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Battlefield 1’s Turning Tides downloadable content (DLC) is said to be focused on major naval and amphibious battles in World War I.
Preliminary information names specific battles, including the Zeebrugge Raid and the invasion of Dardanelles at Gallipoli. It also confirmed the addition of a new naval vehicle in the Destroyer. However, some new information indicates submarines might be returning to the Battlefield franchise.
Submarines were featured in Battlefield 1942’s multiplayer as drivable vehicles. They were also present in the single player of Battlefield Bad Company 2, and as a set piece in Battlefield 4. So, what makes their return likely in Battlefield 1?
Well, in addition to the naval-themed DLC on deck, early concept art clearly shows a submarine engaged in surface combat. Submarines also played a major role in World War I – the sinking of the Lusitania ocean liner by a German submarine played a part in sparking the entry of the United States into the conflict. Attacks by German submarines were also meant to cripple merchant traffic and starve the United Kingdom and France of resources and war materiel.
What’s more, the description for the Turning Tides downloadable content teases a new vehicle in the coastal class airship. You might assume this is a variation of a behemoth, but these differ significantly from traditional, rigid airships like Zeppelins.
In fact, coastal class airships were designed to combat one threat in particular – submarines. The non-rigid blimps were often fitted with several machine guns, bombs, or depth-charges for anti-submarine warfare.
A frequent sight off the coast of Cornwall, the British coastal C-9 made attacks on several German submarines, allegedly sinking one of them. C-2 reportedly struck a submarine’s conning tower directly with a bomb, forcing it to break off its attack on a convoy. These airships would also signal nearby destroyers and anti-submarine vessels, using flares to mark suspected enemy locations.
So, it seems likely in Battlefield 1 that coastals will probably have a small bomb or depth charge payload, machine guns, and spotting flares. Personally, I can’t see why DICE would add something with a primary purpose to hunt and destroy submarines without adding… submarines. In Battlefield 1942, the destroyers were also specifically designed to counter submarines as well.
Though a great deal of this information is just speculation, it seems like DICE is really building towards something much bigger than just adding a couple new vehicles in Turning Tides. If submarines are added, hopefully we’ll be looking at a full-blown naval superiority game mode, since the game already has torpedo boats and dreadnoughts.
Additionally, concept art for the Turning Tides expansion appears to showcase a Lohner L flying boat, which would add another naval-based vehicle to Battlefield 1. Incidentally these too were used in anti-submarine warfare. Submarines also participated in the Zeebrugge Raid, depicted in the same Battlefield 1 concept art.
Source: Flakfire
