"Mexico Invaded" Topic

Hi all, I am thinking about playing a scenario where the US invades Mexico in the future. I want this to be a large scale invasion involving corps level US forces against Mexican forces. I am also including Chinese and or Russian forces.

So far my scenario includes the drug cartels completely controlling the Mexican government. The catalyst for the invasion will be a massacre in the US along the border perhaps in El Paso or some other border city where numerous Americans are killed. The US pretty much gets fed up and decides to invade and starts building up forces along the US/Mexican border.

A few years earlier the cartels had signed an agreement with China and China has stationed military forces in Southern Mexico as "advisors".

That is pretty much it so far. Any other suggestions would be helpful.

Good starting point. I'm sure the locals would put up a good fight. That, in turn, could draw in more militia type troops that would take the war to the enemy. After that U.S. National Guard called in to restore order. The Mexicans push back and then all control is lost. Perhaps just other South/Central American forces ally with Mexico to start. U.S. has very restricted ROE.

Vince

I did a game with a similar premise but it was 1942. Germany supplies (actually pre-positions) captured Polish and French equipment to the Mexican Govt. Germany also has advisors (Brandenberger type Special Forces, pilots, etc) in support. The whole point is to draw as many US resources into the border area, thus preventing them from going to The ETO. Various National Guards get drawn in, especially Texas, N.M., and Arizona. Most of the US equipment is junky inter-war stuff. There are Mexican Bandit Groups, Native American resistance groups, even the Texas Rangers, and local US militias.. Anyway it was ALOT of fun. I did it in 1/285th, scratch building alot of the inter-war armor…Vichy French mercenary pilots flying MS.406s shredded the Air Corps' 3rd rate units flying P-26s. It wasn't until P-40s came on the scene that the US actually gained air supremacy.

Thanks for the ideas! I am using 1/600 Pico Armor and other miniatures. In this scenario the Mexicans have a mix of refurbished older tanks like T-34s and Shermans that they added armor too and upgraded the guns and they also have old T-80s. The Chinese/Russians/South American forces have the most up to date tanks and APCs and hovercraft.

I was thinking about the civilian reaction also. I really want to concentrate on the combat forces although I know there will be miitias running around. In this scenario I was going to make the cartels as ruthless as ISIS and the Mexican population pretty much scared too death of them, but not being able to do much against them since they control the country and military. In my scenario, most of the civilian population is either going to support US forces or stay out of the way because they secretly hate the cartels and think the US will make life better for them.

Yep sounds plausible and could make for some interesting scenarios.

Mexico's best secret weapon is the food. Beware Moctezuma's revenge!

We would Just seal the border …For real this time. Use Airstrikes and drone attacks and Limited SOF to do Capture/Kill missions,on Cartel and Mexican Govt command authority infrastructure…

One of the Harold COyle books, Trial by Fire, had something like that…. violent drug cartels deliberately provoking open war between Los Estados Unidos de America y Los Estados Unidos de Mexico… The War of the United States perhaps?

link

I would imagine in a hypothetical war like that, there would be plenty of Mexican sympathizers in the US of A, not just gangs.

US military equipment is a bit beyond what the Mexicans field, but its a lot of territory, with a lot of people to control…. and that whole fifth column in the American southwest would keep guarding logistics interesting.

Chalfant

"Trial by Fire" by Harold Coyle includes a US invasion of Mexico in 1995. I only remember a couple of things from the story that stood out:

1) The book gives T-72's to Nicaragua, which surprise US forces who insist Nicaragua doesn't have any. (They do have T-55's IRL, though. Venezuela could be another source of unexpected heavy armor.)

2) The first major obstacle to a US advance is the city of Monterrey, with it's 4-million-plus population. Figuring out how to maneuver around the city becomes a major issue for the campaign, as attacking it directly is not really on option (both for the forces needed and the casualties it would cause).

Harold Coyle ("Team Yankee" author) wrote a novel along these lines, probably pretty easy to pick up used nowadays. I don't think any outside forces got involved, but it might give you some scenario ideas.

link

Edit – scooped by seconds!

If you want a historical event to kick off the conflict, one of their helos fired on our Border Guards not too long ago.

More than a few potshots are also taken at our river patrols as well, fairly regularly.

I read "Trial By Fire" years ago and have been thinking of a "new scenario" because the Europe-African-Middle East stuff I normally wargame got boring.

In my scenario the Cartels have pretty much enslaved the Mexican people and turned the country into their own little Kingdom and the Mexican people realize life pretty much is not great under them. The US will have sealed borders, but like I said the catalyst will be a massacre of American citizens in a border city or town. I picked El Paso just because I was stationed at FT Bliss and loved El Paso when I was there.

I'm thinking of having US militia groups cause as much trouble as the Mexican forces because they will want to "get in on the action" also and thus the actual US military will have to deal with fighting the enemy in front and controlling wanna be Rambos rampaging in their rear and perhaps ruining the good will they are trying to show the Mexican people.

The US Goal will be to oust the Cartel supported government and restore order to Mexico, but, like I stated earlier the cartels are buddy buddy with China or perhaps Russia who have modern forces deployed in southern Mexico so it will be interesting to see what happens when they get involved and start marching toward US forces and the US border. I always wanted to do a "meeting engagement" battle and that is what that battle might turn out to be.

I remember back in mid 90s, a boss lent me a fiction book (reminded me of poor-man's Clancy style) where US invades Mexico and the drug wars were an instigating factor. I recall them following some Bradley IFV crew members or something. The book cover was black and had an eagle and snake on it. Decent read.

Any update to your scenario? I'd love to read an update.

If you are still looking for ideas, you should read about Pershing's Punitive Expedition into Mexico against Pancho Villa in 1916-1917. You could probably replay the entire event if you substitute armor for cavalry and added some extra zeros to the forces involved. Lots of colorful battles both north and south of the border.

cwlinsj,

I am still trying to figure out all the details and units. I always seem to get into the same dilemma when planning a campaign – the scenario/force specifics.

So far here is what I am looking at:

The year is 2052

Drug cartels have taken over political power in Mexico and formed an alliance with South and Central American countries called the "Latin American Alliance" (LAA). Europe, (mainly Germany) and Russia have "made nice" with each other and they along, with China, form a force called the "Eurasian Federation" that is a quick reaction force that can be sent to trouble spots in the world, but is really used to give backbone to the LAA. The USA stands alone.

As for miniatures, when I do battles I REALLY like to do battles so I have thousands of miniatures I use. So far I have 10 x black 30 drawer cases with approc 30 vehicles in each drawer to use as battalions for the LAA (approx 8000 – 9000 vehicles a mix of Axis and Allies miniature tanks but mostly picoarmor scifi miniatures miniatures. The Eurasian Federation consists of one 60 drawer case and each drawer has 30-40 Fortress America hovertanks/APCs in them and approx 5 helicopters.

The American forces consists of an Armored Cavalry Group which has 9 squadrons made up of 2 x hover APC companies of 14 vehicles each and 2 x hover tank companies of 14 vehicles each.

The main forces are six "Joint Strike Forces" (ENDWAR Anyone?) tailored to be the same. Each JSF consist of the following from pico armor: 224 1/600 Ceasarian tanks, 224 Matabele IFVs (Army Infantry Component) and 224 M57 Manta APCs (Marine Infantry component) and 80 Thor MRL for each JSF.

Lastly I have 80 AS-14B Crows Dropships and fitted some with additional top mounted gun turrets for additional firepower.

As for terrain, When I was in the Army I managed to snag like 20 of the old "Dumkempf" plastic terrain boards and had a buddy of mine make them more realistic so I have all these boards with bushes and miniature airports and cities and towns etc all over them.

The only bad thing is I have limited space in my mancave so I can really only fight one or two battles at a time.

Right now there have been a few cross border skirmishes, but nothing large scale yet. I am currently planning a campaign where the US sends in a force with the dropships in order to render the Panama Canal unusable to the LAA and Eurasian force since they control it. I have river terrain I plan to place in between a few terrain boards and pretend that is the canal. So far I am looking at the US dropping in forces at the entrance and exit of the canal and fighting to hold both sections long enough in order to place nukes to permanetly disable both those ends, thus rendering the whole canal worthless.

That is about it so far.

Cool! Look forward to reading updates!

Dunn Kempf! I'm really jealous to read that you have actual pieces of the original Dunn Kempf boards! You should post pictures of them here on TMP. I've only seen grainy B&W pics of them, it's about time someone put up color photos of the "original" Army miniatures game.

They have been "altered" to look more realistic. My buddy put some kind of sand on them and painted rivers, glued bushes on them and built a couple of cities. They are perfect for 1/600 miniatures. 1/285th minis are a little too big and don't look right on them. I would post pics, but I am technology stupid. What is the best way post pictures on here? I tried figuring out photobucket once and it didn't turn out right.