Hello!
As promised in last week’s DevBlog, in today’s new preview of Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk, the Czechoslovakian troops of the mixed armored CIABG battlegroup get their turn in the spotlight.
Let’s look at what the new division brings to the table with each new Steel Division 2 category.
CIABG in Steel Division 2
The CIABG stands for Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group, a formation created out of Czechoslovakian soldiers in Great Britain in 1940. The early war years were spent training before the formation was upgraded into an armored one. Having landed in Normandy in 1944, but too late to see any combat during the campaign and successful break-out of Allied troops into France proper, the CIABG played its part in the drive up the French coast of the English Channel, arriving at the (already) besieged Axis-held port of Dunkirk in September 1944.
The CIABG could never rely on many infantry, instead focusing on its armored firepower. Interestingly enough, as the besiegers, it had to be augmented by local Free French partisans turned “general” combat soldiers, as well as leftover Commonwealth troops. Encircling the Dunkirk garrison in its entirety, the CIABG could count on plenty of tanks, heavy AA pieces, artillery, and even siege guns, and captured German equipment to boot. The CIABG would sit out the remaining war years in and around Dunkirk, never overcoming the staunch Axis defenders.
CIABG detailed
Note that most of the following overview is still work-in-progress. Expect some things to change. Also, while diacritics specific to the Czech and Slovakian languages may be missing in this preview, they will be in-game!
Let’s go through each category and see which new units you’ll be able to encounter in CIABG’s arsenal:
RECON
A rather average category with a medium number of slots, but pricey. There are quite a few choices, such as:
- The standard 4-man Czech, PRŮZKUMNÍCI (scouts), French 6-man FFO FUS-MARINS assault scouts, and mixed Czech-French BOJOVÁ HLÍDKA (combat patrol) heavy 12-man squads fielding captured German equipment.
- For wheeled scout support, commanders can deploy the new HUMBER LRC Mk. II and DAIMLER OV as, respectively, a light and heavy armored car.
- Recon tanks are also available: either the M5A1 or the CROMWELL.
INFANTRY
Not the best of categories, with slots getting quite expensive quickly. The choice is very diverse, however.
- Czech. Infantry is rather rare, with only one card of veteran MOTOSTŘELCI and MOTOSTŘELCI VELITEL (leader variant) available, as well as one (Combat Phase A-only) card of ŽENISTÉ, which are 12-man assault engineer squads.
- The bulk of the infantry forces are formed by French FFO FUSILIERS (including command version), equipped with a mix of British, captured German, and old 1940 French small arms. Substantial in numbers, they are all veterancy-locked.
- The British provide large 15-man security troops as CONV. GUNNERS (featured the Task Force 45 battlegroup) and the new CONV. RAF, which are airfield security forces. These latter units have been shipped from the United Kingdom, converted into line infantry, and sent to the front. Unlike their Gunners counterparts, the RAF soldiers carry the Disheartened trait but are equipped with a K-Gun LMG.
TANK
This is where the CIABG shines. A good category, considering that when the brigade combines its tanks with those of the attached British 7th Tank Regiment, the CIABG will have enough armor to be regarded as a full-fledged tank division. This is one reason why this battlegroup can count on 10 slots, with only the last ones being more expensive than your standard armored division.
From the CIABG side of the battlegroup, commanders will deploy the light M5A1 (and leader variant).
- The medium CROMWELL, plus leader, as well as the heavier and new CROMWELL VII, including subvariants and leader versions.
- One card of FIREFLY Ic tanks.
From the British 7th Tank Regiment side, we will feature:
- the CHURCHILL IV (6-pdr) and the CHURCHILL VI (75mm).
- And last, you can also deploy the heavy CHURCHILL VII.
SUPPORT
A classic category, with a good selection of HMGs and close support tanks.
- There is the standard Czech. VICKERS HGM, but also captured (and new) FFO MG-42 units.
- Support tanks include the CHURCHILL V and the CROMWELL VI (which is a CROMWELL IV/V with a 95mm support gun) and its up-armored cousin, the new CROMWELL VIII (built on the heavier CROMWELL VII).
- Commander units are distributed as the KOMANDÉR infantry unit, the new AEC ACV command truck, and the CROMWELL IV KOMANDÉR.
- The category is rounded out by a series of standard Bedford Supply trucks.
ANTI-TANK
Not one of the best categories, with few and expensive slots and limited choices, none of which are self-propelled.
- The Czech. PIAT and captured PANZERSCHRECK.
- Czech 6- and 17-PDR. towed AT guns.
ANTI-AIR
Anti-Air features lots of availability and options, all being reasonably priced.
- This includes the Czech. POLSTEN 20mm and 40mm BOFORS towed guns, as well as the self-propelled CRUSADER MK.2 AA tanks.
- Not only a handful of captured FLAKVIERLING, but also a single FLAK 41 88mm can also be deployed.
- The British bring even more BOFORS guns.
- While the Canadians contingent of the battlegroup features the TRI-POLSTEN 20mm and heavy QF 3,7-inch (94 mm) AA guns. The latter comes in two different cards: the standard one already featured with the South-Africans or British, and in its Mk.42 variant. This was a special anti-tank sight equipping some of the guns, making it much more accurate in this latter role.
ART
Very similar to the above ANTI-AIR category in terms of slots' costs & numbers, with:
- Czech. 3-inch MORTAR and 25-PDR towed artillery guns.
- French FFO (re)captured (and new in-game) GPF 155mm howitzers.
- British LONG TOM 155mm and the new BL 7,2-inch 182,9mm heavy guns.
AIR
Not one of the best categories, with limited slots and quite expensive. Historically, with no chance for Luftwaffe interception and the presence of a LOT of AA (see above) limited the requirement of air support to this battlegroup.
- Czech. RAF SPITFIRE MK. IXc fighter and its MK.Vb recon fighter variant.
- British SPITFIRE MK. IXe in fighter and “Spitbomber” roles.
- British TYPHOON Mk. IB with bombs and rockets (both AP and HE) loadouts.
- British MITCHELL II (designation for the B-25) medium bomber.
The CIABG is an unusual armored division with many tanks and support options but lacking in anti-tank, air and infantry forces.
See you on the battlefield
That’s it! For next week’s DevBlog, we’ll look at the other Nemesis: Siege of Dunkirk division, Festung Dunkirchen.
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See you on the battlefield, commander!