
Weapon x1 75mm ligth Similar to the m1 Same role as the USA
howitzer, pack howitzer m1 pack howitzer
x4 carcano carabine
Ability Barrage
Smoke barrage
Upgrades

M15/42 tank 280 MP 80 FU Stats Description

Weapon x1 47mm 47/40 gun, Low/medium Act as a middle
x3 8mm breda 38 mg damage but high ground between light
rate of fire also a tanks and medium
good anti-infatry tanks; frontal armour
thanks to 4 mgs 50mm like panzer IV
Ability EPS shell(HEAT) 30 Same as 75/32 gun F2, main gun a bit
MU, 15 sec ability ability but with less stronger than T70
Smoke canisters damage gun. Good against
30MU Canister like panzer infantry thank to its’s
tactician. 4 mg, can use smoke
Upgrades x1 pintle mounted canisters to evade
8mm breda 38 mg 50 dangerous
MU engagements
Semovente da 75/34 280 MP 90 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 75mm at gun Same stats as stug Very similar to the
but with less stug III ausf G but
armour with less armour and
Ability EPS shell(HEAT) 30 Similar to usa hvap a bit less penetration
MU, 15 sec ability ability of 57mm at
gun
Upgrades x1 pintle mounted
8mm breda 38 mg 50
MU

ARSENAL 150 MP 15 FU
Buildable by engineers only after barack 1 is built, similar to usa and uk weapon rack
Unlock srcm mod.35 grenades 125 MP 15 FU Unlock type L at grenades 125 MP 15 FU
Grants acces to grenades to all units that can throw it Grants acces to at grenades to all units that can throw it
Breda 30 lmg 45 MU
Infantry can pick up a lmg, act lice a bren, see the last table for more spec
Brixia 45mm ligth mortar 60 MU
Infantry can pick up a ligth mortar, act lice a rear echelon rifle grenade, see the last table for more spec
Upgrades
Medics 60 MU Send 3 medics that heal nearby unit (like the soviet one)
 BARACK 3 240 MP 75 FU
P26/40 tank 320 MP 110 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 75mm at gun Very similar to Medium tank
x1 8mm breda 38 mg Cromwell similar in
75mm gun performance to
Ability Smoke canisters 30 MU Like panzer the Cromwell
tactitian but of course
Upgrades x1 pintle mounted 8mm slower but with
breda 38 mg 50 MU slight better
armour due to
sloped armour
Semovente da 90/53 350 MP 140 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 90mm gun Same Very strong at
penetration tank but very
and damage as vulnerable due
Jackson main to thin armour,
gun profile similar to
Ability Stationary position(free with Tank becomes old Marders
cooldown) stationary but from coh1
rate of fire and
visibility
increased
Upgrades

90/53 AA/AT gun 400 MP / 75 FU Stats Description

Weapon 1 90mm AA/AT gun Same as 17 Heavy 90mm
pounder at/aa gun
Ability • Swich to AA Same anti-tank comparable to
mode(similar to capabilities as the German 88.
OKW Flak HQ) Pak 43 but with Static
360-degree arc emplacement
of fire buildable by
Upgrades Italian engineers
after last barrack
is complete.

M battalion Blackshirts 300 MP Stats Description

Weapon X5 carcano rifle Elite units,
Ability Srcm mod.35F smoke Same stats as members of the
grenade 15 MU British elite m battalion
Pazzaglia bomb 50 MU Gammon bomb of the black
Upgrades X5 mab38 smg 90MU shirts, good
assault unit, can
be equipped
with mab 38 smg
COMMANDERS
ROYAL ITALIAN AIRFORCE SUPPORT
Paracadutisti(paratroopers) 350 MP / 30 2 CP
Send paratroopers that paradrop on the objective, elite units
Breda 35 aa emplacement 20mm 220 MP 20 FU 3 CP
Engineers can build 20mm aa static guns, with 360 degree arc of fire like the German flak 38
Supply drop 30 MU 3 CP
Similar to the German and British ability, send 3 medic crates and a Fiat mod 35 mg and a 75/32 medium at
gun
mc.205 strafing run 180 MU 12 CP
A macchi mc.205 will attack the area suppressing and killing infatry with his 20mm cannons
50kg mc.205 bombing run 200 MU 12 CP
Same ability as soviet IL-2 bombing run

DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Entrenchment PASSIVE 0 CP
Engineers can build trenches, at obstacles, and mg bunker
At guns camouflage PASSIVE 0 CP
47mm and 75mm at guns can be invisible when stationary and when they don’t open fire, same as soviets
Artillery officer 240 MP 2 CP
Send an artillery officer unit, see table below for the stats and ability
Cannone da 105/28 400 MP 50 FU 8 CP
Engineers can build 105mm howitzers
Heavy 149mm howitzer 200 MU 10 CP
bombardment
Heavy bombardment with 149mm howitzers, slow but powerful, like the American ability

CAMIONETTISTI REGIMENT
B2 mine PASSIVE 0 CP
Engineers, A37 and AS42 can place B2 bar mine more powerful but more expensive, act like the German
doctrinal bar mine
Camionetta AS42 scout car 200 MP 0 CP
Unarmoured scout car with 8mm mg, fast and agile can capture points and place B2 mines, buildable from HQ
L6/40 ligth tank 270 MP 60 FU 4 CP
Light tank armed with a mg and a 20mm autocannon, can be upgraded with a flame thrower
75mm ligth howitzer 100 MU 8 CP
bombardment
Light Howitzers bombardment like the German one
Semovente da 105/25 440 MP 155 FU 10 CP
Self-propelled gun armed with a 105mm gun excellent at capabilities
 ALPINE REGIMENT
Alpini 280 MP / 28 1 CP
mountain infantry with very good long distance accuracy act like Germans Jager, see table below for stats
Semovente 47/32 270 MP 50 FU 4 CP
Send a little spg, good for countering early armour
Avanti Savoia! 60 MU 3 CP
Infantry will sprint and capture points faster
Entrenchment PASSIVE 0 CP
Engineers can build trenches at obstacles and mg bunker
105mm howitzers 150 MU 9 CP
bombardment
105mm howitzers bombardment in rapid sequence

MECANIZED INFANTRY SUPPORT

Mecanized infantry transport PASSIVE 0 PT
Fiat 665NM Protected transport can be built from barrack 2, see table below for stats
At guns camouflage PASSIVE 2 CP
47mm and 75mm at guns can be invisible when stationary and they don’t open fire, same as soviets
Semovente 75/18 260 MP 75 FU 7 CP
Anti-infantry self-propelled gun act like German StuG III Ausf. E
105mm howitzer bombardment 150 MU 8 CP
Light Howitzers bombardment like the German one
Semovente da 105/25 440 MP 155 FU 10 CP
Self-propelled gun armed with a 105mm gun excellent at capabilities

ARTILLERY SUPPORT
Artillery officer 240 MP 2 CP
Send an artillery officer unit, see table below for the stats and ability
White phosphorus shells PASSIVE 0 CP
Italian 81mm mortar, 75/18 light howitzer and cannon 105/28 can fire white phosphorus shell for a munition
cost
Semovente 75/18 260 MP 75 FU 7 CP
Anti-infantry self-propelled gun act like German StuG III Ausf. E
Cannone da 105/28 400 MP 50 FU 8 CP
Engineers can build 105mm howitzers
Autocannone 100/17 360 MP 85FU 9 CP
100mm howitzers mounted on heavy Lancia Ro truck, a mobile spg but with virtually no armour

CACCIACARRI REGIMENT
Anti tank package PASSIVE 1 CP
Fucilieri can be equipped with 3 wz.35 at-rifle
Solothun S-1000 squad 260 MP 2 CP
Send a heavy at- rifle squad, equipped with a solothurn s-1000
Semovente 47/32 270 MP 50 FU 4 CP
Send a little spg, good for countering early armour
Anti-Tank surveilance 200 MU 8 CP
Any armour visible in the targeted sector will be attacked by off map 105mm artillery shells
Autocannone 90/53 350 MP 120FU 9 CP
90mm at gun mounted on heavy Lancia 3Ro truck, a mobile spg with very good at capabilities but fragile
 DOCRINAL UNITS
Paracadutisti(paratropers), 5 men 350 MP Stats Description
Weapon x5 carcano carabine Similar to Elite unit, they
commandos paradrop on the
Ability • oto 42 Same stats as volks objective.
incendiary incendiary grenade Armed with
grenade 30 carcano
MU carabines can
• srcm mod.35F be upgraded
smoke with mab 38smg
grenade 15 very effective
MU against infantry,
Upgrades X5 mab38 smg 90MU they also have
an incendiary
grenade, a
smoke grenade
and the Italian
variant of the
gamon bomb
Alpini(mountain troops) 5 men 280 MP Stats Description
Weapon x5 carcano 91 rifle Similar to german Mountain
jager infantry with
Ability Srcm mod.35 stun very good long-
grenade 20 MU range accuracy,
Invisible in they have an
cover(passive) enhanced sight
V1 picket bengala mine Like soviet radius and
10MU conscript ability become
Upgrades invisible in
cover.

Artillery officer 5 men 240 MP Stats Description

Weapon x1 mab38 smg(officer), Like usa lieutenant An artillery
x4 carcano 91 rifle officer with
Ability • Light artillery Coordinated similar ability of
barrage artillery same as Wehrmacht
40MU(vet 1) Wehrmacht officer artillery officer
• Smoke ability.
barrage(free) Hold your ground is
• hold your a defensive bonus
ground(free) to infantry
• coordinated
artillery 45MU
Upgrades
Solothurn S-1000 squad, 5 men 260 MP Stats Description
Weapon x1 20mm automatic at a bit more damage Heavy
rifle compared to automatic at
x4 carcano 91 rifle normal at rifles, rifle, needs to
high rate of fire, be deployed like
more range than a mg, it does a
normal at rifles bit more
Ability Target tread 20MU Slow down damage
medium vehicles, compared to
on light vehicles it normal at rifles,
destroys the engine high rate of fire
Upgrades
 DOCTRINAL UNIT
105mm medium howitzer 4men 400 MP 50 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 105mm howitzer, Similar to Static howitzer
x4 carcano carabine German lefh buildable by
Ability • barrage engineers, similar
Upgrades to other faction
howitzer in
particular more
similar to German
lehf since both are
105mm
AS 42 Sahariana scout car 200 MP Stats Description
Weapon x1 breda 8mm mg Similar to Usa Unarmoured scout
wc51 jeep car that can lay
Ability • Lay B2 mines Similar to bar mines and capture
50 MU mine deployed points, similar in
by German profile to USA
halftraks wc51 truck, can be
Upgrades • 20mm Similar to upgraded with a
autocannon German 222 20 mm
90MU main gun autocannon
performance
L6/40 ligth tank 260 MP 60 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 8mm breda 38 mg 20mm stats like Light armoured
x1 20mm autocannon panzer II luchs tank similar in
Ability armour to German
Upgrades Flamethrower turret Flamethrower panzer II luchs can
60MU stats like bren be upgraded with
wasp a flamethrower
for main
gun.(flamethrower
variant in the
picture)
Semovente 75/18 260 MP 75 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 ligth 75mm Same stats as Very similar to
howitzer stug II E main gun stug III E, anti-
Ability Smoke barrage 20MU infantry self-
Upgrades x1 pintle mounted propelled gun
8mm breda 38 mg 50
MU

Semovente 105/25 440 MP 155 FU

Weapon x1 105mm gun Slight less Self-propelled gun
perforation armed with a
compared to 105mm gun
semovente 90/53 excellent at
Ability HE shell 30MU (with Fire a single he capabilities,
cooldown) shell (like the IS2 armoured like the
but with less p26/40
blast radius and
less damage)
Upgrades x1 pintle mounted
8mm breda 38 mg 50
MU
Autocannone 100/17 360 MP 85 FU
Weapon x1 100mm howitzer Same stats for Self-propelled
gun like the artillery armed
sexton, armour with a 100mm
and mobility like howitzer similar
the katiusha to the priest but
Ability with no armour,
Upgrades 1 medium tank
hit an it will be
destroyed

Autocannone 90/53 350 MP 120 FU Stats Description

Weapon x1 90mm at gun, Similar to Jackson 90mm gun
main gun mounted on a
Ability heavy Lancia 3Ro
Upgrades or Breda 52
truck. It has a
deploy time,
shoot from
stationary, fragile
but very long
range.
Semovente 47/32 270 MP 50FU Stats Description
Weapon x 1 47mm gun Similar to T70 gun Light spg,
Ability Recon Mode Recon mode armoured like a
similar to T70 T70, good to
ability, increase repel early
vision armour vehicles
Upgrades x1 pintle mounted
8mm breda 38 mg 50
MU
Fiat 665NM Protected 240 MP 30 FU Stats Description
Weapon x1 8mm breda 38 mg Similar armour Halftrack on
and stats to wheels, can
Wehrmacht sdkfz transport 2
251 halftrack squad, can
Ability Heal garrisoned squad reinforce squads.
Reinforce nearby Squads on the
squads inside are slowly
Upgrades healed.

Breda 35 20mm AA 400 MP 45 FU Stats Description

Weapon x1 20m autocannon 360 degrees of Static aa gun
fire like German built by
flak 38 engineers, very
Ability similar to
German flak 38
Upgrades built by OKW
sturmpionier
 INFANTRY WEAPONS
INFANTRY WEAPONS
Carcano 91 rifle Srcm mod35 stun grenade and srcm mod.35F smoke

Main battle rife of infantry, in game it is similar to All Italian ww2 grenades are offensive grenades. They have
mosin nagant stats less explosive filler compared to defensive grenades but
they are designed to stun the enemy with a loud noise. In
game they act like Sturmpioneer stun grenades, small
damage and stun the opponent. The yellow one is the
smoke grenade variant.
Carcano 91 Carabine Anti tank rifle P

Carabine variant of the standar long rifle, in game it Polish wz.35 at rifle, gifted to italy after Polish capitulation,
has more rate of fire but it loses accuracy on the in game is similar to soviet ptrs
long distance
Breda 30 lmg Type L and Breda mod.42 at grenades

Standard ww2 italian lmg, in game it act like the Italian impact at grenade, they both have a distinctive red
bren, it must be shoot while stationary, elite infantry color, act in game like others at grenades, good for snaring
like the paratroopers or the m battalion blackshirts vehicles.
can shoot and advance with it
Mab 38 smg
Excellent italian ww2 smg. Regarded as one of the best
smg of the war, elite unit can be equipped with it
Pazzaglia Bomb
This improvvised bomb is the bomb who inspired the
british gamon bomb, it consist of a canvas recipient
willed with a lot of explosives, in game act like the
Gamon bomb
Pignone mod.43 at mine
Italian at mine, it consist of a bakelite casing mine
designed to be less detectable from mine sweaper, in
game act like german tellermine, buildable by
engineers.
Brixia 35 light mortar
Ligth 45mm mortatr, in game it acts like a rear echelon
rifle grenade but with a higher rate o fire, shoot from
stationary
Oto mod.42 incendiary grenade
Italian incendiary grenade, it is a inpact greades with a
glass botle filled with incendiary liquid, in games deals a
bit of damage and slowly burn the opponent
B2 bar mine
B2 bar mine are the mines who inspired the gemans to
design their bar mine. The italian design is from 1935
while german riegelmine are from 1943.
Beretta M34 pistol
Standard italian army pistol of ww2
V1 picket mine
Italian piket mine, act ingame like the soviet one, kills
one model and launch a bengala