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Originally Posted by kalos72
Not to start a riot but...
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My wife says, “Not that I want to add more to your To Do list” when she means exactly the opposite. [I love her anyway.]
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalos72
Is it me or does most of the data about Mexico imply a MUCH weaker military then they should have had coming into the invasion?
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Mexico’s pre-war army is weak by American or even Western standards. If the British Army could be transported to Mexico, they’d mop up in a conventional fight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalos72
Also, no navy/airforce/marines data is available that I found.
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No, the Challenge article doesn’t cover these other branches of the military. I believe the Mexican Air Force basically is grounded for lack of spares and maybe lack of fuel by 1998. Also, I think the Mexican air bases and headquarters are obvious targets for tactical nuclear strikes by the US. It’s possible that Mexican air power plays a role in the early victories, but just putting the planes up will consume spare parts that probably can’t be replaced.
I do think there’s room for a narrative regarding action of the local remnants of the US Navy against the Mexican Navy once the war starts. I’d write it, but I’m not a Navy guy. This job is better for someone with a better understanding of things naval.
I believe there’s a long conversation following TurboSwede’s presentation of his superb Mexican Army Sourcebook. Many of us embraced the idea of a modest number of AMX-30 finding their way into Mexican hands before the start of the nuclear exchange.
In an effort to simplify the picture of Mexican AFV, I have posited that China buys literally every AFV that is ready to go out the door in response to the Soviet invasion. Mexico gets in one the action by selling its entire stock of WW2-era American vehicles, which go to bottom-rung Chinese units and security forces, which in turn send their AFV to the front. Flush with cash from the sale and fresh orders for more AFV, the Mexican government orders a more modern fleet of AFV.
France, in the meantime, is overwhelmed by the sheer number of orders coming from China and from other customers who join regional arms races kicked off by the Sino-Soviet War. The French authorize Mexico to construct several types of AFV under license, including AMX-30, VAB, VBL, and F1 Lynx. Faced with the prospect of cashing in on the worldwide arms bonanza, Mexican heavy industry retools at breakneck speed. By the time NATO gets involved in Europe, the Mexicans have produced their first licensed AFV in every category. It is worth noting that they bring in some specialists and have to order certain items from France or Belgium.
By the time of the TDM, Mexico is producing a steady, if limited, number of tanks and lighter AFV. Once international shipping goes down, all of the ready vehicles in Mexico are diverted to the Mexican Army. All vehicles currently in production are ordered finished, under the assumption that the Mexican Army will need fighting vehicles to survive the looming chaos.
Thus I argue for a Mexican Army that is a modification of the Challenge article and a modification of TurboSwede’s work. I haven’t come up with firm numbers for all of the categories of AFV yet.