Hello!
We are back with another LANNES update. We already took to those who fall from the sky with our last week’s look at the famous U.S. 82nd Airborne division. This time we are putting the spotlight on a comparable paratrooper Warsaw Pact formation: the new 35th Gds. Air Assault Brigade.
The 35-ya OG Desantno-Shturmovaya Brig. was the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany Cold War organic air assault brigade, and as such, going to bring plenty of new toys and units to WARNO’s battlefield. Let’s take a look!
Who is LANNES?
In our excitement to talk about our new American paratroopers, we kind of forgot to tell you about the origin of the name LANNES. Of course, we are talking about an early 19th Century Marshal of the French Empire, Jean Lannes, to be exact. A personal friend to Napoleon and one of his youngest marshals, he was considered one of the most daring and talented generals. Napoleon couldn’t resist highlighting his own influence when saying: “I found him a pygmy and left him a giant”.
Having risen multiple times in the ranks, including the campaigns in Italy and Egypt, as well as briefly falling out of Napoleon’s grace, Lannes rose once more to prominence during the Napoleonic Wars. He fought and commanded with distinction during the Battles of Austerlitz, Saalfeld (still studied today by the French Staff College), Jena and the grueling siege of Zaragoza.
However, during the Battle of Aspern-Essling, in 1809, Lannes was hit by a ricocheted cannonball at the very end of the battle. Though immediately taken care of - with one leg amputated - the injuries proved too grave, and Lannes died eight days later. The first Napoleonic marchal to fall in battle. A battlefield end to a true military commander!
A little historical context
For most of its existence, the 35-ya OG Desantno-Shturmovaya Brig. or 35th Gds. Air Assault Brigade was the 111th Guards Airborne Regiment (itself part of the 11th Guards Airborne Division). This latter regiment only turned into the 35th Gds. Air Assault in 1979 when the parent division was disbanded and its constituent regiments became independent brigades.
The lineage of the brigade can be traced back to the late 1940s, when the 111th Guards Airborne Regiment was first founded. In the 1960s, it trained extensively for mountain warfare and was several years stationed in the Turkestan Military District, near Uzbekistan’s external border. In 1979, the division and regiment were briefly located in Bagram, Afghanistan, mere months before the official Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.
As mentioned above, in the fall of 1979, the 11th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded and the 111th Guards Airborne Regiment became the 35th Gds. Air Assault. It was then sent to East Germany.
In Europe, the 35th Gds. Air Assault was a mix of a parachutist and air assault division. As such, in WARNO, some of the division’s units will feature the Forward Deployment mechanic (see last week’s DevBlog).
What new units do you get?
Let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we? What can you expect from the 35th Gds. Air Assault in the upcoming LANNES update?
- As mentioned, one of the main features of 35th Gds. Air Assault is a mix of parachute and heliborne units. In WARNO this means that regular Desantniki (parachute ones) will be able to Forward Deploy. Heliborne Desantniki (DShB) will not, having to arrive from the rear with Mi-2 and Mi-8T.
- Spetsnaz forces (combat, not recon already featured as the Spetsnaz G.R.U.) will also be deployable.
Another unique feature of Soviet airborne forces is that they jump with their specialized, lightly armored vehicles, which are based on two types: the BMD and the BTR-D.
- The BMD-1 and BMD-2 are basically the BMP-1 and BMP-2, but with less armor and no organic ATGM load-out. They retain the same guns as their heavier counterparts. As an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), they will be available in Forward Deployment featuring the Desantniki (Mek.) squad and Leader variants.
- Other (parachute) Desantniki will deploy in UAZ jeeps or lighter Gaz-66B para truck transports. The BMD is also featured as a turretless Command vehicle.
- The BTR-D is another paradrop-only vehicle, coming in several variants:
- The BTR-D is a lightly armed APC with MGs and AGS-17 grenade-launcher.
- The BTR-RD Robot is an APC armed with a Konkurs launcher, doubling as a transport for an anti-tank team.
- BTR-ZD Skrezhet is an APC armed with a twin 23mm ZU-23-2 AA gun strapped on the roof, acting both as light SPAAG and transport for a MANPAD team.
There is even more
That’s not all. Let’s continue to some heavier weapons, including artillery and tanks.
Most of the artillery available to the formation is towed:
- This includes the 2B9 Vasilek automatic mortar. A short-ranged weapon, it doubles as a “super-heavy” quick-firing grenade launcher-like fire support vehicle. It can even direct fire.
- There is also the 2S12 120mm mortar. Both weapon systems can Forward Deploy.
- The division will have access to the D-30 122mm howitzer.
Other artillery vehicles include:
- The 2S9 Nona, a self-propelled 120mm mortar direct support vehicle, with the mortar in a turret on a BTR-D hull.
- The BM-21V Grad-V MLRS, a lighter multiple rocket launcher with fewer tubes, is also featured.
Moving on:
- Tank support was light for the 35th Gds. Air Assault. The Soviets didn’t have access to a vehicle such as the 82nd Airborne’s Sheridan. The organic anti-tank weapons available to the division are BRDM-2 Konkurs, as well as para (Forward Deploy) UAZ with Konkurs team and D-44 85mm anti-tank guns.
- Like the 82nd Airborne, some additional armor will be attached to the 35th Gds. Air Assault, courtesy of the 8th Guards Army's organic recon battalion. They will bring a few (usually one card each of) T-80B, BRDM-2 Strela-1, and BRM-1.
- Recon units include the Desant. Razvedka. You can also call on Spetsnaz G.R.U..
- AA support is somewhat lackluster compared to other Soviet divisions. At the very least, you can deploy Desant Igla teams, as well as both towed and truck-mounted twin 23mm ZU-23-2 AA guns. All feature Forward Deployment.
Air forces
Lastly, let’s see what assets the division can bring that take to the sky:
- Aside from the usual, wide assortment of Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters, the 35th Gds. Air Assault will deploy some of the rare Ka-50. Yes! And the crowd go wild! This attack helicopter numbered only six examples in active testing in 1989 in real life, but early production was ramping up, and within the timeframe of our invasion, a limited amount would have been available to Warsaw Pact forces. The Ka-50 is armed with a 30mm autocannon, 4x Igla anti-aircraft missile, and 12x (!) Vikhr anti-tank missiles. Basically, a Soviet Apache!
- Recon helicopters such as the heavy-duty Mi-24K.
- Other air support units, including the already featured MiG-23ML fighter and plenty of new ones!
- The MiG-27 bomber in three different load-outs (bombs and rockets).
- The svelte and ace-looking MiG-29 fighter (currently only present in the NVA division).
- The MiG-25BM SEAD plane and MiG-25RBF bombers.
See you on the battlefield
All right, that’s it again for this week’s update on the next WARNO milestone, LANNES. Looking forward to hearing what you think, but keep the discourse civil and have some respect for your fellow players and the devs!
Join the passionate 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!
