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Festung Dunkirchen Detailed Preview

Hello commander,

We hope you are well. Last week, we detailed how the Czechoslovakian troops of the Allied CIABG battlegroup would look in the upcoming Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk. Today it’s the turn of the hardy and aggressive Axis garrison of Festung Dunkirchen.

We’ll detail each category of the battlegroup. Keep reading to find out more.

[h2]Festung Dunkirchen in Steel Division 2[/h2]
The nucleus of this scratch-built formation was formed by the recently drafted but very green and small 226. Infanterie-Division, which gives Festung Dunkirchen its coat of arms. The battlegroup was bolstered by the Kriegsmarine garrison, as well as Luftwaffe ground troops.



Hot on the heels of the successful Allied offensive out of Normandy, Dunkirk was surrounded by the first Commonwealth forces in early September. Hemmed in at the critical port were an array of units, from exhausted stragglers to raw recruits and the previously mentioned Luftwaffe anti-air defense troops and Kriegsmarine forces.

Only a few worn-out tanks were available. On the other hand, a whole slew of artillery, AA, and other stationary emplacements could be effectively used against the surrounding Allied units of the CIABG. Because of the harsh discipline and effective leadership of the Kriegsmarine garrison leader, admiral Frisus, frequent raids on the enemy kept up morale. This went on for the entire duration of the siege, with Festung Dunkirchen troops even going on the offensive in the dying days of World War II.



[h2]Festung Dunkirchen detailed[/h2]
The following is still work-in-progress, but let’s look at how Festung Dunkirchen holds up in each Steel Division 2 unit category.

All new units are bolded.

RECON
Not one of the most impressive categories for Festung Dunkirchen, with an average number of slots, all being expensive and not featuring many choices.

  • The standard BMW sidecar with AUFKLÄRER and SPÄHTRUPPEN.
  • The new KM JAGDKOMMANDO is a Kriegsmarine landing party turned recon, historically used to launch surprise amphibious raids before returning to their “fortress.” Dunkirk was home to large weapon depots, allowing the garrison to organize heavily equipped infantry units. This particular unit is a heavy 9-man recon squad with 3x MP-40 and 2x l.MG-34.




INFANTRY
A good and varied category with a wide range of different units and squads with varying quality and experience levels. These include Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe Flaktruppen, and Kriegsmarine personnel.

  • Your regular ERSATZ, GRENADIER (including Leader variants), and PIONIER squads.
  • Luftwaffe LW-JÄGER (and Leaders), as well as new LW-FLAKKAMPFTRUPPEN, well-equipped, including Panzerschreck, but still carrying the Disheartened trait.
  • Kriegsmarine KM LANDESSCHÜTZEN, KM MARINE INFANTERIE (including Leader), KM PIONIER.
  • A new unit are so-called fortress infantry, which are large 15-man Disheartened FESTUNGS-GRENADIER armed with Lebel rifles and FM 24/29.
  • Other new units are STOSSTRUPPEN (PzF) with MP-40, MP-28, Panzerfaust and explosives, as well as heavy JAGDKAMPF squads with 4x MP-40, G43, 2x l.MG-42 and a Panzerschreck.




TANK
Well, what can we say? Few tanks survived to retreat to Dunkirk, and the ones that did… didn’t last long within the encirclement. Still, you can deploy a very limited amount of armor. Slots are restricted to two and only in Combat Phases A and B.

  • Tanks available include the PANZER IV H and STUG III G.


SUPPORT
A solid category with a good amount of cheap slots and plenty of choices.

  • ]Festung Dunkirchen has access to lots of MG teams, from KM MG-08 and MG-34 to the new LW-S.MG 271 (F) (a Hotchkiss 13,2mm) and even the ERDKAMPFLAFETTE 43. This last unit is a plane’s MG-151/20 20mm cannon used as a ground automatic weapon - a 20mm HMG!
  • Several cards of KM KÜSTENPOLIZEI military police. Admiral Frisus maintained the garrison’s morale with an aggressive spirit and ruthless discipline, hanging anyone suspected of defeatism.
  • Standard IG 18 and IG 33 infantry guns.


ANTI-TANK
A pretty decent category with a regular number of slots and a fair price.

  • First off, you’ll get your PANZERSCHRECK and PAK 37mm, 50mm, and 75mm.
  • Followed by a handful of self-propelled MARDER.
  • And the cherry on the cake is a single hard-worked elite JAGDPANTHER. This specimen was likely a leftover from the retreat out of Normandy. Allied reports mention German counter-attacks from the garrison supported by an “SP-88mm”, which ought to be a Jagdpanther. And now you get to play with one too!


ANTI-AIR
One of the best Festung Dunkirchen categories, with plenty of cheap choices.

  • This includes the standard FLAK 38 20mm, FLAKVIERLING, FLAK 43 37mm, FLAK 41 88mm, and FLAK 38 105mm. Self-propelled anti-air vehicles are lacking, though.
  • New units include the FLAK 28 (p) 40mm (which is a captured Polish BOFORS) and the FLAK 31 (r) 88mm, a Soviet 85mm AA gun rebored to 88mm. The latter unit is slightly less powerful than the FLAK 41.




ART
Once again, a solid category with lots of options, both cheap and varied.

  • As before, we have the standard 81mm and 120mm mortar units.
  • Towed pieces include the Czech-built FK-30 (T) 76,2mm, the German Le.FHM 105mm, and the French-captured (and new unit) K 419(f) 155mm. This last unit is identical to the GPF 155mm found in the CIABG, as some were recaptured (so a double recapture) and put to use by the Free French forces.
  • The BEO KUBELWAGEN (164mm) and (194mm) variants, which represent off-map fire support based on beached naval guns and coastal batteries.




AIR
Not that astounding. Of course, with the Luftwaffe planes being out of reach, most of the time, only long-range aircraft could provide a token of assistance. So, this category has only a few slots, and is quite expensive.

  • The garrison’s own AR 196 A-3 floatplane acts as a cheap recon in Combat Phase A, which can be used as a makeshift fighter.
  • Historically, the two closest Luftwaffe squadrons (before being overrun) were a recon and night fighter one. So, the only planes available in Combat Phase A and B are ME 410 A-3 recon and JU 88 G-1 heavy fighters.
  • From B onwards, only JU 88 A-4 and DO 217 K-1 bombers can be deployed.


Festung Dunkirchen is a battlegroup with strong AA and ART units, supporting a versatile and heavy infantry force. Decent anti-tank capabilities make this division a powerful defensive formation, but it only has minimal offensive abilities.



[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]

Let us know what you think. Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk’s release is getting ever closer!

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See you on the battlefield, commander.