Stories

Operating with the RLI and the SAS

Operating with the RLI and the SAS

In a previous November issue of the ‘Winged Chatter’ the official journal of the SAS C Squadron association of South Africa the President Grahame W. – former 2IC of the unit and recipient of one of only two Grand Cross of Valour ever awarded – presented his good...

Pfumo re Vanhu

Pfumo re Vanhu

Pfumo re Vanhu was formed in 1978 as a result of the internal political settlement and the establishment of Zimbabwe Rhodesia under the leadership of Bishop Abel Muzorewa. Several ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army) guerrillas of the Reverend Ndabaningi...

Operation Prawn: Selous Scouts – Top Secret War

Operation Prawn: Selous Scouts – Top Secret War

Operation Prawn: Attacks on Line of Rail: Barragem to Malvernia: August, 1976   Reconnaissance teams dropped in by free-fall parachuting and by helicopters along the line of rail, confirmed information to hand that ZANLA were making extensive and ever increasing...

Cloud over St Helena

Cloud over St Helena

  The engines of a Soviet reconnaissance aircraft roared in the sky above the South Atlantic, taking off on a mission from the airfield in Fedotovo near Vologda. Behind them was the Cuban airfield of Jose Marti, then the Angolan airfield in Luanda. The target was...

Reflections of a Soldier – Rhodesian Bush War

Reflections of a Soldier – Rhodesian Bush War

This documentary film provides an insight into the Rhodesian Bush War from a soldiers perspective. You’ll hear how the army conducted its patrols and examples of contacts with enemy terrorists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLcCsBwFg2c  

An Evening out with the Infantry

An Evening out with the Infantry

A photo of me as a (recently turned) 20-year old 2nd Lieutenant Infantryman in 1982, filling my water bottles with 'quality' water (by bush standards) at a waterhole at Umundaungilo village, Ovamboland approximately 2km from the Angolan border. These events are still...

The F-86 Sabre in combat in Guinea-Bissau Part 1

The F-86 Sabre in combat in Guinea-Bissau Part 1

In the context of the former Portuguese colonial empire, the territories of Guinea and Cape Verde played an important role in the maritime and air routes connecting Southern Africa, where Portugal had two important colonies: Angola and Mozambique. Furthermore, on the...

The Hawker Hunter and Rhodesia’s ‘Bush War

The Hawker Hunter and Rhodesia’s ‘Bush War

How rapidly times alter. As the so-called ‘Winds of Change’ swept through colonial Africa, the process of decolonisation gathered inexorable pace. Rhodesia was a prominent example. In July 1964, it experienced its first terrorist incident when a white farmer was...

FIRST SHOT COUNTS

FIRST SHOT COUNTS

Tank Killers Take on Big Game A Soviet T-55 battle tank rumbles slowly through the southern Angolan countryside, its two mates in echelon close behind. The FAPLA tank commander peers nervously at every shadow, at every oddly shaped bush and rock. He knows the South...

South Africa’s New Range Rifles

South Africa’s New Range Rifles

Springbok civilians' LM4 semiauto CIVILIANS in South Africa - particularly border farmers and cattlemen - have unusual home-defense requirements. Constantly threatened by bands of heavily armed insurgents and an escalating terrorist movement.most of the people with...

Counter Insurgency In SW Africa

Counter Insurgency In SW Africa

South Africa vs SWAPO Terrorists   The story may be apocryphal, but judging by the depth of sentiment expressed when it is recounted, I doubt it. The way it was told to me by a senior member. of SWAPO's external military command in Addis Ababa a few years ago, it...