Advance to the Rhine
DominationConquestBattle
BreakSkirmish
Real World Location
Contents
Overview
Advance to the Rhine is a ground forces map available in all modes. Being a "generalized recreation" of the city of Cologne, Germany, it was added in Update 1.53 "Fire Storm". The map is very close quarters, with fighting taking place on the city streets of Cologne. The majority of the map is made up of bombed out buildings, with a large tower statue in the west, and a more open park area in the east of the map.
The full tank map is 1.05 km x 1.05 km, making it the smallest tank map in the game. The air battle area is 65km x 65km.
| Game Mode | AB | RB | SB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domination | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
| Conquest #1 | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
| Conquest #2 | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
| Conquest #3 | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
| Conquest #4 | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
| Battle | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km | 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
Game Description
Teams fight for control over the bridges leading to the other side of the Rhine.
Historical Background
The devastated urban environment of "Advance to the Rhine" is based off the conditions of the city Cologne in Germany.
During World War II, Cologne was the Military Area Command Headquarters for the Military District of Münster. The city was subjected to multiple air raids by Western Allies bombers throughout the war. In March 1945, the city was the target of the U.S. First Army in their path towards the Rhine River. It was here that a famous tank encounter occurred that was captured by Signal Corps member Jim Bates. A Panther tank taking position near the Cologne Cathedral gave the Americans heavy resistance, knocking out a M4A1 (76) lead in a tank platoon. Noting the heavy fire from a high-velocity gun, the crew of a M26 Pershing, commandeered by Sergeant Early, maneuvered around the Panther and in a meet-up with both of their guns pointing at each other, the Pershing fired off the first shot, hitting the Panther straight in the hull side. The Pershing fired two more shots as the Panther crew bailed out of their burning tank, ending with a catastrophic explosion of the Panther's ammunition.
The German garrison in Cologne soon surrendered to the Allies around March 7th. This freed up many American soldiers to exploit a new breakthrough discovered at the German city of Remagen, the still-standing Lundendorff Bridge over the Rhine.
Notable Landmarks
- The large tower statue as seen in the map's thumbnail is the landmark in most game modes for a flag point.
Map configuration
| Change Maps by Game Modes | ||
|---|---|---|
| | ||
At present, this map has the same layouts in AB, RB and SB.
Domination
| Domination Mode - Map Layouts |
|---|
 |
|
1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
|
In AB point A is around the statue / column in the west, point B is at the southeast intersection, and C is at the northeast intersection. In RB point A is around the statue / column in the west, point B is at the southeast intersection, and C is at the northeast intersection. In SB point A is around the statue / column in the west, point B is at the southeast intersection, and C is at the northeast intersection. |
Conquest
| Conquest Mode - Map Layouts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Conquest #1 | Conquest #2 | Conquest #3 | Conquest #4 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
|
In AB the capture point is around the statue / column in the west. In RB the capture point is around the statue / column in the west. In SB the capture point is around the statue / column in the west. |
In AB the capture point is at the southeast intersection. In RB the capture point is at the southeast intersection. In SB the capture point is at the southeast intersection. |
In AB the capture point is at the northeast intersection. In RB the capture point is at the northeast intersection. In SB the capture point is at the northeast intersection. |
In AB the capture point is in the middle of the park in the east of the map. In RB the capture point is in the middle of the park in the east of the map. In SB the capture point is in the middle of the park in the east of the map. |
Battle
| Battle Mode - Map Layouts |
|---|
 |
|
1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km 1.05 km x 1.05 km |
|
In AB the capture points are located at the northeast and southeast intersections. In RB the capture points are located at the northeast and southeast intersections. In SB the capture points are located at the northeast and southeast intersections. |
Strategy
Ground Gameplay
Generally, this map favours lighter vehicles that can move around and change positions. Heavy vehicles should be used to absorb fire on the flanks, but support vehicles are needed to really push through. The monument is often the most key location, whereby heavy vehicles should be used to breakthrough and lighter vehicles should attack the enemies as soon as they fire. Going on top of the monument is risky, but can work in the long-term when the monument is yours.
Around the middle of the map cover should be used to move around and get some shots into advancing tanks. Always keep moving to make it harder to be seen and hit - you can even retreat and return again after some time, when opponents have forgotten about you. If you have depression you can climb up a bit of rubble to get some weird angles on the enemies.
Camping is unfortunately a big part of gameplay here, but you should try to advance and move from camping to ambushing. There is a difference!
South Side
The image on the left showcases key positions that provide many sight lines and can help the South team win the game. Below I will discuss each position:
These are not by any means all available positions. There are dozens others that I haven't included, however most of them are either not applicable to early-mid game or they are too situational, or I've simply forgotten/not known about them.
A: Behind the house that looks past the monument. There are broken windows that you can easily shoot through.
Best fit for lighter vehicles that can occupy this position at the very start of the game.However, it can be taken during a contest at A during mid-game, to try to catch some opponents peeking the angle from behind the monument, or rotating from the right side.
B: Behind the house on the corner of the road crossing the map. You can peek from the building, or if it's destroyed shoot through the rubble.
This is a position for anyone who is driving from the home point and wants to catch some enemies going across the Northern major street. You can also take this position late-game if enemies are likely to go across. Overall, it's safe and can grant you one or two kills in the right situation.
C: At the far corner of the middle section of the map. There are buildings for cover in the front and the right side.
This location can be used by any tanks, but you have to carefully make your way over there, as enemies often push to A using the major road, and you can get flanked from the right. You will sometimes be shot from the front as well, but you are unlikely to receive major damage that way. This position is great, because it allows you to overlook one entrance to A, as well as a big part of the major Northern road and the major road going from North home point to South home point (on the right). Just be attentive.
D: At the corner of the long building in the middle of the passage on the left.
This position is very safe, because it's so close to the spawn. You are overlooking the entrances to A from the left side, although enemies can sneak past you because there is a tram and rubble blocking the sight line slightly. If you have a fast reload, this is a great position for the start of a match.
E: Further than position D, this one is located behind the T-shaped building in the middle of the map.
This position is very common, because it's a point where two teams meet. You can peek around the building, although that is risky, or you can try shooting at the building with medium to large rounds to break it down and shoot through it. Tanks with stabilizers are great here, because you can peek and get your gun ready instantly. Be careful, because enemies will return fire and will try to flank you. If point A is lost, consider retreating to avoid dying from being overrun.
F: These positions are on the very right side of the map, overlooking the long road that's used for flanking.
F1 is safer, but further away than F2. Depending on the situation you can choose either. Overall, these positions are key to stop enemies flanking, but they can be boring to hold because enemies might be unwilling to peek. Well-armoured vehicles (e.g. Ferdinand, Jagdtiger, Ho-Ri Production/Prototype, etc) will find these positions amazing, because you can slowly roll up to the enemy stopping to take shots at those who dare peek you.
G: In the middle and generally around the park in the middle of the map.
This is a very unpopular position, which is surprising because tanks with 10 degrees of depression or more can really take advantage of it. You can peek over the hills, take a shot at an unsuspecting enemy and retreat, perhaps even move to a different position within the park to add confusion. Be careful, though, because you can get flanked from any side, and attack frontally. If you see your teammates dying around you, it's best to retreat to the Southern major road closer to position B.
North Side
The image on the right showcases key positions that provide many sight lines and can help the South team win the game. Below I will discuss each position:
These are not by any means all available positions. There are dozens others that I haven't included, however most of them are either not applicable to early-mid game or they are too situational, or I've simply forgotten/not known about them.
A: At the corner of the building above A, peeking from the street.
This location is great for any decently fast tank that wants to catch enemies entering into A from the right side. This position can be unsafe during mid-game when enemies have advanced, but before that the only threat comes from the front.
B: At the left side of the map, looking over some rubble with a T-shaped house covering your side.
If you're in a very fast tank you can catch enemies coming from spawn here, although if you're in a slower vehicle you can first go to the left of this position to contest enemies pushing through the far left. Afterwards, you can get into this position to contest enemies respawning and pushing into A again.In this position it's best to have a small tank, or a tank with considerable turret armour, because you're likely to receive fire.
C: At the rubble in the middle of the map, overlooking the middle of the map.
This position is a counter to position C of the South side. You can overlook the major Southern road and the end of the park. If you're confident, you can push across to the line of buildings on the right and shoot into the park or the vertical road. This position is quite exposed, and you should retreat into the Northern houses if opponents push too far.
D: At the building on the major road going past the park on the right side.
This position is risky, but it pressures the enemy. You can shoot into their home point or across the park. You can also drive into the buildings on the right to contest any pushing enemies on the right-most road.
E: The position looking over the long road on the right side.
This position is very popular and it's best for the heaviest vehicles that can take some shots. Usually you would slowly drive up the road to try and take the home point of the Southern side, if there's resistance, help can be requested from teammates who might be at position D. Otherwise, you have to hold it out.
Air Gameplay
This map can be difficult for Close Air Support (CAS), because there are tall buildings around the map, and small buildings blocking the tanks below. Rockets are likely to be more effective than bombs, because bombs can get stuck in buildings and bounce off of weird rubble.
You will often find enemies grouped on the capture points; on the ends of the right street, where they stand-off; in the middle of the map around the large rubble, although there are never more than 2 tanks together there; anywhere around the monument and the left side of the map. Otherwise the enemies are often spaced out evenly and you have to spot them yourself.
Anti-Air (AA) vehicles are at a disadvantage here because of houses blocking angles. As a CAS player you should fly quite high to spot your target, then get very low for your strike, where AA can't hit you, or will have to react very quickly. The faster you can fly the safer it is, but flying too fast will make it near impossible to hit anything, so practice and see what works for you.
Media
- Videos
