Steam News22 July 20232y ago

Update 1.0.5.5 (Experimental)

Greetings! We have a routine experimental branch update today focused on refinements to the Crusader scenario, several historical improvements to the UK 1939/1940 OBs, implementing the new Polish and Czech national colo

In this update3

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Full Combined Arms Operations Series update

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What changed

0 fixes5 additions6 changes1 removal

Maps
Gameplay

addedGreetings! We have a routine experimental branch update today focused on refinements to the Crusader scenario, several historical improvements to the UK 1939/1940 OBs, implementing the new Polish and Czech national color schemes, and a new system to preview the exact impact of terrain on unit combat values.

addedOperation Crusader Scenario Updated:Experience revealed our 1.0 Operation Crusader scenario biased too heavily in favor of the Axis because we provided them unrealistic flexibility. Due to incomplete intelligence, heavy rains grounding recon aircraft, and the pressing matter of planning the upcoming assault on Tobruk, Axis commanders did not appreciate the full scope of the Allied offensive when it first launched. Considering this fact, we have introduced several temporary movement restrictions to prevent the Axis player from conducting a historically nonsensical, perfect defensive plan, while still preserving player freedom. We have introduced similar limitations for Allied units inside Tobruk reflecting the fact that the garrison was not prepared for offensive operations on November 19. Additionally, we have made a few minor morale tweaks for both sides and limited the mobility of rear-area anti-aircraft units. The result is a better balanced, more fun, and more historically accurate scenario that captures the chaotic bloodbath that was Operation Crusader.

removedCrusader Changes:Removed erroneous 4th rifle company from South African infantry battalions.

changedCrusader Changes:Increased morale of all attachments of 7th Armoured Brigade by 1 level. This takes the units up to Veteran/Experienced, depending on battalion.

changedCrusader Changes:Increased morale of 4th Royal Horse Artillery regiment from experienced to veteran.

changedCrusader Changes:Reduced morale of most 15th Panzer Division units from Crack to Veteran.

Combined Arms Operations Series changes

addedExperience revealed our 1.0 Operation Crusader scenario biased too heavily in favor of the Axis because we provided them unrealistic flexibility. Due to incomplete intelligence, heavy rains grounding recon aircraft, and the pressing matter of planning the upcoming assault on Tobruk, Axis commanders did not appreciate the full scope of the Allied offensive when it first launched. Considering this fact, we have introduced several temporary movement restrictions to prevent the Axis player from conducting a historically nonsensical, perfect defensive plan, while still preserving player freedom. We have introduced similar limitations for Allied units inside Tobruk reflecting the fact that the garrison was not prepared for offensive operations on November 19. Additionally, we have made a few minor morale tweaks for both sides and limited the mobility of rear-area anti-aircraft units. The result is a better balanced, more fun, and more historically accurate scenario that captures the chaotic bloodbath that was Operation Crusader.

removedRemoved erroneous 4th rifle company from South African infantry battalions.

changedIncreased morale of all attachments of 7th Armoured Brigade by 1 level. This takes the units up to Veteran/Experienced, depending on battalion.

changedIncreased morale of 4th Royal Horse Artillery regiment from experienced to veteran.

This update is not save game compatible with saves from 1.0.5.2.

Operation Crusader Scenario Updated:

Experience revealed our 1.0 Operation Crusader scenario biased too heavily in favor of the Axis because we provided them unrealistic flexibility. Due to incomplete intelligence, heavy rains grounding recon aircraft, and the pressing matter of planning the upcoming assault on Tobruk, Axis commanders did not appreciate the full scope of the Allied offensive when it first launched. Considering this fact, we have introduced several temporary movement restrictions to prevent the Axis player from conducting a historically nonsensical, perfect defensive plan, while still preserving player freedom. We have introduced similar limitations for Allied units inside Tobruk reflecting the fact that the garrison was not prepared for offensive operations on November 19. Additionally, we have made a few minor morale tweaks for both sides and limited the mobility of rear-area anti-aircraft units. The result is a better balanced, more fun, and more historically accurate scenario that captures the chaotic bloodbath that was Operation Crusader.

Crusader Changes:

All Allied units inside the Tobruk fortress are immobilized until turn 3 (November 21) as they reorganize due to heavy rains and preparations for their counterattack.
Removed erroneous 4th rifle company from South African infantry battalions.
Increased morale of all attachments of 7th Armoured Brigade by 1 level. This takes the units up to Veteran/Experienced, depending on battalion.
Increased morale of 4th Royal Horse Artillery regiment from experienced to veteran.
Reduced morale of most 15th Panzer Division units from Crack to Veteran.
Elements of 132. Armored Division (Italian) inside Bir el Gobi immobilized until turn 2 (November 20).
104. Schutzen Regiment and 39 Panzerjager Abteilung are immobile until turn 2 (November 20) due to fuel shortages.
Most defenses of Bardia are immobile until turn 3 (November 21)
Units in the Sollum line defenses are immobile until turn 5 (November 23). Units in immediate reserve behind the line are only immobile until turn 2 or 3.
Various harbor defense artillery units on both sides set to static. Some rear area AA immobilized for upwards of 10 turns.

UK 1939/1940 Improvements:

UK 1940:

1st Armoured Division updated to its late April order of battle, including the 30th Infantry Brigade (motorized).
Added 2nd RTR as an independent unit. 2RTR is a cruiser tank battalion technically attached to 1st Armoured Division, but not deployed to France.
Added 27th and 98th Field Regiments (18/25pdr Mk. Is), as independent artillery units.
2nd (27/28th) battery of the 7th Medium Regiment re-armed with 6" Howitzer Mk. Is, to reflect its March upgrade.
Field regiments of the 15th Scottish Division reduced to their Spring 1940 strengths according to the "Julius Caesar" national defense plan.

UK 1939:

Added the 60th Field Regiment (18pdr Mk. IVs), as an independent artillery unit.
Replaced 59th Medium Regiment with the 67th Medium Regiment (iron-tyred 6" Howitzer Mk. Is), deployed to France in October.
Replaced 12th Field Regiment (in Scotland) with the 97th Field Regiment (18pdr Mk. IVs), a territorial unit deployed to France in October.
Replaced 38th (Welsh) Division with the 5th Infantry division in its December 29, 1939 order of battle.
Replaced 2nd Heavy Regiment with the 1st Heavy Regiment in its September OB, including 6" Mk. IXs guns, 6" Mk. I howitzers, and a single battery

Source

Steam News / 22 July 2023

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