WARNO News

Hello commander!

We hope you are well. Recently, we released the much-awaited Destruction mode, which dropped in WARNO courtesy of our post-SUCHET update.

A bit of a mea culpa. It was brought to our attention that while various of our veterans were happily tearing through the Destruction mode-enabled WARNO battlefield, seeing those lovely little points pop up left and right, many players not familiar with Destruction felt out of their depth.

Our apologies! This DevBlog is dedicated to newcomers and veterans alike in explaining what Destruction mode is, a brief history, and how it is different compared to Conquest mode.

Keep on reading!

[h2]A Short History of Destruction[/h2] Destruction mode has been around for a long time. We first created it when we developed RUSE. That was a mighty 12 years ago!



Our goal for RUSE was to create a “pure” strategy game, where neither hardcore micromanagement (think clicks per second) nor forced game rules would prove to be a path to win.

As both fans and developers of real-time strategy games, we concluded that a match was typically over when one side had inflicted a critical amount of losses on its opponent. When this happened, it would be almost impossible for the latter to reverse their fortunes on the battlefield.

So, we thought, what if we display the losses for each side? Furthermore, what if we showed it as direct feedback on player actions (destroying units)? This would be useful as an information tool AND a special kind of motivation. Those little counters really want to make you… destroy more stuff!

When the spiritual ancestor to WARNO came around, Wargame: European Escalation, not only did we decide to keep the Destruction game mode, we put it at the heart of our game! Since then, although we moved towards Conquest as being the default play mode of our subsequent titles, we retained and updated Destruction mode in all our games. See it as a legacy of a legacy!



[h2]What is Destruction?[/h2]
To make things clear: within WARNO, Destruction and Conquest modes are not exactly modes, but instead, they are labelled as game rules in a game’s lobby. We’ll keep referring to them as modes for all intents and purposes.

Counterintuitively, Destruction mode is a game mode where conquering terrain is vital to winning. Indeed, your in-game economy depends on it. Within the mode, each command zone captured increases your income by a certain sum per second. The income increase revolves around how many and which zones you control. The more command zones you control with a Command Unit, especially the ones that net you a higher income, the more units you can field… and, thus, a player’s ability to apply pressure on the enemy.

In other words, controlling real estate on the battlefield brings a definite economic advantage. This will eventually shift the power in favor to the player or team who controls more zones and, therefore, income. So where Destruction mode control zones give you extra income, in Conquest mode control zones give you victory points.

[h2]A little bit of destruction[/h2]
In Destruction mode, these victory points are won by destroying units. Each time you destroy a unit, you earn its deployment price in points. This means the bigger and more expensive units you destroy, the more victory points you’ll gain. So now we have an interesting gameplay dynamic where the player controlling more zones can deploy more expensive units. Still, if you don’t take care of these units, they might run the chance of being destroyed and giving your opponent more victory points.



Destruction mode is about applying overwhelming destruction in a local area to smash as many valuable units as possible while retaining the greatest economy of force for your side. A marked difference between Conquest and Destruction mode is that the latter has a different rhythm, often more brutal and intense.

When reintroducing the mode to WARNO, we also took the opportunity to make sure Destruction makes each existing map feel unique. Deployment and reinforcement routes are different, as are command zone locations. As we already mentioned, we are updating more maps to host Destruction mode. A whole bunch of them are being tested by the Strike Team. Get ready for some more sneak peeks soon!



[h2]New units coming with the next patch[/h2]
So, before we leave you be, some more news: we will feature two new units (with new models) in the next patch. Both units will find their way into the Warsaw Pact’s VDV 35th Guards Air Assault Brigade.

• 1V119 REOSTAT - an airborne recon radar on a BMD-1 hull.
  

• Mi-8MTV - a Mi-8 modified based on the Soviet Army’s Afghan War experience, with better protection (ECM and flares) against AA, specifically Stinger MANPADS.
  

The upcoming OUDINOT milestone is ready to be tested. The major update will soon run the gauntlet of the Strike Team before its full release.



[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
That’s it for this week. Don’t forget to 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!


[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Hello, hello!

After our OUDINOT milestone previews, we looked at two brand-spanking new divisions (Berlin Command and Unternehmen Zentrum) centered on the Battle for Berlin. Now it is time for another exciting new reveal!

That’s right: we are working on a new type of map for WARNO. In today’s DevBlog, let’s look at Twin Cities.



[h2]A new experience[/h2]
Long-requested by WARNO fans, Twin Cities is THE FIRST of a brand-new type of map with urban elements not seen before in the game.

A map like Twin Cities takes a little longer to produce because urban elements require a good amount of graphic resources. Gameplay impact can also significantly affect the engine and server load. Simply put: while it might look cool, playing takes a bit of rewiring under the WARNO hood, especially when factoring in different levels of destruction.

However, our programmers, designers, and map makers have been busy to see if, and how, a new kind of map could fit within WARNO. And work it did! So, what are all the cool things you get to play with our new Twin Cities map?



[h2]Twin Cities[/h2] Twin Cities is a new 83 km² battlefield, designed for 3v3 and 4v4 plays. A couple of new environmental elements can be found on this map.

• A highway crossing the map.
  
  
  
  
• New cities with new models of large high-rise housing.
  
  
  
  
• New fire FX at the start of a game.
  
  
  
  
• Added farms, houses, and scenery (partially) destroyed.
  
  

Twin Cities as a battlefield is symmetrical and balanced, with alternating open, clear views and more defensible areas. Besides destroyed structures, new building models, and new destruction animations, the new map is a big step forward in improving the visual aspects of WARNO’s maps.

All of this, in our opinion, really reinforces the World War III feel and atmosphere! Let us know what you think.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]A new major WARNO patch[/h2]
In case you missed it, a major patch dropped earlier this week! Check out all the improvements, updates, and changes in the post-SUCHET patch here. A highlight of the most important ones:

• New HMG teams (including automatic grenade launchers) added to all divisions.
  
• New Destruction mode! The popular mode returns and can be played on Two Lakes 2v2, Two Ways 2v2, and Ripple 2v2. Destruction will also find its way to other maps in future patches!
  
• Ranked playable on more maps. Existing maps, Geisa 1v1 and Chemical 2v2, have been added to Ranked online play.
  
• Helicopters will be showcased in the new Helipad environment in Armory. New light settings are now also available.
  
• A host of fixes and updates to a range of units and features, including the Line of Sight tool, Autocannon overhaul, missing smoke launchers, supply cost updates, some love for the British 1st Armoured Division, and much, much more!
  

We are busy preparing a hotfix with some of the technical issues encountered!

[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
We hope you liked this DevBlog. Let us know what you think!

And don’t forget to 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!

FEATURES:

• new: HMG teams (including automatic grenade launchers) added to all divisions
  
• new: Destruction mode available on Two Lakes 2v2, Two Ways 2v2 & Ripple 2v2. More to be released in the next patches.
  
• Geisa 1v1 is available in ranked
  
• Chemical 2v2 is available in ranked
  
• helicopters in the armory are now displayed in their own helipad environment (although still "work in progress")
  
• you can now switch between different light settings in the armory (once the shortcut is set in the settings)
  

QoL / IMPROVEMENTS:

• the "display line of sight" shortcut now only show information about the position under the cursor. The "Line of sight" button show information about the currently selected unit
  
• improved some FXs' performance
  
• obsolete mods are no more loaded when a new version is released
  
• the attack cursor now also use out of range weapon to show the best weapon.
  
• some improvements in the selected unit weapons panel
  
• improved players' name readability in the replay panel
  

CODE FIXES:

• fixed line of sight not displayed on building when using "display line of sight" shortcut after loading a saved game.
  
• fixed crash when reinforcing a smart group that contains infantry in district.
  
• fixed influence feedback on command zone displayed under water.
  
• fixed columns order in the lobby deck selection panel.
  
• fixed "BATTLEGORUP" instead of "BATTLEGROUP" in the 3RD ARMORED default deck name.
  
• fixed one rare desync between players.
  
• "TRAJECTORY" replaced by "TRAVEL TIME" in the unit info panel
  

DATA FIXES:

• fixed PARAS SAS' number of weapons
  
• fixed GAZELLE CELTIC's Mistral missile which couldn't fire on the move as other AA helos
  
• fixed VLRA PAMELA's Mistral missile's reload time from 20 to 10, as other MANPADs
  
• fixed ERC-90 SAGAIE's gun which was half-HEAT, half-AP
  
• fixed GREEN BERETS's classification, being considered Engineers instead of Infantry
  
• fixed PARAS SAS' optics, on par with other recon squads
  
• fixed French and German 20mm autocannon's bursts being much too short compared to their counterparts
  
• fixed (meaning increased) all dumb bombs (but 250-340kg, already correct)'s area of effect radius
  
• fixed the KPz. T-72's HE range from 2275m to 2100m, on par with its AP one.
  

DISCLAIMER:

• We are aware of a random crash in the armory and we are working on finding a fix.
  

----------

AUTOCANON OVERHAUL:
gunships & IFVs' RoF aligned with real ones regarding salvos and time between salvos
decreased MARDER's 20mm anti-helicopter range from 1600m (actually 1575m) to 1425m
decreased AMX-10P's 20mm anti-helicopter range from 1600m (actually 1575m) to 1425m
decreased VAB T-20/12's 20mm anti-helicopter range from 1600m (actually 1575m) to 1425m
decreased BMP-2's 30mm anti-helicopter range from 1600m (actually 1575m) to 1425m
decreased BMP-3's 30mm anti-helicopter range from 1775m (actually 1750m) to 1425m
increased (all) COBRA's 20mm ranges from 1200m/1225m to 1575m/1425m
increased (all) Mi-24VP's 23mm ranges from 1200m/1225m to 1575m/1425m
increased Mi-8MT [UPK]'s 23mm ranges from 1200m/1225m to 1575m/1425m
changed (all) AH-64 APACHE's 30mm ranges from 1575m/1775m to 1775m/1425m
changed (all) Ka-50's 30mm ranges from 1575m/1600m to 1775m/1425m
changed (all) Mi-24P's 30mm ranges from 1575m/1775m to 1775m/1425m
decreased M2HB 12,7mm HMG's anti-helicopter range from 1775m to 1050m
decreased KPV & KPVT 14,5mm HMG's anti-helicopter range from 1775m to 1050m
increased Mi-24V & Mi-24D's Yak-9 gatling ranges from 1025m/1050m to 1200m/1050

MISSING SMOKE LAUNCHERS ADDED ON:
BMP-1P
Spz BMP-1P
Spz BMP-1P SP1
Spz BMP-1P SP2
BTR-80
BTR-D
BTR-RD ROBOT
SAXON
AMX 10 (all tracked & wheeled ones)
AMX AuF1
ERC 10 Sagaie
VAB T20/13
AML 90
M113GA1 MUN.
HS.30 PZ.MÖRSER
PANZERMÖRSER
M48A2 (all)
GREEN ARCHER

PARACHUTE REGIMENT GROUP:
We're adding to the British 1st Armored Division the Parachute Regiment Group. Those three (Territorial Army) paratrooper battalions were to be dropped between WP forces & the 1st Armored Division's positions with a sacrifice mission to give the later time to regroup.
They were given extra-MILAN allocations and were basically an ATGM screen.

Hello commander!

This week, we’ll look at Berlin Command’s Warsaw Pact counterpart: Unternehmen Zentrum.

As a reminder: two new, previously undisclosed divisions will come as part of the OUDINOT milestone. The pair of battlegroups will be free for all owners of the Early Access version of WARNO. They are gifted as a Eugen’s thank you to all the players who got in early and helped us develop the game!

Let’s see how this East German and Soviet battlegroup would have fared in the Battle for Berlin (1989).

[h2]A special kind of liberation[/h2] Unternehmen Zentrum (standing for Operation Center) was Warsaw Pact’s secret plan to invade West Berlin and get rid of its pesky NATO defenders. We have given the same name to WARNO’s battlegroup, with a mix of East German and Soviet forces specialized in urban warfare.



The troops involved in the Battle for Berlin would have been drawn from two principal sources: the East German 1. Motorisierte Schützendivision (1st Motorized Rifle Division) and the Soviet 6th Independent Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade. If you recall, each NATO ally was only allowed one brigade within the city's confines. The Soviets, likewise, could only deploy a single brigade in East Berlin. The East Germans, like the West Germans, were forbidden to deploy a single unit within the city. Tough luck for NATO, they just deployed on the city’s perimeter, providing the forces for the main assault.



While the local NATO defenders in West Berlin didn’t really pose a threat to the Warsaw Pact, being too weak to mount any offensive or breakout, this outpost was still a major inconvenience in the eyes of the political and military leadership. As such, in the case of World War III, West Berlin would have been cleared as soon as possible, to remove this pesky thorn in the side of the Soviets and East Germans. Over the years, these war plans were updated, with the latest (real-life) examples originating from the late 80s.

[h2]A bit more context[/h2]
All of these secret plans were destroyed, but enough documentation (and interviews with former NVA officers after Germany’s reunification) paints a pretty realistic picture of how the Battle of Berlin would have unfolded from a Warsaw Pact’s point of view. Only the two last versions have been reconstructed: Unternehmen Stoss (Operation Thrust) in 1986, and its latest variant, Unternehmen Zentrum (Operation Center) from 1987.



These war plans were rehearsed during actual yearly military operations (Borderkante) with other East German cities earmarked as the training’s objectives, though all could see they were thinly veiled as West Berlin. These included targets identifiable as being proxies for German’s historical capital and three different (American, British and French) NATO garrisons.

The taking of West Berlin was to be done as quickly as possible, with the task accomplished through overwhelming firepower. The initial attack would have been airstrikes, followed by intense barrages of artillery fire. East German paratroopers would have helidropped onto West Berlin’s two airports, while the Soviet brigade would surge out from Brandenburger Gate, bisecting the city defenders.



The first targets would have been the British, with the French and Americans to be mopped up later. At the same time, numerous axis of advance from the city limits, mainly from the East German motorized riflemen, would start pressing on the West Berlin defenders from the outside. Resistance was expected to cease after two days. Clearing the NATO forces would take two more. Warsaw Pact planners would have given the entire operation three to four days.

If you want more details about Operation Center, we suggest you read this article.

[h2]Unternehmen Zentrum detailed[/h2] Unternehmen Zentrum would use the East German 1st Motorized Rifle Division and the Soviet 6th Independent Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade. A host of local forces, as well as specialized formations, were to assist in the operation.

This included:

• The entire Soviet 40th Artillery Brigade, positioned around West Berlin, with its army-level heavy artillery and MRLS batteries. A serious amount of ordnance would be dropped on West Berlin to aid its… liberation.
  
• The Soviet 2nd Engineer Brigade for specialized support, including sappers and combat engineers.
  
• The 1st Battalion (FJB-40) of the elite East German airborne and special forces Luftsturmregiment 40. Officially stationed to guard the Ministry of National Defense’s sector, its true purpose was to capture Tegel and Templehof airfields in a heliborne assault.
  
• The Stasi (the East German dreaded state security service) featured an armed branch called Wachregiment "Feliks E. Dzierzynski". Trained as urban warfare specialists, these elite soldiers would be a force to be reckoned with.
  
• No less than six Grenzschutzen (Border Guards) regiments would provide additional soldiers. Keeping a vigilant eye on the Berlin Wall and outer city limits, in combat situations, they would first clear the comprehensive border obstacles, then advance on the assault troops' flanks to secure them. These units could also call on their own artillery regiment.
  
• Three battalions of the East German paramilitary police, the Kasernierte Volkspolizei, contributed to the operation. Lightly armed, they had access to a few World War II guns.
  
• And our East German paramilitary friends of the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse (Combat Groups of the Working Class) would also be called up to take part.
  

[h2]What can you expect in-game?[/h2]
So, how will Unternehmen Zentrum division look like in WARNO?

• LOG - Much like its NATO counterpart, Unternehmen Zentrum can count on a well-stocked logistics category. A large quantity of supply and command units will be available from both East German and Soviet sources.
  
• INF - The division relies on a copious amount of infantry choices, ranging from amateur soldiers such as VPB police officers or KdA militia to elite East German Fs-Jäger squads.
  
  • Regular Mot.-Schützen and Motostrelki and the associated weapon teams with recoilless rifles, ATGMs and HMGs, are also available. Soviet Saperi can be deployed in greater numbers than usual.
    
  • A special feature of the division is the presence of the dreaded Wachschützen, hard-hitting squads lavishly equipped and expertly trained for urban warfare. They come in three different flavors with a mix of Skorpion SMGs, brand-new StG 941 and 942 assault rifles, satchel demolition charges, Strela-2M MANPADs, and even a few RPO Rys thermobaric launchers, courtesy of their Soviet comrade-in-arms.
    
  
• ART - The king of the battlefield is very well represented in Unternehmen Zentrum. With a wide array of pieces, calibers and tubes, Soviet and East German artillery would combine their overwhelming firepower to lay waste to West Berlin.
  
  • Heavy guns are available, most of them towed (as if counter-battery artillery fire would be much of a problem). These range from 120mm mortars, 122mm, 130mm and 152mm howitzers. The only real self-propelled gun is the Soviet 2S1.
    
  • The rather unusual and very venerable Grenzschützen’s ZiS-3 dual-purpose artillery piece (year of introduction, 1942) also makes an appearance. A decent artillery and AT gun suitable for warfare…. from a previous era.
    
  • Rocket launchers include the East German RM-70 and napalm-equipped BM-21, as well as Urugan. No target other than West Berlin would have been more worthy than the addition of the Soviet Army’s latest mass-killing machine, the mighty TOS-1 Buratino.
    
  
• TNK - An average category in terms of cost and number available, though the unit selection is rather diverse.
  
  • The 1. Motorisierte Schützendivision could only count on older T-55 and T-55AM2 tanks. Anti-tank forces also include BRDM-2 and PaK 100mm guns.
    
  • The Soviet brigade had their share of T-64 tanks. For reasons unknown, by 1987, a handful of T-80s could also be found in its armored arsenal.
    
  • Not a good piece of equipment should go to waste, including decidedly vintage World War II ones. East German militia and police forces fielded the timeless T-34/85 and light ZiS-2 57mm AT gun. The latter unit, being short-ranged and firing only AP high-velocity rounds (no HE), won’t be a threat to modern main battle tanks but can still wreak havoc on an APC or IFV column thanks to its high accuracy & RoF!
    
  
• REC - Like its NATO counterpart, there was not much need for dedicated reconnaissance troops in the Battle for Berlin. Enemy concentrations and defensible positions should have been well known. A typical choice of BRDM-2, Aufklärer, Mot. Razvedka is featured, as well as light Grenzer squads.
  
• AA - A rather strong category for the division. Warsaw Pact forces put in a concerted effort to deny any Western aircraft from leaving the city after the outbreak of World War III. Any fleeing plane would have been shot down within seconds of taking off, with a prominent belt of AA defenses pointed outwards to prevent any NATO aircraft flying from West Germany from assisting. From MANDPADs to Strela-10 and Buk-M1, AA units are plentiful and potent.
  
• HELO - Not one of the most powerful categories. West Berlin is not very helicopter friendly, with plenty of opportunity to be shot down in the congested urban terrain. This means a limited amount of East German Mi-24D [AA] and fire support Mi-8 flying top cover for the paratroopers coup de main at West Berlin’s airports, further backed by a handful of Soviet Mi-24VP.
  
• AIR - Ground-pounding aircraft make up most of the units. These include Su-17 and Su-22M4 attack planes from both East German and Soviet air forces. Plenty of air-to-ground munitions would be available, from 240mm rockets to UPK pods/80mm rocket combos. Lacking any perceived NATO air threat, fighter cover is limited to a couple of MiG-23ML fighters.
  

With a host of infantry options, backed by solid artillery and air-defense units, Unternehmen Zentrum is a hard-hitting division destined to slog it out in brutal house-to-house combat. Operations in tight (urban) terrain are where the battlegroup excels, but it can still hold its ground thanks to its decent armored and airborne forces. While numbers are impressive, vintage and obsolete equipment, as well as reserve and lightly armed troops, fill up Unternehmen Zentrum’s ranks.

[h2]A brief update on the next update[/h2]
Before we leave you be, some news on the next WARNO patch.

We originally planned to release the update this week, but as it happens, the calendar played against us. The earliest possible release date would have been today, but since Friday, November 11th, is a bank holiday in France (the commemoration of World War I’s Armistice), we decided to release it next week instead. If not, it would have meant releasing a major patch before a three-day weekend, with no way for us to monitor and hotfix any issue quickly.

And this is a big update, bringing the Destruction mode, HMG teams, a host of new features and improvements, the autocannon overhaul, plus lots of balance changes. We really didn’t want to take the chance.

That’s why we will deliver the patch to the Strike Team first, which will be allowed to stream for the upcoming long weekend. Barring any major bug or issue report, we will release the patch next week!



[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
All right, that’s all for Unternehmen Zentrum. Do tell us what you think!

In the meantime: join the passionate 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!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Hello commander!

After last week’s sizzling info drop of WARNO upcoming milestone OUDINOT, the time has come to detail the first of two new divisions! Let’s welcome to the stage NATO’s multinational mixed Berlin Command division.

To reiterate, OUDINOT will bring two new, previously undisclosed divisions to WARNO’s base game. These battlegroups will be made available for FREE to all owners of the Early Access version of WARNO.

This is Eugen’s present to all the players who supported WARNO’s development by getting the Early Access version of our sprawling real-time strategy World War III battle simulator!

What will the mixed Berlin Command division offer?

[h2]The Battle for Berlin (1989)[/h2]
We already detailed our war scenario, the so-called Battle For Berlin, which influences the inclusion of our multinational Berlin Command. Made up of the three major NATO garrisons in the West Berlin enclave - the United States, the United Kingdom, and France - the battlegroup would have had the unenviable task of defending a NATO outpost surrounded on all sides, deep in Warsaw Pact territory.



With WARNO’s Warsaw Pact’s strategic offensive raging across the Inner German Border in the early summer of 1989, an attack on West Berlin would be inevitable and begin as soon as the first shots of World War III would have been fired. Berlin Command would count on the forces already present in the city, undoubtedly reinforced (in secret) by NATO through covert means in our ”March to War” build-up.

This would present a unique mix of troops and materiel, tasked with delaying the overwhelming Soviet and East German forces for as long as possible. The NATO battlegroup would face brutal urban combat, dwindling supplies, and a lack of heavy weaponry. Little help from outside could be expected, but Berlin Command was to put up a hell of a fight regardless.

[h2]Berlin Command Detailed[/h2]
So, what can you expect of our new Berlin Command battlegroup in WARNO?

First off: it is an internationally mixed division offering a lot of unit choices from four NATO nations (the USA, UK, France and West Germany) but each in small numbers. In most cases, this means you won’t be able to get more than one card of a specific unit. If you want more, say armor, you need to choose a different model from another nation. Some choices will be purely cosmetic (e.g., the French and American supply trucks will feature the same stats); however, you’ll have to deal with disparate weapon systems in most instances.

Berlin Command will call on the forces of the various garrisons present: the American Berlin Brigade, the British Berlin Infantry Brigade and the French Forces Françaises à Berlin. West Germany, though officially not “military present” in West Berlin, could call on some reserves and ad hoc troops present.

[h2]A curious mix of troops and vehicles[/h2]
A feature of Berlin Command is that its arsenal, especially heavy units, is … a bit outdated. Why would you put your most advanced and newest tanks in a formation where everyone knew they would last maybe no more than three days? And no commander would want their most modern equipment to fall into the hands of the enemy so quickly. Therefore, the three NATO garrisons did not enjoy the state-of-the-art technology that their comrades-in-arms would bring to bear on the battlefields of West Germany.

For instance, the American tank company was one of the few to upgrade from the M1 to the IPM1, but not the M1A1. The British squadron in Berlin did not transition to the more advanced Challenger, like its parent regiment, instead retaining the Chieftain Mk.10. As for the French, they kept the older AMX-13/90 far into the mid-80s until switching them out for the AMX-30B (but not the B2).

On the other hand, the NATO troops in Berlin had their equipment and organizational tables tailored to them, taking into account its envisioned urban warfare role. In this way, the American brigade’s infantry featured a special “light infantry” TO&E, with Humvees and a small motor pool of M113s APCs to be used depending on the mission. Another American trait was that its infantry squads were equipped chiefly with M67 recoilless rifles, instead of the Dragon ATGM, with the former being more practical during house-to-house fighting.

In the British brigade, most APCs were repurposed into fire support vehicles by the addition of a RARDEN turret with a 30mm autocannon, creating the FV432 RARDEN, a vehicle unique to the UK’s Berlin Brigade. Another feature was the use of a striking urban camouflage pattern, with its squares and rectangles, which will be found in-game on British vehicles such as the Chieftain Mk.10, Rovers and the earlier mentioned FV432 RARDEN.



[h2]What can you expect in-game?[/h2]
Let’s look at Berlin Command in WARNO. Bolded and italic units are new!

LOG - Prepared well in advance and with its mission of engaging the enemy on its own turf, makes Berlin Command have a generous allocation of unit slots in this category.

• Command vehicles include a large choice of jeeps (ROVER CP, P4 PC and HUMVEE CP), as well as VAB PC and M577.
  
• Supply units come as the lightweight UNIMOG MUN., the medium French TRM-2000 LOG or the American M35 SUPPLY, and the heavier British BEDFORD SUPPLY.
  
• A single card of the new American UH-1H SUPPLY helicopters will also be available.
  

INF - Being an oversized infantry division with a dedicated mission of holding out in urban combat for as long as possible, allows Berlin Command to count on a maximum of squads and teams with the cheapest series of slots. Expect a lot of choices!

• The Americans bring a standard selection of MPS, HMG teams, ENGINEERS and new BERLIN LIGHT RIFLES with the M67 RCL.
  
• The British offer RMPS military police, HMG, GUN GROUP, RIFLES, WOMBAT RCLs and MILAN ATGMs, and TERRIER PIONIERS. Point to note that the Territorial Army (reserves) didn’t originate from the United Kingdom but were rather formed from British emigres and residents in West Berlin. Also, in case of a Battle for Berlin, RAF personnel from the then-closed RAF Gatow air base would have made a provisional fourth infantry battalion in the Berlin Infantry Brigade. In-game, they will make up the new RAF RIFLES, large 12-man squads with older small arms (Sterling, SLR, etc.), and lacking training and experience. A new ROVER WOMBAT provides light fire support.
  
• The French are represented with the PREVOTE, HMG teams, MILAN 2 ATGM teams, GRENADIER-VOLTIGEURS and SAPEURS.
  
• The West Germans are deployed with locally mustered HEIMATSCHÜTZEN.
  
• Complementing the troops present are the Leader commander variants, distributed as usual along with each class of infantry.
  

ART - Artillery support for Berlin Command is sizable, but only offers light pieces.

• The Americans pack a punch, fielding both M125 and M106 self-propelled mortars, the new M198 155mm towed howitzers, and a handful of M109A2s.
  
• The British provide the light, towed 81mm MORTAR.
  
• The French feature the self-propelled VAB PM-81 mortar and the heavier, towed MO-120-RT61.
  

TANK - Actual tracked armor is limited, but anti-tank weapon systems will be available in larger numbers. Slots costs and availability are average.

• First up, the Americans, which rely on the IPM1 tank, are backed up by M1025 HUMVEE TOW-2 and M901A3 ITV ATGM carriers, as well as a few M728 CEV tanks.
  
• The British bring the new CHIEFTAIN Mk.10, which is identical to the Chieftain Mk. 9 in stats and model but features the unique Berlin urban camouflage scheme instead. The new FV432 RARDEN fire support vehicle is also available.
  
• The French bring the most tanks, even though they are all older AMX-30B. They kept a few (new in-game) AMX-13/90 in storage. The deadly P4 MILAN 2 can also be encountered.
  

REC - While many recon troops will be present during the Battle for Berlin, few were “combat” equipped. What’s the need for reconnaissance if you know that the enemy would come from all sides? This category has a decent amount of slots but primarily focuses on “boots-on-the-ground” choices.

• The Americans field regular SCOUTS, as well as elite Green Berets’ DETACHMENT ‘A’ saboteur squads. These special forces were stay-behind units, tasked with destroying key infrastructure after any NATO surrender, to hamper the Warsaw Pact forces as much as possible and deny Berlin as a logistical hub.
  
• The British feature some light vehicle recon units with the FERRET Mk.2 and the FV721 FOX. In addition, infantry SCOUTS can be fielded.
  
• The French recon troops amount to the standard ECLAIREURS with nimble ALOUETTE III helicopters providing eyes in the sky.
  

AA - One of the division’s weaker categories. Light anti-aircraft guns and MANPADs provide only the most basic anti-air screens possible.

• The American forces field the heaviest equipment in the form of M163 PIVADS. Of course, STINGER teams are never far away and can also be deployed.
  
• The British bring their own JAVELIN and JAVELIN LML units.
  
• While the French feature the MISTRAL, as well as the 53T2 20mm guns either towed or as a self-propelled TARASQUE variant.
  

HELO - The NATO garrisons only fielded a few utility helicopters, and no combat variants. However, in our ”March to War” several weapon kits were smuggled into the city ahead of the Warsaw Pact offensive. As such, slots in this category are present but few and expensive.

• Only two cards of British GAZELLE SNEB and LYNX Mk. 7 HELARM are featured.
  

AIR - Much like the previous category, no actual combat aircraft would have been stationed in West Berlin. The ones present would have been targeted in the first minutes of our war. However, a few air assets will be available to Berlin Command... stemming from some rather unique sources.

• Much like their helicopters, the ever-inventive British dismantled some of their HARRIERS and smuggled them in parts to West Berlin. The Harriers have been rebuilt, using whatever small piece of infrastructure to take off and land, from city parks to bombed-out streets. Several variants are present, from AA to Cluster, HE, and Rocket, but in minimal quantities.
  
• After the Battle for Berlin begins, in a show of support, NATO makes at least one concerted attempt to help the besieged defenders. They divert some of their long-range strategic planes for a one-shot “Hail Mary” bombardment, similar to the single massive western Allied air attack during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. For that purpose, France agrees to part with some of its precious Mirage IV strategic bombers, which for this operation have been turned into long-range “bomb trains”.
  
• In a further covert dimension, the Americans sneak some of their very special new F-117A tactical stealth bombers, equipped with laser-guided bombs, into the operation.
  

In conclusion, Berlin Command is a very infantry-centric division honed for fighting in a heavily congested urban environment. There is an excellent choice of units excelling in close combat, backed-up by good logistics and many anti-tank weapon systems. The battlegroup lacks the modern tanks to make a heavy armored fist though. Artillery pieces are numerous but light, while AA and helicopter assets are few and far between. Air is a mixed bag of either close air support combat jets or specialized bombers. Berlin Command is well suited for urban or dense terrain and defensive operations, but suffers from an unbalanced distribution of heavier units, air, and support equipment.



[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
That’s all for NATO’s new division that will be brought to you courtesy of OUDINOT. Next week, we’ll look at the new Warsaw Pact division, aimed to once and for all “liberate” West Berlin.

Let us know what you think! Join the passionate 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!