The Panamanian Defense Forces that were encountered during "Operation Just Cause" were an interesting collection 4 troops. The training of Panamanian soldiers varied from those units with little to none, to those who had attended the varios military schools of the United States Army. Likewise, the arms and equipment levels went from light infantry with machetes and obsolete weapons, wearing T-shirts for uniforms to airborne and a assault units armed with M16A1s, Kevlar helmets, US Alice gear and BDU style uniforms. The Panamanian government took advantage of its position at the center of one of the hubs of world trade to acquire weapons from around the world. Among the countries whose weapons showed up in Panama were the US, France, Israel, the Warsaw Pact, China, Taiwan, Belgium, and Germany, among others. No two companies in the Panamanian Ground Forces were armed in the exact same manner as a result. While it can be argued that the Panamanian Defense Force had no chance against the overwhelming numbers that descended upon them, it could make for an interesting mini-campaign game as the American commanders have to overrun the country as quickly as possible. The Panamanian Defense Forces were divided into four elements: ground forces, air force, police and naval. The purpose of this article is to cover each briefly in turn, and give a basic TO&E for Combined Arms. Ground Forces The ground force element of the army consisted of four battalions, supported by a number of independent companies. All companies, including those assigned to the battalions, were named. Listed morale ratings are suggestions. It is hard to rate the morale of a force that knows it cannot win. Feel free to experiment with other rating. 1st "Battalion 2000" Regular; Morale: 8 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 jeep 2 recon jeeps "Eagle (Aguila)" Company, with: 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand "Fury (Furia)" Company, with: 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand "Mechanized (Mecanizada)" Company, with: 1 command stand 1 command V-150 1 infantry stands 1 V-150 APC 2 V-300 fire support vehicles "Fire Support (de Apoyo de Fuego)" Company, with: 1 command stand 2 gun crew stands 2 ZPU-4 AAMG 2 light trucks 1 gun crew stands (ds) 1 120mm mortar 1 medium truck Attached Companies 1st "Tiger (Tigre) Fire Support" Company, with: Experienced; Morale: 8 1 command stand 2 assault stands 1 weapons stand 1 81mm mortar stand 2nd "Puma" Airborne Infantry Company, with: Experienced; Morale: 8 1 command stand 1 support stand 3 infantry stands 1 81mm mortar stand Notes 1. Named for the year that the Panamanians would take over the Canal, the 2000th Battalion was based in central Panama near the Canal Zone. 2. 120mm mortar is the French RT-61. 2nd "Peace" (Paz) Battalion Regular, Morale: 7 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 jeep 2 recon jeeps 1 gun crew stand 1 ZPU-4 AAMG 1 light truck 1st "Fortune (Fortuna) Air Assault" Company, with: 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand 2nd "Minnow (Copal) Air Assault" Company, with: 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand Notes 1. This battalion covered the northern border with Costa Rica. 2. the air assault companies were trained in carrying out heliborne landings. 4th "Cemaco" Battalion Regular; Morale: 7 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 jeep 2 recon jeeps 1st "Mountain (Montana)" Company, with: 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand Notes 1. This battalion covered the southern border with Columbia, ir terrain so bad that the Inter-American highway has nevej been completed through it. Hence its relative lack of strength "Victoriano Lorenzo" Military Police Battalion Regular, Morale: 7 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 jeep 5th Infantry Company, with: 1 command stand 2 MP patrol stands 2 UP sentry stands 3 jeeps 2 light trucks 8th Infantry Company, with: 1 command stand 2 MP patrol stands 2 MP sentry stands 3 jeeps 2 light trucks Notes 1. Although these two companies were assigned to the military police are usually equipped for such duties, they also were trained and had the equipment to serve as infantry. The MP stands listed above in each company could be replaced by three infantry stands. INDEPENDENT COMPANIES 3rd "Red Devils (Diablo Rojo)" Company, with: Regular; Morale: 7 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand 1 recon jeep 4th "Urraca" Company, with: Regular; Morale: 7 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand Notes 1. On October 2, 1989 this company captured Noriega in an attempt to remove him from office, after informing SOUTHCOM of their plans. Unfortunately for the officers and men of the 4th, the new commander of SOUTHCOM believed it was a trick, and refused to give the requested assistance in halting the movement of the PDF. The 5th (Tigre), 6th (Mecanizada), and 7th (Macho de Monte) companies were allowed to rescue Noriega. The unit was broken for its role, with key officers and men executed. 6th "Mechanized (Mecanizada)" Company, with: Experienced; Morale: 8 1 command stand 1 command V-150 3 infantry stands 3 V-150 APCs 1 V-300 fire support vehicle 1 weapons stand 1 support stand 2 light trucks 7th "Men of the Mountains (Macho de Monte) Company" with: Experienced; Morale: 9 1 command stand 3 recon assault stands 1 recon engineer stand 1 recon motorcycle assault stand Notes 1. The 7th Company was the holding company of the Panamanian ground forces commando and special forces elements. OTHER INDEPENDENT UNITS Military Engineer Platoon, with 1 command engineer stand 1st Cavalry Squadron, with: "Gen Jose Antonio Ramon Cantera" Regular; Morale: 7 1 command stand 1 cavalry stand 1 infantry stand 1 band 1 support stand Notes 1. This was the ceremonial unit of the Panamanian Army, complete with a mounted cavalry troop. Special Antiterrorist Security Unit, with: "Gen Jose Antonio Ramon Cantera" Veteran; Morale: 10 1 command stand 2 recon assault stands Notes 1. In addition to serving as Panamanians antiterrorist force, part of the unit served as Noriega's bodyguard. PANAMANIAN AIR FORCE Transport Squadron, with: 4 UH-1 transport helicopters, 3 support stands Air Transport Squadron, with; 4 transport aircraft, 2 liaison aircraft, 5 support stands Air Rescue Squadron, with: 1 UH-1 helicopter, 1 support stand Notes 1. The transport squadron usually worked with the 2nd "Paz" Battalion to furnish its air assault companies their helicopters. 2. The Air Transport Squadron operated a number of commercial aircraft for transport throughout the country, including Noriega's private Lear jet. In game turns, it has enough transport lift to move one infantry company at a time with the country. PANAMANIAN NAVY Naval Ships: 8 coastal patrol craft 5 landing craft 1st Naval Infantry Company, with: Regular; Morale: 7 1 command stand 3 infantry stands Naval Commando Platoon, with: Regular; Morale: 8 1 recon infantry stand PANAMANIAN POLICE There existed a number of other police organizations, i.e. t Panamanian highway patrol, penitentiary guard, port guard, fort guard, etc. These units were too small and too widely scattered offer any resistance. An exception is made for the following two units, which were the central reserve of the police force, and well armed and well- trained in their duties. 1st (Doberman) Anti-Riot Company, with: Experienced; Morale: 8 1 command stand 6 UP patrol stands 1 MP sentry stands 7 jeeps 4 light trucks 1 water canon truck 2nd (Centurion) Anti-Riot Company, with: Experienced; Morale: 8 1 command stand 6 MP patrol stands 1 MP sentry stand 7 jeeps 4 light trucks 1 water canon truck Notes 1. These were specially trained police companies. They were also equipped, if needed, with assault rifles, and could take to the field as infantry, though without heavy weapons. The MP stands listed above in each company could be replaced by four light infantry stands. 2. The 1st (Doberman) Company was disbanded in October for not moving quick enough to help rescue Noriega. 3. There are no rules in Combined Arms for water cannon trucks. However as the Panamanian police decorated these vehicles with pictures of "Smurfs" they should be present in any game to serve as targets. PARAMILITARY To demonstrate his popular support, Noriega ordered the formations of the so-called "Dignity Battalions." This was a rather successful program, especially among those at the bottom of the economic ladder. Members were for the most part unpaid, and were issued with weapons but given little or no training. A total of 18 battalions were planned, though the seven for the countryside never were organized. Eleven existed in the central Panama area, among which were the Christopher Columbus, Latin Liberation, and St. Michael the Archangel Battalions. US Intelligence termed these units Dig/Bats in their reports, thus quickly giving these units a nickname of "Dingbats." Suggested morale for these units is 1D6: the first time each battalion comes under fire, roll 1D6 for its morale rating. Dignity Battalions, with Green; Morale: 1D6 1 command/light infantry stand 1-8 light infantry stands MODELING THE PANAMANIAN FORCES Those who game in 1:285th have no problem at all with the above units as every thing you need with the exception of the V- 150s and V-300s you already have. For almost all of your Panamanian forces, just use your US troops and vehicles, and you will instantly duplicate one of the problems of the invasion-telling the sides apart. Scotia Models makes a V-150, but I think that the V-300 would have to be converted-- any ideas? This is a rather easy force to model in 20mm for the same reason. Most of the Panamanian Army can be made from modem US Army figures, either plastic or metal, as the Panamanian Army uniform was similar to the US modem BDUs and the standard headgear was the beret or Kevlar helmet. For those elements of the Panamanian forces using Warsaw Pact weapons, one could use Soviet troops in the soft hat or beret. The Dignity Battalions could be made from either Fire Fight figures, care of Modelers Mart in Florida, or from Dave Allsops line of Grenada Figures. I don't know who has these now, but he did seven packs of Cuban construction workers and armed civilians that would look very nice. The Dignity Battalion uniform was a red T-shirt an dark pants, but the pants color was optional. Firefight used to produce a V- 150, or you might be able to get a resin kit, or build your own. I'm not sure how much work I would put into a vehicle that will be destroyed as soon as it shows up. I keep remembering Frank's M-5 Stuarts--he spent hours building them and they made it a third of the way though a game. WEAPONS DATA type ROF Effective Range Antitank Factor Command Stands 1 5" - Infantry stands 2AR 8" A Assault Stands 2AR 10" B 81mm mortar 1 5" A Weapons Stands 2 15" C Support stands 2 4" A Light Infantry 2 4" D LMG 1 10" - HMG 1 15" - Notes 1. AR indicates that the stand gets the Assault Rifle benefit, i.e. able to use moving fire. 2. 81 mm mortar stand has ROF of 1, and five rounds ammunition 3. The Antitank Factor refers to the possible AT weapons that the stand may be equipped with: A RPG-7, 3 shots per stand B RPG- 18 or French LARC-89, no ammo limits C 90mm RR or 75mm RR, with ROF 1, 5 shots, and RPG-7, shots per stand D RPG-7 equipped with 1 shot Vehicle Weight Speed Armor Weapon Cargo V-150 com III 120/30 W:1/1 T: HMG, LMG 1/2 V-150 APC III 120/30 W:1/1 T:2xLMG 1 V-300 FS III 120/30 W:1/1 T: 90 TG=0, 2 LMG* - *The 90 TG-O is the French 90 TG-0 from Combined Arms. ROF is 2, ammunition load is 6. Bibliography Panama 1989-1990, Osprey Elite Series: Gordon Rottman & Roi Volstad, Ospery, London, 1991. Panama: The Whole Story, David Buckley, Simon & Schuster 1991. Just Cause: The Real Story of America's High Tech Invasion of Panama, Malcom McConnell, St. Martins Press, 1991. Operation Just Cause: The Storming of Panama, Thoma, Donnelly, Margaret Roth, and Caleb Baker, Lexington Books 1991. 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