WARNO News

Hello all,

We are taking a short break from our Division previews of our upcoming major expansion. Instead, in today’s DevBlog, we’ll preview a brand-new map coming as part of NORTHAG but free to all WARNO owners: Railway.

Let’s go!

[h2]The new Railway map[/h2]



Railway is one of the brand-new maps of the NORTHAG expansion, inspired by the topography southwest of Hamburg, West Germany. It offers a rather unique battlefield, dominated in the center by a massive landmark: the sprawling railway marshaling yard. This particular sector features an entire array of rail assets. And, we placed the surrounding Command Zones in such a way to create a vital focus point for controlling the rest of the map.



Railway as a 3v3 map is a large-scale battlefield, similar in size to Volcano, Rock, and Rift with its 81km². The new map’s got everything: urban terrain, plains, forests, mountains, giving you commanders plenty to mull about regarding tactical and unit choices.



One of the new things we’ve introduced with Railway are rail wagon assets that, depending on how they are grouped, can block or open important sight lines. We worked on WARNO’s sight line mechanics to ensure there were no issues with the new assets.



We also carefully tested the placement of various Command Zones. Next to the central zone, other objectives are spread out across Railway. This encourages people to explore different avenues of attack. Make sure to anticipate that the enemy will do the same.



At the start, Railway will be made available in 3v3 Conquest mode, with a 10v10, 1v1, 4v4, and Destruction variants coming later. Can’t wait to hear what you think!

[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 NATO’s Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie, Dutch 4e Divisie, the British 4th Armoured Division, while the Warsaw Pact deploys the Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya, the East German 9. Panzerdivision, and the Polish 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowan.
  
• 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.
  
• In our Division #5 we take a gander at the British 4th Armoured Division. Check it out in this DevBlog.
  
• And our Division #6 looks at the Polish 4 Zmechanizowana in this dedicated DevBlog here.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
Later this week, we’ll update you on the latest Nemesis #2 happenings. Next week, we’ll return with another NORTHAG Division preview!

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.

Hello citizen commanders!

It seems we should have called our next expansion FOURTHAG as we now have our third “4th” division for WARNO - NORTHAG.

This time, the communist Polish People's Army brings to the battlefield the 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana or the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division.

Zatem na przód!

[h2]Warsaw Pact’s Polish 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana[/h2]
The 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana or in short 4 Zmech. was originally formed in the Sumy region of Ukraine by communist forces in 1944 as the 4th Pomeranian Infantry Division. It was one of the first Polish units to take an oath on Polish territory. The formation’s patron was Jan Kiliński, a historical Polish soldier who commanded the Warsaw Uprising in 1794 against the then-Russian garrison.



The 4th Infantry Division fought heavily on the Pomerian Front. It ended World War 2 on the Elbe River and, in the post-war years, was integrated into the Polish People’s Army, to be reorganized as the 4th Mechanized “Pomerian” Division in 1962. In November 1966, the division was upgraded from a cadre-filled peace formation to full combat readiness, which included a sizable increase in materiel and manpower. New support units were formed, with the division becoming part of the first-line southwestern Silesian Military District (one out of three) until the end of the Cold War. The two western military districts would form a combined arms or tank army in times of war. Within WARNO, this is represented as the Polish 2nd Army.



The division was part of the communist Polish People's Army or Ludowe Wojsko Polskie (LWP). During the Cold War, the Poles formed by far the largest ground force (outside the Soviet Army, of course) of the Warsaw Pact. However, there were always doubts by the Soviet Union’s leadership about the Polish willingness to join the communist cause in wartime, fueled by history and Polish reluctance in joining internal Warsaw Pact operations such as the Prague Spring in 1968. Economic crises and martial law in the early 1980s disrupted civilian life in Poland, and further repressions by internal security forces - instigated by WARNO’s alternative USSR’s troika - ensured the Polish nominal loyalty in our 1989 war.



The Polish People’s Army was well-equipped with the Soviet Army’s export vehicles and weaponry, plus a decent amount of domestic designs, ensuring that the People’s Army was a fighting force to be reckoned with. Its (conscript) soldiers in the late Cold War were considered professional, including its officer's corps. The Polish army was (and is still to this day) held in great regard by the Polish nation due to its long and proud military history and tradition.



[h2]The Polish 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana Detailed[/h2]
As a non-Soviet Warsaw Pact mechanized infantry division, the 4 Zmech. shares similarities with the East German 4. Motorisierte Schützendivision. Immediately apparent is the shared reliance on the T-55 (including upgraded variants) as the main battle tank, and (no surprise here) the BMP-1 (known as the BWP-1 in Polish service) as its primary IFV.

However, the Polish Army did feature some unique elements. For instance, it didn’t use Soviet-made BTR-60 or -70 wheeled APCs, but instead relied on Czechoslovakian-Polish SKOT wheeled APCs. Although the basic versions of this vehicle shared similarities with Soviet examples, further developed variants diverged significantly.



Another example is that the Poles didn’t rely on T-55s capable of barrel-launching ATGMs. Instead, they developed some extremely accurate fire-control systems for this older-generation tank: the famous Merida. This turned the Polish T-55 into - undoubtedly - one of the best and most deadly T-55 upgrades of the time.



All Polish mechanized and armored divisions relied on a light special forces company for reconnaissance purposes. Furthermore, Polish foot soldiers were equipped with the RPG-7VM as the squad’s “best” anti-tank weapon, never buying the single-shot RPG-18 or RPG-22. Instead, they developed their own version, the Komar, which was definitely not one of the best Polish inventions to come out of the late Cold War. The Poles didn’t really trust magazine-fed 5,56mm light machine guns; they stuck to the heavier belt-fed 7,62mm, which they fielded at great numbers at platoon level (more than one machine gun per squad). This translates to less AT but more anti-infantry power.



The main truck of the Polish Army is the domestic STAR-266. Polish tube artillery was famous for being one of the most obsolete of all Warsaw Pact armies, still relying a lot on refurbished World War 2-era towed guns (the only change being the replacement of old wheels for modern tires).

As for rotorcraft, Poland developed many variants of the lighter Mi-2 helicopter, some of which can already be encountered with the East German armies in WARNO. They went even further and designed their own: the W-3W SOKOL.



[h2]The 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana in WARNO - NORTHAG[/h2]
So, what’s the deal with the 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana in WARNO? Note that all of the below is still very much work-in-progress and might be subject to change.

LOG

• An average category. Players will be able to field the usual array of supply units, from a FOB to light GAZ-66 and heavy KRAZ-255B trucks.
  
• Command units include the new SKOT R-2M and BWP-1K3 armored vehicles, as well as the light MI-2D PRZETACENIK helicopter.

INF

• A very good category with plenty of new infantry options.

• Regular Polish infantry come in two variants. The first is a 7-man mechanized infantry squad, the PIECHOTA ZMECH. (which are already in-game with the East German special Rügener Grupierung) deployable with a BWP-1. They represent one-third of the division’s infantry.
  
• The second variant is the motorized infantry squad, the PIECHOTA squads, riding to battle in either SKOT-2 (fielding an HMG 12,7mm) or SKOT-2A (with a dual HMG 14,5mm and LMG 7,62mm) APC. These are all new units. They represent the remaining two-thirds of the divisional infantry and come in three distinct variants:
  
  • The basic PIECHOTA: 9-man squad with assault rifles, 1x PKM machine-gun and RPG-7VM.
    
  • The PIECHOTA (SVD) being a 10-man squad with assault rifles, 2x PKM, 1x SVD and RPG-7VM. They represent the one-out-three squads per platoon that received a platoon-assigned DMR and extra PKM.
    
  • The PIECHOTA DOW. which is an 8-man leader squad with assault rifles, 1x SVD sniper rifle, Komar and smoke grenades.

• The new Polish combat engineers are featured in three flavors: the DOW. SAPERZY (command), SAPERZY (explosives), and SAPERZY SZTURMOWI (with LPO-50 flamethrowers) deployable in either MT-LB or SKOT-2 APCs.
  
• Anti-tank squads include the new DRUZYNA PPANC. tank-hunters, which are the Polish counterparts to the East German Panzerjäger. They field the RPG-7VL, only available to them as a courtesy of the “March to War” timeline (in real life, they didn’t field this particular RPG variant).
  
• Other weapon teams are the regular SPG-9 recoilless rifle and the PPK KONKURS ATGM. A special (new) transport is the new SKOT-2AM, which features a BRDM-2 turret with two Malyutka-M on its sides.
  
• Military police can deploy as the new WSW squads.
  
• A special war-time attachment will be some elements of the Samodzielny Batalion Szturmowy (or 1st Special Force Battalion) operating at the Polish 2nd Army level. The new KOMANDOSI are 6-man special force commando squads with Tantal assault rifles, 2x PKM, RPG-7VM, and smoke grenades. They can deploy in either new HONKER 4011 (“Polish Humvees”), new W-3 SOKOL light or Mi-8 [RKT] heavy helicopters.

ART

• Average to good amount of slots, but with a selection of rather old units. These include artillery guns such as the Soviet-made M43 120mm mortars, the new H WZ. 1938/85 122mm (which as Soviet M-30, and new WZ. 1937/85 152mm towed howitzers. All of these are World War 2 vintage.
  
• MLRS are much more modern with either the BM-21 GRAD or the new RM WZ.70/85.

TNK

• A good amount of slots with the 4 Zmech. fielding two variants of the older-generation T-55.
  
• The T-55A “old-timer” variant, which is the same as the East German version, comes both in vanilla and command versions.
  
• The T-55AM MERIDA, already featured in the Rügener Grupierung, with a greatly improved FCS which translates to a 2275m gun with 60% Accuracy and 50% (Motion) stabilizer. Also, in either plain or command versions.
  
• Both of the above tank versions come in an unusual “S” variant (the new T-55AS and T-55AMS respectively). These tanks sport two PW-LWD mine-clearing rocket charges which is the same as the East German “coffin-launcher” (aka “Pooratino”) as fielded by East German SPW-50PK(MRF) in the Rügener Grupierung battlegroup.
  
• Dedicated anti-tank vehicles are UAZ-469 FAGOT and BRDM-2 MALUTKA-P ATGM carriers. A new unit is the D-48 85mm gun, similar to the existing D-44, but packing a heavier punch.

RECO

• A good category for this division with lots of choice.
  
• Infantry scouts are divided into 4-man ZWIADOWCY riding to battle in UAZ-469 jeeps or recon transport OT-65, 8-man SAPERZY ZWIADOWCY squads in BAV-485 amphibious trucks (basically a World War 2-era DUKW) or TRI HORS recon transport MT-LB, and finally a 7-man ZMOT. ZWIAD squad in recon transport ROZP. BWP-1 IFV. All units, except for the UAZ jeep and recon BMP-1, are new.
  
• As previously mentioned, each Polish division had its own ROZP. SPECJALNE special forces recon squad in HONKER 4011 and HONKER RYS recon transports, the latter equipped with a 12,7mm HMG. Again, all units are new.
  
• Dedicated armored recon vehicles are the new BRDM-1 PSNR1 (with ground radar) and BRDM-2 armored car.
  
• Light recon helicopters include the new unarmed Mi-2Ro BAZANT and the armed Mi-2US.

AA

• Average number of slots but with some new options. The standard STRZALA-2M MANPAD is available with a dedicated (new) SKOT-2P APC, which, while armed with a single 14,5mm is equipped with a special AA-capable turret (featuring anti-aircraft ranges). This allows it to engage aerial targets.
  
• Towed guns include the ubiquitous ZU-23-2 plus its Polish upgraded cousin, the new ZUR-23-2S JOD with slightly improved accuracy and featuring two slapped-on Strela-2 missiles!
  
• The new HIBNERYT and HIBNERYT-KG are the self-propelled variants of the above two 23mm towed guns, mounted on STAR-266 trucks.
  
• The main divisional SAM will be the 9K33 OSA-AKM.

HELO

• A pretty good category for the 4 Zmech. with a large array of helicopters.
  
• Such as several domestic variants of the light Mi-2 gunship, including the Mi-2URN ZMIJA (with a 23mm gun and 57mm rockets), the Mi-2URP SALAMANDRA (with a 23mm gun and 4x Malyutka-M ATGMs) and the Mi-2URPG GNIEWOSZ (with a 23mm gun, 4x Malyutka-M ATGMs and 4x Strela-2M AA missiles). All these are new units.
  
• Backed by the usual complement of Mi-24D and Mi-24W (Soviet Mi-24V, equipped with a Yak-B gun, 4x Kokon missiles and 96x 57mm rockets).

AIR

• The division’s air support is a bit more average in terms of slots and choices.
  
• The MiG-23MF in two distinct variants provides the battlegroup’s air cover.
  
• Ground support is the domain of the Su-22M4 in CLU, AT, and HE payloads.

The 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana is a versatile and well-rounded mechanized infantry division. It might lack heavy or particularly high-tech equipment, but there is no clear chink in its armor, and will perform well in either offensive or defensive operations.

[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 NATO’s Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie, Dutch 4e Divisie, the British 4th Armoured Division, while the Warsaw Pact deploys the Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya, the East German 9. Panzerdivision, and the Polish 4 Dywizja Zmechanizowana.
  
• 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.
  
• In our Division #5 we take a gander at the British 4th Armoured Division. Check it out in this DevBlog.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
We’ll be back next week but take a break from the usual NORTHAG Divisions and instead focus on the expansion’s new map: Railway.

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.

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

• 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.

Guten Tag, genosse kommandant!

We’re back with this week's second WARNO - NORTHAG-themed DevBlog. Today, we’ll be taking a good look in Division #4 at the armored “poster child” of East Germany, the 9. Panzerdivision.

Seid ihr bereit?

[h2]The East German 9. Panzerdivision[/h2]
The 9. Panzerdivision was the cream of the crop of the East German Nationale Volksarmee. The favored division was earmarked for the 5. Armee, with the tank formation set to be facing NORTHAG during any defensive (or, in our case) offensive operations. This division was at the top of the list of new equipment, receiving everything first and in greater number.



As such, the 9. Panzerdivision was not only the sole “full” T-72 tank division of the NVA, but it also received the latest models. Furthermore, the handful of BMP-2s that the Soviets ever agreed to sell to East Germany also ended up in this division. If the NVA had an equivalent to a Soviet Army’s “Guard” honorary title, the 9. Panzerdivision would have been it.



Much like the rest of the NVA, the 9. Panzerdivision was created at the inception of the East German Army in the 1950s, and the tank division was actually formed in 1956. Based in Eggesin, in the northeast of the communist country, it was closely modelled after Soviet example. During the Cold War, the division never saw any actual combat duty, except for some heightened readiness phases during the Prague Spring in 1968 and Polish unrest in the 1980s.

[h2]Warsaw Pact’s East German 9. Panzerdivision Detailed[/h2]
In terms of the Table of Organization & Equipment, the 9. Panzerdivision follows in the footsteps of the (already existing in WARNO) 7. Panzerdivision.

However, there are some notable differences:

• As mentioned above, the division is fully equipped with T-72, so no older T-55s at all.
  
• MOT.-SCHÜTZEN motorized rifle squads are BMP-borne, no BTR deployable.
  
• It got first dib on most new equipment. Nice!

[h2]The 9. Panzerdivision in WARNO - NORTHAG[/h2]
Let’s look to see how the East German 9. Panzerdivision shapes up to be.

LOG

• A pretty standard category for an armored division in terms of available slots.
  
• The East Germans receive a FOB, a medium T813 MUN. supply truck and the new, heavy T815 MUN. one.
  
• Command units are all armored and include SPW-50PU, BMP-1K SP2, and SPW-40P2(K).

INF

• Quite similar to the existing 7. Panzerdivision but with fewer slots.
  
• As previously mentioned, all MOT. SCHÜTZEN are BMP-borne, being brought to the battlefield in either SPz BMP-1 SP, SPz BMP-1 SP2 or SPz BMP-1P. The later coming in new Konkurs-equipped variants. The infantry are supported by MOT.-SCHÜTZEN FÜH. command squads.
  
• The latest SPz BMP-2 was very rare (a dozen in real life), but we created a new MOT.-SCHÜTZEN (RPG-27) squad to accommodate this IFV. Note that the limited supply to the East Germans of the RPG-27 also occurs due to our “March to War” timeline. This new squad and IFV will be available in two cards only.
  
• Of course, the usual complement of PIONIER combat engineers in either MT-LB or SPW-70 are available too.
  
• Support weapons are PALR FAGOT, PKM 7,62mm and GR.-MG 30mm.

ART

• Again, quite similar to the other East German armored division, but a bit more generous in number of units.
  
• Aside from towed 120mm mortars, the 9. Panzerdivision’s artillery is entirely self-propelled. Units include 2S1 122mm, 2S3 152mm and RM-70 MLRS.
  
• The latter unit will be available in both the standard HE variant and the new incendiary RM-70M (built on a T815 chassis).

TNK

• As to be expected, the best category with a generous array of slots and options. If you want your T-72s, you will get them!
  
• The KPz T-72M1, while rare in 7. Panzerdivision, is here the divisional warhorse. This tank will be available in command and plain “tank” variants.
  
• A cheaper version is not the KPz T-72M but instead the late production version delivered to NVA specifications from Czechoslovakian factories, namely the new KPz T-72MÜV2 with slightly improved front armor.
  
• Cherry on the cake, however, is the addition of one card of the new KPz T-72S. This was to be the new (main) Soviet export tank, built to almost a thousand units by 1989 but never delivered to Warsaw Pact client states due to the fall of the Berlin Wall. In our “March to War,” a few of these tanks would have started trickling down to the NVA where - of course - they would have been prioritized to the frontline service in the 9. Panzerdivision. The T-72S, being an export-downgraded version of the T-72B (which the Soviets kept for themselves), was still a major step-up over the T-72M1. Not only does it feature more armor, it can now also fire the Svir barrel-launched ATGM.
  
• Completing the tank force is the GF SHTURM-S missile-based tank destroyer, with its planned delivery (which never occurred in real-life) expedited in our March to War timeline. As with the rest of the division, no towed equipment will be available.

RECO

• Rather average with the 9. Panzerdivision being restricted to divisional assets only.
  
• This means a 4-man AUFKLÄRER team which can be deployed in the new SCHIMMWAGEN MAV, an amphibious jeep.
  
• Helicopter recon is the light but armed MI-2US ADDER.
  
• A Soviet detachment of MI-8PPA for some heavy-duty aerial radar recon.

AA

• Again similar to the existing 7. Panzerdivision with some differences:
  
• No towed equipment (so no ZU-23-2) and no BRDM-2 STRELA either.
  
• But it does mean more cards of both SHILKA and MT-LB STRELA-10 mobile SAMs.

HELO

• A rather average category with expensive slots and limited choice.
  
• The options on offer are good, though, and include the light MI-2 URN gunship and the MI-24D and MI-24P anti-tank Hinds.

AIR

• A pretty strong category with the Luftstreitkräfte providing ample ground support to the nation’s “best” division. Aircraft will come in two different flavors:
  
• MIG-23MF and MIG-23ML fighters.
  
• SU-22M4 in rocket, HE, cluster and SEAD roles.

The 9. Panzerdivision can boast a large variety and lots of T-72. This is further backed by good air and artillery. Furthermore, all of its equipment is self-propelled, making the East German formation the perfect assault division. Due to its limited infantry, it fares less well on defense.

[h2]NORTHAG Expansion Explained[/h2]
In case you missed the news: WARNO - NORTHAG is the first major expansion coming to WARNO, and 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 each of 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.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s it! Next week, we’ll kick off with the NATO’s British 4th Armoured 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.

Goedendag commandant,

That’s right! In today’s NORTHAG-focused DevBlog, we will zoom in on the Royal Netherlands Army’s 4e Divisie powerful mechanized infantry division.

Get ready for an oranje-themed post with Scrabble-winning Dutch military terminology, pantserinfanterie, delicious acronyms, beards, and the mighty Leopard 2A4!

Gaan met de banaan!

[h2]NATO’s the Netherlands 4e Divisie[/h2]
The 4e Divisie (just simple Fourth Division) was founded during World War I (in which the Netherlands remained neutral) but saw action during the brief five-day German invasion in World War 2. Later, during the Cold War, the Dutch reformed the division to be forward deployed in West Germany.



The 4e Divisie was part of the 1e Legerkorps, or the Dutch I Corps, which guarded the northernmost sector of NORTHAG. This area included the Waddenzee’s coastline, Bremen, and the Covering Force Area next to the Inner German Border. This was a section of West Germany jutting into communist territory and likely to be given up (or at least defended through delayed actions) in order to buy time for more NATO reinforcements to come. The bulk of I Dutch Corps’s units were based in the Netherlands.



(this map and the next are both from the excellent Orbat85 website)

For budget reasons, the Dutch government in the 1980s recalled home most of the West Germany-based troops (except for one brigade located in Seedorf). The promise was that the Koninklijke Landmacht, the Royal Netherlands Army, could deploy the whole corps from its home bases in the Netherlands to forward combat positions within 48 hours. A rather optimistic prediction to transport a whole corps 350 km by rail in war-time. The Dutch even offered to renovate the German railway system in its sector to ensure this redeployment was smooth and fast.



However, all NATO exercises and analysis pointed squarely to the opposite result in war-time: the Dutch would be late. The joke was that “the greatest problem facing the Dutch is getting to the war on time.” No one was under the illusion that the sole Dutch brigade in West Germany was enough to cover the arrival of the Dutch I Corps. Therefore, a Bundeswehr division was placed under Dutch command as additional help to delay an advancing communist enemy, and the Americans themselves kept one Forward Advanced Brigade from the 2nd Armored Division stationed in the region, just in case.

[h2]NATO’s the Netherlands 4e Divisie Detailed[/h2]
The Netherlands and Belgian are closely connected, not only being neighbors and sharing many links in history, culture, and language. Unlike their southern Belgian neighbors though, the Landmacht had been thoroughly modernized by the early 1980s and fielded some high-tech equipment. The main combat power on the battlefield was the LEOPARD 2A4, with the Dutch Armed forces possessing over twice as much as West Germany. Even the 4e Divisie, a mechanized infantry division, could deploy more numbers of this tank than the whole Bundeswehr! The Dutch also used the same AIFV series of APCs and IFVs (called the YPR-765 in Dutch service) as the Belgians. The same array of variants were deployed, plus some additional ones, including supply, radar recon, and TOW-2 tank destroyer.



Taking to the sky, the Royal Netherlands Air Force was among the first of four partners (together with Belgium, Norway, and Denmark) to be admitted to the F-16 program. By the late Cold War, the modern fighter plane had replaced the aging F-5 Freedom Fighter in most (but not all) squadrons.



Back to the boots on the ground and the infantry’s small arms and other battlefield equipment. The Dutch also used the ubiquitous FN FAL as the soldier’s main battle rifle. Squad firepower was enhanced by the (equally ubiquitous) FN MAG, with Uzi SMGs used by some support troops. In the anti-tank department, the Dutch were slightly more capable than the Belgians in confronting communist armor. Soldiers could field M72A3, Carl Gustav recoiless rifles, and short-range M47 Dragon.



Reservist NATRES (Korps Nationale Reserve) soldiers were equipped with older equipment, including L4A4 (modernized World War 2-era Bren) LMGs. Support weapons include MAG 7,62mm and M2HB 12,7mm machine guns, plus TOW-2 ATGMs.

[h2]The 4e Divisie in WARNO - NORTHAG[/h2]
Let’s take a look to see how the Dutch 4e Divisie looks like in WARNO - NORTHAG.

LOG

• Standard in the logistical department with a FOB, the YPR-765 PRV as a light armored supply carrier and the DAF 4400 VRACHT medium supply truck.
  
• Dedicated command vehicles include M577 PRCO and YPR-765 PRCO-CI.
  
• The number of slots will be more limited than a usual mechanized infantry division. This is due, as explained before, to the Dutch planning to run their over-extended supply lines from far-flung home bases.

INF

• Definitely a good category for the 4e Divisie. The bread and butter will be the PANTSERINF. mechanized infantry riding to battle in either trucks or the YPR-765 PRI IFV equipped with a 25mm gun. These squads will come in Command, LAW, Carl Gustav, and Dragon flavors (the recoilless rifle one being the most numerous).
  
• The rest of the Dutch troops are made up of GENIE, combat engineers in Command, and explosives variants in M113 APCs. The Koninklijke Landmacht did not field flamethrowers.
  
• NATRES reservist squads are also available with a special touch; to reflect the Dutch 1980s conscripts' rather lax attitude towards military discipline, long hair and beards were allowed in the army (to the horror of other NATO nations). This is accurately and painstakingly reflected in WARNO. These reservist squads field obsolete equipment and carry the Reservist trait. Yet, the Dutch conscripts get the option to be vetted, as regardless of their questionable haircuts, the soldiers made it up on the battlefield, consistently being among the highest scoring during various international exercises and training competitions.
  
• To make sure the Doe Maar rebels stay in line, the KMAR GROEP squads, being the Koninklijke Marechaussee or Royal Military Constabulary watches over the reservists closely.

ART

• The artillery category for the Dutch will be pretty standard with the usual complement of towed 120mm mortars (of French make) which can be transported by YPR-765 PRI.50 sporting a heavy machine gun, M114 155mm towed artillery pieces, and M109A2 155mm and heavy M110A2 203mm self-propelled ones.

TNK

• The 4e Divisie, as a mechanized infantry division, might count on some of the best tank support out there. This results in a good category with a generous amount of slots and good unit choices.
  
• All the formation’s brigades were converted to the LEOPARD 2A4 by the mid-1980s. These will be deployable in plentiful numbers, enough to put to shame any West German Panzerdivision.

• There is a caveat, however. Leopard 2A4 deliveries to the Dutch Army started a few years before "true" 2A4 were ever build, meaning they were "hybrids": earlier Leopard 2 with the 2A4's fire-control system. Ingame, they will have the B-type armor of the 2A1/2A2/2A3 (all identical) but the 2A4's gun. Hence why we called it LEOPARD 2A4(B). Meanwhile, we've marched to war one card of "true" LEOPARD 2A4(C) with C-type armor, same as 5. Panzerdivision's one.
  
• Some older LEOPARD 1NL can be deployed. These are non-upgraded original Leopard 1 tanks used before conversion to LEOPARD 2, and now manned by trained reservists filling up the tank regiments’ D squadrons. These tanks won’t feature the Reservist trait but won’t be able to be upvetted as much.
  
• The final option in this category will be the YPR-765 PRAT, being a M901 ITW’s turret mounted on an AIFV instead of using a M113 as a base, wielding two TOW-2 launchers.

RECO

• Another decent category with 4-man VERKENNERS recon teams transportable in old NEKAF Korean War-era jeeps or, 8-man GENIE VERK. with Uzi and Satchel charges going to war in a M113A1 VERK..
  
• The Dutch also fielded a domestic light recon “tank” in the form of the heavily modified M113 C&V, being a Dutch-Canadian LYNX sporting a turret-mounted 25mm KDA autocannon.
  
• Another new unit is the YPR-765 PRRDR, which is a wonderful acronym for Pantser Rups Radar or Armored Tracked Radar. Simply put, an AIFV armed with .50 cal mounting a battlefield radar.
  
• An unarmed BO-105 CB provides an “eye in the sky” recon helicopter.
  
• Finally, the Dutch long-range 104 Waarnemings- en Verkenningscompagnie will deploy the renowned Korps Commandotroepen, the Dutch Army’s special forces. These will be available as 4-man elite KCT VERKENNERS teams.

• AA - standard with slots becoming quickly expensive. These do include the CHEETAH PRTL pronounced “pruttel” or Pantser Rups Tegen Luchtdoelen, which is the Dutch variant of an upgraded German Gepard SPAAG using domestic equipment which results in slightly improved accuracy.
  
• Older towed BOFORS 40L70G, itself a major upgrade over the base model, with improved accuracy and AA range.
  
• The last option are STINGER C MANPAD teams.

HELO

• Clearly a weak point for the 4e Divisie. Much like the Belgian Armed Forces, the Dutch only had a few unarmed liaisons and recon ALOUETTE and BO-105 light helicopters.
  
• There were no attack helicopters available to the battlegroup, and unlike the Belgian armed forces, none were being planned to be acquired.
  
• As such, the division is currently being tested with no helicopter support. If this proves too much, some American or West German helicopters might be added as attachment.

AIR

• A generous category in terms of air support. The Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu) operated two types of aircraft in the late Cold War: the NF-5A (F-5 Freedom Fighter) and the F-16A.
  
• Both of the above airplanes are used in various roles, including fighter and fighter-bomber, sharing between them AA, HE, rocket and Cluster bomb loadouts. Note that the Royal Netherlands Air Force did not field any AGM missiles.

The Dutch 4e Divisie is a hard-hitting mechanized infantry division, compared to the more nimble Belgian counterpart (with its “glass cannon” tanks and Forward Deployed units). You’ll get to play with quite a few state-of-the-art main battle tanks, ATGM carriers, and good IFV and infantry support. Where it lacks is a solid logistical base and non-existent helicopter support.

[h2]NORTHAG Expansion Explained[/h2]
In case you missed the news: WARNO - NORTHAG is the first major expansion coming to WARNO, and 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, and the Dutch 4e Divisie.
  
• 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 each of 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.

[h2]Until Next Time[/h2]
That’s it for the first one this week. We’ll be back later detailing the East German 9. Panzerdivision.

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.