Hello commanders,
We hope you are well. The upcoming Nemesis: Air Assault DLC takes center stage in today’s DevBlog. We’ll look at the new mini-expansion to grace WARNO, highlighting one of the two new divisions (and the new units the airmobile formation brings).
Let’s put the spotlight on the hardy veterans of the Soviet 56-ya O.G. DShB or the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade.
Nemesis: Air Assault
Nemesis: Air Assault will be the very first of the Nemesis DLC to make its way to WARNO. The Nemesis mini-expansion, each with two divisions and bringing new weapons, units, and models, is a concept we introduced in Steel Division 2 - where it has proven to be very popular. The idea is simple: out of three options, you get to vote on which Nemesis DLC should be developed next.
Be prepared for some furious propaganda battles, as we will prepare three separate themed Nemesis options. After showcasing each pair, the ballot opens, and whichever pair of divisions wins will get trucked over to Eugen’s workshop for a release on a later date. The other divisions will go on the shelf (perhaps even to be dusted off at a future date).
Much like Steel Division 2, the debut Nemesis DLC we have decided already ahead of time. This is chiefly for ease of development and to allow the divisions to be ready quicker.
In WARNO’s case, this will be Nemesis: Air Assault, focusing on two airmobile divisions, featuring the Soviet 56-ya O.G. DShB or the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault and the U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade’s History
The Soviet 56th Separate Guards Air Assault’s history is closely tied to the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. The particular formation was created from several independent or disbanded Soviet airborne units. Only two months after its creation, the brigade took part in the initial invasion of Afghanistan, securing key mountain passes and allowing the 40th Army to advance throughout the country quickly. For almost ten years, the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade would remain in Afghanistan, producing some of the most hardened Soviet airborne veterans of this conflict.
Although the brigade’s air assault troops would initially ride their helicopters from peak to pass or strike in the heart of the enemy territory, things changed after the introduction of Stinger MANPADS into Mujadheen's hands. From the mid-80s onwards, helicopter and gunship losses mounted, putting prominence on the “Stinger Scare” and forcing the reorganization of the Soviet brigade.
This meant that the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault became closer to a mechanized infantry formation, transported to battle in much safer BMP-2s and getting some additional organic firepower in the form of T-62 main battle tanks.
In real life, the brigade returned to the USSR in June 1989 as part of the overall Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, in WARNO’s timeline, the Afghan-Soviet War is still ongoing, with the Soviet Union never retreating from the Central Asian country.
The 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade is transferred just in time for the Warsaw Pact’s invasion of West Germany in the summer of 1989. Soviet high command envisioned a much better use for the brigade’s hardy air assault forces fighting Americans and West Germans instead of getting bogged down in hunting hard-to-defeat guerillas.
56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade’s Detailed
How will the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault look like in Nemesis: Air Assault? Note that most of the following is still very much work in progress. Units bolded and italic are new!
Most of the brigade’s infantry units will be roughly similar to the current 35th Guards Air Assault Brigade, although there are some historical and gameplay differences. We also found a way to introduce a host of new units.
- We have duplicated all the ”DESANT” units and created a ”DSh.” variant. While using the same model and sharing the Veterancy and Shock trait, the main difference is that the DSh. versions lack the Forward Deployment trait.
- Furthermore, some specific infantry units will use different weapons, mostly older small arms and armaments, including the new RPO Rys (shorter range but bigger caliber than the existing RPO A) and RPG-16 (more range but less AP compared to RPG-7).
- Lastly, no UAZ jeep, but instead the new LuAZ amphibious jeep used in a corresponding role.
Although nominally an air assault unit, the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault has been reorganized with heavier mechanized equipment. This means only part of its infantry can use helicopter transport. For the same reason, the battlegroup will have fewer HELO slots open compared to their American Nemesis: Air Assault counterpart, but in turn, count on a bigger TANK category.
The 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade Detailed
So, what can you expect?
- LOG - more generous than existing WARNO airborne divisions. Like other airborne battlegroups, the brigade will not be able to deploy any Forward Operating Base.
- New units include the Mi-6 heavy (although not as much as the Mi-26) supply helicopter and the CHAIKA, a dedicated but unarmed command variant of the BTR-60.
- INF - the battlegroup’s main strength thanks to:
- The new DSh. infantry coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, including one with the RPG-7VL, another with the RPG-16, a PULEMETCHIKI flavor, METIS and a unit with the RPG-22. The latter supersized unit is particularly special, representing half a platoon (so a 1.5 squad) with 50% more men, machine guns, and AT ammo, but only deployable in a Mi-8. With the large capacity of a Mi-8, it felt more than fitting to cramp some extra troops into the hold. Note that the U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) will have a similar counterpart infantry unit.
- A few elite DSh. AFGANTSY squads, with the RPO A.
- ”Flame” DSh. SAPERI using the older (and new weapon) RPO Rys.
- The lightly armed OKHRANA units were used for securing and demining roads (an endless chore in Afghanistan).
- The usual array of PG-9, FAGOT, KONKURS, NSV, AGS (model redone) and KOMENDATURA squads.
- Transport for the infantry is one area where the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault shows its variety and unit diversity:
- The infantry’s main transport is the BMP-2D, which is an up-armored and non-amphibious BMP-2 (already featured in-game).
- The main wheeled APC will be the new BTR-70D, also up-armored and non-amphibious. This vehicle proved the favored platform for Soviet battlefield modifications by bolting extra weapons on top of the turret. These include the new BTR-70 AGS with an extra grenade launcher.
- One of the most unusual (and most famous) Afghan Frankenstein APCs are, without a doubt, the BTR-70 S-5 and BTR-70 S-8, respectively featuring a 16x57mm and 20x80mm rocket pod sourced from a helicopter for extra ground-based fire support!
- Added to that, the BTR-70 RYS with four RPO Rys packed together, Flash-like, bolted-on, and used as assault engineers’ vehicles.
- The BMD and BTR-D proved unsuitable for the harsh environment in Afghanistan, too light to withstand the often-encountered mines. These vehicles were quickly discarded for the more unusual GM-TU, basically an MT-LB cut in half. These come in several variants: the unarmed GT-MU-1D and the battlefield-modified weapon-carrying GT-MU-1D AGS, GT-MU-1D SPG-9 and GT-MU-1D ZU-23-2.
- For the same reason, the GAZ-66B trucks weren’t liked due to their cabin being unprotected from mines. This is why the brigade favors the heavier URAL-4320.
- Of course, for an airmobile brigade, armed variants of the Mi-8 will be available for some infantry squads, as well as the Mi-24D DESANT for the veteran DSh. AFGANTSY.
- The new OKHRANA security squads will have their own transport, the URAL-4320 METLA, an “A-Team”-like up-armored truck with a BRDM-2 turret and S-5 rocket pod stuck on top. This truck will be a troop transport for security troops and will likewise come with the Security trait.
- ART - an average category in a number of slots with light options.
- These include 82mm and 120mm mortars, as well as a few MT-LB VASILEK and NONA-S self-propelled units.
- Further backed by D-30 towed and 2S1 GVOZDIKA self-propelled 122mm howitzers.
- Plus BM-21 and BM-21V MLRS.
- The heaviest artillery unit on hand isn’t a howitzer but a mortar, the relatively rare (and new unit) M-240 240mm coming in separate HE and CLU variants.
- TANK - a stronger category compared to other airborne divisions.
- A new unit includes the LuAZ-967M FAGOT amphibious jeep.
- Furthermore, one card each of the new T-62MDK (command), T-62MD1 (without ATGM) and T-62MD (with ATGM) main battle tanks. The “MD” variant features extra side and rear "cope cage" armor compared to the “M” version.
- RECO - another strong category, featuring units such as:
- DSh. RAZVEDKA, a 4-man team deployable in either LuAZ jeeps, Mi-8 or Mi-24D DESANT, as well as heavier 8-man DSh. MOT. RAZVEDKA with access to RAZV. BTR-60PB or RAZV. BMP-2D.
- The venerable BRDM-2 armored car.
- The Mi-8PPA recon jammer helicopter. This variant is older than the Mi-8MTPI already in the game, and features less ECM.
- The only member of the BMD family kept in service in the air assault brigade is the REOSTAT radar recon unit.
- A more unusual radar recon unit is the ZSU-23-4M2 (PSNR), which is a Shilka SPAAG with a PSNR ground radar bolted on the turret. Very useful to spot Mujahedins on the move - even at night - this vehicle has turned into a pure fire support recon vehicle, unable to engage planes anymore.
- SPETSNAZ GRU (Stinger) are wily special forces recon troops operating deep behind enemy lines. This particular squad has pilfered an enemy weapon cache, using captured (early) Stinger Basic MANPADs against their previous owners.
- AA - a mere brigade, the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault doesn’t have access to any heavy or long-range AA systems. On the other hand, what it does do well is protection at close range.
- The main MANPAD available (aside from the Spetznaz carrying looted Stingers) will be carried by DSh. IGLA teams.
- SPAAG units include the ZSU-23-4M2 AFGHANSKII (which we first introduced in reference to this real-life brigade) and the battlefield-modified URAL-4320 ZPU-4 and URAL-4320 ZU-23-2, used in equal measure as ground fire support vehicles and for short-range anti-air warfare.
- The only SAM system available is the MT-LB STRELA-10M.
- HELO - helicopters are well represented with far-ranging access to armed Mi-8 and Mi-24V andMi-24P (but not the Mi-24VP variant).
- A new helicopter available only to this battlegroup is a Mi-24P [AA] with two R-60M missiles.
- AIR - a rather average category.
- You can count on a mix of MiG-23MLD air cover and MiG-27 and Su-25 close air support aircraft.
- Two new MiG-27 variants are featured: the MiG-27K [AT1] and MiG-27K [AT2], respectively with 2x (new) KH-29L AGM plus 80mm rockets, and 2x KH-29T AGM with R-60M A2A missiles.
The 56th Separate Guards Air Assault will prove to be a versatile division, being half airmobile, half mechanized, with plenty of veteran soldiers. A host of jury-rigged and battlefield-modified vehicles will give the battlegroup’s arsenal a colorful twist.
Until next week
That’s all for this very first Nemesis: Air Assault preview. We’ll be back next week to detail the DLC’s NATO counterpart, the elite U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
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See you on the battlefield, commander.
