WARNO News

Hello commander,

Today, some updates on Milestone DAVOUT’s progress, what will come after it, and an upcoming patch.

[h2]Update on Milestone DAVOUT[/h2]
We had planned to release DAVOUT this week, but we rather delay it a bit because we are still missing a few models. And especially an iconic one: the Leopard 2. Hence why you haven’t seen it in screenshots before, nor will in this DevBlog.

But we’re almost there: most units are done, with their German paintjob, their picture, … as you can see below:









The NVA isn’t forgotten, of course:





[h2]What’s next?[/h2] Milestone DAVOUT might be delayed a bit, it doesn’t mean we aren’t trying to stick to our 2-milestone per month schedule. While our 3D artists are working hard to deliver the missing 5. Panzerdivision’s models, some of us have already started working on the next step. Steps even.

Here is our planned scheduled for the weeks and months to come:



The next milestone after DAVOUT will be Milestone MURAT, still focusing on German divisions … and some friends. If you don’t know about Napoléon's dashing cavalry commander already, you’ve got only a few weeks left to address that unforgivable shortcoming. ;)

DAVOUT was a hard nut to crack, for it meant modeling (almost) ALL the Bundeswehr’s units in two weeks. MURAT will be different, for it will make use of many of the same equipment, which should give our overworked 3D artists a respite. As planned, we will use this opportunity to introduce towed & crew-served weapons, not only for the new divisions, but for all of them.
Divisions from release and NEY & DAVOUT milestones will also see their ranks beefed up with mortars, field guns, anti-tank or anti-aircraft guns, … Missile weapon systems might take a bit longer though.

[h2]Upcoming patch[/h2]
But much closer from us, we have been working on a major patch, currently being tested by the strike team ... and which should be delivered to you very soon™.
Among other things, it fixes dozens of bugs reported by the community, but also brings the following changes & features:

• 3 new maps ... which we'll showcase to you soon.
  
• Time limit options in the multiplayer lobby.
  
• Increased infantry HEAT weapon’s efficiency (similar to WRD’s calculation).
  
• ECM rework.
  
• Decreased mortars’ RoF.
  
• Repricing of transport helicopters.
  
• MMG & HMG can now engage helicopters.
  
• New Soviet SEAD plane.
  
• …

[h2]See you on the battlefield![/h2]
That’s all for this week!
Join the awesome (and passionate) growing WARNO community. You can check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Join the excellent Discord server, the new Reddit page and Instagram.

See you, commander!

Hello commander,

Last week, we had a sneak preview at the NVA’s 7. Panzerdivision, the first of the two new divisions soon to be featured in the upcoming German-focused Milestone DAVOUT.

This week, let’s have a look at its NATO counterpart, the Bundeswehr’s 5. Panzerdivision.

[h2]Bundeswehr[/h2]
Just like its Eastern counterpart, West-Germany was forbidden to possess armed forces since the Wehrmacht had been dissolved in 1945. Although a new German state, the Federal Republic of Germany, had been founded in 1949, it was still officially completely demilitarized and dependent on NATO for its defense. Yet, an embryo of army existed since 1951 as the Bundesgrenzschutz (meaning Federal Border Guard), a 10.000-strong paramilitary force patrolling the German Inner Border.

Due to increasing tensions with the Eastern bloc in the early 1950, the USA, UK & France decided to rearm Germany, which they couldn’t hope to defend against a Soviet offensive without the Germans themselves. France was particularly reluctant to agree to the rearmament of a neighbor with which it had been at war three times in the past 80 years, but finally accepted.
The Bundeswehr (meaning Federal Defence, a name coined by WW2 veteran general Hasso von Manteuffel) was officially created on November 12th, 1955, the 200th birthday of general Gerhard von Scharnhorst. He was the man who rebuilt the Prussian army into a modern military machine after its crushing defeat at the hands of Napoléon (and especially Davout! 😉) in 1806. The Bundeswehr was to be a new military force, without ties with the Wehrmacht: instead, it looked toward the military reformers of 1806-1813 and the military resistance against Hitler for models & traditions.



Over the ensuing Cold War years, the Bundeswehr expanded to three corps, each of three divisions, plus three other independents divisions and several smaller units. Being stationed on their own soil, Germany, which was considered to be the most probable WW3 battlefield, the Bundeswehr was the backbone of NATO’s defense plans: with the few combat-ready US or British divisions, it would have to bear the brunt of a WarPac offensive while its NATO allies mobilized and built up their forces.

[h2]5. Panzerdivision[/h2]
Like the US 3rd Armored Division, 5. Panzerdivision isn’t new to Eugen Systems’ games’ veterans, being also featured in Steel Division 2. Yet, there is no connection between Bundeswehr units and their Wehrmacht predecessors.

The new 5. Panzer was created in Grafenwöhr (Bavaria) in 1956, as part as Heeresstruktur 1, the first iteration of the newly created Bundeswehr. It was initially structured around three Kampfgruppen (battlegroups), on the model of the US Army at the time. In 1959, a first reorganization converted the three Kampfgruppen into Panzerbrigade 14 & 15 and Panzergrenadier 13, a structure it will retain, despite some transfer or renaming, for the rest of the Cold War.



The Bundeswehr during the Cold War was organized around three army corps: I. Korps with NORTHAG, controlling 1. & 7. Panzerdivision and 11. Panzergrenadier-Division ; II. Korps in the South (de facto with CENTAG, but would have passed under SOUTHAG control shall the later be revived) with 10. Panzerdivision, 1. Gebirgsjäger-Division and 4. Panzergrenadier-Division ; III. Korps finally, with 5. & 12. Panzerdivision and 2. Panzergrenadier-Division.
5. Panzer & 2. Panzergrenadier were CENTAG’s northernmost divisions, liking it to NORTHAG. They were also the two German division closest to the Fulda Gap and trained to operate in close cooperation with the US V. Corps.

[h2]What to expect ingame?[/h2]
Germany’s Bundeswehr was smaller than some other NATO members, but it was very well equipped. Besides, save for a few M113-based vehicles, most of its equipment is either indigenous or European, making it quite distinct from the US Army.

• 5.PzD will feature the trademark German Leopard tanks, and more precisely the Leopard 1A5 (Panzergrenadier-Brigade 13) & Leopard 2A3 (Panzerbrigade 14 & 15). There are also a few older Leopard 1A1A1 with Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 5. Finally, the Panzerpionier held on to a few obsolete M48A2CGA1 (M48 Patton with 90mm gun!).
  

• Infantry weapons are mostly G3A4 rifles, MG-3 machine-guns & Panzerfaust 44 RPGs, as featured currently with 8th Infantry Division’s Jäger, but other less widespread ones include MP-2 (= license-built Uzi) & MP-5 SMG, Carl Gustav & Armbrust bazooka, HK-21 LMG or even the weird Handflammpatrone, a disposable flame-shotgun.
  
• The division’s infantry rely not on Jäger (although still present in small numbers) but on Panzergrenadier, riding into battle in either IFV or APC. IFV squads are down to 5 or 6 men, just like American Bradley infantry, to fit these vehicles’ space ; while APC-borne ones are up to 9 men. The Bundeswehr famous IFV is the Marder, coming here as either Marder 1A2 or up armored Marder 1A3, both with and without MILAN missiles. APC infantry comes with the ubiquitous MTW M113. Engineers & scouts come either in soft-skin vehicles, or the fast but lightly armored Fuchs wheeled APC.
  
• A German Panzerdivision fields less tank & foot soldiers than a US one, hence a bit less and/or more costly INF & TANK slots. On the other hand, W-German units bring a LOT of divisional artillery in comparison: Panzermörser 120mm (= M113-borne mortar), FH-155-1 field gun (= FH-70 howitzer, to be added later), M109A3GA1 155mm & M110A2G 203mm SPG, LARS 2 & MARS (= M270) MLRS. Lots of choices, lots of slots …
  

• On the other hand, 5.PzD, as any other German division and unlike American ones, has no helicopter squadron of its own, save for a few Alouette II unarmed recon ones. We’ve attached a few Bo-105 PAH-1 (HOT 1) & Bo-105 PAH-1A1 (HOT 2) from III. Korps's organic Heeresflieger-Rgt. 36. But slots are few and expensive!
  
• Air defense is provided by the already featured (and outdated) Redeye MANPADS, but also the much heavier & effective Gepard B2L SPAAG & Marder Roland SAM.
  
• Finally, the Luftwaffe provides cover and support with three different planes: the infamous F-104G fighter, the modernized F-4F Phantom II multirole & brand-new Tornado IDS strike aircraft. The latter will feature its trademark MW-1 cluster dispenser.
  

• Other indigenous vehicles include Iltis jeep, Unimog truck, Jaguar 1 (HOT) & Jaguar 2 tank destroyers, Luchs armored scout car, …
  
• Currently missing units, but to be added later: MILAN infantry, FH-155-1 field gun, FK 20 20mm light AA gun, ...
  

[h2]See you on the battlefield![/h2]
That’s all for this week!



Join the awesome (and passionate) growing WARNO community. You can check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Join the excellent Discord server, the new Reddit page and Instagram.

See you, commander!

Hey Commanders,

Here's the fifth patch "Dead Zone".

• We've reworked the deployment zone mechanic. From now on, the zone(s) you start with and can deploy in won't stay once you hit the "Launch battle" button. They disappear at the start of the game, and can't therefore be subjected to "CV sniping" or "CV hunting" tactics to deprive one player from its reinforcements. Reinforcement arrows can't be captured or neutralized anymore.
  
• Overhaul of the deck editor. Note that it's still "work in progress".
  
• Added more informations in the unit info panel. Note that we still need to improve some hints.
  
• AI avoid producing capturable units in threatened spawn points
  

• fixed some unit/weapon names
  
• fixing a bug occuring when saving or loading a game
  
• fixed text overflowing the manual in chinese
  
• fixed not being able to click view profile in the end game screen for players who abandonned
  
• fixed a rare crash during loading
  
• fixed a crash when importing an invalid deck
  
• fixed some case where "Fire on position" wouldn't work properly
  

• fixed the M60A3 TTS' missing optics + oversized pen... gun.
  
• fixed the BMP-3's scale.
  
• fixed the M151 FAV's wrong MG model.
  
• fixed SU-22's pylons position.
  
• fixed F-4G WILD WEASEL's model.
  

• reworking all tank gun, ATGMs & infantry AT weapons' AP value on a same scale (which wasn't the case) + bringing all ordnances to 1989 standards.
  
• reworking infantry AT weapons' ranges.
  
• reworking all howitzers' rate of fire: the bigger the gun the lower the RoF + adjusting ammunition stocks
  
• all helicopters will now fire their missile in quicker succession once the previous one has missed or hit (no more reload time)
  
• overall pass on unit availability to normalize it over all divisions
  
• improving some air-air & air-to-ground weapons sounds
  
• increased all AA/SAM vehicles' turret traverse speed by 50%
  
• some repricing over the board, according to the generic changes above ...
  

• increased STINGER C's price from 35 to 40
  
• decreased M109A2's price from 180 to 160
  
• decreased M110A2's price from 280 to 180
  
• decreased all M151 & M35's HP from 10 to 5 (some remained after last patch's change)
  
• adding MECH. RIFLES (LAW)'s its missing 3rd LMG
  
• (8ID) reroling RANGERS as elite infantry with M998 HUMVEE as transport option
  
• (8ID) adding LRS (standing for Long Range Surveillance) as new elite scouts (replacing the previous Rangers) with M998 HUMVEE as transport optioM
  
• (8ID) adding M3 BRADLEY CFV
  
• (8ID) adding FIRE TEAM (LAW)
  
• (8ID) adding new FIRE TEAM (AT-4)
  
• (8ID) adding new W-German KAN.JAGDPANZER
  

• increased SHTURM-S' price from 60 to 135
  
• changed BRDM-2 KONKURS' price to 120
  
• changed OSA missiles' guidance system to Radar (for real this time)
  
• MT-LB STRELA-10M now carries 8x missiles (4x ready ones & 4x reload)
  
• increased DDR MiG-23MF's ECM from -10 to 10%
  
• setting all SU-22's ECM to 30%
  
• (39GvMSD) adding new OTDELENIE PODDERZHKI (meaning Fire Support) with RPG-29
  

We are currently focusing on several items, to be delivered to you soon:

• infantry weapons' balance
  
• infantry AT weapons' efficiency
  
• several reported issues (PIVADS efficiency, RoE behaviour, attack order bug on AA, ...)

As always, we are waiting for your feedbacks.
Remember that this is an Early Access, and therefore we are taking that opportunity to test some things which can be reverted ifi it doesn't suit the community.

Hello commander,

Let’s have a first look at our third milestone, Milestone DAVOUT, named after the “Iron Marshal”, Louis-Nicolas Davout, undoubtedly Napoléon’s ablest lieutenant. Never defeated on the field of battle, Davout is best remembered as the bane of the Prussians, which is most fitting with that milestone featuring WARNO’s Germans. 😉

Today, we will focus on one of the two upcoming German divisions to be featured in DAVOUT: the East-German 7. Panzerdivision.

[h2]Nationale Volksarmee[/h2]
The Nationale Volksarmee (NVA), East-Germany’s army was created in 1956 in response to West-Germany’s rearmament and foundation of the Bundeswehr a few months earlier, although the KVP (Kasernierte Volkspolizei, or Barracked People's Police) was already an embryo of army without saying so openly. Just like its West-German counterpart, most of the cadre were former WW2 Wehrmacht veterans, ideologically selected to suit the new communist regime. An 20.000-strong all-volunteer force at its creation, the NVA increased to over 170.000 with the introduction of mandatory conscription in 1962, in the wake of the Berlin Wall’s construction.



By 1989, the NVA standing divisions amounted to two Panzerdivisionen (7. & 9. ) and four Motorisierte Schützendivision (1. ,4. ,8. & 11.), or MSD, as well as several smaller units (engineers, SAM, helicpopters, …), including the airborne/special forces Luftsturmregiment 40. Five more Motorisierte Schützendivision (6. ,10. ,17. , 19. & 20.) and an airborne regiment could be raised from reservists in just three days.
With its combination of old Prussian discipline and extreme loyalty to the communist regime, the NVA was regarded by friends or for as the most disciplined and best trained force among Warsaw Pact nations. And for NATO, among the toughest opponent to be faced in case of war.
Even the Soviets recognized that fact, with some suspicion, which might be the reason why they granted the NVA much less of their modern weaponry than other WP armies such as Poland or Czechoslovakia. Thus, although divisional organization & TO&E were based on Soviet ones (save for the parachute regiment), the NVA had to fight with much older equipment.

NVA divisions were split between “Military Districts”, Militärbezirk III & Militärbezirk V, which would have become the III. & V. Armee in case of war. Yet, it is believed that they wouldn’t have been allowed by the Soviets to act as independent armies, but instead been affected to Soviet ones. Militärbezirk V was in the North, facing NORTHAG, with 1. & 8. MSD and 9. Panzerdivision ; while Militärbezirk III was located in the South of East-Germany, facing CENTAG, with 4. & 11. MSD and 7. Panzerdivision.
This is the latter which is of interest to us today …

[h2]7. Panzerdivision[/h2] 7. Panzerdivision was formed in Dresden from the creation of the NVA in 1956, with the city’s KPV mechanized detachment as its core.
For six years, the division trained relentlessly to “protect the peaceful life of the citizens of the DDR” before Cold War caught up with it for the first time: on October 1962, at the height of the Cuba Missile Crisis, the division was placed in combat alert and draftees reaching the limit of their service where kept under arms for another month before being released.



From 1961 to 1984, 7. Panzer took part in no less than ten major manoeuvers alongside other Warsaw Pact members, as well as many national exercises.
In the Summer of 1968, 7. Panzer & 11. MSD are earmarked for deployment in neighboring Czechoslovakia, as part of Operation Danube, a Warsaw Pact intervention to quell the Prague Spring. But on August 20th, while ready to march, the order was countermanded and the division placed in reserve.

While 9. Panzerdivision, facing the might of the British Challengers in the North, had priority over T-72 allotment, 7. Panzerdivision only began receiving that model in … 1987. By the end of the Cold War, barely 25% of the division’s old T-55 had been replaced, leaving its Panzer-Regimenten with a mix of T-55 & T-72.

[h2]What to expect ingame?[/h2]
Although theoretically organized on the same lines as a Soviet Tank division, 7. PzD brings some specific features:

• In a few words: older equipment with better training over the board.
  
• 7.PzD most distinctive feature lies in the nature of its tanks: T-80 (and still missing T-62) are replaced here with T-72 and T-55. More specifically, NVA fielded “vanilla” T-72 & T-72M, as well as T-55A and modernized T-55AM2 & T-55AM2B. The latter two are identical, but with the “B” variant being able to fire 9M117 Bastion ATGM.
  
• The NVA only ever received a dozen BMP-2, which were all affected to 9.PzD. Therefore, 7.PzD’s main IFV is the BMP-1 SP2, with Malyutka on the gun (the same model currently inappropriate for the Soviet BMP-1P).
  
• NVA attack helicopters were Mi-24D & Mi-24P variants. The only difference between the “D” variant & current Soviet “V” one is the former’s inability to use Kokon missile, being instead restricted to Falanga-P older missiles. The “P” variant on the other hand is quite different, removing the twin 23mm nose turret and replacing it with two side-mounted 30mm autocannons. Like the Soviet variants, it carries more modern missiles.
  
• Although Mi-8 are in service in the NVA, the main helicopter workhorse is the Mi-2, used in both transport & recon roles.
  

• While some Soviet divisions use the improved ZSU-23-4M3 Biryusa, 7.PzD fields older ZSU-23-4 SHILKA.
  
• Instead of using the BM-21 Grad as divisional MLRS as the Soviets, 7.PzD fields the better Czech. RM-70 ones. Although they both fire 40-round salvos, the main difference is that the latter carries one extra salvo ready for reload.
  
• Czech.-made heavy T813 supply truck also advantageously replace the Soviet Ural-4320.
  
• Infantry RPG-7 doesn’t feature the latest ammunition, hence the lesser (but with more range) RPG-7VL is the main ordnance.
  
• It is to be noted that while even the best-equipped Soviet divisions hadn’t enough SPG and had to still relied on towed guns in 1989, the NVA equipped its two Panzerdivisionen with SPG in priority. Thus 7.PzD’s artillery will be entirely self-propelled.
  
• Air force support include several loadouts of Su-22M-4, MiG-21PFM & MiG-23MF.

• Currently missing units, but to be added later: SPG-9 fire support squad, FAGOT & KOKON ATGM infantry, PM-43 120mm mortar, …
  

[h2]All quiet on the Western front[/h2]
West-Germany and its first division will be the topic of next week’s DevBog. But we won’t leave you without a few treats …

• US 8th Infantry (Mech.)’s German arsenal has been increased with the KANJPZ (standing for Kanonenjagdpanzer).

• As spotted (and reported) by many, the ALPHA JET was missing its ventral gun pod. This has been fixed …

[h2]See you on the battlefield![/h2]
That’s all for this week!

Join the awesome (and passionate) growing WARNO community. You can check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Join the excellent Discord server, the new Reddit page and Instagram.

See you, commander!

Hello commander !

With Milestone NEY now released, let's have a look at what we are currently working on for the next patchs & milestone.
The program includes: new map, model corrections, Germans, ...

Keep reading for more details ...

[h2]Welcome to Geisa, your new playground![/h2] Geisa will be the 6th map to be deliver to the community as part of the Warno early access. It's a beautiful baby, a very big baby! 108 km² of playground for this map which will be the largest available in the game at the time of its release.



Geisa features several specificities:

• The map is deep! 12km wide and 9km deep. As a comparison, Loop (featured in Milesetone NEY) is 6km deep. We wanted to bring such depth to give players a different experience, especially when it comes to using artillery & helicopters.
  
• Geisa is made up of a fairly flat surface, but with three large elevated areas at its centre. The map has been designed in such a way as to offer different terrains: open country, wooden area & mountains.
  
• Also, the map's topology offers many tactical possibilities which you will have to find out and take advantage of to obtain victory. Will you choose to adopt a frontal approach by sending your troops to the centre of the map? Will you try to bypass the front line by taking the pass to the east? Or do you want to control the heights of the map?
  
• From a visual point of view, you'll be walking through Geisa on a late summer's day.

However, don't spend too much time contemplating the settin sun reflecting on the lakes of Geisa: your troops will be waiting for your orders!

[h2]Model corrections[/h2]
Although we've got a "strict" planification for modelization, with upcoming new units for the next milestones having priority, we are keeping tab of your feedbacks about issues regarding currently released models. And our modeling team is doing its best to squeeze some corrections within its tight schedule.
Here are a few of the errors we have noted and have or will adress as soon as possible:

• M60A3 Patton missing the TTS optics & having too big a gun.
  
• M151A2 FAV's wrong MG model
  
• Abrams family's turret.
  
• BRDM-2 Strela-1's wrong chassis
  
• BMP-3's tiny size
  
• various planes' pylons position
  
• and more ...

[h2]Zee Germans[/h2]
Our next major Milestone DAVOUT will, as announced, feature the first German divisions, one for both sides.
As such, we are presently busy up to our neck with German models: Leopard, Marder, T-55, ... and more. But we won't spoil it and deprive you of the pleasure of waiting one full week to learn more about it ... ;)

In the meantime, here's a preview:



[h2]Major work[/h2]
There are issues we are aware of, and are working to fix them over the board once and for all:*

• MG stats
  
• bringing all main gun's ammo to a 1989 standard, many still having an AP corresponding to the tank's acceptance into service, as was the case in WRD.
• ...

[h2]See you on the battlefield![/h2]
That’s all for this week!

Join the awesome (and passionate) growing WARNO community. You can check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Join the excellent Discord server, the new Reddit page and Instagram.

See you, commander!