Infantry Guns

What are Infantry Guns

In HoI4, Infantry Guns are not a Support Company on the right — they are regimental support below: a slot under a battalion column. In-game description: mobile mortars and light artillery for indirect fire against the regiment's targets.

The difference from Support Artillery and other Support Companies is simple: artillery in Support Companies is one per division (shared right column). Infantry Guns go on a specific regiment (column), and only if it already has at least 3 battalions.

They add no combat width. One regimental support slot per column. This also does not replace line artillery (an Artillery battalion in the column) — the article is about Support Companies and regimental support.

Why use Infantry Guns

To add soft attack and some defense to a specific column — the one pushing the attack or holding a sector. Not anti-tank or anti-air: this slot is for fire against infantry and light vehicles.

• Fire for one regiment. Support Artillery in Support Companies covers the whole division. Infantry Guns boost one column — handy when the template has several regiments.
• Bonus from Support Weapons II–IV. Each tech level gives Infantry Guns +10% defense and +10% soft attack (II, III, IV). At level IV — up to +30% defense and +30% soft attack for the slot itself.
• Fewer guns than Support Artillery. 4 artillery pieces per column vs 12 for Support Artillery per division — cheaper equipment per slot, but weaker punch.
• No width cost. Adds firepower without increasing combat width.

In short: Infantry Guns are "light artillery under a regiment" that adds damage and defense to the column, not the whole division at once.

Do you need Infantry Guns

Not mandatory — but not trash either. A second-tier slot, after Support Artillery in Support Companies.

• Yes — if Support Artillery is already in place, industry produces spare guns, the column is "thick" (3+ battalions), and the regimental support slot is free.
• No — if the division still lacks artillery, engineers, Recon Company, or anti-tank. Support Companies always come first; artillery there has priority.
• No — if you have few artillery factories: 4 guns per column quickly eats scarce equipment.
• No — if the column is thin (1–2 battalions): the regimental support slot will not unlock.
• Not instead of Support Artillery. Support Artillery covers the whole division, 12 guns, hits harder. Infantry Guns are an add-on to a column, not a replacement.

Rule for beginners: Support Artillery in Support Companies first; Infantry Guns when industry and the division template allow it.

When and who should use them

• Offensive infantry — yes. A "thick" column breaking through: Infantry Guns add soft attack right where it matters.
• Defensive column — sometimes. Support Weapons also raise defense, but priority is lower than Heavy Weapons Company or engineers.
• Multiple regiments in one division — optional. Put guns on the main assault column, not on every one — Support Artillery already covers the base.
• Airborne / paratroopers — sometimes. Infantry Guns can be paradropped (unlike Support Artillery). Only worth it if you have both transport and artillery equipment to spare.
• Garrison — usually no. Expensive in guns for low priority; Support Artillery in Support Companies is enough, or skip artillery entirely.

How to get Infantry Guns

1. Research the base technology in the Artillery tree. First in the branch (unlocks Artillery Equipment I) — Infantry Guns become available with it.
2. Research Support Weapons II–IV. Each level gives Infantry Guns another +10% defense and +10% soft attack.
3. Research the Artillery branch. Inter-War Artillery and beyond buff both Support Artillery and line artillery — the base without which Infantry Guns will not save you.
4. Build a column with 3+ battalions. Without that, the regimental support slot will not appear.
5. Add guns under the column. In the designer — under the target regiment, after Support Artillery and other Support Companies are in place.

How effective are Infantry Guns

Effectiveness is in extra soft-target damage for one column. The company hits weaker than Support Artillery (support stats are nerfed more heavily) — value is in focused regiment buffs and Support Weapons bonuses.

Infantry Guns vs Support Artillery in Support Companies

Both provide indirect fire, but at different levels of the template. Support Artillery is a Support Company for the whole division. Infantry Guns are regimental, under one column only.

In short: Support Artillery is the main source of artillery fire in an infantry division: 12 guns, hits harder, sits in Support Companies. Infantry Guns are an add-on to a "thick" column when artillery is already there, industry can spare 4 more guns per regiment, and you need to boost the assault axis specifically.

What this looks like in practice

1. Build the division: battalions → Support Companies (engineers, artillery, Recon Company…).
2. Research base artillery tech and Support Weapons II+, and the Artillery branch if you can.
3. When Support Artillery is in place, factories are not empty, and the assault column has 3+ battalions — add Infantry Guns under it.
4. Usually skip secondary columns and garrisons — Support Artillery in Support Companies is enough.

Practical rule: Support Artillery first → Infantry Guns on the main regiment if industry and template organization allow → never instead of Support Artillery.

Recommendations

• Do not confuse with Support Companies. Infantry Guns are regimental, under the column. They are not in the shared right column.
• Support Artillery first. Without it the division hits weakly; Infantry Guns will not fix that.
• Watch your factories. Each column with guns is another 4 artillery pieces in production.
• Research Support Weapons. Without II–IV the slot is noticeably weaker.
• Do not stack on every regiment. Usually one assault column with guns plus Support Artillery for the division is enough.