British Commandos

Lore & Background

The British Commandos, formed in 1942 under the direction of Lord Lovat, were elite infantry battalions trained for raiding, sabotage, and direct assault on fortified positions. In the Medal of Honor canon, they are depicted as the gritty, close-quarters specialists of the Allied ground war—men who advance on foot through hedgerows, farmyards, and village streets, taking out machine-gun nests and blowing up supply depots with nothing but a Sten gun, a webbing load of grenades, and sheer determination.

In Allied Assault, the Commando campaign places the player in a series of interconnected operations across occupied France. The narrative follows the Commando from initial infiltration through to sustained combat against entrenched Wehrmacht garrisons. The tone is deliberately grounded: no paratroopers, no vehicles—just a small team of infantry pushing through hostile territory, clearing buildings room by room, and holding objectives under fire until reinforcements arrive.

The Commandos in the game are written as a close-knit unit. The player character works alongside named squadmates, and the campaign's structure reinforces the idea of a small, self-reliant band operating far from the main front lines. This mirrors the real Commando ethos: independent, aggressive, and willing to hit the enemy where it is least expected.

In Their Own Story

The hedgerow was slick with rain. He counted the seconds between the distant thump of artillery and the crack of a Sten round tearing through the night. Three men ahead, two behind, and a German MG42 nest somewhere in the barn that was supposed to be empty. It wasn't empty. He could hear the dry, mechanical rattle of the feed belt cycling. He pressed his back against the wet stone wall, tasted iron and cordite, and waited for the order. When it came, he moved low, fast, and silent—until it wasn't. The barn doors blew inward on a shaped charge, and the night turned white with muzzle flash. He was through the far wall before the first body hit the floor. Behind him, the rest of the team was already stacking on the next position. The war was not over. It was never over. But for tonight, the line held.

Reader's Guide

The British Commando debuts in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (2002) as one of the game's three playable campaign factions. The player takes on the role of a British Commando operating in occupied France, carrying out infantry-level missions that emphasize close-quarters combat, demolition, and objective-holding against entrenched German defenders.

Unlike the U.S. Airborne campaign, which features parachute drops and vehicle-based assaults, the Commando track is deliberately foot-soldier in nature: clearing farmhouses, taking out machine-gun positions, and holding ground under sustained fire. The signature experience for fans is the methodical, room-to-room clearing of fortified buildings, where a single misplaced step can trigger a crossfire that tests reflexes and positioning.

The campaign is structured as a series of escalating operations, building from initial infiltration to full-scale assaults on fortified positions. The player's squad of named allies provides cover and support, and the pacing rewards patience, cover usage, and tactical positioning over spray-and-pray aggression. It remains the go-to recommendation for players who prefer grounded, infantry-focused WWII combat in the franchise.

Did You Know?

• Medal of Honor: Allied Assault was a landmark entry in the franchise for offering three distinct playable factions—U.S. Army, British Commandos, and French Resistance—giving players multiple perspectives on the same war.
• The British Commando campaign in Allied Assault is notably the most infantry-focused of the three tracks, with no parachute drops or vehicle combat, emphasizing foot-soldier tactics and close-quarters building assaults.
• The real British Commandos were formed in 1942 as elite raiding battalions, and their emphasis on small-unit aggression and close-combat proficiency is reflected in the game's mission design.
• Allied Assault was developed by Pandemic Studios, which later became EA Los Angeles, continuing to develop entries in the Medal of Honor series.