NORTHAG Division #3- The Dutch 4e Divisie
Goedendag commandant,
That’s right! In today’s NORTHAG-focused DevBlog, we will zoom in on the Royal Netherlands Army’s 4e Divisie powerful mechanized infantry division.
Get ready for an oranje-themed post with Scrabble-winning Dutch military terminology, pantserinfanterie, delicious acronyms, beards, and the mighty Leopard 2A4!
Gaan met de banaan!
[h2]NATO’s the Netherlands 4e Divisie[/h2]
The 4e Divisie (just simple Fourth Division) was founded during World War I (in which the Netherlands remained neutral) but saw action during the brief five-day German invasion in World War 2. Later, during the Cold War, the Dutch reformed the division to be forward deployed in West Germany.
The 4e Divisie was part of the 1e Legerkorps, or the Dutch I Corps, which guarded the northernmost sector of NORTHAG. This area included the Waddenzee’s coastline, Bremen, and the Covering Force Area next to the Inner German Border. This was a section of West Germany jutting into communist territory and likely to be given up (or at least defended through delayed actions) in order to buy time for more NATO reinforcements to come. The bulk of I Dutch Corps’s units were based in the Netherlands.
(this map and the next are both from the excellent Orbat85 website)
For budget reasons, the Dutch government in the 1980s recalled home most of the West Germany-based troops (except for one brigade located in Seedorf). The promise was that the Koninklijke Landmacht, the Royal Netherlands Army, could deploy the whole corps from its home bases in the Netherlands to forward combat positions within 48 hours. A rather optimistic prediction to transport a whole corps 350 km by rail in war-time. The Dutch even offered to renovate the German railway system in its sector to ensure this redeployment was smooth and fast.
However, all NATO exercises and analysis pointed squarely to the opposite result in war-time: the Dutch would be late. The joke was that “the greatest problem facing the Dutch is getting to the war on time.” No one was under the illusion that the sole Dutch brigade in West Germany was enough to cover the arrival of the Dutch I Corps. Therefore, a Bundeswehr division was placed under Dutch command as additional help to delay an advancing communist enemy, and the Americans themselves kept one Forward Advanced Brigade from the 2nd Armored Division stationed in the region, just in case.
[h2]NATO’s the Netherlands 4e Divisie Detailed[/h2]
The Netherlands and Belgian are closely connected, not only being neighbors and sharing many links in history, culture, and language. Unlike their southern Belgian neighbors though, the Landmacht had been thoroughly modernized by the early 1980s and fielded some high-tech equipment. The main combat power on the battlefield was the LEOPARD 2A4, with the Dutch Armed forces possessing over twice as much as West Germany. Even the 4e Divisie, a mechanized infantry division, could deploy more numbers of this tank than the whole Bundeswehr! The Dutch also used the same AIFV series of APCs and IFVs (called the YPR-765 in Dutch service) as the Belgians. The same array of variants were deployed, plus some additional ones, including supply, radar recon, and TOW-2 tank destroyer.
Taking to the sky, the Royal Netherlands Air Force was among the first of four partners (together with Belgium, Norway, and Denmark) to be admitted to the F-16 program. By the late Cold War, the modern fighter plane had replaced the aging F-5 Freedom Fighter in most (but not all) squadrons.
Back to the boots on the ground and the infantry’s small arms and other battlefield equipment. The Dutch also used the ubiquitous FN FAL as the soldier’s main battle rifle. Squad firepower was enhanced by the (equally ubiquitous) FN MAG, with Uzi SMGs used by some support troops. In the anti-tank department, the Dutch were slightly more capable than the Belgians in confronting communist armor. Soldiers could field M72A3, Carl Gustav recoiless rifles, and short-range M47 Dragon.
Reservist NATRES (Korps Nationale Reserve) soldiers were equipped with older equipment, including L4A4 (modernized World War 2-era Bren) LMGs. Support weapons include MAG 7,62mm and M2HB 12,7mm machine guns, plus TOW-2 ATGMs.
[h2]The 4e Divisie in WARNO - NORTHAG[/h2]
Let’s take a look to see how the Dutch 4e Divisie looks like in WARNO - NORTHAG.
LOG
INF
ART
TNK
RECO
HELO
The Dutch 4e Divisie is a hard-hitting mechanized infantry division, compared to the more nimble Belgian counterpart (with its “glass cannon” tanks and Forward Deployed units). You’ll get to play with quite a few state-of-the-art main battle tanks, ATGM carriers, and good IFV and infantry support. Where it lacks is a solid logistical base and non-existent helicopter support.
[h2]NORTHAG Expansion Explained[/h2]
In case you missed the news: WARNO - NORTHAG is the first major expansion coming to WARNO, and takes World War III to the North German Plain, where the attacking Warsaw Pact needs to overcome the staunch defenses of NATO’s NORTHAG. Under British command, Belgian, Dutch, West German, and American forces battle against the powerful northern formations of the Soviet Group of Forces in Germany, including East German and reinforcing Polish armies. The release is planned for later in 2024.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978620/WARNO__NORTHAG/
WARNO - NORTHAG will feature:
We have started detailing each of WARNO - NORTHAG’s features. Check the list below!
[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s it for the first one this week. We’ll be back later detailing the East German 9. Panzerdivision.
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.
That’s right! In today’s NORTHAG-focused DevBlog, we will zoom in on the Royal Netherlands Army’s 4e Divisie powerful mechanized infantry division.
Get ready for an oranje-themed post with Scrabble-winning Dutch military terminology, pantserinfanterie, delicious acronyms, beards, and the mighty Leopard 2A4!
Gaan met de banaan!
[h2]NATO’s the Netherlands 4e Divisie[/h2]
The 4e Divisie (just simple Fourth Division) was founded during World War I (in which the Netherlands remained neutral) but saw action during the brief five-day German invasion in World War 2. Later, during the Cold War, the Dutch reformed the division to be forward deployed in West Germany.
The 4e Divisie was part of the 1e Legerkorps, or the Dutch I Corps, which guarded the northernmost sector of NORTHAG. This area included the Waddenzee’s coastline, Bremen, and the Covering Force Area next to the Inner German Border. This was a section of West Germany jutting into communist territory and likely to be given up (or at least defended through delayed actions) in order to buy time for more NATO reinforcements to come. The bulk of I Dutch Corps’s units were based in the Netherlands.
(this map and the next are both from the excellent Orbat85 website)
For budget reasons, the Dutch government in the 1980s recalled home most of the West Germany-based troops (except for one brigade located in Seedorf). The promise was that the Koninklijke Landmacht, the Royal Netherlands Army, could deploy the whole corps from its home bases in the Netherlands to forward combat positions within 48 hours. A rather optimistic prediction to transport a whole corps 350 km by rail in war-time. The Dutch even offered to renovate the German railway system in its sector to ensure this redeployment was smooth and fast.
However, all NATO exercises and analysis pointed squarely to the opposite result in war-time: the Dutch would be late. The joke was that “the greatest problem facing the Dutch is getting to the war on time.” No one was under the illusion that the sole Dutch brigade in West Germany was enough to cover the arrival of the Dutch I Corps. Therefore, a Bundeswehr division was placed under Dutch command as additional help to delay an advancing communist enemy, and the Americans themselves kept one Forward Advanced Brigade from the 2nd Armored Division stationed in the region, just in case.
[h2]NATO’s the Netherlands 4e Divisie Detailed[/h2]
The Netherlands and Belgian are closely connected, not only being neighbors and sharing many links in history, culture, and language. Unlike their southern Belgian neighbors though, the Landmacht had been thoroughly modernized by the early 1980s and fielded some high-tech equipment. The main combat power on the battlefield was the LEOPARD 2A4, with the Dutch Armed forces possessing over twice as much as West Germany. Even the 4e Divisie, a mechanized infantry division, could deploy more numbers of this tank than the whole Bundeswehr! The Dutch also used the same AIFV series of APCs and IFVs (called the YPR-765 in Dutch service) as the Belgians. The same array of variants were deployed, plus some additional ones, including supply, radar recon, and TOW-2 tank destroyer.
Taking to the sky, the Royal Netherlands Air Force was among the first of four partners (together with Belgium, Norway, and Denmark) to be admitted to the F-16 program. By the late Cold War, the modern fighter plane had replaced the aging F-5 Freedom Fighter in most (but not all) squadrons.
Back to the boots on the ground and the infantry’s small arms and other battlefield equipment. The Dutch also used the ubiquitous FN FAL as the soldier’s main battle rifle. Squad firepower was enhanced by the (equally ubiquitous) FN MAG, with Uzi SMGs used by some support troops. In the anti-tank department, the Dutch were slightly more capable than the Belgians in confronting communist armor. Soldiers could field M72A3, Carl Gustav recoiless rifles, and short-range M47 Dragon.
Reservist NATRES (Korps Nationale Reserve) soldiers were equipped with older equipment, including L4A4 (modernized World War 2-era Bren) LMGs. Support weapons include MAG 7,62mm and M2HB 12,7mm machine guns, plus TOW-2 ATGMs.
[h2]The 4e Divisie in WARNO - NORTHAG[/h2]
Let’s take a look to see how the Dutch 4e Divisie looks like in WARNO - NORTHAG.
LOG
- Standard in the logistical department with a FOB, the YPR-765 PRV as a light armored supply carrier and the DAF 4400 VRACHT medium supply truck.
- Dedicated command vehicles include M577 PRCO and YPR-765 PRCO-CI.
- The number of slots will be more limited than a usual mechanized infantry division. This is due, as explained before, to the Dutch planning to run their over-extended supply lines from far-flung home bases.
INF
- Definitely a good category for the 4e Divisie. The bread and butter will be the PANTSERINF. mechanized infantry riding to battle in either trucks or the YPR-765 PRI IFV equipped with a 25mm gun. These squads will come in Command, LAW, Carl Gustav, and Dragon flavors (the recoilless rifle one being the most numerous).
- The rest of the Dutch troops are made up of GENIE, combat engineers in Command, and explosives variants in M113 APCs. The Koninklijke Landmacht did not field flamethrowers.
- NATRES reservist squads are also available with a special touch; to reflect the Dutch 1980s conscripts' rather lax attitude towards military discipline, long hair and beards were allowed in the army (to the horror of other NATO nations). This is accurately and painstakingly reflected in WARNO. These reservist squads field obsolete equipment and carry the Reservist trait. Yet, the Dutch conscripts get the option to be vetted, as regardless of their questionable haircuts, the soldiers made it up on the battlefield, consistently being among the highest scoring during various international exercises and training competitions.
- To make sure the Doe Maar rebels stay in line, the KMAR GROEP squads, being the Koninklijke Marechaussee or Royal Military Constabulary watches over the reservists closely.
ART
- The artillery category for the Dutch will be pretty standard with the usual complement of towed 120mm mortars (of French make) which can be transported by YPR-765 PRI.50 sporting a heavy machine gun, M114 155mm towed artillery pieces, and M109A2 155mm and heavy M110A2 203mm self-propelled ones.
TNK
- The 4e Divisie, as a mechanized infantry division, might count on some of the best tank support out there. This results in a good category with a generous amount of slots and good unit choices.
- All the formation’s brigades were converted to the LEOPARD 2A4 by the mid-1980s. These will be deployable in plentiful numbers, enough to put to shame any West German Panzerdivision.
- There is a caveat, however. Leopard 2A4 deliveries to the Dutch Army started a few years before "true" 2A4 were ever build, meaning they were "hybrids": earlier Leopard 2 with the 2A4's fire-control system. Ingame, they will have the B-type armor of the 2A1/2A2/2A3 (all identical) but the 2A4's gun. Hence why we called it LEOPARD 2A4(B). Meanwhile, we've marched to war one card of "true" LEOPARD 2A4(C) with C-type armor, same as 5. Panzerdivision's one.
- Some older LEOPARD 1NL can be deployed. These are non-upgraded original Leopard 1 tanks used before conversion to LEOPARD 2, and now manned by trained reservists filling up the tank regiments’ D squadrons. These tanks won’t feature the Reservist trait but won’t be able to be upvetted as much.
- The final option in this category will be the YPR-765 PRAT, being a M901 ITW’s turret mounted on an AIFV instead of using a M113 as a base, wielding two TOW-2 launchers.
RECO
- Another decent category with 4-man VERKENNERS recon teams transportable in old NEKAF Korean War-era jeeps or, 8-man GENIE VERK. with Uzi and Satchel charges going to war in a M113A1 VERK..
- The Dutch also fielded a domestic light recon “tank” in the form of the heavily modified M113 C&V, being a Dutch-Canadian LYNX sporting a turret-mounted 25mm KDA autocannon.
- Another new unit is the YPR-765 PRRDR, which is a wonderful acronym for Pantser Rups Radar or Armored Tracked Radar. Simply put, an AIFV armed with .50 cal mounting a battlefield radar.
- An unarmed BO-105 CB provides an “eye in the sky” recon helicopter.
- Finally, the Dutch long-range 104 Waarnemings- en Verkenningscompagnie will deploy the renowned Korps Commandotroepen, the Dutch Army’s special forces. These will be available as 4-man elite KCT VERKENNERS teams.
- AA - standard with slots becoming quickly expensive. These do include the CHEETAH PRTL pronounced “pruttel” or Pantser Rups Tegen Luchtdoelen, which is the Dutch variant of an upgraded German Gepard SPAAG using domestic equipment which results in slightly improved accuracy.
- Older towed BOFORS 40L70G, itself a major upgrade over the base model, with improved accuracy and AA range.
- The last option are STINGER C MANPAD teams.
HELO
- Clearly a weak point for the 4e Divisie. Much like the Belgian Armed Forces, the Dutch only had a few unarmed liaisons and recon ALOUETTE and BO-105 light helicopters.
- There were no attack helicopters available to the battlegroup, and unlike the Belgian armed forces, none were being planned to be acquired.
- As such, the division is currently being tested with no helicopter support. If this proves too much, some American or West German helicopters might be added as attachment.
- A generous category in terms of air support. The Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu) operated two types of aircraft in the late Cold War: the NF-5A (F-5 Freedom Fighter) and the F-16A.
- Both of the above airplanes are used in various roles, including fighter and fighter-bomber, sharing between them AA, HE, rocket and Cluster bomb loadouts. Note that the Royal Netherlands Air Force did not field any AGM missiles.
The Dutch 4e Divisie is a hard-hitting mechanized infantry division, compared to the more nimble Belgian counterpart (with its “glass cannon” tanks and Forward Deployed units). You’ll get to play with quite a few state-of-the-art main battle tanks, ATGM carriers, and good IFV and infantry support. Where it lacks is a solid logistical base and non-existent helicopter support.
[h2]NORTHAG Expansion Explained[/h2]
In case you missed the news: WARNO - NORTHAG is the first major expansion coming to WARNO, and takes World War III to the North German Plain, where the attacking Warsaw Pact needs to overcome the staunch defenses of NATO’s NORTHAG. Under British command, Belgian, Dutch, West German, and American forces battle against the powerful northern formations of the Soviet Group of Forces in Germany, including East German and reinforcing Polish armies. The release is planned for later in 2024.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978620/WARNO__NORTHAG/
WARNO - NORTHAG will feature:
- 2 new Army General campaigns.
- 4 new Operations.
- 4 new Maps.
- 10 new Divisions, including Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie, Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya, and the Dutch 4e Divisie.
- 3 new playable nations: NATO’s Belgium and the Netherlands, and Warsaw Pact’s Poland.
- New voice acting.
- New units and models.
We have started detailing each of WARNO - NORTHAG’s features. Check the list below!
- In the very first DevBlog, highlighting Division #1, we show off NATO’s Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie going to war with powerhouse cousin Luxembourg. Read more about the new battlegroup in this dedicated post.
- In Division 2# we focused on the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya or 25th Tank Division. Read more about this battlegroup here.
[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s it for the first one this week. We’ll be back later detailing the East German 9. Panzerdivision.
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.
