Buenos días, commandantes!
We are back with another WARNO - SOUTHAG division preview. And once again, in today’s DevBlog, we’ll cast a shining light on a new WARNO nation: NATO’s Spain bringing their División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 or the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete".
Vamos!
Spanish Armed Forces History
Spain emerged from Franco’s decades-long dictatorship in the late 1970s, eventually joining NATO in 1982. Far from the Iron Curtain and cornered on the southern flank of Europe, the Spanish armed forces in the 1980s were on a path of internal transformation and downsizing. While yes, any kind of potential World War III conflict with the Warsaw Pact was nominally on the table, it was not foreseen as a reality (that is, until WARNO’s “March to War” hits).
Democratic Spain’s role in the 1980s NATO needs to be seen through the lens of the military’s role in the preceding dictatorship. They supported Franco as the Caudillo, taking part in a repressive military police state and focused chiefly on internal security. Having won the Spanish Civil War in 1939 against the socialistic democratic forces (heavily backed by communists), Franco’s fascist regime evolved over time, at first courting Hitler, then remaining neutral during World War II.
Deep in poverty and heavily isolated, Francoist Spain gradually opened up from the 1950s onwards. Reforms saw admittance to the United Nations, while the United States saw an opportunity on Europe’s flank, with Spain acting as a helpful anti-communist force; the Americans not only provided financial help but also opened up several key military facilities and bases in the country.
After the ascension to democracy in 1978, for a short moment, Spain saw the specter of military dictatorship in 1981 loom again during an eventful coup d'état attempt (in which the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" played a part). This was just a blip, and for the rest of the 1980s, Spain proved to be a solid but relatively withdrawn NATO ally.
Spain in NATO
As a new NATO member, Spain was expected to commit troops to the defense of Western Europe. The Spanish Fuerzas Armadas were to provide a parachute battalion to the ACE Mobile Force, as well as at least one corp (more on that below) in case of hostilities, either:
- A “Mountain Corps” for service in the Mediterranean theater (Italy, Greece, or Turkey).
- The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" to be sent to southern West Germany. This formation could be expanded by follow-up forces to a full mechanized corps.
Our WARNO World War III scenario envisions the second option, with Brunete rushing through France to join SOUTHAG. This plan was considered by high command but never tested in real-life conditions or exercises. As we are considering that Canada will be able to airlift two brigades across the ocean, transporting a division by rail from Spain to France is not implausible.
The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" Detailed
División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 was originally created in 1943, its name referring to the important Spanish Civil War Battle of Brunete of 1937, which saw a Nationalist strategic victory after counter-attacking a Republican-started offensive near Madrid. It was also the largest tank battle during the war.
During its lifetime, the Brunete was considered one of the best-armed and most powerful divisions in Spain during its lifetime. Originally equipped with German (Panzer IV) and Soviet tanks (T-26), after the normalization of relations with the United States in the 1950s, the division was equipped with American-made equipment, later augmented by French weaponry.
During the coup d'état attempt in 1981, the division barracked in Madrid and received orders to assist the rebels. Several high-ranking divisional officers were part of the conspiracy, though other members of the military effectively counter-manded the division’s deployment during the coup.
By the late 1980s, the Brunete was a small division with only two brigades (thanks to the aforementioned downsizing in the early 1980s). This meant it was closer in scale to a French division than other NATO formations. Considering that the Brunete was to be one of the first elements of a mechanized corps, much like the in-game French 5e Blindée, we have attached some additional independent support units. This brings up Brunete to divisional strength.
That’s not where the similarities with the French end. Spain was the main user of the AMX-30 tanks outside of France itself. All things considered, the Spanish Army of the late Cold War was a mix of French and American equipment, including a few domestic designs.
The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" in WARNO - SOUTHAG
How will the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" look like in WARNO - SOUTHAG? Well, a whole bunch of new units (marked in both italic and bold). As always, units and categories are subject to change.
LOG
Brunete’s logistical base was mediocre. The division was intended to be strategically projected into West Germany with only a “paper plan” to guide it. The corps it intended to form was also non-existent within the Spanish Army at the time. All of this is represented in the in-game category.
- Supply units include FOB, the new PEGASO 3046 light truck, and the M548A2 armored supply vehicle.
- Command units include the M577 and the new BMR-PC. This latter unit is a command variant of the domestic 6x6 wheeled APC series.
INF
Pretty decent for a smaller armored NATO division, but its infantry is a scarce commodity. It’s a good thing Brunete’s recon troops provide some additional feet on the ground and firepower.
- Spanish late Cold War foot soldiers were widely equipped with the CETME C battle rifle, which can be considered roughly the G3’s ancestor. The main machine gun is the MG-42/59, which is - oohlala - nothing more than the evergreen "Hitler's Buzzsaw" from World War II rechambered to NATO's 7,62mm. Squad AT weapons are either the M65, a locally improved Korean War-era M20 Super Bazooka, or the brand-new domestic-made C-90CR disposable rocket launcher. Other weapons include the Z70-B SMG.
- On to the infantry, which can be divided into the following units:
- FUSILEROS squads are the main Spanish infantry. Depending on the platoon’s armaments, squads were often reorganized on a task-by-task basis. This means squad strengths vary from between 9 to 11 soldiers on average. These units come in a regular variant (CETME and MG-42/59), M65 version (CETME, MG-42/59 and M65), C90 (CETME and C-90R), as well as a 6-man Command flavor with Z70-B, CETME, and smoke grenades. All these squads can deploy in PEGASO 3046 trucks or TOA (Spanish designation for the M113A1).
- ZAPADORES are divisional 9-man strong combat engineer squads, armed with ZB-70B and either satchel explosives or M65. They are also available in a 6-man command variant. The same transport options will be available, plus a limited number of TOA ZAPADORES with dozer blades.
- The new POLICIA MILITAR are 4-man squads armed with Z70-B and driving their own SANTANA PA (a short wheel-base Land Rover built locally under license). Both units come with the Military Police trait.
- Infantry weapon support teams include:
- MILAN 1 and MILAN 2 ATGMs, deployable in SANTANA jeep, TOA, or TOA MILAN.
- MG-42/59 heavy machine guns.
- LAG-40 40mm automatic grenade launchers, a domestic design of Spain. These are similar in stats to the American Mk.19, coming in SANTANA jeeps or armed BMR-PP LAG, 6x6 wheeled APC armed with LAG-40.
- C120/20 GAI-BO1 is a 20mm AA autocannon strapped to an HMG carriage, making it, in effect, a super-heavy ground-based 20mm machine gun. The Eugen team declines any and all responsibility for any pun its official designation may generate.
ART
A good category for Brunete. Each brigade had its own artillery group, plus an entire divisional regiment was available as well. Some additional units have been attached to the division in West Germany.- Divisional artillery include the L65/120 120mm mortar, the ubiquitous M125 self-propelled mortar, as well as the BMR-PM-81 wheeled self-propelled unit, in 81mm caliber, and the TOA PM-120 with a 120mm mortar.
- Plus the M109A1B 155mm and heavy M110A2 203mm self-propelled guns.
- Attached as corps assets, Spain’s domestic MRLS designs also go into action. This means the TERUEL, firing forty 140mm rockets mounted on a Pegaso truck chassis.
- And older M108A2 105mm self-propelled guns.
TANK
Pretty good, although at two-third strength of a regular NATO division, this category is less generous than other armored formations.- The Brunete’s main battle tank was the AMX-30 in several variants.
- The older version is the AMX-30E, an export variant differing from the original French AMX-30 B by the fact that its trademark 20mm coaxial gun was replaced by a more standard 12,7mm machine gun. It comes in either "combat" or command variants, both with HEAT rounds. Some upgraded AMX-30EM1 look slightly different, but in stats, their only difference is the fact they carry AP rounds.
- About half the division’s tank fleet was upgraded to the AMX-30EM2 variant, which shares the AMX-30 B2's stats (meaning 2275m range), save again for the coaxial machine gun being a 12,7mm.
- Lastly, we “marched to war” a few AMX-30EM2 SABBLIR (SAnta Barbara BLindaje Reactivo), an early 1990s upgrade plan for this tank. It was abandoned due to the end of the Cold War, but simply put, this version is an EM2 with reactive armor.
- Pure anti-tank units are the TOA C/C, an M150 firing the I-TOW, and the BMR C/C, the TOW-2 armed variant of the 6x6 wheeled series.
REC
Very good. The division had its own fully armored cavalry regiment. On top of that, we decided to add more formations to beef up the proposed mechanized corps serving in West Germany. As such, the even larger armored cavalry brigade was added to Brunete, the Brigada de Caballería “Jarama” I.- The division’s own infantry-based recon units include:
- Infantry scouts such as the FRANCOTIRADORES, a 2-man team with CETME C and M43, that is a World War 2-era German Mauser K98k with a scope. They deploy in SANTANA jeeps and UH-1H helicopters.
- RECONOCIMIENTO, 4-man squads with CETME C. They come in SANTANA jeeps or UH-1H helicopters.
- RECO. MECANIZADO, 9-man squad with CETME C, MG-42/59, and M65. Deployable in M113A1 ESPLO., jeep or UH-1H helicopter.
- CABALLERIA DE RECO., 8-man squad with CETME C, MG-42/59, and C-90R. They arrive to battle in the BMR-PP ESPLO..
- Dedicated recon vehicles include:
- The new SANTANA RASURA, a radar-equipped recon jeep.
- The VEC-M1. The Vehículo de Exploración de Caballería entered service in 1980 as a combat scout variant of the BMR wheeled APC. This is a 6x6 wheeled armored car armed with a powerful M242 25mm chaingun!
- The VEC-H90. While there were technical issues to fit the huge 25mm chaingun in the turret, which was originally designed for a 20mm weapon, many VEC started their career without a turret or, in certain cases, with the turret from retired AML-90s. By 1989, those retaining the 90mm gun are the odd ones out; these VEC-H90 soldiered on to the end of the 1990s.
- Aerial recon is provided by the HR.15, which is the Spanish designation for a slightly modified Bo-105 helicopter.
- Elements from the attached Brigada de Caballería “Jarama” I brings the M48A5E2 RECO., which is close in stats to the American M48A5 ACAV.
AA
Anti-air defenses for Brunete are good, with divisional AA units being autocannons only.- Including the C120/20 GAI-BO1 20mm, same as the "super-heavy" machine gun system but this time on an AA mount. Also comes self-propelled, as the PEGASO 3055 GAI-BO1.
- CETME 306 twin 20mm.
- BOFORS L70 40mm.
- Corps anti-air defenses include the following:
- AMX-30RE1 and AMX-30RE2, which are respectively a ROLAND 1 and ROLAND 2.
- GDF-005 twin 35mm towed gun, same as WARNO - SOUTHAG’s companion 1st Canadian Division.
- The new ASPIDE is a ground-based AIM-7E Sparrow A2A missile-equipped weapon system.
HEL
Rather mediocre. Attack helicopters were scarce in the Spanish Army, and not attached to any specific division.- This means you get the (new) HA.15 HOT which are slightly different from the Bo-105 PAH-1.
- A few Spanish Bo-105 (estimates vary, but not much) were converted to gunships, much like the Gazelle 20mm. This was done by the addition of a ventral 20mm, leading to the HR.15 20mm variant.
AIR
Pretty good with the Spanish Ejército del Aire flying to battle in three types of aircraft:- The C.12, American F-4C modified for Spanish service, only used in a ground support role. They come with various rocket and bomb loadouts.
- The C.14A, a French Mirage F1 modified for Spanish service, used in both fighter and bomber roles.
- The C.15, the American F-18 as already introduced with Canada, used in AT (AGM-65E) or fighter roles.
The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" might be comparatively weaker in its deployable tank force, but compensates for this with attached supporting arms and other potent units. This makes it a quite balanced tank division, excelling with its strong recon troops.
WARNO - SOUTHAG Expansion In Short
WARNO - SOUTHAG is WARNO’s second expansion after WARNO - NORTHAG and showcases the fighting in southern West Germany near the Alps and on the Czechoslovakian frontier. World War III is as ferocious here as combat further up north.In the southern reaches of Germany, the Warsaw Pact battles against a reconstituted and counter-attacking NATO SOUTHAG command led by France, with American, West German, Canadian, and reinforcing Spanish troops. Opposing is the southern-based Soviet Central Group of Forces, bolstered by the communist Czechoslovakians.
- 2 new Army General campaigns.
- 4 new Operations.
- 10 new Divisions, including new nations Canada, Spain and Czechoslovakia. These include NATO’s 1st Canadian Division and Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian 1. Tanková Divize.
- New voice acting.
- New units and models.
In Memoriam
Before we leave, Eugen Systems is sad to announce the death, on Thursday 27th, of one of their own: Ryan Amarat.
Aged only 29, Ryan was originally from the French Alps and had a brief span in the French Army's Chasseurs Alpins before joining Eugen Systems as a Game Designer in May 2022. He earned his stripes on WARNO and NORTHAG's Army General campaigns and Operations, and as such, was a most promising member of Eugen Systems' team. Ryan had just taken on more responsibilities and was a driving role on WARNO - SOUTHAG expansion.
Outside of work, Ryan had a passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he practiced at a high level. He intended to become a teacher of the martial arts himself once landing his black belt, a level for which he was actively training.
Ryan passed away at home on Thursday evening from what appears to be heart failure. Our thoughts are with his girlfriend, parents, and family.
Ryan Amarat was a cheerful and passionate colleague who will be dearly missed.
Until Next Week
Don’t forget the vibrant 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, commanders. And when you do, make a salute to Ryan.
