SD2 Blog Post - Tribute to D-Day Inf Divisions #2

Hello commander!

We hope you are doing well. In today’s post, we’re going to shine a light on two “devilishly good” divisions which will be part of our upcoming new Steel Division 2 “Tribute to D-Day” DLC launching the 6th of June.

That’s right, it’s paratrooper action with the 6th British “Red Devils” Airborne Division squaring off against the “Green Devils” 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division. As elite infantry formations, they both feature tough and battle-hardened soldiers, favoring the fight up close and personal.

Don’t forget to read the previous Mechanized Infantry blog post where we look at the U.S. 2nd “Indianhead” Infantry Division on the Allied side and the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen” for the Axis.

The “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will celebrate the official start of Operation Overlord in 1944 and transports six divisions from Steel Division: Normandy 44 to the Eastern Front, including several new units. Read all about it in the original announcement here.

[h2]Death from above[/h2]

Of the two airborne divisions, only one was actually used in its intended vertical paradrop role (the 6th Airborne). While the Axis formation did feature a large array of parachutist-friendly material (light, short-range guns), by this stage of the war, the 3.Fallschirmjäger was mostly related to slogging it out on foot. Still, the soldiers from both divisions were well trained and combat-ready.

One of the main new features of the “Tribute to D-Day” DLC is the Belgian Brigade Piron, found with the 6th Airborne. All the units attached to this Belgian brigade have been reskinned to match Piron’s camouflage and markings, with the soldiers having their own voice acting (and yes, that means French with Belgian accents and Flemish accents of Dutch). Its units can be also searched for under their own flag in Steel Division 2’s Armory.



The following selection of special units can be found in the Belgian Brigade Piron:

• Recon: Daimler Littlejohn, Eclaireurs (2-man team), Scouts (4-man team), Daimler Scout Car, MMG Carrier, Universal Carrier
  
• Infantry: Grenadiers-Volt. (8-man Motor Rifles-like), CMD Grenadiers-Volt. (4-man Leader squad with PIAT)
  
• Transport: CMP trucks, Willys MB
  
• Other: Dingo (Commander), CMP Polsten, 25-pdr artillery gun
  

Officially, the air landing commandos of the 6th British “Red Devils” Airborne were the first to land on French soil just after midnight on the 6th of June during Operation Deadstick: the coup de main glider assault on two bridges over the River Orne and Caen Canal. Shortly after, the bulk of the division’s paratroopers dropped in various landing zones located on the eastern flank of the invasion area.

Having consolidated their positions, and reinforced by British and Canadian divisions, the “Red Devils” occupied a vital bridgehead across the Orne for several weeks. Later on, the division was further augmented by the Belgium Brigade Piron, one of the various “other” Allied formations from nations contributing to the Normandy campaign (including the French, Polish, Dutch, Czech, etc.)

Later during the campaign, the 6th Airborne Division advanced along the French coast, reaching the River Seine by the end of August. The paratroopers were sent back to England and were used as reinforcements during the subsequent Battle of the Bulge before making their last combat drop into Germany during Operation Varsity in March 1945.




The 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division never performed an actual para drop but was still considered part of the fighting elite of the Third Reich. Formed of veteran soldiers, the division was listed as full strength and well-equipped with a large arsenal of MG 42s and the Fallschirmjägers-own FG 42s.

Having moved into the battlezone on June 10th, the German “Green Devils” wreaked havoc on the Allied formations, expertly using their numerous short-range automatic infantry weapons during deadly ambushes and transforming the many hedgerows of Normandy into natural fortresses. The lack of motorized transport hampered the 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division, and later on, the formation was almost completely destroyed during heavy Allied bombing near Falaise.



[h2]A new way to play[/h2]

First off, we have made quite a few under-the-hood changes to each of the divisions featured in the upcoming DLC. For instance, they will have full access to all the new unit types introduced in Steel Division 2, such as the artillery observers and commander units. Also, each formation uses Steel Division 2’s economy templates (instead of the fixed rate). There is more: new units will also feature traits such as Raiders (operate without any morale penalty behind enemy lines) or Disheartened (these units lose morale quicker under fire).

As we explained in our previous blogpost, we wanted to highlight the historic battlefield evolution of each division.

For the 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division this means that some of their “lesser” comrade-in-arms (the reinforcements from the weaker, disbanded Luftwaffen-Felddivisionen) will become available in phase B.

There are some more noteworthy changes visible with the 6th Airborne. Here, the Ox & Bucks commandos (the troops the first to assault Pegasus Bridge) are available during phase A. The same for their infamous captured AB PaK 40. The Cromwell replacement tanks can be deployed from phase B, while Challenger tank reinforcements arrive in phase C. Lastly, one of the big new additions to the “Tribute to D-Day” DLC, the Belgian Brigade Piron, is available from phase C.

For both airborne divisions, most of their line infantry (Rifles, Assault, Pioneer) feature the Raiders trait. Some of their support units also gain this trait, including MGs, flamethrower squads, the British Tetrarch tank, 2-pdr mortar, 75mm howitzer, captured PaK 40, and 20mm Polsten gun, the German L6 light tank, LG 42 recoilless guns and 20mm Flak guns.

[h2]New shiny toys![/h2]

We have created a couple of new units for our paratrooper divisions:

• Fs-Sturmjäger - 3FJ: A very small number of Fallschirmjäger support squads were equipped with a combination of FG 42 and StG 44 automatic rifles. Not satisfied with the proposed massive hail of fire, MG 42 have been added on top for good measure.
  
• Glider Crew - 6AB: Large squads of pilots and glider crew who found themselves without a job once on the ground. Armed with Sten guns and rifles these ad-hoc soldiers are untrained in tactics, and as such carry the Disheartened trait.
  
• AB Paras (PIAT) - 6AB: A small number of “heavy” paratrooper squads can be found with two Bren machine guns and a PIAT.
  
• Grenadiers-Volt - 6AB: Belgian Motor Rifle soldiers, equipped with two Stens and 2 Bren machine guns.
  

The “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will also “revive” some classic units from Normandy 44 and allow for their deployment on the Eastern Front in Steel Division 2. In no particular order:

• All Airborne and Airlanding infantry for the 6th British Airborne Division.
  
• Tetrarch light tank - In three variants, including Littlejohn in the Recon tab.
  
• Daimler Littlejohn (Belgian version)
  
• AB M1 75mm - Light howitzer with the Raiders trait.
  
• British Tanks - Cromwell, Challenger, Centaur (support variant of the Cromwell).
  
• Fallschirmjäger and Luftwaffe infantry for the 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division.
  
• AB41 - Armored car
  
• L6 - Light tank
  
• Puppchen light AT rocket-launcher.
  
• PaK 42 Gerlich light squeeze-bore AT gun.
  
• LG 42 recoilless 105mm gun found in the Support tab.
  

[h2]Coming up next[/h2]

Next week’s blog post, we’ll take a good look at the remaining two divisions of the “Tribute to D-Day” DLC: The Free Poles of the 1 Pacerna versus the fanatical 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend.

The upcoming “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will release on June 6th and will be made available for $16,99 / €16,99.

Let us know what you think! Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!