US invasion of Cuba

Let's say Cuba does something REALLY bad to tick the United States off, so the US invades? Do you think it would end up like another Vietnam? How long do you think it would take for us to smash their military?
 
Let's say Cuba does something REALLY bad to tick the United States off, so the US invades? Do you think it would end up like another Vietnam? How long do you think it would take for us to smash their military?
Depends when, we almost did OTL

No wait scratch that we DID invade Cuba OTL, when the Spanish still had it

My guess is under a week, definitely under a month, Cuba is literally in our backyard, it would not end up like another Vietnam, no Jungles or borders to get supplies through, Cuba is an island in the Caribbean, an American Lake
 
I foresee something along the lines of Granada. Only slightly longer. Cuba is too nearby to the USA to stand a chance in invasion. Somehow I also think ordinary Cubans wouldn't be too enthusiastic to defend the island or join some guerilla campaign.
 

RousseauX

Donor
It's going to be a tough, brutal war with a lot of atrocities as Fidel and co flee into the jungle to wage an insurgency. But ultimately, it is one which the US actually could win since Cuba is an island and the USN can cut off resupply to the Communists.
 
I think you'd see a lot less popular support among the natives than Vietnam, and the logistical differences are impossible to understate.
 
I foresee something along the lines of Granada. Only slightly longer. Cuba is too nearby to the USA to stand a chance in invasion. Somehow I also think ordinary Cubans wouldn't be too enthusiastic to defend the island or join some guerilla campaign.
I would hope it would run better than Grenada, which was a monumental clusterfuck that we won basically because the enemy was whoppingly disorganized. The military has come a long way since then, and Cuba would be a fast and quick victory; the peace afterwards might be tough though...
It's going to be a tough, brutal war with a lot of atrocities as Fidel and co flee into the jungle to wage an insurgency. But ultimately, it is one which the US actually could win since Cuba is an island and the USN can cut off resupply to the Communists.
Fidel and Raoul are a bit old to go guerrilla in the jungles...
 

RousseauX

Donor
I would hope it would run better than Grenada, which was a monumental clusterfuck that we won basically because the enemy was whoppingly disorganized. The military has come a long way since then, and Cuba would be a fast and quick victory; the peace afterwards might be tough though...

Fidel and Raoul are a bit old to go guerrilla in the jungles...
This is an AH so I'm kinda assuming this takes place in the 60s-70s era.
 

The Vulture

Banned
If we're going in the 60s, there's going to be serious resistance. At the time, the average Cuban is armed and a great supporter of the resistance. Overthrowing the Spanish and later the foreign influence that was Batista's government is a major source of cultural pride for them. Simply put, the military will be pushed aside in a week or two. The guerrilla warfare will go on considerably longer, months or so, particularly if it was organized in advance.
 
For Cuba or the US?

Cuba is right next door and we already have a base there if you are talking about the US

I meant among the Cubans. I think there's less people that want Fidel in charge than wanted Ho Chi Mihn.

In America, while we generally don't support intervention unless there's scary terrorists involved, there's few people who would be upset to see the Communist regime fall.

Edit: Did not see that this is meant to be in the 60/70's make that huge support among the Cubans for Castro and long term guerilla attacks and major support among Americans. They may not care about a country halfway around the world, they care about somewhere that is essentially a day trip from Miami.
 
If JFK had not withheld air support during the Bay of Pigs, a successful landing would have occurred. What the plan was that once the Cuban resistance forces had established a beachhead, they would announce on the radio as the government of Free Cuba. Washington was then going to instantly recognize that government and support it militarily. That intervention was no secret. Life magazine had at the time photos of the airborne assault group already assembled in Florida. As has been pointed out, once US forces are actively involved, the conclusion will be a US victory. In the early 60's, there were many senior officers who had lots of personal experience in invading and pacifying islands during WW II.
 
If JFK had not withheld air support during the Bay of Pigs, a successful landing would have occurred. What the plan was that once the Cuban resistance forces had established a beachhead, they would announce on the radio as the government of Free Cuba. Washington was then going to instantly recognize that government and support it militarily. That intervention was no secret. Life magazine had at the time photos of the airborne assault group already assembled in Florida. As has been pointed out, once US forces are actively involved, the conclusion will be a US victory. In the early 60's, there were many senior officers who had lots of personal experience in invading and pacifying islands during WW II.

My father-in-law was a marine VERY close by waiting for orders to be moved up to support them.
 
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