CapnJim's Modern Stuff - Balczaki-Soviet Bridge Fight Full AAR - Pg 54-10 Aug 25

[carlos marighela]

I kept the bush hats in the end for the army, it's a common enough bit of kit.  These cahaps are a Commonwealth army after all. I thought about using the Empress uncammed MkIV helmets I have but the heads look a little large on the Eureka figures and besides I have another use for those.

The Police Mobile Unit did get a bit of a mix, with some beret heads. I also added a couple of the Eureka RLI figures because well.... Police, Caribbean, shorts. The Police will be getting a couple of Motorcycle escort riders for the President's official Bentley limousine. Half of the donor kits for my MH-6 and AH-6 Little birds came with police motorcycles and riders.

There's a third force as well. Because my fictitious island is a mash up of Panama and Grenada with a bit of Narcos thrown in for fun, I created a party militia of loyal street thugs. They're a bit like Noriega's Dignity Battalions. They function in the islands political mix as potential counterweight to the armed forces. The Libyans armed this lot so I used a variety of Gripping Beat and Eureka  African guerillas in civvy kit with Soviet bloc weapons.

Island forces are pretty much complete, I'm still slowly finishing the US forces (Marines, Rangers and 82nd Airborne). Finding suitable terrain has been the other slow point but we re getting there.

[CapnJim]

Hmmm.  Those RLI fellers might need a looking at.

Right now, my plan (a very loose one at this point in time, and subject to change) is to have these forces:

US Army/Marines Infantry:  These guys are already done, a full platoon's worth (although I really need a 3rd fire team in each squad to make them full-strength Marines), with a couple Humvees.  Still thinking about what other vehicles will play a part (those leading in consideration are LAVs, M113s, and a Sheridan or 2.

US Rangers:  I, through my gaming bud Ted (who has a 3D printer), will be using the figures I get (in patrol caps) from the Flank March Miniatures Reforger 1 Kickstarter currently under way).  The sample figures he did up for me look pretty good.  In fact, I may have him do those third fireteams (in Kevlars) for the Marines (although they won't have M249s).

La Guardia Nacional del Perdomo (GNP):  These chaps could appear on either side, as a coup will have taken place by the time the US-led intervention occurs.  Gonna use Empress and Rubicon ARVN for these guys.  Still thinking about these guys' vehicles, but am leaning toward V100 Commandos, and an M41 Walker Bulldog or 2.

Token Caribbean Participation:  The Mongrel Minis Congo Mercenaries I'm getting ready to paint. 

Los Toros Bravos, the local rebels/gun/drug smugglers/coup instigators/general pains-in-the-ass:  Gonna use Rubicon's NVA. ANZAC, and US Army guys for these chaps.  I want a mix of kit, headgear, and weapons.  Some other bits/pieces may get used to make these guys too - we'll see.  As for vehicles, a mix - wherever they can get 'em.

Other factions may include:

The British:  I am mulling over the idea of a British interest in El Perdomo.  If so, guys with L1a1s, as I like how they look.  I have a few choices in these chaps.

Cubans:  I may get figures to use for Cuban advisors to Los Toros Bravos.

That's it for now.  So far, we've RPG'ed in El Perdomo, with the players acting as employees of a Private Corporate Security Company (a CIA front).  I'll go over some background when we get closer to playing some games, but the players have foiled some Los Toros Bravos plans, raided a LTB training camp, and outed a renegade GNP Capitan. 


 

[carlos marighela]

I partly used this exercise as way of getting further use out of existing toys. The security forces have over the years managed to obtain a variety of kit from various sources. The regular army is still kitted out with mostly British kit, the sort of things that would be supplied at independence. Nothing heavier than an 81mm mortar. In the intervening yeas there has been some civil unrest so the Police obtained a couple of Humber Pigs.

The US donated a couple of Cadillac Gage V100s for a peacekeeping mission which ultimately didn't come to pass and a handful of French AML armoured cars have been obtained second hand. A Libyan presence and one of the drivers for US intervention, along with the use of the island as a staging post and money laundering centre for drug cartels has provided a supply of ex-Libyan small arms and reportedly a number of SA-7 MANPADS. The island is in fact believed to be the source of the missile that shot down a commercial airliner near Bogota carrying the US ambassador to Colombia and the head of the DEA office there.

Like you I need to, finish a third squad for my Marines. I've already converted some Eureka chaps with SMAW for fire support. The Marines already have 3 amtracs and an M60A1 and I'm thinking of adding a LAV.

My SEAL Team/ Delta Force Operators are pretty much done, I just need to finish the Little Birds.

The 82nd will be getting a Sheridan or two and a couple of HMMWVs.  Their helos are already done. Pretty close to completion but I'm finding the endless painting of woodland camo a bit of a chore at present.

Thining about doing all of this as sort of bastardised Play by Mail, with task force commanders issuing orders and then playing it out on board.

[CapnJim]

Very interesting.  I'd be interested in seeing more of your forces as you do/have done them up.

I think I'm set for helos, too, by the way.  Forgot to mention those.

Like I said, I'll post some more background on El Perdomo as time goes by.  But it is a small nation sandwiched between Costa Rica and Panama, with coasts on both the Caribbean and the Pacific.  Tobacco (in particular cigar and pipe tobacco) is its main export.  It is supported by the US, and maintains a small, but generally capable armed force and national police.

It enjoys good relations with Costa Rica, and mutual tolerance with Panama.  It does not get on at all with Cuba, as they are fomenting unrest in El Perdomo. 

The big question mark in my mind is the presence of British interests.  I keep picturing it as a former British colony, and perhaps still part of the Commonwealth with a Governor General, and a small British military presence.  Haven't decided yet...

Like you, Operation Righteous Thunder will be inspired by Grenada and Panama.  There may be just a bit of inspiration from 2003 Iraq thrown in, as well.  If there are British interests, the Falklands may inspire, as well. 

[carlos marighela]

British interests in the Falklands being largely sheep, the odd fish and of course the 'Bennies'. 

I've got Belize/ British Honduras as a project on the back burner. When I finally get around to buying the Rubicon ARVN, I'll be doing a generic Central American force that can double as Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Hondurans.

Speaking of Australians, I went back and looked at the 'Caribbean Peace Force' again. I noticed something I'd not seen before. The Bahamas contingent were aparently kitted out in Australian or at least Australian style greens along with their SLRs and British '58 pattern webbing. The trousers have the weird 3/4  cargo pockets that I've only ever seen on Aussie greens. They were a pain because if you stuck anything in those pockets it rubbed against the front of your leg when you moved, unlike a proper side pocket. A design so stupid it has to be unique. I obtained as many of the older, single side pocket trousers to wear 'out bush'.

It's possible they bought them from the ADF they're a fellow Commonwealth nation and Australia did sell cars to the Caribbean*. At any rate, the Rubicon Australians might be another source of troops. Just as well, they are nigh on useless as Vietnam era Australians.



* About the only place, along with Nah Zahlund and the odd one to the Gulf States and Pacific, that Holden (GM) ever had any export success. The one competitive advantage being that they were all right hand drive vehicles. It's weird seeing Australian cars on the other side of the world. Fortunately we no longer manufacture cars in Oz so nobody can blame us anymore.

[Rick]

Ah, you forgot that British interests in the Falklands these days also include the oil fields discovered some time after the conflict.
As both Panama and Costa Rica have oil deposits, it stands to reason that a country in between the two is also likely to have them? Might be a reason for the British to have hung on.
Might I suggest a couple of other films for you to watch - 'Carlton-Browne of the FO' and 'Water' as humerous inspiration.

[carlos marighela]

My Caribbean island does have oil interests, hence, in part, the Libyan involvement. It's the sub-plot for US involvement. 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

I do not know how your choice of US scale relative to Empress ARVN, but an alternative for your GNP are the ARVN by Gringos  40.
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=121220.msg1845739#msg1845739

Empress V100 is a good choice, I have one

[Rick]

The great thing about the Commando is it's versatility - it can be used as a 7 man apc, or with different support options up to a 20mm or 90mm cannon. It was a LAV before the US developed the LAV.

[CapnJim]

I do not know how your choice of US scale relative to Empress ARVN, but an alternative for your GNP are the ARVN by Gringos  40.
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=121220.msg1845739#msg1845739

Empress V100 is a good choice, I have one

I've seen those chaps.  Got my eye on a few...

The great thing about the Commando is it's versatility - it can be used as a 7 man apc, or with different support options up to a 20mm or 90mm cannon. It was a LAV before the US developed the LAV.

Yep.  I'm def leaning toward V100s.

[carlos marighela]

Panama had 'em, Guatemala had 'em, even Jamaica had a few V-150s. Go to vehicle. The Empress one is lovely but the Solido ones are cheap. You'll never guess which path I took.  

[Ultravanillasmurf]

V100 and V150 had different hulls.
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=117561.msg1473543#msg1473543

[CapnJim]

Yep.  I'm thinking just the V100.  For my GNP APCs (for those companies lucky/"elite" enough to have been issued them).

I have other ideas for what little heavier armor the GNP might have.... 

[carlos marighela]

The ever popular M3 Stuart? The mighty Sherman? The widely procured AMX-13 or the King Tiger of Latin America.... the M41?

[Ultravanillasmurf]

I have the M41 for mine.