Military Despatches August 2017 Stranger than fiction Facts, figures and trivia about US Civil War History, as told by ‘varsity students WWII ended in 1957, Hitler shot himself in the bonker, Kennedy solved the Canadian Missile Crisis Head-to-Head We look some of the fighter aircraft of World War II Forged in Battle The South African Ratel IFV

More than 11 million casualties Ten of the bloodiest battles every fought

For the military enthusiast Military Despatches August 2017 What’s in this month’s edition

Feature Articles 6 US Civil War - facts, figures & trivia Click on any video below to view A few facts, figures and trivia about the US Civil War. It was the most costly war ever fought on American soil. How much do you know about movie theme 12 The Story of Moth O songs? Take our quiz Early this year the Memorable Order of Tin Hats cel- ebrated its 90th anniversary. This is the story of the man and find out. who began the Order. Page 6 14 Bet you never knew that Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African History records, recalls and retells events from the past. Goede interviews former Defence Force used But some people have a pretty fuzzy recollection when 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, it comes to history. Williams. Afrikaans, slang and 16 Conscription - Yes, no or maybe? techno-speak that few It’s one thing to volunteer as a soldier. But what about outside the military those that are conscripted and have no choice in the could hope to under- matter. We take a closer look at compulsory military stand. Some of the terms service. were humorous, some Page 16 were clever, while others Head-to-Head were downright crude. 22 Fighters of World War II We look at some of the iconic British, German, Russian, American and Japanese fighter aircraft that saw battle Part of Hipe’s “On the during World War II. couch” series, this is an interview with one of author Herman Charles Famous Figures Bosman’s most famous 30 George S. Patton Jr. characters, Oom Schalk Loved by some, loathed by others, George Patton was Page 22 A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in never far from the action - nor from controversy. dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area Cover Photograph war between rival taxi plagued with gang Captured at exactly the right moment, this photograph organisations. violence, to view first- shows a 25-pounder cannon being fired by members of hand how Project the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Ceasefire is dealing with during a demonstration in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town. the situation. In 1975, during Operation Savannah , the South Afri- cans were still using the British 25-pounder in action. Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. 00 3 Forged in Battle Page 36 36 The Ratel IFV Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equip- ment or units that have been tried and tested on the bat- tlefield. This month we look at the South African Ratel IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media Battlefield EDITOR 40 The Ten Bloodiest Battles Matt Tennyson These ten battles claimed more than 11 million casual- ties, with all but one of them being fought in the 20th Page 40 CONTRIBUTORS century. Raymond Fletcher, Ryan Mur- et me start off by saying Yet that lasted for nine days. that I was shocked, sur- I would need at least a twenty phy, Matt O’Brien, Matt Ten- nyson. Quiz Lprised, and more than a page article just to give it jus- 43 Who are we? little pleased at the reaction to tice. And I feel that a maga- the first issue of Military Des- zine article about a single topic Military Despatches is pub- We show you a badge or patch and you tell us which patches. It seems that the ma- should never be more than six lished on-line every month. unit, regiment or corps it is. jority of readers enjoyed it. pages. The articles used in Military I was hoping that at least a Then again, maybe I should Despatches are copyrighted few people would read it, but just leave articles of this nature and may not be used without Reviews I was not expecting it to be to college and university stu- prior permission from the edi- 44 Game Review - ARMA 3 Page 43 downloaded 63,000 times in the dents. Read the article on page tor. A tactical military shooter, ARMA 3 has been rated as first month. 14 to get an idea of what I’m The views stated in this mag- one of the best open world games ever. The scope and One of the problems of put- talking about. Some of these azine do not necessary reflect attention to detail is mind blowing. ting a magazine together is con- people can sum up the entire the views of Hipe!, the editor, tent. What exactly are you go- Second World War in a para- the staff, or Hipe Media. ing to put into the magazine? graph. And their knowledge of 46 Movie Review - A Bridge too Far Many editors sit with the prob- history is astounding. Hipe! Directed by Richard Attenborough the film deals with lem of not having enough ma- Did you know, for instance, P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 Operation Market Garden, a bold plan by the Allies to that WWII ended in 1957. Or terial. I, on the other hands, sit South Africa. capture and hold key bridges in Holland and bring an with the problem of having too that Hitler shot himself in the early end to the war. much material. It’s a question bonker. Have you heard about of “what should I include this the Six Minute War or the Ca- email 47 Page 47 [email protected] Book Review month?” nadian Missile Crisis? Iron Fist From The Sea tells the remarkable story Sometimes it can be difficult From next month we will be of operations carried out by the Elite South African selecting the information to in- starting a new section in the 4 Recce Commando. Douw Steyn and Arnè Söder- clude. This month, for example, magazine. It’s called “I was lund, the authors, have an intimate knowledge of the I wanted to feature Operation there” and will feature eye- Market Garden under the Bat- witness accounts of military subject matter. tlefield section. events. The only problem is that Op- If you have an article that you eration Market Garden was think our readers will find inter- The Lighter Side a huge operation, consisting esting, please feel free to sub- 48 Potty Humour of both an armoured element mit it. In the bush there were no hot showers, flushing toilets or and an airborne element. So I Until next month. running water. When answering the call of nature troops though maybe I could focus on often had to make use of very basic facilities, sometimes a particular aspect of the opera- with amusing results. tions, say the Battle of Arnhem. Matt 4 5 • The Civil War prison camp in U.S. military history. US Civil War - facts, figures & trivia Elmira had two observa- • The Civil War was the first tion towers constructed for time the national draft was A few facts, figures and trivia about the US Civil War, the bloodiest war ever fought on American onlookers. Citizens paid 15 used in American history soil. cents to look at the inmates. (April 16, 1862). he US Civil War was the Total Casualties - 25,416 about one in four. Concession stands by the • The Civil War was known by bloodiest war ever fought Union Casualties - 17,666 • More Americans died at the towers sold peanuts, cakes, more than 25 names, includ- on American soil. During Confederate Casualties - 11,000 Bloody Angle at Spotsylva- and lemonade while the men ing “The Brothers War,” “The T inside starved. War to Suppress Yankee Ar- an average day during the war, nia, Virginia, in May 1864 approximately 600 people were 7. Second Battle of Manassas than at Omaha Beach on D- • Nearly 3,000 people died in rogance,” “The War for the killed. Date - August 29–30, 1862 Day in 1944. the terrorist attacks of Sep- Union,” and “The War of the By the end of the war, over Total Casualties - 25,251 • The youngest soldier in the tember 11, 2001. About the Rebellion.” 618,000 people had died. This Union Casualties - 16,054 Civil War was a 9 year-old same number of men died in • Of the three million soldiers in is more Americans than WWI, Confederate Casualties - 9,197 boy from Mississippi. The the first 15 minutes at Grant’s the Civil War, 1% were regu- assault at Cold Harbor on lar army, 9% were draftees or WWII, the Korean War, and the oldest was an 80 year-old BRAVERY REWARDED: The Vietnam War combined. 8. Battle of Stones River from Iowa. More than 10,000 June 3, 1864. substitutes, and the rest were first U.S. Medal of Honor was Date - December 31, 1862 soldiers serving in the Union • The Twenty-Sixth North volunteers. awarded during the Civil War Ten most costly Civil War battles Total Casualties - 34,624 Army were under 18 years Carolina Infantry suffered • The amphibious landing of on March 25, 1863. It was 1. Battle of Gettysburg Union Casualties - 16,170 old. the worst regimented losses 110,000 at Iwo Jima cost awarded to six survivors of the Date - July 1–3, 1863 Confederate Casualties - 11,739 • Daniel Emmett, the composer in a single battle: 708 of 800 5,931 American lives and April 1962 Andrew’s Raid. In Total Casualties - 51,112 of “Dixie” was not only from killed, wounded, or missing at wounded 17,372 more. all, 2,625 soldiers and sailors Union Casualties - 23,049 9. Battle of Shiloh the North, but he was also a Gettysburg. Roughly the same numbers received the medal during the Confederate Casualties - 28,063 Date - April 6–7, 1862 loyal Unionist. He was dis- • In the North, more than 1/3 of and losses were involved in war. There were 433 awarded Total Casualties - 23,741 gusted by the song’s popu- all men of military age served the Civil War battle at Chick- during WWII. 2. Battle of Chickamauga Union Casualties - 13,047 larity in the South. Lincoln in the war. For the South, it amauga. Iwo Jima spanned Date - September 19–20, 1863 Confederate Casualties - 10,694 claimed that it was one of was nearly 2/3. 36 days. Chickamauga lasted the head or neck. Total Casualties - 34,624 “the best tunes I ever heard.” • Fighting took place on each 36 hours (September 19-20, • The U.S. Army did not start Union Casualties - 16,170 10. Battle of Fort Donelson Listen to the song by clicking day of the war, which lasted 1863). issuing dog tags until 1906. Confederate Casualties - 18,454 Date - February 13–16, 1862 here. approximately 1,396 days, • Gettysburg was the largest • In Vietnam, one in 400 of the Total Casualties - 19,455 • An estimated 800 wounded from 1861 to 1865. Nearly battle ever fought in North wounded died of their injuries. 3. Battle of Chancellorsville Union Casualties - 2,832 men burned to death at the 10,455 military “events” took America. Its victor, General In the Korean War, one in 50 Date - May 1–4, 1863 Confederate Casualties - 16,623 Battle of the Wilderness be- place during the war. Meade, was born in Spain. wounded American soldiers Total Casualties - 30,099 cause they were unable to • During the Civil War, diar- • The bullet (especially the died. In the Civil War, one in Union Casualties - 17,278 US Civil War Trivia crawl away from advancing rhea (Greek, meaning “I flow Minie) accounted for more seven wounded Federals died Confederate Casualties - 12,821 • During the Civil War, 2% of brush fires. away”) was the most common than 90% of battle fatalities. and one in five wounded Con- the U.S. population died. This • Immediately after the war, and deadly disease. More The soft, low-velocity bullets federates died—sometimes 4. Battle of Spotsylvania is equivalent to six million two out of three men sen- Civil War soldiers died from tumbled and spread apart in- within minutes, sometimes Date - May 8 –21, 1864 men today. While rifles were tenced to state prisons in the diarrhea than were killed in side the body, which caused after months of suffering. Total Casualties - 30,399 the deadliest weapons during North were Civil War veter- battle. About one in 40 cases excessive and irreparable • Amy Clarke wanted to fight Union Casualties - 18,399 the war, disease killed more ans. was fatal. Death came from tissue damage. Only 4% of near her husband during the Confederate Casualties - 12,000 men. Camps became breeding • In the 20 years after the Civil dehydration, exhaustion, or Civil War battlefield casual- Civil War and so disguised grounds for measles, chicken War, the national divorce rate the rupture of the intestinal ties came from the muzzle of herself as “Richard Ander- 5. Battle of Antietam pox, and mumps. One million increased 150%. wall. a canon. son” to join a Tennessee unit Date - September 17, 1862 Union solders contracted ma- • Seven future U.S. presidents • Both the war’s bloodiest day • On average, of every 100 fa- of the Confederacy. Although Total Casualties - 23,134 laria. served in the Civil War: (Antietam) and its bloodiest talities on the battlefield, five her husband died at Shiloh, Union Casualties - 12,410 • One of every 65 Federals and Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford battle (Gettysburg) occurred men died from limb wounds, she continued to fight until she Confederate Casualties - 10,724 one of every 45 Confederates B. Hayes, William McKin- in Union states. More than 12 from punctures to the low- was wounded and captured were killed in action. ley, James Garfield, Benjamin 5,000 soldiers died at Antie- er abdomen, 15 from damage by Union soldiers. When they 6. Battle of the Wilderness • A Civil War soldier’s chance Harrison, Chester A. Arthur, tam, making September 17, to the heart or liver, and more discovered she was a woman, Date - May 5–7, 1864 of surviving the war was and Andrew Johnson. 1862, the single bloodiest day than 50 from lacerations to she was sent back to the Con- 6 7 transporting guns and sup- plies. • The South expected to win because (a) Northerners did not know their way around the South, where most of the fighting would take place, (b) Southern farmers were al- ready skilled marksmen and riding horses, and (c) they were fighting to save a way of life. • Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson got his nickname during the first Bat- tle of Bull Run. During battle, his men noted he stood “like a stone wall.” He was later acci- AMPUTATION BOX: The most common operation performed on soldiers during the Civil War dentally shot and killed by his was amputation. The best surgeon could have a limb severed and discarded within five minutes. own men. Civil War doctors were nicknamed “sawbones.” There were 60,000 partial or complete amputa- • At Gettysburg, the First Min- tions during the war. Surgeons never washed their hands after an operation, because all blood nesota captured the battle flag was assumed to be the same, nor did he wash his instruments. of the Twenty-eight Virginia. In 2001, the state of Virginia federate - in a dress. • African American soldiers the army, it is estimated that requested that Minnesota re- • The Civil War was the first were allowed to join the Union between 250 and 400 women turn it. As of 2017, Minnesota time a submarine ever sank Army in 1863, but they were fought disguised as men. still possessed the banner. an enemy ship when the sub- paid lower wages than white • To prevent escape at Camp • The Union uniform was blue marine the Hunley sank the soldiers and were charged rent Douglas in Chicago, prison- and the Confederate uniform USS Housatonic. However, for their clothing. Some black ers were not allowed to wear ONE AND ONLY: Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was not only the was gray. But because clothes the Hunley was damaged in Union soldiers refused their clothes. Even blankets were first woman surgeon in U.S. Military history, but she was also the were scarce during the war, only woman in the Civil War to be awarded the Medal of Honor, the attack, wandered seaward, salary for 18 months as pro- taken away. Many Confeder- it was common for soldiers the highest honour given to a citizen of the U.S. She is the only and sank drowning all eight test. In September 1864, they ates froze to death. to wear “enemy” colors and female recipient of the award to date. hands. Only five of Housa- finally received equal pay. • Edward Everett, the main mistakenly be fired upon by tonic’s 155 died. The Hunley • During the war, the Union speaker at the Gettysburg their own men. an infamous prison camp. rates and excessively bloody was finally recovered 136 confiscated Robert E. Lee’s dedication, spoke for 2 hours. • The first battle between iron- The second was Confederate battles. The Civil War became years later. estate and turned it into a President Abraham Lincoln, clads occurred during the guerilla Champ Ferguson. dubbed as the “first modern • In 2008, the body of a Union cemetery so that he would be who was invited almost as an Civil War in March 1862, be- • The Industrial Revolution fa- war.” soldier was discovered in An- reminded of the carnage he afterthought, spoke for two tween the Confederate ship cilitated the mass production • Of the nearly 200,000 African tietam. His remains were laid caused. It later became Ar- minutes. His speech went Merrimack and the Union of weaponry, but the medi- Americans who fought for to rest in the regimental home lington National Cemetery. down in history. Monitor. No winner was de- cal revolution and its use of the North, more than 100,000 of New York State. • During the Civil War, gener- • The North expected to win clared. antiseptics was still years were runaway slaves. The • Nearly 1/3 of Union Army als usually led their solders because (a) they had more • Only two people were con- away. Additionally, while number of African Ameri- soldiers were immigrants into battle, a rare occurrence men to fight (22 million peo- victed of war crimes in the rifled weapons and mini bul- cans who enlisted in the (7.5% were Irish; 10% were in modern wars. Because of ple in the North versus seven Civil War. The first was Con- lets increased the firing range Union Army was larger than German). Other immigrant this, generals were 50% more million white people in the federate Capt. Henry Wirz. threefold, soldiers still used the number of soldiers in the soldiers were French, Italian, likely to die in combat than South), (b) there were more He was tried and executed traditional military methods, entire Confederate Army in Polish, English, and Scot- privates were. factories in the North to make after the war for murder and which depended on massed the final months of the war. tish. Approximately one in 10 • Although both the North and guns and bullets, and (c) the conspiracy associated with his infantry at close range. All Twenty-five African Ameri- were African American. South did not allow women in North had more railroads for command at Andersonville, of this led to high mortality can soldiers were awarded the 8 9 a hasty exit once they were paid. The record for bounty the commander of the Union jumping was held by John Army was brand new. Gen- O’Connor, who admitted to eral George Meade had been hiring himself out 32 times appointed only three days be- before being caught. He re- fore the battle started. ceived a 4 year prison term. • Confederate General Martin • In the battle of Gettysburg, Green’s last words were “A 1,100 ambulances were in bullet has not yet been mold- use. The medical director of ed that will kill me.” He said the Union army boasted that this in response to a warning all the wounded were picked to keep his head down while up from the field within 12 inspecting the defenses at hours after the battle was Vicksburg. Moments later he over. This was a far cry from was shot in the head and killed the second battle of Bull Run, by a Union sharpshooter. THE MEDIA GETS INVOLVED: The Civil War was the first war • The Battle of Gettysburg was to be immediately reported in the press. The first ‘war’ photo- when many of the wounded about shoes. Many of the Con- graphs were taken at the Battle of Antietam. were left on the field in the rain, heat, and sun for three or federate soldiers were bare- Congressional Medal of Hon- at Shiloh, but survived to four days. foot because all of the shoe or. Approximately 35,000 of go to Africa to find Dr. Liv- • On the night before the Battle factories were in the north. the nearly 200,000 died dur- ingston and utter the famous of Gettysburg, Confederate A contingent went to Gettys- ing the war. words “Doctor Livingstone I commander Robert E. Lee burg because there was a shoe • An Iowa regiment had a rule presume.” had a heart attack. This has factory there. They wanted to that any man who uttered an • On July 4, 1863, after 48 been cited as one of the rea- TAKING A CHANCE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE: During the capture it, but when they ar- oath should read a chapter in days of siege, Confeder- sons why he made some criti- Battle of Chancellorsville, at least one Union soldier discovered rived they found thousands of the Bible. Several of them got ate General John C. Pem- cal mistakes, such as the cost- he was the victim of corrupt government contractors when he Union soldiers already in Get- nearly through the Old Testa- berton surrendered the city ly and notoriously foolhardy found that his rifle cartridges were filled with dirt rather than gun- tysburg. ment. of Vicksburg,Mississippi to Pickett’s Charge. powder. • The rebel yell was a battle cry • During the Battle of Antie- Union General, Ulysses S. • Senator John J. Crittendon of Kentucky had two sons who vessels. The ship and its crew used by Confederate soldiers tam, Clara Barton tended the Grant. For the next 81 years, became major generals dur- surrendered to English au- during the American Civil wounded so close to the fight- the city Vicksburg, Mississip- ing the Civil War: one for the thorities in Liverpool more War. Confederate soldiers ing that a bullet went through pi did not celebrate the Fourth North, one for the South. than six months after Lee’s used the yell during charg- her sleeve and killed a man she of July. • One of the unlikely heros of surrender at Appomattox. es to intimidate the enemy was treating. • On both sides of the conflict, the Battle of Gettysburg was • The Confederate forces lost and boost their own morale. • Not fond of ceremonies or mil- potential recruits were offered General George Custer. A few 63 Brigadier Generals, seven Watch rare footage, taken in itary music, Ulysses S. Grant monetary rewards, or “boun- miles from the main battle the Major Generals, and three 1935, of Confederate veterans said he could only recognize ties,” for enlisting, as much as Southern cavalry under Gen- Lieutenant Generals during recreating the rebel yell by two tunes. “One was Yankee $677 in New York. “Bounty eral J.E.B Stuart was attempt- the war. clicking here. Doodle, the other one wasn’t.” jumping” soon became so ing to ride around the rear of • More than 3,000 horses were • On May 13, 1865, a month • Oliver Wendell Holmes, popular, that hundreds of men the Northern position, where killed at Gettysburg after Lee’s surrender at Ap- Jr., future chief Justice, was signed up, and then deserted, they could have caused chaos • Thomas Stewart, aged 92 pomattox, Private John J. wounded three times during to enlist again elsewhere. on the North’s supply lines. years, of East Newtown, Williams of the 34th Indiana the Civil War - in the chest • For those who were drafted, They were stopped by Custer Ohio, was a private in the became the last man killed at Ball’s Bluff, in the back at the law allowed them to pay a who defeated a much larger 101st Ohio regiment, and took in the Civil War, in a battle at THAT’S NOT ME: General Palmito Ranch, Texas. The fi- Antietam and in the heel at substitute to go in their place. Ulysses Simpson Grant was force. part in the battle of Perryville, nal skirmish was a Confeder- Chancellorsville Another type of “bounty actually named Hiram Ulysses • The Confederate cruiser where he was complimented • Confederate Private Henry jumper” was born when men Grant. His name was incorrect- Shenandoah sailed complete- for his bravery and soldierly ate victory. Stanley fought for the Sixth would hire out to more than ly recorded on his West Point ly around the world, raiding bearing. Watch a documentary on Guns Arkansas, and was captured one draftee and then make application. Union whalers and commerce • At the Battle of Gettysburg of the Civil War - click here. 10 11 Sound Memory were to become the inspiration of a remarkable The Story of Moth O organisation of ex-front line Early this year the Memorable Order of Tin Hats celebrated its 90th anniversary. This is the story soldiers, of all ranks, known of the man who began the Order. as the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH). harles Alfred Evenden At the outbreak of World War Charles, as the founder of the was a soldier, cartoon- I he joined the Australian Army movement and its guiding in- Cist, and author. Yet he and was posted to Egypt. As a spiration was given the title of will be best remembered as the member of the Australian and ‘Moth O’ - a position he held founder of the Memorable Or- New Zealand Army Corps he until his death. He was also der of Tin Hats, the Moths. took part in the disastrous Galli- known as Moth EVO. Charles Evenden was born to poli campaign - a campaign that The membership of the John Charles Evenden of Kent would see more than 130,000 MOTH movement, under and his wife Elizabeth Gregory men die and over 261,000 be- EVO’s vigorous direction and in London on October 1, 1894. ing wounded. leadership, grew into thou- He was the eldest of 13 chil- During this campaign he was sands. dren. badly shell-shocked and evacu- Men and women of two world He was educated at Hag- ated to Malta. From there he wars, of the Second Anglo Boer gerston Road School in the was sent back to England where War (1899-1902) and even London Borough of Hackney he was hospitalised. At the end those of former enemy forces where, even at an early age, he of the war he returned to a farm- Charles Alfred Evenden - Moth O streamed into its ranks. All who showed great promise. At the ing life in Australia. 1894 - 1961 were prepared to keep alive the age of twelve he was top of the His farming efforts proved to memories of comradeship and school and remained there for be financially unsuccessful. He persuaded to draw a cartoon on self-sacrifice - the finer virtues two years. thus took up newspaper work ‘remembrance’. that war brings forth - were His academic achievements in Melbourne. After a brief pe- According to the Diction- welcomed and made at home in earned him two scholarships riod, he decided to try newspa- ary, “The cartoon showed a tin shell holes with colourful and to the prestigious Charterhouse per life in South Africa. In 1923 helmet surmounted by a burn- meaningful names of war-time School. His parents, however, he arrived in Durban where he ing candle. Around the flames memories and occasions. could not afford to send him joined the staff of The Natal of the candle were six words The shellholes spread to the to Charterhouse and he was Mercury as its cartoonist under - True Comradeship - Mutual United Kingdom, Australia, INSPIRATION: The cartoon that was to become the inspiration forced to leave school and en- the nom-de-plume of EVO. He Help - Sound Memory”. New Zealand and to Rhodesia behind the formation of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats. ter the workforce. His parents remained with this paper from However, the official MOTH (Zimbabwe). Membership was found him a job in a factory 1924 until 1953. website carries a cartoon cap- extended to those who had par- daughter. Barrie was posted as of 14,000 Moths, by the then where he earned a mere half-a- With the startling simplic- tioned Forgetfulness and this ticipated in the South African missing in action when his ship Mayor, Councillor Vernon Es- crown (about 30 cents) a week. ity of his ideas he soon made a led to the founding of the Order. Border War. was torpedoed by a U-boat in sery. To supplement his income he name for himself. To emphasise This is confirmed by the The MOTH national head- the Mediterranean Sea. Charles Alfred Evenden, started selling newspapers. his attitude towards politicians Eastern Province Herald which quarters is situated in Warriors He wrote the story of how the Moth O, answered the Sunset One of the things that Charles and bureaucrats he created two describes the cartoon as fol- Gate, Durban, which is mod- MOTH organisation was creat- Call in Entabeni Hospital in really enjoyed was the news- characters ‘Dr Mug’ and ‘Mr lows: “a bullet- and shrapnel- elled on a Norman design from ed in his book Old soldiers nev- Durban on April 1, 1961. He paper cartoons and he began to Wump’. His brand of Cockney riddled Allied helmet awash in a photograph given to EVO by er die (Durban, 1952). He was was 66 years old. EVO was cre- study them. He began attending humour had a special appeal for the ocean. In the background a Admiral Evans-of-the-Broke. also the author of Like a little mated, and his ashes were scat- drawing classes and on one oc- the newspaper’s readers. steamship passes over the ho- In 1948 EVO opened Mount candle (Durban, 1959) tered over the Durban bay. casion he sent a cartoon to the According to the Dictionary rizon, leaving the forgotten, Memory - a monument to the In 1955 he was received by For more information about Daily Express. They compli- of South African Biography, ghostly form of a veteran for- missing and dead of the Second Queen Elizabeth, the Queen the Moths you can visit their of- mented him on his cartoon and one night in 1927 after he and lornly wading through the wa- World War, in the foothills of Mother, at Clarence House. On ficial website at www.moth.org. the psychological effect of this the editor of The Natal Mer- ter.” the Drakensberg mountains. 11 November 1955 the free- za or by clicking here. act was to influence his whole cury, RJ Kingston Russell, had The concepts of True Com- He married Reenie Carlos dom of the city of Durban was life. seen a war film, Charles was radeship, Mutual Help and and had a son, Barrie, and a conferred on him, at a parade 12 13 Cold War, because Benjamin Franklin Roosevelt did not trust Bet you never knew that Lenin and Stalin. An ironed History records, recalls and retells events from the past. But some people have a pretty fuzzy curtain fell across the haunches recollection when it comes to history. of Europe.” I think that when the ironed t was George Santayana and going around the Maginot self. You’ll probably find that curtain fell it must have fallen that said, “Those who do Line. The Germans used a tac- Leningrad was named after onto this guy’s head. not learn from history are tic known as Blitzkrieg (Light- Lenin. Benjamin Franklin, one of I America’s founding fathers, doomed to repeat it.” ning War). I recently came across a book I also believe that the Japa- “Hitler, who had become died on April 17, 1790. A bit that contained answers to exam nese bombed Pearl Harbour, depressed for some reason, before World War II. questions as given by American not boomed it. And while the crawled under Berlin. At least Franklin Delano college and university students. US Navy does have a base in Here he had his wife Evita Roosevelt was around for most Some of them make our local San Diego, Southern Califor- put to sleep, and then shot him- of World War II. But he died on students look like geniuses. And nia Pearl Harbour, however, is self in the bonker.” April 12, 1945, before World let’s face it, that takes some do- 6,521 km away on the island of Hitler had become depressed. TORA, TORA, TORA: Japanese Zebras boom Pearl Harbour. War II ended. ing to say the very least. Oahu, Hawaii. Who would have imagined it. And Vladimir Lenin was an- Some of these answers defy And lastly, the sky was prob- By April 1945 the war was al- cans dropped an atomic bomb sile bases on the island of Cuba. other not around for the Cold belief, but at least they must ably filled with zeros and not most over and Hitler had lost. on the Japanese city of Hiroshi- Kennedy felt that these were a War. He died on January 21, have given those poor souls that zebras. The Mitsubishi A6M By January 1945 Hitler had re- ma. The bomb caused an atom- direct threat to America and he 1942. had to grade the papers a bit of Zero was a long-range fighter treated to the Führerbunker un- ic explosion, not a nuclear one. told the Russians to take them amusement. And I somehow aircraft used by Japan. der the Reich Chancellery. down and remove the missiles “The Berlin Wall was built suspect that many of these stu- On the evening of April 30, back to Russia. Otherwise he somewhere in Europe. Presi- dents would have been doomed “Germany invaded Poland, 1945 Hitler committed suicide. The Modern Era would consider military action. dent Kennedy soothed the to repeat history the next year. France invaded Belgium, and His wife committed suicide a “Wars fought in the 1950’s The US Navy and Coast masses, however, with his story Take a look at some of the an- Russia invaded everybody.” few minutes before him. Her include the Crimean War, Viet- Guard set up a blockade around about ‘Itch Ben the Berliner.’” swers given. Those sneaky Russians, in- name was Eva Braun and Hit- nam, and the Six-Minute War. Cuba. It was perhaps the clos- The Berlin Wall was built vading everybody like that. ler had only married her the day John F. Kennedy worked est that the world ever came to somewhere in Europe - Berlin World War II before. closely with the Russians to a nuclear war. may have been a clue. “The Germans took the by- “Hilter’s attack on Russia So Hitler actually shot him- solve the Canadian Missile Cri- Eventually the Russians And what Kennedy actually pass around France’s Marginal was secretly called ‘Operation self in the bunker, and not the sis.” backed down. This incident said back in 1963 was “Ich bin Line. This was known as the Barbarella’. bonker. Wrong on all accounts. The became known as the ‘Cuban ein Berliner.” Which roughly ‘Blintz Krieg’. The French hud- The German invaders were Crimean War did take place Missile Crisis’. translates as “I am a citizen of dled up and threw sneers at the popular for a while in Russia, “Unfortunately, the Second during the 50s, but it was the Berlin.” Germans. but their habit of slaughtering World War was not concluded 1850s (October 1853 – Febru- The Cold War Japan boomed Pearl Har- innocent civilians tended to until 1957.” ary 1856). Martin Luther Junior’s fa- “Actually, the fall of empires bour, the main U.S. base in give them an image problem. It actually ended with the sur- The Vietnam War lasted be- mous “If I had a hammer” has been a good thing, because Southern California. American The Russians defended Stal- render of Japan on September tween 1955 and 1975, but it was speech.” it gives more people a chance to sailors watched in shock as ingrad feercely as the city was 2, 1945. only in the 1960s that America I know that Martin Luther exploit their own people with- the sky filled with Japanese ze- named after Lenin.” become heavily involved. King Jr. had a dream. I had no out outside interference.” bras.” The German invasion of Rus- “War screeched to an end The 1967 Six-Day War be- idea he had a hammer as well. Actually, I would have prob- There you have it; World War sia was code-named Operation when a nukuleer explosion was tween Israel and the Arab na- If I recall If I Had A Hammer ably given this student 100% II summed up in a few sentenc- Barbarossa. dropped on Heroshima.” tions was named that because was a hit song for Pete Seeger for this answer. es. But, if I may, I would like to Naturally when you go around First of all, you can’t drop an the war only lasted six days - back in 1956. Peter, Paul and point out a few minor errors. slaughtering innocent civilians explosion. You can, however, not six minutes. Mary also had a hit with the So there you have it. History The French defensive line it is going to give you an image drop a bomb that will cause an John F, Kennedy did not song in 1962, as did Trini Lo- rewritten by some of the great- was known as the Maginot problem. explosion. work closely with the Russians. pez in 1963. est college and university minds Line. The Germans did by-pass Stalingrad was, of course, This is what happened on Au- In fact he threatened them. The the United States has to offer. it by attacking through Belgium named after Joseph Stalin him- gust 6, 1945 when the Ameri- Russians had set up nuclear mis- “World War II became the God bless America. 14 15 all white South African males would be required to do a pe- riod of compulsory military Conscription service. Note carefully the use of the word compulsory. It was Yes, no or maybe? not a request, it was an instruc- tion and it was backed up by It’s one thing to volunteer as a soldier. But what about those that are conscripted and an act of parliament - Defence have no choice in the matter. We take a closer look at compulsory military service. Act (this would later include the Defence Act Amendment, 1982). ust about every country in the world Every white male who was a has an army of some sort. Even the South Africa citizen or had per- Vatican (and yes, the Vatican is an J manent residence was required actual country) has its own army. With to register with the South Afri- just 110 men the Swiss Guard, the Vati- can Defence Force in the year can’s army, is the smallest in the world. that he turned 16. Once you Most countries around the world will had completed your schooling have a permanent defence force that will or decided to leave school, the normally have an army and often a navy South African Defence Force and air force as well. The people who required your services. serve in these armed forces usually do so YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW: A new intake of national ser- vicemen report for their call up. At first national service was as a full-time career. for a period of nine months and The vast majority of countries with a Navy warships, they came up To this day there are numer- then 12 months. Then, in 1978, permanent armed force will also have a with a system known as ‘im- ous countries where conscrip- it was increased to 24 months. sizeable reserve force. The people that pressment’. Groups of Royal tion is still enforced. In Africa Once this initial period of ser- serve in the reserve force are volunteers Navy recruiters, known as countries such as Angola, Ethi- vice was over they were then and serve for a certain period of time ‘press gangs’, would usually opia, Guinea-Bissau, Mozam- placed into the citizen force each year. wait outside a pub at night. bique, Somalia and Sudan all where they would have to serve Yet not everyone that serves in the If some drunk walked out he have compulsory military ser- between 30 and 90 days a year military or fights in a war is there be- would be hit over the head with vice. for the next 12 years. cause they want to be. As far back as his- a baton and knocked uncon- In Israel, for example, men You could, or course, refuse tory can recall people have been forced scious. and women over the age of 18 to do national service. It did to take up arms against their will. To this He would later wake up to find are liable for conscription. The mean that you would be arrest- day rebel and guerilla armies will ab- himself aboard a Royal Navy men do three years and the ed, charged, and sent to prison duct people and force them to join their ship and be informed that he women two. for three years. And you would ranks. It’s a case of “either you fight for was now a serving member of South Africa is no stranger not serve your time in a civilian us, or you are against us and we will kill the Royal Navy. And he had no to conscription. From 1968 to prison. You would serve it in a you.” Not much of a choice, is it. choice in the matter. If he tried 1993 South Africa had a system military prison known as ‘de- Even the British Royal Navy came up to leave or run away he would of compulsory military service tention barracks’. with a unique method to recruit sailors. be tracked down, charged with that was known as ‘national While there were indeed Working and living conditions for the desertion, and could be sen- service’. some who did opt to spend time average sailor in the Royal Navy in the tenced to death. During this period the policy in prison rather than serve in a 18th century were harsh by modern stan- Many countries in the past of apartheid was still the law military that they believed was dards and generally much worse than used a system of conscription of the country and the army, fighting to maintain the policy conditions on British merchant ships; or compulsory military service. navy and air force fell under the of apartheid, the vast majority their pay was around half that paid by This in effect meant that the command of the South African went ahead and reported for merchantmen and was lower than that governments of those countries Defence Force (SADF). their national service. paid to a farm labourer. past legislation that made mili- National service began in There were two intakes or To recruit sailors to serve on Royal tary service a law. 1968 when it was decided that call ups per year. The larger 16 17 of the two was in January and Taking the above into ac- another in July. You would re- count, it’s little wonder that ceive a letter with your call up most national servicemen did papers, or instructions to report what they were told and tried to for national service. avoid trouble as much as pos- National servicemen could be sible. called up to serve in either the During basic training the day army, navy or air force. Later would normally begin at 6.00 on a forth arm, the South Afri- am with PT. Then, after break- can Medical Services (SAMS) fast, the rest of the morning was formed and they would would be spent on the parade also receive an allocation of the ground learning to march. Af- call up. ternoons would be spent doing While national servicemen field craft, first-aid training, did get to serve in the navy, air A BURDEN TO BEAR: National servicemen on a route march map reading, and other military force and medical services it during basic training. skills. Naturally the national was the army that claimed most servicemen would also spent of them. The Infantry Corps was realisation that their lives were the rank of ‘rifleman’. time at the shooting range. by far the largest corps in the about to be changed. A national serviceman could DOUBLE TIME A large portion of basic training would be spent Most evening were spent pre- army. The majority of national “The army didn’t care who go on to become an NCO but on the parade ground. Here the conscripts were taught how to paring for the next morning’s drill and react to commands. Here a group is shown moving at servicemen were absorbed by you were or where you came could only go as high as the dreaded inspection. Your cor- double time. the Infantry Corps where they from,” says Kyle who was 18 rank of corporal. If they suc- poral would normally inspect received intensive training in when he did his basic train- cessfully completed an officers corrupts absolutely. This was were part of the huge military your bungalow every morning the use of military weapons, ing with the infantry. “It didn’t course they could be promoted unfortunately the case with machine and if you didn’t go from Monday to Thursday. Fri- fieldcraft and counter-insurgen- make any difference if you had to the rank of 2nd lieutenant. many of the corporals that were along with the flow the machine day mornings, however, was cy operations. a university degree or a stan- If, however, they had a univer- involved in training conscripts. would eat you up and spit you the big inspection. This would Eight infantry battalions were dard six education. They didn’t sity degree they could become a Some of them were particularly out in pieces. be carried out by your company situated throughout South Afri- care if you came from a wealthy lieutenant. brutal in their methods and it is The military even had its own commander, company sergeant ca at Bloemfontein, Walvis Bay, family or from the slums. As An infantry battalion, for in- a sad fact that more than one laws and regulations laid out in major, and your corporal. Potchefstroom, Middelburg, far as they were concerned you stance, was divided up into a recruit died during basic train- the Military Discipline Code After six weeks of basic train- Ladysmith, Grahamstown, Up- were the lowest form of life. It number of companies. Each ing as a direct result of physical (MDC). If you violated one of ing, national servicemen were ington and Phalaborwa. The in- was their mission during basic company would have a compa- abuse from the instructors. these regulations you could be supposed to be given leave fantry also had their own school to break everyone down to the ny commander (usually a cap- While the instructors were formally charged and put on from Friday evening to Sunday at Oudtshoorn in the Western same level and then build them tain) and a company sergeant not officially permitted to phys- trial. evening, known as a pass, every Cape. up again.” major. ically or mentally abuse the Minor offences would be han- second weekend. This was not You had absolutely no choice Many that did national ser- Companies were further di- troops, those in authority often dled with a process known as a always the case and sometimes in where you were called up. vice say that the military were vided into platoons which were looked the other way. This was ‘Summary Trial’. They could a national serviceman could go You could be called up to do very good at the breaking down in turn divided into squads. As a particularly the case during the try you and, if found guilty, for months without every get- your training at a unit that was part, but not always as good at national serviceman you would ‘70s and early ‘80s. could sentence you up to 120 ting the opportunity to go home. hundreds, sometimes thousands building them up again. find yourself in a squad with a “Our corporal was a little days in detention barracks. And The Friday morning inspec- of kilometres from where you There was a very strict rank corporal in charge of you. weed of a guy,” says Craig who something you have to realise tions were very strict and, if lived. structure in the military that During basic training it was did national service in 1975. “I is that time spent in detention you your squad was supposed Once you arrived for your was made up of officers, war- the corporals (usually national could have given him one slap did not count. If you spent 90 to get a pass that afternoon, it national service the first nine rant officers (sergeant majors), servicemen themselves) that and knocked his head off. But days in detention then you had could be cancelled if you failed weeks were taken up by basic non-commissioned officers carried out the majority of the we were all terrified of him. If to do an extra 90 days of your to pass the inspection. If one training. This began the process (NCO) and other ranks. training. And it was frightening he said ‘jump’ you didn’t ask national service. person failed they could can- of taking what were essentially National servicemen would just how much power a corpo- why, you didn’t argue, you just For serious offences you cel the pass for everyone in the school boys and turning them begin with the lowest possible ral wielded. asked how high.” could be court martialled. A squad. into soldiers. For many of the rank. If, for instance, they were It is an old adage that power And he does have a point. court martial had the power to And an inspection involved youngsters it came as a harsh in the infantry they would hold corrupts and absolute power As a national serviceman you sentence you to death. more than just sweeping the 18 19 floor and making your bed. The South Africa again. It would be floors had to be polished so that an interesting experiment to see they shone. Beds had to be made how the youth of today would up in a special way so that the handle something like that. edges had creases. All clothes Can you imagine them spend- had to be washed and perfectly ing nine weeks of basic training ironed. Boots and shoes had to with no cellphones, no Face- be polished. Every bit of equip- book, no Twitter, no e-mails, no ment had to be cleaned. It was text messages, and no Internet. common for national service- As a last thought I asked men to work right through the Craig, who I had interviewed for night to prepare for a Friday this article, if he would like to morning inspection. see his own son doing national “I remember one Friday service. morning inspection,” says “I don’t really know,” Craig Craig. “We were supposed to said. “Maybe if it was for six be on pass that weekend. Our ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER PATROL: South African troops, months. And as long as if he company commander came MORNING INSPECTION: Most national servicemen hated most of the conscripts, carry out a patrol in Owamboland in the didn’t have to go and fight in a around for inspection and he morning inspections with a passion. then South West Africa. Patrols could last up to eight days. war. I think it would probably noticed a fly sitting on one of 1993 over 600,000 white South reserves and stop rhino poach- be diverted from other depart- and units were closed down. So do him some good. It would at the window panes. He turned African males did national ser- ing. They could also assist the ments to pay for it. where exactly would the con- least teach him and bit of respect to our corporal and asked him vice. police with crime prevention. Something else that needs to scripts be housed and where and discipline and maybe how why we were keeping pets in There has been no conscrip- They also reason that by giv- be taken into consideration is would they be given training. to make his own damn bed.” the bungalow. And so our pass tion in South Africa for the past ing the youth training and skills where would you train them. Personally I don’t believe we was cancelled.” 24 years. The old SADF is a during their conscription pe- Many of the old military bases will ever see conscription in After basic training national thing of the past and now the riod, it would make them far servicemen would go on to do SANDF (South African Nation- more employable once they had individual and advanced train- al Defence Force) is responsi- completed their service. All of ing. After this they were posted ble for the military security of this sounds very positive. But Service Rendered out to various units were they the country. It is a military force you have to look at the negative carried out a multitude of func- that is made up of permanent aspects as well. The story of conscription in South Africa. Between 1968 tions. staff and reserve force volun- First of all, how keen would and 1992 white South African males were conscripted into Many, however, would be teers. the youth be to do some form the South African Defence Force for compulsory national sent to the then South West Af- Yet some people would like of national service. What would service. rica - to what become known as to see conscription introduced you do with those that refused? After completing basic training they were then trained the ‘Border War’. Some of them once again. But this time it Throw them into prisons that in specific fields before being posted out to serve in units would go on to see combat and, would not be only for whites, are already overcrowded? around South Africa. sadly, some of them would die. but for everyone that leaves Then you have to consider the Many would be sent as support or combat troops to what It is estimated that more than school. They suggest that every- financial implications. It’s not was then known as South West Africa to fight in what has 2,000 South African troops one who leaves school should cheap to run a defence force. All now become known as the ‘Border War’. were killed during the Border spend at least six months in the of the conscripts would have to This e-book tells the story of what it was like to be a na- War. And this does not take into military. be fed, housed, clothed and pro- tional serviceman. It takes readers through basic and indi- account the many more that They say it would help with vided with medical treatment if vidual training, postings to various units, and to the border died in training accidents or unemployment, give the youth necessary. Naturally you would war. road accidents during their na- discipline and that they could also have to pay them some- With 300 pages and more than 200 photographs, this tional service. be well utilised during their pe- thing. Where would this money e-book is a must for anyone that served. National service was done riod of conscription. Engineers come from? If you would like a copy of Service Rendered send an e- away with in 1993, a year be- could build roads and provide The current defence budget mail to [email protected] and use Service Rendered in the fore South Africa’s first demo- water for rural areas, infantry would have to be drastically in- subject line and we will e-mail you a copy. cratic elections. From 1968 to could be used to patrol game creased. Money would have to 20 21 After the Battle of Britain, Head to Head the Spitfire superseded the Hur- Supermarine Spitfire ricane to become the backbone of RAF Fighter Command, and Fighters of World War II saw action in the European, ilitary aircraft had P-51 Mustang with a top speed Allied aircraft. Mediterranean, Pacific, and come a long way since of 708 km/h. The primary role of the fight- South-East Asian theatres. The the canvas and wood Before the end of the war er was air-to-air combat against Spitfire served in several roles, M including interceptor, photo- planes of World War I. the first jet-powered fighter, other aircraft. Its purpose was to Speed, operational range and the German Messerschmitt Me establish air superiority over a reconnaissance, fighter-bomber fire power had developed in 262, was introduced into com- battlefield, which is considered and trainer. leaps and bounds. bat. essential for victory in conven- For example the fastest planes Spitefire Mk VB Armament The Me 262 had a top speed tional warfare. of World War I were the Spad Crew: 1 Guns: 8 x .303 Browning Mk II machine of 900 km/h. Although it only Fighters were also used to es- S.XIII and SE5a. Both had a Length: 9.12 metres guns or 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon became operational late in the cort bombers and provide cover top speed of 222 kp/h. Wingspan: 11.23 metres war, Me 262 pilots claimed to against enemy fighters. Compare this to the American Height: 3.86 metres have shot down a total of 542 Loaded weight: 3,000 kg Fact File Engine: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 super- British Fighter Aircraft charged V12 engine Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe, was a veteran WW I fighter pilot ace, he was a recipi- Performance ent of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as Hawker Hurricane Maximum speed: 595 km/h the “Blue Max”. He was the last commander of Range: 756 km Jagdgeschwader 1, the fighter wing once led by Although overshadowed by Service ceiling: 11,125 metres Manfred von Richthofen, the famous Red Baron. the Supermarine Spitfire, the Rate of climb: 13.2 metres per second Hurricane became renowned during the Battle of Britain, ac- counting for 60 percent of the German Fighter Aircraft RAF air victories in the battle, and served in all the major the- Messerschmitt Bf 109 atres of the Second World War. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the backbone of the Luft- Hurricane Mk.IIC Armament waffe’s fighter force. It first saw combat in 1937 during the Crew: 1 Guns: 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon Spanish Civil War. It was com- Length: 9.84 metres Bombs: 2 x 110 km or 230 kg bombs. monly called the Me 109. Wingspan: 12.19 metres Height: 4.0 metres Loaded weight: 3,480 kg Fact File Engine: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin XX liquid- Performance cooled V-12 While the British were not the first to make use Bf 109 G-6 of heavier-than-air military aircraft, the RAF is Crew: 1 Maximum speed: 640 km/h Performance the world’s oldest independent air force: that is, Length: 8.95 metres Range: 850 km Service ceiling: 12,000 metres Maximum speed: 547 km/h the first air force to become independent of army Wingspan: 9.925 metres Rate of climb: 17.0 metres per second Range: 965 km or navy control. It was founded on 1 April 1918, Height: 2.60 metres by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps Loaded weight: 3,148 kg Service ceiling: 10,970 metres Armament Rate of climb: 14.1 metres per second (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Engine: 1 × Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 liq- At that time it was the largest air force in the uid-cooled inverted V12 Guns: 2 × 13 mm synchronized MG 131 ma- world. chine guns 1 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon

22 23 The Fw 190 proved superi- The Yak-1 was manoeu- or in all but turn radius to the Focke-WulfF 190 Würger Yakovlev Yak-1 vrable, reliable, fast and well Royal Air Force’s main front- armed. It was easy to maintain line fighter, the Spitfire Mk. V, and formed an excellent basis especially at low and medium for subsequent models. De- altitudes. The 190 maintained signer Alexander Yakovlev was superiority over Allied fighters awarded the Order of Lenin - the until the introduction of the im- highest decoration bestowed by proved Spitfire Mk. IX the Soviet Union.

Fw 190 A-8 Range: 800 km Yak-1 Range: 700 km Crew: 1 Service ceiling: 11,410 metres Service ceiling: 10,050 metres Rate of climb: 15 metres per second Crew: 1 Length: 9.00 metres Length: 8.5 metres Rate of climb: 15.4 metres per second Wingspan: 10.51 metres Wingspan: 10.0 metres Height: 3.95 metres Armament Armament Guns: 2 × 13 mm synchronized MG 131 ma- Height: 2.64 metres Loaded weight: 4,417 kg Loaded weight: 2,883 kg Guns: 1 × 20 mm (0.8 in) ShVAK cannon Engine: 1 × BMW 801 D-2 radial engine, chine guns 1 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Berezin UBS machine 4 × 20 mm MG 151/20 E cannon Engine: 1 × Klimov M-105PF V-12 liquid- 1,250 kW cooled engine, 880 kW gun

Performance Performance Maximum speed: 656 km/h Maximum speed: 592 km/h

Russian Fighter Aircraft The Yak-9 had a lowered rear fuselage decking and all- Yakovlev Yak-9 around vision canopy. Its light- The MiG-3 was difficult to fly er airframe gave the new fighter Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 in peacetime and much more so a flexibility that previous mod- in combat. It had been designed els had lacked. The Yak-9 was for high-altitude combat, but the most mass-produced Soviet combat over the Eastern Front fighter of all time. was generally at lower alti- tudes, where it was inferior to the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 as well as most of its Soviet contemporaries. Yak-1 Armament Crew: 1 Guns: 1 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon Length: 8.55 metres 1 × 12.7 mm UBS machine gun MiG-3 Range: 820 km Wingspan: 9.74 metres Crew: 1 Service ceiling: 12,000 metres Height: 3.00 metres Length: 8.25 metres Rate of climb: 10,28 metres per second Loaded weight: 3,117 kg Wingspan: 10.20 metres Engine: 1 × Klimov M-105 PF V-12 liquid- Fact File Height: 3.30 metres Armament cooled piston engine, 880 kW Guns: 1 × 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun Loaded weight: 3,355 kg The Russians destroyed over 500 German air- 2 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns in the Engine: 1 × Mikulin AM-35A liquid-cooled Performance craft by ramming them in midair. cowl V12 engine, 993 kW Maximum speed: 597 km/h “It takes a brave man not to be a hero in the Red 6 × RS-82 rockets Range: 1,360 km Army.” – Joseph Stalin. Performance 2 × 100 kg bombs Service ceiling: 9,100 metres Maximum speed: 640 km/h Rate of climb: 13.7 metres per second 24 25 With its distinctive twin booms American Fighter Aircraft Lockheed P-38 Lightning and central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament the Lockheed P-38 Lightning was The Grumman F4F Wildcat nicknamed Gabelschwanz-Teufel was an American carrier-based Gruman F4F Wildcat (fork-tailed devil) by the German fighter aircraft that began- ser Luftwaffe and Ni hikōki, ippai- vice with both the United States rotto (two planes, one pilot) by Navy and the British Royal the Japanese. The P-38 was un- Navy (as the Martlet) in 1940. usually quiet for a fighter, with With a top speed of 512 km/h, the exhaust muffled by the - tur the Wildcat was outperformed bo-superchargers. by the faster 533 km/h, more maneuverable, and longer- Lightning P-38L Range: 2,100 km ranged Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Crew: 1 Service ceiling: 13,000 metres Length: 11.53 metres Rate of climb: 24.1 metres per second Range: 1,360 km Grumman F4F-3 Wingspan: 15.85 metres Service ceiling: 12,000 metres Crew: 1 Height: 3.91 metres Armament Rate of climb: 11.7 metres per second Length: 8.76 metres Loaded weight: 7,940 kg Guns: 1× Hispano M2(C) 20 mm cannon Wingspan: 11.58 metres 4× M2 Browning machine gun 12.7 mm Armament Engine: 2 × Allison V-1710-111/113 V-12 Height: 3.60 metres piston engine, 1,600 hp machine guns Loaded weight: 3,367 kg Guns: 4 × 12.7 mm AN/M2 Browning ma- 4× M10 three-tube 112 mm rocket launchers Engine: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-76 chine guns Performance Bombs: 2 × 45 kg bombs and/or 2 × 220 litre double-row radial engine, 1,200 hp Maximum speed: 667 km/h drop tanks Performance The Republic P-47 Thunder- Maximum speed: 531 km/h bolt was effective as a short-to- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt medium range escort fighter in The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was high-altitude air-to-air combat Curtiss P-40 Warhawk both a fighter and a ground-attack and ground attack in both the aircraft. The P-40’s lack of a two- World War II European and Pa- speed supercharger made it infe- cific theatres. With a weight of rior to Luftwaffe fighters in high- up to eight tonnes it was one of altitude combat and it was rarely the heaviest fighters of the war. used in operations in Northwest Europe. However, between 1941 P-47D-30 Thunderbolt Armament and 1944, the P-40 played a criti- Crew: 1 Guns: 8 × 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine cal role with Allied air forces in Length: 11.00 metres guns P-40E three major theaters: North Africa, Wingspan: 12.42 metres Up to 1,134 kg of bombs Crew: 1 the Southwest Pacific, and China. Height: 4.47 metres 10 × 127 mm unguided rockets Length: 9.68 metres Loaded weight: 5,774 kg Service ceiling: 8,800 metres Wingspan: 11.38 metres Engine: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59B Fact File Rate of climb: 11 metres per second Height: 3.76 metres twin-row radial engine, 2,600 hp Loaded weight: 3,760 kg American pilot Owen J. Baggett became legendary Engine: 1 × Allison V-1710-39 liquid-cooled Armament Performance as the only person to shoot down a Japanese aircraft Guns: 6 × 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine V12 engine, 1,150 hp Maximum speed: 697 km/h with a .45 calibre M1911 pistol. guns Range: 2,900 km Baggett had bailed out and was parachuting when Performance Service ceiling: 13,100 metres a Japanese aircraft headed straight at him. He fired Maximum speed: 580 km/h Rate of climb: 16.15 metres per second three shots with his pistol and one of them hit the Range: 1,100 km Japanese pilot in the head, killing him instantly.

26 27 Supermarine Spitfire North American Aviation P-51 Mustang The P-51 Mustang was re- garded by many as one of the best fighter aircraft of World War II. From late 1943, P- 51Bs and Cs (supplemented by P-51Ds from mid-1944) were used by the USAAF’s Eighth Air Force to escort bombers in raids over Germany. P-51D Mustang Performance Crew: 1 Maximum speed: 708 km/h Length: 9.83 metres Range: 2,755 km Wingspan: 11.28 metres Service ceiling: 12,800 metres Height: 4.08 metres Rate of climb: 16.3 metres per second Loaded weight: 4,175 kg Engine: 1 × Packard V-1650-7 liquid-cooled Armament V-12, with a 2 stage intercooled supercharg- Guns: 6 × 12.7mm AN/M2 Browning ma- er, 1,490 hp chine guns

Japanese Fighter Aircraft

When it was introduced early 1. Glycol Tank. 15. Radio transceiver. Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” in World War II, the Mitsubishi 2. Rolls Royce Merlin 66 V12 in-line 16. Battery. A6M “Zero” was considered liquid cooled engine. 17. Fabric-covered rudder. the most capable carrier-based 3. Two-stage compressor kicked in at 18. Non-retractable tail wheel. fighter in the world, combining 4,267 metres and at 6,096 metres. 19. Pitot tube. excellent maneuverability and 4. Fire wall. 20. .303 Browning machine gun. very long range.The Imperial 5. Upper fuel tank - 181.7 litres. 21. .303 Browning machine gun. Japanese Navy Air Service (IJ- 6. Lower fuel tank - 140.06 litres. 22. Wheel well. NAS) also frequently used it as 7. Rudder pedals. 23. 20 mm Hispano cannon. a land-based fighter. 8. Instrument panel. 24. Radiator air intake (one under each 9. Control column. wing). P-51D Mustang Range: 3,104 km 10. Pilot cockpit access door. 25. Retractable undercarriage. Crew: 1 Service ceiling: 10,000 metres 11. Armoured plate behind pilot. 26. Fuselage wing connector. Length: 9.06 metres Rate of climb: 15.7 metres per second 12. Sliding canopy. 27. Oil tank - 28.3 litres. Wingspan: 12.0 metres 13. Oxygen bottle. 28. Carburetor air intake. Height: 3.05 metres Armament 14. Parachute flare tubes. 29. Rotol propeller and constant speed Loaded weight: 2,796 kg Guns: 2× 7.7 mm Type 97 aircraft machine unit. Engine: 1 × Nakajima Sakae 12 engine, 700 guns in the engine cowling kW 2× 20 mm Type 99-1 cannon in the wings

Performance Maximum speed: 534 km/h 28 29 October 28 but saw no further Famous Figures in Military History action before hostilities ended with the armistice of Novem- ber 11, 1918. For his actions George S. Patton Jr. in Cheppy, Patton received the Loved by some, loathed by others, George Patton was never far from the action - nor from Distinguished Service Cross. controversy. For his leadership of the bri- gade and tank school, he was awarded the Distinguished Ser- orn in San Gabriel, Cali- the U.S. launched the Pancho dia dubbed Patton the “bandit vice Medal. He was also award- fornia on 11 November, Villa Expedition into Mexico. killer”. On May 23, 1916 Pat- ed the Purple Heart for his com- 1885, there was little When Patton discovered that B ton was promoted to first lieu- bat wounds after the decoration doubt that George Smith Patton his unit would not participate tenant. was created in 1932. Jr. would become a soldier. It he managed to get himself as- was in his blood. He came from signed as an aide to expedition World War I Between the wars a family with an extensive mili- commander John J. Pershing. After the United States en- On his return to the United tary background. Members of In mid-April Patton asked tered World War I, Pershing States on March 2, 1919 Patton his family fought for both the Pershing for the opportunity was named commander of the was assigned to Camp Meade United States Army and Con- to command troops. He ini- American Expeditionary Force in Maryland and reverted to his federate States Amy during the tial combat experience came TANK COMMANDER: Lt Colonel George S. Patton in front of (AEF) on the Western Front. permanent rank of captain on American Civil War. on May 14, 1916 in a French Renault FT light tank during the summer of 1918. Patton requested to join his staff June 30, 1920. The very next As a child Patton had diffi- what would be- and was promoted to captain in tanks. At this time Pershing tended the Command and Gen- day he was promoted to ma- culty learning to read and write come the first on May 15, 1917. sought to give Patton command eral Staff College in Langres. jor again. Loathing duty as a but overcame this. He was de- motorised at- Acting as Persh- of an infantry battalion. While He commanded American- peacetime staff officer, he spent scribed as an intelligent boy tack in the ing’s personal aide, in hospital for jaundice, Patton crewed Renault FT tanks at the much time writing technical pa- who was widely read on classi- history of Patton over- met Colonel Fox Conner, who Battle of Saint-Mihiel, lead- pers and giving speeches on his cal military history. He attend- US warfare. saw the train- encouraged him to work with ing the tanks from the front for combat experiences at the Gen- ed Virginia Military Institute, A force of ing of Ameri- tanks instead of infantry. much of the attack. He walked eral Staff College. which his father and grandfa- 10 men and can troops in On November 10, 1917 Pat- in front of the tanks into the Some of the highlights of ther attended. While at Virgin- two civilian Paris. Patton ton was assigned to establish German-held village of Essey, the inter-war years included ia he was nominated for West guides under was not happy the AEF Light Tank School. He and rode on top of a tank during his meeting Dwight D. Eisen- Point. Patton’s com- with the post left Paris and reported to the the attack into Pannes, seeking hower, who would play a major At West Point Patton excelled mand in three and began to French Army’s tank training to inspire his men. role in his future. The two cor- at military drills though his Dodge touring take an interest school at Champlieu where her During the Meuse-Argonne responded frequently and Pat- academic performance was so cars surprised drove a Renault FT light tank. Offensive on September 26, Pat- ton sent Eisenhower notes and poor that he was forced to re- three of Villa’s He was promoted to major on ton was wounded while leading assistance to help him graduate peat his first year after failing men, killing all January 26, 1917. six men and a tank in an attack from the General Staff College. mathematics. When he graduat- of them. Pershing He received the first 10 tanks on German machine guns near In August 1923, Patton saved ed from West Point on June 11, was impressed on March 23, 1918 at the Tank the town of Cheppy. He com- several children from drown- 1909 his was ranked 46 out of and the me- School at Bourg. As he was the manded the battle from a shell ing when they fell off a yacht 103. He was commissioned as only US soldier with tank-driv- hole for another hour before be- during a boating trip off Salem, a second lieutenant in the Cav- ing experience, Patton person- ing evacuated. He stopped at a Massachusetts. He was award- alry Branch of the United States ally backed seven of the tanks rear command post to submit ed the Silver Lifesaving Medal Army. off the train. In the post, Pat- his report before heading to a for this action. In March 1916 Mexican forc- ton trained tank crews to oper- hospital. In July 1932, Patton was ex- es loyal to Pancho Villa crossed ate in support of infantry, and While recuperating from his ecutive officer of the 3rd Cav- into New Mexico and raided the promoted its acceptance among wound, Patton was promoted alry, which was ordered to border town of Columbus. The reluctant infantry officers. He to colonel in the Tank Corps of Washington by Army Chief of violence in Columbus killed was promoted to lieutenant col- the U.S. National Army on Oc- Staff General Douglas MacAr- several Americans. In response, onel on April 3, 1918, and at- tober 17. He returned to duty on thur. Patton took command of 30 31 the 600 troops of the 3rd Cav- led his troops against German sightings and that Patton had seech Thee, of Thy great good- alry, and on July 28, MacAr- reinforcements from the Her- been named commander of ness, to restrain these immoder- thur ordered Patton’s troops to mann Göring Division. the First United States Army ate rains with which we have advance on protesting veterans Group (FUSAG), all designed had to contend. Grant us fair known as the “Bonus Army” The slapping incidents to convince the Germans that weather for Battle. Graciously with tear gas and bayonets. Pat- Two high-profile incidents Patton was preparing this mas- hearken to us as soldiers who ton was promoted to lieuten- of Patton striking subordinates sive command for an invasion call upon Thee that, armed with ant colonel in the regular Army during the Sicily campaign at- at Pas de Calais. FUSAG was in Thy power, we may advance on March 1, 1934, andto colo- tracted national controversy reality an intricately construct- from victory to victory and nel on July 24, 1938 and given following the end of the cam- ed “phantom” army of decoys, crush the oppression and wick- command of the 5th Cavalry at paign. On August 3, 1943, Pat- props, and fake signals traffic edness of our enemies, and es- Fort Clark, Texas. ton slapped and verbally abused based around Dover to mislead tablish Thy justice among men Private Charles H. Kuhl at an German aircraft and to make and nations. Amen.” When the World War II evacuation hospital in Nicosia Axis leaders believe a large weather cleared soon after, Pat- When the Germans invaded after he had been found to suf- force was massing there so as ton awarded O’Neill a Bronze Poland on September 1, 1939 fer from “battle fatigue”. to mask the real location of the Star Medal on the spot. the U.S. military entered a pe- On August 10, Patton slapped invasion in Normandy. Pat- The Final Push riod of mobilization, and Patton BERLIN IS THAT WAY: Patton was a commander who be- Private Paul G. Bennett under ton was ordered to keep a low sought to build up the power lieved in leading from the front. similar circumstances. Order- profile to deceive the Germans By February 1945, the Ger- of U.S. armoured forces.Patton ing both soldiers back to the into thinking he was in Dover mans were in full retreat. On was promoted to brigadier gen- to have quipped, “our blood, der of OuissamAlaouite, with front lines, Patton railed against throughout early 1944, when he February 23the U.S. 94th In- eral on October 2, made acting his guts”. Nonetheless, he was the citation “Les Lions dan- cowardice and issued orders to was actually training the Third fantry Division crossed the division commander in Novem- known to be admired widely sleurstanièrestremblenten le his commanders to discipline Army. As a result of Opera- Saar and established a vital ber, and on April 4, 1941 was by the men under his charge. voyantapprocher” (The lions any soldier making similar tion Fortitude, the German 15th bridgehead at Serrig through promoted again to major gen- Patton was also known simply in their dens tremble at his ap- complaints. Army remained at Pas de Calais which Patton pushed units into eral and made Commanding as “The Old Man” among his proach). Word of the incident reached to defend against Patton’s sup- the Saarland. Patton had insist- General of the 2nd Armoured troops. Eisenhower, who privately rep- posed attack. This formation ed upon an immediate crossing Division. Sicily Campaign rimanded Patton and insisted held its position even after the of the Saar River against the ad- In December 1940, he staged North Africa Campaign For Operation Husky, the in- he apologize. Patton apologised invasion of Normandy on June vice of his officers. a high-profile mass exercise in Patton was assigned to help vasion of Sicily, Patton was to to both soldiers individually, 6, 1944. Patton flew into France Once again, Patton found which 1,000 tanks and vehicles plan the Allied invasion of command the Seventh United as well as to doctors who wit- a month later and returned to other commands given prior- were driven from Columbus, French North Africa as part of States Army, dubbed the West- nessed the incidents, and later combat duty. ity on gasoline and supplies. Georgia, to Panama City, Flor- Operation Torch in the summer ern Task Force, in landings at to all of the soldiers under his To obtain these, Third Army ida, and back. He repeated the of 1942. Patton commanded the Gela, Scoglitti and Licata to command in several speeches. Battle of the Bulge ordnance units passed them- exercise with his entire divi- Western Task Force, consist- support landings by Bernard Patton played a prominent selves off as First Army per- sion of 1,300 vehicles the next ing of 33,000 men in 100 ships, Montgomery’s British Eighth Phantom Army role in both the Normandy sonnel and in one incident they month. Patton earned a pilot’s in landings centered on Casa- Army. Patton’s I Armored The German High Command breakout offensive and the Lor- secured thousands of gallons license and, during these ma- blanca, Morocco. The land- Corps was officially redesig- had more respect for Patton raine Campaign. During the of gasoline from a First Army noeuvres, observed the move- ings, which took place on No- nated the Seventh Army just than for any other Allied com- Battle of the Bulge Patton was dump. Between January 29 ments of his vehicles from the vember 8, 1942, were opposed before his force of 90,000 land- mander and considered him ordered to relieve Bastogne be- and March 22, the Third Army air to find ways to deploy them by Vichy French forces, but ed before dawn on D-Day, July central to any plan to invade fore it was overrun. Desiring took Trier, Coblenz, Bingen, effectively in combat. Patton’s men quickly gained a 10, 1943, on beaches near the Europe from the United King- good weather for his advance, Worms, Mainz, Kaiserslautern, A reporter, after hearing a beachhead and pushed through town of Licata. The armada was dom. Because of this, Patton which would permit close and Ludwigshafen, killing or speech where Patton said that it fierce resistance. Casablanca hampered by wind and weather, was made a prominent figure ground support by U.S. Army wounding 99,000 and captur- took “blood and brains” to win fell on November 11 and Pat- but despite this the three U.S. in the deception operation, For- Air Forces tactical aircraft, Pat- ing 140,112 German soldiers, in combat, began calling him ton negotiated an armistice infantry divisions involved, titude, in early 1944. Through ton ordered the Third Army which represented virtually all “blood and guts”. The nickname with French General Charles the 3rd, 1st, and 45th, secured the British network of double- chaplain, Colonel James Hugh of the remnants of the German would follow him for the rest Noguès. The Sultan of Mo- their respective beaches. They agents, the Allies fed German O’Neill, to compose a suitable First and Seventh Armies. An of his life. Soldiers under his rocco was so impressed that he then repulsed counterattacks at intelligence a steady stream prayer: “Almighty and most example of Patton’s sarcastic command were known at times presented Patton with the Or- Gela, where Patton personally of false reports about troops merciful Father, we humbly be- wit was broadcast when he re- 32 33 morial in the Hamm district of Rommel, who likewise had Luxembourg City, alongside mastered the art of tank war- wartime casualties of the Third fare. Both of them had a kind Army, per his request to “be of second sight in regard to this buried with his men”. type of warfare.” Generalfeldmarschall What others said about Patton Albert Kesselring “He was one of those men born to be a soldier, an ideal combat leader. It is no exagger- Target Patton ation to say that Patton’s name In a book released in 2008, struck terror at the hearts of the Target Patton, the newly un- enemy.” earthed diaries of a colourful Dwight D. Eisenhower assassin for the wartime Office of Strategic Services (OSS), “He is our greatest fighting the forerunner of the CIA, re- Quotes by George S. Patton general, and sheer joy”. veal that American spy chiefs Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted Patton dead because he 1. “A pint of sweat will save was threatening to expose al- a gallon of blood.” “I had heard of him, but I must lied collusion with the Russians 2. “A good plan, violently confess that his swashbuckling that cost American lives. executed now, is better personality exceeded my ex- Although he had suffered se- than a perfect plan next GOOD LUCK: George S. Patton (right) shakes hands with Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery. pectation. I did not form any rious injuries in a car crash in week.” While the fierce rivalry between them is well known, Montgomery actually had a lot of respect high opinion of him, nor had I Manheim, Patton was thought 3. “Lead me, follow me, for the American. any reason to alter this view at to be recovering and was on the or get the hell out of my way. “ ceived orders to by-pass Trier, The End in the back seat. Patton was dis- any later date. A dashing, cou- verge of flying home. rageous, wild and unbalanced But after a decade-long in- 4. “Do everything you ask as it had been decided that four After the war Patton was ap- covered to have a compression of those you command.” divisions would be needed to pointed military governor of fracture and dislocation of the leader, good for operations re- vestigation, military historian quiring thrust and push but at a Robert Wilcox claims that OSS 5. “Say what you mean and capture it. When the message Bavaria, where he led the Third cervical third and fourth verte- mean what you say.” arrived, Trier had already fall- Army in denazification efforts. brae, resulting in a broken neck loss in any operation requiring head General “Wild Bill” Don- skill and judgment.” ovan ordered a highly decorat- 6. “Many soldiers are led en. Patton rather caustically re- Unhappy with his position and and cervical spinal cord injury to faulty ideas of war by plied: “Have taken Trier with depressed by his belief that he that rendered him paralyzed British Field Marshal ed marksman called Douglas Alan Brooke Bazata to silence Patton. knowing too much about two divisions. Do you want me would never fight in another from the neck down. He spent too little.” to give it back? war, Patton’s behaviour and most of the next 12 days in spi- In interviews with Mr Bazata, “That crazy cowboy general” who died in 1999, and extracts 7. “Never tell people how to In its advance from the Rhine statements became increasingly nal traction to decrease spinal do things. Tell them what to the Elbe, Patton’s Third erratic. pressure. All non-medical visi- Adolf Hitler from his diaries, detailing how he staged the car crash by get- to do and they will surprise Army, which numbered be- On December 8, 1945, Pat- tors, except for Patton’s wife, you with their ingenuity.” tween 250,000 and 300,000 ton’s chief of staff, Major Gen- who had flown from the U.S., “Patton was the American ting a troop truck to plough into Guderian. He was very bold Patton’s Cadillac and then shot 8. “If everybody is think- men at any given time, captured eral Hobart Gay, invited him were forbidden. Patton, who ing alike, then somebody 84,860 km2 of German territo- on a pheasant hunting trip near had been told he had no chance and preferred large movements. the general with a low-velocity He took big risks and won big projectile, which broke his neck isn’t thinking.” ry. Its losses were 2,102 killed, Speyer to lift his spirits. Ob- to ever again ride a horse or re- 9. “Do more than is required 7,954 wounded, and 1,591 serving derelict cars along the sume normal life, at one point successes.” while his fellow passengers es- Generaloberst Alfred Jodl caped without a scratch. of you.” missing. side of the road, Patton said, commented, “This is a hell of a 10. “Moral courage is the German losses in the fighting “How awful war is. Think of way to die.” Mr Bazata also suggested that “Patton had developed tank when Patton began to recover most valuable and usually against the Third Army totalled the waste.” Moments later his He died in his sleep of pul- the most absent character- 20,100 killed, 47,700 wounded, car collided with an American monary edema and congestive warfare into an art, and under- from his injuries, US officials stood how to handle tanks bril- turned a blind eye as agents of istic in men.” and 653,140 captured. army truck at low speed. heart failure at about 18:00 11. “I am a soldier, I fight Gay and others were only on December 21, 1945 Patton liantly in the field. I feel com- the NKVD, the forerunner of pelled, therefore, to compare the KGB, poisoned the general. where I am told, and I win slightly injured, but Patton hit was buried at the Luxembourg where I fight.” his head on the glass partition American Cemetery and Me- him with Generalfeldmarschall 34 35 Forged in Battle Ratel-20

Weight 18,500 kg Length Ratel IFV 7.212 metres Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equipment or units that have been Width tried and tested on the battlefield. This month we look at the South African Ratel IFV. 2.516 metres Height p until the late 1960s Saracens were retained in their requirements were that the ve- 2.915 metres the South African Army original roles for some years hicle had to be well armoured, Crew had used the British Al- after the Ratel entered service well armed, and offer mobility. 3 crew + 7 infantry U The Ratel made history by Armour vis Saracen Armoured Person- and even underwent an upgrade nel Carrier (APC). There were, (Project Fellies) before they being the first wheeled IFV. 20 mm however, a few problems with were eventually retired. Prior to that IFVs were tracked Main Armament this. vehicles. FULL SPEED: A Ratel-20 on an exercise at De Brug training 20 mm autocannon The six run-flat tires gave the First of all the Saracen was Enter the Ratel area near Bloemfontein. Secondary Armament Ratel long-distance speed, mo- The Ratel was engineered 1 x 7.62 mm coaxial MG becoming very dated. Second- bility, and ease of maintenance was in order to preserve mobil- roof hatch. There was an ad- largely from a prototype from a 1 x 7.62 Anti-aircraft MG ly, and more importantly, South that tracked vehicles lack. The ity, weapon space, and range. ditional pintle-mounted dual 2 x 2 smoke grenade Africa were beginning to feel local subsidiary of Büssing and fact that it was wheeled gave it The vehicle was well protect- machine gun at the rear of the the squeeze of the international it was built on a modified 6x6 another major advantage. Un- ed against bullets and artillery Ratel’s upper deck. This was dischargers arms embargo. It was becoming MAN military truck chassis. like the United States Army’s shell splinters, but vulnerable accessed from a roof hatch and Engine more and more difficult to get Three more prototypes were M2/M3 Bradley or Warsaw to anti-tank guns, automatic provided cover for the Ratel’s D 3256 BTXF 6-cylinder in- hold of spare parts for the Sara- developed and tested by the Pact’s BMP designs, the Ratel cannon, rocket-propelled gre- rear quarter. It was removed on line turbo charged diesel cens. It became clear that South SADF (South African Defence did not need to be transported nades and guided missiles. Yet later models. 282 hp (210 kW) Africa would need to find an al- Force) between 1971 and 1975. long distances on trains or trail- the SADF’s experiences in An- The 20 mm cannon was belt Power/weight ternative. A production contract for the er trucks. It can simply be driv- gola showed that the Ratel was fed and had a high rate of fire. 15.24 hp/tonne The decision was made that vehicle was then awarded to en to the destination. far more likely to be faced with Ammunition was selected for Suspension South Africa would have to Sandock-Austral. Another plus factor was that small-arms fire than to run into specific engagements and would Wheeled 6 x 6, 350 mm main battle tanks. typically consist of a combina- both design and manufacture Mass production of a base Ra- the Ratel had an operational clearance tel-20 chassis peaked in 1976, radius of 1,000 kilometres, far Something else of para- tion of HE (high explosive) Operational Range their own vehicles. The Ratel mount importance was protec- and APTC (armour piercing and the vehicle entered combat superior to other IFVs. The M2/ 1,000 kilometres was the end result. tion against land mines. The tungsten carbide) rounds. The deployment in 1977. M3 Bradley, for example, has Speed It was named after the Ratel an operational radius of 450 ki- bottom of the hull was angled APTC was capable of destroy- Other variants, including the 115 km/h (road) (Afrikaans word for honey bad- lometres. and reinforced so as to deflect ing a T-34 tanks as evidenced ger), a small carnivore that has improved Mark II and Mark III While the vehicle’s high pro- mine blasts out to the sides. The during Operation Protea. 65 km/h (off road) few natural predators due to its versions of the basic Ratel were file makes it a bigger target it wheels, if damaged, were also The Ratel also had four rifle thick skin and ferocious defen- phased in throughout the 1980s. enables the crews to see the far easier to repair or replace ports on each side of the vehi- range the Ratel was ideal for sive abilities. Mark I vehicles were upgraded surrounding area more easily than tracks. cle, allowing the infantrymen to long missions over rugged ter- Unlike the Saracen, the Ra- to Mark II and III during refits. when maneuvering in tall bush, The Ratel-20’s primary ar- fire from within the vehicle. rain with little logistical sup- tel was not an APC but rather Over a thousand Ratels were something common to the ter- mament consisted of a locally The Ratel had multiple doors port. an IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehi- eventually manufactured. rain in Southern Africa. produced Denel Land Systems and hatches. The two main They were loaded with all cle). It was intended to provide The Ratel offered good GI-2 20 millimetre autocannon doors were located on the side sorts of equipment and supplies. infantry battalions with mecha- Characteristics ground clearance and cross mounted in a non-powered tur- of the vehicle, but a small rear Spare wheels were lashed on door and roof hatches allowed the roof of the hull, while food nised capabilities. From the outset it was impor- country performance. When ret at the front of the vehicle. tant that the Ratel be designed it came to mobility the Ratel This was supplemented by a the crew to exit the vehicle was stored in every available Contrary to some views the from many directions at once, space. The average number of Ratel was a totally new require- with the Southern African envi- ticked all the right boxes. coaxial 7.32 x 51 mm machine The Ratel was relatively or to dismount under cover dur- 7.62 mm machine gun rounds ment and not a replacement ronment in mind. It also had to gun and another 7.32 x 51 mm make use of the combat expe- lightly armoured when com- ing an ambush. carried was at least 6,000. All for the Saracen. In fact, the pintle-mounted machine gun rience of the SADF. The main pared to some other IFVs. This situated by the commander’s Due to its large operational Ratels featured tactical radio 36 37 communication which enabled reliable command and control. The Ratel Family Spare whip aerials for the radio were carried somewhere on the Ratel-20 hull as they had a tendency to The original Ratel. It was armed with a Denel Land break when driving through the Systems GI-2 20 millimetre autocannon, two 7.32 x bush. 51 mm machine guns, and four smoke dischargers. The Ratel was equipped with It carried a crew of three and a squad of seven infantry two drinking water tanks and troops. each vehicle carried a cooking stove, tool kit, tow bar, cable Ratel-60 and spare parts. One in every Armed with a short 60 mm M2 mortar the Ratel-60 four vehicles carried a field was used to provide indirect fire support. It carried a shower kit. crew of three and a squad of seven infantry troops. In May 1978 the Ratel-20s, operating as part of Combat Group Juliet, played a major role in the assault on Chetequera FIRE SUPPORT: A Ratel-90, armed with its 90 mm gun. during Operation Reindeer. Ratel-81 Ratel-90 guns to disable it, and that the An 81 mm mortar was installed in the crew compart- Ratel variants The Ratel-90 was based on SADF vehicles had to attack in ment for use as a fire support platform. As the South African Border the Ratel-20 but mounted low- groups, fire from point-blank War escalated cross-border op- velocity 90 mm gun, a license- range, and hit the tanks in the erations became more frequent, made copy of the 1950s-vintage engine vents, turret rim, or simi- and more complex. French GIAT F1, is very accurate lar weak points in order to have An alliance had developed out to 2 km range. It is generally an effect, the 90 mm shells being Ratel-90 between the South Africans and considered to be inadequate for otherwise ineffective against the Armed with a 90 mm gun was used to engaged targets the National Union for the Total facing modern main battle tanks, Soviet tanks’ armour. such as APCs, light IFVs, unarmoured vehicles, build- Independence of Angola (UNI- but it is quite capable against ings and entrenchments. It carried a crew of three and TA), who were engaged in a armoured personnel carriers or End of an era six infantry troops. more conventional war against the People’s Armed Forces of other lighter AFVs, unarmoured A number of other countries Liberation of Angola (FAPLA). vehicles, exposed infantry, and have since produced vehicles FAPLA was aided by the buildings or entrenchments. The similar to the Ratel, including Ratel Command Cubans and the Soviets. This 90 mm gun cannot be fired from the Chinese WZ-523. The Bel- Armed a 12,7 mm machine gun, the Ratel Command meant that during cross-border a moving Ratel because the gian Simba, for example, is all operated as a mobile command post. It had a two-seat- operations the SADF was fre- fire-control system is decidedly but a direct copy of the Ratel. er turret and carried nine personnel. quently coming up against con- primitive and not stabilised; the A number of South American ventional Soviet armour. turret and gun are manually tra- countries have produced ve- Ratel-60 versed. hicles very similar in looks and The Ratel-60 was fitted with On the rare occasions when design. Ratel ZT3 a turret that carried a short SADF Ratels encountered en- Besides South Africa, a num- Armed with a launcher containing three ZT3 Ingwe 60 mm M2 breech loading mor- emy armour, such as the Soviet- ber of other African countries (leopard) laser-guided missiles, the Ratel ZT3 was tar. Its purpose was reconnais- made tanks encountered in Op- use the Ratel. They include Cam- sance, fire support and anti-am- used to engage enemy armour and main battle tanks. erations Modular, Hooper, and eroon, Djibouti, Ghana, Jordan, bushing. In the direct role the Additional missiles were stored within the hull. Packer in 1988, they achieved 60 mm mortar was effective up Libya, Morocco, Rwanda, Sen- to 300 metres, or 1,700 metres successes through manoeu- egal, Yemen and Zambia. in the indirect role. It could fire vrability and only at very short When the Ratel is finally re- Other variants HE (high explosive), canister, ranges. 61 Mechanised Infantry tired from service South Africa • Ratel-120: 120 mm mortar platform. Prototype only. smoke and illuminating rounds. Battalion Group found that each will be saying goodbye to a ve- • Ratel EAOS: Enhanced Artillery Observation System. Used for artillery support. It would usually operate from enemy T-55 and T-62 required hicle that served them well for • Ratel Maintenance: Setup as a mobile workshop. the rear to supply indirect fire. multiple shots from the 90 mm 40 years. • Ratel Logistic: Eight wheeled logistic vehicle. Only two prototyples were built. 38 39 4. Battle of the Somme Battlefield (July 1 – November 18, 1916)

The Battle of the Somme, Ten bloodiest battles also known as the Somme Of- These ten battles claimed more than 11 million casualties, with all but one of them fensive, was a battle of the First being fought in the 20th century. World War fought by the armies of the British and French against nstead of focusing on a failing to elicit any internation- 8. Battle of Wuhan the German Empire. It took specific battle this month, al intervention. (June 11 – October 27, 1938) place on both sides of the upper Iwe’re going to look at what The Japanese, indoctrinated reaches of the River Somme in were possibly the ten bloodiest with notions of martial supe- Another battle of the Second France. battles. riority, were not expecting the Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese The battle was intended to The casualty figures given fierce resistance shown by the were defending the city of Wu- hasten a victory for the Allies included killed, wounded and Chinese, and it shook the Japa- han from a Japanese attempt to and was the largest battle of the missing in action. They are not nese Army. capture it. First World War on the Western exact figures but give an esti- Over one million Chinese sol- Front. mation of the number of casual- Casualties: 388,000 diers were defending against a WUHAN: A victory for the Japanese. But a costly one that The Allies suffered more than ties. force of 350 thousand Japanese. shook their confidence. 60,000 casualties on the first Take into account that dur- 9. Siege of Changchun Bombings, artillery strikes, day of the battle. ing the Vietnam War the offi- (May 23 – October 19, 1948) and chemical weapons attacks 6. First Battle of Kiev 5. Battle of Verdun cial figure of Americans killed weakened the Chinese defenses (August 23 – (February 21 – December 18, 1916) Casualties: 1,000,000 is 58,318. In the battles listed The Siege of Changchun was enough for the Japanese to cap- September 26, 1941) below the number killed in a a siege operation launched by ture Wuhan after 4 months of The Battle of Verdun was the 3. Battle of Baghdad single day often exceeded this. the People’s Liberation Army fighting. The First Battle of Kiev re- largest and longest battle of the (January 29 –February 10, 1258) during the Chinese Civil War While it was a victory for the sulted in a very large encircle- First World War on the Western 10. Battle of Shanghai against the city of Changchun, Japanese, it had cost them dear. ment of Soviet troops in the Front between the German and The Siege of Baghdad en- (August 13 – November 26, 1937) defended by the Nationalist vicinity of Kiev during World French armies. tailed the investment, capture, forces. The Siege of Changchun Casualties: 540,000 War II. This encirclement is The German 5th Army at- and sack of Baghdad, the capi- The Battle of Shanghai was was part of the Liaoshen Cam- considered the largest encircle- tacked the defences of the Forti- tal of the Abbasid Caliphate, by the first of the twenty-two major paign, and the fall of Changc- 7. Battle of Berlin ment in the history of warfare fied Region of Verdun and those Ilkhanate Mongol forces and engagements fought between hun marked the end of its first (April 16 – May 2, 1945) (by number of troops). of the French Second Army on allied troops. the National Revolutionary stage. The battle was an unprece- the right bank of the Meuse. The Mongols were under the Army (NRA) of the Republic The PLA had the city sur- The Battle of Berlin was the dented defeat for the Red Army, The German strategy in 1916 command of Hulagu Khan (or of China (ROC) and the Impe- rounded and the nationalists final major offensive of the Eu- with 452,700 soldiers, 2,642 was to inflict mass casualties Hulegu Khan), brother of the rial Japanese Army (IJA) of the stood no chance. The commu- ropean theatre of World War II. guns and mortars and 64 tanks on the French, a goal achieved khagan Möngke Khan, who Empire of Japan during the Sec- nists decided to allow national- The Soviets had completely being trapped. against the Russians from 1914 had intended to further extend ond Sino-Japanese War. It was ist soldiers to leave the city at encircled Berlin at the begin- The Southwestern Front suf- to 1915, to weaken the French his rule into Mesopotamia but one of the largest and bloodiest any time, but refused to allow ning of the battle. The Nazis fered 700,544 casualties, in- Army to the point of collapse. not to directly overthrow the battles of the entire war, civilians to do so. Civilians had little left to offer and most cluding 616,304 killed, cap- Although the French took Caliphate. Möngke, however, The Chinese soldiers had to were blockaded within Changc- of the defence of the city was tured or missing during the heavy casualties, they held out. had instructed Hulagu to at- rely primarily on small-cali- hun and deliberately starved as left to the Hitler Youth and hast- battle. The 5th, 37th, 26th, 21st At times they even counter-at- tack Baghdad if the Caliph ber weapons in their defense way of pressuring enemy gen- ily conscripted civilian units. and the 38th armies, consisting tacked. In August and Decem- Al-Musta’sim refused Mongol of Shanghai, against an over- erals to surrender. Before the battle ended Adolf of 43 divisions, were almost ber, French counter-offensives demands for his continued sub- whelming Japanese onslaught It is estimated that 80% of the Hitler had committed suicide. annihilated and the 40th Army recaptured much of the ground mission to the khagan and the of air, naval, and armored strik- civilian population were killed. On May 7, 1945 the Germans suffered many losses. lost on the east bank and recov- payment of tribute in the form ing power. signed an unconditional surren- ered Fort Douaumont and Fort of military support for Mongol In the end, Shanghai fell, and Casualties: 431,000 (including der. Casualties: 829,000 Vaux. forces in Iran. China lost a significant portion 330,000 civilians) Due to their reputation as ef- of its best troops, while also Casualties: 681,000 Casualties: 976,000 ficient and brutal warriors their 40 41 7 Deadliest Wars Quiz

1. World War II 1939 to 1945 Who are we? Location. Worldwide his month we show you a cap or beret badge, or maybe a shoulder patch. You then tell us what Between 40,000,000 and unit or corps it is. And give yourself a bonus point if you can tell us which country they’re 72,000,000 deaths Tfrom. We’ve modified two of the badges because they had the unit/corps name on them. Answers on page 47. 2. Taiping Rebellion 1851 to 1864 1 2 3 Location. China Between 20,000,000 and 100,000,000 deaths

3. World War I 1914 to 1918 STALINGRAD: Regarded as one of the single largest and Location. Worldwide deadliest battles ever, it saw high losses on both sides. Between 15,000,000 and opponents would often submit ingrad, but Hitler ordered that 4 5 6 65,000,000 deaths to them without a battle. But they stand their ground and when Baghdad refused to sur- “Fight to the last man and bul- 4. Mongol Conquests render, the Mongols decided let.” Location. Asia, Eastern Eu- to make an example of them. Almost 91,000 Germans rope, Middle East The city fell after just 12 days. were taken prisoner. Only about Between 30,000,000 and The Mongols then proceeded 5,000 of them ever saw Germa- 60,000,000 deaths to destroy as much of the city ny again. and massacre as many locals as 7 9 5. An Lushan Rebellion possible. Casualties: 1,857,000 755 to 763 8 Location. China Casualties: 1,000,000 1. Siege of Leningrad Between 13,000,000 and (September 8, 1941 – 36,000,000 deaths 2. Battle of Stalingrad January 27, 1944) (August 23, 1942 – 6. Qing dynasty conquest February 2, 1943) The Siege of Leningrad be- of the Ming Dynasty gan on September 8, 1941, 10 12 1616 to 1662 The Battle of Stalingrad is of- when the last road to the city 11 Location. China ten regarded as one of the sin- was severed. Although the So- 25,000,000 deaths gle largest and bloodiest battles viets managed to open a nar- in the history of warfare. row land corridor to the city on 7. Conquests of Timur-e- It was marked by fierce close January 18, 1943, the siege was Lang quarters combat, snipers, house only lifted on January 27, 1944, 1369 to 1405 to house combat, and assaults 872 days after it began. Location. Middle East, In- on civilians by air raids. It was one of the longest and dia, Central Asia, Russia It was a costly defeat for the most destructive sieges in his- 13 14 15 Between 15,000,000 and Germans and some say that Hit- tory, and possibly the costliest 20,000,000 deaths ler lost the war the minute the in terms of casualties Russians were able to declare victory at Stalingrad. Casualties: 4,016,000 The Germans did have a chance to break out from Stal- 42 43 Gaming Matt O’ Brien dons his Kevlar vest and steel helmet and heads for war yet again.

RMA 3 is an open metres. to scuba dive. The last bit is world, military tacti- And when they talk about necessary because you can now cal shooter video game photo-realistic terrain they also make us of the underwater A environment. developed and published by mean it. There are day/night Bohemia Interactive. It was re- cycles, moon patterns, and back to World War II. You can also drive a host of it’s realistic. Take a bullet in the leased in September 2013. weather that can be anything Creator Content AMRA 3 has a massive mod- Many armies and units have vehicles from a bicycle to a ci- right spot and you’re dead. Get ARMA 3’s story line takes from sunny to overcast, howl- been created. There is one vilian car or truck, a APC to a hit in the leg and you can’t run. place in the mid-2030s during ing gale force wind, pouring ding community. These are people that create extra content modding group that specialise main battle tank. You can also Hell, sometimes you will have the fictional Operation Mag- rain to tropical thunderstorms. for the game, most of which in South African and African take to the air in helicopters, to crawl. nitude, a military operation The grass will even sway in the you can download for free. This content. So you will find all the prop driven planes, jets or large ARMA 3 is a great game and launched by NATO forces fight- breeze. content includes just about ev- uniforms, weapons and equip- transport planes such as the I recommend it. ing in Europe against “Eastern The maps feature differ- erything you can think of. ment of the old South African C-130. And you will also find armies” referred to as Canton- ent types of terrain from open First up are characters. You Defence Force (SADF) there, just about anything that goes on Protocol Strategic Alliance plains to forests, thick bush to can choose from a wide variety as well as the current SANDF. or under the water. Treaty (CSAT), led by a resur- mountain ranges. There are of characters, including facial And as I’ve already men- Creator content also features gent Iranian military with a co- farms, villages, towns and even features, hair, etc. Then you tioned, the amount of content a wide variety of maps. One alition of other Middle Eastern large cities with an airport. And need to clothe your character. is staggering. Take headgear person has actually done a map for instance. There are helmets, of the entire continent of Aus- and Asian nations. of course there are rivers and This can include pants, shirts, berets, peak caps, beanies, ban- tralia. It is mind blowing in size First of all, what is an open even open sea. jackets, gloves, headgear, boots, body armour, webbing, danas, and more. and scale. world game? Well this means AMRA 3 comes with a sin- When you select your charac- While it is fun to play online that it is not scripted. You don’t gle player campaign which is backpack, etc. Then you will need to arm ter you also have to choose your as part of a team, I find the most have to follow certain paths or great for getting to grips with loadout. As in real life, you can enjoyment playing single play- do things in a certain order. You the game. You can also go on- your character. And there are a vast array of weapons to choose only carry a certain amount of er against the AI (Artificial In- can go anywhere you want and line and play against other op- ammunition and equipment. telligence). Creators have cre- ponents. from. Assault rifles, sub-ma- do anything you want. chine gun, pistols, sniper rifles The weapons in ARMA 3 ated scenarios and campaigns ARMA 3 takes place on the One of the first things you handle almost the same as in that you can play. should do in the game is attend and more. Aegean islands of Altis and real life. For example if you’re You can also use the Eden Ed- Boot Camp. Here you will learn Now while the original game Stratis of Greece. The islands comes with a limited amount of using a sniper rifle you can’t itor that comes with the game to to use the controls and equip- just line someone up in your create your own scenarios. feature photo-realistic terrain ment. You will be shown how content, it is the creator content Publisher - Bohemia Interactive and water environments. Altis crosshairs and pull the trigger. ARMA 3 is an excellent to walk, run, crouch, go prone, that makes ARMA 3 unique. Genre - RTS is the largest official terrain in When it comes uniforms you You need to take into account game. You can play the game crawl, climb, etc. You will also distance to target, wind speed in 1st person mode (where you the ARMA series with ground learn how to fire and reload var- can find a staggering amount of Platform - PC content. While ARMA 3 may and allow for bullet drop. look through the eyes of your area covering approximately ious weapons, as well as how to Score - 8.5/10 be set a few years into the fu- Another great thing about the character) or 3rd person mode 270 square kilometres. The drive and fly various vehicles weapons and vehicles is that (where you view your character smaller island, Stratis, expands from civilian cars to tanks, he- ture, you will find uniforms and Price - R599 equipment that go all the way they sound realistic. An AK-47 from behind). over an area of 20 square kilo- licopters to jets, and even how will sound like an AK-47. And, unlike a lot of games, 44 45 Movie Review Book Review A Bridge Too Far Iron Fist From The Sea et’s face it. You’re not Commando and Söderlund was They relate how maritime irected by Richard At- ers under General Stanisław Cast going to find two men the Commander Task Group of doctrine was developed within tenborough, A Bridge Sosabowski. XXX Armoured more suitable to write the SA Navy. He is also an ac- South Africa’s wider Special DToo Far is a 1977 Brit- Corps are to push up the road Dirk Bogarde - Lieutenant-Gen- thisL book than Lt Col Dan- complished author and a histo- Forces capability and how joint ish-American war film based over the bridges captured by eral Frederick “Boy” Browning iel (Douw) Steyn, HC, SM, rian of note. operational approaches were on the 1974 book of the same the American paratroopers and MMM, PSN and Rear Admiral Iron Fist From The Sea gives configured with the South Afri- name by Cornelius Ryan. James Caan - Staff Sergeant Ed- reach Arnhem two days after die Dohun (JG) Arnè Söderlund, PS, SM, a detailed account of the clan- can Navy. The film tells the story of Op- the drop. eration Market Garden, a bold Michael Caine - Lieutenant- MMM, SANR. destine seaborne operations un- This saw the development of Speed is the vital factor. Arn- plan by the Allies during World Colonel J.O.E. Vandeleur After all, Steyn was the oper- dertaken by South Africa’s elite a range of swimmer, reconnais- War II to break through German hem’s is the crucial bridge, the Sean Connery - Major General ational commander of the Raid- 4 Reconnaissance Commando sance, diving and boat operator lines and seize several bridges last means of escape for the Roy Urquhart ing Group of 4 Reconnaissance (later 4 Reconnaissance Regi- training courses, along with the in the occupied Netherlands, German forces in the Nether- Edward Fox - Lt. Gen. Brian ment). design of specialist raiding craft including one at Arnhem, with lands and an excellent route to Horrocks These operations saw the and amphibious assault plat- the main objective of outflank- Germany for Allied forces. The Elliott Gould - Col. Robert Stout clandestine reconnaissance of forms, which were originated ing German defences in order road to it, however, is only a sin- Gene Hackman - Maj. Gen. harbours, the sinking of enemy to operate from the Navy’s ex- to end the war by Christmas of gle highway linking the various Stanisław Sosabowski shipping and the destruction of isting shipping and submarines. 1944. key bridges - trucks and tanks Anthony Hopkins - Lt. Col. John shore installations in Angola This book is a must read for The name for the film comes have to squeeze to the shoulder Frost and Mozambique. anyone interested in special from an unconfirmed comment to pass. The road is also elevat- Hardy Krüger - Generalmajor With unparalleled access to forces operations. attributed to British Lieutenant- ed, causing anything moving on der Waffen-SS Karl Ludwig previously secret material, the The great news is that an General Frederick Browning, the road to stand out. Ryan O’Neal - Brig. Gen. James authors, both of whom worked abridged edition of the book deputy commander of the First The British are told that re- Gavin to develop 4 Recce’s operating will be released soon and will Allied Airborne Army, who told sistance at Arhem will con- Laurence Olivier - Dr. Jan capabilities, trace the origins of be available in both English and Field Marshal Bernard Mont- sist entirely of “Hitler Youth Spaander the Regiment back to the 1970’s Afrikaans. gomery, the operation’s archi- or old men on bicycles”. They Robert Redford - Maj. Julian when the South African’s deter- We’ll bring you more details tect, before the operation: “I are wrong. The 9th and 10th Cook mined the need for a maritime as soon as they are available. think we may be going a bridge SS Panzer Divisions have been Maximilian Schell - General der force projection capability. too far”,in reference to the in- withdrawn from the front and Waffen-SS Wilhelm Bittrich tention of seizing the Arnhem placed near Arnhem for rest and bridgehead over the Rhine river. refitting. The plan sees 35,000 men The ground forces are held Who are we - Quiz Answers being flown 480 kilometres up when Son bridge is blown 1. Royal Marines (Great Brit- 8. Selous Scouts (Rhodesia) from air bases in England and up by the Germans just before ain) 9. Royal Air Force (Great Brit- 8 dropped behind enemy lines in the 101st Airborne secures it. 2. French Foreign Legion ain) the Netherlands. Two divisions Meant to capture and hold the (France) 10. Waffen SS (Nazi Germany) of U.S. paratroopers, the 82nd bridges at Arnhem for just two 3. Navy Seals (United States) 11. South African Infantry and 101st Airborne, are respon- days, the British paratroopers 4. Special Forces Brigade - (South Africa) sible for securing the road and hold out for nine days before Green Berets (United States) 12. GSG-9 (Germany) bridges as far as Nijmegen. A the outgunned troops are cap- 13. Royal Corps of Signals 5. Special Air Service (Great 12 British division, the 1st Air- tured or forced to withdraw. Britain) (Great Britain) borne, under Major-General A great movie with a remark- 6. Royal Ghurka Regiment 14. 101st Airborne Division Roy Urquhart, is to land near able cast. (Great Britain) (United States) Arnhem and hold both sides 7. United States Marine Corps 15. Parachute Regiment (Great of the bridge there, backed by Click on the poster to see the (United States) Britain) a brigade of Polish paratroop- movie trailer. 46 47 clean as possible and we briefed On the lighter side the troops. We told them that they had to be properly dressed in their browns and were not to walk around without shirts. Potty Humour They were to refrain from using foul language while the ladies In the bush there were no hot showers, flushing toilets or running water. When an- were visiting the camp. swering the call of nature troops often had to make use of very basic facilities, some- “Now I don’t want to hear times with amusing results. any bad #$@&%*!ing lan- guage while the Dankie Tan- nyone that served in tents. Our toilet was a joke. habit was our sergeant major. nies are here, the sergeant major the military will have “A deep pit was dug and over “He undid his pants and told us. “If I hear you using any memories of the toilet this was placed a 20 man toilet, plonked himself down on a toi- A bad #$@&%*!ing words I will facilities at bush bases. Most of or go-cart as it was known. The let. Then he took out his pipe, SPENDING A PENNY: A typical bush toilet set up. Thunder- #$@ you up. You know how the time they were very basic to area was then surrounded by stuck it between his teeth and lit boxes and lillies. The lilly was given its name during World War much I #$@&%*!ing hate bad say the least. This was especial- hessian sacking. a match. He lit his pipe and then II in the Western desert. The troops would refer to the urinal #$@&%*!ing language.” He ly true for troops that served in “A toilet like this obviously threw the match between his tubes as “lillies of the desert.” had a way with words our ser- the old South African Defence needed daily maintenance or legs into the pit. You can imag- for about two months it was infantry battalion. He recalls an geant major did. Force. else it would have quickly be- ine what happened next. starting to get a bit full. Our incident at a training base that “We also had a number of Can you remember the first come a health hazard. “Raw sewage gives off meth- medic, who was in charge of hy- left him in stitches. urinal tubes, or piss lilies, at time you saw a ‘lilly’ tube and “We had a medic whose name ane gas and this had mixed with giene for the base, decided that “We had a tented camp set up various points around the camp. wondered what the hell it was? was Tim something or other and the petrol fumes. The resulting the pit had to be filled in and a in the bush and we used it for Under no circumstances were Or the first time you had to use a he was responsible for the toilet. explosion was heard all over the new pit was to be dug. field training. We would train the troops allowed to use these ‘gokart’ or thunderbox. “Every morning at about six camp. Those who were close “Two troops were given the our troops at this camp before while the ladies were in camp. Who can forget the pleasure o’clock he would inspect the toi- enough to witness it said that the pleasant duty of filling in the they went to the border. “A group of about 20 ladies of sharing a cigarette with five let and pour this white powder flames shot about 20 feet into the old pit and digging the new one. “One morning my company arrived on an army bus that af- of your mates and enjoying a over the pit. I think it was quick air. When I think about it now I One of the troops assigned to the sergeant major called me and ternoon and were duly shown pleasant conversation - all while lime or something like that. It realise how serious it could have task was a guy who I’m sure was told me that a party from the around the camp. They were all taking your morning constitu- was supposed to kill the germs been. The sergeant major could not altogether there. He was not Southern Cross Fund would be dressed in their Sunday best and tional together. and also stop the smell. have been killed, but hell, it was the sharpest pencil in the box. visiting the camp that afternoon. they had a royal time walking “On the one occasion he ran funny. “He and his mate began shov- “Now the Southern Cross around and talking to the troops. Owen Bradshaw did his na- out of quick lime and he had to “Everyone rushed to the toi- elling sand over the sewage in Fund was a group of women “Everything was going fine tional service in 1977 and order more from our HQ that let to find the sergeant major the old pit and had only thrown who did a hell of a lot for nation- until just before they left. One spent four months of that time was situated at a place called still sitting on the bog, his pipe in about six inches of sand when al servicemen. They were a vol- of them spotted a piss lily and in Owamboland. He recalls an Ngongo. They told him that they still in his mouth, and blackened his bush hat blew off and landed untary organisation who raised asked what it was. amusing incident that happened would send some through the from the waist up. He had his in the pit. funds that were used to purchase “My sergeant major thought while he was there. following afternoon. backside burnt rather badly and “No problem to his moron, he sports and leisure equipment. for a moment and then came out “I can remember a number “That morning Tim decided spent about two weeks in hospi- jumped in to pick up his hat and “Every Christmas they would with a real beauty. of really amusing incidents that that because there was no quick tal. Our poor medic never lived immediately sank chest deep. ensure that every soldier who “You see lady,” he told her, happened when I did my nation- lime left, he would pour some that one down. The medic had to inject him was serving on the border would “those are breathing vents.” al service. But there is one par- petrol into the pit. He figured for just about every disease get a Christmas parcel. They “Breathing vents?” she said. ticular incident that I will never that this would kill the germs as Bruce was also at a base where known to man including tetanus were really a good-hearted group “Why are they there?” forget for the rest of my life. well as the smell. they used pit latrines. He tells us and hepatitis. of people and they were appreci- “Well you see,” lied the ser- “When we went to the border “Just before seven that morn- this rather dirty story. “Although he showered im- ated by most of us. We used to geant major through his teeth, my company was stationed at a ing our company sergeant ma- “We had a pit latrine at our mediately afterwards, I swear call them the ‘Dankie Tannies’ “we have an underground opera- place called Okalongo. It was a jor arrived at the toilet to take base with the normal 20 man that for the next few weeks you (Thank you aunties).” tions room here and it is manned only a few kilometres from the his morning constitutional - just toilet. We used it call it the thun- could always smell when this 24 hours a day by some of my Angolan border and was noth- as he did every morning at the der box. guy was around. The sergeant major and I men. Those tubes carry fresh air ing more than a collection of same time. He was a creature of “After we had used the thing Steve was a corporal with an made sure that the camp was as down to them.” 48 49 “The ladies were fascinated vice at 1 South African Infantry nal check on everything to make by this and immediately asked if Battalion. He went on Junior sure it was clean, including the Take a different look at a career... they could go down and visit the Leader’s Course and, according toilets. operations room. The sergeant to Frikkie, there were a number “As the corporal left the toi- major told them that unfortu- of people on the course that did lets, Paans slipped in. He had nately it was strictly off limits not want to be there. taken crunchy peanut butter to unauthorised personnel and They tried everything under and shaped an object that was a he would have to contact Pre- the sun to get themselves thrown perfect copy of something that toria to get special permission off the course. He tells this story looked as if it belonged in a toi- for them to enter the operations of one of his comrades who did let. He placed this object into room. not wish to be on the course. one of the toilet bowls and then “This seemed to satisfy them “I did my national service at hurried back to stand next to his and we breathed a collective sigh 1 SAI in Bloemfontein. I was bed. of relief. Then, to our horror, one selected for an officer’s train- “When the Major eventually of the ladies walked straight up ing course that was very strict walked into the toilets to inspect to the piss lily and stuck her face and many of the guys quickly them, he exploded with anger. into the tube. realised that they did not want to “What the devil is going on “Hello down there boys!” she be on this course. here corporal! Who is responsi- shouted. “We just want to let “Some of them asked for ble for cleaning the toilets? Call you know that we’re thinking a transfer, while others were him immediately!” screamed about you and we appreciate ev- thrown off the course. Some the Major. erything you are doing.” even developed ‘medical prob- “Rifleman Paans,” bellowed “She stood up with a strange lems’ to ensure their removal the corporal, “Come here!” look on her face. The stench of from the course. Paans walked into the toilet Every month hundreds of new magazines and newspapers are going online and they all urine must have been overpow- “Rifleman Paans decided that with an innocent look on his need content. They need someone to write articles and many of them will pay you for it. ering. She gasped for air a few he was insane. In this way they face and came to a neat halt in times and then let out a weak would surely throw him off the front of the Major. Hipe Magazine is offering a three-month online journalism course where we will show smile. I avoided looking at the course. The instructors, howev- “And what the hell do you you how to write the type of articles that people want to read and magazines want to sergeant major because if I had er, were not impressed and were think this is,” shouted the Major, buy. I would have lost control of my- very suspicious of Paans’ sud- pointing at the brown object in self. I was biting the inside of den slide into insanity. So the the toilet bowl. And best of all the course is 100% free. my lips to stop from laughing. instructors decided to keep an “Paans carefully approached “As soon as the ladies had eye on Paans just to make one the toilet, peering inside. Then boarded the bus and left, the ser- hundred percent sure that he was he put his hand into the bowl geant major and I collapsed. Un- actually crazy and not just trying and broke a piece of the offend- til that time I had never seen the to fake it. ing object off. He put it into his sergeant major laugh, or even “Three months later, Paans mouth and began to chew with a smile for that matter. But now was still with us, and still acting thoughtful expression. we were rolling around on the as mad as a hatter. He saw that “I think it’s a turd Major”, said floor with laughter. his plan was not working and so Paans with a frown. “It later became a standing came up with a last desperate ef- “Needless to say, Rifleman joke that every time one of the fort. Paans was deemed as medically Do you think you have what it takes to become a cyber troops would walk past a piss “Every Friday we had the unfit to complete the course and journalist? lily they would shout, “Hello Company Commander’s inspec- spent the rest of his national ser- It’s a perfect way to earn a little extra or even as a new down there boys!” tion and it was Paans’ responsi- vice classified as a ‘light duty’. career. bility to ensure that the toilets in While this story is not about our bungalow were clean. And that’s it for this months For more INFORMATION send us an e-mail at editor@ the bush per se, it is still damn “Minutes before the Major “On the lighter side” section. hipe.co.za with the heading ‘cyber journalist’ and we will funny. entered the bungalow for in- Trust you enjoyed it. send you all the details. Frikkie did his national ser- spection, our corporal did a fi- 50 00 E-mail [email protected]

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