Portugal 1a Corpo

Portugal saw military experience between 1961 - 1974, during which period several of Portugal's African colonies including Angola, Guinea and Mozambique, declared independence from Portugal's colonial bonds. The conflict saw intense jungle and guerilla combat. 

The war eventually ended as a result of a military coup back home in Portugal as a backlash to the colonial conflicts; outsting the corporatist regime for a democratic one and general decolonisation. Post-revolution, Portugal suffered in economic growth which wouldn't stabilise until the mid-1980’s. 

The Portuguese army and air force of the 1980’s were both rather underequipped, by NATO’s standards. They constantly failed to hit equipment targets, and relied on handouts from other NATO countries, particularly the USA and West Germany. These handouts slowed down in the late 1980s, with the US ending up at least $200m short on promised military assistance to Portugal in return for the use of the airbase at Lajes, which gives a good excuse for a little MtW magic.

Portugal in Warno

Despite the state of things, Portugal offers an exciting combination of units with the inclusion of some domestically manufactured equipment, modifications, airborne and special forces units. They come together to form a light cavalry-style division with a strong opener and ability to make wide fronts with emphasis on high maneuver style tactics. 

Due to Portugal's regimental style of organisation, this writeup will tackle each style of regiment at a time, instead of by-category. 

M48A5

Armoured Regiments

The Atiradores Mecanizados, an 8-man team - with G3’s, a HK21 LSW, and M72A2 LAW - will have the VBTP M113A1 available as a transport option. Assault Pioneers, Sapadores and Sapodores (Cham), come as 11-men squads with G3’s and satchels or M2 flamethrowers, transported in the VBTP M113A1 or the Berliet GBC 8KT, a highly popular truck in Portuguese service.

The only tanks Portugal operated in this period were the venerable M48, donated and upgraded to A5 standard by the USA and West Germany. These will come in several options, including M48A5 Ldr, M48A5 with sabot (KE) rounds, and the M48A5 (M456) with 17AP HEAT rounds. 

The armoured regiment’s anti-tank capability is covered by the M150A2 I-TOW. 

A mechanized reconnaissance team, Batedores Mecanizados, 8-men in the VBTP M113A1 or the VBTP M113A1 CSR with the M40A1 recoilless rifle. 

For mortars, there is both the VBPM M125 81mm and the VBPM M106A2 120mm. 

The M577 PC and M151 Mutt CP are available as a command vehicles. 

Berliet Tramagal GBC 8KT, licence built in Portugal

Infantry Regiments

The infantry regiments are light and truck-borne. The basic infantry are the Atiradores - 11-man teams with no machine guns, only equipped with G3A3’s and an M67 recoilless rifle. These are transported in the Berliet GBC 8KT. 

The 1st Infantry Regiment had UMM jeep oriented equipment, while the 2nd Infantry Regiment was M151A2 jeep oriented. Each type brings slightly different offerings. 

The 1st Regiment brings the Milan 1 team, transported in the UMM Milan 1 for a ‘double dip’ option for saturation. Additional fire support is provided by the HK21 7.62 tripod and M2HB 12.7mm HMG teams and UMM CSR M40A1 recoilless rifle car. 

The 2nd Regiment provides I-TOW anti-tank infantry teams, plus the M151A2 I-TOW jeep. 

Dismounted mortars are the Mortiero 81mm and Mortiero 120mm.

In reconnaissance, they provide a basic Batedores 4-man scout team, transported in an unarmed UMM, M151A2 Rec scout jeep, armed with a HK21, or an Alouette III helicopter. 

6th Cavalry Regiment with M11's, V-200's, and V-150's

Cavalry Regiments

The 4th Cavalry Regiment was part of 1a Mixta Brigade. This was a more heavily mechanized regiment. Also supporting in this case is the 6th Cavalry Regiment, a wheeled-mechanized regiment providing unique and interesting options. 

The domestically manufactured V200 Chaimite was a favourite for motorised cavalry units and came in several variants. The basic transport variant - the VBTP V-200, a wheeled APC with dual MAG MMG’s - was used by the Cavalaria infantry. The Cavalaria are a 9-man team equipped with 8 G3’s, 1 HK21, and an M20 Super Bazooka. Around 1990, some of the V-200’s had their turrets removed and were reequipped with the M2 Browning instead, presenting an alternative VBTP V-200 M2HB. The Cavalaria shall also have access to the VBTP M113A1. 

As the cavalry provided the M48A5 in its general tank role, the M48A5 Cavalaria is acting in a reconnaissance role. As part of modernisation plans, the army received ground surveillance radars for reconnaissance teams. These are represented by the Batedores (GSR). 

An anti tank version of the V200, known as the V-200 SS-11, wields two SS.11B1 ATGMs (plus more for reloads). The Portuguese received hundreds of these particular missiles as a hand-me-down from Canada. They also mounted them onto the UMM Cournil jeeps for the UMM SS-11, wielding three missiles. The UMM would offer better stealth, but no reloads. 

There was also the VBPM V-600 81mm self propelled mortar variant. 

The cavalry also used the British Saladin, which started to get replaced in 1989 by the American V-150 90mm, but both were around at this time. As a comment not flattering to the Portuguese’s capabilities, the Saladin and V-150 are the only two vehicles with smoke in the battlegroup. The AML-60-12 was also in use with the cavalry. 

Also in 1989 the cavalry regiments received 38 VBLs (M-11’s). These were equipped with Milan ATGM and M1919 machine gun. The Saladin, V-150, and M-11 units will inhabit the REC tab. 

V-200 SS-11's firing their SS-11b1's

Artillery Regiments

Portugal’s artillery regiments were in the middle of updating from WW2-era artillery to other WW2-era artillery. 

At the end of the 1980’s, Portugal had just taken on the M114 155mm howitzer. For some batteries, this would replace the BL 5.5-inch 140mm howitzer, which was still in service with some units in 1989. 

Light batteries of M101 105mm are also available. 

The M109A2 provides Portugal with a self-propelled howitzer. 

The Mighty Blowpipe

Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment

The 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment is the home of the army’s limited AA units. Portugal’s air defence capability seriously stagnated during the cold war due to the nature of the colonial conflicts facing no aerial threats, and therefore seeing no attention. To save things somewhat, a modernisation program in the late-80’s saw some acquisitions and improvements. The first major acquisition was a number of Blowpipe MANPADS from the British, which can also come transported in the UMM Blowpipe, quite similar to the CUCV Blowpipe in 1 CAN. 

Another 1980’s purchase was 36 m/81 20mm, i.e. the West German FK20-2 Zwillinge. 

In 1986, Portugal ordered five M48A2E1 Chaparral which didn’t arrive until 1990. In this timeline, extra American funding means they are ready to be deployed a year earlier. 

Acquired in 1986 were 36 M163A1 VADS self propelled AA guns. This is the slightly worse version seen in the US 8th Infantry Division. 

Comandos in their UMM Cournil's

Special Forces Brigade

The Special Forces Brigade was tasked to protect the Azores from Soviet amphibious assault. Such an event was so incredibly unlikely that the two Commando battalions in the brigade have instead been redeployed to support this battlegroup. 

Comandos are 5-man teams equipped with G3A3 rifles, one HK21 machine gun, smoke grenades and an M72A2 LAW. The Comandos Apoio squad is a different 5-man team with 5 G3A3 rifles, an M72A2 LAW, M20 Super Bazooka and smoke grenades. These are both led by a Commandos Ldr 5-man team. These are all available in the Cmdo UMM M2HB. All the Commando units, including the UMM, will have the special forces trait.

Portuguese Boinas Verdes in action in the Colonial Wars

Paratroopers

The Portuguese Para troopers - Boinas Verdes (Green Berets) - provide forward deployed choices with some exciting capability. These come in both Unimog-borne and Puma-borne Boinas Verdes and (Puma) variants, both 8-man teams with Galil rifles, two MAG’s, two Galil DMR’s, a Carl Gustaf and the Shock trait. The Boina Verdes Ldr is a 4-men squad with 2 MG3’s and an M72A2 LAW. 

The green berets were definitely fond of experimenting and modification. In Angola, during the 1970’s, they ‘borrowed’ large quantities of rockets from the Air Force and rigged them onto their M151A2 jeeps for some excellent fire support. These are featured in two variants: the BV M151A2 M/79 armed with 12x70mm rockets in the INF tab as a kind of fast-firing recoilless rifle jeep. The other is the BV M151A2 37mm, this time with a 36x37mm SNEB rocket pod in the ART tab as a mini MLRS. These 37mm SNEB rockets were some of the first of its kind produced post-WW2, and Portugal received large quantities of them from France after they had discontinued their service. Interestingly, (in their typical usage) they were mainly used as air-to-air rockets. Hence, the BV M151A2 37mm will also have the ability to launch its rockets at helicopters (but this should only be done in a pinch…). 

Continuing the theme, a final modification is the Unimog MG151, a Unimog truck with the Luftwaffe WW2-era MG151 20mm gun welded onto the bed, acting as a makeshift SPAAG and provides a bit of cover for the forward deployed troops. These Unimogs were actually still in service with the air force into the 1980’s.

For anti tank support, there is the BV Milan 1. All but the airmobile Puma of these ‘BV’ units will have the Airborne Forward Deploy trait. 

In 1989, the paratroopers received six Fast Attack Vehicles (VAR in Portuguese service). In 1992 they were modified to have a dedicated gunners seat with a Mk19 AGL and Milan 1 ATGM. Excitingly, they also trialled them for fast-attack missions with the para’s reconnaissance commando team bravely hanging off the sides. So this gives us a smaller 5-man BV Comandos team - with Uzi’s, M72A2 LAW, and a single-SNEB 37mm rocket launcher - transported in the VAR m/89. These come with the Reconnaissance, Special Forces and Airborne Forward Deployment traits. 

Boinas Verdas Comandos bravely hanging off the side of their VAR

Portuguese Air Force

The Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP haha yes) was relatively weak, made up of ageing G.91R Gina light attack aircraft and A-7P Corsairs which were both their primary fighter and primary strike aircraft. Despite this, there are efficient ground pounding options, but the lack of dedicated air superiority fighters is noticeable. 

The primary helicopter in Portuguese service was the Alouette III. In this battlegroup, it serves both in a recon role, as the Alouette III, and in an attack helicopter role - the Alouette III Lobo Mau (“bad wolf”) - with a 20mm MG151 door gun and a four M/79 70mm rocket rockets - a configuration seen during the Portugal’s Colonial Wars. 

Another unit found in reconnaissance is the Cessna VTB337G aircraft, armed with 72x SNEB 37mm and 8x M/79 70mm rockets. 

The lack of a dedicated air superiority fighter was so bad that the US converted Portugal’s twelve T-38A Talon jet trainers to have the ability to carry the Sidewinder missile. Therefore, one of the FAP’s AA options is the T-38A [AA] with two AIM-9P’s. 

Another ASF option is the A-7P [AA] armed with four AIM-9P’s in a shotgun configuration, and one AN/ALQ-131 for additional ECM on top of the standard 20% for the rest of the A-7P’s.

A wide variety of ground-pounding loadouts are available, both from the A-7P and Gina including HE, cluster, rocket, and napalm configurations.

The Corsair also can use the AGM-65G Maverick, coming in two configurations: [AT] with four missiles and [AT2] with two missiles and CRV-7 HE rockets.

Finally, there is the C.212 [EW] unarmed electronic warfare plane. 

A-7P Corsair II showing off

LOG [1,1,2,3,3,3] - a relatively poor tab, being deployed far from home. 

• M577 PC 👑
• UMM Ldr 👑
• Unimog D x4 supply (500x Supply)
• Berliet GBC RKT supply (1,000x Supply)
• MD M210 D16AK supply (2,000x Supply) 
• Puma Supply (1,000x Supply)
• FOB (16,000x Supply)

INF [1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,3] - a strong tab, with excellent availability and variety.

• [1] Atiradores Ldr 👑
  • Unimog D 4x4
• [4] Atiradores (11 men | 11x G3A3 | 1x M67 RCL)
  • Berliet GBC 8KT
• [1] Atiradores Mecanizados Ldr 👑 
  • VBTP M113A1
• [2] Atiradores Mecanizados (8 men | 7x G3A3 | 1x HK21 | 1x M72A2 LAW)
  • VBTP M113A1
• [1] Lanceiros 👮 (4 men | 4x Uzi)
  • Rover MP 👮
• [1] Sapadores Ldr 👑⚔️ 
  • VBTP M113A1
  • UMM
• [1] Sapadores ⚔️ (11 men | 11x G3A3 | 1x Satchel)
  • VBTP M113A1
  • Berliet GBC 8KT
• [1] Sapadores (Cham) 11 men | 11x G3A3 | 1x M2 Flamethrower)
  • VBTP M113A1
  • Berliet GBC 8KT
• [1] Cavalaria Ldr 👑🐕‍🦺 (5 men | 5x G3A3)
  • VBTP V-200 (2x MAG)
  • VBTP V-200 M2HB (1x M2HB)
  • VBTP M113A1 (1x M2HB)
• [2] Cavalaria 🐕‍🦺 (8 men | 7x G3A3 | 1x HK21 | 1x M20 Super Bazooka)
  • VBTP V-200 (2x MAG)
  • VBTP V-200 M2HB (1x M2HB)
  • VBTP M113A1 (1x M2HB)
• [1] Boinas Verdes LDR 👑⚔️🪂 (4 men | 2x Galil | 1x MAG | 1x Galil DMR)
  •  Unimog D 4x4
• [2] Boinas Verdes ⚔️🪂 (8 men | 4x Galil | 2x MAG | 2x Galil DMR | 1x Carl Gustaf M2)
  • Unimog D 4x4
• [1] Boinas Verdes (Puma) ⚔️ (8 men | 4x Galil | 2x MAG | 2x Galil DMR | 1x Carl Gustaf M2)
  • Puma
• [1] Comandos Ldr 💀⚔️ (5 men | 5x G3A3 | 1x Smoke)
  • Cmdo UMM M2HB 💀
• [2] Comandos 💀⚔️ (5 men | 4x G3A3 | 1x M72A2 LAW | 1x Smoke)
  • Cmdo UMM M2HB 💀
• [1] Comandos Apoio 💀⚔️ (5 men | 5x G3A3 | 1x M67 RCL | 1x M72A2 LAW | 1xSmoke)
  • Cmdo UMM M2HB 💀
• [1] HK21 7.62mm
  • UMM
• [2] M2HB 12.7mm
  • UMM
• [1] I-TOW
  • M151A2
• [1] Milan 1
  • UMM Milan 1 (1x Milan 1)
• [1] BV Milan 1 🪂 
  • M151A2
• [2] UMM CSR M40A1 (1x M40A1 RCL)
• [1] BV M151A2 M/79 🪂 (12x M/79 70mm rockets)

TNK [1,1,1,2,2,3,3] - an average tab, with an okay quantity of tanks bolstered by many anti-tank options from cavalry regiments 

• [1] M48A5 Ldr 👑 (1x M68 (HEAT) | 1x M240 | 2x M60D)
• [2] M48A5 (1x M68 | 1x M240 | 2x M60D)
• [1] M48A5 (M456) (1x M68 (M456) | 1x M240 | 2x M60D)
• [2] M150A2 I-TOW (1x I-TOW, 1x M2HB)
• [2] M151A2 I-TOW (1x I-TOW)
• [1] UMM SS-11 🐕‍🦺 (1x SS-11 (salvo 3))
• [1] V-200 SS-11 🐕‍🦺 (1x SS-11 (salvo 2) | 1x M2HB)

ART [1,1,1,2,3,3,3] - an average tab but with a variety of choices.

• [2] Mortiero 81mm 
  • UMM
  • M151A2
• [2] Mortiero 107mm 
  • Berliet GBC 8KT
• [1] VBPM M125 81mm 🐕‍🦺
• [1] VBPM M106A2 120mm 🐕‍🦺
• [1] VBPM V-600 81mm 🐕‍🦺  
• [2] M101 105mm 
  • MD M210 D16AK
• [2] BL 5.5inch
  • MD M210 D16AK
• [2] M114 155mm 
  • MD M210 D16AK
• [1] M109A2 155mm (1x M185 | 1x M2HB)
• [1] BV M151A2 37mm 🪂 (36x SNEB 37mm)

REC [1,1,1,1,1,2,3,3,3] - a strong tab thanks to the cavalry and paratroop elements. 

• [1] [⧝] M-11 (1x Milan 1 | 1x M1919) 
• [1] ⧝ M48A5 Cavalaria (1x M68 (HEAT) | 1x M240 | 2x M60D)
• [1] ⧝ V-150 90mm 💨 (1x Mk3 90mm | 1x M60D)
• [1] ⧝ Saladin 💨 (1x L5A1, 1x M1919)
• [1] ⧝ AML-60-12 (1x CM60A1 | 1x CM60A1 (Smoke) | 1x M2HB)
• [2] [⧝] Batedores (4 men | 4x G3A3 | 1x M72A2)
  • ⧝ M151A2 Rec (1x HK21)
  • Alouette III
• [1] [⧝] Batedores (GSR) 🛜 (4 men | 4x G3A3)
  • UMM
• [1] [⧝] Batedores Mecanizados (8 men | 7x G3A3 | 1x HK21 | 1x M72A2 LAW)
  • VBTP M113A1 (1x M2HB)
  • VBTP M113A1 CSR (1x M2HB | 1x M40A1)
• [1] [⧝] BV Comandos 💀⚔️🪂(5 men | 5x Uzi | 1x SNEB 37mm | 1x M72A2 LAW)
  • VAR m/89 💀🪂 (1x mg | 1x Mk19 AGL | 1x Milan 1)
• [1] [_⧝_] VTB337G (72x SNEB 37mm | 8x M/79 70mm)
• [1] [⧝] Alouette III

AA [1,1,2,3,3,3] - a weak tab with quite poor options.

• [1] Blowpipe (2x G3A3 | 1x Blowpipe)
  • UMM
  • UMM Blowpipe (1x Blowpipe)
• [2] M/81 20mm (1x Zwillinge MK 20 Rh 202)
  • Berliet GBC 8KT
• [1] BV Unimog MG151 🪂 (1x M151 20mm)
• [2] M163 VADS 
• [1] M48A2E1 Chaparral (MIM-72G)

HEL [2] - a very weak and expensive tab, with only a single 2-point slot. 

• [1] Alouette III Lobo Mau (4x M/79 70mm | 1x M151 20mm)

 

AIR [1,1,2,2,3,3,3] - an average tab with serviceable options. 

• T-38 [AA] (AIM-9P x2)
• A-7P [AA] (Mk12 | AIM-9P x2 | AIM-9P x2 | AN/ALQ-131)
• A-7P [RKT] (Mk12 | CRV7 x36 | CRV7 x36 | AIM-9P x2)
• A-7P [HE] (Mk12 | Mk82 x12 | AIM-9P x2)
• A-7P [HE2] (Mk12 | Mk83 x 4 | AIM-9P x2)
• A-7P [HE3] (Mk12 | Mk84 x 2 | AIM-9P x2)
• A-7P [CLU] (Mk12 | BL755 x8 | AIM-9P x2)
• A-7P [AT] (Mk12 | AGM-65G x4 | AIM-9P x2)
• A-7P [AT2] (Mk12 | AGM-65G x2 | CRV7 x36 | AIM-9P x2)
• G91R/3 Gina [HE] (DEFA 30 x2 | Mk81 x 4)
• G91R/3 Gina [CLU] (DEFA 30 x2 | Mk20 Rockeye x 2)
• G91R/3 Gina [NPLM] (DEFA 30 x2 | Mk77 x 2)
• C.212 [EW]