[Carlos69]

GeoffQRF wrote:

Looking at the current listings for several South American countries, they all semm similar in terms of infantry. Most have something similar to the US M1 helmet, Brazil uses a PASGT. Most seem to be using FN FAl/FN MAG, although M4/M16 shows up for Paraguay, Argentina and Peru. Uruguay lists the Steyr and G36. The AT-4 and M72 law are quite common. VEhicle wise, I was suprised to see Ti-67 listed for Uruguay, and the Chinese WZ551 for Argentina

 

Those Chinese APC’s number about half a dozen IIRC. They were specifically purchased for their  UN peacekeeping contingent  in Haiti.

[Carlos69]

If you search for Operation Soberania you’ll see that the Argentinian army had plans to storm the the Andean passes. Given that Chile’s intelligence services knew what was coming, I wouldn’t have fancied their chances. Chile was able to put its forces on alert and even dynamited a couple of mountain passes.

The plan involved taking the Beagle Channel islands,  along with simultaneous thrusts through Patagonia  and through the Andean passes. Argentina was actually planning to take Santiago. Meanwhile their northern corps under Galtieri was to adopt a defensive posture against any possible intervention by Brazil.The CoS for the Argentinian army , controversially, gave an interview in which he expressed his belief that Argentina would have lost. In the end it was poor weather on the day that stopped the Argentine fleet from sortying.

Somewhere here I have a very good piece from a Brazilian military history magazine which goes into considerable detail on the whole thing. On a related note there’s a superb Chilean film on the  phoney war along the Patagonian border Mi mejor enemigo ( My Best Enemy). Well worth watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9hpLhhVD2I&list=PL855D1B78E80B476E

[Carlos69]

Realistically there is little prospect of conflict on the continent. There are only a couple of outstanding territorial disputes, neither of which is likely to lend itself to the outbreak of war.  Relations bewteen neighbours has been enhanced by  increasing economic dependence and the old Cold War bogeyman no longer exists. Internal security remains the primary focus of most militaries and even there the scope of conflict has declined dramatically over the past two decades. Leaving aside a handful of remnant members of Sendero Luminoso in Peru, the only active guerilla groups are really FARC and the ELN in Colombia and the peace talks are edging closer to a resolution of the world’s longest conflict and the last conflict of any size on the continent. I have painted up quite a number of 28mm minis for the region but primarily looking at narco traficantes as opposition.</span>

Of course none of that should stop you gaming some fantasy scenario…….</span>

Brazil is in the process of re-equipping its forces. There’s a new rifle family, the IA2 currently being introduced in both 5.56 and 7.62mm.  That will replace the current FAL in service with the army as well as the M16 for the marines and the HK33 for the Airforce. The Minimi has also been adopted as the squad SAW in the last year or so, it’s been in service with the Para brigade and SF for a while now. There’s an new IFV, the Guarani, currently entering serial production. It’s aimed at replacing all the old Engesa Urutus. Argentina has indicated interest and there are big hopes to sell these abroad.

Chile uses FAMAE/SIG 540s. Colombia uses its own locally produced version of the Galil as its standard rifle. Their SF use large quantities of Tavor.

Now if you really want to game a fascinating ‘what if’ period, then you only need to look at the very nearly war between Argentina and Chile over the Beagle Chennel in late 1978. It came within hours of a major shooting war, one in which Argentina planned a full scale conventional invasion of Chile. Fascinating kit options for gamers including a few AMX-30, M-41s and Super Shermans on the Chilean side and Sherman Fireflies re-gunned with 105mm guns on the Argentine side.  One of the interesting aspects of this ‘almost war’ is the liklihood it would have drawn in other players. Whilst Chile had an arguably more capable army than Argentina, it would likely have faced Peru and Bolivia taking an opportunity to regain lost territory. We know that Peru had detailed plans in the period for the invasion of northern Chile. That gives the gamer the option of fielding T-55s. Of course if you want to go nuts you can extend things further. Ecuador still had outstanding territorial grievances against Peru in the period.  Brazil actually did mobilize its forces along the border with Argentina during the crisis as a defensive precaution.

Lot’s of interesting kit, some of which Geoff already does. and at least some historical basis for doing it. Most armies could be covered by M1 tin hats and FALs, Chile being the odd man out using the old SIG 510.

 

I’d be up for some 1970s Chileans and Brazilians.

 

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