Normandy '44 Aces
Hello commander!
It’s good to be back. We will take the opportunity in today’s DevBlog to pause our regular Versus series and take a shining light on the new Aces that the upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion will feature.
Don’t worry, we’ll be return with more Versus divisions in the next DevBlogs. The reasoning behind this slow-down: as the first divisions of the expansion are currently being tested, we have started to compile the feedback and modify the new formations as we go. This means that we will move a little bit slower on the presentation of the final sets of divisions.
With that out of the way, let’s look at the new Aces!
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Allied Aces[/h2]
Our new Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 will bring back some of the original game’s Aces - six, to be exact!
Let’s go over them in turn. First up, the Allies.
[h3]Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams[/h3]
The U.S. 4th Armoured Division will feature Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, commander of 37th Tank Battalion. In the new expansion, he will be deployable on a M4(75) CO nicknamed “Thunderbolt V”.
A famous American tank commander, though few really knew the man behind the legend. Modern audiences should know him better as giving the name to the iconic M1 Abrams main battle tank. In World War II, Lt. Colonel Creighton Abrams was known to be an aggressive commander, able to exploit the slightest advantage to win a battle, and was much respected by General Patton. During the war, he spearheaded Patton’s Third Army. Twice decorated, Abrams was one of the leaders of the relief effort that broke up the German encirclement of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
He survived the war, kept on serving in the U.S. Army, and saw continued action during the Korean War and Vietnam, where he played a major role as a commander in chief.
[h3]1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters[/h3]
The U.S. 101st Airborne Division will feature, who else, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, acting commander of Easy Company, 506th PIR. If you have watched the classic Band of Brothers mini-series, you should know who we are talking about. He will be featured as an AB LEADER command squad in the new expansion.
1st Lieutenant Winters jumped into Normandy and quickly became the highest-ranking surviving officer on the ground. Field promoted to company commander and later captain, Winters fought from France to the liberation of the Netherlands and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he stayed in the U.S. Army and left the service as a major just before the start of the Korean War.
[h3]Sgt. Wilfried “Spit” Harris[/h3]
Next up is the Guards Armoured Division with their Ace: Sgt. Wilfried “Spit” Harris, tank commander in the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards. In the expansion, he will be deployed in a FIREFLY.
During Operation Perch, in the early stages of the fighting in Normandy, Sgt. Harris demonstrated the tremendous firepower of the FIREFLY’s 17-pdr gun. In the village of Lingèvres, near Tilly-sur-Seulles, he ambushed five Panthers from a concealed position. He disabled each tank in quick succession with one accurate hit. Though combat would continue for some very hard weeks, Harris singlehandedly made this local British attack a success.
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Axis Aces[/h2]
It’s time we turn to the Axis Aces.
[h3]Major Horst Ramsch[/h3]
The German 2. Panzerdivision will feature Major Horst Ramsch, commander of the II,/Panzerregiment 33. He will deploy in the expansion as a Bef.Panzer IV H command tank. A tank commander, Ramsch had been fighting in World War II since the very beginning, seeing action in Poland and France before fighting in Greece.
Service on the Eastern Front is unknown, but we next see Ramsch in Normandy. Here he was likely in command for the duration of the campaign. Fighting for the 2. Panzer was tough (more on that later) but included surviving the annihilation of the Falaise Pocket. Our Ace kept on fighting after France before ultimately being injured in the Ardennes at the end of 1944. Ramsch survived the war, receiving the Knight’s Cross for his contribution in capturing Clerf in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge.
[h3]Oberfeldwebel Alexander Ulhig[/h3]
The 91. Luftlande-Division contains the Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant-Major) Alexander Ulhig, acting commander of 16,/Fallschirm-Rgt. 6.. This Ace will deploy as a Fs-Führer leader squad in the expansion.
Ulhig was not officially from the small 91. Luftlande-Division itself, but from the elite 6. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment attached to the division during the Normandy fighting. He led the remaining (32 men) of the 16,/FJR 6 during the battle of Saint-Germain-en-Seves against the 358th Infantry Regiment. Ulhig not only held his ground but attacked two American battalions with such skill that 250 were taken prisoner, the rest forced to retreat. For his actions, he received the Knight’s Cross, but our Ace was captured by the same regiment he so successfully trumped during Operation Cobra. Ulhig survived the war.
[h3]Oberstleutnant Josef “Pips” Priller[/h3]
The 716. Infanterie-Division will feature Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Josef “Pips” Priller, commander of III,/Jagdgeschwaer 26. He will take to the skies in a Fw-190A-8 fighter.
Josef “Pips” Priller is a rather famous Ace, partially because his exploits were featured in the “Longest Day” film. A fighter Ace with 101 victories, having served during the Battle of Britain, Priller became known as the (allegedly) sole Luftwaffe intervention on the Normandy beaches during D-Day. He made a single strafing attack on Sword Beach. History shows a few others, but let it be said that Priller and his wingman remind the most famous of that day. Priller kept flying to the end, surviving the war.
[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 is for today’s highlight into the Aces coming with Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44. Let us know 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!
It’s good to be back. We will take the opportunity in today’s DevBlog to pause our regular Versus series and take a shining light on the new Aces that the upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion will feature.
Don’t worry, we’ll be return with more Versus divisions in the next DevBlogs. The reasoning behind this slow-down: as the first divisions of the expansion are currently being tested, we have started to compile the feedback and modify the new formations as we go. This means that we will move a little bit slower on the presentation of the final sets of divisions.
With that out of the way, let’s look at the new Aces!
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Allied Aces[/h2]
Our new Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 will bring back some of the original game’s Aces - six, to be exact!
Let’s go over them in turn. First up, the Allies.
[h3]Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams[/h3]
The U.S. 4th Armoured Division will feature Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, commander of 37th Tank Battalion. In the new expansion, he will be deployable on a M4(75) CO nicknamed “Thunderbolt V”.
A famous American tank commander, though few really knew the man behind the legend. Modern audiences should know him better as giving the name to the iconic M1 Abrams main battle tank. In World War II, Lt. Colonel Creighton Abrams was known to be an aggressive commander, able to exploit the slightest advantage to win a battle, and was much respected by General Patton. During the war, he spearheaded Patton’s Third Army. Twice decorated, Abrams was one of the leaders of the relief effort that broke up the German encirclement of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
He survived the war, kept on serving in the U.S. Army, and saw continued action during the Korean War and Vietnam, where he played a major role as a commander in chief.
[h3]1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters[/h3]
The U.S. 101st Airborne Division will feature, who else, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, acting commander of Easy Company, 506th PIR. If you have watched the classic Band of Brothers mini-series, you should know who we are talking about. He will be featured as an AB LEADER command squad in the new expansion.
1st Lieutenant Winters jumped into Normandy and quickly became the highest-ranking surviving officer on the ground. Field promoted to company commander and later captain, Winters fought from France to the liberation of the Netherlands and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he stayed in the U.S. Army and left the service as a major just before the start of the Korean War.
[h3]Sgt. Wilfried “Spit” Harris[/h3]
Next up is the Guards Armoured Division with their Ace: Sgt. Wilfried “Spit” Harris, tank commander in the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards. In the expansion, he will be deployed in a FIREFLY.
During Operation Perch, in the early stages of the fighting in Normandy, Sgt. Harris demonstrated the tremendous firepower of the FIREFLY’s 17-pdr gun. In the village of Lingèvres, near Tilly-sur-Seulles, he ambushed five Panthers from a concealed position. He disabled each tank in quick succession with one accurate hit. Though combat would continue for some very hard weeks, Harris singlehandedly made this local British attack a success.
(two of Harris' victims)
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Axis Aces[/h2]
It’s time we turn to the Axis Aces.
[h3]Major Horst Ramsch[/h3]
The German 2. Panzerdivision will feature Major Horst Ramsch, commander of the II,/Panzerregiment 33. He will deploy in the expansion as a Bef.Panzer IV H command tank. A tank commander, Ramsch had been fighting in World War II since the very beginning, seeing action in Poland and France before fighting in Greece.
Service on the Eastern Front is unknown, but we next see Ramsch in Normandy. Here he was likely in command for the duration of the campaign. Fighting for the 2. Panzer was tough (more on that later) but included surviving the annihilation of the Falaise Pocket. Our Ace kept on fighting after France before ultimately being injured in the Ardennes at the end of 1944. Ramsch survived the war, receiving the Knight’s Cross for his contribution in capturing Clerf in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge.
[h3]Oberfeldwebel Alexander Ulhig[/h3]
The 91. Luftlande-Division contains the Oberfeldwebel (Sergeant-Major) Alexander Ulhig, acting commander of 16,/Fallschirm-Rgt. 6.. This Ace will deploy as a Fs-Führer leader squad in the expansion.
(ulhig, bare-headed and wearing his medals, giving his orders before the attack that will make him famous)
Ulhig was not officially from the small 91. Luftlande-Division itself, but from the elite 6. Fallschirmjäger-Regiment attached to the division during the Normandy fighting. He led the remaining (32 men) of the 16,/FJR 6 during the battle of Saint-Germain-en-Seves against the 358th Infantry Regiment. Ulhig not only held his ground but attacked two American battalions with such skill that 250 were taken prisoner, the rest forced to retreat. For his actions, he received the Knight’s Cross, but our Ace was captured by the same regiment he so successfully trumped during Operation Cobra. Ulhig survived the war.
[h3]Oberstleutnant Josef “Pips” Priller[/h3]
The 716. Infanterie-Division will feature Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Josef “Pips” Priller, commander of III,/Jagdgeschwaer 26. He will take to the skies in a Fw-190A-8 fighter.
Josef “Pips” Priller is a rather famous Ace, partially because his exploits were featured in the “Longest Day” film. A fighter Ace with 101 victories, having served during the Battle of Britain, Priller became known as the (allegedly) sole Luftwaffe intervention on the Normandy beaches during D-Day. He made a single strafing attack on Sword Beach. History shows a few others, but let it be said that Priller and his wingman remind the most famous of that day. Priller kept flying to the end, surviving the war.
[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 are featured in Versus #3, which you can check out here.
- The elite Allied British Guards Armoured Division and the Axis 91. Luftlande-Division are detailed in Versus #4 which you can read here.
- The Allied British 7th Armoured Division “Desert Rats” and the Axis 9. Panzerdivision get a deep dive in Versus #5, 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 is for today’s highlight into the Aces coming with Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44. Let us know 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!