Tribute to Normandy '44 - Unit Showcase #1
Hello, commander.
You might think we’d slow down detailing our upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion. Guess again!
While our Versus DevBlogs might have finished - the last featuring the brand-new 4th Canadian Armoured Division - we switch our attention to showcasing the new (and some old) units featured in our next Steel Division 2 expansion.
Let’s go!
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 New Models[/h2]
You can expect several completely new vehicle models. Such as?
Axis
FLAK 41 88mm
This is a late-war improvement over the ubiquitous Flak 88mm anti-air and anti-tank gun, though more complex than its predecessor and only produced in limited numbers. It offered a lower gun shield and profile, a better rate of fire, and improved shell penetration.
The FLAK 41 88mm will be featured with the 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division.
MARDER I H-39
The MARDER series of tank destroyers featured an array of different tank chassis’ and guns, first pioneered by Baukommando Becker. In the early war years, obsolete, older, or captured tank hulls could be mated to whatever anti-tank gun (or field gun with good enough penetration). Some more uncommon versions of these interim tank destroyers include the MARDER I H-39, which features a 75mm PaK 40 gun mounted on a sturdy but older French H-39 hull.
This unit will be featured with the 716. Infanterie-Division.
MARDER III F-22
In the same vein as the previous unit, but this time using a captured Soviet F-22 field gun on an obsolete but still capable Panzer 38(t) tank hull. As attested by the series’ name, the MARDER III was a later variant produced in the middle war years.
The MARDER III F-22 will be part of the 9. Panzerdivision, which brought these tank destroyers from the Eastern Front to France. This unit will also replace some of the MARDER currently featured with the 116. Panzerdivision.
Allied
CRUSADER TRACTOR
This particular vehicle is a former Crusader tank (a significant contributor to the British victory in the sands of the North African terrain) with the turret and top armor removed. By the time of the Normandy campaign, these older tanks had been converted into heavy tractors and supply carriers. They were in each of the British armored division’s TO&E.
As such, the CRUSADER TRACTOR will be featured as a supply unit and artillery prime mover in both the British Guards Armoured Division, the 7th Armoured Division and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division.
OTTER LIGHT RECONNAISSANCE ARMORED CAR
This Canadian-made armored car was based on the ubiquitous C15 CMP truck (already in-game) just like the C15TA armored truck. The Otter Mk.1 is actually more closely related to the latter, being an enclosed version with a forward-facing Boys anti-tank rifle and a Bren LMG mounted in a turret. The Otter was used in the same role as the Humber armored cars in other Commonwealth divisions. The crew disliked the Otter. The vehicle’s armament was considered way outdated, and many vehicles had it entirely removed to be used as an unarmed scout APC under the name Otter Mk.2.
Both variants will be found in the 4th Canadian Armoured Division.
RAM KANGAROO
The original Kangaroo vehicle, a battlefield conversion, proved its worth when thrown into combat during Operation Totalize in early August 1944. It introduced the seed that would lead to the modern Armored Personnel Carrier concept. However, the M7 Priests it was based on were only being lent by the U.S. Army and had to be returned in their original state.
Therefore, British and Canadian engineers looked for an alternative source of unused equipment in their own arsenals. This was found with the hundreds of Canadian Ram II tanks remaining idle in the United Kingdom. Only a handful were kept in service as training tanks. In the 4th Canadian Armoured Division’s case, the formation remained equipped with the Ram II tank until six months before D-Day and even shipped a few to Normandy. The unused Ram IIs were selected to form the base of the heavier armored carrier, the RAM KANGAROO.
The unit will be used by 4th Canadian Armoured Division.
A-20G-20-DO
While we already featured a Soviet (lend-lease) A-20G, its American namesake wasn’t entirely the same vehicle. To accurately represent this, a new model and dedicated D-Day livery were required.
This bomber will come in two roles (with three variants in total): a classic bomber version and a rarer close support model featuring underwing T-30 rocket launchers. The latter variant was seldom used during the fighting in Normandy and rather quickly discarded in the rocket strike role for lighter airframes.
The A-20G-20-DO bomber and rocket version will be featured with the US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", while the bomber variant only will be deployable in the French DBSAS.
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Returning Models[/h2]
We are also bringing back some older unused models (but, of course, updated for Steel Division 2) in the new expansion. These include:
RENAULT FT TANKS
Right, although hopelessly outdated by 1939, let alone 1944, the FT-17 was a revolution when it first appeared on the World War I battlefields in 1917. It can be considered the ancestor of all modern turreted tanks.
In our original Steel Division: Normandy ‘44, the FT-17 with a 37mm gun and FT-31 with a heavy machine gun, were found in the 16. Luftwaffe battlegroup. Though, to be honest, this inclusion was quite the stretch. We attached these old tanks because the Luftwaffe’s field security historically used them to stand overwatch on Normandy airfields, but far behind the front (and our combat divisions). This is one reason we didn’t add them in Steel Division 2.
However, a new lease on life has been found for the FT-17, thanks to the Festungs Gross-Paris (they were even featured on film reels of the Battle of Paris). These golden oldies have been added to this division, not as tanks, not even support ones, but as mobile pillboxes! The updated FT-17 will be deployable from the DEFENSE tab when playing Breakthrough mode. This way, these units can be deployed in a forward position, where these poor, slow, and geriatric tanks might make themselves useful for one last battlefield hoorah!
Other returning models include:
[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:
We have also detailed the six new Aces coming with the expansion. Read all about Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, Oberfeldwebel Alexander Ulhig, and others in this dedicated DevBlog 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?
[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
That’s all for today’s showcase. 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!
You might think we’d slow down detailing our upcoming Tribute to Steel Division: Normandy 44 expansion. Guess again!
While our Versus DevBlogs might have finished - the last featuring the brand-new 4th Canadian Armoured Division - we switch our attention to showcasing the new (and some old) units featured in our next Steel Division 2 expansion.
Let’s go!
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 New Models[/h2]
You can expect several completely new vehicle models. Such as?
Axis
FLAK 41 88mm
This is a late-war improvement over the ubiquitous Flak 88mm anti-air and anti-tank gun, though more complex than its predecessor and only produced in limited numbers. It offered a lower gun shield and profile, a better rate of fire, and improved shell penetration.
The FLAK 41 88mm will be featured with the 16. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division.
MARDER I H-39
The MARDER series of tank destroyers featured an array of different tank chassis’ and guns, first pioneered by Baukommando Becker. In the early war years, obsolete, older, or captured tank hulls could be mated to whatever anti-tank gun (or field gun with good enough penetration). Some more uncommon versions of these interim tank destroyers include the MARDER I H-39, which features a 75mm PaK 40 gun mounted on a sturdy but older French H-39 hull.
This unit will be featured with the 716. Infanterie-Division.
MARDER III F-22
In the same vein as the previous unit, but this time using a captured Soviet F-22 field gun on an obsolete but still capable Panzer 38(t) tank hull. As attested by the series’ name, the MARDER III was a later variant produced in the middle war years.
The MARDER III F-22 will be part of the 9. Panzerdivision, which brought these tank destroyers from the Eastern Front to France. This unit will also replace some of the MARDER currently featured with the 116. Panzerdivision.
Allied
CRUSADER TRACTOR
This particular vehicle is a former Crusader tank (a significant contributor to the British victory in the sands of the North African terrain) with the turret and top armor removed. By the time of the Normandy campaign, these older tanks had been converted into heavy tractors and supply carriers. They were in each of the British armored division’s TO&E.
As such, the CRUSADER TRACTOR will be featured as a supply unit and artillery prime mover in both the British Guards Armoured Division, the 7th Armoured Division and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division.
OTTER LIGHT RECONNAISSANCE ARMORED CAR
This Canadian-made armored car was based on the ubiquitous C15 CMP truck (already in-game) just like the C15TA armored truck. The Otter Mk.1 is actually more closely related to the latter, being an enclosed version with a forward-facing Boys anti-tank rifle and a Bren LMG mounted in a turret. The Otter was used in the same role as the Humber armored cars in other Commonwealth divisions. The crew disliked the Otter. The vehicle’s armament was considered way outdated, and many vehicles had it entirely removed to be used as an unarmed scout APC under the name Otter Mk.2.
Both variants will be found in the 4th Canadian Armoured Division.
RAM KANGAROO
The original Kangaroo vehicle, a battlefield conversion, proved its worth when thrown into combat during Operation Totalize in early August 1944. It introduced the seed that would lead to the modern Armored Personnel Carrier concept. However, the M7 Priests it was based on were only being lent by the U.S. Army and had to be returned in their original state.
Therefore, British and Canadian engineers looked for an alternative source of unused equipment in their own arsenals. This was found with the hundreds of Canadian Ram II tanks remaining idle in the United Kingdom. Only a handful were kept in service as training tanks. In the 4th Canadian Armoured Division’s case, the formation remained equipped with the Ram II tank until six months before D-Day and even shipped a few to Normandy. The unused Ram IIs were selected to form the base of the heavier armored carrier, the RAM KANGAROO.
The unit will be used by 4th Canadian Armoured Division.
A-20G-20-DO
While we already featured a Soviet (lend-lease) A-20G, its American namesake wasn’t entirely the same vehicle. To accurately represent this, a new model and dedicated D-Day livery were required.
This bomber will come in two roles (with three variants in total): a classic bomber version and a rarer close support model featuring underwing T-30 rocket launchers. The latter variant was seldom used during the fighting in Normandy and rather quickly discarded in the rocket strike role for lighter airframes.
The A-20G-20-DO bomber and rocket version will be featured with the US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One", while the bomber variant only will be deployable in the French DBSAS.
[h2]Steel Division: Tribute to Normandy ‘44 Returning Models[/h2]
We are also bringing back some older unused models (but, of course, updated for Steel Division 2) in the new expansion. These include:
RENAULT FT TANKS
Right, although hopelessly outdated by 1939, let alone 1944, the FT-17 was a revolution when it first appeared on the World War I battlefields in 1917. It can be considered the ancestor of all modern turreted tanks.
In our original Steel Division: Normandy ‘44, the FT-17 with a 37mm gun and FT-31 with a heavy machine gun, were found in the 16. Luftwaffe battlegroup. Though, to be honest, this inclusion was quite the stretch. We attached these old tanks because the Luftwaffe’s field security historically used them to stand overwatch on Normandy airfields, but far behind the front (and our combat divisions). This is one reason we didn’t add them in Steel Division 2.
However, a new lease on life has been found for the FT-17, thanks to the Festungs Gross-Paris (they were even featured on film reels of the Battle of Paris). These golden oldies have been added to this division, not as tanks, not even support ones, but as mobile pillboxes! The updated FT-17 will be deployable from the DEFENSE tab when playing Breakthrough mode. This way, these units can be deployed in a forward position, where these poor, slow, and geriatric tanks might make themselves useful for one last battlefield hoorah!
Other returning models include:
- FLAKPANZER BREN
PANZER IC
BEUTE R-40
ROSIE THE ROCKETEER
FFI TANKS
....
[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 looked at 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.
- The Axis 2. Panzerdivision in the first part of Versus #6, which can be checked here while its Allied counterpart, the French commandos of the DBSAS are detailed here.
- Finally, the Axis German 1. SS-Panzerdivision “LSSAH” is featured in the Versus 7#A, which you can find here, while the brand-new Allied division, the 4th Canadian Armoured Division can is featured in Versus #7B.
We have also detailed the six new Aces coming with the expansion. Read all about Lt.-Colonel Creighton Abrams, 1st Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Winters, Oberfeldwebel Alexander Ulhig, and others in this dedicated DevBlog 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 today’s showcase. 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!