Steel Division 2 Blog Post - Divisions DLC #2 - The Fate of Finland
Good day to you!
In today’s blog post we will take a closer look at the six new divisions which are going to ship with our new Steel Division 2 History DLC: “The Fate of Finland.”
You can read the first details about this recently revealed expansion in this announcement here.
As you might know, in the upcoming DLC, both Axis and Allies will gain access to three brand-new divisions!
The Axis
- Panssaridivisioona
First off, we have Finland’s sole armored division, the aptly named Panssaridivisioona. This formation was created in 1942 by bringing together all the Finnish tanks. This means that the division can count on a wide array of different models, from pre-war versions, captured Soviet tanks, and the latest German self-propelled guns.
With the Panssaridivisioona you get to play with the ubiquitous but outdated Soviet light tank, the T-26, as well as more exotic equipment. What about the multi-turreted T-28, the T-50 light tank, the T-38 amphibious tank, or the BT-42 assault guns? British Vickers E tanks can also be deployed. German StuG III and Panzer IV J round out your armored options.
Weak in reconnaissance and artillery support, the Panssaridivisioona has an actual fighting strength closer to a typical German mechanized division. - Ryhmä Raappana
An ad-hoc formation commanded by general Raappana, this battlegroup (literally Group Raappana) is an infantry-centric force. So much so that it lacks a strong armored punch.
It makes up for this with aggressive recon troops, formidable artillery and air support, and a wide variety of different infantry. From regular riflemen squads to cavalry units, assault Jääkäri, engineers, close-quarters specialists, Sissi special forces and even penal formations, the fighting power of its soldiers means that Group Raappana excels in defensive fights. - 122. Infanterie-Division
The German 122. Infanterie-Division was sent north as urgent reinforcements. Its timely arrival contributed greatly to the Finnish efforts to contain the Soviet offensive on the Karelian Isthmus. This regular German infantry division is reinforced with Finnish elements including Estonian volunteers but also reconnaissance troops, infantry, AT units and more. The battlegroup can also count on some hard-hitting assets such as PaK 43 anti-tank guns and Stug IV assault guns. Furthermore, Luftwaffe support is provided by the Detachment Kuhlmey, which features a potent mix of fighters and fighter bombers.
The Allies
- 126-y L. Gornostrelkovy Korpus
Not an actual corps but rather a downsized Soviet rifle division, the 126th Light Rifle Corps could count on a cadre of very experienced troops. This battlegroup can deploy Soviet Gornostrelki mountain troops, lightly armed but well-equipped with radios. These veteran soldiers also feature the new “Raider” unit characteristic, meaning that they won’t suffer any moral or combat penalties when engaged in a fight behind enemy lines.
The division also fields Morskaya Pekhota naval assault troops, which are larger than usual rifle squads carrying a substantial amount of SMGs. Pretty cool, but especially if you know these guns are Chicago-style old-school M1928 Thompsons. Not only that, but fast and iconic BT-7 tank can also be found in this battlegroup as one of the last remaining Soviet ones being used in a combat capacity. Lend-lease units round out this battlegroup, from M3 Lee tanks to P-40 Kittyhawk fighters. - Podv. Gruppa Vyborg
One of the most powerful combat groups of the Leningrad Front, the Podv. Gruppa Vyborg was destined to exploit any breakthrough made in the Karelia sector. As such, this battlegroup focuses heavily on its armored role, featuring everything from T-26 tanks (including assault gun and flamethrower variant) to the T-34/76, KV-1, the IS-2 and even lend-lease Churchill tanks. Its infantry and artillery units are highly specialized but few and far between. - 358-ya Strelkovy Div
The 358th Rifle Division earned their stripes in one of the other locations already present in Steel Division 2: the hotly-contested battlegrounds of Vitebsk. Part of the first, failed Soviet offensive in 1943, the division was rebuilt and sent north to support the assault on the Finnish lines a year later. A veteran formation, its soldiers are experts in close combat attacks, including its specialized Gruppa Zachistki (“trench cleaners”). The battlegroup can choose T-26, T-60 and T-70 light tanks, a few T-34/76, and even ISU-122 and brand-new ISU-122S tank destroyers to serve as armored support.
If you haven’t, make sure to grab your History Pass. With this History Pass you’ll get access to all three planned DLC’s for Steel Division 2. You can play number one, “Death on the Vistula”, as we speak. Number two, “The Fate of Finland”, has now been revealed and will release in the next two months. Number three: well, you need to hold on tight for that one as it is still some ways off!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/
That’s it for this week’s post. Keep a close eye out on our Steam and Eugen forums, or social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our [https://discord.gg/TEeBArm]Discord channel or Reddit page.
See you on the battlefield, commander!