Frontlines - Cyrenaica | Dev Diary #1 - On the Double - Factions and Units

Good morning, Lieutenants!

Welcome to the first Developer Diary exploring the upcoming Frontlines - Cyrenaica DLC Campaign for Panzer Corps 2.
There’s all kinds of interesting details to be found in the latest upcoming Panzer Corps 2 Campaign, so let’s dive into it!

FRONTLINES CAMPAIGN

The campaign depicts the Battle of Cyrenaica from mid-September 1940 to mid-March 1941.
In the summer of 1940, a German attack on Great Britain seems imminent. Seeking a place among the victors, Italy launches a surprise offensive from Libya into British-controlled Egypt. This marks the beginning of the North African Campaign.
This campaign covers the operations known as Operation E (the Italian invasion of Egypt) and Operation Compass (the British counterattack to the Italian invasion, and the successive invasion of Libya).

In line with the Frontlines series, these campaigns will be shorter but highly intense. This focused approach allows us to present specific operations in greater detail.

These operations are often overlooked in history books or quickly summarized to focus on the “core” events of World War II. However, these operations were crucial in shaping the decisions of both sides and were pivotal to the events that followed.
So, we want to dive deeper into them as we believe they are worth being shown and played in a dedicated DLC Campaign.

Given their nature as “rapid battles”, the Frontline series is perfectly suited to showcase their importance, as these battles are primarily fought in cities or within a few kilometers, offering a zoomed-in and more detailed approach.

DOUBLE CAMPAIGN

For the first time in Panzer Corps 2, we want you to experience the same battles from both perspectives, each one with their own perception of the events and different objectives to achieve victory (well, almost!). For each campaign you will create and command your core army for both factions: the Italians and the British Commonwealth.

FACTIONS

Talking about Italians and British Commonwealth, you will primarily face off against the 10th Army for the British and the 7th Armoured Division for the Italians, along with the Commonwealth forces that supported them: the Free French, the 4th Indian Division, and the 6th Australian Division.

Although the Italians had numerical superiority, their vehicles and firepower were far less effective than those of the British Commonwealth. We’ve aimed to capture this dynamic in both campaigns.

On top of that, we want to give space to all the prominent personalities present on the battlefield. You will encounter —and be able to use— a variety of heroes who played key roles in these battles, each one with traits that better reflect their real-life actions and contributions.

PORTRAITS

In this campaign, we want to give more depth to the personalities who shaped the events at a higher level. We’ve created detailed portraits of key generals and governors, each with multiple expressions that reflect different situations. These figures will not only appear in briefings, but will also provide a narrative thread throughout the campaign, offering more immersion and context.

For the Italian forces, among others, you'll encounter Generals Mario Berti and Giuseppe Tellera, Commanders of the Tenth Army, and General Rodolfo Graziani, the Governor of Libya. Graziani’s controversial decisions had significant consequences in the desert battles, and you will directly experience the consequences of his choices.

On the British side, General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, and General Richard O'Connor, known for his bold leadership during Operation Compass, will guide you through the campaign.
By integrating these historical figures into the narrative, we aim to enrich your experience, providing both strategic guidance and an immersive story that brings the decisions of the generals to life.

MAJOR UNITS

Last (for now) but not least, here are some of the units from both factions that you can expect to encounter.

The primary armored vehicles used in these battles were the M11/39 and the M13/40 for Italy, and Cruiser Tanks and Matilda II for the British.

Talking about the air force, you will find the Fiat CR.42 Falco and the Gloster Gladiator, which often engaged in 1v1 aerial duels over the skies of Cyrenaica.

But overall, a very important role was played by the recon units, such as the British Morris CS9 or the Italian AB40. Their high mobility in the challenging and hostile desert terrain provided a significant advantage to the factions that used them most effectively.

In addition to them, we wanted to add some new and peculiar units that played a main role in these operations.

ITALIAN UNITS

Moto Guzzi TriAlce

The Moto Guzzi TriAlce was a versatile and nimble motorcycle designed for quick maneuvers and transport. Produced in 1939 to replace the Moto Guzzi GT 20, it was used extensively in all three of its versions: single-seat, two-seat, and sidecar.
Armed with a Breda M37 8mm machine gun, the TriAlce saw action in almost every battle.
A very useful and, in fact, used Recon unit.

Ascari del Cielo (Black Devils)

The Ascari del Cielo, also known as the “Black Devils,” were the first paratroopers of the Italian Army, although they were never used as airborne units in combat situations.
They were composed of Libyan personnel of Arab-Berber ethnicity, with extensive knowledge of the terrain and the desert.
During the North African campaign, they were heavily deployed as infantry.

Mortaio da 81 mod.35

The Mortaio da 81 mod.35 was one of the most versatile and widely used weapons by Italian forces during the North African campaign in World War II. Developed in 1935, this 81mm mortar was praised for its combination of mobility and effectiveness on the battlefield. Its relatively lightweight made it easy to transport across the challenging desert terrain, where speed and adaptability were crucial for providing vital indirect fire support to Italian infantry units.

Cannone da 65/17

The Cannone da 65/17 was a lightweight and versatile artillery piece used by the Italian Army. Designed as a mountain gun, it was highly portable, easy to dismantle, and well-suited for challenging terrains, like the North African desert.
This gun served as both an artillery piece and an anti-tank weapon, though its effectiveness against modern tanks was limited. However, its simplicity, mobility, and durability ensured its continued use, despite being pretty outdated by World War II standards.

BRITISH UNITS

RR Armored Car

The Rolls-Royce Armored Car was a robust vehicle designed for both mobility and firepower, primarily used as a recon unit due to its high mobility.
Rolls-Royce played a significant role in the construction of this vehicle, as well as in the development of the Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine, which powered some of the most iconic aircraft of World War II, including the Spitfire, the Hurricane, and the Battle.

Cruiser Tanks (MKII - MKIII)
Cruiser tanks were a series of fast and agile tanks, each one improving upon its predecessor. Since various types of Cruisers were used, we aim to “complete the series,” adding the MKII and MKIII to offer more choice and enhance historical accuracy.

The Cruiser MKII, also known as the A10, was a heavier version of the MKI, armed with a QF 2-pounder 40mm gun and two BESA 7.92mm machine guns.
Designed to be an infantry tank, it lacked the necessary characteristics and was instead used as a heavy cruiser.

The Cruiser MKIII, also known as the A13, was the first tank of its class to use the Christie suspension system, which significantly enhanced speed and cross-country performance.
This innovation made it faster and more maneuverable than its predecessors, allowing it to operate effectively as a medium cruiser and play a key role in the desert campaigns of North Africa, where mobility and speed were crucial.

Bofors 37mm Portée

The Bofors 37mm Portée was an adaptation of the Bofors 37mm anti-tank gun, modified to increase mobility in the challenging terrain of North Africa. The gun was mounted on vehicles, such as trucks, allowing for quick transport across the battlefield.
Its armament was capable of penetrating the armor of light and medium vehicles with relative ease, but its effectiveness decreased as tank armor improved, and it was gradually phased out during the course of World War II.

NEW UNITS LIST

To wrap things up, here is the complete list of new units arriving with this DLC, expanding your strategic options on the battlefield.

CONCLUSIONS

That’s all for this first Dev Diary, thank you for joining us.
Start packing your bags and get ready to face desert conditions, sandstorms, and tackle the unique events you’ll encounter.
In the next Dev Diary, we’ll dive deeper into the environment and some key historical events, exploring how they’re integrated into this Panzer Corps 2 DLC.
See you there.

At ease, Lieutenants!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3167270/Panzer_Corps_2_Frontlines__Cyrenaica/