Tribute to Normandy '44 - Versus #5
Hello commander!
We are back again with the fifth(!) Versus of the next Tribute expansion making its way to Steel Division 2.
Taking the stage in today’s “tank-heavy” DevBlog, the famous Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision.
Let’s go!
[h2]7th Armoured Division’s Steel Division 2 Flavor[/h2]
With its origins being a cavalry brigade founded in Egypt in the mid-30s, the 7th Armoured Divison (including its iconic Jerboa mouse insignia) became known as such from 1940 onwards. What followed were several years of hard fighting in the North African desert sands, from Tobruk to El Alamein. Under Montgomery’s command, the Desert Rats fought all the way to Tunisia and, after a brief spell in Italy, returned to the United Kingdom to be reformed and refitted.
The 7th Armoured Division, from the start, was envisioned to be a breakthrough division. It intended to exploit any weakness in the enemy’s front and get through, wreaking havoc in the rear. To reflect this purpose, the 7 Armoured has entirely been equipped with new CROMWELL tanks. Usually restricted to recon regiments, this vehicle sports the same gun as the 75mm Churchill but with very thin armor. What it loses in protection, it gains in speed.
As we mentioned in the previous Versus DevBlog, the 7th Armoured will be styled closer to a “light” cavalry division (while the Guards Armoured Division will be a “heavy” cavalry tank formation).
In the 7 Armoured, Cromwell variants were used in a whole gamut of combat roles: combat, recon, command, close support, artillery observation. It wasn’t the only tank type in the division. The formation also received FIREFLY (as the 17-pdr Challenger was not deemed ready yet for action). Furthermore, the division used “jalopied” (deturreted) STUART V in a recon role.
Being a breakthrough division, we have emphasized mobility for the 7th Armoured. It receives more and cheaper RECON slots, self-propelled AA, and strong AIR support. Meanwhile, SUPPORT and ARTILLERY slots will be more limited or expensive.
Veteran Firepower
Another divisional feature was the number of veterans in 7th Armoured ranks. Just like American BRO counterparts, the famous Desert Rats were, by D-Day, likely one of the most battle-experienced British divisions. But while the Americans had been whipped back into shape, the 7th Armoured was left to calcify on its combat reputation, with barely any fresh blood injected into the formation. This meant that when the 7th Armoured landed in Normandy, most of its soldiers suffered from battle weariness and were less willing to put themselves in harm’s way.
Therefore, all infantry units, as well as some of the older combat vehicles (Stuarts, 75mm-armed half-tracks, etc.), will receive one veterancy level with no penalty on availability. This doesn’t come for free: all these units will feature the Battle Weary trait, meaning they will take more suppression than regular troops. Not as much as the Disheartened trait, but still… Units with newer equipment, including Cromwells, Fireflies, Sexton, etc., will not have this trait but will also lack the veterancy level.
And lastly, a cosmetic feature. The divisional recon elements comprised the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, which will receive their own Northern Irish dialogue acknowledgments.
The 7th Armoured Division was featured in the Back to Hell expansion for Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]7th Armoured’s Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
What will the Desert Rats have in store for the expansion?
RECO
A good category with a decent amount of slots and units.
INF
An average tab with good choices but limited in the number of slots (as any other Commonwealth armored division).
TANK
A pretty good category (did we expect anything less from the Desert Rats)? Slot costs are decent but less generous than the Guards Armoured Division.
SUPP
A solid category.
[h2]7th Armoured’s Anti-Tank, AA, Artillery, and Air forces[/h2] AT
A good category featuring the same equipment as the Guards Armoured Division but with cheaper options.
AA
An average category, though slightly better than the Guards counterpart.
ART
Average category with fewer slots and more expensive compared to the Guards tab.
AIR
An average category, but still way better than the Guards.
The 7th Armoured Division will be a very mobile division in the field, with numerous very fast tanks and self-propelled vehicles (including “portee” ones). Veteran infantry backs these armored light cavalry forces. The downside is a greater fragility, making the division able to deal heavy damage when attacking first but not being very resilient when fired upon.
[h2]9. Panzerdivision’s Combat History[/h2]
The 9. Panzerdivision traces its origins to January 1940, when the parent 4th Light Division was reorganized. Raised from Austrian forces, this tank formation took part in the invasion of the Netherlands in 1940 before pursuing retreating Belgian and French troops, ending the Battle of France close to Lyon. In the spring of 1941, the panzers fought in the Balkans before moving to Romania ahead of Operation Barbarossa. The 9. Panzer took part in various important battles on the Eastern Front, from Kyiv to Case Blue and Operation Citadel at Kursk. After the failure of the strategic offensive, after months of very heavy fighting, in January 1944, the division was pulled off the line with just 13 tanks remaining.
The 9. Panzerdivision was only brought to the Normandy battlefields quite late into the campaign. The Allies had already achieved their breakout from hedgerow country. The German panzers of the formation had been refitting in Eastern France since the beginning of 1944, but elements of its infantry were still fighting on the Eastern Front. These would only be able to join the tanks straight in Normandy. Due to orders, counter-orders, and lots of confusion, the division’s Panther battalion never made it. This left the 9. Panzerdivision with only half its complement of tanks, all Panzer IVs.
Confused movements
Its belated and chaotic move to Normandy spared the formation from ending up in the Failaise pocket. It meant that the moment it arrived, the panzers had to retreat immediately in the face of the Allied’s rapid advance. The French 2e Division Blindée were so used to encounter the German division on the battlefield that the Free French officers came to ask for news about it as “notre 9e Panzer” (“our 9. Panzer”) as if it was a relative lost, dazed and confused.
Not all things look dire for the 9. Panzerdivision. The formation was one of the few divisions to receive a full complement of the 1944-style armored recon battalion, featuring Luchs, SdKfz. 243/1 and 243/3. It took under its wing various scattered formations such as the Schnelle-Abteilung 512 or elements from 709. Infanterie-Division (another 15 Welle division) bolstering its infantry.
The 9. Panzerdivision was featured in the Second Wave expansion for Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]9. Panzerdivision’s Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
Let’s go through each of 9. Panzer’s categories.
RECON
One of the division’s strong points with lots of slots, options, and cheap-to-boot.
INF
A good one, especially considering it being a panzerdivision.
TANK
Pretty average for a Panzerdivision, being close to a mechanized division in terms of slots, units, and costs.
SUPP
Average category, with the usual supporting units like other Panzerdivisionen.
[h2]9.Panzer’s Anti-Tank, AA, Artillery, and Air forces[/h2]
We continue the list.
Anti-Tank
A good category with plenty of slots and costs.
AA
Pretty average.
ART
Standard in terms of unit availability and costs.
AIR
Once again, pretty average.
9. Panzer is more like a Panzergrenadier division than a Panzer one, with a more balanced ratio between tanks and infantry. When it comes to armor, it lacks Panther tanks but gains in the variety of its combat soldiers. The division’s strong suit is its RECON tab, which is large with lots of choices. Supporting arms, including AA, ART, and SUP, are more limited in availability.
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus[/h2]
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 fifth 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!
We are back again with the fifth(!) Versus of the next Tribute expansion making its way to Steel Division 2.
Taking the stage in today’s “tank-heavy” DevBlog, the famous Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision.
Let’s go!
[h2]7th Armoured Division’s Steel Division 2 Flavor[/h2]
With its origins being a cavalry brigade founded in Egypt in the mid-30s, the 7th Armoured Divison (including its iconic Jerboa mouse insignia) became known as such from 1940 onwards. What followed were several years of hard fighting in the North African desert sands, from Tobruk to El Alamein. Under Montgomery’s command, the Desert Rats fought all the way to Tunisia and, after a brief spell in Italy, returned to the United Kingdom to be reformed and refitted.
The 7th Armoured Division, from the start, was envisioned to be a breakthrough division. It intended to exploit any weakness in the enemy’s front and get through, wreaking havoc in the rear. To reflect this purpose, the 7 Armoured has entirely been equipped with new CROMWELL tanks. Usually restricted to recon regiments, this vehicle sports the same gun as the 75mm Churchill but with very thin armor. What it loses in protection, it gains in speed.
As we mentioned in the previous Versus DevBlog, the 7th Armoured will be styled closer to a “light” cavalry division (while the Guards Armoured Division will be a “heavy” cavalry tank formation).
In the 7 Armoured, Cromwell variants were used in a whole gamut of combat roles: combat, recon, command, close support, artillery observation. It wasn’t the only tank type in the division. The formation also received FIREFLY (as the 17-pdr Challenger was not deemed ready yet for action). Furthermore, the division used “jalopied” (deturreted) STUART V in a recon role.
Being a breakthrough division, we have emphasized mobility for the 7th Armoured. It receives more and cheaper RECON slots, self-propelled AA, and strong AIR support. Meanwhile, SUPPORT and ARTILLERY slots will be more limited or expensive.
Veteran Firepower
Another divisional feature was the number of veterans in 7th Armoured ranks. Just like American BRO counterparts, the famous Desert Rats were, by D-Day, likely one of the most battle-experienced British divisions. But while the Americans had been whipped back into shape, the 7th Armoured was left to calcify on its combat reputation, with barely any fresh blood injected into the formation. This meant that when the 7th Armoured landed in Normandy, most of its soldiers suffered from battle weariness and were less willing to put themselves in harm’s way.
Therefore, all infantry units, as well as some of the older combat vehicles (Stuarts, 75mm-armed half-tracks, etc.), will receive one veterancy level with no penalty on availability. This doesn’t come for free: all these units will feature the Battle Weary trait, meaning they will take more suppression than regular troops. Not as much as the Disheartened trait, but still… Units with newer equipment, including Cromwells, Fireflies, Sexton, etc., will not have this trait but will also lack the veterancy level.
And lastly, a cosmetic feature. The divisional recon elements comprised the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, which will receive their own Northern Irish dialogue acknowledgments.
The 7th Armoured Division was featured in the Back to Hell expansion for Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]7th Armoured’s Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
What will the Desert Rats have in store for the expansion?
RECO
A good category with a decent amount of slots and units.
- These include the usual array of RECCE, SCOUT and SCOUT (PIAT) in either JEEP, CARRIER and STUART RECCE units.
- There will also be STAGHOUND armored cars, plus STUART and CROMWELL recon tanks.
- Lastly, some of the last 75mm SP AUTOCAR M3 (American half-tracks sporting a French 75mm Mle 1897 gun) soldiered on in the 7th Armoured.
INF
An average tab with good choices but limited in the number of slots (as any other Commonwealth armored division).
- All the infantry come with one level of veterancy and no availability penalty but with the Battle Weary trait.
- A unit special to the division: the elite DESERT RATS squad represents the most experienced combat soldiers in the formation. They carry an entire arsenal of automatic weapons, either gained as extras or Thompson SMGs kept from the fighting in the desert days.
TANK
A pretty good category (did we expect anything less from the Desert Rats)? Slot costs are decent but less generous than the Guards Armoured Division.
- Aside from some STUART and FIREFLIES, the division fields mostly (and lots of them) CROMWELL V, with a few Combat Phase C-only CROMWELL VII tanks.
SUPP
A solid category.
- You’ll find the usual units, from machine guns to light mortars, supply units, and commanders.
- Additionally, the division will feature CROMWELL VI 95mm-armed close support tanks, as well as WASP Mk.2 flamethrower vehicles.
[h2]7th Armoured’s Anti-Tank, AA, Artillery, and Air forces[/h2] AT
A good category featuring the same equipment as the Guards Armoured Division but with cheaper options.
AA
An average category, though slightly better than the Guards counterpart.
- The main difference is that the 7th Armoured has no towed AA guns, with all the units being self-propelled: CRUSADER Mk. 1 and Mk.2, as well as BOFORS PORTEE. This means that the anti-air forces are more mobile but also more fragile.
ART
Average category with fewer slots and more expensive compared to the Guards tab.
- Sharing the same default units: the 3-INCH, 4,2-INCH MORTAR, 25-PDR in both towed and SEXTON configurations. The 7th Armoured doesn’t get as many heavy units as its sister unit.
- Still, its “mobile” role is emphasized by the American M12 GMC 155mm self-propelled guns attached in Phases A and B. These stem from the 987th FA Battalion, which supported XXXth Corps during the battle for Caen.
AIR
An average category, but still way better than the Guards.
- Though not new to Steel Division 2, the 7th Armoured will welcome a new flying nation to the Normandy theater: New Zealand. The flying Kiwis from the 486 Squadron RNZAF will make their appearance.
- The New Zealanders flew Hawker TEMPEST and provided air support in fighter and fighter bomber roles, with various bomb and rocket loadouts. The division will also receive British MITCHELL II (B-25) bombers, as well as the American B-26.
The 7th Armoured Division will be a very mobile division in the field, with numerous very fast tanks and self-propelled vehicles (including “portee” ones). Veteran infantry backs these armored light cavalry forces. The downside is a greater fragility, making the division able to deal heavy damage when attacking first but not being very resilient when fired upon.
[h2]9. Panzerdivision’s Combat History[/h2]
The 9. Panzerdivision traces its origins to January 1940, when the parent 4th Light Division was reorganized. Raised from Austrian forces, this tank formation took part in the invasion of the Netherlands in 1940 before pursuing retreating Belgian and French troops, ending the Battle of France close to Lyon. In the spring of 1941, the panzers fought in the Balkans before moving to Romania ahead of Operation Barbarossa. The 9. Panzer took part in various important battles on the Eastern Front, from Kyiv to Case Blue and Operation Citadel at Kursk. After the failure of the strategic offensive, after months of very heavy fighting, in January 1944, the division was pulled off the line with just 13 tanks remaining.
The 9. Panzerdivision was only brought to the Normandy battlefields quite late into the campaign. The Allies had already achieved their breakout from hedgerow country. The German panzers of the formation had been refitting in Eastern France since the beginning of 1944, but elements of its infantry were still fighting on the Eastern Front. These would only be able to join the tanks straight in Normandy. Due to orders, counter-orders, and lots of confusion, the division’s Panther battalion never made it. This left the 9. Panzerdivision with only half its complement of tanks, all Panzer IVs.
Confused movements
Its belated and chaotic move to Normandy spared the formation from ending up in the Failaise pocket. It meant that the moment it arrived, the panzers had to retreat immediately in the face of the Allied’s rapid advance. The French 2e Division Blindée were so used to encounter the German division on the battlefield that the Free French officers came to ask for news about it as “notre 9e Panzer” (“our 9. Panzer”) as if it was a relative lost, dazed and confused.
Not all things look dire for the 9. Panzerdivision. The formation was one of the few divisions to receive a full complement of the 1944-style armored recon battalion, featuring Luchs, SdKfz. 243/1 and 243/3. It took under its wing various scattered formations such as the Schnelle-Abteilung 512 or elements from 709. Infanterie-Division (another 15 Welle division) bolstering its infantry.
The 9. Panzerdivision was featured in the Second Wave expansion for Steel Division: Normandy ‘44.
[h2]9. Panzerdivision’s Strengths and Weaknesses[/h2]
Let’s go through each of 9. Panzer’s categories.
RECON
One of the division’s strong points with lots of slots, options, and cheap-to-boot.
- The usual units are represented, including BMW R.75, AUFKLÄRER, and SPÄHTRUPP with their KUBELWAGEN or SDKFZ. 250 transports.
- The division had an unusually high complement of scoped rifles. This means quite a few cards of SCHARSCHÜTZE can be deployed.
- A solid amount of SDKFZ. 234/1 and 234/3 are available.
- Heavier recon vehicles include the standard AUFK.PANZER IV J, as well as the new AUFK.PANZER II LUCHS. Since there are a lot of the latter units, we split them between regular PANZER II LUCHS (found in TANK, which is an already existing unit) and the new recon variant (which is brand-new).
- A rare unit will also be deployable with 9. Panzer: the AUFK.PANZER I C. This was a prototype tank tested but then discarded in favor of the LUCHS. Over 30 examples had already been built and were sent to France. There, they found their way to LVIII. Panzer-Reserve-Korps’ recon battalion, the same formation that commanded 9. Panzer in Normandy. The AUFK.PANZER I C is a Panzer I with extra armor, a new motor, and fitted with an experimental anti-tank rifle next to a standard machine gun.
INF
A good one, especially considering it being a panzerdivision.
- The usual arsenal of infantry squads and transports plus:
- Regular GRENADIER and GREN. FÜHRER from Schnelle-Abteilung 512.
- Disheartened GRENADIER (15W) from 709. Infanterie-Division.
- KOSAKEN-PIONIER as about a third of 709. Infanterie-Division‘s infantry was composed of Cossacks.
- Regular GRENADIER and GREN. FÜHRER from Schnelle-Abteilung 512.
TANK
Pretty average for a Panzerdivision, being close to a mechanized division in terms of slots, units, and costs.
- Only has access to PANZER IV G and H, both normal variants and command ones.
- A single card of 2x veteran TIGER E is available in Phase B. These represent the two lone Tigers fighting with the 9. Panzer, which held off the vanguard of the French 2e Division Blindée for almost a day in the Ecouves forest.
SUPP
Average category, with the usual supporting units like other Panzerdivisionen.
- The formation moved so often that most of its service units never caught up. This means that certain SUPP units normally found will have been nerfed.
[h2]9.Panzer’s Anti-Tank, AA, Artillery, and Air forces[/h2]
We continue the list.
Anti-Tank
A good category with plenty of slots and costs.
- Left with only 2x older STUG III F/8 and a handful of MARDER, the 9. Panzer did receive a full complement of JAGDPANZER IV (represented by 2x complete cards).
- You’ll also be able to deploy PANZERSCHRECK and PAK 40, plus a few PANZERJÄGER 35R(f) from 709. Infanterie-Division.
AA
Pretty average.
- The usual arsenal of FLAK 20mm (both single and quad variants), MÖBELWAGEN, and FLAK 88mm.
ART
Standard in terms of unit availability and costs.
- Similar to any other Panzerdivision, but including FK 288/1(r) 76,2mm, which are repurposed Soviet ZiS-3, from 709. Infanterie-Division.
AIR
Once again, pretty average.
- Luftwaffe assets deployable include Me-109, Fw-190 and Stukas.
9. Panzer is more like a Panzergrenadier division than a Panzer one, with a more balanced ratio between tanks and infantry. When it comes to armor, it lacks Panther tanks but gains in the variety of its combat soldiers. The division’s strong suit is its RECON tab, which is large with lots of choices. Supporting arms, including AA, ART, and SUP, are more limited in availability.
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Versus[/h2]
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.
- The elite Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis 91. Luftlande-Division are featured in Versus #4 which you can read 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 fifth 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!