Military Despatches Vol 47 May 2021

That wasn’t very clever 10 wars started for really stupid reasons Tanks for the info Some interesting trivia about tanks

Falklands Air War The aircraft used in the conflict

Paddy Mayne Ireland and British Lions rugby international and a founding member of the Special Air Service

For the military enthusiast Military Despatches CONTENTS YouTube Channel May 2021 Page 12

Click on any video below to view Army Speak 101 The SADF had their own language. A mixture of Eng- lish, Afrikaans, slang and tech- no-speak that few outside the military could hope to under- stand. Paratrooper Wings Most armies around the world Elite Military Quiz also had their own slang terms. Units Quiz Most military paratroopers In this video we look at some Most military forces have an are awarded their jump wings of them. elite unit or regiment or a spe- Special Forces - Danish Jaeger Corps after they have qualified. cial forces component. In this quiz we show you 15 In this quiz we show you 15 different wings and you tell us and you tell us who they are and 40 where they are from. where they are from. Features Job Maseko - WWII Warrior 6 How does a man not officially Ten stupid wars allowed to carry firearms go on Wars have often been started for to win the Military Medal for New videos really crazy reasons. We look at gallantry? Job Maseko was one each week ten of them. of those that achieved this feat. We will be uploading new 32 videos to our YouTube channel What’s in a name 42 each week. 16 Churchill, Stalin, Patton, and Rank Structure So remember to bookmark Tanks for the info Cromwell were all famous fig- This month we look at the ranks Military Firearms the channel and keep an eye out Who said that? During World War I Britain ures in military history. They of Royal Danish Army, Royal for new content. and France produced a total of were, however, also the names Danish Navy and the Royal Quiz Throughout history military 6,506 tanks. By comparison the of tanks. So just how many Danish Air Force. This quiz is all about military leaders and politicians have had Germans produced a total of 20 tanks were named after famous firearms. We show you 15 fire- some interesting things to say between 1916 and 1918. RYAN military or political figures? Quiz arms, you tell us what they are. about war. MURPHY looks at some inter- We give you 15 quotes, you esting trivia about tanks. 38 tell us made them. 37 Did you know? Nicknames Regine Lord brings us some We give you the nickname of a 22 facts and trivia about space ex- famous military figure and you ploration. Please remember to subscribe to our channel. 60 years of space exploration tell us who they are. Some of these nicknames were ones that From Gagarin’s first flight to the person did not approve of, Feel free to leave a comment, and share this video. the Race to Mars. By Regine but they stuck. Lord. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 78

Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

PHOTO EDITOR pril has been one of those First up I would like you to Regine Lord really weird months. actually take a look at the vid- CONTRIBUTORS Although it seems that eos, then share them with your May in military history A Raymond Fletcher, Regine these days we tend to have quite friends. Lastly I would love it if Lord, Ryan Murphy, Matt a few of those. you would subscribe to the chan- O’Brien, Matt Tennyson. Down in Cape Town we’ve nel. And I will know exactly who Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review had a fire that destroyed a lot of has subscribed to the channel. Military Despatches is pub- 48 66 77 our historic buildings. Then there Come on, it’s not a big ask. lished on-line every month. Mobility Conquers is talk of the Proteas no longer If enough people view the vid- Weapons of the Falklands War The articles used in Military M1 Abrams MBT The story of 61 Mech during being the official cricket team eo then it may even bring in a Despatches are copyrighted We look at the aircraft used by Rated as one of the best main the Bush War. History, facts, of South Africa. As I sit writing few cents to Military Despatches. and may not be used without the air forces of both Britain battle tanks in the world, the M1 figures and personal accounts. this on 20 April there are again And believe me when I say that I prior permission from the edi- and Argentina during the Falk- Abrams was forged in battle. A must read book. rumours that the Rainbow Cup could use it. tor. lands War. (rugby) is going to be cancelled. As most of you know, I’m Irish. Battlefield The views stated in this maga- Front Cover It’s enough to make me consider So you can understand why I am zine do not necessary reflect the Infamous Figures 72 Members of the Danish Jae- taking up serious drinking as an not a big fan of the royal fami- views of Military Despatches, Raid on Pebble Island ger Corps carry out an exercise occupation rather than just a hob- ly. Yet I must confess that I had the editor, the staff, or Hipe 62 Daring SAS raid on an Argen- on the the coast of Denmark. by. a certain admiration for Prince Media. Paddy Mayne As you can see from the above Philip. I always enjoyed his sense Capped for Ireland and the Brit- tinian airfield. The Jaeger Corps can trace the date is 20 April and I’ve basi- of humour and the fact that he its origins to all the way back to Hipe! ish Lions at rugby union, a law- Gaming cally finished the May edition of would often say what was on his P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 yer, amateur boxer and a found- 1785. the magazine. This doesn’t mean mind. He was, of course, also a South Africa. ing member of the Special Air 74 that I can now sit back and relax. veteran of World War II. Service, Paddy Mayne was a Age of Sail Far from it. Above all, Prince Philip was a email legend. Admiral Horatio O’Brien is all I’m currently busy working on character. And there are far too [email protected] at sea again. a YouTube channel for the mag- few of them around these days azine. Getting together material in our woke, politically correct Back Issues Movie Review for a video, then editing it, is a lot world. To view any back issues of of work. But hopefully they will I trust that you will all have a Military Despatches, go to 76 be something that people will good month. Stay safe. www.militarydespatches.co.za Das Boot watch. or click here. Excellent movie about the Once the channel is up and run- Until next time. captain and crew of a German ning there are a few things that I U-Boat during World War II. would like you, the reader, to do for me. Matt 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten and U.S. soldiers exchanged insults, each side attempting to 10 Wars started for stupid goad the other into firing the first shot, but discipline held on reasons both sides, and thus no shots Wars have often been started for really crazy reasons. We look at ten of them. were fired. When news about the crisis ccording to many peo- Mexican people. One of those When the blockade failed to reached Washington and Lon- ple, all wars are start- properties, near Mexico City, produce the desired results the don, officials from both nations Aed for stupid reasons. belonged to a French pastry French began to bomb Mexico. were shocked and took action to And rest assured, those that start chef known only as Monsieur Mexico declared war on calm the potentially explosive wars are usually not the people Remontel. France and ordered that all able international incident. that fight in them. Not only had his bakery been men be conscripted. Yet often there are valid rea- ransacked, but they had also had The French were far more or- War of the Golden Stool sons for a war. It is was is known the cheek to eat all his cakes and ganised and within days they YOU’RE SITTING IN MY SPOT: The Golden Stool of the Ashan- The Ashanti Kingdom is now as a ‘Just War’. pastries. Naturally he was none had captured the entire Mexican ti that led to a war. part of modern-day Ghana. Yet A war is only just if it is fought too happy about it. navy. Mexico rallied and began it was once coveted by the Brit- for a reason that is justified, and He approached the Mexi- to drive the French troops from co-existed peacefully. There The British countered by ish Empire. that carries sufficient moral can government and demanded Mexican soil, back to their ships was an unofficial border that sending three warships with a In 1896 King Prempeh, lead- weight. The country that wish- compensation. They, however, and the fight went on. separated the two sides. total of 84 cannons as well as er of the Ashanti, refused to be- es to use military force must had bigger problems to worry The war lasted four months Then one day in 1859 a pig 2,140 troops to take up a posi- come part of the British Protec- demonstrate that there is a just about than his buns and sent him until Britain stepped in and bro- was to change all of that. The tion just off the island. torate. Not used to take ‘no’ for cause to do so. packing. kered a truce. Mexico finally pig wandered over from the After a stand-off that lasted a an answer, the British forcibly Some wars, however, have The chef, however, was not agreed to pay compensation to British side of the island and month the governor of the Col- ‘protected’ his island. been started for really stupid about to concede defeat. He de- the chef and the French forces helped himself to some potatoes ony of Vancouver Island, James The Ashanti people did not reasons. Wars that, with a bit cided that as he was a French withdrew. planted by a neighbouring farm- Douglas, ordered the British to give up easily however, and of common sense, could easily citizen he would appeal directly The French suffered casualties er on the American side. land their troops on San Juan is- fought bitterly against their in- been avoided. Here are ten ex- to the King of France for help. of 64 killed and wounded, while The American farmer shot the land and engage the Americans vaders. amples. As it happened, the French the Mexicans had 224 killed and pig and probably had visions of in battle. This would have basi- In 1900 the Ashanti staged an government was not all that wounded. some roast pork. cally been a declaration of war. uprising. The British suppressed The Pastry Wars pleased with Mexico over some The British farmer, who was The Americans had 461 troops the violence and captured the This war, if you pardon the trivial matter and saw this as a The Pig and Potato War an employee of the powerful and 14 cannon and would prob- city of Kumasi. Ashanti’s tradi- pun, really takes the cake. perfect opportunity to stir the Among other things the Ore- Hudson Bay company, was out- ably not have lasted long against tional king, the Asantehene, and In 1821 Spain finally granted pot. gon Treaty of 1846 marked the raged and demanded justice. the British. his counsellors were deported. independence to Mexico. As is The demanded that the Mex- boundary of America along the The American farmer offered Thankfully common sense The Golden Stool had long usually the case this was fol- ican government pay heft com- 49th parallel. him $10 but the British farmer prevailed. Admiral Robert symbolized governing power lowed by a certain amount of pensation to the French bak- This caused something of a was not satisfied. He reported Baynes, in command of the for the Ashanti people. It was civil unrest. er. They in essence told the problem for the islands around the ‘murder’ to the British au- British forces, refused to obey supposed to have descended In the years that followed there French to “ve a rellenar” (Go Vancouver. And none more so thorities and they in turn threat- orders, saying he would not “in- from the sky to land at the feet was often fighting between gov- get stuffed). It was exactly what than the island of San Juan. ened to arrest the American volve two great nations in a war of the first King of Ashanti, and ernment forces and rebels. And, France wanted to hear. It lay at the mouth of the chan- farmer. over a squabble about a pig”. was believed to hold the soul of as is common in civil unrest, it In 1838 the French navy be- nel and was therefore of strategic Then things really got weird. Local commanding officers the Ashanti nation. was the neutral people that were gan to blockade ports all along importance to both America and The Americans set up a peti- on both sides had been given Made from solid gold, the caught in the middle. the Gulf of Mexico. The United Britain. Obviously both coun- tion demanding the protection essentially the same orders: de- stool was only 45 centimetres The civil unrest led to nu- States, who had a bone or two of tries laid claim to the island. of the US Military and a compa- fend yourselves, but absolutely high and 60 centimetres long, merous deaths and resulted in their own to pick with the Mexi- For a while the British and ny of the 9th Infantry Battalion do not fire the first shot. and was considered so sacred, damage to the properties of the cans, lent a hand. American settlers on the island was sent to the island. For several days, the British that no one was allowed to sit on 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten it. It was an artefact of immense thing that has led to more than na and displayed it next to their the leader of the Bakr. cultural significance. one war - religion. own well. A small matter that should Then in 1900, the British The Emperor of the Holy Ro- This was the final straw for have been quickly sorted out. Governor of the Gold Coast, man Empire claimed that he the Bolognans and they imme- But pride and honour were at Sir Frederick Hodgson, decided was the leader of the Catholic diately declared war on Mode- stake and things got out of hand. that he wanted to sit on the stool. Church. The Pope, however, na. Both the Pope and the Em- The Taghleb leader was killed He travelled to Kumasi with claimed that it was actually he peror were quick to jump in. in retaliation and the two tribes a small British force where he who led the Church. The Pope sent 30,000 soldiers were instantly at war. The Bakr was accorded traditional hon- The struggle about who was and 2,000 knights to support Bo- leader realised that things were ours upon entering the city with and who was not the leader of logna. In turn the Emperor sent perhaps getting a bit out of hand. children singing “God Save the the Catholics had been going on 5,000 soldiers and 2,000 mount- He sent his son to negotiate a Queen” to Lady Hodgson. How- for almost 200 years, and out- ed knights to Modena. truce. The Taghelb promptly ever the good will shown by the breaks of violence between the The war lasted for six months killed him. A sure sign that they Ashanti did not last long. two sides often started over triv- and claimed more than 2,000 were not interested in any truce. Hodgson made a speech to the ial matters. lives before Modena finally The Bakr leader swore venge- assembled Ashanti leaders. He The clash of 1325 was par- won. The bucket was displayed ance and, neither side trusting informed them that King Prem- ticularly notable because it all in the Cathedral at Modena, as a the other, the fighting continued peh I was in exile and would not began over a wooden bucket. symbol of their victory. WHO’S THE BOSS: These days the Pope is recognised as the for 40 years. Talk about some- return to Ashanti. His power and The neighbouring towns of Skirmishes would continue to head of the Catholic Church. This, however, was not always the one getting the hump. authority would be taken over by Modena and Bologna, held op- break out for another 200 years. case. the Representative of the Queen posing views in the Emperor vs The Kurukshetra War of Britain, namely himself. Pope debate. The Football War beaten up. Similar incidents had fire which took full effect on 20 This war goes back a few If this wasn’t enough of a slap The ruler of Modena encour- Many people are very passion- occurred in El Salvador against July. Salvadoran troops were years. Rough estimates give the in the face, he went on to say aged attacks on Bologna and ate about sport. In South Amer- the Honduran communities. It withdrawn in early August. date as being around 3000 BC. that the Queen is entitled to the this led him to being declared ica one of the biggest sports is was obvious that both sets of It is estimated that each side Although we don’t know ex- stool and she must receive it. an enemy of the church by the soccer. Local rivalries are often supporters bore a grudge. had around 2,000 dead and in- actly when it happened, we do The Ashanti people were out- Pope. intense. A play off match was due to jured and some 300,000 of the know exactly what happened. raged, and a fierce war broke There were several border When the World Cup is held take place in neutral Mexico and Salvadorans who had been liv- This was because it was record- out, during which 2,000 Ashanti skirmishes, where each side every four years the rivalry be- tensions were running high. At ing in Honduras had been dis- ed in one of the most famous people and 1,000 British troops would raid an area, slaughter tween countries can become the final whistle the scores were placed in the unrest following Hindu epic poems. died. the inhabitants, burn fields and heated. None more so than in tied and the match went into ex- the match. The Pandavas and the Kaura- The war raged for six months crops and retreat back to their 1969 when Honduras and El tra time which El Salvador won vas were not only neighbours, until Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen own side. Salvador were both trying to 3-2. The Basus War they were also fierce rivals. Mother and Gate Keeper of the Then, in one attack, Modenese qualify for the 1970 World Cup That should have been that. Let’s face it, some neighbours The trouble began over a game Golden Stool, was captured. soldiers were heading straight to be held in Mexico. Alas it was not. El Salvador, just don’t get on. Take the tribes of dice between the sons of the Hodgson was not granted his for the centre of Bologna. Fear- The first leg was played in angry that Honduras “has not of Taghleb and Bakr, for exam- reigning tribe leaders, a recipe wish to sit upon the Golden ing that they would be over-run, Honduras and the home side taken any effective measures ple. They fought The Basus War for disaster at the best of times. Stool. The Ashanti had spirited the people of Bologna took all of went on to win 1-0. The second to punish these crimes which for 40 years. It was no ordinary game of it away and hidden it from the their valuables and placed them leg was held in El Salvador and constitute genocide” severed And what was the cause of dice as there was a lot riding on British. in a large wooden bucket next to once again it was the home side diplomatic ties and on 14 July this drawn-out war? Was it over the outcome. Whoever won the It was only many years later the well. They intended to lower that won 3-0. 1969 attacked several Honduran oil, gold, territory? Actually it game would get to rule the other before it was finally restored to it into the well where it would The Hondurans didn’t take de- targets via their Air Force. And, was over a camel. tribes kingdom for 13 years. its ceremonial home. be hidden from the invaders. feat well and the large Salvado- for good measure, they invaded It began when the leader of The problem was that the The Modenese soldiers ar- rian communities in Honduras Honduras. the Tagleb tribe killed a camel Kauravas boy was using loaded The War of the Bucket rived before the bucket could be came under attack with shops After four days of fighting which strayed onto its land. Un- dice. According to the poem the In 1325 Italy was a divided hidden and they took the bucket being ransacked and people the Organization of American fortunately it was no ordinary Pandavas honoured the dodgy country. This was due to some- and its contents back to Mode- dragged from their homes and States (OAS) negotiated a cease- camel. It belonged to the wife of bet and went into exile for the 8 9 Top Ten Top Ten next 13 years. some are almost certainly exag- ed Bulgaria. The McCoy woman, dis- When they returned 13 years gerated, it is generally accepted The Greek army were not re- traught at losing her lover, rode later the Kauravas refused to that some sort of war took place strained. They looted and pil- through the night to warn the hand back the territory to them, between the two tribes, and laged their way across Bulgaria, Hatfields, who rescued him denying all knowledge of any quite possibly as a result of the burning villages in their path. from the McCoys. bet and the agreed terms. crooked game. Bulgaria pushed back. Despite the McCoy woman’s The Pandavas had no choice Greece decided to call on its courage in rescuing her lover, but to declare war on their rivals. War of the Stray Dog allies, and invited Serbia to join the lover turned out to be not And, according to the poem, Greece and Bulgaria have them in defending the honor of worth the effort, and he aban- what a war it was. always had a historically diffi- the dog. Bulgaria went to the doned her when she became It lasted only 18 days at the cult relationship, and in the ear- League of Nations for protec- pregnant. Then he took up with end of which there was almost ly 1920s tensions were at their tion. her cousin, also a McCoy. And no one left. height. Gangs of men from both The war escalated quickly, and so, it went on. The two sides drew up de- countries would cross the border at least 50 people were killed as WHO’S A GOOD BOY: Can you believe that a stray dog was A Hatfield was stabbed 26 tailed Rules of Engagement to to steal property and livestock a result. able to cause a war between two countries. times, his McCoy assailants ensure fair play, which includ- from their neighbours, and these The League of Nations judged were tied to a tree and shot. ed, no fighting after dark, only raids would often end in bloody Greece to be the aggressor and Another McCoy killed another one-on-one fighting allowed, violence. demanded that they pay com- However, the Peruvians had did not like each other. The fam- Hatfield. Another Hatfield re- and both fighters having equal Sometimes it is difficult to pensation. been beaten by the Spanish be- ilies had been on opposite sides turned the favour. weaponry. identify a single inciting inci- The Greek dictator was hu- fore. They may have lost the during the war and it is proba- Then, on New Year’s Eve There was also some hogwash dent in a conflict, but in October miliated and soon found himself gold, but they were determined bly fair to say that both families 1888, several members of the about not killing women, the 1925, there could be no doubt. overthrown. The entire incident to keep the dung. They knew all were as bad as each other. The Hatfield clan surrounded the wounded, or animals, but it was The ensuing war was caused by served to demonstrate how a about its miraculous growing real trouble, however, began McCoys’ cabin and opened fire all pretty irrelevant because nei- a stray dog. small incident can have unin- properties. with the murder of a McCoy by, on the family while they slept. ther side stuck to the code. At a border crossing, a play- tended and far reaching conse- Spain decided to occupy the it was suspected, a Hatfield. They set the cabin on fire, kill- To make matters worse, the ful dog, oblivious of nationali- quences. Chinca Islands, where the roads The feud simmered on, and a ing 2 of the children, and they Kauravas insulted Lord Krishna ty, managed to get off his leash The moral of the story: Keep were, literally, paved with gua- McCoy claimed that a Hatfield beat a woman almost to death. who had condescended to try went for a run around. His own- your bloody dog on a leash. no, until they could come to an had stolen his pig. The McCoy Some McCoys escaped into and mediate the dispute. An- er, a Greek soldier, took a few agreement. Peru called in its claimed to be able to identify nearby woods, only to succumb noying a deity is always good steps into Bulgarian territory to A rather crappy war navy, and its neighbour, Chile, the pig by the markings on his to frostbite. By this time, no for pushing up the death toll. catch his dog, whereupon a Bul- When thinking about precious joined in the fight, which last- ear. The Hatfields claimed that one knew the score. A posse, According to the poem there garian sentry shot him. commodities you would be for- ed two years, after which Peru the mark was, in fact, a Hatfield which included some of the few were more than two million Both sides immediately given for thinking about things managed to take back control of mark. A judge ruled in favor of remaining McCoys, set out to casualties during the 18 days of opened fire, before a Greek such as gold, diamonds, oil, ura- the Poop Islands. the Hatfields. track down the Hatfields. They war. This is possibly a bit over officer waving a white flag, nium and other precious metals. Then a witness who had tes- shot and killed one Hatfield and inflated, but still. And it wasn’t crossed into no-mans land to Bird poop would normally be Family feud tified at the pig trial was found several supporters before cor- just soldiers that died. There appeal for calm. The Bulgarians the furtherest thing from your War doesn’t always have to be murdered. Two McCoys were nering the rest of them at Grape- were, apparently, also 390,000 shot him too. mind. But think again. between two countries. Some- tried, but acquitted, of murder vine Creek. elephants and over a million The skirmish was the first test In 1864, Spain attacked Peru times two families can go to war. on the grounds of self-defence. But the Hatfields were pre- horses killed. of strength for the new Greek (not for the first time), in order The Hatfields and the McCoys Then one of the McCoy wom- pared. A vicious battle ensued, At the end of the day the Pan- military dictator, and he re- to get their hands on Peruvian were two families who lived en went to live with a Hatfield, and at its conclusion, the few davas, with the help of Lord Kr- sponded decisively. He gave bird poop. along the border between West but the woman soon returned to Hatfields and McCoys who had ishna, technically won, though Bulgaria 48 hours to apologize, This particular bird poop, or Virginia and Kentucky around her own family. When the two survived the battle were arrest- by that time it must have all arrest the snipers and compen- guano as it was also called, was the time of the civil war. To say lovers tried to reconcile in se- ed. Some were sentenced to life looked a bit moot. sate the families of the victims. discovered to be excellent ferti- that they didn’t like each other cret, the Hatfield boy was arrest- in prison, and one was hanged. Although not all the details Then, without waiting the 48 lizer, and 30 times more potent would be an understatement. ed on the say-so of the McCoys of the war can be verified, and hours, he went ahead and invad- than cow manure. The Hatfields and McCoys on a bootlegging charge. 10 11 threat of global terrorism. As ously died during training acci- ing: such, the Jaegers increased their dents. Pre-course 1 Special Forces - Denmark proficiency in counter-terrorism This last five days and intro- Part twenty-six of a series that looks at Special Forces around the world. This month we skills, while still maintaining Roles and tasks duces the candidate to the sub- feature the Danish Jaeger Corps. their excellence at reconnais- The Jaeger Corps is required to jects covered in the patrol course, sance operations. perform the following roles and and identifies the areas in which he Jaeger Corps also to bring the Jaeger Corps and the ed in various forms until it was In 2002, the Jaegers were de- tasks: the candidate must improve (ori- known as the Huntsmen Frogman Corps under one com- remade in its current form in ployed to Afghanistan as part of • Special Operations enteering, swimming, etc.). Corps (Danish: Jæger- mand. 1962 when Major P.B. Larsen the Danish contribution (Task • Unconventional Warfare Pre-course 2 T Group Ferret) to Task Force • Covert Ops More training and evaluation korpset) is an elite special oper- and First Lieutenant Jørgen Lyng ations force of the Danish De- History became the first two to complete K-Bar, along with the Frogman • Combat Search And Rescue in the above covered subjects fence part of Special Operations The Jaeger Corps traces its ori- the training. Corps. During these operations, • Direct Action continues for another two days. Command, formerly of the Royal gins to 1785 when the corps was Throughout the Cold War, the the Jaegers took part in recon- • Counter-terrorism Pre-course 3 Danish Army, based at Aalborg first formed as the “Jaeger Corps Jaegers’ primary tasking was that naissance, observations, captur- • Hostage Rescue Another two days of training Air Base. of Zealand”. of a long-range reconnaissance ing of high-value targets, and di- • Humanitarian missions and evaluation in the above cov- The Special Operations Com- Facing emerging threats from unit, with wide renown for their rect-action raids on Taliban and • Arctic Warfare ered subjects with tougher re- mand (Danish: Specialopera- Sweden, Prussia, and Great Brit- skills in parachute operations. al-Qaeda positions. • High-value targets quirements. tionskommandoen; SOKOM) is ain, Denmark created a light In the post-Cold War era, the As part of Task Force K-Bar, • Intelligence gathering Patrol Course a command of Danish Defence infantry force from hunters Jaegers deployed for the first the Jaeger Corps was awarded • Close protection This lasts for eight weeks and part of the Defence Command. and woodsmen. time in 1995 to Sarajevo with a the Presidential Unit Citation on • Special reconnaissance covers basic medical, demoli- SOKOM was established in 2014 The corps exist- six-man counter-sniper team. 7 December 2004 for its effort • Quick Reaction Force tion, and marksmanship using Following the advent of the as part of the joint special oper- basic direct-action and special post-9/11 Global War on ations task force in Afghanistan. Selection and training Terror, the Jaegers The first Jaeger to be killed in The selection course to become were modernized combat was in 2013 when a a Jaeger is very demanding, both to better meet Jaeger was killed by an ex- mentally and physically. To be the developing plosion in Afghanistan. accepted into the Corps, a candi- Four Jaegers had previ- date must complete the follow-

00 00 reconnaissance training events to oped in 1992 by Peter Hedegaard Famous jaegers assess candidates. in collaboration with two of the Weapons used by the Jaegerkorps Jørgen Lyng This course must be completed Corps’s own close-combat in- Jørgen Lyng is a retired Dan- at a satisfactory level to continue structors. ish general and a former Chief of to the aspirant course. Defence of Denmark. Selection Course International Joint Training As a young soldier Lyng re- The selection course lasts Like most western Special Op- ceived training from SAS, this eight weeks. Candidates receive erations Forces, the Jaegers reg- training among other, enabled training in advanced breaching, ularly take part in joint training him to help establish and com- close-quarters battle, demolition, operations with other NATO and H&K USP plete training for Jægerkorpset. and sniping. Coalition SOFs. He was made Chief of Defence If passed the candidate is These exercises include re- in 1989, only a week before the awarded his or her “bugle” for connaissance patrols throughout fall of the Berlin wall. the beret. Europe, arctic survival training, In 1990, he ordered HDMS Basic parachuting course helicopter insertion techniques, Olfert Fischer to the Persian This takes place over two week parachute insertion techniques, Gulf, in order to participate in the and the candidate must complete hostage rescue training, Close Jaegerkorps First Gulf War, thereby starting the required number of static-line Air Support training, medical Coat of Arms Denmark’s more active foreign parachute jumps. training, and other SOF-specific H&K MP5 policy. Combat Swimming Course skills. This led to the creation of the This lasts for two weeks and The Jaegers regularly practice may call himself by this name. Danish International Brigade candidates must pass all the re- with the following units. The unit’s insignia features a in 1993 and participation in the quirements. • US Army Special Forces hunting horn from their origin as NATO led in Bosnia and Herze- Approximately 10% of candi- • US Navy SEALs hunters and woodsmen. govina, where the Operation Bøl- dates successfully complete the • US Army Delta Force The Jaeger Corps is composed lebank became the first combat program and receive the burgun- • 22nd Special Air Service of around 150 highly trained sol- operation conducted by Danish dy beret to become a full member Regiment (UK) diers with special expertise in Armed Forces since World War of the Jaeger Corps. • Forsvarets Spesialkommando counter-terrorism, demolitions, M/95 II. The successful Jaeger candi- (Norway) parachuting, and combat swim- B. S. Christiansen dates report to the unit and re- • SASR (Australia) ming, HAHO and HALO par- Bjarne Slot Christiansen ceive both team and individual • Särskilda operationsgruppen achuting, infiltration, sabotage, (mostly known as B. S. Chris- training during their first (proba- (Sweden) reconnaissance and more. tiansen) (born September 27, tionary) year. • Kommando Spezialkräfte The corps regularly trains 1952) is a former professional During this time they will re- (Germany) with similar units from different soldier from the Danish special ceive High Altitude Parachute • Army Ranger Battalion (Swe- countries, such as the US Navy force army unit Jægerkorpset, Operations (HAPO) training den) SEALs, US Army DELTA, Brit- who is currently working with in High Altitude Low Opening • Netherlands Special Oper- ish SAS and the Danish naval coaching and team building. His (HALO) and High Altitude High ations Command (Nether- special forces group, the Frog- M85 many television appearances and Opening (HAHO), environmen- lands) man Corps. The corps is based on a popular book called Et liv på tal training (desert and winter), • Special Operations Regiment the structure and modus operandi kanten (A Life on the Edge) have advanced infiltration training (Belgium) of the British SAS. made him a celebrity in his home (mountain, nontactical vehicle, Their slogan, which is Latin, country. ski and rotary-wing), attain Joint Insignia and status Plus esse, quam simultatur trans- B.S. Christiansen is one of the Terminal Attack Controller The Jaeger Corps wear a ma- lates to Hellere at være, end at few Danes who have complet- (JTAC) certification, and gain ad- roon beret with a brass emblem synes (“Rather to be, than to be ed the American Ranger course, ditional communications skills. depicting a hunter’s bugle on a seen”) in Danish, meaning that he completed with his buddy New Jaeger Corps members are black felt liner. After one year of the soldier’s capabilities do not MSG-90 Carsten Mørch who was “Dis- also taught a hand-to-hand com- satisfactory service and training have to be widely recognized or tinguished Honour Graduate” bat system called MTM (man-to- in corps the wearer is issued the boasted - they are only more ef- Ranger School class ‘78. man) combat, which was devel- shoulder patch “JÆGER” and fective if unknown. 00 00 tanks was left with only six • The United States, with of communication, surveil- that were still in operational 9,000 tanks, is second to lance and electronic coun- Tanks for the info condition. Russia in the biggest num- ter-measures. RYAN MURPHY looks at some interesting trivia about tanks. • During World War I Britain ber of tanks. • Russia’s T-90 tanks is and France produced a total • The Battle of the Golan equipped with the largest must confess to being a bit est to readers of Military Des- two Hotchkiss 6 pdr QF of 6,506 tanks. By compar- Height between Israel and tank cannon in the world, of a philomath. And, just in patches. main guns and three 303 ison the Germans produced Syria in 1973 is considered a 2A46M 125 mm smooth- I case you don’t know what • Tanks first saw action in inch Hotchkiss machine a total of 20 between 1916 one of the greatest tank bat- bore gun. The Russian T-14 that is, it means someone who September 1916 at the Bat- guns. It had a top speed of 6 and 1918. tles in terms of military suc- Armata also has a 2A46M greatly enjoys learning and tle of the Somme during kilometres per hour. • The smallest tank ever pro- cess. Syria launched an as- 125 mm smoothbore gun but studying. World War I. Seen by the • By comparison a modern duced was the French Re- sault to take back the Golan could be upgraded to a 152 My good mate Matt Tennyson British as a way of breaking American Abrams M1A2 nault UE Chenillette. It was Heights with 28,000 troops, mm cannon in the future. (editor of Military Despatches) the deadlock of trench war- tank weight 68.7 tonnes, is only 2.7 metres long and 1.2 800 tanks, and 600 artillery • The Battle of 73 Easting on the other hand is more of a fare, most of the tanks broke armed with a 120 mm can- metres high. pieces. Facing them were during the First Gulf War in polymath. This is someone who down and their effect on the non, and has a top speed of • The largest tank battle in 3,000 Israeli troops with 180 1991 was considered the last possesses great and detailed enemy was more psycholog- 66.8 kilometres per hour. history was the Battle of tanks and 60 artillery pieces. great tank battle of the 20th knowledge and facts from a va- ical than physical. • During World War I tanks Kursk between the Ger- The Syrians were brought to Century. It pitted Iraq’s elite riety of disciplines. While he’s • Tanks got their name from were categorised by gen- mans and the Russians from a dead standstill and the as- Republican Guard against pretty clued up about military the British. They were orig- der, depending on their ar- 5 July 1943 to 23 August sault failed badly. the American 1st, 2nd, and stuff, it’s his knowledge of mu- inally called ‘Land Bat- mament. A male tank was 1943. An estimated 23,000 • Russia’s T-54 and T-55 3rd Armoured Divisions. sic that scares me. tleships’. When they were armed with both cannon and tanks and four million men tanks are the most wide- • The Battle of 73 Easting Not only will he tell you the crated and shipped across machine guns while a fe- took part in the battle. While ly produced tanks in the turned out to be completely name of a song but also which to France, the crates were male tank had only machine the result was a victory for world. Making their debut one-sided. The Iraq’s suf- singer or band performed it, marked as ‘Water tanks’ to guns. the Russians, they lost 800 in 1947, over 100,000 have fered 1,000 troops killed what album it was from, what confuse any German spies. • Despite their terrifying pres- tanks compared to Germany been built. The T-55 was or wounded, 1,300 troops year it was released, who wrote The name tank stuck and ence on a battlefield early that lost 350 tanks. still being used in combat taken prisoner, 160 tanks and produced the song, where was adopted. tanks were not really that • The world’s most expensive during the Yemeni Civil destroyed, 180 APC’s de- it was recorded, and probably • The first tank to roll off the effective. By the end of the tank is the French Army’s War (2015–present) and by stroyed, 12 artillery pieces what colour the drummer’s toe- production line was nick- forth day of the Battle of AMX-56 Leclerc with an Azerbaijani Land Forces in destroyed, and 80 wheeled nails were painted. named ‘Little Willie’. It was Amiens in 1918 the Brit- estimated cost of $12.5 mil- the 2020 Nagorno-Karab- support vehicles destroyed. Recently I was reading up a Mark I and weighed 26 ish Tank Corps, which had lion. akh conflict. The Americans, on the other about the Battle of Kursk dur- tonnes. It was armed with consisted of more than 500 • With more than 22,000 • The most technologically hand, lost six men killed in ing World War II - the largest tanks, Russia commands the advanced tank in the world action, 19 wounded, and one tank battle ever to have taken largest battle tank force in is considered to be the US Bradley IFV destroyed. place. It sparked an interest in the world. M1A2 Abrams. It has a host • The stunning outcome of tanks and I decided to see how much info I could dig up. Here are some facts and trivia that I thought may be of inter-

16 17 the Battle of 73 Easting led spot. However the best pro- controller. back of the head. Because to Russian designers re- tected tank in the world is • During the Korean War, US of heavy censorship, most thinking several elements indisputably Britain’s Chal- soldier Eduardo C. Gomez people living in China have of the T-72 tank’s design, as lenger 2 with its state-of- took out an enemy tank sin- never seen the image. the T-72 had been the tank the-art composite Chobham gle handedly by crawling • A tank designed by the Swiss most in use with Iraqi forc- armour, which is still a clas- across a rice field, climbing military once suffered from es. Russian military leader- sified secret. on to the tank and prying a bug where turning on the ship concluded after the bat- • During the invasion of Iraq open the hatch before drop- heater could cause the main tle that the only way to stop a British Challenger 2 was ping a grenade inside. He gun to fire. That should get and American armoured ad- struck by 14 RPG-7 rockets was later awarded the Med- things warmed up. vance would be the use of and one anti-tank missile. al of Honour. Remembering • The longest tank kill in his- tactical nuclear weapons. The crew survived and the to lock the hatch has now tory occurred when a Brit- • Russia’s next generation tank was back in operation become an important part of ish Challenger 2 destroyed T-14 Armata is probably the six hours later. tank crew training. TANK MAN: A protester blocks the path of tanks leaving Tian- an Iraqi T-62 at a range of most advanced battle tank in • Another Challenger 2 was • During the Battle of Stal- anmen Square on 5 June 1989. The unidentified man was given 5,100 metres. the world. Unfortunately its later hit by 70 RPG rockets ingrad factories in the war the nickname ‘Tank Man’. • In 2006 Hungarian protest- ballooning costs have forced and also survived The only torn city continued to pro- ers hot wired a 50 year old Russia to scrap plans to Challenger 2 ever destroyed duce tanks around the clock. • An Australian Army Mk 3 casualty estimates. Initial Soviet T-34 tank that was build more than 100 of them in combat was in 2003 in a The tanks were unpainted Centurion Type K, Army estimates ranged from the part of an outdoor memorial and they are now looking at friendly fire incident. and lacked gun sights. They Registration Number official figure of a few hun- and drove it against riot po- upgrading all of their T-72, • No Challenger 2 has ever were driven straight from 169041, was involved in a dred to several thousand. lice. T-80 and T-90 tanks instead. been destroyed as a result of the factory floor into the bat- small nuclear test at Emu • The most famous image of • In the 1980s the Sovi- • Poland is experimenting enemy fire. tle. Field in Australia in 1953. It the 1989 Tiananmen Square ets developed a laser tank with what it calls “the tank • The fastest tank in the world • During World War II a single was nicknamed ‘The Atom- Protests was that of a single equipped with artificial ruby of the future.” Called the is the British FV101 Scorpi- Russian KV-1 tank stalled ic Tank’ after surviving a 9.1 man stopping a column of lasers. The 1K17 Szhatie PL-01 the tank is coated on which has a top speed of the advance of an entire Ger- kiloton nuclear explosion tanks by standing in front of was developed by the Sovi- with a chameleon type skin 82 kilometres per hour. man division for a full day. from 460 metres away. The the lead tank and blocking et Union in order to disable that enables it to mimic the • Syrian rebels have de- Facing off against an infan- tank was driven away after its path. The column of tanks the optical-electronic equip- infrared signature of its sur- veloped their own home- try assault, several German the test and served for an- was leaving Tiananmen ment of enemy missiles, roundings, making it much made tank, the Sham II. It’s tanks and German anti-tank other 23 years. Square on June 5, 1989, the ground and aerial vehicles. harder to detect with infra- equipped with several cen- guns, grenades thrown into • In 1989 as part of a crack- day after the Chinese mili- With the collapse of the So- red sensors. timetres of steel and iron the hatches eventually killed down against pro-democra- tary had suppressed the Ti- viet Union, the development • The US M1A2 Abrams armour and a turret-mount- the crew inside. After the cy protests, the Chinese gov- ananmen Square protests. As of the Szhatie was aban- is considered the best all- ed machine gun. Five video battle the Russian tank crew ernment used tanks against the lead tank manoeuvred to doned, as the development around tank in the world cameras surround the tank were buried with full mil- protesting students in in Ti- pass by the man, he repeat- and manufacturing of the with Russia’s T-14 Arma- and the machine gun is oper- itary honours by the Ger- ananmen Square, Beijing. edly shifted his position in laser projection system had ta challenging it for the top ated by a Play Station game mans. The number of deaths and order to obstruct the tank’s become too expensive and the extent of bloodshed in attempted path around him. unnecessary. the Square itself have been The incident was filmed and • During World War II the US During World War II a single Rus- in dispute since the events. shared to a worldwide au- developed a prototype super sian KV-1 tank held up an entire The Chinese government ac- dience. Internationally, it is tank, the T28 Super Heavy German armoured division for a full tively suppressed discussion considered one of the most Tank. Weighing nearly 100 day. of casualty figures immedi- iconic images of all time. tonnes, protected by 305 ately after the events, and Rumour has it that the Chi- mm of armour and armed estimates rely heavily on nese authorities are said to with a 105 mm main gun, eyewitness testimony, hos- have apprehended and exe- this monster was supposed pital records, and organized cuted Tank Man, then billed to break through the defenc- efforts by victims’ relatives. his surviving family for the es of the German Siegfried As a result, large discrep- cost of the pistol round ex- Line. Only two prototypes ancies exist among various pended to shoot him in the were built before the project 18 19 was terminated. • The Brad Pitt World War II film ‘Fury’ featured an au- thentic fully operational Ti- ger I tank from World War II. The first time such a ve- hicle has ever been used in a film. • Of the 1,300 of Germany’s fearsome Tiger I tanks pro- duced during World War II, widely believed to be one of the best tanks of the war, only seven remain intact to- THE KING: During his military service with the United States Army, Elvis Presley was a member of the 3rd Armoured Division. day. • As a way to defeat German stroyed in combat by ene- • Kurt Knispel is considered tanks, the Soviets trained my fire. Of the nine Abrams to be the world’s greatest dogs to carry bombs strapped tanks destroyed, seven were tank ace. The German war to their backs and crawl un- destroyed by friendly fire, hero had 168 confirmed and der enemy tanks before the and two were purposely de- 195 unconfirmed kills in bomb was detonated. Unfor- stroyed to prevent capture World War II. He was con- tunately during training So- after being damaged. Some sidered the tank’s equivalent viet tanks were used to teach others took minor combat of the Red Baron. the dogs. When deployed damage, with little effect on • Arnold Schwarzenegger, the dogs immediately head- their operational readiness. actor and former governor Bush War Books has probably one of the finest ed for the nearest Russian • Since World War II all Brit- of California, served as a collections of military titles available. Especially tank and crawled under it. ish tanks are equipped with tank crew member during • Drive A Tank, a business in a device, called a boiling his compulsory national ser- on the South African Border War. Kasota, Minnesota, is the vessel, that allows for the vice in the Austrian Army in only place in the United heating of water. Rumoured 1965. Later he bought the States where civilians are to have been developed be- same tank he served in, an allowed to drive a military cause British tank crew used M47. and he now uses it to tank. to have to exit their tanks support charitable causes. • During World War II Ger- to boil water to make tea, • The King once drove a tank. man tanks were often coat- which endangered them and Elvis Presley was drafted ed with a putty-like material wasted time. into the United States Army Click here to visit their website. known as Zimmerit. This • The Nazis once planned a from March 1958 to March was to prevent magnetic truly massive tank. Named 1960. He was eventually mines from sticking to them. the P1500 Monster. Weigh- stationed with Headquar- • Object 269 was a Soviet ing 1,500 tonnes was to big ters Company, 1st Medium tank developed in 1959 and to be transported by road or Tank Battalion, 32d Armour was designed to survive a rail and was designed as a Regiment, 3d Armoured Di- nuclear explosion. All they land battleship that would vision in Friedberg, West needed to do was speak to have been served by a crew Germany. He was given an the Australians who had of 100. Despite being en- honourable discharge in beaten them to the punch six dorsed by Hitler, the project March 1960 with the rank of years before. was eventually scrapped. sergeant. • Along with the British Chal- Probably because the whole lenger 2, no US Abrams idea was insane to begin I trust that you found this bit “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” tank has ever been de- with. of trivia interesting. 20 00 send a dog into space had been conceived more than a year be- 60 Years of Space Exploration fore; the Soviets had already From Gagarin’s first flight to the Race to Mars. ByRegine Lord. placed dogs into high altitude rockets, and so could draw on o appreciate the ex- lenses of our spectacles, the after Gagarin’s first flight in extensive previous experience traordinary nature of solar cells that transform light space! with sub-orbital flights. Strays the accomplishments of from the sun into electricity, the were chosen because they were T more likely to endure extreme Gagarin and his fellow cosmo- computer mouse on our desk, First Aircraft nauts and astronauts, it helps to the LED lights that illuminate Turning back the clock to the conditions, such as hunger and remember that none of the tech- our homes, the memory foam earlier days of human flight, we cold. Little Laika had been se- nological advances we take for in our comfortable mattresses, only conquered the skies at the lected because of her sweet, granted in our modern world the infrared ear thermometers start of the previous century. placid temperament. existed at the time. that nurses use to measure our It was in December 1903 that However, in the rush to final- Gagarin’s and his compa- temperature, etc… the Wright brothers made the ise the launch, which was, as per triots’ spaceflights happened I am sitting at my own per- first successful – controlled and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrush- when there were no high-per- sonal computer at home, which sustained – flight of a self-pro- chev’s ‘request’, brought for- ward to coincide with the 40th formance computing clusters, is connected to the internet via pelled, heavier-than-air, pro- CANINE COSMONAUT: Laika (also known as Kudryavka or anniversary of Russia’s Bolshe- no geographical positioning an ethernet cable connected to peller-driven biplane at Kitty “Little Curly”), before the launch that made her the first living systems, no satellites, no high- an optical fibre network and Hawk, North Carolina. creature in orbit around our planet. vik Revolution on 7 November speed internet, and not even linked to the rest of the world Yes, of course, the history of 1957, no provision had been dedicated tracking ships to via undersea cables that criss- aviation extends even further air forces on all sides of the Its radio signal – a distinctive made for Laika’s safe return monitor their flights. Comput- cross the oceans. My smart- back – at least two thousand war, with jet engines, rocket beep-beep-beep – could even be to Earth. This distressing bit of ers were huge databanks using phone (small enough to fit in years, with flying kites, orni- engines, avionics systems, air- heard by radio amateurs around news was kept secret for quite perforated cards, and commu- my hand, yet hugely powerful) thopters with flapping wings craft carriers and radar early the world. After its batteries a while, and understandably nication was by telephone, tel- is receiving a wifi signal from that mimicked the flight of warning systems all coming died, it orbited silently for a fur- caused an uproar when it was ex and radio. a router at the other end of the birds, the use of rotor wings into use. After WWII, com- ther two months until it re-en- finally revealed. As I was doing some back- house, and when I venture out- for vertical flight, balloons mercial aviation grew rapidly tered the Earth’s atmosphere on According to sensors at- ground reading for these arti- side, it picks up signals from a filled with hydrogen or hot air, around the world. By the end 4 January 1958 and burnt up. tached to her body, the noises cles, it struck me how much complex network of cell phone various types of gliders, air- of the 20th century, flying had By then it had travelled about and pressures of the launch ter- the world has changed since the base stations. ships and dirigible balloons, become commonplace, with 70 million km. rified her. Although she reached USSR successfully launched This internet gives me access and steam-powered aircraft all airline routes criss-crossing the Suddenly, the sky was no orbit alive and – amazingly Sputnik 1 into orbit in 1957 – to websites, documents, pho- making an appearance. But it globe and opening up the entire longer the limit! (and perhaps not entirely accu- an event that is commonly re- tos and videos from anywhere was only after the Wright broth- world for tourists and travellers This shiny metal sphere, rately) – the telemetry showed garded as the birth of the Space on Earth. And, together with ers’ successful experiments that hungry for new experiences. weighing 83.6 kg and 58 cm normal vital signs for the first Age. The advances in technol- millions of viewers around aviation really took off… so to in diameter, its four external three orbits, Laika died soon ogy from those early days of the world, I can watch – live speak! Sputnik 1 radio antennas sticking out of afterwards. The loss of the heat flight to today are quite extraor- on YouTube – as Elon Musk’s During World War I, a decade On 4 October 1957, in the the back and broadcasting ra- shield had caused the temper- dinary. company SpaceX delivers as- later, airplanes were initially midst of the Cold War para- dio pulses, captured the imag- ature inside her capsule to rise Many of the things we now tronauts to the International used for reconnaissance, until noia after WWII, the Union ination. With its futuristic look, significantly to 40°C. After 162 use every day were developed Space Station (ISS) and sends fighter aircraft with synchro- of Soviet Socialist Republics it was a fitting start to the era days in space and about 2,500 during the so-called Space a cluster of Starlink satellites nised machine guns and bomb- (USSR) surprised the world by known as the Space Age. orbits, Sputnik 2 re-entered the Race and for use in space: The into near-earth orbit. And I can ers capable of dropping bombs launching Sputnik 1 into space atmosphere on 14 April 1958 CMOS image sensor in our dig- watch NASA live streaming a on military and civilian targets on a modified Soviet R-7 rock- Sputnik 1 and burnt up. ital camera, action camera and spacewalk by astronauts on- were developed. After WWI, et. Following an elliptical low On 3 November 1957, a smartphone, the wireless head- board the International Space civilian passenger flights be- earth orbit, the world’s first arti- month after Sputnik 1, the The Space Race set on which we listen to music, Station, and the nail-biting came popular. ficial satellite orbited the Earth USSR launched another rocket More worryingly for the the water filtration and air pu- landing of the Perseverance By World War II, improve- for a then-impressive 21 days. into space – Sputnik 2; it car- USA, the modified R-7 Se- rification systems in our homes rover on the Martian surface. ments in aviation led to the The sensational news spread ried a living payload – a stray myorka rocket (the nickname and offices, the scratch resistant And all this only 60 years establishment of huge military like wildfire. dog called Laika. The plan to ‘Semyorka’ that is used to refer 22 23 to this rocket means ‘seven’ in • First weather satellite (USA the European Space Agency Russian), which had launched – NASA – Vanguard 2) [ESA], the Canadian Space Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2 into or- • First photograph of Earth Agency [CSA] and the Japan bit, had initially been designed from orbit (USA – NASA – Aerospace Exploration Agency as an intercontinental ballistic Explorer 6) [JAXA]) are usually called as- missile that could carry a nucle- • First animals returned alive tronauts. France now uses the ar warhead. It was a two-stage from space (USSR – Sputnik term spationaute for its space rocket with a maximum range 5 – dogs Belka and Strelka) travellers, while China is call- of more than 8,000 km and a • First human in space (USSR ing them taikonauts. payload of 5.4 tons. Not only – Vostok 1 – Yuri Gagarin) There are some practical dif- had the USSR made consider- • First pilot-controlled space- ferences between astronauts able advances in science and flight and first complete hu- and cosmonauts, as the Amer- technology, but Soviet missiles man spaceflight that landed icans and the Russians have now had the capability of carry- with pilot still in spacecraft different space programs, with ing a nuclear warhead from St (USA – NASA – Freedom 7 different selection criteria, se- Petersburg to New York. This – Alan Shephard) lection processes, training re- naturally caused some alarm. • First spacewalk (USSR – gimes, spacesuits, equipment The ensuing Space Race be- Voskhod 2 – Alexei Leonov) used, and missions. Generally, tween the USA and the USSR • First rendezvous of two space travellers selected and triggered a surge of pioneer- rockets in orbit (USA – trained by the Soviet/Russian ing work and technological NASA – Gemini 6A/Gemini space programs are referred to development focused on space 7) as cosmonauts, but the list also exploration and space applica- • First soft landing on the includes some individuals from tions in both countries. Money moon by a spacecraft (USSR ex-Soviet countries as well as and resources were poured into – Luna 9) from non-Soviet states, as space technological and scientific re- • First humans to land on travellers from other nationali- search and development, and the moon (USA – NASA – ties sometimes receive training rapid advances were made in Apollo XI ) in Russia. space exploration related fields • First operational space sta- More intangibly, the term such as rocketry and materials tion (USSR – Salyut 1) ‘cosmonaut’ is a sign of line- sciences. The National Aero- • First pictures from the sur- age, which connects the daring nautics and Space Adminis- face of Mars (USA – NASA space traveller to Cosmonaut tration (NASA) in the United – Mariner 4) No. 1 Yuri Gagarin, as well as States was created at this time • First long-duration space to the long line of cosmonauts (1958). station (USSR – Mir), etc. who followed in his footsteps. A series of ‘firsts’ reflected the intense rivalry between the Astronauts vs Cosmonauts Space Exploration USA and the USSR between The distinction between as- On 5 May 1961, about 3 1957 and the collapse of the So- tronauts and cosmonauts dates weeks after Gagarin’s flight, the viet Union in 1991: back to those competitive early USA launched Alan Shepard • First artificial satellite (USSR days of the Space Race. The use into a suborbital flight aboard – Sputnik 1) of the word cosmonaut (‘sail- Freedom 7. On 20 February • First dog in orbit (USSR – or of the universe’) came into 1962, John Glenn orbited Earth Sputnik 2 – Laika) common usage in the Soviet aboard Friendship 7, making • First lunar flyby (USSR – Union at the time of Gagarin’s him the first American in- or Luna 1) historic flight. Soviet/Russian bit. On their side of the pond, • First impact on the moon space travellers are still gener- the USSR continued with its “One Small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” (USSR – Luna 2) ally referred to as cosmonauts, Vostok launch program, send- • First pictures of the far side of while space travellers from ing 5 more cosmonauts into the moon (USSR – Luna 3) other space agencies (NASA, space – one of them Valentina 24 25 Tereshkova, the first woman in it could not be reused, and Vladimir Mikhaylovich Koma- or US$62 million for flights on space, aboard Vostok 6. Skylab’s decaying orbit led to rov, has become the safest and the Falcon 9 reusable rocket Slowly, we crept closer to the its re-entry on 11 July 1979. most reliable spacecraft availa- (the numbers are indicative, not Moon – until, on 20 July 1969, Ground control desperately ble, a veritable workhorse. The cast in stone). With other com- Neil Armstrong and Edwin tried to adjust its orbit so that newest and most modernised mercial space flight options in ‘Buzz’ Aldrin took man’s first debris wouldn’t crash into pop- version used by Roscosmos to- the offing, NASA seems to be steps – “and one giant leap for ulated areas, but didn’t fully day is the Soyuz MS. moving away from its collabo- mankind” – on the moon as part succeed: debris was scattered Interestingly, all astronauts ration with Roscosmos. of NASA’s Apollo lunar land- across the Indian Ocean and are required to learn Russian, On 1 February 2021, two of ing program. Over the years, ten Western Australia. because the instruments and the astronauts in their bulky other NASA astronauts walked Construction of the Interna- commands onboard the Soyuz spacesuits conducted a 6-hour on the lunar surface; interest- tional Space Station (ISS) be- are in Russian. In addition, both long spacewalk to maintain ingly, no other nation has land- gan in 1998, with the first as- English and Russian are spoken and replace batteries and install ed humans on the moon as yet. tronauts taking up residence in onboard the ISS, even giving high-definition cameras on the In fact, no other planet in the 2000; it has been continuous- rise to a language mixture re- outside of the ISS. solar system has thus far been ly occupied for 20 years, with ferred to as Runglish. .When it comes to non-human visited by humans, although new modules, experiments, ro- Many NASA astronauts re- space exploration, numerous our goal of reaching Mars is botic arms, solar arrays, dock- ceive several years of training unmanned space probes have coming nearer! ing ports and other components in Russian, and participate in been launched to several plan- After the Americans had won constantly being added and old homestays with Russian-speak- ets and moons, asteroids and the race to the moon, the Sovi- ones replaced. About 400 km ing families in order to become comets, and even to the furthest ets concentrated their efforts on above our heads, the ISS is or- more comfortable speaking the reaches of our solar system, establishing a more long-term biting Earth at 7,66 km/s – or language. The correct technical PEACE: The Soviet Union’s Mir space station photographed from the 1960s to today. human presence in Earth-or- 27,600 km/h, effectively cir- lingo poses an additional chal- from Space Shuttle Discovery on 12 June 1998. Mir is the Rus- The most recent interstel- biting space stations, starting cling our planet in roughly 93 lenge. Being able to commu- sian word for ‘peace’. lar probe, the New Horizons with the first manned orbital minutes and thus completing nicate quickly and accurately, spacecraft, performed a flyby space station, called Salyut 1, 15.5 orbits per day. It is fund- both with fellow-astronauts and tially reusable two-stage boost- launched from NASA’s Ken- of the Pluto-Charon system in in 1971. The Salyut [meaning ed only until 2025, and may be with ground crews, is essential. er rocket designed by SpaceX nedy Space Centre in Florida. July 2015. The Hubble Space ‘Fireworks’] program consisted de-orbited in 2030. If crew members can only speak to transport people and payload This time, the Crew Dragon Telescope was launched into of a series of crewed scientific The construction and main- either English or Russian, com- into orbit; the first stage is able spacecraft mounted ontop suc- low earth orbit (1990) and is research stations and crewed tenance of the ISS established munication needs to be relayed to re-enter the atmosphere after cessfully delivered three NASA still capturing amazing im- military reconnaissance sta- close collaboration between the through translators, which leads separation, and to land vertical- astronauts (Michael Hopkins, ages. Its successor, the James tions from 1971 to 1986. USA (NASA) and the Russian to operational inefficiencies, un- ly back on earth. It is an incred- Victor Glover and Shannon Webb Space Telescope current- The experience gained was Federation (Roscosmos), and necessary – and potentially dan- ible feat of engineering. Walker) and one JAXA astro- ly under joint development by useful for the construction of the more recently also with Japan gerous – delays, and the possi- SpaceX has built two au- naut (Soichi Noguchi) to the In- NASA, ESA and CSA, is envis- first modular space station, Mir (JAXA), Europe (ESA) and bility of miscommunication of tonomous spaceport drone ternational Space Station (ISS) aged to be far more sensitive; [meaning ‘Peace’ or ‘World’], Canada (CSA). crucial information. ships (ASDS) that act as mov- to start their six-month stint in projected launch date – October assembled in low earth orbit Since NASA’s space shuttle But this working relation- able, floating landing sites. space. 2021. (LEO). It operated from 1986 Atlantis completed its final mis- ship between the USA and the They have very quirky names: It represented the first time Thanks to high-speed internet until it was deorbited in March sion in July 2011, all astronauts Russian Federation is already ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ that an international crew has connections, some of these un- 2001, and was occupied for an wanting to travel to the ISS changing. (OCISLY), and ‘Just Read The been sent into space on an manned missions could be fol- impressive 12-and-a-half years have been launched in a Soyuz In May 2020, Elon Musk’s Instructions’ (JRTI). The abili- American commercial space- lowed online. In 2014, for in- out of its 15-year life span. capsule from Baikonur Cosmo- company SpaceX used one of ty to recover stages as well as craft. For the Americans, it stance, people from all over the The Americans responded drome. The Soyuz [the Russian their special Falcon 9 rockets payload fairings (nose cones) is opens up a new route to space world tuned in to watch ESA’s with NASA launching Skylab, word Сою́ з means ‘Union’], with a Crew Dragon spacecraft envisaged to reduce the cost of with less reliance on cooper- Rosetta space probe make a an orbital space station that was which has undergone many im- to transport two NASA astro- spaceflight, as well as to reduce ation with the Russian Feder- rendezvous with comet 67P/ occupied for 24 weeks between provements and changes over nauts – Robert Behnken and the amount of junk left behind ation. NASA reportedly pays Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and May 1973 and February 1974. the years since the crash-land- Douglas Hurley – to the ISS. It in orbit. Roscosmos US$90 million the nerve-wracking landing on Delays in the development of ing of Soyuz 1 resulted in the was SpaceX’s first crewed flight. On 15 November 2020, an- for a seat on the Soyuz, while the rubber-ducky-shaped com- the Space Shuttle meant that tragic death of cosmonaut The Falcon 9 rocket is a par- other Falcon 9 rocket was SpaceX charges US$55 million et by Rosetta’s intrepid little 26 27 Philae lander module on 12 No- called Starlink that is projected gone into developing increas- vember 2014. to cover the entire planet and ingly sensitive, high-tech ob- NASA’s Cassini spacecraft provide internet access to iso- servation systems in order to spent almost 20 years exploring lated not-yet-served communi- see far back in time to the early Saturn, its rings and its moons, ties. They want to launch about days of the universe. Optical sending back extraordinary im- 42,000 satellites within the next and radio telescopes are being ages. Its final fiery end in Sep- decade or so; the United States used to identify and study ce- tember 2017, as Cassini passed Federal Communications Com- lestial objects such comets, gal- through the rings of Saturn, mission, which regulates com- axies, nebulae, planets, moons, slowly spiralling downwards munications by radio, televi- stars, pulsars, quasars, super- through Saturn’s atmosphere, sion, wire, satellite, and cable novas, and cosmic microwave was covered by live commen- across the USA, has already background radiation… as well tary from mission control. given permission for 12,000 of as incoming asteroids poten- these, with more to follow. tially on a collision course with Satellite Mega-Constella- Unfortunately, this ambitious Earth – all of which requires tions project is also causing signif- clear views of the night sky. Since the launch of Sputnik icant light and radio pollution Ground-based light pollution 1 in 1957, the number of satel- and interference for ground- from cities and urban areas has lites has – quite literally – sky- based observations using both already forced astronomers to rocketed. optical and radio astronomy seek ever more remote loca- Currently, there are almost telescopes and receivers. The tions (of which there are fewer 2,800 artificial satellites in ge- Starlink satellites are closer to and fewer). ocentric orbit around Earth at the Earth and more reflective And this is quite apart from SPACE HOME: The International Space Station, photographed by an STS-132 crew member various heights – low earth than anticipated; even though the fact that humankind has al- onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis after undocking, on 23 May 2010. orbit, medium earth orbit, and SpaceX experimented with ways had a spiritual connection high earth orbit (LEO, MEO non-reflective coatings (after with the stars and the night sky. problems. Decommissioned oped and tested anti-satellite bris is moving at about 30,000 and HEO). Some are in geo- complaints were received), it Who among us has not gazed satellites, pieces of spacecraft, missiles over the last decades, km/h in various directions. synchronous or geostationary made little difference. Obser- up at the Milky Way and felt abandoned launch vehicle stag- and these too have created Staggering numbers. orbit (GEO), which means that vations of the night sky are al- awe and longing and humility es, fragmentation debris from space debris; much of it has for- Since the 1970s, scientists they remain in position above ready being badly affected by and a sense of profound mys- collisions, explosions and ero- tunately burned up on re-entry have been warning of the in- the same point on the earth’s the light streaks, which even tery and magic? Perhaps you sion, even items as small as – but some particles can also be creasing likelihood of the so- surface; others are in inclined amateur astro-photographers have memories of camping in paint flecks or solid rocket ex- boosted into higher orbits. called Kessler effect: a high orbit or elliptic orbit, whizzing have noticed. remote areas, finding solace haust particles are hazardous As a result of all this human density of objects in near-Earth around the Earth. The situation will worsen and profound healing in sleep- and have the potential to cause activity in near-Earth space, space increases the risk of colli- These satellites are used for dramatically in coming years, ing under the stars? Or perhaps serious damage. That’s quite we sadly now have the space sions, with each collision gener- communication (both military as more and more countries you remember sitting around a apart from the other hazards equivalent of the Great Pacific ating more space debris, which and civilian), telecommunica- and organisations are develop- fire at night, listening to tribal associated with space weather, Garbage Patch. in turn increases the likelihood tion, satellite television, earth ing their own space programs elders weaving stories about such as solar flares and coronal As of 8 January 2021, of further collisions. Once observation, remote sensing, and sending satellite and large- the origins of life, or participat- mass ejections. ESA’s Space Debris Office in triggered, this kind of cascade geographical information sys- scale constellations into space, ing in healing rituals under the In February 2009, two com- Darmstadt has identified about could make near-Earth space, tems, weather forecasting, such as: Amazon’s Project Kui- stars? Sadly, our night skies are munications satellites (the ac- 34,000 objects greater than 10 particularly LEO, unusable for global positioning systems and per (3,200), OneWeb (jointly changing rapidly and becoming tive commercial Iridium 33 and cm, 900,000 objects between generations. navigation. owned by the UK government more cluttered. the retired Russian military Ko- 1 cm and 10 cm in size, and NASA’s space shuttles were Our modern world relies and an Indian company Bhar- smos-2251) collided at a speed 128 million objects (!) between repeatedly hit by debris, as has completely on them. ti Global) (650 satellites), and Space Debris of 11,700 m/s – producing over 1 mm and 1 cm in size. Of the ISS. A particularly dramat- In 2019, Elon Musk’s SpaceX Hongyan and Hongyun (320 More worryingly, this clutter- 1,000 trackable fragments and the 10,680 satellites that have ic near-miss was on 28 June started sending thousands of and 684 satellites respectively) ing of near-Earth space signifi- many more too small to be been placed in orbit around the 2011, when mission control small satellites into LEO in (China). cantly increases the risk of col- tracked. Earth, only about 3,700 are still warned the 6-person crew of order to establish a vast satel- However, over the last dec- lision and the danger of debris, In addition, the US, Russia, functioning and about 6,250 are the ISS that a small piece of lite-based mega-constellation ades, billions of dollars have which already poses serious China and India have all devel- ‘dead’ but still in orbit. This de- debris was approaching much 28 29 closer than anticipated (it even- phen Hawking, theoretical rope, ISRO – India, and CNSA tually passed by at 335 metres). physicist, cosmologist and au- – China) all have their eye on As there wasn’t time to change thor, began warning that it was the prize of being first in this orbit, the crew scrambled into increasingly likely that human Race to Mars. the two Soyuz capsules that beings would become extinct A few years ago, the bold but serve as ‘lifeboats’, and braced – whether as the result of a unrealistic Mars One project for impact for a tense 15 to 30 high-impact event such as an was everywhere in the news; minutes, until they were finally asteroid striking the Earth, or one of the shortlisted candi- given the all-clear. A close call! whether as the result of a global dates was Dr Adriana Marais, On 2 September 2019, ESA’s pandemic caused by genetical- a South African theoretical Aeolus earth observation satel- ly modified viruses, the rise of physicist doing research in the lite had to perform a last-min- advanced machines with artifi- field of quantum biology. It was ute manoeuvre to dodge a po- cial intelligence, the failure to promoted as a kind of televised tential collision with Starlink slow down or reverse climate ‘Big Brother’ or ‘Survivor’ pro- 44, one of the first 60 satellites change, or the outbreak of nu- gram, with participants spend- launched by SpaceX, by firing clear war. He repeatedly urged ing the rest of their lives on the its thrusters to raise its orbit. that mankind should find ways ‘Red Planet’. However, Mars Usually, avoidance manoeuvres of establishing colonies on the One was declared bankrupt in only result from space debris, Moon and on Mars, within the 2019, and the project fizzled. but this time the culprit was an next 50 to 100 years. In February this year (2021), active satellite. Mars is our nearest neighbour three separate unmanned mis- Given the expected increase in the solar system; the distance sions arrived at Mars within in mega-satellite-constellations is constantly changing due to days/weeks of each other; they and the increase in traffic vol- our two planets’ elliptical or- had all been launched in July LIFT OFF: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft launches on the Demo- umes in the near-Earth environ- bits, varying between 55 mil- 2020 during an Earth-to-Mars 2 mission to the International Space Station at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on 30 May 2020. ment, these avoidance manoeu- lion kilometres and 400 million launch window that only occurs vres are going to become more kilometres. Mars is about half every two years, when the two tian atmosphere. ity), and includes a small heli- ro Crater on Mars. Jubilation frequent. Compounding the the size of Earth, and although planets are at their closest dis- China’s Tianwen-1 (or ‘Heav- copter-drone (called Ingenuity) and cheers erupted, not just at problem is the fact that there the lengths of our days are tance to each other. enly Questions’) mission in- – which will be the first time mission control but in homes all are so many operators active similar (24.6 hours for Mars), There are currently eight or- cludes a Mars orbiter, a lander, that scientists are attempting to around the world. in space – military, scientific, the length of the year is much biters around the Red Plan- and a solar-powered rover, that fly a helicopter-drone on Mars, On 20 February 2021, two commercial, governmental, na- longer on Mars (687 days or a et, which include three from will study the planet’s soil and whose gravity is about 62% days after the dramatic landing, tional – all with different, often ‘sol’). Unfortunately, its atmos- NASA – Mars Odyssey (2001), atmosphere for three months, lower than that of Earth! one of the microphones on the conflicting, interests and agen- phere (96% carbon dioxide and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter looking for signs of past life; Due to the 11-minute delay in Perseverance rover recorded a das. There is no single interna- only traces of oxygen) makes it (2006) and Mars Atmosphere the orbiter is intended to last for communications between Earth little flutter of wind on the sur- tional organisation – whether uninhabitable by humans. But and Volatile Evolution (MA- a Martian year (687 days). The and Mars, the robotic lander had face of Mars. This is the first regulatory body, space agen- scientists think it is possible VEN) (2014), one from ESA orbiter successfully entered or- been programmed to land com- time that a Mars rover has been cy or science organisation – in that some form of life may have (Europe), one from ISRO (In- bit on 10 February 2021. The pletely autonomously, with its equipped with a microphone; it charge of what is happening in existed on Mars very long ago, dian Space Research Organi- lander and rover are projected new AI (artificial intelligence) is the strangest feeling to know space. Where guidelines exist, which is why astrobiologists sation), and one joint mission to land in May or June 2021. obstacle avoidance navigation that this sound is reaching us they are non-binding and insuf- are so fascinated by the planet. from ESA and Roscosmos The most ambitious of the system fine-tuning approach from another planet. It is an ficient, and no enforcement of Although there have been (Russia). They are now joined three unmanned missions is and landing. epic achievement. compliance. All the focus is on several proposed human mis- by two others: the USA’s Mars 2020 mission, The various teams at mission It is absolutely incredible to launch and in-space operations, sions to Mars, no human being The Hope orbiter (or ‘Al operated by NASA and JPL control watched their screens think that all of this space ex- but often no provision is made has as yet set foot on it. But Amal’) launched by the Unit- (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). anxiously, as Perseverance ploration began with Major for the safe return or disposal of companies such as SpaceX, ed Arab Emirates is the first It consists of the Perseverance went through all the various Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin’s space tech afterwards. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Arab interplanetary mission; it rover (the fifth rover to land EDL stages – until the callout flight into space onboard the Blue Origin, as well as national successfully entered orbit on on Mars since 1997 – with its ‘Tango Delta’ – ‘Touch Down!’ Vostok 1 space capsule, just 60 The Race to Mars space agencies (NASA – USA, 9 February 2021, where it will predecessors being Sojourner, – confirmed that it had landed years ago. Years ago, the brilliant Ste- Roscosmos – Russia, ESA – Eu- monitor and measure the Mar- Opportunity, Spirit and Curios- in exactly the right spot in Jeze- 30 31 36 and howitzer-like, short-bar- reled 7.5 cm KwK 37 guns Churchill What’s in a name? mounted, respectively, on the Churchill, Stalin, Patton, and Cromwell were all famous figures in military history. They early Panzer III and Panzer IV were, however, also the names of tanks. So just how many tanks were named after famous tanks fielded by the invading military or political figures? German forces. Until the Germans developed ne of the most feared it comes to tanks and other ar- reasonable armour. more effective guns, the KV-1 and iconic tanks of moured vehicles. In this article The intended dual-purpose was invulnerable to almost any OWorld War II was the we take a look at some tanks high velocity gun could not be German weapon except the 8.8 German Panzerkampfwagen VI and armoured vehicles that fitted in the turret and the me- cm Flak gun. Cromwell Ausf E. At least this was its of- were named after famous fig- dium velocity dual purpose gun The KV series remained in ficial title. ures in history. fitted proved inadequate. An use from 1939 to 1945. To both the Germans and the improved version with a high Allies it was better known sim- United Kingdom velocity gun became the Comet IS Tanks ply as the Tiger tank. The Brits named two tanks, tank. The IS Tank was a series of Most military forces around both produced during World War It saw service between 1944 heavy tanks developed as a suc- the world have different meth- II, after famous figures in history. and 1955. cessor to the KV-series by the ods of doing things. This in- Soviet Union during World War cludes different ways of march- Mk IV (A22) Churchill Russia II. ing, saluting and training. The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV Like the British, the Soviet Un- The IS acronym is the angli- KV-1 Different rank systems, uni- (A22) Churchill was a British ion produced two tanks during cized initialism of Russian lead- forms and traditions. heavy infantry tank used in the World War II that were named er Joseph Stalin (Iosif Stalin). However one thing that they Second World War and named after famous Russian leaders. The heavy tanks were de- do have in common is their in- after British wartime Prime signed with thick armour to sistence that every weapon or Minister Winston Churchill. KV Tanks counter German 88 mm guns piece of equipment is given an Best known for its heavy ar- The Kliment Voroshilov and carried a main gun capable official name. mour, large longitudinal chas- (KV) tanks are a series of Sovi- of defeating Panzer IV tanks. Often a weapon or piece of sis with all-around tracks with et heavy tanks named after the They were mainly designed equipment will be named after multiple bogies, its ability to Soviet defence commissar and as breakthrough tanks, firing a the designer or manufacturer of climb steep slopes, and its use politician Kliment Voroshilov heavy high-explosive shell that said item. as the basis of many specialist which operated with the Red was useful against entrench- IS-2 Take, for example, what is vehicles. It was one of the heav- Army during World War II. ments and bunkers. probably the most recognised iest Allied tanks of the war. The KV tanks were known for The IS-2 went into service in weapon in the world - the AK- It saw service between 1941 their heavy armour protection April 1944 and was used as a 47. and 1952. during the early stages of the spearhead by the Red Army in While it is commonly known war, especially during the first the final stage of the Battle of as the AK-47 or simply the AK, Mk VIII, Cromwell year of the German invasion Berlin. its official name is the Avtomat Officially known as the Tank, of the Soviet Union. In certain The IS-3 served on the Chi- Kalashnikova (Machine Kal- Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell situations, even a single KV-1 nese-Soviet border, the Hun- ashnikova). It is named after (A27M), was one of the series or KV-2 supported by infantry garian Revolution, the Prague the person that designed the of cruiser tanks fielded by Brit- could halt German formations. Spring and on both sides of the weapon, Mikhail Kalashnikov, ain in the Second World War. The German Wehrmacht at Six-Day War. The series even- Ramses II and the number 47 refers to the Named after the English Civ- that time rarely deployed its tually culminated in the T-10 year it was finished. il War leader Oliver Cromwell, tanks against KVs, as their own heavy tank. Yet often a weapon or piece the Cromwell was the first tank armament was too poor to deal of equipment will be named af- put into service by the British with the “Russischer Koloss” – Egypt ter a person, usually a famous to combine high speed from a “Russian Colossus”. The Egyptian Army has one military or political figure. powerful and reliable engine The KV tanks were practical- tank that was named after a fa- This is especially true when (the Rolls-Royce Meteor), and ly immune to the 3.7 cm KwK mous Egyptian Pharaoh. 32 33 Ramses II delays in development. M47 Patton The Ramses II tank is a heav- AMX-50 ily modernized T-55 main bat- AMX Leclerc tle tank designed for and used The AMX Leclerc, is a main by the Egyptian Armed Forces. battle tank (MBT) built by A single T-54 was sent to the GIAT, now Nexter of France. It United States for upgrading. A was named in honour of Gen- primary prototype was sent to eral Philippe Leclerc de Haute- Egypt where extensive trials clocque who led the French ele- were completed in late 1987. ment of the drive towards Paris The tank finally entered pro- while in command of the Free AMX Leclerc M60 Patton duction in 2004–2005. A total French 2nd Armoured Division of 425 units have been pro- (2ème DB) in World War II. duced. The tank was originally The Leclerc is in service with called the T-54E (“E” stands for the French Army and the army “Egyptian”). of the United Arab Emirates. In It was named after Ramess- production since 1991, the Le- es II, also known as Ramesses clerc entered French service in the Great, was the third Phar- 1992, replacing the venerable aoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty AMX 30 as the country’s main of Egypt. He is often regarded M3 Lee armoured platform. M2 Bradley as the greatest, most celebrat- ed, and most powerful Pharaoh United States of the New Kingdom, itself the Almost all equipment used the most powerful period of An- the United States Armed Forces cient Egypt. is named after a famous military or political figure. France This is particularly true when The French named two of their it comes to tanks and armoured modern tanks after French gener- vehicles. als. M4 Sherman M3 Lee M1128 Stryker AMX-50 The M3 Lee, officially Me- The AMX-50 Foch 155 was dium Tank, M3, was an Amer- a French heavy tank designed ican medium tank used during in the immediate post Second World War II. In Britain, the World War period. tank was called by two names It was named after Ferdinand based on the turret configura- Foch, a French general and mil- tion and crew size. itary theorist who served as the Tanks employing US pattern Supreme Allied Commander turrets were called the “Lee”, during the First World War. M26 Pershing named after Confederate gen- M1A2 Abrams It was proposed as, in suc- eral Robert E. Lee. Variants us- cession, the French medium, ing British pattern turrets were heavy, and main battle tank, known as “Grant”, named after incorporating many advanced Union general Ulysses S. Grant. features. It was cancelled in the late 1950s however, due to un- M4 Sherman favourable economic and polit- The M4 Sherman, official- ical circumstances after serious ly Medium Tank, M4, was the 34 35 most widely used medium tank service with the US Army from posthumously received the by the United States and West- 1952 to 1959 and was still used Medal of Honor: Private First Quiz ern Allies in World War II. by foreign armies right up until Class Stuart S. Stryker, who The M4 Sherman proved to the mid-1990s. died in World War II, and Spe- Rocket & Missile Launchers be reliable, relatively cheap to The M48 Patton saw ser- cialist Four Robert F. Stryker, produce, and available in great vice with the US Army from who died in the Vietnam War. his month we’re looking at rocket and missile launchers, either anti-tank or anti-air. We show numbers. It was also the basis of the mid-1950s and through the Different variants of the vehi- you the image, you tell us what it is. Score a bonus point if you can tell us the country of several successful tank destroy- Vietnam War. It is still used by cles carry different weapon sys- Torigin. Answers on page 98. ers, such as the M10, 17pdr SP quite a few foreign armies. tems. The M1126 Stryker, for Achilles and M36B1. The M60 Patton was the example, carries a 12.7 mm M2 Tens of thousands were dis- standard main battle tank of the machine gun and 40 mm Mk 19 tributed through the Lend- United States from 1960 until it grenade launcher. Lease program to the British was replaced by the M1 Abrams The Stryker Dragoon mounts Commonwealth and Soviet Un- in 1991. It is still extensively a 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II ion. The tank was named by the used worldwide. gun, and the M1128 Stryker is British for the American Civil armed with a 105 mm M68A2 War general William Tecumseh M2 Bradley gun. 1 2 3 Sherman. The Bradley Fighting Vehi- cle (BFV) is a tracked fighting M1 Abrams M26 Pershing vehicle platform of the United The M1 Abrams is a The M26 Pershing was a States. third-generation American heavy tank/medium tank of the It was named after Omar Nel- main battle tank and named for United States Army. son Bradley, a senior officer of General Creighton Abrams. He The tank was named after the United States Army during was a United States Army gen- General of the Armies John J. and after World War II, hold- eral who commanded military 4 5 6 Pershing, who led the American ing the rank of General of the operations in the Vietnam War Expeditionary Force in Europe Army. from 1968 to 1972. in World War I. It was used in It is armed with a 25 mm Conceived for modern ar- the last months of World War II M242 Bushmaster chain gun mored ground warfare and now during the Invasion of Germa- and BGM-71 TOW anti-tank one of the heaviest tanks in ser- ny and extensively during the missiles. vice at nearly 62 metric tons, it Korean War. It is operated by a three man introduced several innovative The M26 was intended as a crew and can carry a variable features, including a multi-fu- 7 8 9 replacement of the M4 Sher- number of passengers depend- el turbine engine, sophisticated man, but a prolonged develop- ing on variant. Chobham composite armour, a ment period meant that only a computer fire control system, small number saw combat in ICV Stryker separate ammunition storage in Europe, notably in the 9th Ar- The ICV (Infantry Carrier a blow-out compartment, and moured Division’s dash to take Vehicle) Stryker is a family of NBC protection for crew safety. the Ludendorff Bridge during eight-wheeled armoured fight- Initial models of the M1 were the Battle of Remagen. ing vehicles derived from the armed with a licensed-pro- 10 11 12 Canadian LAV III. Stryker ve- duced 105 mm Royal Ordnance Patton tank hicles are produced by Gener- L7 gun, while later variants fea- No fewer than four American al Dynamics Land Systems for ture a licensed Rheinmetall 120 tanks bore the name of famed the United States Army. It has mm L/44. World War II tank general, 4-wheel drive (8×4) and can George S. Patton. be switched to all-wheel drive The M46 Patton was used (8×8). during the Korean War. The vehicle is named for two 13 14 15 The M47 Patton Tank saw unrelated U.S. soldiers who 36 37 the solar system is the ex- tortionate cost. It’s been es- Did you know? timated that the total cost of Regine Lord brings us some facts and trivia about space exploration. the Apollo 11 mission that first put a man on the moon • You have probably heard of shuttle, called Buran, which Colonel James Irwin (Air was $25.4 billion. In today’s NASA, the space agency in flew just once, in November Force), Captain John Young money, that’s around $135 the USA – but did you know 1988? (Navy), Brigadier General billion. that South Africa too has a • Did you know that Soviet/ Charles Duke (Air Force), • The early astronauts were national space agency called Russian space travellers are and Captain Eugene Cernan unable to get life insurance, SANSA? generally called cosmonauts, (Navy). perhaps understandably, for • Did you know that three of while space travellers from • The youngest man to walk such a risky venture. So to South Africa’s four satellites other space agencies (Ameri- on the moon was Charles ensure their families would have been launched from the ca, Europe, China and Japan) Duke, 36 years 6 months and be taken care of if they failed Russian Federation? are called astronauts? 18 days. MAN ON THE MOON: Neil Armstrong who, at the age of nearly to return, they would auto- • You are no doubt familiar • Did you know that from July • The oldest man to walk on 39, became the first person to walk on the moon. He passed graph pictures of themselves, with weather here on Earth 2011 until November 2020 the moon was Alan Shepard, away on 25 August 2012 at the age of 82. which could then be auc- – drought, rain, storms, hail, the only way for astronauts 47 years 2 months and 18 Stafford, Michael Collins, support systems could not tioned off if needed. snow – but did you know and cosmonauts to reach the days. Dick Gordon, Jack Swigert, operate. The CM’s systems • Ever heard the story of how that there is something called ISS has been onboard a Rus- • A devout Presbyterian elder, Fred Haise, Stu Roosa, Al had to be shut down to con- NASA spent millions trying space weather, which is sian Soyuz spacecraft? Buzz Aldrin became the first Worden, Ken Mattingly and serve its remaining resources to create a pen that would caused by the behaviour of • Did you know that all astro- person to hold a religious cer- Ron Evans all flew to the for re-entry, forcing the crew work in zero gravity, while the sun and its interactions nauts need to learn Russian emony on the moon when he moon but never landed. All to transfer to the LM as a the Russians simply used a with Earth’s magnetic field in order to travel into space, privately took communion. of them previously served in lifeboat. With the lunar land- pencil? It’s not true. In fact, and atmosphere? because the instruments • When he first stepped onto the US Air Force, US Navy, ing cancelled, mission con- pencils are a hazard in space • And that, rather like storms and commands onboard the the moon, Neil Armstrong or US Marine Corps. trollers worked to bring the – they are flammable, and on Earth, solar storms and Soyuz spacecraft are in Rus- made his famous speech, • Alan Shepard became the crew home alive. The astro- if the graphite tip breaks, it solar wind in near-Earth sian? And that communi- “That’s one small step for first man to ‘play’ golf on the nauts on board were James could pose a risk to equip- space can disrupt and dam- cation on the ISS is in both man, one giant leap for man- moon. Shepard took a few A. Lovell, John L. Swigert, ment. age modern-day technolo- Russian and English, giving kind.” Yet this was not what moments during the Apollo and Fred W. Haise. • Various astronauts who have gies? rise to a language known as he intended to say. What he 14 landing to show off his • Two scheduled moon land- been on missions there claim • You have probably heard of ‘Runglish’? was actually meant to say hobby during a live broad- ings, Apollo 18 and Apollo that the moon smells of wet the International Space Sta- • Of the 12 men that walked on was “That’s one small step cast from the lunar surface 19, were cancelled. ashes, or spent gunpow- tion (ISS), which has been the moon, only two of them for a man, one giant leap for on 6 February 1971. He took • As of 2020, there have been der. So it does not smell of circling Earth since 1998 – were civilians - Neil Arm- mankind.” two shots, with the second 15 astronaut and four cosmo- cheese. And astronauts have but did you know that it was strong and Harrison Schmitt. • Of the 12 men to walk on the ball going “miles and miles,” naut fatalities during space- also reported that space it- the Soviet Union that sent the Armstrong was the first man moon, only four of them are he said on-camera. flight. self smells slightly of burned first manned space station to walk on the moon, and still living. Buzz Aldrin (age • Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and • Christa McAuliffe (37), Ju- steak. (Salyut) into orbit as far back Schmitt was the last man to 91), David Scott (age 88), 17 all landed on the moon. dith Resnik (36), Kalpana • Nearly four decades after he as 1971? And that it was also walk on the moon. Charles Duke (age 85), and Apollo 13, however, did not Chawla (41) and Laurel Clark became the first American to the Soviet Union that con- • The other ten men that Harrison Schmitt (age 85). make it. A routine stir of an (41), are the only women to orbit the Earth, Senator John structed the second manned walked on the moon all • David Scott became the first oxygen tank ignited dam- have died in space. McAu- Hershel Glenn, Jr., launched space station, called Mir, in served in the military. Colo- to drive a vehicle on the aged wire insulation inside liffe and Resnik were part of into space again as a payload 1986? nel Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin (Air Moon when he drove the Lu- it, causing an explosion that the crew of the Space Shuttle specialist aboard the space • You probably know about Force), Captain Pete Conrad nar Roving Vehicle. vented the contents of both Challenger and Chawla and shuttle Discovery. At 77 NASA’s space shuttle pro- (Navy), Captain Alan Bean • A total of 12 astronauts flew of the SM’s oxygen tanks Clark were part of the crew years of age, Glenn was the gram, which operated be- (Navy), Rear Admiral Alan to the moon but never got to space. Without oxygen, of the Space Shuttle Colum- oldest human ever to travel tween 1977 and 2011 – but Shepard (Navy), Captain Ed- the chance to walk on the needed for breathing and for bia. in space. did you know that the Soviet gar Mitchell (Navy), Colo- moon. Frank Borman, Jim generating electric power, • One of the biggest hindranc- Union also designed a space nel David Scott (Air Force), Lovell, Bill Anders, Tom the SM’s propulsion and life es to man’s exploration of 38 39 While off-loading cargo, he For his actions Job Maseko For his actions Job Maseko Job Maseko - World War II Warrior placed his home-made bomb was later presented with the was initially recommended for deep inside the hold of a Ger- Military Medal (MM) by Ma- a Victoria Cross but according How does a man not officially allowed to carry firearms go on to win the Military Medal for gal- lantry? Job Maseko was one of those that achieved this feat. man freight ship (probably an jor-General F H Theron. The to Neville Lewis, the first offi- ‘F’ Boat). citation reads: cial war artist for South Africa He placed the bomb next to The King has been graciously during the Second World War, t is a sad fact that we know Maseko was not alone. Near- ly the treatment reserved for fuel barrels, lit the fuse, and pleased to approve the follow- Job Maseko was awarded the very little about the early ly 40% of the standing army members of the Native Military left the ship. As he waited and ing award in recognition of gal- Military Medal instead as he life of Job Maseko. I have consisted of ‘black’ South Afri- Corps. German and Italian forc- watched, the ship shuddered lant and distinguished service was ‘only an African’. I from a huge explosion and al- in the Middle East. After being released Lance no idea of when or even where can volunteers. About 128,000 es displayed a complete disre- he was born. of them in fact. gard for the rights of coloured most immediately sank into the Military Medal Corporal Job Maseko returned What we do know is that In June 1942 Tobruk, the port or black POWs as they did not harbour. If he had been discov- No N 4448 L/Cpl Job Masego to South Africa. Shortly after shortly before World War II he city on Libya’s eastern Medi- view them as regular troops. ered Maseko would have been [sic) – Native Military Corps the war ended apartheid was worked as a delivery man in terranean coast, near the bor- At the Tobruk camp black shot, probably after first being Citation implemented and his legacy Springs in what was then the der of Egypt, was under siege. South African POWs were tortured. For meritorious and coura- slipped away from the general Transvaal. The Allied garrison at Tobruk, forced “under threat of death” After the war Maseko was geous action in that on or about consciousness. He volunteered for service under the command of South to do war work, which was con- able to point out where the ship the 21st July, while a Prisoner Job Maseko died in 1952 af- with the South African Native African Major General Hendrik trary to the Geneva Convention. had been berthed. When divers of War, he, Job Masego, sank ter being stuck by a train. At the Military Corps (NMC) and, af- Klopper, had repulsed several More over their food was total- went down to investigate the a fully laden enemy steamer – time he was so poor that they ter completing basic training, attacks by Field Marshal Erwin ly inadequate – they were only found the ship resting on the probably an “F” boat – while had to borrow money to bury was sent to North Africa as part Rommel’s Afrika Korps. given one packet of biscuits per sea bed exactly where he said it moored in Tobruk Harbour. him. of the 2nd South African Infan- It was in this maelstrom that day and water rations were kept would be. This he did by placing a small Today this unassuming hero try Division. Job Maseko found himself. to a minimum. Maseko later escaped from tin filled with gunpowder in has a primary school in KwaTh- There was, however, a catch. He was working as a stretcher Desperate for food, some of Tobruk and spent three weeks among drums of petrol in the ema township named after him. Members of the NMC were bearer, rescuing wounded men, the black POWs would escape walking through the desert, hold, leading a fuse therefrom The main road of the township only given non-combat roles. often while under enemy fire. from the camp perimeter at much of the way through ene- to the hatch and lighting the has also been named after him. They were used as drivers, As the situation became more night in an effort to scrounge my lines. fuse upon closing the hatch. The South African Navy cooks, stretcher bearers and so desperate the restrictions of for food in the town. They While still a POW he had In carrying out this delib- strike-craft SAS Kobie Coet- on. black troops being given rifles would sometimes return to the found and repaired an old Ger- erately planned action, Job zee was renamed the SAS Job South African race laws at went out of the window. Mase- camp with ‘acquired’ sacks of man radio. He heard about Masego displayed ingenuity, Maseko. the time provided that serving ko and other black colleagues mielie meal. General Montgomery’s epic determination and complete Job Maseko was a warrior, a ‘black’ men could not carry fire- were given rifles and expected Maseko was none to pleased and tide turning victory at El disregard of personal safety hero, and a South African. We arms, they were however issued to fight on the front line with with the treatment of black Alamein. Maseko was heading from punishment by the enemy will remember him. spears as a ‘traditional weapon’ everyone else. POWs. He felt compelled to for El Alamein, intent on join- or from the ensuing explosion for guard and ceremonial duty. On 21 June 1942 General take action against his captors. ing the battle. which set the vessel alight.’ Klopper surrendered to Rom- To quote him, “because of our mel and 32,000 Allied troops ill-treatment by the enemy, es- INTO THE BAG: 32,000 Allied troops were taken prisoner after the fall of Tobruk. became prisoners of war. This pecially the Italians, and be- included 10,722 South Africans cause I felt it a duty in this way of the 2nd Division, of whom to assist my own people”. 1,200 were members of the Na- Part of Maseko’s duties was tive Military Corps. Job Mase- off-loading cargo from ships ko was one of them. docked in the harbour. Maseko and many others With the help of fellow pris- were force marched across oners Andrew Mohudi, Sam the desert to an Italian POW Police and Koos Williams, camp. Maseko assembled a bomb us- The Italian treatment ing a condensed milk tin, cord- of POWs was dis- ite taken from bullets and an gusting, especial- extremely long fuse. 40 41 Rank Structure - Denmark Officers Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at the rank structure of various armed forces. This month we look at Danish Defence. anish Defence is the ing military in 1510, the armed unified armed forces of forces have seen action in many the Kingdom of Den- wars, most involving Sweden, D Sekondløjtnant Løjtnant Premierløjtnant Kaptajn mark charged with the defence but also involving the world’s (Second Lieutenant) (Lieutenant) (First Lieutenant) (Captain) of Denmark and its constituent, great powers, including the self-governing nations Green- Thirty Years’ War, the Great land and the Faroe Islands. The Northern War, and the Napole- Defence also promote Den- onic Wars. mark’s wider interests, support Today, Danish Defence con- international peacekeeping ef- sists of: the Royal Danish Army, forts and provide humanitarian Royal Danish Navy, and Royal aid. Danish Air Force. The Defence Since the creation of a stand- also includes the Home Guard. Major Oberstløjtnant Oberst Brigadegeneral (Major) (Lieutenant Colonel) (Colonel) (Brigadier) Royal Danish Army Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Generalmajor Generalløjtnant General (Major General) (Lieutenant General) (General)

Konstabel Overkonstabel Overkonstabel Korporal (Private) (Private First Class) af 1. grad (Corporal) Royal Danish Navy (Lance Corporal) Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Officerselev Sergent Sergent Oversergent (Sergeant Cadet) (Sergeant) (Sergeant First Class) Marinekonstabel Marineoverkonstabel Marinespecialist Korporal (Seaman) (Able Seaman) (Senior Able Seaman) (Leading Seaman)

Seniorsergent Chefsergent Hærchefsergenten (Warrant Officer 2nd Class) (Warrant Officer 1st Class) (Sergeant Major of the Army)

42 43 Royal Danish Air Force Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Sergent SØ Sergent Oversergent (Officer Cadet) (Petty Officer) (Chief Petty Officer)

Flyverkonstabel Flyveroverkonstabel Flyverspecialist Korporal (Aircraftsman) (Senior Aircraftsman) (Lance Corporal) (Corporal)

Seniorsergent Chefsergent Søværnschefsergent (Senior Chief Petty Officer) (Master Chief Petty Officer) (Chief Petty Officer of the Navy) Officers Værnepligtig Sergent Sergent Oversergent (Conscript Sergeant) (Sergeant) (Flight Sergeant)

Løjtnant Premierløjtnant Kaptajnløjtnant Orlogskaptajn (Lieutenant (Lieutenant) (Lieutenant (Commander) Junior Grade) Commander) Seniorsergent Chefsergent Flyvevåbnets Chefsergent (Technical Sergeant) (Warrant Officer) (Warrant Officer of the Air Force)

Kommandørkaptajn Kommandør Flotilleadmiral (Commander Senior Grade) (Captain) (Commodore)

Kontreadmiral Viceadmiral Admiral (Rear Admiral) (Vice Admiral) (Admiral)

44 45 Officers

Journal of the South African Legion Tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Legioen

Sekondløjtnant Løjtnant Premierløjtnant Kaptajn The SA Legion is a national organisation, part of a world- (Second Lieutenant) (Lieutenant) (First Lieutenant) (Captain) wide family that addresses the needs of ex-service per- sonnel and their dependents by way of housing, pensions, employment and general welfare. It is apolitical, non-sec- tarian, non-racial, non-sexist and non-partisan.

The Springbok is the official journal of the South African Legion. Read the February issue of Springbok by clicking on the cover to the left. Major Oberstløjtnant Oberst Brigadegeneral (Major) (Lieutenant Colonel) (Colonel) (Brigadier)

Memorable Order of Tin Hats Generalmajor Generalløjtnant General (Major General) (Lieutenant General) (General) Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate and find out more about the Memorable Order of Tin Hats.

46 47 head to head head to head hawk attack jets was in very down, causing great concern 13,000 kilometres away from Weapons & Equipment: Falklands War poor condition. The arms em- to the High Command until the England. Most of the British bargo placed by the United successful May 1 strikes which aircraft would have to be trans- This month in the second of a series of three articles we look at the weapons used by States in 1976, due to the “Dirty proved that aircraft could sur- ported via ship. the air forces of both Britain and Argentina during the Falklands War. War”, had made most airframes vive. One advantage that the Brit- unusable. Finally, Argentine military ish did have was RAF Ascen- n this article we will be tak- aerial refuelling. Argentine Navy. The involvement of Israel in aviation had never been in- sion Island, also known as ing a closer look at the var- The FAA’s training, tactics Finally on June 4, ten Peru- helping to return the A-4 to full volved in an international con- Wideawake Airfield or Ascen- ious aircraft used by both I and equipment were focused vian Mirage 5 with AS-30 mis- operational status has been al- flict, indeed the last time the sion Island Auxiliary Field. Britain and Argentina during on a possible war against Chile, siles arrived to Tandil but the leged, but has never been con- Argentine military had been in- It’s a military airfield and the Falklands War. resulting from disputes such as war ended before they could be firmed. volved in an international con- facility located on Ascension Despite initiating the war, the Beagle conflict. used. The small air arm of the Ar- flict was the War of the Triple Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Argentina had not prepared a The option to attack Chile was Israel Aircraft Industries tech- gentine Navy (Armada Repub- Alliance more than a century The airfield is jointly operated plan for the subsequent defence a cause of great concern to the nicians that were in the country lica Argentina; ARA) was in the before. by the Royal Air Force and the of the islands. The military Argentina military during the under the 1979 IAI Daggers middle of the transition from In spite of these disadvan- United States Space Force. It dictatorship that governed the war. The Chilean armed forces contract continued their work the A-4Q Skyhawk to the new tages, Argentine air units bore was 6,361 kilometres from the country at the time regarded the had deployed a significant force during the conflict. Super Etendard. the brunt of the battle during Falkland Islands. While it was seizure of the Falklands as a po- to Chile’s common border with By the best estimates, Argen- Only five of the Etendard’s the six-week war, and inflicted still a long way from the com- litical act to obtain a diplomatic Argentina, and the FAA was tina had about 240 planes when anti-ship Exocet missiles had serious damage and losses to bat zone, it was still half the bargaining position, and not as forced to reinstate their retired the war broke out. About half of been delivered at the time of the the naval forces of the United distance from England. an act of war. F-86 Sabres to bolster Argenti- those were posted in the interior conflict, at which point an arms Kingdom. British air forces included No. Consequently they were tak- na’s air defences. and along the Chilean border. embargo prevented the delivery Low-flying jets attacking 656 Squadron Army Air Corps. en by surprise when the British In Argentina’s favour, Peru The long distances from their of further shipments. Addition- British ships provided some of Their air power consisted of six responded with a large-scale immediately offered its support bases prevented them from ally, the required programming the most sobering and dramat- Gazelle AH.1 helicopters and mobilization, and a task force to the Argentine cause, with the using their top speed or they for the missiles to interact with ic images of the war. By the six Westland Scout AH.1 heli- to retake the islands. Peruvian Air Force even offer- risked running out of fuel. the Etendard’s computers had end of the conflict, the British copters. The Argentine Air Force ing to fly combat missions. Although the Argentines had not been completed by French forces had come to admire the The Royal Marines had 3 (Fuerza Aérea Argentina; FAA) This was politely declined by more aeroplanes than the British engineers when the conflict FAA’s spirited conduct in the CDO Brigade Air Squadron had never considered the pos- the Argentine government. As Task force, a good number of broke out. face of an effective air defence with nine Gazelle AH.1 heli- sibility of waging a long-range the war progressed, Peru and them were Pucara turboprops. France, being an ally of the network. copters and six Westland Scout naval air campaign against a Venezuela sent critical aircraft Also, the A-4 Skyhawk force United Kingdom, recalled all Admiral Sandy Woodward, AH.1 helicopters. major NATO power. It was not spare parts to Argentina, ur- were dependent on the two technicians, which left Argen- the British Task Force com- The Fleet Air Arm and the trained or equipped for such a gently needed by the FAA and available KC-130 tankers, lim- tine scientists and electronic mander said: “The Argentine Royal Air Force provided the mission. the Brazilian Air Force leased iting the amount of aeroplanes engineers to figure out a way Air Force fought extremely bulk of the air power used by The FAA had only two tank- two EMB111 Bandeirantes that could attack simultaneously. to make the missiles take input well and we felt a great admira- the British during the Falklands er aircraft to serve the whole air maritime patrol aircraft to the Argentina’s fleet of A-4 Sky- from the plane’s computers. tion for what they did.” War. force and navy, and its fight- Navy pilots, particularly er-bomber Mirage IIIs and IAI those of the 3rd Naval Fighters British Air Forces Fleet Air Arm Daggers were not equipped for Squadron flying A-4Qs, were All arms of the British Armed The following squadrons and the only personnel trained in Forces took part in the Falk- aircraft were deployed by the bombing warships. lands War - Army Air Corps, Fleet Air Arm. Air Force pilots trained dur- Royal Marines, Royal Air Force • 737 Naval Air Squadron ing April against the two Argen- (RAF), and the Fleet Air Arm (NAS) - two Westland Wes- tine Type 42 destroyers, similar (British Navy). sex HAS.3 helicopters. One to those of the British Fleet, The problem for the British each on the destroyers HMS and according to the Naval of- was that the Falkland Islands Antrim and HMS Glamor- ficers all the sorties were shot were, in a straight line, nearly gan.

48 49 • 800 NAS with 12 Sea Harrier RFA Tidepool and RFA Fort • No. 50 Squadron with one- bomb (LGB), 454 kg - Har- GR.3, Gazelle. • 24 helicopters FRS.1 jets. They were based Austin. Later some of them Vulcan B.2. rier GR.3. • Mk. 46 Torpedo. • 10 fighters on the Centaur class aircraft would be based at Port San • No. 51 Squadron with three • BL755 Cluster bomb with • Mk. 11 Depth charge • One Vulcan was interned carrier HMS Hermes. Carlos, the first landing place Nimrod R.1 aircraft. 147 bomblets - Sea Harrier. by Brazil after the aircraft • 801 NAS with eight Sea Har- of British forces. • No. 55 Squadron with 10 • 1,000 lb General-Purpose Casualties had been forced to make an rier FRS.1 jets based on the • 846 NAS with 15 Westland Victor K.2 strategic bomb- Bomb Sea Harrier, Harrier During the Falklands War the emergency landing. light aircraft carrier HMS In- Sea King HC.4 helicopters ers. GR.3 and Vulcan. British lost the following air- vincible. based on HMS Hermes, HMS • No. 57 Squadron with 10 • SNEB Rockets - Harrier craft. • 809 NAS with eight Sea Fearless class, HMS Elk, SS Victor K.2 strategic bomb- Gazelle AH.1 Harrier FRS.1 jets based on Canberrak and Norland. The ers. The AH.1 was based on the HMS Hermes and HMS In- Norland was a P&O roll-on/ • No. 70 Squadron with three French Aerospatiale SA342 vincible. roll-off ferry requisitioned Hercules C.1 transport air- Gazelle. • 815 NAS with seven West- by the British government. craft. • Length: 9.53 metres land Lynx HAS.2 helicopters • 847 NAS with 24 Westland • No. 101 Squadron with one • Width: 10.5 metres and seven Westland Lynx Wessex HU.5 helicopters Vulcan B.2. • Height: 3.18 metres HAS.3 helicopters based on based on SS Atlantic Cause- • No. 120 Squadron with three • Weight: 999 kg (empty) Type 42 destroyers, Type 21 way, RFA Engadine and Port Nimrod MR.2 aircraft. • Power: 1 x Astazou IIIN2 and Type 22 frigates. San Carlos. • No. 201 Squadron with three engine • 820 NAS with nine Westland • 848 NAS with 15 Westland Nimrod MR.2 aircraft. • Max Speed: 265 kph Sea King HAS.5 helicopters Wessex HU.5 helicopters • No. 202 Squadron with one • Service ceiling: 467 metres based on HMS Invincible. based on HMS Endurance, Westland Sea King HAR.3 • Range: 710 kilometres • 824 NAS with three West- RFA Olna, SS Atlantic Con- helicopter based at Wide- land Sea King HAS.2 hel- veyor & the Astronomer. awake. icopters and two Westland • No. 206 Squadron with four Sea King HAS.2A helicop- Royal Air Force Nimrod MR.2 aircraft. ters based on Royal Fleet All four-engined aircraft oper- • No. 10 Squadron with 14 Auxiliary (RFA) fleet replen- ated from Wideawake Airfield, VC10 C.1 aircraft. ishment ships RFA Fort Ro- Ascension Island, but flew in the Scout AH.1 salie and RFA Olmeda. war zone. Armament The Scout AH.1 was a land- • 825 NAS with 10 Westland • No. 1(F) Squadron with 10 The following weapons and based general purpose military Sea King HAS.2 helicop- Harrier GR.3 jets based on ordnance was used by the Brit- helicopter ters based on SS Atlantic HMS Hermes and at Port ish during the Falklands War. • Length: 9.25 metres Causeway and RMS Queen San Carlos. • L44A1 GPMG (General • Height: 2.72 metres Elizabeth 2. Both ships were • No. 18 Squadron with four Purpose Machine Gun). • Weight: 1,466 kg (empty) owned by Cunard Line and Chinook HC.1 helicopters. • 30 mm ADEN Cannon with • Power: 1 × Rolls-Royce were requisitioned by the • No. 29 Squadron with three 120–130 rounds - Sea Harri- Nimbus 101 turboshaft en- British government for ser- Phantom FGR.2 jets based at er, Harrier GR.3. gine vice as a troop carriers in the Wideawake. • AIM-9D/G Sidewinder • Max Speed: 211 kph Falklands War. • No. 39 Squadron with two Air-to-air missile (AAM) - • Service ceiling: 5,400 me- • 826 NAS with 12 Westland Canberra PR.9 jets perform- Phantom FGR.2. tres Sea King HAS.5 helicopters ing clandestine operations • AIM-9L Sidewinder AAM • Range: 507 kilometres based on HMS Hermes. from Chile. - Sea Harrier, Harrier GR.3. • 829 NAS with nine Westland • No. 42 Squadron with three • AGM-45 Shrike Air-to-Sur- Wasp HAS.1 helicopters Nimrod MR.2 aircraft. face Anti-radiation missile based on HMS Endurance, • No. 44 Squadron with two (ARM) - Vulcan. HMS Bristol, Leander-class Vulcan B.2 high-altitude • BAe Sea Skua Air-to-Sur- and Type 12 frigates. strategic bombers. face anti-ship missile - Lynx. • 845 NAS with 15 Westland • No. 47 Squadron with three • Aerospatiale AS.12 Air-to- Wessex HU.5 helicopters Hercules C.1 transport air- Surface missile - Wasp. based on RFA Tidespring, craft. • Paveway II Laser-guided 50 51 Wessex HAS.3 Sea King HAS.5 The Westland Wessex operat- The Sea King was primarily ed as an anti-submarine warfare designed for performing an- and utility helicopter. ti-submarine warfare (ASW) • Length: 20.07 metres missions. • Height: 4.83 metres • Length: 17.02 metres • Weight: 3,783 kg (empty) • Height: 5.13 metres • Power: 2 × de Havilland • Weight: 6,373 (empty) Gnome H.1200 Mk.110/111 • Power: 2 × Rolls-Royce turboshaft engines H.1400-2 Gnome turboshaft • Max Speed: 212 kph engines • Service ceiling: 3,700 me- • Cruise Speed: 307 kph tres • Range: 1,230 kilometres • Range: 500 kilometres

Sea Harrier FRS.1 Wasp HAS.1 The Sea Harrier is a naval The Westland Wasp is a small short take-off and vertical land- turbine powered, shipboard an- ing/vertical take-off and land- ti-submarine helicopter ing jet fighter, reconnaissance • Length: 12.29 metres and attack aircraft. • Height: 2.72 metres • Length: 14.7 metres • Weight: 1,566 kg (empty) • Height: 3.71 metres • Power: 1 × Rolls-Royce • Weight: 6,616 kg (empty) Nimbus 103 turboshaft en- • Power: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pe- gine gasus 106 vectored thrust • Max Speed: 193 kph turbofan engine • Service ceiling: 3,700 me- • Max Speed: 1,145 kph tres • Service ceiling: 16,000 me- • Range: 487 kilometres tres • Range: 740 kilometres

Lynx HAS.2 Harrier GR.3 The Westland Lynx is used The Harrier was a ground at- in the battlefield utility, anti-ar- tack and reconnaissance aircraft mour, search and rescue and an- with vertical/short takeoff and ti-submarine warfare roles. landing (V/STOL) capabilities. • Length: 13.3 metres • Length: 14.27 metres • Height: 3.67 metres • Height: 3.63 metres • Weight: 3,277 kg (empty) • Weight: 6,139 (empty) • Power: 2 x Rolls-Royce • Power: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pe- Gem 42-1 engines gasus 103 Vectored-thrust • Max Speed: 324 kph high-bypass turbofan engine • Range: 528 kilometres • Max Speed: 1,176 kph • Range: 670 kilometres

52 53 Chinook HC.1 Nimrod MR.2 The Chinook HC.1 is a tan- Nimrod MR1/MR2s were dem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter. primarily fixed-wing aerial • Length: 30 metres platforms for anti-submarine • Height: 5.77 metres warfare (ASW) operations. • Weight: 11,148 kg (empty) • Length: 38.63 metres • Power: 2 × Lycoming T55- • Height: 9.4 metres GA-714A turboshaft en- • Weight: 39,009 kg (empty) gines • Power: 4 × Rolls-Royce • Max Speed: 310 kph Spey turbofan engines • Service ceiling: 6,100 me- • Max Speed: 930 kph tres • Service ceiling: 13,411 me- • Range: 370 kilometres tres • Range: 8,336–9,262 kilo- metres

Phantom FGR.2 Vulcan B.2 McDonnell Douglas F-4 The Vulcan was a jet-pow- Phantom II was used for air ered tailless delta wing high-al- defence, close air support, titude strategic bomber. low-level strike and tactical re- • Length: 29.59 metres connaissance. • Height: 8.08 metres • Length: 17.55 metres • Weight: 37,908 kg (empty) • Height: 4.9 metres • Power: 4 × Bristol Olympus • Weight: 14,061 kg (empty) Mk.101 / Mk.102 / Mk.104 • Power: 2 × Rolls-Royce twin-spool turbojet engines Spey 203 low bypass turbo- • Max Speed: 1,039 kph fans • Service ceiling: 17,000 me- • Max Speed: 2,231 kph tres • Service ceiling: 18,300 me- • Range: 4,195 kilometres tres • Range: 2,816 kilometres

Canberra PR.9 The English Electric Canber- C-130 Hercules ra was a high-altitude bomber. The C-130 was originally de- • Length: 19.96 metres signed as a troop, medevac, and • Height: 4.78 metres cargo transport aircraft. • Weight: 9,820 kg (empty) • Length: 29.79 metres • Power: 2 × Rolls-Royce • Height: 11.66 metres R.A.7 Avon Mk.109 turbo- • Weight: 34,382 kg (empty) jet engines • Power: 4 × Allison T56-A-15 • Max Speed: 930 kph turboprop engines • Service ceiling: 15,000 me- • Max Speed: 590 kph tres • Service ceiling: 10,000 me- • Range: 1,300 kilometres tres • Range: 3,800 kilometres

54 55 Victor K2 Dassault Mirage IIIEA and Argentine Coast Guard during the Falklands War. During the Falklands War, one DHC-6-200 • Aviation Service with one Victor tankers were used to re- Aérospatiale Puma SA330L Machine guns and cannons fuel Vulcan bombers on their Argentine Navy helicopter and five Short • 7.62 mm FM M2-20 - Pu- way to and from the Black • 1st Naval Air Attack Squad- Skyvan 3M-400. caras Buck raids. ron with six Aermacchi • 20 mm Colt Mk.12 Cannon • Length: 35.03 metres MB.339A. Escuadrón Fénix - A-4s • Height: 8.573 metres • 2nd Naval Air Fighter/At- The Phoenix Squadron (Es- • 20 mm Hispano-Suiza • Weight: 40,383 kg (empty) tack Squadron with four cuadrón Fénix) was a volun- HS.804 Cannon - Pucaras • Power: 4 × Armstrong Sid- Dassault Super Étendard. teers’ special unit of the Ar- • 30 mm DEFA cannon - IAI deley A.S.Sa.7 Sapphire tur- • 3rd Naval Air Fighter/Attack gentine Air Force established Daggers and Mirage IIIEA bojet engines Squadron eight McDonnell during the 1982 Falklands War. • Max Speed: 1,009 kph Douglas A-4Q Skyhawks. In April 1982, the unit was de- Unguided rockets • Service ceiling: 17,000 me- • Naval Air Antisubmarine ployed to Comodoro Rivadavia • ZUNI 127 mm - MB.339s tres Squadron with six Grum- and was reinforced with several • 70 mm - MB339s • Range: 9,662 kilometres man S-2E Tracker. civilian planes and their civil- • 105 mm - Pucaras • Naval Air Training Squad- ian pilots who volunteered to Argentinian Air Forces • Southern Air Force (Fuer- and Argentine Coast Guard ron with four Beechcraft fly them. Missiles - Air-to-Air T-34C-1 Toubo Mentor. During the war, the Learjets • AIM-9B Sidewinder short- When the war broke out Ar- za Aérea Sur) – Brigadier were all involved in the air war. • Naval Air Exploration performed 52 missions includ- range IR - Navy A-4Q Sky- gentina had about 240 planes at Ernesto Crespo. The FAS Squadron with Lockheed ing search and reconnaissance hawks their disposal. was the main organisation Argentine Air Force SP-2H Neptune (both re- flights, communications re- • Rafael Shafrir 2 short-range Another advantage in their involved in combat over the • 1st Air Brigade with sev- tired by end of May due to transmission flights, and path- IR - IAI Daggers and A-4C favour was the fact that they conflict zone. en Lockheed C-130H Her- airframe attrition). finder flights to guide combat • Matra R550 Magic short- were a lot closer to the Falkland • South Atlantic Military The- cules, two Lockheed KC- • 1st Naval Air Helicopter jets with the Learjets’ superior range IR - Mirage IIIEA Islands - 1,521 kilometres. atre (Teatro Operaciones At- 130H Hercules Tankers, lantico Sur) - Vice Admiral three Boeing 707-320C, six Squadron with ten Aérospa- navigation systems. • Matra R530 short-range tiale Alouette AI03 SA361B The unit’s most difficult mis- semi-active radar and IR: - Organisation Juan Lombardo. Basically a Fokker F-28-1000C, and 12 helicopters, two Lynx sions were 126 sorties in which Mirage IIIEA The air units involved in the naval command with the role Fokker F-27-400M. Mk.23 helicopters, and one the Learjets acted as decoys, Falklands War were under the of coordinating the air, sur- • 2nd Air Brigade with eight Britten-Norman BN-2A Is- flying day and night to simulate Missiles - Air-to-Surface following chain of command: face and submarine assets in English Electric B.Mk62 lander. strike aircraft preparing to at- • Aérospatiale AM.39 Exocet • Military junta – Brigadier the South Atlantic area. In- Canberra and two Learjet • 2nd Naval Air Helicopter tack the fleet. Anti-Ship Missile - Super General (Lieutenant Gener- itially, during the invasion 35A. Squadron with five Sikorsky Many believe that most of Etendards al) Basilio Lami Dozo. of the islands on 2 April and • 3rd Air Brigade with 25 S-61D-4 helicopters. the Argentine A-4 Skyhawks • AS 30 air-surface missiles. • Air Defence Command (Co- before hostilities broke out, FMA IA 58A Pucará. • Naval Air Transport Squad- and Daggers successes were Supplied by the Peruvian mando Aéreo de Defensa) the islands were supposedly • 4th Air Brigade with 16 Mc- rons with three Lockheed achieved because the British Air Force and arriving at the – Brigadier Jorge Hughes to be under their command Donnell Douglas A-4C Sky- L-188PF Electra, three Fok- Sea Harriers had been drawn Tandil AFB (home base of was in charge of the radar and was considered as the hawks. ker F-28-3000C, and two away from more important tar- the FAA Dagger) at the end network, Mirage IIIEA in- only organisation needed to • 5th Air Brigade with 30 Mc- P-95 Bandeirulh. gets. of May, the war ended be- terceptors and anti-aircraft manage the crisis. Donnell Douglas A-4B Sky- Civilian helicopters were also fore they could be used. defences on the mainland. • Falklands Military Garrison hawks. Argentine Army added to the unit for use in the • Strategic Air Command (Guarnicion Militar Mal- • 6th Air Brigade with 27 Is- • 601 Army Aviation Battal- search and rescue role in the Unguided retarded Gravity (Comando Aéreo Estratégi- vinas) - Brigade General rael Aircraft Industries (IAI) ion with two Boeing CH- continent. Most notably, Sikor- bomb co) - Brigadier Helmuth We- Mario Menéndez (Army). Daggers. 47C Chinook helicopters, sky S-61N LV-OCN and Sikor- • US built Mark 82 Snake Eye ber. Coordinated air assets • Air Component (Compo- • 7th Air Brigade with three three Agusta A109A heli- sky S-58T LV-OCM. (227 kg) - A-4Q through all the country. The nente Aéreo) - Brigadier Lockheed C-130E Hercules, copters, nine Bell UH-1H In total, 77 different • British built “1000 lb” (450 CAE also had the main role Luis Castellano. two Boeing CH-47C Chi- Iroquois helicopters, and six kg) - A-4B/C, IAI Daggers of long range maritime sur- nook helicopters, and two Aérospatiale Puma SA330L Armament and Canberras veillance with Boeing 707s The Argentine Air Force, Ar- Bell 212 helicopters. helicopters. The following weapons and • Spainish built Expal BR/ and C-130 Hercules. gentine Navy, Argentine Army • 8th Air Brigade with 16 ordnance was used by Argentina BRP 250 kg - A-4B/C and 56 57 IAI Daggers Casualties • 35 fighters Israel Aircraft Industries Dagger • Argentine built PG 125 kg - During the Falklands War the • Two bombers The Israel Aircraft Industries Pucaras Argentinians lost the following • Four cargo aircraft Nesher was the Israeli version • Napalm - Pucaras aircraft. • 25 COIN aircraft of the French Dassault Mirage 5 • 25 helicopters • Nine armed trainers multi-role fighter. It was named ‘Dagger’ by Argentine. FMA IA 58 Pucará • Length: 15.65 metres The FMA IA 58 Pucará is an • Height: 4.25 metres Argentine ground-attack and • Weight: 6,600 kg (empty) counter-insurgency (COIN) air- • Power:1 × SNECMA Atar craft. 9C after-burning turbojet • Length: 14.25 metres engine • Height: 5.36 metres • Max Speed: Mach 2.1 • Weight: 4,020 kg (empty) • Service ceiling: 17,680 me- • Power: 2 × Turbomeca Asta- tres zou XVIG turboprop • Range: 1,300 kilometres • Max Speed: 500 kph • Service ceiling: 10,000 me- tres Dassault Mirage III • Range: 350 kilometres The Dassault Mirage III is a single/dual-seat, single-engine, fighter aircraft. • Length: 15.03 metres • Height: 4.5 metres Douglas A-4 Skyhawk • Weight: 7,050 kg (empty) The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk • Power: 1 × SNECMA Atar is a single-seat subsonic carri- 09C after-burning turbojet er-capable light attack aircraft. engine • Length: 12.23 metres • Max Speed: 2,350 kph • Height: 4.62 metres • Service ceiling: 17,000 me- • Weight: 4,469 kg (empty) tres • Power: 1 × Pratt & Whitney • Range: 1,200 kilometres J52-P-6A turbojet engine • Max Speed: 1,083 kph • Range: 1,867 kilometres Aermacchi MB-339 The Aermacchi MB-339 is a military jet trainer and light at- tack aircraft • Length: 10.97 metres • Height: 3.60 metres • Weight: 3,075 kg (empty) • Power: 1 × Rolls-Royce Vi- per Mk. 632 turbojet engine • Max Speed: 2,350 kph • Service ceiling: 17,000 me- tres • Range: 1,200 kilometres

58 59 Dassault Super Étendard Bell UH-1 Iroquois The Dassault-Breguet Su- The Bell UH-1 Iroquois per Étendard is a French carri- (nicknamed “Huey”) is a utility er-borne strike fighter aircraft military helicopter powered by • Length: 14.31 metres a single turboshaft engine, with • Height: 3.86 metres two-bladed main and tail rotors. • Weight: 6,500 kg (empty) • Length: 17.40 metres • Power: 1 × Snecma Atar 8K- • Height: 2.62 metres 50 turbojet • Weight: 2,365 kg (empty) • Max Speed: 1,205 kph • Power: 1 × Lycoming • Service ceiling: 17,300 me- T53-L-11 turboshaft tres • Max Speed: 1,205 kph • Range: 850 kilometres • Service ceiling: 17,300 me- tres • Range: 850 kilometres

Aérospatiale Alouette III The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter. • Length: 10.03 metres • Height: 3 metres • Weight: 1,143 kg (empty) • Power: 1 × Turbomeca Ar- touste IIIB turboshaft • Max Speed: 210 kph • Service ceiling: 3,200 me- tres • Range: 840 kilometres

Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-en- gined medium transport/utility helicopter. • Length: 18.15 metres • Height: 5.14 metres • Weight: 3,536 kg (empty) • Power: 2× Turbomeca Tur- mo IVC turboshafts • Max Speed: 257 kph It’s 10 weeks into the Falklands War, and two British Harriers find themselves protecting damaged • Service ceiling: 4,800 me- ships. Suddenly, Argentine Skyhawks appear on the horizon and a fight ensues. Click on the photo- tres graph above to watch actual footage of this battle. • Range: 580 kilometres

60 61 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history short by the outbreak of World Special Air Service lines in the deserts of Egypt and Paddy Mayne War II. Lieutenant Eoin McGonigal Libya, where the SAS wrought Capped for Ireland and the British Lions at rugby union, a lawyer, amateur boxer and a was a friend of Mayne’s and a havoc by destroying many ene- founding member of the Special Air Service, Paddy Mayne was a legend. World War II fellow officer of No. 11 (Scot- my aircraft on the ground. In March 1939, prior to the tish) Commando. He was an Mayne pioneered the use of addy Maine was many He attended Regent House a solicitor. While at university outbreak of World War II, early volunteer of the Special military Jeeps to conduct sur- things. An international Grammar School where he soon he took up boxing, becoming Mayne had joined the Sup- Air Service (SAS), and he rec- prise hit-and-run raids, particu- rugby player, capped for displayed a talent for sports. Irish Universities Heavyweight plementary Reserve in New- ommended Mayne’s name to larly on Axis airfields. It was P townards and received a com- Captain David Stirling. claimed that he had personally Ireland and the British Lions at He played for the school 1st Champion in August 1936. He rugby union. An amateur boxer, XV and, from the age of 16, for followed this by reaching the mission in the Royal Artillery, Rumour has it that when Stir- destroyed up to 100 aircraft. a more than useful golfer, and a the local Ards RFC team. While final of the British Universities being posted to 5 Light An- ling interviewed Mayne, the The top scoring member of qualified lawyer. at school he also played cricket Heavyweight Championship, ti-Aircraft Battery, in 8th An- latter was under arrest of hitting the Royal Air Force was James During World War II he would and golf, and showed aptitude but was beaten on points. ti-Aircraft Regiment, later 8th his commanding officer. This ‘Johnnie’ Johnson with 38 en- rise to the rank of Lieutenant as a marksman in the rifle club. With a handicap of eight, he (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft story, however, is untrue. emy kills. On one raid alone Colonel, become a founding On leaving school he stud- won the Scrabo Golf Club Pres- Regiment. What is true is that Mayne Mayne destroyed 47 enemy air- member of the Special Air Ser- ied law at Queen’s University ident’s Cup the next year. While When the battery was as- was in trouble for assaulting craft. vice, and would go on to com- of Belfast, studying to become at university Mayne was an of- signed to 9th Anti-Aircraft Major Charles Napier, the sec- His first successful raid at mand the unit. ficer cadet with the Queen’s Regiment (later 9th (London- ond in command of his battal- Wadi Tamet on 14 December He would also go on to be- University, Belfast Contingent, derry) Heavy AA Regiment) for ion. 1941, where aircraft and petrol come one of the British Army’s Officer Training Corps. overseas’ service, Mayne was Stirling obviously liked what dumps were destroyed, helped most decorated soldiers, win- Mayne played five tests for transferred out to 66th Light he saw and Mayne was recruit- keep the SAS in existence, fol- ning the Distinguished Service Ireland before being selected as AA Regiment in Northern Ire- ed into the SAS. lowing the failure of the previ- Order a remarkable four times. a lock for the 1938 British Li- land. Then, in April 1940, he There is no proof that Mayne ous initial raid behind enemy He was controversially denied a ons tour of South Africa. was transferred again, this time was under arrest or in prison lines. Victoria Cross. While on tour in South Af- to the Royal Ulster Rifles. when Stirling first met him, nor For his part in the Tamet raid rica with the Lions in 1938, Following Churchill’s call to that Stirling obtained his release Mayne was awarded the DSO. Early life Mayne’s rather wild character form a “butcher and bolt” raid- so that he could join the newly He also received a mention Robert Blair “Paddy” came to the fore, smashing ing force following the evacu- formed SAS. in despatches on 24 February Mayne was born in New- up colleagues’ hotel rooms, ation of Dunkirk, Mayne vol- From November 1941 1942. townards, County Down, temporarily freeing a con- unteered for the newly formed through to the end of 1942, Mayne took part in the most the sixth of seven chil- vict he had befriended No. 11 (Scottish) Commando. Mayne participated in many successful SAS raid of the De- dren in a Protestant and who was working on He first saw action in June night raids deep behind enemy sert war when on the night of 26 family. the construction of the 1941 as a second-lieutenant The family was Ellis Park Stadium and with 11 Commando during pretty well off. They also sneaking off from the Syria–Lebanon Campaign. were prominent a formal dinner to go Mayne successfully led a sec- landowners and hunting. tion of men during the Litani owned several re- In early 1939 he River operation in Lebanon tail businesses in graduated from against Vichy French Forces. the town. Queen’s and joined The operation was commanded One of his pater- George Maclaine & by Major Dick Pedder, High- nal ancestors was Co in Belfast, having land Light Infantry, who was Gordon Turnbull, been articled to TCG killed in action. Mayne played who led the fa- Mackintosh for the five a distinguished part in the raid, mous ‘Scotland previous years. for which he was awarded a Forever Charge’ His legal and sport- mention in dispatches. PACKING A PUNCH: An SAS Jeep. Note the number of at Waterloo. ing careers were cut machine guns on it. 62 63 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history

July 1942 with eighteen armed mired him in battle but were clined to do so, though the Blair by the 150th anniversary of the Jeeps, he along with Stirling very wary of him during quiet Mayne Association vowed to signing of the Royal Warrant to raided the Sidi Haneish Air- times once he had a few drinks continue their campaign to have institute the Victoria Cross; and field. They avoided detection, under his belt. the Victoria Cross retroactively therefore calls upon the Gov- destroyed up to 40 German air- Many urban legends of his awarded. Mayne’s actions were ernment to mark these anniver- craft and escaped with the loss post-war years exist in Belfast not in doubt and his citation saries by instructing the appro- of only three Jeeps and two men and Newtownards. These most- for the VC, approved by Field priate authorities to act without killed. The regular Army want- ly tell of incidents in which, af- Marshal Bernard Montgomery, delay to reinstate the Victoria ed to disband the SAS but the ter drinking for several hours, commander of the Allied 21st Cross given for exceptional success helped keep the critics Mayne would challenge every Army Group, noted that he led personal courage and leader- at bay. man in the bar to a fight, which two armoured Jeep squadrons ship of the highest order and to Following Stirling’s cap- he would invariably win. Other through the front lines toward acknowledge that Mayne’s ac- ture in January 1943, 1st SAS accounts describe him as a cou- Oldenburg. tions on that day saved the lives Regiment was reorganised into RUGBY INTERNATIONAL: In 1937 Paddy Mayne was select- rageous leader of his men and a However, in a standard prac- of many men and greatly helped two separate parts, the Special ed to play for Ireland. He is in the back row, third from right. ferocious opponent. tice of the time, the award was the allied advance on Berlin.” Raiding Squadron (SRS) and Mayne is also described as downgraded to a lesser award, the Special Boat Section (the Army’s most highly decorated drinking with a masonic friend growing increasingly with- and Mayne received instead a Honours and Awards forerunner of the Special Boat soldiers and received the Dis- in the nearby town of Bangor, drawn as the war progressed, third bar to the DSO (in other Service). As a major, Mayne tinguished Service Order with before making his way home in preferring books to the compa- words, a fourth award of the was appointed to command the three bars, one of only seven the early hours. ny of friends. DSO). Special Raiding Squadron and British servicemen to receive At about 4am he was found After separating fact from An Early Day Motion put led the unit in Sicily and Italy that award four times during dead in his Riley roadster in myth, it is clear that Mayne before the House of Commons until the end of 1943. In Sicily, World War II. Mill Street, Newtownards, hav- was an extraordinary war in June 2005 and supported by From top to bottom, left to Mayne was awarded a bar to his Additionally, the post-war ing reportedly collided with a hero, and some of the criticism more than 100 MPs also stated right: DSO. French Government awarded farmer’s vehicle. comes from disbelief that one that: In January 1944 he was pro- him the Legion d’honneur and At his funeral hundreds of man could have achieved what “This House recognises the • Companion of the Distin- moted to lieutenant colonel the Croix de Guerre. mourners turned out to pay their Mayne achieved, without in- grave injustice meted out to Lt guished Service Order and and appointed commanding of- respects and to see him interred jury, although Mayne suffered Col Paddy Mayne, of 1st SAS, Three bars. ficer of the re-formed 1st SAS Post war in a family plot in the town’s from long-standing back pain who won the Victoria Cross at • 1939–45 Star. Regiment. He subsequently led After a period with the British old Movilla Abbey graveyard. sustained in the Western Desert. Oldenburg in North West Ger- • Africa Star (With 8th Army the SAS with great distinction Antarctic Survey in the Falkland After his death his masonic Mayne was inclined to re- many on 9th April 1945; notes clasp). through the final campaigns of Islands, cut short by a crippling jewel was preserved for many monstrate with colleagues in that this was subsequently • Italy Star. the war in France, the Neth- back complaint that had begun years by an old school friend the armed services who showed downgraded, some six months • France and Germany Star. erlands, Belgium, Germany during his army days, Mayne before it was presented to New- little or no understanding of the later, to a third bar DSO, that • Defence Medal. and Norway, often campaign- returned to Newtownards to townards Borough Council complex politics of Northern the citation had been clearly • War Medal 1939–1945 with ing alongside local resistance work first as a solicitor and then where it was displayed in the Ireland. altered and that David Stirling, bronze oak leaf for Men- fighters including the French as Secretary to the Law Society Mayoral Chamber of the Coun- founder of the SAS has con- tioned in Dispatches. Maquis. of Northern Ireland. cil Offices. Controversy firmed that there was consider- • Officer of the Legion of In recognition of his lead- He suffered severe back pain The question of why Mayne able prejudice towards Mayne Honour (France). ership and personal disregard which prevented him from even Reputation was not awarded a Victoria and that King George VI en- • Croix de guerre 1939–1945 for danger while in France, in watching rugby as a spectator. To say that Paddy Mayne had Cross was raised by his contem- quired why the Victoria Cross (France). which he trained and worked He rarely talked about his war- a reputation would be putting it poraries, and the matter came had ‘so strangely eluded him’; closely with the French Resist- time service. mildly. During the 1938 Lions to a head when brought before further notes that on 14th De- ance, Mayne received the sec- On the night of Tuesday 13 tour it is said that Mayne re- British Parliament in January cember it will be 50 years since ond bar to his DSO. December 1955, after attending laxed by “wrecking hotels and 2006 after a public campaign to Col Mayne’s untimely death, in During the course of the war a regular meeting of the Friend- fighting dockers”. re-open the case. a car accident, and this will be he became one of the British ship Lodge, Mayne continued During the war, his men ad- The British Government de- followed on 29th January 2006 64 65 Forged in metall 120 mm L/44. Arabia during the Yemeni Civil The resulting design, the The M1 Abrams entered War. MBT-70, incorporated new battle service in 1980 and currently technologies across the board. serves as the main battle tank Background While the design was highly of the United States Army and Through the 1960s the US capable, its weight continued Marine Corps. The export ver- Army and German Army had to grow, as did its budget. By M1 Abrams MBT sion is used by the armies of collaborated on a single design 1969, the unit cost stood at five With innovative features such as a multi-fuel turbine engine, sophisticated Chobham composite Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, that would replace both the times the original estimates. armour, and a computer fire control system, the M1 Abrams is rated as one of the best main bat- Australia, and Iraq. M60 Patton and the Leopard 1. In August 1969 the Senate tle tanks in the world. The Abrams was first used in The overall goal was to have halted funding of the pro- combat in the Persian Gulf War a single new design with im- gram until the Govern- he M1 Abrams is a control system, separate am- and has seen combat in both the proved firepower to handle new ment Accounting third-generation Amer- munition storage in a blow- War in Afghanistan and Iraq Soviet tanks like the T-62, while Office could Tican main battle tank out compartment, and NBC War under U.S. service, while providing improved protection under- designed by Chrysler Defence protection for crew safety. Iraqi Abrams tanks have seen against the T-62’s new 115 mm (now General Dynamics Land Initial models of the action in the war against ISIL smooth-bore gun and especial- Systems). M1 were armed with a li- and have seen use by Saudi ly high explosive anti-tank Conceived for modern ar- censed-produced 105 mm (HEAT) rounds. moured ground warfare and Royal Ordnance L7 gun, now one of the heaviest tanks in while later variants fea- service at nearly 62 metric tons, ture a licensed Rhein- it introduced several innovative features, including a mul- ti-fuel turbine engine, so- phisticated Chobham composite armour, a computer fire

66 67 take an audit of the program. tially sceptical of the need for a very few M1 tanks were hit by As a result of the problems 120 mm gun, at some point the enemy fire. Loader’s Armour with the MBT-70, the U.S. issue was raised that the Sovi- Gun Shield Army introduced the XM803, ets might introduce a tank with Gulf War Abrams M1A2 using some technologies from composite armour. The Abrams remained untest- the MBT-70 but removing In this case, the 120 would ed in combat until the Persian Remote Weapons Station some of the more troublesome give them the performance Gulf War in 1991, during Op- features. needed to defeat such a devel- eration Desert Storm. A total of This succeeded only in pro- opment even without depleted 1,848 M1A1s were deployed to Loader’s Thermal Sight ducing an expensive system uranium. Saudi Arabia to participate in with capabilities similar to the By 1977 the decision had the liberation of Kuwait. The M60. been made to eventually move M1A1 was superior to Iraq’s Congress cancelled the MBT- the new tank to a 120 mm gun. Soviet-era T-55 and T-62 tanks, Tank/Infantry 70 in November and XM803 After head-to-head testing be- as well as T-72 versions import- Telephone December 1971, and redis- tween the Royal Ordnance ed from the Soviet Union and tributed the funds to the XM1 L11A5 and the Rheinmetall Poland. Thermal Sight Abrams named after General Rh-120, the latter was chosen. The T-72s, like most Soviet Googles Creighton Abrams. The turret designs of the two export designs, lacked night vi- Through the period while the prototypes were modified to al- sion systems and then-modern initial prototypes were being low either gun to be fit. rangefinders, though they did built, a debate broke out be- Prototypes were delivered in have some night-fighting tanks tween Germany and US about 1976 by Chrysler Defence and with older active infrared sys- Thermal Sight Abrams Reactive the use of the 105 mm gun. General Motors (GM) armed tems or floodlights. Rear Protecting Unit Components Armour Tiles The Army was planning on with the license-built version A total of 23 M1A1s were slat Armour introducing several new types of the 105 mm Royal Ordnance damaged or destroyed during of ammunition for the 105 that L7. On 12 November 1976, the the war. Of the nine Abrams got in range - a decisive advan- Marine Division (Forward), to during the 2015 Yemeni Civ- would greatly improve its per- Defence Department awarded tanks destroyed, seven were tage in this kind of combat. southern Afghanistan in sup- il War, Saudi Arabian M1A2 formance, notably, the XM-774 a $20 billion development con- destroyed by friendly fire, and port of operations in Helmand MBTs were deployed near the using depleted uranium. These tract to Chrysler. two were purposely destroyed Other conflicts and Kandahar provinces. Saudi Arabian/Yemeni border. rounds would give it the per- As the Abrams entered ser- to prevent capture after being Further combat was seen Between 2010 and 2012 the In August 2016, the U.S. ap- formance needed to defeat any vice in the 1980s, they operat- damaged. during 2003 when U.S. forc- U.S. supplied 140 refurbished proved a deal to sell up to 153 Soviet tank with ease. ed alongside M60A3 within the Some others took minor com- es invaded Iraq and deposed M1A1 Abrams tanks to Iraq. more Abrams tanks to Saudi There was some concern that U.S. military, and with other bat damage, with little effect Ba’athist Iraqi leader Saddam In mid-2014, they saw action Arabia, including 20 “battle depleted uranium would not be NATO tanks in various Cold on their operational readiness. Hussein in the Iraq War’s Oper- when the Islamic State of Iraq damage replacements”, sug- allowed in Germany, perhaps War exercises which usually Very few M1 tanks were hit by ation Iraqi Freedom. and the Levant launched the gesting that some Saudi Arabi- just in peacetime, so improve- in Western Europe, especially enemy fire and none were de- Tanks may have limited util- June 2014 Northern Iraq offen- an Abrams had been destroyed ments to the tungsten cored West Germany. stroyed as a direct result of ene- ity in Afghanistan due to the sive. or severely damaged in combat M735 were also considered. The exercises were aimed my fire, none of which resulted mountainous terrain, although During three months, about in Yemen. Through this same period, at countering Soviet forces. in any fatalities. Canada and Denmark have de- one-third of the Iraqi Army’s there was an ongoing effort to However, by January 1991, the The M1A1 could kill oth- ployed Leopard 1 and 2 MBTs M1 tanks had been damaged Concealment improve NATO logistics by Berlin Wall had fallen and the er tanks at ranges in excess of that have been specially mod- or destroyed by ISIL and some The turret is fitted with two standardizing ammunition to Abrams was deployed in the 2,500 metres. This range was ified to operate in the relative- were captured by opposing six-barreled M250 smoke gre- the maximum possible degree. Middle East. crucial in combat against previ- ly flat and arid conditions of forces. By December 2014, the nade launchers (USMC M1A1s The Germans were moving Adaptations before the Per- ous generation tanks of Soviet south-western Afghanistan. Iraqi Army only had about 40 use an eight-barreled version), ahead with their 120 mm gun on sian Gulf War (Operations De- design in Desert Storm, as the In late 2010, at the request of operational Abrams left. That with one on each side. When the Leopard 2K, and noted that sert Shield and Desert Storm) effective range of the main gun Regional Command Southwest, month, the U.S. Department of deployed, the grenades airburst, the British had also introduced gave the vehicle better firepow- in the Soviet/Iraqi tanks was the U.S. Marine Corps deployed State approved the sale of an- creating a thick smoke that a 120 mm gun of their own in er and NBC (Nuclear, Biolog- less than 2,000 metres. This a small detachment of 14 M1A1 other 175 Abrams to Iraq. blocks both visual and thermal keeping with their long-range ical and Chemical) protection. meant Abrams tanks could hit Abrams tanks from Delta Com- After the start of the Saudi imaging. combat doctrine. Although ini- Vastly superior to Iraqi tanks, Iraqi tanks before the enemy pany, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Arabian intervention in Yemen The engine is also equipped 68 69 with a smoke generator that is This was introduced into the active armour on the sides of gun, designed by Rheinmetall and range to the target - to accu- triggered by the driver. When M1A1 production starting Oc- the tank and slat armour (sim- AG of Germany, manufactured rately fire the main gun. activated, fuel is sprayed into tober 1988. This new armour ilar to that on the Stryker) on under license in the U.S. by These three components M1 Abrams the hot turbine exhaust, creat- increased effective armour par- the rear to protect against rock- Watervliet Arsenal, New York. are determined using a laser ing the thick smoke. ticularly against kinetic energy et-propelled grenades and other The M256A1 is a variant of rangefinder, crosswind sensor, • Designer: Chrysler De- However, due to the change rounds but at the expense of shaped charge warheads. the Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44 a pendulum static cant sensor, fence (now General Dy- from diesel as a primary fuel to adding considerable weight to A Transparent Armour Gun gun carried on the German data concerning performance namics Land Systems) the use of JP-8, this system is the tank, as depleted uranium is Shield and a thermal sight sys- Leopard 2 on all variants up and flight characteristics of each • Manufacturer: L i m a disabled on most Abrams tanks 1.7 times more dense than lead. tem are added to the loader’s to the Leopard 2A5. Leopard specific type of round, tank-spe- Army Tank Plant (since today because of a slightly ele- In 1998, a program was be- top-mounted M240B 7.62 mm 2A6 replaced the L/44 barrel cific boresight alignment data, 1980) vated risk of fire damage to the gun to incorporate improved machine gun, and a Kongsberg with a longer L/55. Due to the ammunition temperature, air • Weight: 54 tonnes engine compartment. turret side armour into the Gruppen Remote Weapon Tur- increased calibre, only 40 or 42 temperature, barometric pres- • Length: Gun forward: M1A2. This was intended to ret carrying a 12.7 mm calibre rounds are able to be stored de- sure, a muzzle reference sys- 9.77 metres; Hull length: Armour offer better protection against machine gun (again similar to pending on if the tank is an A1 tem (MRS) that determines and 7.93 metres Similar to most other main rocket-propelled grenades more that used on the Stryker) is in or A2 model. compensates for barrel drop at • Width: 3.66 metres battle tanks, the M1 Abrams modern than the baseline RPG- place of the tank commander’s The M256A1 fires a variety of the muzzle due to gravitation- • Height: 2.44 metres feature composite armour only 7. These kits were installed on original 12.7 mm calibre ma- rounds. The primary APFSDS al pull and barrel heating due • Crew: 4 (commander/ on the frontal aspect of the hull. about 325 older M1A2 tanks in chine gun mount, wherein the round of the Abrams is the de- to firing or sunlight, and target machine gunner, gunner, However, the Abrams’ turret 2001-2009 and it was also in- commander had to expose him- pleted uranium M829 round, of speed determined by tracking loader, driver) features composite armouring cluded in upgraded tanks. self to fire the weapon manual- which four variants have been rate tachometers in the Gun- • Armour: composite ar- across both the front and the The Abrams may also be fitted ly. designed. ner’s or Commander’s Controls mour sides. with explosive reactive armour An exterior telephone allows Handles. • Main armament: M1: 105 In addition, the side skirts of over the track skirts if needed supporting infantry to commu- Secondary armament All of these factors are com- mm L/52 M68A1 rifled the frontal half of the hull are (such as the Tank Urban Sur- nicate with the tank command- The Abrams tank has three puted into a ballistic solution gun (55 rounds) also made of composite, provid- vival Kit) and slat armour over er. machine guns, with an option- and updated 30 times per sec- • Secondary armament: 1 ing superior ballistic protection the rear of the tank and rear fuel al fourth: A .12.7 mm M2HB ond. The updated solution is × 12.7 mm M2HB heavy against chemical energy muni- cells to protect against ATGMs. Active Protection System machine gun in front of the displayed in the Gunner’s or machine gun with 900 tions such as HEAT rounds. Protection against spalling is In addition to the armour, commander’s hatch, a 7.62 mm Tank Commander’s field of rounds; 2 × 7.62 mm M240 The composition of the provided by a kevlar liner. some USMC Abrams tanks are M240 machine gun in front of view in the form of a reticle in machine guns with 10,400 Abrams’ composite armour equipped with a Softkill Ac- the loader’s hatch on a skate both day and Thermal modes. rounds (1 pintle-mounted, consists of sandwiched plates of Tank Urban Survival Kit tive protection system, the AN/ mount, a second 7.62 mm The ballistic computer ma- 1 coaxial) non-explosive reactive armour The Tank Urban Survival Kit VLQ-6 Missile Countermeas- M240 machine gun in a coaxial nipulates the turret and a com- • Engine: H o n e y w e l l (NERA) between conventional (TUSK) is a series of improve- ure Device (MCD) that can mount (i.e., it points at the same plex arrangement of mirrors so AGT1500C multi-fuel steel plates. ments to the M1 Abrams intend- impede the function of guid- targets as the main gun) to the that all one has to do is keep the turbine engine 1,500 shp The NERA plates feature ed to improve fighting ability in ance systems of some semi-ac- right of the main gun, and a sec- reticle on the target and fire to (1,120 kW) elasticity, allowing them to flex urban environments. tive control line-of-sight (SA- ond coaxial 12.7 mm)M2HB achieve a hit. Proper lead and • Transmission: A l l i s o n and distort upon perforation, Historically, urban and oth- CLOS) wire- and radio guided machine gun can be mounted gun tube elevation are applied DDA X-1100-3B disrupting the penetrating jets er close battlefields have been anti-tank missiles (such as the directly above the main gun in to the turret by the computer, • Suspension: High-hard- of shaped charges and provid- poor places for tanks to fight. Russian 9K114 Shturm) and in- a remote weapons platform as greatly simplifying the job of ness-steel torsion bars ing more material and space for A tank’s front armour is much frared homing missiles. part of the TUSK upgrade kit. the gunner. with rotary shock absorb- a kinetic round to pass through, stronger than that on the sides, The MCD works by emitting ers thus providing increased pro- top, or rear. a massive, condensed infrared Aiming The Abrams series of Main • Ground clearance: 0.48 tection compared to conven- In an urban environment, at- signal to confuse the infrared The Abrams is equipped with Battle Tanks have been tried metres tional steel armour of similar tacks can come from any direc- homing seeker of an anti-tank a ballistic fire-control computer and tested in combat and have • Operational range: Road: weight. tion, and attackers can get close guided missile (ATGM). that uses user and system-sup- earned the right to be regarded 426 km; Cross country: Armour protection was im- enough to reliably hit weak plied data from a variety of as one of the best MBT’s cur- 150–200 km proved by implementing a new points in the tank’s armour or Main armament sources to compute, display, rently available. The have been • Speed: Road 72 km/h special armour incorporating gain sufficient elevation to hit The main armament of and incorporate the three com- forged in battle. (governed); Off-road: 48 depleted uranium and other un- the top armour. the M1A1 and M1A2 is the ponents of a ballistic solution km/h disclosed materials and layouts. Armour upgrades include re- M256A1 120 mm smoothbore - lead angle, ammunition type, 70 71 Living up to their motto “Who dares wins”, the British ish soldier was wounded by an Special Air Service launched a raid on Argentinian air- Argentine IED while the raiding craft based on Pebble Island’s airfield during the Falk- party returned fire using small battlefield lands War. The raid was reminiscent of their exploits arms and M203 grenade launch- ers, resulting in the death of the during World War II. Argentine commanding officer and the suppression of any de- ebble Island is one of the smaller Falkland Argentine Air Force’s FMA IA fensive effort. Islands, lying north of West Falkland. The 58 Pucará and some Argentine The Argentine version states R site was being used as a forward operating Naval Aviation’s T-34 Mentor P light ground attack aircraft. that their marines remained in base for T-34 Mentor and Pucara aircraft by the shelters during the shelling by Argentine Air Force. Reconnaissance by these air- a Glamorgan, so they were una- For the 150 Argentine troops assigned to pro- craft could have compromised GROUNDED FOR GOOD: An Argentinian T-34 Mentor lies ble to face the SAS in combat. tect the airfield during the Falklands War, it the Royal Navy’s manoeuvres i destroyed on the ground at Pebble Island airfield. The British wounded was the seemed to be a relatively safe posting. Yet on before its intended landing on result of shrapnel from explod- the night of 14-15 May 1982 they were about East Falkland. by Klepper canoe. Light Anti-tank Weapons to d ing charges settled by the Argen- to receive some unwelcome visitors that would Special Air Service (SAS) el- The patrol found that strong carry into the engagement zone tines under the airstrip in order change their opinion of it being a safe posting. ements, then embarked on HMS headwinds would increase the from the helicopters, with each Hermes, were tasked with elim- time taken to fly in from Hermes man in the raiding party carry- to deny its use to the enemy. The Background inating the threat, with naval launch point, delaying time on ing at least two mortar bombs. blasts were triggered in the be- o lief that the operation was a full- The Falklands War, known in Spanish as Guer- support from the Type 22 frigate target and reducing the availa- For small arms, M16 rifles scale assault to take over the air ra de las Malvinas, was a 10-week undeclared HMS Broadsword as Hermes’ ble offensive window to thirty were used, some with under- n base. war between Argentina and the United Kingdom defensive escort and the County minutes, rather than the planned slung M203 grenade launchers. The wounded man was hauled in 1982 over two British dependent territories in class destroyer HMS Glamorgan ninety. Approach navigation was con- back to the recovery site with the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and its to provide naval gunfire support In light of this information the ducted by a member of the Boat the raiding party reaching the territorial dependency, the South Georgia and with its Mark 6 4.5 inch guns. planning emphasised the impor- Troop who had carried out the P aircraft by the required time for the South Sandwich Islands. The Naval Gunfire Support tance of destroying the aircraft reconnaissance. transportation back to Hermes The conflict began on 2 April, when Argentina Forward Observer (NGSFO) as a priority, with support per- As the raiding party ap- e before daybreak. The decision invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, fol- who was responsible for co-or- sonnel as a secondary priority. proached the target they spotted was made to proceed with ex- lowed by the invasion of South Georgia the next dinating the naval gunfire sup- an Argentine sentry but were not b filtration rather than returning to day, in an attempt to establish the sovereignty it port was Captain Chris Brown The Raid seen, allowing them to enter the attack the defending force. had claimed over them. RA of 148 Battery 29 Comman- During the night of 14 May, target and lay charges on seven b Assets destroyed during the The Argentinians were convinced that the do Regiment Royal Artillery. two Westland Sea King HC4 of the aircraft. raid totalled: British would not send troops nearly 13,000 helicopters of 846 Naval Air Once all the aircraft had l • Six FMA IA 58 Pucarás[n 1] kilometres to try and recaptured the territory. Yet Planning Squadron, part of the Comman- been prepared the raiding team (Air Force) on 5 April, the British government dispatched a The initial plan was a for a do Helicopter Force, departed opened fire on the aircraft with e • Four Turbo Mentor trainer/ naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy squadron from D Squadron, 22 with 45 members of D Squad- small arms and L1A1 rockets. light attack aircraft (Navy) and Air Force before making an amphibious as- Regiment, SAS to carry out an ron on board. The delivery point All of the aircraft were dam- • One Short SC.7 Skyvan util- sault on the islands. air insertion from HMS Hermes. was 6 km from the airstrip on aged, with some having their ity transport aircraft (Coast The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with the The raiding party would de- Pebble Island. Mountain Troop undercarriages shot away. I Guard) Argentine surrender on 14 June, returning the is- ploy under the cover of darkness, was tasked with the destruction Following this cue Glamorgan • Destruction of the ammuni- lands to British control. In total, 649 Argentine destroy the deployed aircraft, ra- of the Argentine aircraft, while began shelling the Argentine s tion dump military personnel, 255 British military person- dar site, ground crew, and force the remaining personnel acted positions on the airfield using • Destruction of the fuel dump nel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the protection garrison and return to as a protection force, securing high-explosive rounds, hitting l The raid was considered a hostilities. the deck of HMS Hermes before approaches to the airstrip, and the ammunition dump and fuel complete success, reminiscent Immediately after the Argentinians had seized daybreak. forming an operational reserve. stores. a of the type of operation carried the Falkland Islands they established a small air- Reconnaissance for the raid The raiding party unloaded The defending force did not out by the SAS in the Second base, Aeródromo Auxiliar Calderón, on Pebble was conducted by personnel over 100 L16 81mm Mortar engage until the entire raiding n World War. Island, known by the Argentinians as isla Bor- from the Boat Troop of D Squad- bombs, explosive charges, and party had re-grouped and were d bón, using the local airstrip on which were based ron, conducting an infiltration Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1 preparing to move out. One Brit- 72 73 Gaming

Hoist the main sail, run out the guns, Admi- ral Matt ‘Horatio’ O’Brien is all at sea as he sets out to teach both the French and the Yanks a damn good lesson.

ooking through some afalgar. and ricochets. Thickness based of the many games that In the American campaign, planking system where protec- LI have played over the you will play the role of John tion degrades as the planking is years, I realised that there are Paul Jones, participate in the damaged. Planking penetration not many games that deal with War of Independence and stand is also influenced by shot angle naval warfare. So Ultimate Ad- at the origins of the United and material quality. miral: Age of Sail is a welcome States Navy winning freedom They have recreated the beau- sight. for your country. tiful ships of the Age of Sail pe- Developed and published by The developers have done riod from historical or admiralty Game-Labs, Ultimate Admiral: a lot of research into the ships collections drafts. Accurate hull Age of Sail is a tactical war- and weapons of the time in an models, sail plans, guns, inter- es in assaulting enemy batteries cient and deadly. With every You’ll need an Intel Core i3- game set amidst the epic naval effort to make the game as real- nal upgrades, historical speed and other fortifications. Manage shot, their accuracy and gun- 2100 (3.1 GHz) or equivalent campaigns in the period of the istic as possible. trials were used in the creation cover, positioning, and morale nery improve. While sailing computer with 64-bit Windows American Revolutionary and Individual wind plans are of vessels. to lead your forces to victory! they improve their stamina and 10 / 8.1 / 7 with Service Pack 1. Napoleonic Wars. based on each ship’s rigging. Historical availability has Control of the seas is only half fine control of their ship. Board You will also need 2 GB Game-Labs are no stranger Realistic sailing physics rep- also been implemented. Certain the battle. Whether on the New enemy ships and land marines memory and 11 GB available to RTS games and previously licates the behaviour of actu- ships and weapons can only be World, Europe, or the many is- to build proficiency in combat. space. brought us Ultimate General: al ships where yard position captured by boarding ships or lands in-between, once the war Of course, every veteran’s death Ultimate Admiral: Age of American Civil War and Ul- changes based on the chosen taken from the enemy on the at sea is over, an invasion must is a huge blow to the navy. Sail is not a bad game at all. timate General: Gettysburg. course and direction of the battlefield. commence. Gain reputation and promo- Both of which were pretty good wind. To win battles you will need Take control of more tradi- tions: Participating in battles games. When at full sail your relative to master the art of manoeu- tional national armies to com- you will receive an experience Ultimate Admiral: Age of position to the wind can cause vring at sea. In the Age of Sail, bat your enemies on land in ma- that will allow you to develop Sail is a unique wargame allow- your ship to roll and block your proper positioning is of the jor campaigns and where your your admiral. Develop your ing you to experience the best guns from firing effectively. utmost importance. Gain the small force of marines will not tactical doctrines, build fast and of the Ultimate Series AI and Moving with full sails in strong weather gage, sustain powerful do. manoeuvrable squadrons, or tactical engine in naval, land, winds can also capsize your broadsides, and anticipate the Build your fleet: Success on slow heavily armed ships of the and combined arms landing op- ship. When sailing against the lumbering movement of enemy the high seas will earn you pro- line to control the seas. Receive erations. wind ships can be pushed back- ships-of-the-line. Approach to motions. Grow your fleet from bonuses to supply, improve re- Taking the role of a famous ward. deliver a broadside at your own a small squadron of unrated lations with the Admiralty, re- commander, you will be at the There is a unique aiming sys- peril; even the most experi- ships to a fearsome battle fleet plenish crew, lower equipment heart of the historical battles tem where you can assign a tar- enced captains risk demasting, complete with powerful ships- prices, and gain other advantag- and events. get to focus your gunner’s aim loss of the ships, or death when of-the-line. Customize your es to assist your campaigns. In the British Campaign, you on any part of a ship. A detailed engaging the enemy. ships with new technology and Fight in the campaigns and will follow Horatio Nelson’s damage model allows for the When broadsides are not weapons, to create a fleet that participate in 80+ battles from Publisher - Game-Labs journey from midshipman on destruction of all ship compo- enough; you bring the Marines! fits your tactical doctrine. small engagements to massive Genre - RTS the shores of Central America nents. Realistic ballistics and Your hardy sea infantry can Manage your crews: With battles over land and sea. The to the admiral who defeated the impact physics that account for board vessels, conduct landing every naval engagement, your campaign fully depends on Score 7/10 great armada in the battle of Tr- energy, penetration, obstacles, operations, and join land forc- crewmen become more effi- player actions and battle results. Price - R175 (on Steam) 74 75 Book Review Movie Das Boot Review Released: 1981 Running time: 149 minutes Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen Mobility Conquers ore than two years in officers in the Army, 61 Mech the writing, this book played a major role in the of- eleased in 1981, Das the boat on a patrol, taking pho- so they torpedo it again, only to Mis the warts-and-all ten hard-fought incursions into Boot (The Boat) is a Ger- tographs of them in action and learn there are still sailors aboard. story of the birth, career and Angola between 1978 and 1988 man war film written and reporting on the voyage. The U-boat men watch in horror death of the South African De- and won all its battles, even R fence Force’s 61 Mechanised though the South Africans were directed by Wolfgang Petersen, He meets the submarine’s as the sailors leap overboard and produced by Günter Rohrbach, captain (Jürgen Prochnow) in a swim towards them. Unable to Battalion Group (1979-2005), always vastly outnumbered by and starring Jürgen Prochnow, French bordello where the cap- accommodate prisoners, the cap- generally acknowledged as the the armed forces of Angola with Herbert Grönemeyer, and Klaus tain and his crew are celebrating tain orders the boat away. best fighting unit in Africa in its their abundant Soviet weaponry Wennemann. The sound track is the captain being awarded the The crew, by this time worn time. and Russian and Cuban advi- in German with English subtitles. Ritterkreuz (Knight’s Cross of out, are looking forward to re- 61 Mech was structured as a sors, and usually with an unfa- The film is an adaptation of Lo- the Iron Cross). turning home in time for Christ- combined-arms unit with inte- vourable air situation. thar-Günther Buchheim’s 1973 The captain is 30 years old and mas. But they are ordered to La gral infantry, armoured and ar- The book includes many per- German novel of the same name, is openly anti-Nazi, and embit- Spezia, in Italy. This means pass- tillery components the first in sonal accounts by 61 Mech’s of- the film is set during World War tered and cynical about the war. ing through the Strait of Gibral- Africa and arduously trained in ficers and men, some of them in II and tells the fictional story of The next morning the U-96 tar—an area heavily defended by a fast-moving mobile warfare harrowing detail. It is also salted U-96 and its crew. leaves La Rochelle to a cheering the Royal Navy. doctrine which was not based with short snippets of informa- It depicts both the excitement crowd and a band playing. Wer- What follows will keep you on adapted European tactics but tion which help to make it an en- maps and 400+ photos is a must of battle and the tedium of the ner is given a tour of the boat and glued to the screen. Das Boat is was specifically designed for tertaining read for people from read. fruitless hunt, and shows the men introduced to the crew. an excellent film and was nomi- fighting modern bush wars in anywhere in the world. serving aboard U-boats as ordi- The next three weeks are spent nated for no fewer than six Acad- the forbiddingly difficult Afri- Written by Willem Steenkamp nary individuals with a desire to enduring a relentless North At- emy Awards, including Best Di- can battle-space. and Helmoed-Römer Heitman, do their best for their comrades lantic gale. As time passes Wer- rector. Led by some of the brightest this 1,152 page book with 61 and their country. ner observes the ideological dif- During production, Heinrich ferences between the new crew Lehmann-Willenbrock, the cap- members and the hardened vet- tain of the real U-96 and one of erans. Germany’s top U-boat “tonnage Shortly after the storm ends aces” during the war, and Hans- they encounter a British convoy Joachim Krug, former first offi- and launch four torpedoes, sink- cer on U-219, served as consul- ing two ships. They are spotted tants. by a destroyer and are forced to One of Petersen’s goals was dive below test depth, the subma- to guide the audience through “a rine’s rated limit. journey to the edge of the mind”. They are depth-charged and The film’s tag line is “Eine Reise sustain heavy damage. The chief ans Ende des Verstandes,” which machinist, Obermaschinist Jo- means “what war is all about.” hann (Erwin Leder), panics and The film focuses on war corre- has to be restrained. spondent Leutenant Werner (Her- After the attack they eventual- bert Grönemeyer), who is honest ly manage to surface when night Team Secret We Fear Naught but God We conquer from above but naive. He is assigned to the falls. One of the British ships R275 R395 R395 German submarine U-96 in Oc- they torpedoed earlier, a British Click on the poster to watch a tober 1941. He has to accompany tanker, is still afloat and on fire, trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 76 77 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY Some of the significant military events that happened in May. Highlighted in blue are the names was killed in military vehi- • 1943 - US 1st Armoured Di- (FNLC) invade Zaire’s Sha- of those members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) that lost their lives during the month ba Province from Angola. of May. cle accident at Vereeniging. vision captures Mateur, Tu- He was 22. nisia. • 1979 - Captain Gabriel Jo- • 2011 - U.S. Special Opera- • 1945 - British troops liberate hannes Jacobus Basson from 4 SAI accidentally drowned • 1984 - Corporal Johannes surgency Wing: Ops K Divi- tions Forces killed Osama Rangoon from the Japanese. 1 May when his boat struck an un- Gerhardus Terblanche from sion (Koevoet) was Killed in bin Laden during a raid on • 1945 - Polish 10th Armoured • 1915 - A German U-boat derwater obstruction and he 1 SAI was killed instant- Action during a contact with his secret compound in Ab- Brigade captures Wilhelms- sinks the American tanker was thrown overboard by the ly when his Ratel Infantry SWAPO/PLAN insurgents bottabad, Pakistan. hafen. ‘Gulflight’, three killed. impact. He was 28. Fighting Vehicle overturned in Northern Owamboland. • 1945 - RAF sinks sever- • 1936 - Emperor Haile Se- • 1982 - Falklands War: Ar- during exercises at the De He was 37. 3 May al German prison-ships in lassie leaves Ethiopia as the gentine Exocet missile sinks Brug Training Area. He was • 1985 - Rifleman Piet De- • 1846 - The Mexican Army Lubeck Bay. About 7,500 Italians rout his army. HMS ‘Sheffield’. 20. fransa from 201 Battalion invades Texas. are killed. • 1941 - German assault on • 1987 - Corporal Cornelius SWATF was killed in a mil- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- • 1946 - The Allied Military Tobruk. Johannes Du Toit from Regi- 2 May itary vehicle accident. He er War: A battle takes place Tribunal in Tokyo begins • 1947 - Vice Adm Roscoe ment Bloemspruit died from was 21. between the British forces war crimes trials. Hillenkoeter becomes 1st • 1863 - Stonewall Jackson is a gunshot wound resulting • 1987 - Three members from under Lord Roberts and the • 1961 - Defence legislation is CIA director. wounded by his own men at from an accidental discharge 5 Reconnaissance Regiment Boers under Gen. De la Rey amended to enable use of the • 1960 - An American U-2 Chancellorsville, he dies on of a fellow soldier’s rifle were Killed in Action during at Brandfort OFS. De la Rey armed forces for the suppres- spy plane was shot down 10 May. while at Fouriesburg. He a contact with enemy forc- retreats at nightfall. sion of internal disorder and over Sverdlovsk in central • 1943 - Japanese aircraft was 24. es at Otchinjau in Southern • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer reorganise the police so as Russia on the eve of a sum- bomb Darwin, Australia. • 1988 - Representatives of Angola during Ops Bauwer. War: General Lord Roberts to co-ordinate its command mit meeting between Presi- • 1945 - Berlin formally sur- South Africa, United States, They were: Corporal Augus- departs from Bloemfontein headquarters with that of the dent Dwight D. Eisenhower renders to the Red Army. Angola and Cuba meet in ta Fernando (26). Corporal and begins the ‘March to military. and Soviet Russia’s Premier • 1945 - German forces in Ita- London (3-4 May) in search Martin Nyamhunga (24). Pretoria’ with almost 44,000 • 1969 - Lieutenant Andre Nikita Khrushchev. The pi- ly surrender. of a solution to the Angolan Corporal Obadiah Malose men, 18,000 horses, and Weilbach from 4 Squadron lot, CIA agent Francis Gary • 1982 - Falklands War: Brit- war and independence for Sebata (25). 1,200 field-guns. He leaves was killed when his AT-6 Powers, survived the crash, ish sub HMS ‘Conqueror’ Namibia. and was tried, convicted sinks Argentine light cruis- • 1988 - A self-confessed SA to the strains of “We are Harvard failed to recover spy of the security police in from a spin and crashed near and sentenced to 10 years in er ‘General Belgrano’, 323 marching to Pretoria” which 4 May prison by a Russian court. members of the crew are the ANC, Olivia Forsyth, is heard for the first time. Hartebeespoortdam during a • 1860 - The Orange Free • 1962 - First French under- killed. who was held prisoner at • 1941 - US supply ships final- routine general flying train- State signs a peace treaty ground nuclear blast, in the • 1982 - Rifleman Karel Titus ANC Quatro prison camp ly reach the British Middle ing sortie. He was 25. with Moshesh at Witteber- Sahara. from the South African Cape for seven months and spent East army at the Suez Canal. • 1976 - Two members of the gen, near Winburg, after the • 1982 - Two members from Corps was killed when he another fifteen months un- Kempton Park Comman- first Basuto war. Infantry School were killed was knocked down and run der ANC guard in Luanda, do were killed in a military • 1902 - General Smuts, on his in a private motor vehicle over by a civilian vehicle evades her guards and takes vehicle accident in Pretoria. way to the national delega- accident between Edenburg while carrying road block refuge in the British embassy They were: Lance Corpo- tion at Vereeniging to start and Bloemfontein while on duties at Eersterivier. He was in Luanda. ral Johannes Petrus Hen- peace negotiations, meets weekend pass. The casual- 29. • 1990 - Two members from drik Barnard (20). Rifleman with General Lord Kitchener ties were: Rifleman Marnes • 1982 - Captain Leon van the Cape Regiment were Lawrence William Custard at Kroonstad, OFS. van Jaarsveld (18). Rifle- Wyk from 1 Parachute Bat- accidentally killed when (24). • 1916 - Germany abandons man Jurgen Swaak (18). talion was Killed in Action their Buffel Troop Carrier • 1978 - Three thousand unrestricted submarine war- • 1982 - Rifleman Hans Ju- east of Otavi during a con- overturned in Mpumalanga. members of the Congolese fare, at the “request” of the rie Storm from 1 Parachute tact with SWAPO/PLAN in- They were: Corporal An- National Liberation Front US. Battalion was killed in a pri- surgents. He was 26. drew Afrika (23). Rifleman • 1945 - German troops in the vate motor vehicle accident • 1984 - Special Warrant Of- Jan Geduld (36). Netherlands, Denmark, and near Bloemfontein while on ficer Benyamen Joseph from • 1990 - Lieutenant Mike Osama bin Laden Norway surrender weekend pass. He was 19. the SWA Police Counter-In- Schillings from Group 17 78 79 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY

• 1965 - Units of the SADF 90 Armoured Car Crew Technical Service Corps was etersen drowned while on than 300 the number of UN main unaccounted for. They are now being equipped with Commander from 2 Spe- captured during this encoun- Observation Post duties on personnel they are believed were: Major Raymond Hall a rifle made completely in cial Service Battalion “D” ter and later taken to Cuba. the Kavango River. He was to be holding captive and Carter (52). Captain Gideon South Africa. It is the R1- Squadron Walvis Bay, was He was released a few years 20. dealing another blow to UN Machiel Albertus Rossouw 7.62 mm rifle, developed Killed in Action. He was 19. later. The casualties were: • 1980 - Rifleman Simon Ka- peacekeeping efforts in Afri- (25). from the Belgian FN rifle, • 1978 - Corporal Herbert Lance Corporal Hendrik puna from (35 Battalion) ca. • 1978 - South Africa is con- with improvements. Charles Truebody, an Eland Jacobus Venter (20). Lance 101 Battalion SWATF was • 2011 - Claude Stanley demned by the United States • 1970 - At Kent State Uni- 90 Armoured Car Crew Corporal F. Petrus (22). Ri- Killed in Action during a Choules dies in Australia at of America for its recent versity, four students were Commander from 2 Spe- fleman L. Haifiku (24).Ri- contact with SWAPO/PLAN the age of 110. He was the raid into Angola (Operation killed by National Guards- cial Service Battalion “D” fleman H. Haimbodi (22). insurgents in Southern An- last combat veteran of World Reindeer). men who opened fire on Squadron Walvis Bay, was Rifleman W. Robert (23). gola. He was 24. War I and also the last vet- • 1982 - Lieutenant Raymond a crowd of 1,000 students Killed in Action when his Rifleman J. Petrus (20). • 1980 - Two members of eran to have served in both Roderick Hughes from 6 protesting President Richard Eland 90 armoured car was 8 SAI were Killed in Ac- World Wars. Squadron was killed near Nixon’s decision to invade hit by a Soviet 82mm B10 5 May tion after suffering multiple Port Elizabeth while ap- Cambodia. recoilless anti-tank rocket. • 1821 - France’s Napoleon shrapnel wounds when their 6 May proaching to land in Atlas • 1978 - South African air- He was 19. Bonaparte dies in exile on TB came under attack from • 1906 - British troops kill MB326M Impala Mk I while borne attack on a South • 1981 - Signaller Ronald the island of St. Helena. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents over sixty Zulus during a pu- returning from a routine West Africa People’s Organ- Christo van Hamersveld • 1941 - Emperor Haile Selas- using mortars and RPG- nitive expedition near Dur- training flight. He was 25. ization (SWAPO) military from 2 Signal Regiment was sie returns to Addis Ababa. 7 Anti-Tank Rockets. The ban, Natal. • 1983 - Rifleman Louis Smit base at the former town of killed in Military Vehicle • 1942 - US begins rationing casualties were: Rifleman • 1915 - Gallipoli: Allies at- from Regiment Westelike Cassinga, Angola. Conduct- Accident in Pretoria. He was sugar during WW II. Derek van den Berg (21). tack Cape Hellas. Provinsie suffered a fatal ed as one of the three major 21. • 1942 - A combined British Rifleman Andre Johannes • 1942 - Corregidor and the heart attack and died while actions of Operation Rein- • 1982 - Special Sergeant N. military and naval force land Redelinghuys (20). Philippines surrender to the on a foot patrol in the Opera- deer during the South Afri- Tamunila from the South on Madagascar and by the • 1987 - Lance Corporal Rod- Japanese tional Area. He was 25. can Border War, it was the West Africa Police Coun- afternoon the town of Diego ney Abraham Scott from • 1943 - Allied forces on their • 1991 - Gunner Phillipus An- South African Army’s first ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops Suarez is captured. Group 39 was killed in a way to Tunis wipe out Ger- dries van der Merwe from 25 major air assault. K Division (Koevoet) was • 1945 - Okinawa: 131 Kami- motor vehicle accident at man 15th Panzer Division. Field Regiment was killed • 1978 - Four members from Killed in Action during kaze sink 17 ships. Barkley East. He was 21. • 1945 - Axis Sally makes her when his Buffel Troop Carri- 2 and 3 Parachute Battalion a contact with SWAPO/ • 1945 - German troops in the • 2000 - Sierra Leone rebels last broadcast. er overturned at Batavia. He were Killed in Action dur- PLAN insurgents in North- Netherlands surrender to the seize peacekeepers from • 1955 - West Germany joins was 18. ing Operation Reindeer and ern Owamboland. He was Allies. Zambia, raising to more NATO. • 1992 - Rifleman Ralph -Jef the subsequent assault on 32. • 1965 - First large US ground • 1962 - USS ‘Ethan Allen’ frey Steyn from 3 SAI was Cassinga in Southern An- • 1983 - Lance Corporal Ger- units arrive in South Viet- (SSBN-608) fires the first killed at Imbali Township gola. The casualties were: hardus Daniel Blignaut from nam. nuclear warhead from a sub- near Pietermaritzburg when Rifleman Edward James 6 SAI was Killed in Action • 1969 - P.W. Botha, the Min- merged submarine. his Buffel Troop Carrier suf- Backhouse (22). Rifleman after suffering fatal gun- ister of Defence, announces • 1976 - Two crew members fered brake failure and over- Martin Kaplan (25). Rifle- shot wounds when his pa- that an air-to-air projectile from 27 Squadron were Re- turned. He was 22. man Jacob Conrad De Waal trol walked into a SWAPO/ has been perfected by South ported Missing when their (23). Rifleman Andries PLAN ambush. He was 21. Africa. Piaggio P166S Albatross 7 May Petrus Human (29) was re- • 1988 - Six members from • 1977 - Rifleman Hendrik disappeared south of Dassen • 1915 - The British passenger ported Missing in Action af- 101 Battalion SWATF were Johannes Jordaan from Reg- Island while returning from ship Lusitania was torpedoed ter jumping from the aircraft Killed in Action during a iment Westelike Provinsie a long range West Coast by a German submarine off at Cassinga. It was later contact with a numerical- was Killed in Action when Sea Patrol. The crew have the coast of Ireland, losing learnt that he had landed in ly superior enemy force at he detonated a landmine no known grave and re- 1,198 of its 1,924 passen- the river and drowned. Donguena, North of Cal- while on patrol in the Jati gers, including 114 Amer- • 1978 - Corporal Terence Mi- ueque in Southern Angola. Strip. He was 21. Claude Choules icans. The attack hastened chael Bridgeman, an Eland Private Papenfus from the • 1977 - Willem Johannes Pi- neutral America’s entry into 80 81 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY

World War I. was Killed in Action dur- pher George Docherty from render ceremony was held in ion) SWATF were Killed in • 1945 - German troops in the • 1937 - Germany’s Condor ing a contact with SWAPO/ 7 SAI was killed when his Berlin. Soviet Russia’s lead- Action during a contact with Channel Islands surrender to Legion arrives in Spain to PLAN insurgents at Tsumeb. Buffel Troop Carrier over- er Josef Stalin had refused to SWAPO/PLAN insurgents the British. help the Nationalists. He was 20. turned at Barberton. He was recognize the German sur- in Northern Owamboland. • 1975 - Sergeant (Flight En- • 1939 - Germany and Italy • 1982 - Private Barry Andre 23. render document signed a They were: Rifleman Kum- gineer) Jacobus Johannes announce a military and po- van Tonder from the Tech- • 1997 - Former Defence Min- day earlier at Reims. sa Ntamshe (22).Rifleman Crause from 16 Squadron litical alliance known as the nical Service Corps was ac- ister Magnus Malan takes • 1950 - General Douglas David Twi (20). was killed when his Alou- Rome-Berlin Axis. cidentally electrocuted at full responsibility for secret MacArthur is appointed • 1981 - Two members from ette III Helicopter ditched • 1942 - World War II: East Lohatla and could not be re- apartheid raids into neigh- commander of the United 2 SAI were Killed in ac- into the sea off Port Eliza- Africa. Naval bases on Mad- vived. He was 22. bouring countries but says Nations (UN) forces in Ko- tion in a landmine explosion beth after suffering engine agascar are surrendered to • 1983 - Two members from they were all state-sanc- rea, including South Afri- in Northern Owamboland. failure. He was 28. the British by Vichy forces. the South West Africa Po- tioned and legal. cans. They were: Lance Corporal • 1977 - A Second Defence • 1943 - World War II: Final lice Counter-Insurgency • 2000 - Rebels in Sierra Le- • 1952 - US conducts the first Johannes Petrus Botha (19). Amendment Bill passes its Allied Offensive, Tunisia. Wing: Ops K Division (Ko- one use civilians as shields H-Bomb test at Eniwetok Rifleman Johannes Willem final stages in the House General Sir Harold Alexan- evoet) were Killed in Ac- while fighting UN forces. Atoll. Hanekom (22). of Assembly, with the sup- der’s 18th Army Group cap- tion during a contact with • 1966 - WO1 Louis Matthys • 1985 - Rifleman Petrus Jo- port of the entire opposi- tures Bizerte and Tunis. All SWAPO/PLAN insurgents 8 May Jakobus Pienaar from the hannes Theron from the tion. The existing twelve that remains of the German in Northern Owamboland. • 1902 - A combined force of Artillery School was killed Germiston Commando was months’ maximum national force is General Gustav von They were: Special Warrant British soldiers and armed when his Landrover was in- killed in a head-on collision service will be increased to Vaerst’s 5th Panzer Army on Officer Lebeus Vilho (36). Blacks attempts to surround volved in a head-on collision between two Buffel Troop twenty-four months and the the Cape Bon peninsula. Constable Nico Johannes General C.H. Muller’s com- with a civilian vehicle near Carriers in the Kathlehong subsequent period of service • 1945 - World War II: Ger- Swiegers (22). mando, commanded in his Heidelberg. He was 45. Township. He was 26. increased to a maximum of many signs an uncondition- • 1984 - Special Sergeant Fi- absence by Col. Trichardt, • 1980 - Rifleman Simon • 1985 - Special Constable 240 days. al surrender at Allied head- lupus Matheus from the near Belfast. The attackers Kanunu from 35 Battal- Linus Abraham from the • 1986 - Sapper Jacobus quarters in Rheims, France, South West Africa Police are repulsed. ion (Later 202 Battalion) South West Africa Police Petrus van den Berg from to take effect the following Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1940 - The Cape Corps, con- SWATF was Killed in Ac- Counter Insurgency Wing: 25 Field Engineer Squadron day, ending the European Ops K Division (Koevoet) sisting of Cape Coloured tion during a contact with Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was killed at Oshakati after conflict of World War II. was Killed in Action dur- men, is reformed under Col. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents was Killed in Action dur- being struck by a bullet re- • 1946 - British Prime Min- ing a contact with SWAPO/ C.N. Hoy. in Northern Owamboland. ing a contact with SWAPO/ sulting from the accidental ister, Clement Attlee, an- PLAN insurgents in North- • 1941 - Royal Navy captures He was 22. PLAN insurgents in North- discharge of a fellow sol- nounces plans to withdraw ern Owamboland. He was ‘U-110’, with an intact Enig- • 1980 - Two members of 36 ern Owamboland. He was diers rifle. He was 19. British troops from Egypt, 28. ma machine. Battalion (Later 203 Battal- 24. dependent upon agreement • 1985 - Gunner Conrad • 1942 - During World War II 10 May for a military alliance for the Heathcote from 10 Light in the Pacific, the Battle of 9 May • 1857 - Sepoy uprising at protection of the Suez Canal. Anti-Aircraft Regiment col- the Coral Sea began in which • 1936 - Five days after Italy Meerut initiates the Indian • 1954 - The French Indochi- lapsed and died after suffer- Japan would suffer its first captured the Ethiopian cap- Mutiny. na War ended with the fall of ing a fatal heart attack dur- defeat of the war. ital of Addis Ababa, Mus- • 1918 - Royal Navy com- Dien Bien Phu, in a stunning ing Junior Leaders Course at • 1943 - World War II: Fi- solini annexes Ethiopia and mando raid on Ostend: HMS victory by the Vietnamese Youngsfield. He was 24. nal Allied Offensive, Tu- announces that Abyssinia is ‘Vindictive’ is sunk to block over French colonial forc- • 1985 - Rifleman A.H. Am- nisia. Admiral Sir Andrew now part of the Italian Em- the Harbour. es in northern Vietnam. The brosius from 101 Battalion Cunningham, Command- pire. • 1940 - British form the Home country was then in divided SWATF was Killed in Ac- er-in-Chief of the Mediterra- • 1945 - Czechoslovakia lib- Guard (Dad’s Army). in half at the 17th parallel, tion during a contact with nean Fleet launches Opera- erated from Nazi occupa- • 1940 - Germany invades with South Vietnam created SWAPO/PLAN insurgents tion ‘Retribution’, to prevent tion. France, the Netherlands, in 1955. near the Cut-Line. He was Axis forces from evacuating Belgium, and Luxembourg. • 1982 - Corporal Hercules 19. North Africa. Joseph Stalin • 1940 - Kurt Student becomes Petrus Bester from 5 SAI • 1987 - Rifleman Christo- • 1945 - A second German sur- the first general to a make 82 83 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY combat parachute jump, over Africa enters Windhoek, • 1985 - Corporal Mark An- the ground near the Sundays • 1988 - Rifleman Dean An- • 1988 - Foreign Affairs Min- Rotterdam. capital of South West Africa. thony Pond from 905 Spe- River during a routine gen- thony Lones from Regiment ister Pik Botha and Defence • 1940 - Luftwaffe bombs • 1943 - World War II: Final cial Services Company was eral flying training flight. He Dan Pienaar was killed in a Minister Magnus Malan hold Freiburg, Germany, by mis- Allied Offensive, Tunisia. Killed in Action during a was 21. military vehicle accident at talks in Brazzaville, Congo, take; Goebbles blames the General Gustav von Vaerst’s contact with SWAPO/PLAN • 1975 - Trooper Pieter Ga- Hazyview near White River. with an Angolan delegation RAF. 5th Panzer Army finally sur- insurgents in Southern An- briel Eybers from 2 Special He was 25. headed by Minister of Jus- • 1940 - Winston S. Churchill renders on the Cape Bon gola. Service Battalion was acci- • 2000 - Ignoring international tice Fernando van Dunem. becomes Prime Minister of peninsula, Tunisia. • 1986 - Three members from dentally killed when he fell pleas to end their two-year the UK. • 1943 - RMS ‘Queen Mary’ the South West Africa Police out of a patrol observation border conflict, Ethiopia and 14 May • 1941 - Rudolf Hess, Adolph arrives at New York with Counter-Insurgency Wing: post in the Operational Area. Eritrea return to open war • 1942 - During World War II, Hitler’s deputy, parachutes Winston Churchill and the Ops K Division (Koevoet) He was 20. with fighting reported on an Act of Congress allowed into Scotland. British Chiefs of Staff, en were Killed in Action during • 1980 - Rifleman Cornelius three fronts. women to enlist for non- • 1946 - Italy’s former colo- route to Washington, as well a fierce contact with heavi- Johannes Nortje from 1 SAI combat duties in the Wom- nies in North Africa are to be as 5,000 Afrika Korps veter- ly armed PLAN insurgents attached to 61 Mech Battal- 13 May en’s Auxiliary Army Corps placed under UN control. ans bound for POW camps, in Northern Owamboland ion was killed when his Buf- • 1940 - Churchill promis- (WAAC), the Women Ap- • 1956 - France sends 50,000 and the 300 troops guarding when their Z5S Casspir was fel Troop Carrier overturned es “blood, toil, tears, and pointed for Voluntary Emer- reservists to Algeria. them. hit by a Soviet RPG-7 An- in Northern Owamboland. sweat.” gency Service (WAVES), • 1968 - Vietnam War: Paris • 1955 - Israeli raid on Gaza. ti-Tank Rocket. The casual- He was 19. • 1940 - Queen Wilhelmina Women’s Auxiliary Ferry- peace talks begin, as does the • 1960 - Israeli agents capture ties were: Constable Igna- • 1982 - Lance Corporal Mi- of the Netherlands flees to ing Squadron (WAFS), and Battle of Hamburger Hill. Adolf Eichmann in Buenos tius Francois van Zyl (25). chael Simon Ngoma from 5 England to avoid capture by Semper Paratus Always • 1983 - Four members from Aires. Special Constable Simeon Reconnaissance Regiment the Germans. Ready Service (SPARS), the South West Africa Police • 1966 - Lieutenant Ian Pieter Shindele (25). Special Con- died from gunshot wounds • 1943 - World War II: The the Women’s Reserve of the Counter-Insurgency Wing: Roos from 1 Squadron was stable Simon Toivo (24). accidentally sustained. He Italian commander-in-chief Marine Corp. Ops-K Division (Koevoet) killed when his Canadair was 24. in Tunisia surrenders a day • 1943 - Japanese submarine were Killed in Action dur- CL13B Sabre crashed near 12 May • 1983 - Rifleman Frank Paul after his German counter- sinks Australian hospital ing fierce engagement with Waterkloof during a routine • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Couvelis from 912 Battalion part, with the Allies holding ship ‘Centaur’ off Brisbane, a numerically superior force general flying training flight. er War: Lord Roberts enters SWATF was Killed in Action some 250,000 prisoners of 268 of 332 persons aboard of SWAPO/PLAN insur- He was 21. Kroonstad. President M.T. in Southern Angola when his war. die; wreck is found in 2009, gents in Northern Owam- • 1978 - Private Pieter Benade Steyn proclaims Heilbron in convoy was ambushed by a • 1946 - US sentences 58 with the Red Cross still boland. They were: Sergeant from 84 Technical Stores the Orange Free State as his numerically superior enemy Mauthausen concentration prominent on her sides. A. Willem (27). Special Depot was killed in a mili- new capital. force. camp guards to death. • 1976 - 2nd Lieutenant Li- Constable U. Maundu (25). tary motor vehicle accident • 1941 - Urgent supplies, in- • 1964 - Rifleman Paul Jaco- onel John Kidson from 6 Special Constable T. Mben- at Grahamstown. He was 20. cluding tanks and aircraft ar- bus Krogh from 1 Parachute SAI was critically injured dura (28). Special Constable • 1982 - Rifleman Jaques rive at the Egyptian port of Battalion was accidentally when his Unimog vehi- J. Musaso (24). Samuae Du Preez from the Alexandria with the convoy, shot dead by a fellow soldier cle overturned on the “Wit Army Intelligence Corps code-named ‘Tiger’. Gener- in the Barracks in Tempe, Pad”, close to Eenhana. He 11 May was Killed in Action during al Wavell can now prepare Bloemfontein. He was 20. and the other injured were • 1862 - To prevent its capture an attack on the “Kanjimi for operation ‘Brevity’, and • 1981 - Rifleman Mike Wil- airlifted to the Grootfontein by Union forces advancing Marenga” school where he the push against Rommel’s liams from the South Afri- Hospital where he died dur- in Virginia, the Confederate was serving as a teacher. He forces on the Egypt–Libya can Intelligence Corps was ing the night. He was 19. Ironclad Merrimac was de- was 19. border. killed in a Military Vehicle • 1978 - Communist-backed stroyed by the Confederate • 1982 - Corporal Don Stof- • 1949 - Soviet Russia lifted Accident, at Madimbo. He Katangan gendarmes, who Navy. fel Olyn from 911 Battalion its blockade of Berlin. was 21. had been living in neigh- • 1914 - Taza, Morocco, is oc- SWATF was killed when his • 1973- 2nd Lieutenant Jaco- bouring Angola, invade cupied by French troops. Buffel Troop Carrier over- bus Petrus Kolver from 6 the region around Kolwezi • 1915 - World War I: The turned during a patrol in the Squadron was killed when Kurt Student in southern Zaire. Zairian force of the Union of South Etosha Pan. He was 18. his AT-6 Harvard spun into troops are sent into quell the 84 85 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY violence. py Amsterdam as the Dutch • 1985 - Special Constable K. ing from a sports event at than 30 years, looting it of adier J. Bosman, reveals in • 1980 - Three members from Army surrenders. Tjindunda from the South Uniondale. The casualties billions of dollars, flees the Parliament that one third of 8 SAI were killed after re- • 1941 - World War II:Opera- West Africa Police Coun- were: Staff Sergeant Abra- capital city as rebel forces the 3 000 troops involved in ceiving multiple shrapnel tion ‘Brevity’. British forces ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K ham Carel Prinsloo (30). advance. The rebels enter the SA’s operation in south-east wounds in an accidental regain Halfaya Pass and cap- Division (Koevoet) was Sergeant Johannes Hendrik city the next day and Laurent Angola are not White. In M26 hand grenade explo- ture the towns of Sollum and Killed in Action during a August Agenbach (22). Cor- Kabila declares himself head addition 65% to 70% of the sion at Okalongo in North- Capuzzo on the Egypt–Lib- contact with SWAPO/PLAN poral Pieter Johannes Kotze of state. soldiers in the operational ern Owamboland. They ya border. insurgents in Northern (22). Trooper Izak Sybrand area were ‘people of colour’. were: Lance Corporal Andre • 1944 - Eisenhower & Mont- Owamboland. He was 27. Visagie (20). Bombardier 17 May • 1989 - A military coup fails David Naude (21). Rifleman gomery brief George VI & • 1986 - Lance Corporal Isaac Johannes Adrianas Du Toit • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer to remove Mengistu Haile Frederick Engelbrecht (18). Churchill on the D-Day plan. Londo from 101 Battalion (21). Rifleman Johannes War: After 216 days Boer Mariam as president of Ethi- Rifleman Willem Johannes • 1957 - First British A-bomb SWATF was Killed in Action Frederick Wepener (18). forces abandon the siege of opia. Landman (20). explosion, Christmas Island, in a landmine explosion in • 1981 - WO II Isak Phil- Mafeking and Colonel Ma- • 1991 - Rifleman Antonio • 1982 - Rifleman Andre Jodt the Pacific. Northern Owamboland. He lipus Venter from North hon’s relief column enters Joao Sampaio from 32 Bat- from the South West Africa • 1973 - Private Harry Cor- was 26. West Command Headquar- the town. talion was Killed in Action Territory Force Gymnasium nelius Theron from 1 Main- ters was accidentally killed • 1940 - Germans capture after being struck in the neck was killed in a military vehi- tenance Unit was acciden- 16 May at Stilfontein when he was Brussels. by an AK-47 bullet fired cle accident. He was 29. tally shot dead by a fellow • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer knocked down by a civilian • 1941 - World War II: North from an unknown gunman • 1986 - Staff Sergeant Jan soldier at the 1 Maintenance War: A ‘flying’ column that vehicle during the Republic Africa. Rommel is instructed while he was on patrol in Carl Bergh from the Sout- Unit weapons store while has sped its way straight Day preparation festivities. by Berlin to leave Tobruk to Tokoza Township. He was pansberg Commando was they were in the process of from Kimberley (reinforced He was 47. the Italians and concentrate 34. killed in a private vehicle cleaning and checking fire- further by Canadian troops) • 1981 - Rifleman Benjamin his Deutsches Afrika Korps accident while on his way to arms. He was 18. comes to the aid of Mafeking Buys from 16 Maintenance on the fight along the Egypt– 18 May the Unit Headquarters after • 1980 - Rifleman Glen An- who is under siege by Boer Unit was killed when his Libya border. • 1804 - Napoleon Bonaparte being called up for duty dur- drew Paul from 8 SAI was forces. private motor vehicle over- • 1943 - Operation Chastise: became Emperor of France, ing the state of emergency. critically wounded after re- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer turned at Grootfontein. It RAF 617 Squadron (“The snatching the crown from He was 42. ceiving multiple shrapnel War: General Hunter occu- appears that he had fallen Dam Busters”) destroys the the hands of Pope Pius VII • 1987 - Rifleman L. Emma- wounds in an accidental hand pies Christiana, the first ZAR asleep behind the wheel. He Ruhr Valley dams. during the actual coronation nuel from 201 Battalion grenade explosion at Oka- town to be captured. was 20. • 1981 - Signaler Albert Pe- ceremony, and then crown- SWATF was Killed in Ac- longo in Northern Owam- • 1941 - World War II: North • 1997 - Mobutu Sese Seko, ter Jordaan from the Army ing himself. tion during a contact with boland on 14 May 1980, he Africa. Believing that previ- who has ruled Zaire for more Signals Training Centre at • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer SWAPO/PLAN insurgents unfortunately succumbed to ous day’s advance by British Heidelberg was killed in a War: Boer negotiators, Gen- in Northern Owamboland. his wounds on 15 May 1980. forces into Sollum and Fort private motor vehicle ac- erals Botha, De Wet, De la He was 24. He was 20. Capuzzo was the start of an cident between Heidelberg Rey, Smuts and Hertzog at- • 1981 - Rifleman Willie Ele- attack on Tobruk, General and Grootvlei, on the N3. tend peace talks in Pretoria 15 May fante from 201 Battalion Rommel attacks and forces He was travelling home on with Lord Milner and Lord • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- SWATF was Killed in Ac- the British back to Halfaya weekend pass after standing Kitchener. They are still ask- er War: General Buller and tion during a contact with Pass. guard duty the whole night. ing for a continued independ- Lord Dundonald enter Dun- SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents • 1943 - German troops de- He was 18. ence of the former republics. dee. Lyttelton’s division cap- in Northern Owamboland. stroy the main synagogue of • 1987 - USS ‘Stark’ (FFG-31) • 1941 - World War II: East tures Glencoe. He was 22. Warsaw. hit by Iraqi missiles, 37 sail- Africa. The 5th Indian Divi- • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1984 - Rifleman Malekudu • 1964 - Six members of the ors die. sion, part of General William War: Vereeniging confer- Johannes Nkada from 113 SADF were killed when • 1988 - Former information Platt’s Northern Force, takes ence begins. The sixty Boer Battalion was killed when their Military Vehicle was officer of the SADF, Brig- Amba Alagi after eighteen representatives elect General his Buffel Troop Carrier involved in a head-on col- days of fighting. The Italian C.F. Beyers as chairman. overturned while on patrol lision with a Military Re- Mobutu Sese Seko commander, Duke d’Aosta, • 1940 - German troops occu- near Messina. He was 23. covery vehicle while return- is the last one to leave the 86 87 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY fortress. Council unanimously ap- carry out raids in Botswa- Corps. Soloman Hansen (19). Sap- cle accident at Nelspoort. He • 1944 - The Polish II Corps proves an arms embargo na, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, • 1942 - Japanese subma- per Jan Hendrik Smith (19). was returning from Simons- storms Monte Cassino. against Ethiopia and Eritrea killing three people. rine-borne aircraft recon- Sapper Anthonie Christoffel town after collecting sports • 1967 - UN agrees to Egyp- following the latest flare-up • 1987 - Rifleman John -Bar noiter Durban, South Africa. Strydom (19). equipment when his vehicle tian demand to withdraw UN in their two-year border war. nard from Regiment Bloem- • 1970 - Two members from • 1982 - Corporal Brian Ger- overturned. He was 38. forces from Gaza Strip. spruit was killed in a military Flying Training School ald Peterson from 701 Bat- • 1987 - Private Clifton Bri- • 1973 - Staff Sergeant Kevin 19 May vehicle accident at Van Sta- Langebaanweg were killed talion SWATF was Killed in an Kilian from 97 Ammu- Everitt Potgieter from 1 Par- • 1931 - “Pocket Battleship” densrus. He was 25. when their Atlas MB326M Action during a contact with nition Depot was killed in a achute Battalion was killed ‘Deutschland’ launched in • 1996 - French troops move Impala Mk I flipped over on SWAPO/PLAN insurgents military vehicle accident at in a parachute accident at Germany. into downtown Bangui, Cen- the runway during a landing in Northern Owamboland. Mokerong. He was 19. Tempe. He was 27. • 1935 - T. E. Lawrence, bet- tral African Republic, to help at Air Force Base Lange- He was 19. • 1988 - Rifleman Motsemo- • 1980 - Four members from ter known as ‘Lawrence of quell an army uprising. baanweg. They were: Major • 1983 - A powerful car bomb holo Joseph Mpembe from 41 Battalion were Killed Arabia’, is killed in a motor- • 1998 - The name of the mili- Gabriel Hendrik van Dyk placed by MK Operatives 5 Reconnaissance Regiment in Action during a contact cycle accident at the age of tary base, Voortrekkerhoogte (31). Captain Phillip Spen- exploded outside the Air was killed in a parachuting with a numerically superior 46. is officially changed to Tha- cer Weyer (25). Force Headquarters build- accident at Kenilworth. He force of SWAPO/PLAN in- • 1940 - Charles De Gaulle’s ba Tshwane. • 1979 - Special Constable ing in Church Street during was 23. surgents in Northern Owam- 4th Armoured Division Petrus Mabashe from the the afternoon rush-hour pe- • 1988 - Rifleman Andre boland. The casualties were: counter-attacks the Germans 20 May South West Africa Police riod killing seven members Petrus Prinsloo from 16 Rifleman Hendrik Balie at Péronne. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Counter-Insurgency Wing: of the SADF and 10 civil- Maintenance Unit was killed (21). Rifleman Dawid Go- • 1951 - UN begins counter War: A squadron of Colo- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) ians. Another 197 SADF in a military vehicle accident liath (29). Rifleman Vincent offensive in Korea. nel E.C. Bethune, under was Killed in Action dur- personnel and civilians were 10km South of Windhoek. Sekopomashe (25). Rifle- • 1958 - The North American Captain Geoff, runs into a ing a contact with SWAPO/ wounded in the explosion He was 21. man Joseph Tjipuna (22). Aerospace Defense Com- well-placed ambush under PLAN insurgents in North- that also killed the two MK • 1998 - Ethiopia and Eritrea • 1982 - Rifleman Likam- mand (NORAD) is estab- Commandant Blignaut at ern Owamboland. He was Operatives who had placed amass thousands of troops bo Zecks Maxwell from lished. Scheepers Nek, ten km south 26. the bomb. The SADF casu- along their border, ready to 701 Battalion SWATF was • 1967 - US bombs Hanoi. west of Vryheid. The Brit- • 1981 - Three members of alties were: Colonel Ste- fight over a 640-square km killed after suffering multi- • 1978 - Rifleman Adriaan ish lose twenty-seven killed, the SADF were Killed in fanus Sebastiaan Walters triangle of disputed land. ple shrapnel wounds in an Adolf Jonker from the Mid- twenty-five wounded, elev- Action while on a vehicle (43). Commandant Johan accidental mortar bomb ex- lands Commando died from en taken prisoner and twen- patrol from Okankolo north- de Villiers (47). Comman- 21 May plosion at Nkongo Base. He a gunshot wound acciden- ty-nine horses killed. The east along the Odilla River dant Izak Johannes Henning • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- was 21. tally sustained as a result of Boers capture a machine gun bed. The casualties were: (60). Captain Rian Hendrik er War: The proposed peace • 1994 - Military observers an accidental discharge of and twenty-six horses, while 2nd Lieutenant Stephen Liebenberg (26). Flight Ser- proposals agreed on by a returning to the Rwandan a fellow soldiers rifle while losing one burgher killed, geant Jacob Johannes Ras commission of five, Botha, countryside report ethnic he was serving in the Opera- one wounded and one cap- (38). Corporal Anton Nel De la Rey, De Wet and Hertz- killings of at least 200,000. tional Area. He was 24. tured by the British. (22). Airman Wayne Law- og, with Kitchener and Mil- • 1997 - Rebels led by Laurent • 1983 - Lance Corporal Col- • 1902 - US military occupa- rence Kirtley (19). ner, are received in London. Kabila take control of Kin- in Watson Kindness from 4 tion of Cuba (since June of • 1983 - Rifleman John Phil- • 1941 - SS ‘Robin Moore’ is shasa, capital of Zaire now SAI, attached to 61 Mecha- 1898) ends. lip Olivier from Regiment sunk off Brazil, first U-boat the Democratic Republic of nised Battalion Group died • 1940 - German tanks reach Groot Karoo was Killed in kill of an American ship in the Congo, after overrunning from a gunshot wound acci- the Channel. Action near Mupa. He was World War II. the country in seven months. dentally sustained as a result • 1940 - World War II: The 1st 24. • 1944 - World War II: Allied • 1999 - Sierra Leone’s gov- of an accidental discharge of SA Infantry Brigade is called • 1987 - Chief Petty Officer forces break through the Hit- ernment and the country’s a fellow soldiers rifle while up for continuous train- Jan Johannes Barend Mostert ler Line in Italy. rebels agree to a cease-fire the platoon was ‘Falling In” ing, to be followed by other was killed in a military vehi- • 1951 - USSR announces it to end seven years of savage during musketry training. units, including the SA Artil- will sell arms to Egypt. fighting. He was 22. lery Corps, Engineer Corps T E Lawrence • 1956 - US explodes the first • 2000 - The UN Security • 1986 - South African troops and the newly formed Tank airdropped hydrogen bomb, 88 89 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY Bikini Atoll dre Erasmus (28). Lieuten- were Killed in Action dur- East Africa; only Gondar, to vehicle accident near Coles- killed instantly when a So- • 1974 - The British Prime ant Charl de Jongh Muller ing a Reconnaissance Oper- the north, still remains under burg and later succumbed to viet PG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket Minister, Harold Wilson, (23). 2nd Lieutenant Timo- ation in Cabinda Province of Italian control. his injuries in the Universitas was accidently detonated in- states in the House of Com- thy Simmons Patrick (18). Northern Angola. Captain • 1941 - British troops take Hospital, Bloemfontein. He side their Buffel Troop Car- mons that the export license 2nd Lieutenant Johannes Wynand du Toit is captured. Baghdad, deposing pro-Nazi was 22. rier while travelling on the for a Westland Wasp heli- Mattheus Heyns Muller The casualties were: Corpo- Iraqi regime. • 1985 - Major Jan Pen Wes- Oshakati-Oshikuku road. copter to South Africa will (19). Corporal Eduard Coet- ral Rowland Ridgard Lieb- • 1942 - Mexico declares war sels from 85 Combat Fly- He was 24. be revoked. zee Engelbrecht (19). Lance enberg (25). Corporal Louis on Nazi Germany and Japan. ing School was killed when • 1983 - 2nd Lieutenant Jaco- • 1976 - Private Adriaan Jo- Corporal Andrew Jeremy Pieter van Breda (25). • 1945 - The Allies dissolve his Dassault Mirage IIID2Z bus Edward Visser from 202 hannes van der Merwe from Falkus (20). Lance Corporal • 1985 - Three members from the “Dönitz Government,” crashed near Pietersburg. He Battalion SWATF was killed the 4th Provost Company, Joao Kaumba (21). Rifle- 101 Battalion SWATF were and abolish German sover- was 36. in a motor cycle accident at South African Corps of Mil- man Rodrigues Alberto (27). killed when their Caspir Ve- eignty. • 1994 - Rwandan rebels seize Rundu. He was 23. itary Police was killed in Rifleman Benedito Albino hicle overturned at Ondan- • 1945 - After being captured the key government army • 1983 - In response to a car Military Vehicle Accident at (25). Rifleman Sebastiao gwa. They were: Rifleman by the British, Heinrich barracks in Kigali, removing bomb attack in Pretoria on Grootfontein. He was 19. Angelo (22). Rifleman Ma- J Kandjii (27). Rifleman M Himmler commits suicide. the biggest obstacle in their 20 May, the South African • 1978 - French and Belgian nuel Augusto (26). Rifleman Domingos (26). Rifleman J He was 44. drive to capture the capital. Air Force bombs ANC bases paratroopers who were flown Antonio Caliango (31). Ri- Felosiano (25). • 1960 - Israel announces the in a Maputo suburb, Mozam- into Kolwezi, Zaire’s main fleman Abel Livingue (23). • 1986 - Rifleman Gabriel capture of Nazi Adolf Eich- 23 May bique, killing six. copper producing town, Rifleman Casto Marceli- Gerhardus Malan from 7 mann in Argentina. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1998 - General Andreas to rescue the 3,000 White no (24). Rifleman Joaquim SAI was killed in a Military • 1965 - Minister of Defence War: British troops arrive at “Kat” Liebenberg, ex-chief residents, have discovered Matamba (22). Vehicle Accident at Kwan- Jim Fouché announces that the Renoster River only to of the SA defence force, dies over 150 bodies lying in the • 1985 - Three members of the debele. He was 19. R12m. has been spent on the find that the Boers have de- of cancer in Pretoria. town’s main streets. Most Air Force Base Waterkloof • 1986 - Corporal D Mauriocu defence radar screen in the stroyed the bridge. have been badly mutilated. Fire Section were Killed in from 5 Reconnaissance Reg- Transvaal. • 1966 - The Fort Klapperkop 24 May Communist-backed Katang- Action after being called to iment was Killed in Action • 1969 - Trooper Hendrik Er- military museum, Pretoria, • 1870 - Jan Christian Smuts, ese gendarmes, who had in- assist the Pretoria Fire De- during a contact with enemy lank Pieterse from 84 Tech- mainly illustrating the period who was to become the Un- vaded the region earlier this partment in extinguishing a forces in Southern Angola. nical Stores Depot was killed from the Great Trek to 1902, ion of South Africa’s second month, are blamed. Zairian massive fire at the SASOL He was 24. in a military vehicle acci- is opened by President C.R. prime minister, is born on troops, who had been sent in Bulk Storage Depot in Pre- dent. He was 19. Swart. the farm Bovenplaats near a week ago, appear to have toria West after Soviet SPM 22 May • 1983 - Rifleman Johannes • 1979 - Two members from Riebeeck West in the Cape. joined with the Katangese limpet mines planted by • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Engelbrecht from the In- 5 Reconnaissance Regi- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer gendarmes, getting high on MK Operatives had explod- War: USA President McKin- fantry School was critically ment were Killed in Action War: Britain annexes the Or- drugs and going on the mur- ed and damaged some of the ley says he will not intervene injured in a private motor at Shona Mutamanjamba in ange Free State. Lord Rob- der spree. large fuel storage tanks. The in the war in South Africa Southern Angola while car- erts changes the name to Or- • 1980 - Fifteen members casualties were: Sergeant despite direct requests by rying out reconnaissance ange River Colony. from 32 Battalion were Wynand Jacobus Hawkins Boer representatives visiting mission to locate a suspected • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Killed in Action during (30). Corporal Donald Gra- the White House. SWAPO/PLAN Base in the er War: Colonel Robert heavy close-quarter fighting ham Clench (22). Airman • 1915 - Italy declares war on area. The casualties were: Baden-Powell occupies against a vastly numerical- Michael Sydney Knoetze Austria-Hungary. Captain Johannes Cornelius Zeerust. ly superior enemy force of (23). • 1941 - World War II: East van Wyk HC (27). Corporal • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer FAPLA troops and PLAN • 1985 - A SADF unit is am- Africa. Caught between a Johan Kloosterziel (22). War: British General Sir Ian insurgents during an engage- bushed at the Cabinda oil re- pincer movement of the 11th • 1983 - Rifleman Coenraad Hamilton attends General ment to neutralise an ene- finery in Angola and Special and 12th African Divisions, Jacobus Bezuidenhout from Jan Christiaan Smuts’ birth- my base complex at Savate Forces Captain Wynand du the Abyssinian town of Sod- Regiment De La Rey was day party: “I sat between in Southern Angola during Toit is taken captive. du is captured. It was the pe- Botha and De la Ray. On Operation Tiro a Tiro. The • 1985 - Two members from nultimate point of resistance Kat Liebenberg Botha’s right was De Wet, on casualties were: Captain An- 4 Reconnaissance Regiment to the Allied campaign in De la Ray’s left sat Smuts. 90 91 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY I had the most enchanting military advisers in Ethiopia. in Action during a contact • 1967 - Egyptian premier Ga- Gerhardus Hermanus Was- mand was killed in a military evening, and never wish to • 1977 - Sergeant William with SWAPO/PLAN Insur- mal Abdel Nasser vows to serman (21). motor cycle accident at Cull- eat my dinner in better com- Henry Bernard Gildenhuys gents in Northern Owam- destroy Israel if war is pro- • 1972 - US-USSR sign SALT inan. He was 21. pany.” HC (Posthumous) from the boland. He was 25. voked. I (Strategic Arms Limitation • 1989 - WO1 Roland Stan- • 1916 - Britain introduces Cape Town Highlanders was • 1984 - Rifleman Craig Ru- • 1971 - Eleven SAAF mem- Treaty). ley Sheppard from South conscription. killed after suffering multi- dolph Olivier from the Dur- bers, nine from 21 Squadron • 1973 - Rifleman Jeffrey Ger- West Africa Medical Com- • 1916 - Germans capture Ft. ple shrapnel wounds while ban Light Infantry died in 1 and two from 24 Squadron ald Holm from 1 Parachute mand was killed in a Mili- Douaumont, Verdun, from detached to Alpha Compa- Military Hospital after being were killed when a formation Battalion was killed in a tary Vehicle Accident on the the French. ny, 1 Parachute Battalion for critically injured in a mil- of three Hawker Siddeley military vehicle accident, in Tsumeb-Ondangwa Road. • 1921 - The British Legion, special duties. He was 28. itary vehicle accident. He Mercurius HS125 aircraft Eastern Caprivi. Jeffrey was He was 50. now the Royal British Le- • 1981 - Special Warrant Of- was 22. flew into the side of Dev- the first SADF soldier to die • 1991 - South African Air gion, is formed by Great War ficer Antonio Chiwale from • 1987 - Two members from il’s Peak during an aircraft on service in the Border area Force pioneer Major-Gener- veterans. the South West Africa Police 111 Battalion were killed formation practice rehearsal after the SADF took over the al Ken van der Spuy, veteran • 1941 - Battle of the Denmark Counter-Insurgency Wing: in a military vehicle acci- for the Republic Day 10th border area protection role of both world wars and hold- Straits: the ‘Bismarck’ sinks Ops-K Division (Koevoet) dent on the Carolina Road Anniversary celebrations in from the South African Po- er of fourteen decorations HMS ‘Hood’, 1,416 are was Killed in Action dur- approximately 30 km from Cape Town. The casualties lice. He was 19. from several countries, dies killed. There are only three ing a contact with SWAPO/ Amsterdam. They were: Ri- were: Major Michael Chris- • 1977 - Rifleman Charles at the age of 99. survivors. PLAN Insurgents in North- fleman Menzie Albert Moyo tiaan de Graaff Genis (37). Henry Janse van Noordwyk • 1979 - Private Albertus Mun- ern Owamboland. (22). Rifleman Passport Jo- Captain Daniel du Plessis from 3 SAI was killed after 27 May dy from 16 Maintenance • 1982 - Rifleman Daniel de hannes Zulu (21). Lombard (37). Comman- suffering multiple shrap- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Unit was killed in a military Klerk from 4 SAI was Killed • 1994 - The UN arms embar- dant Lourens Adrian Fran- nel wounds in an accidental War: General Lord Roberts vehicle accident at Groot- in Action during a contact go on South Africa is finally cois Henning (40). Major hand grenade explosion at crosses the Vaal River and fontein. He was 21. with SWAPO/PLAN insur- lifted following the election George Johannes Euvrard Potchefstroom. He was 18. occupies the town of Ver- • 1991 - Corporal Revis Omie gents. He was 19. of Nelson Mandela as pres- (32). Major Nico Beetge • 1977 - The Shaba War in eeniging. Khoza from the Kruger Park • 1982 - Private Wayne Peter ident of the government of (31). Captain Gerald Nicol Zaire comes to an end. • 1918 - Battle of the Aisne: Commando was killed after Lourens from 86 Technical National Unity. Snyman (27). Major Herwie • 1980 - Rifleman Johannes Allies begin pressing back he was attacked and tram- Stores Depot went for dental • 1997 - Rebels topple the Herman Albert Cornelius Stephanus van der Merwe the Germans. pled to death by an enraged treatment in Bloemfontein. government of Sierra Leone Lamoral (37). Major Willem from Sector 10 Headquar- • 1941 - World War II: North buffalo while on patrol in the After receiving a dental in- in a violent coup. Abram Prinsloo (37).Corpo- ters was killed when he was Africa. General Erwin Rom- Kruger National Park. He jection, he suddenly lapsed ral Reiner Nicolaas Grobler struck by a bullet resulting mel, now reinforced with the was 35. into a coma and was rushed 26 May (24). Lance Corporal Eu- from an accidental discharge 15th Panzer Division, recap- to hospital where he later • 1940 - The Dunkirk evacu- gene Hayes (22). Private of a fellow soldiers rifle tures Halfaya Pass. 25 May died. He was 21. ation began in order to save while serving at Oshakati. • 1941 - The Royal Navy sinks • 1857 - In an attempt to • 1982 - Three members from the British Expeditionary He was 20. the ‘Bismarck’. unite the two Boer repub- 202 Battalion SWATF were Force trapped by advancing • 1986 - Rifleman Ivan Con- • 1956 - The Casbah area lics, the commandoes of the Killed in Action during a German armies on the north- radie from the South Afri- of Algiers is sealed off as Free State and Transvaal contact with enemy Forces ern coast of France. Boats can Cape Corps, attached to French troops search for (Zuid-Afrikaansche Repub- in Southern Angola. They and vessels of all shapes and Sector 10 Headquarters, was weapons caches. liek) confront each other were: Rifleman G. Muronga sizes ferried 200,000 Brit- killed in a military vehicle • 1969 - Two members of 28 at the Renoster River, but (24). Rifleman A.H. Kudu- ish and 140,000 French and accident at Oshakati. He was Squadron were killed in- an armed clash is averted mo (25). Rifleman L. Kudu- Belgian soldiers across the 21. stantly when the private through mediation of Paul mo (26). English Channel by 2 June. • 1987 - Corporal Willem Jo- motorcycle they were rid- Kruger and others. • 1983 - Sergeant Alberto • 1940 - The Crown detains hannes Gysberg Venter from ing crashed at the notorious • 1940 - German troops reach Costa from the South West British Fascist Oswald Mo- Northern Transvaal Com- “Death Bend” in Johannes- the Channel near Boulogne. Africa Police Counter-In- seley. burg. They were: Air Ser- surgency Wing: Ops-K Di- • 1977 - US raises concern • 1942 - North Africa: Rom- Oswald Moseley geant Terence McKelvin over the presence of Cuban vision (Koevoet) was Killed mel attacks the Gazala Line. (24). Air Mechanic Anthony 92 93 This month in military history ... MAY This month in military history ... MAY

Edward Dwyer (20). Africa. Colonel General Er- • 1984 - Signaller Daniel Hen- John van der Wath from 42 SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1980 - RENAMO denies in win Rommel begins his third drik Klue from the South Af- Squadron was killed instant- near the Cut-Line. He was War: The officially report- Lisbon that the movement is offensive to push the British rican Corps of Signals was ly while flying Atlas AM3C 23. ed camp population of the receiving assistance or sup- back into Egypt: Operation killed in a military vehicle Bosbok, Serial No. 958. The • 1984 - WO1 Willem de White concentration camps plies from South Africa. ‘Venezia’. accident at Olifantshoek. He aircraft crashed near Eenha- Ruyter Genis from North- is 116, 572 and the deaths for • 1981 - Rifleman Terence • 1970 - Private Bartholomeus was 19. na while flying low level ra- ern Logistics Command was May are 196. Rodney le Roux from 5 SAI Stephanus Diedericks from • 1985 - Lieutenant Michael tion drops over a shona. He killed in a military vehicle • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer was Killed in Action while the Technical Service Corps Robert Borthwick from the was 20. accident at Grootfontein. He War: The officially reported on patrol from Etale base was killed in a military vehi- Personnel Services Corps • 1981 - Lieutenant Immo was 48. Black concentration camp close to the Charlie pipeline. cle accident. He was 18. was killed in a Military Vehi- Klaus Kruger from 32 Battal- • 1990 - Private Charl de Vil- population in the sixty-six He was 22. • 1978 - Candidate Officer cle Accident on the Pieters- ion was killed after suffering liers from the Technical Ser- Black camps reach 115,700. • 1990 - Signaller Alan Ver- Stephanus Rudolph Strydom burg Highway. He was 27. multiple shrapnel wounds in vice Corps was accidentally 523 deaths are recorded for non Campbell from 2 Sig- from the Infantry School In- • 1985 - Two members from an accidental hand grenade killed in Pretoria when his May. The total recorded nal Regiment was killed in a structor Group was killed the SWA Police Counter-In- explosion in the 32 Battalion Ratel overturned on the road deaths are calculated at a military vehicle accident on after being struck by a bullet surgency Wing: Ops K Divi- training area. He flung him- in front of Special Forces minimum of 14, 154 (more the Pietersburg Highway. He resulting from an accidental sion (Koevoet) were Killed self onto the hand grenade to Headquarters. He was 19. than 1 in 10). 81% of the fa- was 21. discharge of a fellow sol- in Action during a contact protect those around him. He • 1998 - Accepting a seven- talities are children. dier’s rifle while at Groot- with SWAPO/PLAN insur- was 25. teen-gun salute, outgoing • 1941 - The Luftwaffe bombs 28 May fontein. He was 20. gents in Northern Owam- • 1982 - Lance Corporal Adam South African National De- Dublin. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- • 1979 - Special Warrant Of- boland. They were: Con- Cecil Lennox from 5 Recon- fence Force (SANDF) chief, • 1942 - First Allied air raid on er War: The annexation of ficer David Gabriel from the stable Johannes Jurgens naissance Regiment died at General Georg Meiring, for- Cologne. the Orange Free State is an- SWA Police Counter-Insur- Vos (20). Special Constable Phalaborwa as a result of mally hands over command • 1942 - World War II: East nounced by Lord Roberts, gency Wing: Ops K Division Frans Bajiyu (24). an accidentally self-inflicted of the SANDF to Lt Gen. Africa. Japanese submarines and back-dated to coincide (Koevoet) was driving from • 1986 - Trooper Johann Pre- gunshot wound to the head Siphiwe Nyanda in the sports shell Sydney and Diego Su- with the Queen’s birthday on Ondangwa to Oshakati and torius from 1 Special Ser- while playing with a private- stadium in Thaba Tshwane, arez naval bases on Mada- 24 May. gave a lift to a man who, un- vice Battalion was Killed in ly owned revolver. He was Pretoria. gascar. • 1924 - A serious peacetime known to him, was a member Action when his armoured 18. • 1966 - 300 US airplanes air force accident takes place of SWAPO/PLAN. Halfway car detonated a landmine • 1983 - Rifleman Noreneus 30 May bomb North Vietnam. when a 20-lb bomb falls to Oshakati Warrant Gabriel near the Cut-line. He was Philipus from 101 Battalion • 1815 - The British troopship • 1967 - Egypt’s President from a military DH9 bomber, stopped alongside the road to 21. SWATF was Killed in Ac- Arniston is wrecked on the Gamal Abdel Nasser and which was damaged during a relieve himself, leaving his • 1991 - Ethiopian rebels seize tion during a contact with rocks at Waenhuiskrans (lat- Jordan’s King Hussein sign forced landing at Kuruman. FN rifle in the vehicle with Addis Ababa. er called Arniston). 372 of a mutual defence treaty, The bomb explodes among the passenger. The SWAPO/ the 378 people on board are prompting Israel to strike a crowd of spectators, kill- PLAN passenger took the ri- 29 May drowned. pre-emptively a week later, ing three and injuring thir- fle and shot him dead before • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer starting the Six-Day War. ty-nine. successfully making his es- War: General Louis Botha War: Lady Edward (Violet) • 1970 - 2nd Lieutenant Jo- • 1940 - King Leopold III sur- cape. He was 36. visits Johannesburg two days Cecil writes to Lord Salis- hannes Jacobus Theron from renders Belgium to the Ger- • 1980 - The first 55 women before British occupation bury on the conditions in 4 Artillery Regiment was mans. graduate from the U.S. Na- and asks the residents not to Bloemfontein: “Far more killed in a military vehicle • 1940 - Norway: An- val Academy. resist and not to destroy the people have been killed in accident at Messina. He was glo-French forces capture • 1983 - Lance Corporal Frank gold mines. our hospitals than by Boer 19. Narvik. Pieter Leendert van der Bijl • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer bullets... Men are dying by • 1974 - South Africa tells • 1941 - World War II: Gener- from 101 Field Workshops War: The Battle of Klipriv- the hundreds who could eas- Britain that unless the Wasp al Jan Smuts, premier of SA, was killed after he acciden- iersberg or Doornkop starts. ily be saved.” helicopter is delivered, the becomes a field marshal of tally fell under the wheels • 1945 - Okinawa: the 5th Ma- Simonstown Agreement on the British army. of a moving Samil truck. He rines storm Shuri Castle. Georg Meiring naval cooperation will have • 1942 - World War II: North was 20. • 1981 - Lieutenant Jeremy to be reviewed. 94 95 This month in military history ... MAY The Sunday Breakfast Zone • 1982 - Spain becomes the • 1916 - The Battle of Jutland: multiple shrapnel wounds Catch Military Despatches edi- 16th member of NATO. The British Grand Fleet wins in an accidental hand gre- tor Matt Tennyson every Sunday • 1997 - US Marines evacuate a strategic victory over the nade explosion in Northern morning from 09h00 t0 12h00 900 civilians from Freetown, German High Sea Fleet, Owamboland. He was 20. on the ‘Sunday Breakfast Zone’ the capital of Sierra Leone, which never goes to sea • 1982 - Corporal Mario Jose on Zone Radio. Bringing you the wracked by looting and vio- again. from 32 Battalion was Killed best music of the 60s, 70s and 80s. lence after a military coup. • 1937 - German ships bom- in Action during a contact • 2003 - The UN Security bard Almeria, Spain, retal- with enemy forces in South- Council votes unanimously iating for an accidental air ern Angola. He was 26. to send a peacekeeping force attack on a German warship. • 1984 - Rifleman Kevin James On Sunday morning at 09h30 you can catch the Retro Top 20 and to Congo’s north-eastern Itu- • 1943 - World War II: North Morrow from Regiment Port listen to the Top 2o hit singles on the South African charts for a ri province. The European Africa. Charles de Gaulle Natal was killed in a military particular week or even a particular year. Union approves the force to and Henri Honoré Giraud vehicle accident on the road restore order and security in set up the Committee of Na- to Ondangwa. He was 29. a region plagued by violence tional Liberation in Algiers • 1991 - The civil war in An- Click here to listen live among ethnic militias. to represent France until the gola ends officially after sev- end of the war. enteen years, though fighting 31 May • 1962 - Adolf Eichmann, war still occurs occasionally. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer criminal, is hanged in Israel War: British troops under at the age of 55. Lord Roberts enter Johan- • 1966 - The Republic of South nesburg as the Boers with- Africa celebrates its fifth an- draw to Pretoria. The British niversary with a massive mil- flag is hoisted in Johannes- itary demonstration in Pre- burg. toria. A crowd of more than • 1901 - Second Anglo-Bo- 500,000 sees nearly 20,000 er War: At Vlakfontein (the troops and 200 aircraft take present day Derby), Gen- part in the proceedings. eral Kemp attacks Briga- • 1966 - Brigadier Jan Harm- dier-General Dixon and cap- se Burger SM OBE from tures the field guns. Dixon 16 Combat Group collapsed launches a counter-attack and died after suffering a fa- and Kemp withdraws. tal heart attack while attend- • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer ing a Parade at Voortrekker- War: Boer delegates at the hoogte. He was 49. Vereeniging national delega- • 1977 - Salisbury announces tion agree fifty-four to six to that Rhodesian troops have accept the British proposals captured and occupied the for peace. Representatives of town of Mapai, 100 km in- Click anywhere both sides at Melrose House, side Mozambique. on the photo to Pretoria, sign the Treaty of • 1978 - Lance Corporal Yvan visit the official Vereeniging. Mark L’Hoest from 1 SAI website of the • 1915 - Zeppelin ‘LZ-38’ Died of Wounds in 1 Mili- Signals Associa- makes the first airship raid tary Hospital after suffering tion. on London, dropping 1.5 tons of bombs, killing seven Adolf Eichmann people 96 97 quiz Military Rocket & Missile Launchers Despatches 1. M2 Law (USA) 2 2. Panzerschreck (Germany) Website 3. SA-7 Grail (Russia) 4. Bazooka (USA) 5. M141 SMAW-D (USA) 6. RPG-7 (Russia) “Things don’t have to 7. Carl-Gustaf (Sweden) 6 change the world to be 8. Panzerfaust (Germany) important.” 9. PIAT (Britain) Steve Jobs 10. BGM-71 TOW (USA) 11. RPG-29 Vampir (Russia) 9 12. FGM-148 Javelin (USA) 13. MILAN (France) 14. MATADOR (Britain) 15. FIM-92 Stinger (USA)

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