Men of Steel: Bulgarian Showcase
Hello, hello!
We are back with another deep dive into our upcoming expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. After our recent Highlights, we decided it was time to lift the tip of the veil on a larger variety of models, including new units.
The first nation to receive such a showcase is Bulgaria, presented in the expansion as the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada. Read more about this new division in the dedicated Versus #4 DevBlog.
Get ready for a host of shiny (or not-so-shiny) new 3D models!
[h2]Bulgarian Infantry[/h2]
We have already showcased the Bulgarian infantry models, which you can check in this Steel Division 2: Men of Steel dedicated Highlight DevBlog. But, there is always something new to share.
The few Bulgarian Motorized Rifles attached to the armored brigade were nominally organized along German lines - 10 men centered on an MG-34 light machine gun. However, regular Bulgarian infantry went into battle during World War II as much as they did at the end of World War I, with large 14-man squads and a single automatic rifle.
One major issue the Bulgarian infantry encountered was the lack of anti-tank weapons. The only ones delivered by the Germans were PzB 39 anti-tank rifles, which were outdated by 1944 and could only be used against the lightest of enemy armored vehicles. The main alternative were hand-held AT grenades or improvised explosives.
While at a disadvantage when war finally came to their nation, Bulgarian infantry quickly reequipped themselves in the field with captured Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck. In our Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion, Bulgarian infantry will mainly be represented as they first clashed with the Germans. Bulgarian infantry with captured German AT weapons are only available as a separate Combat Phase B-locked variant.
[h2]Bulgarian Vehicles[/h2]
Most Bulgarian vehicles in World War II featured a single-colored beige/yellowish paint job. This would apply to all wheeled vehicles, as well as most of the tanks. However, some of the older models retained their camouflage, which we will recreate in-game.
Bulgaria’s tank force includes:
[h2]Bulgarian Guns and Artillery[/h2]
Next up, the wide variety of guns and artillery pieces available to the Bronirana Brigada in-game.
(German crew is placeholder)
[h2]Bulgarian Airplanes[/h2]
A whole lot of original flying machines will make their way into the Bronirana Brigada. Expect plenty of new models of various origins, including even one indigenous one.
[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
We have already shared a bunch of new details on our next expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. If you want to do some background reading, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs. Find the list below:
Versus
Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.
[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
That’s all for this week’s showcase. We’ll be back next week!
Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.
Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!
See you on the battlefield, commander.
We are back with another deep dive into our upcoming expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. After our recent Highlights, we decided it was time to lift the tip of the veil on a larger variety of models, including new units.
The first nation to receive such a showcase is Bulgaria, presented in the expansion as the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada. Read more about this new division in the dedicated Versus #4 DevBlog.
Get ready for a host of shiny (or not-so-shiny) new 3D models!
[h2]Bulgarian Infantry[/h2]
We have already showcased the Bulgarian infantry models, which you can check in this Steel Division 2: Men of Steel dedicated Highlight DevBlog. But, there is always something new to share.
The few Bulgarian Motorized Rifles attached to the armored brigade were nominally organized along German lines - 10 men centered on an MG-34 light machine gun. However, regular Bulgarian infantry went into battle during World War II as much as they did at the end of World War I, with large 14-man squads and a single automatic rifle.
One major issue the Bulgarian infantry encountered was the lack of anti-tank weapons. The only ones delivered by the Germans were PzB 39 anti-tank rifles, which were outdated by 1944 and could only be used against the lightest of enemy armored vehicles. The main alternative were hand-held AT grenades or improvised explosives.
While at a disadvantage when war finally came to their nation, Bulgarian infantry quickly reequipped themselves in the field with captured Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck. In our Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion, Bulgarian infantry will mainly be represented as they first clashed with the Germans. Bulgarian infantry with captured German AT weapons are only available as a separate Combat Phase B-locked variant.
[h2]Bulgarian Vehicles[/h2]
Most Bulgarian vehicles in World War II featured a single-colored beige/yellowish paint job. This would apply to all wheeled vehicles, as well as most of the tanks. However, some of the older models retained their camouflage, which we will recreate in-game.
Bulgaria’s tank force includes:
- German Panzer IV G and H (without Schürtzen, the side skirts), known in Bulgarian service as the T-IV.
- German StuG III G, in Bulgarian service used as the T-III.
- Czech. Panzer 38(t) as the PRAGA P-38 in Bulgaria’s arsenal.
- Czech. Panzer 35(t), known as the ŠKODA Š-35 in Bulgaria.
- a variant of the above tank, equipped with a more powerful gun and destined for export to … Afghanistan! The Germans handed it over to Bulgaria after the annexation of Czechoslovakia. A new unit, this vehicle is a hybrid between the Panzer 35 and 38, and called ŠKODA T-11.
- German SdKfz. 222 and 223 armored cars, respectively M-222 & M-223 in Bulgarian service.
- old British Vickers E tanks, part of Bulgaria’s earliest armored forces. The brigade used these as artillery observation tanks.
[h2]Bulgarian Guns and Artillery[/h2]
Next up, the wide variety of guns and artillery pieces available to the Bronirana Brigada in-game.
- The armored brigade’s artillery is entirely sourced from German arms manufacturers, featuring the le.FH 18M 105mm, s.FH 18 150mm, as well as 20mm, 37mm and 88mm AA guns and PaK 37mm, 50mm and 75mm anti-tank guns.
- The brigade also had a regiment of regular infantry attached to the formation at Nis, as well as army support. They weren’t as well equipped, bringing only older guns to bear.
- This includes a new unit, the Czech. KPUV vz. 37 37mm AT gun.
- The captured French and refurbished by the Germans PaK 97/38 delivered by the Germans.
- A new unit in the form of the Swedish Bofors 75mm M36 field gun.
- Another new unit as the French WWI Schneider 220mm TR howitzer.
- And yet another new unit as the Czech. Skoda vz.37 80mm AA gun.
(German crew is placeholder)[h2]Bulgarian Airplanes[/h2]
A whole lot of original flying machines will make their way into the Bronirana Brigada. Expect plenty of new models of various origins, including even one indigenous one.
- A new unit, the Kb-11-II Fazan. It was the small nation’s sole indigenous-made plane. It is a reconnaissance or artillery observation plane, much in the same vein as a Storch or Grasshopper.
- Another new unit, the B-71 Jerav, is the Bulgarian designation of the Czech. B-71, a Soviet interwar bomber built under license by Czechoslovakia. This plane was a copy of the Soviet SB (Skorostnoy Bombardirovschik, “High-speed Bomber”), quite revolutionary in 1934 when it made its maiden flight. This aircraft first saw combat during the Spanish Civil War and became the mainstay of the Soviet bombing forces in the early war years. Czechoslovakia acquired the license to produce the bomber in 1938. This is why this particular plane found its way into the Bulgarian, German, and Finish air forces.
- The French D.520 Dewoitine, in Bulgarian service known simply as the Dewoitine, is another new unit. This one is new to Steel Division 2 but already made an appearance as a German fighter in the older Steel Division: Normandy 44. One of the last French fighter models to enter combat during the 1940 campaign in France, it was roughly equal to the best variant of the Me 109 at the time, and while slower, was more agile. By 1944, the D.520 was no longer a front-line combat aircraft but was still useful as a general fighter against lesser opponents.
- The German Do 17, in Bulgarian service the Do 17 Uragan, will be available in bomber (Kb-1 and M-1) and recon (P) variants.
- The German Fw-189A-2, in Bulgaria known as the Fw 189 Oko, can be deployed in a recon role.
- The German dive bomber Ju-87 will be available in Sztuka D-5 and Sztuka R2 variants.
- A new unit, the B-534 Dogan, which is a renamed Czech. Avia B.534, used as a close air support and fighter biplane.
- The Czech. Letov Š-328, in Bulgarian service the Vrana, which is another new unit. This plane was also used for recon or artillery observation.
- The German Me 109 (Bulgarian designation Strela) deployable in several variants.
- And a new unit, the Polish PZL.43A, known by the Bulgarians as the Chaika, a light bomber.
[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
We have already shared a bunch of new details on our next expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. If you want to do some background reading, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs. Find the list below:
Versus
- The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
- The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
- The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
- The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.
Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.
[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
That’s all for this week’s showcase. We’ll be back next week!
Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be encountered on our Instagram.
Looking for an online game? Visit the Discord server or Reddit page and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!
See you on the battlefield, commander.