WARNO News

Hello commanders,

We are back with another WARNO - SOUTHAG division preview! In today’s DevBlog, we’ll look at the NATO’s French Division du Rhin (Rhine Division) battlegroup.

Onwards!

[h2]The NATO’s French Division du Rhin’s History[/h2]
The French Division du Rhin is the shortest-lived French division in our WARNO timeline, having been created in 1984 only. After its brief Cold War career, the formation was downsized to a “Brigade d’Alsace” in 1993 before being officially disbanded in July 1999.



When raised in the 1980s, the Division du Rhin consolidated a bunch of existing units and equipment under a unified command. As such, it amalgamated the Zone de Franchissement du Rhin ("Rhine Crossing Area") with command-and-control elements from the 62e Division Militaire and recently disbanded 6e Division Blindée. The division wasn’t assigned to any corps or NATO command; instead, it was directly subordinated to the French First Army.

The Division du Rhin was a task-oriented division with one mission: to allow (and protect) the swift transfer of twelve divisions from France to West Germany in case of conflict. These amounted to two army corps, and all their organic units, two logistic brigades, and in the second phase, keep the supply lines open to the front.



To accomplish this, the formation was to organize traffic through existing bridges over the Rhine, ferry-boat services, as well as create new military ones (deploying good ‘ol World War 2 Bailey Bridges, which the French used well into the 2000s, including original instruction manuals!). Having set up the means, the Division du Rhin would then defend these river crossings against potential air attacks, raids, enemy commandos, and the like.

Close Cooperation
The French Division du Rhin was also to coordinate with the West German territorial units on the other bank of the Rhine, to the point that by 1989, there were talks on high political levels to merge the formation into a combined French-German division. However, both parties couldn’t see eye to eye on the bi-national division’s mission: one wanted it to be static, protecting the Rhine crossings; the other saw it as a mobile engineering division able to follow NATO’s field armies deeper into combat. These disagreements, combined with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, put a premature end to this particular cooperation. However, the French and Germans didn’t completely abandon the idea, which paved the way for the creation of the smaller Brigade Franco-Allemande (French-German Brigade).



[h2]The NATO’s French Division du Rhin’s History[/h2]
The Division du Rhin had a special organization: built around three engineer regiments (two of them being reservists), the formation could also call on an independent engineer battalion, one infantry regiment, and three further infantry battalions (all reservists). On top of this, the French had access to an entire AA regiment (to fend off the inevitable enemy air attacks on the bridges and ferries).

The Division du Rhin hardly had any armor or artillery, but in case of potential enemy ground attacks, nearby units would have been folded into the battlegroup’s command.

• Not too far away, the French 7e Division Blindée would provide some additional armored reinforcements. A mobilization division, this particular formation was the “lesser equipped” French armored division, still operating older AMX-30, as well as being famously the last operator of AMX-13 in active service in 1989 (those in West Berlin were supposedly kept in storage). The divisional infantry was equipped with AMX-10P and AMX-13 VCI, and a minimal number of VABs.
  
• The Division du Rhin, being located in French I Corps’ area of operations, could count on its medium- to long-range artillery cover.
  
• The West German Heimatschutzbrigade 55 was located on the other side of the Rhine. After 1989, elements of this unit that weren’t disbanded became the German part of the French-German Brigade.

The Division du Rhin was France’s rear area reserve division, much akin to WARNO’s West Germany's TerrKdo Süd featuring both French and West German units.

[h2]The Division du Rhin in WARNO - SOUTHAG[/h2]
How will the Division du Rhin look like in WARNO - SOUTHAG? New units are both italic and bolded. The following is subject to change.

LOG

• A good category, much like any other WARNO reserve division playing home advantage.
  
• Supply units include DEPÔT DE MUNITIONS (FOB), TRM-2000 LOG. and TRM-10000 LOG. supply trucks.
  
• Command units are the M201 PC, the new AMX-13 MOD.56 PC, as well as ALOUETTE II PC, plus the West German FUCHS FU.FU..

INF

• Very good, with lots of options and plenty of variety of infantry. The Division du Rhin relies heavily on SAPEURS combat engineers and RESERVISTES for the boots on the ground.
  
  • CMDT RESERVISTES, RESERVISTES and RESERVISTES (LRAC), both featured previously in the Nemesis #2 - Plateau d'Albion’s 152e Division d’Infanterie, and RESERVISTES (FR-F1) with MAS-49/56 rifles, AA-52 LMG, one FR-F1 DMR, and one LRAC 73. All squads are deployable in trucks or AMX-13 VCI 12,7mm APCs.
    
  • CMDT SAPEURS, SAPEURS and SAPEURS (FLAM), as well as RESERV. SAPEURS with MAT-49 SMG, MAS-49/56 rifles, AA-52 LMG and explosives, plus the Reservist trait. They come in trucks and AMX-13 VCG F1 dedicated combat engineer APC.
    
  • Anti-tank weapons include the M40A1 RCL.
• Securing the rear area against enemy saboteurs, maintaining security, and improving the flow of traffic:
  
  • Regular PREVOTE riding in P4 GENDARMERIE both coming with the Military Police trait.
    
  • New CMDT GENDARMES MOBILES which are 4-man command squads armed with MAT-49 and the Military Police trait, also deploying in P4 GENDARMERIE.
    
  • GENDARMES MOBILES are 8-man squads armed with 2x MAT-49, 5x FAMAS and 1x AA-52 LMG, plus the Military Police trait. They come in TRAFIC GENDARMERIE utility trucks or the VRBG, a Gendarmerie-dedicated VAB armed only with an AANF1 7,62mm, but coming with the Security trait.
• With the 7e Division Blindée, heavier reinforcements arrive in the form of one card each of:
  
  • CMDT CHASSEURS in truck, AMX-13 VCI 12,7mm or AMX-13 VCI 20mm, and CHASSEURS in truck or AMX-13 VCI 20mm.
• Coming from the Heimatschutzbrigade 55, the West German provides all the following squads, vet-locked at experience Level 1 max:
  
  • JÄGER FÜH.,JÄGER and JÄGER (PzF) squads, plus PALR MILAN 1, all deployable in softskin and FUCHS or FUCHS MILAN.

ART

• Balanced with some choices and several slots, but quickly rising in cost. Only a handful of artillery pieces were historically available to the Division du Rhin.
  
• The only organic piece is the ubiquitous MO-120RT61 mortar.
  
• The division was not foreseen to really need its own artillery arm, supposedly being a static formation within the I Corps sector. As such, this neighbouring formation provided:
  
  • M50/63 155mm howitzers.
    
  • LRM (the French designation for the M270 MLRS). This is a slight “March to War” unit, as the 12e Régiment d'Artillerie, the one earmarked to first convert to the M270, only started receiving the MRLS in the early part of 1990.
• The West German HBS 55 brings its own light artillery, in the form of the FH M1A2 (A2) 105mm.
  
• Lastly, local artillery schools would have drawn (from storage) some older AUTOMOTEUR AU 50 105mm and F3 AUTOMOTEUR 155mm SPGs, to be crewed by reservists (and hence gaining the Reservist trait). The latter F3 pieces are the ones just given up by the 12e Régiment d'Artillerie mentioned above.

TANK

• A balanced category with a good number of slots, including their price. Choice is mostly limited to older tanks, though.
  
• The very few tanks available to the Division du Rhin would have been the combat engineers’ M47 DOZER, equipped with dozer blades and a 90mm gun.
  
• The division also had a number of M201 MILAN jeep-based missile tank destroyers.
  
• The West Germans bring a sprinkling of PZBEF. M48A2GA2 and HEIMAT. M48A4GA2. The latter armor is the current M48A2GA2, which we will rename (for reasons to be explained in a future DevBlog).
  
• Finally, the 7e Division Blindée features the AMX-13 T75 PC (command variant with 75mm gun), AMX-13 T75/TCM, and AMX-13 T75/TCA. The latter two vehicles are armed with SS-11 rails over the main gun, with the TCA designation indicating a more accurate targeting system.

REC

• Once more pretty balanced, including the (almost mandatory) AML-60 and AML-90 backed by M201 M40A1 recon jeep, and the M201 RASURA battlefield radar.
  
• Recon infantry can deploy in a variety of disguises:
  
  • French RESERV. ECLAIREURS, with 3x MAT-49 and 1x AA-52, plus LRAC 73 and the Reservist trait. They come in either M201, M201 AA52 or ALOUETTE II.
    
  • The West German B.G.S. STREIFE in ILTIS or UH-1D.
    
  • Plus Bundeswehr JÄGER-AUFKLÄRER in truck, FUCHS, and AUFKPZ. FUCHS.
• The division also receives the ALOUETTE II air recon helicopter.

AA

• The divisional anti-air defenses are pretty good, with an entire AA regiment just for itself, further backed by independent SAM-equipped units.
  
• The division’s AA regiment was entirely equipped with older AA guns to fend off low-flying attacks. The main weapon system is the M55 MAXSON quad, in either towed or M16 MGMC halftrack variant, and M38/55 40mm (meaning Bofors) pieces available. All in mint World War 2 condition!
  
• On top of this, the SAM regiments provide I-HAWK and HS.831 twin 30mm guns.
  
• Plus some FLIEGERFAUST MANPADs courtesy of the HSB 55.

HEL

• Rather underwhelming. The Division du Rhin had no rotorcraft available, with only a few that could be spared from neighbouring formations.
  
• You get two expensive slots, and the choice between one card each of ALOUETTE III AS.11, GAZELLE CANON, or BO-105 PAH-1.

AIR

• Pretty good, as the division gets the French ALPHA JET in [NPLM] and [CLU] variants.
  
• The nearby fighter squadron Navarre, flying the MIRAGE III, will be performing both air superiority and strike missions. This particular aircraft will duly come in [AA], [SEAD], and [AT] loadouts.
  
• Local fighter squadron Alsace brings the MIRAGE 2000 RDM, being the predecessor to the Mirage 2000 RDI. This plane comes in two variants with [AA1] representing the Mirage 2000 Serie 1 and 2 with its 4x R550 Magic II missiles. The [AA2] is the Mirage 2000 Serie 3 featuring 2x R550 Magic II and 2x Super 530F missiles. The Mirage 2000 RDI, currently in-game, is actually a Serie 4, only one able to fire the Super 530D.
  
• The air cover is completed by the MIRAGE 5 F [HE] and the German F-4F [AT].

The Division du Rhin, much like other reserve divisions, is most powerful in its infantry and AA departments, further backed by potent artillery and air cover. Tanks and anti-tank units are available in an acceptable number, but of older make and model, while helicopters are very rare. Like other reservist battlegroups, the Division du Rhin benefits from the recent Reservist / Militia rework.

[h2]WARNO - SOUTHAG Expansion In Short[/h2] WARNO - SOUTHAG is WARNO’s second expansion after WARNO - NORTHAG and showcases the fighting in southern West Germany near the Alps and on the Czechoslovakian frontier.

In the southern reaches of Germany, the Warsaw Pact with the Soviet Central Group of Forces, bolstered by the communist Czechoslovakians, battles against a counter-attacking NATO SOUTHAG command led by France, with American, West German, Canadian, and reinforcing Spanish troops.

• 2 new Army General campaigns.
  
• 4 new Operations, such as Delayed Retribution.
  
• 10 new Divisions, featuring Canada, Spain, and Czechoslovakia as new nations. These include NATO’s 1st Canadian Division, the Spanish División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1, the French 6e Division Blindée Légère and Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian 1. Tanková Divize, 19. Motostřelecká Divize, and 303. Tanková Divize.
  
• New voice acting.
  
• New units and models.

[h2]Until Next Week[/h2]
And, of course, we’ll be back next week with a new WARNO - SOUTHAG preview!

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.

Hello commanders!

Today, we are interested in sharing with you a new rework we have been developing, which will soon be available in the game.
The rework of the Reservist trait and the creation of the Militia trait.



[h2]Why this change?[/h2]
This question has come up frequently, aren’t reservist units too heavily penalized? Currently, the Reservist trait comes with the most severe set of penalties in the game: +50% received suppression, -5% accuracy, +20% aim time, and +15% reload time. These cumulative drawbacks significantly reduce the effectiveness of reservist units on the battlefield.

As a result, decks that rely on a large number of reservists often struggle to remain attractive or competitive compared to those built around regular or elite troops.

[h2]The Rework[/h2]
The goal is to make reservists more effective and, at the same time, create a real distinction between certain units that are fundamentally different and shouldn’t have the same penalties. Some units are reservists who receive regular military training, while others are simply freshly enlisted troops with no training and who have never handled a weapon. That’s why we want to create the “Militia” trait for the latter.


Here is how we will assign the traits:
Reservists: Former servicemen recalled into service after they have returned to civilian life for a prolonged time, or national guardsmen. They know how to use military equipment, but military discipline isn't their way of life anymore. i.e. American National Guardsmen.
Militia: Organized and disciplined units on active duty in peacetime, but not used to handle military-grade weapons or act as infantry. Most often law enforcement units. i.e BGS
Reservist + Militia: Draftees just called to war or militias.

[h2]The Change[/h2]
So, what’s actually going to happen?
Units that are Reservists will have their trait updated to:

• +50% received suppression
  
• -5% accuracy

Units with the new “Militia” trait, will penalize them with:

• +20% aim time
  
• +20% reload time

There will be exceptions that could receive both traits, for example, the KdA Schützen.

The effects of the Military Police trait will remain unchanged, the MP trait cancels the penalties of nearby Reservist units. However, nothing will be able to cancel the penalties imposed by the Militia trait.

Here is the list of divisions affected by these changes:
NATO: 4e Divisie, 152e DI, 16de PD ; 6th, 9th, 24th (N.G.), 35th ID ; 11th ACR ; 2. PzGD & 5.PzD, TKS ; 2nd ID & Berlin Command.
PACT: KdA, Berliner Gruppierung, 6-ya Gv.OMSB & 157-ya MSD.



What are your impressions of these upcoming changes?
Please feel free to discuss or ask any questions, we will do our best to answer them.

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.

Hello commanders,

Time for something new! We are going to pause (only momentarily so) our divisional previews of WARNO - SOUTHAG as we turn our eye on the upcoming expansion’s Operations.

The reason for this break is that we are catching up on our model production for WARNO - SOUTHAG. We want to give our 3D artists some time to create new models for the remaining battlegroups.



With that out of the way, today’s DevBlog will look at our first Operation: Delayed Retribution.

[h2]WARNO - SOUTHAG’s Strategic Situation[/h2]
So, we’ll talk a little bit more about the full strategic situation further south of WARNO’s World War III in Europe, but suffice to say that the battles raging there are as brutal as those further up north.

In southern West Germany, including Bavaria, the Bohemian Forest, and around the torn-open Iron Curtain, as well as in Czechoslovakia itself, a reformed NATO’s SOUTHAG under French command battles against the Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian People’s Army and the Soviet Central Group of Forces. NATO forces include not only the French but also West Germans, Canadians, and reinforcing Spanish battlegroups.

[h2]Delayed Retribution’s Context[/h2]
The action of our first previewed Operation, Delayed Retribution, takes place in Czechoslovakia proper, near the city of Plzeň, on July 1st, 1989. This means almost a full week-and-a-half has passed since the initial communist invasion further up north (as depicted in WARNO and WARNO - NORTHAG). For reasons we won’t go into detail today (yet, but we will surely do this in the future), the French 6e Division Légère Blindée manages to find a way behind the main screening force of the Czechoslovakian 1. Armáda (1st Army) and is in a great position to cut the communists off from reinforcements further east.

[previewyoutube](insérer vidéo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOG4VIaAIf4)[/previewyoutube]

But in a turn of events, the Czechoslovakian 19. Motostřelecká Divize throws some delaying units in the French’s way, hoping to contain the mobile French vanguard long enough for the 1. Armáda’s reserves - the 1. Tanková Divize - to counter-attack the cocky Frenchmen and kick them out of Czechoslovakian territory!



[h2]Delayed Retribution’s in-game[/h2]
In Delayed Retribution you command a battlegroup of the 6e Division
Légère Blindée, the fast-moving, lightly armored but lethal French task force. In this Operation, they are the tip of the spear, using battle-hardened Legionnaires and supported by agile Legion AMX-10 RCs. Their mission is to outmaneuver a more ponderous but heavily armed opponent: the Czechoslovakian 19. Motostřelecká Divize reinforced by elements of the 1. Tanková Divize.



It’s not only going to be about firepower. This is a defensive operation, at first, for NATO. Stretched supply lines mean the French’s advanced position to the rear is tenuous at best. As a commander in this Operation, you get to make a critical decision: bolster the frontline with reinforcements and weather the communist storm, or thin out the front but ensure that your command sectors are secured.



You can push deep into enemy territory and hold out against counterattacks, denying the enemy the command points they need. Or will you act more cautiously and implement a defense-in-depth strategy instead? There will be many ways, and perhaps some patience only to strike in later parts of the battle, will do any commander good when playing Delayed Retribution.



[h2]WARNO - SOUTHAG Expansion In Short[/h2] WARNO - SOUTHAG is WARNO’s second expansion after WARNO - NORTHAG and showcases the fighting in southern West Germany near the Alps and on the Czechoslovakian frontier.

In the southern reaches of Germany, the Warsaw Pact with the Soviet Central Group of Forces, bolstered by the communist Czechoslovakians, battles against a counter-attacking NATO SOUTHAG command led by France, with American, West German, Canadian, and reinforcing Spanish troops.

• 2 new Army General campaigns.
  
• 4 new Operations.
  
• 10 new Divisions, featuring Canada, Spain, and Czechoslovakia as new nations. These include NATO’s 1st Canadian Division, the Spanish División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1, the French 6e Division Blindée Légère and Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian 1. Tanková Divize, 19. Motostřelecká Divize, and 303. Tanková Divize.
  
• New voice acting.
  
• New units and models.

[h2]Until Next Week[/h2]
We’ll return with a new WARNO - SOUTHAG DevBlog 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.

See you on the battlefield, commanders.

Hello commanders!

After the reveal of the new 2vs2 “Mirror” battlefield Ohmen, we return with another preview of a new map, this time themed to our upcoming WARNO - SOUTHAG expansion!

Surrounded is a brand-new 3x3 km² map inspired by the rolling, forested hills in southern West Germany, and will be released courtesy of the free Reinforcement Pack #9.

[h2]A Deep Dive Into Surrounded[/h2] Surrounded is the first of a set of new battlefields set to release at the same time as WARNO - SOUTHAG. These new maps are all inspired by the terrain in the south of West Germany or the border region of Czechoslovakia.



In Surrounded’s case, we took our inspiration from a Bavarian town called Eslarn, near the West German-Czechoslovakian frontier. This hilly, forested region features urban areas on plateaus, while dense woods circle the map.



When it comes to fighting on this new WARNO - SOUTHAG themed map, commanders need to choose between holding terrain or going for grand encircling attacks. At the heart of the map lies a city across two elevated plateaus.

These give a commanding view of the surrounding battlefield and act as crucial strongpoints. Surrounded’s real twist is its circular level design: players can maneuver around this central urban sector using the forests on the edge of the battlefield. The natural corridors allow for unexpected flanking attacks or deep penetration raids.



Some additional balance went into Surrounded to level the playing field, with multiple higher plateaus on the edges of the map to offset the stronghold position in the center. This means that the battlefield is pretty diverse when it comes to tactical options.



More fun to come. We are currently also working on a 10v10 and Destruction variants of Surrounded. This map should release at the same time as WARNO - SOUTHAG.



[h2]WARNO - SOUTHAG Expansion In Short[/h2] WARNO - SOUTHAG showcases the fighting in southern West Germany near the Alps and on the Czechoslovakian frontier.

In the southern reaches of Germany, the Warsaw Pact with the Soviet Central Group of Forces, bolstered by the communist Czechoslovakians, battles against a reconstituted and counter-attacking NATO SOUTHAG command led by France, with American, West German, Canadian, and reinforcing Spanish troops.

• 2 new Army General campaigns.
  
• 4 new Operations.
  
• 10 new Divisions, including Canada, Spain, and Czechoslovakia as new nations. These include NATO’s 1st Canadian Division, the Spanish División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1, the French 6e Division Blindée Légère and Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian 1. Tanková Divize, 19. Motostřelecká Divize, and 303. Tanková Divize.
  
• New voice acting.
  
• New units and models.

[h2]Until Next Week[/h2]
We’ll be back soon with another WARNO DevBlog!

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.

Hello, hello, hello!

We return once again with a brand-new WARNO - SOUTHAG preview! Today’s post marks the last of the Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian divisions to be featured in our new expansion; let’s welcome to the stage the 303. Tanková Divize or the 303 Tank Division.

Let’s go!

[h2]The 303. Tanková Divize’s History[/h2]
Much like its Soviet Army overlords, the Czechoslovak People's Army - shortened ČSLA - was composed of divisions with different levels of readiness.

Full Readiness
These were formations that were close to full combat readiness and ready to deploy from their barracks within hours of receiving the order.

• The Czechoslovakian armed forces contained six of these divisions: four from the 1. Armáda or 1st Army, namely the 1. Tanková Divize, the 19. Motostřelecká Divize, as well as the 2. and 20. Motostřelecká Divize.
  
• There was also one from the 4. Armáda or 4th Army, the 9. Tanková Divize, plus the independent 7th Artillery Division.

Reduced Strength
There were several active divisions that were of reduced strength. These were kept at two-thirds of their full manpower, and in case of war, would only be brought up by calling in reservists. The plan was that this should - ideally - take no more than two days.

• There were the three remaining divisions part of the 4th Army: the 3. and 15. Motostřelecká Divize and the 4. Tanková Divize, as well as the independent 13. and 14. Tanková Divize.

Mobilization Divisions
And lastly, there were also several formations at reduced staffing and equipment levels. These were the so-called mobilization divisions, operated by a skeleton crew of maintenance troops who watched over the weapon storage depots. Supposedly, these could be raised in three to four days, depending on the division, but it is likely nobody would believe this feat to be true.

• The mobilization divisions in the ČSLA were the 18., 26., and 32. Motostřelecká Divize, and the 16. and 17. Tanková Divize.

As you can see, the 303. Tanková Divize was not listed. How come? Czechoslovakia had plans for three additional divisions for wartime service in an exclusive home defense role, but these never materialized. These formations were the 60. Motostřelecká Divize and the 303. and 304. Tanková Divize. The division’s cadre would come from training personnel; the rest would be filled up with reservists and conscripts. Equipment would be drawn from obsolete storage, along with a sprinkling of more modern vehicles and weapons taken from the military academies.

The 303. Tanková Divize was intended for the defense of the homeland only. In WARNO, this also means the division will defend important rear-area army assets, such as heavy AA guns, operating in close conjunction with territorial militia, the Lidové milice.

[h2]The 303. Tanková Divize in WARNO - SOUTHAG[/h2]
How will the 303. Tanková Divize look like in WARNO - SOUTHAG? New units are both italic and bolded. The following is work-in-progress and subject to change.



LOG
As the 303. Tanková Divize is a rear-area defensive formation, its logistical base is pretty good.

• Logistics units include the ubiquitous FOB and V3S light supply truck, as well as the amphibious BAV-485 (a rip-off of the World War 2-era DUKW), as well as T815 heavy supply vehicles.
  
• Command units include the (equally ubiquitous) UAZ-469, plus the OT-65VP and OT-62/R4MT.

INF
Nothing too spectacular, though the 303. Tanková Divize can be seen not only as a reserve division with infantry but also with plentiful armor. Slots aren’t very cheap, but there is a good range of choice.

• A small core of regular MOTOSTŘELCI squads in OT-62A and BVP-1, including a leader version, as well as the larger STŘELCI, which are 9-man squads with assault rifles, two LMGs and RPG-7VL. Next are the VELITEL STŘELCI command squads, being 8-strong with Skorpion, Vz.58P assault rifles, RPG-75, and smoke grenades. These later two squads can deploy in softskin transports, the OT-64C (with BTR-60 turret) or OT-62B (with hatch-mounted T21 Tarasnice recoilless rifle).
  
• The division’s staple infantry are the reservist ZÁLOŽNÍCI in softskin, OT-64C or OT-62B, and their VELITEL ZÁLOŽNÍCI command squads. They also come in larger ZÁLOŽNÍCI (T21) variant, representing a half-platoon easily fitting in the very spacious (18 seats) turretless OT-64 and basic OT-62A. Specifically, the last squad is 16-strong, and equipped with 14x Vz.58P assault rifles, 2x UK Vz.59L LMG, RPG-75, and one T21 RCL. All reservists come with the Reservist trait.

• Assisting the division in securing the rear areas are the Czechoslovakian People’s Militia, the Lidova Milice. The LIDOVA MILICE are 8-strong security militia with the Vz.58P assault rifle, one UK Vz.59L LMG, and RPG-75. Their VELITEL L.M. command variant is 5-strong, armed with Skorpion SMGs and a light T21 Tarasnice RCL. Both units come riding in V3S trucks, with the Reservist and Security traits.
  
• Support weapon squads include the ŽENISTE combat engineers, T.A.I. military police, PROTITANKOVÉ DRUŽSTVO tank hunters, UK Vz.59 7,62mm HMG and the new BZK Vz.59 82mm recoilless rifle.

ART
Pretty decent, but featuring the opposite slot allocation and price compared to the INF category above: the number of slots is good, but choices are more limited.

• Starting with the basic M Vz.52 82mm mortar.
  
• Followed up by the H Vz.38/74 122mm and KH Vz.18/47N 152mm howitzers. The former is the Czechoslovakian designation of the Soviet M-30s of World War II vintage (already featured with Poland and East Germany); the latter is no other than the German World War II s.FH 18 150mm gun modified to fire Soviet 152mm rounds.
  
• MLRS come in the form of the old RM Vz.51 130mm and the RM Vz.70/85 122mm, the latter being a single battalion of the upgraded variant kept in an independent artillery unit.

TANK
An excellent category, especially in the number of slots. In many cases, the 303. Tanková Divize had to make do with leftovers and obsolete storage equipment.

• The main tanks include the T-34/85M and the new SD-100. The latter is a locally modified SU-100 tank destroyer from World War II. Czechoslovakia retained several battalions of these original Red Army tanks throughout the entire Cold War. Both units feature the Reversist trait.
  
• Heavier firepower will come with the T-54B and T-54BK command variant.
  
• With the most modern equipment available being a few T-72M-E2 (without smoke), represented with additional Veterancy options to highlight the military academy instructors manning them as crew.
  
• Anti-tank units include the PTK Vz.52 85mm and PTK Vz.53 100mm towed anti-tank guns. The former is the original gun used by the East Germans under the designation PaK K-52 85mm, which was featured in the Rügen Gruppierung.
  
• Plus the OT PTRK MALJUTKA missile tank destroyer, which is the BRDM-2 MALYUTKA.

REC

• Decent with infantry-based recon squads including PRŮZKUMNÍCI and MOT. PRŮZKUMNÍCI. The first unit comes in either UAZ-469 jeeps or OT-65 armored cars. The second squad in V3S trucks, the OT-810 recon half-track or Mi-4 helicopter. The OT-810 is no other than the World War II German SdKfz. 251 half-track, which the original Czechoslovakian factories kept producing well into the 1950s. So painful it was to be seated in its back was that it was commonly nicknamed "Hitler's Revenge" in the ČSLA.
  
• The new PRŮZ. L.M. militia scouts, being just 3 men with Skorpion SMGs, RPG-75, and the Reservist trait, riding to battle in a UAZ-469 jeep.
  
• Recon vehicles included the new OT-65 DPP, unarmed but sporting a battlefield radar, and the OT-65A VYDRA, armed with an LMG and hatch-mounted T21 Tarasnice RCL.
  
• The PRŮZ. T-34/85, acting as recon tank (still with Reservist trait), and the OT-810D, the World War 2 half-track mounting a BZK Vz.59 recoiless rifle.

AA

• Pretty good with divisional anti-air defenses include the JEŠTĚRKA 30mm SPAAG (renamed from the PLDvK vz.53/59) and the PLDvK Vz.53 30mm, its towed variant, as well as the PPLRK S-2M (Strela-2M) MANPAD team.
  
• Additional heavier units include the PLK CS 57mm and PLK KS-30 130mm AA guns, the latter being the same as added to the Soviet Army with WARNO - Nemesis #3 - Homefront’s 157-ya Motostrelkovaya Diviziya.
  
• The only SAM unit is the PLRK KRUG.

HEL
Pretty mediocre with only a few slots, quickly rising in costs.

• Only two older helicopters can deploy, both being gunship variants of the Mi-4. These are the Mi-4B [RKT1] with 32x 57mm rockets and the Mi-4B [RKT2] with 16x130mm rockets.

AIR
A good category for the 303. Tanková Divize. One of the Czechoslovakian Air Force’s aircraft was the light L-39, a jet trainer that saw widespread service among other Warsaw Pact nations. This plane will make a plentiful appearance flying top cover over home territory.

• The L-39ZO in HE and RKT loadouts.
  
• Czechoslovakia also operated an improved variant, the L-39ZA, which was able to fire A2A missiles, making it a cheap multirole fighter with bombs and R-13M missiles.
  
• Additional air cover is provided by MiG-21MF [AA2] (which is a MiG-21bis) and the older MiG-21MA [AA] fighters.
  
• Ground support planes are numerous and include MiG-21MF (the MiG-21bis) in various RKT, HE, NPLM and CLU loadouts, as well as the SU-22M4 [AT].

The 303. Tanková Divize is a reservist, defensive-focused division, relying on numbers and, in many cases, World War II-era vehicles. A handful of rare, more modern units, plus substantial air support, round out this battlegroup.

[h2]WARNO - SOUTHAG Expansion In Short[/h2] WARNO - SOUTHAG is WARNO’s second expansion after WARNO - NORTHAG and showcases the fighting in southern West Germany near the Alps and on the Czechoslovakian frontier.

In the southern reaches of Germany, the Warsaw Pact with the Soviet Central Group of Forces, bolstered by the communist Czechoslovakians, battles against a reconstituted and counter-attacking NATO SOUTHAG command led by France, with American, West German, Canadian, and reinforcing Spanish troops.

• 2 new Army General campaigns.
  
• 4 new Operations.
  
• 10 new Divisions, including Canada, Spain, and Czechoslovakia as new nations. These include NATO’s 1st Canadian Division, Spain's División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 and France's 6e Division Légère Blindée ; as well as Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian 1. Tanková Divize, 19. Motostřelecká Divize, and 303. Tanková Divize.
  
• New voice acting.
  
• New units and models.

[h2]Until Next Week[/h2]
And, of course, we’ll be back next week with a new WARNO - SOUTHAG preview!

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.