Hello, hello, hello!

In today’s post, we turn towards our Soviet comrade-in-arms and the Hungarian divisions. We have decided that both nations could use a little bit of love in the balance department. The team is currently buffing both the Soviet and Hungarian battlegroups as a whole in Steel Division 2. This update is in the works as we speak and will likely release before our upcoming expansion, Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.

Let’s see what’s in store.

The current status quo

Right now, Steel Division 2’s game balance is better than it ever was, with less than a 1% difference in win ratio between Axis and Allies in 1v1 and 2v2 games. The gap is a bit larger in 10v10 matches (in favor of the Axis), but we are closing this distance with every patch.

However, even with this roughly equal balance, there is some disparity, namely that among Allied divisions, our Soviet battlegroups are lagging behind the Western Allies’ ones in 1v1 and 2v2 win rates. And for the Hungarians, it has been made known that some reorganization of the divisions’ table of organization and equipment is in order.

What can the Soviets expect?

To boost the Soviets, we are developing or testing the following updates as we speak:

F-22 and ZiS-3 artillery

• Stemming from a community request some time ago, we will duplicate and split off the ZiS-3 into a new artillery variant. We’ll keep the existing AT version unchanged as the “ZiS-3 PT”. The F-22 howitzers will also be retained but reduced to one card in those battlegroups that used to have multiple cards of this unit. These extra cards will be replaced by the new ZiS-3 artillery unit. The trade-off is that the F-22 will now receive the Radio trait.
  
• Historically, Soviet artillery regiments didn’t feature even one radio per two-gun batteries, which is why we didn’t give them this trait in-game. By splitting the Soviet 76,2mm artillery into two distinct units (F-22 and ZiS-3) we can give the less numerous ones the Radio trait. This allows a Soviet player to choose between artillery with radio capability (F-22) and more accuracy; or deploy the new ZiS-3 guns without radio but with better RoF and AT capabilities.

The 72-K 25mm AA gun

• It was brought to our attention - through a well-documented report - that while officially not part of the Red Army’s TO&E in 1944, the Soviet Union kept producing and using its 72-K 25mm AA gun late into the war. It was used as a stopgap measure for the 37mm AA guns, which the Soviet industry couldn’t produce in enough numbers.
  
• We will reflect this in-game by replacing some (depending on the division up to one-third) 37mm AA guns with the new 25mm AA units. This will happen as soon as the model is ready - which is done simultaneously as the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy batch of models.
  
• This will give Soviet battlegroups more anti-aircraft options and a unit similar in performance to the Romanian 25mm AA gun. A detail, but this new 72-K 25mm AA gun is a single gun version of the truck-borne twin 25mm AA guns currently featured in-game with the 9th Cavalry Division and the 126th Light Mountain Corps.

T-34/85 obr. 1943

• Another detail brought to our attention: the T-34/85 obr. 1943 was only built in relatively low numbers, quickly replaced by the T-34/85 obr. 44 on the frontline. This is not well reflected in our current Soviet armored battlegroups.
  
• We will shuffle the T-34/85’s distribution in our divisions, with the obr. 44 becoming more numerous. The obr. 44 comes equipped with APCR rounds, which are now less impactful with the recent range update. This special ammunition will be passed from obr. 44 to the obr. 43, which will be rarer but hit slightly harder now.

Furthermore, we are considering some Action Point slot changes, unit distribution, etc. to make certain Soviet divisions more historical (based on the new research provided to us) and more efficient in-game.

What can the Hungarians expect?

We are rebalancing both 12. Tartalék and 1. Lovas. We understand that the Hungarian’s infantry organization, as depicted in Steel Division 2, follows the pattern as it existed in 1943, with 4-squad platoons where all the platoon’s LMGs are gathered in the fourth squad. Due to manpower shortages, by 1944, this historic layout had changed to 3-squad platoons, each individually equipped with their own LMG.

12. Tartalék

• This battlegroup’s infantry will be reorganized with Golyószórósok squads being removed entirely. Lövész squads will see their size reduced from 13 to 12 soldiers but with two of the rifles replaced by one 31M Solothurn MG and an extra Danuvia SMG.
  
• A new Tártalek Lövész squad will be added. This unit represents reservists not yet fully trained, with 12-man squads featuring a Madsen automatic rifle, useful for close-quarters combat.
  
• The battlegroup will also see a change from one 5/10/15 StuG card into two cards with 5/10/- availability.
  
• There will also be one card added of a German PaK 40 (3/5/8), as well as a German Marder III M (4/8/-).

1. Lovas

• We found out that 1. Lovas had replaced almost all its light AT guns with “heavy” ones (meaning 75mm) just before being sent to face the Soviet steamroller. As such, it will receive an additional card of PaK 40 (for a total of 3).
  
• The battlegroup will also get a card of PaK 97/38M 75mm AT guns.
  
• In turn, the 40M 40mm AT gun will be reduced to one single (A/B phases only) card.
  
• Since one cavalry squadron was entirely rearmed by the Germans, a new unit will be added: two cards of new Huszarok (MG-42) with MP-40, G-43 and MG-42, available in phase B/C only.

Additional generic changes include:

• Turan II’s HEAT round penetration will be increased from 75 to 90mm. This is the same as the PaK 97/38M.
  
• Turan II’s anti-tank rounds will be distributed evenly between AP and HEAT ammunition.
  
• PaK 97/38M’s anti-tank rounds will likewise also be distributed evenly between AP and HEAT ammunition.

See you around

That’s it for this week. We love to hear what you think. Do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

Take care and see you soon!

Well, hello there!

As you might have noticed, we recently released a new expansion for our other strategy game - Wargame: Red Dragon - which in the past few months took some time out of our schedule. Now we are fully back in the Steel Division 2 saddle.

This means a couple of things, one of them being that we are going to return to our original rhythm of one blog post each week - hoorah! It also means that we can finally spend time on that one request that seems to keep cropping up: maps.

Read on!

A development disclaimer

All right - we hear you loud and clear. New maps are wanted by the Steel Division 2 community. We got some interesting news for you. But, before we continue, a little explanation of why we are not churning out new environments every other week.

Simple reason: it’s damn hard, with the amount of time needed to design, create, balance, fine tune, and produce a map being rather considerable. This especially rings true for a small independent team here at Eugen Systems.

And because we need to make sure our maps play well, taking into account a wide variety of factors from the number of players to types of cover, it’s easier said than done to just flip out a map editor or an existing map.

However, this doesn’t mean we don’t want to provide you with more environments and cool locations. Leading us to…

Incoming new map: Kostritza

Rejoice! A new map is in the works: Kostritza. Full disclosure: this map is actually not “new” since it was the very first environment designed for Steel Division 2. It served as a testbed for terrain placement, lightning models, elevation, that sort of thing. It was also used as the scene and setting for our first trailers. However, we never actually featured Kostritza in-game, as the intent of this map was mostly to serve as eye candy, not rigorous online battles.

Kostritza is a large clearing surrounded by woods & marshes, North of the Orsha-Kieve highway. A sector already featured in several existing maps (Bobr, Krupki, ...). You can see also see the village mentionned on the Beresina Army General campaign's map.



We took Kostritza off the shelf, dusted it off, and are now getting it ready for public consumption. Our designers are currently reworking Kostritza to be featured as a small 1v1 public and server-locked “tactical” version map coming soon.



DISCLAIMER: this is the ORIGINAL version, currently being reworked, NOT the final one.

More maps variants, and one cancellation

That’s not all. We are also working on creating new variants of the Tannenberg 10v10 map. By limiting the playable zones on parts of the vast battlefield, we’ll be able to make different, smaller versions. This will introduce some additional variety in the map rotation. More details will come soon!



There is one sad note: after much time spent on our long-awaited urban map - known as Wołomin - we have decided to lay this fickle beast to rest and cancel it. Why? From the many (many) tests that we ran on it, the very early game, the first 10 minutes, were reasonably fun, but afterward… not so much. With the central town destroyed, players would find themselves in a void where once city blocks stood, now an expansive killing field with infantry all but assured to be slaughtered in the open while crossing it. From Phase B onward, this tactical wasteland, plus an increasing influx of troops, made the map lose most of its fun and quickly delve into a boring grind.



A solution we pondered for some time was to replace the “city block” terrain element with a new “ruins” one (with different gameplay values still usable by infantry), but this would have required an extraordinary amount of work, not only on Wołomin but also on all existing Steel Division 2 maps. A resource sink, difficult to justify as our small team.

See you around

At ease, commander. We’ll be back with our regular schedule from this point onwards. See you next week with fresh details on an additional batch of (new) balance changes affecting some of our Allied divisions!

Let us know what you think. Do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield!

Hello commander!

We hope you are doing well. Once again, this week’s post will be a bit leaner on the bone. Our time has been taken up as we are very busy rolling out a new expansion for Steel Division 2’s Cold War cousin and that other strategy title in Eugen’s stable: Wargame: Red Dragon. We are putting the finishing touches on Nation Pack - South Africa, coming this September 30th, and as such, we’ll keep today’s post short.

That doesn’t mean we are going to leave you empty-handed!

Showing off some new models

We are making good speed on Tribute to the Liberation of Italy, the next expansion coming to Steel Division 2.



In our previous post, we already shared some images for several new 3D infantry models. Today, take a sneak peek at two new series of models: the Japanese-American Nisei (above) and the Brazillian expeditionary soldiers (below). Note that the Brazilian Expeditionary Corps, unlike the US Army in World War II, was not segregated. This means you’ll find some black Brazilian troopers as part of the new Task Force 45 battlegroup.

Upcoming tweaks and updates

We talked about it before, but we are also preparing a new patch for Steel Division 2, to be released in the near future. Currently, there are a couple of things on our plate.

One: we are looking at lessening the overperformance of fighter-bombers compared to other planes. We are working on a solution, so more details on the actual gameplay changes are still up in the air.

Some other patch elements:

• Molotov Cocktails will be reduced in their performance.
  
• Overall balance pass on unit prices of assault guns and fire support tanks.
  
• Overall balance pass on unit prices of tank destroyers.
  
• Improving the AI on the Tannenberg map.
  
• A new “Mediterranean Front” lobby filter for multiplayer games (much like the existing “Eastern Front” or “Western Front” filters). This will restrict the battlegroup selection to the four divisions from Nemesis: Battle of Rimini and Nemesis: Storming Toulon, as well as the soon-to-be-included battlegroups from Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion.
  
• A fix that prevents winning the Army General Orsha campaign as the Germans by moving just one battalion around the AI’s position.
  
• A fix to unlock the Soviet achievement “Fate of a Nation,” featured in the Steel Division: The Fate of Finland expansion.

This is not all. More changes, updates, and fixes are being worked on as we speak.

Feature your name in Steel Division 2

At Eugen, we have an old tradition of featuring the surnames of our players and community on a random list of platoon and tank commander names. You know, the guys you love to highlight at the post-match screen when a single Soviet platoon with an anti-tank rifle manages to stop a whole armored Axis column (for instance).



The time has come for us to open the enlistment rolls for our upcoming new Tribute to the Liberation of Italy nations. We are going to be gathering surnames for South Africa, Italy (a common list for both Allied and fascist), Brazil, and India (Pakistani and Indian names, as the battlegroup historically recruited on the border of these two modern states plus Nepalese for Gurkhas).

To make it crystal clear: all names will be picked randomly from a nation’s list. We CANNOT attribute a name to a specific unit. This might mean Sikh soldiers may end up with a Nepalese name and Gurkhas with a Pakistani one.

To submit your surname, please follow the link below:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/919640/discussions/0/2959418287738152582/

See you around

That’s it for this week. We’ll be back in two weeks!

Let us know what you think. Do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander.

Hello commander!

It’s been a while, but we are back in action!

Now, this is only going to be a short post about Steel Division 2, but we promise we will return in force (with juicy news) in the near future.

We don’t want to leave you completely empty-handed.

We have not been sitting still

As we mentioned in our previous post, August is traditionally a very quiet month, but that doesn’t mean the Eugen team was idling in the sun. Quite the opposite!

The next upcoming expansion for Steel Division 2 is Tribute to the Liberation of Italy. The battlegroups in this expansion are actively being worked on as we speak. For instance, we are waiting for all the 3D models to be implemented before diving in deep and beginning our testing and balancing phase.



We have completed some of the first model art for the 6th South African Armoured Division - starting with the Infantry. From left to right, in the featured image: a South African artillery crew member (including Wolverine tanks); a Cape Town Highlander (motorized infantry) with their trademark Tam O’Shanter beret; a Natal Mounted Rifle (recon); a Native Military Corps driver (the South African army of that era included black soldiers in non-combat roles); lastly a Tank Crew member.



In the next image, you see some regular Indians and Sikhs soldiers of the 8th (Indian) Infantry Division.



And to top it off, in this image, you can see some trooper variations of the German Gebirgsjäger.

Some other plans

What’s more, in the course of the summer, we’ve been considering making a substantial revision on plane availability and their price in Steel Division 2. In addition, we are looking at increasing the appeal of bombers over fighter-bombers - which we feel are overused right now - while also giving battlegroups more fighters per deck to act as air cover. A collection of these changes is currently being looked at and tested by the Strike Team. This update will soon come as part of a major patch.

Nemesis: Storming Toulon

We have mentioned this before, but our fourth Nemesis DLC is Nemesis: Storming Toulon is now available!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1571590/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_4__Storming_Toulon/

Check out:

• The first, official reveal of Nemesis: Storming Toulon, highlighting some of the history and divisions’ backgrounds.
  
• A detailed look at all the various new units and elements of both battlegroups. Read about it in this post here.

See you around

We are going to be back to our previous schedule of one week with a post, one week off. We are still hard at work on a new DLC for our other - you might have heard of it here or there - popular strategy game: Wargame Red Dragon: SADF nation pack. Until this DLC launches, we’ll be keeping to the biweekly posts.

Let us know what you think. Do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you soon, commander!

Hello commander, we hope you are well!

Summer is upon us. And this means that the Eugen team goes on some much-deserved holidays. Before saying adieu and goodbye, we wanted to give you a post on what to expect in the next couple of weeks and drop the small surprise update.

Read on to find out!

Summer holiday schedule

Aah... August. The month of the scorching sun (or drenching rain, depending on where you are). It is traditionally a quiet month for us, and we try to avoid launching any update or expansion. After the release of Nemesis: Storming Toulon and our new Army General Coop Mode, we need to replenish, regroup, and reorganize for the upcoming autumn.

This means that that we’ll pause our blog posts until the end of August. We’ll be back in September!

A surprise update

Before we leave you be: we have rolled out a new feature today which allows you to run your own dedicated Steel Division 2 server. You will likely see improvements in your connection speed, gain the ability to choose the game’s settings, and the option to kick or ban players.

How to run your dedicated server:
https://hub.docker.com/r/eugensystems/steeldivision2

What more to expect?

We don’t want to leave you hanging, so what can you expect from us when we get back? Of course, we have our new Tribute to the Liberation of Italy DLC, which is currently actively being worked on.



We are also still busy with our upcoming fifth Nemesis: Raid on Drvar. And, a new Army General DLC is cooking in the Eugen kitchen. Exciting times, indeed!

Nemesis: Storming Toulon

In case you missed it: our fourth Nemesis DLC is Nemesis: Storming Toulon is now available!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1571590/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_4__Storming_Toulon/

If you want to know more, be sure to check out:

• The first, official reveal of Nemesis: Storming Toulon, highlighting some of the history and division backgrounds.
  
• A detailed look at all the various new units and elements of both battlegroups. Read about it in this post here.

See you soon

That’s it for us for the time being. We are going to be back in September. And until then: play it cool!

Share your thoughts, through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the other side, commander.

What a glorious day it is!



Fire up your engines, soldiers, because Nemesis: Storming Toulon is available now for €4.99 / $4.99.

That’s not all, though! We have also launched our free Army General Coop Mode as part of Reinforcement Pack #11.

And what’s more, a brand-new patch for Steel Division 2 is also available!

Nemesis: Storming Toulon

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1571590/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_4__Storming_Toulon/

Our fourth Nemesis DLC, Nemesis: Storming Toulon is now available! Two brand-new battlegroups are ready to deploy, playable either in skirmish or online multiplayer: the defensive-focused Verteidigungsbereich Toulon or the multinational veterans of the 1e Division Française Libre.

A host of new units await your command, including Kriegsmarine Marineinfanterie, Commandos d'Afrique special forces, heavy Flak 38 105mm guns, Flakzwilling 37mm, M6 Fargo, M3 Gun 37mm, and many more. Take to the sky with the Free French Air Force, with their P-47D Thunderbolt, B-26G Marauder and the F-5B-1 Lightning or the new British carrier-borne planes such as the Hellcat, Wildcat, and Seafire. Deploy new defenses in Breakthrough mode with the new Axis Panzerstellung, including Panzerstellung Panzer II, Panzerstellung 35R, and Panzerstellung 35S.



In case you want to read more, be sure to check out:

• The first, official reveal of Nemesis: Storming Toulon, highlighting some of the history and division backgrounds.
  
• A detailed look at all the various new units and elements of both battlegroups. Read about it in this post here.

Reinforcement Pack #11

Available for free to all Steel Division 2 owners is Reinforcement Pack #11 which brings the Army General Coop Mode and the new 5-battalion deployment mechanic. The new mode allows you to play against the AI with two other friends in each of the game’s massive strategic campaigns.

• A detailed post talking about the Army General Coop Mode can be read here.

New Update

To coincide with the launch of the Nemesis: Storming Toulon and the Reinforcement Pack #11, we’ve also launched a new update for Steel Division 2. What can you expect?

• Updated recon infantry prices.
  
• Updated Infantry leaders’ price and availability.
  
• Introducing a minimum range for LMGs (but not automatic rifles).
  
• Critically important: we’ve fixed the Hungarian helmets! Your prayers have been finally answered.
  
• And more!

Full patchlog here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/919640/discussions/0/5081733371340392504/

Nemesis DLC Overview

Nemesis: Storming Toulon will join a host of other exciting Nemesis DLC already available for Steel Division 2:



https://store.steampowered.com/app/1405650/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_1__Sandomierz

Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is the first Nemesis DLC and available for free! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing a number of new units, including the most fearsome German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1418230/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_2__Lvov_Offensive

The second Nemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive, is available now for €4.99 / $4.99. This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1477780/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_3__Battle_of_Rimini/

Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third Nemesis DLC, available now for €4.99 / $4.99. It features the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached.

Our fifth expansion Nemesis: Raid on Drvar is currently in active development. Featuring two unusual battlegroups from the guerilla-infused Balkan theater, you’ll get to play with the Axis Unternehmen Rösselsprung battlegroup, containing not only the fanatical SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500 but also supporting Croatian troops. As the Allies, deploy as the unique partisan formation NOV - the the Yugoslav Liberation Army. Expect some news soon!

What do you think?

Have fun, commander! We can’t wait to hear what you think of the latest Steel Division 2 has to offer.

Share your thoughts, through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield!

Good news, commander!

We are set to release our Nemesis: Storming Toulon next week on Thursday, the 15th of July.

That’s not all. Together with our latest Nemesis DLC, we will also be launching - for free - our new Army General Coop Mode as part of Reinforcement Pack #11.

Nemesis: Storming Toulon

Our fourth Nemesis DLC is Nemesis: Storming Toulon, and takes a look at when the beautiful French Riviera turned into a hotly contested battlefield in the summer of 1944. As voted on by you, this latest mini-expansion offers two new battlegroups and a host of new units, playable in solo, coop, or multiplayer.

Take to the fight as either the defensively geared Axis Verteidigungsbereich Toulon or go guns blazing as the renowned Allied 1e Division Française Libre (DFL).

Command new units such as various crack German naval infantry, including Marine-Einsatzkommando 71 recon special forces, Kriegsmarine Marineinfanterie, Italian San Marco soldiers, and even stranded U-boat crews. Other new Axis units include Flakzwilling 37mm and Flak 38 105mm AA guns, Italian 100mm and 149mm artillery pieces, and new Panzerstellung defensive structures.

As the Allies, you can count on a host of different French troops drawn from its vast colonial empire. These include Légionnaires, Central African Tirailleurs, Polynesian BIMP motorized infantry, FFI Maquisards, M6 Fargo which features an AT gun on a truck chassis, British carrier-borne planes, and the Free French Air Force.



In case you want to read more, be sure to check out:

• The first, official reveal of Nemesis: Storming Toulon, highlighting some of the history and division backgrounds.
  
• A detailed look at all the various new units and elements of both battlegroups. Read about it in this post here.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1571590/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_4__Storming_Toulon

Reinforcement Pack #11

There is more, and it is free! Wrapped up inside an update available to everyone - Reinforcement Pack #11 - find the much-anticipated Army General Coop Mode and some additional new features. This new element to our popular strategic mode allows you to play each Steel Division 2 strategic campaign with up to two extra players against the AI. Not only that, but you will now also be able to bring up to five battalions to a battle (the previous limit was three).

• A detailed post talking about the Army General Coop Mode and new 5-battalion deployment mechanic can be read here.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1167000/Steel_Division_2__Reinforcement_Pack_11__Army_General_Coop/

What do you think?

We can’t wait for you to try your hand on Steel Division 2’s new battlegroups and Army General mode.

Let us know what you think through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you again real soon, commander!

Hello commander,

In today’s final Tribute to the Liberation of Italy Versus we have saved the best for last: the Italians!



That’s right, let’s look at the two Italian divisions - each fighting under a separate flag - to be featured in our new upcoming Steel Division 2 DLC.

In the Axis corner, we have the Repubblica Sociale Italiana’s (RSI: Mussolini’s fascist puppet state based in the north of Italy) 4a Divisione Alpini “Monterosa”. And for the Allies, under the banner of Co-Belligerent (meaning the Kingdom of Italy in southern Italy), the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione.

Wait a minute, you might say: double the fun, with two Italian sides, but how did this come to be?

By the summer of 1943, a wavering Italy was less than happy being Nazi Germany’s ally. Led by Mussolini, Italy’s fascist Kingdom of Italy was far from the monolithic dictatorship like Hitler’s further north; there was the King of Italy to contend with, and a population that was becoming more restive with the day. By this time, the Allies had defeated Italian troops in North Africa, bombed Rome, successfully invaded Sicily, and poised to continue their advance into mainland Italy.

Together with leading members of the government, the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III managed to secure a surrender to the Allies through various covert channels. However, the Wehrmacht knew what was going to happen, having intercepted radio traffic. On the day of the actual Armistice, the 8th of August, the Germans launched an immediate attack across Italy against their former allies. Without clear orders and instructions, many Italian formations collapsed or were taken prisoner or opted to join the Axis. Only a few formations reached the Allied lines in southern Italy.



Mussolini, having been arrested, was rescued in a daring German commando raid. He returned to power and nominally led Repubblica Sociale Italiana’s (RSI), which was based in the north of Italy, until the end of the war. In truth, the RSI was a puppet state of Nazi Germany. The Allies were checked, with the Italian front remaining active until the very end of the war. In the south of Italy, the Co-Belligerent Army was formed, with those troops loyal to the Kingdom of Italy being brought into the Allied chain of command.

A quick note about a gameplay feature common to both battlegroups. Both formations might field only light and medium guns, but a specialty of these Italian-made weapons is that they always have access to a limited supply of AT or HEAT rounds. These can turn even Breda 20mm AA guns into makeshift light AT guns (with almost the same high RoF as AT rifles).

Alpine troops were considered the crème de la crème of the Italian army. However, after the Armistice, the fascist RSI had issues raising a sufficient amount of soldiers for the new 4a Divisione Alpini “Monterosa” and had to make do with whatever was around. This resulted in a formation fielding a gaggle of experienced older volunteers, inexperienced troops, and unwilling recruits who deserted en masse at the earliest opportunity.

The 4a Divisione Alpini “Monterosa” was mostly active as an anti-partisan force, chiefly in the Po valley in northwestern Italy, before moving to the Gothic Line at the end of 1944. Suffering badly from low morale, and with desertion commonplace, the division continued to be used for garrison duties and in operations against local Italian guerillas but never saw combat on the line.



Aside from a few recon armored cars, the anti-partisan division was entirely deprived of armor. For this reason, we have attached the fascist Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana (GNR)’s Gruppo Corazzato "Leonessa" in-game. This armored formation was also organized to fight partisans in northern Italy, but packed a heavier punch thanks to having access to all the remaining Italian armor available to the RSI.

What can you expect from the 4a Divisione Alpini “Monterosa” in Steel Division 2?

Being a mountain division, several of its units will feature the Raider trait.

• The 4a Divisione Alpini “Monterosa” is almost entirely made up of Italian RSI soldiers, and as such, will be fully voiced by native speakers (apart from some German planes).
  
• Aside from the Autoblinda 41 and AS.42 20mm (already featured with the 4. Fallschirmjäger), the RECON category of this battlegroup includes the new Bersaglieri heavy recon squads and GNR light scouts, with armored transport options including AS.42 and Autoprotetto AS.37.
  
• The mainstay of the troops will be the new Alpini soldiers. The mix of quality will be reflected with the main Alpini featuring the Raiders trait, while one third will be Alpinie Reclute with the Disheartened trait on top of their Raider trait. Several cheaper GNR squads are also available.
  
• The attached Armored Group “Leonessa” includes a variety of domestic materiel, ranging from armored cars to tanks. The core strength is composed of M13/40, M14/41 and M15/42 medium tanks. There are also some examples of the P26/40 tank (heavy according to the Italians, but considered medium by most other nations).
  
  
  
  
• The SUPPORT category will contain MG-42 and Italian M37 HMG, Brixia light mortars, M41 Lanciafiamme, Obice 65/13 65mm support guns and Dovunque supply trucks.
  
• You’ll find Panzerschreck, PaK 40 guns and Semovente 47/32 light tank destroyers in the AT section.
  
• The battlegroup’s AA forces include the new Cannone CA 20/65 20mm guns, either towed or self-propelled as Dovunque CA 20mm. It also features a few attached Cannone 90/53 CA dual-purpose guns. This latter unit is quite similar to the German 88mm, although slightly better against tanks but with lesser HE damage.
  
• The 4a Divisione Alpini “Monterosa” has only light artillery support, with 81mm mortars, Obice 75/13 75mm howitzer (same as the Romanians) and the Obice 100/17 100mm guns. The Germans provide a little off-map support with a Beo. Storch observer calling on a 172mm battery.
  
• Air support includes the new RSI SM.79 Sparviero light bomber, C.205V and G.55 fighters, as well as Luftwaffe Me-410 A-3 recon, Fw.190 and Ju-87 fighter bombers, as well as “Beute” Re.2002 Ariete fighter.

The Allied formation is the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione, which became the cornerstone of the later Italian Army. Formed in early 1944, the corps quickly grew in size, thanks to a steady influx of recruits and reinforcements. Composed of three brigades, the Italians deployed light infantry, mountain infantry, regular troops, naval soldiers, and even several airborne battalions under one banner.

Outfitted to Commonwealth standards (read British uniforms and weapons), the corps as part of the Co-Belligerent Army saw combat in 1944 around Monte Cassino, where it fought well. However, much like its Axis RSI counterpart, the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione was almost entirely deprived of armor support. For this reason, as it was historically during its final operation in July 1944, the battlegroup will be supported by tanks from the 2nd Polish Armoured Brigade.



After the last battles in September 1944, the corps had outgrown itself and was reorganized again. The Allies determined that the efficiency of this large formation could be improved by downsizing it. Replacing the corps, several smaller combat groups were formed. The Italian Co-Belligerent Army fought until the end of the war, transforming into the Italian Army in 1946.

What can you expect from the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione in Steel Division 2?

• The battlegroup will feature plenty of cheap, versatile units in its RECON tab with a previously unseen max of 10 slots. These include regular scouts, elite Alpini Gpo. Esplorante (with sniper rifle), heavy Bersaglieri, and a L35 C/C tankette (with C/C meaning anti-tank as it is armed with a… 20mm anti-tank rifle), ... It can also count on recon troops from 2nd Polish Armoured Brigade.
  
• A wide variety of different infantry can be encountered within the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione battlegroup. These include Alpini mountain troops, the latter with the Raider trait. There are also regular Fucilieri, Arditi assault infantry, San Marco naval infantry, and a few airborne Paracadutisti and pioneer Guastatori Para. units. Infantry units are equipped with British weaponry, such as Thompson, Sten guns, Lee Enfield rifles, and Bren LMGs, but with some elite soldiers retaining Beretta SMGs, and even some Panzerfausts.
  
• Several Polish units from 2nd Armoured Brigade are featured in various categories: Zwiadowcy with Stuart Recce, Jeep HMG and Staghound in RECON; Komandosi commando infantry; Sherman III including leader variant and Stuart V in TANK; Wolverine tank destroyer and 17-pdr towed gun in ANTI-TANK; Crusader Mk.2 in AA.
  
  
  
  
• The TANK category has an average number of slots (5 out of 10), quickly growing in price. Choices are limited to previously mentioned Polish Sherman III and Stuart V units.
  
• SUPPORT features a good amount of slots, and quite cheap as well, and includes the usual allotment of HMG units, the Breda M37, Brixia light mortar, M41 Lanciafiamme, Obice 65/13 as a support gun, L35 tankette and its flamethrower variant L35 Lanciafiamme and Dovunque supply trucks. Commanders come either on foot, as a L35 Cmdo, or as Polish Sherman I Sztab.
  
• The battlegroup’s anti-tank forces are relatively light, with PIAT units, Cannone 47/32 47mm guns, as well as Cannone 57/50 (6-pdrs provided by the British). As mentioned before, several Wolverines and 17-pdr guns courtesy of the Polish brigade can also be deployed.
  
• The AA category is very limited, with a few expensive slots. The options are Cannone CA 20/65 20mm, either towed or self-propelled as the Dovunque CA 20mm. The Poles provide a handful of heavier Crusader AA Mk.2.
  
• Artillery units are entirely Italian: 81mm mortars, Obice 75/13 75mm light mountain guns (same Skoda 75mm as used by the Romanians and some German battlegroups, but without radio), Obice 75/27 75mm light field guns (with radio), Obice 100/17 100mm and Obice 105/25 105mm (same as Romanian Schneider 105 with radio).
  
• The AIR category features quite a potent array of units, which includes the Italian C.205V, and Re.2002 Ariete, as well as P-39Q and Spitfire Mk.Vb/trop fighters. There are also Z.1007bis and Baltimore bombers. The RAF provides a few recon Spitfire PR. Mk. XI and rocket Beaufighter Mk. X as support planes.

We already detailed several pairs of new divisions for the upcoming Tribute to the Liberation of Italy DLC.

• In our first Versus post, we put the spotlight on two new Armored battlegroups: the 26. Panzerdivision with its special AA forces and the supersized 6th South African Armoured Division. Check out the Versus blogpost here.
  
• In our second Versus, we looked at two Mountain formations: the German 5. Gebirgs-Division and the specialised 8th (Indian) Infantry Division. Read all about it in this Versus blogpost here.
  
• Our third Versus we shone a light on two Infantry battlegroups: the Axis 4. Fallschirmjäger and the US-led international Task Force 45. Read all about it in this Versus post here.

That’s it for this time. We’ll be back in two weeks!

Let us know what you think through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Back again, commander!

In today’s Versus we will highlight two Infantry divisions to be featured in our upcoming new DLC, Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.

For the Axis, the elite 4. Fallschirmjäger, a battlegroup made up of not only German but also Italian paratroopers, and the return of a familiar Allied face, the US-led international Task Force 45.

This latter division previously starred in Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff, which didn’t make the cut in the last voting round. More about that later, but first...


Talking about Nemesis DLC, a short sidetrack but Nemesis: Storming Toulon, is still being actively worked on. Why is it taking a little bit longer than expected?

Nemesis: Storming Toulon will be brought in combination with several other features planned for Steel Division 2, including Army General Coop Mode and the increase to 5 battalion selection in Army General. We don’t want to release one feature without the other, and we need to make sure that each element is properly finished and polished.

We intend to launch the above new features at the same time. Keep in mind that Nemesis: Storming Toulon will be a paid-for DLC, which will launch alongside the free new update containing Army General Coop Mode, including the new 5-battalion combat system.

We hope to give you some more details on a release date soon! Now back to Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.

A defining feature of the 4. Fallschirmjäger is that the division is made up of both German and Italian paratroopers, the latter coming from the fascist puppet state RSI. Formed in 1943 in Venice from elements of the 2. Fallschirmjäger division, volunteers from the Italian 184th and 185th Airborne Brigade were also recruited into the formation.

The 4. Fallschirmjäger saw the first action around Anzio before fighting a delaying rearguard battle in Rome. After this, the division was reinforced by the RSI Reggimento Ardito Paracadutisti “Folgore”. Near Florence, the formation halted the Allied advance with subsequent combat on the Gothic Line, Rimini, and Bologna. The division surrendered at the beginning of May 1945.

The volunteers from the Italian 184th and 185th Airborne Brigades were interspersed within each squad. In-game, these battlegroup’s airborne squads (including support units such as guns, MGs, mortars, etc.) are not listed as Italian but German. However, the units stemming from Reggimento Ardito Paracadutisti “Folgore” will be featured separately as Axis Italian (and will have native voice lines).



What can you expect from the 4. Fallschirmjäger in Steel Division 2? Several of the highlighted units are listed as new.

Don’t forget that some of the other listed units are actually new in Tribute to the Liberation of Italy but were already highlighted in a previous Versus post (such as the new Lince unit or Semovente tank and its variants).

• In the RECON tab, the new Paracadutisti Esploranti, a 6-man full Beretta SMG and Panzerfaust squad. A German Beute AS-42, the excellent Italian open-top armored car, armed with an HMG and a 20mm, can also be deployed.
  
• The INFANTRY category will see a majority of German paratroopers (and associated equipment), while one-third will be composed of RSI paratroopers (and their weaponry). The latter nation’s squads are divided between the new Paracadutisti, Paracadutisti (Beretta), Guastatori Para. and Paracadutisti Cmdo units. These units field a variety of Carcano carbines, Beretta SMGs, and Breda 30 LMGs.
  
• TANK forces feature a mix of Beute StuG M41(i) Füh. (Semovente M41 Commando) and StuG M42(i) 75/34 (Semovente 75/34) and heavier-hitting vehicles, from Gruppe Hinz historically attached to the division for the defence of Rome, deploying a makeshift tank company of a handful of Panthers and Tiger Es.
  
• The SUPPORT category contains a bunch of rather potent units (considering its airborne pedigree), which include the usual Fallschirmjäger’s LG-42, MG-42 and Kubel. Mun.. A new unit is the RSI Brixia 45mm light mortar. This section also includes the heavier StuG M42 75/18 (Semovente 75/18) and StuG M43 105/25 (Semovente 105/25). The category also features several cards of Sturmpanzer IV (Brummbar) from the attached Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216. The Commander units come either on foot, in a Lince, or in the new Panzer L6 770(i). Füh. (Semovente 47/32 Commando).
  
• The ANTI-TANK units include RSI Cannone 74/32 CC 47mm (with Raider trait), German Gerlich 42mm and PaK 40, as well as the new StuG L6 660(i) (Semovente 47/32). Lastly, there is one <drumroll>... Elefant (as part of Gruppe Hinz detailed above).
  
• ANTI-AIR features Fs-Flak 38 20mm (with Raider trait) and Flak 41 88mm towed guns, as well as the SPA-38R Breda 20mm truck. A new unit is the Luftwaffe-fielded SP-37mm armored truck, the NAG 4500.
  
• One of the 4. Fallschirmjäger’s lesser categories is the ARTILLERY section, primarily due to the complete lack of organic howitzers, only divisional mortars being available. A few attached K18 172mm guns and off-map artillery provide a bit of additional firepower.
  
• The AIR section is centered around heavy fighter and close air support, represented by the Bf 110 G-4b/R3 and its variant, the Bf 110 G-4b/R3 (M1/M5) equipped with x4 BR21 210mm HE rockets. These planes are backed up by the heavier He 111 H-16/R3 reconnaissance and the Fw 190G-3 fight-bomber. Several Italian-made planes are also present, including a Beute Z.1007ter serie XIII heavy bomber pressed into German service, as well as RSI air force’s 205V series I Veltro, a fast and agile but relatively fragile fighter.

You might know about Task Force 45, as we already featured this Brazilian expeditionary force in our Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff proposal. Read more about the formation’s historical context here.

As the last Nemesis DLC vote was almost a draw, we decided to lift one of the more interesting battlegroups - Task Force 45 - and put it into our next expansion. See it as some sort of consolation prize!



In short: Task Force 45 mixes several different Allied infantry forces, including the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces (called the Smoking Cobras) and the unique Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion (dubbed the “Purple Heart Battalion” for most of its members had been wounded at least once in combat). These forces are backed up by American & British anti-aircraft gunners who, thanks to Allied air superiority, were left without a job to do and were reorganized as “boots on the ground.”

Note that the following is new on top of the previous descriptions encountered in the original Nemesis DLC pitch (see above). What can you expect from Task Force 45 in Steel Division 2?

• The American-made T70 recon tank. No, not a Soviet T-70 lend-leased the other way, but a prototype designation for the M18 Hellcat. The very first of these vehicles were sent to the Italian front, where they were actively field-tested. Not really being appreciated as tank destroyers in Italy, deemed to be too lightly armored, some were repurposed as reconnaissance tanks. In this role, their speed and low profile worked wonders on the battlefield!
  
• Attached to the Task Force 45 was the 91st Cavalry Recon Squadron which brings M8 (Greyhound and M5A1 (Stuart) recon tanks. Not only that, it also fields Bantam armored jeeps, with its recon troops deploying as Cavalry Scouts (6 men with Grease Guns, Carbine and Bazooka) and Ammo. & Pionners (4 men with Carbine and TNT) recon squads.
  
• Brazilian soldiers, available in the later Combat Phases, are organized much like US infantry but instead of Thompsons deploy with Grease Guns and M1903A3 Springfield bolt-action rifles (except for Scouts and Leaders) replace Garand rifles.
  
• Nisei (Japanese-American) soldiers can be deployed from Combat Phase B onward. They all come with veterancy, and all feature the Fanatical trait (including MGs, AT guns, etc.). This isn’t some sort of “banzai” attitude, but rather that these men were known for fighting extra-hard to demonstrate their patriotism.
  
• Furthermore, US anti-aircraft gunners reformed into infantry squads of 15 soldiers with one BAR among them are also included. This is a new unit. Not particularly eager to fight, these squads carry the Disheartened trait.
  
• Some armored vehicles can be deployed, including Sherman and Stuart tanks and Wolverine tank destroyers.
  
• A good amount of M15 and M16 half-tracks will be available in AA, as well as some US M2 90mm dual-purpose (anti-tank and anti-aircraft) gun. The latter has the exact same performance as the German 88mm, although with (only very) slightly better RoF.
  
• The new heavy US Howz. M1 155mm, which was more widespread in Italy than the Long Tom (already in-game). These artillery units are brought on top of the new 8-inch/203mm previously announced.
  
• Air support includes napalm-equipped P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt, as well as the new B-25J-25 Mitchell bomber and A-20J-5-DO Havoc recon variants. Fighter cover comes from the new P-51B-10-NA Mustang variant, as well as a few "early" C.202 Serie VIII Folgore piloted by experienced Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force pilots. These will be represented as a new Italian nation in-game, “Kingdom of Italy” in direct opposition to the RSI already confirmed as Axis troops.

We already detailed several pairs of new divisions for the upcoming Tribute to the Liberation of Italy DLC.

• In our first Versus post, we put the spotlight on two new Armored battlegroups: the 26. Panzerdivision with its special AA forces and the supersized 6th South African Armoured Division. Check out the Versus blogpost here.
  
• In our second Versus, we looked at two Mountain formations: the German 5. Gebirgs-Division and the specialised 8th (Indian) Infantry Division. Read all about it in this Versus blogpost here.

That’s it for this time. We’ll be back in two weeks, commander!

Let us know what you think through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Back again, commander!

Let jump straight in: today, we’ll feature our second Tribute to the Liberation of Italy Versus post. Which two new divisions can you expect this time?

Italy is characterized by its many hills and mountainous countryside, with the Apennine Mountains forming the long spine of the peninsula. This allowed for a special kind of formation to shine during the grinding combat on the Italian front: the mountain division.

For the Axis, the elite 5. Gebirgs-Division, Germany’s crack Alpine troops, will be made available. The Allies bring the British 8th (Indian) Infantry Division, a battlegroup equally versed in mountain warfare, featuring a detachment of the fearsome Gurkha fighters.

As with other mountain troops already featured in Steel Division 2 - Soviet Gornostrelki, Romanian Vânători de Munte, Greek Oplites - all soldiers considered mountaineers will get the Raider trait.

Before we kick off: Nemesis: Storming Toulon is well on its way. We hope to share some more news soon!



The 5. Gebirgs-Division was an elite formation that first saw action during the invasion of Greece and the subsequent Battle of Crete. Here, the division was airlifted in after the initial costly air drop, helping defeat the local Commonwealth defenders. Afterwards, the German mountain troops were sent to the Eastern Front, being involved in operations near Leningrad.

After a year in Russia, the 5. Gebirgs-Division moved back to a country with a topology better suited for the formation’s intended role: Italy. In 1943, it deployed on the Gustav defense line, where it supported friendly forces during the Battle of Monte Cassino. Later, the 5. Gebirgs-Division was moved to the Adriatic coast, where it distinguished itself during the fighting around Gemmano, also called the “Monte Cassino of the Adriatic.”

At the end of the war, the 5. Gebirgsjäger found itself in the region between Italy and France. It was here where the mountain division surrendered to American troops in May 1945.



What can you expect from the 5. Gebirgs-Division in Steel Division 2?

Infantry and other units

• Much like the 28. Jäger-Division’s infantry, Gebirgsjäger squads are lavishly equipped with MP-40s (and some Italian Beretta) and G43 semi-automatic rifles.
  
• All Gebirgsjäger squads (Jäger, Pionier, MG, etc) are classified with the Raider trait. However, they seldomly field anti-tank weapons, with only Geb.-Führer carrying a Panzerschreck.
  
• A unit that does feature an anti-tank launcher is the new Geb.-Streife, a well-equipped special elite squad deploying with MP-44 and two MG-42s, as well as a Panzerfaust.
  
• Much like their Indian counterparts in this Versus post, the German leader squads are meatier, being six-man strong.
  
• Geb.-Pionier trade their TNT charge for “Jerrycan Bombs”. These are petrol jerrycans with a hand-grenade strapped to them - and thrown to create a large incendiary bomb! Crude, highly dangerous for the thrower… but effective.
  
• Gebirgsjäger trained the best snipers in the German Heer; soldiers from other armed branches flocked to their marksmanship schools for additional training. As such, you’ll be able to encounter more snipers in this battlegroup, with Geb.-Aufklärer, Geb.-Führer, and Geb.-Füsilier squads all deploying with a scoped G43 ZF4.

Support weapons

• Like other German divisions in Italy, the 5. Gebirgs-Division puts captured Italian equipment to good use. This includes Autoblinda 41 armored cars in its reconnaissance battalion, Lince command cars, and a new unit, the M19 149mm howitzers (as s.FH 404(i) 149mm). This gun will also be featured in Nemesis: Storming Toulon.
  
• 5. Gebirgsjäger will field both Semovente and StuG III G - a few of each - with the StuGs only available from Combat Phase B.
  
• The Semoventes are the StuG M42 75/34(i) (Semovente 75/34) and the StuG M41(i) Füh. (Semovente M41 Commando). These two units can also be found with the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy DLC’s 26. Panzerdivision. A new unit is the short-barreled StuG M42 75/18(i) (Semovente 75/18).
  
• 5. Gebirgs-Division has access to dedicated mountain guns (meaning they will also have the Raider trait), including Flak 20mm, 75mm and 105mm artillery, LG-42 and IG 18.
  
• Like any other mountain division, the battlegroup’s heavy guns are … pretty light. AT units include PaK 36 37mm, Püppchen and a few PaK 40, while the AA units are limited to mono 20mm, either light mountain guns or Italian Breda guns mounted on trucks.

Airforce

• The Germans did not only commandeer Italian ground units but flying ones too. Air recon will be provided by CR-42 biplanes put “under new management”.
  
• Additional firepower will be provided by the Luftwaffe, which flies the Hs 129B-2 tank buster with cluster bombs (currently only used by the Romanians), as well as Hs 129B-2/R-2 with a 30mm AT gun.
  
• The new Bf 110G-4 will be available as a heavily armed fighter.
  
• More air cover comes from a select number of planes from the Air Forces of the RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italiana, which was a fascist Italy puppet controlled by Nazi-Germany, featured as one of the new nations of the DLC). These include Me-109, the new C.205V serie III Veltro fighters, and the fighter-bomber SM.79-III Sparviero. All RSI units will feature new, special Italian voice acting!

The 8th (Indian) Infantry Division was initially raised in 1940, and early in the war, sent to Iraq. Securing British interests in this country, the formation stayed in the Middle East, participating in the Syria-Lebanon campaign, before being transferred to Italy in 1943. Here the 8th (Indian) Infantry Division fought in a variety of battles, being almost in continuous action for 19 months, including Monte Cassino, Florence, the Gothic line, Bologna, and more. The division later adopted the motto "One more river.”

One thing worth mentioning is that an Indian infantry division was composed of three brigades, each consisting of three battalions: one British, one Indian, and one Gurkha (Nepalese). In reality, losses, transfers, battlefield reorganizations meant that the balance between the three components was often lost over time.

In 8th (Indian) Infantry Division’s case, the British battalions still accounted for a third of the infantry, but by the summer of ‘44, there was only one Gurkha battalion for five Indian ones. This means that one-third of the infantry (mortars, MGs, and other squads) will be regular British units, the balance new Indian & Gurkhas ones.



What can you expect from 8th (Indian) Infantry Division in Steel Division 2?

Infantry and other units

• All Indian/Gurkhas rifle squads will have two extra men, with all command squads becoming seven-man strong. This allows the 8th (Indian) Infantry Division infantry units to be more resilient on the battlefield.
  
• SMGs fielded are Thompson, not Sten. The Gurkha squads get more, highlighting their close combat prowess in battle.
  
• Both Indian and Gurkha units (riflemen, engineers, MG, etc), as they originate from mountainous regions, feature the Raider trait.
  
• To represent the Gurkha’s renowned fighting spirit, they also feature the Fanatical trait.
  
• Dedicated PIAT teams are British. While Gurkha scouts and leaders, like their foot soldiers, have extra SMGs, the Indian leaders and scouts will have access to a sniper rifle instead.

Support weapons

• The battlegroup follows a standard British equipment table when it comes to supporting units (6-pdr, 17-pdr, 25-pdr guns, Bofors). All of these units are towed.
  
• Armored units, though, are available courtesy of the experienced and highly praised 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade. This means the division can count on the following Canadian units: Sherman V (including leaders and commander), as well as a few Crusader Mk.2 SPAAG.
  
• A new unit is the ACV-IP Mk.IIA (the Armoured Carrier, Wheeled - Indian Pattern) - a wheeled reconnaissance APC used in the same role as half-track or Stuart Recce in other divisions. Lightly armored and armed with a Bren and Boys anti-tank rifle, it allows for quick and armored scouting operations.
  
• ACV-IP AOP is another Indian Pattern APC, but this one is used as an off-map artillery observer.
  
• The 75mm SP Autocar M3 is yet another new unit, a “leftover” vehicle from the North African campaign. This unit is an M3 half-track with a French 75mm Mle. 1897 bolted on top. In-game, it is featured as a recon hunter, much like a British version of the Soviet SU-57, less powerful in a tank destroyer role, but doubling as a decent fire-support vehicle.
  
• The new BL 4,5-inch 114m howitzer, which is also featured in the 6th South African Armoured Division.

Airforce

• Like other British Eight Army units fighting on the Italian front, the 8th (Indian) Infantry Division receives its air support from a motley collection of planes flown by pilots ranging from all parts of the British Commonwealth. These include the new Spitfire PR. Mk XI recon plane, unarmed but extra fast.
  
• The dreaded Hurricane Mk IV, the North African tank hunter with twin Vickers 40mm AT guns under its wing, can also be encountered. Note that this tank buster will also be featured in our upcoming Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC. Western allies will now have their Panzervogel too!
  
• A mix of Spitfire Mk Vb/trop, VIIIc and IXc, flow by either British or Canadian pilots will provide top cover.
  
• Additional support will be thanks to Boston and Baltimore bombers.

We’ll be back in two weeks when we reveal the next pair of battlegroups in a new Tribute to Italy Versus post.

In case you missed it: in our previous Versus post for our new DLC, we put the spotlight on two new Armored battlegroups: the 26. Panzerdivision with its special AA forces and the supersized 6th South African Armoured Division. Check out that Versus blogpost here.

Let us know what you think through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!