Venezuela in TW 2000

[Olefin]

the Netherlands Marines have been posted to the Antilles for quite some time - there were there during the Cold War period and thus would have been there for the war start - they have been there to deter aggression from Venezuela since the 30's

Assuming a V1 timeline where the Cold War never ended they wouldn't have drawn down their forces there most likely

thus at war start you are looking at the 3rd Marine Battalion with three infantry companies (two on Curacao, one on Aruba) plus a company of local militia (two platoons on Curacao, one on Aruba) as well as a brigade of military police (they serve as security for both the military facilities as well as the border guard and security at the airports ) numbering around 200 or so men plus the 160 men of the Coast Guard

The militia platoons are trained by the Netherlands Marines and once trained are Netherlands Marines - thus you basically have a standing reserve Marine company to reinforce the 3rd Battalion plus reservists who used to be members of the platoons that could be used as well.

Given the fact that there were Soviet forces on Cuba and Soviet Naval units active in the Caribbean and the losses in shipping most likely the Marines stayed where they were - and the bases there might have become very important after the French invasion especially for what was left of the Dutch fleet (let alone would have been one of the last airbases they had left)

As far as nukes in South America in the V1 canon it does mention nuclear strikes against refineries in Venezuela if I remember correctly

The V2 timeline has more details including the short nuclear war between Argentina and Brazil

Keep in mind if you are looking at a 2013 timeline that force of Marines would now be only the single company at Aruba - the other two were stood down since the 90's

[lordroel]

Originally Posted by Olefin

The militia platoons are trained by the Netherlands Marines and once trained are Netherlands Marines - thus you basically have a standing reserve Marine company to reinforce the 3rd Battalion plus reservists who used to be members of the platoons that could be used as well.

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.

[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