Steel Division 2 News

A Short Break

Hello all,

We hope you are well! Today’s DevBlog will be a short one, as the Eugen staff is enjoying the most fabulous and grandest of French military parade days: Bastille Day (or le 14 juillet). Offices, for the day, are officially closed.

This doesn’t mean we aren't busy working on all good things related to Steel Division 2. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears are being put into the next major expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. While there is no release date yet, we are getting close - so keep tuned!

We will be back next week. Until then, check out the links below to previous DevBlogs highlighting a wide variety of historical and gameplay perspectives of the upcoming Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Showcases[/h2]
The latest gameplay and unit insights of Steel Division 2: Men of Steel can be found below.

In Showcase #1 we highlighted the arsenals of the 1st Special Force Brigade and Kampfgruppe von Tettau.
In Showcase #2 it was time to put the spotlight on the 1st Airborne Task Force and 715. Infanterie-Division.
In the third one, aptly named Showcase #3, the units of the Groupement Dody and the 17. Divisioona were detailed.
And finally, in Showcase #4, we shared how the Bronirana Brigada and 1. Páncélos Hadosztály would look like in our new expansion.

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
That’s not all. For more detailed historical backgrounds, read all about the new divisions (in pairs) in our Versus DevBlogs.

Versus

The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Task Force receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

[h2]Leave your name in the game! [/h2]
As is Eugen’s tradition, you can leave your name in the game with the upcoming Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion. This time the Bulgarian Army is asking for your contribution!

Check out the link, read the rules, and get your name on the list!

[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
Off we go. We’ll be back soon with more Steel Division 2 news.

Be sure to 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.

Men of Steel Acknowledgments

Hello commander,

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll put our ears to the ground to get the latest on the new dialogue coming with Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.

We are smack dab in the middle of recording for our new expansion, meaning that some nations are already done while others are still busy belting out lines in the studio.

So, what’s in store?

[h2]A little bit of talk[/h2]
As you might remember, one reason we encountered delays on previous expansions and DLCs was the troublesome translation and recording of dialogues (the acknowledgment lines heard in-game when selecting a unit). With our aim for authenticity and immersion, having the dialogue in a new nation’s language can be challenging, especially when the pool of translators and voice actors is smaller.

To avoid this, with Bulgaria being a new minor nation in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, we put the recording of the new dialogue at the front of our production pipeline. The task was launched as soon as possible, but it still took time to translate and proofread. Regardless, recordings have been done (yah!), and the voice-overs are being integrated as we speak.

[h2]What can you expect?[/h2]
We have quite a few nations, including new ones, that will appear in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. Let’s go over each interesting language.

Bulgaria
One of the expansion’s big newcomers is Bulgaria. Right now, several voice actors had their turn and recorded their dialogue for the expansion, including almost all the new units.

Bulgarian Infantry 1 Bulgarian Infantry 2

U.S. and Canadian
We are recording some new lines for U.S. and Canadian special forces, specifically those of the infamous Devil’s Brigade of the 1st Airborne Task Force division. The American dialogue will also be “retrofitted” to the existing U.S. Rangers already in-game (found with the U.S. 2nd Infantry “Indianhead” division).

Canadian special forces US special forces

French-Morrocan
The 4e Division Marocaine de Montagne can be found as one of the many historical formations of the Groupement Dody battlegroup. Although focused on mountain warfare, this historical formation consisted of the usual Tirailleurs regiments. This means that about thirty percent of the manpower was actually French, not Moroccan.

Most of the time, these Frenchmen were born in the colonies and called “Pied Noirs” or “Black Feet” in North Africa. Why is this important? Orders in these regiments were usually given in French, as in any other French Army unit. Therefore, our new Montagnards will speak French but with a heavy Morrocan accent.

Montagnard

The Gourmiers series of units will be different. These fearsome warriors were originally formed as auxiliaries in the French colonies and used more as police troops than anything else. They officially didn’t enlist in the French Army but were “recruited” with a specific officer in charge, much like a mercenary band of old. Therefore, only the best French officers were posted to Goumier outfits; they had to know the men’s habits and customs, speak Arab (even in local dialects), and be especially charismatic and brave. More a warband than an official unit, orders were given and received in Arabic. As such, within Steel Division: Men of Steel, our Goumiers units will say their acknowledgments in Arabic only.

Gourmier

Dutch
The Dutch will be present for both sides in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. Although they are not featured under their own flag in the Armory, several new Dutch units can be found in the expansion. These include:

For the Axis as the second-rate SS-Landstorm as part of Kampfgruppe von Tettau. These were local Dutch collaborators serving the Germans. Distributed across the Netherlands, during Operation Market Garden, they were one of the first to go into battle against the British paratroopers. These rear-area troops were equipped with (mostly) scavenged British weapons, either those left behind after Dunkirk in 1940, intercepted airdrops for the Dutch resistance, or during the Battle for Arnhem itself.

Dutch collaborator 1

Another collaborationist Dutch Axis unit is the SS-Wache. These are pretty nefarious troopers, being concentration camp guards retreating from the Allied advance. Regrouped into combat units, most of them lacked any serious training. Mostly criminals, these particular soldiers were noted for their looting and violence against civilians. Used against the British paratroopers, the SS-Wache suffered heavy casualties and stopped being a cohesive fighting unit when the second wave of Allied airborne troops dropped right on top of them. To be authentic, only some of the SS-Wache will speak Dutch; others will speak Russians. Almost half of these guards were actually Soviet POWs, now pressed to serve the German Reich.

Dutch collaborator 2

Not all Dutchmen were chummy with Axis, far from it. Some Dutch fighter pilots are on the Allied side, found with our new British 1st Special Service Brigade. Aside from the ground troops, including the Prinses Irene infantry brigade, the Dutch entirely crewed two RAF fighter squadrons. These include the No. 320 and No. 322 Squadrons. The latter was among the first to receive the new Spitfire Mk.XIV with Rolls-Royce Griffon engines, bringing them to Normandy. While sporting the Union Jack and classified as a British unit, don’t be surprised to hear some Dutch up in the air.

Dutch fighter pilot

Italian
The Italians are back! We have rerecorded voice lines for the sole new Italian unit in this expansion, the Partigiani found with Groupement Dody. These were Italian Alpine partisans who sought refuge in France after Operation Dragoon, filling the ranks of the FFI. In real life, they were reinforced with Russian and Polish volunteers. More on that below.

Not only the Partigiani will be speaking Italian, though. Another unit, this time French, will also have Italian dialogue: the FFI le.FH 18M, a German artillery unit, was captured by the French but manned by Italian crew. Many of these gun pieces were taken, and the French lacked the expertise to use them, POW camps were toured to see if any volunteers would take up arms, serve for the Allies, including as artillery crews. Many came forward, including the above-mentioned Russian and Polish troops, first drafted by the Germans, captured, and now fighting for the Allies. The same happened with the Italians, who manned the German artillery pieces for the French Army.

[h2]Join the Bulgarian Army[/h2]
Once more, you’ll get the opportunity to leave your (name) mark in Steel Division 2. As a long-running Eugen tradition, we will allow our players and community feature their names on our platoon and tank leader’s list. It is time for Bulgaria to be featured with the Bronirana Brigada. This is how it works:

Only family or surnames, not first or given names, are allowed.
Only one name per poster.
Name must fit the nation (in this case, Bulgarian).
Please look at previous names to check if yours hasn’t been suggested already.
Don’t comment on other people’s names.
All names will be reviewed at the end before we include them in the expansion. Don’t be a silly billy, sneaking in jokes or insults into a language will not work.

To make it crystal clear: all names will be picked randomly from a nation’s list. We CANNOT attribute a name to a specific unit. Follow the link and get your name on the list!

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
In case you missed the last batch of unit insights of Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our Gameplay showcases:

In Showcase #1 we highlighted the arsenals of the 1st Special Force Brigade and Kampfgruppe von Tettau.
In Showcase #2 it was time to put the spotlight on the 1st Airborne Task Force and 715. Infanterie-Division.
In the third one, aptly named Showcase #3, the units of the Groupement Dody and the 17. Divisioona were detailed.
And finally, in Showcase #4, we shared how the Bronirana Brigada and 1. Páncélos Hadosztály would look like in our new expansion.

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
That’s not all. For more detailed historical backgrounds, read all about the new divisions (in pairs) in our Versus DevBlogs.

Versus

The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Task Force receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Men of Steel Progress Update

Hello commander,

We have come to the end of our gameplay deep dives into the upcoming Steel Division: Men of Steel. It is time we coasted into slightly quieter waters ahead of the launch, but that doesn’t mean we have nothing interesting to show.

Today’s DevBlog will be a quick update on the work-in-progress of our next expansion, with some visual evidence!

[h2]How is it looking?[/h2]
Our 3D artists are hard at work! All new units have been modeled for Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. Some of them, especially the Bulgarian ones, need to be reskinned. This is a long and painstaking process, but now almost entirely done. Only a few non-Bulgarian units have to pass through the Eugen workshop.

Not everything visual is 3D. As you can see below, the unit cards for the expansion’s infantry have also received their fresh lick of paint.

Some of the new vehicle cards, their models already done, have had their portraits taken.

New divisional insignias are also finished. Some of them were a tough cookie to track down, though. Thanks to the hard work of some of the Strike Team, we managed to do all the necessary research and turn the original hard-to-find insignias into something we could display in-game.

And to leave the best for last. While we are still implementing the final changes, dialogues, skins, models, and portraits, the expansion is already being tested by the Strike Team. It won’t be long before you get their first details and impressions!

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
In case you missed the last batch of gameplay insights into Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our Gameplay showcases:

In Showcase #1 we highlighted the arsenals of the 1st Special Force Brigade and Kampfgruppe von Tettau.
In Showcase #2 it was time to put the spotlight on the 1st Airborne Task Force and 715. Infanterie-Division.
In the third one, aptly named Showcase #3, the units of the Groupement Dody and the 17. Divisioona were detailed.
And finally, in Showcase #4, we shared how the Bronirana Brigada and 1. Páncélos Hadosztály would look like in our new expansion.

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Historical Description[/h2]
That’s not all. For more detailed historical backgrounds, read all about the new divisions (in pairs) in our Versus DevBlogs.

Versus

The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Task Force receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Men of Steel Gameplay Showcase #4

Hello commander,

Back again with another Steel Division 2: Men of Steel gameplay deep dive! This will be the last DevBlog to focus on a pair of divisions and their arsenal of the new expansion.

A slight change of theme, but today we’ll focus on two “exotic” armored divisions: the Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada for the Allies; the Hungarian 1. Páncélos Hadosztály on the Axis side.

Let’s go!

[h2]Bronirana Brigada[/h2]
The Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada will appear as a Soviet-influenced, Allied armored division with a unique mix of German armored vehicles and pre-war weaponry. As a former Axis division turned Allied, the Bronirana Brigada’s saw action during the fighting in the Yugoslavian theatre of operations, precisely the Niš operation. The formation was bigger than an actual brigade and bolstered by an entire infantry regiment. The Bronirana Brigada’s might not have fielded the most modern tanks, but could hold its own on the Balkan battlefields.

[h2]Bronirana Brigada in Steel Division 2[/h2]
Due to the distinct lack of combat experience, none of the ground units in the Bronirana Brigada can be called up with more than Veterancy level 1. On the other, except for two units, all the rest of Bronirana Brigada’s arsenal is Combat Phase free, meaning you can deploy your forces whenever possible.
(Please note that Bulgarian unit names aren't final yet)

RECON
A rather average category for this armored division. You’ll get two “1” slots, the same amount in “2” cost, and one “3” slot.

Recon forces include a dozen or so SdKfz. 222 (M-222 in Bulgarian service) armored cars, and some RAZUZNAVACHI scouts, KUBELWAGEN or BMW-75 motorcycles, which are all new units.
As an Allied battlegroup, the Bulgarians get some help from Tito’s partisans in the form of a detachment of KONJIČKI IZVIĐAČI (mounted scouts).

INFANTRY
You have an average number of slots, though pretty cheap. While this category might have a lot of variety, the actual number of infantry cards deployable is lacking. In direct comparison to other armored divisions, regular German Panzerdivision often ran out of motorized infantry early into a campaign, and they had more than the Bronirana Brigada’s had.

First up are the Bulgarian infantry brought by the brigade itself.
- Bulgarian MOTO.STRELTSI are organized as 10-man squads, much like the German counterparts, but fielding older small arms, with 2x ZK-383 SMGs, 7x Mannlicher rifles, and 1x MG-34. And no AT weapons!
- In one of the few Phase-locked units, this lack of anti-tank capability is remedied in Combat Phase B with the MOTO.STRELTSI (FAUST) becoming available. These represent Bulgarian soldiers equipping themselves in the field with discarded German weapons, including Panzerfaust and Panzerschrecks.
- MOTO.STRELTSI KOM. are 5-man command squads with 2x MP-40, 3x Mannlicher, smoke grenades, and radio.
- PIONERI and PIONERI KOM. go to battle much like their direct German counterparts.
Having identified the overall lack of infantry, the Bulgarian 32nd Infantry Regiment was attached. They bring:
- STRELTSI squads organized much as they appeared at the end of World War I, with 15-man strong units equipped with 1x ZK-383, 13x Mannlicher, and 1x ZB-30 automatic rifle (and not AT weapons, once again).
- STRELTSI KOM. being 7-strong command squads with 1x MP-40, 6x Mannlicher, and a very precious PzB 39 anti-tank rifle, which was the only anti-tank weapon available to a Bulgarian infantry company in the closing days of World War II. Plus smoke grenades, but no radio.
Again, Allied Yugoslavian partisans provide some additional support, with units such as
LOVCI TENKOVA, BORCI, and KOMANDIR.

TANK
As expected, a pretty good category. Many slots, although they get a bit more expensive at the end, offer a healthy variety of armored options. Because of the formation being a brigade rather than a division, fewer tanks are available.

The tanks of Bronirana Brigada come in three different varieties:
- The lighter Panzer 35(t), known in Bulgarian service as the SHKODA S-35, featured as both a regular tank and a command one.
- Plus the SHKODA T-11, which is a version built for Afghanistan but shipped to Bulgaria instead, after the German takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1938. It is a Panzer 35(t) but featuring the better gun of its successor, the Panzer 38(t).
- This leads us, of course, to the last variant of this type: the Panzer 38(t), known as the PRAGA P-38 with the battlegroup.
The next tank model on offer is the Panzer IV, used by the Bulgarians as the T-IV. It can be deployed in the Panzer IV G, H, and command.
And last, two independent StuG III G battalions operated with the brigade during the Yugoslavian campaign. They are known as the T-III and come in regular and command versions.

SUPPORT
This category is average, with limited availability and pricey slots.

The usual complement of support units can be found, from MGs teams to SUPPLY vehicles, 50mm infantry mortars, and COMMANDERS.
The infantry regiment’s outdated PTO. SHKODA 37 37mm (Czech. KPUV 37 37mm) guns were reused as fire support guns. Unlike the contemporary German PaK 36s, these weapons are equipped with HE rounds.

ANTI-TANK
Likewise, an average category with a medium amount of slots. You’ll get three “1” slots, two “2” slots, and one “3” slot.

The only anti-tank team on offer in Combat Phase A is the SOLOTHURN. PANZERSHRECKS become available in Phase B.
Towed anti-tank guns are all of German manufacture: BI. REINMETAL 36 37mm, PTO. REINMETAL 38 50mm (the most numerous), and a handful of heavier PTO. REINMETAL 40 75mm.

ANTI-AIR
Likewise, a mediocre category with a medium amount of slots. You’ll get three “1” openings, two “2”, and one “3” slot.

Some additional AA units are on offer, including German PVO. REINMETAL 38 20mm, PVO. REINMETAL 36 37mm, and heavier PVO. KRUP 41 88mm.
Some new PVO. SHKODA 37 80mm pre-war Czech. 80mm AA guns can also be found.

ARTILLERY
A somewhat decent category. Bulgaria hasn’t forgotten the lessons of World War I. What are the artillery pieces on offer?

Of course 81mm mortars, but nothing heavier.
Artillery units are the brigade’s own, featuring German-supplied GAUB. REINMETEAL 18M 105mm and GAUB. KRUP 150mm, both with radio.
Or artillery is sourced from regimental artillery or corps support (for the heaviest of guns), meaning Swedish GAUB. BOFORS 36 75mm and older French heavy GAUB. SHNAIDER 220mm TR are available.
Heavy off-map support is provided by the brigade’s VIKERS-ARMSTRONG observation tank. These were actually Bulgaria’s first armor fielded but were later repurposed in a 150mm support role. The KB-11-II FAZAN observation plane with 220mm batteries is also on call.

AIR
A pretty good category, with lots of slots (including three “1s”, three “2s”, one “3,” and even one “4”). Options include:

Recon:
- Do-17P URAGAN
- FW 189 TSIKLOP
- VRANA which is a pre-war Czech. Letov S-328 biplane.
Fighters:
- B-534 DROGAN (Czech. pre-war Avia B.534 biplane).
- DEVOATIN (French 1940 D.520).
- STRELA E-4, G-2 1, and G-6 (Bulgarian designations for variants of the venerable Me 109).
Bombers:
- CHAIKA, which is a pre-war Polish PZL-43.
- SHTUKA D-5. Guess the name. You guessed right! It’s a German Ju-87.
- Do-17 URAGAN with two distinct weapon loadouts.
- B-71 ZHERAV (a pre-war Czech. bomber).

The Bronirana Brigada is a pretty potent battlegroup with no clear-cut flaws or strong points. The battlegroup always has a counter for any kind of battlefield situation, even if the solution is a bit outdated. While lacking in heavy infantry and tanks, it makes up for this deficiency with sumptuous artillery and air power.

[h2]1. Páncélos Hadosztály[/h2]
Next is the Axis armor of the Hungarian 1st Armored division, the 1. Páncélos Hadosztály.

Much like Groupement Dody, the division as depicted in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel covers a month of operations, with detachments coming and going. While the formation’s organic forces, plus the 7th Assault Gun battalion, remained a fixture through all the battles, other smaller groups are phase-locked to represent the period they deployed (or left) the battlefield.

Elements from 6th Replacement Division, fighting with the division at Păuliș and Arad, which are only available in Phases A and B.
Forces from the German 22. SS-Freiwilligen Kavallerie-Division can be encountered from B onwards.
Air support is very (very) scarce in Combat Phase A, as was the case at Păuliș, but gets stronger with each subsequent phase.

RECON
An average category with only a limited amount of slots, but balanced in price and with plenty of choices.

Known Hungarian units will find their way into the battlegroup, including:
- BMW 750 side-cars.
- CSABA armored car.
- TOLDI IIA tank.
- FELDERÍTŐ JÁRŐR and LOVAS FELDERÍTŐK scouts.
The German SS reinforcements bring their recon troops, featuring the SS-REIT. AUFKLÄRER from Phase B, equipped with 2x MP-40, 3x MP-44 and 4x Kar. 98.

INF
A pretty good category, considering that 1. Páncélos Hadosztály is an armored division. A fair number of slots, none being too expensive.

The armored division brings its own selection of Hungarian combat soldiers.
- KERÉKPÁROSOK.
- ROHAMÁRKÁSZOK.
- MOT. LÖVÉSZ, both in rifles and command variants. The former is equipped with an MG-42 machine gun and Panzerfaust.
- MOT. ÁRKÁSZOK, command and pioneers versions.
During Combat Phases A and B only, the 6th Replacement Division allows for the deployment of some additional units, some of them inexperienced.
- LÖVÉSZTISZT.
- TÁRTALEK LÖVÉSZ which carry the Disheartened trait.
- TÁRTALEK ÁRKÁSZOK also with the Disheartened trait.
From Combat Phase B only, the German SS brings a number of reinforcements.
- SS-REIT. JÄGER, with 2x Danuvia SMG, 8x Kar. 98, 1x MG-42, plus a Panzerfaust.
- A command version, the SS-REIT. FÜHRER with 2x Danuvi and 2x MP-44, plus smoke grenades and radio.
- SS-REIT. PIONIER comes equipped with 4x MP-40, 4x Kar. 98 and 2x flamethrowers.

TANK
As expected, a pretty good category, though not as impressive as some other, larger armored divisions. You’ll get five “1” slots, three “2” openings, and one “3” slot.

Except for a card of command StuG III G (which also includes the Steel Division 2: Men of Steel’s Axis Ace Barnabás Kőszeghy) all the other vehicles will be Hungarian designs.
- TOLDI II, including a command variant.
- TURAN I, with a command variant.
- TURAN II, plus command variant.

SUPPORT
The next category is standard in all aspects, from availability to cost.

Your usual gamut of FLAMETHROWERS, MG teams, SUPPLY vehicles and COMMANDERS.
CSENDŐR, being military police with the Fanatical trait, to keep the green recruits in line.
German IG-18 infantry support guns also make their appearance from Phase B onwards.

ANTI-TANK
The AT category is pretty mediocre, with only five slots, two each for “1” and “2” costs, and a “3” one.

Hungarian units include:
- Replacement Solothurn ATR (hence the Disheartened trait) and PANZERSHRECK teams.
- The 40M 40mm and 97/38M 75mm towed guns.
- At least two cards of StuG III G in an AT role.
The Germans bring the PaK 40, but only Combat Phase B onward.

ANTI-AIR
In comparison with the previous category, AA is more than decent, with a good amount of slots.

Plenty of good Hungarian anti-air options.
- Get ready to deploy lots and lots of NIMRÓD anti-air (and even anti-tank) self-propelled guns. This unit is available in two versions, one with the 42M heavy anti-tank round and one without. In real life, the 1. Páncélos Hadosztály had over 40 of these excellent vehicles.
- Quite a few 36M 40mm (Hungarian designation for Bofors towed guns).
- Hungarian-operated FLAK 36 88mm in Combat Phase A and B.
- From B onwards, the German 22. SS-Freiwilligen provides a handful of SDKFZ. 7/1, being self-propelled half-tracks mounting a quad 20mm.

ART
Artillery is not one of the strong suits of this division, but a commander still has access to a series of powerful guns.

The usual complement of 81mm and 120mm mortars.
The 97M 75mm, 37M 105mm and 31M 149mm howitzers.
No off-map artillery, but one novelty: the RAKÉTAVETŐ 150mm, which are Hungarian-served Nebelwerfer 41.

AIR
Not very good… at all. Only a few openings, with two “1”, one “2”, and two “3” slots. Air cover is almost non-existent in Combat Phase A!

In Phase A, only Fw 189 A-2 recon and an A-only card of Me 210Ca-1/R5 heavy fighter are available.
The division covered the Hungarian Army’s retreat from the Soviet offensive. This is reflected in Phase B, with an influx of dive bombers.
- German recon, close air support, and cluster versions of the venerable JU-87 D-5.
- Hungarian-operated JU-87 D-5 bombers and the new Me 109 G-14/U-4 fighter.
Additional Luftwaffe forces deploy from Combat Phase C, providing a bit more firepower in the air.
- Hs 129 B-2/R4 cluster bomber.
- Hs 129 B-3 tank buster with a 75mm gun.

The 1. Páncélos Hadosztály relies more on sheer numbers than quality to overwhelm an opponent. It is an armored division with lots of light tanks and infantry to match. However, going toe-to-toe with enemy tanks, especially in the early part of a game, will require skills to make the kills with the light Hungarian armored fighting vehicles.

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2] Versus

The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Task Force receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
And we are done with the fourth and last Steel Division 2: Men of Steel showcase. We’ll be back soon!

Be sure to 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.

Men of Steel Gameplay Showcase #3

Hello, hello.

Once more unto the breach, commander! In today’s DevBlog, we’ll detail the arsenals of the next set of divisions coming with the new Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion.

We previously covered the historical aspects of the Allied Groupement Dody and the Axis 17. Divisioona in a dedicated Versus post, which you can check here.

As always, note that the following is still work in progress and is subject to change.

[h2]Groupement Dody[/h2]
We start with the partisan-bolstered French-led Groupement Dody. Not an actual division as such, this Steel Division 2 battlegroup covers a variety of formations operating in the French Alps from mid-August (after Operation Dragoon) to late September 1944.

The mix of different soldiers, from FFI to American paratroopers and Morrocan mountaineers and Goumiers, can be found in the Groupement Dody. As composition changed over time, formations coming and going, we have corresponded each group to a specific Combat Phase.
Phase A

FFI partisans were very active in the Alps, and with the start of Operation Dragoon, they rose en masse.
some American paratroopers, already featured in the 1st Airborne Task Force, quickly joined them.
But the core of the battlegroup was a detachment from French General Dody’s 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division, as well as some (also Moroccan) Goumiers light mountain troops.

Phase B

In the next phase, a regiment from the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division brings even more specialized mountain soldiers.
At the same time, many local FFI were reorganized into regular infantry. Former Chasseurs Alpins in ranks were reformed into scout and light troops, and trained to use captured German guns.
Heavy artillery was also brought forward from general reserve.

Phase C

In the last phase, the American airborne troops, the Goumiers, heavy artillery, and Dody’s forces are all gone.
Instead, further mountaineers of the reformed 27th Alpinee Division, France’s traditional mountain forces, can be deployed.

[h2]Groupement Dody in Steel Division 2[/h2]
Let’s check out the phase-locked Groupement Dody, category by category.

RECON
A decent category with plenty of choices. You’ll get two “1” cost slots before moving to three “2” slots and two “3” slots.

The following units are only available in Phase A and B, before becoming unavailable in Phase C.
- The ever-present FFI SIDE-CAR, and FFI SABOTEURS.
- SPAHIS in all shapes and variants, from 2-man and 4-man recon squads, plus M3A3 (Stuart) and AM-M8 (Greyhound) armored recon cars.
- The new GOUMIERS ECLAIREURS, a large 11-man recon squad with 9x MAS-36 rifles, 1x FM 24/29 automatic rifle, and 1x scoped Lee-Enfield. As all knife-wielding Goumiers, they feature one Veterancy level and the Shock trait.
The following units become available in Combat Phase B and C. These are professional light Alpine troops.
- CORPS FRANCS. The term is most analogous to the English use of commando. From World War I onwards, these soldiers were hand-picked and grouped into small, highly motivated, well-armed squads. They would infiltrate enemy positions at night, either for recon duties or in raids. Among the Chasseurs Alpins, they would operate ahead of the main body of troops, creating ambushes or trying to block enemy surprise attacks. In Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion, the CORPS FRANCS come as experienced (with one Veterancy level) 6-man assault recon squads fielding 2x Sten, 3x MAS-36 rifles, 1x FM 24/29 and TNT.
- ECLAIREURS-SKIEURS. These were the crème de la crème of the Chasseurs Alpins. As deep penetration recon squads, they were able to cross any terrain, however steep, icy, or rugged, and were supposed to stay hidden behind enemy lines for weeks at a time. These are the French counterparts to the Italian ALPINI ESPLORANTE. The ECLAIREURS-SKIEURS are 12-man squads with 3x Sten, 6x MAS-36, 1x FM 24/29, and 1x scope Kar-98, as well as the Radio trait.

INFANTRY
A solid category, with the vast majority of the slots being cheap, with only the last three becoming more expensive. A battlegroup’s commander will have plenty to choose from.

The following units will only become available in Phase A and B, before being removed in Phase C.
- American AB LEADER, AB RIFLES, and GLIDER RIFLES.
- The French Résistance provides CMDT FFI and FFI MAQUISARDS.
- The 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division deploys as TIRAILLEURS, CMDT TIRAILLEURS, TIR. PIONIERS and SAPEURS. These units are the same as found in the 1e Division Française Libre (featured Nemesis: Storming Toulon), but we remodeled some of the infantry to feature more appropriate headgear.
- Groupement Dody’s special units comes as Morrocan Goumiers. These are auxiliary mountain troops, with only a limited amount of French officers and NCOs in a battalion. These soldiers were organized in large groups, more like warbands than typical military squads. The GOUMIERS come in three variants, all featuring the Raider and Shock traits.
  - CMDT GOUMIERS. An elite 3-man leader squad with 2x carbines, 1x FM 24/29, a Bazooka, smoke grenades, and Radio.
  - GOUMIERS. A 19-man squad with 1x Thompson, 17x P17 rifles, and 1x FM 24/29. If you think that’s large, wait for …
  - GOUMIERS (PM). These assault “squads” concentrated most of the automatic firepower available. This squad is 22-man strong with 5x Thompson, 17x P17 rifles, and a “Rocket Gun.” The latter is the name given to a plain bazooka, which the Morrocan forces exclusively (and gleefully) used as bunker busters (hence HE rounds only), so rarely did they come across an enemy tank on top of mountains.
- The following units can be mustered from Combat Phase B onward.
  - The 4e Moroccan Mountain Division makes its appearance. Units include TIRAILLEURS, SAPEURS and PIONIERS, all featuring the Raider trait.
  - Aside from the Raider trait, the main difference from the 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division is the greater allowance in automatic rifles (BAR replacing FM 24/49) and sniper rifles, but the lesser number of anti-tank weapons.
  - The SAPEURS MONT. field a flamethrower, coming in pretty handy when clearing mountain caves.
  - PARTIGIANI are Italian partisans (and as such, will fight under their own flag) who fled German and RSI harassment in Northern Italy. They sought refuge in the newly liberated French Alps. These resistance fighters formed at least an entire battalion in the FFI. They are 12-man squads with 2x Beretta SMG, 8x Carcano rifles, 1x Breda 30 and 1x Carcano M91 sniper rifle.
- In Combat Phase C:
  - The FFI have now turned regular and provide Chasseurs Alpins, mountain troops fielding whatever equipment the newly liberated French government could scrounge.
    - CHASSEURS ALPINS. These 12-man squads are only available in basic Veterancy 0 and 1, bringing 2x Sten, 9x MAS-36, and 1x FM 24/29 - no anti-tank weapons.
    - CMDT CHASSEURS ALPINS are 6-man command squads with 3x Sten, 3x Carbines and 1x MG-34, plus smoke grenades and a radio.

TANK
As one can expect from a light formation aimed at mountain warfare, tank allocation to this battlegroup is minimal. There are only three slots, which swiftly become expensive.

Only units in Combat Phase A and B are available, with only one card each!

CHAR CMD M3A3 and CHAR M5A2, meaning Stuart light tanks.
CHAR M10A1 RCA (which are TD M10 “Wolverines”) used as cavalry tanks in the truest sense of the word by the Chasseurs d’Afrique - which always considered themselves light cavalry despite the vehicles under their command.

SUPPORT
The Groupement Dody’s has plenty of SUPPORT slots, including three “1” cost, three “2” cost, and two “3” costs. There are quite a few options on offer.

The usual machine gun teams in many varieties. These include TIRAILLEURS, MONTAGNARD, FFI, and ALPINS, including heavy 13,2mm Hotchkiss guns.
The 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division brings M8 SCOTT and M3 HOW. 105mm as direct fire support in Combat Phase A and B only.
Commanders, either in fast FFI TRACTION, on foot or deployable in a AM-M20 command car.

ANTI-TANK
This category is decent in the number of slots available and their price, with two “1” slots, two “2” slots, and one “3” slot. Options are average.

BAZOOKA teams (either American airborne or French).
FFI PARTISANS with Panzerfaust.
2nd Moroccan Infantry Division brings M3 GUN 37mm and TD M10A1 tank destroyers in Phase A and B.
Towed CANON 57mm, available in all Combat Phases.
Captured FFI PAK 40 deployable from Phase B and C. This particular towed gun was the second-most widespread captured gun in the French army in late ‘44 and ‘45.

ANTI-AIR
One of the most limited categories of this division. Not many choices nor availability, and slots feature a high price.

FFI CANON CA 25mm recaptured from the Germans, available in all Combat Phases.
The 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division deploy BOFORS towed guns in Phase A and B.
Additional American BOFORS, from general reserve, become available in Combat Phase B and C.

ARTILLERY
A pretty decent category with two “1” cost slots, three “2” slots, and three “3” slots. A well-rounded selection of artillery units can be deployed.

The 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division bring 60mm and 81mm mortars, as well as OBUSIER HM2 105mm howitzers in Phase A and B.
A handful of OBUSIER HM1 155mm (which are Long Tom guns) were briefly deployed, meaning they are only available in Combat Phase B.
The 4e Moroccan Mountain Division fields another batch of 60mm and 81mm mortars, but also brings the M1 HOWZ. 75mm, which is the M1A1 Pack howitzer.
A FFI battery of captured German le.FH 18M 105mm howitzers become deployable in Phase B and C. In-game, they will feature Italian dialogue as they were historically crewed by former Italian POWs, volunteering to finish the war fighting for the Free French.
Only in Phase C, the Chasseurs Alpins manage to unearth and field some of their pre-war CANON 75MM DE MONTAGNE MLE 1928.

AIR
A pretty good category with four “1” slots, and two “2” and “3” slots, and plenty of choice. Most of the aircraft flown were Free French, as by this time, France operated more and more squadrons from homegrown soil, with some explicitly dedicated to assisting its Alpine formations.

Carpet bombing wasn’t very effective in the mountains; hence instead, a healthy allocation of fighters and fighter bombers from Groupement Dody.

Fighter cover is provided by P-39Q-15-BE (Airacobra) and a few P-47D-22-RE.
The remaining P-47s are mainly operating as fighter bombers, with various load-outs: napalm, bombs, and rockets.
Recon is provided in Phase A only by an SOE-FFI liaison LYSANDER, a light recon aircraft carrying 12x 9kg bomblets. Across all Phases, a fast F-6 (unarmed recon P-38) can be called in.

The cherry on the cake comes from American air power. Having relocated to France, near the Alps, they deployed one of their P-61 “Black Widow” squadrons. Unlike those featured in the 1st Special Force Brigade, also to be found in the Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion, these were P-61B-10, able to carry heavy load-outs on top of the quad 20mm.

Two variants exist, but these are only available in Phase C: one with 6x AT rockets and one with 4x 454kg bombs.

Groupement Dody is a layered division, with various forces coming and going depending on the Combat Phase. Mostly made up of infantry with the Raider trait, congested battlefields or urban warfare is the preferred terrain for this battlegroup, but they might struggle in long-range combat. Its strong air cover, especially its fighter bombers, should provide a potent answer to more serious threats in the late game.

[h2]17. Divisioona[/h2]
Next up is the Finnish-Swedish mixed 17. Divisioona. The version of the Axis division featured in the Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion represents how it existed around and after the fall of Vyborg (in Finnish Viipuri) to the Soviets in the summer of 1944.

It includes not only the 17. Divisioona (17th Division) but also elements from the green (and rather shaky) 20th Infantry Brigade, who were routed from the city, as well as detachments from the anti-air defenses ringing Vyborg and artillery support.

Unlike some of the other Steel Division 2: Men of Steel divisions, the 17. Divisioona is not phase-locked, with all units being available from the start!

[h2]17. Divisioona in Steel Division 2[/h2]
Let’s check out the battlegroup, category by category.

RECON
There is a distinct lack of units and availability in 17. Divisioona reconnaissance category, with only a few slots that quickly rise in price.

The division didn’t have extensive recon forces as they were locked in combat, with the Soviets almost on top of the Finnish positions.
Limited options include WLA (KK) side-cars, KEV.OS and TARKKA-AMPUJA divisional scouts.

INFANTRY
Combat soldiers are one of the strong suits of this battlegroup, with plenty of infantry units to choose from. This shouldn’t come as a surprise with the expansion’s focus on the fighting men of World War II, especially not if we also consider that this is a Finnish infantry-focused division we are talking about. Commanders will have eight “1” slots and one “two” and “three” slots each.

We’ll begin with all the regular choices, including:
- KIVÄÄRI, rifles and command squads.
- PIONEERI, combat engineers and command squads
- LÄHITORJUNTA, close defense squads.
Followed by a bunch of new units!
- PRIKAATILAINEN. The green recruits from the 20th Infantry Brigade, who abandoned their positions at Vyborg. They come as a 9-man strong rifle squad, with 1x Suomi SMG, 7x M/39 rifles, 1x DP-28 LMG, anti-tank grenades, and - no surprise there - the Disheartened trait.
- SEXTIETTAN (meaning “61st” in Swedish). This unit represents members from Infantry Regiment 61, the Swedo-Finn formation that saved the day at Tienhaara just after the Fall of Vyborg. These soldiers prevented the Soviets from breaking through. In-game, they are represented as a 9-man rifle squad with 2x Suomi, 6x M/39 rifles, 1x DT LMG, Panzerfaust, and the Fanatical trait.
- SEXTIETTAN (KPÄÄL) are 4-man command squad with 1x Suomi, 3x M/39 and Satchel AT grenades, plus the Radio and Fanatical trait.
- SEXT. ISKURYHMÄ are 9-man assault squads equipped with a mix of Suomi and PPSh SMG, 2x M/26 automatic rifles, and anti-tank grenades. They also carry the Fanatical and Shock traits.
- All the experienced SEXTIETTAN units come deployed with one Veterancy level, plus Swedish dialogue and acknowledgments.

TANK
Next up is a category very limited in scope, with only two slots (though both are cheap at “1” price).

Both armor options are only available during Combat Phase A.
One card of T-26E.
And one card of STURMI, forward deployed from the Finnish armored Panssaridivisioona formation.

SUPPORT
A good category for 17. Divisioona with a healthy balance between the number of slots, unit options, and price.

Standard choices include Commanders on foot, side-car, or in the VIDAL TEMPO command car, as well as FORD AA HUOLTO supply trucks.
New units are:
- A choice between Disheartened RECRUITS KK M32-33, which is a Maxim heavy machine gun team, or Fanatical SEXT. KK M/14, being a Schwarloze HMG.
- SOTILASPOLIISI military police, to keep all those unwilling PRIKAATILAINEN in line.
While not new, the BT-42 makes another appearance, with an availability of two cards in Combat Phase A and B. In real life, the whole company was detached from the armored Panssaridivisioona to rush to rescue Vyborg’s defenders, only to be almost completely wiped out due to their inability to engage Soviet tanks.
Much like the Royal Marines’ CENTAUR IV in the upcoming 1st Special Service Brigade being reworked to provide indirect fire, the BT-42 was capable of the same feat, even proposed to be used this way (though denied by military high command). Therefore, we added the indirect fire ability to this assault gun as a battlefield modification, though the vehicle lacks any radio. This will also affect the BT-42 in the Panssaridivisioona (featured in our major expansion Steel Division 2: The Fate of Finland).

ANTI-TANK
A decent category with two “1” slots, three “2” slots, and one “3”. While choices are plenty, most of them are light anti-tank teams.

PANSSARIKAUHU (Panzerschreck) in either RECRUITS (with Disheartened trait) or “vanilla” flavor.
LAHTI L-39 (anti-tank rifle) in either SEXTIETTAN (Fanatical) or plain variant.
TANKINTORJUNTA (tank hunters) in either SEXTIETTAN (with Fanatical) or “vanilla” flavor.
The remaining units are the 17. Divisioona divisional guns, including one card of 45 PstK/39 45mm and one card (only in Phase A or B) of 75 K/40 75mm towed anti-tank guns.

ANTI-AIR
A pretty strong category, primarily thanks to the historical presence of the anti-air defenses surrounding Vyborg and Tienhaara. This means quite a few slots, eight in total, all being cheap.

Lots of anti-air units to choose from. These include standard choices:
- FORD AA URK-ITKK, being self-propelled quad Maxim machine guns.
- FORD AA 20 ItK, self-propeled single 20mm gun.
- VEKOTIN, which is a towed twin 20mm.
- 40 ItK/35-39 B 40mm (Bofors).
A new unit is the 76 ItK/34V 75mm (a Vickers M/34), also capable of firing AP rounds, allowing it to be turned into a makeshift anti-tank gun.

ART
And we got another powerful category for this battlegroup, being stronger than even Anti-Air. It features the same amount of slots, but cheaper overall.

Artillery forces include the ton of mortars to be expected in a Finnish unit (even to this day).
Plenty of howitzers, several featuring the secondary capability of firing anti-tank rounds.
- 84 K/18 83,8mm which is a British QF 18-pdr.
- 76 K/36 76,2mm, a captured Soviet F-22.
- 105 H/33 105mm being a German le.FH 18M.
- 150 H/40 150mm, a German s.FH 18.
- 152 H/37 152mm, which is a captured Soviet ML-20.
- 203 H/17 203mm, a new unit, British BL 8 pouces howitzer Mk. VII.

AIR
A decent AIR category can be found with the 17. Divisioona. Air support comprises a mix of the Finnish Air Force and German Luftwaffe.

The Finns provide most of the airplanes
- GAUNTLET Mk.II and BF 109 G-8 in recon roles.
- Bf 109 G-6 as fighter and fighter-bombers.
- BLENHEIM Mk.I, the new DB-3F and Ju-88 A-4 bombers.
The Luftwaffe, represented in Finland by Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey, provides specialized (and much-needed) anti-tank planes.
- Ju-87 D-5 with AB-250-3 cluster bombs.
- Fw 190 F-8 with Panzerblitz 1 AT rockets.

The 17. Divisioona is a battlegroup heavily focused on infantry and artillery, with the Finnish-Swedish forces being able to grind any opponent to a halt or even launch their own attacks in built-up spaces. However, pushing across open terrain or against long-range opponents will prove difficult, with the division relying on its air force to make a fist against enemy armor.

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2] Versus

The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Task Force receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

[h2]See you on the battlefield[/h2]
And we are done with the third Steel Division 2: Men of Steel showcase. Let us know what you think.

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See you on the battlefield, commander.