Squad 44: Letters From The Front

Release Date:	August 9, 2018 / rebranded Squad 44 - Letters From The Front on December 14, 2023
Developer:	Offworld Industries Mercury Arts Periscope Games
Publisher:	Offworld Industries
Series:	Squad
Platforms:	PC
Genre:	First-Person Shooter

Squad 44: Letters From The Front (formerly known as Post Scriptum) is a large scale, WWII-set first person tactical shooter developed by UK-based Periscope Games as an offshoot of Squad and is published and later developed by Squad's developer, Offworld Industries. The project began in March 2016 and officially released on Steam Early Access on August 9th, 2018. It initially released as Post Scriptum: The Bloody Seventh as first released chapter of the game focused on the engagement of the British 1st Airborne Division against German Wehrmacht and SS units during Operation Market Garden in 1944. It was further expanded to include engagements that involved American airborne units. Later chapters, Plan Juane (depicting the Manstein Plan (Fall Gelb) battle between the French Army and Wehrmacht in 1940), Day of Days (the landings of Allied forces in Normandy during Operation Overlord), Mercury (the Invasion of Crete in 1941 with defending ANZAC forces), and Watch On The Rhine (the Ardennes Offensive in 1944) expanded the fronts throughout WWII. With the rebranding to Squad 44, the game also depicts the battle of Rethymno, the second part of the Invasion of Crete.

As with its parent game, Squad 44 is a multiplayer-only game focused on teamwork and cooperation, featuring combined arms gameplay and highly realistic, detailed weaponry. It has numerous factions depending on the setting of a match, and asymmetrical gameplay and classes between the Allied units and Axis forces.

The following weapons appear in the video game Squad 44: Letters From The Front:

Overview

Squad 44 portrays historical engagements of Allies and German forces across mainland Europe in 1940 to 1944. The early era of the game's second chapter depicts the French Army's 21 Regiment d'Infanterie engagement of the Wehrmacht during the Fall Gelb operation. The later '44-set levels are from the first and third chapters and portray the Allied Operations of Market Garden and Overlord, respectively. Operation Market Garden features the British 1st Airborne Division, the Polish Brigade, and the American 82nd Airborne infantry forces supported by Britain's XXX Corps armor against a more developed Wehrmacht and 9.SS-Panzer Division. The Normandy battles of Operation Overlord include American 4th Infantry Division, the 101st Airborne, and the 70th Tank Battalion versus the Wehrmacht's 91st Infantry Division and the 6 Fallschirmjägerregiment.

The Squad system from the parent game has been developed for a faction to have three separate sections for its units - the Infantry Section encompasses most of the regular classes. The Logistics Section takes over the FOB/Construction roles from Squad and has regular riflemen, an NCO, medic, and Combat Engineers. The last section is the Armored Section and incorporates tank commanders and tankers into their various fighting vehicles.

The general classes of Squad 44 are:

Officer - technically its own "Platoon Commander" section, the Officer role assumes the top of the team's chain of command. The class is meant to be paired with the Infantry Section's Radioman to call in air and artillery support. Officers can opt for a standard rifle or SMG; the latter is the sole option for the Germans.
NCO - The head class of each Infantry and Logistic squad, and the intermediary between them and the Platoon Commander. NCOs have either the standard rifle or SMG for their faction, and in the case of the 1944 Germans, the Gruppenführer has exclusive use of the StG 44.
Radioman - An Infantry class meant to directly follow the Officer and allow the use of indirect fire support. The latewar kits have the Gewehr 41 for the Funker, and the M1/M1A1 Carbine for Allied units. The early war variants use standard Kar98ks and MAS-36s.
Rifleman - Bog-standard Infantry and Logistics personnel that use each faction's standard service rifle, in addition to frag and smoke grenades. Latewar Allied units have sidearms and the French Fusiliers and Recrues only use their older WWI-era rifles. Infantry also bear sandbags, while the Logistics have repair tools.
Machine Gunner - the specialized automatic rifleman Infantry kit. Depending on the faction and era, some have Light Machine Guns that offer more mobility and unsupported aiming, while the Medium Machine Guns have to be deployed on bipods to be aimed effectively but have increased ammunition counts. Sidearms, frag, and smoke grenades are included.
Marksman - Low-count Infantry kit that is issued a scoped bolt-action rifle, a pistol, grenades, and binoculars.
Medic - Generally given a standard rifle, sidearm, grenades, and a Morphine injector as its main tool to resuscitate fallen allies. Available to both Infantry and Logistics, the latter has the repair tool.
Grenadier - Infantry-exclusive kit equipped with Rifle Grenade Launchers and regular hand grenades. Available to all factions except the French; the German Schiessbecher is not available in that era as a balance measure.
Sapper - Infantry class given SMGs and pistols, and explosives for dealing with enemy vehicles and emplacements.
Anti-Tank - Generally dived into Light (LAT) and Heavy (HAT) variations. All bear rifles; the Germans use the Panzerfaust and the Panzerschreck respectively. The British only have a LAT role equipped with the PIAT; the Americans' Bazooka role is a HAT. The latewar Allies have pistol sidearms. A subvariation is also present in the early 1940 era with Fusilier antichar and Panzerabwehrschütze AT Rifle kits, as these battles predate the widespread use of handheld rocket launchers
Light Mortar - Equipped with a regular rifle, pistol, and a Light Mortar that can be used in the prone position. The class is in all Infantry Sections except the US Forces.
Combat Engineer - The principal kit of Logistics Sections for constructing emplacements. Generally has three variations - HE that uses an explosive similar to Sappers, AT carries antivehicle mines, and AP has antipersonnel mines. Issued with regular rifles, pistols, grenades, sandbags, E-tools, and repair wrenches.
Tank Commander - Head kit of Armored Sections, equipped with both a SMG and sidearm. Both this and its subordinate kit have repair tools.
Tank Crew - Armored vehicle operator, only given a sidearm and grenades, and also has the building tool.

The high degree of weapon functionality is shared from Squad. The game tracks reserve ammunition by individual magazines, fire selectors have an animation where applicable, and many long arms have sights that can be zeroed or dialed in with correspondingly accurate adjustments made to the actual rear sights. For the sake of simplicity and consistency, all weapons zero by meters (British and American systems typically used imperial yards in reality during WWII).

Pistols

Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873

Most classes for the French 21 Regiment d'Infanterie have the archaic Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 revolver as an issued sidearm. It is referred to as the MAS Mle. 1873 in game.

Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 - 11x17.8mmR

A French NCO with the Mle. 1873 in the Belgian city of Dinant.

Aiming the revolver.

Reloading round by round.

Closing the cylinder latch.

Enfield No. 2 Mk. I

The Enfield No. 2 Mk. I revolver is the principal sidearm of the British units in Squad 44, named Enfield No. 2 Mk. 1. All kits of the faction as well as their tankers get the No. 2 revolver.

Enfield No. 2 Mk. I - .38 S&W

The Enfield No. 2 in-game, in Holland.

Looking through the sights.

The start of a reload with the Enfield revolver - the rounds come out, but the ejector doesn't move.

Unfortunately, each .38 S&W has to be loaded by hand without the help of any speedloaders.

Closing up the No. 2.

FN Model 1922

The FN Model 1922.

FN Model 1922 - .32 ACP

Luger P08

Simply indexed as Luger in-game, the Luger P08 is issued to the officer/NCO ranked classes for all German units.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm Parabellum

The Luger P08 in the hands of a Fallschirmjaeger.

ADS of the Luger P08.

The Luger toggle action cycling, with a spent round flying out.

Reloading the pistol from empty.

Palming the toggle into battery.

M1911A1

The American forces have M1911A1 pistols issued to all classes.

M1911A1 - .45 ACP

A US GI draws and chambers his .45 sidearm.

The M1911 pistol in idle.

ADS of the M1911A1.

Letting out a spent magazine.

Sliding in a new one.

Thumbing the slide release.

Mauser C96

The Mauser C96 is issued in place of the Walther P38 for Wehrmacht kits (except for the Sanitäter) in the 1940 levels.

Mauser C96 "Pre-War Commercial" - 7.63x25mm Mauser

The Mauser C96 on the Stonne level. It doesn't have its holster-stock attached, but is held in carbine fashion anyway.

Using the C96's sights - they cannot actually be adjusted in-game.

As with other games, the Mauser pistol is incorrectly shown as having a non-empty bolt hold open feature - the user would have to manually hold it open with one of his hands.

Withdrawing a partially-used stripper clip results in the bolt correctly going into battery.

Empty-reloading the C96.

Nagant M1912

The Nagant M1912.

Nagant M1912 - 7.62x38mm R

SACM M1935A

The SACM M1935A pistols are exclusively available to the Fusilier antichar and Chief ingenieur kits for the 1940 era French Army. It is named PA 1935A in-game.

SACM M1935A - 7.65 MAS / 7.65x22mm Long

The SACM M1935A in-game.

Aiming the handgun.

Reloading the SACM M1935A.

Releasing the slide.

Walther P38

Most of the specialized German kits have the standard Walther P38 pistol as their sidearm in the 1944-set levels. It is only available to the Sanitäter in the earlywar 1940 era levels.

Walther P38 pistol - 9x19mm Parabellum

Drawing the Walther - the user cocks the hammer.

A SS soldier with the P38 in Arnhem.

Aiming at the stacked crate.

Pulling out an empty magazine.

Sliding in a new one with the palm.

The Walter is rechambered by having its slide powerstroked.

Holstering the P38 - the user reengages the safety and decocks the pistol.

Submachine Guns

M1A1 Thompson

American Officers and NCOs are equipped with the M1A1 Thompson submachinegun, with the exception of logistics NCOs, who use the Grease Gun listed below.

M1A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

A US Infantry Officer holds his Thompson in the high ready position while riding into Utah Beach.

Posting up behind a derelict Higgins boat with the M1A1 Thompson.

The iron sights - only the rear peep is usable.

Thumbing the firemode selector.

Reloading the Thompson. On empty, the character smacks a new magazine along the side of the receiver.

Inserting it.

M3 Grease Gun

The M3 Grease Gun is used by US Sappers, logistics NCOs and by tank commanders of the 70th Tank Battalion.

M3 "Grease Gun" - .45 ACP

The M3 Grease Gun out on the test range.

Aiming with the peep sight.

Reloading the M3.

Pulling back the crank style charging handle.

M1928 Thompson

The M1928 Thompson is included as part of the Mercury Chapter content, as the SMG for ANZAC Officers and NCOs.

M1928 Thompson with 50-round drum magazine - .45 ACP

Patrolling a Greek town with the classic Tommy gun.

Aiming the M1928.

Locking the bolt back during the empty reload.

Setting in a new 50-round drum.

M1928A1 Thompson

The M1928A1 Thompson is available with a 20-round and 30-round magazine.

M1928A1 Thompson - .45 ACP

Reloading a 20-round magazine.

Reloading a 30-round magazine.

MAS-38

MAS-38 SMGs are available to French Officers and NCOs, and are also used by the combat engineers and by Chef de char tank commanders.

MAS-38 - 7.65x20mm Longue

The MAS-38 in the hands of a French soldier outside of Dinant.

Aiming the MAS-38. This is the 100m rear aperture, the 200m can also be used.

Reloading with a new 7.65mm magazine.

Cycling the bolt back.

MP 40

The MP 40 is the standard submachinegun used by various classes across the German forces.

MP 40 with brown bakelite lower receiver - 9x19mm

A Panzer commander armed with the MP 40.

Aiming down the sights.

After running dry, the character quickly tosses out the magazine...

...locks the bolt back into its safety notch...

...slides in a new mag...

...and smacks the bolt back into place.

Sten Mk V

British Airborne Officers and NCOs, Sappers, and Tank Commanders have the Sten Mk V as a primary weapon. It is the only SMG that can be equipped with a bayonet.

Sten Mk V - 9x19mm

A British Para patrols behind the Arnhem cathedral with his Sten Mk V.

Using the Mk V's sights.

Removing a spent magazine from the Sten.

Reloading with a new mag.

Working the bolt back - the ejection port always shows it forward, though.

Affixing the Lee-Enfield No.4 bayonet to the Mk V. Here the vertical grip can be easily seen.

Steyr MP 34

Steyr MP 34s are issued instead of MP 40s for 1940 Wehrmacht classes on the Dinant and Stonne levels. It is indexed as the MP 34(ö); the abbreviation refers to Österreich (Austria's name in German). Despite having a bayonet lug, the functionality is not used in-game, unlike the Sten Mk V above.

Steyr-Solothurn S1-100/MP 34 - 9x19mm

The MP 34 in-game.

Using the Steyr's sights.

Actuating the fire selector - it has an animation, but doesn't actually move.

Reloading the MP 34.

Pulling the bolt back.

Assault Rifle

StG 44

The StG 44 is included and only available in one of the Gruppenführer loadouts for the latewar German forces.

Sturmgewehr 44 - 7.92x33mm Kurz

The StG 44 in the hands of a SS soldier.

Aiming the assault rifle.

Removing a magazine on the reload.

As with the Thompson, the empty reload has the user smack the fresh magazine along the side of the StG.

Rocking in the 7.92mm Kurz magazine.

Charging the StG 44.

Bolt-action Rifles

Berthier Model 1916 Carabine

Berthier Model 1916 Carabine rifles are used by the French 21 Regiment d'Infanterie Commandant, Combat Engineer, Rifleman, and Sapper kits.

Berthier Model 1916 Carabine - 8x50mmR Lebel

A French Sappeur armed with the Berthier carbine.

Aiming reveals a shallow rear notch and ultra-thin front post.

Cycling the Berthier's action.

Reloading with a new Mannlicher style clip.

The M1916 can be topped off with loose rounds - three are always shown loaded, regardless of how many have been ejected.

Gras Model 1874

The Gras Model 1874.

Gras Model 1874 - 11x59mm Gras

Karabiner 98k

The Karabiner 98k is the standard issue service rifle for the German military in Squad 44. The Scharfschütze kits use a Zeiss ZF39 equipped Kar98k as their sniper rifle.

Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Karabiner 98k, in a square of Carentan.

Sighting in the rifle.

Working the bolt-action after firing a shot.

Reloading the Kar 98k with a stripper clip.

Kicking out the empty clip by driving the bolt home.

As with some other weapons in the game, the K98k is also topped off from full stripper clips. The character withdraws and saves the extra rounds.

Affixing the Karabiner's bayonet.

Karabiner 98k sniper

The Karabiner 98k with Zeiss ZF39 scope.

Karabiner 98k sniper rifle with Zeiss ZF39 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A German sniper equipped with the Kar98k + ZF39 in the early days of the war.

The game darkens out the peripheral vision when looking through sniper scopes.

Opening the action up on a reload.

Reloading with individual rounds.

The user turns the rifle over to inspect the chamber...

....and mashes the bolt home.

Lebel Model 1886 M93

French Fusilier and Recrue infantry are issued with old Lebel Model 1886 M93 rifles. The Tireur d'elite sharpshooter uses the Lebel with the APX 1917 scope as the French never issued MAS-36 with scopes in WWII.

Lebel Model 1886 M93 - 8x50mmR Lebel

A French Infantrymen of the 21 Regiment, armed with a Lebel rifle in Foqueux.

Bringing up the Mle. 1886 to sight in the rifle.

Opening the Lebel's action after firing the last shot.

Depressing the cartridge elevator...

...and filling it up with 8mm rounds.

Equipping the Lebel's bayonet.

Lebel Model 1886 M93 sniper

The Lebel Model 1886 M93 with APX Mle 1917 scope.

Lebel Model 1886 M93 Rifle fitted with APX Mle 1917 sniper scope

The Lebel sniper variant ingame.

Aiming with the APX 1917 scope.

Rechambering the Lebel sniper.

Reloading the rifle.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk III*

ANZAC forces in the Mercury Chapter use the older Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk III* pattern as their standard issue rifle. A scoped version is available to their sniper class.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* - .303 British

An ANZAC rifleman with the standard Lee-Enfield rifle.

Aiming. The hand positions are reused from the No.4 below.

Ejecting out a .303 shell casing.

Reloading the SMLE - placing in a charger clip.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* (HT)

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* (HT) - .303 British

The scoped SMLE rifle out at some Crete windmills.

Getting a look at the No.1 rifle's right side.

The view through the rather low-detailed scope.

Reloading the scoped rifle.

Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 1

The Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifle is the standard battle rifle of the UK Armed Forces in Squad 44.

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I - .303 British

A Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 1 in the hands of a British Para standing next to a Universal Carrier - note the "mad-minute" posture.

Looking through the 100m battle sights.

The flip aperture set at the next increment of 200m. It goes up to 1000m.

Cycling the Enfield's distinctive "clickity-clack" fast action.

Reloading a five shot charger clip - the partial reload always shows one full one loaded, regardless.

Both clips are thumbed out, and the bolt is driven home.

Affixing the No.4's spike bayonet.

In idle, the Para grips the rifle by its stock.

Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk 1 (T)

British and Polish Airborne snipers use the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk 1 (T) sniper rifle. Unlike the other scoped rifles in-game, the Lee-Enfield sniper can rechamber while maintaining a view through the scope.

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk 1 (T) - .303 British

The Lee-Enfield sniper rifle out on the practice range - it is held normally, rather than the mad-minute posture of the infantry pattern.

The view through the No. 32 Telescopic sight.

Reloading the Enfield sniper - the fired round is ejected.

Reloading with individual rounds.

M1903A3 Springfield

The M1903A3 Springfield is available to US Army infantry and logistics riflemen as an alternative to the M1 rifle.

Remington-manufactured M1903A3 Springfield - .30-06 Springfield

An 82nd Airborne rifleman with his Springfield after dropping into the Netherlands.

Aiming with the M1903A3's distinct aperture sights.

Ejecting a spent .30-06 round out of the rifle.

The M1903A3 also tops off with loose rounds.

The empty reload starts with grabbing the clip of .30-06 first, and then opening up the action.

Feeding the cartridges into the magazine.

Flicking out the empty clip before driving the bolt home.

M1903A4 Springfield

American marksmen use the M1903A4 Springfield sniper rifle with Model 330 Weaver scope, the signature sniper rifle of the US Army in the European theater.

M1903A4 Springfield with Model 330 Weaver scope - .30-06

The M1903A4 out in the fields of Normandy.

The view down the Weaver scope.

Operating the bolt.

Reloading the M1903A4.

Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903

The Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903.

Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903 - 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer

Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903/14

The Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903/14.

Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903/14] - 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer

Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903/14 Carbine

The Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903/14 Carbine.

Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903 Carbine - 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer

MAS-36

The MAS-36 is the standard battle rifle for the French Army, though it is issued to specialized kits - NCOs, Radio Operators, Medics, AT and Chief Engineers, and Light Mortarmen. The general riflemen roles are supplemented with its older WWI predecessors.

MAS-36 - 7.5x54mm

Observing a creek with the MAS-36.

The MAS-36 features a good set of open battle sights.

Operating the bolt.

Reloading the rifle with more 7.5mm French cartridges.

Chambering the MAS-36.

The non-empty reload has four shots loaded, and the last one removed with the clip.

Unstowing the MAS's signature French style spike bayonet.

Screwing it into place.

Anti-Materiel Rifles

Boys MKI Anti-Tank Rifle

The Boys MKI Anti-Tank Rifle is used by the French Antitank riflemen kits.

Boys MkI Anti-Tank Rifle - .55 Boys

The Boys MkI near the vehicle area on the test range.

The Boys deployed on the short cobblestone wall.

Aiming down the small but open sights.

Slowly working the Boys' gargantuan bolt action.

Pulling out the magazine.

Getting a good view of the .55 cartridge before loading in the new one.

The Boys is always rechambered at the end of its reload.

Panzerbüchse 39

German Panzerbüchse kits use the Panzerbüchse 39, exclusively in the 1940 era. For the later set maps, German forces instead have the more effective man portable rocket launchers.

PzB 39 Anti-tank rifle with spare ammunition box - 7.92x94 mm (Patrone 318)

Deploying the PzB 39 on a chicken coop - the user opens up the right cartridge hopper.

Aiming the Panzerbüchse.

Opening the action up after firing a shot.

Loading in a new Patrone 318.

Chambering the PzB.

The hopper can be manually reloaded with another.

Rifle Semi-auto / Full-auto

FG 42/II

The German Fallschirmjaeger has a distinct "FG-42 Schütze" class equipped with the second pattern FG 42/II. The combination of the muzzle brake and buffered stock results in surprisingly good recoil control even when shooting offhand.

FG 42/II - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The FG 42/II in Carentan.

Aiming; the drum rear sight can adjust up to 1000m.

Working the fire selector - the game does not portray the complex automatic-open bolt/semiauto-closed bolt procedure.

Reloading the FG 42/II.

Rocking in a new mag.

Rechambering the automatic rifle.

Handling the FG 42/II's bipod. The bayonet is unusable, in favor of the more practical bipod.

Gewehr 41(W)

Wehrmacht Funker radiomen are equipped with the rare Walther model of the Gewehr 41, the immediate predecessor of the Gewehr 43. As its magazine is fixed, it only loads from clips, but it does have the ability to mount a bayonet.

Walther Gewehr 41 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A Polish Paratrooper with the Walther G41 on the rifle range.

ADS view.

Reloading the Gewehr 41 from empty - the soldier holds the second clip in his palm while loading the first.

Setting in the second clip after loading and thumbing out the first. Offsetting the bottom three rounds to the left is a very accurate detail to how cartridges tend to feed off clips and into the internal magazine.

About to rechamber the G41...

...which sends the second clip flying out. The none-empty reload animation is performed by locking the bolt back and ejecting a round, and then loading in one five-shot clip regardless of how many rounds are in the magazine.

Affixing the G41's bayonet.

Gewehr 43

In turn, the 9.SS-Panzer radioman class uses the Gewehr 43 rifle, with eight magazines rather than clips for reloads.

Gewehr 43 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Gewehr 43, out on a Dutch farm in the rain.

Aiming the G43.

Rocking in a new magazine during the reload.

Chambering the Gewehr.

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand rifle is the standard service rifle for American forces.

M1 Garand - .30-06

Posting up just outside of Carentan, with the M1 rifle.

Squad 44 portrays the Garand's sights very realistically, most games usually give the M1 a psuedo ghost ring for a rear sight. This is likely to balance it out as the Germans have less issued self loading rifles in turn. The sights also dial from 100 - 600m.

Pinging out an empty clip, the M1 Garand's signature feature.

Carefully dropping in a new clip.

Though, as with a lot of other more modern depictions of the Garand, the en-bloc can be withdrawn for tactical reloads.

Attaching the bayonet.

M1 Carbine

M1 Carbines are available to the US 4th Infantry forces introduced in the "Day of Days" chapter.

M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine

The M1 Carbine out on the Normandy beaches.

ADS with the rear sight set to the 300m setting.

Reloading the carbine.

About to rechamber.

M1 carbine - bottom.

M1A1 Carbine

The M1A1 Carbine is issued to the US Airborne Radioman, Medic, and Combat Engineer classes. British Airborne radiomen kits also have access to the M1A1 Paratrooper carbine.

M1A1 Carbine - .30 Carbine

A member of the 101st Airborne cautiously approaches Cafe de Normandie with the M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine.

Aiming at the chimney - the early style rear sight is adjustable.

Reloading the fifteen-shot magazine with the left hand.

Chambering the M1A1 with the right.

M1A1 carbine - top.

Machine Guns

Bren Mk2

The Bren Mk2 is the machine gun available for British Airborne, XXX Corps soldiers, and the Polish Brigade. It is a lightened development of the Mk II that was issued in July 1944.

Bren Mk2 - .303 British

The Bren Mk III out in the rain.

Aiming - the sights can be adjusted out to 600m.

Pulling out a dry .303 magazine.

About to put in a new one, and then lock the action back.

Deploying the Bren on a post.

Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2

The Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 is one of the two machine guns used by the American forces, offering better mobility and the ability to be aimed offhand compared to its belt-fed brother below.

Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 - .30-06

Advancing on the German defenses on Utah Beach with the M1918A2 BAR.

The BAR's default 100m rear sight...

...and its aperture, used from 200m here to 1000m.

Deploying the Browning on sandbags.

Removing a used magazine.

Inspecting a new one before loading it in. The hand positions are a bit out of whack here due the bipod-deployed state.

Charging the BAR.

Browning M1919A6

American forces also have a machine gunner class equipped with the Browning M1919A6 machine gun, offering a more volume-of-fire oriented choice compared to the maneuverable BAR.

Browning M1919A6 - .30-06 Springfield

Holding the Browning M1919A6 from the hip, with the carry handle.

The Browning set up on the sandbags.

Aiming the M1919A6 with the standard 100m notch.

The adjustable 200 - 1000m leaf aperture, same as the BAR.

Handling the top cover on a reload.

Placing in a new .30-06 belt.

On empty, the gunner charges the M1919A6.

Chatellerault FM 24/29

Chatellerault FM 24/29 machine guns are the second option available to French gunners.

Chatellerault FM 24/29 - 7.5x54mm

Standing alongside the Meuse River with the Chatellerault machine gun.

Using the FM 24/29's distinct sights.

Empty reloads start with the bolt being pulled back first.

Swapping out the magazine.

Deploying the Chatellerault on the improvised bridge.

Chauchat Mle 1915

The Chauchat Mle 1915 machine gun is one of the two options for French machine gunners.

Chauchat Mle 1915 - 8x50mmR Lebel

The Chauchat Mle. 1915 on the Stonne map.

Aiming down the sights.

Unloading an empty magazine out of the Mle. 1915.

Rocking in a new one.

Pulling the bolt back from empty.

Examing the Chauchat with the bolt locked back.

Lewis Gun

Lewis Guns are used by the ANZAC forces as their machine gun. It has to be deployed in order to be aimed, akin to the belt-fed GPMGs.

Lewis gun Mk I - .303 British

The Lewis gun deployed on a low Greek fence. In this position, the gunner holds the stock with his left hand.

Aiming with the distinct large adjustable sights.

Reloading - the user inspects the pan magazine.

Palming it in.

Charging the Lewis.

MG 34

German machine gunners are primarily issued with MG 34 machine guns, feeding from 75-round Gurtrommel 34 drums. As a medium machine gun, it is only usable in hipfire until deployed on cover or in prone. The fire-selector functionality allows for the single shot trigger to be used. The MG 34 is used in a stationary emplacement on the Lafette tripod, and is mounted in a few vehicles such as the BMW R75 sidecar and one variant of the Sd.Kfz.251.

MG 34 with Gurtrommel 34 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Examining the MG 34 as seen from the hip.

Aiming the MG after deploying it on the rock.

Empty reloads have the bolt locked back first.

Reloading the belt drum.

Pulling out the 7.92mm belt.

Closing the top cover.

MG 42

The MG 42 is available to German units in the 1944 levels, both as a man-portable MMG feeding from the assault drums, or as a FOB emplacement. It is also mounted in one variation of the Sd.Kfz. 251 halftrack.

MG42 with Gurtrommel 34 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A MG 42 posted up on the Wehrmacht's defenses on Utah Beach.

Looking through the MG 42's sights.

Locking the bolt back at the start of an empty reload.

Removing an empty assault drum.

Feeding in the belt from a new one.

Palming down the top cover.

ZB vz. 26

ZB vz. 26 machine guns are issued in place of the then non-existent MG 42 for the Wehrmacht in the 1940 maps. It is indexed under its Wehrmacht designation, MG-26(t), in-game.

ZB-26 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The ZB-26 in the German deployment zone at Stonne.

Aiming the ZB.

Toggling the fire selector.

Unloading a spent magazine from the ZB-26.

Setting in a new one.

Charging the machine gun.

The ZB-26 deployed on the sandbags.

Launchers

Enfield Cup Grenade Launcher

The No.1 Mk.I Cup Discharger, affixed to the Lee-Enfield No. 4 is issued to the British Forces' Grenadiers, with 4 Mills Bomb projectiles.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* with grenade launcher

The Grenadier Enfield out in the Osterbeek countryside.

It can be dialed in from 25m to 250m - the Mills grenades are heavy projectiles.

Pulling the pin off a Mills at the start of a reload.

Setting the projectile in the cup.

Loading in a "blank" cartridge.

Gewehrgranatengerät

German Schiessbecher grenadiers use the K98k equipped with the Gewehrgranatengerät device. It only has the Gewehr-Sprenggranate as the available projectile.

Gewehrgranatengerät (a.k.a. Schiessbecher) - 30x250 mm

Gewehrgranatengerät mounted on Kar98k rifle

The Gewehrgranatengerät in-game.

Aiming at 100m - it zeroes from 25m to 200m.

Loading in the projectile.

And reloading the launching cartridge.

M7 Rifle Grenade Launcher

The M7 Rifle Grenade Launcher in conjunction with the M1 Garand is issued to American Grenadier kits. It has the most options for projectiles, included Mk. 2 fragmentation warheads for infantry, M9A1 Rifle Grenades for anti-armor/vehicle use, and M16 Smoke Grenades for concealment.

M7 Rifle Grenade Launcher - 22mm

The M1/M7 combo with the Mk 2 fragmentation round loaded.

Aiming - all rounds zero from 50m to 200m.

Latching in another frag round.

Pulling the pin out.

Loading in a blank cartridge.

M9A1 22mm Rifle Grenade

The M9A1 AT grenade in-game.

The M9A1 aimed at 100m.

Reloading the AT grenade.

Idling with the smoke round configuration.

Aiming at 200m.

Loading up another smoke grenade.

M1A1 Bazooka

US 4th Infantry Division Bazooka troops use the M1A1 "Bazooka" rocket launcher.

M1A1 Bazooka - 2.36 inch

The M1A1 Bazooka on the practice range.

Aiming the M1A1; the sights adjust from 100 to 200 to 300 meters.

Reloading a HEAT warhead. Unfortunately, the necessary step of connecting the rocket to the battery is skipped.

M9A1 Bazooka

The M9A1 "Bazooka" variant is used by the 82nd and 101st Airborne Bazooka kits.

M9A1 "Bazooka" - 2.36 inch

Viewing the M9A1 Bazooka tube.

Aiming through the rudimentary optical sight.

Reloading the rocket warhead.

Setting it in fully.

Panzerfaust 60

The German Forces 1944-era Leichte Panzerabwehr kit has the Panzerfaust 60 disposable launcher.

Panzerfaust 60 - 44mm with 149mm warhead

Viewing the Panzerfaust 60 launcher.

Using the sights - it can be zeroed at each notch.

Pulling the safety pin out of another Panzerfaust.

Flicking up the leaf sight.

Panzerschreck

The Panzerschreck launcher is used by the German Schwere Panzerabwehr class in the 1944 era levels, and has two rockets. It goes by its full German moniker of Raketenpanzerbüchse 54 in-game.

RPzB 54 "Panzerschreck" rocket launcher - 88mm

The Panzerschreck in the hands of a SS Panzergrenadier.

Using the RPzB's non-adjustable sights.

As with many WWII games, it reloads similar to the Bazooka variants despite being a much longer tube.

Squad 44 also unfortunately emits the necessary step of connecting the rocket to the launching battery.

PIAT

British and Polish Light AT units utilize the PIAT launcher as their anti-vehicle launcher.

Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) - 3.25 in

The PIAT out next to the Arnhem Bridge.

Aiming - each of the sights can be used for ranging.

Reloading the 3.25 in warhead after blasting the bunkerhouse.

Grenades and Explosives

F1 Grenade

French 21 Regiment forces have the F1 hand grenade as their standard fragmentation grenade.

F1 hand grenade with Mle1935 fuse

The F1 Grenade along the Meuse River.

Pulling the pin.

Hafthohlladung Anti Tank Mine

The magnetic Hafthohlladung Anti Tank Mine is issued to German Heavy and Light Antitank, and Sapper kits. It has to be manually placed and functions on a timed fuse.

Hafthohlladung H3.5

A German LAT with the HHL mine.

The HHL placed on an hapless Dutch phone booth.

Hawkins Grenade/Mine

American and British forces have the Mk-II No. 75 Hawkins Grenade/Mine as an explosive used by their Sapper and Bazooka/PIAT classes. It functions identical to the HHL mine.

Mk-II No. 75 Hawkins Grenade/Mine

The Hawkins Mine in-game.

M1A1 Mine

M1A1 Mines are used by American Combat Engineers.

M1 and M1A1 anti-tank mines

The M1A1 Mine in first person.

M2A1 Mine

The M2 Mine is used as the antipersonnel mine for US engineers.

M2A3 Anti-personel mine

Holding the M2A1 AP mine.

M8 Smoke Grenade

The AN/M8 HC smoke grenade is used by American forces, with both white and red versions.

AN/M8 HC smoke grenade

A US Soldier with the M8 Smoke grenade.

About to toss a M8 while watching another one release its cloud.

Mills Bomb

Mills Bombs are the offensive grenade of choice for the British units.

No. 36M Mk. I Mills Bomb

The Mills Bomb in a British encampment.

Pulling the pin.

Mle 1935 Mine

The Mle 1935 Mine is a heavy antitank mine used by the French HAT Ingénieur de combat.

The Mle 1935 HAT mine, which features a camouflage finish.

Mle 1936 Mine

The Mle 1936 is given to the French LAT Engineer, as a smaller yield antivehicle mine.

Holding the Mle 1936 mine.

Mle 1939 AP Mine

Mle 1939 Mines are the last French mine type, used by engineers for antipersonnel use.

The Mle 1939 AP mine.

Mk. 2 Hand Grenade

The Mk 2 Hand Grenade is the standard fragmentation grenade for US forces, appearing as the Mk.II Frag in-game.

Mk 2 "Pineapple" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade

The Mk 2 Grenade along a street in Graves.

Mk II anti-personnel mine

The Mk II anti-personnel mine are issued to British Combat Engineers.

Mk II anti-personnel mine

Holding the Mk II anti-personnel mine.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate

The German units are equipped with the iconic Model 24 Stielhandgranate for their explosive hand grenade. The Geballte Ladung bundled charge serves as an AT grenade, used by both of the Antitank kits - the Light only gets one bundle, while the Heavy gets two.

Model 24 Stielhandgranate high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade

The M24 Stielhandgranate in the hands of a German paratrooper.

Pulling the fuse before tossing the stick grenade.

Model 24 "Geballte Ladung" ("Bundled Charge")

A Wehrmacht Light AT holding the Geballte Ladung.

About to pull the fuse.

Model 39 Eihandgranate

The 1940-era Wehrmacht uses the Model 39 Eihandgranate instead of stick grenades on the Dinant and Stonne levels.

Model 39 Eihandgranate hand grenade

A German NCO with the Eihandgranate on top of the Dinant Citadelle.

Unscrewing the fuse cap.

Nebelhandgranate 39

Nebelhandgranate 39s are the smoke grenades used by the German forces.

Nebelhandgranate 39

The Nebelhandgranate 39 in the hands of a SS trooper.

Unscrewing the cap before pulling the pin and throwing, just like the Stielhandgranate.

No. 77 WP

British units use the No. 77 Smoke Grenade. Unlike the other harmless smoke grenades, the No. 77 has a lethal detonation of White Phosphorous smoke, although the smoke cloud lingers for a shorter duration than other factions' equivalents.

No. 77, W.P. MK. 1 Incendiary Smoke hand grenade

The No. 77 WP grenade in the hands of a Para.

Thumbing off the fuse head before throwing the device.

No. 82 Gammon Grenade

The Gammon Grenade is available to the British LAT, Grenadier, and Sapper classes as an AT grenade. It appears as the Gammon Bomb.

Gammon Grenade

The No. 82 in-game.

Preparing to toss it, similar to the No. 77.

S-Mine

German Kampfingenieurs are equipped with the S-Mine for antipersonnel use.

S-Mine 35

Holding a Schrapnellmine.

Tellermine 35

The Tellermine 35 is the standard AT mine for German combat engineers.

Tellermine 35 Anti-tank mine

Looking down on the Tellermine 35, which shows that it is the original version with the brown top.

Mortars

Brandt Mle 1937

The French Mortier legier is equipped with a Brandt Mle 1937 small mortar.

A French mortarman with the Mle 1937 undeployed.

The mortar set up in Foqueax. It zeroes from an alarmingly close 20m to 420m.

Dropping in a round; the tube is set to 250m here.

Granatwerfer 34

The Granatwerfer 34 Mortar is the emplaced medium mortar for the German forces.

8-cm Granatwerfer 34 (GrW 34)

The GrW 34 on the Arnhem training range.

Using the mortar.

As with Squad, a ranging table is provided when aiming through the scope.

Granatwerfer 36

German Leichter Mörser troops use the Granatwerfer 36 Mortar.

5-cm leichter Granatwerfer 36 Mortar

The GrW 36 in hand.

About to fire a round - the mortar dials in from 65m to 240m.

M2 Mortar

American units have the M2 Mortar as their constructible mortar emplacement.

M2 Mortar - 60mm

The unbuilt M2 Mortar set...

...and after construction.

Using the M2.

Ordnance ML 3 inch

The Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar serves as the emplaced medium mortar for British and French forces.

Ordnance ML 3 inch Mortar Mk II - 3.20 in

An unconstructed ML 3in tube.

The ML built up.

Manning the mortar.

Ordnance ML 4.2 inch

The Ordnance ML 4.2inch is the heavy mortar emplacement for the British and French factions.

The ML 4.2in emplacement.

Manning the ML Mortar.

Ordnance SBML 2 inch

The 1st Airborne Division's Light Mortar class has the Ordnance SBML 2 inch Mortar, with both HE and smoke rounds.

Ordnance SBML 2 inch Mortar

Holding the SBML on the training range.

The tube deployed in the prone position.

Using the left hand to fire the SBML.

Mounted Weapons

Mounted Machine Guns

Bren Mk2

The Bren Mk2 is mounted on the Universal Carrier.

Bren MK2 - .303 British. With pan magazine.‎

Browning M2HB

The Browning M2HB is mounted on the US M3 Halftrack. It reuses the M2A1 model from Squad, which is anachronistic for WWII.

Browning M2HB - .50 BMG

Entering the M2A1's position involves charging the machine gun, as is standard procedure.

The turret in idle.

Aiming the Browning.

Reloading is identical to Squad as well.

Setting in the new ammo belt - the charging handle is pulled again if empty.

Browning M1919A4

Browning M1919A4 are used by American forces, in both standalone buildable versions and mounted on several different tanks and armored vehicles.

Browning M1919A4 on an M2 tripod - .30-06

Browning M1919A4 on an M31C pedestal mount - .30-06

Mounted on M5 Stuart tank.

A built standalone Browning M1919A4.

Using the .30cal.

ADS of the M1919A4.

Opening the Browning's top cover.

Placing in another .30-06 belt.

About the charge the M1919 from empty.

Hotchkiss Mle 1914

Hotchkiss M1914 machine guns are buildable MG emplacements for the 1940 French forces.

Hotchkiss M1914 with tripod - 8x50mmR Lebel

A Hotchkiss Mle 1914 built out on Stonne.

Using the Mle 1914.

Aiming the machine gun.

The feed strip correctly feeds through the Hotchkiss as it fires. It can be reloaded from non-empty states, but the partial strip simply vanishes.

Reloading another strip - the charging handle is never used.

MG 34

The MG 34.

MG 34 on Lafette tripod - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A prebuilt example of the MG 34 Lafette on the training range.

Looking at the R75 sidecar equipped MG 34.

As seen from riding in the sidecar.

MG 34 Panzerlauf

German armored vehicles and Panzers mount the MG 34 Panzerlauf in numerous installations. It does reuse the heatshield of the regular MG 34 rather than the proper reinforced jacket.

MG 34 Panzerlauf - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The MG 34 Panzerlauf in the hull installation on a PzKpfw V Panther.

MG 42

The MG 42.

MG 42 - 7.92x57mm Mauser.

The MG 42 Lafette tripod configuration.

The MG 42 atop a Hanomag.

Manning the armored MG.

Reibel Mle. 1931

The Reibel Mle. 31, the tank-mounted derivative of the Chatellerault, is mounted in French armored vehicles. It is generally referred to as the "MAC Mle 1931" in the vehicle HUD.

Reibel Mle. 31 (in right-feeding configuration, with stock) - 7.5x54mm French

A Mle 1931 machine in the coaxial position on the turret of the Panhard 178. In this particular vehicle it is labeled as the "Reibel."

Vickers K

British Willys Jeeps have a single Vickers K machine gun mounted in the right side passenger seat.

Vickers K Machine Gun - .303 British

The Vickers K mounted on the British Jeep.

Using the Vickers.

The zoomed-in ADS view.

Reloading the Vickers K.

Working the charging handle from empty.

Vickers Mk1

Vickers Mk1 machine guns are buildable emplacements for all Allied factions in Squad 44.

Vickers gun with ribbed water jacket - .303 British

The Vickers Mk1 in-game.

Manning the Vickers, with additional cover built up.

Using the iron sights.

Reloading the Mk1.

Charging the MG.

ZB-53/Besa

The ZB-53 machine gun is mounted in the 1940-era German Panzer 38(t), and the BSA produced Besa variant is used in British armored vehicles.

ZB 53 / vz. 37 machine gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Getting a good look at the Pz. 38(t)'s armament.

The alternate view of the radio operator's ZB-53 - it can be aimed by tracer fire, actually.

British Besa tank machine gun - 7.92×57mm Mauser

A dirty Besa MG on the British Daimler Armored Car.

Mounted Cannons

APX 47mm

The French Army uses the APX 47mm antitank gun on the Dinant and Stonne levels. It appears as a towable emplacement and also on the Laffly W15TCC truck, in a rear-facing bed mount.

A spawned-in 47mm APX gun, in its original light blue-grey.

View through the APX's gunsight.

The W15TCC-mouned 47mm cannon with a camouflage finish.

FlaK 38

The 2cm FlaK 38 antiaircraft cannon is a constructible German FOB emplacement. Sd.KFz.8 trucks also have a single FlaK 38 emplaced on their rear beds.

2 cm FlaK 38 in single mounting - 20x138mm B

The FlaK 38 in its truck emplacement.

Using the default scope.

The alternate pendulum sight view can be used, but it is static and only really works with horizontal tracking and the default vertical point of aim.

The standalone FlaK 38. A FlaK 36 is visible behind it.

KwK 30

Several German armored vehicles have 2 cm KwK 30 L/55 autocannons, such as the 1940-era Panzer II and the 1944s Sd.Kfz.222

The KwK 30 in the PzKpfw II turret, alongside a co-axial MG 34.

And as seen on the Sd.Kfz.222. The 1940 era German vehicles come in the default Dunkelgrau gray scheme, while the 1944 models have camoflauge paint.