"Inspiration from a small-ish 3rd world conflict?" Topic

Inspiration from a small-ish 3rd world conflict?

Looking at some of my aging novels, like "The Wild Geese" and FF's "Dogs of War" I like the idea of a relatively *small* conflict involving larger international and national government, corporate, and domestic concerns of the location as a setting for a fictional military solution. My thought is that it involve less than a battalion or so of "professionals" with support, so say 1,000 in the force altogether [but preferably less, more like 200-400].

I have zero concern for the relative merits of the historical conflict in anyone's eyes.

Truth be told, I intend to use it as inspiration for an ongoing Traveller 1e campaign that I am running for a group of similarly aging grognards. I want them to recognize the themes, but not the specific inspiration in a sci-fi conflict which will be set 4,000 years in the future… or so.

So, imagine that someone comes to you and says, "Hey, we want to re-write a classic cold war novel like Wild Geese or Dogs of War, perhaps use it as a script for a movie… where should we get inspiration for the setting?" and you'll be on the right track.

If you feel your suggestion is controversial, PM me instead, not interested in any drama…at all.

Thanks for your informed suggestions!

what about Wagner Group in the Sahel? Mercenary arm of a government with some deniability. Propping up a military junta or corrupt government in exchange for <insert valuable substance here> mining rights.
Same as Rwanda backing M23 in DRC and capturing the gold and rare earth minerals but denying any involvement.

Mexican cartels as generic bad guys offer some conflict parameters. A major military incursion is politically impossible. A small strike force from the neighboring power teams with the somewhat corrupt, untrustworthy, home government to take on a group of considerably well-armed bad guys producing massive amounts of illegal and dangerous drugs, or some other material, with strongholds and production facilities well defended.

Ruthless murderers and kidnappers can acquire hostages, turn government officials, operate over rough terrain, and have guerilla war skills and some technical assets to various degrees.

The strike force will be fully equipped with the latest gear, some of which may not work well in harsh terrain, have supply limitations and a time deadline for withdrawl, and could be betrayed in some way by some of the home force allies.

My imagination of Noote (pronounced Noot by the Marines, of course), is like this. Led by General Bedooza, opposed by a loose confederation of the Allah's Righteous Guardians (ARG), The Brotherhood Against Progressive Outsiders (BAPO) and the People's Transformation Army (PTA), it's a mess. A former French colony, France maintains an interest, while the US is also trying to moves the nation towards a more inclusive democracy.

More news at 11.

My long worked on Imaginations project involves basically one side supported by the West, while the other side is supported by the Warsaw Pact. Equipment and uniforms are WWII through Vietnam. I just plan to do border incursions, blow up or capture a radio station, small airport, etc. You can always use the professionals for a civilian evac mission. My setting is warlord Africa.

The US is in favor of democracy?
Well, shut my mouth wide open!

The various invasions of Zaire (and then Congo) in the 1990s by all sorts of countries and mercenaries and insurgents for any number of reasons (overthrow the Zaire government, track down genocidal enemies, carve out territories for economic exploitation, etc.) might be a decent backdrop for a fictional venue in another solar system. The reality of this conflict(s) is/are pretty nasty though.

The Congo was the first thing that popped into my mind as well.

Why not pre-1978 Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Stalkey?

A Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Rhodesian government, which half the world's nations refused to recognise.
Competing "liberation" factions (ZAPU and ZANU being the main ones).
Incursions from South African, Mozambique and Zambia (and possibly other neighbouring states).
Foreign advisors/trainers- North Korean, Soviet and (possibly) Chinese for the rebel forces, merc's and "conscripted foreign citizens" from the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Portugal, Hong Kong, Canada, US, NZ and Australia for the government.

Rhodesian recruiters were openly approaching serving regulars and reservists (they were after Malaya, Borneo and Viet Nam veterans) in Australia, the UK, the US, NZ and Fiji, which led to some "interesting" interactions between the Rhodesian government and the others. They could give you some background sub-plots. (Aussies were stripped of their citizenship if they volunteered or were "conscripted while visiting" Rhodesia- something the government can't/won't do, even for dual-citizenship terrorists, these days.)

You could base some of your forces on admired/despised units (depending on which cause someone supported) like the Rhodesian SAS, Rhodesian Light Infantry and Selous Scouts.

Game Rangers vs Poachers,thats what i like to use in my 3rd scenarios. Any Sub Saharan African country.

@ Dal GAvan
Don't know anything about Rhodesia, sounds interesting.
I can look up more on Wiki, etc, of course. But any good books to recommend?

Not really, Stalkey. What I know comes from a couple of mates who went over and news reports (which, from memory, all favoured the "freedom fighters"). I read one a long time ago, but it was an autobiography of a photographer or reporter and the war is just a background to that. (I had a look on AddAll, mate, and I think it was this one- Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa.) Wiki (Rhodesian Bush War) have a sparse historiography which may give you a few ideas.

Another bush war is Portugal v Frelimo which ended in 1974.

Mozambique is an interesting suggestion!

Don't forget South America… remember the Peru vs Ecuador War for example…

What about Colombia vs Venezuela?… one sustained by Democracies and the another by the crap countries of the world…

Armand

I interviewed an officer who was one of the participants in the 2001 failed coup attempt in Côte d'Ivoire.

All in all, the coup was attempted with fewer than 100 men and only failed because a military transport became stuck in mud, holding up the column, and couldn't reach its destination in time to reinforce his small group which had seized the state broadcasting studio.

The officer corps had planned it well; a diversionary attack by some expendable thugs who had been let out of prison and given an AK with a single mag, while the 'real' force seized the tv, palace and airport.

I also interviewed one of the 'thugs'; he thought he was a major part of the operation. He wasn't very bright and told me proudly how he'd previously been paid to intimidate political candidates.

For many smaller countries a well planned attack with a core of professionally trained and well motivated soldiers stands a good chance, providing (a) the plot isn't discovered until its executed, and (b) you don't get your 4-tonners stuck in the mud.

The British in Malaysia was suggested as a guerrilla war:
link
It's a smaller vietnam conflict that the government side won.

The second phase of the conflict actually may be more interesting than the first:
link

I'm trying to find more info on the military side of the house, but appears to be lots of small actions.
One paper here: PDF link that is free and looks of interest.

These may be of interest to those with similar gaming projects.