Hello! Welcome back to another deep dive in our upcoming [b]Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa[/b]. In our last post, we put the spotlight on the South African [b][url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/251060/view/3030339201340012422]Infantry[/url][/b] forces as they would appear in-game, including armament and transport options. This week, [b]Armor[/b] receives our special gameplay treatment. Let’s look at what you can expect from the South African armored fighting vehicles, from tanks to SPGs, from imported to domestic designs and rare prototypes! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/1c29ab531488f21c66104ac804df5ad77abc852c.gif[/img] Please keep in mind that everything is still very much [b][i]work in progress[/i][/b] and is subject to change. In case you were wondering: the integration and balancing of these units is done in close consultation with a leading South African military expert! [b][h2]Kings of the battlefield[/h2][/b] First up: the almighty [b]TANK[/b], which in [b]Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa[/b] is brought to you in three distinct South African “families”: [list] [*][b]Olifant[/b] main battle tank. The tracked heavy-weight brawler of South Africa’s arsenal comes in a myriad of versions such as the [b]Mk1[/b] (including command variant), [b]Mk1A[/b] (1985), [b]Mk1B[/b] (1991), and [b]Mk1B Optimum[/b] (1994 prototype). The [b]Mk1[/b] can be considered a rough equivalent to the Israeli [i]Sh’ot Kal[/i] with a +1 FAV, but slower. With the [b]Mk1A[/b], the [b]Olifant[/b] reaches the 2275m range, with a slightly better motorization and accuracy/stab over its predecessor. The [b]Mk1B[/b] gets +2 FAV and a major motorization, accuracy and stab upgrade. The [b]Optimum[/b] is an up-armored [b]Mk1B[/b] with improved optics. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/e7da96d1c7f717732568f0b3cc93bc8a330ba257.png[/img] [*][b]Loggim[/b] prototype. This tank is a 1994 prototype MBT, a planned but canceled South African “heavy.” It is close to a [i]USMC M1A1(HC) Abrams[/i], featuring the same FAV but lesser side and rear armor, but more accurate and with 23 AP. [*][b]Rooikat[/b] wheeled tanks. These rapid and cool-looking vehicles can be deployed in two variants: the [b]Rooikat 76 Mk1C[/b] (1989, including a recon variant) and the [b]Rooikat 105[/b] (1994 prototype). With 3 FAV, they are incredibly fast (120km/h) “glass-cannons.” The 76mm variant has 2100m, while the 105mm gets 2275m range. Their key feature is their high accuracy (65%) and almost full gun stabilization, making these wheeled tanks ideal for hit-and-run strikes.[/list] Using HESH rounds, all 105mm and 120mm South African tanks receive a “British” +1 HE damage bonus. [b][h2]Reconnaisance[/h2][/b] Next up are the reconnaissance units. Aside from the ubiquitous recon Rover jeep, [b]RECON[/b] only fields two families of armored recon units: [list][*][b]Eland 90[/b], both 1978 vehicles. The original [b]Eland 90[/b] is identical to the French [i]AML-90[/i]. The [b]Eland 90 ENTAC[/b] (prototype) is armed with two extra ENTAC anti-tank missiles, in the same way as the existing [i]Ferret ENTAC[/i] (see below). [*][b]Rooikat 76[/b]. This vehicle is the same as the wheeled tank variant (see above) but in a dedicated recon configuration.[/list] [b][h2]Tank destroyers[/h2][/b] The South Africans have two tank destroyer families: [list] [*][b]RCL Vehicles[/b], which include the ubiquitous [b]Rover 106[/b] (pre-1980), armed with a M40 recoilless rifle, and the [b]Ferret Mk2 106[/b] (1976). This latter unit is “jalopied”, meaning its turret is removed, and the operator stands in the now-empty turret ring. The [b]Ferret[/b] is equipped with an improved M40A1C. [*][b]ATGM Vehicles[/b], which begins with the already mentioned [b]Ferret ENTAC[/b] (1975), can also to be found with the [i]ANZAC[/i] forces in-game. This unit is followed by the [b]Ferret Mk2 MILAN[/b] (1980), another “jalopied” Ferret, but featuring a MILAN launcher this time around. The vastly more effective [b]Ratel ZT3-A1[/b] (1987) is also available. A non-transport [b]Ratel[/b] armed with a [b]ZT3A1 Swift[/b] ATGM. These guided missile launchers are 70% accurate, 20 AP and have a 2625m range. The [b]Ratel[/b] carries 12 of them, with 3 ready to fire.[/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/2311f00310018e6f5be54030e47f01780d344d85.png[/img] [b][h2]Indirect fire[/h2][/b] There are quite a few artillery options, including: [list][*][b]MRLS vehicles[/b]. There is a [b]Rover 107[/b] (1981). This one is only encountered in Airborne and Support decks, being a light MRLS based on a Chinese-made 16-tube Type 63 107mm rocket launcher bolted on a Rover jeep. In-game, it will come with an incendiary loadout. The [b]Valkiri[/b] (1981) is manufactured on a light Unimog chassis. This unit is the most widespread and standardized South African MRLS, with a classic HE and smoke loadout for its 24-tube 127mm rockets. Finally, we have the [b]Bateleur[/b] (1989) built on top of an armored Samil, carrying two 20-tube which can rain down devastating salvos of its 127mm cluster ammunition. [*][b]Mortar vehicles[/b] include the [b]Eland 60[/b] (1978) 60mm mortar carrier, identical to the French [i]AML-60[/i]. This vehicle evolved into the [b]Ratel 81[/b] (1985) and [b]Ratel 120[/b] (1994 prototype), which are respectively a 81mm and 120mm mortar carriers. All of these vehicles come equipped with HE and smoke rounds. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/265daa5884673436567417c69fac7c22d698c62a.gif[/img] [*][b]SPG vehicles[/b] include the venerable WW2 relic [b]Sexton[/b] (1944!) with its still decent 25-pdr gun. Nonetheless, this grandfather of self-propelled artillery is rather slow (as you would expect) and only belatedly replaced by the excellent 155mm [b]G6-45 Rhino[/b] (1987). This latter unit is a lightly armored but fast-wheeled SPG, being among the world’s most accurate artillery pieces by the end of the Cold War. In-game, it is a 40km ranged 155mm howitzer, with a round dispersion closer to a regular mortar.[/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/08010368571472cc8b1515b2467bbd061641caea.png[/img] [b][h2]A little bit of anti-air[/h2][/b] And last up, the South African anti-aircraft vehicles, pooled in two distinct families: [list][*][b]AA cannon vehicles[/b] with the [b]Ystervark[/b] (1980) leading the way. This is a [b]Buffel[/b] light armored truck fielding an Oerlikon 20mm gun. This vehicle was succeeded by the [b]Bosvark[/b], an armored Samil truck with captured ZU-23-2 twin 23mm guns. Finally, the [b]Rooikat ZA-35[/b] (1992 prototype) is a variant of the wheeled tank with its turret removed and replaced by a radar-guided twin 35mm system. This means that SEAD can target this unit. In-game, the [b]Rooikat[/b] is roughly equivalent to a German [i]FlakPz. Gepard A1[/i] with the same ranges, faster and slightly more accurate for the [b]ZA-35[/b], but with a lower RoF. [*][b]SAM vehicles[/b]. The South Africans can field the [b]Cactus[/b] (1971), identical to the [i]Crotale[/i], which the [b]SADF[/b] received before the French, as well as the [b]Cactus SAHV[/b] (1992 prototype). The latter unit is a [b]Cactus[/b] used as a testbed for a new SAHV missile under development - in-game featured as an IR version. Replacing the R440 missiles, the [b]SAHV-IR[/b] missile provides slightly improved anti-helicopter range and accuracy, with its [i]Fire&Forget[/i] trait. Lastly, the [b]Rooikat ZA-HVM[/b] (1992 prototype) is a Rooikat with its turret replaced by a system firing [b]SAHV-3[/b] missiles. It retains the anti-helicopter and accuracy of the IR version and improves its anti-airplane range to 4200m range. Being radar-guided, it can be targeted by SEAD.[/list] [b][h2]Nation Pack: South Africa in detail[/h2][/b] In case you’ve missed it, we’ve already covered the combat arms historical context of this upcoming [b]Nation Pack[/b]: [list][*]We have put a spotlight on the all-important grunt: SADF [b]Infantry[/b]. Read all [b][url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/251060/view/3016823329556921166]about it here.[/url][/b] [*]We also took a look at the SADF [b]Armor[/b] force, which you can [b][url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/251060/view/3048349794619388526]read more about here.[/url][/b] [*]The flyboys claim all the glory in our SAAF [b]Air Force[/b] article, which [b][url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/251060/view/3070869061072083812]you can read here[/url][/b]. [*]Hugging the earth, SADF’s rotorcraft fleet get a special treatment in our [b]Helicopter[/b] showcase, which [b][url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/251060/Wargame_Red_Dragon/]you can read here.[/url][/b][/list] [b][h2]What will the South Africa Nation Pack bring?[/h2][/b] [b]Wargame: Red Dragon - Nation Pack: South Africa[/b] will feature: [list][*]Close to 90 new SADF units, including 20 brand-new vehicle models, as well as many new variants. All feature new Afrikaans and South African-accented English voice-overs, [i]aie boet![/i] [*]These include the ubiquitous [b]Casspir[/b] and [b]Ratel[/b] APCs (in numerous variants, from IFV, recon, command, mortar, and even SAM), the [b]Rooikat[/b] wheeled tank (including variants and prototypes), [b]Eland[/b] (license-produced French AML), [b]Cactus[/b] (French Crotale), the only tracked [b]Olifant[/b] MBT, many armed variants of locally made [b]SAMIL[/b] trucks ([b]Ystervark[/b] and [b]Bosvark[/b] SPAAG, [b]Valkiri[/b] and [b]Bateleur[/b] MLRS), to the iconic [b]G6 Renoster[/b] self-propelled howitzer. [*]The Air Force includes old [b]Buccaneer[/], [b]Vampire[/b] and [b]Impala[/b] as close-air support, and several French [b]Mirage[/b] variants and the locally modified [b]Cheetah[/b] as fighter and multirole aircraft. Furthermore, you will find the [b]Atlas Carver[/b] prototype, the first full South African prototype plane design (which never left the drawing board). [*]Helicopters include the French [b]Alouette III[/b], [b]Puma[/b], [b]Super Frelon[/b] and their locally produced versions and prototypes such as the [b]K-Car[/b], [b]Oryx[/b] and [b]XTP-1 Beta[/b]. You’ll also be able to deploy South Africa’s very own attack helicopter design, the badass-looking [b]Rooivalk[/b]. [*]Infantry will include [b]Bokkop[/b] regular riflemen, [b]Parabat[/b] paratroopers, [b]SASF[/b] special forces, and many more units such as militia, recon, MANPADS, engineers. You will find Portuguese-speaking Angolan [b]UNITA[/b] squads, as well as SADF’s own [b]32 Battalion[/b] (the Buffalos) as a veteran light infantry formation. [*]SADF weaponry features imported or locally built [b]R1[/b] and [b]R4[/b] rifles, [b]SS-77[/b] and [b]Mini-SS[/b] MG, [b]LRAC[/b] and [b]APILAS[/b] LAW, but also the more original [b]HK-21[/b], [b]FT5[/b], [b]Inflict[/b] and, of course, the iconic [b]Y2 grenade-launcher[/b] and [b]NTW-20[/b].[/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/5756781/6fd548002e784b04b64f9b14f5a5f7035ed956be.gif[/img] [b][h2]What happens next?[/h2][/b] That’s it! We’ll be back in two weeks. Make sure to follow Eugen. Check out our [url=https://forums.eugensystems.com/viewforum.php?f=216]Eugen forums[/url], or ([url=https://www.facebook.com/eugensystems/]Facebook[/url] page and [url=https://twitter.com/EugenSystems]Twitter[/url])!