NORTHAG Division #5- NATO British 4th Armoured Division
Make way for the British!
Yup, we are back again with the first part of a double WARNO - NORTHAG DevBlog whammy. In this week’s first post, we take a gander at NATO’s British 4th Armoured Division.
Right, dig in!
[h2]NATO’s British 4th Armoured Division[/h2]
The 4th Armoured Division has a very long and illustrious military history, being involved in such conflicts and engagements as the Peninsular War, the Battle of Waterloo, the Crimean War, the Boer Wars, the World War I and - of course - World War II. For the longest time (and nowadays as well), it was known as either the 4th Division or 4th Infantry Division.
After finishing World War II in Greece, the formation redeployed to West Germany, where it was formed as part of the British Army of the Rhine during the Cold War. A series of (rather convoluted) reorganizations saw the birth of the 4th Armoured Division in the late 1970s. Further restructuring included a short-lived experiment with a task force concept before the 4th Armoured emerged with its brigade structure as we depict it in WARNO in the 1980s.
[h2]The 4th Armoured Division in the British Army of the Rhine[/h2]
In 1989, the I British Corps commanded four divisions in West Germany: the frontline formations were the 1st Armoured (already in-game) and the 4th Armoured Division. The 3rd Armoured Division (Army General only) was kept in reserve and close to the Belgians, ready to support them with an armored brigade if the need was to arise (spoiler: they did). Furthermore, the 2nd Infantry Division (also playable already) would be brought quickly from the United Kingdom to reinforce the BAOR in the field.
From Thompson, Graham N. & Nevill, Teddy. The Territorial Army. Ian Allan Ltd, 1989
With the 1st Armoured being the strongest and best equipped (with two armored brigades and one mechanized infantry), the 4th Armoured (and the 3rd Armoured) were “armored” in name only. They could be more accurately referred to as mechanized infantry divisions, both fielding one armored brigade and two infantry ones.
In true British fashion, even these two formations didn’t have the same TO&E; as a matter of fact, all four divisions in West Germany had their own organization and equipment. The 3rd Armoured was the closest to 1st Armoured, with roughly the same materiel but with the ratio between mechanized infantry and tanks flipped. Meanwhile, the 4th Armoured deployed one armored and one mechanized brigade in West Germany but, in times of war, would reinforce the formation-in-the-field with an additional (wheeled) infantry brigade.
[h2]The British 4th Armoured Division Detailed[/h2]
The first (and biggest) difference between WARNO’s 1st Armoured Division and the 4th Armoured Divison is the new formation’s arsenal of tanks. The 4th Armoured has fewer tanks and, importantly, never fielded the CHALLENGER, only the older-generation CHIEFTAIN main battle tank.
Taking a look at its infantry combat force, the 4th Armoured clearly has more, but there is another caveat: the lack of WARRIOR IFVs. Instead, the formation’s mechanized battalions ride all sorts of FV432 APC into battle. And it got an even wider array of infantry at its disposal, with access to both motorized infantry in light but fast SAXON APCs and Territorial soldiers in trucks.
[h2]The 4th Armoured Division in WARNO - NORTHAG[/h2]
What can you expect of the 4th Armoured Division in WARNO - NORTHAG?
LOGp
INF
ART
TNK
RECO
AA
HELO
AIR
The 4th Armoured Division can be considered a “missing link” between the very light 2nd Infantry Division and the heavy guns of the 1st Armoured Division, best described as a mechanized infantry division. It has numerous tanks and a wide range of mechanized infantry but none of the most state-of-the-art vehicle models, as well as lacking substantial helicopter and air support.
[h2]NORTHAG Expansion Explained[/h2]
In case you missed it: WARNO - NORTHAG is the first major expansion coming to WARNO. It takes World War III to the North German Plain, where the attacking Warsaw Pact needs to overcome the staunch defenses of NATO’s NORTHAG. Under British command, Belgian, Dutch, West German, and American forces battle against the powerful northern formations of the Soviet Group of Forces in Germany, including East German and reinforcing Polish armies. The release is planned for later in 2024.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978620/WARNO__NORTHAG/
WARNO - NORTHAG will feature:
We have started detailing WARNO - NORTHAG’s features. Check the list below!
[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s it for the first DevBlog this week. Next up is the Polish 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana or the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division.
Join the WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.
See you on the battlefield, commander.
Yup, we are back again with the first part of a double WARNO - NORTHAG DevBlog whammy. In this week’s first post, we take a gander at NATO’s British 4th Armoured Division.
Right, dig in!
[h2]NATO’s British 4th Armoured Division[/h2]
The 4th Armoured Division has a very long and illustrious military history, being involved in such conflicts and engagements as the Peninsular War, the Battle of Waterloo, the Crimean War, the Boer Wars, the World War I and - of course - World War II. For the longest time (and nowadays as well), it was known as either the 4th Division or 4th Infantry Division.
After finishing World War II in Greece, the formation redeployed to West Germany, where it was formed as part of the British Army of the Rhine during the Cold War. A series of (rather convoluted) reorganizations saw the birth of the 4th Armoured Division in the late 1970s. Further restructuring included a short-lived experiment with a task force concept before the 4th Armoured emerged with its brigade structure as we depict it in WARNO in the 1980s.
[h2]The 4th Armoured Division in the British Army of the Rhine[/h2]
In 1989, the I British Corps commanded four divisions in West Germany: the frontline formations were the 1st Armoured (already in-game) and the 4th Armoured Division. The 3rd Armoured Division (Army General only) was kept in reserve and close to the Belgians, ready to support them with an armored brigade if the need was to arise (spoiler: they did). Furthermore, the 2nd Infantry Division (also playable already) would be brought quickly from the United Kingdom to reinforce the BAOR in the field.
From Thompson, Graham N. & Nevill, Teddy. The Territorial Army. Ian Allan Ltd, 1989With the 1st Armoured being the strongest and best equipped (with two armored brigades and one mechanized infantry), the 4th Armoured (and the 3rd Armoured) were “armored” in name only. They could be more accurately referred to as mechanized infantry divisions, both fielding one armored brigade and two infantry ones.
In true British fashion, even these two formations didn’t have the same TO&E; as a matter of fact, all four divisions in West Germany had their own organization and equipment. The 3rd Armoured was the closest to 1st Armoured, with roughly the same materiel but with the ratio between mechanized infantry and tanks flipped. Meanwhile, the 4th Armoured deployed one armored and one mechanized brigade in West Germany but, in times of war, would reinforce the formation-in-the-field with an additional (wheeled) infantry brigade.
[h2]The British 4th Armoured Division Detailed[/h2]
The first (and biggest) difference between WARNO’s 1st Armoured Division and the 4th Armoured Divison is the new formation’s arsenal of tanks. The 4th Armoured has fewer tanks and, importantly, never fielded the CHALLENGER, only the older-generation CHIEFTAIN main battle tank.
Taking a look at its infantry combat force, the 4th Armoured clearly has more, but there is another caveat: the lack of WARRIOR IFVs. Instead, the formation’s mechanized battalions ride all sorts of FV432 APC into battle. And it got an even wider array of infantry at its disposal, with access to both motorized infantry in light but fast SAXON APCs and Territorial soldiers in trucks.
[h2]The 4th Armoured Division in WARNO - NORTHAG[/h2]
What can you expect of the 4th Armoured Division in WARNO - NORTHAG?
LOGp
- A decent category with quite a few options, though quickly becoming expensive.
- Supply units featured are - of course - a FOB, the STOLLY light amphibious, and the new AEC MILITANT MK.3 heavy supply truck. You’ll also be able to deploy the CHINOOK HC.1 SUPPLY.
- Command units include FV532 COMMAND, FV105 SULTAN, and SAXON CP.
INF
- The 4th Armoured Division has access to good infantry, with units such as RIFLES squads in FV432, MOT. RIFLES in SAXON APCs, TERRIERS in BEDFORD trucks and ASSAULT PIONIERS.
- Support weapon teams are available as the WOMBAT, MILAN 1, MILAN 2, MAG heavy machine gun, RMP and GUN GROUP squads.
- While the division can’t count on IFVs, it does have access to more varied APC transport variants, such as the new FV432 SCAT (with double anti-aircraft MGs) for combat engineers and the new FV432 WOMBAT for recoilless rifle teams.
ART
- A healthy amount of artillery supporting arms can rain down fire from afar. You get to play with L16 81mm and L121 155mm howitzers as towed pieces.
- Self-propelled artillery guns include FV432 MORTAR, FV433 ABBOT and the M107A2 175mm.
TNK
- Now we are talking about the good stuff, though most of the options are older-generation tanks.
- The 4th Armoured Division relies mostly on CHIEFTAIN MK.9 and CHIEFTAIN MK.11 tanks (plus Command variant). It also fields the older and inexpensive (and new unit) CHIEFTAIN MK.6/2, which is much cheaper than a MK.9, but with less range and penetration.
- Some ATGM carriers are the FV438 SWINGFIRE and FV102 STRIKER tank destroyers.
- Attached to the British tank division is one Royal Engineer Armoured Squadron with the new CENTURION MK.12 AVRE 105, which is an old Centurion up-gunned to 105mm but only firing HEAT rounds (also very cheap!). The other engineer tank is the new CENTURION MK.5 AVRE ROMOR, which is similar to the current AVRE unit but with additional ERA armor.
RECO
- Reconnaissance units are plentiful, which results in a good tab with ample options.
- These include FERRET MK.2 and FOX recon armored cars.
- SCORPION and SCIMITAR light tanks.
- Light SCOUTS, heavier (new) MOTORIZED SCOUTS (coming in a SAXON), and SNIPER recon teams.
- Plus the new GAZELLE AH.1 [RKT] and LYNX AH.7 CHANCELLOR recon helicopter, the latter equipped with radar.
AA
- Pretty decent with the usual mix of MANPADs, being the JAVELIN and JAVELIN LML teams, and self-propelled SAMs being the TRACKER RAPIER.
- Two towed units are also available: the RAPIER FSA and the new RAPIER FS2B DARKFIRE with more missiles at the ready.
HELO
- A not very stellar category with only a few slots and options. They are cheap, though.
- A handful of LYNX AH.1 and AH.7 HELARM.
AIR
- Much like the division’s rotorcraft department, the Air tab is also not very high-flying. There are a few options and few slots, but - once again - at least it's not expensive.
- Aircraft featured are JAGUAR GR.1 bombers in RKT and CLU roles, plus the latest (and new unit) JAGUAR GR.1A with self-defense missiles moved overwing, thus leaving more pylon space for bombs.
- The existing PHANTOM F.3 in AA role.
- Another new unit is the PHANTOM FGR.2 multirole fighter in both a heavy HE and mixed HE/cluster role. The latter loadout, with mixed bomb loads, air-to-air missiles, and a gun pod, is our successful testbed for a four-weapon-slot aircraft. We mentioned this before, but it took a little bit longer for us to get this extra weapon slot mechanic off the ground compared to the four-weapon-slot loadouts for infantry and ground vehicles.
The 4th Armoured Division can be considered a “missing link” between the very light 2nd Infantry Division and the heavy guns of the 1st Armoured Division, best described as a mechanized infantry division. It has numerous tanks and a wide range of mechanized infantry but none of the most state-of-the-art vehicle models, as well as lacking substantial helicopter and air support.
[h2]NORTHAG Expansion Explained[/h2]
In case you missed it: WARNO - NORTHAG is the first major expansion coming to WARNO. It takes World War III to the North German Plain, where the attacking Warsaw Pact needs to overcome the staunch defenses of NATO’s NORTHAG. Under British command, Belgian, Dutch, West German, and American forces battle against the powerful northern formations of the Soviet Group of Forces in Germany, including East German and reinforcing Polish armies. The release is planned for later in 2024.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978620/WARNO__NORTHAG/
WARNO - NORTHAG will feature:
- 2 new Army General campaigns.
- 4 new Operations.
- 4 new Maps.
- 10 new Divisions, including Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie, Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya, the Dutch 4e Divisie, and the East German 9. Panzerdivision.
- 3 new playable nations: NATO’s Belgium and the Netherlands, and Warsaw Pact’s Poland.
- New voice acting.
- New units and models.
We have started detailing WARNO - NORTHAG’s features. Check the list below!
- In the very first DevBlog, highlighting Division #1, we show off NATO’s Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie going to war with powerhouse cousin Luxembourg. Read more about the new battlegroup in this dedicated post.
- In Division #2, we focused on the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya or 25th Tank Division. Read more about this battlegroup here.
- In our Division #3, we look at the Dutch and their hard-hitting 4e Divisie. Check it out in this DevBlog here.
- The Division #4 looks into the poster child of the East German Nationale Volksarmee, the 9. Panzerdivision. Take a look in this DevBlog.
[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s it for the first DevBlog this week. Next up is the Polish 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana or the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division.
Join the WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.
See you on the battlefield, commander.