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Steel Division 2 “Tribute to D-Day” the Winged Hussars versus the Hitlerjugend



Hello!

We will be looking at some true divisional firepower today with the last two divisions of Steel Division 2’s upcoming “Tribute to D-Day” Pack: the 1 Dywizja Pancerna (or 1st Polish Armoured Division) versus the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend”.

The launch of the Tribute to D-Day Pack is nearly upon us. On Saturday June 6th, in Steel Division 2, you’ll be able to play with six fan-favorite divisions brought from Steel Division: Normandy 44 to the brutal battlefields of the Eastern Front. With these new divisions, you’ll get your hands on original units such as the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer, Cromwell and Tetrarch tanks, “Beute” Firefly tank, and more!

In today’s themed “Tribute to D-Day” Versus post, we detail two hard-hitting armored divisions: the Free Poles of the 1 Dywizja Pancerna will lock horns with the indoctrinated young soldiers of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend”.

But first, let’s unveil some new units, a new unit trait, and two new Aces!

[h3]A new way to play![/h3]

A new unit will be available for the 1 Dywizja Pancerna: the Spitfire Mk.IXc, which featured the older 2x20mm plus 4x7.62mm armament loadout instead of the 2x20mm and 2x12.7mm machine gun array encountered in the more common IXe variant.

The “Tribute to D-Day” Pack will also feature a new unit trait found with the 12. SS-Panzerdivision to highlight their ferociousness on the battlefield: “Fanatical.” A unit with this trait will never surrender!

We have made sure that each division featured in the upcoming pack will take full advantage of the latest game mechanics, units, and features found in Steel Division 2. The six divisions contain the latest unit types such as the artillery observers, military police, 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 carry special traits including Raiders (operate without a morale penalty behind enemy lines), Disheartened (these units lose morale quicker under fire) or the new Fanatical trait.

[h3]Furious and powerful[/h3]

The “Tribute to D-Day” Pack features two new Aces - you know, those fancy looking units with their own custom paint job (but not gameplay advantage) which highlight a particularly illustrious individual from a division’s combat history. We’ve had snipers, pilots, tank commanders; in the new pack you’ll be able to play with:

  • Francis “Gabby” Gabreski (P-47D-25 in fighter mode) found with the US 2nd Infantry Division.
  • Michael Wittman (Tiger E Führer) found with the 12. SS-Panzer.




The latest two divisions in the “Tribute to D-Day” will revive some classic units from Normandy 44. These include:

  • ”Beute” captured Firefly
  • Cromwell tanks (half a dozen variants)
  • Crusader Mk.2B
  • Firefly Ic


Now, let’s take a look at the divisions in detail!

[h2]1 Dywizja Pancerna[/h2]
The Free Poles of the 1 Dywizja Pancerna, the 1st Polish Armored Division, only started landing in France at the end of July and beginning of August. Under Canadian command, the Winged Hussars joined combat during Operation Totalize, which broke the Axis defensive lines south of Caen, and paved the way for the Polish tanks and soldiers to advance to the town of Falaise.

The 1 Pancerna took on a crucial role in closing the subsequent encirclement that trapped thousands of Axis soldiers. It bore the brunt of the German attempts to escape the Falaise Pocket and, despite repeated attacks, held the line. Later during World War 2, the Winged Hussars drove up the French coast and played an essential part in the liberation of Belgium and the Netherlands.

Some of the 1 Dywizja Pancerna’s defining features:
  • Fast Cromwell cavalry tanks (as well as light Stuart tanks) allow the Free Poles to be very fast and aggressive in the opening attacks.
  • Sherman and Firefly tanks provide the bulk of the armored forces in the second wave.
  • The division can also field two older Firefly Ic (slower, less armored compared to the more common Vc variant) but only phase A. A neat trick: this division provides the only opportunity to deploy two vetted Firefly tanks in phase A.
  • Strong AA weapons, including mobile, armored twin and triple 20mm, Bofors portee, etc.
  • A drawback is the limited amount of infantry and the lack of strong artillery.
  • The Polish air force is compelled to use older variants of various capable planes, encompassing Spitfire Mk. IXc, Hurricane, Mosquito, and P-51 Mustang (the old Mk. III variant).




[h2]12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend”[/h2]
Arguably one of the best fighting divisions of the Third Reich in the early summer 1944, the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” became renowned for its fanatical conduct on the battlefield. The bulk of the division’s soldiers were spirited and indoctrinated, recruited from the Hitler Youth, backed up by a cadre of experienced and battle-hardened NCOs and officers. The 12. SS-Panzerdivision lacked for (almost) nothing, being able to field a large number of tanks and other armored vehicles such as Tigers, Panthers, supported by self-propelled AA guns and rocket artillery.

Being one of the closest Axis armored divisions in Normandy during Allied landings, the 12. SS-Panzerdivision was immediately sent to the front. The formation proved to be a tough and ferocious opponent to the British-Canadian forces arrayed against it. Time and time again, the German soldiers counter-attacked, inflicting many casualties. However, harried by constant air attacks, naval and artillery bombardment, the 12. SS was almost completely destroyed after weeks of hard fighting. Only a small part of its soldiers escaped the disastrous Falaise Pocket.

Some of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision strengths and weaknesses:
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