Please note:  This is entirely a work of fiction based on the game Twilight 2000, and culled from books and various sources across the web.    It is also a work in progress particularly the Mexican Army section.  Any inconsistencies, inaccuracies or fallacies are mine and mine alone.  If you have comments or complaints, email the author at orrin_ladd@yahoo.com

 

 

Twilight 2000 California

Or

California Dreamin’

By

Orrin J. Ladd

 

U.S. Forces California

6th Army

            Headquarters-Presidio of San Francisco, California (1500 men)

             1st Battalion/19th Special Forces Group (100 men)

63rd U.S. Corps-Fresno, CA (1000 men)

          40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) “The Sunshine Division”(3000 men, 8 M728 CEV, 6 M60A3, 2 Stingray, 2 M8 AGS, 4 M1, 1 M1A1, 1 M1A2)-Bakersfield, CA

                   2nd Brigade

                   3rd Brigade

                   41st Infantry Brigade (ORNG)

29th Infantry Division (Light) “Blue and Gray”(1000 men)-Bakersfield, CA    -see note

                   1st Brigade (VANG)

58th Infantry Brigade (MDNG)

                   116th Infantry Brigade (VANG)

          221st Military Police Brigade (700 men)-Visalia, CA

89th U.S. Corps-Fort Ord, CA

91st Infantry Division (Light) “Wild West” (600 men)-Camp Roberts, CA

                   3rd Brigade

          49th Military Police Brigade (700 men)-Fort Hunter-Ligget, CA

          177th Armored Brigade “60th Guards Motorized Division” (900 men, 2 M1, 1M1A1, 1 M1A2, 2 M551)-Camp Roberts, CA

 

7th Fleet

The ships listed here are not at all fully operational; they are at least afloat and capable of generating internal power.  Most of the ships listed are missing one or more key weapons or sensor systems, and are critically short of electronics spares and missile reloads.  Also, all helicopters assigned to the various non-carriers have been removed from those ships (if they are operational) and assigned to composite naval aviation squadrons.

 

The aircraft listed here are all capable of flight operations, but in many cases have degraded or non-functional radar or guidance gear.  In addition, the USN is woefully short of missile reloads for the aircraft, but retains a steady supply of iron bombs and cannon reloads, and even a limited supply of guided munitions.  The main limiting factor for the USN currently is fuel; supplies from the Bakersfield oil fields have been sufficient thus far, but are all precariously close to enemy or marauder forces.

 

          Alameda NAS

          Concord NWS

          Hunters Point Shipyard

          Leemore NAS

          Mare Island Naval Shipyard

          Moffett Field Federal Air Station

          Naval Station Treasure Island

Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center

          SpecWarDevGroup-(200 men)

          Special Boat Unit XI-Mare Island

TF-71 - San Francisco

32nd Marine Regiment (Provisional) (900 men)

33rd Marine Regiment-(Provisional) (800 men)

                   CG-29 Jouett

                   SSN-704 Baltimore

                   DDG-32 John Paul Jones

                   DDG-51 Arleigh Burke

                   FFG-8 McInerney

                   FFG-47 Nicholas

                   FF-1038 McCloy

                   TAO-146 Neosho

                   AOR-2 Charles Town

                   4xLCM-6

                   8xPTM-2

                   3xPTB-3

          2nd Composite Naval Aviation Wing

          VF-177 (2xF-18, 1xF-14) San Francisco, CA

          VMFR-278 (3x A-4, 1xAV-8) Lemoore NAS

          VFA-322 (3x A-7) Lemoore NAS

          HMC-175 (6xAH-1V) Lemoore NAS

          VFH-967 (3xCH-53, 2xUH-60) Lemoore NAS

          VFS-645 (3xP-3, 2xSH-2, 1xS-3) San Francisco, CA

 

14th Air Force

The aircraft listed here are all capable of flight operations, but in many cases have degraded or non-functional radar or guidance gear.  In addition, the USAF is woefully short of missile reloads for the aircraft, but retains a steady supply of iron bombs and cannon reloads, and even a limited supply of guided munitions.  The main limiting factor for the USAF currently is fuel; supplies from the Bakersfield oil fields have been sufficient thus far, but are all precariously close to enemy or marauder forces.

Beale Air Force Base

            9th Reconnaissance Wing-(1xU-2, 2xU-2S, 3xT-38)

McClellan Air Force Base

Onizuka Air Force Station

Travis Air Force Base

60th Air Mobility Wing-(1xC-5, 1xC-141, 1xKC-10)

349th Air Mobility Wing-(2xC-5, 1xC-141, 1xKC-10)

144th Fighter Wing (CANG)-(2xF-16C, 1xF-16D, 1xC26B)-Fresno Air Terminal, CA

899th Combat Security Group(600 men)-Travis Air Force Base, CA

900th Combat Security Group(1000 men)-Beale Air Force Base, CA

 

Unit Histories

United States Army

91st Infantry Division (Light)- An Army Reserve Division, responsible for large unit training.  Comprised of 6 brigades, 1st Brigade (Battle Command Staff Training) headquartered at Camp Parks, CA,  2nd Brigade/362 Regiment (Field Exercise) headquartered at Norco, CA, 3rd Brigade (Field Exercise) at Camp Parks, CA, 4th Brigade (Training Support) at Fort Lewis Washington, 5th Brigade (Training Support) at Salt Lake City, Utah, and 6th Brigade (Field Exercise) at Denver, Colorado.  This unit trained both reservists and newly inducted personnel within the brigade’s local areas up to 1997.  After the nuclear strikes of 1997, the division’s California brigades conducted disaster relief and law enforcement operations throughout the Northern California area.  On 20 July 1998, the division was given a combat mission, attack the Mexican Army, elements of which were advancing up from Southern California.  The division hurriedly entered combat on 23 July 1998.  The division was encircled by Mexican armor and mechanized forces at the Battle of Palm Springs on 15 November 1998 and cut to pieces.  Surviving personnel have reformed as the 3rd Brigade.

 

41st Infantry Brigade-An Oregon National Guard unit which was brought into federal service 31 October 1996 at Camp Rilea, Oregon.  The brigade was tasked to support 8th Army in Korea but a shortage of transportation delayed deployment.  The brigade was then made responsible for a variety of internal security and civic action roles in the Oregon area following the nuclear exchanges of 1997.  The 41st was attached to the 40th Mechanized Division and sent to counter attack the Mexican Army. The brigade entered combat with the Mexican Army on 16 June 1998 in central California.

 

177th Armored Brigade-This brigade originally formed the OPFOR training cadre at Fort Irwin National Training Center, where it was known as the “60th Guards Motorized Division”.  Although a training unit, it had a secondary combat mission, using the brigade stock at Fort Irwin.  Throughout 1996-1997 the brigade trained various units headed to various theaters.  Much of the brigade stock was used as vehicle replacements and the unit made do with trucks, HMMMVs and other vehicles.  The brigade’s 87th Engineering Company and 177th Support Battalion provided relief to the Los Angeles area when the nuclear strikes occurred.  On 1 June 1998, the brigade received frantic orders, deploy to Chula Vista, California and hold San Diego against the advancing Mexican Army.  The brigade performed well despite a lack of heavy artillery and superior numbers of the Mexican Army.  It held for a week, enabling significant numbers of civilians to flee northwards.  The brigade retreated to Bakersfield, California in a series of skillful rearguard actions.  It prefers to be referred to as the 60th Guards Motorized Division.

 

1st Battalion/19th Special Forces Group- A United States Army Reserve unit which coordinated Special Forces reserve personnel.  19th SFG was activated at the onset of hostilities with the Warsaw Pact.  Most of the personnel were involved with training new Green Beret volunteers and internal security.  After the nuclear strikes, the Group added civic action and disaster relief roles to their duties.  1st Battalion was attached to 6th Army when the Mexican Army invaded and conducted numerous operations in the Southern California area.  Since 1999, the unit has been involved with numerous anti-Mexican partisan groups operating in Southern California.

 

United States Navy  

32nd Marine Regiment (Provisional)-This regiment was formed from several Marine Corps and Navy units based in the Northern California region.  As attrition mounted and supplies dwindled, specialized support units were no longer needed.  Fleet command authorized the use of all excess personnel to augment federal and local law enforcement agencies in riot control and security.   The unit was ordered south when the Mexican Army invaded and was soon embroiled in combat.   Detachments provide security at the Bay Area at naval facilities while the bulk of the regiment is involved in anti-piracy work throughout the region.  Small detachments are also involved against the Mexican Army.

 

33rd Marine Regiment (Provisional)- This regiment was formed from several Marine Corps and Navy support units based at Camp Pendleton, California, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow and San Diego Naval Base and hurried into action when the Mexican Army invaded.  It was reinforced by the recruit depot at Camp Pendleton.  Lacking heavy weapons and armor, the unit was routed and fled north towards Los Angeles.  It reinforced the 177th Armored Brigade at Costa Mesa and retreated with that unit to Bakersfield.

 

NavSpecWarDevGroup-“Navy Special Warfare Development Group”-Originally the training cadre for Underwater Demolitions Teams, Special Boat Units and SEAL teams located at Coronado Navy Base, Ca.  This unit trained the respective personnel for duty in the various theaters of the war.  In June 1998, the NavSpecWarDevGroup was forced into action against elements of the Mexican Army.  The unit was outnumbered and fled with the remainder of Navy personnel to Northern California.  At present NavSpecWarDevGroup operates with the elements of TF 71 against the Mexican Army and various pirate bands.  Detachments can be found in the Sacramento River Delta operating in a riverine capacity.

 

Special Boat Unit XI- A prewar Naval Reserve unit stationed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.  This unit trained for riverine warfare operations on the nearby Sacramento River Delta.  It was mobilized during Desert Shield and Desert Storm to provide security at Concord Naval Weapons Station. At the onset of hostilities in 1995 SBU XI mobilized again as an additional security force for Mare Island, Hunter’s Point, Alameda NAS and Concord NWS.  In 1998 the unit was badly damaged by the nuclear strikes on the refineries at Martinez and Benicia.  SBU XI reformed at Hunters Point and continues to provide security in the Bay Area.  Small contingents operate with NavSpecWarDevGroup and the 32nd and 33rd Marine Regiments.

 

United States Air Force

144th Fighter Wing (CANG)-Originally a California Air National Guard unit responsible for regional air defense.  This unit was activated at the onset of hostilities with the Warsaw Pact.  The F-16s of the unit provided CAP for much of the West Coast from San Diego to the Washington/Canadian border.  As loses mounted in the war, many aircrews and aircraft were siphoned off to other units abroad.  When the Mexican Army invaded, the 144th tangled with the Mexican Air Force.  Upon achieving air superiority, the unit changed missions to provide interdiction strikes and close air support for the 6th Army.  Operations are severely limited by fuel and spares.

 

899th Combat Security Group-As in the Persian Gulf, excess stateside Air Force personnel were formed into Combat Security Groups.  In California, most Combat Security Group personnel came from Air Force Bases in Southern California.  This group was formed ad hoc when the Mexican Army attacked.  Surviving personnel from Vandenburg, Los Angeles, March and Edwards Air Force Bases rushed to the aid of the 177th Armored in defending Los Angeles and retreated in good order with the brigade to Bakersfield.  They serve a military police function and also provide security for remaining special weapons.  As most of the personnel have technical backgrounds, contingents can be found in the Silicon Valley area, helping in salvage operations.

 

900th Combat Security Group-similar in function to the 899th.  This group was formed from personnel from Travis, Beale and McClellan Air Force Bases, in the Northern portion of the state.  Responsible for base security for those bases and also provides escort for convoys along the San Francisco-Colorado Springs corridor and the San Francisco-Portland-Seattle corridor.   This group has had several skirmishes with the Nation of Klamath.  A detachment provides security at the state capitol and other small contingents also aid in salvage operations in the Silicon Valley.  This Group is also responsible for security at the small nuclear reactor at McClellan AFB.

 

Note: The American Combat Vehicle Handbook states that the 46th Division was formed from the 58th Maryland National Guard Infantry Brigade, 92nd Puerto Rico National Guard Infantry Brigade and the 116th Virginia National Guard Brigade.  Inside the U.S. Army Today lists the 92nd Infantry Brigade as the Caribbean defense force during war time.  It also lists the 29th Division (Light) as containing the 116th and 58th Brigades, in addition to a 1st Brigade (VANG).  I feel that in T2k, the 92nd would remain in Puerto Rico and the American territories in the Caribbean, while the 29th Division would be mobilized.  The 29th follows the same history as the 46th Division.

 

Mexican Army

The Mexican Army occupies territory from Vandenburg Airforce Base in the West to Barstow in the East and all territory south to the Mexican border.  The bulk of the Ejercito se California supports the Constitutionalist faction of the Mexican government.

 

Ejercito se California (Southern California and Baja California)

Compania A/Special Operations Group Zorro (50 men)

Marine Parachute Regiment (500 men)

1a Brigada (1100 men, 6 ERC-90 Lynx)

2o Regimento Caballeria (500 men, 2 ERC-90 Lynx)

Brigada La Paz (600 men, 3 ERC-90 Lynx)

Brigada Nogales (600 men, 1 ERC-90Lynx)

Regimento Infanteria Activo Tijuana (200 men)

 

Brigadas Populares-units established by the FRMP faction of the Mexican government.  Originally most of the personnel were recruited from Mexican nationals living in the United States.  Now the units take anyone willing to fight, regardless of origin.  These units spend almost as much time fighting the other factions of the Mexican government as they do the Americans.

          1o Brigada-1000 men

          2o Brigada-900 men

          3o Brigada-1000 men

          4o Brigada-800 men

          5o Brigada-600 men

 

South American Frontal Aviation- (2 Mig-29, 1 Mig-21, 1 SU-25, 1 AN-12, 1 Mi-24 Hind, 2 Mi-8)A group of former Warsaw Pact pilots and technicians who, following the fall of the Berlin Wall and subsequent disbanding of the Warsaw Pact, took their skills to various Latin American countries as mercenaries.  Many had decided to sit the war out when it first began in Asia, then when the war expanded to Europe and the Middle East, found themselves stranded by a hostile North America.  When Division Cuba went to Mexico, the personnel congregated there and lent their services to the Mexican government.  Their Mig-29’s contested with the USAF in the early days of the offensive.  Like the USAF, this unit suffers from equipment and fuel shortages.  Sorties are severely limited.

 

Spetznaz Group 509- (500 men) Like the South American Frontal Aviation, this was originally a group of Russian and Eastern Bloc mercenaries working throughout Latin America.  Most came from an elite background and most often worked as bodyguards or as cadre for various military and para-military forces.  They too found themselves stranded when the war with the Americans broke out and offered their services to the Mexican Government.  This unit operated with Special Operations Group Zorro and the Marine Parachute Regiment during the offensive.

 

KGB- (100 men) The KGB operates as advisors to the Mexican Army.  Although serving only as technical advisors and intelligence gatherers, the KGB provides clandestine assistance to the FMRP faction in the region.

 

GRU-(90 men)  The GRU also operates as advisors to the Mexican Army.  They prefer to keep out of the squabbles between the various Mexican factions.  Although they work alongside the KGB, like the GRU and KGB around the world, they have their share of mutually hostile encounters.

 

Other Armed Groups

West Side Posse (300 men)- This group was formed from the remnants of several Southern California street gangs.  After the Mexican invasion several street gangs banded together to fight the invaders, some fighting for patriotism, some fighting because they found the Mexican army intolerant of non-Mexicans.  This group operates in Mexican held territory from San Bernardino in the east to Long Beach in the west and from San Fernando in the north to San Diego in the south.  Several members of this group are Mexican American and have put their language skills to good use the actions against the Mexican Army.

 

The Raiders (500 men)-A collection of street gangs which has formed an alliance with the Mexican army.   This group exists for more base reasons than the West Side Posse, power, food and shelter.  They and the West Side Posse are blood rivals, when one side encounters the other no quarter is given.   They operate out of the town of Devore, north of Los Angeles, serving as scouts and advance warning of a U.S. attack.

 

The State of Klamath (4000 men, 2 M48A5, 1 M60A3, 1 UH-1D)-located in extreme Northern California, this group was formed from separatists, who desired their own nation-state.  The northern California border in the 1980’s attracted many types of people who felt the need to escape big government for reasons fair and foul.  They include separatists, strict constitutionalists, criminals of all sorts, marijuana farmers and amphetamine manufacturers.  After the chaos of the nuclear strikes, this group seized power in several towns, ejecting any federal government prescience.  Currently this group funds itself by smuggling drugs into San Francisco, Sacramento, Oregon and Washington.  At present this group occupies the land north of the Alturas-Redding-Eureka line to the Oregon border.  Milgov is aware of the State of Klamath, but considers them misguided “Americans” and is more concerned with ejecting the Mexican Army from the United States.  The State of Klamath is rumored to have Chemical and Biological weapons seized from the Sierra Army Depot.

 

The Lost Brigade (300 men)-formerly part of the 91st Division.  This group was originally comprised of personnel cut off from their parent organization, but now includes marauders, Mexican Army deserters and others.  This unit lives a semi-marauder existence, having fought both the Mexican Army and U.S. government forces, but preferring to stay out of hostilities.  Located mainly in the South-Eastern part of the state, small raiding parties can be found attempting to infiltrate to Central California.  In early 2000 this unit conducted a joint raid with Brigada Tepic and Brigada Ensenada and severly mauled the Regimento Infanteria Activo Tijuana.

 

Brigada Tepic-(1000 men, 1 ERC-90 Lynx) Formerly a component unit of Ejercito Se California.   In late 1999, the commander was murdered by a group of mutineers who supported the Nationalist faction of the Mexican government.  The unit refused to return to its cantonment and started to move to Mexico, along with Brigada Ensenada.  As it moved south it was ambushed by the Westside Posse and further broke into smaller bands.  Former Brigada Tepic soldiers can be found ranging from Los Angeles down to Ensenada and as far East as Las Vegas.

 

Brigada Ensenada-(800 men) Also a former component of Ejercito Se California.  This unit mutinied along with Brigada Tepic.  The core of the unit has returned to Ensenada and rules it as a protectorate.  Engaged in continuous conflict with the remnants of Brigada Tijuana over the ruins of Tijuana.

 

sources

Wiseman, Loren American Combat Vehicle Handbook

Rottman, Gordon Inside the U.S. Army Today

Charlton, Steve U.S. Order of Battle 2003

Clancy, Tom Armored Cav

Baumgardner, Neil Order of Battle Website  http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/9059/

Shelley, Craig City of Angels

Chadwick, Frank Mexican Army 1998-2000 Challenge Magazine (Special Thanks to graebarde and Paul Mulcahy)

 

 

Links:

 

Bundeswher

 

South America Order of Battle

 

U.S. Order of Battle for 2003