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Dukla Pass Map PreviewApr 26, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello, hello, hello! In today’s Steel Division 2 DevBlog, we talk maps. That’s right, we’ll be previewing the upcoming Dukla Pass map. Let’s go! A new battlefield The new Dukla Pass map will be released for free to all owners of Steel Division 2. The same will happen with the new Valley of Death map (which you can read more about in this DevBlog here). These two new maps will likely come as two separate free Reinforcement Packs DLCs. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/eb0f4ab468dd4ccfd0e29f0a144a7f104a982e0d.jpg So, what’s the deal with these two new maps? They can be seen as a precursor to our next Army General expansion, codenamed Dukla Pass. The historical details you can check out in this DevBlog. Inspiration Both maps are centered on the historical Battle of Dukla Pass on the Polish-Slovak border fought in the second half of 1944. This series of battles featured the Axis (the 1st Panzer Army and the 1st Hungarian Army) opposed by the Soviets commanding elements of the 1st and 4th Ukrainian Front, as well as the 1st Czechoslovakian Army Corps (composed of former Czech soldiers exiled in the Soviet Union, refugees, Slovak POWs, etc.). The Soviets, with the Czechoslovakian Corps, slogged through a mountainous battlefield to join up with Slovak Uprising rebels on the plains beyond. Ultimately, it was too little, too late, with the campaign ending in a (temporary) German victory. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/38c9aa83cf3766d6f4a9610f6b82f4f806cd9241.jpg The Valley of the Death map was inspired by the battlefields around Svidnik, where the actual pass leads out into a wider valley. In comparison, the Dukla Pass map is on the other side of the Laborec Highlands, just south of Dukla (hence the name). In this area, the Carpathian mountains begin to climb. Several valleys rise towards the pass, forming parallel “canyon-like” gullies. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/574b26f28eaf23cb47642c10709f475754f621da.jpg Dukla Pass detailed As already mentioned, Dukla Pass takes advantage of the quickly rising Carpathians to create three “corridors.” The main one, the broader valley in the center, contains the Dukla-Svidnik road. The two narrower corridors, one on each side, are smaller valleys. Ultimately (not depicted), these merge into a single valley before reaching the pass itself (likewise off-map). At the edges of each side, dense forests represent the woods of the real-life mountain range. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/6e23d50bf7f9316b87851e0fa283fb4c7ac8ea91.jpg Each of the three corridors is separated by relief, which increases in height the deeper you advance (depending on the direction you travel). This represents the beginning of the Laborece Highlands, inspired by real-life terrain variations. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/71d00a8bd450ee44948ed6e33ecc5af9645ecc34.jpg While separated through height difference and thick forest, connections between the corridors exist. Pathways reach plateaus and go down on the other side. That’s why, if some Spartan-wannabes block one...An Updated RoadmapApr 19, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello commanders, Back again! We hope you are doing well. In today’s DevBlog, we’ll look at what’s coming next for Steel Division 2. Let’s go! A New Roadmap This updated roadmap is a revision of Steel Division 2’s plan we unveiled some time ago. You can check it out in this dedicated post here. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/5ab9817d399db2300ec57688ef6b37d4967ae628.png So, what does the future hold for Steel Division 2? We are working on a new Army General campaign expansion, codenamed ”Dukla Pass”. More details can be found here. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/29ceb364a3d4402f55138c9bb118b0d923d2bbde.png A free Ace Reinforcement Pack. We will deliver not one but two new free maps: DUKLA PASS and VALLEY OF DEATH (check out the latter’s preview here). {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/80135372b93646896448779fdd2018979a83a767.jpg And previously undisclosed: a new Nemesis vote is coming to Steel Division 2 soon! Nemesis DLC allows the community to choose which two divisions (out of a paired series of six) will make it to Steel Division 2. It bridges the gap between expansions and not make you wait too long for new toys to play with. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/d608cd72ca2fe74591deee7aadc2d9472c66d91a.jpg Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 The latest Steel Division 2 expansion has just been released. Get it while it’s still hot! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2873780/Steel_Division_2__Tribute_to_Normandy_44/ Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 celebrates Steel Division history, introducing 14 of the original Steel Division: Normandy '44 divisions to Steel Division 2. The expansion contains 14 new divisions from five nations and 200 new units, including brand-new vehicle and plane models, voice acting, 8 Aces, and new infantry model sets. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/0b91b911fcee9f032f639935723c2046ddf215f4.jpg See you on the battlefield That’s all for this week. We’ll be back very soon. 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, commanders!v.120396: Hot FixApr 11, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsDATA FIXES fixed some missing acknows (including new NZ ones) fixed some typos fixed Fs-FÜHRER UHLIG's category, stealth & speed, on par with its non-ace counterpart fixed the American PATHFINDERS (both ATF & 101st)' influence over the frontline increased MG-26(t)'s accuracy from 10 to 15, on par with the Bren buff increased SU-152's HP from 10 to 12, as announced in previous log but forgotten decreased FFI PANZER III H's price from 30 to 25, on par with other such tanks decreased STUART VI's price from 30 to 25, on par with other such tanks unlocked Fs-GrW 120mm for all FJ divisions display KOMANDOSI's missing AP value halved the off-map US 356mm salvo, on par with other super-heavy artillery (7AD) removed MOT. RIFLES LDR.'s AP icon (display issue only) (2Pz) fixed PANZER IV J's veterancy ratio, on par with other divisions (while keeping the free vet) (14ID) unlocked Pak 183(f) 47mm ALLIES decreased Pe-2-83 (with RBS-132)'s price from 150 to 140 Tribute to Normandy '44 Out Now!Apr 9, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsGet ready, commanders! Our new expansion Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is available now! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2873780/Steel_Division_2__Tribute_to_Normandy_44/ The latest expansion brings 14 new divisions, new Aces, new units, new unit art, and much more. That’s not all! A massive patch with a host of balance changes and updates has made its way to Steel Division 2, available to all owners. More details below! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/8e179912d207fc4682423e3ede10d0a19b038f71.jpg Steel Division 2 Updates As usual, the new expansion also heralds a host of improvements and updates affecting the base Steel Division 2. This giant patch is available for free for all owners of our game. You can check out the patch notes in detail by following the link here. Some of the major points: Commando infantry’s effectiveness has been toned down, especially those in the Allied Task Force, Groupement Dody, and SSB divisions. Infantry’s Fall Back mechanic’s damage reduction has been tweaked. Retreating soldiers will be more prone to take damage, especially from tanks. Sniper rifle DPS has been reduced by decreasing aim time and rate of fire. Standardized 7.62mm HGM stats, updating the abysmal performance of some obsolete models. Updates, improvements, and general balancing “love” to older divisions. And much more! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/013c9d81b2664591a3e573edc411544654cfdb60.jpg Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 celebrates Steel Division history, introducing 14 of the original Steel Division: Normandy '44 divisions to Steel Division 2. The battlegroups are updated to take advantage of the latter title’s gameplay mechanics, traits, unit design, and more. Not only that, the expansion also features a host of new Aces, unit art, etc. Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 contains 14 new divisions from five nations and 200 new units, including brand-new vehicle and plane models, voice acting, and new infantry model sets. The latest expansion will let players take the divisions solo, online, or cooperatively. Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 ships for €19,99, the same price as previous Steel Division 2 “Tribute” expansions. Note, Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 does not contain new maps. These are planned for future expansions. Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 Insights We have a handy forum post ready if you want to do some background reading or catch up on the many historical and gameplay insights we published on Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44. It links to all divisional Versus posts, units, backgrounds, new Aces, and much more. Be sure to check it out by following it here. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/9aac41c01d8d087c58dbf1610f8158c360fa1d12.jpg See you on the battlefield We can’t wait to hear what you think of our latest expansion. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Stee...v.120142: Patch notesApr 9, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsDATA FIXES fixed SPITFIRE Mk. Vc/trop MITRALEXIS' skin which didn't appear as a specific one as it should changed TF 45 & TF BUTLER's coat of arms with more fitting ones fixed BUL's battlegroup filter being called "Breakthrough" (display issue only) swapped HELLCAT I 250lb 1 500lb loadout's speed, so the light one one goes faste fixed COMMANDO CMDR.'s number of smoke grenades from 99 to 3 fixed FS-JÄGER (ZF)'s wrong AT trait's icon (display issue only) fixed LORRAINE(f) 150mm's missing top view picture fixed COMMANDO (N°10)'s Vickers K's accuracy on par with their CONVERTED RAF's counterparts' one fixed PANZER M4-748(a)'s veterancy ratio on par with other M4A2 fixed ISU-152's vet ratios so they don't get free vet2 fixed 75mm SP AUTOCAR M3's unit category from Recon Tank to Recon Vehicle fixed some infantry units' size (GUASTATORI, various COMMANDO, ...) in regard with transport space fixed GEB. STURMPIONIER's missing fuel tank for the flamer fixed GEB. PIONIER's extra fuel tank despite no flamer fixed US AB ENGINEER LDR.'s number of weapons (was missing one) fixed French P-47F-22-RE with HE rocket not firing on Fire on Position order fixed AB LEADER's overlapping weapon models fixed 94-M ZIS-12's ammo loadout fixed some missing/extra trait icons fixed GOUMIERS ECLAIREURS' cargo size from Light to Heavy fixed PZ.GRENADIER FÜH. (1941)'s weapon models' distribution fixed GLIDER RIFLES' steath being the same as regular troops, and not Raider one. fixed 61-K 37mm's different ammo consumption when firing against ground or air targets. fixed SU-152's HP from 10 to 12, on par with other KV-based vehicles. fixed regular US M1919 MMG's being airborne models. fixed S. African & Polish STUART RECCE's speed on par with their other counterparts renamed DRUŻYNA SZTURMOWA into the more correct FIZYLIERZY renamed D-CA GR. SZTURMOWEJ into the more correct D-CA FIZYLIERÓW renamed the (RSI) GUASTATORI CMDO.'s sniper ammo loadout renamed the doublon (RSI) GUASTATORI CMDO. into PIONIERI CMDO. renamed D-CA SAPERZY into the more correct D-CA SAPERÓW replaced MARDER III H's F-22 gun with a German PaK 40 + price increased from 35 to 45 fixed ATF PATHFINDERS's cargo space fixed COMMANDO LDR.'s number of smoke grenades fixed FS-AUFKLÄRER's missing picture fixed Lw-JÄGER's missing AT trait's icon fixed STURMTIGER's weapon feedback fixed M7 DD's NATO icon fixed some Russian & Polish units & weapons' naming issues fixed BL 5,5-inch 140mm's damages: its indirect HE damage were slightly too high while its indirect HE one were (way) too low. Both fixed at 7. decreased HETZER & JAGDPANZER IV's aiming time from 3 to 4, on par with other enclosed TD changed M-42 45mm's APCR round for a proper one fitting the gun stats. Currently, it had the one from 45mm tanks, with different aiming time, RoF, ... removed the Radio trait from the S-African CARRIER 2-INCH, on par with other such vehicles. fixed OST-TRUPPEN & KOSAKEN PIONIER's Mosin from Finnish to Soviet ones removed/added some trait...Tribute to Normandy '44 Divisions RevisitedApr 5, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello! The release of our latest major expansion Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is imminent. Next week April 9th is launch day! In today’s DevBlog, we’ll take a final look at all the new divisions coming to Steel Division 2 with the most recent in-game descriptions. Let’s go. Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 We celebrate Steel Division history with Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44. The major new expansion introduces 14 of the original Steel Division: Normandy '44 divisions to Steel Division 2, updating them to take advantage of the latter title’s gameplay mechanic, traits, unit design, and more. Not only that, the expansion will feature a host of new units, new Aces, unit art, etc. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2873780/Steel_Division_2__Tribute_to_Normandy_44/ Let’s look at each division as they will appear in-game, including their divisional insignia. Allied Divisions U.S. 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/27eb2988934b1821cc0efa5a930892727223d552.png The U.S. 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" was one of the first to ship to Europe in World War II. Its soldiers amassed valuable experience in amphibious assaults in North Africa and Sicily. The veteran division led the bloody landing on Omaha Beach, cementing its reputation for the rest of the war. Representing the initial wave to hit the beach, Assault groups are supported by off-map 356mm naval guns. The battlegroup counts on many other experienced units, from weapon teams, mortars, and recon, to leader and AT guns. While the division’s combat soldiers are first-class, armor and supporting arms are more standard. Air cover is substantial, including P-38J fighter-bombers, P-51D fighters, and A-20G bombers. The U.S. 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" is an expert in assault operations thanks to its veteran soldiers, heavy artillery, and air power. U.S. 4th Armored Division {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/bb8afcf26de2faaa3dad22594304c615bb8ba0ee.png The U.S. 4th Armored Division was one of the first “light” American tank divisions to be created in World War II. Kept in reserve during the initial fighting in Normandy, the formation’s armor was unleashed during Patton’s Operation Cobra, playing a crucial role in breaking the frontline and liberating Brittany. The U.S. 4th Armored emphasizes speed over firepower, relying on Cavalry Scouts, M8 Cavalry armored cars, fast M18 Hellcats tank destroyers, and even an improvised Rosie the Rocketeer bazooka-equipped Piper L-4 Cub. After reconnaissance in force, the way is opened for follow-up M4(75), self-propelled M12 155m, and M30 armored supply vehicles. The U.S. 4th Armored Division is closer to a swift mechanized battlegroup than a heavy tank force. Mobility, not brute firepower, will be the key to victory. U.S. 101st Airborne Division {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/8f5c3a1df77c2f3a8ec764582f332cae5e35c59b.png The U.S. 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles” is one of the most famous American f...Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Release Date!Mar 21, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsCommanders, rejoice! We are the bringer of good news. Our latest expansion, Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, will release into the wild - and in your eager hands - this coming April 9th! Read on for more details. Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 coming soon Celebrating Steel Division history with the Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44, our major new expansion introduces 14 of the original Steel Division: Normandy '44 divisions to Steel Division 2. All the divisions are updated to take advantage of the successor’s game mechanics and experience, bringing a host of new units, new Aces, art, and more. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/8e179912d207fc4682423e3ede10d0a19b038f71.jpg Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 features 14 new divisions from five nations and 200 new units, including brand-new vehicle and plane models, voice acting, and new infantry model sets. The latest expansion will let players take the divisions solo, online, or cooperatively. Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 will ship for €19,99, the same price as previous Steel Division 2 “Tribute” expansions. The store page will come soon. Note that there are no new maps in this expansion (these will come in other planned expansions). Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 contains Let’s see what Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 has to offer. Covering the Normandy campaign in 1944 from D-Day, June 6th, to the Liberation of Paris on August 25th, Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy '44 is a long-requested community expansion. It features the Allied veterans of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, the famous 101st Airborne Division, and the 4th Armored Division. The Commonwealth forces bring the elite British Guards Armoured Division, the 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats”, and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. The French commandos from Demi-Brigade SAS wreak havoc in the enemy’s rear. The Axis divisions include the 2. Panzerdivision, the feared 9. Panzerdivision, the dreaded 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", the 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, ad-hoc Festung Groß-Paris, the 91. Luftlande-Division, and the defenders of the 716. Infanterie-Division. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/83b4c3122881b317a5928f67dffffdd52ec6aa96.png Over 200 new units, with 14 brand-new vehicle models, 3 new plane models, and many new infantry squads and unit variants, will be found in this expansion. Such as the Marder I auf 39H(f) tank destroyer, Flak 41 88mm AA gun, NAG 4500 Drilling heavy anti-air truck, the Canadian Wallaby heavy APC and Otter armored car. Aircraft include the American A-20G and B-25C bombers, as well as the unique Rosie the Rocketeer bazooka-equipped Piper Cub conversion. New infantry models include 101st Airborne's famous Filthy Thirteen raiders, French SAS, and the Vichy-aligned Miliciens collaborationists. Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 also features new voice-acting, such as the Allied Belgian and New Zealander pilots. No less than 8 new heroic A...Tribute to Normandy ‘44 New AcesMar 7, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello commanders, We hope you are well! In today’s post, we’ll return to one of Steel Division 2’s upcoming expansions, Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy 44. This DevBlog shows off some more tidbits about two new Aces to be featured, as well as some upcoming balance changes. Some new insights We already announced six Aces coming with Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy 44, as detailed in this DevBlog. As some of you shrewdly noticed, we missed one Ace from the original Steel Division: Normandy ‘44, belonging to a formation announced to ship with our new expansion. We are talking about the Axis tank commander Kurt Knispel. He served in the schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503, which will be attached to the 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division. The reason we didn’t mention Knispel before was that we had an uneven number of Aces. We wanted to keep one in “reserve” before we had found a suitable Allied counterpart. A mission that has been accomplished! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/fdffcc33d4c0c49754ec0669f60cdb98701a9e4f.png So, let’s welcome 2 new Aces to the stage at Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44. This brings the total to 8 Aces! Kurt Knispel Though much less famous than Michael Wittmann or other Nazi propaganda darlings, Knispel is probably the greatest Panzer ace in military history. With 168 confirmed kills, which could rise to 195 if considering unconfirmed ones, he was quite unusual for a German tank commander. Not even a “true” German, but rather a Volksdeutsche born in Czechoslovakia in 1921 in Sudetenland before the Third Reich annexed it. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/bbc08a3d0956de48fca52bc50d7b8958ed774618.png Unlike other commanders, he paid little attention to his kill tally, competition, or fame, in certain cases willingly leaving comrades to take credit. Neither did he care much for discipline, grooming standards, or dress codes (which can be noticed in some of his World War II photos). He sported long hair, a goatee, and wore custom-made re-trimmed uniforms, and was known to have assaulted a fellow German officer for mistreating Russian POWs. Knispel was definitely not a Nazi poster boy, and despite his kill ratio, he never became an officer, remaining a sergeant up to the end of World War II. He died in the last days of the war, on the Eastern Front, when hit in the head by shrapnel standing in the commander’s cupola of his tank. In Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, he will be featured with his Zimmerit-covered "101" KÖNIGSTIGER (P) available with the 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/eb9ea3f19abdad79a9b0da7b7902c380b9e322eb.png David Vivian Currie This new Allied Ace was not featured in the original Steel Division, thus exclusive to Steel Division 2: Tribute to Normandy ‘44. Currie ships as part of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. Having joined the regular Canadian Army in 1940 as an officer, he won’t see combat until 1944. In the meantime, he managed to rise in the ranks to major. Currie commanded...A Brief Status ReportFeb 22, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello commanders! We hope you are well. In today’s DevBlog, we’ll give you a brief status report on Steel Division 2, and specifically its next expansion, Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44. As you might have noticed, we have entered a quieter development period. Updates will be a bit less frequent - the DevBlog now pops up every two weeks - but make no mistake, we are still working on Steel Division 2 behind the scenes! Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 So, what’s happening in Eugen’s workshop? All unit profile pictures (infantry, vehicle, and planes) are now done. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/41ea2ca891bbe71c2a4f34800020c8d65580990e.png New voice acting for Allied New Zealand and Belgian fighter pilots has been recorded, and they are getting the audio post-processing treatment. Belgian Spitfire New Zealander Tempest A little bit less sexy, and completely behind the scenes, but we finally tracked down a technical issue that caused a crash - a devious gremlin that plagued us for some time. However, while the hunt was long and hard, we managed to squash this bug! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/61f726a7f6c8d32fdc14ff8e4b6a47f28f3ea0c1.jpg We have entered the last stretch of balance testing. The Steel Division 2 Strike Team will be allowed to get their hands on the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 expansion in the not-too-distant future. And soon as well, we’ll be able to announce a release date! Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus If you want to catch up on Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, we have a handy forum post linking to all previous Versus posts detailing new Aces, and much more. Be sure to check it out by following it here. It also details all the good stuff you’ll be able to play with in Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, including 14 new divisions, new Aces, new units, and other goodies! See you on the battlefield That’s all for this DevBlog. In two weeks, we’ll return! 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, commanders!A Small UpdateFeb 8, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello, hello! Commanders, it is good to be back. We entered a bit of a “quiet time” when it comes to Steel Division 2, but that doesn’t mean we have some nice things to show. Keep reading to find out more! A brief update on Steel Division’s development One reason for the temporary slowdown is that most of the EUGEN team working on Steel Division 2’s Cold War cousin WARNO. The major milestone for this game - GROUCHY - is nearing completion, and as they say in the industry, it’s all “hands on deck” to get it out of the door. Business as usual will return after this! While things are moving slower, content for Steel Division 2 is progressing nicely. For instance, don’t forget that we have revealed the new Valley of Death map, thematically linked to the next Steel Division 2 Army General expansion, the Dukla Pass. This map will be released for free to all owners of Steel Division 2. However, we can show the good art progress and tweaked visuals related to the next “divisional expansion,” Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44. All art for infantry cards is done and integrated. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/9aac41c01d8d087c58dbf1610f8158c360fa1d12.jpg All the new models and variants are finished as well. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/beaa0565cf737f22eb4559baef33d3744462274b.jpg Most of the model reskins have been done, including some airplanes that came out quite nicely! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/ceafb2004e20954e6f7f6c1eb98eba60af412a5c.jpg We added a Belgian Spitfire after we detailed British 7th Armoured Division. One way to differentiate this division from other British battlegroups was to make its airforce multinational. The British Mitchell II bombers were escorted by Spitfires from the Allied Belgian RAF 349 Squadron, as they did in real life during the bombing of Caen in the 7th Armoured Division’s sector. Close support, for instance, will be provided by New Zealand Tempest fighter-bombers. Both planes have been reskinned to show proper squadron markings and national emblems and use correct dialogue acknowledgments. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/d6c53b76b74d73343b61c22fa7f4d40ef7d3df49.png Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus If you want to catch up on Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, we have a handy forum post linking to all previous Versus posts detailing new Aces, and much more. Be sure to check it out by following it here. It also details all the good stuff you’ll be able to play with in Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, including 14 new divisions, new Aces, new units, and other goodies! See you on the battlefield As you know, Steel Division 2 blogs will now be published every two weeks. Until the next time! 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!Preview of New Valley of Death MapJan 26, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello, commanders! We are back again. You might have noticed a bit of radio silence, but rest assured, the Eugen team is hard at work on all things Steel Division 2. We have some exciting details to share with you in today’s post - the preview of a new upcoming map for Steel Division 2, Valley of Death! Let’s dig in. The Valley of Death The new Valley of Death will be the first of two new maps delivered for Steel Division 2. This was promised in our post-summer roadmap, which you can read here. Both maps will be free and released as soon as they are ready. The maps will act as a precursor to the next Army General expansion, the Dukla Pass (check out the details here). {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/0ef9782d07e6c36bfaf8fa35829078398c1c37fd.png You might think that the Valley of Death is a catchy name thought of by us, but as a matter of fact, it was a real nickname given to a small valley on the border between Poland and Czechoslovakia in the autumn of 1944. The Slovak National Uprising (talked about in this post here) was characterized by one big issue. When sprung, its inability to seize the Dukla Pass, to allow Soviet reinforcements to pour into Slovakia, doomed the uprising from the start. This pass, very narrow and heavily fortified by the Axis, allowed a few determined troops to hold out against many (like a Thermopylae of old). With the Dukla Pass firmly in German hands, the Soviet plans to reach the Prešov and Košice basin - prime tank country - within five days turned instead into a bloody fifty-day meat grinder. The advance was barely half the way of the original plan. By then, although the Axis forces withdrew, the Slovak National Uprising had been crushed, with Soviet casualties being terribly high. Forcing the narrow pass wasn’t the only issue. When Soviet units finally reached the end, thinking the worst was behind them, they brought up their armor for a breakthrough operation. However, instead, they faced fortified anti-tank defenses between Dobroslava and Svidnik (the location of our map) and local counter-attacks by Panzer forces. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/4310f5445bbcea1ae7227a7aaaaf8fd486c498da.jpg The once pleasant valley was so littered with Soviet burning and destroyed tank hulls it got the nickname “Valley of Death.” Still to this day, as a reminder, T-34/85 watch over the old battlefield… The Valley of Death’s Gameplay The Valley of Death relies on the Svidnik’s real-life terrain height variations. A river splits the area. The actual plain follows the river’s path, creating enough space in its center for a village. You might imagine that most of the inhabitants work in the factory situated on a cultivated plateau on the opposite bank. Nearby farms benefit from rich soil, ideal for livestock farming. Forests are thick, with clear viewing lines. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/b1ea32ce85dacf42b1013b7ad3135b6b67059b8c.jpg The other side of the combat zone is defined by very large forests on small hills. Navigating through them is p...Happy New Year!Jan 12, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello commanders, It’s good to be back! We hope the holidays have recharged your batteries, it sure did for the Eugen team! While we don’t have much news to show you in 2024’s first Steel Division 2 DevBlog, rest assured that we have started the new year rock ‘n rolling. A short update on Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 A quick update on our upcoming Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 expansion. We are currently testing all the divisions with our Strike Team while the artists are hard at work polishing the last new models and reskinning existing units. We hope to share more new and exciting things with you soon! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/89e793d8c5448b3162a22102bcb8ea80b75c554f.jpg {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/c1b1c27341b7ca510e7a5c1bc0956b2c1f09460a.jpg We also took that opportunity to fix the missing Motor Rifles models for UK, with their specific headgear. They will be "retrofitted" to existing Motor Rifles units ingame. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/cfeffdec6f85e42719d97fede8611f6dab9f9e0e.jpg And, cherry on the cake, we created some models in armoured personnel's outfits to interspersed among 7th Armoured's infantry units to represent their veteran status. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/41d3f25d6b8296c2c3a3aac010eef7de3500f910.jpg Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus If you want to catch up on Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, we have a handy forum post linking to all previous Versus posts, detailing new Aces, and much more. Be sure to check it out by following it here. It also details all the good stuff you’ll be able to play with in Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, including 14 new divisions, new Aces, new units, and other goodies! See you on the battlefield Short and sweet, but do not worry, we will be back in the near future with more details on all things Steel Division 2. 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! As always, see you on the battlefield, commander! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/9a99959d853d4391518954f5fc35fd5738bec6a5.gifTribute to Normandy '44 - Unit Showcase #2Dec 21, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello, commanders! Welcome back to the last Steel Division 2 DevBlog of the year! We’ll leave you for the Christmas break, meaning no DevBlogs for two weeks. We’ll be back in full force in the new year, with new posts starting in the second week of January. Before we leave, we wanted to share the latest work of our upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion. In today’s showcase, we’ll look at some of the new infantry models coming to Steel Division 2. Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 New Infantry The new expansion will bring several new soldier models. What can you expect? Axis MILICE Originally, we planned to only add one unit of the French collaborationist MILICE to the Axis Festungs Gross-Paris. They are all dressed as civilians to represent the “rooftop shooters” who harassed the liberating Allied troops after they had entered Paris and secured most of the city. These Miliciens were die-hard collaborators, ready to go out in flames, knowing that the fate that awaited them once captured… was not pretty. In-game, we intended the MILICE to be medium-sized sniper recon squads. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/8f426b4f97e8a8c9370e3fa58f322976fcac9d53.jpg After extra research, it seems that more Milice units remained in the city and fought attached to German units. How many is hard to tell, but there were a handful. That’s why we modeled additional uniformed Miliciens (using a variation of the Chasseurs Alpins outfits), adding two more Combat Phase A-only squads. Our “rooftop” snipers will only be available in Phase B. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/5e88d13e23e2a8018e09fd6b000a76725a626fe8.jpg The three variants of MILICE units will be featured with Festungs Gross-Paris. LSSAH SS soldiers from the 1. SS-Panzerdivision “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler” wore a distinctive camouflage pattern. This is the same pattern used by the “Wiking” models currently in-game, called Eichenlaub Muster (or “Oak Leaf”), but with a twist. While the Wiking camouflage models the “Spring” variant, the LSSAH uniform features the “Autumn” version. It is the same pattern but using different colors, the “LSSAH” variant being more brown and orange. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/e54af28ffc48174da59a74d23f390394842514f4.jpg In-game, the new camouflage uniforms will be found on all the LSSAH infantry units. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/e9a3616d349de5d3c99b9d959dd0dfac281575ba.jpg Allied FILTHY THIRTEEN A famous infantry unit from the D-Day preparations, with pictures of Mohawk-styled American paratroopers frequently found in history books. However, the origin of the unit is rather obscure. The Filthy Thirteen was a single demolition squad with special training, tasked with infiltrating behind enemy lines on D-Day. They were to destroy key infrastructure. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/2fe127a78886a66578506e131bb800fe271e10c8.jpg The FILTHY THIRTEEN will be featured as an elite recon squad acting as infiltrators and explosive experts with the US 101st Airborne Division. {ST...Tribute to Normandy '44 - Unit Showcase #1Dec 14, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello, commander. You might think we’d slow down detailing our upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion. Guess again! While our Versus DevBlogs might have finished - the last featuring the brand-new 4th Canadian Armoured Division - we switch our attention to showcasing the new (and some old) units featured in our next Steel Division 2 expansion. Let’s go! Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 New Models You can expect several completely new vehicle models. Such as? Axis FLAK 41 88mm {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/87c13835c06b187e6fa10b686d83ded549d42066.jpg This is a late-war improvement over the ubiquitous Flak 88mm anti-air and anti-tank gun, though more complex than its predecessor and only produced in limited numbers. It offered a lower gun shield and profile, a better rate of fire, and improved shell penetration. The FLAK 41 88mm will be featured with the 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division. MARDER I H-39 The MARDER series of tank destroyers featured an array of different tank chassis’ and guns, first pioneered by Baukommando Becker. In the early war years, obsolete, older, or captured tank hulls could be mated to whatever anti-tank gun (or field gun with good enough penetration). Some more uncommon versions of these interim tank destroyers include the MARDER I H-39, which features a 75mm PaK 40 gun mounted on a sturdy but older French H-39 hull. This unit will be featured with the 716. Infanterie-Division. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/26dd6f412cdb075a0c578b212881045d0c05fbd6.jpg MARDER III F-22 In the same vein as the previous unit, but this time using a captured Soviet F-22 field gun on an obsolete but still capable Panzer 38(t) tank hull. As attested by the series’ name, the MARDER III was a later variant produced in the middle war years. The MARDER III F-22 will be part of the 9. Panzerdivision, which brought these tank destroyers from the Eastern Front to France. This unit will also replace some of the MARDER currently featured with the 116. Panzerdivision. Allied CRUSADER TRACTOR {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/2151d01aee3f0e51d481d74057d62593d231cf73.jpg This particular vehicle is a former Crusader tank (a significant contributor to the British victory in the sands of the North African terrain) with the turret and top armor removed. By the time of the Normandy campaign, these older tanks had been converted into heavy tractors and supply carriers. They were in each of the British armored division’s TO&E. As such, the CRUSADER TRACTOR will be featured as a supply unit and artillery prime mover in both the British Guards Armoured Division, the 7th Armoured Division and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. OTTER LIGHT RECONNAISSANCE ARMORED CAR {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/ebeab5abe2fbdee8f558b534afda19c7fb636d12.jpg {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/4bf0de8cbfb247c902b967212a3f0ac23c8fc356.png This Canadian-made armored car was based on the ubiquitous C15 CMP truck (already in-game) just like the C15TA armored truck. The Otter Mk.1 is actuall...Tribute to Normandy '44 - Versus #7B - 4th Canadian Armoured DivisionDec 8, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello! Welcome to the second part of Versus #7, and, with it, the introduction of a brand-new division coming to Steel Division 2! In today’s DevBlog, we’ll look at the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. This follows last week’s Versus, which detailed the Axis German 1. SS-Panzerdivision “LSSAH”. This also means we have reached the end of our Versus run for Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion. Without further ado, let’s dive in! 4th Canadian Armoured Division’s Combat History The 4th Canadian Armoured Division can trace its origins to World War I, formed as an infantry division and seeing action on the Western Front. By World War II, in 1942, it was reformed into an armored formation. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division was quickly shipped to the United Kingdom, spending almost two years training on the Home Isles. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/54c4ebb45d50649160ae291dc10ac42b08699328.png Transported to Normandy in July 1944, the 4th Canadian Armoured Division’s hour of glory came during the climax of the Battle of Falaise in mid-August 1944. A Canadian mixed-force detachment led by Major David Currie captured Saint-Lambert-sur-Dives. This town was smack in the middle of the retreating German forces. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/94ceb5df18dd5ef7ba63cb1f735e494590480102.jpg Currie and his men held their positions long enough for Americans from the 90th Infantry Division to link up, coming from opposite Chambois. This sealed the trap. With the pocket closed, tens of thousands of Germans were captured. Major Currie was later awarded the Victoria Cross for this action. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/bc7fefd15ebf0426eb2d7c720d0a5eed9d68f486.jpg The 4th Canadian Armoured Division would continue to service in Western Europe, fighting in Belgium, passing the winter in the southern Netherlands before taking part in the final advance across the northern plains of Germany in 1945. A Missing Link In terms of organization, the 4th Canadian Armoured Division can be considered the “missing link” between an American and British armored division. It will have a distinct flavor, setting it apart from the “heavy” cavalry Guards Armoured Division and the “light” cavalry 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats”. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/b4a8bcf3e06e626854e9a2cd887122df496ed0ab.png The Canadian formation will be organized along British TO&E lines. The divisional recon regiment (the South Alberta Regiment, or SAR) doesn’t get its usual Cromwells but is equipped with Shermans instead. Though mounted on American half-tracks and armored cars, Canadian infantry were earmarked to transition towards lighter, more mobile Canadian-built C15TA armored trucks. Recon armored cars were Canadian-built Otters instead of the Humber. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/34812fe18ce8fea5b43d82777f63f5493851e186.png Next to the above changes, and to set it apart further from other Commonwealth divisions in Steel Division 2, we have decided to represent the historical link-up with American troop...Tribute to Normandy '44 - Versus #7A - 1. SS-Panzerdivision “LSSAH”Nov 30, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello! 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/2c8a095fe46fa73b37f62133654d0a9205e6c4a6.png 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/35df08fd7becfc823ba764a966dd809a06bc8430.png 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/8636cf6fea1397af303068ab515a329ba6f50e3c.jpg 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...Tribute to Normandy '44 - Versus #6b - DBSASNov 24, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello! 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/fd47f4e6d8f00c1f6e255dee3511350af6e63cd9.jpg 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/8fa8466530845f444c49199ede54772885588ca6.png 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/9fb9fd5a7666aea30887669f26960e3949e72f1d.jpg 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 passi...Tribute to Normandy '44 - Versus #6A - 2. PanzerdivisionNov 17, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello! 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/b4e4482013b486378654334ce61bdfe33217b7b6.png 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! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/878bd7fdc3e9a7882d9e37e9568873ca1cf95afd.png 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/aa37b9457259f06ed3a75677c6f3afd5339cc991.png 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 Hel...Normandy '44 AcesNov 9, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello 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. Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams 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”. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/ac052d996ebc6a07c277b874aca56f354e042b03.png 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/77ab99c5075fa6143d3e2e42fe62e3a6c00bfe44.jpg 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. 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/85e3b18e98cdb289ee53192bdb368e8a09216a21.jpg 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. Sgt. Wilfried “Spit” Harris 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...Tribute to Normandy '44 - Versus #5Nov 4, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHello 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 {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/3367c82c6086bc3efed76b3afb3c6a6d3f445e98.png 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. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/33563925/5f786015d8dcb980e9ed56a054703bbac2920d52.png 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 wi...
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