Walkthrough Series: Part 12
The Battle for Hill 400: Forest Assault and Tactical Ridge Combat
I. Mission Briefing: The Hurtgen Forest
In Part 12 of the Call of Duty 2 American campaign, the 2nd Ranger Battalion is tasked with one of the most grueling objectives of the war: the capture of Hill 400. Located in the Bergstein forest, this strategic height provided the German military with an unobstructed view of the surrounding valleys, allowing them to coordinate devastating artillery strikes on Allied positions. Unlike the urban survival seen in zombie-themed tactical games, Hill 400 requires a mastery of vertical combat and forest concealment.
The mission begins with a push through the town of Bergstein. The dense morning fog and heavy mortar fire make visibility extremely low. To survive the initial approach, players must utilize the hedgerows and stone walls for cover. The German defense utilizes MG42 heavy machine guns placed in elevated window positions, making any direct run across the main street a fatal mistake.
II. The Forest Clearing: Flanking Maneuvers
Upon entering the forest, the gameplay shifts toward irregular warfare. The terrain is littered with bunkers and trench lines. A key tactical highlight in this walkthrough is the "flanking of the three mortars." These mortar teams are protected by interlocking fields of fire. To neutralize them, you must use smoke grenades to blind the MG42 gunners, allowing your squad to advance up the steep embankments.
The M1 Garand is the weapon of choice for this segment. Its semi-automatic fire rate allows for quick target acquisition of snipers hiding in the trees. However, keep an eye on your clip count; the iconic "ping" of the Garand’s empty clip can alert nearby enemies to your position during a reload. For more technical details on historical weapons, check our PC Gaming & Hardware Archive.
Hill 400 Survival Tactics
- Mortar Evasion: Listen for the distinct "whistle" of incoming shells. When heard, move laterally; mortars in Call of Duty 2 track your last known position rather than your current movement.
- Bunker Breaching: Never enter a bunker through the front door without throwing a fragmentation grenade first. German defenders often wait in corners with MP40 submachine guns.
- Sniper Awareness: Look for flashes in the forest canopy. The snipers on Hill 400 are aggressive and will reposition if you miss your first shot.
III. Objective: Neutralizing the Ridge Artillery
As you reach the base of the hill, the incline becomes nearly vertical. The Rangers must clear a series of "zig-zag" trenches. This is where the M1918A2 BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) shines. While it has a small magazine capacity of 20 rounds, its high-caliber rounds can penetrate the wooden support beams of the trenches, killing enemies who think they are safe behind cover.
Coordinating with Sgt. Randall is essential here. The game’s AI will wait for you to lead the charge, but once you begin the assault, your squad will provide suppressive fire. This mechanic is similar to the teammate coordination found in our World War Z walkthroughs, though CoD2 focuses more on cover-to-cover movement than pure horde management.
IV. The Summit: Bunker Clearing
The final stretch of Part 12 involves reaching the summit and securing the primary observation bunker. The bunker is a fortified concrete structure with multiple rooms. It is recommended to swap your Garand for a captured MP40 or StG 44 before entering. The high fire rate of these German weapons is better suited for the tight corridors inside the bunker.
Once the interior is clear, you must eliminate the remaining soldiers on the rooftop who are directing the mortar fire. Securing this position provides the Rangers with the high ground, but as we will see in the next part of the series, holding the hill is often harder than taking it.
Continue the Series:
- ⏮️ **Part 11:** The Battle for Normandy
- 📁 **Full Archive:** PC Gaming Walkthroughs
- ⏩ **Part 13:** The Defense of Hill 400
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