Hello commander,
This is it! We are at the end of the latest Nemesis DLC run. Today, let’s take a look at our third and final option: Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff.
It is a return to the Italian front in August 1944, but this time, we are zooming in on the western, “quiet” sector of the Gothic Line, close to Pisa. We are on the Ligurian coastline during Operation Olive, and it is here where we will encounter our two new battlegroups: 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision and Task Force 45.
Both divisions are formed from either anti-aircraft troops or redundant air force’s ground crews.
There is more to Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff. One new nation will put some lively zest in the composition of the Allied battlegroup: the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.
The History of Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff
August 1944, and the Allies are commencing with Operation Olive. As you might remember from the post detailing Nemesis: Battle of Rimini, Operation Olive was the plan to break through the German Gothic defensive line. The first phase would kick off on the Adriatic coast; beating the Axis defenders around Rimini would weaken the center, allowing American divisions to advance up to Bologna. In the west, the battle lines around Pisa on the Ligurian coastline would remain quiet.
For the Allies, much of their fighting power on the Italian front had weakened with the departure of the French Expeditionary Force (off to liberate their homeland). Operation Overlord further siphoned troops and material to Western Europe. The arrival in late 1944 of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (Força Expedicionária Brasileira) would only barely alleviated the lack of manpower.
General Crittenberger’s US IV Corps had been left a single division to hold the western flank. To strengthen his frontline, Crittenberger ordered the creation of a new infantry battlegroup: Task Force 45. Most of its soldiers were anti-aircraft gunners, left without much to do and converted to frontline duty. These reluctant soldiers lacked combat training and experience.
Later, this formation received its first Brazilian soldiers. It could also count on the 100th Infantry Battalion, a special unit made up of Japanese-American soldiers.
On the German side, with more and more divisions transferred to the Eastern Front or Normandy, dangerous gaps had started to appear in the defensive lines. The exhausted Axis forces were shrinking in size every day. To give the battered formations some rest, divisions posted on anti-partisan duties were pushed closer to the front. One of these was the mobile (bicycle) 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision.
There was no pitched battle on this part of the front in late summer 1944. Nonetheless, both battlegroups - with similar origins - found themselves actively engaged in the same sector.
What will Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff feature?
Nemesis: Ligurian Standoff will feature two unique battlegroups with a similar composition, bringing several new toys and units.
One new nation will make its appearance in this Nemesis DLC: the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.
20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision
In 1943, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was formed in Denmark from excess Luftwaffe personnel. Earmarked as an occupation force, the division was stripped of all its heavy equipment and reorganized as a mobile (bicycle) division. Therefore, unlike other Luftwaffe Felddivisionen, it was considered a “cavalry” unit and received plenty of excellent cavalry officers and NCOs.
Initially shipped off to Italy to hunt partisans, the 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision was very soon moved closer to the front. The division’s mission was still anti-partisan but also used to secure the coastline against any potential Allied landing. As such, it was reequipped and reinforced with heavy equipment as an infantry division.
- The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision should rekindle some memories from Steel Division: Normandy 44 veterans as it takes several cues from the 16. Luftwaffe-Felddivision featured in the original game.
- This battlegroup will have a fair share of reluctant Luftwaffe mechanics turned infantrymen, as well as “unreliable” Volkdeutschen. That’s why some of the Lw-Jäger will be ill-equipped and feature the Disheartened trait.
- However, a strong cadre of paratrooper NCOs, supplemented by cavalry officers, make up a sizable portion of the remaining infantry forces. A number of Lw-Jäger squads will feature more modern equipment, deploying with the MG-42 machine gun, for instance, and not carrying the Disheartened trait.
- Instead of IG 18 infantry guns, extra Flak 38mm can be found and used as direct fire support. As a new unit in-game, they will be mounted on captured Italian AS-43 (Sahariana) light trucks.
- The battlegroup's anti-tank units are equipped with PaK 97/38, with additional PaK 40, as well as Marder tank destroyers available.
- Artillery will be partially equipped with Italian weaponry, including 75mm mountain guns, 100mm and a new unit, the 149mm artillery guns.
- Heavy AA cover is provided by Flak 38 20 mm, Flak 36 37mm, and captured Italian 90mm AA guns or Breda 20mm mounted on trucks.
- While tanks are few and far between in this battlegroup, an Italian captured vehicle is being put to good use: the Italian Semovente 47/32 will be available as a tank destroyer and command variant.
- The 20. Luftwaffe-Felddivision has decent recon and infantry forces. Its Support category will be well-stocked with several types of machine guns.
- Likewise, its Anti-Tank and AA forces are above average. This battlegroup is weaker when it comes to the armor and air forces it can deploy.
Task Force 45
Task Force 45 is an amalgamation of several disparate infantry forces, mostly American anti-aircraft gunners who, due to rare Luftwaffe interference, were left without a job. As such, the gunners were ordered into the trenches with only a minimum amount of basic training.
Additional firepower comes in the way of the first echelon of the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces, the so-called Smoking Cobras, recently arrived in Italy and organized along American lines. Similarly, the unique Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion can also be encountered within Task Force 45. This formation was nicknamed the “Purple Heart Battalion” thanks to almost all of its members having received the award by sustaining a combat wound in action.
Due to its composition changing over time and additional forces becoming available, Task Force 45 will be a Combat Phase-locked battlegroup.
- Available in Phase A, Task Force 45 will be made up of anti-aircraft gunners reformed into infantry squads of 15 soldiers with one BAR among them. This is a new unit. Not eager to fight, these squads carry the Disheartened trait.
- Quite a few M15 and M16 half-tracks will be available in both AA and support roles.
- A new unit is the M2 90mm gun (the American equivalent to the infamous German 88mm gun), which can be used in a direct support role, either as AA or AT.
- Additionally, some armored vehicles can be deployed, including Sherman and Stuart tanks and Wolverine tank destroyers.
- Phase B sees the arrival of the 100th Infantry Battalion, bringing Nisei American-Japanese squads, a new unit. Eager to prove their patriotism and loyalty, these regular infantry soldiers will fight extra hard, earning them the Fanatical trait.
- British anti-aircraft troops, as a new unit, are organized much in the same way as their American counterparts into 15-men squads but without automatic weapons. However, as they will have had time to train, they will not feature any Disheartened trait.
- Furthermore, additional war material, including Sherman 105mm tanks, as well as the new 8-inch/203mm howitzer, can be deployed in Phase B.
- Task Force 45 will see the deployment of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in Phase C. These Brazilian units are equipped with American weapons and vehicles, and include scouts, riflemen, MGs, jeeps, trucks, etc. They will be fully voiced!
- This Allied battlegroup has a particularly strong infantry composition with many original choices. The Support and AA categories feature powerful units. Other tabs, such as Recon, Artillery, and Tanks, consist of more regular units while the Air Force is relatively weak (partially offset by the anti-aircraft guns available).
Nemesis DLC explained
How does this whole Nemesis DLC thing work again?
- Nemesis: Storming Toulon is the first choice of run 4. Read all about this Nemesis DLC option in this detailed blog post.
- Nemesis: Battle of Păuliș is the second option. Read more about this potential Nemesis DLC in the in-depth post here.
- Each Nemesis DLC will bring two new divisions (one from each side) and will feature new units, new weapons, new models, and maybe even new nations. They will be PAID.
- Each Nemesis DLC focuses on a new historical Theater of Operations (think engagement or battle) that was relevant and set in the summer of 1944. This could be the Eastern Front, could be the Western Front, could even be other interesting… locales.
When can you expect which Nemesis DLC?
Nemesis: Battle of Sandomierz Bridgehead is the first Nemesis DLC and available for free now! It features the 16. Panzerdivision and the 97th Guards Rifle Division from the Eastern Front, bringing a number of new units, including the most powerful German tank of World War II, the Königstiger (H).
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1405650/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_1__Sandomierz
The second Nemesis DLC, Nemesis: Lvov Offensive is available now for €4.99 / $4.99! This Nemesis DLC contains the German 20. Panzergrenadier-Division and the Allied 10th Guards Tank Corps, bringing new units such as the heavy tank destroyer Elefant, the unique Bef. Tiger (P) and Bef. Panzer V/IV tanks, Muniwagen Panzer III, Flakpanzer T-34(r) and Flakpanzer Panther, and captured T-5 Pantera..
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1418230/Steel_Division_2__Nemesis_2__Lvov_Offensive
Nemesis: Battle of Rimini is our third confirmed Nemesis DLC. It will bring the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division for the Axis, and the combined Allied battlegroup of the 2nd New Zealand Division with the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade attached.
Coming up next!
That’s it for our Nemesis DLC run 4. Next week, we’ll officially open the digital voting booths once more. We can’t wait for the results!
Let us know what you think. Reach out to us via our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or keep an eye out on our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Check out the kick-assDiscord server or Reddit page.
See you on the battlefield, commander!