Steel Division 2 News

Hello, hello!

We are back with another deep dive into our upcoming expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. After our recent Highlights, we decided it was time to lift the tip of the veil on a larger variety of models, including new units.

The first nation to receive such a showcase is Bulgaria, presented in the expansion as the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada. Read more about this new division in the dedicated Versus #4 DevBlog.

Get ready for a host of shiny (or not-so-shiny) new 3D models!

[h2]Bulgarian Infantry[/h2]
We have already showcased the Bulgarian infantry models, which you can check in this Steel Division 2: Men of Steel dedicated Highlight DevBlog. But, there is always something new to share.

The few Bulgarian Motorized Rifles attached to the armored brigade were nominally organized along German lines - 10 men centered on an MG-34 light machine gun. However, regular Bulgarian infantry went into battle during World War II as much as they did at the end of World War I, with large 14-man squads and a single automatic rifle.



One major issue the Bulgarian infantry encountered was the lack of anti-tank weapons. The only ones delivered by the Germans were PzB 39 anti-tank rifles, which were outdated by 1944 and could only be used against the lightest of enemy armored vehicles. The main alternative were hand-held AT grenades or improvised explosives.

While at a disadvantage when war finally came to their nation, Bulgarian infantry quickly reequipped themselves in the field with captured Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck. In our Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion, Bulgarian infantry will mainly be represented as they first clashed with the Germans. Bulgarian infantry with captured German AT weapons are only available as a separate Combat Phase B-locked variant.

[h2]Bulgarian Vehicles[/h2]
Most Bulgarian vehicles in World War II featured a single-colored beige/yellowish paint job. This would apply to all wheeled vehicles, as well as most of the tanks. However, some of the older models retained their camouflage, which we will recreate in-game.



Bulgaria’s tank force includes:

• German Panzer IV G and H (without Schürtzen, the side skirts), known in Bulgarian service as the T-IV.
  
• German StuG III G, in Bulgarian service used as the T-III.
  
• Czech. Panzer 38(t) as the PRAGA P-38 in Bulgaria’s arsenal.
  
• Czech. Panzer 35(t), known as the ŠKODA Š-35 in Bulgaria.
  
• a variant of the above tank, equipped with a more powerful gun and destined for export to … Afghanistan! The Germans handed it over to Bulgaria after the annexation of Czechoslovakia. A new unit, this vehicle is a hybrid between the Panzer 35 and 38, and called ŠKODA T-11.
  
• German SdKfz. 222 and 223 armored cars, respectively M-222 & M-223 in Bulgarian service.
  
• old British Vickers E tanks, part of Bulgaria’s earliest armored forces. The brigade used these as artillery observation tanks.

[h2]Bulgarian Guns and Artillery[/h2]
Next up, the wide variety of guns and artillery pieces available to the Bronirana Brigada in-game.

• The armored brigade’s artillery is entirely sourced from German arms manufacturers, featuring the le.FH 18M 105mm, s.FH 18 150mm, as well as 20mm, 37mm and 88mm AA guns and PaK 37mm, 50mm and 75mm anti-tank guns.
  
• The brigade also had a regiment of regular infantry attached to the formation at Nis, as well as army support. They weren’t as well equipped, bringing only older guns to bear.
  
• This includes a new unit, the Czech. KPUV vz. 37 37mm AT gun.
  
• The captured French and refurbished by the Germans PaK 97/38 delivered by the Germans.
  
• A new unit in the form of the Swedish Bofors 75mm M36 field gun.
  
• Another new unit as the French WWI Schneider 220mm TR howitzer.
  
• And yet another new unit as the Czech. Skoda vz.37 80mm AA gun.

(German crew is placeholder)

[h2]Bulgarian Airplanes[/h2]
A whole lot of original flying machines will make their way into the Bronirana Brigada. Expect plenty of new models of various origins, including even one indigenous one.

• A new unit, the Kb-11-II Fazan. It was the small nation’s sole indigenous-made plane. It is a reconnaissance or artillery observation plane, much in the same vein as a Storch or Grasshopper.
  
• Another new unit, the B-71 Jerav, is the Bulgarian designation of the Czech. B-71, a Soviet interwar bomber built under license by Czechoslovakia. This plane was a copy of the Soviet SB (Skorostnoy Bombardirovschik, “High-speed Bomber”), quite revolutionary in 1934 when it made its maiden flight. This aircraft first saw combat during the Spanish Civil War and became the mainstay of the Soviet bombing forces in the early war years. Czechoslovakia acquired the license to produce the bomber in 1938. This is why this particular plane found its way into the Bulgarian, German, and Finish air forces.

• The French D.520 Dewoitine, in Bulgarian service known simply as the Dewoitine, is another new unit. This one is new to Steel Division 2 but already made an appearance as a German fighter in the older Steel Division: Normandy 44. One of the last French fighter models to enter combat during the 1940 campaign in France, it was roughly equal to the best variant of the Me 109 at the time, and while slower, was more agile. By 1944, the D.520 was no longer a front-line combat aircraft but was still useful as a general fighter against lesser opponents.
  
• The German Do 17, in Bulgarian service the Do 17 Uragan, will be available in bomber (Kb-1 and M-1) and recon (P) variants.
  
• The German Fw-189A-2, in Bulgaria known as the Fw 189 Oko, can be deployed in a recon role.
  
• The German dive bomber Ju-87 will be available in Sztuka D-5 and Sztuka R2 variants.

• A new unit, the B-534 Dogan, which is a renamed Czech. Avia B.534, used as a close air support and fighter biplane.
  
• The Czech. Letov Š-328, in Bulgarian service the Vrana, which is another new unit. This plane was also used for recon or artillery observation.
  
• The German Me 109 (Bulgarian designation Strela) deployable in several variants.
  
• And a new unit, the Polish PZL.43A, known by the Bulgarians as the Chaika, a light bomber.

[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
We have already shared a bunch of new details on our next expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. If you want to do some background reading, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs. Find the list below:

Versus

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• 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]
That’s all for this week’s showcase. We’ll be back next week!

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.

Hello commander,

Welcome back! Let’s look at the last batch of new infantry 3D models on their way to Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll shine the spotlight on the Allies and their (rather special) boots on the ground.

[h2]The Allies[/h2] Partigiani
We return to World War II Italy, but this time with a slightly different Allied perspective. Let’s welcome to the stage the Partigiani (partisans) from La Resistenza. A bit of background.

Although there was opposition to Mussolini’s fascist regime in the early war years, the Italian resistance truly sprung into being after the Armistice between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies on September 3rd, 1943. This notable event saw part of Italy siding with the Allies and the Germans taking over all remaining Italian lands and occupation zones (at times with much bloodshed).

The German occupation of Northern Italy and the subsequent establishment of the puppet regime of the RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italiana or the Italian Social Republic) triggered the resistance of a large part of the Italian population.



By the summer of 1944, the various Italian resistance movements, with the communists being the most prominent, had grown to around 100,000. They harassed the Germans and RSI troops in the rear. This happened while the Allies moved northwards until being blocked for an extended period at the Gothic defensive line, north of Rome.

In Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, the new Partigiani won’t be attached to an Italian division, but to the French Groupement Dody. When Allied troops landed in southern France during Operation Dragoon, some units were sent east to secure the Alpine passes between France and Italy. They had to protect the Allied landing zones from a potential German counter-offensive from northern Italy. As such, it brought the Allied formations in contact with the Italian partisans. Besieged in the mountains, these irregular troops were under constant pressure from German Gebirgsjäger and RSI anti-partisan units.



Many Italian partisans crossed the border and found refuge in the newly liberated sectors. Reorganized and resupplied, the Italians joined their FFI brothers-in-arms during the subsequent combat operations in the Alps. The Partigiani formed at least an entire infantry battalion and several independent formations, and even provided trained crews for captured French artillery batteries.

509th Parachute Battalion
Next up are some daring American paratroopers. Activated as a single independent battalion, the 509th Parachute Battalion trained with the British 1st Parachute Brigade in England, earning the right (a rather unique distinction) to wear the British paras’ maroon beret. Unfortunately, the Americans could not display their new headwear as the berets were never distributed. Only a handful of lucky paratroopers got their hands on one, including the much-decorated (and legendary) battalion Surgeon Captain “Doc” Carlos Coolidge Alden.

By the summer of 1944, the 509th Parachute Battalion had seen its fair share of combat from airborne operations (Operation Torch and Avalanche), seaborne (Anzio), to mountain warfare (mainland Italy). A distinguishing feature was the small size of the battalion and, consequently, the lack of fire support. To offset this, the American paratroopers managed to get their hands on a sizable amount of squad automatic weapons to increase their firepower in the field.



In Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, the 509th Parachute Battalion will be part of the 1st Airborne Task Force, represented by a single card of veteran AB Assault Group. They are equipped with Thompson and BAR rifles, even though the latter type was not officially handed out to airborne troops at that time of the war.

Another feature that made the 509th Parachute Battalion an interesting choice was that the paratroopers wore camouflaged uniforms. A rather crude one, as just before taking off for their combat drops, the paratroopers would wait in line while someone came around with paint to smear their regular beige uniforms. This later led to heat issues, as the painted uniforms did not wick perspiration normally, leading to some very sweaty paratroopers under the French summer sun.



Another American unit wearing camouflaged uniforms, although with a different pattern, will be the AB Pathfinders, also featured in the 1st Airborne Task Force.



1st Special Service Force/Devil’s Brigade
Last, but certainly not least, come the cunning Forcemen commandos of the Devil’s Brigade or, more officially, the 1st Special Service Force. The unit’s nickname stems from the legend that the Germans themselves had dubbed the soldiers of this outfit “Schwarzen Teuffel” (Black Devils). Why? With their faces blacked by boot polish, they sneaked into the German-held camps at night to silently kill any one found - without leaving a trace. It seems that this was more a “PR” invention from the 1st Special Service Force than fact.



What is well-recorded, though, is that during the fighting to break the long siege of the Anzio bridgehead, Forcemen would indeed sneak around the German positions at night, keeping them under pressure by killing sentries with knives, or mounting raids, leaving signature stickers on the bodies of killed Germans saying “Das dicke Ende kommt noch” (“The worst is yet to come”).



Our Allied Ace, to be featured in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, Sergeant Tommy Prince will be found with the 1st Airborne Task Force. Within a brigade renowned for its sneaky soldiers, Prince was so successful that he was regarded as a ghost. For instance, in Italy, leading a patrol to locate several machine guns and gun emplacements, Prince advanced alone. He crawled and entered each position, dispatching all their crew without noise or raising any alarm. He returned to his unit before dawn, reporting to have cleared a safe path to the summit, still held by the Germans. The rest of the brigade captured it in a raid the next day.



During the Anzio siege, Prince would sneak outside of the Allied bridgehead, enter enemy camps, steal items, and kill a single sleeping soldier in a tent while leaving the others unarmed. The following day, their comrades would find a dead body in their midst - always with the Forcemen’s famous calling card close by.

Although American-Canadian, the 1st Special Service Force was entirely equipped with U.S. gear, with the occasional Canadian paratrooper retaining their maroon beret (such as Prince).



[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
If you want to know more about the next expansion, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs. Find the list below:

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• 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.
  

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]
That’s all for this week. Hope you enjoyed this infantry highlight. We’ll be back soon with more juicy details on Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.

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.

Hello,

It’s time for another round of Steel Division 2: Men of Steel infantry highlights. As in last week’s highlight, today we will look at some new German, Dutch, Italian and British models.

Let’s detail the new combat soldiers itching to deploy in Steel Division 2.

[h2]The Axis[/h2] The Germans
First up are our Axis German 15. Welle Warriors. As you might remember, Welle means “mobilization wave”, and during the war, Germany called up many a million recruits in different waves, with a decrease in quality as the conflict continued.

The divisions that formed part of the 15th Aufstellungswelle were assembled in April 1941, destined for occupation duty in the Balkans. Once arriving in the theater of operations, they would likely see combat against local partisans, not heavy-duty frontline combat (hence the questionable quality of the recruits). The divisions (numbered in the 700 range) contained two regiments from each military district (Wehrkreis) found in greater Germany.



However, the new formations, with two infantry regiments, were weaker than previous mobilization waves. For instance, the regiments lacked infantry guns, anti-tank artillery, and heavy machine-gun companies. The first divisions were ready in early May, while the rest, including our 715. Infanterie-Division, could be deployed two weeks later.



As static divisions, these formations were filled with men generally unfit for active service: too old, too weak, too scrawny, or too ill. Our models try to reflect that reality: meet Scrawny, Old Timer, and Fatty (inspired by Hogan’s Heroes’ Sergeant Schultz). These 3D models will be featured in the expansion’s 715. Infanterie-Division.



Dutch
The flinke kerels of the 34. SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Landstorm Nederland are next. The Landstorm was raised as a territorial unit filled with local collaborationist Dutchmen wanting to fight for the Axis. Founded in 1943 by the Reich Commissioner Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the unit first focused on guarding and protecting key infrastructure in the Netherlands, such as bridges, railways, and canals.



From November 1944, it officially became a brigade, and in early 1945 it turned into a division, even though in reality it never outgrew its brigade size.
Service in the formation was rather popular for those collaborationists wishing to avoid the other hardships of war. They were exempted from forced labor in Germany, did not have to fight beyond the Dutch borders, and a number of troops were deemed unfit for combat duties in other SS formations.



When the fighting approached the Netherlands in September 1944, the first battalions of the poorly trained and lightly equipped Landstorm were thrown at the Commonwealth forces in Belgium. They didn’t fare well. The third battalion was present when the British paratroopers landed near Arnhem, thanks to a nearby training camp. The Dutch SS took to the fight after a day or two (arriving by bicycle, how typically Dutch). Equally ill-performing, when used against Polish paratrooper reinforcements, and using captured British airdropped weaponry, the Landstorm was beaten back rather without much trouble. Many of the Dutch soldiers deserted during the fighting.



The Landstorm saw only limited action in the Netherlands for the rest of the war, ultimately surrendering in droves during April and May 1945 (which caused its share of issues when done by Dutch Resistance fighters). In Steel Division 2: Ment of Steel, the Landstorm units will be found with the Kampfgruppe von Tettau.

Italians
The Italians are back! This time in the form of the Axis RSI Decima Mas, the Italian naval raiding forces. Usually rated as the best of the RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italiana or the Italian Social Republic), these soldiers were not under either Mussolini or German control. The RSI Decima Mas was “only loyal” to their commander, Prince Borghese.



These Italians kept the war going against the Allies in coordination with the Germans, but not under their official command. After the split between an Allied and Axis-controlled Italy, Decima Mas eventually grew to over 18,000 members. Although conceived by Borghese as a naval unit, instead, it gained a reputation as a savage pro-fascist, anti-communist resistance force in various land battles alongside German troops.



After the Armistice of 1943, one of the first Decima Mas units, “Battalion Barbarigo” with artillery, was sent to Anzio to counter the Allied landings, where it was attached to the 715. Infanterie-Division.

[h2]The Allies[/h2] The British Commandos
The following models are not completely new, having first been featured quite a few years ago in Steel Division: Normandy ‘44. Having been left unused since, they are getting a second lease on life in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel.



We will include the British Commandos as part of the 1st Special Force Brigade. This formation was composed of 4 Commando (each a small battalion) plus two Troops (small companies). The full breakdown is N°3 Commando, N°4 Commando, N°6 Commando, N°45 (Royal Marine) Commando and two French troops from N°10 (Inter-Allied) Commando.



All Commandos use, in essence, the same models, but the Royal Marines and French variants will have some additional flourish. Each Commando will be represented as a separate unit card with its own equipment and organization specificities.

The British 30 Assault Unit
Another new unit - but also from Steel Division: Normandy ‘44 - will find its way to the expansion: the N°30 Commando. Renamed by D-Day as 30 Assault Unit, this special formation was the brainchild of intelligence officer Ian Fleming, of later James Bond fame.



This formation focused on securing key buildings, personnel, and valuable documents, including ciphers and codebooks, for strategic intel or technological knowledge. Soldiers from the 30 Assault Unit would attach themselves to the vanguard of any Allied unit, allowing them to approach their objectives as fast as possible. This gave them a shot at taking their goals before being evacuated or destroyed by the retreating Germans. These soldiers ranged ahead, far and wide, and were successful in the lead-up to the Liberation of Paris and France in general. They will serve as the 1st Special Force Brigade recon units in the expansion.



[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
We have finished all the historical highlights - our so-called Versus DevBlogs of all the new divisions of the expansion. In case you want to check them out again:

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog].
  
• 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.
  

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]
Before we leave you be, a short message from the SDL community. This Saturday, the 22nd of April, at 2 pm CEST (GMT+2), the finals of SDL Season 1 will be streamed live at twitch.tv/sd_league. You will be able to see the exciting finale between Inshaa and Mimile as they fight to be declared the winner of the championship. Don’t forget to tune in!



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.

Hello, commander!

We hope you are well. On the back of last week’s reveal of the two new Aces coming to Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, and before that, the extensive Versus DevBlogs detailing a pair of new divisions each, we’ll start a fresh series of posts today. We will look at the combat soldier who takes center stage in our upcoming expansion and showcase several new in-game 3D models.

In today’s DevBlog, we’ll detail two nations, one being brand-new to Steel Division 2: France and Bulgaria. Other nations to be featured in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, such as Canadians, Dutch, Italian, Americans, ... will get their chance to shine in the next few weeks.

[h2]Nation in focus: Bulgaria[/h2]
Bulgaria is one of the new nations to be included in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel. You can read more about Bronirana Brigada, in this DevBlog here, detailing the unique circumstances of the Balkan nation fighting first for the Axis and then for Soviet-led Allies in the waning stages of World War II.

Details of the uniform of Bulgaria’s foot soldiers during World War II are scarce - especially in English.



The Bulgarian soldier is predominantly wearing brown jackets and pants, with red collars and shoulder insignia for the infantry. The Bulgarian M36 helmet is very reminiscent of the ubiquitous German Stahlhelm. This is because Bulgaria used the same model as the Germans, but from World War I, and both nations’ World War II helmets are an evolution of this older type - bulkier and heavier - helmet.



Limited to its sole paratrooper battalion, Bulgaria also used camouflaged uniforms during the war. These were based on the Wehrmacht splittertarn (“splinter”) pattern. Some of these uniforms also found their way to regular recon forces. The Bulgarians seemed to have been very fond of the pattern, which the airborne troops kept on using - with some modifications - for most of the Cold War.

[h2]Nation in focus: France[/h2]
With the wide variety of French fighting forces during World War II, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are still plenty of special types of troops to be highlighted. As you know from the previous Versus DevBlogs, Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion will feature French troops in both the mixed Allied Groupement Dody and as part of 1st Airborne Task Force. French infantry will come in three distinct new sets.

Goumiers
The Morrocan Goumiers were used as auxiliary troops before World War II, chiefly as “pacification” forces to crush rebellions against French colonial rule. Recruited from tough mountain tribesmen, mostly Berbers, Gourmiers were feared and often hated by other North African ethnic groups. However, World War II would allow the Gourmiers to shed this reputation and emerge as some of Free France’s best combat soldiers.



After the defeat of France in 1940, and with the limitations imposed on the Armistice Army in terms of manpower and equipment, Goumiers weren’t included. Instead, they were considered “police troops.” Being scattered all over the place, these auxiliary forces slipped under the radar, which the French high command used to increase their number and weapon stocks discreetly.

When the French Armée d’Afrique switched sides after Operation Torch in late 1942, the Goumiers were among the first troops ready for action. Although fighting well in the mountainous areas of Tunisia, they took heavy casualties against enemy armor, not having been trained or equipped to deal with tanks.

The Goumiers’ claim to fame happened during the Battle of Garigliano in Italy in May 1944, which decided the fate of Monte Cassino. Having been regrouped as a brigade, they broke through German lines in supposedly impassable mountain terrain (even for an infantry division). The whole of the French Expeditionary Corps exploited the breach. So fast the Goumiers moved in this inhospitable terrain that not only were the Germans incapable of reforming their defenses, but Allied status reports on the conditions on the ground were also hopelessly outdated when they reached Allied high command.

The Germans were forced to abandon the Gustav line, as well as Rome. This left the Fallschirmjägers defending Monte Cassino unsupported, which in turn allowed the Poles to storm and capture the strategic monastery.



Goumiers didn’t wear an army uniform, but a striped djellaba, sandals, and an American M1917 helmet or occasionally a French Ardian one. Tireless in the mountains, equipped with only a few mules, Goumiers could advance quickly through any terrain. They also made for excellent scouts and snipers. More warriors than soldiers, they were feared by the Germans who called the Moroccans (collectively, not just the Goumiers) the ”Sparrows of Death” for their ability to sneak undetected and kill any unsuspecting sentry with their fearsome looking knives.



Chasseurs-Parachutistes
The 2nd and the 3rd Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes were seconded to the SAS and thus organized along British lines (as depicted in Steel Division: Normandy 44’s DBSAS battlegroup). The 1st Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes, to be featured in 1st Airborne Task Force, was kept in Allied reserve in the Mediterranean theater and entirely equipped as a (smaller) American airborne regiment. It was the only unit with the 2e DB officially fielding Garand rifles.



While inspired by the Americans, the uniform kept a distinct beige color with specific markings, including the inevitable French fashion touch!



Chasseurs-Alpins
Lastly, the Chasseurs Alpins were French mountain troops. Regarded as elite light infantry, they constituted most of the Armée des Alpes, which in 1940 resisted the belated Italian invasion from the east. They inflicted heavy casualties on the invaders with almost no victims of their own. Undefeated in 1940, they still formed close to an entire division in French Vichy’s Armée d’Armistice before being disbanded in 1942 when the Germans invaded the Unoccupied Zone. Although not under arms, it meant many trained soldiers were available in the Alp region.



The Chasseurs Alpins, with their trademark tarte (pie) headgear, would form the core of the well-disciplined and effective Alpine Résistance groups. When the time came, the backbone of an entire new Free French division, the 27e Division d’Infanterie Alpine, would be recreated under a month after the landing in Provence.



[h2]Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus[/h2]
We have finished all the historical highlights - our so-called Versus DevBlogs of all the new divisions of the expansion. In case you want to check them out again:

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Taskforce receive their highlight in our Versus #1 DevBlog.
  
• 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.

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]
That’s all. Let us know what you think!

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.

[h3]Fixes[/h3]

• fixed Tatra's missing PANZER 38(t)
  
• fixed JAGDKAMPF's HP to match the number of its soldiers
  
• fixed CALARASI MOTO's rifle ammo loadout
  
• fixed a typo with RÖSSELSPRUNG
  
• fixed the ERDKAMPFLAFFETE's crew into LW ones
  
• fixed some wrong veterancy patterns for planes' 3/4/6 availabilty
  
• unified B-4 & Br-5 heavy SP howitzer's HP (10) speed (10/14) and same armor (artillery)
  
• (3VDV) fixed Faustniki's avail curve

[h3]Generic[/h3]

• changed "heavy tank" leaders (T-34/85, StuG IV, Tiger, Panther, M4 76mm, Churchill VI)'s availability to 2/(4)/(6)
  
• standardized all C205 VELTRO's availability at 3/6/9
  
• decreased C202 FOLGORE's price from 75 to 65

[h3]Allies[/h3]

• decreased (British & Canadian) SHERMAN V C.O.'s price from 150 to 140
  
• standardized armed WLA side-cars at 6/12/(18) vet1
  
• decreased OT-34's frontal armor from 80mm to 75mm, on par with other M1941 T-34
  
• changed M3A3 & M5A1 CMD's availability from 2/4/6 to 3/(6)/(9)
  
• decreased ISU-122 price from 155 to 145
  
• decreased ISU-122S' price from 165 to 155
  
• increased BA-64B KAO (180mm)'s price from 130 to 135
  
• increased AOP CARRIER (203mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased CHURCHILL IV OP (140mm)'s price from 130 to 135
  
• increased WILLYS OP (140mm)'s price from 120 to 140
  
• increased M3A1 KAO (203mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased M3 OP (203mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased M4A1 OP (155mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased M4A2 OP (155mm)'s price from 135 to 170
  
• increased all Sherrman V POA (140mm)'s price from 130 to 140
  
• decreased PE-3 BIS (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 75 to 55
  
• decreased P-38 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 115 to 95
  
• decreased BEAUFIGHTER (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 85 to 70
  
• decreased MOSQUITO (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 95 to 75
  
• (TF45) increased M5A1 RECON's availability to 5/10/15 on par with other recon Stuart
  
• (Vyborg) changed HURRICANE MK.IIc (2x250kg bombs)' availability from 2x cards of 1/2/4 to 1x of 2/4/6
  
• (CIABG) replaced FFO MG-42's TRACTION transport with captured KUBELWAGEN
  

[h3]Axies[/h3]

• changed TURAN I PK.'s availability from 2/4/- to 3/(6)/(9)
  
• decreased TURAN I's price from 35 to 30
  
• decreased PANTHER D's price from 140 to 130
  
• decreased PANTHER A's price from 140 to 135
  
• decreased PANTHER G's price from 145 to 140
  
• decreased AUFK. PANTHER D's price from 150 to 140
  
• changed JANDARMI's availability from 2/4/6 to 3/(6)/(9)
  
• decreased PANHARD (25mm)'s price from 25 to 15
  
• decreased TAR VADAS' price from 30 to 25
  
• decreased TAR TANKAS' price from 15 to 10
  
• increased FELDJÄGER's price from 15 to 20
  
• decreased HG PIONIER (MP-44)'s price from 35 to 30
  
• increased BEO.PZ. 38H(f) (172,5mm)'s price from 135 to 165
  
• increased BEO. SCHWIMM. (210mm)'s price from 140 to 170
  
• increased BEO. SCHWIMM. (172mm)'s price from 130 to 160
  
• increased BEO. SDKFZ. 250/5 (220mm)'s price from 150 to 170
  
• increased BEO. SDKFZ. 251/18 (210mm)'s price from 160 to 170
  
• increased BEO. KUBEL (194mm)'s price from 150 to 180
  
• increased BEO. KUBEL (164mm)'s price from 130 to 170
  
• increased BEO. AR-196A3 (138mm)'s price from 85 to 100
  
• increased BEO. AR-196A3 (203mm)'s price from 95 to 105
  
• increased BEO.GO.145B (172mm)'s price from 80 to 100
  
• increased (German & Finns) BEO. STORCH (210mm)'s price from 95 to 105
  
• increased GAUNTLET Mk.II (152mm)'s price from 85 to 100
  
• increased IAR-39A (152mm)'s price from 80 to 100
  
• decreased JU-88C-6 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 75 to 60
  
• decreased JU-88G-1 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 90 to 65
  
• decreased Me-410B-1 (heavy fighter variant)'s price from 75 to 65
  
• (52Sich) changed s.FH 396(r) 122mm's availability from -/3/6 to -/6/-, on par with other divisions
  
• (Korück) changed TIGER E FÜH.'s availability from 1/2/3 to 1/3/-
  
• (PzD HG) changed BF-109G-6R/2's availability from 1/2/4 to 3/4/6, on par with 1. & 3. FJ
  
• (Blindata) increased T.4 CERCETARE's availability from 3/-/- to 4/-/-
  
• (Pancelos) Mot Lovesz (44M) avail reduced from 3 cards to 2