Steel Division 2 News

Hello, commander! It’s good to be back.

After some much-needed holidays, the whole Eugen team is refreshed and ready to return to battle. However, we haven’t been sitting idle these last couple of weeks.

As always, Steel Division 2 development keeps trucking along. Quite a few interesting projects are being worked on as we speak; let’s give you an update on some of them.

[h2]It’s all in a name…[/h2]
As you know, we are working hard on getting the next Steel Division 2 expansion into your hands as soon as possible. Both publicly and internally, we used to call the expansion the Battle of Turda. Now, the expansion has officially received a new name: Blood Feud in Transylvania!

In next week’s DevBlog, we’ll talk a little more about the latest happenings of Blood Feud in Transylvania!



[h2]Nemesis: Siege of Dunkrik[/h2]
When we left you at the end of July, we just finished the sixth, and newest, Nemesis voting round. In case you missed the news, the unique long-running Siege of Dunkirk will be the focus of the next Nemesis DLC. Read more about it in this DevBlog here.

This mini-expansion will focus on the Axis defenders of Festung Dünkirchen squaring off against the free Czech and Slovak forces of the Czechoslovakian Independent Armoured Brigade Group or CIABG.

We have started laying the groundwork for this DLC, with more details to come soon. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek into the new AEC Armoured Command Vehicle model being created !



[h2]A new patch incoming[/h2]
Lastly, we are working on a new patch for Steel Division 2. Lifting the tip of the veil on some of the changes coming:

• We are addressing an issue that when destroying transport vehicles players would also kill all the passengers. This led to cheesy tactics where anti-tank rifle squads would ambush whole convoys, destroying columns of vehicles and killing dozens of passengers with a few well-placed shots. The patch will introduce a fix in which destroying a transport vehicle will kill four passengers (an entire load of a jeep, but not a larger squad) and suppress the surviving members.
  
• We will buff certain British armor: the Churchill’s price (including their Soviet lend-lease variant) and a speed improvement to the Cromwell (except the up-armored variants).
  
• We will give the Polish 2. Pancerna’s infantry tab some love, reworking the Engineer squads strength and loadouts.
  
• Some love will also be given to the Soviet GM Tyurina’s adding a bit more AA.
  
• We will nerf all mortars with the Radio trait, with these units being too overpowered.
  
• We will buff the price of Assault Pioneers (with flamethrower) of all nations.
  
• Based on player feedback since release, Nemesis: Raid on Drvar’s division slot costs will be buffed a bit.
  
• And more ...
  

[h2]That’s it for this week![/h2]
We ask everyone interested to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums.

The latest Steel Division 2 news can also be found 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!

Gather round, commanders; the vote is in!

Before we reveal who’s the winner of the Nemesis #6 community vote, we’d like to extend our appreciation to all the Steel Division 2 fans coming to “propagandize” and cast their ballot. Without your dedication and support, we wouldn’t be able to make the Nemesis DLC a reality. We salute you!

Now, let’s get to the juicy bits.

[h2]The winner is…[/h2]
It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but the winner of Nemesis #6 is…

Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk!

Your voice has been heard (and counted): the sixth series of our popular Nemesis DLC will focus on the unique long-running battle, far beyond the front lines, that took place until the end of World War II. The Siege of Dunkirk saw the hard-pressed but disciplined Axis defenders of Festung Dünkirchen square off against the free Czech and Slovak forces of the Czechoslovakian Independent Armoured Brigade Group or CIABG.

The full breakdown of the poll:

• Nemesis #6.2: Siege of Dunkirk captured a whopping [51.71%] of the vote.
  
• Leaving Nemesis #6.3: Breaching the Gothic Line came in second with [28.36%].
  
• And Nemesis #6.1: Battle of Tienhaara was the runner-up with [19.93%] of the total.
  

[h2]What can you expect?[/h2]
To the victor go the spoils. Let’s go over Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk once more. Please note that more details on the units and their availability will be fleshed out in the near future.

So, what will Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk bring in terms of divisions?

Festung Dünkirchen

• This garrison battlegroup comprised the recently created second-rate 26. Infanterie-Division with remnants of Wehrmacht divisions retreating from Normandy and local Kriegsmarine troops. The latter will represent disciplined raider squads.
  
• The division is well supplied with artillery and AA units, including Flak 20mm, Flak 88mm, and the heavy Flak 105mm, backed up by the new Flak 28(p) (captured Polish Bofors guns). Other guns include Flak 31M(r) (Soviet 85mm AA guns), K30(t) 76,5mm (Czech. vz.30) and K418(f) 155mm (French GPF) howitzers.
  
• A limited amount of armor with a pair of phase-locked Panzer IV and StuG, as well as a few Marders. There is even a single and very hard-working Jagdpanther present.
  
• With plenty of functional coastal batteries nearby, Festung Dünkirchen can count on heavy off-map support from 164mm and 194mm pieces.
  

CIABG

• The CIABG are Free Czech and Slovak forces, brought together in an armored brigade with only little organic infantry. This formation is backed up by a smattering of local French troops, including some resistance fighters put under “official” arms.
  
• Additional troops come from British Converted Gunners, hailing from AA, artillery, and even surplus RAF ground crew.
  
• Support units include 17-pdr and 25-pdr artillery guns, Bofors AA and a recon squadron featuring Humber Scout Car and the unusual new Humberette Scout Car.
  
• Heavier guns include the Canadian heavy QF 3,7-inch (94mm) dual-purpose AA gun and the new heavy British (siege) howitzer BL 7.2-inch (182,5mm).
  
• The Czechs (and the French) had a penance to reuse captured German equipment. This battlegroup can count on a Flak 88mm gun, a few Flakvierling and K418(f) artillery gun.
  

Read all about the Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk in this detailed blog post.

[h2]What happens next?[/h2]
Like all other options that came before, Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk will be put in the Eugen pipeline and join our other projects in active development. The release of this DLC might take some time, but we’ll try to keep you as much up to date as possible!

As you know, our Nemesis DLC only contains the two mentioned divisions or battlegroups with a host of new units and weapon systems. These mini-expansions do not contain new maps, campaigns, or scenarios.

The other Nemesis #6 choices that didn’t make the cut will go back in the Eugen ideas cupboard. Who knows, we might dust them off to be “recycled” for the future.

[h2]Until September![/h2]
That’s it, commanders. The Eugen offices will be closed in August for some much-needed holidays. Not to worry - we’ll return in full force this coming September!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. If you want to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2, keep an eye out 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!

As always, take care and all the best. Enjoy your summer.

We’ll be seeing each other on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander,

The time is now; get ready to cast some votes! Your propaganda efforts can begin, as the latest Nemesis DLC community vote - the sixth to be exact - is online!

Which Nemesis option would you like to see developed for Steel Division 2? You will find the link to vote further below.

[h2]A quick recap of Nemesis 6[/h2]
Before we stampede to let our preference known, no doubt loud and clear by some of you, make sure to take another good look at the three Nemesis DLC options we are offering for Nemesis 6:

• Nemesis #6.1: Battle of Tienhaara highlights the critical actions in the summer of 1944 on the Karelian isthmus, detailing the hard-fought delaying action of our Swedish-Finnish friends of the 17. Divisioona against the Soviet 90-ya Strelkovaya Diviziya.
  
• Nemesis #6.2: Siege of Dunkirk shines the spotlight on an overlooked Western European encirclement of Festung Dünkirchen by the Allied Czechoslovakian CIABG. From its investment in September 1944, the Axis garrison held out until the very end of World War II!
  
• Nemesis #6.3: Breaching the Gothic Line, which details the actions of the Axis 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision and Allied 5th Canadian Armoured Division on the formidable German defenses in Italy.

[h2]The Nemesis vote is now open![/h2]
Our Nemesis 6 community vote is now officially live!



You can find the vote on our dedicated page by following this link .

Voting will close on Wednesday, July 27th, at 12:00 (CEST) / 11:00 AM (BST) / 6 AM (EDT). We will publish the results the next day.

You can vote multiple times, but only your LAST vote will taken into account! Be respectful of the vote and your fellow player. As always, no cheating, bullying, or insults will be tolerated.

May the most popular Nemesis DLC options win!



[h2]Nemesis DLC Overview[/h2]
In case you never heard of our Nemesis DLC concept, this type of mini-expansion brings you two themed Steel Division 2 divisions. These DLCs do not contain any missions, maps, or Army General campaigns. Instead, Nemesis DLC only focuses on featuring two new divisions, including potentially new nations and new units, with inspiration from a particularly noteworthy or unusual World War II battle or operation. The twist is that you decide in a community vote which mini-expansion out of a series of three choices should be developed and released by us.

The following Nemesis DLCs are out in the wild:

Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is the first Nemesis DLC and available for free! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing several new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).

The second Nemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive, is available now for €4.99 / $4.99. This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera..

Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third Nemesis DLC, available now for €4.99 / $4.99. It features the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached. Access new units such as British Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighter, Greek Martin Baltimore bomber, German (captured) Re.2005 fighter, as well as various new infantry units such as Oplites Greek mountain infantry, and New Zealander Maoris.

Nemesis: Storming Toulon is our fourth Nemesis DLC. It contains two divisions from Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France in August 1944: German Verteidigungsbereich Toulon and Free French 1e Division Française Libre. A host of new units are available, including Kriegsmarine Marineinfanterie, Commandos d'Afrique special forces, heavy Flak 38 105mm guns, Flakzwilling 37mm, M6 Fargo, M3 Gun 37mm, and more.

The fifth DLC is Nemesis: Raid on Drvar, taking players into one of World War II's most unusual airborne operations: the ambitious Axis air assault to neutralize Yugoslav partisan leader Tito in the spring of 1944. Nemesis: Raid on Drvar the Axis air assault troops of Unternehmen Rösselsprung against the partisans of the Yugoslav NOV. New units include fanatical SS-Fs-Jäger, Croatian Domobran, partisan Snajper, homemade Yugoslav Partop infantry heavy mortar, BH-33E-SHS biplane, pre-war IK-2/ fighter or the L35 tankette.

[h2]Until next week[/h2]
May the most popular Nemesis DLC options win. Get voting!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. If you want to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2, keep an eye out 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!

Hello commander!

Get ready for the third (and last) option of our current Nemesis DLC vote. With today’s choice, we are going back to the Italian peninsula, focusing our attention on one of the formidable German defenses: the Gothic Line.

In Nemesis: Breaching the Gothic Line we pit the Axis 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision against the Allied 5th Canadian Armoured Division.

Keep on reading to find out all the juicy details!

[h2]The Gothic Defensive Line[/h2]
A brief history lesson: the Italian front, from the middle part of 1944 onwards, stabilized around the Gothic Line, a set of German defenses bisecting the peninsula, north from Pisa to ways south of Rimini on the Adriatic coast. Like the preceding defensive lines, it would be a tough nut to crack for the Allies. To make matters worse: the massive relocation of supplies and forces towards the troops fighting in France bound the hands of the local Allies.



In the end, the stalemate was only broken in 1945, but that didn’t stop the Allied forces from making local attacks and raids during the latter part of 1944. On the other hand, the Axis forces were understaffed, understrength, and overstretched. Holding on to the defenses was already a big enough task.

[h2]20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision[/h2]
Some of eagle-eyed players might recognize the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision from one of our previous Nemesis offerings. Namely, the fourth in the series (won by Nemesis: Storming Toulon). The German division was featured in our Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff option, making it the runner-up and ever-so-slightly didn’t make it in the runners-up vote against Nemesis: Raid on Drvar.

That means that the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision that almost got the vote twice and warranted another look! You might read a lot of the historical context and general breakdown of this formation in the previous Nemesis offering.



In brief: the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was formed in Denmark from excess Luftwaffe personnel. Destined for occupation duties, the division was shipped to Italy to combat partisans before finding itself on the frontline at the war’s close. Having had to let go of most of its heavy equipment, securing the flank of the Gothic Line, especially against a seaborne invasion, saw the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision be reequipped as an infantry division.

[h2]What will it bring in-game[/h2]
The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision, much like our Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff variant, will feature its fair share of Luftwaffe combat troops and special units. This includes:

• The formation will deploy several reluctant Luftwaffe mechanics and ground crew turned combat soldiers. This also includes “unreliable” Volksdeutschen dumped by other units into the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision. These squads will feature the Disheartened trait and can be considered ill-equipped Lw-Jäger.
  
• A strong cadre of paratrooper NCOs is supplemented by a new influx of cavalry officers and NCOs. This means that part of the Lw-Jäger will be regular squads equipped with more modern equipment, including the MG-42.
  
• Heavier machine guns are available, including Italian pieces and heavy (15mm) fighter plane machine guns used on the ground.
  
• Instead of infantry guns, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision has access to extra FlaK 38mm AA guns used as direct fire support guns. Some will be mounted on captured Italian AS-43 Shariana light trucks.
  
• Anti-tank units are equipped with the PaK 97/38, but the battlegroup can also deploy PaK 40 and Marder tank destroyers.
  
• The division’s artillery is at least partially equipped with Italian captured guns including 75mm mountain guns, 100mm and 149mm howitzers.
  
• As expected, the formation can rely on heavy AA cover, either from its own guns or close-by coastal defenses. This includes Flak 38 20mm, Flak 36 37mm, captured Italian 76mm and 90mm AA, as well as Breda 20mm mounted on trucks.
  
• Armor support comes in the form of captured Italian Semovente 47/32 tank destroyers and Command tanks.

To sum it up, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision as a battlegroup features:

• Mediocre RECON, with only infantry and scout teams present.
  
• Very Good INF tab, with plenty of choice between solid regular infantry and cheaper Disheartened squads, plus some RSI GNR support.
  
• A pretty good SUPPORT tab with a variety of MG squads, including rare heavy guns, as well as the AS.43 20mm.
  
• A weak TANK category, with only one choice of StuG for phases A and B.
  
• An above average AT, offsetting the weak armor selection, featuring PaK 97/38, PaK 40, Marder, Semovente 47/32.
  
• While the ART category is standard, the AA category is very strong, with all types and manner of guns, including the Italian 90mm (which is better in an AT role compared to the FlaK 88mm).
  
• AIR is rather average, with only a few German and Axis RSI planes. With the number of AA guns available, who needs air cover?

[h2]The 5th Canadian Armoured Division[/h2]

The 5th Canadian Armoured Division is, like all Canadian World War II armored divisions, a hybrid of British and American equipment. The main combat vehicles of the formation are the same as a U.S. division, including Sherman M4A4, M5A1 Stuart, half-tracks, etc.

The division follows British lines in specialist variants, armored cars or other vehicles such as the Firefly Ic and Vc, Crusader AA tanks, Universal Carrier, Humber scout cars, 6-pdr, 17-pdr, and 25-pdr towed guns.



The formation also had the usual British organization of one armored brigade and one infantry brigade. Much like any other “British” armored division, it quickly ran out of infantry, an issue acutely felt on the Italian battlefields. It was decided to bolster the formation with another infantry brigade to remedy this issue. As Italy by now was a secondary front, and no outside influx of personnel could be expected, reinforcements were to be found already fighting locally. The new brigade was formed from corps or even army units into new infantry battalions, with the primary source of soldiers coming from the 4th Princess Louise Dragoons and (the favorite source of extraneous soldiers) idle AA gunners, represented in-game by the Disheartened trait.

The 4th Princess Louise Dragoons was a veteran recon regiment, having landed in Italy on the first day of the Allied invasion, on the 1st of September 1943. This regiment had taken part in virtually all the major offensives. Highly motivated and experienced, these armored scouts (using armored cars) were known to operate on foot, even behind enemy lines. Their reputation as skilled foot soldiers let them be converted to infantrymen.

In Steel Division 2 they will be represented as Convertered Scouts, infantrymen without the Recon trait but with the Raider trait instead, as well as with added veterancy and additional captured SMGs. The formation also had its assault engineers laden with heavy equipment. These Assault Troopers will be heavy combat engineers squads.



Another interesting feature was that the 5th Canadian Armoured Division was neither equipped with M8 Greyhound or Stuarts, nor Cromwells or armored cars for reconnaissance duties, but thanks to its armored recon battalion with full-fledged Recon Shermans (only in use by French and South African formations), as well as some jalopied Stuart Recce.



Air support was provided by the same multinational Desert Air Force already feature with the 2nd New Zealand Division, providing a mix of British, Canadian, South African, Greek (and even one Australian) squadrons of Beaufigthers, Hurricanes, Spitfire, etc.

[h2]Nemesis #6 Vote Starting Next Week[/h2]
That’s the third option for our sixth series of the Nemesis DLC. Show time is next week when we will officially open the vote. Let the propaganda campaigns begin!

In case you want to read up on the previous Nemesis options:

• Nemesis #6.1: Battle of Tienhaara highlights the critical actions in the summer of 1944 on the Karelian isthmus, detailing the hard-fought delaying action of our Swedish-Finnish friends of the 17. Divisioona against the Soviet

90-ya Strelkovaya Diviziya.
Nemesis #6.2: Siege of Dunkirk shines the spotlight on an overlooked Western European encirclement of Festung Dünkirchen by the Allied Czechoslovakian CIABG. From its investment in September 1944, the Axis garrison held out until the very end of World War II!
Nemesis #6.3: Breaching the Gothic Line, which, as you read about today, details the actions of the Axis 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision going up against the Allied 5th Canadian Armoured Division on the formidable German defenses in Italy.


[h2]Until next week[/h2]
That’s all done and dusted for Nemesis DLC option three. Let us know what you think!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. If you want to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2, keep an eye out 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.

Hello commander!

Get ready for the third (and last) option of our current Nemesis DLC vote. With today’s choice, we are going back to the Italian peninsula, focusing our attention on one of the formidable German defenses: the Gothic Line.

In Nemesis: Breaching the Gothic Line we pit the Axis 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision against the Allied 5th Canadian Armoured Division.

Keep on reading to find out all the juicy details!

[h2]The Gothic Defensive Line[/h2]
A brief history lesson: the Italian front, from the middle part of 1944 onwards, stabilized around the Gothic Line, a set of German defenses bisecting the peninsula, north from Pisa to ways south of Rimini on the Adriatic coast. Like the preceding defensive lines, it would be a tough nut to crack for the Allies. To make matters worse: the massive relocation of supplies and forces towards the troops fighting in France bound the hands of the local Allies.



In the end, the stalemate was only broken in 1945, but that didn’t stop the Allied forces from making local attacks and raids during the latter part of 1944. On the other hand, the Axis forces were understaffed, understrength, and overstretched. Holding on to the defenses was already a big enough task.

[h2]20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision[/h2]
Some of eagle-eyed players might recognize the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision from one of our previous Nemesis offerings. Namely, the fourth in the series (won by Nemesis: Storming Toulon). The German division was featured in our Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff option, making it the runner-up and ever-so-slightly didn’t make it in the runners-up vote against Nemesis: Raid on Drvar.

That means that the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision that almost got the vote twice and warranted another look! You might read a lot of the historical context and general breakdown of this formation in the previous Nemesis offering.



In brief: the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was formed in Denmark from excess Luftwaffe personnel. Destined for occupation duties, the division was shipped to Italy to combat partisans before finding itself on the frontline at the war’s close. Having had to let go of most of its heavy equipment, securing the flank of the Gothic Line, especially against a seaborne invasion, saw the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision be reequipped as an infantry division.

[h2]What will it bring in-game[/h2]
The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision, much like our Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff variant, will feature its fair share of Luftwaffe combat troops and special units. This includes:

• The formation will deploy several reluctant Luftwaffe mechanics and ground crew turned combat soldiers. This also includes “unreliable” Volksdeutschen dumped by other units into the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision. These squads will feature the Disheartened trait and can be considered ill-equipped Lw-Jäger.
  
• A strong cadre of paratrooper NCOs is supplemented by a new influx of cavalry officers and NCOs. This means that part of the Lw-Jäger will be regular squads equipped with more modern equipment, including the MG-42.
  
• Heavier machine guns are available, including Italian pieces and heavy (15mm) fighter plane machine guns used on the ground.
  
• Instead of infantry guns, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision has access to extra FlaK 38mm AA guns used as direct fire support guns. Some will be mounted on captured Italian AS-43 Shariana light trucks.
  
• Anti-tank units are equipped with the PaK 97/38, but the battlegroup can also deploy PaK 40 and Marder tank destroyers.
  
• The division’s artillery is at least partially equipped with Italian captured guns including 75mm mountain guns, 100mm and 149mm howitzers.
  
• As expected, the formation can rely on heavy AA cover, either from its own guns or close-by coastal defenses. This includes Flak 38 20mm, Flak 36 37mm, captured Italian 76mm and 90mm AA, as well as Breda 20mm mounted on trucks.
  
• Armor support comes in the form of captured Italian Semovente 47/32 tank destroyers and Command tanks.

To sum it up, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision as a battlegroup features:

• Mediocre RECON, with only infantry and scout teams present.
  
• Very Good INF tab, with plenty of choice between solid regular infantry and cheaper Disheartened squads, plus some RSI GNR support.
  
• A pretty good SUPPORT tab with a variety of MG squads, including rare heavy guns, as well as the AS.43 20mm.
  
• A weak TANK category, with only one choice of StuG for phases A and B.
  
• An above average AT, offsetting the weak armor selection, featuring PaK 97/38, PaK 40, Marder, Semovente 47/32.
  
• While the ART category is standard, the AA category is very strong, with all types and manner of guns, including the Italian 90mm (which is better in an AT role compared to the FlaK 88mm).
  
• AIR is rather average, with only a few German and Axis RSI planes. With the number of AA guns available, who needs air cover?

[h2]The 5th Canadian Armoured Division[/h2]

The 5th Canadian Armoured Division is, like all Canadian World War II armored divisions, a hybrid of British and American equipment. The main combat vehicles of the formation are the same as a U.S. division, including Sherman M4A4, M5A1 Stuart, half-tracks, etc.

The division follows British lines in specialist variants, armored cars or other vehicles such as the Firefly Ic and Vc, Crusader AA tanks, Universal Carrier, Humber scout cars, 6-pdr, 17-pdr, and 25-pdr towed guns.



The formation also had the usual British organization of one armored brigade and one infantry brigade. Much like any other “British” armored division, it quickly ran out of infantry, an issue acutely felt on the Italian battlefields. It was decided to bolster the formation with another infantry brigade to remedy this issue. As Italy by now was a secondary front, and no outside influx of personnel could be expected, reinforcements were to be found already fighting locally. The new brigade was formed from corps or even army units into new infantry battalions, with the primary source of soldiers coming from the 4th Princess Louise Dragoons and (the favorite source of extraneous soldiers) idle AA gunners, represented in-game by the Disheartened trait.

The 4th Princess Louise Dragoons was a veteran recon regiment, having landed in Italy on the first day of the Allied invasion, on the 1st of September 1943. This regiment had taken part in virtually all the major offensives. Highly motivated and experienced, these armored scouts (using armored cars) were known to operate on foot, even behind enemy lines. Their reputation as skilled foot soldiers let them be converted to infantrymen.

In Steel Division 2 they will be represented as Convertered Scouts, infantrymen without the Recon trait but with the Raider trait instead, as well as with added veterancy and additional captured SMGs. The formation also had its assault engineers laden with heavy equipment. These Assault Troopers will be heavy combat engineers squads.



Another interesting feature was that the 5th Canadian Armoured Division was neither equipped with M8 Greyhound or Stuarts, nor Cromwells or armored cars for reconnaissance duties, but thanks to its armored recon battalion with full-fledged Recon Shermans (only in use by French and South African formations), as well as some jalopied Stuart Recce.



Air support was provided by the same multinational Desert Air Force already feature with the 2nd New Zealand Division, providing a mix of British, Canadian, South African, Greek (and even one Australian) squadrons of Beaufigthers, Hurricanes, Spitfire, etc.

[h2]Nemesis #6 Vote Starting Next Week[/h2]
That’s the third option for our sixth series of the Nemesis DLC. Show time is next week when we will officially open the vote. Let the propaganda campaigns begin!

In case you want to read up on the previous Nemesis options:

• Nemesis #6.1: Battle of Tienhaara highlights the critical actions in the summer of 1944 on the Karelian isthmus, detailing the hard-fought delaying action of our Swedish-Finnish friends of the 17. Divisioona against the Soviet

90-ya Strelkovaya Diviziya.
Nemesis #6.2: Siege of Dunkirk shines the spotlight on an overlooked Western European encirclement of Festung Dünkirchen by the Allied Czechoslovakian CIABG. From its investment in September 1944, the Axis garrison held out until the very end of World War II!
Nemesis #6.3: Breaching the Gothic Line, which, as you read about today, details the actions of the Axis 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision going up against the Allied 5th Canadian Armoured Division on the formidable German defenses in Italy.


[h2]Until next week[/h2]
That’s all done and dusted for Nemesis DLC option three. Let us know what you think!

Be sure to join the Steel Division 2 community on our Steam forums. If you want to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2, keep an eye out 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.