Hello commander!
Let’s dive right in with today’s final Battle of Turda DLC division preview. We will take a good look at the varied composition of the Allied Romanian Corpul 6 Teritorial.
A short Nemesis update
Before we press on, a brief message regarding our Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC. Yes, we are working on it, and yes, it will come soon. However, we are still ironing out some final touches which we hope to accomplish in the very near future.
With that out of the way, let’s continue with our new Romanian friends of the Corpul 6 Teritorial. We’d like to thank our Strike Team member and big Romanian fan Charlie TZR (aka the former Steppewolf) for additional details and background info!
A corps for training
After the crushing defeats of Stalingrad, the Romanian High Command hurriedly formed additional training divisions in the home country to process the new recruits and reservists. Made up of a handful of instructors and regulars, these training formations funneled fresh manpower to active divisions at the front. The Corpul 6 Teritorial came into existence in 1943, consisted of a corps of three training divisions, and deployed in Transylvania, south of Cluj-Napoca, at the new frontier with Hungary. The divisions were the 18th, the 20th, and the 6th.
Much like other Romanian training formations, the divisions within Corpul 6 Teritorial featured only six battalions (compared to nine for frontline divisions) and had access to fewer heavier weapons. Each individual division was closer to an infantry brigade. Elements in the corps included the Regimentul 6 Pionieri, providing the bulk of the combat power, and the Regimentul 10 Calarasi, with its recon and motorized troops, ideal for a mobile reserve force. Artillery units allocated to the formation were decent, with a wide range of gun pieces, from relatively modern 105mm Schneiders to 150mm Skoda guns and 155mm heavy WWI French models.
A new war
After Romania’s switch from Axis to Allies in August 1944, hostilities broke out with the former allies, Germany and Hungary. The Hungarians began their offensive into Transylvania to reach the Carpathian mountain passes within days. Being situated nearby, the role of Corpul 6 Teritorial changed overnight, becoming the first critical line of defense. They took the brunt of the offensive, critically delaying the Hungarians and Germans, and buying enough time for additional reinforcements to arrive, including Soviet troops.
The first combat mission of the formation, which was commanded by Brigadier General Georghe Stavrescu, was to stop and slow down the enemy’s advance. The infantry brigades took the first hit of the Hungarian attack but held on, being reinforced by other Romanian combat elements in the area.
First combat encounters
The left flank of the offensive was covered by two battalions of the 3rd Mountain Division, veterans of the Kuban and Crimea campaigns. These troops were the first in combat, and lacking much heavy weaponry, worked together with the border guards to repel the Hungarian attackers. They even used explosives from nearby mines for some additional firepower.
The other formations of Corpul 6 Teritorial also played their part, with the 18th being deployed around Alba Iulia and cleaning up the area of German troops, capturing a few tanks. Later on, it moved north towards Turda to assist the Soviet-Romanian attack. The 20th Division was the least-equipped formation. Regardless, it fought hard against superior forces, repelling frequent counterattacks and even pushing back the opponent across the river Mures. This division later linked up with the Corpul Motomecanizat. The 6th was located in Turda and was mauled in the first days of battle before moving off the line for rest and recuperation. Later on, it rejoined the fight, together with the first Soviet reinforcements. An additional Romanian formation, the 7th, was added to the corps, as it played a part in blocking areas when the enemy was advancing south.
Additional forces
The Corpul 6 Teritorial groups together an array of forces, not only the previously mentioned divisions, but also other troops. These include Regimentul 7 Graniceri, border guards, as well as local garrisons in Cluj and Aries, made up of reservists. However, a key turning point was the arrival of Soviet forces. The Corpul 6 Teritorial was capable of counter-attacking in the latter stages of the campaign, thanks to the influx of Red Army troops.
What can you expect in-game?
Corpul 6 Teritorial will have a tough time on the attack, but will receive more mobile troops and offensive options over time. To better reflect its historical conduct during the campaign, this division is phase-locked. A large variety of light Romanian units are available in Phase A, while the Soviets provide heavier reinforcements from Phase B onward.
- With a respectable amount of slots and options, the formation’s Recon units are pretty decent. Romanian scouts can only be deployed on foot or in side-cars, but later down the line, Soviet reinforcements bring units such as half-tracks and T-70 recon tanks.
- Lots of cheap slots are available in the Infantry category. This includes the usual Infanteristi (Pzf), Recruti, Pionieri and Pionieri Asalt. In later Phases, you also have access to Soviet Strelki and Strelki (DP, as well as Avtomatchiki including Leader variants.
- A number of new Romanian infantry squads are also available. Deploy the Graniceri and Graniceri Calari border guards, Rezervisti units carrying the Disheartened trait and equipped with the old French WWI Chauchat automatic rifle, or the Calarasi Moto with 2x MG-42, and Moti units. The latter squads resemble Vanatori Munte but lack AT weapons and instead use locally sourced TNT stocks for some hand-held explosive demolition charges.
- Tank is one of the weakest categories with a (real-life) grand total of zero tanks for the Corpul 6 Teritorial. However, the Soviets brought some of their own machinery later in the campaign. This means the division has to fend for itself without armored support in Phase A, while receiving some T-34/85 in Phase B.
- In Support, you will have access to quite a few HMGs, including Schwarloze, ZB-53 and heavy Hotchkiss guns. There are some Jandarmi (military police to keep those of Disheartened trait in line), as well as 47mm Breda support guns. Romanian commanders come either on foot or in a classy and speedy Ford V8 Sedan. Soviets provide an armored M2 Kombat from Phase B.
- Quite a bit of choice in the Anti-Tank category, though some with a limited availability of one card. This represents the motley assortment of guns used by the Romanian training divisions. As such you receive Panzerschreck, M32 AC 45mm, Schneider 47mm, PaK 38 50mm and Resita 75mm. From Phase B, Soviets bring their ZiS-2 and ZiS-3 towed guns.
- Anti-Aircraft is below average, with some good choices but expensive slots. Commanders get to choose from the ubiquitous twin Hotchkiss on trucks, German 20mm, French twin 25mm and German 88mm Flak guns.
- Artillery forces range from Romanian guns in the 75mm to 155mm caliber, but most of them are light or old. The Soviets feature some self-propelled SU-76M from Phase B.
- Airforces include a few French Potez 63.11 A3 recon bombers and the Potez 633 B2 bomber variant. These planes are supported by a few Me-109 G-2 fighters until the Red Air Force can bring the better Yak-1, Yak-9, Il-2 and Il-4 aircraft.
A brief summary
In case you missed it, the latest DLC for Steel Division 2, The Battle of Turda will contain the following.
- One new Army General campaign centered on the Battle of Turda, Transylvania, pitting Axis Hungary versus Allied Romania.
- Six new divisions.
- Of which three will be Romanian, including the Divizia 9 Infanterie, the Divizia 8 Cavalerie Motorizata and the Corpul 6 Teritorial.
- And two will be Hungarian, with one German. This includes the Hungarian 2. Páncéloshadosztály (2nd Armored Division) and 25. Hadosztály (25th Infantry Division). The Germans are represented with the Sperrverband von Kessel.
- Mixed divisions, with units from various nations, such as Romanian-Soviet or Hungarian-German.
- One new map.
- 2 Aces: the Hungarian tank commander Lieutenant Ervin Tarczay and Romanian fighter ace, Captain Dan Vizanti.
Until soon (but not next week)
That’s it for now. The Eugen staff will take some much-needed holidays on May 19th and 20th. This means that the offices will be closed and no blog post will be published during those days. Not to worry, we’ll be back soon after!
Keep a close watch on our Steam forums and Instagram 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 and get involved with the lively Steel Division 2 community!
See you on the battlefield, commander!