Venezuela in TW 2000

[Olefin]

Originally Posted by lordroel

You have 3 militias, the two smaller Aruban Militia and the and the Curaçao Militia (each 60 men large) and the larger Antillean Militia who when mobilized will be made up of eight company-sized security detachments each with company strength of 148 men (totaling some 1,184 men), this means that the 3rd Battalion has the backing of a light infantry size militia regiment.

Roel did they have the ability to raise that many companies during the 90's in our timeline (i.e. not the game, talking about real timeline) or is that from your alternate timeline? I would assume many of them would be older reservists who had taken the training in their late teens and twenties and would be called back upon the war start

[lordroel]

Originally Posted by Olefin

Roel did they have the ability to raise that many companies during the 90's in our timeline (i.e. not the game, talking about real timeline) or is that from your alternate timeline? I would assume many of them would be older reservists who had taken the training in their late teens and twenties and would be called back upon the war start

Nope during the cold war it was for real, found it at this website called Netherlands Armed Forces ORDER OF BATTLE 1985 forum where it says (copied) from footnote number 14.

The Antillean Militia consisted of local conscript personnel and a small volunteer cadre; in 1985 their authorised strength was 5/18/125 (148). The Antillean Militia were trained, clothed and equipped by the Marine Corps as "(conscript) marines, special services Netherlands Antilles" (mariniers van bijzondere diensten (zeemiliciën) Nederlandse Antillen). The three infantry platoons together formed an infantry company which in times of crisis or war would operate as security infantry in support of the marine units stationed in the Netherlands Antilles (2 or 3 Amphibious Combat Group). On mobilisation the Antillean Militia would fill eight company-sized security detachments for which Marine Corps cadre would be mobilised in the Netherlands (32 officers and 8 sub-officers in 1981

[Olefin]

That amount of troops, even light infantry, would make quite a force for defending the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba - the question again is if Curacao is nuked - if it is then you would lose much of those forces in the attacks (you would think several of the Curacao militia units would be destroyed in the attack) - however the ones formed in Aruba would still be around as would any moved to guard the other islands

Given that you could see that 1998-2000 may have been marked by several bloody encounters between the French and the Dutch - which could explain the reduced numbers of French troops on duty in Martinique and Guyana - i.e. the numbers are down due to fighting with the Netherlands Marines (both regular troops, current serving militia and the mobilized security troops) in the Antilles

would also explain the large size of the New American force they were building up to take on Aruba - they aren't going to take on a scattered force of police and militia they are going to take on what's left of the Marine forces there after the fighting with the French - which probably would still be pretty large by Caribbean military standards in 2000

[lordroel]

Originally Posted by Olefin

That amount of troops, even light infantry, would make quite a force for defending the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba - the question again is if Curacao is nuked - if it is then you would lose much of those forces in the attacks (you would think several of the Curacao militia units would be destroyed in the attack) - however the ones formed in Aruba would still be around as would any moved to guard the other islands

There are enough people there to requite, only issues will be the weapons for them.

Originally Posted by Olefin

Given that you could see that 1998-2000 may have been marked by several bloody encounters between the French and the Dutch - which could explain the reduced numbers of French troops on duty in Martinique and Guyana - i.e. the numbers are down due to fighting with the Netherlands Marines (both regular troops, current serving militia and the mobilized security troops) in the Antilles

The French would not weaken their garrison in Guyana, its located next to the former Netherlands colony of Suriname, there are then of thousands of people living their with either a double or single passport and the government at the time is friendly to the Netherlands.

Originally Posted by Olefin

would also explain the large size of the New American force they were building up to take on Aruba - they aren't going to take on a scattered force of police and militia they are going to take on what's left of the Marine forces there after the fighting with the French - which probably would still be pretty large by Caribbean military standards in 2000

Where is that mention that New American force where planing to take on Aruba.

[Olefin]

The Gateway to the Spanish Main, if I remember correctly (can confirm it when I get home later) mentions the target of the pirate fleet that is being built by the captive shipbuilders as Aruba. That fleet is being financed by New America

[lordroel]

Originally Posted by Olefin

The Gateway to the Spanish Main, if I remember correctly (can confirm it when I get home later) mentions the target of the pirate fleet that is being built by the captive shipbuilders as Aruba. That fleet is being financed by New America

Wel; any pirate fleet will get a surprise, the Royal Netherlands Navy with a hot or cold war with the French is not going to ask who they are, but starts shooting as soon as the come in range.

[Slappy]

I'll point out that while likely, it's not certain that there is a Franco-Dutch hot war in the Caribbean. Local commanders will have a lot of latitude given the distance from home, and it's possible that local detente or even limited cooperation is possible. Maybe not out of the question given an instinct for europeans to band together in the face of other hostiles. May even be situational island to island.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by Olefin

That fleet is being financed by New America

Not exactly.

The New Americans have already backed Jones up with heavy weapons, mortars, small arms, and ammunition.

The New Americans had planned to make an exchange of the Letter of Marque and Reprisal and the gold for General Cumming's daughter.

The New Americans are only interested in Loretta Cummings - there's no indication they could care less about anything else.
The document is basically worthless, and the gold (along with the weaponry) is just payment for the kidnapping.

[Olefin]

You are right - New America isnt directly funding the fleet - however the effort to kidnap the girl is providing the gold and the weapons that are leading to the creation of the pirate fleet.

And the target is Aruba

"The shared dream of both men is to sack and pillage the rich ports of the Spanish Main with Aruba, the oil rich island in the Dutch Antilles, being their first major target"

That right there makes it pretty clear that Aruba didn't get nuked. And that big group of pirates is probably needed because of the Marines that are still at Aruba - you don't need that many men to take on a platoon of militia and some local cops.