Hello!

We are back with Versus #7! To be exact, the first part which details the Axis German 1. SS-Panzerdivision “LSSAH”. This new division will be part of the upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion.

Let’s go!

LSSAH’s Combat History

Arguably one of the most infamous Axis divisions, the 1. SS-Panzerdivision “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”, shortened to the “LSSAH”, saw action in pretty much every major theatre of the war. By 1944, the once dreaded armored formation was past its prime, but still a formidable force to be reckoned with.



With its origin as Adolf Hitler’s personal bodyguard unit, the LSSAH was initially the size of a regiment. At the start of World War II, it participated in the invasion of Poland, as well as the Netherlands and France. Refitted and transferred to the Balkans, the division took part in Operation Barbarossa, fighting on the southern flank in 1941.

The LSSAH was refitted as a panzergrenadier division with the other SS elite formations, Das Reich and Totenkopf. A sizable difference was the inclusion of a whole regiment of tanks rather than a panzer grenadier’s typical battalion, which meant it was closer to a full-strength Panzer division in all but name.

Taking part in Operation Citadel, next to drastic combat losses, the LSSAH haemorrhaged a substantial amount of senior personnel to create the 12. SS Panzer Division. After a brief sojourn in Italy, back to Russia, and then France, the division was placed in strategic reserve, ready to respond to any Allied landing on the northern French coast. Crucially, it lacked a substantial amount of personnel and materiel.



Action in Normandy
As expected, the LSSAH moved toward the Allied forces in Normandy with a substantial delay. After fighting against the British in the Caen sector using small ad-hoc Kampfgruppes, the American outbreak during Operation Cobra saw it being used in a bogged-down counter-attack against the new threat. Like many other German formations, the LSSAH was later trapped in the Falaise pocket. It maintained enough discipline to be used as the core of the breakout attempt from the cauldron but suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment.



After the fighting in France, the LSSAH was involved in the Battle of The Bulge, including the infamous exploits of Kampfgruppe Peiper. Fittingly to the division’s origins, the remaining part finished the war fighting in the ruins of the Third Reich’s capital during the Battle of Berlin.

The 1. SS-Panzerdivision “LSSAH” was featured in the First Blood expansion for Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.

A declining force

Just like the British Guards Armoured Division, the LSSAH is well equipped, above most other divisions. It doesn’t really have any real organic disadvantages, but as a formation it was becoming a shadow of its former self.

One of the SS’s “poster boys,” the division had suffered too many losses on the Eastern Front. Not only that, it had to part with some of its best officers and NCOs to create the 12. SS-Panzer, which were replaced with lesser soldiers (draftees instead of volunteers, or even Volksdeutschen pressed into service against their will).

LSSAH’'s Strengths and Weaknesses

Let’s dive in. What can you expect of LSSAH’s arsenal in Steel Division 2?

Note that all the panzer grenadier infantry squads are specific to the division, including machine gun and mortar teams. They are new and come with the “LSSAH” label and feature correct divisional camouflage.

Furthermore, the “old breed” veterans (the recon AUFKL. PZ.GREN. and infantry PZ.GRENADIER LSSAH (gep.)) come with a veterancy level plus the Fanatical trait.



RECON
Not that good, maybe barely hitting average levels.

• The division’s recon battalion was incomplete, lacking an entire company. It was missing all of its light armored cars and most of its half-tracks.
  
• It could count on several PUMA, AUFKL. PANZER IV and AUFK. PANTHER.
  
• Aside from the usual AUFKLÄRER and SPÄHTRUPP, it can also field veteran AUFKL. PZ.GREN. squads. These are heavy 6-man recon squads with G-43, 2x l.MG-42 plus Panzerfaust, riding to scout the battlefield on an SDKFZ. 250/1. These soldiers represent some of the last veteran survivors from the original SS division.

INF
A pretty good category, especially for a Panzerdivision, since SS formations had one extra infantry regiment.

• The Panzergrenadier infantry in this division is organized along different lines versus comparable divisions in Steel Division 2.
  
  • PZ.GRENADIER LSSAH (gep.) squads represent the Panzergrenadier soldiers riding to battle on the few half-tracks still serviceable to the division (call them the mechanized variant). They are veterans of countless battles since the beginning of the war. These are 8-man squads with 1x MP-40, 5x G-43, 2x l.MG-42 and Panzerfausts, which can only be deployed with SDKFZ. 251/1.
    
  • PZ.GRENADIER LSSAH (mot.) are Panzergrenadier squads deployable in trucks (the motorized variant), including many fresh recruits. This results in 11-man squads with 4x Kar.98K, 5x G-43, 2x l.MG-42 and Panzerfausts.
    
  • PZ.STURMPIONIER LSSAH are 9-man squads with 4x MP-44, 2x G-43, 2x l.MG-42 plus a flamethrower, and come exclusively in the SDKFZ. 251/1.
    
  • PZ.PIONIER LSSAH, PZ.GREN. FÜH. LSSAH and PIONIER FÜH. LSSAH are equipped in the same way as their regular counterparts. The leader squads all have the Discipline trait.
• On top of these squads, the division fields a large number of rather unwilling VOLKSDEUTSCHE, plus a few STURMGRENADIER squads with MP-44 and l.MG42.

TANK
A good category with a wide range of choice.

• PANZER IV J and H, and the command variant of the later model.
  
• PANTHER A plus G, with both units available in a command variants.
  
• STUG III G and command variant.

SUPPORT
A good category with all the options you can expect of a Panzerdivision.

• This includes the usual supporting arms, ranging from machine guns, including the new s.MG 42 LSSAH,GRILLE, IG 33 infantry guns, supply units, and more.
  
• Command units include KOMMANDANT, BEF. PANZER IV H, BEF. PANTHER A.

AT
An average category, limited in the number of slots and quickly getting more expensive.

• The only choices will be PANZERSCHRECK, PAK 38 50mm, and PAK 40 75mm.

AA
Anti-air defenses are pretty decent, with an average amount of slots, but quite the options, from light, heavy, self-propelled, and towed.

• Units include the FLAK 38 20mm, GEPARD, FLAKVIERLING 20mm, and heavier SDKFZ. 7/1, amongst others.

ARTILLERY
Artillery is another decent category, with a good ratio between the number of slots and choice.

• Towed units include le. FH 18M 105mm and s.FH 18 150mm howitzers, plus sK 18 105mm and NEBELWERFER 42 rocket launchers.
  
• Self-propelled ones are SDKFZ. 250/7 81mm mortar carriers, WESPE 105mm and HUMMEL 150mm.

AIR
Rather bad with few slots, all being quite expensive.

• A paltry Luftwaffe tries to deploy to the sky but can only muster a token force.
  
• This includes a recon Ju 88 D-1 and Ju 88 A-4 bombers, and some Fw-190 fighters.

The 1. SS-Panzerdivision “LSSAH” is a well-rounded division, lacking nothing in terms of equipment except for a few light armored recon vehicles. While powerful units can be found in every category, letting it switch easily from attack to defense and back again, the division’s real let-down is its weak air cover.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus

If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:

• The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
  
• The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2, which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.
  
• The famous Allied 101st Airborne Division and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division are featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.
  
• The elite Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis 91. Luftlande-Division are looked at in Versus #4 which you can read here.
  
• The Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision get a deep dive in Versus #5, which you can read here.
  
• The Axis 2. Panzerdivision in the first part of Versus #6, which can be checked here while its Allied counterpart, the French commandos of the DBSAS are detailed here.

That’s not all, though. We have also detailed the six new Aces coming with the expansion. Read all about Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, Oberfeldwebel Alexander Ulhig, and others in this dedicated DevBlog here.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That’s it for this week’s Versus post. Keen to hear what you think!

Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello!

Welcome back to the second part of Versus #6. As we are actively testing the divisions in the upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion, our pace to show them off will be slightly slower.

Each Versus will now highlight only one division. In today’s DevBlog, we will turn to the Allied French commandos and resistance fighters of DBSAS.

The previous installment, detailing the Axis German 2. Panzerdivision can be found here.

DBSAS’s Combat History

The Demi-Brigade SAS has a rather interesting role to play during D-Day and the subsequent liberation of France. Mostly unknown to the outside world, composed of Free French elite SAS commandos, the Demi-Brigade SAS was vital in harassing the German occupiers in Brittany in the opening stages of the Allied campaign in Normandy. They did this in concert with local FFI fighters on the ground.

The term demi-brigade signifies “half brigade” and is mostly used in a more modern context to determine provisional formations, such as our World War II commando-centric battlegroup. The French SAS can trace their origins to the illustrious British counterparts fighting in North Africa. Separate but part of the same group of commandos, they gained valuable experience in raiding and harassing the enemy. After Tunisia, the French special forces were reinforced and earmarked to play a vital role in securing the Brittany flank during Operation Overlord.



Jumping into the rear of the Germans during the Allied invasion, with frequent reinforcement waves of small SAS squads, including Allied Jegdburh teams, the French commandos set out to cause as much havoc as possible. They even established two major bases in the region. The call-up for resistance was also answered en masse by the local French FFI. Regular weapon drops resulted in a mix of well-armed resistance and elite special forces tying down German local troops and French auxiliary collaborationists in Brittany.



The Germans, first taken aback, began combat operations and tried to weed out the demi-brigade during the Battle of Saint-Marcel on June 18th. The lightly armed French forces managed to beat off repeated attacks by the Germans, with some much-needed aerial help from American fighter bombers operating at the very end of their range. Having dispersed after the battle, the French commandos welcomed the first American tanks of Patton’s Third Army. The rapidly advancing tankmen found most of the countryside already in French hands, with the Germans holed up in the bigger towns and cities.

A much feared opponent

The DBSAS was featured in the Steel Division: Normandy ‘44’s expansion Back to Hell.

The Demi-Brigade SAS in the original Steel Division was one of the first divisions to feature the unlocking of units to represent the passing of time. We used this concept much more in Steel Division 2.

For the French formation, this means three phases:

• Combat Phase A will focus on the actions between June 5th and June 18th. It will represent the SAS jumping over Brittany and linking up with FFI groups on the ground. The guerilla campaign against local German troops is in full swing. This culminates with the battle of Saint-Marcel. Most of the elite SAS and other very light troops will be available in this Phase.
  
• Combat Phase B will represent the FFI uprising spreading across Brittany. More volunteers, bringing heavier hidden or captured materiel, join the fight. The first of General Patton’s lead (meaning light) elements become available.
  
• Combat Phase C will feature Patton’s heavier equipment joining the fight in Brittany.

The above-mentioned French SAS troops will all feature the Commando trait and include (all of them new units):

• SAS CMDT
  
• SAS CHASSEURS-PARA.
  
• SAS GROUPE FM
  
• SAS SCOUT
  
• SAS SNIPER
  
• SAS PIAT
  
• SAS MORT. 2-in.
  
• SAS MORT. 3-in.
  
• SAS JEEP (the famous jeep with two twin-Vickers K).

The SAS units are very lightly armed, with lots of Stens, M1 Carbines, and Bren LMGs, but only a few AT weapons.

DBSAS’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Let’s dive in. What can you expect of DBSAS arsenal in Steel Division 2?

RECON
Good, with plenty of cheap slots and lots of options.

• In Combat Phase A, SAS (including SAS JEEPS) and FFI featuring (hidden/(re)captured) PANHARD 178.
  
• From B, these light recon units are reinforced by the 4th U.S. Armored Division’s vanguard bringing CAVALRY SCOUTS, M5A1 RECON and M8 GREYHOUNDS.

INF
Clearly one of the strong points of the DBSAS with many cheap slots and a large variety of options.

• The new SAS CMDT, CHASSEURS-PARAS. and GROUPE FM can deploy in Combat Phase A, as do the French resistance with their (already existing in-game) FFI CMDT, MAQUISARDS and RALLIES. Other new units include:
  
  • FFI FRANC-TIREURS PARTISANS. The FTP, although part of the FFI, was the French communist party’s military branch. They joined the French resistance to get their share of weapons clandestinely dropped by the Allies but kept up their separate identity. Looked upon with suspicion by de Gaulle, the FTP always complained they were at the bottom of the priority list for weapon drops. As such, they field a mix of (new) MAS-38 SMGs, Kar. 98K and MAS-36 plus Molotov cocktails.
    
  • FFI GROUPE FM. A large fire support squad with FM 24/29 and Bren LMGs.
• From Combat Phase C onwards, U.S. ARM. LEADER, ARM. RIFLES, ARM. RIFLES (BAR) and ENGINEERS join the fight.

TANK
A rather special category, much like the Axis Korück. The FFI had hidden or captured a great variety of vehicles but each in very limited numbers. This category is tailor made to reflect that.

• This category has a decent number of slots, all costing just one point.
  
• But the tank card’s availability is limited to one-third or half of their usual complement.
  
• The FFI armor is only available from Combat Phase B and includes a few of the following new FFI-operated units:
  
  • H-39
    
  • PANZER III H
    
  • B1 BIS
    
  • PANZER IV H
    
  • JAGDPANZER IV (classified as a tank)
• From C onwards, the American armor arrives. These are unaffected by any restrictions but each vehicle model is only featured with one card.

SUPPORT
Pretty good with lots of slots, reasonably priced.

• The usual classical composition of light mortars, MG teams, supply units, and commanders (in FFI TRACTION, the new JEDBURGH, and American M20 armored cars).
  
• From C onwards, U.S. M4A3(105)W provide some heavier firepower.

ANTI-TANK
An average category for the DBSAS, with a limited number of open slots.

• In Combat Phase A, only very light AT units are available. These include PIAT teams, CANON AC 25MM SA-L and the new CANON 47mm Mle. 1937 (the Romanian Schneider 47mm).
  
• In B, some heavier captured gun pieces can be brought to bear: PAK 38 50mm and PAK 40 75mm.
  
• In C, American M1 57mm and M18 HELLCAT become available.

ANTI-AIR
Not a very promising category. Slots are limited and expensive.

• Only French CANON CA 25mm and CITRON HOTCHKISS in Phase A.
  
• From B, American self-propelled M15 and M16.

ART
A decent category with a medium amount of slots and ditto prices, but with only a few light units (including off-map).

• The only artillery unit available in Phase A is the new SAS MORT. 3-in.
  
• From Combat Phase B onward, captured le.FH 18M 105mm and off-map JEEP FAO (155mm), representing SAS troops directing artillery from the arriving American vanguard, plus a JEEP FAO (381mm) representing the Navy’s formidable offshore support.
  
• From C, the American M7 105mm self-propelled gun and M21 81mm mortar carrier can be found.

AIR
A pretty good category.

• The DBSAS is restricted in Combat Phase A to the LYSANDER (the Résistance’s liaison plane with London) as a recon/light bomber and a few American P-47D-23-RA fighters. These represent the four planes operating at maximum range, which played a crucial role in holding the Germans at bay during the Battle of Saint-Marcel.
  
• From B, the USAAF arrives in force. This means plenty more P-47 in fighter-bomber roles, as well as A-20G-20-DO bombers and the F-6C recon fighter.
  
• From Phase C, P-61A-5 heavy fighter and the P-61A-10 bomber variant of the BLACK WIDOW can deploy.

The DBSAS is a division with a very very light presence in Combat Phase A, literally fighting for survival. Infiltration, harassing the enemy, and lightning-fast raids are all keywords. The French need to build up their troops and take the fight to the enemy, with heavier units becoming available in B and C.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus

If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:

• The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
  
• The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2, which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.
  
• The famous Allied 101st Airborne Division and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division are featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.
  
• The elite Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis 91. Luftlande-Division are looked at in Versus #4 which you can read here.
  
• The Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision get a deep dive in Versus #5, which you can read here.
  
• The Axis 2. Panzerdivision in the first part of Versus #6, which can be checked here.

That’s not all, though. We have also detailed the six new Aces coming with the expansion. Read all about Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, Oberfeldwebel Alexander Ulhig, and others in this dedicated DevBlog here.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That’s the second part of Versus #6 done. We’ll be back next week!

Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello!

We are back again with a new Versus of our upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion. The format from now on will be slightly different: we will only highlight one division in each Versus DevBlog.

Why? The main reason is that we started to test each division and modify them. This means the presentation of the remaining battlegroups will be a tad slower.

So, for the first “half” Versus, let’s go take a look at the Axis German 2. Panzerdivision.

2. Panzerdivision’s Combat History

The 2. Panzerdivision was one of the three original tank divisions created by the Wehrmacht in the mid-30s. With a long and illustrious combat history, it fought in almost all the war's major campaigns. Its first act was under the command of blitzkrieg pioneer and “Papa Panzer” Heinz Guderian, where the tanks took part in the annexation of Austria in 1938.



With the start of World War II, the 2. Panzer took part in the invasion of Poland, and later France. In 1941, it was used during the invasion of Greece. Like many other German divisions, 2. Panzer ended up on the Eastern Front, driving first to Moscow in the winter of 1941 and after being beaten back, participating in the Battle of Kursk in 1943. After heavy losses in the USSR, it was sent to France to be refitted.

The 2. Panzer was one of the armored divisions kept in reserve between Normandy and Pas-de-Calais, to be released only on the direct orders of the German high command. After D-Day, it took two days for von Rundstedt to convince the OKH to move the division to Normandy. And chaos erupted!
With Allied fighters and bombers reigning free in the skies above and French Resistance groups cutting communications and sabotaging railways, it lasted three days before the leading elements of the 2. Panzer arrived on the battlefield. These were only the lighter advanced units that went into battle; the heavier armor were delayed further by more than a week!



Fighting was heavy, as were the 2. Panzer’s losses. Shuttling between the British and U.S. sectors, most of the division was mauled during Normandy’s combat. Later on, with the German army being encircled, it managed to break out of the Falaise pocket but suffered grievously.

A shadow of its former self, 2. Panzer took part in the Battle of the Bulge. Interestingly, its commander, von Lüttwitz, will unintentionally go down in history as the recipient of the famous “Nuts!” reply by the 101st Airborne Division’s trapped in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.



Forced to retreat, the rest of the war saw 2. Panzer operate at extremely reduced efficiency in Germany itself, with one of the final battles being near Fulda (a place familiar to our WARNO fans!).

The 2.Panzerdivision was featured in Steel Division: Normandy ‘44’s Back to Hell expansion.

A much feared opponent

The 2. Panzerdivision was one of the most feared divisions on the Western Front, with every movement watched by the Allies. By the time of the Normandy invasion, the division was rested, well-trained, and - importantly - at full strength. It even had a few hundred spare soldiers and a dozen extra Panzer IVs. In an unusual situation at this time, this Wehrmacht division lacked nothing and had access to all the latest toys a Panzerdivision was supposed to have!



Being fully up to strength, much like the British Guards Armoured Division, the 2. Panzer will have the bare minimum of extra forces attached to it on the battlefield. To be exact, just one extra outside company was part of the division during the Normandy campaign. A distinct feature is the division’s very restricted access to AIR support.

A specific mechanic it will borrow from another Allied division is the US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", namely its free veterancy. Throughout its arsenal of units, there will be an extra level of veterancy without any availability penalty. This reflects that the 2. Panzerdivision was the paragon of the Panzerwaffe.

However, not everything comes for free with the 2. Panzer. As the entry into combat for this division was seriously delayed by Allied airpower and local French sabotage attacks, the formation will fight without its heavy equipment in Combat Phase A. This means it will lack Panzer IV, Panther, armored artillery, Flakpanzer, etc., basically everything fully tracked, in the opening stages of a battle.

2. Panzerdivision’s Strengths and Weaknesses

So, let’s go into detail. Keep note that all of 2. Panzer’s units will have a +1 experience veterancy level.

RECON
A good amount of slots and unit availability, plus reasonable costs. It will allow the player to fight a “cavalry” action in Combat Phase A while the big guns are still waiting to be unleashed on the battlefield.

• Players can make good use of the 2. Panzer’s excellent recon battalion, including 25x PUMA and all the armored cars and light half-tracks in a panzerdivision’s Table of Organisation & Equipment. This is only one out of two divisions with a full-strength PUMA complement.

INF
An average category. While there are a good number of slots for a Panzerdivision, they quickly become more expensive.

• You can find a full complement of all the regular infantry squads in a German tank formation.
  
• Plus a few VOLKSDEUTSCHEN. They were reported to be the main share of deserters once the division was in combat, but regardless, quite a few of these troops were found with the division.

TANK
A good category - of course - but the arrival of units is staggered! And the major drawback: no unit is available in Combat Phase A!

• The 2. Panzer has a full complement of Panzer IV J and H variants, as well as Panther A and G variants.
  
• You can also deploy the STUG III G, drawn from the Funklenk-Abteilung 301. A company of the battalion was permanently attached to the division; the rest was sent to the Eastern Front just prior to D-Day. The single company fought together with 2. Panzer for the entire campaign in Normandy.

SUPP
A standard category which includes:

• No less than three cards (so 36x individual units all together) of BORGWARD IV remotely controlled demolition vehicles. These are courtesy of the above-mentioned Funklenk-Abteilung 301.

AT
Pretty average but does feature:

• A full complement of JAGDPANZER IV from Combat Phase B (as other tanks). This unit replaces the older Marder or StuG III F.

AA
Once again, pretty non-descript except for:

• Towed or half-track self-propelled anti-air pieces are available from Combat Phase A, but the GEPARD only from B onward.

ART
A standard category for a Panzerdivision.

• Except that HUMMEL and WESPE arrive in Combat Phase B only.

AIR
One of the more distinct worse categories for the 2.Panzer.

• Only a few Fw-180 in fighter and fighter-bomber roles. Some JU-88 heavy fighters and bombers will also be present.

The 2. Panzerdivision is a full-strength tank formation featuring a full complement of heavy-hitting armored units. The division’s drawbacks are the late deployment of some of the heavier units and its serious deficiency in air cover.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus

If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:

• The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
  
• The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2, which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.
  
• The famous Allied 101st Airborne Division and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division are featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.
  
• The elite Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis 91. Luftlande-Division are looked at in Versus #4 which you can read here.
  
• The Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision get a deep dive in Versus #5, which you can read here.

That’s not all, though. We have also detailed the six new Aces coming with the expansion. Read all about Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, Oberfeldwebel Alexander Ulhig, and others in this dedicated DevBlog here.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this half-sized Versus. Next up: the Allied French Demi-Brigade SAS. See you next week!

Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander!

It’s good to be back. We will take the opportunity in today’s DevBlog to pause our regular Versus series and take a shining light on the new Aces that the upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion will feature.

Don’t worry, we’ll be return with more Versus divisions in the next DevBlogs. The reasoning behind this slow-down: as the first divisions of the expansion are currently being tested, we have started to compile the feedback and modify the new formations as we go. This means that we will move a little bit slower on the presentation of the final sets of divisions.

With that out of the way, let’s look at the new Aces!

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Allied Aces

Our new Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 will bring back some of the original game’s Aces - six, to be exact!

Let’s go over them in turn. First up, the Allies.

The U.S. 4th Armoured Division will feature Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, commander of 37th Tank Battalion. In the new expansion, he will be deployable on a M4(75) CO nicknamed “Thunderbolt V”.



A famous American tank commander, though few really knew the man behind the legend. Modern audiences should know him better as giving the name to the iconic M1 Abrams main battle tank. In World War II, Lt. Colonel Creighton Abrams was known to be an aggressive commander, able to exploit the slightest advantage to win a battle, and was much respected by General Patton. During the war, he spearheaded Patton’s Third Army. Twice decorated, Abrams was one of the leaders of the relief effort that broke up the German encirclement of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.



He survived the war, kept on serving in the U.S. Army, and saw continued action during the Korean War and Vietnam, where he played a major role as a commander in chief.

The U.S. 101st Airborne Division will feature, who else, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, acting commander of Easy Company, 506th PIR. If you have watched the classic Band of Brothers mini-series, you should know who we are talking about. He will be featured as an AB LEADER command squad in the new expansion.



1st Lieutenant Winters jumped into Normandy and quickly became the highest-ranking surviving officer on the ground. Field promoted to company commander and later captain, Winters fought from France to the liberation of the Netherlands and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he stayed in the U.S. Army and left the service as a major just before the start of the Korean War.

Next up is the Guards Armoured Division with their Ace: Sgt. Wilfried “Spit” Harris, tank commander in the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards. In the expansion, he will be deployed in a FIREFLY.

During Operation Perch, in the early stages of the fighting in Normandy, Sgt. Harris demonstrated the tremendous firepower of the FIREFLY’s 17-pdr gun. In the village of Lingèvres, near Tilly-sur-Seulles, he ambushed five Panthers from a concealed position. He disabled each tank in quick succession with one accurate hit. Though combat would continue for some very hard weeks, Harris singlehandedly made this local British attack a success.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Axis Aces

It’s time we turn to the Axis Aces.

The German 2. Panzerdivision will feature Major Horst Ramsch, commander of the II,/Panzerregiment 33. He will deploy in the expansion as a Bef.Panzer IV H command tank. A tank commander, Ramsch had been fighting in World War II since the very beginning, seeing action in Poland and France before fighting in Greece.



Service on the Eastern Front is unknown, but we next see Ramsch in Normandy. Here he was likely in command for the duration of the campaign. Fighting for the 2. Panzer was tough (more on that later) but included surviving the annihilation of the Falaise Pocket. Our Ace kept on fighting after France before ultimately being injured in the Ardennes at the end of 1944. Ramsch survived the war, receiving the Knight’s Cross for his contribution in capturing Clerf in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge.

The 91. Luftlande-Division contains the Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant-Major) Alexander Ulhig, acting commander of 16,/Fallschirm-Rgt. 6.. This Ace will deploy as a Fs-Führer leader squad in the expansion.



Ulhig was not officially from the small 91. Luftlande-Division itself, but from the elite 6. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment attached to the division during the Normandy fighting. He led the remaining (32 men) of the 16,/FJR 6 during the battle of Saint-Germain-en-Seves against the 358th Infantry Regiment. Ulhig not only held his ground but attacked two American battalions with such skill that 250 were taken prisoner, the rest forced to retreat. For his actions, he received the Knight’s Cross, but our Ace was captured by the same regiment he so successfully trumped during Operation Cobra. Ulhig survived the war.

The 716. Infanterie-Division will feature Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Josef “Pips” Priller, commander of III,/Jagdgeschwaer 26. He will take to the skies in a Fw-190A-8 fighter.



Josef “Pips” Priller is a rather famous Ace, partially because his exploits were featured in the “Longest Day” film. A fighter Ace with 101 victories, having served during the Battle of Britain, Priller became known as the (allegedly) sole Luftwaffe intervention on the Normandy beaches during D-Day. He made a single strafing attack on Sword Beach. History shows a few others, but let it be said that Priller and his wingman remind the most famous of that day. Priller kept flying to the end, surviving the war.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus

If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:

• The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
  
• The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2, which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.
  
• The famous Allied 101st Airborne Division and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division are featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.
  
• The elite Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis 91. Luftlande-Division are detailed in Versus #4 which you can read here.
  
• The Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision get a deep dive in Versus #5, which you can read here.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That is for today’s highlight into the Aces coming with Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44. Let us know what you think!

Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander!

We are back again with the fifth(!) Versus of the next Tribute expansion making its way to Steel Division 2.

Taking the stage in today’s “tank-heavy” DevBlog, the famous Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision.

Let’s go!

7th Armoured Division’s Steel Division 2 Flavor

With its origins being a cavalry brigade founded in Egypt in the mid-30s, the 7th Armoured Divison (including its iconic Jerboa mouse insignia) became known as such from 1940 onwards. What followed were several years of hard fighting in the North African desert sands, from Tobruk to El Alamein. Under Montgomery’s command, the Desert Rats fought all the way to Tunisia and, after a brief spell in Italy, returned to the United Kingdom to be reformed and refitted.

The 7th Armoured Division, from the start, was envisioned to be a breakthrough division. It intended to exploit any weakness in the enemy’s front and get through, wreaking havoc in the rear. To reflect this purpose, the 7 Armoured has entirely been equipped with new CROMWELL tanks. Usually restricted to recon regiments, this vehicle sports the same gun as the 75mm Churchill but with very thin armor. What it loses in protection, it gains in speed.



As we mentioned in the previous Versus DevBlog, the 7th Armoured will be styled closer to a “light” cavalry division (while the Guards Armoured Division will be a “heavy” cavalry tank formation).

In the 7 Armoured, Cromwell variants were used in a whole gamut of combat roles: combat, recon, command, close support, artillery observation. It wasn’t the only tank type in the division. The formation also received FIREFLY (as the 17-pdr Challenger was not deemed ready yet for action). Furthermore, the division used “jalopied” (deturreted) STUART V in a recon role.

Being a breakthrough division, we have emphasized mobility for the 7th Armoured. It receives more and cheaper RECON slots, self-propelled AA, and strong AIR support. Meanwhile, SUPPORT and ARTILLERY slots will be more limited or expensive.

Veteran Firepower
Another divisional feature was the number of veterans in 7th Armoured ranks. Just like American BRO counterparts, the famous Desert Rats were, by D-Day, likely one of the most battle-experienced British divisions. But while the Americans had been whipped back into shape, the 7th Armoured was left to calcify on its combat reputation, with barely any fresh blood injected into the formation. This meant that when the 7th Armoured landed in Normandy, most of its soldiers suffered from battle weariness and were less willing to put themselves in harm’s way.

Therefore, all infantry units, as well as some of the older combat vehicles (Stuarts, 75mm-armed half-tracks, etc.), will receive one veterancy level with no penalty on availability. This doesn’t come for free: all these units will feature the Battle Weary trait, meaning they will take more suppression than regular troops. Not as much as the Disheartened trait, but still… Units with newer equipment, including Cromwells, Fireflies, Sexton, etc., will not have this trait but will also lack the veterancy level.

And lastly, a cosmetic feature. The divisional recon elements comprised the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, which will receive their own Northern Irish dialogue acknowledgments.

The 7th Armoured Division was featured in the Back to Hell expansion for Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.

7th Armoured’s Strengths and Weaknesses

What will the Desert Rats have in store for the expansion?

RECO
A good category with a decent amount of slots and units.

• These include the usual array of RECCE, SCOUT and SCOUT (PIAT) in either JEEP, CARRIER and STUART RECCE units.
  
• There will also be STAGHOUND armored cars, plus STUART and CROMWELL recon tanks.
  
  
  
  
• Lastly, some of the last 75mm SP AUTOCAR M3 (American half-tracks sporting a French 75mm Mle 1897 gun) soldiered on in the 7th Armoured.

INF
An average tab with good choices but limited in the number of slots (as any other Commonwealth armored division).

• All the infantry come with one level of veterancy and no availability penalty but with the Battle Weary trait.
  
• A unit special to the division: the elite DESERT RATS squad represents the most experienced combat soldiers in the formation. They carry an entire arsenal of automatic weapons, either gained as extras or Thompson SMGs kept from the fighting in the desert days.

TANK
A pretty good category (did we expect anything less from the Desert Rats)? Slot costs are decent but less generous than the Guards Armoured Division.

• Aside from some STUART and FIREFLIES, the division fields mostly (and lots of them) CROMWELL V, with a few Combat Phase C-only CROMWELL VII tanks.

SUPP
A solid category.

• You’ll find the usual units, from machine guns to light mortars, supply units, and commanders.
  
• Additionally, the division will feature CROMWELL VI 95mm-armed close support tanks, as well as WASP Mk.2 flamethrower vehicles.

7th Armoured’s Anti-Tank, AA, Artillery, and Air forces

AT
A good category featuring the same equipment as the Guards Armoured Division but with cheaper options.

AA
An average category, though slightly better than the Guards counterpart.

• The main difference is that the 7th Armoured has no towed AA guns, with all the units being self-propelled: CRUSADER Mk. 1 and Mk.2, as well as BOFORS PORTEE. This means that the anti-air forces are more mobile but also more fragile.

ART
Average category with fewer slots and more expensive compared to the Guards tab.

• Sharing the same default units: the 3-INCH, 4,2-INCH MORTAR, 25-PDR in both towed and SEXTON configurations. The 7th Armoured doesn’t get as many heavy units as its sister unit.
  
• Still, its “mobile” role is emphasized by the American M12 GMC 155mm self-propelled guns attached in Phases A and B. These stem from the 987th FA Battalion, which supported XXXth Corps during the battle for Caen.

AIR
An average category, but still way better than the Guards.

• Though not new to Steel Division 2, the 7th Armoured will welcome a new flying nation to the Normandy theater: New Zealand. The flying Kiwis from the 486 Squadron RNZAF will make their appearance.
  
  
  
  
• The New Zealanders flew Hawker TEMPEST and provided air support in fighter and fighter bomber roles, with various bomb and rocket loadouts. The division will also receive British MITCHELL II (B-25) bombers, as well as the American B-26.

The 7th Armoured Division will be a very mobile division in the field, with numerous very fast tanks and self-propelled vehicles (including “portee” ones). Veteran infantry backs these armored light cavalry forces. The downside is a greater fragility, making the division able to deal heavy damage when attacking first but not being very resilient when fired upon.

9. Panzerdivision’s Combat History

The 9. Panzerdivision traces its origins to January 1940, when the parent 4th Light Division was reorganized. Raised from Austrian forces, this tank formation took part in the invasion of the Netherlands in 1940 before pursuing retreating Belgian and French troops, ending the Battle of France close to Lyon. In the spring of 1941, the panzers fought in the Balkans before moving to Romania ahead of Operation Barbarossa. The 9. Panzer took part in various important battles on the Eastern Front, from Kyiv to Case Blue and Operation Citadel at Kursk. After the failure of the strategic offensive, after months of very heavy fighting, in January 1944, the division was pulled off the line with just 13 tanks remaining.

The 9. Panzerdivision was only brought to the Normandy battlefields quite late into the campaign. The Allies had already achieved their breakout from hedgerow country. The German panzers of the formation had been refitting in Eastern France since the beginning of 1944, but elements of its infantry were still fighting on the Eastern Front. These would only be able to join the tanks straight in Normandy. Due to orders, counter-orders, and lots of confusion, the division’s Panther battalion never made it. This left the 9. Panzerdivision with only half its complement of tanks, all Panzer IVs.

Confused movements
Its belated and chaotic move to Normandy spared the formation from ending up in the Failaise pocket. It meant that the moment it arrived, the panzers had to retreat immediately in the face of the Allied’s rapid advance. The French 2e Division Blindée were so used to encounter the German division on the battlefield that the Free French officers came to ask for news about it as “notre 9e Panzer” (“our 9. Panzer”) as if it was a relative lost, dazed and confused.



Not all things look dire for the 9. Panzerdivision. The formation was one of the few divisions to receive a full complement of the 1944-style armored recon battalion, featuring Luchs, SdKfz. 243/1 and 243/3. It took under its wing various scattered formations such as the Schnelle-Abteilung 512 or elements from 709. Infanterie-Division (another 15 Welle division) bolstering its infantry.



The 9. Panzerdivision was featured in the Second Wave expansion for Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.

9. Panzerdivision’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Let’s go through each of 9. Panzer’s categories.

RECON
One of the division’s strong points with lots of slots, options, and cheap-to-boot.

• The usual units are represented, including BMW R.75, AUFKLÄRER, and SPÄHTRUPP with their KUBELWAGEN or SDKFZ. 250 transports.
  
• The division had an unusually high complement of scoped rifles. This means quite a few cards of SCHARSCHÜTZE can be deployed.
  
• A solid amount of SDKFZ. 234/1 and 234/3 are available.
  
• Heavier recon vehicles include the standard AUFK.PANZER IV J, as well as the new AUFK.PANZER II LUCHS. Since there are a lot of the latter units, we split them between regular PANZER II LUCHS (found in TANK, which is an already existing unit) and the new recon variant (which is brand-new).
  
• A rare unit will also be deployable with 9. Panzer: the AUFK.PANZER I C. This was a prototype tank tested but then discarded in favor of the LUCHS. Over 30 examples had already been built and were sent to France. There, they found their way to LVIII. Panzer-Reserve-Korps’ recon battalion, the same formation that commanded 9. Panzer in Normandy. The AUFK.PANZER I C is a Panzer I with extra armor, a new motor, and fitted with an experimental anti-tank rifle next to a standard machine gun.

INF
A good one, especially considering it being a panzerdivision.

• The usual arsenal of infantry squads and transports plus:
  
  • Regular GRENADIER and GREN. FÜHRER from Schnelle-Abteilung 512.
    
  • Disheartened GRENADIER (15W) from 709. Infanterie-Division.
    
  • KOSAKEN-PIONIER as about a third of 709. Infanterie-Division‘s infantry was composed of Cossacks.

TANK
Pretty average for a Panzerdivision, being close to a mechanized division in terms of slots, units, and costs.

• Only has access to PANZER IV G and H, both normal variants and command ones.
  
• A single card of 2x veteran TIGER E is available in Phase B. These represent the two lone Tigers fighting with the 9. Panzer, which held off the vanguard of the French 2e Division Blindée for almost a day in the Ecouves forest.

SUPP
Average category, with the usual supporting units like other Panzerdivisionen.

• The formation moved so often that most of its service units never caught up. This means that certain SUPP units normally found will have been nerfed.

9.Panzer’s Anti-Tank, AA, Artillery, and Air forces

We continue the list.


Anti-Tank
A good category with plenty of slots and costs.

• Left with only 2x older STUG III F/8 and a handful of MARDER, the 9. Panzer did receive a full complement of JAGDPANZER IV (represented by 2x complete cards).
  
• You’ll also be able to deploy PANZERSCHRECK and PAK 40, plus a few PANZERJÄGER 35R(f) from 709. Infanterie-Division.

AA
Pretty average.

• The usual arsenal of FLAK 20mm (both single and quad variants), MÖBELWAGEN, and FLAK 88mm.

ART
Standard in terms of unit availability and costs.

• Similar to any other Panzerdivision, but including FK 288/1(r) 76,2mm, which are repurposed Soviet ZiS-3, from 709. Infanterie-Division.

AIR
Once again, pretty average.

• Luftwaffe assets deployable include Me-109, Fw-190 and Stukas.

9. Panzer is more like a Panzergrenadier division than a Panzer one, with a more balanced ratio between tanks and infantry. When it comes to armor, it lacks Panther tanks but gains in the variety of its combat soldiers. The division’s strong suit is its RECON tab, which is large with lots of choices. Supporting arms, including AA, ART, and SUP, are more limited in availability.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus

If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:

• The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
  
• The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2, which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.
  
• The famous Allied 101st Airborne Division and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division is featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.
  
• The elite Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis 91. Luftlande-Division are featured in Versus #4 which you can read here.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this fifth Versus. We are keen to hear what you think.


Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander,

Welcome back to our fourth Versus of our upcoming Tribute-style expansion, coming in the near future to Steel Division 2.

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll shine a light on the Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis German 91. Luftlande-Division.

Keep on reading to find out more!

Guards Armoured Division’s Combat History

There is no big surprise to the origin of the British Guards Armoured Division. Founded in 1941, it drew its battalions and other elements from other “Guards” units, such as Coldstream Guards, Grenadier Guards, Scots Guards, Household Cavalry, etc. These senior formations form part of the Household Division, tasked with public duties and… what else… the guarding of the Royal Family. Befitting for such an elite and esteemed division, the Guards Armoured Division received some of the best equipment available in the British Army.



Some battalions already had seen combat, but the Guards Armoured Division as a whole got its baptism of fire when landing in the middle of June in Normandy. In the subsequent fighting, the Guards saw action east of Caen, including fighting against the schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 with its Königstiger during Operation Goodwood.

After the lack of success in these hard-fought battles, Guards Armoured Division saw continued combat in France, though pulled off the line for rest and refit during the closing of the Falaise pocket. After the break-out of Normandy, the division took part in the liberation of Brussels and, later on, became one of the main armored battlegroups to rush north to relieve the Allied paratroopers in Operation Market Garden. The Guards experienced further fighting in the Netherlands, as well as during the Battle of the Bulge and subsequent combat in Germany itself.

The Guards Armoured Division was featured in the base version of Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.

Guards Armoured Division in game

There is no denying it, the Guards Armoured Division are Great Britain’s poster boys, lavishly equipped and at full combat strength.



As we will feature two additional Commonwealth armored divisions, the 7th Armoured “Desert Rats” and the new 4th Canadian Armored, we decided to give each of the tank formations a unique flavor.

In the Guards Armoured Division case, it will be a “heavy cavalry” division, acting as a steamroller on the battlefield. The formation will focus on grinding the enemy down with overwhelming tank firepower and heavy artillery. The Guards Armoured Division doesn’t lack in core combat units, be it armor or supporting arms. That’s why air support for this formation will be minimal and one of the division’s major drawbacks.

Guards Armoured Division Strengths and Weaknesses

So, what does that mean for the Guards Armoured Division in-game?

• As expected, the TANK category will be very good.
  
• Likewise, AT and ART tabs will feature plenty of hard-hitting units.
  
• RECON, SUPPORT and AA will be decent at worst, but most will be above average in number of slots, units on offer, and costs.
  
• INF, the Achille’s Heel of any CW armored division, will be average at best..
  
• As mentioned before, AIR will be sorely lacking in planes and punching power!

While not featuring many new units, the Guards Armoured Division regroups some of the more noteworthy British ones in not-before-seen numbers, and finally all in a British battlegroup!

• FIREFLIES. We’ve heard your comments about British divisions not fielding the British FIREFLY tank. They were the only Commonwealth nation not to feature them until the recent 1st Special Service Brigade got a token few. But now you can rejoice! The Guards Armoured Division contained a whopping 36 of these tanks!
  
• There is more: next to the FIREFLIES, the division will also feature ACHILLES and 17-PDR towed anti-tank guns. This will mean a commander will be able to field some of the largest amounts of 17-pdr guns in-game.
  
• There are more iconic British units coming, previously only available to other Allied nations. These include the SEXTON self-propelled artillery and some CROMWELL variants.
  
• The division’s artillery will be supplemented by heavy guns such as BL 7,2-inch 182,9mm and US-supplied M1A1 'LONG TOM' 155mm.

The Guards Armoured Division is the flaming sword of the British Army with a serious amount of firepower (though lacking in air cover).

91. Luftlande-Division Combat History

The 91. Luftlande-Division was formed late in the war in 1944, intended as an air-transportable division. The formation was originally created to partake in an aborted airborne operation aimed at seizing the Finnish island Suursaari in the Gulf of Finland. Despite its name, it was a regular Heer division, used as a follow-up unit to be airlifted into the combat zone after a first wave had cleared the way.



The 91. Luftlande-Division never served its intended role (not very surprising) and instead ended up as a stationary occupation formation in northern France. Very small, it had two-thirds the theoretical strength of an infantry division, with no tanks, no Flak guns, no trucks, and very light artillery. Not the most promising deck of cards for the 91. Luftlande-Division.

The 91. Luftlande-Division was part of the base version of Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.

A Little Bit of Help for the 91. Luftlande-Division

Over the course of the Battle of Normandy, the 91. Luftlande-Division found itself trapped in the ever-shrinking Cherbourg pocket. Here it ended up amalgamating a lot of smaller units, scattered or disbanded formations, and other detachments. By August 10th, despite the many ad-hoc reinforcements, the division was severely depleted. The combat history of the 91. Luftlande-Division ends there, as its surviving troops were used to fill up the other Axis divisions. At this point, the casualties suffered amounted to over two-thirds of its original strength.

The main units attached to the 91. Luftlande-Division were:

• The elite 6. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment, led by the legendary colonel von der Heydte. Detached from its parent 2. Fallschirm-Division, the regiment joined 91. Luftlande-Division on D-Day before being moved to the 17. SS. This results in Fallschirmjäger units becoming available in Combat Phases A and B.
  
• The convolutedly named Panzer–Ausbildungs-und-Ersatz–Abteilung 100 (PzAuE 100). This was an armored training battalion operating in 91. Luftlande-Division’s sector, entirely equipped with old French Beute tanks. These were encountered by the American paratroopers on the Merderet River (not the Tigers as depicted in Saving Private Ryan; old French tanks might not have been sexy enough for Hollywood).
  
• StuG-Abteilung 902 with its self-propelled assault guns.
  
• Several independent or former divisional artillery, AA, or AT battalions stemming from disbanded units.

91. Luftlande-Division Strengths and Weaknesses

So what can we expect of the 91. Luftlande-Division in Steel Division 2.

RECON

• Only a few slots, so below average. In real life, the 91. Luftlande-Division only had a bicycle recon battalion, though supplemented by some veteran paratrooper scouts.

INFANTRY

• Pretty good, with lots of options and cheap slots (as can be expected from a light infantry division).
  
• The default infantry is made up of the new LL-SCHÜTZEN squads. While the division could not field much heavy equipment, it could count on a larger amount of light machine guns than usual. That’s why:
  
  • LL-SCHÜTZEN squads will be similar to GRENADIER, but fielding two l.MG-34s.
    
  • LL-SCHÜTZEN (PzF) which are like the GRENADIER (PzF) squads.
    
  • LL-SCHÜTZEN FÜHRER which are comparable to GRENADIER FÜHRER, but featuring a l.MG-34.
    
  • In Combat Phase A and B, you’ll also be able to deploy Fs.-JÄGER (FG-42), Fs.-JÄGER (ZF), Fs.-JÄGER FÜHRER and Fs.-PIONIER.

TANK

• Pretty average with a mix of Beute Panzer (older French tanks) including R-35, H-39, and B2 FÜHRER, plus some STUG III G assault guns.

SUPPORT

• Decent with a mix of regular infantry and Fallschirmjäger-linked (Combat Phase A and B) units. Expect plenty of machine guns, such as s.MG-34, Fs.s.-MG-42, LG 42, and so forth.

ANTI-TANK

• A good amount of units, once again divided between regular and Fallschirmjäger ones (Combat Phase A and B). You can deploy PaK Gerlich 42mm, PaK 40 75mm, and PaK 43 88mm.

ANTI-AIR

• An average category for the 91. Luftlande-Division with only very light anti-air guns available in Combat Phase A, these being either towed or truck-mounted GEB.FLAK 38 20mm.
  
• Things look up in Phase B, with a few guns sourced from disbanded coastal batteries, such as FLAK 36 37mm and FLAK M.31(r) 88mm (rebored Soviet 85mm).

ARTILLERY

• A pretty good tab. While the division only had light guns in its original form, a host of units were added once in the field.
  
• The organic GEBH. 40 105mm, which were soon discarded due to a lack of ammunition. That’s why they will only be available in Combat Phases A and B.
  
• Plus 81mm and 120mm mortars, including Fs-GrW.120mm examples with Radio.
  
• These will be augmented by heavier guns from a variety of sources:
  
  • Soviet-made K.390(r) 122mm (meaning A-19 guns) and KH.433/1(r) 152mm howitzers (being ML-20).
    
  • From Phase B onwards, NEBELWERFER 42 300mm and self-propelled WURFRAHMEN UE6305(f) 280mm.
    
  • Off-map 152mm artillery.

AIR

• You wouldn’t have thought so, but the 91. Luftlande-Division doesn’t have the best air cover available.
  
• Only a mix of BF-109 G-2 and G-3 in fighter and fighter bomber roles.
  
• A handful of JU-88 S-1 bombers.
  
• Rounded out by a few ground support FW-190 G-3.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus

In our Versus DevBlogs, we highlight a pair of new divisions coming to Steel Division 2. We take a look not only at their historical background and combat history but also at new units and weapons and how the formation would operate on the Steel Division 2 battlefield.

If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:

• The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
  
• The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2, which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.
  
• The famous Allied 101st Airborne Division and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division is featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this fourth Versus. We are keen to hear what you think.

Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander,

Welcome back to the third Versus of our upcoming Tribute-style expansion, hitting the Steel Division 2 shores in the near future.

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll look at the famous Allied “Screaming Eagles” of Band of Brothers fame, the 101st Airborne Division, and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division.

Keep in mind that all the following is still actively being worked on!

101st Airborne Division’s Combat History

Much has been written about the illustrious 101st Airborne Division, known as the “Screaming Eagles.” Established in World War I, the original infantry division was reformed as an airborne unit in 1942. In comparison to the 82n Airborne, the 101st didn’t have any combat experience prior to D-Day.



It took part in some of the most noteworthy airborne assaults during World War II, including Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. During the landings in Normandy, the 101st seized the exit causeways of Utah Beach while simultaneously securing the left flank anchored on the Cotentin Peninsula.

101st Airborne Division’s in Steel Division 2

The 101st Airborne Division was featured in the base game of Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.

Let’s look at the “Screaming Eagles” as they would appear in the Steel Division 2. As a (very) light infantry division, more so than other nation’s airborne formations, it has no organic tanks nor anti-air defenses. Only light anti-tank guns and artillery pieces are to be found, with its firepower resting almost entirely on its infantry and lighter support weapons such as machine guns and mortars.



The 101st Airborne Division can count on various detachments joining the division on the battlefield during the Normandy campaign, some from D-Day itself. This offsets the lack of heavier units somewhat.

Recon, Infantry, Tanks

Let’s go through each category for the 101st Airborne Division and see its arsenal of units and weapons.

RECON
A good amount of slots and unit availability, including their costs.

• The ubiquitous JEEP .50, as well as AB SCOUTS and PATHFINDERS (already featured in the 1st Airborne Task Force from Steel Division 2: Men of Steel). The latter unit will be reworked (benefitting both divisions) as 9-men squads with a Radio.
  
• A new unit to be added to this division in Steel Division 2 is the FILTHY THIRTHEEN. Check out this Wikipedia page for more information. This unique unit will be featured as a single elite heavy demolition squad with Recon and Shock traits and sporting the trademark Mohawk haircut and war face paint. The Filthy Thirteen, although not penal troops in real life, were the actual inspiration for the Dirty Dozen movie.
  
• From Combat Phase B onwards, the 101st Airborne Division can count on the 24th Cavalry Recon Squadron for some support. These bring some M8, as well as SCOUTS in M20 armored cars.

INFANTRY
Likewise, a good combination of the number of slots and their costs. Many US airborne squads featured in the 1st Airborne Task Force will reappear.

• There are a number of new units. This includes the AB RIFLES (LMG), which is a new squad featuring an extra M1919A6. Every airborne rifle platoon only had one bazooka per two squads. This means our current AB RIFLES loadout is only true for half of them. This new squad will also have their Thompson SMG replaced by M1 Carbines.
  
• Another new unit is the GLIDER RIFLE LDR., which are large 10-man command squads delivered in trucks or DUKW (also featured with GLIDER RIFLES).
  
• The new AB CONV. GUNNERS. The 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion lost 11 out of its 12 M1A1 75mm howitzers during the landing. The artillerymen had to fight on foot as infantry. While vet-locked, they proved quite able and are not hampered by the Disheartened trait.

TANKS
An average amount of choice, with limited availability and high prices.

• The 101st Airborne Division had a battalion of Sherman DD allocated to it from D-Day. It was to fight from the beach and link up with the airborne troops. Throughout the campaign, several tank battalions rotated in and out, the last one containing Stuart light tanks.
  
  • The division will have M4 DD only in Combat Phase A.
    
  • In Phase B there will be M4A1 (including command).
    
  • And in Phase B and C, M5A1 (Stuarts) can be deployed.
• In Steel Division: Normandy 44, the division featured the M22 Locust. We were always under the impression that these armored vehicles were left in the UK, ready but unused until later in the war. As a matter of fact, the Locust stayed in the US, with only a handful shipped in early 1945, so the British could use them. That’s why they have been left out in Steel Division 2.

Support, Anti-Tank, Anti-Air, Artillery, Air

SUPPORT
A good amount of slots and choices.

• Includes the usual arsenal of machine guns, supplies, commanders (on foot, jeep, and from B onwards, in a M20 Command Car), as well as a Combat Phase A-only elite direct-fire AB M1A1 PACK 75mm (which represents the one piece that wasn’t lost on D-Day) plus M4(105) tanks.

ANTI-TANK
Not very stellar, with a less than average allocation of slots and unit availability.

• Unlike other airborne troops, the Americans didn’t have a glider big enough to carry 75mm anti-tank guns. This means the 101st Airborne Division is restricted to AB BAZOOKA teams and the AB M1 57mm.
  
• One new unit is the AB M3 37mm, a light AT gun usually attached to the Glider regiment, but historically, left behind on D-Day.

ANTI-AIR
Again, a not very impressive category.

• In real life, the 101st Airborne Division only had .50 cal HMGs as AA defenses. By chance, a self-propelled AA battalion was attached to the airborne troops as soon as American ground forces exited Utah Beach.
  
• This means a complement of M16 and M15 AA halftracks can be used in this division.

ARTILLERY
Artillery is pretty decent, with a good amount of slots.

• The core of the paratrooper’s long-range fire support comes from the ubiquitous AB Mortar 60mm and 81mm variant.
  
• As explained previously, most M1A1 75mm howitzers were lost during the landing. This left the division with only a handful (which have been moved to SUPPORT category) in Combat Phase A. More were delivered by sea later and thus the indiirect fire variant will be available from B.
  
• It doesn’t mean that the division is left entirely without howitzers in the opening stages of combat. The airborne soldiers managed to capture from the Germans some Beute Soviet ZiS-3 76,2mm guns, which were put to good use.
  
• From Phase B onwards, the division also gets heavier fire support as M7 105mm (Priest) and M1 155 towed howitzers.

AIR
Air support is pretty good - enough said!

• The 101st Airborne Division can count on massive P-51 support, either in fighter or fighter-bomber roles.
  
• Heavier air support comes in the form of B-26 Marauder bombers and P-47D-23-RA rocket-carrying close air support planes.

The 101st Airborne Division is a light infantry division with excellent infantry and a bit of (but just a bit) of everything to help push the airborne troops forward.

716. Infanterie-Division’s Combat History

The 716. Infanterie-Division is another “700” division, meaning more 15. Welle Warriors much like the 715. Infanterie-Division from the Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion.



That means men too old, too sick, too crippled for campaign service. Instead, they were restricted to coastal defense duties in static formations (meaning with hardly any organic transport), also known as the “700” series.

Therefore, the squads and models of these divisions will be the same as those forming the core of the 715. Infanterie-Division. They are inexperienced troops featuring the Disheartened trait.



Historically, the 716. Infanterie-Division, like other divisions along the coast, was given the mission to withstand the first blow of the expected Allied invasion. They should hold and wait for a “mighty” air and ground counter-attack promised by high command to follow shortly.

What really happened was that the German intelligence vastly underestimated the Allied firepower and that the massive counter-attack, by 21. Panzer quickly petered out. Left to its own devices, the 716. Infanterie-Division’s combat history was a short one. Being the first line of defense on June 6th, it was pulled out of the line on June 15th, completely gutted.

716. Infanterie-Division’s in Steel Division 2

The 716. Infanterie-Division will be rather unique for Steel Division 2. The division will not feature one tank. Not a single one. Even with the support of the 21. Panzer’s Kampfgruppe Rauch, bringing some panzergrenadiers, including armor cars and self-propelled guns, the 716. Infanterie-Division never received any tank support.

Though the division in Steel Division: Normandy ‘44 features the B1, this wasn’t very accurate, as these older French tanks were on the other side of the Cotentin Peninsula, on the Channel Islands.

However, while its loss of armor is noticeable, it will receive some units to boost its arsenal.

• As mentioned above, the division will see a detachment of Kampfgruppe Rauch’s associated units in Combat Phase B.
  
• Several Kriegsmarine coastal batteries and personnel were in 716. Infanterie-Division’s sector. These will be attached in Combat Phase A.
  
• Three Ost battalions were part of the division. Though reported of poor combat value, two were Cossack battalions which gained praise for their spirited counter-attacks.
  
• And like the original, some of the 716. Infanterie-Division’s best troops were Italian volunteers. These were recruited from Italian POW camps and noted for their energetic defense. So, instead of the usual way, the ex-Soviet and Italian troops will be the most reliable in this division, and the German ones the least likely to fight.
  
• Lots and lots of artillery support!

Recon, Infantry, Tanks

Let’s go through each category for the 716. Infanterie-Division and see the arsenal of units and weapons. Note that units bolded and italic are new!

RECON
Not particularly noteworthy with few slots, being quite expensive.

• 716. Infanterie-Division, being static, had no Fusilier battalion, so only a few BMW side-cars and the new KANALWACHE (“watcher over the Channel”) squads. These latter three-man units are armed with MP-40, an FM 24/29, and a Boys anti-tank rifle and represent the small sentry squads placed in Tobruk bunkers to guard the coastline.
  
• A single card of A-only recon REIT.-KOSAKEN (renamed from KOSAKEN) courtesy of our ex-Soviet mounted troops.
  
• From Combat Phase B onwards, the 21. Panzer’s recon battalion gives the division access to AUFKLÄRER, SPÄHTRUPP, SDKFZ. 250/9 and SPW 233.

INFANTRY
A good amount of slots for reasonable prices.

• The division has access to GRENADIER (15W) and PIONIER (15W) squads with the Disheartened trait. These were already featured by the 715. Infanterie-Division from the Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion.
  
• The Ost battalions provide OSTTRUPPEN (re-equipped with Soviet weapons which will affect all divisions featuring this squad) plus new KOSAKEN and KOSAKEN-PIONIER.
  
• Local Kriegsmarine coastal defense troops bring KM MARINEINFANTERIE, KM FÜHRER and Disheartened KM FLAKTRUPPEN in Combat Phase A only.
  
• Italian PoWs who had volunteered to keep fighting with the Germans were scattered throughout the division. We regrouped them into an ITA. FREIWILLIGE squad.
  
• From Combat Phase B, Kampfgruppe Rauch brings PZ.GREN. FÜH. (PzF), PZ.GRENADIER (PzF) and STURMPIONIER in Unic halftracks.

TANK
As mentioned earlier…no tank!

This lack means the other categories see a boost in slot numbers and costs.

Support, Anti-Tank, Anti-Air, Artillery, Air

SUPPORT
A good amount of slots and prices.

• Lots of machine gun teams. These include MG-34, MG-42, KM MG-08, MG-30(p), etc.
  
• GrW. 50mm but no infantry gun, as the division had none. In its place, the division received four SDKFZ. 135/1, courtesy of Baukommando Becker. NOTE: we mentioned these units in last week’s Versus as part of the 16.LwFD, but that was a mix-up, these units were with the 716.ID, not the Luftwaffe division.
  
• KM KÜSTENPOLIZEI to keep order among the rank-and-file.
  
• Plus the usual supply and commander units.

ANTI-TANK
Likewise, a pretty good category with plenty of availability and good prices.

• The division had a range of anti-tank guns: Soviet PAK 184(r) 45mm, PAK 38 50mm, PAK 40 75mm and even some PAK 43 88mm.
  
• A small number of self-propelled 75mm AT guns were also available (of type unknown, but likely stemming from Baukommando Becker). We decided to model the new Panzerjäger 39(H) mit 7.5cm PaK40/1 Marder I, or known as the MARDER I H-39 ingame. This is a PaK 40 mounted on the hull of a captured French H-39 tank.
  
• From Combat Phase B onwards, Kampfgruppe Rauch brings more self-propelled anti-tank guns as the S307(f) PAK.

ANTI-AIR
Decent in terms of slot and cost, but limited choice.

• Only the FLAK 38 20mm and French FLAK 36(f) 75mm will be available.

ARTILLERY
Rather impressive. The 716. Infanterie-Division was a World War I-style division with infantry in bunkers and trenches calling pre-sighted artillery strikes.

Expect to find guns of all origins and calibers. These include:

• Czech. le.FH 14/19(t) 100mm
  
• Soviet s.FH 396(r) (a M-30) and K.390(r) 122mm (the A-19)
  
• French K 419(f) 155mm howitzers (which are GPF)
  
• as well as off-map 152mm.

AIR
Air cover is pretty good for the 716. Infanterie-Division.

• In real life, only a few Fw-190A-8 and Me-109G-6 and G-8 reached the invasion sector on D-Day. These aircraft will be available from A. The former will come in fighter, fighter bomber, and recon roles.
  
• From Combat Phase B onwards, JU-87D-3, D-5 and even a few cluster-loaded Hs 129 B-2/R4 will join the fight. The latter were rare in Normandy, as only a single Staffel was left at Carpiquet airfield when the rest of its squadron was transferred to the Eastern Front.
  
• The division will receive a new air unit: the Ar 234 B-2 in the recon role. This was the first use of these latter-to-be jet bombers and made fast recon passes over the Allied armada lying in front of the Normandy coast.

The 716. Infanterie-Division is a very defensive division. Static, with few armored vehicles and no tanks, but able to bring a mass of infantry and a lot of artillery firepower to the battlefield

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus

In our Versus DevBlogs, we highlight a pair of new divisions coming to Steel Division 2. We take a look not only at their historical background and combat history but also at new units and weapons, and how the formation would operate on the Steel Division 2 battlefield.

If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 check out the following Versus DevBlogs:

• The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
  
• The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2 which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this third Versus. Let us know what you think.

Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello, hello!

Welcome back to the second Versus of our upcoming new Tribute-style expansion. As you should know by now, this new DLC will bring all remaining Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions to Steel Division 2.

Let’s welcome to the stage the Allied U.S. 1st Infantry Division “Big Red One” and the Axis German 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division.

Please remember that we are still actively testing, so treat all the following as work-in-progress!

The 1st Infantry Division “Big Red One” History

The 1st Infantry Division “Big Red One” is an “old school” combat experienced (with lots of World War I veteran cadres) infantry division, featuring very strong infantry and artillery but less armor support compared to other Western Allies infantry divisions.



Created in 1917 as part of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), the “Big Red One” (BRO) fought with distinction in France, ending the war for occupational duties in Germany. It was one of only four divisions in the U.S. Army to remain active during the interwar years. In 1940, the formation was brought up back to strength, reorganized, and reinforced, being one of the first Army divisions to undergo amphibious training. As one of the best prepared, BRO was first to fight and sent to North Africa, where it landed near Oran in Vichy French Algeria, during Operation Torch.



The division further saw action in Tunisia, including the Battle of Kasserine Pass, then landing and campaign of Sicily, before being assigned as one of the assault divisions for D-Day. BRO famously landed on Omaha Beach before battling itself onto shore after suffering serious casualties. It kept on fighting in Normandy. Later on, BRO pursued the retreating German units after the breakout through northern France, all the way to the Siegfried line, before attacking the German city of Aachen. It continued to battle, including the Hurtgen Forrest and Battle of the Bulge, before ending the war on the Czechoslovakian border.

As a sign of its combat prowess, the division gathered an unequaled tally of sixteen Medal of Honors over the course of World War II.

The 1st Infantry Division “Big Red One” Combat Power

The 1st Infantry Division “Big Red One” deployed in Steel Division: Normandy 44 as part of the free First Blood expansion.

In Steel Division 2, all of BRO’s infantry units (including weapon teams, mortars, recon, leader, infantry, and AT guns) will come with minimum veterancy level 1 and no penalties to availability. Long-range support or vehicles will be standard.

However, most of these units will only be available from Combat Phase B onwards. In Phase A, representing the D-Day assault waves hitting the Normandy beaches, BRO’s infantry will be task-oriented “assault squads.”

• ASSAULT TEAM - with Garands, BARs, flamethrower, and smoke grenades.
  
• ASSAULT BREACHER - with Thompsons, Garands, TNT, and smoke grenades.
  
• ASSAULT LEADER - with Thompsons, Carbines, scoped Springfield, and Bazooka.
  
• ASSAULT FIRE SUPPORT - with Carbines and two M1919A6 LMGs.
  
• ASSAULT BUSTER - with Carbines and “Rocketgun” (HE bazooka for bunker-busting).

These “heavy” squads will only be available in Combat Phase A, being replaced by regular infantry from B onward. They have more men than regular squads, having received extra men in expectation of the heavy losses on the beach. They also all have DUKW as transport options.

Recon, Armor, Support, Anti-Tank

BRO’s armored support was unlucky in the early days of the Normandy campaign. While one of its attached tank battalion’s companies was equipped with M4 DD to support the invasion on the beach, all but two sunk to the bottom of the Channel. Later on D-Day, the rest of the battalion made up of M4A1 and M5A1, landed but within a week were decimated and had to be pulled out.



This is why the division’s TANK tab will be somewhat uneven, with only an average amount of slots and all the tank types mentioned above only available from Combat Phase A. The M4A1 (vanilla and command variants) will be unavailable in B before reporting for duty in Combat Phase C again. This represents the refurbished battalion returning to the division. The M4 DD will only be available in A and the M5A1 in Combat Phases A and B.

The SUPP category includes the M4 105 (with the same availability pattern as the M4A1) and the M7 DD (which is a Priest), as well as the usual complement of MGs, supply trucks, commanders and M3 105mm infantry guns.

BRO has organic 57mm and 76mm AT guns, but no tank destroyers. Dedicated tank destroyers were only briefly attached to it, which leads to a handful of B-only M10A1 DESTROYER units.



Recon is pretty standard with only a few slots, filled with classic choices such as JEEP .50, infantry recon squads, and M8.

Anti-Air, Artillery, Air

Let’s go triple AAA now. The Anti-Air units for this division are rather special. You can consider them light, as they only amount to M16 MGMC and BOFORS. However, the latter units were towed to shore by even more M16 MGMC to provide immediate fire support. This means they can be brought in their own cards as towed-transport combos, which means they are more expensive but double the division’s slot value.



Artillery is the division’s second strong point - after infantry - with plenty of powerful, deadly options. Aside from the usual 81mm and 107mm mortars and M2A1 105mm howitzers (the latter brought ashore by DUKW, doubling as supply trucks), additional support comes from an entire battalion of attached M7 105mm (Priest). Besides, only in Combat Phase A, the USS Texas’ big 356mm naval guns will provide off-map support. Later on in the battle, which means from Combat Phase B onwards, BRO will receive LONG TOM 155mm on-map support.



Air support will be pretty decent with P-51 fighters, P-38 fighter-bombers, and new A-20G light bombers. This latter unit is not actually the same model as the Soviet equivalent, but a brand-new one.

The 16. Luftwaffe Feld Division

Luftwaffe-Feld-Divisionen can trace their origins back to the winter of 1941 and 42. Meaning “field divisions,” these infantry formations were formed from Luftwaffe with excess military or ground personnel. To counter the constant Soviet attacks, all and every kind of soldier were thrown into battle. At first, the Luftwaffe raised four provisional infantry regiments after a personal appeal for volunteers from Reichsmarschall Göring.



Although inexperienced in ground combat and lacking equipment, the Luftwaffe regiments distinguished themselves well on the Eastern Front. This fate would not befall the subsequent Luftwaffe-Feld-Divisionen raised starting in 1942, including the 16. Luftwaffe Feld Division.

Each Luftwaffe field division was much smaller than its Army counterpart, almost half the size. Their artillery guns were often second rate, and their anti-tank ones were mostly restricted to the smaller caliber. However, they could deploy a large number of Flak 88mm guns. After a disastrous Eastern Front campaign, by November 1943, all remaining Luftwaffe field divisions passed to Heer control and were reorganized along infantry division lines.



After forming, 16. Luftwaffe Feld Division was sent to the Netherlands for training and coastal defense duties. In 1943, the Army took over before it was moved piecemeal to Normandy and thrown into combat around Caen next to 21. Panzer. A large part of the division was first destroyed during the artillery and aerial bombardment of Operation Charnwood before Operation Goodwood wiped out the remaining units of the 16. Luftwaffe Feld Division. With most officers gone, its back broken, the scant remaining units were absorbed by the 21. Panzer.

The 16. Luftwaffe Feld Division

The 16. Luftwaffe was featured in Steel Division: Normandy 44’s expansion Second Wave.

By 1944, the Luftwaffe-Feld-Divisionen had passed under Army command, which organized them by their own standards. The 16. Luftwaffe remained noticeably weaker than regular Wehrmacht infantry divisions when it first arrived in Normandy in early July 1944.

An overview of the divisional state of affairs.

• Its entire artillery regiment was equipped with captured Soviet guns. This means F-22 76,2mm and M30 122mm gun-howitzers instead of more powerful German-made 105mm and 150mm.
  
• Some of its anti-tank guns were the old medium PAK 38 50mm with only part of PAK 40 75mm.
  
• A complete lack of IG 18 or IG 33 infantry support guns.
  
• Its assault gun support was also lacking (only two old vehicles out of nine promised). In-game, this will be represented by the STUG III F/8 tank destroyer in the AT category.
  
• Particularly shameful for a Luftwaffe division, the 16. Luftwaffe only had a dozen light FLAK 20mm guns for anti-air defenses.
  
• As a cherry on the cake, the average soldier’s morale was low.

Pretty gloomy, right? Not to worry.

The 16. Luftwaffe Feld Division beefed up

We will beef up the 16. Luftwaffe with some locally sourced detachments. You might remember that we mentioned the number of mighty Königstiger from 21. Panzer had been lowered? They belonged to the s.Panzer-Abteilung 503, which fought alongside both the 21. Panzer and 16. Luftwaffe. The latter will now receive a share of the heavy tanks!



That’s why the TNK category of the division will be cramped, but feature:

• Both TIGER E and KÖNIGSTIGER.
  
• STUG III G in both Combat Phase A and B.

The s.Panzer-Abteilung 503 also had access to a prized booty, which it used against its former British owners: a single Sherman Firefly. Too few to be worthy of a unit card in the TANK tab and never used by recon elements (such as the one found in the 12. SS), we decided to create a new AT unit: the unique PANZERJÄGER FIREFLY, available in the AT tab.



Some other “Beute” units you’ll find here are:

• A Combat Phase A-only card of British 17-PDR captured by the 21. Panzer while fighting in Colombelles alongside the 16. Luftwaffe. Three were captured and one reused, but they would be pointless with the 21. Panzer, hence their new owners being the 16. Luftwaffe.
  
• A few PANZERJÄGER BREN. These are Bren Carriers captured at Dunkirk and worked on by Baucommando Becker to have them carry (also captured) Belgian 47mm AT guns. While it is difficult to pinpoint the formation these units belonged to, these vehicles clearly fought their last battle in Normandy.

The 16. Luftwaffe Feld Division’s extra toys

Another important attachment was the III. Flak-Korps, another Luftwaffe unit. These plentiful guns, ranging from 20mm to 88mm, would be the division’s anti-tank shield against the British armored offensives. This means that in-game, the division’s AA tab is significant and expansive.

• FLAK 36 37mm. These will be available in earlier phases. Later on, FLAK 43 37mm will replace them towed by heavy NAG 4500 trucks, themselves armed with triple Drillinge 15mm AA machine guns.
  
• FLAK 37 88mm. This currently in-game unit will be renamed. Some batteries of the “true” FLAK 41 88mm will be introduced in the division. This later variant of the gun had a lower profile, better rate of fire and anti-tank performance.
  
• Finally, some FLAKZWILLING 37mm twin guns.

Recon, Infantry, Support, Art, and Air

Recon forces are pretty minimalistic, with the usual AUFKLÄRER and FÜSILIERS squads plus motorcycles with side-cars. Sidenote: these recon soldiers are the only ones without the Disheartened trait, and better equipped with the division's few MG-42.

Infantry is a mixed bunch. Plentiful, as expected, but all of them feature the Disheartened trait (except for recon and leader squads). The latter unit will receive the Discipline trait, being Luftwaffe officers and whatnot, more indoctrinated and quick to draw a pistol to force an order. 16. Luftwaffe’s strong point is not its infantry, with poor morale, outdated equipment, and veterancy locked.

The SUPP category includes various MG models (all Disheartened), German or foreign, as well as FLAKPANZER BREN (20mm Flak guns mounted on captured Bren Carrier and used in direct fire support role) and a handful of SDKFZ. 135/1 heavy direct fire SP 150mm guns (both courtey of Baucommando Becker). You’ll also be able to find large 13-man LW-FELDGENDARMERIE squads with both Discipline and Fanatical traits to keep the troops in line.



The ART tab is likewise nothing to write home about, but rather average. Lighter Soviet gun pieces double as makeshift anti-tank guns. These units are supported by a handful of attached NEBELWERFER 41, 150mm and K 18 170mm howitzers.



AIR support, on the other hand, will be plentiful, especially in close air support bombers and anti-tank planes. At least one good thing about being a Luftwaffe division.

16. Luftwaffe in Summary

The 16. Luftwaffe will be a slightly strange division. It is technically an infantry formation, but filled with unreliable and lower quality infantry. However, it can count on a sprinkling of some of the strongest units out there (KÖNIGSTIGER, PANZERJÄGER FIREFLY, Beute 17-PDR, etc.) to provide critical support. It means that the division is highly versatile and unpredictable for both the opponent and the player.

And before people ask: no, the FT-17s won’t make a return. Much like the recon UE630s, these vehicles were rear-area airfield security units added in Steel Division: Normandy ‘44 because they were also “Luftwaffe.” In Steel Division 2, these hopelessly obsolete units have nothing to do near the frontline - nor did they come in sufficient numbers - to justify a unit card.

Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44

Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be reworked to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for the second Versus. Let us know what you think. We’ll be back next week!

Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello, commanders!

Welcome to the first Versus of our upcoming Tribute-style expansion which will see all remaining Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions appear in Steel Division 2.

Keep in mind that much of the following is still a work-in-progress, including the name of this expansion. For the time being, we’ll call it Tribute to Normandy ‘44.

In this first Versus, let us cast our eyes on the Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festung Groß-Paris.

US 4th Armored Division’s Combat History

The US 4th Armored Division was not part of the first wave of units arriving on Normandy’s shores. It only set foot on French soil in July, where it was mostly kept in reserve. Under General Patton’s command, the American tanks would serve a crucial role in the subsequent Operation Cobra, the breakout from Normandy. Situated on the extreme right, along the coast, the unleashed 4th Armored Division managed to advance rapidly through the German lines, allowing the Americans to turn the whole Axis flank in northwestern France.



After this success, the 4th Armored Division cut the Britanny peninsula, breaking new “speed” records, liberating town after town, and often engaging unaware German columns deep in the Axis rear. After Operation Cobra, the American tankmen repulsed a major armored counter-attack at the Battle of Arracourt. It later helped relieve the besieged American defenders at Bastogne, with “Cobra King,” a M4A3E2 Assault Tank being the first to enter the Belgian town. The 4th Armored Division finished the war at the Czechoslovakian border, meeting Allied Soviet troops advancing from the east.

4th Armored Division, fast and mobile

The US 4th Armored Division saw the light in Steel Division: Normandy 44’s expansion Second Wave.

The move to Steel Division 2 means we will try to reflect better the formation’s historical Table of Operations & Equipment. For instance, as a “light” tank division, the 4th Armored Division featured fewer tank battalions (compared to the 3rd Armored Division), resulting in a reduction of 50% in Stuarts and 33% fewer Shermans. However, emphasizing battlefield mobility, it received an entire battalion of M18 Hellcats.



In true “Patton” fashion, the division never bothered much about its flanks or rear. The tankers would frequently “borrow” an infantry battalion or regiment from nearby infantry divisions to secure these sectors.

In terms of Steel Division 2 playstyle, the US 4th Armored Division will appear closer to a “mechanized division”, providing a missing link between the US 2nd Infantry and 3rd Armored Division, with fewer tanks and less powerful variants, but with more diverse infantry. It will feature light but fast units, with a strong recon tab, somewhat similar to the French 2e Division Blindée.

4th Armored Division in-game

So, what can you expect from the 4th Armored Division in our next Tribute expansion? Let’s talk units and weaponry details!

• As mentioned, due to its make-up, the 4th Division puts a premium on speed, which means you’ll able to deploy, for instance, the M8 Greyhound in both recon and “tank” roles and a serious quantity of M18 Hellcats.
  
• This is also reflected in the “true” cavalry regiment’s recon battalion, which will feature CAVALRY SCOUTS and BANTAM jeeps.
  
• The division relies on older stock M4 and M4A1 Shermans, having access to only a few 76mm ones, plus a few M4A3 in later phases.
  
• The formation will also be able to call on the self-propelled M12 GMC 155 mm gun, plus the armored supply M30 CARRIER.
  
• Furthermore, it will feature the M1 155mm howitzer (not a Long Tom, mind you), the same as featured in Task Force 45.
  
• You’ll also find the missing ROSIE THE ROCKETEER Piper Cub plane with 6x bazooka-loadout. Unlike as depicted in Steel Division: Normandy 44, this unique airplane was not part of the 3rd Armored Division but the 4th Armored Division!
  
• There will be strong P-47 Thunderbolt support. In real life, the 4th Armored shared its bounties with the XIXth TAC pilots, so close was the cooperation. You will also be able to call on the B-26 medium bomber.
  
• The division will gain Creighton Abrams (who gave his name to the modern M1 Abrams tank) as a M4 tank leader Ace.

Festung Groß-Paris Combat History

As you might remember, the German term “Festung” (“fortress”) applied to sectors of particular importance to Hitler, regarding locations or cities that needed to be defended at all costs. So too Paris. Its German garrison forms the base of Festung Groß-Paris, translated to “Fortress Greater Paris,” with a core made up of the 325. Sicherungs-Division, a second-rate security division. This composite battlegroup was reinforced by Flak-Brigade 1, which formed a defensive arc around the French capital with its heavy Flak guns. Furthermore, a host of retreating or otherwise hastily mobilized Germans, from security troops to hardened combat soldiers, saw service in this improvised battlegroup.



While Festung Groß-Paris prepared, the local Parisians, on word of the Allied advance onto the capital, threw up barricades and started harassing the German occupiers en masse. However, while the uprising was city wide and with German internal lines of communication blocked, both sides were at a bit of an impasse. Full-out combat erupted as the French Resistance, local population, German troops, and French collaborationist auxiliaries battled to control vital cross points, buildings, and strategic locations.



The Allied French military was determined to liberate their capital and raced forward, even before receiving the official go-ahead from Allied high command. They pierced their way through the ad-hoc German defenses and roadblocks, and Paris was liberated officially with the first Allied tanks and half-tracks rumbling into the capital on the 23rd of August.



Festung Groß-Paris battled not only against Allied forces but also in chaotic happenstance combat within the city. The commander, Von Choltitz himself, surrendered on August 25th without giving the order to detonate the many explosives set on Paris historical buildings, as Hitler originally intended for him to do so.

Festung Groß-Paris, a wide range

The German Festung Groß-Paris was featured in the Steel Division: Normandy 44’s expansion Back to Hell.

The Axis division will have a motley assortment of units drawn from various sources, with quite a few mediocre ones backed by a handful of elite units. Festung Groß-Paris will chiefly depend on infantry, with a good bit of variety on offer. Think of cobbled-together Wehrmacht stragglers, a full company of retreating panzer grenadiers from 2. SS-Panzerdivision “Das Reich”, Flak guns, inexperienced riflemen, Vichy troops, and even a self-propelled 600mm Karl Gerät. Tanks come in many shapes and sizes, from French Beute to German heavy ones. Anti-air units will be strong, as well as Air, but only in later combat phases.



In terms of Steel Division 2 playstyle, Festung Groß-Paris will be close to a Panzergrenadier division, versatile thanks to its wide range of units, with more tanks (not all being particularly modern) but fewer anti-tank units.

Festung Groß-Paris in-game

What are the divisional units and weapons you get to play with?

• The core of Festung Groß-Paris is made of second-rate SICHERUNGS troops.
  
• A great variety of infantry will be deployable, including ERSATZTRUPPEN PARIS, made up of Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe administrative personnel, unruly OST-LEGIONÄRE, halftrack-mounted PZ.GRENADIER from 2. SS-Panzerdivision “Das Reich”, military inmates thrown into combat as last-minute BEWÄHRUNGS penal troops, and even a handful of FALLSCHIRMJÄGER.
  
• We will introduce some Vichy troops (under the German flag) in the form of FRANC-TIREURS MILICIENS. These were die-hard collaborationists who either remained behind or got trapped; expecting no quarters, they will be best remembered as the “rooftop snipers” who terrorized the local Parisian population.
  
• Several tank training units equipped with outdated French Beute tanks (R-35, R-40, H-39, Somua, PzJäger 35R, B1, etc.).
  
• A handful of individual elite tanks and their crews from 21. Panzer, 1., 2. and 12. SS-Panzer including experienced TIGER, PANTHER, JAGDPANZER IV, etc.
  
• AA defenses will include quite a number of heavy guns, divided between the ubiquitous FLAK 88mm and the FLAK M36(f) 75mm (without AP rounds), as well as smaller 20mm and French 25mm.
  
• Artillery was plentiful but nothing spectacular, featuring le.FH 16 105mm alongside s.FH 18 150mm howitzers. A noteworthy unit will be the off-map KARL GERÄT, the monstrous 600mm railroad siege mortar specifically requested to bolster the garrison’s firepower. Arriving too late, it fired a few revenge shots after combat had already concluded. This particular off-map unit will be combat phase-locked.
  
• A training squadron provides air cover in the early stages of the battle, flying a great different models of planes. Among the most common ones were French D.520 Dewoitine with some Potez recon planes. Later on, the Luftwaffe was tasked with retaliation flights against Paris, with a good number of Ju-88 and Ju-188 bombers becoming available in later combat phases.

The new Tribute expansion

So what will the new Tribute to Steel Division expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
  
• This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
  
  • Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
    
  • On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question: the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
  
• The new divisions will be reworked to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe slightly different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

See you on the battlefield

That’s all for this very first Versus. Let us know what you think. We’ll be back next week!


Don’t be shy, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello, commanders!

We hope you are well. In today’s DevBlog, we’ll take a good look at the other new expansion planned for Steel Division 2.

While lots are still under wraps, including the name of this soon-to-be expansion, we can reveal the contents: divisions!

The next Tribute to expansion coming to Steel Division 2 will bring all the remaining Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions to Steel Division 2. This satisfies a popular community’s request and, at last, introduces all of the original divisions into our second instalment, too!

Steel Division 2’s Roadmap

Not long ago, we laid out Steel Division’s 2 Roadmap. We revealed that two new expansions would come to our World War II battle simulator: an Army General expansion and a Tribute-style expansion.

• The Army General campaign will focus on the Battle of Dukla Pass. You can read more about this Slovakian campaign in this DevBlog here.
  
• A Tribute expansion focusing on introducing several new divisions. These would be in the style of Steel Division 2: Tribute to the Liberation of Italy or Steel Division 2: Tribute to D-Day

Please note that this new Tribute expansion might have been revealed later, it will likely be one of the first DLCs to be delivered.

The new Tribute expansion

So what will the new Tribute expansion contain?

• It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in DLCs.
  
• This means 7 Axis and 6 Allied divisions.
  
• This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
  
• It will contain only divisions. So no maps, be it new or based on Normandy.
  
• The new divisions will be reworked to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. This means they will be closer to historical reality and maybe a bit different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, and other stuff. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.

The division list

Which divisions will make their appearance in the new expansion?



Steel Division: Normandy 44

• Allied US 101st Airborne Division a.k.a "Screaming Eagles"
  
• Allied UK Guards Armoured Division
  
• Axis 91. Luftlande-Division
  
• Axis 716. Infanterie-Division

First Blood DLC

• Allied US 1st Infantry Division a.k.a "Big Red One"
  
• Axis 1. SS-Panzerdivision a.k.a "LSSAH"

Second Wave DLC

• Allied US 4th Armored Division
  
• Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division
  
• Axis 9. Panzerdivision

Back to Hell DLC

• Allied French Demi-Brigade SAS
  
• Allied UK 7th Armoured Division a.k.a "Desert Rats"
  
• Axis 2. Panzerdivision
  
• Axis Festungs Gross-Paris

A brand-new division

As the SSB from the Second Wave DLC has already been ported with the Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion, this makes the number of divisions uneven in the new Tribute division. To balance this, we will include a brand-new division: the 4th Canadian Armoured Division.



Despite being the Western Allies' third largest supplier of manpower and equipment, Canada has been overshadowed (in Steel Division 2 at least) because its divisions and arsenal were very similar to Commonwealth or American divisions. For a long time, we have been looking for a way to add more Canadians, hence their inclusion into the new expansion.

All the new divisions will gain their spot in the sun in the upcoming DevBlogs.

See you on the battlefield

Let us know what you think!
As always, join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.

Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!

See you on the battlefield, commander!