WARNO News

Hello commanders,

We return with another WARNO Nemesis offering! In today’s DevBlog, we’ll continue our Nemesis #2 series with option deux.

Nemesis #2.2 - Plateau d'Albion is a very “what if” scenario within WARNO’s fictional World War III: a Soviet airborne strike deep, deep inside French territory to neutralize the nation’s nuclear capacity and missile silos before they could be used.

In today’s preview, we look at NATO’s French 152e Division d’Infanterie versus the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 76-ya Gvardiyska Vozdushno-Desantnaya Diviziya or the 76th Guards Airborne Division.

[h2]The Nemesis Concept[/h2]
Before continuing, here's a short disclaimer about WARNO’s Nemesis concept. Each paid Nemesis mini-expansion contains two themed divisions featuring new units, vehicles, and weapons. The cool part is that you can vote on which of three Nemesis options gets developed.

The Nemesis pairings are all “what if” battles, operations, or decisive campaigns in WARNO’s alternative World War III. The Nemesis chosen to be developed will “write” WARNO’s lore. Note that the Nemesis options coming in second and third go back on the Eugen’s workshop shelves. They might be used in a run-off, or perhaps we’ll see fit to reuse these battlegroups in one form or another.

With Nemesis #2, get ready for some rather persuasive and imaginative propaganda battles. However, we kindly ask you to keep the ballot clean, with no cheating, flame wars, or other unwanted or toxic behavior. Be respectful to the vote, the fellow players, the devs, and the WARNO community.

[h2]Nemesis #2 So Far[/h2] Nemesis #2 is in full swing. This is what came to pass:

• The Nemesis #2.1 - Hof Corridor centers on a key valley in southern East Germany the counter-attack vector for the Bundeswehr’s 12 Panzerdivision, with plentiful American support, going up against the ad-hoc defensive-minded Soviet battlegroup Protivotankovyy Rezerv with East German reservists.
  

[h2]Nemesis: Air Assault[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978640/WARNO__Nemesis_1__Air_Assault/

Nemesis: Air Assault, featuring the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 56-ya O.G. DShB or the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault and NATO’s US U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is WARNO’s very first Nemesis DLC. The choice for this particular offering was already made ahead of time to speed up development.

[h2]Nemesis #2.2 - Plateau d'Albion[/h2]
Now to the meat and potatoes of Nemesis #2.2 - Plateau d'Albion. This option will be, so far, one of the more outlandish war scenarios we propose within WARNO’s lore. What are we talking about? A Soviet airborne strike deep inside French territory to neutralize the country’s nuclear missile silos.

France left NATO’s integrated military command structure in 1966 (but not NATO itself). This meant that the French retained the possibility of using their nuclear arsenal of their own accord—without NATO’s approval. The West Germans would have very likely opposed the use of nuclear weapons on their soil, though France was a wild card.

Now, we already established that in WARNO’s conventional World War III, nuclear weapons are not used. However, nuclear warfare was a real possibility, and though no tactical or strategic exchange occurred within our timeline, the threat was considered very acute.

[h2]A Spectacular Strike[/h2]
In real life, the most likely war scenarios by both sides were the sumptuous use of nuclear weapons, either as an opening shot, decapitating strikes, to annihilate a Soviet armored breakthrough, or to obliterate NATO’s political will to continue the fight. Indeed, it was generally considered the French’s last resort to turn the eastern bank of the Rhine (meaning allied West Germany) into a radioactive wasteland to prevent Soviet tanks from breaking through the French border. How delightful.

In the 1980s, France had three different means of delivering its strategic nuclear weapons: submarine (SNLE), aircraft (Mirage IV), and land-based silos (S2). The former two could be countered by Warsaw Pact navies, air forces, and air defenses, but the latter strike option remained well-protected on French soil. Specifically, these missiles were housed in the Base Aérienne 200 (BA 200) on the Plateau d’Albion in southeastern France.



Nemesis #2.2 - Plateau d'Albion highlights a spectacular airborne coup de main conducted by the Warsaw Pact to neutralize the missile silos fielded far behind enemy lines. It would be one of the first - perhaps initial strike in the war, together with the covert Kassel-Calden airport takeover in West Germany. The Soviet airborne forces would likely be routed over neutral Austria and Switzerland in the chaotic first minutes and hours of the conflict before entering French airspace and dropping in hot.

In any case, the battle would be short and extremely violent; no quarter given nor asked. Massive armored doors protected BA 200’s silos, designed to resist a nuclear blast, but so heavy it took 20 minutes to close (or open). This means the operation would be decided in the first 20 minutes, with Warsaw Pact airborne troops landing right on top of the defenders. Both Soviet and French troops would have to accomplish their tasks within this time frame.



The hypothetical scenario sketched is more in line with James Bond's movies or the techno-thrillers of the 1980s and 90s, but is still faintly plausible.

[h2]The French 152e Division d’Infanterie[/h2]
Unlike so many other French divisions, the 152e Division d’Infanterie doesn’t trace its origins to the Napoleonic wars, but “just” World War I. It was raised in 1915 and, though missing the first year, took part in the conflict’s most grueling battles: Artois, Verdun, Somme, Chemin des Dames, all the way up to the final Hundred Days Offensive. Disbanded afterward, the division was reconstituted for World War II, being listed in official records but apparently never forming or taking part in any action.



Fast-forward to 1979. The 152e Division d’Infanterie saw the light again as a training formation in the later stages of the Cold War. During peacetime, its units were reduced to a cadre of professional troops operating out of various military schools in the administrative 5e Division Militaire (in the southeast of France).

In WARNO, as mounting tensions lead up to a World War III in the summer of 1989, the formation hurriedly formed the 4e and 24e Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine (naval infantry regiments), the 86e Régiment d’Infanterie (regular infantry) and 19e Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval (armored cavalry). A further HQ staff and two independent engineer companies resulted in the 152e Division d’Infanterie, mimicking real-life plans.

While the two naval infantry regiments were regular, though under-strength, the infantry and armored cavalry regiments were created out of the school’s cadre and filled with reservists. With the featured forces, the 152e Division d’Infanterie was just shy of being a full-fledged infantry division, lacking one engineer company - and, more importantly - one artillery regiment.



The 152e Division d’Infanterie’s wartime mission was simple: protect the Base Aérienne 200 on the Plateau d’Albion. As such, when under attack, it would receive some additional detachments. These include the Base Aérienne 200’s own defenses, with lots of AA, a helicopter squadron, the Commandos de l’Air (security commandos), plus reserve artillery units.

[h2]The French 152e Division d’Infanterie in WARNO[/h2]
As always, units that are both bolded and italic are new! Note that we have not listed “reserve” variants of existing units as new.

LOG

• A good category. Though the 152e Division d’Infanterie had a limited logistical train, it would be operating from a well-established and supplied military base.
  
• Supply units include the TRM-2000 LOG and its bigger brother, the much heavier (and new) TRM-10000 LOG. During the deployment phase, a FOB can also be used.
  
• Command units featured are the new M201 PC (which is the P4‘s ancestor, basically a locally produced World War II Willy’s jeep), VAB PC, and the new ALOUETTE II PC.

INF

• This will clearly be the division’s strongest category.
  
• The most numerous infantry unit on the table will be (reworked) RESERVISTES featuring the old LRAC 73 as a 4th Weapon, led by the new CMDT RESERVISTES squad. Both units feature the Reservist trait and will ride to battle in either a (new) M201 jeep, truck, or VAB APC.
  
  
  
  
• Naval infantry will be present with a few cards of regular and new CMDT MARSOUINS, MARSOUINS and MARSOUINS (APILAS). These are organized and equipped exactly like their GRENADIER-VOLTIGEURS counterparts, with the only notable difference being the specific headgear the soldiers wore (the French Army being rather fashionista). To follow our approach of granting the Shock trait to airborne troops as a whole (to emphasize their close-quarter combat training), we intend for naval infantry of all nations to come featured with the Resolute trait, emphasizing their usually stronger esprit de corps. Therefore, these new squads will be organized along the lines of the already existing GRENADIER-VOLTIGEURS but with the Resolute trait. They will also deploy in either a M201 jeep, truck, or VAB.
  
• Engineers deploy from regular companies and are identical to existing SAPEURS (in all variants), although less numerous than in a regular division.
  
• PREVOTE military police will be complemented by some heavy-duty airfield security GENDARMES DE L’AIR combat squads.
  
• The French Air Force, the Armée de l’Air, could count on its own COMMANDOS DE L’AIR, assigned to secure the perimeter of the Base Aérienne 200. These are special forces armed with FAMAS, Minimi Para, and FR-F2 and are the sole known French users of the WASP 58 disposable AT launcher. These units will be granted the Security and Special Forces traits, with transports being either trucks, PUMA, or the new VIB. This latter unit is a Véhicule d’Intervention Blindé (Armored Intervention Vehicle), being an air force VAB T20/13 designed for airfield protection. Although visually slightly different, it will be roughly similar in stats to the latter with only two main differences: it is non-amphibious and will be a transport featuring the Security trait.
  
• Infantry crew-served weapon teams will be the RES. M40A1 recoilless rifle, MILAN ATGM team and the AANF1 machine guns.

ART

• A pretty mediocre tab. As explained, the division could not count on any organic artillery, only some reservist detachments.
  
• This means regimental MO-81-61C 81mm and MO-120-RT61 120mm mortars, as well as the self-propelled VAB PM-81.
  
• Heavier guns take the form of reserve RES. HM2A1 105mm and RES. Mle. 50/63 155mm howitzers.

TANK

• An average category. The 152e Division d’Infanterie could count on a full regiment of light AML-90 used in a tank role. These will be divided into AML-90 PC command variant, a non-reservists variant, perhaps even vetted with experience as instructors, as well as the RES. AML-90 with Reservist trait.
  
• Dedicated tank-destroying units are composed of the M201 MILAN.

RECON

• A pretty strong category with the usual complement of AML-60 and AML-90.
  
• New units include 4-man RES. ECLAIREURS with FAMAS, AANF1 and LRAC 73, transportable in either M201 or armed M201 MG (which mounts the AA52 which is an older AANF1 chambered in 7,5mm rounds).
  
• Although removed from frontline units, being either replaced with the ERC-90 or AMX-10RC, in 1989 France still had several hundred Panhard EBR armored cars in storage. There would be no better opportunity to include some of these golden oldies than in this battlegroup, thanks to its resident armored cavalry school unit. This vehicle will be modeled as a single card of the RES. EBR 90.
  
  
  
  
• In the flying department, the Armée de l’Air replaced their Gazelle helicopters with the ECUREUIL before the French Army’s aviation arm, meaning the unarmed twin-engine helicopter will be deployable here first.
  

AA

• A very good category. The French division only had a few regimental guns, but the Base Aérienne 200’s was very well-defended against air attacks, which is reflected in the units available.
  
• These range from divisional 53T2 20mm guns, either towed or in the TRM-2000 TARASQUE variant.
  
• The base and Plateau d’Albion as a whole fielded the (new) CERBERE twin 20mm guns (crewed by commandos, hence Special Forces trait) plus BOFORS 40mm guns, as well as self-propelled CROTALE SAMs and MISTRAL MANPAD teams.

HELO

• Not very good with only a few armed helicopters available. From the base’s own squadron, a few ECUREUIL 20mm can be deployed with an autocannon.
  
• The nearest outside helicopter force, which could deploy in support, would come from Lyon’s 5e Groupe d’Hélicoptères Légers’ in the form of (new) older ATGM-equipped ALOUETTE SS-11.

AIR

• As can be expected, the 152e Division d’Infanterie was close to several major air bases and could call on rapid French air support.
  
• The closest one was rather unusual, though: the Patrouille de France (PaF)’s base at Salon de Provence, 50km away. The PaF is the Armée de l’Air’s aerobatic aerial team, with veteran pilots amongst its ranks. At the end of the 1980s, they had recently traded their older (but new in-game) FOUGA MAGISTER for (new) ALPHA JET E (without a gun). Both will be available as light but experienced bombers.
  
• More existing aircraft will be added depending on the divisional needs once in playtesting.
  

The 152e Division d’Infanterie will be a reserve division with versatile infantry and many light armored cars sporting heavy armaments. This battlegroup will also have powerful anti-air defenses, with aircraft making up for the lack of artillery and helicopter forces.

[h2]The 76th Guards Airborne Division highlighted[/h2]
The 76th Guards Airborne Division would have had the unenviable task of destroying the French nuclear weapons and likely die trying in the process. As can be guessed, the Soviet VDV formation traces its lineage back to World War II, where its parent division - the 157th Rifle Division - fought with distinction in various epic battles, including the Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Kursk, Operation Bagration, and the Berlin Offensive. After the war, it was reformed as a Soviet airborne division, part of the VDV.



While it never served in the Afghanistan War, it was used to quell inter-ethnic tensions in the Soviet Union's near abroad in the late 1980s. In our WARNO scenario, with the “March to War,” it was pulled out and given plenty of time to prepare for their - potentially heroic but very much sacrificial - war mission.

Since you should be pretty familiar with Soviet air assault units, let’s see how the 76th Guards Airborne Division compares to the currently featured 35th Guards Air Assault Brigade and Nemesis: Air Assault’s 56th Separate Air Assault Brigade. This Nemesis division leans more towards the base game’s 35th Guards being a mechanized airborne infantry division with widespread Forward Deployment trait. The only specific feature from the 56th Separate battlegroup will be the LuAZ amphibious jeep featuring the Forward Deployment trait replacing the UAZ.

Also, being a full division and not a brigade, it can count on a higher proportion of its infantry going to battle with BMD in support. It also receives an entire airborne artillery regiment. In Nemesis #2.2 - Plateau d'Albion’s deep raid scenario, no non-droppable heavy equipment will be available. This also means no Shilka SPAAGs and only a few helicopters.



[h2]The 76th Guards Airborne Division in WARNO[/h2]
How will the 76th Guards Airborne Division look like in-game?

LOG

• As can be expected from an airborne division dropped far behind enemy lines, it will have to make do with only a few slots and no FOB.
  
• The new supply units are the DESANT. LuAZ SNAB. and DESANT. GAZ-66B SNAB.
  
• Command vehicles include the LuAZ jeep and BTR/BMD units.

INF

• The infantry available to the 76th is very strong. It will have all the DESANT. (except the AFGANTSY) units from the 35th Guards, but none of the DSh. and SPETSNAZ squads.
  
• BMD-borne DESANTNIKI will be featured in greater numbers than truck-borne ones (GAZ-66B). The division is also lavishly equipped with BMD-2, with transport option choices being BTR-D or BMD 2, but not the BMD-1.
  
• DESANT. SAPERY squads will get access to GAZ-66B and BTR-D.
  
• Specialized ATGM teams will get access to the BTR-D and BTR-RD.
  
• None of the infantry will be heliborne.
  
• The DESANT. UAZ SPG-9 will be replaced by its DESANT. LuAZ SPG-9 counterpart.

ART

• Actually pretty good, being very similar to the 35th Guards, but without the MT-LB VASILEK or NONA-K.
  
• On the other hand, the division had many more 2S9 NONA-S but also included some DESANT. 2B14 82mm (introduced with 56th Separate).

TANK

• An average category with some limited choices (though better than the 35th Guards).
  
• Technically, the 76th Guards featured no airborne-deployable tank. Yet, the division was (in 1991, so fitting within our “March to War” timeline) the first one to be equipped with a battalion (and a bit more, see the RECO category) of the new BMD-3. This, to be completely honest, was the main reason we picked the division for this Nemesis DLC.
  
• As an IFV, the BMD-3 would have been too close to BMD-2 and would have been restricted to a single card of 4-strong infantry squads. Instead, we considered them to be regrouped as an “armored” battalion.
  
• The division, therefore, will receive some BMD-3 “light airborne tanks” with +1 Front Armor (compared to the BMD-2) and armed with 30mm autocannon, Konkurs-M ATGM, PKT, and AGS-17 (thanks to the new 4th Weapon Slot).
  
• DESANT. UAZ KONKURS will be replaced with a DESANT. LuAZ KONKURS counterpart.
  
• No D-44 nor BRDM-2 KONKURS.

RECON

• This category can be considered slightly better than the 35th Guards in terms of slots and costs while featuring a different set of units.
  
• It can count on the DESANT. RAZVEDKA, SPETSNAZ GRU and 1V119 REOSTAT.
  
• The UAZ KPV will be replaced with the new DESANT. LuAZ AGS-17.
  
• A new ”heavy DESANT. SCOUT" (name to be translated) will be created, transportable with recon RAZV. BMD-2., or in the few armed and unarmed transport Mi-8 available.
  
• One card of RAZV. BMP-3 as a “recon tank” will be added as well.
  
• Lastly, another new unit will be the new recon SCHMEL-1 unarmed aerial vehicle with a specific UAV trait. Working as a plane, but from the RECO tab, these slow and fragile units will be very hard to spot and target and impervious to Suppression.

AA

• Pretty mediocre category. Though the 76th Guards had an entire AA battalion at its disposal, meaning slots, the choices are limited to light units only.
  
• The division’s entire AA defense hinges on two weapon systems: Igla and the good ‘ol ZU-23-2.
  
• The latter unit will come as a towed DESANT. ZU-23-2 and the self-propelled (and new) DESANT. GAZ-66B ZU-23-2 (based on the modified GAZ-66B, with Forward Deployment[ trait).
  
• The DESANT. IGLA MANPAD team, coming in LuAZ, BTR-D or BTR-ZD (mounting a ZU-23-2) flavors.

HELO

• A pretty dismal category. In real-life, it only had under a dozen Mi-8 helicopters, mostly for support. Some of these will be given as transport options for recon troops.
  
• This means none will be left as gunships.
  
• We are still debating whether a single Mi-8MT card with rockets should be included.

AIR

• This is a pretty strong category. Considering that the 76 Guards would be on a one-way trip deep inside enemy territory, whatever close air support was given was to be long-range.
  
• This means plentiful support of the Su-24, including a new AT variant fielding the Kh-29.
  
• Some long-range fighters will provide some critically needed air cover.

The 76th Guards Airborne Division uniquely features the BMD-3 in both a tank and recon tank role. This results in this VDV air assault formation being closer in style to the American 82nd Airborne Division (with its Sheridans) than comparable existing Soviet airborne battlegroups.

[h2]Grand Final of SDL WARNO League Season 1[/h2]
Before we leave, a message for your competitive WARNO players. The Grand Final of the SDL WARNO League Season 1 will be played this coming Saturday, the 3rd of August, at 3 pm CEST (4 pm BST).



YukiPaw and Berthags, who both vanquished quite a few of the top players, will duel it out for the title to be crowned WARNO League Champion and a prize pool of over $300 dollars.

As always, the Grand Final will be streamed live on YouTube and Twitch.

Make sure to read all the juicy details in on the SDL WARNO League’s website.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s all for this DevBlog. Next week, we’ll be back with Nemesis #2.3!

Join the 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, commander.

Hello commanders,

We are back! In last week’s DevBlog, we talked about the first of the two new divisions being added for free to WARNO’s EA Pack DLC: NATO’s National Guard-focused US 35th Infantry Division.

Today is the Warsaw Pact’s turn. Let’s shine a spotlight on the communist offering: the East German Rügener Gruppierung.

Let’s go, commanders!

[h2]EA Pack plus[/h2]
A brief note on the EA Pack. With WARNO’s official launch out of Early Access, we encountered some snafus, especially affecting the WARNO’s Early Access owners. To make amends, we promised to add two new divisions for free to the EA Pack.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978610/WARNO__Early_Access_Pack/

The EA Pack, featuring five divisions, was made available for free to all EA owners of WARNO. Check out the existing formations by following the above link.

In the not-too-distant future (release date to be determined), we’ll add the new NATO’s US 35th Infantry Division and Warsaw Pact’s Rügener Gruppierung.

[h2]The Nationale Volksarmee’s Rügener Gruppierung[/h2]
The Rügener Gruppierung takes its name from Rügen Island, on the East German Baltic Coast, where the communist Volksmarine had its main naval base. To defend this critically important site, a substantial local Nationale Volksarmee force was in place, to be bolstered by reservists and foreign allied troops at the outbreak of war. These formations, mostly training units and navy personnel, were to guard the base against the threat of NATO amphibious and air assaults.



The NVA’s Besondere Gruppierung II (Special Grouping II) was the name for this special force. Next to the Rügen Island, the mobilized defensive battlegroup was to secure the key Sassnitz ferry port, through which much of Warsaw Pact’s strategic supply entered East Germany. It was expected that this direct link to the USSR would be one of the first targets in a military exchange, with the East German and Soviet military fully expecting a naval assault by American marines.
The officers of the military academy Offiziershochschule “Otto Winzler” in Prora, together with the staff of the neighboring military technical school “Erich Habersaath,” would take command of the Rügener Gruppierung. The formation would also be composed of local motorized rifle units, engineers, a military transport regiment, and reservists.



[h2]The Rügener Gruppierung Detailed[/h2]
How will the Rügener Gruppierung look in WARNO? Consider it the second “special group” of the East German Nationale Volksarmee (the other being the already in-game and EA Pack featured Berliner Gruppierung).

In very much the same fashion, the battlegroup contains various independent formations under a single command. In our Berlin case, the 1. Motorisierte Schutzendivision formed its core, while in Rügener Gruppierung, we are talking about a whole array of local East German units, further reinforced by reservists. As mentioned, divisional staff would be provided by the Offiziershochschule “Otto Winzler”. This HQ troop also provides the battlegroup’s coat of arms in WARNO.

Since the island of Rügen was very close to the Polish border, and surrounding naval infrastructure a key asset for the Warsaw Pact, it was intended for the Poles to send additional forces to bolster the East German garrison quickly.

Hence, much like the Belgians teased with the base game’s West German 2. Panzergrenadier-Division, the Rügener Gruppierung will play host to the very first Polish units in WARNO!

[h2]The Rügener Gruppierung in WARNO[/h2]
All right, let’s look at the mix of East German and Polish units you can expect with the Rügener Gruppierung.

As always, new units are marked in bold and italic.

• LOG - pretty good in terms of slots and costs. Although the battlegroup’s command structure was only semi-permanent, its logistical base was well-established thanks to the naval infrastructure on Rügen Island. This is reflected in the WARNO battlegroup.
  
  • Command vehicles are mainly non-combatant: UAZ-469 FÜH., SPW-60PUM (an East German variant of the Soviet CHAÏKA introduced with Nemesis: Air Assault’s 56-ya OG DShB) and the new helicopter Mi-2D.
    
  • Supply units include the MT-LB MUN., URAL-4320 MUN. and the Volksmarine’s amphibious barge, the new SCHWIM. PTS-M MUN.
    

• INF - pretty strong, though not as powerful as a regular infantry division. The battlegroup can count on a varied amount of choices.
  
  • The core of the Rügener Gruppierung was the s.MSR 25, an independent motorized infantry regiment trained to cooperate closely with the East German Volksmarine. This unit provides a sizable chunk of the foot soldiers, though in smaller numbers. This includes:
    
    • MOT.-SCHÜTZEN FÜH., MOT.-SCHÜTZEN, MOT.-SCHÜTZEN FÜH. (SVD) and MOT.-SCHÜTZEN (BTR), as well as PANZERJÄGER squads, PKM and GR.-MG. weapon teams, plus FAGOT and KONKURS ATGM teams.
      
  • Additional infantry squads are MILITARSTREIFEN, SICHERUNGS, VOPOS, plus the SPG-9 recoilless rifle available in regular foot team variant and jeep-mounted.
    
  • Furthermore, a good chunk of the infantry is made up of RESERVISTEN FÜH., RESERVISTEN, and RESERVISTEN (s.MG), all lacking the Resolute trait.
    
  • Specific to Rügen island was the local Marinepionierbataillon 18, which, in war would have been quickly expanded to regiment-size through a large influx of reservists.
    
    • Large 12-man new MARINEPIONIER (with explosives) and MARINEPIONIER (Flam.) plus the leader variant MARINEPIONIER FÜH. will be featured. They lack the Resolute trait.
      
  • And finally, a handful of Polish mechanized infantry will make their debut in WARNO.
    
    • These come in the form of the new PIECHOTA ZMECH. which are 7-man squads with AK, PKM and RPG-7VM, PIECHOTA ZMECH. (SVD) with two assault rifles replaced with one SVD and one extra PKM, and lastly, the command PIECHOTA ZMECH. DOW. with 7 men equipped with AK, RPG-76 Komar and smoke grenades.
      
    • Polish infantry will ride to battle in either a new STAR-266 truck or TOPAS-2A APC (which is a modified BTR-50).
      

• ART - rather average as this battlegroup didn’t have any dedicated artillery reserve. Most of the pieces available were regimental guns or simple mortars, sourced from local artillery or engineering schools. These include:
  
  • The Gr.Wfr. M43 120mm mortar.
    
  • The D-30 122mm and M-46 130mm howitzers.
    
  • One new - and quite rare - unit is the SPW-50PK(MRF) with the “MRF” standing for Minenräumfahrzeug. This is a mine-clearing vehicle, designed to fire two massive coffin-shaped explosive charges to clear enemy minefields. When used as an impoverished MLRS, it can deliver a devastating set of explosives at short ranges. It only contains two shots and no other weaponry. Consider this an East German “Pooratino”!
    

• TANK - mediocre in terms of slots and costs, but with some new options.
  
  • East German armor is quite rare in the area. There are some regimental KPz. T-55A, including the command variant, and the SPW-40P2 MALYUTKA-P courtesy of the s.MSR25.
    
  • A single card of KPz. T-72 is also featured. A handful of these more “advanced” main battle tanks were located in a training and conversion academy near Rügen island.
    
  • Drawn from the reserves, a new Nationale Volksarmee unit: the PAK K-52 85mm, which was a Czechoslovakian-made towed anti-tank gun with performance quite similar to the D-44. It lacks the Resolute trait.
    
  • The Poles will provide a single card of their trademark T-55AM MERIDA, considered an improved T-55AM2.
    

• RECO - very good and despite being far from the frontline, with plenty of naval helicopters and Grenztruppen to watch over the East German sea frontier.
  
  • Classic recon units featured are AUFKLÄRER, AUFKL. PT-76B, and GRENZER. squads.
    
  • New units include the RES.-AUFKLÄRER, which are 3-man scouts with 2x MPi-KMS-72 (AK-47) and 1x LMG-K (RPK light machine guns), lacking the Resolute trait. They can either deploy in armed or unarmed UAZ-469 jeeps or in the new BRDM-1 armored scout car.
    
  • The other new unit is the PIO.AUFK.-TAUCHER, which are scout-engineer divers from the Marinepionierbataillon 18. These squads are reinforced by reservists, making them an 8-man recon squad fielding MPi-AKS-74N, LMG-K, and explosives, lacking the Resolute trait but coming with the Shock trait.
    
  • The cream of the crop will be the elite KSK or Kampfschwimmerkommando 18, the Volksmarine’s combat divers. These are special forces, much like a NVA’s version of the US Navy Seals.
    
    
    
    
  • The Rügener Gruppierung also contains the Volksmarine’s Marinehubschraubergeschwader 18 (Naval Helicopter Squadron 18), the sole user of the new AUKL.Mi-14PL. Although dedicated to anti-submarine hunting, this specialized helicopter carried a ton of sensors and electronic equipment, making it the first domestic East German radar recon helicopter in WARNO.
    
  • Used alongside the Mi-14PL for naval surveillance was the AUFKL. Mi-8TB. This variant is similar to the regular gunship variant but used instead as a recon helicopter decked in a classy blue naval livery. Our existing models have been “tinkered” with for the time being to accommodate the Malyutka rails, but will be redone entirely for the division (this new unit, as well as the existing Mi-8 variants).
    

• AA - another strong category, likely being the battlegroup’s strongest, thanks to its function as an anti-landing battlegroup.
  
  • The usual FLA-RAK. STRELA-2M, FLAK ZU-23-2, and a single card of FLA-SFL 23-4 SHILKA.
    
  • New units include the FLAK S-60 57mm and FLAK KS-19M2 100mm. The first is an ancient World War 2-era gun, a crude Bofors with a larger caliber. The second unit is, once again, an old gun but modernized. World War 2 buffs (and enjoyers of Steel Division 2) should be reminded of the Flak 88mm. This Cold War piece is a similar dual-purpose AA and AT gun, though its anti-air effectiveness lies more in quick-firing barrages and suppression rather than accuracy. However, in a sneaky feat of engineering, it is designed to fire the same ground shells as the T-55A, making good use as a secondary towed anti-tank gun!
    
  • The Volksmarine provides close air defense with several systems used in a shore-based role: the new FASTA-4 which is quad-Strela launcher, reminiscent of the JAVELIN LML; the LO-1800 FASTA-4, using the same missile system but made self-propelled by mounting it on a truck; and the W50 LA/A 25mm, which is a twin 25mm naval gun on a truck.
    
  • Lastly, a beast of a unit. We attached some old and rear area-defense SAMs to the battlegroup in the form of the 2K11M3 KRUG-M3, which is the KUB’s ancestor. Two massive SAM missiles, capable of pulverizing a small plane by just flying into them, feature a range similar to the BUK, but due to their obsolete targeting and on-board electronics can only engage aircraft (not helicopters). It has low accuracy, long reload, and (pricey) supply.
    

• HELO - average with only a few costly slots (though offset by interesting choices).
  
  • These include the light Mi-2URN gunship with rockets and machine guns.
    
  • The Mi-8TB heavy gunship (with the model to be remade, as mentioned before).
    
  • The new Mi-14PL was tested as an anti-ship killer armed with a single Kh-23M. This missile is the same as used by AGM by anti-tank planes. This means we now have a helicopter with a long-range “sniper” anti-tank missile.
    

• AIR - a pretty decent category with plenty of options, some being new. The battlegroup’s air arm focuses on close air support over air superiority with dedicated rocket- and anti-tank planes, plus bombers.
  
  • The sole fighter is the Mi-23ML [AA].
    
  • The Su-22M4 in various CAS loadouts (RKT, HE, CLU), but also a new Su-22M4K [AT2] version with 4x Kh-25ML anti-tank missiles.
    
  • Another new variant of an existing plane is the MiG-23BN [KMGU], which is the Warsaw Pact’s HE cluster answer to NATO’s anti-personnel TORNADO [MW1].
    
  • And lastly, the Poles will provide the ancient Lim-6M, which is a locally produced variant of the venerable MiG-17. Deployed with the battlegroup in full rocket loadout, it's more at home close to the border rather than being deployed in the field by a frontline Polish division.
    

The Rügener Gruppierung is a reserve defensive battlegroup with strong AA and versatile infantry. This division will be more at ease defending than attacking.
[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s all for the EA Pack Plus divisions. We hope to be able to share when they launch soon. We’ll return with more juicy WARNO news next week…

Join the 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, commander.

Hello commanders,

Not too long ago, we released a little game called WARNO out of Early Access, and with this wonderful launch, we experienced the necessary last-minute technical hic-ups and issues (to be known hereafter as “the snafu”).

As you might remember, we promised to make amend by adding two extra new divisions - for free - to the already existing EA Pack (creating in effect an EA Pack Plus). As you might remember, this EA Pack, with five divisions, was made available for free to all EA owners of WARNO.

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll go into detail about NATO’s offering, showing you what you can expect in-game (next week, it will be the Warsaw Pact’s turn which we will keep a secret for now).

So, let’s welcome to the stage NATO’s US 35th Infantry Division!



[h2]EA Pack plus[/h2]
What’s this whole EA Pack thingy? All owners of WARNO during its Early Access period have automatic and free access to this pack. Latecomers (so players who bought WARNO after its official launch) can still purchase the EA Pack separately.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978610/WARNO__Early_Access_Pack/

The EA Pack features 5 divisions, 3 of them representing formations in and around a Cold War-era divided Berlin and 2 additional battlegroups. And soon, 2 more will be added.

The current list:

• NATO’s Berlin Command contains the combined forces of three Western Allied garrisons stationed in West Berlin during the Cold War.
  
• The Soviet 6th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade is East Berlin’s powerful garrison.
  
• The East German Berliner Gruppierung is built up around a Nationale Volksarmee’s motorized rifle division, its wartime task to eliminate West Berlin as part of Unternehmen Zentrum.
  
• American 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) contains a substantial National Guard component.
  
• The Soviet 27th Guards Motorized Rifle Division was used to trial the latest Cold War equipment available to the Soviet Army as part of the “Division 90” concept.

In the very near future, NATO’s US 35th Infantry Division and the still-to-be-disclosed Warsaw Pact division will make their way to the EA Pack (release date to be determined)!

Please note that the Early Access Pack is not the same as the Expansion Pack, which gives pre-order access to two major expansions and two Nemesis DLC.



[h2]The US 35th Infantry Division’s History[/h2]
The National Guards’ 35th Infantry Division has a long and distinguished combat career, seeing the light in World War I, with action in the Vosges mountains area in France in the summer and fall of 1918. One of the notable soldiers was the later US president, Captain Harry S. Truman. After the war, the division was inactivated until the next big conflict.

The 35th Infantry Division got its nickname, the “Santa Fe Division,” from the distinctive blue cross in a circle insignia. Most of its initial recruits hailed from Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, with a heavy presence of National Guard units.

During World War II, the division spent its first few years training and working up before shipping out to England and then France, landing in early July 1944. Fighting with distinction in Normandy, the 35th Infantry Division took later part in the relief efforts aimed at Bastogne. After further combat in Germany saw the formation finishing the war in Hanover.



During the Cold War, once again after a brief intermission, the division was first reformed as a pentomic division before being inactivated. The 35th Infantry Division was re-established as a mechanized infantry division in the early 1980s. Its fighting forces were composed of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kentucky National Guard units. The division was earmarked for deployment in Europe in case of WW3.



[h2]The US 35th Infantry Division’s Detailed[/h2]
What can we expect from the 35th Infantry Division in WARNO? Aside from its air forces, the battlegroup will be a 95% filled National Guard formation, acting as the true American counterpart to the West German Territorialkommando Süd or East German K.d.A. Bezirk Erfurt.



One distinctive feature is that the division has as many armored as it has infantry battalions. This makes it sort of a missing link between an American mechanized and tank division. In WARNO, there will be an equal number of INF and TANK slots.

Please note that a lot of the units are already existing ones with the Reservist trait added. We only marked the really new units in bold and italic (see further below). Likewise, if not mentioned specifically, all units with N.G. (National Guard) will feature the Reservist trait.

[h2]The US 35th Infantry Division in WARNO[/h2]
How will the National Guard units of the 35th Infantry Division look like in WARNO?

• LOG - pretty average.
  
  • The division still uses the old GAMA GOAT (introduced with the 101st Airborne Division in Nemesis: Air Assault and hasn’t received the new HEMTT as a supply truck. And, instead of the M35, it relies squarely on the heavier (and new unit) M813A1 truck for its supply haulin’. This new supply truck will feature more payload than the M35 but less than the HEMTT.
    
  • CVs featured are the usual array of M151 MUTT, M577 CPC, and a few heliborne UH-60A CO.

• INF - a solid category. As explained, the 35th Infantry Division can call on more INF slots than an armored division, but less compared to a mechanized one.
  
  • Riflemen squads receive the Reservist trait. This includes the N.G. RIFLES LDR. Combat squads are 9 men strong, fielding M16A1 and M60 machine guns, with different AT weapons available: N.G. RIFLES (LAW), N.G. RIFLES (DRAGON) and N.G. RIFLES (M67).
    
  • Engineers also sport the Reservist trait and include N.G. ENGINEERS LDR., N.G. ENGINEERS, N.G. ENGINEERS (FLAM.) and N.G. ENGINEERS (M67). These are larger squads, sometimes sporting old equipment, even WW2-vintage M3 Grease Guns and M2 Flamethrowers.

• All infantry support weapon teams are available. These include M60, M2HB, the new M40A1 RCL, TOW and I-TOW, all with the Reservist trait.
  
• All the National Guardsmen are brought to the battlefield in trucks or N.G. M113A1 APCs.
  
• The only infantry units without the Reservist trait will be the MPs, with a rather useful Military Police trait. These squads will even get their own (new) M1025 HUMVEE MP (armed with an M60). This jeep will also have the Military Police trait.

• ART - a pretty good and strong category with plenty of cheap slots. While it can’t count on an MLRS battery, it receives an entire M110A2 battalion instead.
  
  • All of its choices are National Guard units with the Reservist trait. These include the new M29 81mm (towed “foot” version of the one mounted on the M125) plus M30 107mm mortars, M125 and M106A2 self-propelled mortars, M109A2 and M110A2 self-propelled howitzers.

• TANK - another good category. As mentioned previously, the 35th Infantry Division features more TANK slots than a mechanized division but fewer than a true armored formation.
  
  • The battlegroup relies entirely on older M60 Patton tanks, both N.G. M60A3 (TTS) and National Guards’ M60A1 RISE PASSIVE (abbreviated to N.G. M60A1 RISE in-game). All units will deploy with the Reservist trait.

• Much like the Marines did with their tanks during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, we have added a battlefield-customized (new) N.G. M60A3 (TTS) ERA variant with reactive bricks.
  
• Both the new M60A1 CP and M60A3 (TTS) CP are leader units without the Reservist trait.
  
• The division can also deploy the N.G. M728 CEV.
  
• And lastly, the tank destroying department is made up of older N.G. M151A2 I-TOW and the newer (and new) N.G. M150A2 TOW-2.

• RECO - a little bit less stellar, with some original choices, but mediocre in terms of slots and cost.
  
  • The division’s recon battalion was an old-style “cavalry” one with tanks and scouts intermixed (much like the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment).
    
  • These include the N.G. SCOUTS already featured with the 24th Infantry Division, transported in M151, N.G. M113 ACAV or UH-1H HUEY.
    
  • The new N.G. CAV. SCOUTS (LAW) and N.G. CAV. SCOUTS (Dragon), which are large 8-man squads brought to the battlefield in trucks, N.G. M113A1 or UH-1H HUEY.
    
  • The unarmed (new) N.G. OH-58A recon helicopter.
    
  • The “cavalry” N.G. M60A1 ACAV recon tank.
    
  • And a brand-new unit type that will be tested for the very first time with this division: the recon plane! This will take the form of the new and non-National Guard OA-37B DRAGONFLY, a slow (but faster than any helicopter) plane armed with rockets.

• AA - average in terms of slots and costs, but there are some interesting unit options, probably better than most other American divisions.
  
  • Why’s that? The division uses shiny Euro-tech! In the 1980s, the US Army was interested in the Roland missile system, testing it and even approving it, but this endeavor never materialized into something more concrete. Instead, it passed whatever Roland stock that was acquired to the National Guard.
    
  • This means that the 35th Infantry Division is equipped with the new N.G. XM1058 US-ROLAND. This is basically a Roland turret mounted on a M812 truck (the same heavy chassis as the M813A1 supply truck in LOG). In real life, the US Army bought the Roland 2, but with low stock, we considered they would have been supplied upon landing on the Old Continent due to World War III, with compatible Roland 3 missiles by their thankful French and German NATO allies.

• Another new unit is the much older (but cool) N.G. M42A1 DUSTER, a SPAAG sporting twin Bofors in an open-top turret. Lacking radar and equipped with old-fashioned sights, this AA vehicle is not a sniper but still very dangerous and lethal at close range to both low-flying and ground targets.
  
• MANPAD teams are divided between the new N.G. REDEYE and N.G. STINGER.
  
• And some non-National Guard I-HAWK have been added to the formation.

• HELO - not very good, with only a few slots and all being very pricey.
  
  • The division can only count on Cobra gunships in the form of the new N.G. AH-1S (ECAS)[. This one is, stat-wise at least, exactly the same as the AH-1F Cobra with the Reservist trait, but featuring a new model. The N.G. AH-1F TOWCOBRA can also be deployed.
    
  • The National Guard kept some old UH-1M GUNSHIP running. These are Vietnam War-era predecessors of the AH-1E, with 2x M134 gatling guns, 2x 19-strong rocket pods, and 1x grenade launcher in the nose.

• AIR - is average but all aircraft are non-National Guard.
  
  • The division relies on the F-111F in HE, CLU, NPLM, and LGB2 load-outs for ground pounding and the F-16C in AA, AT, and SEAD for air superiority and armor sniping.
    
  • A new plane includes close air support variants of the Dragonfly, in the form of the light AB-37B [HE] and AB-37B [NPLM] bombers.

The 35th Infantry Division will turn out to be a well-rounded formation, lacking resilience due to the widespread Reservist trait, but compensating this with low prices and high unit availability.

[h2]Some General Unit Changes[/h2]
On a separate note, we plan two generic changes that are not specifically related to the 35th Infantry Division but will affect it:

• All Dragon I and II plus Metis light ATGM will be decreased in range to a more realistic 1250m. On the other hand, there will be an increase in accuracy and/or a price buff for the units equipped with these weapons.
  
• All 4-man MP squads with only assault rifles or machine guns will also feature the Security trait. More heavily armed or larger squads, including leader MP units, will continue to feature only the Military Police trait. Dedicated military police vehicles will all receive the Military Police trait as well.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
All right, commanders, we’ll be back next week with more of our beefed-up EA Pack: the East German Rügener Gruppierung.

Join the 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, commander.

Hello, hello, hello.

Nemesis: Air Assault’s release featured the first unit with the fabled 4th weapon slot. This was not an error or a one-off. In today’s DevBlog, we’ll shine the light on an upcoming new feature coming to WARNO on a broader scale in the near future: the 4th Weapon Slot.

Keep reading for all the juicy details!

[h2]A Mystical Beast[/h2]
The 4th Weapon Slot is a mystical beast that has long been sought after, but after tweaking the UI and some engine changes, it is finally within reach. It might not look so on the surface, but adding an additional weapon required development and extensive testing. Mind you, that the addition of the 4th Weapon Slot will be implemented wherever useful (not all units will gain this extra slot).



In order to check if it works (and we didn’t blow up WARNO in the process), it was decided that the guinea pigs of the 4th Weapon Slot were going to be a new nation in active development: the Poles! This also gives us the cheeky opportunity to show off some of the new units of the upcoming NORTHAG expansion.



Keep in mind that the following is all work in progress.

[h2]The 4th Weapon Slot In Action[/h2]
So, why the 4th Weapon Slot? It holds several advantages:

• It allows us to distinguish between different infantry units better.
  For example, the Polish motorized infantry (SKOT-borne) was organized as 9-man squads, although a tenth hot seat in the APC was reserved for “hitchhikers” which could include the platoon’s lone DMR marksman. The regular Polish squad will be organized in WARNO as per regulation, with 9 soldiers, which will include one PKM (the Poles didn’t use a magazine-fed SAW) and one RPG-7. However, we will create another unit (see below), representing the one-out-of-three squads in each platoon that housed the DMR - thus adding one soldier equipped with a SVD. Since Polish platoons held an extra PKM at platoon level for discretionary use, it will also be given to the latter squad, in effect forming the “fire base” element of the platoon.

• Some armies still used SMGs or short-carbine versions of assault rifles for officers and second-line troops. The new 4th weapon slot lets us feature this on top of the “holy trinity” currently featured: assault rifles, LGMs, and AT weapons.
  
• But it also lets us correct some historical small arms and weapon distribution we couldn’t model accurately until now. For instance, the American MECH. RIFLES field 3x SAW in-game, though in real life it was 2x SAW plus 1x LMG (and other weapons).

• We can also now model disposable anti-tank rocket launchers with those engineer units deprived of them due to having maxed out their assault rifle, SAW/LMG, and explosives loadout.
  
• This allows us to add a 4th weapon to the squads where this was the case, such as a DMR in an infantry unit already fielding assault rifles, SAWs, or LMG, plus an AT weapon.

[h2]Featuring the 4th Weapon Slot[/h2]
As you can see, the upcoming Warsaw Pact’s new communist-led Ludowe Wojsko Polskie or Polish People’s Army will also benefit from this 4th Weapon Slot. It will be retroactively added to all other armies in WARNO wherever necessary or we see fit. This will come as part of a future patch. We will also use this opportunity to add a new weapon and mechanic to some specialized infantry units, including commanding units and assault squads: the smoke grenade.

And yes, the 4th Weapon Slot will also find its way to select vehicles. In certain cases, we had to delete a machine gun on a main battle tank as it exceeded the number of weapon slots available. This was most often the case when we had to feature an ATGM, chiefly on gun-tube-missile-firing Soviet tanks.



Our intention is also to expand the 4th Weapon Slot to aircraft, but this is still under consideration. It requires more thorough model and engine changes, and we cannot be sure this will be feasible. We will update you, of course, but keep this in mind if, in the first batch, planes will not be updated with the new weapon slot mechanic.


[h2]Nemesis: Air Assault[/h2]
As you might know, the Nemesis: Air Assault DLC dropped earlier this week. As one of the first Nemesis DLC for WARNO, it features two new divisions and a host of new units, models, weapons, and the like.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978640/WARNO__Nemesis_1__Air_Assault/

Nemesis: Air Assault features the hardy veterans of the Soviet 56-ya O.G. DShB, or 56th Separate Guards Air Assault, and the elite American 101st Airborne Division. Check out the dedicated previews to read all about the new weapons and units featured by these two new divisions in Nemesis: Air Assault.

[h2]Until Next Week[/h2]
That’s all for this week. We’ll be back soon with more WARNO news.

Join the 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, commander.

[h3]Code fixes[/h3]

• Fixed a crash that occurred when a FOB was captured or destroyed by an enemy.
  
• Fixed a crash that happened when attempting to launch a multiplayer campaign initiated in a previous version.
  
• Resolved a black screen issue that appeared when trying to start a multiplayer campaign from a previous version.
  
• Fixed a bug in Army General that occurred when loading an autosave created before a battle.
  
• Adjusted the napalm effect used by certain units to reduce the excessively large area of impact.