Hello commander!
With every day, we get a step closer to the launch of our next expansion for Steel Division 2, the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy. In last week’s post, we talked about the various updates you can expect to drop simultaneously. Read more about them here.
Today we wanted to show you some new Allied vehicle skins coming with the expansion. Please note: these are not new models, but are the paint jobs and camouflage patterns adapted by the new battlegroups for their operations in the Italian theater of war.
The South Africans
South African tanks use the standard Commonwealth olive green paint, but its Fireflys were famous for altering the color of the tip of their gun. As a Firefly had a longer gun than the regular Sherman, it was a hot target for opposing Germans. To prevent their quick identification, the last half of the tank gun was camouflaged with a mix of green, black, and white. This made it look shorter. The trompe l’oeil made them pass for regular Shermans to distant observers.
South African recon vehicles also sport their own two-tone light camouflage pattern.
The Poles
The Poles are represented in the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion with the 2 Warszawska Brygada Pancerna (the 2nd (Warsaw) Armoured Brigade). This independent formation was the armored reserve of the II. Polish Corps in Italy. In Steel Division 2 it is featured as tank support for the pro-Allied Italian Corpo Italiano di Liberazione battlegroup.
Although the brigade’s insignia was a winged arm holding a sword (see above), the formation is more often represented in media and scale modeling by the famous symbol of its 4th Armored Regiment: a black scorpion (see below).
The Brazilians
The Brazilian FEB (Força Expedicionária Brasileira), as part of Task Force 45 didn’t use the Allied star, but its own “starry” insignia.
The Canadians
While Canada isn’t featured in the expansion with a battlegroup of its own, its significant contribution to the Italian campaign isn’t forgotten. They are represented by the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, universally regarded as the best Allied armored formation on the Italian front. The Canadians will be found fighting alongside, and part of, the British 8th Indian Infantry Division battlegroup.
Don’t worry if you don’t see the ubiquitous maple leaf… it is there, at the back. ;)
The United States
The handful of Hellcat tank destroyers featured with Task Force 45 were early production models. They were being field-tested by the 894th Tank Destroyer Battalion. At that time, they were designated T70, and weren’t very well-regarded as tank destroyers, deemed way under-armored. Instead, the battalion used them as armored recon, in which role their speed and low profile proved perfect. And the gun was a bonus.
The British
Although not featured in any current Steel Division 2 division, some may recognize Steel Division: Normandy 44 Desert Rat’s SP Autocar M3. Used in a recon role by the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers, the 8th Indian Infantry Division’s recon regiment, it was given a fresh paint job and some Sikh crew.
The Lone Australian
What? Australia is in the game! Indeed, consider this an Easter Egg, but we got our official first Australian unit debuting in the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion. After the North African campaign, all Australian ground troops had been sent back to take part in the Pacific theater. However, some Royal Australian Air Force squadrons remained on station in the Mediterranean until the end of the war. As part of the Desert Air Force, they will support Allied ground troops on the Adriatic shores, including the 6th South African Armoured Division in-game.
Being a solitary unit, we will display this Spitfire Mk. Vb/Trop variant under the British flag in the Armory. It is proudly Australian, however, with its own camouflage and markings.
Au revoir and until next week!
All right, commander, at ease. In case you have missed it, today is also the day we’ll be launching our new World War III battle simulator, WARNO. Be sure to check it out!
Keep a close watch on our Steam forums to keep up to date with the latest Steel Division 2 talk. Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.
See you on the battlefield, commander!