Guten Tag, genosse kommandant!
We’re back with this week's second WARNO - NORTHAG-themed DevBlog. Today, we’ll be taking a good look in Division #4 at the armored “poster child” of East Germany, the 9. Panzerdivision.
Seid ihr bereit?
The East German 9. Panzerdivision
The 9. Panzerdivision was the cream of the crop of the East German Nationale Volksarmee. The favored division was earmarked for the 5. Armee, with the tank formation set to be facing NORTHAG during any defensive (or, in our case) offensive operations. This division was at the top of the list of new equipment, receiving everything first and in greater number.
As such, the 9. Panzerdivision was not only the sole “full” T-72 tank division of the NVA, but it also received the latest models. Furthermore, the handful of BMP-2s that the Soviets ever agreed to sell to East Germany also ended up in this division. If the NVA had an equivalent to a Soviet Army’s “Guard” honorary title, the 9. Panzerdivision would have been it.
Much like the rest of the NVA, the 9. Panzerdivision was created at the inception of the East German Army in the 1950s, and the tank division was actually formed in 1956. Based in Eggesin, in the northeast of the communist country, it was closely modelled after Soviet example. During the Cold War, the division never saw any actual combat duty, except for some heightened readiness phases during the Prague Spring in 1968 and Polish unrest in the 1980s.
Warsaw Pact’s East German 9. Panzerdivision Detailed
In terms of the Table of Organization & Equipment, the 9. Panzerdivision follows in the footsteps of the (already existing in WARNO) 7. Panzerdivision.
However, there are some notable differences:
- As mentioned above, the division is fully equipped with T-72, so no older T-55s at all.
- MOT.-SCHÜTZEN motorized rifle squads are BMP-borne, no BTR deployable.
- It got first dib on most new equipment. Nice!
The 9. Panzerdivision in WARNO - NORTHAG
Let’s look to see how the East German 9. Panzerdivision shapes up to be.
LOG
- A pretty standard category for an armored division in terms of available slots.
- The East Germans receive a FOB, a medium T813 MUN. supply truck and the new, heavy T815 MUN. one.
- Command units are all armored and include SPW-50PU, BMP-1K SP2, and SPW-40P2(K).
INF
- Quite similar to the existing 7. Panzerdivision but with fewer slots.
- As previously mentioned, all MOT. SCHÜTZEN are BMP-borne, being brought to the battlefield in either SPz BMP-1 SP, SPz BMP-1 SP2 or SPz BMP-1P. The later coming in new Konkurs-equipped variants. The infantry are supported by MOT.-SCHÜTZEN FÜH. command squads.
- The latest SPz BMP-2 was very rare (a dozen in real life), but we created a new MOT.-SCHÜTZEN (RPG-27) squad to accommodate this IFV. Note that the limited supply to the East Germans of the RPG-27 also occurs due to our “March to War” timeline. This new squad and IFV will be available in two cards only.
- Of course, the usual complement of PIONIER combat engineers in either MT-LB or SPW-70 are available too.
- Support weapons are PALR FAGOT, PKM 7,62mm and GR.-MG 30mm.
ART
- Again, quite similar to the other East German armored division, but a bit more generous in number of units.
- Aside from towed 120mm mortars, the 9. Panzerdivision’s artillery is entirely self-propelled. Units include 2S1 122mm, 2S3 152mm and RM-70 MLRS.
- The latter unit will be available in both the standard HE variant and the new incendiary RM-70M (built on a T815 chassis).
TNK
- As to be expected, the best category with a generous array of slots and options. If you want your T-72s, you will get them!
- The KPz T-72M1, while rare in 7. Panzerdivision, is here the divisional warhorse. This tank will be available in command and plain “tank” variants.
- A cheaper version is not the KPz T-72M but instead the late production version delivered to NVA specifications from Czechoslovakian factories, namely the new KPz T-72MÜV2 with slightly improved front armor.
- Cherry on the cake, however, is the addition of one card of the new KPz T-72S. This was to be the new (main) Soviet export tank, built to almost a thousand units by 1989 but never delivered to Warsaw Pact client states due to the fall of the Berlin Wall. In our “March to War,” a few of these tanks would have started trickling down to the NVA where - of course - they would have been prioritized to the frontline service in the 9. Panzerdivision. The T-72S, being an export-downgraded version of the T-72B (which the Soviets kept for themselves), was still a major step-up over the T-72M1. Not only does it feature more armor, it can now also fire the Svir barrel-launched ATGM.
- Completing the tank force is the GF SHTURM-S missile-based tank destroyer, with its planned delivery (which never occurred in real-life) expedited in our March to War timeline. As with the rest of the division, no towed equipment will be available.
RECO
- Rather average with the 9. Panzerdivision being restricted to divisional assets only.
- This means a 4-man AUFKLÄRER team which can be deployed in the new SCHIMMWAGEN MAV, an amphibious jeep.
- Helicopter recon is the light but armed MI-2US ADDER.
- A Soviet detachment of MI-8PPA for some heavy-duty aerial radar recon.
AA
- Again similar to the existing 7. Panzerdivision with some differences:
- No towed equipment (so no ZU-23-2) and no BRDM-2 STRELA either.
- But it does mean more cards of both SHILKA and MT-LB STRELA-10 mobile SAMs.
HELO
- A rather average category with expensive slots and limited choice.
- The options on offer are good, though, and include the light MI-2 URN gunship and the MI-24D and MI-24P anti-tank Hinds.
AIR
- A pretty strong category with the Luftstreitkräfte providing ample ground support to the nation’s “best” division. Aircraft will come in two different flavors:
- MIG-23MF and MIG-23ML fighters.
- SU-22M4 in rocket, HE, cluster and SEAD roles.
The 9. Panzerdivision can boast a large variety and lots of T-72. This is further backed by good air and artillery. Furthermore, all of its equipment is self-propelled, making the East German formation the perfect assault division. Due to its limited infantry, it fares less well on defense.
NORTHAG Expansion Explained
In case you missed the news: WARNO - NORTHAG is the first major expansion coming to WARNO, and takes World War III to the North German Plain, where the attacking Warsaw Pact needs to overcome the staunch defenses of NATO’s NORTHAG. Under British command, Belgian, Dutch, West German, and American forces battle against the powerful northern formations of the Soviet Group of Forces in Germany, including East German and reinforcing Polish armies. The release is planned for later in 2024.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978620/WARNO__NORTHAG/
WARNO - NORTHAG will feature:
- 2 new Army General campaigns.
- 4 new Operations.
- 4 new Maps.
- 10 new Divisions, including Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie, Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya, the Dutch 4e Divisie, and the East German 9. Panzerdivision.
- 3 new playable nations: NATO’s Belgium and the Netherlands, and Warsaw Pact’s Poland.
- New voice acting.
- New units and models.
We have started detailing each of WARNO - NORTHAG’s features. Check the list below!
- In the very first DevBlog, highlighting Division #1, we show off NATO’s Belgian 16e Pantserdivisie going to war with powerhouse cousin Luxembourg. Read more about the new battlegroup in this dedicated post.
- In Division #2 we focused on the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet 25-ya Tank. Diviziya or 25th Tank Division. Read more about this battlegroup here.
- In our Division #3, we look at the Dutch and their hard-hitting 4e Divisie. Check it out in this DevBlog here.
Until Next Time
That’s it! Next week, we’ll kick off with the NATO’s British 4th Armoured Division!
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See you on the battlefield, commander.
