Hello commanders,
We are back with another WARNO - SOUTHAG division preview! In today’s DevBlog, we’ll look at the NATO’s French Division du Rhin (Rhine Division) battlegroup.
Onwards!
The NATO’s French Division du Rhin’s History
The French Division du Rhin is the shortest-lived French division in our WARNO timeline, having been created in 1984 only. After its brief Cold War career, the formation was downsized to a “Brigade d’Alsace” in 1993 before being officially disbanded in July 1999.
When raised in the 1980s, the Division du Rhin consolidated a bunch of existing units and equipment under a unified command. As such, it amalgamated the Zone de Franchissement du Rhin ("Rhine Crossing Area") with command-and-control elements from the 62e Division Militaire and recently disbanded 6e Division Blindée. The division wasn’t assigned to any corps or NATO command; instead, it was directly subordinated to the French First Army.
The Division du Rhin was a task-oriented division with one mission: to allow (and protect) the swift transfer of twelve divisions from France to West Germany in case of conflict. These amounted to two army corps, and all their organic units, two logistic brigades, and in the second phase, keep the supply lines open to the front.
To accomplish this, the formation was to organize traffic through existing bridges over the Rhine, ferry-boat services, as well as create new military ones (deploying good ‘ol World War 2 Bailey Bridges, which the French used well into the 2000s, including original instruction manuals!). Having set up the means, the Division du Rhin would then defend these river crossings against potential air attacks, raids, enemy commandos, and the like.
Close Cooperation
The French Division du Rhin was also to coordinate with the West German territorial units on the other bank of the Rhine, to the point that by 1989, there were talks on high political levels to merge the formation into a combined French-German division. However, both parties couldn’t see eye to eye on the bi-national division’s mission: one wanted it to be static, protecting the Rhine crossings; the other saw it as a mobile engineering division able to follow NATO’s field armies deeper into combat. These disagreements, combined with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, put a premature end to this particular cooperation. However, the French and Germans didn’t completely abandon the idea, which paved the way for the creation of the smaller Brigade Franco-Allemande (French-German Brigade).
The NATO’s French Division du Rhin’s History
The Division du Rhin had a special organization: built around three engineer regiments (two of them being reservists), the formation could also call on an independent engineer battalion, one infantry regiment, and three further infantry battalions (all reservists). On top of this, the French had access to an entire AA regiment (to fend off the inevitable enemy air attacks on the bridges and ferries).
The Division du Rhin hardly had any armor or artillery, but in case of potential enemy ground attacks, nearby units would have been folded into the battlegroup’s command.
- Not too far away, the French 7e Division Blindée would provide some additional armored reinforcements. A mobilization division, this particular formation was the “lesser equipped” French armored division, still operating older AMX-30, as well as being famously the last operator of AMX-13 in active service in 1989 (those in West Berlin were supposedly kept in storage). The divisional infantry was equipped with AMX-10P and AMX-13 VCI, and a minimal number of VABs.
- The Division du Rhin, being located in French I Corps’ area of operations, could count on its medium- to long-range artillery cover.
- The West German Heimatschutzbrigade 55 was located on the other side of the Rhine. After 1989, elements of this unit that weren’t disbanded became the German part of the French-German Brigade.
The Division du Rhin was France’s rear area reserve division, much akin to WARNO’s West Germany's TerrKdo Süd featuring both French and West German units.
The Division du Rhin in WARNO - SOUTHAG
How will the Division du Rhin look like in WARNO - SOUTHAG? New units are both italic and bolded. The following is subject to change.
LOG
- A good category, much like any other WARNO reserve division playing home advantage.
- Supply units include DEPÔT DE MUNITIONS (FOB), TRM-2000 LOG. and TRM-10000 LOG. supply trucks.
- Command units are the M201 PC, the new AMX-13 MOD.56 PC, as well as ALOUETTE II PC, plus the West German FUCHS FU.FU..
INF
- Very good, with lots of options and plenty of variety of infantry. The Division du Rhin relies heavily on SAPEURS combat engineers and RESERVISTES for the boots on the ground.
- CMDT RESERVISTES, RESERVISTES and RESERVISTES (LRAC), both featured previously in the Nemesis #2 - Plateau d'Albion’s 152e Division d’Infanterie, and RESERVISTES (FR-F1) with MAS-49/56 rifles, AA-52 LMG, one FR-F1 DMR, and one LRAC 73. All squads are deployable in trucks or AMX-13 VCI 12,7mm APCs.
- CMDT SAPEURS, SAPEURS and SAPEURS (FLAM), as well as RESERV. SAPEURS with MAT-49 SMG, MAS-49/56 rifles, AA-52 LMG and explosives, plus the Reservist trait. They come in trucks and AMX-13 VCG F1 dedicated combat engineer APC.
- Anti-tank weapons include the M40A1 RCL.
- Securing the rear area against enemy saboteurs, maintaining security, and improving the flow of traffic:
- Regular PREVOTE riding in P4 GENDARMERIE both coming with the Military Police trait.
- New CMDT GENDARMES MOBILES which are 4-man command squads armed with MAT-49 and the Military Police trait, also deploying in P4 GENDARMERIE.
- GENDARMES MOBILES are 8-man squads armed with 2x MAT-49, 5x FAMAS and 1x AA-52 LMG, plus the Military Police trait. They come in TRAFIC GENDARMERIE utility trucks or the VRBG, a Gendarmerie-dedicated VAB armed only with an AANF1 7,62mm, but coming with the Security trait.
- With the 7e Division Blindée, heavier reinforcements arrive in the form of one card each of:
- CMDT CHASSEURS in truck, AMX-13 VCI 12,7mm or AMX-13 VCI 20mm, and CHASSEURS in truck or AMX-13 VCI 20mm.
- Coming from the Heimatschutzbrigade 55, the West German provides all the following squads, vet-locked at experience Level 1 max:
- JÄGER FÜH.,JÄGER and JÄGER (PzF) squads, plus PALR MILAN 1, all deployable in softskin and FUCHS or FUCHS MILAN.
ART
- Balanced with some choices and several slots, but quickly rising in cost. Only a handful of artillery pieces were historically available to the Division du Rhin.
- The only organic piece is the ubiquitous MO-120RT61 mortar.
- The division was not foreseen to really need its own artillery arm, supposedly being a static formation within the I Corps sector. As such, this neighbouring formation provided:
- M50/63 155mm howitzers.
- LRM (the French designation for the M270 MLRS). This is a slight “March to War” unit, as the 12e Régiment d'Artillerie, the one earmarked to first convert to the M270, only started receiving the MRLS in the early part of 1990.
- The West German HBS 55 brings its own light artillery, in the form of the FH M1A2 (A2) 105mm.
- Lastly, local artillery schools would have drawn (from storage) some older AUTOMOTEUR AU 50 105mm and F3 AUTOMOTEUR 155mm SPGs, to be crewed by reservists (and hence gaining the Reservist trait). The latter F3 pieces are the ones just given up by the 12e Régiment d'Artillerie mentioned above.
TANK
- A balanced category with a good number of slots, including their price. Choice is mostly limited to older tanks, though.
- The very few tanks available to the Division du Rhin would have been the combat engineers’ M47 DOZER, equipped with dozer blades and a 90mm gun.
- The division also had a number of M201 MILAN jeep-based missile tank destroyers.
- The West Germans bring a sprinkling of PZBEF. M48A2GA2 and HEIMAT. M48A4GA2. The latter armor is the current M48A2GA2, which we will rename (for reasons to be explained in a future DevBlog).
- Finally, the 7e Division Blindée features the AMX-13 T75 PC (command variant with 75mm gun), AMX-13 T75/TCM, and AMX-13 T75/TCA. The latter two vehicles are armed with SS-11 rails over the main gun, with the TCA designation indicating a more accurate targeting system.
REC
- Once more pretty balanced, including the (almost mandatory) AML-60 and AML-90 backed by M201 M40A1 recon jeep, and the M201 RASURA battlefield radar.
- Recon infantry can deploy in a variety of disguises:
- French RESERV. ECLAIREURS, with 3x MAT-49 and 1x AA-52, plus LRAC 73 and the Reservist trait. They come in either M201, M201 AA52 or ALOUETTE II.
- The West German B.G.S. STREIFE in ILTIS or UH-1D.
- Plus Bundeswehr JÄGER-AUFKLÄRER in truck, FUCHS, and AUFKPZ. FUCHS.
- The division also receives the ALOUETTE II air recon helicopter.
AA
- The divisional anti-air defenses are pretty good, with an entire AA regiment just for itself, further backed by independent SAM-equipped units.
- The division’s AA regiment was entirely equipped with older AA guns to fend off low-flying attacks. The main weapon system is the M55 MAXSON quad, in either towed or M16 MGMC halftrack variant, and M38/55 40mm (meaning Bofors) pieces available. All in mint World War 2 condition!
- On top of this, the SAM regiments provide I-HAWK and HS.831 twin 30mm guns.
- Plus some FLIEGERFAUST MANPADs courtesy of the HSB 55.
HEL
- Rather underwhelming. The Division du Rhin had no rotorcraft available, with only a few that could be spared from neighbouring formations.
- You get two expensive slots, and the choice between one card each of ALOUETTE III AS.11, GAZELLE CANON, or BO-105 PAH-1.
AIR
- Pretty good, as the division gets the French ALPHA JET in [NPLM] and [CLU] variants.
- The nearby fighter squadron Navarre, flying the MIRAGE III, will be performing both air superiority and strike missions. This particular aircraft will duly come in [AA], [SEAD], and [AT] loadouts.
- Local fighter squadron Alsace brings the MIRAGE 2000 RDM, being the predecessor to the Mirage 2000 RDI. This plane comes in two variants with [AA1] representing the Mirage 2000 Serie 1 and 2 with its 4x R550 Magic II missiles. The [AA2] is the Mirage 2000 Serie 3 featuring 2x R550 Magic II and 2x Super 530F missiles. The Mirage 2000 RDI, currently in-game, is actually a Serie 4, only one able to fire the Super 530D.
- The air cover is completed by the MIRAGE 5 F [HE] and the German F-4F [AT].
The Division du Rhin, much like other reserve divisions, is most powerful in its infantry and AA departments, further backed by potent artillery and air cover. Tanks and anti-tank units are available in an acceptable number, but of older make and model, while helicopters are very rare. Like other reservist battlegroups, the Division du Rhin benefits from the recent Reservist / Militia rework.
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.
In the southern reaches of Germany, the Warsaw Pact with the Soviet Central Group of Forces, bolstered by the communist Czechoslovakians, battles against a counter-attacking NATO SOUTHAG command led by France, with American, West German, Canadian, and reinforcing Spanish troops.
- 2 new Army General campaigns.
- 4 new Operations, such as Delayed Retribution.
- 10 new Divisions, featuring Canada, Spain, and Czechoslovakia as new nations. These include NATO’s 1st Canadian Division, the Spanish División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1, the French 6e Division Blindée Légère and Warsaw Pact’s Czechoslovakian 1. Tanková Divize, 19. Motostřelecká Divize, and 303. Tanková Divize.
- New voice acting.
- New units and models.
Until Next Week
And, of course, we’ll be back next week with a new WARNO - SOUTHAG preview!
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.
