Mexican Army 1920s - 1930s

[Mike Blake]

Anyone have a lead on this topic? here is what little I have - additions and corrections welcome.

1923 Regulations
Scrapped all previous picturesque items introduced in 1919, replacing them with a plain visored cap, tunic, trousers and leggings of ‘army grey’ and a grey topical cork helmet for field service.
1930 Regulations
October 1930 issued a Regulation of Uniforms and Devices, known as RUD. Lengthy and well-illustrated it dealt with five classes of uniform:
•   Service
•   Garrison
•   Half Gala
•   Full Gala
•   Coastal
The basic colours were black for Gala, green-grey for Service and Garrison, white for tropical and coastal stations.
Service colours were
•   crimson - Artillery, Military Academy and General Staff
•   scarlet - Infantry and Veterans
•   hussar blue - Cavalry
•   violet - Aviation
•   light brown - Quartermaster Corps
•   brick red - Ordinance
•   yellow - Medical
•   emerald green - Military Justice
(Hefter 1966)
Period photographs and modern illustrations (see above) show a WWI French-style helmet with front badge for men, German-style peaked cap for officers. The helmet is a greener shade than the uniform, which was quite dark for men, lighter for officers. Men's gaiters and shoes black, equipment of six pouch harness (three either side of the chest, the lowest on the waist belt) yellow-ochre (canvas?) or if over the greatcoat one on the lower chest, two on the waist belt either side; service colour on the outer end of shoulder tabs and a narrow ring around the cuff, yellow metal buttons, rifle sling a simple grey cord or a strap, material and colour unknown. Officers’ equipment mid tan brown leather (cap band, Sam Browne cross belt, waist belt, riding boots.) A rolled overcoat or blanket was worn horseshoe style around a knapsack on the back with black leather straps.
The dark helmet and black gaiters worn with the white tropical/coastal uniform appear in photos.

[Mike Blake]

found the post Topic: Mexican Army Helmets which had not come up in my search originally. Very useful info on helmets in a link there. Thanks to the posters.

[Hang Tuah]

These are from the Facebook page of the Ministry of National Defense.

[carlos marighela]

https://miniaturasmilitaresalfonscanovas.blogspot.com/2011/10/ejercito-mexicano-la-evolucion-del.html#google_vignette

https://ar.pinterest.com/pin/327707310378628649/

[Mike Blake]

Belated thanks to responders. Just what I was looking for.

[Inkpaduta]

Mike,

I am curious, What you intending to game with them?

[Mike Blake]

Hi
They are part of a 1930sish set up in our mythical old west setting of Pima Co New Mexico (or not the real one in Arizona) moving our story line on from the classic OW period, keeping some of the characters descendents and mixing in new ones and historical people too. All with a gangster, moonshine, frontier feel.

One story line revolves around drug and booze running over the border, with rival gangs of tequilistas, us and mexican border patrols and the mexican army...

We have played a number of games but have yet to actually bring in the army...

[Inkpaduta]

Sounds fun. Like the idea.

[commissarmoody]

Pretty cool, what range of figs are you planning on using for them?

[Mike Blake]

For some reason no notification of a reply , hence delay in responding!

I am afraid I play in 1/32-1/32 scale 54mm-60mm figures, mostly plastic but more and more 3D printed. The Mexican army are some of the latter, actually WWII French cavalry. I have converted some Mexican Border Guarda Fiscal from Chintoy US Cops for the era. Buildings are all scratch built.

We did a game at Partizan last year - will dig out some photos. Actually the latest Miniature Wargames, 504, contains my article about the Salt Flats City game we ran at PARTIZAN - apparently John T has really gone to town with his photos  - ironically I haven't seen the piece yet!