Hello commander!
We hope you are well. Good news! We know you have been waiting eagerly for the next WARNO milestone; we are happy to tell you that MURAT is going to drop very, very soon!
However, to make this happen, we had to take out one particular category of units: towed weapons. They proved to be even more troublesome than previously noted. This does mean the MURAT update is coming shortly!
What can you expect? Keep reading to find out all the details.
Update on MURAT
You know the drill: game development is at times waylaid by delays and reschedules. Such is the way of life. In MURAT’s case, we had issues getting the towed weapon systems to work. To speed things up, MURAT will release without them as we take the time to iron out the kinks of this feature. Instead, ATGM crewed units will make their official debut (even though they were originally planned for LANNES, the milestone update after).
Therefore, be ready for 2. Panzergrenadier & 4. MSD, as well as some Royal Air Force and even Belgians!
Towed weapons such as howitzers and gun pieces will launch soon after MURAT!
There is more. Another feature we are delivering in advance is the correct BTR-60 model, which we initially set to ship after MURAT but have been made ready earlier.
New units coming with MURAT
So, let’s take a detailed look at all the crew-served weapon systems (and towed weapons) that are going to be delivered with MURAT or shortly after.
Anti-Tank Teams
You read that right: anti-tank teams feature not only ATGM units but also recoiless rifles. All these new units will be released with MURAT.
MILAN 1 and 2 ATGM
The French-German (but clearly more French…;) Missile d’Infanterie Léger ANtichar or MILAN system was designed in the 60s and introduced into operational service in the early 70s.
Fast forward to the Afghan War in the 80s. While everybody remembers the clandestine-delivered Stinger MANPAD as a potent opposer of Soviet airpower, the MILAN proved its worth in the Mujahideen’s hands as the defeater of armored columns. The MILAN 2 saw a major warhead improvement, including increased armor penetration. In general terms, the MILAN systems pack more of a punch than era-appropriate ATGM counterparts from other nations, but with a shorter range.
In-game, the MILAN 1 and MILAN 2 will be found in both West German divisions. The MILAN 1 will also be deployable in the U.S. 8th Infantry Division courtesy of its attached German Jäger battalion.
9K111 Fagot ATGM
The Fagot (meaning “Bassoon” in Russian) is a light Soviet ATGM system, similar in performance to the MILAN 1, but with less penetration. Known in NATO parlance as the AT-4 Spigot, it entered service in 1970, eventually finding its way into the arsenals across the Warsaw Pact. In WARNO all Soviet and East German divisions will have access to Fagot ATGM squads.
9M113 Konkurs ATGM
Developed alongside the Fagot, the Konkurs looks visually very similar but packs a heavier punch and flies a greater range compared to its lighter cousin. Introduced in 1974, it carries the NATO designation AT-5 Spandrel. In-game, the Konkurs can be deployed in all Soviet and East German divisions.
BGM-71 I-TOW and TOW-2 ATGM
First produced in the 1970s, the original TOW anti-tank guided missile was followed up by the enhanced I-TOW in the early 80s. This variant was subsequently further improved by the TOW-2, deployed in the late 80s. This latest version was larger, bigger, and more deadly than any comparable weapon system. The TOW-2 is one of the most powerful ATGMs, save for some airplane-delivered ordnances. In WARNO, both TOW variants will be featured with the U.S. divisions.
M40A1 recoilless rifle
The recoilless rifle finds its origins in World War II, much like the rocket-propelled grenade. This weapon was designed to give infantry and light troops, for example, paratroopers and mountain forces, an easily transportable, ranged mobile anti-tank gun. The recoilless rifle subsequently found its hour of glory in early Cold War conflicts, such as Korea, Indochina, and Vietnam, before being replaced by more advanced ATGMs.
The light and mobile M40A1 106mm recoilless rifle, with its large array of ammunition, retained a place in some units’ Table of Organisation and Equipment (T&OE). While mostly obsolete against main battle tanks, the recoilless rifle is still a versatile system as it can be used as a fire support weapon firing both HEAT & HE rounds. In WARNO, the M40A1 will be found in both German divisions as part of their Sicherungs (security) battalions.
SPG-9 recoilless rifle
The Soviet 73mm SPG-9 was developed in the early 60s and is closely related to the Grom main gun fitted to the BMP-1. It shares ammunition with this weapon. Lighter and less powerful than its American counterpart, the system’s overall low weight and mobility made it a perfect fit for Warsaw Pact airborne troops, which kept the recoilless rifle in operation until the end of the Cold War. In WARNO the SPG-9 is included with the Fallschirmjäger attached to upcoming 4. Motorisierte Schützendivision (4. MSD).
Towed gun systems
Next up are the towed guns and howitzers. These will NOT be featured in MURAT, but will come shortly after.
D-30 122mm howitzer
The workhorse of the Soviet and Warsaw Pact divisional artillery since the 60s, the D-30 120mm howitzer was made to be reliable and robust. It could be found in almost all the arsenals of the Warsaw Pact, either as the towed variant or the self-propelled version (the 2S1 Gvozdika). Decked out in the latter unit, in true Soviet fashion, it keeps some AT rounds for self-defense.
In WARNO the D-30 will be deployable in both Soviet divisions, as well as the upcoming 4. MSD, but not the 7. Panzer. The reason why is the East German division, as one of two armored formations of the NVA, concentrated all the army’s available 2S1 Gvozdika to make the divisional artillery entirely self-propelled.
D-20 152mm howitzer
Another venerable system: the D-20 152mm howitzer. The towed D-20 was still widely used throughout the Warsaw Pact as an army-level heavy artillery battalion asset. Cheaper to produce than the self-propelled 2S7 Malka’s gun of the same caliber, it had less range. In WARNO, the D-20 will provide artillery support for the Soviet 39-ya Gv. MSD.
MT-12 Rapira 100mm AT gun
In an interesting turn of development, the MT-12 Rapira 100mm AT gun stayed relevant until the end of the Cold War (and longer… actually being in service until today). As a 1970s modernization of the older 60s T-12 anti-tank gun, the MT-12 is cheap, mobile, and accurate. The 100mm gun can quickly engage most APCs, IFVs, and older generation main battle tanks. The unit might have more difficulties with advanced armored units, however. It is not entirely without teeth, as it can fire the Bastion ATGM shell.
Think of the MT-12 as a more fragile, but stealthier (and cheaper) towed version of a T-55AM2B tank gun. The unit will be featured with both Warsaw Pact rifle divisions, the Soviet 39-ya Gv. MSD and the upcoming DDR’s 4. MSD. In these formations, the anti-tank battalions can count on the anti-tank gun, at least in equal numbers compared to ATGM-equipped vehicle carriers.
FH-155-1 155mm howitzer
NATO’s standard divisional gun, FH-155-1 155mm howitzer (also designated the FH-70) was used by many of its members, such as West Germany, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, etc. The howitzer was part of all TO&Es of all Bundeswehr divisions, even when armored or mechanized, serving alongside the M110A2 in “heavy” artillery battalions. A much more modern artillery piece compared to Soviet (or even other NATO counterparts), the FH-155-1 outranged most other 152-155 mm guns, being on even turns with NATO’s M110A2 203mm range, though bested by the powerful Soviet 2S7. In WARNO the unit will be deployable with both West German divisions.
120-PM-43 and 2S12 120mm mortars
We are going back again in time with the PM-43 mortar, this being the very same Soviet weapon used in the last part of World War 2 (and also featured in WARNO’s cousin Steel Division 2!). Infinitely reliable, this particular mortar soldiered on until the end of the Cold War. The 2S12 is a modernized variant, made lighter (phew) and gaining in firing range. The 120mm mortars have a better rate of fire compared to howitzers. In-game, the 120-PM-43 will be featured as the Gr.Wfr. M43 120mm in both East German divisions; the 2S12 is deployable in both Soviet divisions.
M30 4,2-inch mortars
The M30 4,2-inch mortar (107mm for reasonable people) was designed shortly after the Korean War and is forever associated with the Vietnam War. It is the same mortar as the one used by the M106A2 (which can be dismounted to be fired outside the vehicle). After the end of the Cold War, in 1991, the U.S Army finally came to its senses and adopted a 120mm metric system mortar to replace this unit. ;)
In-game, the M30 can be encountered in both U.S. divisions. Unlike Warsaw Pact mortars, the one card of M30 will come at the expense of some of the self-propelled M106A2’s. This represents the M-30 being used as dismounted units.
Tampella 120mm mortars
The Tampella 120mm was designed and built as the Soltam M-65 by Finland from 1953. It might be one of the neutral Nordic country’s most successful export products. While an old design, the mortar features a shorter range than other 120mm units. In WARNO it will be featured in both German divisions. Just like the U.S. M30 mortar, the Tampella 120mm will replace some self-propelled PzMörser 120mm.
MIM-23B I-Hawk anti-aircraft missile
The MIM-23B I-Hawk is the improved version of the venerable MIM-23A Hawk SAM produced in the early 60s. It saw service in most NATO nations. This SAM unit can be regarded as a counterpart to the Warsaw Pact’s Kub system, with both units being armed with three missiles of roughly comparable performance. The main difference is that the Soviet unit is self-propelled, while the American one I-Hawk is fired from a towed trailer. In WARNO, the unit will be deployable with U.S. 8th Infantry Division and the German 2. Panzergrenadier.
See you on the battlefield
All right! We will leave you be. Join the awesome (and passionate) growing WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get to together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, or our Instagram.
See you on the battlefield, commander!
