WARNO News

Hello commanders!

We are back with another Nemesis preview. In today’s DevBlog, we’ll roll out the Nemesis #6.2 - The Magdeburg Counterstrike, pitting the US 1st Cavalry Division against the Soviet 1-ya Gvardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya, or 1st Guards Proletarian Motorized Infantry Division.



Let’s go!

[h2]WARNO’s Nemesis #6[/h2]
A reminder of what WARNO’s Nemesis DLCs entail. These are paid mini-expansions containing two paired or themed divisions bringing new units, vehicles, and weapons. Each Nemesis run features three different offerings, which can then be voted on. After the vote concludes, one Nemesis is crowned the winner and enters Eugen’s development and production pipeline!

Note that each of the Nemesis pairings are all “what if” battles, operations, or part of decisive campaigns in WARNO’s alternative World War III. They all take place within our fictional timeline, but are grounded in reality and informed by historical research.

The current Nemesis #6 run:

• Nemesis #6.1 - The Mountaineers presents the high-fighting mountainous forces of NATO’s French 27e Division Alpine against Warsaw Pact’s Polish 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew.

[h2]WARNO’s Magdeburg Counterstrike[/h2]
Let’s paint you a picture. Our Nemesis #6.2 - The Magdeburg Counterstrike focuses on a deteriorating situation in northern West Germany. The East German and Soviet offensive manages to break through the 1 (NL) Corps and rush forward to the Weser almost unopposed. British and West Germany heavy divisions are fixed around Hannover.



NATO did plan for such contingencies and acts accordingly. The newly arrived US (REFORGER) III Corps is tasked with leading a counter-strike against the left flank of the Soviet second echelon, across the Inner German Border, towards the East German town of Magdeburg on the Elbe. This offensive was to be backed by the British 3rd Armoured Division and the West German 3. Panzerdivision, and targets the regrouping communist Operational Maneuver Groups in the area before they can themselves strike a fatal blow against allied forces.

The Counterstrike
What NATO did not foresee (in our timeframe) was the speed of the advancing Warsaw Pact forces. This means that III. Corps barely has time to deploy after arriving in Europe. The 3. Panzerdivision is too engaged to redeploy and the battered 3rd Armoured Division is only starting to extract itself from the Soviet “Left Hook" offensive (WARNO’s base game Army General campaign depicting the communist attack on the I (BE) Corps).



However, the Warsaw Pact is also suffering. As shown in WARNO - NORTHAG, the communist formations around Hanover have been dealt a heavy blow. NATO planners hope (let’s not use the word pray) that striking as soon as possible, before the enemy can reorganize, may offset the reduced power of the Magdeburg Counterstrike, and still achieve a crucial breakthrough.

Leading the charge, as is fitting, is the US 1st Cavalry Division (at least its in-theatre active forces), advancing without waiting for its National Guard brigade (which represents half of its infantry battalions and one-third of its armor and artillery units). To make up for this deficiency, NATO gives the Americans command over the British 4th Armoured Brigade, the first formation of the 3rd Armoured Division, which managed to clear itself from I. (BE) Corps' front.



For the Warsaw Pact planners, the threat becomes apparent. None of its tank divisions engaged around Hannover can be pulled off the line, nor do they have the strength to launch a new advance. The only formation available is the Soviet 1-ya Gvardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya, or the 1st Guards Proletarian Motorized Infantry Division. Stationed in the Kaliningrad Military District, far from the front, it quickly started its strategic deployment as the second echelon of the communist offensive into West Germany, advancing behind the 3rd Shock Army. And now, it will find itself directly on the path of the attacking American armor.

[h2]History of the US 1st Cavalry Division[/h2]



Let’s look at NATO’s US 1st Cavalry Division. Formed as a horse cavalry division in 1921, it didn’t see combat until 1943 when it was shipped to Australia to face the Japanese as an infantry formation during World War II. It first engaged in combat on the Admiralty Islands in 1944, before taking part in the liberation of the Philippines, where it would end the war.



After being the first unit to enter Tokyo following Japan’s capitulation in 1945, it remained on occupation duty until 1950, when it was quickly shipped to fight in the Korean War. It was shipped back and forth between Japan and North Korea until 1965, when it was reflagged as the 2nd Infantry Division.



A little bit of a convoluted organisation happened at this moment. Back in the States, experimentation of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) with helicopters had proven fruitful. This formation was merged with the 2nd Infantry Division and renamed into the 1st Cavalry Division. The “old” 1st Cavalry Division in Korea kept going on as the 2nd Infantry Division

The rebranded air mobile 1st Cavalry Division was ordered to Vietnam in 1965. In the years that followed, skirmishes led to the famous Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement of the Vietnam War (made famous by the We Were Soldiers movie). The 1st Cavalry Division remained in Vietnam until 1972, with the horse-branded divisional insignia proving iconic (also reinforced in the helicopter assault scene of Apocalypse Now).



After Vietnam, the division was used to experiment a new army concept of mixing armor, air assault, and air mobility in a TRICAP (Triple Capacity) division. A short-lived concept, and by 1975, the formation was reorganized as an armored “Round-Out” division (two active duty, one National Guard brigade). It continued to be used as a test-bed for new doctrines and equipment. Stationed in the United States, it was earmarked for deployment in Europe as part of REFORGER, and as such, took part in many such strategic deployment exercises.

[h2]The US 1st Cavalry Division Continued[/h2]
A word on 1st Cavalry Division’s equipment in WARNO. Since the division would deploy to West Germany and take from POMCUS depots, the weaponry used by the formation would not be the same as the one normally used stateside or (in real-life, a little bit later) during the Gulf War. POMCUS sets 5 and 6 (used by the 1st Cavalry Division and the 5th Infantry Division respectively) were, unlike other sets, subject to congressional restrictions limiting when they could be filled.

This means that their equipment levels lagged behind other storage depots. In the REFORGER deployment of 1987, the division was still on base-model M1 Abrams. Given that POMCUS depots weren’t fully stocked with the M1A1 until June 1991, plus the political limits, it is plausible that the 1st Cavalry Division would be among the last to receive the M1A1. While this might have been the case in 1989, we decided in our alternative timeline that the division would have been left with older M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley models.



As explained previously, the 1st Cavalry Division also has to do without its National Guard brigade. However, in turn, all the assets of what remains of the British 4th Armoured Brigade will be available. Colonials and Redcoats fighting side by side!

[h2]The US 1st Cavalry Division in WARNO[/h2]
How will the 1st Cavalry Division look like in WARNO? New units are marked in both italic and bold. As always, units and categories might be subject to change.

LOG

• Rather average, as this is a POMCUS division, thrown straight into battle upon arriving in Europe.
  
• Meaning you’ll get a FOB, M548A2 and M35 supply vehicles, as well as a few British STOLLY.
  
• Command vehicles are the American M2 BRADLEY CP and UH-60A CO, plus British SULTAN.

INF

• Once again, pretty average as the American brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division only had two infantry battalions between them, while the British only bring one more. Infantry will be one of the most truncated categories for an armored division in WARNO.
  
• All CAV infantry models will sport the division’s famous shoulder patch. A few will also carry the division’s trademark items: a cowboy hat and a yellow neckerchief.
  
• CAV. TROOPERS will be 6-man fire teams with five M16A2 and one M60 (being based in the US, the division was not on the priority list for the M249). This squad will come in LDR., (LAW), (AT-4) and (DRAGON) variants, the last one without the M60. These soldiers will ride to battle in HUMVEEs and the M2 BRADLEY IFV. A lucky few will have access to the rare M2A2 BRAT, sporting a reactive armor kit acquired in the late 80s, and which was tested in the US before official adoption in 1993.
  
• AIR CAV. TROOPERS will, of course, be featured in the UH-60A.
  
• CAV. ENGINEERS, as well as their LDR. and (FLASH) variants will be identical to their infantry counterparts. The division’s combat engineers were known to have retained recoilless rifles up to the Gulf War. As such, they will get a card of CAV. ENGINEERS (M67). All of them come in M35 trucks.
  
• The usual gaggle of MP PATROL, M60 7,62mm and M2HB 12,7mm HMG, TOW-2 and TOW-2A will support them, all of them transported in softskin vehicles.
  
• The British will make their presence known with a few cards of RIFLES LDR., GUN GROUP and ARM. RIFLES squads coming in ROVER jeeps, BEDFORD trucks, or WARRIOR and WARRIOR MILAN IFVs.

ART

• Pretty good, with the missing National Guard artillery compensated by the newly attached British 4th Armoured Brigade bringing their own choice of long-range weaponry.
  
• Self-propelled mortars include the usual American M106A2 107mm, as well as a few lighter FV432 MORTAR with an 81mm one.
  
• The British provide the regular M109A2, while the Americans feature the laser-guided M109A2 (GLCP) (counterpart ot the ingame Soviet 2S3M1).
  
• The ubiquitous M270 MLRS [CLU].

TANK

• As expected, very good! Two British Challenger battalions more than make up for the missing National Guard battalion equipped with the M1 Abrams.
  
• The division’s workhorse is the base M1 ABRAMS and commander CP variant. To upgrade their resilience, a few will be fitted with hardened steel armor appliqué as M1 MOD (as encountered during the Gulf War). This will increase their resilience by a mere +1, but will bring its Front Armor up to 17, which should make it impervious to one-shot death from 30 AP missiles. Being already “Marched to War”, this MOD variant will also receive the Gulf War’s DU ammo to increase its tank gun’s penetration.
  
• The Americans will also bring some M728 CEV and M901A3 ITV.
  
• Lastly, the British provide a few cards of CHALLENGER MK.2 and their leader variant.

REC

• Rather average with the division only having a single recon cavalry troop, as the left-behind National Guard was supposed to fill out the ranks. The British come to the help with some of their own recon units.
  
• The obvious selection of CAV. SCOUTS in HUMVEE and UH-60A, as well as FOLT Ground Surveillance Radar team.
  
• The M3 BRADLEY CFV recon vehicle. This also includes a few unusual examples the division was photographed with during REFORGER ‘87, called the M3 ETAS. These are regular M3 Bradleys with the advanced thermal and daylight sight system from an OH-58D Kiowa installed on an extendable mast. Since this mast blocks the reloading hatch of the ATGM, the vehicle is restricted to a single volley of I-TOW missiles, but in exchange receives Exceptional Optics.
  
• Flying recon units include the OH-58C SCOUT, OH-58D KIOWA, and EH-60A QUICK FIX II.
  
• The British field the FV101 SCORPION and SCOUTS in ROVER and FV103 SPARTAN.

AA

• Pretty good with the full anti-air defenses complement an American armored division would receive, plus a few British extras.
  
• The 1st Cavalry Division was historically one of the first to receive the AVENGER, which it operated side-by-side with VULCAN and STINGER units. The latter were known to be transported in M2 BRADLEY BSFV during the Gulf War, a dedicated variant (to be represented in-game) with increased anti-helicopter range, but only firing HE rounds and a single ATGM volley.
  
• The British will provide a few JAVELIN LML in ROVER, as well as TRACKED RAPIERS.

HEL

• Rather average with the same mix of AH-1F and AH-64A as in 3rd Armored, but in lesser numbers.

AIR

• As the spearhead of the Magdeburg Counterstrike, the 1st Cavalry Division will get ample air cover, both by the USAF and RAF.
  
• Air superiority will be the principal focus of RAF PHANTOM FGR.2 in an air defense role.
  
• American A-10A will serve as the ground pounders.
  
• While American F-16C will take to the air in multiple mult-role loadouts.
  
• Finally, brought over with the division’s strategic redeployment, a few of the 14 existing examples of the YCQM-121A PAVE TIGER Electronic Warfare drones. These UAVs were designed to suppress enemy air defense systems, but the program was cancelled in 1989.

The 1st Cavalry Division, although a “lighter” American armored division, brings some unique systems being tested at home or which emerged later in the Gulf War. While few, the British bring some additional firepower and unit diversity.

And this time, we’d like to give a shout-out to our community member Zandatsu97 for providing some inspiration and background on the 1st Cavalry Division!

[h2]The 1-ya Gv.ardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya’s History[/h2]



Let’s turn to the Soviets, specifically the formation thrown into the US 1st Cavalry Division’s tracks, to put a stop to NATO’s counter-offensive aimed at Magdeburg.
The gloriously named 1-ya Gvardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya, or 1st Guards Proletarian Motorized Infantry Division, has a long service history under Soviet rule, being first formed in 1926 from various independent and training battalions in the Moscow region. It started its life as the Moscow Proletarian Rifle Division, and prior to the Great Patriotic War, it was the poster boy of the Soviet regime, testing new equipment and doctrines, and regularly performing in parades in the capital city.

In 1939, the formation was expanded to form two new divisions (the 115th and 116th). Only the 6th Rifle Regiment remained from the original formation. This regiment, in turn, was used to form the core of the new 1st Moscow Red Banner Rifle Division, quickly reorganized as the 1st Motorized Division. After a brief intermezzo occupying the Baltic States in 1940, the formation, at full combat strength, was transferred to the 7th Mechanized Corps in 1941, fielding some of the first T-34 available at the time.



At the start of Operation Barbarossa, the division was given a thorough beating at Orsha, afterwards to be encircled at Mogilev, where some lucky elements broke out - only to be surrounded again near Smolensk, further east. Even fewer managed to escape from that pocket. By August, 1941, the division had all but ceased to exist, with only a handful of survivors from the initial 10,000 men available. A new 1st Moscow Rifle Division was stood up, and - in quick succession - was organized as a tank division, then motorized, to finally end up like a regular infantry formation. But it did get the “Guards” honorific, with the division soldiering on through some of the bloodiest battles on the Eastern Front, ending the war in 1945, near Königsberg, now Kaliningrad.



[h2]The 1-ya Gv.ardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya’s Continued[/h2]
It is here, in the Kaliningrad Oblast, where the division will remain for the duration of the Cold War. It gained the “motor rifle” status in 1957 and the “Proletarian” title in 1967. As part of the Baltic Military District’s 11th Guards Combined Arms Army, the division’s role in wartime would have been to be mobilised quickly and used as part of a second echelon of any strategic war offensive. The 1st Guards Proletarian was a reduced combat-ready division, being kept at two-thirds strength, but ready to move out in its entirety, within 72 hours, after recalling its reservists.



In our alternative timeline, the 1st Guards Proletarian is just arriving in the Magdeburg area in East Germany from its strategic deployment through Poland. It is immediately thrown into battle, with the mission to delay the NATO counter-attack for as long as possible, giving time for the rest of the 11th Guards Army to deploy. To accomplish this mission, two of the Baltic Military District separate anti-tank regiments will be added to the division’s roster: the 29th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (from the 149th Artillery Division) and the 993rd Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment (from 11th Guards Army).

[h2]The 1-ya Gv.ardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya in WARNO[/h2]
How will the 1-ya Gvardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya look like in WARNO? New units are marked in both italic and bold, with everything might be subject to change.

LOG

• Average, with the logistics category being slightly less compared to a standard infantry division. We are considering that the 1st Guards Proletarian is being sent into combat almost straight from the march.
  
• The standard supply units being a FOV, GAZ-66, and URAL-4320 SNAB.
  
• The command units will be BELOZOR, CHAIKA, and BMP-2K.

INF

• Pretty good, as the 1st Guards Proletarian had one BMP regiment, one BTR regiment, and one regiment (mostly filled with reservists) without armored vehicles. There were ample stocks of older, unused APCs, such as the BTR-60PA, which would be commandeered by the last regiment. The infantry units will be distributed evenly, with one-third of each for BMP, BTR, and reservist-based infantry.
  
• In effect, this would mean that the BMP infantry will result in (aptly named) MOTOSTRELKI (BMP) and (RPG-22) variant, deployable in BMP-1P (Fagot), BMP-1P (Konkurs), and the BMP-2.
  
• The BTR-based infantry includes MOTOSTRELKI and MOTOSTRELKI (Metis) in either GAZ-66 trucks or the BTR-60PB.
  
• REZERVISTI and REZERVISTI KOM. are available with softskins and older REZ. BTR-60PA APCs.
  
• SAPERI, SAPERI (RPO), and SAPERI KOM. squads have only access to softskin vehicles.
  
• The SPG-9, FAGOT, KONKURS,PKM 7,62mm, and PLAMYA 30mm weapon teams are available, as well as PULEMETCHIKI and KOMENDATURA squads.

ART

• A decent category with a standard selection of artillery pieces. Most of the division’s artillery battalions were self-propelled, which will be duly reflected.
  
• 2S1 122mm and 2S3 152mm self-propelled guns.
  
• The BM-21 GRAD MLRS.
  
• The only towed unit, sourced from its infantry battalions, is the 2S12 120mm mortar.

TANK

• Now we are getting serious. The division’s armor is very good for an infantry battlegroup, primarily due to the prominence of its anti-tank weaponry.
  
• The 1st Guards Proletarian was one of the first Soviet divisions to receive the T-72, which turns out to be both a blessing and a curse, as these were never upgraded for the rest of the Cold War. The division’s main tank will be the basic T-72 URAL and command variant T-72K. An up-armoured T-72 URAL-1 will also be available, with a few T-72AV (a T-72M with reactive armor) to be scrouged for combat service.
  
• The division’s anti-tank capabilities will be greatly increased thanks to the attachment of MT-12 RAPIRA and MT-12R RUTA (radar-guided) 100mm anti-tank guns.
  
• And the BRDM-2 KONKURS, MT-LB SHTURM-S and “March to War” MT-LB ATAKA missile tank destroyers.

REC

• Average in terms of open slots. The usual RAZVEDKA and RAZVEDKA SAPERI will be available in softskin transports, as well as BRDM-2 and BRM-1K armored recon vehicles.
  
• A more unusual unit is the R-330T TARAN, a MT-LB-based SIGINT vehicle.
  
• Aerial recon will be provided by the Soviet Army RAZV. Mi-14PS recon helicopter and the rare PERO UAV (the Baltic Military District being its sole user).

AA

• A classic category with all your favorite anti-air units.
  
• This includes IGLA MANPAD teams, ZSU-23-4M3 BIRYUSA SPAAG, plus the MT-LB STRELA-10M and 9K33M3 OSA-AKM SAM.

HEL

• Pretty decent with the Baltic Military District being able to provide the usual mix of Mi-8 gunships and Mi-24 anti-tank helicopters.

AIR

• Pretty good, with the MiG-25PD interceptors providing the main air defense.
  
• Another new unit is the YaK-28PP, as an Electronic Warfare plane, the first of this kind in Soviet service.
  
• Close air support will be provided by several variants in differing loadouts of the Su-17M4.

The 1-ya Gvardeyskaya Proletarskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya is an infantry division rushed into combat, but bringing a sizable arsenal of powerful anti-tank weapons and air cover into the fight.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s all for this week’s DevBlog. We’ll be back with the final Nemesis #6 option next week.

In case you missed the news: we have just released Nemesis #4 - Capital Defence into the wild.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4030770/WARNO__Nemesis_4__Capital_Defence/
Don’t forget the vibrant WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.
See you on the battlefield, commanders.

[p]This patch includes some important fixes:[/p][p][/p][p]Code Fixes:[/p]

• [p]Fixed an issue with Spectator mode and Replays where units could not be seen from the "Neutral" perspective. [/p]
• [p]Fixed a major crash related to orders. [/p]
• [p]Fixed the Map Editor, which could no longer launch. [/p][p]
  [/p][p]
  [/p]

Hello commanders!

Two big Nemesis beats of news.

First, Nemesis #4 - Capital Defence has launched!

Second: another Nemesis vote is upon us! In today’s Devblog, we’ll be kicking off with Nemesis 6, the next community-voted mini-expansion for WARNO.

Our proposal for the first option? Nemesis #6.1 - The Mountaineers, has - as you might have guessed - a unifying theme which involves troops excelling in the difficult fight at great heights, and pits the French 27e Division Alpine against the Polish 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew.



Strap in, because this is going to be a big one. Let’s go!

[h2]Nemesis #4 - Capital Defence[/h2]
A short detour, but our Nemesis #4 - Capital Defence is now available to all WARNO players.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4030770/WARNO__Nemesis_4__Capital_Defence/

Get ready to defend the capital, with Nemesis #4 - Capital Defence featuring two unique battlegroups: NATO’s UK’s Home Defence Region London versus the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 2-ya Tamanskaya Gvardeyskaya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya.

A whole bunch of new units will be available, from the ceremonial British GUARDS infantry, counter-terrorist SAS G special forces, BLOODHOUND MK.2 SAMs, GVARDEITSY infantry, advanced T-80U obr. 1989, and MiG-29 9.13 superiority fighters.

Get it while it’s still hot!

[h2]WARNO’s Nemesis Concept[/h2]
A short reminder of what WARNO’s Nemesis DLCs entail. These are paid mini-expansions that contain two paired or themed divisions - frequently one from NATO and one from the Warsaw Pact - bringing new units, vehicles, and weapons.



Each Nemesis community vote features three different offerings. Once we have laid out all the juicy details in previews like today’s, you will have one week to choose your favorite option (get ready for some very persuasive propaganda battles). After the vote concludes, one Nemesis is crowned the winner and enters Eugen’s development and production pipeline. The other options are returned to the vault, perhaps to be recycled in a future offering.

Note that each of the Nemesis pairings are all “what if” battles, operations, or part of decisive campaigns in WARNO’s alternative World War III. They all take place within our fictional timeline, but are grounded in reality and informed by historical research.

We run the community vote only on every other offering, as this speeds up our development and production. Check out the preview of Eugen’s choice, Nemesis #5 - Southern Flank, which was revealed by us earlier this month.

And now, back to our first option: Nemesis #6 - The Mountaineers!

[h2]The French 27e Division Alpine History Detailed[/h2]
There has been an unrelated military formation, a cousin of the French 27e Division Alpine, present to help defend the French Alps since 1873. This formation was first known as the 27e Division d'Infanterie, later rebranded as the 27e Division d'Infanterie Alpine, with a proud combat history in both World War I and in the first year of World War II. However, the division was disbanded after France’s defeat in 1940.

However, it isn’t this formation that the newly formed 27e Division d'Infanterie Alpine honors to this day. This particular formation can trace its roots to the 1ère Division Alpine FFI formed in September 1944 by French partisans to fight the Axis on the French-Italian Alpine border. If you are familiar with Steel Division 2, the Groupement Dody was a proto-formation of this division, sharing its coat of arms.



At the end of World War II, the fresh 27e Division d'Infanterie Alpine was used for occupation duty in Austria, to keep an eye on the new Soviet neighbours. By 1954, the division had been sent to fight in Algeria, where its mountainous training made perfect sense while operating in the hilly Kabylia region in northern Algeria.



Upon returning to France in 1962, the division was disbanded. Assets were moved around and converted into two Alpine brigades. A few years later, in 1976, both the 17e and 27e Brigades Alpines were reunited into a once-again 27e Division d'Infanterie Alpine, later rebranded the 27e Division Alpine. In 1984, the division was incorporated into the FAR (Force d'Action Rapide, France's quick-reaction corps).

[h2]The French 27e Division Alpine Continued[/h2]
The 27e Division Alpine shares many similarities with the 11e Division Parachutiste, already present in WARNO.

• Although slightly smaller than the paratrooper division, the 27e Division Alpine is the only other formation of the French Army which could be called a “division” according to NATO’s standards, being much larger than all other French formations.
  
• Together with the 11e Division Parachutiste, it is one of the most professional divisions of the French Army, well-trained and equipped at a time when the armed forces were mostly conscription-based.
  
• Both divisions are light, envisioned to be quickly transported by air to any theatre of war in the world. As such, they had similar equipment and TO&E (though there was no official French Army’s “light division” blueprint).

In our alternative timeline, the 27e Division Alpine, with the rest of the FAR (and a sizable Spanish contribution), strike through neutral Austrian territory to hit the Czechoslovakian 1st Army devastatingly hard in its flank (as depicted in WARNO - SOUTHAG). Once a foot is set on communist soil, unlike the other NATO units, the 27e Division Alpine wheels right to secure the FAR’s eastern flank and screen Linz (in case Austria is eager to join a global conflict… who knows?). To accomplish this particular task, the 27e Division Alpine is reinforced by the Spanish final contribution to World War III in West Germany: the BRILAT.



BRILAT stands for Brigada de Infantería Ligera Aerotransportable, the Spanish Army’s light airmobile brigade. While the División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 and the División de Infantería Mecanizada «Guzmán el Bueno» n.º 2 were earmarked for strategic redeployment to southern West Germany or northern Italy, other Spanish troops were held back for home defense or possible service in the Greek-Turkish theater. The BRILAT fell in between the cracks, with no clear role. That’s why we attached this formation to the Spanish expeditionary corps earmarked for service in West Germany. As an independent light brigade, it was perfectly suited to support a flanking or screening operation, and will fit right in with the 27e Division Alpine.

[h2]The French 27e Division Alpine in WARNO[/h2]
How will the 27e Division Alpine look like in WARNO? New units are marked in both italic and bold. As always, units and categories might be subject to change.

LOG

• An average category, with the 27e Division Alpine lacking a FOB, similar to other light paratrooper or airmobile divisions.
  
• Supply vehicles include the new Spanish light URO 12.13 and French medium BERLIET GBC 8KT LOG. supply truck, as well as the tracked FN22L LOG. The Spaniards provide some heavy airlift capabilities with their HT-17 (which is a CH-47 CHINOOK).
  
• Command units available will be the P4 PC, ALOUETTE II PC, and Spanish HU.10 MANDO (which is a Spanish command UH-1H).

INF

• As can be expected, this is a very good category for this type of division.
  
• All of the French infantry are going to be Alpine troops, meaning they will feature the Mountaineer trait, and the trademark items of those troops: the specific large beret (called tarte, meaning pie) and yellow scarf.
  
  • The core infantry squad will be the CHASSEURS ALPINS: a 10-man squad with FAMAS, one AANF1 LMG, one FR-F1 and APILAS.
    
  • There will also be a few “March to War” CHASSEURS ALPINS (Eryx) squads, which in real-life only saw the light in 1990 with the introduction of the new short-range AGTM, which replaces the squad’s FR-F1 and APILAS.
    
  • And larger half-platoon 15-man squads called DIABLES BLEUS (meaning Blue Devils, the Chasseurs Alpins' nickname). These will field one AANF-1, one LRAC F1, plus one Minimi, which was a rare squad weapon in the French Army. The Chasseurs Alpins were known to love this machine gun for its lighter weight. All above squads will be able to deploy in the large BERLIET GBC 8KT truck, either unarmed or equipped with a ring-mounted .50 cal machine gun.
    
  • Reservists in this division were few and well-integrated, and will be represented by Veterancy-locked RESERVISTES ALPINS (not featuring Reservist trait). These squads will lack the FR-F1 and trade the APILAS for an LRAC F1.
    
  • SAPEURS ALPINS will be similar to their paratrooper counterparts, trading the Airborne trait for a Mountaineer one.
    
  • The 27e Division Alpine will deploy weapon teams featuring the Mountaineer trait: AANF-1 ALPINS and M2HB ALPINS HMG and MILAN 2 ALPINS.

• The Spanish BRILAT brigade will bring some more airmobile troops, with these squads having the first choice of the new CETME L and AMELI firearms, and also their specific models.
  
  • The main squad is the 10-man FUSILEROS AERO. with 8x CETME L, 2x AMELI LMG, and C-90 anti-tank weapons. Another variant will be the FUSILEROS AERO. (M65) with 7x CETME L, 2x AMELI LMG, 1x CETME LV DMR, plus the M65 recoilless rifle.
    
  • ZAPADORES AERO. will also be available, but this time with a M65 with incendiary ammo. All of the above squads will come either in an URO 12.13 light truck or HU.10 helicopter.
    
  • Also available will be an array of weapon teams: MG-42/58 AERO. HMG, LAG-40 AERO. AGL, MILAN 2 AERO. and TOW-2 AERO. ATGMs in SANTANA and HRU.15 transports.
    
  • The SANTANA CSR-106 AERO. is a jeep with M40A1 RCL plus the Airlifted trait.
    
  • Although no part of BRILAT itself, the Spanish Legión, from the 70s to the 90s, had the Bandera Motorizada "Millán Astray" X battalion attached either to BRILAT or BRIPAC (the Spanish Army’s parachute brigade). The battalion was specifically trained in airmobile operations. In our “March to War”, this capacity is reactivated, which means that the 27e Division Alpine will receive an extra card of LEGIONARIOS AERO. featuring the Resolute trait.

ART

• Pretty average, with a good selection of light artillery pieces, but no self-propelled options.
  
• All of the mortars are towed: the French are 81mm and 120mm ones with softskin transports, while the Spanish 120mm AERO. features the Airlifted trait.
  
• In real-life, the 27e Division Alpine only received its new TRF-1 150mm towed gun a few months into 1990. We have “March to War” expedited a single card, towed by FN22L tractors. The remaining howitzers are HM2A1 105mm.
  
• The Spanish bring a few M56 105mm guns either with softskin transports or Airlifted by the HTU.17.

TANK

• By 1989, the 27e Division Alpine was transitioning from the AML-90 to the ERC-90.
  
• This means that this decent category will be closer to the 11e Division Parachutiste, but without the VLRA MILAN, and the P4 MILAN not featuring the Airborne trait.
  
• The “tanks” of the Alpine troops will be the ERC-90 SAGAIE, much in the same way as the airborne division.

REC

• Pretty good. The division could count on ALOUETTE III recon helicopters, plus a few Spanish HR.15.
  
• The sole armored recon vehicle was very well-regarded, and unique to the 27e Division Alpine: the AML-90 LYNX, which is an upgraded AML-90, with a reshaped turret and brand-new new optics, acting as the missing link between the recon AML-90 and ERC-90 in terms of range and firepower.

• Infantry scouts aplenty:
  
  • Such as the 4-man ECLAIREURS ALPINS in P4 and ALOUETTE II transports, as well as larger PATROUILLE ALPINE in VAB RECO, the only VABs available in the division.
    
  • Although the Commandos de Montagne did not exist at the time, their precursors came in the form of SR squads (Section de Recherche, or Search Platoon) which were sneaky 4-man recon squads with SMGs, sniper rifle, and carrying the Special Forces and Ground Surveillance Radar traits.
    
  • The last detachment are the new BAGHEERAS squads. Under this special name, taken from the Jungle Book’s black panther (the same animal as their coat of arms), the unit hid some very secretive operators. These are not soldiers of the French Army, but the DGSE (Direction générale de la Sécurité extérieure, France’s foreign intelligence agency). A little bit more background. The 11e Régiment Parachutiste de Choc was the French intelligence service's action group, training other spies in being airdropped in enemy territory, or pretty much anyone willing to fight a dirty war, and as such, providing a covert pool of operators for black ops. In our war scenario, these special forces will accompany the 27e Division Alpine, to be let loose in enemy territory to sabotage, wreak havoc, or contacting local partisans and anti-communist groups. We are still considering the squad’s loadout, but they will be large Special Forces-traited “assault recon” squads focusing on close quarters combat.

AA

• Pretty average, with a good number of slots, but all unit options are quite light.
  
• The division’s main anti-air defenses will consist of 20mm guns and MISTRAL MANPADs, either towed or mounted on a light vehicle.
  
• BRILAT's own AA defence are the now gloriously named GAI-BO1 AERO., with the 20mm automatic gun this time Airlifted by a HTU.17.
  
• One new unit will be a few, modified, Algeria-war style, BERLIET GBC 8KT POLSTEN, sporting a quad 20mm system on the truck’s back.

HEL

• Rather mediocre, with neither the 27e Division Alpine nor BRILAT featuring any organic attack helicopter detachment.
  
• However, the French will scrounge together some ALOUETTE III SS-11.
  
• And the Spanish provide a handful of 20mm armed HR.15 and several makeshift HU-10 MAMEE gunships.

AIR

• The division will have strong air support, chiefly provided by a selection of JAGUARS, including the new JAGUAR [LGB2] with a single BGL-1000 laser-guided bomb.
  
• We will also try to model the MultiDart rockets as a payload, which are "shotgun cluster rockets." If their specific attack pattern can't be represented in-game, we'll turn them into CRV-7 FAT-like AT rockets.
  
• Air superiority will be provided by MIRAGE 2000C.

The 27e Division Alpine will prove to be a hard-hitting mobile battlegroup, with a great selection of special forces and hardened French mountaineers and Spanish airmobile troops.

We’d also like to thank valued WARNO community members chema1994 for detailing BRILAT.

Furthermore, a special spotlight on RamTank, who posted a description of both Nemesis #6.1 divisions in the last two weeks, right about when we were knee-deep shaping them. We owe thanks to him for revealing the existence of the FN22L tractor and inspiration, though in a different way, of attaching the operators of the 11e Régiment Parachutiste de Choc.

[h2]The Polish 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew History Detailed[/h2]
Let’s cast our gaze on the Warsaw Pact offering in this Nemesis #6.1 DLC, the Polish 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew or 5th Podhale Brigade of the Internal Defence Forces (WOWew).

The Podhale Rifles are the traditional mountain troops of the Polish Armed Forces, first formed in 1918 in the Podhale (hence the name) region, also known as the “Polish Highlands” in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains. Having formed two divisions and several independent brigades at the beginning of World War II, the mountain troops were famous for their trademark hats and capes, being regarded as Poland’s elite forces. After 1939, surviving elements were reorganized in France as an independent brigade. These took part in the Allied expeditionary campaign in Narvik, Norway, in 1940. Defeat there meant repatriation back to France, which was soon after invaded by the Germans. The Poles retreated to Switzerland, where they were interned, although many found their way to occupied Poland to join the underground army.



Fast forward to Poland under communist rule. The Podhale Rifles and their traditions were breathed into new life in 1956, first with a battalion, later enlarged to the 5th Podhale Brigade of the Internal Defence Forces. These units were tasked with protecting government infrastructures, as well as fending off enemy saboteurs and paratrooper drops. In times of war, it was envisioned to be expanded to almost divisional size. Another unit, the Carpathian Brigade of the Polish WOP (border guards), also carried the traditions of the Podhale Rifles.

In our war scenario, Polish authorities, seeing the dangerous NATO breakthrough in Czechoslovakia, are sent into a frenzy. Fearing that the enemy offensive will keep driving east and reach Poland proper, they scramble everything they can get to stem the tide. This means:

• The 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew forming the core of this defensive battlegroup.
  
• The Karpacka Brygada WOP, the Carpathian Brigade of the Border Guards. This was a high-readiness brigade, with very few reservists. These are considered regular soldiers.
  
• Elements from the 9. Dywizja Zmechanizowana, a cadre-filled mechanized infantry division, chiefly functioning as a training formation, being seconded from Rzeszów.
  
• Detachments from the Kraków ZOMO. These were the dreaded riot police of communist Poland, allegedly the best police force operating to maintain internal stability in the Eastern Bloc.
  
• Units from the Soviet 502nd Separate Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade, on its way from Belarus to join the troops advancing against Denmark. Instead, halfway, the Poles commandeer them to put a stop to the NATO offensive in the south.

[h2]The 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew in WARNO[/h2]
How will the 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew appear in WARNO? New units are marked in both italic and bold. As always, units and categories are subject to change.

LOG

• A pretty good category made up of command units which include WD-43 jeeps and SKOT-R2M command APCs.
  
• Supply units include a FOB, STAR 266 ZAOP. and civilian but military-comandeered heavy truck JELCZ 315.

INF

• Very good, as can be expected from this mountain infantry division.
  
• The Podhale infantry form the core of the battlegroup, all featuring the Mountaineer trait.
  
  • PODHALANSCY are 10-man squads with kbk AKM, one RPK, and RPG-2 (in real-life, they would likely just have hand grenades). Variants of this base squad are the DOW. PODHALANSCY leader squads, the PODHALANSCY (RPG-7) with the better RPG-7VM, and a few PODHAL. DRUZYNA PPANC. tank hunters will get the only available RPG-7VL.
    
  • The PODHAL. SAPERZY combat engineers will also be featured, although we are gathering more details about their equipment and organization.
    
  • The usual array of weapon support teams, including PODHAL. PKM, PODHAL. DShK HMG and the PODHAL. SPG-9.
    
  • All Podhale squads come in softskin transports (either UAZ-469 or STAR 266).

• The Polish Border Guards (WOP) will all feature the Mountaineer and the Security trait.
  
  • The WOP are 6-man squads, fielding kbk AKM and RPK light machine guns, while their DOW. WOP leader variants are equipped with an SVD.
• The 9. Dywizja Zmechanizowana provides a few cards of reservist units, all carrying the - you guessed it - Reservist trait.
  
  • The DOW. REZERWISCI are leader squads pared down to the bare minimum of 3 men with PM-63, kbk AK, and Smoke grenades. They lead the REZERWISCI squads in STAR 266 and SKOT-2A.
    
  • Support weapons include the REZERWISCI B-10 SPG, and the World War II-era REZERWISCI SG-43 HMG.
• The Polish security apparatus will provide two infantry units with the Military Police and Militia traits.
  
  • The MILICJA (actually meaning police in Polish) is a 2-man military police squad with PM-63 and riding to battle in POLONEZ MILICJA cop cars.
    
  • The dreaded ZOMO riot police will provide larger military police squads in STAR 266, or BTR-60PB ZOMO with bull bars and Military Police trait.
• Lastly, the Soviets provide a handful of KONKURS ATGM teams.

ART

• Rather average as the security and border guards of the division were (surprisingly, at least from a Western point of view) well-equipped with artillery, but all pieces being either light or old.
  
• The Podhales bring the PODHAL. M Wz. 34 82mm and the PODHAL. M Wz. 43 120mm mortars, as well as the PODHAL. A Wz. 42 76mm (which is a World War II-era ZiS-3 gun).
  
• The 9. Dywizja Zmechanizowana features some slightly heavier but equally venerable guns: the H Wz. 1938/85 122mm howitzers and the BM-14M MLRS.

TANK

• Good in terms of slots, but mostly older tank models. Anti-tank units are more modern.
  
• The Podhales bring their own tank, and in quite generous numbers, the venerable T-34/85M2! Visually different from the older T-34/85M, this Polish upgrade - in game terms - will only improve its autonomy. They can deploy in regular and command variants.
  
• The 9. Dywizja Zmechanizowana is represented with a small selection of various units, all fielding the Reservist trait. This includes a few REZ. T-55U, which is a T-54 upgraded by the Poles to T-55A's standards, which can deploy in regular and command variants. Both will come with the Reservist trait.
  
• A handful of REZ. BRDM-2 MALUTKA-P and REZ. D-4 85mm.
  
• However, most of the weight is pulled by the Soviet units commandeered to serve in the division, with a strong contingent of BRDM-2 KONKURS and MT-12 RAPIRA.

REC

• Mediocre with only a few slots and all options being infantry units, although some can deploy in armored transports.
  
• ROZP. PODHALA are large Podhale Rifles recon squads in STAR 266 trucks.
  
• REZ. ZWIADOWCY are 3-man recon teams armed with PM-63 and come with the Reservist trait. They can deploy in UAZ-469. Regular ZWIADOWCY come in UAZ-469 or OT-65.
  
• Soviet ARTRAZVEDKA, a 3-man teams with RPG-7VL, from the anti-tank brigade, riding in UAZ-469 or the PRP-3, a BMP-1-based recon vehicle with a single machine gun but with Very Good optics.

AA

• The anti-air defenses of 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew are pretty decent, as the Internal Defence Forces were used to safeguard local light and heavy AA units protecting the homeland from aerial incursions.
  
• The division can only count on the World War II-era 61-K 37mm gun for its organic defenses.
  
• However, the 9. Dywizja Zmechanizowana are better equipped and bring REZ. STRZALA-2M, the REZ. ZU-23-2 and REZ. HIBNERYT, all coming with the Reservist trait, as well as the AZP S-60 57mm gun.
  
• The Soviets field a handful of IGLA MANPADS.
  
• Lastly, from the Polish home air defense forces, a few batteries of the towed S-125M WOLNA, a slightly less capable Warsaw Pact counterpart to the NATO I-Hawk.

HEL

• Mediocre with only a few slots available. The only combat helicopters available are Soviet MI-24V in transit from Belarus bases.

AIR

• Pretty good with the core of the air support being formed from the local Polish 2nd Fighter Aviation Regiment "Krakow Partisans", with MiG-21MF. Available in air defense and ground attack roles, these aircraft were previously featured in WARNO - SOUTHAG but in Czechoslovakian service.
  
• The MiG-21PFM can also deploy in an additional air superiority role.
  
• The Su-7BKL as a ground attack plane. This particular plane will also be featured in Czechoslovakian service, but this time as part of the upcoming Nemesis #5 - Southern Flank.
  
• The LiM-6M trainer in a ground attack role.
  
• Plus a few prototypes of the new domestic-made I-22 IRYDA trainer - being tested since 1985 - put to use as a multirole light bomber.

The 5 Podhalańska Brygada WOWew is a mixed light infantry and mountain division with the sizable backing of a mechanized reservist division. This means lots of cheap troops backed by a handful of modern units.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s all for this week’s DevBlog. We’ll be back soon with the next Nemesis #6 offering!
Don’t forget the vibrant WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.

See you on the battlefield, commanders.

[h3]Features[/h3]

• Improved high-altitude bomber targeting (HE/CLU/NPLM): Bombs are released earlier, fall faster, and the aircraft begins its turn sooner for greater survivability.
  
• Added 4 new scenarios: Albion Duel (1v1) and Cliff in 1v1, 3v3 DEST, and 10v10 CONQ versions
  
• Added 16 new tactical battle scenarios in Army General mode, on the Taler, Isura, Eiche, and Surrounded maps
  
• Changed the default ambience of the Surrounded 1v1 and Isura 1v1 maps to Night, to improve the visibility of zones and buildings in ranked.
  
• Infantry units now have +50% protection against AAGs

[h3]Code fixes[/h3]

• It is no longer possible to create Smart Groups with aircraft
  
• Fixed aircraft voice lines, which are now properly played during attacks and movements
  
• The 'Reinforce' button has been removed from Smart Groups
  
• Improved AT aircraft, which sometimes failed to fire at a target.
  
• Improved sound effects for infantry combat taking place inside the same building.
  
• Fixed infantry units that took too long to unload in some cases after receiving the order.
  
• Operation Running the Gauntlet: Fixed an issue with command points during the deployment phase (some points would disappear after placing a unit).
  
• Fixed an issue where loading a save would reset the player's deck to its initial state in Army General and Operations.
  
• Fixed killfeed display when watching a replay in Neutral

[h3]Nato forces[/h3]

[h4]USA[/h4]


• Command M1IP ABRAMS CP : Price decreased 280 to 270
  
• AH-6G LITTLE BIRD : Price decreased 75 to 65
  
• UH-1H SUPPLY : Base Availability decreased 10 to 8, Supply capacity increased 600 to 750
  
• F-4E PHANTOM II [AA] : weapon AIM-7M Sparrow replaced by AIM-7F
  
• Recon FOLT : Base Availability increased 4 to 5
  
• FIRE TEAM (AT-4) : Base Availability increased 8 to 9
  
  6TH INFANTRY DIVISION (LIGHT)
  
  
  • M2HB 12,7mm M63 : base Veterancy increased from XP0 to XP1
  35TH INFANTRY DIVISION (MECH.)
  
  
  • Recon N.G. CAV. SCOUTS (DRAGON) : added Recon N.G. M113A1 ACAV as transport option
    
  • Recon N.G. CAV. SCOUTS (LAW) : added Recon N.G. M113A1 ACAV as transport option
  
  [h4]United Kingdom[/h4]
  
  
  • Command CHIEFTAIN MK. 10 CMD : Price decreased 210 to 200
    
  • Command CHIEFTAIN MK. 11 CMD : Price decreased 210 to 200
    
  • CHIEFTAIN MK. 11 : Price decreased 180 to 170
    
  • CHIEFTAIN MK. 9 : Price decreased 140 to 130
    
  • CHIEFTAIN MK. 10 : Price decreased 180 to 170
    
  • Recon GAZELLE AH.1 [RKT] : Base Availability increased 3 to 4
    
  • PARA. M2HB 12,7mm renamed PARA. L1A1 12,7mm
  • Command ROVER CP renamed Command ROVER CP (Berlin)
  • ROVER MILAN renamed ROVER MILAN (Berlin)
  • ROVER RMP : Speed increased 60 km/h to 90 km/h
    
    1ST ARMOURED DIVISION
    
    
    • RMP : added ROVER RMP as transport option
      
    • Added Command ROVER CP
    • Removed Command ROVER CP (Berlin)
    2ND INFANTRY DIVISION
    
    
    • RMP : added ROVER RMP as transport option
      
    • Added Command ROVER CP, ROVER MILAN
    • Removed Command ROVER CP (Berlin), ROVER MILAN (Berlin)
    4TH ARMOURED DIVISION
    
    
    • RMP : added ROVER RMP as transport option
      
    • Added Recon FV107 SCIMITAR SPYGLASS
    BERLIN COMMAND
    
    
    • RMP : added ROVER RMP as transport option
  
  [h4]Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland)[/h4]
  
  
  • UH-1D MUN. : Base Availability decreased 10 to 8, Supply capacity increased 600 to 750
  
  [h4]France[/h4]
  
  
  • Command AMX-10 RC PC : Price decreased 130 to 125
    
  • AMX-10 RC SPAHIS : Price decreased 110 to 105
    
  • AMX-10 RC SB LEGION : Price decreased 140 to 135
    
  • AMX-13/90 : Price decreased 50 to 45
    
  • Command ALOUETTE II renamed Command ALOUETTE II PC
  • Recon AERO-ECLAIREURS : Base Availability decreased 6 to 5
    
  • Recon VAB SPAHIS renamed Recon VAB RECO
  
  [h4]Netherlands[/h4]
  
  
  • LEOPARD 1V : Base Availability increased 8 to 9
    
  • Recon KCT VERKENNERS : Base Availability decreased 6 to 4
  
  [h4]Canada[/h4]
  
  
  • Recon RECCE (GSR) : Base Availability decreased 6 to 5
  
  [h4]Belgium[/h4]
  
  
  • Recon ESR-GVP : Base Availability decreased 6 to 4
    
  • AIFV-B-MIL : Price decreased 40 to 35
  
  [h4]Spain[/h4]
  
  
  • AMX-30EM2 SABBLIR : Base Availability increased 6 to 7
    
  • Recon JINETES : C-90CR weapon Range increased 500m to 675m
    
  • FUSILEROS (C90) : C-90CR weapon Range increased 500m to 675m
    
  • BMR C/C TOW : Base Availability increased 5 to 6
    
  • PEGASO 3046 ABAS. : Health points increased 5 to 8
    
  • PEGASO 3055 : Health points increased 5 to 8
    
  • PEGASO 3055 ABAS. : Health points increased 5 to 8
    
  • ASPIDE TOLEDO : Price decreased 95 to 90

[h3]Pact forces[/h3]

[h4]USSR (СССР)[/h4]


• Recon RAZV. BMD-3 : Price decreased 130 to 120
  
• BMD-3 : Price decreased 110 to 95
  
• T-64R : Price decreased 125 to 115
  
• Command T-80BK : Price decreased 290 to 285
  
• T-80B : Price decreased 250 to 245
  
• T-80BV IZD. 29 : Price decreased 275 to 270
  
• Command T-80BVK : Price decreased 305 to 300
  
• T-80BV : Price decreased 265 to 260
  
• TO-55 : Price decreased 100 to 95
  
• Su-24M [SEAD2] renamed Su-24M [SEAD]
• MOTOSTRELKI (RPG-27) : Base Availability increased 8 to 9
  
• REZERVISTI : Price increased 30 to 35
  
• ISU-152K : ML-20S reload time increased 60 to 81, ML-20S reload time increased 60 to 81
  
• 2K12 KUB renamed 2K12 KUB-M3
• MT-LB STRELA-10M3 : Price decreased 135 to 120
  
• 9K330 TOR : Price increased 135 to 140, 9M330 Aircraft weapon Range increased 3,875m to 4,425m
  
  119-Y OTD. TANK. POLK
  
  
  • TO-55 : cards decreased 2 to 1
  
  [h4]German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik)[/h4]
  
  
  • Command FÜPZ. T-72MK : Price increased 190 to 200
    
  • FlamPz. TO-55 : Price decreased 100 to 95
    
  • 2K12 KUB renamed 2K12 KUB-M3
  
  [h4]Poland[/h4]
  
  
  • DESANT. SAPERZY (LPO-50) : Base Availability increased 6 to 10
    
  • NIEB. BERETY STRZAŁA-2M : Price decreased 30 to 25
    
  • DESANT. STRZAŁA-2M : Price decreased 35 to 30
    
  • NIEBIESKIE BERETY : Price decreased 80 to 70
    
  • SPADOCHRONIARZE (METIS) : Price decreased 70 to 65
    
  • Recon ROZP. SPECJALNE : Base Availability decreased 6 to 4
    
  • PZR KUB renamed PZR KUB-M3
    
    KORPUS DESANTOWY
    
    
    • Recon DESANT. ROZP. SPECJALNE : added Recon HONKER RYS as transport option
  
  [h4]Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (Československá socialistická republika)[/h4]
  
  
  • Command T-72MK-E3 : Price increased 190 to 200
    
  • PLRK KUB renamed PLRK KUB-M3

[p]Hello commanders,

Eugen keeps on bringing the good stuff! Hot on the heels of the new WARNO in today’s DevBlog, we’ll preview the upcoming Nemesis #5 - Southern Flank.

This DLC is a Eugen choice in order to speed up development and production. Nemesis #5 - Southern Flank keeps the SOUTHAG theme, focusing on two divisions in the southern reaches of the front, near the Austrian border, featuring the Spanish División de Infantería Mecanizada «Guzmán el Bueno» n.º 2, or Mechanised Division No.2 "Guzmán el Bueno" for NATO, and the Czechoslovakian 2. Motostřelecká Divize, or 2nd Motor Rifle Division fighting for the Warsaw Pact.

Let’s go![/p][h3]

División de Infantería Mecanizada «Guzmán el Bueno» n.º 2 Detailed

[/h3][p]The Spanish División de Infantería Mecanizada «Guzmán el Bueno» n.º 2 was one of the largest fighting formations in the Spanish Army in the closing years of the Cold War. Posted in southern Andalucia, it would either deploy rapidly against potentially belligerent African nations or support NATO allies if conflict arose in West Germany. As such, it was part of a small Ejército de Tierra projection corps, which also included the División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 with its armor, and the Maestrazgo infantry division, as well as potentially the BRILAT light infantry brigade. The formation was named after Guzmán el Bueno, or Guzmán the Good, a Spanish noble and hero during medieval times, who distinguishing himself in the history books during the Siege of Tarifa in 1296.

Despite the division's mechanized nomenclature, the battlegroup was reorganized as a motorized division, featuring the BMR wheeled APC in great numbers. After becoming part of NATO, Spain had been both downsizing and modernising its armed forces in the 1980s. Being based in Andalusia in the south of Spain, the Guzmán el Bueno was also well positioned to see action in North Africa if needed to be (as relations with nearby Morocco were not always the friendliest).

We know that the Brunete was earmarked to reinforce the southern sectors in West Germany if push came to shove, but the two infantry divisions’ roles were less clear. They could have followed Brunete’s armor into Europe, forming a small corps, or join AFSOUTH in northern Italy. If the Spanish Army had been able to project one division this far from home territory, without prior exercises, it remains to be seen. A dubious feat in war, especially taking into account the serious doubts by NATO leadership about the Dutch army, much nearer to the front, being very likely unable to mobilize and transport their troops in times of conflict.

Regardless, in our alternative timeline, Spain does manage to strategically project the Guzmán el Bueno, together with Brunete, as well as associated small corps assets, to join the fight in southern West Germany and the Czechoslovakian frontier.

The «Guzmán el Bueno» n.º 2 in WARNO
How will the Mechanised Division No.2 "Guzmán el Bueno" look like in WARNO? New units are marked in both italic and bold. As always, units and categories are subject to change.

LOG[/p]

• [p]A pretty good category, as the Guzmán el Bueno is an infantry division, reinforced with corps assets.[/p]
• [p]Command vehicles include the new SANTANA MANDO (command “long” Rover) and the BMR-PC, as well as the BO-105 MANDO helicopter.[/p]
• [p]Supply units featured are a FOB, but also the light PEGASO 3046 and heavy C-3464 trucks, plus the UH.10 helicopter.[/p]

[p][/p][p]INF[/p]

• [p]A very strong category, as can be expected. Although the division converted to being a motorized formation, meaning the BMR, it still retained some TOA (M113) and associated infantry, in the form of the existing FUSILEROS (in MANDO, "vanilla", M65 and C90 variants). These squads can deploy in the same TOA variants as Brunete’s infantry.[/p]
• [p]About two-thirds of the division's infantry will come as FUSILEROS (BMR) and their respective command variants. Both are well-rounded squads, limited to 8 soldiers due to the cramped battle taxi accommodations. They field 7x CETME C rifles, 1x MG-42/58 machine gun, and one C-90CR anti-tank weapon. They ride in either softskins, BMR-PP or BMR-LAG.[/p]
• [p]Likewise, ZAPADORES come in the same variants and transport options as those found with Brunete, but include a newcomer: the ZAPADORES (BMR). These squads also feature 8 men, but field a MG-42/58 machine gun, and deploy in either softskins or the BMR-PP VCZ dedicated combat engineer variant with a dozer blade.[/p]
• [p]The weapon teams include the regular array of MG-42/58, LAG-40 40mm and C20/120 GAI BO1 20mm, deployable in softskin, TOA or BMR.[/p]
• [p]In addition, other units featured are the CSR-106 (which is a M40A1), MCC MILAN 1, MCC MILAN 2, and new MCC I-TOW, in SANTANA jeeps, TOA or BMR, including the new BMR C/C MILAN.[/p]
• [p]POLICIA MILITAR military police are also present, with their SANTANA PM, but also new SIATA 500 PM light trucks.[/p]
• [p]The SANTANA CSR-106 is a fire support ROVER with M40A1 RCL.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]ART[/p]

• [p]Pretty good for the Guzmán el Bueno with the division's well-rounded artillery backed by some heavier corps assets. This means lots of slots, not too expensive, and lots of choice.[/p]
• [p]Mortars come in all shapes and forms, from foot-based lighter pieces such as the L65/81 and the L65/120, and the heavier self-propelled TOA-PM-81, BMR-PM-81 and TOA-PM-120.[/p]
• [p]Self-propelled guns include the M-108 105mm and M-109A1B 155mm.[/p]
• [p]Towed artillery guns featured are the OBUS 105/26 REINOSA 105mm and the CANON 122/45 (RUSO .31) 122mm (under which name hides the World War II-era A-19 howitzers!), as well as American OBUS M114 155mm and OBUS M115 203mm.[/p]
• [p]Finally, we managed to attach some older L-10D3 300mm MLRS trucks to the division.[/p]

[p][/p][p]TANK[/p]

• [p]Pretty decent with a good number of slots, featuring older but extensively modernized tanks.[/p]
• [p]The division’s attached cavalry brigade features some venerable M47E2, but its own main workhorse is the M48A5E2 (105mm) tanks, highly modernized to be on par with the LEOPARD 1A5 in terms of performance. They both come in command variants.[/p]
• [p]Anti-tank assets include the SANTANA MILAN jeep, TOA C/C I-TOW and BMR C/C TOW-2.[/p]

[p][/p][p]REC[/p]

• [p]Once more, a decent category with infantry scouts, the TIRADORES, the RECONOCIMIENTO, and the EXPLORADORES, the same as found with the Brunete division.[/p]
• [p]Electronic warfare is represented by the SANTANA RASURA battlefield radar and the TELEOKASIGINT-traited truck.[/p]
• [p]Other recon vehicles include the HR.15 helicopter, VEC-25 armored car and M47E1 RECO. (90mm).[/p]
• [p]Last but not least, the division will get some Spanish special forces, more commonly referred to as GUERILLEROS. An 8-man Special Forces recon squad, the soldiers will field newer generation (5,56mm) 5x CETME L, 2x AMELI machine guns, and one scoped CETME C, plus Satchel charges. They will come in either truck or HU.21 (= Super Puma) helicopters.[/p]

[p][/p][p]AA[/p]

• [p]Good in terms of slots, although the divisional anti-air defenses revolves around light towed guns, such as the ubiquitous CAA 20/120 GAI BO1 single-barrel 20mm, the CAA 20/12 BITUBO twin-20mm, and the CAA 40/70 P-87 (a Bofors 40mm).[/p]
• [p]The 20mm guns also come in self-propelled variants: the PEGASO 3046 GAI BO1 single 20mm, and the twin-barrelled 20mm PEGASO 3055 BITUBO.[/p]
• [p]The sole long-range AA unit, attached from the army corps, is the well-known I-HAWK.[/p]

[p]
HEL[/p]

• [p]Rather mediocre, with the division having no attack helicopters of its own, nor any dedicated gunships or combat rotorcraft available in the army’s arsenal (the sole exception being the squadron attached to Brunete).[/p]
• [p]However, some enterprising Spanish engineers had been tinkering with the good ‘ol UH-1, slapping a MAMEE kit on some of these venerable helos. This turned them into a makeshift UH-1H ARTILLADO gunship, with two 7,62mm Miniguns and two 7-round Hydra rocket pods. These are only available in limited numbers, meaning one slot and one card.[/p]

[p][/p][p]AIR[/p]

• [p]The Guzmán el Bueno’s air support is provided mainly by the Ala 11 & 14 (Wings 11 & 14)'s squadrons, both operating export variants of the Mirage III (C.11 in Spanish service) and Mirage F1 (C.14).[/p]
• [p]The C.11 will be used in a “rocketeer” role.[/p]
• [p]The C.14A is the lesser variant of the F1 C-200, with less ECM and equipped for bombing missions with either HE or cluster bombs in various configurations, plus two AIM-9P missiles for self-defense.[/p]
• [p]The C.14B are locally improved F1 C-200, with better ECM and carrying two AIM-9P plus, depending on the variant, two R530 or two Super 530F anti-air missiles. That latter missile variant is actually a “March to War” weapon, since Spain only acquired these French AA missiles from Saddam Hussein’s stocks after the end of the Gulf War. In our alternative timeline, France would have parted with some of its own stock due to the deteriorating situation in Europe from 1987 onwards.[/p]

[p][/p][p]The Mechanised Division No.2 "Guzmán el Bueno" is a light infantry division backed by strong artillery and AA assets. Armors are good enough to help any infantry offensive, but too fragile to go toe-to-toe against the most modern, heavy tank forces. Yet, those glass canons hold more firepower than can be expected from tanks of this generation, and shouldn’t be taken lightly.[/p][h3]
The 2. Motostřelecká Divize Detailed

[/h3][p]The Czechoslovakian 2. Motostřelecká Divize or 2nd Motorized Rifle Division was part of the Czechoslovak People’s Army’s frontline 1st Army located on the southern frontier. Here, it guarded the tri-border area of Czechoslovakia, West Germany, and Austria. Raised in 1958, the division never saw any action in real life.

However, in our WARNO - SOUTHAG scenario, the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division can be found in the Army General campaign Holding Attack, holding the southern sector, directly opposite the West German 10. Panzerdivision.

We can add some more detail to our alternative war scenario as depicted in WARNO. As the 1st Army’s southernmost division, the 2. Motostřelecká Divize’s own flank is covered by the 2nd Army’s 15. Motostřelecká Divize, a much less combat-ready division. In our timeline, it is this latter formation that gets hit hardest by the combined French-Spanish quick reaction task force crossing Austria, to outflank the Czechoslovakian 1st Army.

The 15. Motor Rifle Division is quickly pushed back east, meaning that the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division needs to pivot urgently, almost 90 degrees, to block the West Germans and Canadians from breaking through and NATO from turning the ČSLA’s flank. Due to the deteriorating situation, local border guard units, familiar with the terrain, as well as territorial battalions, are pressed into service to prevent the front from crumbling.

[/p][p]Some other reasons why we picked the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division:[/p]

• [p]This is a predominantly OT-64-equipped division, which, as a trademark Czechoslovakian vehicle, we didn’t feature in our previous ČSLA divisions. WARNO - SOUTHAG’s19. Motostřelecká Divize was an oddity with only one OT-64 regiment, which in our timeline was actually detached to the Soviet Central Group of Forces, while our Czechoslovakian tank divisions only had a handful of this vehicle.[/p]
• [p]The 2. Motostřelecká Divize was lavishly equipped with modernized T-55AM2 tanks, including the ATGM-wielding AM2B variant. It was in the process of replacing its tank regiment’s main battle tank with the T-72M1. All of this means that it is an infantry division with its tank forces covering an armored spectrum of T-54Bs (from territorial battalions), to organic T55-AM2s and T-72M1. Not bad![/p]

[p]
The 2. Motostřelecká Divize in WARNO
How will the 2nd Motor Rifle Division look like in WARNO?

LOG[/p]

• [p]A pretty good category, being an infantry division.[/p]
• [p]Command vehicles include the OT-62/R4MT and the BVP-1K, as well as the MI-19.[/p]
• [p]The battlegroup is supplied by an FOB, as well as the (new) light T805 truck, the medium V3S and heavy T815 trucks.[/p]

[p][/p][p]INF[/p]

• [p]As can be expected, very good, with the division being an OT-64 formation. This means STŘELCI and KULOMETČÍCI, which are LMG-fielding squads, can deploy in OT-64C. These units are much more numerous than the BVP-1-borne MOTOSTŘELCI.[/p]
• [p]ŽENISTÉ come in the same shapes and forms as their counterparts in other divisions, but this time, are all carried in OT-64C.[/p]
• [p]ZÁLOŽNÍCI reservists ride to battle in trucks, while BEZPEČNOSTNÍ ODDÍL security troops in both trucks and OT-64. They are presented in larger numbers compared to other Czechoslovakian divisions due to the amalgamation of territorial battalions into the 2nd Motor Rifle Division’s roster.[/p]
• [p]TAI military police will be available in regular and "combat-size" variants (name to be determined), while PANCÉŘOVNÍCI are also present.[/p]
• [p]Fire support squads are featured in the form of the FAGOT, KONKURS, UK VZ.59 7,62mm and AGS-17.[/p]
• [p]One of the main new units are POHRANIČNÍCI border guards, a 11-man squad with Sa Vz.58V assault rifles, one UK Vz.59L LMG and RPG-75, with the Military Police, Security, and Mountaineer traits. Their VELITEL POHRANIČNÍCI leader variant is a 8-man squad with assault rifles and one SVD with the same traits. They come in the new T805 light truck and the OT-64.[/p]

[p][/p][p]ART[/p]

• [p]Good, with a mostly standard selection of 82mm mortars, D-30 122mm howitzer, 2S1 and DANA self-propelled pieces, and RM Vz.70 & RM Vz.51 MLRS. The latter coming in more numbers than usual, replacing absent 120mm mortars in this division.[/p]
• [p]And one of the more unusual pieces of equipment is the corps asset, M-46 130mm howitzer, already featured with some of our East German divisions.[/p]

[p][/p][p]TANK[/p]

• [p]A medium amount of slots, but with lots of choice, from obsolete to modern.[/p]
• [p]The local territorial battalions bring a single card of outdated T-54Bs.[/p]
• [p]Next up, the division’s organic tank assets are the modernized T-55AM2, T-55AM2B, and the T-55AM2K3 command variant.[/p]
• [p]As one battalion of the tank regiments of the 2nd Motor Rifle Division had started converting earlier, one card each of T-72M1 and T-72M1K are available.[/p]
• [p]Supported in the field by the PtK vz.52 85mm AT gun, while the division's organic anti-tank battalion can also deploy the PtK vz.53 100mm ones, plus the OT PTRK MALJUTKA missile tank destroyers.[/p]

[p][/p][p]REC[/p]

• [p]Once again, a pretty good category as the 2nd Motor Rifle Division was to screen the Czechoslovakian 1st Army’s flank, being further reinforced by border guards.[/p]
• [p]The largest selection of infantry scouts are available in this division: MOT. PRŮZKUMNÍCI, ODSTŘELOVAČI, PRŮZ. POHRANIČNÍCI, PRŮZKUMNÍCI, RT SHPz, SHPz, and ŽENIJNÍ PRŮZKUMNÍCI.[/p]
• [p]To which we will add the new large PSOVODI POHRANIČNÍKŮ recon border guards squad.[/p]
• [p]Vehicles include the OT-65 RL, BVP SVATAVA and the new RP-6 VEKTORSIGINT truck.[/p]

[p][/p][p]AA[/p]

• [p]An average category, consisting of PPLRK S-2M MANPADs, PLCK Vz.53 quad 12,7mm, and the same guns mounted portee-style on a T8105 Vz.53 fielded by the Czechoslovakian border guards.[/p]
• [p]The ubiquitous JESTERKA 30mm SPAAG rounds out the arsenal side-by-side with the capable PLRK KUB-M3 SAM.[/p]

[p]
HEL[/p]

• [p]A pretty mediocre category with only two (expensive) slots, the choice being between a small Mi-2RP or Mi-17 \[RKT] gunships.[/p]

[p]
AIR[/p]

• [p]Likewise, pretty decent with either the MiG-21MA or MiG-23MLA as air superiority fighters.[/p]
• [p]The capable Su-22M4 is available in various anti-tank and bombing roles.[/p]
• [p]And the older Su-7BKL can fly as a “bomb truck” with HE and RKT payloads.[/p]

[p][/p][p]The 2. Motostřelecká Divize is, for all intents and purposes, a well-balanced mechanized division with plenty of infantry and recon troops, and decent supporting arms, especially artillery.

Until Next Time
That’s all for this week’s DevBlog. We’ll soon be back with ever more juicy WARNO news soon!

Don’t forget the vibrant WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.

As always, see you on the battlefield, commanders.[/p]