Hello commander!
Get ready for another preview day. As we showed off some upcoming new units for the French Army in our patriotic Bastille Day DevBlog, it is only fitting that today’s post will let our light shine on the British Army.
Hot on the heels of the MASSENA milestone (released this week), let’s find out what’s in store for this important NATO partner in WARNO. Tally ho, chaps!
Lots of Britishness
During the Cold War, the United Kingdom’s ground contribution to NATO was focused on NORTHAG, the army group defending the North German Plain. Relatively flat terrain made it perfect tank country. That’s why British tank development, compared to other NATO allies, was chiefly concerned with heavily armored and armed, but slow main battle tanks.
In 1989, many variants of the older generation Chieftain were actively employed by the British Army, but also gradually replaced with the more modern Challenger tank. Most nations in WARNO feature arsenals of main battle tanks sporting 100 to 105mm tank guns, complemented with newer models featuring 120 to 125mm tank guns. However, the British Army is different as it only fields the heavier 120mm tank gun on its tanks.
The regular combat soldier of the British Army is equipped with the modern L85A1 assault rifle and the L86A1 SAW variant. They can also depend on the trusty but bulky MAG machine gun. Anti-tank weapons carried vary from the M72 LAW, recoilless Carl Gustav or the newer LAW-80.
The British Army Of the Rhine (BAOR) formation planned to stop any Warsaw Pact offensive with quick reinforcements from the United Kingdom, including quite a few Territorial Brigades from the Home Defence. These reservists would rapidly deploy, taking older, smaller arms with them, including the L1A1 SLR (the British version of the FN FAL) battle rifles and even some L2A1 (Sterling) SMGs.
British infantry ride into battle in the FV432 armored personnel carrier, which, much like other APCs, can be deployed on the battlefield in a great many variants (mortar, command, anti-tank, etc.). The brand-new Warrior infantry fighting vehicle, equipped with its RARDEN 30mm cannon, is also available. A terrifying killing machine, some might say it's NATO’s best IFV, if you exclude the Bradley, which was heavily armed but could only carry half a squad.
Death from above
Of course, a preview wouldn’t be complete without British airpower. The mainstay of British heliborne comes in the form of the Lynx, used either as transport or HELARM (anti-tank) variants. Furthermore, the license-built Gazelle can be deployed in recon, light transport, and command roles.
The RAF also makes an appearance. Although Tornado fighter bombers and Harrier were already teased with the 2. Panzergrenadier, British air forces will also fly the F-4 Phantom, as well as the Jaguar GR.1A in bomber, rocket and SEAD variants.
See you on the battlefield
That’s it for this week. Keep in mind that the Eugen offices will be closed this August!
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See you on the battlefield, commander!