Steel Division 2 News

Welcome to 2021, commander!

Happy New Year to all! We are glad you made it. Let’s hope that 2021 will be infinitely more kick-ass than the last (rather crappy) year. At Eugen, we are damned sure to do our part in achieving that lofty goal, at least when it comes to everything related to Steel Division 2 .

How? Well, keep on reading to find out what we have in store for (early) 2021!

[h2]Coming up next[/h2]

What can you expect from us this year? As a matter of fact, lots of things. From the very start, we pledged to keep working on and supporting Steel Division 2. We aim to continue to do this for the foreseeable future.

There is plenty of things in the Eugen pipeline, including one or two super secret things we are working on, not ready yet to be shown in the public light. Who knows, who knows…

What we can talk about is:

[h3]MAPS![/h3]

Yup, that’s it. We hear you (extremely loud and clear, don’t you worry), and we are going to expand the roster of maps currently featured in Steel Division 2. This means:

• We are putting the finishing touches on the previously announced urban map. Check out the deets in our previous post here. Expect some challenging house-to-house combat in this new urban map, which mixes semi- and dense urban terrain. When will it come? Soon, we promise!
  
• We are working on a new dedicated 10v10 map. This new map will use all the available space to its fullest extent, meaning that there will be no leftover terrain on either side. As such, it will feature the largest playing area of all maps.
  
• We are also working on providing a Very Small edit of existing maps. This will allow them to be played more comfortably during 1v1 or Tactical games.
  

[h3]Updated Game Lobby[/h3]

Moving forward, we’ll introduce the possibility to create (and search) for 6v6 games. Not only that: we will also present an option for players to create their own 10v10 private servers.

[h3]Gameplay Changes[/h3]

One of the gameplay elements we wanted to improve was an armored warfare overhaul (tank and anti-tank combat ranges). We are still working on this. Providing more realistic engagement ranges, including reducing some of the effective combat ranges of various tank guns, takes a bit longer than expected.

In case you’ve forgotten: this new take on armored warfare aims to reduce the amount of inconclusive engagements at extreme ranges, with armor exchanging fire without any result. Our new approach introduces a broader array of gun ranges, meaning that different tank guns will perform better (or worse) at different ranges.

Before we roll out the new combat ranges, we want to update the Effective Shot mechanic as well. In the future, players will treat this as a Rules of Engagement variable, letting them set the desired engagement range of any units, including infantry.



[h3]Army General Improvements[/h3]

We are working on a bunch of Army General improvements including:

• Improved Auto Resolve mechanics. They will be more streamlined while taking better into account the type of environment (urban, woods) during a combat resolution.
  
• Improved tactical combat, including the possibility of bringing five battalions to a fight. This is two more than the current maximum of three battalions.
  
• Improved display of battalion strengths to make this information more readable.
  
• Improved Army General’s AI, with the latter using its armored battalions more effectively. This also includes a more cunning use of artillery by the computer to neutralize key enemy battalions.
  
• Improved movement. To make it more transparent and fluid when moving battalions.
  

[h3]A new History Expansion[/h3]

Ooooh…, that’s right: we are getting very close to revealing all the juicy details concerning the new History Expansion we are working on. The excitement… it’s almost unbearable. Expect some new info very soon!



[h2]Until next week![/h2]

And that’s it for our future look into 2021. Lots of good things are coming your way - that’s for sure.

Before we forget: Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is heading your way very soon. We’ll be releasing our new Nemesis DLC on January 28th. Be sure to grab it when it launches!



Meanwhile, we are already at work on the next Nemesis DLC, Storming Toulon, with its Légion, Tirailleurs & Kriegsmarine infantry.
Read all about the Nemesis: Storming Toulon in this detailed blog post.

If you want to reach out to us, do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello!

Welcome to the final blog post of 2020! It surely has been a long year for all of us, no doubt.

At Eugen, we have tried our best to steer the ship through 2020s dark waters and stormy weather, and we sincerely hope that you’ve liked what came out of our creative spaces and (home) offices during this time. We never stopped working!

As a matter of fact, we’ve got plenty of interesting things planned for you in the new year! Exciting times are coming.

Before we adjourn for the holiday season, we wanted to give you a deep dive into our third Nemesis DLC, including listing all the new units and variants. Expect Nemesis: Battle of Rimini to be released in the not-too-distant future!

Keep reading to find out more.

[h2]Nemesis: Battle of Rimini Updated[/h2]

Let’s rewind. Nemesis: Battle of Rimini takes place at the end of summer 1944, when the Allies are dead set on breaking through the Gothic defensive line in Italy. The Adriatic coastline looks most promising. If the British Eighth Army can enact a breakthrough here, near Rimini, it might force the Germans to redeploy precious forces. This would weaken the center and allow the American troops to punch through and push towards the coast. With one flank rolled up, the road to northern Italy would lay open. This Allied plan became known as Operation Olive.

However, the offensive doesn’t exactly go as planned. The Allied focus, including supplies and manpower, is aimed at other theatres, mostly Normandy and in the south of France with Operation Dragoon. Not only that: due to tempestuous weather, Operation Olive bogs down quickly. Even though the opening battles take the Axis defenders by surprise, tenacious resistance by, amongst others, the paratroopers of the 1. Fallschirmjäger makes it slow going for the Allied units. When 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade steps into the fray, it only results in a slow grind through the rain and mud, until the now ruined Rimini is finally liberated after weeks of heavy combat.

[h3]1. Fallschirmjäger[/h3]

Once considered elite and at the forefront of early war German airborne operations, by the time Operation Olive swings around, the 1. Fallschirmjäger has been decimated in the costly battles of Crete and Italy. The veteran paratroopers recapture some of their lost glory through their legendary defense of the Monte Cassino monastery. Depleted in strength, the 1. Fallschirmjäger is reinforced by fresh Grenadier recruits and elements from 162. (Turk.) Infanterie-Division - Osttruppen from Soviet minorities. Excellent while defending, the battlegroup can count on considerable support forces, especially in anti-tank and anti-aircraft units.



What can you expect of the 1. Fallschirmjäger?

• The Recon tab is limited, with few slots and all options being scouts on foot.
  
• A powerful advantage of this battlegroup is the quality and availability in its Infantry tab; there are quite a few slots available with lots of choice. For instance, players can select various elite Fallschirmjäger variants (including a new Fs-Stosstrupp assault squad) which come equipped with the Raider trait. These units are supported by regular Grenadier with MGs, and cheaper Ost-Legionäre (with the Disheartened trait).
  
• What Tanks might lack in variety, it makes up for sheer firepower. All options are Tiger Es!
  
• A regular Support tab, with a standard mix of MGs from Maxim to Fallschirmjäger MG-34s with the Raider trait. Some LG 42 can also be found in a fire support role.
  
• Excellent Anti-Tank forces are at the player’s disposal: light Püppchen and PaK 177 (captured Italian 47mm Elefantino), PaK 40, Nashorn, Jagdpanzer IV and PaK 43.
  
• The Artillery tab is basic with mostly mortars on offer, including 81mm and 120mm. Towed gun pieces are light mountain 75mm guns (with HEAT rounds) and standard 105mm howitzers.
  
• The battlegroup’s AA tab is very good, with many open slots. Options are cheap, including classics such as towed 20mm, 37mm and 88mm, and the self-propelled Breda 20mm mounted on an Italian SPA-38 truck.
  
• The Air tab is average, with fighters and fighter-bombers, although some bomber units can be found. Two captured Italian planes can be deployed: the recon biplane CR.42 and the Re.2005 fighter.
  

[h3]2nd New Zealand Division[/h3]

As a hybrid combined-arms battlegroup, the 2nd New Zealand Division was a bit of an odd duck among the Allied forces. Having fought in the North African and Mediterranean theatre as part of the British Eighth Army, the veteran formation featured the attached 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade. Notorious for its troops’ looting behavior, the Kiwi formation contains some weaponry of questionable origin, including captured German and other “liberated” Allied materiel. The 2nd New Zealand Division doesn’t have any real shortcomings, being balanced on both the offense and defense.



What can you expect of the 2nd New Zealand Division?

• This battlegroup has a large amount of choice in the Recon tab, including some Greek units equipped with radio, as well as heavy turretless Stuart scout APCs and armored cars (Staghound).
  
• There is quite a bit of variety with the Infantry on offer: from Maori heavy infantry squads fielding captured MP-40 and twin MG-34, and featuring the Fanatical trait, to Greek mountaineer squads with the Raider trait, and Diggers as regular Commonwealth infantry.
  
• The Tank category is rather standard with either Stuarts or Shermans 75mm deployable.
  
• A pretty decent Support tab, with typical Commonwealth units. More captured materiel can be found here, including MG-42 and “liberated” M2 .50 cal MGs. Several fire support vehicles are available: Sherman Ib (short 105mm) and Staghound Mk.II ( short 76mm).
  
• Anti-tank forces are pretty regular with 6-pdr towed guns (either New Zealand or Greek operated, the latter bringing the Raider trait), Wolverine and 17-pdr guns.
  
• Basic Artillery tab with mortars and 25-pdr guns, all of them coming in either New Zealand or Greek variants. Some heavy off-map Canadian artillery support is available.
  
• Not much in the way of anti-aircraft units, with only a select number of Bofors guns and captured Italian 20 mm Breda pieces mounted on Morris trucks.
  
• An average Air tab, with plenty of options but mostly limited to older equipment including fighter and fighter-bombers, and a few recon fighters and light bombers. The new Beaufighter and Baltimore bomber can be deployed as well.
  

[h2]Nemesis: Battle of Rimini’s new units and models[/h2]

The following new units can be found in Nemesis: Battle of Rimini:

New Units

• (NZ) Maori - heavy infantry.
  
• (Greek) Oplites - mountain infantry.
  
• (Greek) Anichnefetis - mountain scouts.
  
• (Greek) Baltimore Mk. V - bomber.
  
• (British) Beaufighter Mk. X - heavy fighter.
  
• Fs-Stosstrupp - paratrooper assault squad brimming with automatic weapons.
  
• Ost-Legionäre - infantry with Disheartened trait, entirely equipped with Soviet weaponry.
  
• Re.2005 - captured Italian fighter.
  
• SPA-38R - captured Italian truck.
  
• SPA-38R Breda - self-propelled captured Breda AA gun.
  

New Variants or Models

• (NZ) Carrier .30 - recon carrier with two M1919 MGs.
  
• (NZ) Carrier .50 - recon carrier with one M1919 and one M2 .50 MG.
  
• (NZ) Staghound Mk.II - fire-support version with a short 76mm.
  
• (NZ) Morris C8 - artillery tractor.
  
• (NZ) Morris C8 Breda - self-propelled AA gun.
  
• (British) P-40F Kittyhawk - fighter/fighter-bomber.
  
• (Canadian) Spitfire LF Mk.VIIIc - fighter/fighter-bomber.
  
• (South African) Spitfire LF Mk.IXc - recon fighter with clipped wings. South Africa will be classified as British here… for now.
  
• (Greek) Spitfire LF Mk.Vc/trop - fighter/fighter-bomber.
  
• (British) Boston Mk.III - currently only featured in French battlegroups as the DB-73.
  
• P-51C Mustang - only featured in Polish battlegroups as the Mustang Mk.III. Note that these will be deployable as part of the famous “Red Tails”, the first African-American fighter group.
  
• Lince - Italian-built variant of the Daimler Scout car.
  
• Grenadier (MG-42) - regular Grenadier unit but equipped with an MG-42 instead of MG-34. As fresh recruits, they can’t be deployed with veterancy.
  
• JU 88A-4 - bomber, previously featured in Hungarian and Finnish battlegroups.
  
• CR-42 - Italian biplane, previously only featured in Hungarian battlegroups.
  
• PaK 177 - captured Italian Breda 47mm guns. Already featured with Romania, though as a fire support gun. As used by the 1. Fallschirmjäger it will be a light anti-tank gun.
  

A small model fix: the existing Soviet Spitfire Mk.Vb has been updated (for all players, not only DLC owners).

Nemesis: Battle of Rimini will also ship with a new Allied Ace: the Greek fighter pilot Marinos Mitralexis, famous for performing one of the first ramming attacks of the war - and surviving to tell the tale. Mitralexis took down an Italian bomber over Albania in 1940 with his plane’s propeller. This Ace kept fighting with the Allied Hellenic Royal Air Force. Mitralexis’s plane in-game will be the Spitfire Mk.Vc/trop.

[h2]Which Nemesis DLC can you play already?[/h2]

Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is our first Nemesis DLC and available for free now! 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.

[h2]Coming up next[/h2]

If you want to reach out to us, do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

This will be our last post for 2020. From the whole Eugen team, we wish you all the best and prosperity, not only to you but also to your friends, family, and loved ones.

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay strong. See you on the battlefield in 2021! Happy holidays, commander!

Welcome back, commander.

That’s it, the results are in: we have an official winner of our fourth Nemesis DLC run! In the not-too-distant future, you’ll be able to play with the one, the only: Nemesis: Storming Toulon.

Let’s take a look at how the votes dropped: Nemesis: Storming Toulon edged out ahead with 45% of the vote, followed closely by Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff with 38.1%. Coming in last, Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș garnered 16.9% of the poll’s share.



From the whole Eugen team, we wanted to thank you for participating in this Nemesis DLC poll. We appreciate your efforts in keeping it cool and clean. Good stuff!

[h2]The winner is Nemesis: Storming Toulon[/h2]

As the winner of the latest community vote, Nemesis: Storming Toulon will be our fourth Nemesis DLC. Highlighting the opening battles for the important port of Toulon during Operation Dragoon - the Allied invasion of Southern France in August 1944 - it features two fascinating battlegroups: Verteidigungsbereich Toulon versus the 1e Division Française Libre.



What can you expect from Nemesis: Storming Toulon?

Verteidigungsbereich Toulon

• An ad hoc Axis battlegroup composed of Kriegsmarine Seesoldaten garrison units, German naval commando pioneers, Kadetten, Brandenburger special forces, regular Grenadier infantry, and even elite Italian San Marco naval troops.
  
• A heavy dose of artillery, reflecting the historical presence of naval batteries, bunkers and Flak units. This includes a variety of calibers: Skoda 75mm, Italian 149mm and Soviet 152mm howitzers, and heavy Flak 38 105mm.
  
• Off-map artillery is also available, with the extra firepower coming from big platforms such as 138mm, 164mm or 340mm.
  

1e Division Française Libre

• The “real deal” of the Free French will bring a melting pot of a battlegroup containing everything from experienced Légionnaires, Polynesians infantry, veteran North African soldiers, Central Africans reinforcements, and Commandos d’Afrique and Parachutistes de Choc special forces.
  
• Additional firepower is provided by a combat command from the armored 1e Division Blindée with Stuarts, M10s and Shermans.
  
• Artillery support is made up of 105mm and 155mm (Long Tom) howitzers, with AA cover offered by towed Bofors AA guns.
  
• Air support will come from the Free French Air Force, as well as British carrier-borne squadrons. This includes B-26 Marauders, P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Kittyhawk, P-47D Thunderbolt and Spitfire, as well as Hellcat, Wildcat and Supermarine Seafire fighters.
  

Nemesis: Storming Toulon will also feature a new type of defensive structure. The so-called Tobruk bunker, which is essentially the obsolete tank turret of a S35 Somua (47mm), R35 (37mm) or Panzer II (20mm) mated to a concrete casemate.

Read all about the Nemesis: Storming Toulon in the original detailed blog post.



[h2]What happens next?[/h2]

As we mentioned during our previous community votes, the runner-up Nemesis DLC options will see a play-off vote in the future. Currently, we have the following silver medalists waiting for their second chance: Nemesis: Raid on Drvar, Nemesis: Slovak Uprising, and now Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff. We will let you know when (and how) a new poll will happen. Keep an ear to the ground.

There are only winners with our Nemesis DLC, except for the third place losers, which this time is Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș. Back to the drawing board with this idea!

[h2]Which Nemesis DLC can you play already?[/h2]

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

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1405650/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_1__Sandomierz

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..

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1418230/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_2__Lvov_Offensive

Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third confirmed Nemesis DLC. It will bring 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. Except some news about this Nemesis DLC soon!

[h2]Coming up next[/h2]

If you want to reach out to us, do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-assDiscord server or Reddit page.

Once again, we bid you adieu for the week. We’ll be back, same place, same time. Play it cool on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander!

We have arrived once more at that crucial moment you have been waiting for these last couple of weeks: the vote for the next Nemesis DLC for Steel Division 2 is now open!

Before you rush in, vote, and as any good commander, start up your well-oiled propaganda machine to furiously sway the others toward your choice, take some time to read the following carefully.

[h2]Nemesis DLC Run 4[/h2]

Our latest Nemesis DLC community vote is now live. This means you can cast your voice on which of the three new Nemesis DLC we should release next.

You can find the Nemesis DLC voting page by following this link here.

Voting will close on Wednesday, December 9th at 1:30 PM (CEST) / 12:30 PM (BST) / 7:30 AM (EDT).

As before, you can vote multiple times, but only your LAST vote will count! Be respectful of the vote and your fellow player. No cheating, bullying, or insults will be tolerated. You have been warned!

Before you vote, take some time to give each option in this latest Nemesis DLC round a quick once-over.

[h3]Nemesis: Storming Toulon[/h3]

Number one on the list is Nemesis: Storming Toulon, featuring two divisions that locked horns during the opening stages of Operation Dragoon - the Allied invasion of Southern France in August 1944.



If Nemesis: Storming Toulon wins the vote, you get to play with:

• Verteidigungsbereich Toulon. An ad hoc Axis battlegroup composed of Kriegsmarine garrison units, Marine commandos, regular Grenadier infantry, and even Italian naval troops, with a large array of captured heavy weapons - including land-based naval guns.
  
• The “real deal” of the Free French fighting force: the 1e Division Française Libre. A truly multinational battlegroup, this division deploys with a mix of American and British materiel, Légionnaires, paratrooper commandos, and with Free France Air support.
  
• A new defensive structure, the so-called Tobruk bunker which mounts the tank turret of a S35 Somua (47mm), or R35 (37mm) or Panzer II (20mm).
  

Read all about the Nemesis: Storming Toulon in this detailed blog post.

[h3]Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș[/h3]

Our second option is Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș, pitting two former allies and “frenemies” against each other: Axis Hungary versus recently turned Allied Romania.

If Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș is crowned the winner, the following content will be made available:

• The Axis armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály battlegroup containing a large amount of Hungarian tanks, guns, and vehicles.
  
• The Allied Detașamentul Păuliș with its unique mix of Romanian cadets, heavy artillery, and Soviet relief forces, including armor.
  
• Two new Aces: the Romanian fighter pilot Dan Vizanti with his IAR-81C fighter; the Hungarian tank commander Lt. Kőszeghy Barnabás with his StuG III G.
  

Read all about the Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș in this detailed blog post.

[h3]Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff[/h3]

Number three is Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff, highlighting two special divisions occupying a “quiet” sector of the Italian Front in late summer 1944.

By choosing Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff, you’ll get:

• The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision with a mix of reluctant Luftwaffe ground crew fighting as foot soldiers, backed up by experienced cavalry officers and paratrooper NCOs.
  
• Task Force 45 which introduces not only the Brazilian Expeditionary Force but also the hard-fighting Japanese-American troops of the 100th Infantry Battalion.
  
• Several new units, including Italian AS-43 (Sahariana) trucks mounting a Flak 38mm, and 149mm artillery guns. The Americans will bring the powerful dual-purpose M2 90mm gun. American and British 15-men squads made up of anti-aircraft troops will be available, as well as the 8-inch/203mm howitzer.
  

Read all about the Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff in this detailed blog post.

[h2]When can you expect which Nemesis DLC?[/h2]

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

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1405650/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_1__Sandomierz

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..

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1418230/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_2__Lvov_Offensive

Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third confirmed Nemesis DLC. It will bring 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. We are currently working hard to make this Nemesis DLC a reality.

[h2]Coming up next[/h2]

The voting booths are now open. Go and let us know your choice! Check in next week for which option will become the next Steel Division 2 Nemesis DLC.

If you want to reach out to us, do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-assDiscord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander,

This is it! We are at the end of the latest Nemesis DLC run. Today, let’s take a look at our third and final option: Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff.

It is a return to the Italian front in August 1944, but this time, we are zooming in on the western, “quiet” sector of the Gothic Line, close to Pisa. We are on the Ligurian coastline during Operation Olive, and it is here where we will encounter our two new battlegroups: 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision and Task Force 45.

Both divisions are formed from either anti-aircraft troops or redundant air force’s ground crews.

There is more to Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff. One new nation will put some lively zest in the composition of the Allied battlegroup: the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.

[h2]The History of Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff[/h2]

August 1944, and the Allies are commencing with Operation Olive. As you might remember from the post detailing Nemesis: Battle of Rimini, Operation Olive was the plan to break through the German Gothic defensive line. The first phase would kick off on the Adriatic coast; beating the Axis defenders around Rimini would weaken the center, allowing American divisions to advance up to Bologna. In the west, the battle lines around Pisa on the Ligurian coastline would remain quiet.

For the Allies, much of their fighting power on the Italian front had weakened with the departure of the French Expeditionary Force (off to liberate their homeland). Operation Overlord further siphoned troops and material to Western Europe. The arrival in late 1944 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Força Expedicionária Brasileira) would only barely alleviated the lack of manpower.

General Crittenberger’s US IV Corps had been left a single division to hold the western flank. To strengthen his frontline, Crittenberger ordered the creation of a new infantry battlegroup: Task Force 45. Most of its soldiers were anti-aircraft gunners, left without much to do and converted to frontline duty. These reluctant soldiers lacked combat training and experience.

Later, this formation received its first Brazilian soldiers. It could also count on the 100th Infantry Battalion, a special unit made up of Japanese-American soldiers.



On the German side, with more and more divisions transferred to the Eastern Front or Normandy, dangerous gaps had started to appear in the defensive lines. The exhausted Axis forces were shrinking in size every day. To give the battered formations some rest, divisions posted on anti-partisan duties were pushed closer to the front. One of these was the mobile (bicycle) 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision.



There was no pitched battle on this part of the front in late summer 1944. Nonetheless, both battlegroups - with similar origins - found themselves actively engaged in the same sector.

[h2]What will Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff feature?[/h2]

Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff will feature two unique battlegroups with a similar composition, bringing several new toys and units.

One new nation will make its appearance in this Nemesis DLC: the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.

[h3]20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision[/h3]

In 1943, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was formed in Denmark from excess Luftwaffe personnel. Earmarked as an occupation force, the division was stripped of all its heavy equipment and reorganized as a mobile (bicycle) division. Therefore, unlike other Luftwaffe Felddivisionen, it was considered a “cavalry” unit and received plenty of excellent cavalry officers and NCOs.

Initially shipped off to Italy to hunt partisans, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was very soon moved closer to the front. The division’s mission was still anti-partisan but also used to secure the coastline against any potential Allied landing. As such, it was reequipped and reinforced with heavy equipment as an infantry division.

• The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision should rekindle some memories from Steel Division: Normandy 44 veterans as it takes several cues from the 16. Luftwaffe-Felddivision featured in the original game.
  
• This battlegroup will have a fair share of reluctant Luftwaffe mechanics turned infantrymen, as well as “unreliable” Volkdeutschen. That’s why some of the Lw-Jäger will be ill-equipped and feature the Disheartened trait.
  
• However, a strong cadre of paratrooper NCOs, supplemented by cavalry officers, make up a sizable portion of the remaining infantry forces. A number of Lw-Jäger squads will feature more modern equipment, deploying with the MG-42 machine gun, for instance, and not carrying the Disheartened trait.
  
• Instead of IG 18 infantry guns, extra Flak 38mm can be found and used as direct fire support. As a new unit in-game, they will be mounted on captured Italian AS-43 (Sahariana) light trucks.
  
• The battlegroup's anti-tank units are equipped with PaK 97/38, with additional PaK 40, as well as Marder tank destroyers available.
  
• Artillery will be partially equipped with Italian weaponry, including 75mm mountain guns, 100mm and a new unit, the 149mm artillery guns.
  
• Heavy AA cover is provided by Flak 38 20 mm, Flak 36 37mm, and captured Italian 90mm AA guns or Breda 20mm mounted on trucks.
  
• While tanks are few and far between in this battlegroup, an Italian captured vehicle is being put to good use: the Italian Semovente 47/32 will be available as a tank destroyer and command variant.
  
• The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision has decent recon and infantry forces. Its Support category will be well-stocked with several types of machine guns.
  
• Likewise, its Anti-Tank and AA forces are above average. This battlegroup is weaker when it comes to the armor and air forces it can deploy.
  

[h3]Task Force 45[/h3]

Task Force 45 is an amalgamation of several disparate infantry forces, mostly American anti-aircraft gunners who, due to rare Luftwaffe interference, were left without a job. As such, the gunners were ordered into the trenches with only a minimum amount of basic training.

Additional firepower comes in the way of the first echelon of the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces, the so-called Smoking Cobras, recently arrived in Italy and organized along American lines. Similarly, the unique Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion can also be encountered within Task Force 45. This formation was nicknamed the “Purple Heart Battalion” thanks to almost all of its members having received the award by sustaining a combat wound in action.



Due to its composition changing over time and additional forces becoming available, Task Force 45 will be a Combat Phase-locked battlegroup.

• Available in Phase A, Task Force 45 will be made up of anti-aircraft gunners reformed into infantry squads of 15 soldiers with one BAR among them. This is a new unit. Not eager to fight, these squads carry the Disheartened trait.
  
• Quite a few M15 and M16 half-tracks will be available in both AA and support roles.
  
• A new unit is the M2 90mm gun (the American equivalent to the infamous German 88mm gun), which can be used in a direct support role, either as AA or AT.
  
• Additionally, some armored vehicles can be deployed, including Sherman and Stuart tanks and Wolverine tank destroyers.
  
• Phase B sees the arrival of the 100th Infantry Battalion, bringing Nisei American-Japanese squads, a new unit. Eager to prove their patriotism and loyalty, these regular infantry soldiers will fight extra hard, earning them the Fanatical trait.
  
• British anti-aircraft troops, as a new unit, are organized much in the same way as their American counterparts into 15-men squads but without automatic weapons. However, as they will have had time to train, they will not feature any Disheartened trait.
  
• Furthermore, additional war material, including Sherman 105mm tanks, as well as the new 8-inch/203mm howitzer, can be deployed in Phase B.
  
• Task Force 45 will see the deployment of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in Phase C. These Brazilian units are equipped with American weapons and vehicles, and include scouts, riflemen, MGs, jeeps, trucks, etc. They will be fully voiced!
  
• This Allied battlegroup has a particularly strong infantry composition with many original choices. The Support and AA categories feature powerful units. Other tabs, such as Recon, Artillery, and Tanks, consist of more regular units while the Air Force is relatively weak (partially offset by the anti-aircraft guns available).
  

[h2]Nemesis DLC explained[/h2]

How does this whole Nemesis DLC thing work again?

• Nemesis: Storming Toulon is the first choice of run 4. Read all about this Nemesis DLC option in this detailed blog post.
• Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș is the second option. Read more about this potential Nemesis DLC in the in-depth post here.
• Each Nemesis DLC will bring two new divisions (one from each side) and will feature new units, new weapons, new models, and maybe even new nations. They will be PAID.
  
• Each Nemesis DLC focuses on a new historical Theater of Operations (think engagement or battle) that was relevant and set in the summer of 1944. This could be the Eastern Front, could be the Western Front, could even be other interesting… locales.
  

[h2]When can you expect which Nemesis DLC?[/h2]

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

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1405650/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_1__Sandomierz

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..

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1418230/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_2__Lvov_Offensive

Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third confirmed Nemesis DLC. It will bring 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.

[h2]Coming up next![/h2]

That’s it for our Nemesis DLC run 4. Next week, we’ll officially open the digital voting booths once more. We can’t wait for the results!

Let us know what you think. Reach out to us via our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or keep an eye out on our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Check out the kick-assDiscord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!