Men of Steel Gameplay Showcase #2

Hello commander,

We are back again with a meaty new DevBlog. Get ready for our second gameplay showcase of the upcoming Steel Division 2: Men of Steel expansion.

In today’s post, we’ll be detailing both the 1st Airborne Task Force and the 715. Infanterie-Division. This Axis and Allied battlegroup duo was first detailed in a Versus post, which you can find here. If you want to read more about the historical backgrounds of each division, be sure to check it out.

Note that the allocation of units and their make-up is not set in stone. These divisions and the others coming to Steel Division 2: Men of Steel are still being worked on as we speak.

1st Airborne Task Force

Let’s begin with the 1st Airborne Task Force. What can you expect of these Allied paratroopers in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel?

While most of the division will be available from the start, some specific units will be Combat Phase locked. Historically, this represents the mechanized forces taking some time to contact the airborne troops after the amphibious landings during Operation Dragoon in Southern France in the summer of 1944.

Let’s check out 1st Airborne Task Force, category by category.

RECON
The reconnaissance category has a good amount of open slots, most of them being cheap. Furthermore, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

• There are quite a variety of scouts on offer, the majority being infantry:
  • These include British AB SCOUTS, AB SNIPER and PATHFINDERS, identical to those found in the 6th Airborne Division. FFI SABOTEURS from the 1e Division Française Libre (featured in our fourth Nemesis: Storming Toulon mini-expansion) can also be found.
  • The new American AB SCOUTS and PATHFINDERS, as well as Canadian FORCEMEN SCOUTS. The latter are 7-man squads with the Commando trait, scoped rifle, and Willy Pete phosphorus grenades. Our new Ace Tommy Prince will be featured with this unit.

• The sole reconnaissance vehicles available in Phase A are American JEEP .50 and French-captured FFI SIDE-CAR.
  
• Deployable from Phase B are some heavier mechanized units as SCOUTS with a M20 transport, as well as M8 GREYHOUND.

INFANTRY
This category is pretty good, with numerous cheap slots and many options.

• Get ready to play with British AB PARAS, AB PARAS (PIAT), AB ENGINEERS, and AB LEADERS, as well as French FFI MAQUISARDS and CMDT FFI.
  • Note that the British AB PARAS units have been reworked to better follow their actual TO&E. As such, they lose the Gammon bombs and 1x Sten in favor of a scoped Lee Enfield. Their price will change accordingly, which will also affect 6th Airborne upon the expansion’s release.

• The American paratroopers drop in with lots of variety:
  • AB LEADER. A 5-man command squad with a mix of Thompson, M1 Carbine, Garand rifles, and smoke grenades.
  • AB RIFLES. Strong 12-man squads with 2x Thompson, 1x M1919A6 LMG, 9x Garand, and a Bazooka.
  • AB ENGINEER LEADER. A 5-man squad with Thompson and Garand, as well as TNT explosives.
  • AB ENGINEERS. An 11-man squad with Thompson SMGs, Garand, and Flamethrower.
  • GLIDER RIFLES. A 12-man squad with one Thompson, 10x Garand, and 1x BAR, plus Bazooka.
  • AB ASSAULT GROUP. This unit represents the small 509th PIB. They come as a 12-man assault squad with 5x Thompson, 6x Garand, 1x BAR, and Willy Pete grenades. Furthermore, they have an increased Veterancy level, plus the Shock trait.
  • AB DEMOLITION GROUP. A 12-man squad with 10x Carbine, 2x Garand, TNT, and smoke grenades. Historically, with only one platoon in the entire division, they come as a single card of three Combat Phase A-only Elite squads.

• The Canadian-American 1st Special Service Force (the Devil’s Brigade) will find its way into the battlegroup as follows:
  • FORCEMEN LEADER. A 3-man Special Forces team with Carbines, Bazooka, and smoke grenades.
  • FORCEMEN. A 13-man veteran Special Forces squad with 3x Thompson, 8x Garand, 2x Johnson LMG (roughly equivalent to an FG-42), and TNT.
  • FORCEMEN (BAR). Another 13-man veteran Special Forces squad with 1x Grease Gun, 10x Garand, 2x BAR, and a Bazooka. This is the sole American Forcemen squad, all the others being Canadian.
  • Each FORCEMEN unit comes as a single card only and features the Commando trait.

• Aside from the FFI already waiting for the 1st Airborne Task Force on the ground, the fighting forces of France are also represented by a single Combat Phase A and B-only card of CHASSEURS-PARAS. These are from the 1er Régiment de Chasseurs-Parachutistes and come as a 12-man squad with 2x Thompson, 3x Carbine, 6x Garand, and a M1919A6 LMG.
  
• Finally, after having taken too much sun on the Riviera, arrive the RIFLES (late) and RIFLES LEADER in Combat Phase C.

TANK
The armored forces of the 1st Airborne Task Force are rather limited. Though cheap, you won’t have much to choose from.

• Only one card of M5A1 (Stuart) from Combat Phase B onwards.
• Only one card of M4A1 and CMD M4A1 in Combat Phase C only.

SUPPORT
A decent category with a good number of slots, not being too expensive. The units featured are all relatively light, however.

• Plenty of HMG teams are at your disposal, from British AB VICKERS, French FFI MG-34, and American AB M1919 and AB M2HB teams.
• Supply units are featured as the British AB JEEP SUPPLY in Combat Phase A and the American GMC SUPPLY (the latter only from Combat Phase B onwards).
• Some fire support units can be deployed, including the British AB 2-INCH MORTAR in A and the American M4(105) from Combat Phase C.
• Commander units include those deployable on foot or with a jeep in Combat Phase A or with the M20 armored car in C.

ANTI-TANK
You’ll only have a medium amount of slot availability in this category, with choices being rather restricted and light.

• AB PIAT and AB BAZOOK teams.
• All variants of 6-pdr and 57mm towed anti-tank guns, ranging with either APCR rounds (British airborne variant), without (U.S. paratrooper variant) and elite Fanatical (courtesy of the Japanese-American Nisei from the 442nd Infantry Regiment anti-tank company).
• From Combat Phase B onwards, some additional M10A1 tank destroyers are available.

ANTI-AIR
Not one of the best categories for the 1st Airborne Task Force, with options few and far between.

• There are no AA defenses in Combat Phase A - at all!
• A single card of M16 AA in B.
• Some BOFORS towed units can be deployed starting in Combat Phase C.

ARTILLERY
The division can count on some decent artillery units, but again, most of the choices are light.

• A variety of different mortars are in play, from British British 3-inch, American 60mm, 81mm, and 107mm.
• You’ll also get to deploy the Airborne (either British or American) M1 PACK HOWITZER.
• And lastly, in Combat Phase C, the American M21 self-propelled mortar carrier.

AIR
The 1st Airborne Task Force can count on some pretty good air cover, with a sizable amount of affordable options. Commanders can choose between American & British Air Forces’ planes.

• The Americans provide a good part of the air support, including:
  • the ground-pounding aircrafts with the B-26B-10-MA MAURAUDER and B-25J-25 MITCHELL in close air support and heavy bomber roles, respectively.
  • carrier-borne fighters (from the USS Tulagi) coming as the F-6F-5 HELLCAT in their U.S. Navy dark blue livery.
  • some recon capacity in the form of the unarmed F-5A (recon P-38).
  • a number of escort P-51, either P-51B-10-NA fighter and P-51D-5 fighter-bombers.

• The British feature:
  • the SEAFIRE in fighter and recon roles.
  • the BEAUFIGHTER Mk. X in both AT and HE rocket payloads.

The 1st Airborne Task Force, like most paratrooper battlegroups, has the necessary tools to take the fight up close and personal, with a wide variety of infantry and recon forces. However, the division will fare less well across open terrain or in prolonged battles, especially against tanks. Not all is lost. In these cases, the battlegroup’s powerful air support can tip the tide of the battle in 1st Airborne Task Force’s favor.

715. Infanterie-Division

Next up is the Axis 715. Infanterie-Division, active on the Italian front during the fighting for the Anzio beachhead. This particular battlegroup is Combat Phase locked. In Phase A, this represents the division's organic troops and attached forces used in the initial counter-attacks against the Allies at Anzio. And in Phase B, those fascist Italian reinforcements from Decima Mas and SS.

RECON
A good category with even-priced options and a large arsenal of units to choose from.

• The standard complement of BMW, AUFKLÄRER and FUSILIERS.
• Beute French Panhard 25mm armored cars as the SPW-204(f).
• Veteran AUFKL.PANZER II F, the armored recon element from the STURMPANZER IV battalion.
• And from Combat Phase B onwards, the RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italiana) veteran AS.42 20mm heavy jeep and DECIMA ESPLORATORI.

INFANTRY
The 715. Infanterie-Division can count on lots of infantry, which is no surprise for a battlegroup like this. Lots of choices, with quite a few new units.

• We start off the list with the usual suspects, all command squads: PIONIER FÜHRER, GRENADIER FÜHRER, and PZ. GRENADIER FÜHRER.
• Before moving to the new units:
  • The battlegroup’s core cadre of combat soldiers comes as GRENADIER (15W) and PIONIER (15W). The 15W stands for “15. Welle”, or the 15th recruitment wave. These recruits were all too sick, too old, or too scrawny for active service and were regrouped in static defense divisions. These squads carry the Disheartened trait for both the Grenadier and Pionier variants. We also ensured that the 3D models reflect these aged and sickly warriors!
  • Lw-JÄGER z.b.V. are Luftwaffe penal troops stationed on the Eastern Front before being hastily airlifted to counter the Anzio landings. That’s why they are equipped with Soviet-captured small arms. A 15-man squad fielding 4x MP-40, 10x SVT, and 1x MG-34 plus AT grenades … and the Fanatical trait.
  • To make up for its initial losses, the 715. Infanterie-Division amalgamated a Panzergrenadier regiment from general reserve, meaning motorized (truck-borne), not half-track infantry. This particular formation was organized according to the old 1941 TO&E, resulting in larger squads but lesser equipment. These units are brought in two distinct flavors, with the PZ.GRENADIER ’41 holding 12 men with 1x MP-40, 9x Kar rifles, and 2x MG-34 plus a Panzerfaust, while the PZ.GRENADIER ’41 (PzB) substitutes the latter with a Panzerbüsche 41 anti-tank rifle.

• From Combat Phase B onwards, the Italians come to the rescue!
  • The SS-LEGIONARI make a comeback, having previously only been featured in the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier “Götz von Berlichingen” found in our Steel Division 2: Tribute to D-Day expansion.
  • The Decima Mas can be deployed in three versions, all entirely equipped with automatic weapons. All these squads are veterans with the Commando trait.
  • The DECIMA is an 8-man strong squad with 7x Beretta SMG, 1x MG-42, and AT grenades.
  • The DECIMA ARDITI is the same size but features 6x Beretta SMG, 2x Bredal 30 LMG, and a Panzerfaust.
  • The DECIMA CMDO is a 3-man command squad with 3x MP-40, Panzerfaust, smoke grenades, and radio.

TANK
A reasonable category with only a few slots, but quite affordable.

• Armor at your disposal include veteran TIGER E, including FÜH. command version.
• STUG III G plus FÜH. command variant.
• The PANZER P40 737(i) in Combat Phase A only. This is the first domestically produced Italian “heavy” tank, the P26, which was captured by the Germans and immediately put into action at Anzio.

SUPPORT
The division can count on a good SUPPORT category, with lots of choices for a decent price.

• This includes Disheartened MG-34 MG teams, as well as regular MG-42, IG.18 and IG.33 infantry guns, and 50mm mortars.
• Plus BORGWARD IV and STURMPANZER IV assault vehicles.
• From Phase B onwards, the Italians bring OBICE 65/13 and BRIXIA mortars.

ANTI-TANK
A medium amount of open slots and average prices can be found in this category.

• Commanders get to deploy the usual PAK 38 and PAK 40 anti-tank guns, as well as PANZERSCHRECK teams and some MARDER III.
• Heavy firepower is brought to bear by the ELEFANT tank destroyer. This company-sized formation was actually “missing” from the s. Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653i, which was attached to 20. Panzergrenadier (from our Nemesis: Lvov Offensive mini-expansion)!
• And, as expected, the Italians bring their CANNONE 47/32 in Phase B! It’s the thought that counts…

ANTI-AIR
Not the best of categories, with only three open slots, quickly turning expensive.

• The 715. Infanterie-Division barely had any organic anti-air forces, relying on a few units scrounged from neighboring formations or brought by reinforcements.
• And all options are pretty light, as only the FLAK 20mm and 37mm, as well as the self-propelled SDKFZ. 7/1 20mm quad are deployable.

ARTILLERY
A good number of slots, average price, and a large amount of choice - including new ones - make this a solid category. The division had few artillery pieces of its own at the start, but during the Anzio fighting gained control over several independent artillery battalions.

• The usual classic array of 81mm and 120mm mortars.
• The “new” K.390(r) 122mm howitzer, which is a captured Soviet A-19 gun, turned into a more-than-decent AT gun. This unit is not new to Steel Division 2 but is making its first appearance as a German Beute weapon.
• The s.FH 404 149mm, an Italian M19, already used as a Beute weapon.
• MÖRSER 531(f) 220mm which are old WW1 French super-heavy artillery guns.
• A few SDKFZ. 135/1 150mmm, a self-propelled 150mm gun on a Lorraine 37L chassis, courtesy of Major Becker’s workshop while stationed in France.

From Phase B onwards, the Italians bring their own guns.

• The OBICE 75/27 75mm howitzer.
• The new OBICE 105/32 105mm howitzer.

AIR
Nothing fancy up in the air for the 715. Infanterie-Division. Average slots and ditto prices.

• RSI SM.79-II SPARVIERO bombers were among the first to attack the Allied fleet at Anzio, the Italians acting on their own initiative. These planes will be available from Phase A.
• Further aircraft will be Luftwaffe, including JU-88 bombers and heavy recon, FW 190 fighters and fighter-bombers, DO-217 K-1 bombers and older BF-109 G-6 fighters.

The 715. Infanterie-Division is a versatile battlegroup, with a range of average troops backed up by excellent, heavy-hitting units across all categories. Still, care should be taken as some are time-locked, expensive, or available in small numbers.

Steel Division 2: Men of Steel Versus

If you want to do some background reading on Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, be sure to check out our historical highlights, our so-called Versus DevBlogs.

Versus

• The Wehrmacht reservist of the 715. Infanterie-Division and the paratroopers of the Allied 1st Airborne Task Force receive their highlight in our Versus #1DevBlog.
• The Allied commandos of the 1st Special Force Brigade against the Market Garden-active Axis Kampfgruppe von Tettau in Versus #2 DevBlog.
• The Finish-Swedish Axis 17. Divisioona and the partisan-infused and mixed Allied Groupement Dody in the Versus #3 DevBlog.
• The Axis-Hungarian armored 1. Páncélos Hadosztály and the Soviet-allied Bulgarian Bronirana Brigada get their spotlight in Versus #4 DevBlog.

Aces
And if you want to read more about the two new Aces - Allied Sergeant Tommy Prince and Hungarian tank commander Barnabás Kőszeghy - you’ll encounter in Steel Division 2: Men of Steel, look no further and check out this dedicated DevBlog here.

See you on the battlefield

And we are done with the second Steel Division 2: Men of Steel showcase. We can’t wait to hear what you think!

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See you on the battlefield, commander.