m
Back to Top

A preview into Yugoslavia …

A preview into Yugoslavia …

After Israel was voted as the community’s first Nation Pack choice, we’ve announced that its two contenders, Yugoslavia & Finland, both proposed as REDFOR nations, would be added together next in the Double Nation Pack: REDS.

Yugoslavia being voted second, let’s start with a preview of the Jugoslavenska narodna armija (JNA), the Yugoslav People’s Army.

Wargame: Red Dragon - Double Nation Pack: REDS - Yugoslavia

We are still working on unit models & balance, but we can already get a clear idea of what Yugoslavia will be as a Wargame nation: a highly mechanized fighting force, with powerful tanks and IFV backed up by a wide choice of versatile SAM/SPAAG weapon systems and many indigenous assault aircrafts.

Yugoslav armors

Aside from the M-47 Paton, the Yugoslav People’s Army’s tank fleet relies mostly on the ubiquitous T-55 & T-72 designs. Yet, they soon took a direction of their own, the JNA focusing more on locally improving its tanks’ fire control system than their protection. Hence, at any given date, JNA tanks are usually less armored but much more accurate than their Warsaw Pact counterparts, such as the T-55A TLD & T-55AI Igman compared to the T-55A & T-55AM.

The JNA’s main warhorse during our timeframe is the M-84, an indigenous MBT family (although developed from the T-72). In Wargame, Yugoslavia will field four variants of this tank, spread over three units’ categories. But Yugoslavia won’t be lacking in “heavies”, with two variants of the M-91 Vihor MBT, a prototype tank which should have been replacing the M-84 from the early 90’s, only to be canceled because of the disintegration of the Yugoslav State.

Wargame: Red Dragon - Double Nation Pack: Reds - M84A

As part of its mechanized forces, the JNA fields many tracked APC (OT M-60) & IFV (BVP M-80, BVP M-96). Although lightly armored, most of them are packing some heavy firepower for their weight, either twin 82mm RCL, 20mm or 30mm autocannons, plus ATGMs for the IFV.

Skyfall

Another of the JNA’s forte is its air defense. After all, not every army can claim to have shot down invisible planes … 😉

Although it lacks the medium range SAMs usually found in other REDFOR armies, such as the Osa, Yugoslavia fields an impressive array of heavy range ones, both radar (KuB-M, Neva M1) … and yet impervious to SEAD (Neva M1T). To support them at closer range and especially deal with helicopters, the JNA also deploys several smaller weapon systems, some well known ones (Strela-1, Strela-10), others indigenous (M-90 Sava, RL-4M Praćka). Add to that a loads of SPAAG (BOV 3, BOV 30, Foka), and not even accounting for the Praga variants used in other roles, and you’ll get a very thick air defense net. Out of which only about a third is vulnerable to SEAD!

BALKAN EAGLES

The Yugoslav Air Force introduces no less than four indigenous planes (Jastreb, Super Galeb, Orao & Novi), modeled ingame into seven variants. Most of them are assault planes, loaded with several types of dumb ordnances (napalm, cluster, HE), rockets or AGM (including the indigenous Grom-B).

Wargame: Red Dragon - Double Nation Pack: Reds - J22B Orao

But the most interesting, and dearest to Yugoslav air fans, is the L-19 ‘Novi Avion’, a.k.a “Baby Rafale”. An air superiority fighter of Yugoslav design, it was intended to render the country independent from Soviet imports in that vital aspect of air warfare. Dassault Aviation provided some help, especially regarding the power plant, electronics & weaponry, hence why the Novi shares many similarities with the Rafale. It was even meant to receive the same armament, hadn’t the project been canceled a mere year before its maiden flight, because of the disintegration of the country.

Grunts

The JNA will have at its disposal a strong infantry lineup, with both elite paratroopers (Padobranci) ; naval (Mornarička Pes.) & Guard (Proleteri) shock troops ; but also light (Brdska Pes.) and mechanized (Mehanizovana Pes.) riflemen. And Tommy Gun wielding militia (T.O.)!

Of course, Yugoslavia will also have the usual choices of specialized teams, such as command, ATGM & MANPAD squads, as well as recon (Granicari) and Special Forces (Senke). The latter (prototype ingame) team will be of special interest for, armed with a RT-20 anti-material rifle, it will introduce the first two-man heavy sniper/recon team for REDFOR, counterparts to the Canadian Recce.

Wargame: Red Dragon - Double Nation Pack: Reds - Senke

Achilles heel

However, the Yugoslav People’s Army does have its weak points. But for a few Fagots, its ATGM are all based on the Malyutka, even with improved optics & warheads over the years. If they don’t lack punch, their range remains quite limited.

Also, while JNA Armored & Mechanized decks will offer a wide choice of tracked APC & IFV, as well as vehicles of all kind, its Motorized deck will be much “lighter”: although able to field plenty of wheeled TD (BOV POLO, …), SPAAG (BOV 3, BOV 30), FSV (Praga, …), its transport options will be restricted to the sole TAB-71 (a faster BTR-60PB) APC and the BOV M-86 “recon APC”.

Yugoslavia’s tube artillery choices are somehow limited: a vintage SO-105 Prist (WW2 M7 Priest!), SO-122 (a.k.a 2S1 Gvozdika) but at least the much more efficient (but fragile) prototype Nora-B, a truck-mounted modern 152mm gun. The first of its kind.

Nothing ever goes to waste!

This feature of the Yugoslav People’s Army will please WW2 fans: although it has its own indigenous military industry, bringing plenty of & modern new designs to Wargame, Yugoslavia will on the other hand be the one fielding more WW2 vintage equipment than almost all the other Wargame nations together.

SO-76 Helket (a.k.a M18 Hellcat), SO-90 Džekson (a.k.a M36 Jackson), SO-105 Prist (a.k.a M7 Priest), M-8 Grejhaund (a.k.a M8 Greyhound), … and of course the good ol’ T-34B (a.k.a T-34/85). Jacksons are running with a T-55 engine to improve their motorization, while T-34 is sporting a gorgeous M2 Browning HMG. When East meets West …  🙂

But WW2 militaria isn’t limited to vehicles: M1 Thompson, MG-42, modified MP-40, … are still in service at least up to the early 80’s. And what about the elite Padobranci (paratroopers)’s trademark Sturmgewehr 44, only relinquished in the mid-80’s.

[EUG]MadMat

65 Comments

  • Focke-Wulf190
    November 15, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    Sounds awesome. I wonder if RT-20 will have 2 AP and same increase rate as C15, 16 AP at 350m, lol

  • Dragan Laciboj Laslo
    November 15, 2016 at 5:51 pm

    Yes! To Jugoslavijo moja lepa domovino!

    • Romka
      November 17, 2016 at 12:12 am

      Funny, in ukrainian language “domovina” means “coffin”. Looks like there are many words in slavic languages that sound similar but have different meaning.

      • damoj
        November 19, 2016 at 5:31 am

        they’re both the same in terms of their etymology, only the Ukranian word is basically a euphemism, almost a pun on “homeland”, ie, your eternal home, in the earth. Get it? lol

  • YugoPrider
    November 15, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    Od Vardara pa do Triglava od Djerdapa pa do Jadrana 🙂

  • ่j.n.t.k
    November 15, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    i thinks you will sell it asap .am i right ? 🙂

      • ่j.n.t.k
        November 15, 2016 at 6:58 pm

        oh. ok , i will wait for it . thanks for ans me . 🙂

  • ่j.n.t.k
    November 15, 2016 at 7:03 pm

    madmat .can i ask you some question ? . the eugen Do thay have a plan for build wargame in the modernage ? ( like now solider and have a modern gear that the solider use now .)

  • One
    November 15, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    I wonder will paid Israel deck be finally balanced with this DLC not to outperfrom other free decks that much as it does now?

  • Hanyong Park
    November 16, 2016 at 1:40 am

    Okay, Eugen dosen’t say this is “FREE DLC” on this post.
    When Israel DLC are announced, Yugo&Finland DLC will be Combination on Israel DLC, I remember.
    After then, Israel DLC was produced single-nation DLC AND YUGO&FINLAND DLC WILL BE SELL?

      • Skyhawk
        November 16, 2016 at 8:40 pm

        Apparently sometime in the past Eugen as a company announced that Yugoslavia and Finland would be free along with Israel. What I think this presumably non-english speaking person is saying is that will yugoslavia and finland be single nation DLC instead of the pack that this person remembers.

  • AegisWolf
    November 16, 2016 at 6:46 am

    I’m happy REDFOR’s getting some love.

  • AegisWolf
    November 16, 2016 at 7:10 am

    Will Finland be able to fight for BLUFOR as well as REDFOR?

      • FOARP
        November 17, 2016 at 7:03 pm

        Both Finland v. USSR and Yugoslavia v. WarPact would be great material for a campaign DLC

  • Zohaib
    November 16, 2016 at 8:21 am

    Will there be Pakistan and india

  • Delorian
    November 16, 2016 at 10:03 am

    Sounds great. Can’t wait to play them 🙂

    I am also very impressed (!) on how accurate the data is, you researched about the JNA and it’s Units … Respect :-))

    Nevertheless, i have a little hint for the Developers according Infantry:

    It’s correctly “Pomorska pesadija” (instead of Mornaricka) meaning somehow “Oversea Infantry (Marines)” in English

    and

    It’s correctly “Planinarski odred” (instead of Brdska pes.) meaning somehow “Alpine or Montane Unit” .. but Unit meant more in the sense of a German “Abteilung” or in French “Détachement”.

    All the other names are maybe terms implemented in the Successor-Armys, but they were not used that way in the JNA (until it disintegrated in 1991 together with the yugoslav state).

    • HrcAk47
      November 16, 2016 at 12:34 pm

      Names are written in generic form (as per Eugens preferences), but true to their official nomenclature in JNA.

      Mornarička pešadija is derived from 11. Mornarička pešadijska brigada (HQ Trebinje, deployed Split), 12 and 13. Mornarička pešadijska brigada (reserve, HQ Split), and 139. Mornarička pešadijska brigada (HQ Pula).

      “Pomorska” was never a designation in JNA, since “pomorac” denotes a mariner, in other words, a sailor. These are infantrymen adjoined to Navy, for use in amphibious operations on the islands, coastline and its hinterlands. Not sailors. But this is a common error.

      As for Brdska Pešadija, you will find no less than 13 brigades with the designation of “brdska pešadijska brigada”, which is a bit more than a quarter of JNA force.

      “Odred” denotes a “detachment”. Note how Eugen does not use formation names in other nations.

      “Planinarski” is, again, incorrect. “Planinar” is a civilian mountaineer, an alpinist. In military use, it should be “planinski”. JNA did have dedicated mountain-trained troops, but as integral parts of mountain (brdska) brigades.

      • Delorian
        November 17, 2016 at 11:00 am

        Ahhh .. great 🙂 Thanks for the information. Didn’t know that.

        I made my year in the School for Officers of the Reserve (Bileca) back then in 1990 … but it seems that the theoretical terms were different than the practical ones.

        Doesn’t matter anyway … i was really surprised on how accurate the research on the JNA-Units is ;-))

        • HrcAk47
          November 17, 2016 at 11:42 am

          You’re welcome. Feel free to join us on Eugen Forums, we have a massive thread of discussing JNA units on over 220 pages 😉

  • Adix
    November 16, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    Nice.Will be there even some helicopers for yugoslavia?
    If there will be the necessary time to develop, it might be a great predent for New Year this double package

  • Sinisa
    November 16, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    @[EUG]MadMat
    and anyone other thats working on this expansion

    There are several language corrections that need to be fixed.
    1. Yugoslav People’s Army. = Jugoslavenska narodna armija (JNA) and not Jugoslovenska narodna armija (JNA). Difference is in one letter but meaning is far more stronger becouse there was one of states in ex. Yugoslavia called Slovenia and if you write “Jugosloven” with letter “o” that means south of Slovenia and not entire ex Yu state in difference to letter “a” (Jugoslavija) wich means entire Slavic peoples and states.

    2. naval (Mornaricka Pes.) is to be written “Mornarička pješadija” becouse it’s Croatian term since only Croatia and in small parts Slovenia and Montenegro have Sea and its naval infantry forces (Mornarička pješadija) or withouth spec letters (Mornaricka pjesadija)

    3. Theres also spec. force salled (Brdska pjesadija) that would be equal to “mountain infantry” other nations have.

    • HrcAk47
      November 16, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      Hello!

      While the original suggestion contained unit names in Serbo-Croatian, it had to be compressed as much as possible, for the lack of space on the unit list twice. For unit name ortography, chief source was Vojna Enciklopedija JNA, 1974 edition.

      “Jugoslovenska” and “jugoslavenska” are both correct, with rules befalling under local dialectical norms of Serbo-Croatian. Same goes for “pešadija” vs. “pješadija” vs. “pješaštvo” vs. “pehota” vs… Ya know.

      In Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia (distinct language, however), it is “jugoslOvenska” with “slOven” meaning a Slav, and “slovenački” meaning Slovenian (language)

      In Croatia and Herzegovina, it is “jugoslAvenska”, with “slAven” meaning a Slav and “slovenski” meaning Slovenian (language)

      In Slovenia, however, it is “jugoslOVAnska”, where “slOVAn” means a Slav, and “slovenski” means Slovenian (language in adj. form) But then again, Slovenian is a very distinct language.

      TL;DR – no point in arguing these.

      Regards,

      HrcAk47

      P.S. For non-southern-slavic readers… Just don’t bother with this. 😀

  • Sinisa
    November 16, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    …and guyz, dont forger on multirocket systems ORKAN ans smaller one OGANJ 🙂

  • Ikeeplosing
    November 16, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    What will be the price?

  • Buffpuff
    November 16, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    Madmat are there any plans for new campaigns or perhaps a campaign editor. I love the multiplayer aspect of the game but the lone wolfs need some loving too. A campaign editor could definitely breathe some new life for those who enjoy the single player after getting their butts handed to them in a multiplayer match (Not that THAT ever happens to me…)

  • Honey badger
    November 16, 2016 at 3:38 pm

    What about Switzerland as a Nation pack. I work for a Swiss military museum and can set you up with specs of our arsenal of that time period.

    • Maxi
      November 17, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      It wont make any sence because it is a cold war game where nato und Warschauer Pakt faught each other. And switzerland was and is neutral… So… You know what i mean.

      • Archi
        November 17, 2016 at 5:41 pm

        Well,Finland was Neutral too

      • HrcAk47
        November 17, 2016 at 5:50 pm

        Yugoslavia, Finland, and Sweden were all neutral 😉

      • Emperor
        November 17, 2016 at 8:15 pm

        Because most of the countries didn’t want to pick sides between NATO and Warsaw Pact, leaders of Yugoslavia, Egypt, India, Ghana and I believe Indonesia decided to make their own, so called “Pokret Nesvrstanih” or Non-Aligned Movement. It was a group of countries that are not aligned with nor against any major powers ( technically neutral ), consisting of over 70 or so countries, now counting more than 120.
        So Yugoslavia was neutral as well, and as for Finland and Sweeden, I believe they never decided to join any of these.

  • Mr-Worner
    November 16, 2016 at 3:53 pm

    “Yugoslav People’s Army will please WW2 fans”
    Awesome! 🙂

  • BaronVonBoyce
    November 16, 2016 at 4:30 pm

    Please give us Pathfinders ’90 while you’re at it. 🙂

  • JugMan
    November 16, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    Euboea please don’t forget that jugoslavia had tons of mig-21 and some 14 mig-29. As well as Zsu-57-2 and the deversant units.

    • GDR
      November 16, 2016 at 7:01 pm

      Mig-21f-13 would be a nice addition as cheap 40-50 point helicopter interceptors.

  • Cody Hansen
    November 16, 2016 at 6:58 pm

    Any chance Eugen is thinking of Wargame in WW2?

    • Emperor
      November 17, 2016 at 8:20 pm

      They made R.U.S.E. if I’m correct, which was their first game on this scale.

  • GDR
    November 16, 2016 at 6:59 pm

    Eugen please don’t forget that jugoslavia had tons of mig-21( I would really love to see the mig-21f-13 variant) as well as some 14 mig-29. Also they had zsu-57-2.

  • Sullian
    November 16, 2016 at 8:52 pm

    Oh god they have StG 44.

    /instabuy

  • Strina
    November 16, 2016 at 11:17 pm

    What logistic trucks will Yugoslavia have?

    • HrcAk47
      November 17, 2016 at 11:44 am

      Trucks made by FAP, but I shouldn’t say more 😀

      • Strina
        November 17, 2016 at 4:25 pm

        Šteta što neće biti Tamića

        Too bad there want be any TAM made trucks.

        • HrcAk47
          November 17, 2016 at 5:48 pm

          Bice TAM-150, ali kao baza za jedno vozilo 😉

  • Евгений
    November 17, 2016 at 10:35 am

    Не думаю что пак будет интересный….Слишком много однообразных юнитов будет.Многие будут просто позаимствованы от других наций.Очень надеюсь что я ошибаюсь.

  • Archduke_Franz
    November 17, 2016 at 5:41 pm

    Any chance Cuba [a country that actually fought during the Cold War] will be added?

  • CopZ
    November 17, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    Will we finally be getting Italy after this DLC? Since it was the fourth choice in the poll.

      • CopZ
        November 18, 2016 at 12:08 pm

        Will there be any plan at all for the future of wargame red dragon?

  • Milan
    November 18, 2016 at 12:29 am

    If you ever make a trailer for expansion, this should be your soundtrack 😉
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkzF9jlEOj4

  • nesani
    November 18, 2016 at 8:43 am

    Can we buy Yugoslavia and Finland separately, or they will be one single dlc?

  • Ivanho
    November 18, 2016 at 8:26 pm

    HVALA, Eugen!

  • damoj
    November 19, 2016 at 5:37 am

    Will Yugo and Finns be rolled into a Coalition? They seem to be quite complementary in terms of relative strengths, and conceptually, as non-Warsaw states, albeit geographically far apart, seem to have a commonly peculiar relationship with the USSR.

  • Mick
    November 29, 2016 at 6:59 am

    Can’t wait to test my F-16s and F/A 18s in Operation Deliberate Force 🙂

Add Comment