Wargame: Red Dragon 
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WARNO is a spiritual successor to the Wargame RTS seriesDec 18, 2021 - Rock, Paper, ShotgunI had some fun with the Wargame series of real-time strategy games, although past a certain point I couldn't tell the difference between its umpteen historical tanks. Now developers Eugen Systems are making a spiritual successor called WARNO, which is coming to Steam Early Access next month. Read more WARNO, the spiritual successor to Wargame, is coming soon to Steam Early Access!Dec 17, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! In case you missed the big news: we have revealed the spiritual successor to the Wargame series today! Get ready to deploy into our next-gen World War III battle simulator, WARNO! You don’t have to wait long. This coming January 20th when we will launch into Steam Early Access! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1611600/WARNO/ WARNO results from months and years of hard work from our talented (but small) team at Eugen Systems. Our new real-time strategy and simulation game will focus on an escalating conflict between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces in Western Europe in 1989. In case you missed it, be sure to check out WARNO’s reveal trailer. We took most of the exciting, fun gameplay of Wargame and added all the best elements of our Steel Division series to the mix. And voila, WARNO was born. What does this mean? For instance, in WARNO you’ll be able to play our Army General campaigns depicting a devastating World War III in West Germany, gain access to the new division-based battlegroup building system, and get to play with Rules of Engagement and Smart Orders - and much much more. Most of the information you can read on the WARNO’s Steam store page, but we wanted to highlight that the full version of WARNO will contain over 600 units, six different nations, four massive turn-based Army General campaigns, scripted Operations, a host of quality-of-life updates and enhancements, etc. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/24abedc941819ffacecd72241af63c8bd15df336.gif The Early Access launch of WARNO is scheduled for the 20th of January. You will be able to play with the arsenals of two nations (U.S. and Soviet Union) on Skirmish maps either solo or online (up to 10v10 matches). This is just the start. After the Early Access release, our aim is to update WARNO continuously. So expect frequent updates, content drops, new nations, units, Army General campaigns, scenarios! We hope you will join us on our new journey. Be sure to wishlist WARNO (if you haven’t done so) as you get ready for action on the 20th of January! If you want to keep up to date, don’t forget to check out our dedicated Discord server or WARNO’s own Steam forums. Before we sign off: from the whole team at Eugen Systems, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. See you soon! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/3ffcc202a76c69a21194711a1a4a86916d3c4746.png Modern war RTS game Wargame: Red Dragon is still getting DLC seven years laterSep 30, 2021 - Strategy GamerWargame: Red Dragon is an ambitious cold war strategy game set in an alternate modern warfare setting. Created by Eugen Systems, it was the final entry in a trio of RTS games before the studio moved on to create Steel Division and Steel Division 2 - two excellent WW2 war games that make use of the same design. Seven years after release, it seems there's still plenty of interest in this game, however - it's just got a bradn-new piece of DLC that will introduce the South African Defence Force as a playable faction. The new army receives over 90 new units, 20 of which introduce brand new unit models. Red Dragon involves warfare across air, land, and sea, although the SADF doesn't get any naval units in this pack. The South Africa Nation Pack is the most expensive single-nation expansion the game has received to date, but according to Eugen this is because this expansion "is the first in many years, with the number and quality of (new) models exceeding those featured in previous DLC." And "not only that," the developer explains, "the amount of work required for this expansion was substantial - game development is neither cheap nor straightforward, especially resuming work on a game as complex as Wargame: Red Dragon." Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Next week's free game from Epic is an RTS game about modern warfare Next week's free game from Epic is a hard as nails Cold War RTS Wargame: Red Dragon review Nation Pack - SADF Out NowSep 30, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsStrap in manne, today is the big day! Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa is now available! Get ready to unleash South African Defence Force’s arsenal on the battlefield! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/05769a59c5785b166eb5475f339f51a8207f89d4.png What will the South Africa Nation Pack bring? https://store.steampowered.com/app/1575820/Wargame_Red_Dragon__Nation_Pack_South_Africa Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa features: Close to 90 new SADF units, including 20 brand-new vehicle models, as well as many new variants. All feature Afrikaans and South African-accented English voice-overs. These include the ubiquitous Casspir and Ratel APCs (in numerous variants, from IFV, recon, command, mortar, and even SAM), the Rooikat wheeled tank (including variants and prototypes), Eland (license-produced French AML), Cactus (French Crotale), the only tracked Olifant MBT, many armed versions of locally made SAMIL trucks (Ystervark and Bosvark SPAAG, Valkiri and Bateleur MLRS), to the iconic G6 Renoster self-propelled howitzer. The Air Force includes old Buccaneer, Vampire and Impala as close-air support, and several French Mirage variants and the local Cheetah as fighter and multirole aircraft. Furthermore, you will find the Atlas Carver, the first full South African prototype plane design (which never left the drawing board). Helicopters include the French Alouette III, Puma, Super Frelon and their domestically produced versions and prototypes such as the K-Car, Oryx and XTP-1 Beta. You’ll also be able to deploy South Africa’s very own attack helicopter design, the badass-looking Rooivalk. Infantry will include Bokkop regular riflemen, Parabat paratroopers, SASF special forces, and many more units such as militia, recon, MANPADS, engineers. You will find Portuguese-speaking Angolan UNITA squads, as well as SADF’s own 32 Battalion (the Buffalos) as a veteran light infantry formation. SADF weaponry features imported or locally built R1 and R4 rifles, SS-77 and Mini-SS MG, LRAC and APILAS LAW, but also the more original HK-21, FT5, Inflict and, of course, the iconic Y2 grenade-launcher and NTW-20. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/b69030f02c93af19cdf26ddd829a7277928efe04.jpg Want to know more? In case you’ve missed it, we have published a series of deep dives into the South African arsenal featured in the Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa. Read them in the following posts: We put a spotlight on the all-important grunt: SADF Infantry. Read all about it here. And if you want to know how these forces appear in-game, check out this detailed gameplay deep dive here. We also looked at the SADF Armor force, which you can read more about here. Curious how these units look in-game? Check out this gameplay post here. The flyboys claim all the glory in our SAAF Air Force article, which you can read here. To read more about the planes in-game, be sure to read this post here. Hugging the earth, SADF’s rotorcraft fleet get special treatment in our ...Nation Pack - South Africa coming September 30thSep 16, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsGood news, everyone! We will release Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa on Thursday, September 30th. The wait is almost over! Itching to get back into the fight with the South African Defence Force’s unique Cold War arsenal? Keep reading for the latest details on the new Nation Pack. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/09857ce863b748837257d359a7cc0775f5096e14.png What’s on offer? https://store.steampowered.com/app/1575820/Wargame_Red_Dragon__Nation_Pack_South_Africa Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa will be available for $9.99 / 9,99€ (or the equivalent in your local currency). The reason for this price is multifold. First, keep in mind that this Nation Pack is the first in many years, with the number and quality of (new) models exceeding those featured in previous DLC. Not only that, the amount of work required for this expansion was substantial - game development is neither cheap nor straightforward, especially resuming work on a game as complex as Wargame: Red Dragon. To lessen the wait until September 30th, Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa can now be freely streamed by our VIP testers. Keep your eyes peeled on your favorite channels to see when this hot stuff drops! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/5e8514399d8b6b4577466089a57ad38b8cf45321.jpg What will the South Africa Nation Pack bring? Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa will feature: Close to 90 new SADF units, including 20 brand-new vehicle models, as well as many new variants. All feature new Afrikaans and South African-accented English voice-overs. These include the ubiquitous Casspir and Ratel APCs (in numerous variants, from IFV, recon, command, mortar, and even SAM), the Rooikat wheeled tank (including variants and prototypes), Eland (license-produced French AML), Cactus (French Crotale), the only tracked Olifant MBT, many armed variants of locally made SAMIL trucks (Ystervark and Bosvark SPAAG, Valkiri and Bateleur MLRS), to the iconic G6 Renoster self-propelled howitzer. The Air Force includes old Buccaneer, Vampire and Impala as close-air support, and several French Mirage variants and the local Cheetah as fighter and multirole aircraft. Furthermore, you will find the Atlas Carver prototype, the first full South African prototype plane design (which never left the drawing board). Helicopters include the French Alouette III, Puma, Super Frelon and their domestically produced versions and prototypes such as the K-Car, Oryx and XTP-1 Beta. You’ll also be able to deploy South Africa’s very own attack helicopter design, the badass-looking Rooivalk. Infantry will include Bokkop regular riflemen, Parabat paratroopers, SASF special forces, and many more units such as militia, recon, MANPADS, engineers. You will find Portuguese-speaking Angolan UNITA squads, as well as SADF’s own 32 Battalion (the Buffalos) as a veteran light infantry formation. SADF weaponry features imported or locally built R1 and R4 rifles, SS-77 and Mini-SS MG, LRAC and APILAS LA...Nation Pack - SADF Post-Summer UpdateSep 8, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello there, we are back again! Now, you might wonder what we have been up to in August. Not sitting quietly, that’s for sure. The release of our new Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa DLC is getting closer. But before we get there, we wanted to highlight what we have been working on. Active development A special team has been chipping away and testing the Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa for a month. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, we have rebalanced and tweaked the SADF forces in-game, and made sure the new arsenal is as polished as can be. Such as? Some of the plane load-outs have been changed compared to ones detailed in our South African Air Force Gameplay post. We have reworked some of the models and we are continuing our balancing efforts. This also means that the balance patch we previously promised for the base game has grown significantly in size and scope. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/3259ae616b6d66e1ead36b9f1b5dd2c6c26234bb.jpg There is more, though! New units Based on the team’s feedback, we have added two new units to the roster. Ratel 90 FSV. An additional Ratel 90 version. A non-transport variant classified as a fire support vehicle in the VHC tab. A new Cheetah variant, bringing the total to four: C, D, D2, and E. This will replace one of the previous Mirage models, which happened to be incorrect (Mirage IIIE2Z). {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/a290a809ca6708eea4f47552f7a1cda513f84fd2.png What will the South Africa Nation Pack bring? Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa will feature: Close to 90 new SADF units, including 20 brand-new vehicle models, as well as many new variants. All feature new Afrikaans and South African-accented English voice-overs. These include the ubiquitous Casspir and Ratel APCs (in numerous variants, from IFV, recon, command, mortar, and even SAM), the Rooikat wheeled tank (including variants and prototypes), Eland (license-produced French AML), Cactus (French Crotale), the only tracked Olifant MBT, many armed variants of locally made SAMIL trucks (Ystervark and Bosvark SPAAG, Valkiri and Bateleur MLRS), to the iconic G6 Renoster self-propelled howitzer. The Air Force includes old Buccaneer, Vampire and Impala as close-air support, and several French Mirage variants and the local Cheetah as fighter and multirole aircraft. Furthermore, you will find the Atlas Carver prototype, the first full South African prototype plane design (which never left the drawing board). Helicopters include the French Alouette III, Puma, Super Frelon and their domestically produced versions and prototypes such as the K-Car, Oryx and XTP-1 Beta. You’ll also be able to deploy South Africa’s very own attack helicopter design, the badass-looking Rooivalk. Infantry will include Bokkop regular riflemen, Parabat paratroopers, SASF special forces, and many more units such as militia, recon, MANPADS, engineers. You will find Portuguese-speaking Angolan UNITA squads, as well as SADF’s own 32 Batta...WRD - Nation Pack: SADF General UpdateJul 22, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! We are back with a much-needed update about our upcoming Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa DLC. We know you are longing to play our new Nation Pack, but we are still some ways off before our upcoming expansion is ready to be released. What? Why? When? {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/1165249a9bb8ce1593bba2e6fb45cc5d8a0c31ff.gif Keep reading to find out. A mea culpa Game development is hard, and the way to any kind of launch is beset with roadblocks and detours. We know that some of you were hoping for a release soon - as in next week soon - or alternatively sometime in August. That is, unfortunately, not going to happen. We still need more time with Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa. Even though unit balancing is done, as most of the unit models, there is plenty of work left. Not only that, August is a very quiet month in which everything slows down. We try to avoid releasing anything in the deepest part of the summer holidays. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/b5721ffa6f03183eba85a748d6642cb894ec0414.png There is more: next to Wargame: Red Dragon, we are also working concurrently on two new expansions for or our other popular strategy game (you might have heard about it here or there) Steel Division 2. In all fairness, we bit off more than we could chew, and coupled with the small delays that are always encountered, a post-August launch of the Nation Pack seems ever more likely. Our apologies! An updated roadmap When we get close to the launch, we’ll let you know. Until then, we don’t want to leave you completely empty-handed. Some new details: Most models are now done. You can see new preview screens of several major units - many of them we haven’t shown previously! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/50ff8a0e898cdc4c268738303903199444695a29.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/5a9483feb9cbb77dc5ab6a9cb9581c4569a6cd38.jpg {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/6b8a57f8524a9bd049d3f0ab9a23d8399db7fa2f.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/b6fc77814b2f3ca85187213fbbac82bd7c377a48.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/162633b6bf95e97975a26f2d2c0e1befea6f679c.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/5a028f2485bbd148cf3739c14a090b9396bece04.png A silver lining to the delay is that we will be able to organize a beta testing session later in the summer. We will gather dedicated players to make sure all in-game units and forces are well priced and balanced. Keep an eye out for more news! Together with the new Nation Pack, we’ve also been hard at work at some general balance changes to Wargame: Red Dragon. You can find all the proposed updates in the patch log further below. BLUE: increased Commonwealth deck's coalition availability from 0 to 10% standardized all M40 RCL jeeps (jeeps, Rover, Ram, ...) loadout to 10 rounds increased American EF-111 Raven’s price from 140 to 160 changed British Harrier GR.7's availability pattern from 0/2/0/0/1 to 0/0/0/2/0 changed British Challenger 2's availability pattern from 0/3/2/0/0 to 0/2/0/1/0 decreased British Challenger 1 Mk.2’s HE RoF (fi...Nation Pack: South African Helicopter GameplayJul 7, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! Welcome back to what is currently our last in-depth look at the upcoming Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa DLC. We will give you a detailed insight into the gameplay and in-game load-outs of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF) rotorcraft in today’s post. As always, everything you read is work in progress and is subject to change. Much like in our previous Air Force Gameplay post, keep in mind that the modeling for each helo’s ammunition and ordnance load-out is not final. We are getting closer to releasing Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa, but we are still some ways off. When the time is right, we’ll let you know. Hang tight! Supply Our first unit is a true SAAF workhorse. Since 1967, SAAF’s heavy hauler is the French SA.321 Super Frelon. In-game, this cargo helicopter will be in the same category as the American CH-53E or the Soviet Mi-6. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/aad64e9510bafc4950d346acc841045a37c961cd.png Recon Two dedicated helicopters will be available in this section, presented as part of a single family: The good ol’ Alouette III, SAAF’s oldest and sturdiest flying helo. Available from 1961, this chopper is unarmed. The prototype light XH-1 Alpha (1985). Although historically used as a testbed for a new generation of attack helicopters, in-game the unit has been repurposed as an armed recon chopper with Exceptional optics. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/b319f4fbdc956daebd43f1c8152f17fa9487b59d.jpg Transport Going from A to B - fast! There will be two units in this category that are, once again, featured within a single family. First up is the mainstay SA.330H Puma (1973), armed with a side-door MAG 7,62mm machine gun. The domestically built Oryx (1987), which features the same armament, but with improved speed and hit points. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/099a01d88cec28ae241dea459b3762c42a5eaebd.jpg These transport rotorcraft will be available in-game to move Bokkop, Buffalos, Kommandant, Inflict, MILAN, Parabat, Para Pathfinders, Sappers, SASF (both), Strela and Trackers squads and units. Attack Rain fire from above with the SAAFs devastating arsenal of attack helicopters. These units are divided into two distinct families: The singular Alouette K-Car (1973) as light support chopper. Armed with a side-door 20mm autocannon in much the same configuration as the French Puma Pirate. The second family is made up of a pure brand of attack helos, all prototypes, starting with the XTP-1 Beta. This unit was tested with a lot of different weapons in various configurations. We have distilled them into two separate variants. XTP-1 Beta ’87 (1987) features the original support and AA configuration, with a 20mm in the nose, four 18-tube pods of 68mm SNEB rockets, and two V3B Kukri short-range air-to-air missiles. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/5c8a6a21d4bf7a352b59dedc4590c9b237a711bb.jpg XTP-1 Beta ’90 (1990) was used to test a new indigenous ATGM, making this variant a pure ground attack chopper. It retains the nose 20mm ca...Nation Pack: South African Air Force GameplayJun 23, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! We are going to look into the dashing flyboys of the South African Air Force (SAAF) in today’s deep dive of our upcoming Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa. Let’s see what the fixed-wing inventory looks like in-game. Note that everything you’ll be reading is work in progress and is subject to change. Keep in mind that most of the following plane models are finished, but the plane’s munitions are still being worked on. This is the main reason the planes are not being shown with any missiles, ordnances, or weapon pods under their wings in this post. Bombers and Close Air Support The SAAF kept some of their vintage aircraft operational long into the 80s, using most of these in a dedicated bomber or close air support (CAS) role. In our new expansion, you’ll get to play with several distinct “families,” including some golden oldies: Rocket family: much like South Korea, SAAF uses the old CL.13B Sabre Mk.6 as a rocket attack aircraft, armed with two 18-rocket 68mm SNEB pods (same as fielded by the British Harrier GR.3). A dedicated successor is also featured, the Impala Mk II. Based on the Italian Aeromacchi MB-326 built under license by the South Africans, this plane features twin 30mm guns in its nose and fielding twice as many rockets. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/fb602edbafaba082026e7e6dbb71cdee1e87576e.jpg Bomber family: the first plane available in this category is the venerable, light Vampire FB-52 (1953!) carrying two Mk.77 napalm bombs. This plane is followed by the heavier Canberra B(I)12 bomber, with a load of eight Mk.83 500kg bombs for some serious Bush War carpet bombing. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/c2b488340963752bbda87f2ee1868b691511518f.jpg Anti-tank: alone in this role, the Buccaneer S.Mk.50 is equipped with no less than four AS.30 anti-tank missiles. This is the predecessor of the AS.30L, used by the French Armée de l’Air in-game. The older AS.30 shares the same long-range and heavy AP (30!) like its successor, but without the laser guidance system. Being only MACLOS, it is much less accurate. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/2e9e663e6c9200ae130595d3426662fdf3da85f3.jpg All of the above planes are pre-1975, and therefore available in all era-restricted decks. This also means they lack ECM and are often quite slow. Fighters The SAAF’s fighters will come in two families: a mainstream section and a single, lone prototype. Mainstream fighters include the Mirage IIICZ (1973), equipped with one medium-range R.530 (the same as on the ANZAC Mirage IIIO(F)) and two short-range indigenous V-3A Kukri. These latter missiles are basically a more accurate version of the AIM-9B. Next in line is the Mirage F1CZ (1979) with better optics and ECM and fielding four V-3B Kukri (with the same stats as the V-3A but slightly more accurate). The last member is the Cheetah C (1995 prototype), a heavily modified Mirage III which is faster, more agile, and integrates better optics and much better ECM (40%). This plane is armed with two long-range V-...Nation Pack: South African Armor GameplayJun 9, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! Welcome back to another deep dive in our upcoming Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa. In our last post, we put the spotlight on the South African Infantry forces as they would appear in-game, including armament and transport options. This week, Armor receives our special gameplay treatment. Let’s look at what you can expect from the South African armored fighting vehicles, from tanks to SPGs, from imported to domestic designs and rare prototypes! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/1c29ab531488f21c66104ac804df5ad77abc852c.gif Please keep in mind that everything is still very much work in progress and is subject to change. In case you were wondering: the integration and balancing of these units is done in close consultation with a leading South African military expert! Kings of the battlefield First up: the almighty TANK, which in Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa is brought to you in three distinct South African “families”: Olifant main battle tank. The tracked heavy-weight brawler of South Africa’s arsenal comes in a myriad of versions such as the Mk1 (including command variant), Mk1A (1985), Mk1B (1991), and Mk1B Optimum (1994 prototype). The Mk1 can be considered a rough equivalent to the Israeli Sh’ot Kal with a +1 FAV, but slower. With the Mk1A, the Olifant reaches the 2275m range, with a slightly better motorization and accuracy/stab over its predecessor. The Mk1B gets +2 FAV and a major motorization, accuracy and stab upgrade. The Optimum is an up-armored Mk1B with improved optics. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/e7da96d1c7f717732568f0b3cc93bc8a330ba257.png Loggim prototype. This tank is a 1994 prototype MBT, a planned but canceled South African “heavy.” It is close to a USMC M1A1(HC) Abrams, featuring the same FAV but lesser side and rear armor, but more accurate and with 23 AP. Rooikat wheeled tanks. These rapid and cool-looking vehicles can be deployed in two variants: the Rooikat 76 Mk1C (1989, including a recon variant) and the Rooikat 105 (1994 prototype). With 3 FAV, they are incredibly fast (120km/h) “glass-cannons.” The 76mm variant has 2100m, while the 105mm gets 2275m range. Their key feature is their high accuracy (65%) and almost full gun stabilization, making these wheeled tanks ideal for hit-and-run strikes. Using HESH rounds, all 105mm and 120mm South African tanks receive a “British” +1 HE damage bonus. Reconnaisance Next up are the reconnaissance units. Aside from the ubiquitous recon Rover jeep, RECON only fields two families of armored recon units: Eland 90, both 1978 vehicles. The original Eland 90 is identical to the French AML-90. The Eland 90 ENTAC (prototype) is armed with two extra ENTAC anti-tank missiles, in the same way as the existing Ferret ENTAC (see below). Rooikat 76. This vehicle is the same as the wheeled tank variant (see above) but in a dedicated recon configuration. Tank destroyers The South Africans have two tank destroyer families: RCL Vehicles, which include the ubiquitous Rover...Nation Pack: South African Infantry GameplayMay 27, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsWelcome back! In our previous Wargame: Red Dragon posts, we highlighted the various combat arms of the South African Defense Force as they appear in our upcoming, new Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa. We’ll go even deeper this time and lift the veil on how each unit will be featured in-game, including their weapon and transport options. First up on the stage, the almighty grunt - Infantry. Mind you, please treat all the following as work in progress - subject to change! Boots on the ground Before we continue, let’s have a happy family shot, and we let you guess who’s who! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/828d6a5264d9e9a6351f001ab4c50001fa37a803.png The SADF Infantry (as “foot soldiers” in general, not just the INF ones) will be composed of: BOKKOP. Your regular soldier, available in all decks (except Airborne). These troops can deploy in all manners of transports (soft-skin, Buffel, Casspir, Ratel, Puma helicopters). They feature R1 (~FN FAL) battle rifles, RPG-7 and Bren LMG. An upgraded ’90 variant will come with R4 (~Galil) assault rifles, FT5 and FN MAG. MECHBAT are your “armored” soldiers, available in Mechanized and Armored decks. Their main ride will be the Ratel APC (and variants). They are armed with R2 (R1 with folding stock) battle rifles, LRAC F1, and SS-77 machine-gun. An upgraded ’90 variant will feature the R5 (R4 with folding stock) assault rifles, FT5 and SS-77. PARABAT are airborne soldiers, available in Airborne and Motorized decks. They will be transported either in soft-skin trucks or the Buffel - and of course helicopters. Armed with R2 battle rifles, RPG-7 and SS-77, the upgraded ’90 variant deploys with R5 assault rifles, FT5 and Mini-SS (~Minimi). BUFFALOS represent the famous “32 Battalion” with its Portuguese-speaking Angolan troops. They are available in all decks, except for Armored and Mechanized. Being light infantry and used to live in enemy territory, they are 15-man squads armed initially with former Portuguese weapons: G3 battle rifles, HK21 LMG, and the ubiquitous RPG-7. Later, an upgraded ’85 variant features AKM, RPD, and MILAN missiles. SAPPERS are 5-man squads armed with R1 battle rifles and old-school Lifebuoy flamethrowers. They are available in all decks and can be deployed with all transports. BURGERMAG are 10-man militia squad, armed with R1 battle rifles and a Super Bazooka. They are accessible in all decks, except for Airborne or Marine, and can only deploy in soft-skin transports or Buffel APCs. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/b289a9b0d7388ac3b8b36d573c5e698479290052.png Other Units Some more specialized units are: MILAN teams are the only infantry ATGM available to SADF. They are available in all decks and with all transports. STRELA-2 and STRELA-3 teams. These are SADF’s (captured) MANPAD squads. They are available in all decks and with all transports. Available in 1988 yet considered as a prototype in-game are the STINGERS (UNITA) squads. These teams are anti-communist Angolan allies of the S...Nation Pack: South African Helicopter ShowcaseMay 13, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello there! We are back again with another Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa showcase. This time, we’ll be looking at them dakakadas set to be featured: SAAF Helicopters. In case you’ve missed it, we’ve already covered several other units of this upcoming Nation Pack: We have put a spotlight on the all-important grunt: SADF Infantry. Read all about it here. We also took a look at the SADF Armor force, which you can read more about here. The flyboys claim all the glory in our SAAF Air Force article, which you can read here. The Alouette III leads the way While the South African Air Force (SAAF) experimented with a handful of Sikorsky machines, the first dedicated helicopter use was the Alouette III (and some Alouette II) in the 60s. The diminutive Sud Aviation rotary-wing aircraft saw immediate action in the Rhodesia conflict, where the helicopter demonstrated that although light, it was sturdy and mechanically reliable. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/f61e1b70c39540d103e38f3fac208966a643f800.jpg Over the years, South Africa bought over 120 Alouette IIIs, which saw extensive use, taking part in almost all of the military operations and conflicts of the era, including the Border War. The versatile helicopter was deployed in a variety of roles, from transport to recon and flying command posts. Not only that, the Alouette III was extensively modified into several unique designs, such as the K-Car. The famous K-Car (standing for “kill-car”) was developed by the Rhodesian Air Force, featuring WW II-era German MG-151 20mm autocannons positioned in a side mounting, the same as the French Puma Pirate. The K-Car was extensively used by the Rhodesians during the Rhodesian Bush War, being deployed as command and fire support helicopter key in their Fireforce (vertical envelopment) air assaults. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/d53dccaba0bd5c77443fed39dd4322facc1fb8d5.jpg South Africa’s workhorse South Africa’s flying workhorse was another French helicopter: the dependable SA.330 Puma. The South Africans were one of the first export buyers of this transport helicopter in 1969. The Pumas were extensively used by the paratroopers, either for insertions or extractions after an airdrop. Due to the stringent international arms embargo, the helicopter fleet couldn’t be upgraded to the more powerful Super Puma standard. Rather, through various clandestine ways, the required parts were acquired covertly. South Africa would pay for the upgrade of the Portuguese Army’s Puma fleet, while Aerospatiale would deliver Portugal their new engines PLUS the South African ones, which were then smuggled to South Africa through a front company in then-Zaire. Meanwhile, South Africa also picked up new Puma airframes from IAR in Romania, which produced the helicopter under license. Once rebuilt, the improved Puma was named the Oryx. A second heavy lifter in SAAF’s arsenal was yet another French design, the SA.321 Super Frelon, which was also used as a paratrooper heavy transport...Nation Pack: South African Air Force ShowcaseApr 29, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHey! As you know, Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa is on its way. Every two weeks, we take a deep dive into a different branch of the SADF as it existed in the 80s during the Bush War. This time, we’ll be detailing the daring flyboys raining death from above: the South African Air Force (SAAF). We’ve already covered two other unit rosters of our new Nation Pack: We have put a spotlight on the all-important grunt: SADF Infantry. Read all about it here. We also took a look at the SADF Armor force, which you can read more about here. SAAF leading up to the Border War Let’s go on a brief tour of history. Fighting with distinction during World War I and II, the South African Air Force (SAAF) really took on a distinctly South African identity in 1950. In that year, the air warfare branch adopted the Springbok in the roundel center. At the same time, the SAAF’s first jet fighter - the Havilland DH100 Vampire - was introduced, which soldier on to see service in the early years of the Border War. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/16df503100de2e28f1de7512bba27cc12e28b13a.jpg In the era that followed, the country’s air warfare branch was bolstered by the arrival of North American Aviation CL-13B Mk VI Sabres, as well as Mirage III, English Electric Canberra light bombers and Blackburn Buccaneer. Due to the United Nations arms embargo, which ran from the late 70s until 1994, South Africa could not acquire modern weapons or new aircraft. As such, upgrading existing planes or designing new ones - by the local industry - was the only option available to keep a fleet capable and flying. Mirage: a love story South Africa, along with Israel, was one of the first nations to understand the potential of the Mirage III, acquiring 16 Mirage IIICZ interceptors between 1962 and 1964 (the Z indicated aircraft specifically supplied to South Africa). The first Mirage fighter squadron was 2 Squadron, the famous Flying Cheetahs, harking back to an illustrious pedigree established during the Korean War. A follow-up order for additional Mirage IIIEZs was issued even before the original batch of Mirages had made their way to the country. This second contingent deployed in a fighter-bomber role with improved avionics. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/aa326b8064be659cbd5dbe98acf2b78c7cfb52fb.jpg Despite its reputation as a superb fighter, the Mirage III lacked the range to make it effective over long distances. This was especially noticeable during the combat, ground-strike, and interdiction missions into Angola, with its remoteness and vast spaces, during the Border War. The Mirage III heralded the beginning of a love affair of sorts between the SAAF and various Dassault Aviation Mirage variants. For instance, the Mirage III was developed further into the indigenous Cheetah C aircraft, which also used technology from the Israeli IAI Kfir (which in turn was based on the Mirage 5). The Cheetah C evolved into a South African prototype, the Atlas Carver, a modern two-seat, twin-eng...Nation Pack: South Africa Armor DetailedApr 14, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! We are back with another Nation Pack: South Africa deep dive. Today, we’ll look at the (wheeled) firepower that made the SADF so infamously lean and mean on the battlefield: the hard-hitting and very mobile Armor. In case you’ve missed it, in our previous post, we put a spotlight on the boots-on-the-ground, the all-important grunt: SADF Infantry. Read all about it here. SADF’s Heavyweight Champion Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa will give you access to the SADF arsenal as it existed at the end of the Border War and Cold War. The conflict that raged on the frontiers of Southern Africa typically took place on relatively flat arid terrain: savannah and bushland. The vast distances and limited infrastructure influenced overall vehicle design. It led the SADF to focus on wheeled armored fighting vehicles over tracked equipment, emphasizing off-road mobility, long range, less maintenance and logistical support, while retaining firepower. There was, however, one undisputed heavyweight champion in the SADF vehicle pool which was still tracked: the Olifant (Elephant) tank. Based on the venerable British Centurion, the locally improved Olifant Mk1 is quite similar to the Israeli Sh’ot Kal. This basic variant will be available in-game in either a regular tank or command version. Over time, the basic version was modified to the Olifant Mk1A, then the Olifant Mk1B, culminating in the prototype Olifant Mk1B Optimum - all armed with a 105mm gun. The experience with Centurions and Olifants led to the first true indigenous design, codenamed Loggim. One demonstrator was built of this design: a Leopard 2-like tank sporting a 120mm gun and heavy frontal armor. However, due to the end of the Cold War, the project was canceled. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/bc40b7813fad7c17ce48d019592cfa564568a88b.jpg Hard-hitting, wheeled firepower Please note that the following list doesn’t feature each and every variant; expect some surprises further down the line! The vast majority of SADF’s units are wheeled, with light armor but highly mobile and sporting a substantial amount of firepower. Some of the SADF’s equipment is instantly recognizable. One of these is the Casspir APC. Infamous for patrolling South Africa’s townships during apartheid, this vehicle was originally designed for the Border War and can be considered the first-ever MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle). The Casspir features a unique (at the time) V-shaped hull, which made it especially resistant against mines and IEDs. The Casspir APC will come fitted out in MG or K-Car (20mm) variants. Another iconic vehicle is the Buffel (Buffalo) light APC, which can be deployed in both transport and CV variants. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/adbf2d211efdafcde34863a7e35ffc1b6aa6a72e.jpg We will also feature the Ratel series of IFVs. Lightly armored, the VAB-like Ratel comes in many shapes and forms: Ratel 20 (20mm autocannon), Ratel 60 (60mm breech mortar), and Ratel 90 (90mm main gun). The vehicle...Nation Pack: South Africa Infantry DetailedMar 31, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! Welcome back. As promised in our reveal of Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa, every two weeks we’ll be highlighting an exciting new aspect of our upcoming expansion. Today, we are looking at the “boots on the ground” of SADF during the Border War and the mainstay of any army: the all-important Infantry. Keep reading to find out more. Historical Context The Border War took place during the 70s and 80s. It pitted the South African Defense Force and local allies UNITA against several different guerilla groups in Namibia and Angola. These guerillas were in turn backed by communist-regimes, including the Soviet Union, but chiefly the Cuban armed forces. What began as an asymmetric conflict turned increasingly into something much larger, with Border War cumulating in the largest Cold War tank engagement on the African continent with the 1988 Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/aa7d5fe85f0ff370c3eeda7900b86ec1cdc36eea.jpg The area that saw the biggest amount of fighting was sparsely populated, with only a limited infrastructure network in place. The landscape was bush and savanna. This kind of harsh terrain favored quick-moving units, which became the SADF’s specialization over time, with the South African arsenal almost wholly made up of mobile wheeled (compared to tracked) vehicles. Likewise, infantry forces, including quick reaction formations, light infantry, and special forces, were used significantly during the Border War. The SADF relied heavily on its infantry to patrol the South West African frontiers against guerilla raids. With a porous border, frequent ambushes on the supply lines in Namibia occurred. The combat in the latter part of the 80s turned into an evolving set of bigger, conventional engagements, with the SADF infantry fighting alongside armored units against equally heavily equipped guerrilla and Cuban forces. The SADF’s infantry force of the 80s was built on a large citizen force, with about 90% of its manpower part-time reservists or local militias (the infamous Commando-system). The army was divided into a core of volunteers, supported by conscripts performing a one-year (later extended to a two-year) national service. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/257bca9c396826b776243745887fefc3a67811eb.jpg Boots on the ground Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa allows you to take command of a wide variety of new SADF infantry units. The South African grunts were called Bokkop, which is an Afrikaans slang term that signifies “Buck head.” This has further significance as the springbok, an antelope native to Southern Africa, was (and is) the national animal of the country. Bokkop soldiers wore the trademark Nutria brown-beige fatigues, most commonly known in the army as Browns, while their main weapon was the Vektor R1 (a license-produced FN FAL) battle rifle. This gun was later changed to the Vektor R4 (licensed variant of the Israeli Galil) assault rifle. The timeless Bren LMG could also be found...Nation Pack: South AfricaMar 23, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsHello! It’s good to be back. That’s right, at Eugen, we are working hard to provide our Wargame fans with some exciting new content. Today we are ready to reveal ... a new Nation Pack for Wargame Red Dragon focusing on an oft-overlooked Cold War nation and its indigenous arsenal: South Africa! Wargame Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa will feature this country’s unique vehicle and weapon pool from when the South African Defence Force (SADF) was engaged in the yearslong Border War in Namibia and Angola. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/da7b8cbf9198b4c8e90e3b8d986fc0acad9c671b.pngKeep reading to find out all the details! A fresh breeze with Wargame: South Africa First off, you might ask, why is Eugen making this new Nation Pack for Wargame Red Dragon? With an influx of new players engaging with our still popular RTS, we knew it would be worthwhile to create a new Nation Pack expansion. South Africa has been high on our list for quite a while. The stars aligned and the time was right to put in some effort - and reward our Wargame players with a host of cool new toys and a whole new nation! With Wargame Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa, we will add close to 90 new vehicles, all fully voiced in either Afrikaans or South African-accented English. From the Olifant MBT and Casspir APCs to Cheetah fighters, SASF special forces, and even 32 Battalion troops, you’ll find our SADF arsenal exhaustively researched and historically accurate! Historical South African context Wargame Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa puts the spotlight on the SADF, the South African Defense Force, the national army of apartheid-era South Africa. Mostly composed of conscripted white South Africans (both English and Afrikaans-speaking males), the SADF did feature a sizable amount of Black and Coloureds soldiers in distinct, segregated formations. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/97058e47266673e057896894fe1e8bdcaa5bb0f4.jpg With unequal racial discrimination (apartheid) underpinning the South African’s republic existence, the SADF fought numerous conflicts, the most famous being the Border War against Communist-backed guerrillas both in occupied Namibia and nearby Angola. This asymmetric conflict ran from the late 60s to 1989, increasing in intensity, especially in the later years. Cuba and South Africa became more and more actively involved as respective backers of local guerrilla groups vying for power and control, going so far to field their own forces on the battlefield. This culminated in the famous tank engagement in 1988 of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, the largest of its kind of the Cold War on the African continent. The Border War concluded with a peace treaty giving Nambia its formal independence in 1990. The SADF became the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1994, after the first free and multiracial election of the country, which saw Nelson Mandela become president. Why did we pick South Africa? South Africa is one of the rare countries missing from War...Daily Deal - Wargame: Red Dragon, 75% OffApr 27, 2019 - AnnouncementToday's Deal: Save 75% on Wargame: Red Dragon!* Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are! *Offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time Daily Deal - Wargame: Red Dragon, 66% OffJul 30, 2018 - AnnouncementToday's Deal: Save 66% on Wargame: Red Dragon!* Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are! *Offer ends Wednesday at 10AM Pacific Time Daily Deal - Wargame: Red Dragon, 60% OffNov 6, 2017 - AnnouncementToday's Deal: Save 60% on Wargame: Red Dragon!* Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are! *Offer ends Wednesday at 10AM Pacific Time Daily Deal - Wargame: Red Dragon, 70% OffDec 3, 2016 - AnnouncementToday's Deal: Save 70% on Wargame: Red Dragon!* Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are! *Offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time
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