Nemesis #2.3 - Second Wave

Hello, hello!

Excited for the final Nemesis #2 option? We sure are! Let’s jump straight into action with today’s Nemesis #2.3 - Second Wave.

We welcome to the stage the NATO’s British Support Command reinforcing the lines much like the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 34-ya Tankovaya Diviziya or 34th Tank Division.

Go, go, go!

Nemesis #2.3 - Second Wave

In this offering, we focus on two divisions that - unlike the preceding options - weren’t meant to face each other directly but did fulfill a similar function as rear-area battlefield reinforcements. Hence, the name Second Wave.

NATO’s British Support Command and the Soviet 34-ya Tankovaya Diviziya were both reserve divisions designed to be worked up and mobilized in the lead-up to war. In the British case, it is a battlegroup amalgamating a host of rear-area and second-line forces in the British Army of the Rhine’s area of command; for the Soviets, the division is a typical lower readiness formation set to be trained and equipped deep in the USSR’s hinterland before deploying to the front.

We saw it fit to add some very interesting and unique units to both these divisions. Keep reading to find out more!

The British Support Command

The British Support Command encompassed all British units not under the I (BR) Corps in NORTHAG (so not the main combat formations). HQ British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) was situated in Rheindahlen, West Germany. In case of war, the BAOR would come under direct NATO command and turn into NORTHAG. The remaining elements of the HQ BAOR would form the British Support Command.

The formation’s mission was to secure the Corps’ rear area against communist infiltrators, saboteurs, special forces, or airborne drops. It was also to take command of any reinforcement from the United Kingdom, which didn’t have any direct combat assignment.

As such, the BRSC could count on seven infantry battalions, one regular and the rest being Territorial Army (TA), as well as many independent AA, artillery, and security units, all the way down to lone companies. While the TA troops were very lightly armed, the British Army stored lots of older equipment on the continent. This materiel, despite being obsolete, would have been a great help to bolster the forces’ firepower.

The British Support Command in WARNO

How will the British Support Command look like in-game?

LOG

• A very good category for the BRSC. The formation was in charge of keeping the supply flowing to I (BR) Corps, meaning a well-stocked and capable logistical train.
• You’ll deploy the light ROVER 101FC SUPPLY, medium (new) AEC MILITANT Mk.3 and the massive FODEN 16t truck (with 3000 Supply). The latter will be bound to the road, hardly able to move off-road. And, of course, a FOB.
• CHINOOK supply helicopter.
• Command vehicles will be ROVER CP, FV510 SARACEN CP and the FV105 SULTAN.

INF

• A good combination of slots, costs, plus some interesting units.
• Of course, all existing TERRIERS squads deployable in jeeps, trucks or SARACEN.
• RIFLES LDR. and MOT. RIFLES in trucks and SAXON, but with a handful of cards only.
• Numerous squads with the Security trait. Much like its strong logistical category, the battlegroup’s primary mission was rear area security against enemy threats (and maintaining order and discipline). This means HSF squads, a new RAF RIFLES (the real one, not the existing reservist Berlin-based ones, which we will rename), plus PIONEERS. The latter squad was specifically in charge of HQ’s security.
• Two companies of the famous and dreaded GURKHAS were kept in reserve as demolition groups. These were to blow up bridges or other infrastructure if things should go haywire, and a Soviet breakthrough was all but assured. Teased in WARNO’s Army General Campaign, the “Left Hook”, these special soldiers are featured as a half-platoon of airmobile troops. They feature 12 men (so super-sized squad) with L85A1, 3x L86A1 LSW, and LAW-80. The Gurkhas having extra LAW-80, we also created a 6-man GURKHAS AT GROUP featuring two of these anti-tank weapons, plus GURKHAS RIFLES LDR.. All Gurkhas will come with the Shock and Resolute traits, plus veterancy, but only with a few cards.

ART

• A rather average category as the BRSC didn’t have artillery of its own. It did command over several training units and field depots filled with stored weapons. As you can imagine, the artillery forces available will be a hodgepodge of many guns.
• These include the standard L16 81mm mortar and L118 105mm howitzer.
• In light of us introducing the British MLRS to the other divisions (seeing service only a few months before our World War III kicked off), the M110A2 it replaced wouldn’t be far removed from the action, operated by unvetted crews.
• There were also plenty of old World War 2-era BL 5,5-INCH (140mm) in storage.
• Finally, the three TA Observation Post Batteries assigned to the BAOR reportedly retained their World War 2 QF 25-POUNDER (87mm) field guns in perfect order until 1990.

TANK

• Also pretty average in terms of options, costs, and slot availability.
• Gathering all serviceable CHIEFTAIN tanks in the area of command, including those in training units and under repair in workshops, warrants a card of older Mk.6/2 or even older variants (to be determined).
• The British Army had hundreds of even older CENTURION tanks in storage, some of them pre-positioned in West Germany. As is common practice in war, obsolete tanks still make perfect mobile pillboxes to protect airfields or other key infrastructure. This warrants the inclusion of a single card of CENTURION Mk.13.
• Airfield security was the domain of the RAF Regiment. As we already feature RAF RIFLES (the current variant to be renamed as mentioned previously), we will continue with this practice and add some armor elements: one card each of RAF SCORPION and RAF SCIMITAR, both in a tank role and with the Security trait.
• And to round it off: lots of ROVER MILAN.

RECO

• Rather abysmal, with the battlegroup unable to count on any dedicated recon battalion.
• This means a classic selection of SCOUTS, TERRIERS SCOUTS, FERRET, and FOX.
• Some helicopter recon will appear in the form of the unarmed (and new) WESTLAND SCOUT.

AA

• A pretty good category as the division would take over all AA assets not assigned to the I (BR) Corps, including various flavors of the king of all non-self-propelled SAM and MANPADs: you’ll get to play with the RAPIER FSA, RAPIER FSB1, and the new RAPIER FSB2 DARFIRE (with +2 missiles per launcher). Plus the standard BLOWPIPE, JAVELIN and JAVELIN LML.
• We are also throwing in some RAF storage TIGERCAT SAMs.

HELO

• Now we are at another extreme with an almost non-existent HELO category.
• There wasn't any combat helicopter detachment in the area to provide support to the BRSC. If this Nemesis option is picked, we will see if the division needs some foreign rotorcraft or can do without it.

AIR

• The BRSC’s air support will be plentiful. The exact composition of this category has not been determined yet, but unlike the helicopters, the battlegroup’s mission was airfield defense. This means quite a few options will be available in both air superiority and CAS sorties.
• As with other rear-area divisions, it will include trainers-turned-light attack aircraft. One of the examples is the British (new) HAWK T.1A.
• Some older F.6 LIGHTNING fighters will also be added. These were kept in storage in the United Kingdom, almost two squadrons worth.

The BRSC would play not too dissimilar to the West German TerrKdo Süd or the East German K.d.A. The British division will be a reserve battlegroup relying on quantity and cheap units over high-quality equipment, with plenty of infantry, artillery, and strong AA and air forces.

The Soviet 34th Tank Division

The 34th Tank Division was a Category C type, meaning the lowest level of combat readiness within the Soviet army. Originally formed under this name at the start of World War II, the division, as it was during the Cold War, began its second life in 1957. The armored formation was based in the Byelorussian Military District, where a skeleton crew kept it dusted-off and functional during peacetime. As far as we can tell, the 34th Tank Division was the last remaining Soviet armored divisions to be equipped fully with T-62 tanks.

The division was not maintained at full strength and would incorporate a large number of reservists to get up to war footing. Being the lowest tier of combat readiness, the formation was also very low on the priority list for new or updated equipment or even having its aging ones replaced!

The 34th Tank Division never transitioned to the T-64 or T-80; it was even short of the venerable BMP-1. Other forces were also lacking, such as not being able to count on any organic artillery at all, save for a few BM-21 Grad. Garrisoned near an artillery training division and artillery schools, the industrious 34th Tank Division’s command staff would likely have “dragooned” some long-range indirect fire pieces to bolster the division’s artillery arm.

The Soviet 34th Tank Division in WARNO

How will the Soviet 34th Tank Division look like in-game?

LOG

• A good amount of slots and ditto costs, but no helicopter units.
• Medium URAL-4320 SNAB, heavy KRAZ-225B SNAB and armored MT-LB SNAB. supply vehicles.
• Command vehicles are the BELOZOR jeep, CHAIKA and BMP-1K3 units.
• A new unit is the MV-650 KOMENDATURA - a command motorcycle with a side-car - which we hope will bring our Steel Division 2 fans some happy, carefree memories.

INF

• A pretty strong category for a tank division.
• One single card of a MOTOSTRELKI (BMP) squad with the (new) BMP-1 SP-2 as a transport option. This latter unit is armed with the older-generation Malyutka ATGM, the same as the DDR version.
• The rest of the MOTOSTRELKI squads are all centered around BTR transports. This includes the new REZERVISTI unit, which is a 10-man squad fielding AKM, RPK and RPG-7VM (14 AP). Finally a Soviet unit with the Reservist trait! The ratio between regular soldiers and reservists in these divisions should be one to two.
• The SAPERI KOM. and SAPERI squads will be the same as other Soviet divisions. The new REZ. SAPERI is armed with older AKMS and LPO flamethrowers and also carries the Reservist trait into battle.
• As mentioned, transport options will be between jeeps, trucks, BTR-60PB, and the older, turretless (new) BTR-60PA.
• KOMENDATURA and ZAGRADOTRYAD military police units will help keep the weary green recruits and reservists in line.
• Infantry support weapons include the usual array of SPG-9, FAGOT, KONKURS, PKM/, PLAMYA and the new REZ. NSV.

ART

• Average but with some new, interesting units.
• These include regimental artillery pieces such as the old (but new for the Soviets) M-43 82mm and PM-43 120mm mortars (only seen with our East German forces so far), and the ubiquitous D-30 122mm howitzers.
• As mentioned, the 34th Tank Division could only count on BM-21, but no organic “tube” artillery battalions. As the Grad turns out to be the main indirect artillery system for this battlegroup, it will come both in BM-21 [HE] and the new BM-21 [NPLM] variants.
• To beef up its artillery forces, the battlegroup will receive a smattering of other weapons, likely occurring in transit from the rear to the front. These units include 2S3 AKATSIYA, old WW2-era (but new) ML-20 152mm howitzers and even the sole Soviet-fielding DANA wheeled self-propelled artillery gun. These were Czech-made units available to the Central Group of Forces (Soviet Army stationed in Czechoslovakia), with the school located near the division.

TANK

• As can be expected, a pretty strong category with lots of cheap slots.
• The 34th Tank Division has access to numerous T-62MK, T-62M1, T-62M and T-62MV.
• Additionally, older (and new) REZ. T-62 Obr. 72 and REZ. T-62 Obr. 74 with the Reservist trait will also be made available.
• And dedicated tank destroying units will be restricted to a few older (and new) BRDM-2 MALYUTKA-P and BRDM-2 FALANGA-P.

RECO

• Recon forces in this battlegroup are pretty decent. They include classic RAZVEKDA SAPERI and MOT. RAZVEDKA., the latter squad deployable with RAZV. BTR-60PB transport.
• New REZ. RAZVEDKA with 4xAKM and RPG-18, sporting the Reservist trait.
• One card each of the BRDM-2 and BRM-1.
• A new unit will be the REZ. MV-650 DNJEPR motorcycle with sidecar, armed with an AGS-17. Think of it as a faster but more fragile UAZ with an automatic grenade launcher.

AA

• Anti-air category is average, with the division’s regimental AA weapons limited to a few BRDM-2 STRELA-1 and (older, as fielded by the East Germans) ZSU-23-4 SHILKA.
• MANPAD teams will vary between the usual IGLA and REZ. STRELA-2.
• Heavier AA systems amounted to older OSA with only 4 unboxed missiles and less range.
• In the march to the front, and to make up for the lack of AA systems, the division would commandeer REZ. AZP S-60 towed 57mm guns.

HELO

• It's not very promising, with the sole helicopter regiment located nearby to the 34th Tank Division having gained some notoriety (even in WARNO’s timeline). These were the pilots that flew the dangerous rescue and water-dosing missions about Chernobyl’s exposed reactor at dramatic personal risk. As a result, one of the regiment’s four squadrons was disbanded.
• This means that (no—they won’t be radioactive) helicopter support will come in the form of a handful of older Mi-24D (currently only featured as East German) in the anti-tank role and Mi-8 in a fire support one.

AIR

• Air forces assigned to the division are very good, however. While moving west to join the fight against NATO, the 34th Tank Division relied on the powerful Byelorussian Military District’s air force with several Su-25 regiments deployable. These will form a sizable core of the divisional air support.
• Other aircraft to be added will be picked from other Belarusian air regiments: MiG-29, Su-24 or MiG-25, as well as the older Yak-28PP in the EW role.

The second-echelon 34th Tank Division’s strength would be its large number of cheap tanks—chiefly the T-62—further backed by reservist infantry and a strong air force.

Nemesis #2 So Far

Nemesis #2 is in full swing. Each paid Nemesis mini-expansion contains two themed divisions featuring new units, vehicles, and weapons. And you get to vote on which of three Nemesis options should be developed.

The Nemesis pairings are all “what if” battles, operations, or decisive campaigns in WARNO’s alternative World War III. The Nemesis chosen by you through a majority vote will “write” WARNO’s lore. Note that the Nemesis options coming in second and third go back on the Eugen’s workshop shelves for potential later use.

And so it came to pass:

• The Nemesis #2.1 - Hof Corridor centers on a key valley in southern East Germany turning into the counter-attack vector for the Bundeswehr’s 12 Panzerdivision, with plentiful American support, going up against the ad-hoc defensive-minded Soviet battlegroup Protivotankovyy Rezerv with East German reservists.
• Nemesis #2.2 - Plateau d'Albion features a war scenario straight out of a 1980s technothriller with a life-or-death struggle to take control of the French silo-based nuclear weapons on Plateau d'Albion. The Soviet 76th Guards Airborne Division air assault deep behind enemy lines and face off against the local French defenders of the 152e Division d’Infanterie.

Nemesis: Air Assault

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978640/WARNO__Nemesis_1__Air_Assault/

Nemesis: Air Assault, featuring the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 56-ya O.G. DShB or the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault and NATO’s US U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is WARNO’s very first Nemesis DLC. The choice for this particular offering was already made ahead of time to speed up development.

Until Next Time

That’s all. Start your propaganda engines and get ready to make a choice. We’ll be back next week with the kick-off of the Nemesis #2 vote!

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See you on the battlefield, commander.