Hello commanders,
Welcome back - once again - to a brand-new WARNO - Tropic Storm division preview!
In today’s DevBlog, we’ll put the spotlight on the second Western-aligned battlegroup: the U.S. 7th Infantry Division (Light) with its substantial Colombian contingent (plus some shadowy CIA black ops units).
Read on!
The 7th Infantry Division (Light)’s History
The military history of the U.S. 7th Division dates back to World War I, to be exact, when the formation was first activated. Made up of (mostly) fighting men from California, the division saw action at the tail end of the war in France before being deactivated. Reactivated in 1940 before the United States entered into World War II, the 7th Division was reorganized as a light division in 1943, and was originally planned to be deployed to North Africa (and then Europe). Plans change, and instead, after some much-needed training in amphibious assaults by the U.S. Marines, the division was shipped off to the Pacific Theatre. Here, it fought first in the Aleutian Campaign, before taking part in the liberation of the Philippines from Japan. The 7th Division culminated World War II with the Battle of Okinawa.
Maintained as a part of the Allied Occupation Forces of Japan, it subsequently saw deployment in the Korean War. Seriously understrength, the division was reinforced by thousands of South Korean soldiers, as well as Ethiopian United Nations contribution and… the Colombian Battalion (which we will see later down the line). The 7th Division participated in some of the most noteworthy battles of the war, including the Inchon Landings.
After the war, the 7th Division remained in South Korea for almost twenty years, not taking part in the Vietnam War, but was briefly deactivated and reactivated in the early 1970s.
At the beginning of its third life in 1974, the 7th Division was primarily based in California. As such, it was supposed to give an extra close watch to all dealings in South America. Reorganized as a light infantry division again in 1985, earning the (Light) denominator, it was deployed to both Honduras (Operation Golden Pheasant) and Panama (Operation Just Cause) in 1989, which falls outside of our alternative World War III history timeline.
The Colombian Connection
In our WARNO scenario, the 7th Infantry Division (Light) is instead airlifted to Colombia in 1989, shortly after the Venezuelan coup d'état and the nation’s clear shift toward Moscow’s sphere of influence. In response, the United States scrambles to create a new anti-socialist regional bloc, which includes Colombia.
Colombia at the time, and since the 1960s, had been the theatre of a low-intensity civil war between government forces, leftist guerrillas (FARC, ELN, M-19), drug groups, and right-wing paramilitary groups. The US supported the Colombian state, providing weapons and counterinsurgency training, while the CIA was involved with intelligence gathering on the ground.
From the mid to late 1980s, Washington's involvement shifted more and more towards fighting the drug traffickers; fully focused on counter-insurgency for at least two decades, the Fuerzas Militares de Colombia, or Colombian Armed Forces, were starting to modernize from the early 1980s, with equipment especially from Israel noteworthy.
While the American formation is strong enough to deal with some jungle-based guerrillas or Panama’s national guard, the 7th Division (Light) is totally deprived of armored vehicles. The 7th Infantry Division (Light) might prove to be a bit too light to deal with the Venezuelan army - the best in South America at this point - during the tense spring months of 1989.
The military build-up at the Colombian-Venezuelan border, with allied Colombian troops, provided additional armored vehicles - at least mechanized - plus some covert CIA involvement. A sizable detachment of Rangers also makes its way to be included in the divisional ranks.
The Colombians
Now, why are we not including a Colombian division in and by itself in WARNO? In our timeframe, Colombia’s armored vehicles were mostly World War II-era leftovers, with the heaviest of fighting behemoths being the… M3A1. Yes, that’s right: the Stuart III (and only 12 of them). The rest of the nation’s armored vehicles were domestic variants of the M20 and M8 (Greyhound) armored cars, re-wheeled M3A1 halftracks, and at least some Cascavel, pictured below. It would be like trying to play a Steel Division 2 division in WARNO!
In the 1980s, the Colombian Armed Forces began acquiring more modern materiel and armored vehicles. Meanwhile, the 7th Infantry Division (Light) has some hard-hitting units, including TOW-2 carriers and helicopters, but deprived of armored vehicles, lacking resilience on the battlefield. Putting one and one together, we decided it would be best to merge the formation with a Colombian detachment, which would be no less than fitting, given the division’s military history.
The 7th Infantry Division (Light) in WARNO
How will the 7th Infantry Division (Light) be featured in WARNO - Tropic Storm? New units are both italic and bolded. The following is still work in progress and subject to change.
Note that this division will be a mix of American and Colombian troops, with the latter having their own acknowledgments and voice lines.
LOG
An average category.
Command units include the American M1025 HUMVEE CP, and Colombian command M462 (an Israeli light truck) and the M20 (World War II command and utility variant of the M8 armored car).
Supply units include the M1008 CUCV SUPPLY and CH-47C SUPPLY, with Colombian PUNTO DE ABASTECIMENTO (being a FOB), M925 medium truck plus UH-1B supply helicopters.
INF
Very good, as can be expected from a light infantry division.
Existing American units include:
LIGHT RIFLES LDR., LIGHT RIFLES (LAW), and LIGHT RIFLES (AT-4), all coming in HUMVEE, with the latter squad also deployable in the UH-1H.
M60 HMG, Mk.19 AGL, and TOW-2A weapon teams, all coming in HUMVEE jeeps.
ENGINEERS LDR., ENGINEERS, and ENGINEERS (FLASH), deployable in M35 trucks.
RANGERS LDR., RANGERS (LAW), and RANGERS (DRAGON), all coming in either a HUMVEE or UH-60.
New American units are:
M2HB M63 HMG which doubles as a light AA gun.
MANCHUS (AT-4), which is a 5-strong fireteam with 4x M16, 1x M249, and AT-4, riding in regular HUMVEE but also non-reco M1025 HUMWEE M2HB and M1025 HUMWEE AGL.
MANCHUS (Dragon) squad, also known as the Double Dragon, being a 5-strong fireteam with 5x M16 and 2x Dragon II, riding to battle in the same transports as above.
To further expand on the above MANCHU units: the 7th Division (Light) began adopting the ragtop helmet (the same as the American paratroopers), also known as “light fighter hair”. In the 9th Infantry Regiment, one of three in the division, they became known as “Manchu hair”. The above fire teams represent the smaller units deployed to screen ahead of the division, and as such, get the iconic ragtop helmets.
Of course, courtesy of the Ejército Nacional de Colombia, or the Colombian Army, several new South American infantry units will find their way into the division. These include:
Mechanized infantry will be deployable in M151A2 MUTT, M462, M113A2 APCs with "bowl" turret, and the EE-11 URUTU, a Brazilian wheeled APC similar to the VAB. These include:
FUSILEROS MEC. are 10-man squads with 9x G3 and 1x HK-21.
FUSILEROS MEC. (LAW) field 9x Galil assault rifles, 1x M60, and a LAW.
FUSILEROS MEC. MANDO are the 4-strong Command squads, with 3x G3, 1x BAR, and Smoke grenades.
Airborne infantry, deployable in M462 trucks. These units come with the Shock and Airborne traits.
VOLTIGEROS are 10-man squads with 8x Galil, 2x HK-21, and a LAW.
VOLTIGEROS MANDO Command squads are 4-strong with 3x Galil, 1x M60, plus Smoke grenades.
POLICIA MILITAR are 4-man military police squads armed with MP-5s, plus the Security and Military Police traits, riding to battle in M462 trucks.
M20 75mm are light RCL teams, reinforced by the ubiquitous M40A1 and TOW ATGM teams.
ART
Rather average, once again divided into an American and Colombian contingent:
American units are the M29 81mm and M30 107mm mortars, plus the M102 105mm and M198 155mm howitzers.
Colombian artillery pieces are the M1 81mm and MP-AM-50 120mm mortars (same as NATO’s Denmark), as well as the M101 105mm howitzers.
Plus one of Colombia’s “strangest” units: the M462 NIMROD. This is an Israeli truck mounting four tubes with the high-tech Nimrod missile. Although a HEAT projectile, it served as an artillery unit. It would be fired indirectly, pass over obstacles, and strike identified enemy units at long range, but guidance would be lost if visual contact with the target was broken. As such, in WARNO it will serve as the perfect “sniper” to take out juicy high-value targets, if spotted (CV, SAMs, etc.).
TANK
Another average category, with - again - the dual presence of American and Colombian forces.
American units are all existing ones:
M1025 HUMVEE TOW in substantial numbers.
One card of M551 TTS SHERIDAN.
Colombian units include:
The new but very old M3A1. The Colombian World War II leftovers come with their mighty 37mm gun, but also sport 2x M1919 7,62mm and 1x M2HB 12,7mm MGs.
Plus the Brazilian-made EE-9M4 CASCAVEL, which are quite more numerous and more modern. This 6-wheeled armored car mounts a 90mm HEAT gun and can be seen as the "missing link" between the AML-90 and ERC-90. One of Brazil's most successful military export products, this vehicle is also the base for the EE-11 APC mentioned earlier (and will undoubtedly be seen again in other WARNO nations).
REC
A very good category with plenty of new units.
American units include the following:
A number of new infantry scout units.
MANCHU SCOUTS with 4x M16 and AT-4, coming with all the usual unarmed and armed HUMVEE variants, plus the UH-1H.
RANGER PATROL is a 4-man recon team with 3x Colt Commandos, 1x M249, Stinger, and LAW, plus the Special Forces and Shock traits. They come in M1038 HUMVEE or the UH-60A. They also have access to their very own M151A2 CAV, a recon transport vehicle with M2HB and M60 machine guns and the Special Forces and Airlifted traits.
SAD squad, meaning CIA’s Special Activities Division. This will be a 2-man sniper team, with a load-out that is still under consideration (to be as CIA-ish as possible). These elite covert killers will come with the Sniper and Jammer traits, and can deploy on either the fast ATV QUAD BIKE or the OH-6 QUIET ONE. This helicopter is a specially modified Vietnam-era variant of the OH-6 Cayuse, stealthy but unarmed, and can double as a recon helicopter after its passengers have been dropped off. In real life, a handful were made, only to disappear into a web of CIA-fronted companies after the Vietnam War. They were allegedly offered to the Pentagon for recon use during the invasion of Grenada in 1983.
Land and air recon vehicles include:
CUCV TEAMPACK is a light SIGINT-traited truck based on the CUCV jeep.
The OH-58D KIOWA recon helicopter with Hydra rockets.
The AH-1F RECO is a recon variant armed with the usual M197 Gatling autocannon, 38x Hydra 70 rockets and 28x M259 Hydra Smoke rounds.
The GNAT 750 is a recon UAV operated by the CIA within the 1989 timespan.
Colombian units include the following:
Infantry units are:
RECONOCIMIENTO which are 4-strong recon teams with 3x G3 battle rifles and 1x BAR. They come in M151A2 MUTT jeeps and the OH-6 light helicopter, as well as the M3A1 M40A1 recon transport APC. This hybrid vehicle is an old World War II M3A1 halftrack ... but re-wheeled (similar to an M3 Scout Car) sporting a M2HB and M40A1 RCL.
CABALLERIA recon squad are made up of 10 men with 5x G3, 4x Galil, 1x M60, and LAW. They come in M462 trucks or UH-1H helicopters, as well as the M3A1 recon transport APC (similar to the above version, but lacking the RCL).
Recon and air vehicles featured are:
The M8. Another golden oldie, indeed, the very glorious World War II Greyhound in its original state! As a wheeled armored car, it sports a 37mm gun, M2HB, and M1919 MGs.
Plus the slightly nastier variant, the M8 TOW, because why let an old Greyhound go to waste in 1989? This variant moves the M2HB in the turret, replacing the 37mm and M1919, and adds a TOW launcher on top of the vehicle.
Plus the unarmed OH-6 recon helicopter.
AA
Clearly the 7th Division’s weak spot.
The Americans only bring STINGER teams, M167A1 VADS 20mm, and OH-58C/S helos.
The Colombian anti-air defenses rely on:
EAGLE EYE, which is an upgraded Bofors with performance close to the variant fielded by the Dutch army.
M8 MAXSON, which is yet another Greyhound variant, this time turned into a light SPAAG with the turret guns entirely replaced by a quad .50 Maxson system.
HEL
Pretty good with the 7th Infantry Division (Light) helicopters (except for the cavalry battalion ones, which are featured as recon) being all of the older AH-1E model (only seen in WARNO as part of the U.S. National Guard).
This means the AH-1E [RKT] is present, similar to the U.S. 35th Infantry Division’s National Guard one, but without the Reservist trait.
The AH-1E [AT1], with M197 Gatling, 4x I-TOW, and 38x Hydra rockets.
And the AH-1E [AT2], with M197 Gatling but sporting 8x I-TOW.
Colombia’s sole armed helicopter was the light attack MD-500 [RKT] with 14x Hydra 70 rockets.
AIR
Pretty good.
As expected, the Americans fly the heavy guns. These include some long-requested counter-insurgency aircraft (which previously were not included because they would not have survived for long on the European battlefield against a regular Warsaw Pact army). These are:
AC-130H SPECTRE makes its appearance. This massive gunship has 12 HP, 40% ECM, and sports no less than two 20mm M61A1 Vulcan, one 40mm Bofors, and even one M2 105 howitzer, all firing their volleys sideways. This close air support aircraft will be circling its target, with a new flying pattern specifically featured in WARNO.
EC-130E COMPASS CALL, which is an unarmed variant of the above aircraft, coming with the Electronic Warfare trait.
MC-130E COMBAT TALON carries a single massive 6800kg bomb, the famous BLU-82 Daisy Cutter, delivered by parachute (with a new animation in WARNO).
The F-15C EAGLE [AA3], which is similar to WARNO’s AA2 but with older AIM-7F (more modern examples of this air-to-air missile were prioritized for the looming war in Europe).
The Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, or the Colombian Air Force, brings the following planes:
AT-33 [RKT] which is a different designation for the already in-game Canadian CT-133 SILVER STAR (with the same loadout).
A-37B DRAGON [NPLM], which is identical to the American one.
MIRAGE 5 COA [HE], but used purely as a bomber, with 4x SAMP T200 400kg bombs (but no air-to-air missiles).
Colombia’s sole fighter is the Israeli KFIR C.2 (itself an upgrade of the French Mirage 5) with DEFA guns and 2x Python 3 missiles, carrying the new High Off-Boresight Capability trait. This new mechanic means the missiles can be fired at a much greater angle of attack compared to previous ones (and yes, this functionality will be ported to the R-73 later).
The 7th Infantry Division (Light) will be a unique American battlegroup, with its sizable contingent of Colombian troops, World War II-era armored vehicles, clandestine CIA forces, plus some heavy-hitting aircraft. Infantry will be mobile and versatile, but supporting arms will be light, especially in the armored department.
As a side note: with WARNO - Tropic Storm’s new American light division introduction, we took the opportunity to remake the LIGHT RIFLE family of unit portraits, which dated back to the game’s release (and looked like ugly clones).
WARNO - Tropic Storm in Brief
WARNO - Tropic Storm will give you access to 6 new divisions from this brand-new theater of operations, including 4 new nations, and a host of new units, models, weapons, new terrain sets, and maps, and more. And equally important: it will contain 1 new Army General campaign. More details will come in the coming weeks.
Check out all the previews for WARNO - Tropic Storm divisions below:
First up is the Western-aligned U.S. 4th Marine Division earmarked for the Cuban invasion. Check out all the details in this preview here.
The Communist-aligned Cuban 1a División de Tanques gets its place in the tropical sun in this detailed preview.
Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency’s Arrival Imminent
One more piece of news before signing off: the upcoming mini-expansion Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency will have its release very very soon. We are figuring out the latest bugs, but the Strike Team will start streaming the DLC’s content after this DevBlog’s release.
Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency will highlight two defensive battlegroups tasked with protecting their state’s vital infrastructure, and imposing internal security and rule of law during WARNO’s World War III. Bringing their unique arsenal and hard-hitting infantry, Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency contains the French Zone de Défense - Paris and the Soviet DON-100 battlegroup.
Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency lets you lead an arsenal of new units to battle, from GARDES RÉPUBLICAINS, BROUSSARD MH-1521 recon planes, GIGN operators, and the MSC prototype, to MVD security infantry, OMON troops, first-generation Mi-24A gunships, and advanced MiG-29S fighters.
Until Next Time
That’s all. We’ll return soon with another WARNO - Tropic Storm divisional preview!
Don’t forget to check out the ever-awesome WARNO community. Find 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.