Tribute to Normandy '44 - Versus #4
Hello commander,
Welcome back to our fourth Versus of our upcoming Tribute-style expansion, coming in the near future to Steel Division 2.
In today’s DevBlog, we’ll shine a light on the Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis German 91. Luftlande-Division.
Keep on reading to find out more!
[h2]Guards Armoured Division’s Combat History[/h2]
There is no big surprise to the origin of the British Guards Armoured Division. Founded in 1941, it drew its battalions and other elements from other “Guards” units, such as Coldstream Guards, Grenadier Guards, Scots Guards, Household Cavalry, etc. These senior formations form part of the Household Division, tasked with public duties and… what else… the guarding of the Royal Family. Befitting for such an elite and esteemed division, the Guards Armoured Division received some of the best equipment available in the British Army.
Some battalions already had seen combat, but the Guards Armoured Division as a whole got its baptism of fire when landing in the middle of June in Normandy. In the subsequent fighting, the Guards saw action east of Caen, including fighting against the schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 with its Königstiger during Operation Goodwood.
After the lack of success in these hard-fought battles, Guards Armoured Division saw continued combat in France, though pulled off the line for rest and refit during the closing of the Falaise pocket. After the break-out of Normandy, the division took part in the liberation of Brussels and, later on, became one of the main armored battlegroups to rush north to relieve the Allied paratroopers in Operation Market Garden. The Guards experienced further fighting in the Netherlands, as well as during the Battle of the Bulge and subsequent combat in Germany itself.
The Guards Armoured Division was featured in the base version of Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]Guards Armoured Division in game[/h2]
There is no denying it, the Guards Armoured Division are Great Britain’s poster boys, lavishly equipped and at full combat strength.
As we will feature two additional Commonwealth armored divisions, the 7th Armoured “Desert Rats” and the new 4th Canadian Armored, we decided to give each of the tank formations a unique flavor.
In the Guards Armoured Division case, it will be a “heavy cavalry” division, acting as a steamroller on the battlefield. The formation will focus on grinding the enemy down with overwhelming tank firepower and heavy artillery. The Guards Armoured Division doesn’t lack in core combat units, be it armor or supporting arms. That’s why air support for this formation will be minimal and one of the division’s major drawbacks.
[h2]Guards Armoured Division Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
So, what does that mean for the Guards Armoured Division in-game?
While not featuring many new units, the Guards Armoured Division regroups some of the more noteworthy British ones in not-before-seen numbers, and finally all in a British battlegroup!
The Guards Armoured Division is the flaming sword of the British Army with a serious amount of firepower (though lacking in air cover).
[h2]91. Luftlande-Division Combat History[/h2]
The 91. Luftlande-Division was formed late in the war in 1944, intended as an air-transportable division. The formation was originally created to partake in an aborted airborne operation aimed at seizing the Finnish island Suursaari in the Gulf of Finland. Despite its name, it was a regular Heer division, used as a follow-up unit to be airlifted into the combat zone after a first wave had cleared the way.
The 91. Luftlande-Division never served its intended role (not very surprising) and instead ended up as a stationary occupation formation in northern France. Very small, it had two-thirds the theoretical strength of an infantry division, with no tanks, no Flak guns, no trucks, and very light artillery. Not the most promising deck of cards for the 91. Luftlande-Division.
The 91. Luftlande-Division was part of the base version of Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]A Little Bit of Help for the 91. Luftlande-Division[/h2]
Over the course of the Battle of Normandy, the 91. Luftlande-Division found itself trapped in the ever-shrinking Cherbourg pocket. Here it ended up amalgamating a lot of smaller units, scattered or disbanded formations, and other detachments. By August 10th, despite the many ad-hoc reinforcements, the division was severely depleted. The combat history of the 91. Luftlande-Division ends there, as its surviving troops were used to fill up the other Axis divisions. At this point, the casualties suffered amounted to over two-thirds of its original strength.
The main units attached to the 91. Luftlande-Division were:
[h2]91. Luftlande-Division Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
So what can we expect of the 91. Luftlande-Division in Steel Division 2.
RECON
INFANTRY
TANK
SUPPORT
ANTI-TANK
ANTI-AIR
ARTILLERY
AIR
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus[/h2]
In our Versus DevBlogs, we highlight a pair of new divisions coming to Steel Division 2. We take a look not only at their historical background and combat history but also at new units and weapons and how the formation would operate on the Steel Division 2 battlefield.
If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44[/h2]
Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?
[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
That’s all for this fourth Versus. We are keen to hear what you think.
Don’t be shy, 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!
Welcome back to our fourth Versus of our upcoming Tribute-style expansion, coming in the near future to Steel Division 2.
In today’s DevBlog, we’ll shine a light on the Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis German 91. Luftlande-Division.
Keep on reading to find out more!
[h2]Guards Armoured Division’s Combat History[/h2]
There is no big surprise to the origin of the British Guards Armoured Division. Founded in 1941, it drew its battalions and other elements from other “Guards” units, such as Coldstream Guards, Grenadier Guards, Scots Guards, Household Cavalry, etc. These senior formations form part of the Household Division, tasked with public duties and… what else… the guarding of the Royal Family. Befitting for such an elite and esteemed division, the Guards Armoured Division received some of the best equipment available in the British Army.
Some battalions already had seen combat, but the Guards Armoured Division as a whole got its baptism of fire when landing in the middle of June in Normandy. In the subsequent fighting, the Guards saw action east of Caen, including fighting against the schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 with its Königstiger during Operation Goodwood.
After the lack of success in these hard-fought battles, Guards Armoured Division saw continued combat in France, though pulled off the line for rest and refit during the closing of the Falaise pocket. After the break-out of Normandy, the division took part in the liberation of Brussels and, later on, became one of the main armored battlegroups to rush north to relieve the Allied paratroopers in Operation Market Garden. The Guards experienced further fighting in the Netherlands, as well as during the Battle of the Bulge and subsequent combat in Germany itself.
The Guards Armoured Division was featured in the base version of Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]Guards Armoured Division in game[/h2]
There is no denying it, the Guards Armoured Division are Great Britain’s poster boys, lavishly equipped and at full combat strength.
As we will feature two additional Commonwealth armored divisions, the 7th Armoured “Desert Rats” and the new 4th Canadian Armored, we decided to give each of the tank formations a unique flavor.
In the Guards Armoured Division case, it will be a “heavy cavalry” division, acting as a steamroller on the battlefield. The formation will focus on grinding the enemy down with overwhelming tank firepower and heavy artillery. The Guards Armoured Division doesn’t lack in core combat units, be it armor or supporting arms. That’s why air support for this formation will be minimal and one of the division’s major drawbacks.
[h2]Guards Armoured Division Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
So, what does that mean for the Guards Armoured Division in-game?
- As expected, the TANK category will be very good.
- Likewise, AT and ART tabs will feature plenty of hard-hitting units.
- RECON, SUPPORT and AA will be decent at worst, but most will be above average in number of slots, units on offer, and costs.
- INF, the Achille’s Heel of any CW armored division, will be average at best..
- As mentioned before, AIR will be sorely lacking in planes and punching power!
While not featuring many new units, the Guards Armoured Division regroups some of the more noteworthy British ones in not-before-seen numbers, and finally all in a British battlegroup!
- FIREFLIES. We’ve heard your comments about British divisions not fielding the British FIREFLY tank. They were the only Commonwealth nation not to feature them until the recent 1st Special Service Brigade got a token few. But now you can rejoice! The Guards Armoured Division contained a whopping 36 of these tanks!
- There is more: next to the FIREFLIES, the division will also feature ACHILLES and 17-PDR towed anti-tank guns. This will mean a commander will be able to field some of the largest amounts of 17-pdr guns in-game.
- There are more iconic British units coming, previously only available to other Allied nations. These include the SEXTON self-propelled artillery and some CROMWELL variants.
- The division’s artillery will be supplemented by heavy guns such as BL 7,2-inch 182,9mm and US-supplied M1A1 'LONG TOM' 155mm.
The Guards Armoured Division is the flaming sword of the British Army with a serious amount of firepower (though lacking in air cover).
[h2]91. Luftlande-Division Combat History[/h2]
The 91. Luftlande-Division was formed late in the war in 1944, intended as an air-transportable division. The formation was originally created to partake in an aborted airborne operation aimed at seizing the Finnish island Suursaari in the Gulf of Finland. Despite its name, it was a regular Heer division, used as a follow-up unit to be airlifted into the combat zone after a first wave had cleared the way.
The 91. Luftlande-Division never served its intended role (not very surprising) and instead ended up as a stationary occupation formation in northern France. Very small, it had two-thirds the theoretical strength of an infantry division, with no tanks, no Flak guns, no trucks, and very light artillery. Not the most promising deck of cards for the 91. Luftlande-Division.
The 91. Luftlande-Division was part of the base version of Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]A Little Bit of Help for the 91. Luftlande-Division[/h2]
Over the course of the Battle of Normandy, the 91. Luftlande-Division found itself trapped in the ever-shrinking Cherbourg pocket. Here it ended up amalgamating a lot of smaller units, scattered or disbanded formations, and other detachments. By August 10th, despite the many ad-hoc reinforcements, the division was severely depleted. The combat history of the 91. Luftlande-Division ends there, as its surviving troops were used to fill up the other Axis divisions. At this point, the casualties suffered amounted to over two-thirds of its original strength.
The main units attached to the 91. Luftlande-Division were:
- The elite 6. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment, led by the legendary colonel von der Heydte. Detached from its parent 2. Fallschirm-Division, the regiment joined 91. Luftlande-Division on D-Day before being moved to the 17. SS. This results in Fallschirmjäger units becoming available in Combat Phases A and B.
- The convolutedly named Panzer–Ausbildungs-und-Ersatz–Abteilung 100 (PzAuE 100). This was an armored training battalion operating in 91. Luftlande-Division’s sector, entirely equipped with old French Beute tanks. These were encountered by the American paratroopers on the Merderet River (not the Tigers as depicted in Saving Private Ryan; old French tanks might not have been sexy enough for Hollywood).
- StuG-Abteilung 902 with its self-propelled assault guns.
- Several independent or former divisional artillery, AA, or AT battalions stemming from disbanded units.
(Myth vs. reality)
[h2]91. Luftlande-Division Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
So what can we expect of the 91. Luftlande-Division in Steel Division 2.
RECON
- Only a few slots, so below average. In real life, the 91. Luftlande-Division only had a bicycle recon battalion, though supplemented by some veteran paratrooper scouts.
INFANTRY
- Pretty good, with lots of options and cheap slots (as can be expected from a light infantry division).
- The default infantry is made up of the new LL-SCHÜTZEN squads. While the division could not field much heavy equipment, it could count on a larger amount of light machine guns than usual. That’s why:
- LL-SCHÜTZEN squads will be similar to GRENADIER, but fielding two l.MG-34s.
- LL-SCHÜTZEN (PzF) which are like the GRENADIER (PzF) squads.
- LL-SCHÜTZEN FÜHRER which are comparable to GRENADIER FÜHRER, but featuring a l.MG-34.
- In Combat Phase A and B, you’ll also be able to deploy Fs.-JÄGER (FG-42), Fs.-JÄGER (ZF), Fs.-JÄGER FÜHRER and Fs.-PIONIER.
- LL-SCHÜTZEN squads will be similar to GRENADIER, but fielding two l.MG-34s.
TANK
- Pretty average with a mix of Beute Panzer (older French tanks) including R-35, H-39, and B2 FÜHRER, plus some STUG III G assault guns.
SUPPORT
- Decent with a mix of regular infantry and Fallschirmjäger-linked (Combat Phase A and B) units. Expect plenty of machine guns, such as s.MG-34, Fs.s.-MG-42, LG 42, and so forth.
ANTI-TANK
- A good amount of units, once again divided between regular and Fallschirmjäger ones (Combat Phase A and B). You can deploy PaK Gerlich 42mm, PaK 40 75mm, and PaK 43 88mm.
ANTI-AIR
- An average category for the 91. Luftlande-Division with only very light anti-air guns available in Combat Phase A, these being either towed or truck-mounted GEB.FLAK 38 20mm.
- Things look up in Phase B, with a few guns sourced from disbanded coastal batteries, such as FLAK 36 37mm and FLAK M.31(r) 88mm (rebored Soviet 85mm).
ARTILLERY
- A pretty good tab. While the division only had light guns in its original form, a host of units were added once in the field.
- The organic GEBH. 40 105mm, which were soon discarded due to a lack of ammunition. That’s why they will only be available in Combat Phases A and B.
- Plus 81mm and 120mm mortars, including Fs-GrW.120mm examples with Radio.
- These will be augmented by heavier guns from a variety of sources:
- Soviet-made K.390(r) 122mm (meaning A-19 guns) and KH.433/1(r) 152mm howitzers (being ML-20).
- From Phase B onwards, NEBELWERFER 42 300mm and self-propelled WURFRAHMEN UE6305(f) 280mm.
- Off-map 152mm artillery.
- Soviet-made K.390(r) 122mm (meaning A-19 guns) and KH.433/1(r) 152mm howitzers (being ML-20).
AIR
- You wouldn’t have thought so, but the 91. Luftlande-Division doesn’t have the best air cover available.
- Only a mix of BF-109 G-2 and G-3 in fighter and fighter bomber roles.
- A handful of JU-88 S-1 bombers.
- Rounded out by a few ground support FW-190 G-3.
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus[/h2]
In our Versus DevBlogs, we highlight a pair of new divisions coming to Steel Division 2. We take a look not only at their historical background and combat history but also at new units and weapons and how the formation would operate on the Steel Division 2 battlefield.
If you want to read more about the new divisions to be shipped with Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44, check out the following Versus DevBlogs:
- The Allied US 4th Armored Division and Axis Festungs Gross-Paris are detailed in Versus #1, which you can check here.
- The Allied US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the Axis 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division get their chance to shine in Versus #2, which you can read in this dedicated DevBlog here.
- The famous Allied 101st Airborne Division and the Axis German 716. Infanterie-Division is featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44[/h2]
Keep in mind that the Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 is a work-in-progress name. What will this expansion contain?
- It will include ALL the missing Steel Division: Normandy 44 divisions, including those that were featured in subsequent DLCs (First Blood, Second Wave, Back to Hell).
- This means 7 Axis and 7 Allied divisions, with one Allied formation being brand-new!
- Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
- On the Axis side, the new Tribute expansion will feature the 91. Luftlande-Division, 716. Infanterie-Division, 1. SS-Panzerdivision "LSSAH", 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division, 9. Panzerdivision, 2. Panzerdivision, and Festungs Gross-Paris.
- Get ready to take command of the Allied US 101st Airborne Division, US 4th Armored Division, US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", UK Guards Armoured Division, UK 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and French Demi-Brigade SAS. The 4th Canadian Armoured Division will be brand-new.
- This will result in the biggest Tribute expansion for Steel Division 2.
- It will contain only divisions. As this is a recurring question, the answer remains the same. NO new maps!
- The new divisions will be updated to take advantage of Steel Division 2’s mechanics, traits, equipment, etc. They will be closer to historical reality and maybe different regarding unit disposition, materiel, weapons, etc. The new divisions will keep their main features and playstyles, of course.
[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
That’s all for this fourth Versus. We are keen to hear what you think.
Don’t be shy, 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!