Shipbucket

"The MiG-27D was a dedicated nuclear strike derivative that was kept on stand-by to guard against any perceived nuclear air attack (the Americans had developed their long-range, swing-wing, nuclear-capable General Dynamics FB-111 Aardvark bomber by then). These Floggers were fitted with the RSBN-6S nav-attack system for the particular job at hand. Production began in 1973 and lasted until 1977 to which some 560 total examples were produced."

http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft ... aft_id=230

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Best regards,

RegiaMarina1939

1981:Red Alert

-During the 1970's, the CCCN had experienced a significant military buildup. Four new divisions had joined the army, along with a pair of brigades and six battalions. These were as follows: 2 x Motorized Rifle Divisions, 1 x Foot Infantry Division, 1 x Jungle Warfare Division; 1 x Armored Brigade, 1 x Naval Infantry Brigade; 2 x Air defense battalions, 1 x Artillery Battalion, 1 x Anti-Armour Battalion, 2 x Armored Battalions.

This buildup significantly troubled American planners, who viewed the ever-expanding CCCN Marine Corps as a threat to their base in Puerto Rico. Therefore, the United States authorized it's own buildup on the island of Puerto Rico.

Currently based on the island were a pair of under-strength national guard battalions and an electronic warfare platoon. There were also about 150 military police on the island, along with around 500 other miscellaneous Armed Forces personnel. The guard troops did have some anti-tank and anti-aircraft capability in shoulder-launched MANPADS and AT launchers. A few M113 personnel carriers and armored cars were available, but transportation was largely dependent on trucks and Humvees. As far as air power was concerned, there was a single electronic warfare wing with 4 x AWACS aircraft, and a naval observation wing with 6 x patrol aircraft and 2 x anti-shipping aircraft. Naval assets consisted of 4 x attack boats, 2 x observation vessels, 1 x research vessel, and 2 x Diesel-Electric Submarines.

The US decided that a buildup would be necessary for maintaining the peace of the region. Army and air force assets arrived first. The national guard formations on the island were brought up to full mobilization, and a partially mobilized foot infantry regiment was moved to the region. An armored security company with 8 x armored cars and 12 x M113 APC's was moved in. An airborne heavy lifting wing with 5 x Chinook choppers was based in the area to position troops and war material. A fighter wing with 12 x F-104 Fighters was based there as well, as was a support wing with 6 x Super-Sabre's carrying heavy bombs and air-to-ground rocket pods. Naval forces based in the region included 5 x new attack boats, as well as a pair of multirole frigates and a corvette. After the initial force increase, an airborne special forces battalion of Navy SEALS arrived in Huey Choppers to assist in providing security to the base.

The CCCN phase of the reinforcement will probably be uploaded tomorrow...

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Best regards,

RegiaMarina1939

...the CCCN phase of reinforcement:

-As part of preparations in Hispaniola, the CCCN Command deemed it necessary to transfer the 2nd. Army Corps to the region. The corps was hastily assembled from a mix of reserve and active units in Cuba, and was composed of two motor rifle divisions, one foot infantry division, two air defense battalions, an artillery battalion, and a reserve armored company. This force was intended to reinforce the current defenders in Hispaniola. The force currently there consisted of a full-strength motorized border guards division and a pair of under-strength militia brigades. This totaled around 13,500 front-line troops and another 2,000 miscellaneous troops including MP's and technical crew. Based on the island were two fighter squadrons with 12 x MiG-21's and 10 x MiG-19's. They were there to provide limited air support and protection for the special attack squadron based in Haiti (8 x MiG-27's) Deployed to reinforce these was an elite fighter squadron with 12 x MiG-25's. Naval assets moved to the region included two destroyers and a submarine task force of 3 boats. 4 x missile boats and a pair of coastal patrol craft were also deployed for army cooperation purposes.

-For the Antilles, the situation was very different. There was a larger land mass to defend, and significant amphibious capacity was required. Already there were four motor rifle divisions and an independent airborne light infantry company, along with a foot infantry regiment and a jungle warfare battalion, as well as a pair of coast-defense artillery groups with 6 x 4-gun batteries of 152mm, 130mm, and 122mm guns. Moved to the area as reinforcements was the 1st Army Corps, as well as an independent naval infantry regiment. The 1st. Army Corps was made up of the 2nd, 6th, 11th, and 8th motor rifle divisions, as well as the 1st Armored Brigade, 4th Air defense battalion, 3rd. Artillery battalion, and 5th Republican Guard Cavalry Company. The cavalry were "elite" troops trained as government bodyguards. They rode horses ceremonially, but in battle used armored cars and infantry fighting vehicles. The regular army troops disliked them quite a bit, mainly due to the fact that their incorporation into the corps was a show of political power, and the cavalry had no real sense of combat or the hard life of a soldier. The troops of the 1st. Corps arrived in full just 6 weeks after starting their transit. Air assets deployed in the region consisted of 3 x Fighter squadrons and a reserve interceptor squadron, as well as an army cooperation wing and a ground-attack wing. Helicopter support was provided in the form of a utility chopper group and two light attack groups. Aircraft deployed included the venerable MiG-15, 19, 21, and 27, as well as the Mi-2 and Mi-24 choppers. Naval assets in the region included 3 x Destroyers, 2 x Corvettes, 2 x Frigates, 1 x Minelayer, and 3 x Electronic Warfare/Observation craft. Also in the area was a submarine task force of 5 boats. Over 200 landing craft were deployed as logistical support and for the obvious need of amphibious capability. Re-based from it's observation posts watching the Nicaraguan civil war was an Air Observation squadron with 8 x Antonov AN-2 Biplanes carrying cameras and observation equipment. The 1st. Armored Brigade was a prestigious formation in the CCCN Army, and it received the best equipment before every other formation. Their hardware included the T-55 and T-62 MBT's as well as the ZSU-23-4 Shilka.

-A separate post on divisional organization and some background to different famous army formations will be uploaded in the near future.

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Best regards,

RegiaMarina1939

Although I am not following this AU really closely, I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to that "post on divisional organization".
"3500 front line troops" sounds IMHO bit too few for a "full-strength motorized border guards division and a pair of under-strength militia brigades". Unless there's a "1" missing in front of the number (making it 13500).
Also, I can't quite grasp the purpose of those "foot infantry" formations? Does that mean these are just "normal" infantry, simply short on transport vehicles (and therefore rather suited for somewhat static duties, like area security etc.), or is supposed to mean something else altogether?

Not mentioning that fighter unit with 10 or 12 aircraft is barely a squadron, not a wing.

Ok cool. You are correct on foot infantry, they are regular infantry intended mostly for static deployment. I will rework the numbers a bit to make it seem more believable. What would be the appropriate name for an air formation of 8-12 aircraft?

_________________
Best regards,

RegiaMarina1939

Squadron.

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𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐍𝐄𝐓- 𝑻𝒐 𝑪𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆

Thanks for that.

_________________
Best regards,

RegiaMarina1939

-Here we have the standard rifle of the army for quite a while! First purchased in 1926, the Mosin-Nagant was chosen due to the surplus stockpiles available in the USSR, and for the fact that they were durable, hard-hitting, and effective weapons. Roughly 11,000 were purchased initially, chambered in the standard 7.62x54R cartridge. During the Second World War, production necessitated that production start up locally. CCCN weapons were different in several respects, namely the less-professional manufacturing standards. They were purchased locally at the Arsenal de Havana, along with the cartridges, and featured their own serial numbers ranging from 1 to 15,000. Sights were the same, but all the markings were changed to Spanish rather than Russian. The arsenal also manufactured a carbine version for the marine corps, of which 1,500 were made. The rifles served through the war, being augmented by small imports from the United States of reserve 1903 Springfields and M1 Garands under the lend-lease agreement. They were replaced as the standard front-line rifles in 1952 with the AK-47 assault rifle. They remained in reserve service until the 1980's, and are still in ceremonial service. The model pictured here is an 1891 Cavalry model, one of the original batch purchased from surplus stocks in Russia, and placed in service with the mounted cavalry corps.


-The Tokarev TT series are widely acclaimed as one of the most famous and reliable lines of handguns ever made. The case is no different in the CCCN, who adopted the pistol in the 1930's to replace all the other models in service, including Colt .45 pistols, revolvers (which have always been in steady service in the army, whether one model or the other) and the old Luger pistols purchased before the First World War. Chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev. 8,000 of them were acquired by the army in 1936, becoming the standard officer's sidearm. As was the case with the Mosin rifles, these pistols were reverse-engineered and placed in license production at the Port-au-Prince arsenal in Haiti. They featured a reworked grip, deleting the famous star on the plastic, and replacing the Russian writing and markings with Spanish ones. During the war, nearly 18,000 were produced, with most going to Military police and the officer corps. They were also issued to pilots, air force crews, navy crews, and tank crews. The CCCN Police force also adopted it as their standard weapon. After the war, to keep up with logistical demands, a version was produced chambered for 9x18mm Makarov. The magazine size increased from 8 rounds to 15, and the weapon was designated the Pistola de combate 54 (P-54 for short.) The weapon was exported to several nations, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Nicaragua. Nicaragua in particular received over 3,000, these going to communist rebels fighting in the country. They are being phased out in all forms in favor of the SIG-Sauer P226, especially with the increase in CCCN-Western relations. The version shown here is an initial export batch version, chambered in 7.62x25.

-NEXT UP: More World War Two-era guns, 1950's and 60's guns, and tanks/artillery.

_________________
Best regards,

RegiaMarina1939

Funny thing, I was inspired to do the Mosin because I actually got to hold one today! A friend of mine's dad got one for surplus back in the 80's or 90's. Don't quite know what version it is, but it is definitely very old and very heavy!

_________________
Best regards,

RegiaMarina1939

Hi, Regia Marina.

Bewere of congested supply lines of ammo ! You already have mentioned 3 different calibers 30.06, 7,62x54 and 7,62 x 39 for your AU army! Cheers.