From the Mexican Revolution to the Zarumilla War, in the first 40 years of the 20th century the nations of Central and South America were frequently disturbed by border clashes, civil wars and revolution. Many of these conflicts became known as 'Banana Wars'. Some involved only lightly armed guerrillas, but others saw armies operating artillery and armoured vehicles, supported by aircraft and river navies. The conflicts in Honduras and Nicaragua saw the intervention of US Marines, and later wars involved armour and aircraft from the militaries of Europe.
Using detailed colour plates and a wealth of contemporary photographs, this book shows the uniforms, equipment and strategies of the armies involved in these conflicts little known in the West. Covering wars crossing the length and breadth of the continent, this is the fascinating account of the wars that helped shape modern Latin America.

Philip Jowett was born in Leeds in 1961 and has been interested in military history for as long as he can remember. His first Osprey book was the ground-breaking Men-at-Arms 306, Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49, and since then he has published numerous other titles for Osprey including MAA 414, The Russo-Japanese War 1904-05, MAA 532, Japan's Asian Allies 1941-45 and NVG 19, Armour in China 1920-1950. He lives in North Lincolnshire, UK.

Introduction: overview of military affairs in Latin America in the period covered /Chronology /Central American conflicts, 1900-1940: Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua (Sandino Rebellion and 'Banana Wars'), plus Cuba/ Mexican Civil Wars: De Huerta rebellion 1924, Cristero War 1927, rebellion of 1929/ South American Wars 1910-1930: Brazil's Contestado War 1914, and 1920s civil wars/ South American Wars 1930-41: Paulista War, Brazil, 1932; Leticia War, Peru and Colombia, 1932-34; Zarumilla conflict, Peru and Ecuador, 1941/ Plate Commentaries