Military Despatches Vol 39 September 2020

Battles won against all odds No-one told them the were supposed to lose

Winning the booby prize In a war zone even the most mundane object can kill

Abu-Ageila Decisive tank battle in the Middle East

Võ Nguyên Giáp The school teacher that defeated France and the USA

For the military enthusiast CONTENTS September 2020 Page 14 Click on any video below to view

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Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Williams. Afrikaans, slang and techno-speak that few Special Forces - Utti Jaeger Regiment outside the military could hope to under- stand. Some of the terms Features 26 40 were humorous, some IED - Insane, effective, deadly Covid unable to sink TS Rook were clever, while others 6 In modern wars and conflicts By Lt Lisa Spencer, Officer were downright crude. Ten battles won against all odds the enemy could be anyone. Commanding, TS Rook And they will use any weapon These are battles, and one war, and tactic to inflict casualties 42 where the outnumbered side and damage. One of the most Survival Part of Hipe’s “On the tore up the script. couch” series, this is an common weapons is the IED. This month we look at teepees 20 and lean-to’s as survival shel- interview with one of 32 ters. author Herman Charles Winning the booby prize Operation Cicero In a war zone even the most Bosman’s most famous In probably one of the most im- 46 simple act can have fatal conse- portant spy stories of World War characters, Oom Schalk quences. Opening a door, pick- Ranks II, an Albanian, code-named Lourens. Hipe spent time in ing up an item of equipment, or This month we look at the Finn- A taxi driver was shot “Cicero”, was selling top secret Hanover Park, an area even kicking a tin can could be ish Armed Forces, including the dead in an ongoing British information to the Ger- the last thing you ever do. army, navy and air forces. war between rival taxi plagued with gang mans. By Paul Rosslee. organisations. violence, to view first- Quiz hand how Project 36 Ceasefire is dealing with 24 29 the situation. Army Speak 101 No shipmate left behind The military has always had The Tin Hat Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- Sea Cadet officer, Sub Lieuten- their own way of doing things. This month we look at helmets. ant Mike Taylor needs our help And this includes having a rich We show them to you, and you thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. tell us what they are. and this is an appeal to the read- vocabulary of slang terms. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. ers of Military Despatches. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 76

Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

PHOTO EDITOR o, it’s officially spring. I just mer Provincial Old Bill of Cape Regine Lord wish someone would have Western Dugout. During Novem- reminded the weather about ber 2019 he was appointed Old CONTRIBUTORS S Raymond Fletcher, Ryan September in military history that, because it’s freezing cold at Bill of the Order. the moment. Born in London in 1942, Dave Murphy, Matt O’Brien, Paul As I’ve probably mentioned joined the Royal Navy in 1957 Rosslee, Lt. Lisa Spencer, Matt Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review before, I always breath a sigh of and, between 1962 and 1964, Tennyson, Lt Cmdr Glenn Von relief when 1 September rolls served on HMS Afrikander at Zeil. 52 64 71 around. That’s because August is Youngsfield Military Base. Upon Cuito Cuanavale The 1967 Six-Day War The Parachute Regiment a bit of a strange month for me. his discharge from the Royal Military Despatches is pub- A good read on this famous bat- In the first of a series of articles Formed more than 78 years Let me explain. Navy he was approached to play lished on-line every month. tle, written from the Russian we look at the tanks used dur- ago, the Parachute Regiment I was born in August, as was my soccer semi-professionally for The articles used in Military side. brother one year and eight days Cape Town City but, with a young Despatches are copyrighted ing the 1967 Six-Day War. is regarded as one of the most later. My wife was also born in family to support, he opted to join elite units in the world. and may not be used without Front Cover August. So we have a few birth- the South African Navy and was prior permission from the edi- days to celebrate. But it’s also a amongst the first crew members tor. Famous Figures Battlefield A member of the Finnish time of sadness as well. to receive training on the Daph- The views stated in this maga- Army Special Forces unit, the My wife’s mother passed away ne-Class submarines. 68 zine do not necessary reflect the 58 in August. As did my own moth- He then served as a Submariner Utti Jaeger, on an exercise. views of Military Despatches, Võ Nguyên Giáp Abu-Ageila er, father and brother. So if I fol- for the following 11 years. Dave With no formal military train- Decisive tank battle during the retired in 1998 with the rank of the editor, the staff, or Hipe low family tradition then there’s ing, this history teacher would 1967 Six-Day War. a pretty good chance that I will Warrant Officer Class 1. Media. go on to become one of the ring down the curtain and join the I was honoured to have known Gaming choir invisible in August. So if I Dave and I will miss him and his Hipe! greatest military strategists of make it through to September I sense of humour. We will remem- P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 the 20th century. 72 always feel good for another year. ber him. South Africa. MS Flight Sim 2020 Then again, I tend not to stick to Please read my article on page Fly anywhere in the world in a tradition. 19. Hopefully it will clear a few email flight simulator using satellite This August was also a sad things up. [email protected] month for me. On 2 August Dave Remember to wear a mask, maps. As real as it gets. Revell passed away. wash your hands, and keep your Back Issues Movie Review Many of our readers will know social distancing. The Covid-19 To view any back issues of Dave. He was a member of the pandemic is not over yet. Military Despatches, go to 74 Memorable Order of Tin Hats www.militarydespatches.co.za (MOTH) and was the former Old Until next time. Enemy at the Gates or click here. Bill at Red Barn/ Tavern of the Good WWII movie set in Stal- Seas Shellhole. He was also a for- ingrad. 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten 10 Battles won against all odds These are battles, and one war, where the outnumbered side tore up the script. What should have been an easy victory for the stronger army turned out very differently.

istory is filled with in- swords and the mallets they su. Rather he wished to avoid stances of small, over- had used to drive their wood- conflict if possible to save his Hpowered armies trying en stakes in, counter attacked forces to destroy his rival Oda unusual tactics and getting de- the now shaken, fatigued and Nobunaga and march on Kyoto. stroyed in the process. Since wounded French men-at-arms Nobunaga, however, was an there is no novelty value they massed in front of them. ally of Ieyasu. So there was no SOUTHERN VICTORY: The Battle of Chancellorsville was a victory for the Confederate Forces, quickly get forgotten by history. The French forces had sus- way that Ieysau would allow but it cost them one of their best generals. Which makes it all the more tained heavy losses, and were Takenda safe passage through incredible when some compar- bogged down in the mud and his territory. A battle between The gates of the castle were then his subordinate, Field Marshal claimed that Davout has exag- atively small or ill-equipped encumbered in their heavy plate the two forces was inevitable. thrown open wide. Davout. gerated the size of the Prussian band of soldiers wins the day armour. The counter attack from Takenda led an army of 20,000 Convinced that Ieyasu was In October 1806 Napoleon army by saying that Davout “al- against what seems like over- the English was a decisive blow, men, while Ieyasu was based at about to attack them, the van- was preparing to attack what ways saw double.” whelming odds. and the rest of the French army, Hamamatsu Castle with 8,000 guard stopped and made camp he thought was the main Prus- Yet according to the Prussians These battles are in chrono- having witnessed the slaughter, men. for the night. They intended to sian army while he sent Davout own records, Davout had been logical order. fled the field of battle. Ieyasu drew up his forces on wait for Takeda’s main force north with 26,000 en to cut off correct. It then took Napoleon Henry V’s victory at Agin- a high plain called Mikatagaha- to arrive before they went any any desperate retreats by the years before he gave his best 10. Agincourt court, against a numerically ra, just north of Hamamatsu. In further. During the night a small Prussians towards the Russian general any honours. 25 October 1415 superior French army, crippled one of the best demonstrations band of ninja led by Hattori Han- army. zo attacked the camp, throwing As it transpired, Napoleon 7. Battle of Chancellorsville The Battle of Agincourt saw France and started a new period of cavalry-based tactics, Taken- the vanguard into confusion and had it backwards because the a depleted English army, led by in the war during which Henry da destroyed Ieyasu’s forces. It 30 April to 6 May 1863 retreat. main Prussian army of 63,000 Henry V and composed of 3,000 V married the French princess was one of Ieyasu’s worst de- The Battle of Chancellorsville Uncertain of the remaining men was coming was coming longbowman, achieve victory Catherine, and their son, Henry, feats and complete disaster was was a major battle of the Ameri- strength of the Tokugawa forc- for Davout, with odds of far over a superior French army of was made heir to the throne of only narrowly averted. can Civil War (1861–1865), and es, and worried that reinforce- more than two to one. Initially 30,000 cavalry and heavy infan- France as well as of England. With his remaining Samurai the principal engagement of the ments from Oda Nobunaga the French troops dug in as best try. The battle saw the death of be- having fled, Ieyasu retreated Chancellorsville campaign. were on their way, Takeda Shin- they could and held off initial The English achieved this tween 6,000 and 9,000 French to Hamamatsu Castle accom- It was fought from 30 April gen decided to withdraw his assaults, but after some time, unexpected victory through a troops, with comparatively few panied by only five ninja loyal to 6 May 1863, in Spotsylvania forces back to his own territo- Davout realised that if the Prus- combination of better tactics, English losses. to him. When Takeda’s van- County, Virginia, near the vil- ries and try again the following sians were not attacking with favourable terrain, and the mis- guard, numbering about 5,000 lage of Chancellorsville. year. Unfortunately for him he their full force, there must be sile superiority of the longbow. 9. Battle of Mikatagahara and led by Baba Nobuharu and During this battle the North- died in battle before this could something wrong with the or- Henry V personally led his 25 January 1573 Yamagata Masakage, arrived at ern army had 134,000 sol- Hamamatsu Castle it seemed as happen. ganisational structure. diers while the Southern army troops into battle and partici- Tokugawa Ieyasu was the So Davout ordered his final pated in hand-to-hand combat. founder and first shogun of the if Ieyasu was facing certain de- had 62,000. You also need to feat. 8. Battle of Auerstadt reserved troops to go onto the at- take into consideration that The English adopted a defen- Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. tack, which would have seemed sive stance, erecting wooden In 1573 Takenda Shingen ad- The ninja were used to facing 14 October 1806 the Southern Army was full of overwhelming odds and they Although Napoleon Bonapar- like suicide at such great odds. troops that were constantly hun- fortifications and raining down vanced into Ieyasu’s province Instead it caught the Prussians arrows on the advancing French with a large army. He demand- suggested to Ieyasu that they te hogged pretty much all the gry and a lot of them were bare- employ a tactic known as the glory the French military won by surprise and routed them. foot. army. ed that he be given safe passage In typical fashion, Napoleon When the English archers through Ieyasu’s territory. Take- “empty fort strategy”. They lit in the first few decades of the The two armies faced off torches all over the castle and nineteenth century, their victory repaid Davout for this success across the Rappahannock River ran out of arrows, they dropped das’s intent was not to attack by dismissing his victory. He their bows and using hatchets, Ieyasu, nor to seize Hamamt- began to beat a large war drum. won at the greatest odds was by in Virginia, a few dozen kilo- 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten metres north of the Southern a holding action between the known as motti), leaving much ered impregnable against Japa- capital of Richmond. Basically border and Suomussalmi), but heavy equipment for the Finn- nese forces. It was defended by it meant an instant victory for the Finns destroyed the village ish troops. 85,000 British and Common- the North if they captured it. before this, to deny the Sovi- The battle resulted in a ma- wealth troops, while the Japa- Then the Northern command- ets shelter, and withdrew to the jor victory for the Finns. If the nese numbered only 36,000. er, Major General Joseph Hook- opposite shore of lakes Nis- Soviet Union had captured the On 9 December 1941 Jap- er, decided that he would keep kanselkä and Haukiperä. city of Oulu, the Finns would anese forces snuck onto the half of his huge army in their On December 9, the defend- have had to defend the country island through jungles and current position to distract the ers were reinforced with a new- on two fronts and an important swamps while the main British southerners while 70,000 went ly founded regiment (JR 27). rail link to Sweden would have force was expecting an air and far downriver, crossed in secret, Colonel Hjalmar Siilasvuo was been severed. The battle also sea attack and had placed their then came up the rear of the given the command of the Finn- gave a decisive boost to the mo- troops on the other side of the Southern line to him them on ish forces and he began imme- rale of the Finnish army. island, expecting a naval inva- the flank. WINTER WAR: The Finns were no push-over in battle, as the diate counter-measures to re- The Finns suffered 750 killed sion. Commander of the Southern Russians learnt to their cost in 1939/1940. The Battle of Suo- gain Suomussalmi. or missing and 1,000 wounded. It was vital to the Japanese Army, General Robert E. Lee’s mussalmi was a humiliating defeat for the Russians. The main forces advanced on The Russian losses were that they maintain speed dur- response was basically to use Suomussalmi, but failed to take 23,000 killed or missing and ing their advance. To achieve Hooker’s own strategy against 6. Rorke’s Drift Eleven Victoria Crosses were the village, suffering serious 2,100 were taken prisoner. The this their infantry travelled on him. He sent about a third of his 22 January 1879 awarded to the defenders, along losses. Finns captured 43 tanks, 71 bicycles when they reached sol- already small army to go behind The Battle of Rorke’s Drift, with a number of other deco- On December 24, Soviet units field-guns, 29 anti-tank guns, id land, many of them stripping the 70,000 soldiers that had just also known as the Defence of rations and honours. The Brit- counterattacked, but failed to 260 trucks, and 1,170 horses. down to their vests. They also been manoeuvring up behind Rorke’s Drift, was an engage- ish suffered 17 killed and 15 break through the surrounding found an abandoned British ar- him. ment in the Anglo-Zulu War. wounded. A total of 351 Zu- Finnish forces. 4. Battle of Singapore moured car which contained a To convince the Northern- The successful British defence lus were killed and about 500 Reinforced with two new reg- 8 to 15 February 1942 list of all the British defensive wounded. ers that their tiny flanking unit of the mission station of Rorke’s iments (JR 64 and JR 65), the The Battle of Singapore, also positions. This allowed the Jap- was actually the whole army re- Drift, under the command of Finns again attacked on 27 De- known as the Fall of Singapore, anese to hit their targets per- treating, the Southerners looped Lieutenants John Chard of the 5. Battle of Suomussalmi cember. was fought in the South-East fectly and captured all of their around and marched down the Royal Engineers and Gonville 7 December 1939-8 January This time, they took the vil- Asian theatre of World War II targets much earlier than they same route before making the 20 Bromhead, began when a large 1940 lage, and the Soviets retreated when the Empire of Japan in- expected, including the valua- kilometre trek into the Northern contingent of Zulu warriors On 30 November 1939, the in panic over the surrounding vaded the British stronghold ble British airfields. Once this army’s rear. broke off from their main force Soviet 163rd Rifle Division frozen lakes. A large part of of Singapore—nicknamed the had been achieved, Japanese When they attacked, it so un- during the final hour of the Brit- crossed the border between Fin- them managed to reach the Rus- “Gibraltar of the East”. Singa- planes were easily able to sink nerved Hooker that by the next ish defeat at the day-long Bat- land and the Soviet Union and sian border along the Kiantajär- pore was the major British mili- British warships that were sent day his army was already most- tle of Isandlwana on 22 January advanced from the north-east vi lake. tary base in South-East Asia and to bolster the island defences. ly in retreat. 1879, diverting 9.7 km to attack towards the village of Suomus- During this time, the Sovi- was the key to British imperial As they Japanese rode along It’s worth noting that the re- Rorke’s Drift later that day and salmi. et 44th Rifle Division had ad- interwar defence planning for they quickly wore out the tires sults of this battle were that it continuing into the following The Soviet objective was to vanced from the east towards South-East Asia and the South- on their bicycles and started cost the life of Stonewall Jack- day. advance to the city of Oulu, ef- Suomussalmi. It was entrenched West Pacific. The fighting in riding on the rims. This also son, one of their three best gen- Just over 150 British and co- fectively cutting Finland in half. on the road between Suomus- Singapore lasted from 8 to 15 worked to their advantage be- erals, and made General Robert lonial troops defended the sta- This sector had only one Finn- salmi and Raate and got caught February 1942, after the two cause the sounds of clattering, E. Lee dangerously overcon- tion against attacks by 3,000 to ish battalion (Er.P 15), which up in the retreat of the other So- months during which Japanese rimless bikes sounded to the fident for the Battle of Gettys- 4,000 Zulu warriors. The mas- was placed near Raate, outside viet forces. forces had advanced down the British like tanks, and assuming burg, where he effectively ru- sive but piecemeal attacks by Suomussalmi. Between 4 January and 8 Malayan Peninsula. that more Japanese tanks were ined the South’s last hope of the Zulu on Rorke’s Drift came Suomussalmi was taken with January 1940, the 44th Rifle At the start of the Japanese coming led to more retreats. victory. very close to defeating the much little resistance on 7 Decem- Division was divided into iso- war with Britain during World The battle was a disaster for smaller garrison, but were con- ber (only two incomplete com- lated groups and destroyed by War II, the group of islands the British. Not only did they sistently repelled. panies of covering forces led the Finnish troops (in a tactic called Singapore was consid- lose their major base in South- 8 9 Top Ten Top Ten

East Asia, 5,000 of them were sent a UN force under the di- He had noted the deep levels offered Quinlan an opportunity Irish had suffered five wound- This was the situation that killed or wounded and more rection of Irish representative of hostility to his men in Jadot- to surrender. An offer which he ed, but not a single one of them Israel was faced with in June than 80,000 were taken prison- Conor Cruise O’Brien. ville and began to organise a ro- declined. died. They did not lose a man. 1967. Israeli intelligence were er. In comparison the Japanese A small Irish force, A Com- bust defensive perimeter around In the meantime 500 Irish and The Katangese forces, on the convinced that Egypt (then suffered 1,714 killed and 3,378 pany 35th Infantry Battalion of their base. The 42 year-old of- Swedish UN troops based in other hand, were not so fortu- known as the United Arab Re- wounded. the Irish Army, was part of the ficer ordered his men to dig 1.5 Kamma, as well as Indian Army nate. They suffered 300 dead, public), Jordan, and Syria were UN Peacekeeping Force sent metre-deep trenches, stockpile Gurkhas, made several attempts including 30 mercenaries. planning to attack Israel within 3. Siege of Jadotville to the Congo. The 155 Irish water and carry their guns at all to relieve the men at Jadotville. They also had more than 1,000 the next few days. 13–17 September 1961 UN troops, under the command times. The Katangese forces had dug wounded. The odds were not in fa- In 1960 the Belgians granted of Commandant Pat Quinlan, Quinlan’s instincts proved in along the Lufira River, giv- vour of Israel. They had a to- independence to the Belgian were sent to the mining town of spot on. While most of his men ing them control of the Lufira 2. The Six-Day War tal of 264,000 troops of which Congo. In May 1960 elections Jadotville, approximately 100 were at mass on 13 September Bridge. They had heavy weap- 5 to 10 June 1967 214,000 were reserves. They were held and a month later the kilometers up country from the the Katangans attacked. Expect- ons and air support. The UN This was not a single battle as also had 300 combat aircraft Congo became an independent main UN base in Elizabethville. ing to take the men off guard, the troops came under heavy and such, but rather a war. Imagine and 800 tanks. The combined republic. The Irish troops had a prob- first attackers moved in rapidly sustained ground and air fire, you’re a small country that is Arab armies could field 525,000 In the resulting strife and lem. Not only had none of but were spotted by an alert sen- killing several Indian UN troops surrounded by larger, more troops, an advantage of more chaos following independence, them ever seen combat, they try. A warning shot by Sgt. Billy and wounding a number of Irish powerful countries. They make than two to one. They also had Moïse Tshombe declared the had never even fired a shot in Ready alerted the company to troops. They were unable to get no secret of the fact that they 2,424 tanks and 939 combat air- State of Katanga’s secession anger. They were also lightly the threat. The Irish maned their across the river. want to wipe your country off craft. from the rest of the Congo. The armed with only light person- positions and began to return On the sixth day, with his po- the face of the earth. Your high- Israel knew that for their at- Christian, anti-communist al weapons, a small number of fire. It was the start of a battle sition untenable, without any ly efficient intelligence sources tack to have any chance of pro-Western Tshombe declared, water-cooled Vickers machine that would last six days and five clear orders or promise of as- have overwhelming evidence success it was vital that they “We are seceding from chaos.” guns and 60mm mortars. nights. sistance, having run out of am- that your country faces an im- achieve air superiority. Egypt Favouring continued ties with Facing them was an enemy The Katangese attacked in munition and food and low on minent attack within the next 48 was regarded as the main threat Belgium, he asked the Belgian that numbered between 3,000 waves of 600 or so, preceded by water, Quinlan accepted the hours. The solution is obvious – and the initial Israeli air strikes government to send military and 4,000. They were made up bombardment from 81mm mor- second offer to surrender to the you launch a pre-emptive strike would be against eight Egyptian officers to recruit and train a from Luba (also known as Balu- tars and a French 75mm field Katangese. against them. airfields in Sinai, on the Suez Katangese army. Naturally Bel- ba) warriors, and many Belgian, gun. The Irish soldiers success- At the end of the battle the Canal and around Cairo. gium and many western coun- French and Rhodesian merce- fully defended against wave af- tries had a strong interest in the naries. ter wave of attackers from their Katanga Province. Much of the They were well armed. Be- positions. world’s supply of copper, cobalt sides their personal weapons The fire that the Irish returned and uranium was to be found they had both 7,62mm and was accurate and effective. Mer- there. In fact the uranium for the .50 calibre Browning machine cenary officers were reportedly atomic bomb dropped on Hiro- guns mounted on Land Rovers, observed shooting native gen- shima had come from a mine in 81mm mortars, a 75mm field darmes to stem the rout caused Jadotville. gun and a Fouga Magister train- in Katangese lines. Tshombe demanded UN rec- er jet, fitted with underwing The Irish beat off wave after ognition for independent Ka- bombs and machine guns. wave of attacks. The Irish Sup- tanga, and he announced that While Quinlan may not have port Platoon knocked out most any intervention by UN troops had any combat experience he of the Katangese mortar and ar- would be met with force. was a keen student of military tillery positions with accurate Prime Minister of the Congo, tactics and history. He had read counter-battery fire from 60mm Patrice Lumumba, requested in- everything he could get his mortars. tervention from hands on and he was expecting The Katangese asked Quinlan UN forces and UN Secretary that at some stage his company for a cease-fire to tend to their General Dag Hammarskjöld would be attacked. wounded. During this time they 10 11 Top Ten

The timing of the attack was sheer genius. Military doctrine dictates that the best time for an attack is at first light. The Israeli air strike was planned for 08h45 Egyptian time. The relative lateness of the hour was chosen for a num- ber of reasons. First of all the Egyptians would be hit when they least expected it. By that time the early morning mist in the Nile Delta had lifted. Most importantly, the Egyptian air patrols and radar surveillance twice that many wounded. A to- forced, or fleeing on foot from had been stood down with the tal of 5,452 were captured. Hun- a Pakistani mechanised infantry passing of the time for a clas- dreds of tanks were destroyed, force. He chose the former op- sic dawn attack. More over the as were more than 450 aircraft. tion. change-over of watches within He knew that if he could hold the Egyptian air command was 1. The Battle of Longewala out until first light, he had four taking place. 4 to 7 December 1971 Hunter attack jets to call on. He Bush War Books has probably one of the finest Once the eight original air- The Battle of Longewala was was also fortunate in that he had collections of military titles available. Especially fields had been dealt with the Is- one of the first major engage- an Indian Air Force forward air raelis extended their operations ments in the western sector dur- controller with him. on the South African Border War. to cover a further nine Egyptian ing the Indo-Pakistani War of Major Chandpuri instructed airfields. They then moved on to 1971, fought between assault- his troops to construct dummy cover the Jordanian, Iraqi and ing Pakistani forces and Indian minefields in the form of areas Syrian fronts. defenders at the Indian border hastily ringed with barb wire, Once the Israelis had secured post of Longewala, in the Thar which was conventionally how air superiority the outcome of Desert of Rajasthan state in In- minefields were designated. the war was never in doubt. dia. This allowed the Indians to Click here to visit their website. They then launched their ground Major Kuldip Singh Chand- funnel the Pakistanis into deep attack and before long the Arab puri was in command of a com- sand which bogged down their armies were in full retreat. pany of the Indian Army’s 23rd tanks. In trying to extricate their While the war lasted for six Battalion, Punjab Regiment. He tanks from the sand engines days it was, for all intents and was faced with a difficult choice began to overheat to the point purposes, over after three hours. in that a Pakistani mechanised where some of them caught fire. In that time the Israelis inflicted infantry force was about to as- These tactics combined to a huge defeat on the Arabs from sault his position at last light. stall the Pakistanis until first which they could never hope to Available to him were 120 In- light when the Indians were recover. dian soldiers and a jeep mount- able to call in an air strike. The The Israelis losses were 983 ed with a M40 recoilless rifle. Pakistanis were routed and re- men killed, 4,517 wounded and Facing him were between 2,000 treated in disorder. 200 Paki- 15 captured. They lost 400 tanks and 3,000 Pakistani infantry ac- stani soldiers were killed and and 46 aircraft. companied by 30 to 40 tanks. 36 tanks were destroyed. The The Arab armies lost 18,206 He faced a choice of either at- Indian casualties were two men “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” killed or missing and more than tempting to hold out until rein- killed. 1210 11 Special Forces served during the War in Af- Special Forces - Utti Jaeger Regiment The Utti Jaeger Regiment ghanistan by training security (Utin Jääkärirykmentti)) is the officials in medical care, fire- Part nineteen of a series that takes a look at Special Forces units around the world. This arms, and operational planning, month we look at Finland’s Utti Jaeger Regiment. Finnish Army training and de- velopment centre for special and has been in standby duties as a part of the European Union he Finnish Defence cient deterrent. ly popular and troops serve forces and helicopter operations in charge of the Army Special Battlegroups and NATO Re- Forces (Puolustusvo- The army consists of a high- around the world in UN, NATO sponse Force. imat) are responsible for ly mobile field army backed and EU missions. Homeland Forces Unit and the Special T Forces Qualification Course. The Finnish special forces the defence of Finland. up by local defence units. The defence willingness against a The Utti Jaeger Regiment is trace their history to the A universal male conscription army defends the national ter- superior enemy is at 76%, one four long-range is in place, under which all men ritory and its military strategy of the highest rates in Europe. responsible for training special forces for the Finnish Army as reconnaissance above 18 years of age serve for employs the use of the heavily In war time the Finnish Bor- patrol detach- 165, 255, or 347 days. forested terrain and numerous der Guard (which is its own well as up-keeping high readi- ness of the Army Special Forc- ments (kaukopartio-osas- Alternative non-military ser- lakes to wear down an aggres- military unit in peacetime) will tot) and Detached Battalion 4 vice for all men, and volunteer sor, instead of attempting to become part of the Finnish De- es Unit and helicopter opera- tions and performing executive (Erillinen Pataljoona 4), which service for all women are pos- hold the attacking army on the fence Forces. fought in the Continuation War sible. frontier. assistance tasks. The regiment consists of and Lapland War during 1941– Finland is the only non-NA- Finland’s defence budget 1944.[3] TO European Union state bor- equals approximately €3.2 bil- around 400 hired personnel and 220 conscripts according to After the wartime units were dering Russia. Finland’s offi- lion or 1.3% of GDP. The vol- demobilized in November cial policy states that a wartime untary overseas service is high- sources from 2018. It’s Special Jaeger Compa- 1944, the Army re-initiated or- military strength of 280,000 ganised special forces training personnel constitutes a suffi- ny (erikoisjääkärikomppania)

14 15 in February 1962 by establish- Nicknamed ‘White Death’ he ing the Parachute Jaeger School Weapons used by the is reported by western sources (Laskuvarjojääkärikoulu) at Utti Jaeger Regiment to have killed 505 men during Utti, near the city of Kouvola. the Winter War, the highest re- On 1 January 1997, the Utti Jae- corded number of sniper kills in ger Regiment was formed by any major war. merging the Parachute Jaeger He was feared by the Russian, School, Military Police School who gave him the nickname and Helicopter Wing. Belaya Smert (White Death). The Parachute Jaeger School Unlike most snipers, he pre- was later reformed into the ferred iron sights over telescop- Special Jaeger Battalion and ic sights. the Helicopter Wing reinforced RK 95 TP The Russians made every ef- into the Helicopter Battalion. fort possible to kill Häyhä. They used counter-snipers and artil- Special Jaeger lery barrages in their efforts. According to the newspa- On 6 March 1940 Häyhä was per Helsingin Sanomat, a typ- hit his lower left jaw by an ex- ical special forces soldier has plosive shell fired by a Red served in the Defence Forces TRUE COLOURS: Colours of the Utti Jaeger Regiment. Army soldier. Fellow soldiers for seven years and is around that found him said that half his 28–29-years-old. On aver- Organisation operation with the Logistics face was missing and that they age, they run 3,180 metres in As of 2018, the Utti Jaeger Centre. did not expect him to survive. a Cooper test and bench press Regiment is divided into four • Logistics Centre But survive he did. Shortly af- 110 kg. ter the war, Häyhä was promot- units in addition to the head- H&K MP5 Before applying for and at- quarters: ed from alikersantti (Corporal) tending the year-long Special • Special Jaeger Battalion to vänrikki (Second lieutenant) Forces Qualification Course, • Special Jaeger Company by Finnish Field Marshal Carl they often have served as a par- – hosts the special jaeger Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. atrooper or a combat diver dur- non-commissioned officers, Although it took a long time, ing conscript service. Approxi- maintains special forces Häyhä recovered from his hor- mately 12 students are chosen readiness and capabilities of rific wounds. He became a suc- for the course out of a 100 ap- the Army, and oversees the cessful moose hunter and dog plicants after a four-day exam. Special Forces Qualification breeder. Sako TRG All of the course attendees are Course. Unit Insignia Simo Häyhä died in a war vet- trained in communications, en- • Paratrooper Company – erans’ nursing home in Hamina gineer and medical care, and re- trains conscripts in basic Notable characters in 2002 at the age of 96, and ceive specializations later, such long-range reconnaissance Over the years the Finnish was buried in Ruokolahti. as sniper, vehicle, high-altitude patrol, sissi, urban and air Special Forces have produced military parachuting, military assault operations. a few notable characters. Two Lauri Törni intelligence or forward air con- • Helicopter Battalion – of them were Simo “Simuna” Some men have fought in trol training. equipped with 20 NH90 tac- Häyhä and Lauri Törni. three different wars, but rarely Those chosen for career tracts tical transport helicopters have they fought for three dif- after the basic course serve at and 7 MD 500 light helicop- White Death ferent countries. Lauri Allan either Utti Jaeger Regiment or ters; responsible for all heli- Simo “Simuna” Häyhä was Törni was one such man. Special Operations Detachment copter operations and train- a Finnish sniper during the While Törni was studying at of the Naval Reconnaissance ing of the Defence Forces. 1939-40 Winter War between FN SCAR business school he joined the Battalion, of the Coastal Bri- • Support Company – trains Finland and Russia. Häyhä was Civil Guard. When he graduat- gade. conscripts in support tasks deployed as a sniper in the 6th ed in 1938 at the age of 19, he and handles logistics in co- Company of JR 34. joined the 4th Independent Jae- 16 17 ger Battalion, an elite infantry required to expel all German unit. forces on their soil. This result- Not long after that, on 30 No- ed in the Lapland War between Military Despatches - the vember 1939, the Soviet Union Finland and Germany. The war invaded Finland. It was the start would last from September to future of the Winter War. November 1944 and result in Editor Matt Tennyson tries to clear up the confusion of his last editorial post. Törni did his part, fighting over 8,000 casualties. against the Soviets at Rautu and Although Törni was a pa- t was singer Britney Spears the magazine every month. I day’s hero. again at Lake Ladoga. triot, he did no agree with his that had a hit with a song have to do a fair bit of research Society often treats military Törni had distinguished him- country’s decision to expel Icalled “Oops I Did It each month and I end up learn- veterans with disdain. Probably self during the Winter War and the German forces. It wasn’t Again”. And, being Irish, this ing so much. My thinking was because it reminds them of the had been promoted to the rank that he had become pro-Nazi, is not a phrase I am uncommon that maybe a few other people war. Or because the younger of 2nd lieutenant. Yet instead of it was just that he was fiercely with. would also find this kind of generations know very little of celebrating, he was seething. anti-Soviet and fanatically an- In my last editorial I men- stuff interesting. I had no idea the war or why it was fought. He vowed revenge against ti-Communist. WHITE DEATH: Simo “Simu- tioned that most of my free- at the time just how many peo- Often it is because the military the Soviet Union and he was He went to Germany, learn- na” Häyhä was nicknamed lance work (from whence I ple would end up reading the veterans were on the ‘losing’ “White Death” by the Rus- not particular how he achieved ing to be a saboteur until his make my income) has dried up magazine each month. side. sians. It is estimated that he it. training was cut short in March. killed 505 men during the due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The second reason I started Since I began Military Des- Which was probably why in Unable to return to Finland, Winter War. Yet bills still needed to be paid the magazine was in honour of patches I have done a number 1941 he headed for Vienna in he joined a local unit fighting each month. my late father. Not only was a of projects for veteran’s associ- Austria. He spent the next seven the Soviets near Schwerin be- cial Forces, he taught skiing, I stated that My dilemma was World War II veteran, he was ations. All of them at no cost. I weeks training with the Waffen fore surrendering to the Allies. survival, mountaineering, and should I still be spending so also a historian. It was from have also helped out individu- Schutzstaffel (Waffen SS). They threw him in a POW guerrilla tactics. much time doing Military Des- him that I inherited my love of als whenever I could. He did so well during his camp in Lübeck, which he es- In turn he attended airborne patches each month, or should history. It was my way of say- This wasn’t done because I training that he was given the caped, finally returning to Fin- school, and advanced in rank; I be using that time to focus on ing “Thanks dad, not only did am a good person, but rather rank of Untersturmführer. land in June. attending Officer Candidate other projects that can actually you teach me well, but you also because I am a military veteran On 22 June 1941 the Soviets Törni was arrested for fight- School, he was commissioned bring in an income? taught me that history was not a myself and I know that ‘but for invaded Finland once again, ing for the wrong side. He was as a 1st lieutenant in the Signal I received a number of e-mails dead subject.” the grace of God’ it could be me kicking off the Continuation charged with treason. He was Corps in 1957. from readers wanting to help. It was only when the maga- in their shoes. War. thrown into prison, but he es- While serving in Vietnam in In fact too many to mention zine had been going for a few I always say that Military This time, however, Finland caped. He was recaptured in 1965 the helicopter in which them all individually. However months and I saw the surpris- Despatches will pick up the was not alone. They now had an April 1946 and sentenced to he was travelling crashed in a I must thank Robbie Roberts, ing, ever-growing number of bill. The only problem is that ally against the Soviets - Nazi six years in prison. Yet again he mountainous area of Phước Sơn Brian Porter, Padre Tony Beth- readers that I discovered a new Military Despatches has never Germany. escaped, and yet again he was District, Quảng Nam Province, ke, Lucille Byrnes, Ken Light- reason for the magazine. May- made a single cent. So I have Once again Törni distin- recaptured. Vietnam, 40 km from Da Nang. foot and Regine Lord. A hum- be I could use it to raise funds always paid out of my own guished himself and was placed He served two years before Rescue teams were unable to ble thank you for your generous to assist military veterans. pocket. At the moment, this has in charge of a unit informally receiving a pardon from the locate the crash site. offers of assistance. Throughout history military becoming more difficult. This named “Detachment Törni”. president in December 1948. In 1999 his remains were I think because I worded my veterans have received the “shit is what I meant by focusing on Törni was awarded Finland’s By this stage he was fed up found by a Finnish and Joint editorial so badly (my fault, end of the stick”. Soldiers do other projects that can actually highest military decoration - the with his country and he made Task Force-Full Accounting and mine alone) many people not start wars, nor do they end bring in an income. Mannerheim Cross of the Order his way to Sweden the follow- team and repatriated to the thought that I was on the brink them. They’re just the mugs So to sum up - Military Des- of the Cross of Liberty. The cel- ing year. United States. of starvation and on the bones that have to fight them. patches will keep going. And ebrations were, however, very In 1950 he boarded a car- Formally identified in 2003, of my arse. Rest assured, I am During wars, soldiers are no, we will not be charging an- brief. go ship bound for America. In his remains were buried on 26 not quite there yet. Let me try often feted and have medals yone to read the magazine. Eventually the Finns were 1954 he joined the US Army. June 2003 at Arlington Nation- and put things into perspective. pinned on their chests. Af- Maybe, in the future, I may forced to retreat and sign the By then he had a new name - al Cemetery. He was memori- I started Military Despatches ter a war, usually only if they look at advertising in the mag- Moscow Armistice on 19 Sep- Larry Thorne. alised on the Vietnam Veterans in July 2017 for two reasons. are victorious, they will get to azine. Until then, thank you for tember 1944. With his experience he was Memorial. First of all I am passionate march in a parade and be show- you support. I really appreciate As part of the armistice signed soon on his way into the Spe- As for Finland, they consider about military history. So I get ered with praise. Yet nothing is it. with the Soviets, the Finns were cial Forces. While in the Spe- him a national hero, once more. a lot of pleasure out of doing forgotten as quickly as yester- 18 19 spike. This task was normally with the sharp tips pointing out- the motorcycle and thus trigger carried out by the women and wards. This was connected to the explosives. Winning the booby prize children of a village. a trip wire. When the wire was A pit would then be dug and tripped, the log would swing Project Eldest Son A simple act such as picking up a torch and switching it on, opening a door, or starting a vehicle can be lethal. In a war zone anything could be booby trapped and throughout history these sneak the stakes would be embedded down at chest or head height, The Americans had a few devices have been employed with great success. in the ground with the sharp impaling anyone unlucky tricks of their own during the side pointing upward. The pit enough to be in its path. Vietnam War. ot everything on the when the victim performs some In addition to the obvious was then covered with thin Another Viet Cong booby The CIA and Green Berets battlefield or in a war type of everyday action, e.g., ability of booby traps to kill or branches and soil, leaves, grass trap was the ‘grenade in a tin’. would booby trap the enemy’s zone may be what it ap- opening a door, picking some- injure, their presence has other or bush to match the surround- A hand grenade was fitted with ammunition supply in an op- N ing terrain. a zero second delay fuse, the eration code-named ‘Project pears to be. thing up, or switching some- effects such as these: You open a door that is slight- thing on. They can also be • Demoralise soldiers as boo- When a person stood on the pin was pulled, and the grenade Eldest Son’. ly ajar, and it blows up in your triggered by vehicles driving by traps kill or maim com- trap their weight would cause pushed into an empty tin can. The propellant in a rifle or face. You pick up a pair of dis- along a road, as in the case of rades. the sticks to break and the per- The can would stop the firing machine-gun cartridge was re- carded binoculars and raise victim-operated improvised ex- • Keep soldiers continually son’s leg would fall into the lever from being released. placed with high explosive. them to your eyes, but they are plosive devices (IEDs). Booby stressed, suspicious and un- pit. The sharpened punji stake A trip wire was then attached Upon being fired, the sabotaged out of focus. When you try to traps can range from the simple able to relax because it is would penetrate through the to the grenade. When the wire round would destroy the gun adjust the focus the binoculars to the very complex. difficult for them to know boot and foot. was tripped the grenade would and kill or injure the shooter. explode, along with your head. Booby traps are often used which areas, buildings or Sometimes punji stakes be pulled from the tin, the firing Mortar shells were simi- You’ve just had your first in- in warfare, particularly guerril- objects are safe. would be embedded into the lever would be released, and it larly rigged to explode when troduction to the world of boo- la warfare. Many booby traps • Slow down troop move- side of the pit, with the sharp would explode immediately. dropped down the tube, instead by traps. are designed to injure or maim, ment as soldiers are forced tips angled downwards. The VC would also rig a mo- of launching properly. The Spanish word bobo trans- rather than kill the victim. And to sweep areas to see if there This would make extricating torcycle with explosives and This ammunition was then lates to “stupid, daft, naïve, there is very sound reasoning are more booby traps. an injured soldier even more then abandon it. Some US sol- carefully re-packed to elimi- simple, fool, idiot, clown, for this. • Make soldiers cautious in- difficult because if he merely dier would be tempted to ride nate any evidence of tampering, funny man, one who is easily If a soldier activates a booby stead of aggressive and con- tried to pull his leg out of the pit, the downward stakes would The Viet Cong made ex- cheated” and similar pejorative trap and is killed, there is noth- fident. tensive use of punji stakes terms. The slang of bobo, bu- ing more that you can do for • Create no-go areas (real or penetrate the leg as well. Often the tips of the punji during the Vietnam War. bie, translates to “dunce”. him. The troops may pause for imagined) after a booby Sharpened punji stakes stakes were coated with animal The term “booby trap” gives a moment, and then move on. trap has killed or wounded would be placed at the bot- rise to the idea that an individ- Let’s say, however, that the someone. or plant toxin. Another com- tom of a pit which was cov- ual with the misfortune to be booby trap blows the soldier’s • Cause a section or platoon to mon tactic was to smear the ered with thin branches, caught in the trap does so be- foot off. At least one, but prob- have to stop in order to deal punji stakes with human faeces. soil, grass or bush. cause the individual is a “boo- ably two, other troops will have with casualties, thus slowing In the hot and humid climate by”, or that an individual who to move the injured soldier out and delaying those troops. of the Vietnam jungle, wounds is caught in the trap thereby be- of the combat zone. The injured • Create confusion and diso- would quickly turn septic. comes a “booby”. soldier will have to be evacu- rientation as a prelude to an Punji sticks are banned from A booby trap is a device or ated, often by helicopter, for ambush use as weaponry under the 1980 setup that is intended to kill, medical treatment. During the Vietnam War the Convention on Certain Con- harm, or surprise a person, un- This treatment and rehabilita- Viet Cong became masters at ventional Weapons. Not that knowingly triggered by the tion of the injured soldier will constructing cheap, simple, but this has ever stopped anyone, or presence or actions of the vic- cost time, resources and money. highly effective booby traps. even slowed them down. tim. As the word trap implies, If the soldier has lost a limb it The Viet Cong also employed they sometimes have some can have a demoralising effect Punji Stakes a number of other home made form of bait designed to lure on others. Few booby traps were as sim- booby traps. One of them was the victim towards it. At other Booby traps are also often ple, or as cheap to make, as the the deadfall trap. The punji times, the trap is set to act upon employed by defending or re- punji stake. A heavy object, usually a stakes would often trespassers that violate personal treating armies. They can be Bamboo was cut into lengths, log, was suspended by roped in a tree. the log would have a be smeared with poison or or restricted areas. effective at slowing down ad- heated to harden it, and then even human faeces. The device can be triggered vancing forces. sharpened to form a stake or number of spikes driven into it, 20 21 and planted in enemy muni- Provisional IRA. that people would naturally were actually deeply religious. Here to stay tions dumps by covert insertion want to possess or which They would never dream of de- Booby traps have been around teams. Baiting the trap makes them curious to see filing a crucifix. for a long time and they look set A sabotaged round might also Attractive or interesting ob- what is inside it, e.g. a crate This was not the case with to remain a part of warfare for be planted in a rifle magazine or jects are frequently used as bait. of beer, a pistol, a flashlight, the political commissars. The the foreseeable future. machine-gun belt and left on the For example, troops could leave discarded army rucksack or political commissar or politi- In many conflict areas, -par body of a dead VC soldier, in behind empty beer bottles and even a picture torn out of a cal officer was a supervisory ticularly in the Middle East, anticipation that the deceased’s a sealed wooden packing case pornographic magazine. officer responsible for the po- the IED (Improvised Explosive ammo would be picked up and with “Scotch Whisky” marked During World War II when litical education (ideology) and Device) has become part of the used by his comrades. on it before leaving an area. the Germans were retreating organization of the unit they scenery. No more than one sabotaged The rubble-filled packing case from Russia, they often made were assigned to. They were in- Many of these IED’s can be round would be planted in any might be resting on top of an use of booby traps to slow troduced by the Cheka (Soviet command detonated. A cell- case, magazine, or belt of am- M5 or M142 firing device, con- down the advancing Red Army. secret police and forerunner of phone is attached to the explo- munition, to reduce the chances nected to some blocks of TNT For example, all the build- the NKVD and later KGB) to sives and acts as the trigger. of the enemy finding it no mat- or to some C4 explosive stuffed HELLO HITLER - GOODBYE ings in an area would be de- ensure the government’s politi- Once the target is nearby, an ter how diligently they inspect- into the empty fuze pocket of a IVAN: During World War II no stroyed, but one would be left cal control of the military. observer dials the number of ed their supplies. mortar shell. Russian soldier could resist intact. More often than not this The commissar would have the phone and this sets off the False rumors and forged doc- Alternatively, the weight of ripping a painting of Hitler building would be used as a no problem with ripping a cru- explosion. uments were circulated to make the packing case might simply off the wall. The results were command post by the Russians. cifix off the wall. This would it appear that the Communist be holding down the arming le- often fatal. It would be packed with explo- then detonate the explosives. Chinese were supplying the VC ver of an RGD-5 grenade with sives that were attached to one Down would come the crucifix, with defective weapons and a zero-delay fuze fitted and the which may attract enemy or more trigger devices. When up would go the commissar. ammunition. pin removed. Either way, when soldiers seeking shelter. the explosives were triggered This would be ideal for the American radio stations, the case is moved; the booby • A door, drawer or cup- the building and those inside Germans because a political which were naturally moni- trap detonates, killing or se- board inside a building that would be destroyed. commissar was regarded as a tored by the North Vietnamese, verely injuring anyone in the someone will open without A common German booby high value target. would broadcast warnings to immediate area. thinking of what might be trap was to leave a painting American troops, telling them Many different types of bait connected to it. If a door is of Adolf Hitler to be careful of picking up and object can be used e.g. soldiers locked, this makes people hanging on the using enemy weapons. will be tempted to kick an empty believe there could some- wall. No Russian beer can lying on the ground as thing valuable behind it so soldier could re- The ‘Troubles’ they walk past it. However, the they are more likely to kick sist ripping the During the “Troubles” in can (partially filled with sand to it open, with fatal results. painting from Northern Ireland, booby trap add weight) may be resting on • Vehicles abandoned by the the wall, thereby bombs were often used by the top of an M5 pressure-release roadside, perhaps with some triggering the Provisional Irish Republican firing device screwed into a kind of victim “bait” left on explosives that Under stairs the back seat such as a suit- Behind doors Army (IRA) and the Irish Na- buried M26 grenade. the painting was In footpaths tional Liberation Army (INLA) As a rule, booby-traps are case or large cardboard box. attached to. At the base to kill British Army soldiers planted in any situation where • natural choke-points, such Another inge- of walls and Royal Ulster Constabulary there is a strong likelihood of as the only footbridge across nious German officers. them being encountered and a river, which people must booby trap in- A common method was at- triggered by the targeted vic- use whether they want to or volved fixing a taching the bomb to a vehicle so tims. not. crucifix to a wall. that starting or driving it would Typically, they are planted in • Important strategic installa- While the com- detonate the explosive. places that people are naturally tions such as airfields, rail- munists claimed According to the Sutton In- attracted to or are forced to use. way stations and harbour not to believe in dex of Deaths, 180 deaths dur- The list of likely placement ar- facilities, all of which the God, the Ger- ing the Troubles were the result eas includes: invading forces will want to mans knew that In rubble of booby trap bombs, the vast • The only abandoned houses occupy and use. most common On thresholds majority of them laid by the left standing in a village, • Anything of use or value Russian soldiers 22 23 No shipmate will be left behind Sea Cadet officer, Sub Lieutenant Mike Taylor needs our help and this is an appeal to the readers of Military Despatches.

he Officer Command- gone to all Training Ships, ex ing TS Springs (Gaut- Cadets and friends of the Sea Teng), Lt Cdr Chris Cadets. Hand, initiated a project to assist a fellow Sea Cadet S/Lt Mike Taylor, aged 46, officer who is in need of was diagnosed as a young man an urgent life changing with cancer after contract- operation. ing severe malaria. Over the This initiative has years, he has had good times, been supported by the and bad times. Sea Cadet organisa- As his cancer(s) have pro- tion and an appeal has gressed, he has received vari- ous treatments, first through a private medical aid, and lately through Government Health Services. The past year has seen his disease progression get worse. With limited funds available to the State they are unable assist HELPING OTHERS: S/Lt Mike Taylor with TS Springs Sea Cadets preparing food parcels dur- other than offer pain relief. In ing COVID-19 for Sea Cadet families the past three months, Mike’s condition has deteriorated and ing his knowledge of nautical er R15,000 for post operative Bravo Zulu to, Lt Cdr Chris he is in constant pain. matters. care. Hand, OC TS Springs, for After consulting with a pain He has been a mentor and This operation will provide initiating the campaign, the specialist it has been deter- role model to the more than S/Lt Taylor with an opportuni- Sea Cadet organisation, units mined that an operation is re- 100 TS Springs Sea Cadets. ty to continue to be a support- around the country and the quired to sever certain nerve Despite his situation he has ive husband and loving father “family & friends” for assist- connections to his leg and during COVID-19 been ac- of their two sons while contin- ing Lt Mike Taylor. “No ship- groin areas to alleviate the tively involved in packing uing to contribute in a positive mate shall be left behind.” pain as even morphine does and delivering food parcels to way towards maritime youth We are looking forward to not help anymore. Sea Cadet families from TS development. seeing S/Lt Mike Taylor back S/Lt Taylor has been an ac- Springs. Should you be one of the in action doing what he loves tive adult Officer instructor at Unfortunately, this type of “family”, a friend of the Sea – mentoring and being a role TS Springs since 2017 where operation can’t be performed Cadets or interested in assist- model to the TS Springs Sea he has assisted in providing by the State and the only hope ing please see the TS Springs Cadets. opportunities for and shar- is via a private procedure. Facebook page or www.seaca- His family are also with- dets.za.org OR “backabuddy” out an income as his wife has – Mike Taylor campaign. S/Lt Mike Taylor been forced to close her busi- All the funds will be paid di- ness due to COVID-19. rectly to the hospital, surgeon, Sea Cadet Officer The cost of the operation is anaesthetist, and other profes- TS Springs around R50,000 with anoth- sional service providers. 24 25 have large resources that they assistance from external sourc- to destroy or incapacitate per- can call upon. es. This assistance can take the sonnel or vehicles. In some cas- IED - Insane, Effective, Deadly But they also have disadvan- form of providing training and es, IEDs are used to distract, In modern wars and conflicts the enemy could be anyone. And they will use any weapon tages. They are normally easily weapons, financial assistance, disrupt, or delay an opposing and tactic to inflict casualties and damage. One of the most common weapons is the IED. identified by their uniform and or even offering sanctuary. force, facilitating another type equipment, their conduct and One of the most common and of attack. he battlefield has al- And it is often not that easy that could cause harm or dam- tactics are usually governed popular weapons used by insur- IEDs may incorporate mili- ways been a harsh envi- to distinguish who the enemy age. This often makes a war ex- by “rules of engagement”, and gents and militia is the impro- tary or commercially sourced Tronment. After all, they are. In many cases they do not tremely difficult to fight. they are normally fighting in an vised explosive device (IED). explosives, and often combine have been places where people wear a uniform of any sort. The The majority of modern con- unfamiliar and hostile environ- both types, or they may other- are trying very hard to kill each enemy could be anyone - the flicts consist of asymmetric un- ment. IED wise be made with homemade other. man dressed in jeans and a tee- conventional warfare. This is The insurgents or militia are An improvised explosive de- explosives. Yet there was a time when shirt that looks as if he could be war between belligerents whose also at an obvious disadvan- vice (IED) is a bomb construct- An IED has five components: war was far more simple. No a soldier, the harmless looking relative military power differs tage - they are usually not well ed and deployed in ways other a switch (activator), an initiator less dangerous or horrific, but old man sitting on the street significantly, or whose strategy trained, often have inferior than in conventional military (fuse), container (body), charge more simple. You could identi- corner, or even the 10 year old or tactics differ significantly. equipment, and their tactics are action. It may be constructed (explosive), and a power source fy your enemy by the uniform schoolgirl with pigtails and a This is typically a war be- often not well co-ordinated. of conventional military explo- (battery). they were wearing. There were smile. tween a standing, profession- On the other hand, the have sives, such as an artillery shell, An IED designed for use certain protocols that governed And the enemy will make al army and an insurgency or some strong advantages. They attached to a detonating mech- against armoured targets such the way the war was fought. use of any weapon or tactic resistance movement militias are often highly motivated and anism. as personnel carriers or tanks These days, however, things who often have status of unlaw- dedicated to their cause, they An IED is a bomb fabricated will be designed for armour are not that simple. The battle- ful combatants. are fighting on ‘home ground’, in an improvised manner in- penetration, by using a shaped field could be anywhere - an The professional army has and they will use anyone and corporating destructive, lethal, charge that creates an explo- open field, an urban area, certain advantages. For in- anything to achieve their objec- noxious, pyrotechnic, or incen- sively formed penetrator. IEDs the local shopping mall, stance they are usually better tives. diary chemicals and designed or your back yard. trained, better equipped, and In many cases they receive

26 27 are extremely diverse in design old child and seven other peo- and may contain many types of ple were killed by explosives initiators, detonators, penetra- strapped to a horse in the town tors, and explosive loads. of Chita in Colombia. IEDs are triggered by various The carcasses of certain ani- methods, including remote con- mals were also used to conceal trol, infrared or magnetic trig- explosive devices by the Iraqi gers, pressure-sensitive bars or insurgency. trip wires (victim-operated). War pigs are reported to have In some cases, multiple IEDs been used in ancient warfare as are wired together in a daisy military animals, mostly as a chain to attack a convoy of ve- countermeasure against war el- hicles spread out along a road- BOOBY TRAP: While they may look visually attractive, they ephants. way. could easily be explosive-filled implants. Pliny the Elder reported that IEDs have been used in no “elephants are scared by the fewer than 17 countries. In the could be carried by a truck. ISIS Marine Corps since the Battle smallest squeal of the hog”. The VBIED: Explosives packed in the boot of a car. These devices second Iraq War, IEDs were are known as VBIED (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive De- has used truck bombs with dev- of Iwo Jima in World War II, Romans exploited squealing used extensively against US- vices). astating effects. the deadliest single-day death pigs (and rams) to repel the war led invasion forces and by the On 23 October 1983, at toll for the United States Armed elephants of Pyrrhus in 275 BC. end of 2007 they had become the systematic use of IEDs and wait for the target to come to 06:22, a 19-ton Mercedes-Benz Forces since the first day of the Historical accounts of incen- responsible for approximately booby traps to cover the retreat them. Rather, they are delivered flat-bed truck drove through Tet Offensive in the Vietnam diary pigs or flaming pigs were 63% of coalition deaths in Iraq. of German troops at the Somme to the intended target. an open vehicle gate of the 1st War and the deadliest terror- recorded by the military writer IEDs are commonly used region during World War I. Vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIED) Battalion, 8th Marine stationed ist attack on American citizens Polyaenus and by Aelian. as roadside bombs. They vary Another early example of are vehicles laden with explo- at Beirut International Airport. overseas. Both writers reported that in both sophistication and coordinated large-scale use of sives that are then driven to the The truck drove through a Boats laden with explosives Antigonus II Gonatas’ siege of strength, with some being very IEDs was the Belarusian Rail target. guard hut in front of the build- can be used against ships and ar- Megara in 266 BC was broken simple devices while others are War launched by Belarusian The explosive can then be ing and smashed into the lobby eas connected to water. An ear- when the Megarians doused far more complex. guerrillas against the Germans detonated by remote control of the building serving as the ly example of this type was the some pigs with combustible during World War II. Both or by the driver or passenger. barracks for the 24th Marine Japanese Shinyo suicide boats pitch, crude oil or resin, set IED delivery mechanism command-detonated and de- These are commonly known as Amphibious Unit. during World War II. The boats them alight, and drove them to- Most IEDs are static weap- layed-fuse IEDs were used to car bombs. The truck, which had been hi- were laden with explosives and wards the enemy’s massed war ons. They are placed in vari- derail thousands of German On occasion the driver of the jacked earlier, was packed with attempted to ram Allied ships, elephants. ous locations and are detonated trains during 1943–1944. car bomb may have been co- explosives. And these were no sometimes successfully, having The elephants bolted in ter- when the target is within range. Throughout ‘The Troubles’ erced into delivery of the ve- ordinary explosives. sunk or severely damaged sev- ror from the flaming, squealing The device could be con- in Ireland, the Provisional IRA hicle under duress, a situation The bed of the truck was sur- eral American ships by war’s pigs, often killing great num- tained in a vehicle parked next made extensive use of IEDs in known as a proxy bomb. rounded by 20 kg compressed end. bers of their own soldiers by to the side of the road, placed their 1969–97 campaign. They In most cases, however, the butane canisters employed Suicide bombers used a boat- trampling them to death. in a dustbin or under some rub- used barrack buster mortars and driver or passenger that deto- with pentaerythritol tetrani- borne IED to attack the USS One of the most difficult ble, or even disguised in a case remote controlled IEDs. Mem- nates the bomb is a more than trate (PETN). These canisters Cole, US and UK troops have IEDs to deal with is the suicide of beer, in a child’s toy, or in a bers of the IRA developed and willing participant and consid- surrounded 9,525 kilograms of also been killed by boat-borne bomber wearing explosives and piece of ‘abandoned’ military counter-developed devices and ers it a great honour to become TNT. IEDs in Iraq. detonating them in order to kill equipment. tactics. a martyr for the cause. Once in the lobby of the Using animals as a method of others including themselves. These are excellent weapons IRA bombs became highly so- Car bombs can carry thou- building the driver, an Iranian delivering IEDs or as incendi- The bomber will conceal ex- for slowing down advancing phisticated, featuring anti-han- sands of kilograms of explo- national named Ismail Ascari, ary devices has been around for plosives on and around their troops, as nearly every object dling devices such as a mercu- sives and may be augmented detonated his explosives. a long time. person, commonly using a vest is regarded with suspicion and ry tilt switch or microswitches. with shrapnel to increase frag- The resulting explosion killed Do a bit of research on the (or possibly a prosthetic and needs to be checked before the These devices would detonate mentation. 220 Marines, 18 sailors and ‘anti-tank dog’ and the ‘bat will use a timer or some other troops can advance. the bomb if it was moved in any Now if a car can carry a large three soldiers, making this in- bomb’ that were developed dur- trigger to detonate the explo- Ernst Jünger mentions in his way. amount of explosives, just think cident the deadliest single-day ing World War II. sives. war memoir, Storm of Steel, Many IED, however, do not of the amount of explosives that death toll for the United States In recent times, a two-year- In addition, there is the psy- 28 29 chological impact of fighters prepared to deliberately sacri- Quiz fice themselves for their cause. The Americans have made great use of drones, both for ob- The Tin Hat serving and attacking potential utting your thinking helmet on because this month our quiz is about exactly that - helmets. We targets. show you 15 helmets, you tell us what they are. You’ll find the answers to the quiz on page It was only a matter of time P104. before insurgents reasoned that what was “sauce for the goose, was sauce for the gander.” 1 2 3 Small commercial drones, operated via a cellphone or tab- let and equipped with a camera, can be purchased for as little as R2,000. FLYING BOMB: Cheap commercial drones are now being The camera transmits live used as a method of delivering IEDs. video footage to the opera- tor who is then able to control leaked their acquisition of doc- until the moment of initiation. 4 5 6 the height and direction of the uments describing the prepara- The trigger for a radio-con- drone. tion and use of surgically im- trolled improvised explosive The camera can then record planted improvised explosive device (RCIED) is controlled still images or video footage devices. by radio link. A signal from the than can be used for intelli- The devices were designed transmitter causes the receiver gence purposes. They can also to evade detection. The devic- to trigger a firing pulse that op- be used as IED, as a report from es were described as containing erates the switch. early 2019 about an attack on no metal, so they could not be One of the most common 7 8 9 Russian forces in Syria by 13 detected by X-rays. methods these days is to use a homemade drones points out. Security officials referred mobile phone to trigger the det- According to the report, “Ten to bombs being surgically im- onation. This uses a radio-con- drones attacked a Russian air- planted into suicide bombers’ trolled IED (RCIED) incorpo- base at Khmeimim. The other “love handles”. rating a mobile phone that is three went for a nearby naval According to the UK security modified and connected to an base at Tartus. officials at MI-6, female bomb- electrical firing circuit. “Rather than being quadcop- ers could travel undetected car- The easiest method is the vic- 10 11 12 ters (the most popular design rying the explosive chemicals tim-operated improvised ex- for commercial drones), the in otherwise standard breast im- plosive devices (VOIED), also craft involved in these attacks plants. The bomber would blow known as booby traps. They are resembled hobbyists’ model up the implanted explosives by operated by means of move- aircraft. Their wingspans were injecting a chemical trigger. ment. Switching methods in- about 13 feet, and they were clude tripwire, pressure mats, crudely constructed of wood IED triggering methods spring-loaded release, push, and plastic and powered by For an IED to be successful pull or tilt. 13 14 15 lawnmower engines. it has to explode. Various meth- IEDs have become a huge “Each carried 10 home-made ods are used to detonate an IED. problem and will continue to shrapnel grenades under its Command-wire improvised, be so in the future. As quick as wings.” explosive devices (CWIED) solutions to combat them are I have saved the best for last. use an electrical firing cable found, counter-methods are in- As early as May 2012 Ameri- that affords the user complete vented. can counter-terrorism officials control over the device right up 30 31 “I was astonished by the mass of banknotes…ten, twenty- and Operation Cicero (Pt I) fifty-pound notes…in bun- In probably one of the most important spy stories of World War II, an Albanian, code-named “Ci- dles…they looked suspiciously cero”, was selling top secret British information to the Germans. ByPaul Rosslee. new…somehow I felt vague- ly suspicious about this”. Von n Tuesday, 26 October ments to meet on the night of • Himmler’s ‘private’ intel- Papen must have guessed his 1943 at about 22h00, 30 October, the man left. ligence service under Jost. thoughts: “Looks altogether too Ludwig Carl Moyzisch, So, began one of the most and new, these notes” he said. O Moyzisch was lucky enough officially the Commercial At- important spy stories of World • the German’s Foreign Of- taché at the German Embassy War II. fice’s own Intelligence Sec- to have a professional pho- in Ankara, received a phone call The man, code named “CICE- tion; tographer at the Embassy and a from the First Secretary, Albert RO” by Franz von Papen, Ger- Unlike the British (who had dark room in the cellar, so when Jenke, asking him to come to man Ambassador in Ankara, three - MI5, MI6, SOE) under he met Cicero at 22h00 in the their flat immediately on an ur- Turkey, was Elyesa Bazna, a central control, the Germans Embassy gardens, he had him gent matter. valet to Sir Hughe Knatch- unfortunately spent most of wait in his office while the pho- By the time Moyzisch arrived bull-Hugessen, British Ambas- their time spying on each other. tographs were developed. When Moyzisch returned to at the Embassy compound it sador in Ankara. As Moyzisch said “there CICERO: Elyesa Bazna, code-named ‘Cicero’ by the Germans, was about 22:30 and the only Throughout his book “Oper- were fantastic and highly com- his office, all Cicero said was sold top secret British intelligence to the Germans for nearly “Well?”, Moyzisch then opened lights on were at the Jenke’s ation Cicero” (1950) Moyzisch plex cross currents of intrigue two years apartment. maintains that he never knew and counter-intrigue, personal his safe and handed Cicero the Frau Jenke opened the door the man’s real name. vendettas between important that time. because, besides being the com- bundle of money which he with the words: “There is a This I find hard to believe, as people. He maintained that he could mercial attaché, was also the stuffed inside his coat and with character in there” pointing the very next morning, Albert “And not always between read basic English but had dif- resident Sicherheitsdienst of- “Au revoir, monsieur’ vanished to the drawing room “he has Jenke told Moyzisch that Bazna various organisations but also ficulty speaking it, but events ficer (the intelligence agency of into the night”. something he wants to sell us.” used to work for him as a valet within the same organisation proved this to be untrue. the SS and fell under SS Gen- On inspection it was dis- After saying that her husband until he caught him reading his with Ribbentrop hating von After being fired by the Jen- eral Joseph Kaltenbrunner’s all covered that none of these would talk to him in the morn- correspondence. Papen and more often than not ke’s he was hired by Douglas powerful Nachrichtendienste) documents were older than a ing, left them alone with the Ankara, in 1943/44 was prob- contradicting von Papen out of Busk, the First Secretary of the under whose control such oper- fortnight and most were date- instructions to switch off the ably the most important neutral sheer bloody mindedness.” British Embassy who, in turn, ations fell. stamped a few days previously, lights and close the front door capital in the world, as it was Bazna was born in Alba- recommended Bazna for the The next morning Moyzisch all of these were marked either when he leaves. close to all military actions, nia. At age 16 he had joined position of valet to Sir Hughe reported the matter to von Pap- “Top Secret” or “Most Secret”. Moyzisch saw a man sitting Russia, Balkans, Middle East a French army unit in Istanbul Knatchbull-Hugessen in 1943 en, who in turn (because of the They were signals passed be- in an arm chair: “I guessed he and North Africa and was prob- but was caught stealing. (who assumed, wrongly, that amount of money involved), tween various embassies and was in his fifties, he had thick ably German’s best access to He was sentenced to three Busk had had a background sent an immediate signal to the the Foreign Office in London, black hair...dark eyes…small the outside world. years in a French Labour Camp check done on Bazna). Foreign Office in Berlin to ob- concerning political and mili- nose and a firm chin.” It was, therefore, also home in Marseilles, eventually re- Anthony Cave Brown, author tain authority and funding from tary matters of the utmost im- After they introduced them- to many Intelligence organisa- turning to Turkey where he had of Bodyguard of Lies, wrote, Ribbentrop. portance – but for Moyzisch it selves, the man identified him- tions, British, Russian, Amer- a number of menial jobs. “Soon, Bazna had ingratiated A return signal supplied the was the message that was more self as “Pierre” and said in ican, German and, of course, He has been described as “a himself to the extent that Sir necessary authority and stat- important: the determination French: “My proposition is of Turkish. typical petty criminal from the Hughe elevated him from pure- ed that money would arrive by and ability of the Allies to utter- the utmost importance to your The Germans had, in fact, five Balkans, a man with no values ly household duties to a posi- special courier on or before the ly destroy the Third Reich. government…I can give you Intelligence organisations oper- except greed who was apolit- tion of a guard to the door of 30th. After discussion with von extremely secret papers, the ating in Ankara at that time: ical and opportunistic, taking his study and quietly turned a The afternoon of Saturday, 30 Papen and Jenke, the photo- most secret that exist…they • Sicherheitsdienst advantages of whatever chanc- blind eye to the fact that Bazna October, Moyzisch was called graphs were deemed genuine, a come straight from the British • Nachrichtendienst - both es he found to try to get rich”. was having an affair with Lady into von Papen’s office. Von copy was given to the Military Embassy...but I’ll want mon- falling under SS General Jo- He could speak Albanian, Knatchbull-Hugessen’s maid in Papen had an enormous amount Attaché and a signal was dis- ey…a lot of money”. seph Kalternbrunner) Turkish, Serbo-Croatian, and the servants’ quarters” (this was of bank notes on his desk and patched to the Foreign Office in After asking for £20,000 for • Abwehr - under Admiral French, the latter was the stand- a woman by the name of Mara). suggested that Moyzisch count Berlin. two rolls of film and arrange- Canaris ard language of diplomacy at Jenke had called Moyzisch them. A few nights later Cicero was 32 33 back with another two rolls and night train from Ankara. Moyzisch was eventually to must have made a mistake, but was meeting Moyzisch every had the lock to Sir Hughes’s a demand for £30,000, which On arrival at Sofia, Moyzisch spend almost 3 weeks in Berlin still gave him authority to repay second or third day. He had safe changed. Moyzisch did not have. was taken from the Lufthansa on Ribbentrop’s whim before the bank with Embassy funds. brought copies of minutes of The next meeting was ar- Cicero handed the films over Ju52 by a young man stating “I being allowed to return to An- While in Berlin Moyzisch the first Cairo conference as ranged at a friend’s house, anyway, saying that Moyzisch have instructions from Gener- kara. had heard rumours of a secret well as the Tehran Conference. Cicero supplied two rolls of could pay him for two deliv- al Kaltenbrunner that a special While in Berlin Moyzisch German project to forge British As Moyzisch said: “Sitting film, which was subsequently eries the next time he saw him plane is waiting for you to take was shocked to discover, that if currency. there…typing a résumé of what developed. This brought a fur- “I’ll be back, you see!”. you to Berlin” and was taken he went to any function, he was Although he could not be- the batch of photographs told ther puzzle. Cicero also asked for a Lei- the rest of the way in a Luft- invariably asked about Cicero. lieve that Berlin would jeop- me…I realised with brutal clar- One of the exposures clear- ca camera as had borrowed the waffe aircraft. Moyzisch was to see Cicero ardise an operation as impor- ity that I was writing nothing ly showed Cicero’s hand hold- one he had used, from a friend. On arrival in Berlin he was the next evening after his re- tant as Cicero by paying him less…than a preview of Ger- ing the document being pho- Soon Moyzisch was inundat- taken immediately to Gen turn. Cicero complained that with forged money, he wanted man’s destruction”. tographed – so, Cicero had ed with signals from Germany Kaltenbrunner who wanted to he had had to destroy a number to be sure. Moyzisch therefore These were dispatched to an “assistant”. While this with many and varied ques- see the documents before they of films, as he was concerned took the notes to another bank Berlin. By now Cicero was us- was never established, it was tions for and about Cicero, the were to be shown to Ribben- about being caught with them, in Istanbul (that the Consulate ing film at such a rate that Moy- presumed to be Mara, Lady most insistent was for his name, trop. Kaltenbrunner personally but still was able to hand over General) used and asked them zisch had rolls flown in from Knatchbull-Hugessen’s maid, which Moyzisch continued to interrogated Moyzisch and had two new films, which were de- to examine the notes on the Berlin, as Ankara had only one with whom Cicero was hav- maintain he did not have. the photographs inspected by a veloped and sent on the next pretext that the Embassy had photographic shop. ing an affair. This brought a Unfortunately General group of experts (who eventu- flight to Berlin. been offered the notes in ten- Cicero saw Moyzisch a day flood of questions from Berlin Kaltenbrunner started to take a ally agreed that they were gen- Most of these were of a polit- der and wanted to check if they or two later, meeting as usual, as well, but Moyzisch chose to personal interest in Cicero and uine). ical nature and concerned with were genuine. After a few days at a street corner and driving ignore them. Moyzisch started to receive Kaltenbrunner eventually attempting to break up Turk- he was informed that the bank around Ankara. Cicero gave The next batch of films more and more signals from his told Moyzisch that he was tak- ish-German relations! considered them genuine. Moyzisch another roll of film brought more headache for the vast staff, Moyzisch said “by ing over the operation from the “Documents of this sort might By now Cicero, as far as plus a little box: “Open it lat- Embassy. It included a docu- now…a dozen offices in Berlin Foreign Office and the £200,000 have provided valuable lessons Moyzisch was concerned, had er…they’ll know what to do ment dealing with Anglo-Turk- must have had complete filing had come from his coffers. for our [German] politicians… passed a crucial test. One of with it in Berlin”. ish relations and that Ankara systems dealing with Cicero”. He was also furious that vari- if they were prepared to… Cicero’s earlier reports stat- Suddenly Moyzisch realised was prepared to accept British Cicero had stopped meeting ous details that had been sent to study…British diplomacy… ed that the Allies would start that they were being followed military personnel into Turkey, in the Embassy complex and Ribbentrop had not been shared and political activity abroad… bombing Sofia on 13 Novem- and a car chase ensured through especially RAF and Navy, as Moyzisch would pick him up at with him and “judging from the nor were they prepared to give ber 1943, when this took place, the streets of Ankara. Moyzisch well as the numbers involved, a designated point in a car and nasty glint in his eye he would credence to any statement that many in Berlin started to be- was able to “loose his tail” but in contravention to Turkey’s they would drive around while have loved to put his hands opposed their preconceived lieve his intelligence. was very frightened by the mat- neutral status. talking. around Ribbentrop’s throat”. ideas”. Moyzisch was shocked to ter. He never did discover who The wording included the Moyzisch would then drop It would be two days before Ankara appreciated Sir discover that Belin had not in- followed them that night, but line: “to maintain a threat to him off and return to the dark- Moyzisch actually got to see Hughes’s activities more than formed Sofia of the raid, which presumed it was Turkish Intel- the Germans from the eastern room to develop the film(s). Ribbentrop and more impor- Berlin. The end of November caught the city unprepared. ligence. Mediterranean until Overlord is On 4 November, a special tantly, before Ribbentrop got to saw Moyzisch in Istanbul again. December was the busi- When developed, the they launched.” Moyzisch “showed courier arrived from Berlin and see that actual photographs. At one stage Cicero had est month for both Cicero and showed that the Turkish Pres- Herr von Papen this grimly se- delivered a suitcase containing After examining them he asked Moyzisch for US Dollars Moyzisch but had started on a ident, Inonu and the Foreign rious document…Herr von Pa- £200,000 for future operational asked Moyzisch if he believed as well as English Pounds, so bad note. Moyzisch received Minister had secretly gone to pen decided to act at once…and expenses in Operation Cicero. them to be genuine “not that I Moyzisch took £5,000 in new a personal signal from Kalten- Cairo (2nd Cairo Conference, the results were far reaching”. On 6 November von Pap- am interested in your personal notes to their bank in Ankara to brunner ordering him to stop 4-6 December 1943) to meet He was never to learn, until af- en handed Moyzisch a signal, opinions, they are hardly likely exchange. showing von Papen, with im- Churchill and Roosevelt. No ter the war, what “Overlord” coming from the Foreign Min- to relieve my considerable mis- A few weeks later his sus- mediate effect, any intelligence one in Ankara had even realised meant. istry, instructing Moyzisch to givings!” picions were confirmed when obtained from Cicero. Not only that they had left. be in Berlin on the 8th and that a Ribbentrop eventually stated the manager phoned Moyzisch did Moyzisch choose to ignore This was despatched to Berlin To be concluded in the Octo- seat had been booked on the Is- that they were “too good to be to tell him some of the pound this message, he showed it to along with the box. Inside the ber issue of Military Despatch- tanbul-Berlin flight for the 7th, true”. He was never convinced notes were counterfeit. Moy- von Papen as well. box was a wax impression for es. meaning that he would have to that the Cicero documents to be zisch complained to Berlin, Critical intelligence was be- a new safe key. MI5 had final- leave immediately on the over- true. who told him that the bank ing supplied by Cicero, who ly realised there was a leak and 34 35 the Vietnam War. Shortened Paratrooper. from the phonetic alphabet • Dirty Gertie of Bizerte Army speak 101 Victor Charles for VC. (Allied Forces WWII) - A The military has always had their own way of doing things. And this includes having a rich • Cherry (US) - New recruit promiscuous woman. vocabulary of slang terms. still in basic training. • Doss bag (British) - Sleep- • Chibuli (Rhodesian Army) ing bag. he military world-wide I to describe an anti-aircraft tion. - Beer. • Egyptian PT (British) - has always had their own gun. • Blister Mechanic (Allied • Chicken Parade (SADF) Sleeping, particularly dur- way of doing things. And • Armoured cow (Australia) T Forces WWII) - Medic. - Basically a clean up of ing the day. Probably dates this includes having their very - Tinned milk. • Blou Gat (SADF) - Expres- an area, picking up papers, from WW2 or before. own language. • Army Banjo (Allied Forc- sion used to describe a na- cigarette butts, and general • Elephant Virgin (SADF) - The South African Defence es WWII) - Shovel. tional serviceman who had refuse. In the navy this was Slang term given to slices of Force (SADF) used a strange • Army Strawberries (Allied reached the halfway point of Bokkop known as ‘skirmishing’. polony. mixture of Afrikaans, English, Forces WWII) - Prunes. his initial national service. It • Civvie sitrep (Rhodesian • Engine Mountings (SADF) slang and techno-speak that few • Army’s Lawn Dart (US) nickname given by the SAS is an Afrikaans word literal- Army) - News on the com- - Slang term given to tinned outside of the military could - UH-60 Black Hawk he- to MI5. Their official ad- ly meaning ‘blue arse’. mercial radio. braised Steak. hope to understand. licopter. Named for its in- dress is PO Box 500, Lon- • Bokkop (SADF) - Slang • Clutch Plate (SADF) - • Flat dog (Rhodesian Some of the terms were hu- don. ability to stay in the air. Also term for infantry soldier. Slang term given to ham- Army) - Crocodile. morous, some were clever, • Brake Shoes (SADF) - Known as a “Crash Hawk”. It is derived from the Afri- burger patties. • Fish and Chips (British) while others were downright Slang term used to describe • Asino morto (Italian) - kaans word ‘Buck Head’. • Craphat (British) - Used - Slang term for urban war- crude. Provita Biscuits. “Dead donkey”, term for The emblem of the infantry by members of the para- fare (Fighting in someone’s Other armed forces around • Brass (Worldwide) - Top canned ham. was a Springbok’s head. chute regiment to denote house, causing havoc in the world also have their own ranking officers. • Axle Grease (Allied Forces • Bohica (US Navy) - Bend what they class as lesser reg- people’s streets). slang terms. • Bravo Zulu (Worldwide WWII) - Butter. over, here it comes again. iments. Taken from the fact • Fitter and turner (SADF) This article looks at just a few navies) - Well done. • Bagger (Ireland) - Deroga- • Blanket-stacker (British) that they wear the coveted - Nickname for a chef, be- of these slang names and terms. • Brown Navy (SADF) - A tory term referring to an - Any storeman (even if he Maroon beret that no-one cause he fits food into a pot Obviously we had to leave out term used to describe the Irish reservist Soldier, com- doesn’t deal with blankets). else wears. and turns it into sh*t. some of the more crude and South African Navy’s Ma- paring him/her to a sandbag, • Bleu (France) - A recruit. • Culling (Rhodesian Army) • Flossie (SADF) - Slang offensive terms. But I’m sure rines. They wore the normal i.e.; useless. Derived from the French - Killing the enemy. term for the Hercules C-130 most of our readers will re- brown uniform of the SADF, • Bait layer (Australian) - term for barely-cooked • Dad (Allied Forces WWII) transport aircraft. member them. as opposed to the ‘blue navy’ An Army cook. Refers to steak, symbolizing a “raw” - The oldest member of a • Freds (Rhodesian Army) Here is but a small sample of who were the seafaring ele- a person who drops poison recruit. group. – Frelimo. Mozambique military slang. ment of the navy. meat to kill dingos. The are • Blue on blue contact (UK • Dart thrower (Australian) Army. • Bundu (Rhodesian Army) also known as a Ration As- and US) - A friendly fire in- - A member of the Austral- • Gimpy (British) - The • Admin vortex (British) - A - The bush, the countryside. sassin. cident. ian Intelligence Corps. Re- L7A2 GPMG 7.62x61mm disorganised Soldier. • Bungalow Bill (SADF) - • Battery Acid (SADF) - • Body Snatcher (Allied fers to the perceived method belt-fed general purpose • Admiral of the Swiss Navy When troops lived in a bun- Slang term given to concen- Forces WWII) - Stretcher of identifying compounds/ (Allied Forces WWII) - A galow or dormitory one of trated cold drink that was bearer. areas of interest for future self-important person. them would often be put in mixed with water. • Boomer (US Navy) - A nu- operations, usually conduct- • Agitate the gravel (Rho- charge. Although this troop • Bayonet Course (Allied clear ballistic missile sub- ed eyes-shut with non-mas- desian Army) - Lets go. usually had no rank he was Forces WWII) - Hospital marine, or personnel serving ter hand to ensure statistical- Leave the place. known as the Bungalow treatment for venereal dis- aboard same. ly random results. • Air-dale (UK and US) - Bill. eases. “Bayonet” refers to • Boozer (Australian) - Pub • Devil Dodger, Siel Tiffie Derogatory term for a pilot • Canned Morale (Allied the male member. or Bar on an Army Base. (SADF) - Slang term for a or aircrew. Forces WWII) - A movie. • Beasting (British) - Punish- • Bottled Sunshine (Allied padre, chaplain or priest. • Amen wallah (British • Canteen medals (Australi- ment drill or PT. Forces WWII) - Beer. • Dicker (British) - A look Army) - Used during World an) - Beer or food stains on • Become a Gold Star in • Bowl us the ages ek se out, usually used to describe War I to describe a Chaplain. the breast of a shirt or jacket. Mom’s Window (Allied (Rhodesian Army) - What an enemy. A friendly look • Archie (British) - Expres- • Charles (US) - Nickname Forces WWII) - A gentle is the time? out is a stag. sion used during World War for the Viet Cong during Staaldak way of saying killed in ac- • Box 500 (British) - The • Dirt dart (Australian) - 36 37 machine gun. tude’. that was issued to SADF It is an Afrikaans word • Glasshouse, the (British) - • Interflora (SADF) - Derog- troops. It was hardly ever meaning ‘pig pan’. Military prison. atory term for a member of referred to as a steel helmet • Vasbyt (SADF) - Afrikaans • Go Kart (SADF) - Slang the Signals Corp. Their em- though. Even the English term meaning ‘bite fast’. It term used for a twenty-man blem of the winged figure of speaking people would refer was used to encourage each toilet. These were fibreglass Mercury was also used by to it as a staaldak. other. toilet shells which were the national florists, Interflo- • Stay frosty (US) - Regular • Vleisbom (SADF) - Derog- placed over a hole dug in the ra. term among Soldiers to both atory term used to describe ground. They were mounted • Jimmy (SADF) - Slang stay calm and stay alert. parabats (paratroopers), on wheels for easy move- term for signaller. Tommy cooker Varkpan • Suurstof dief (SADF) - De- usually by non-parabats. Af- ment. • Jol (SADF) - An Afrikaans • Mujiba (Rhodesian Army) • Retread (Allied Forces rogatory term for those in rikaans term meaning ‘meat • God (British) - The Regi- slang expression for a party. – Young insurgent supporter, WWII) - A veteran of World non-combatant roles. Afri- bomb’. mental Sergeant Major. • Jollie patrollie (SADF) - their ‘eyes and ears’(Shona). War I fighting in World War kaans expression meaning • Vindaloos (British) - Fire- • Gomos (Rhodesian Army) Used to denote any excur- • Muti - (Rhodesian Army) - II. ‘oxygen thief’. proof underwear used by the - Hills. sion or activity regarded Medicine of any description. • Rofie (SADF) - Term used • Tab (British) - To march SAS. • Gong (British) - A cam- as fun. Literal translation • Mushi (Rhodesian Army) - for a new recruit. It comes quickly with full pack and • Vorster Orrel (SADF) paign medal. means ‘jolly patrol’. Really nice / good. from the Afrikaans word rifle. Used by the British - Nickname for the Valki- • Green slime (British) - • K-Car (Rhodesian Army) - • Noddy Car (SADF) - Slang meaning ‘scab’. Army. ri 127 mm multiple rocket Army intelligence person- Nickname given to an Alou- expression for an Eland-60 • Santa Maria (SADF) - • Tampax Tiffy (SADF) - launcher. It refers to the late nel. ette III helicopter armed armoured car. SADF issued underpants. Slang term for a medic. President John Vorster. The • GV (SADF) - A term used with twin FN-MAG light • Numpty (Australian) - An Hardly ever worn by the • Taxi’s (SADF) - Cloths or feared Soviet equivalent for someone who was very machine guns. The K stood individual who just doesn’t troops but rather used to pol- strips of blankets which was nicknamed the ‘Stalin enthusiastic. It was short for for ‘kill’. get it ish floors or boots. were wrapped around your Organ’. the Afrikaans Grens Vegter • Katunda (Rhodesian • Olifant Skilfers (SADF) - • Screw (Australian) - Cor- boots so as not to dirty the • White Gold (SADF) - Slang or ‘border fighter’. Army) - Personal kit. Slang term for Cornflakes poral. floor. expression for toilet paper. • Gypo (SADF) - Used as a • Kettenhunde (German (breakfast cereal). It is an • Shrapnel (SADF) - Slang • Throw some sky into my • Wombles (Rhodesian term for avoiding work. A WW II) - Military Police, Afrikaans expression mean- term for tinned mixed Veg- rounds (Rhodesian Army) Army) - Police Special Re- person that was lazy was named for the chain and ing ‘elephant dandruff’. etables. - Put air in the tyres of a ve- serve. Middle aged volun- known as a gypo gat. badge they wore as a symbol • Ou Man (SADF) - Term • Shumba (Rhodesian hicle. teers who patrolled the ur- • Gypo Guts (SADF) - Slang of their duties. used for a troop who only Army) - Lion Lager. From • Tiffy (SADF) - Mechanic ban areas. term for diarrhoea. • Lemon (Rhodesian Army) had a short time left of his the Shona word for Lion. or member of the Technical • Yomp (British) - To march • Hondo (Rhodesian Army) - Nothing there. Normally national service. It is Afri- • Skrapnel hoender (SADF) Services Corps. quickly with full pack and – War, conflict (Shona). used to describe an oper- kaans for ‘old man’. - Term used to describe a • Tit’s up (British) - To be rifle. Used by the Royal Ma- • Houding (SADF) - An Af- ation or patrol which pro- • PB’s (SADF) - Term for meal consisting of shredded dead, lying on your back rines. rikaans word meaning ‘atti- duced nothing. local population. From the chicken. It is an Afrikaans with your chest facing sky- • Long (Rhodesian Army) - Afrikaans ‘plaaslike bevolk- expression meaning shrap- ward, hence Tits-Up. Trust you enjoyed these. Many / much / a lot. ing’. nel chicken. • Tommy (German WW II) • Min Dae (SADF) - Afri- • Pineapple (Allied Forces • Sleeve trash (Australian) - - British soldier. kaans expression meaning WWII) - A hand grenade. NCOs. They wear their rank • Tommy cooker (German ‘few days’. This was used • Pongo (SADF) - Slang for on their sleeve as opposed to WW II) - German nickname by troops who had only a members of the army. Refers officers who wear theirs on for the American Sherman short time before they com- to the often unavailability of their shoulder. tank. pleted their military service. washing facilities. The ex- • Slot (Rhodesian Army)- To • TTL (Rhodesian Army) – • Min Dae Chips (SADF) - pression; “Everywhere the kill. Tribal Trust Land. Slang term for Cornflakes army goes, the pong goes,” • Sniffel tiffy (SADF) - • Tubbin (Australian) - (breakfast cereal). was the origin of this. Member of the Intelligence Thumb Up Bum, Brain In • MMWC (Rhodesian • Put your slayer onto sing Corps. From the Afrikaans Neutral. Army) - The leader / person (Rhodesian Army) - Put ‘sniffing mechanic’. • Varkpan (SADF) - Slang in charge. (Main man what your LMG/rifle on automat- • Staaldak (SADF) - Afri- term for the tray on which Jimmy counts). ic. kaans term for the helmet food was sometimes served. White Gold 38 39 been challenged, they are fun COVID-19 UNABLE TO SINK TS ROOK and hard, they give me the chance to show my different By Lt Lisa Spencer, Officer Commanding, TS Rook skills”. “I miss attending the unit every Saturday. I think he year 2020 started with was made to use the Whatsapp ing. about going, but then the virus a bang with eight new group to give the cadets chal- One of the tasks was to cre- is in the way.” TSea Cadet Nee Entries lenges to complete. These they ate a Bosun’s Call, show how As a ship’s company, we may at TS rooks, a successful swim- could then post onto the group it is held, to find a bit of his- have been buffeted around by ming gala at TS Bounty and a once completed. tory about it and to “pipe” the the current storm and had to great training day at TS Arethus In this way, we have managed STILL and CARRY ON. change tack a few times in or- (Guanteng water unit). to cover 90% of the theory in the der to remain afloat. Yet with Everyone was excited and New Entry and Basic Seaman Seaman Leshawn Gordon the innovative ideas and train- eager to hone their Sea Cadet task books during Lockdown. who was enrolled as a Cadet in ing videos from my officers, the skills and have some “Serious” Senior Cadets were given sep- November 2019, is one of the hard work from the Cadets and Fun. arate tasks to complete relevant cadets who has taken up the support of the parents, TS Rook Then… Covid-19 hit like a to their curriculum. Covering challenges set. Seaman Gordon is still sailing and having “Seri- hurricane, with the potential to practical tasks have been more submitted 3 drawings and a vid- ous” Fun. destroy everything in its path. challenging but cadets have eo of himself “piping”. SOS - If anyone out there is Sea Cadet parades came to an posted videos of themselves When asked how he felt about able to assist the Sea Cadets abrupt end but that didn’t mean doing bends and hitches, piping the tasks and the lack of cadet with data or data as prizes for cadets at TS Rook came to an and teaching their siblings how activities he responded: online work please see www. end. “Borrowing” an idea from to march. The ingenuity of the “I love the tasks, it’s been a seadafets/za.org. TS Woltemade the decision Cadets has been very interest- long time since my brain has WELL DONE: Seaman Le- shawn Gordon from TS Rook who responded to the online Basic Seaman course offered during COVID-19 by the Offi- cer Commanding & Officers.

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

The SA Legion is a national organisation, part of a world- 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 BOSUN’S PIPE: The Bosun’s Pipi / Call beautifully drawn by Seaman Leshawn Gordon and on the cover to the left. submitted as part of his online submission to the Officer CommandingTS Rook. 40 41 Stick walls and screens Caulk them well to keep out behind a fire. If large rocks are A matter of survival - Shelters III It is easy to build walls by wind and rain. There are ideal not available use this method for making one side of a shel- to dam a stream. Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at survival, something that piling sticks between uprights has always been important for those in the military. This month we look at tepees and lean-tos. driven into the ground and, if ter, for blocking a shelter’s possible, tied at the top. opening or for a heat reflector ast month we took a look at temporary shelters. LThis month we are go- ing to look at more sturdy con- structions that can be used for a longer period of time. Tepees Best known from its North To make a very sturdy stick wall, American forms, the tepee in increase the space between various forms occurs in many the uprights, use two stacks of cultures. Parachute tepee tepee. sticks and, as you build it, fill the space between with earth. The quickest type to erect A parachute tepee is simple A parachute, suspended by uses three or more angled sup- to construct. If you have a large its centre, makes an instant te- port poles, tied where they sheet of plastic it can also be pee. Peg out the bottom edge. cross to make a cone. used to construct a parachute They can be tied on the ground and lifted into place be- Parachute material can be used to cover a tepee, but fore covering with even simpler is to suspend one from a tree. Give the sides hides, birch bark a steep angle and, even when the fabric is not water- panels or sheet- proof, water will run off. Fold a segment of the para- ing. Leave an chute double for a door flap, slit along a seam and make opening at the a tie fastening to close it. Coverings ther whole or, if large enough, tach later. Tie the main struts in top for ventila- Make wattle and woven cov- shredded for tighter weaving). position. Weave in more pliant tion. erings for roofs or wall from First make a framework from materials. springy saplings, plant stems, less pliable materials, either in If no ties are available drive grasses and long leaves (ei- situ or as a separate panel to at- vertical stakes into the ground

42 43 and weave saplings between Very large leaves, lashed them. Caulk with earth and or weighted down, or hooked grasses. over lines of creeper, can be If suitable firm cross pieces overlapped like tiles or shin- are too few, weave creepers gles to keep out the rain. between the uprights.

Long grass can be bunched and (b). Upper ends of shingle are a woven, overlap the ends irreg- gripped between the canes, c ularly to make a continuous the lower ends rest on top of warp and weft. Or use birch those below (c). bark to make shingles. b Ring a birch tree with even 60cm cuts and carefully remove SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORIC LOCATION the bark (a). Across The museum is located on the grounds of the historic old WWII 42 a frame fix pairs of Air School on the South side of the airport in the vintage Air Gunnery canes or creepers in Training Centre & Bellman hangar. close spaced pairs AIR FORCE RICH HISTORY The valuable historic grounds, buildings and artifacts displayed in the museum reflect a richly diverse history of South African Air Force MUSEUM aircraft, the people, and the wars. Open lean-to shelter necessary (a). Site your fire Next month we will look at PORT ELIZABETH If there is nothing solid to on the leeward. All side pieces more permanent shelters in- ART GALLERY lean a roof against and you are and - this is important - build a cluding using caves and build- A collection of aviation and contemporary oil paintings and illustra- not trying to keep out heavy reflector (b) on the other side ing sod shelters and log cabins. tions, including prints & postcards, are on display and available to rain or a blizzard, use panels of the fire to make sure that purchase by artist Don Bell. The artist also accepts commissions for of wattle or frames covered in you get the full benefit of the original works customised for the owner. grass for protection. warmth. LIBRARY Erect a horizontal cross- The extensive library contains over 600 aviation and air- piece between trees or on craft related books. simple supports. On the windward side lean a panel of wattle, or tie or lean sap- lings at 45 degrees to make a roof. Add side walls as

b a

BUCCANEER FLIGHTSIM Sit in a real Buccaneer flight simulator and fly the integrated gaming-sim. CONTACT t: + 27 41 505 1295 f: +27 41 505 1346 e: [email protected] www.saafmuseum.org.za 44 45 Rank Structure - Finnish Defence Forces 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 the Finnish Defence Forces. he Finnish Defence engineers, signals, and materiel Finnish Navy Forces (Puolustusvo- (support) troops. The Finnish Navy (Merivo- Timat) are responsible for The commander of the Finn- imat) is one of the branches of Vääpeli Ylivääpeli Sotilasmestari the defence of Finland. ish Army since 1 August 2017 the Finnish Defence Forces. (Sergeant First (Master Sergeant) (Sergeant Major) A universal male conscription is Lieutenant General Petri The navy employs 2,300 peo- Class) is in place, under which all men Hulkko. ple and about 4,300 conscripts above 18 years of age serve for are trained each year. Finnish Officers 165, 255, or 347 days. Finnish Air Force Navy vessels are given the ship Alternative non-military ser- The Finnish Air Force (Il- prefix “FNS”, short for “Finn- vice for all men, and volunteer mavoimat) is one of the branch- ish Navy ship”, but this is not service for all women are pos- es of the Finnish Defence used in Finnish language con- sible. Forces. Its peacetime tasks are texts. airspace surveillance, identifi- The Finnish Navy also in- Finnish Army cation flights, and production cludes coastal forces and coast- The Finnish Army (Maavo- of readiness formations for al artillery. Upseerioppilas Upseerikokelas Vänrikki imat) is the land forces branch wartime conditions. The Finn- The current commander is (Student Officer) (Candidate Officer) (Second Lieutenant) of the Finnish Defence Forces. ish Air Force was founded on 6 Rear Admiral Jori Harju. Today’s Army is divided into six March 1918. branches: the infantry (which The current commander is includes armoured units), field Major General Pasi Jokinen. artillery, anti-aircraft artillery,

Finnish Army Majuri Everstiluutnantti Eversti Non-commissioned Officers (NCO) (Major) (Lieutenant Colonel) (Colonel)

Prikaatikenraali Kenraalimajuri Kenraaliluutnantti Kenraali Sotamies Korpraali Alikersantti Kersantti Ylikersantti (Brigadier General) (Major General) (Lieutenant General) (General) (Private) (Private First (Corporal) (Sergeant) (Staff Class) Sergeant)

46 47 Officers Finnish Air Force

Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Upseerioppilas Upseerikokelas Vänrikki (Student Officer) (Candidate Officer) (Second Lieutenant)

Sotamies Korpraali Alikersantti (Private) (Private First Class) (Corporal) Majuri Everstiluutnantti Eversti (Major) (Lieutenant Colonel) (Colonel)

Kersantti Ylikersantti Vääpeli Prikaatikenraali Kenraalimajuri (Sergeant) (Staff Sergeant) (Sergeant First Class) (Brigadier General) (Major General)

Kenraaliluutnantti Kenraali Ylivääpeli Sotilasmestari (Lieutenant General) (General) (Master Sergeant) (Sergeant Major)

48 49 Officers Finnish Navy

Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Upseerioppilas Upseerikokelas Aliluutnantti (Student Officer) (Candidate Officer) (Ensign)

Luutnantti Yliluutnantti Kapteeniluutnantti Matruusi Ylimatruusi Alikersantti (Lieutenant J.G.) (Lieutenant) (Senior Lieutenant) (Seaman) (Able Seaman) (Corporal)

Komentajakapteeni Komentaja Kommodori Kersantti Ylikersantti Pursimies (Lieutenant-Commander) (Commander) (Captain) (Sergeant) (Staff Sergeant) (Boatswain)

Lippueamiraali Kontra-amiraali (Commodore) (Rear Admiral)

Ylipursimies Sotilasmestari (Senior Chief Petty Officer) (Master Chief Petty Officer)

Vara-amiraali Amiraali (Vice Admiral) (Admiral)

50 51 head to head head to head turned the Egyptian retreat from AMX-13s with 75 mm guns). about the fall of Abu-Ageila, he Sinai into a rout. A total of 418 The Israeli guns were not only panicked and ordered all units The Six Day War Arab aircraft were destroyed more accurate, they also had a in the Sinai to retreat to the west In Part II of our Head-to-head series on the Six Day War, we look at the armour used for the loss of 27 Israeli aircraft. longer range. bank of the Suez canal within a by Israel, Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Not that the tank crews and The Israeli forces were led single day. paratroopers on the ground Major General Ariel Sharon, There was no plan for the re- n the history of modern minutes. and Syrian Air Forces had been wouldn’t face some hard fight- later a prominent politician and treat, so the units left behind warfare only two wars have While it was known as the destroyed within the space of ing in the Sinai, the Golan and prime minister of Israel. heavy equipment, and some- Ibeen shorter than the Six- Six-Day War, the end result of 25 minutes. Jerusalem. The battle was decisive defeat times even outpaced their com- Day War in 1967. the war was all but decided on Six hours or so after the first The war saw some classic for the Egyptians and was crit- manders. This resulted in the The ‘Football War’ fought in the first day - 5 June 1967. IAF aircraft had soared into the tank battles, such as the Battle ical to the eventual loss of the Israelis racing to capture aban- 1969 between El Salvador and In a pre-emptive strike on the morning sky, Israel had won of Abu-Ageila. The Egyptians entire Sinai Peninsula to Israel. doned sites, and obtaining sig- Honduras lasted for just 100 morning of 5 June, The Israe- the Six-Day War. had 66 tanks (T34/85s with 85 The victory at Abu-Ageila nificant amounts of abandoned hours (four days). li Air Force had taken out the Destroying the Arab air forc- mm guns) and 22 tank destroy- meant the road to the Central tanks and equipment. Of course the shortest war in Arab air forces while they were es didn’t just mean that Israeli ers (SU-100s with 100 mm Sinai was open for the Israelis During this battle the Egyp- history was the Anglo-Zanzibar still on the ground. troops could operate without guns). in general, Sharon and his forc- tians suffered 2,000 casualties War. It was fought on 27 Au- They first struck at Egypt be- the threat of air attack; it also The Israelis had 150 tanks es in particular. Many of the and 64 tanks were destroyed. gust 1896 between the Zanzi- fore turning their attention to meant that Israeli aircraft could with over 100 Centurion and Egyptian units remained intact The Israelis had 42 troops bar Sultanate and Great Britain. Jordan and Syria. The fact of relentlessly bomb and strafe Super Shermans armed with and could have tried to prevent killed, 140 wounded and eight The entire war lasted all of 38 the matter is that the Jordanian Arab ground troops, which 105 mm guns. The rest were the Israelis from reaching the tanks were destroyed. Suez Canal. However, when the Egyptian Minister of Defence, Field Mar- shal Abdel Hakim Amer heard

T55 tank Centurion tank

52 53 head to head head to head Centurion Israel The Centurion was the pri- mary British army main bat- 800 tanks tle tank of the post-Second World War period. Introduced in 1945, it is widely considered to be one of the most success- M50 and M51 Sherman ful post-war tank designs, re- maining in production into the The Sherman M-50 and 1960s, and seeing combat in the Sherman M-51, both of- the front lines into the 1980s. ten referred abroad as the Su- Israel’s army used Centuri- per Sherman, were modified ons in the 1967 Six-Day War, versions of the American M4 • Length: 7.6 metres • Secondary Armament: 1 × 1973 Yom Kippur War, and Sherman tank that served with • Width: 3.38 metres Co-axial .30 cal Browning during 1978 South Lebanon the Israel Defence Forces from • Height: 3.01 metres machine gun conflict and 1982 Lebanon the mid-1950s to early 1980s. • Crew: 4 • Engine: Rolls-Royce Me- War. The M-51 was also referred • Armour: 51–152 mm teor to as the Isherman (i.e. Israeli • Main Armament: 105 mm • Range: 80 km • Weight: 52 tonnes Sherman). However, the desig- L7 • Max speed: 35 km/h nations “Super Sherman” and • Height: 2.74 metres machine gun, 2 × .30-06 “Isherman” were never used • Crew: 5 Browning M1919A5 ma- Egypt by the Israeli Defence Forces. • Armour: 13–76 mm chine guns • Main Armament: 105 mm • Engine: Continental R-975 1,200 tanks • Weight: 31.6 tonnes Modèle F1 Gasoline • Length: 6.06 metres • Secondary Armament: 1 × • Range: 161 km • Width: 2.62 metres .50 cal Browning M2HB • Max speed: 40.2 km/h T-34/85 M48A3 Patton The T-34 is a Soviet medium The Sherman M-50 and tank introduced in 1940, fa- the Sherman M-51, both of- mously deployed during World ten referred abroad as the Su- War II against Operation Bar- per Sherman, were modified barossa. versions of the American M4 Egypt went on to build the Sherman tank that served with T-34-100, a local and unique the Israel Defence Forces from conversion that was made up of the mid-1950s to early 1980s. a Soviet BS-3 100 mm heavy The M-51 was also referred field-artillery gun mounted to as the Isherman (i.e. Israeli within a heavily modified tur- Sherman). However, the desig- ret. • Crew: 5 • Engine: Model V-2-34 38.8 nations “Super Sherman” and • Height: 3.1 metres machine gun, 1 × .M37/ • Armour: 15–60 mm L V12 Diesel engine “Isherman” were never used • Crew: 4 T153 machine gun • Weight: 26.5 tonnes • Main Armament: 85 mm • Range: 250-300 km by the Israeli Defence Forces. • Armour: 110–220 mm • Engine: AVDS-1790 diesel • Length: 6.68 metres D-5T gun • Max speed: 53 km/h • Main Armament: 105 mm • Range: 463 km • Width: 3.0 metres • Secondary Armament: 2 × • Weight: 49.6 tonnes L7 • Max speed: 48 km/h • Height: 2.45 metres 7.62 mm DT machine guns • Length: 9.3 metres • Secondary Armament: 1 × • Width: 3.65 metres .50 cal Browning M2HB 54 55 head to head head to head

T-54/T-55 SU-100 The T-54 and T-55 tanks are The SU-100 (Samokhodnaya a series of Soviet main battle Ustanovka 100) was a Sovi- tanks introduced in the years et tank destroyer armed with following the Second World a 100 mm anti-tank gun in a War. The first T-54 prototype casemate superstructure. was completed at Nizhny Tagil It was used extensively dur- by the end of 1945. ing the last year of World War T-54s and T-55s have been II and saw service for many involved in many of the world’s years afterwards with the ar- armed conflicts since the later mies of Soviet allies around part of the 20th century. the world. • Armour: 20–205 mm • Engine: Model V-55(V-54) • Armour: 20–75 mm • Engine: Kharkiv Model V-2 • Weight: 36 tonnes • Main Armament: D-10T V-12 water-cooled. 38.88-l • Weight: 31.6 tonnes • Main Armament: 100 mm V-12 diesel engine • Length: 9.00 metres 100 mm rifled gun diesel • Length: 9.45 metres D-10S gun • Range: 250 km • Width: 3.37 metres • Secondary Armament: 12.7 • Range: Various • Width: 3.0 metres • Secondary Armament: 12.7 • Max speed: 48 km/h • Height: 2.4 metres mm DShK heavy machine • Max speed: 48 km/h • Height: 2.25 metres mm DShK heavy machine • Crew: 4 gun • Crew: 4 gun

Syria 400 tanks Syria used the same tanks as Egypt. They also used Panzer PT-76 IV, Sturmgeschütz III and Jag- The PT-76 is a Soviet am- dpanzer IV (ex-German vehi- phibious light tank that was cles) introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard Jordan reconnaissance tank of the So- 200 tanks M47 Patton tank viet Army and the other War- Jordan used US M47, M48, saw Pact armed forces. and M48A1 Patton tanks. Overall, some 25 countries These were all American tanks. used the PT-76. The PT-76 is used in the reconnaissance and Iraq fire-support roles. 400 tanks • Armour: 7–25 mm • Engine: V-6 Type diesel Iraq were equipped with the • Weight: 14.6 tonnes • Main Armament: 76.2 mm • Range: 400 km same tanks used by the Egyp- • Length: 7.63 metres D-56T rifled tank gun • Max speed: 44 km/h tian army. • Width: 3.15 metres • Secondary Armament: 7.62 • Height: 2.325 metres mm PKT machine gun coax • Crew: 3 machine gun

Panzer IV

56 57 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history

in student protests and served 13 was that if Hitler and Stalin had been beaten to death by guards Võ Nguyên Giáp months of a two-year sentence joined forces, then the commu- in the central prison in Hanoi. With no formal military training, this history teacher would go on to become one of at Lao Bảo Prison. nist must be bad. Her sister was guillotined and the greatest military strategists of the 20th century. He joined the Communist Par- The party decided that Giáp Giáp’s only daughter died in ty of Vietnam in 1931 and took should leave Vietnam and go prison of unknown causes. part in several demonstrations into exile in China. On 3 May In September 1944 the first e was a history teacher, of his sisters was also arrested. district school and, at the age of against French rule in Indochina 1940 he said farewell to his Revolutionary Party Military with no direct military Although she was not held for 13, he left home to attended the as well as assisting in founding wife, left Hanoi and crossed the Conference was held and it was Htraining, but he was in- long the harsh treatment in pris- Quốc Học (National Academy) the Democratic Front in 1933. border into China. Giáp’s wife agreed that the time was now fluenced by historical military on made her ill. She died a few in Huế. From 1933 to 1938, Giáp was arrested, sentenced to fif- right to take the military struggle leaders, personally citing T. E. weeks after being released. Also attending the acade- studied at the Vietnam Nation- teen years imprisonment. forward into a new phase. The Lawrence and Napoleon as his Giáp was an intelligent young my was Ngô Đình Diệm, who al University of Hanoi where In China, Giáp joined up with formation of the Vietnam Lib- two greatest influences. boy and had been taught at would become the President of he earned a bachelor’s degree Hồ Chí Minh, then an adviser to eration army was proclaimed, He would go on to trans- home before going to the village South Vietnam from 1955 to in law with a major in political the People’s Liberation Army. with Giáp as its commander. form a rag-tag band of rebels school. 1963. economy. In September 1940, Vichy Ho Chi Minh decided that into a light-infantry army capa- He was soon transferred to the Years earlier the same school France agreed to the Japanese for propaganda purposes, the ble of taking on a larger, better had educated another boy, Exile in China occupation of Vietnam, to ‘pro- Armed Propaganda Unit had to equipped, modernised army. Nguyen Sinh Cung. In 1943 While studying at university tect’ Indochina. win a military victory within a He was an effective logistician Cung adopted the name Ho Chi he met Nguyen Thi Minh Giang In May 1941 the Eighth Con- month of being established, so and would go on to become a Minh. and in June 1938 they were mar- gress of the Indochinese Com- on Christmas Day 1944 Giáp general and later a politician. After only two years at the ried. munist Party decided to form the led successful attacks against He was considered one of the school, Giáp was expelled for Due to his political activities Viet Minh and Giáp was made French outposts at Khai Phat greatest military strategists taking part in protests. He re- he failed the examinations for responsible for establishing an and Na Ngan. Two French lieu- of the 20th century and would turned home to his village and the Certificate of Administrative intelligence network and organ- tenants were killed and the Viet- earn the nickname ‘Red Napo- joined the Tân Việt Revolu- Law and was unable to practice ising political bases in the far namese soldiers in the outposts leon’. tionary Party, an underground as a lawyer. Instead he took a job north of the country. surrendered. The Viet Minh at- His name was Võ Nguyên group founded in 1924, which as a history teacher at the Thăng tackers suffered no casualties. Giáp. introduced him to communism. Long School in Hanoi. World War II A few weeks later, Giáp was He returned to Hue and con- Besides his teaching, he also In 1942 Giáp and about forty wounded in the leg when his Early life tinued his political activ- worked as a journalist, writing men moved back into Vietnam group attacked another outpost Võ Nguyên Giáp was born on ities. He was arrest- articles for Tieng Dan (Voice of and established themselves in at Dong Mu. 25 August 1911 in Quảng Bình ed in 1930 for the People). remote caves near the village of In one of the ironies of his- Province, French Indochina. taking part All the while, Giáp was a ded- Vu Nhai. This and similar small tory, between May and August His father, Võ Quang Ng- icated reader of military history groups in the mountains were 1945 the United States, keen hiêm, was a minor offi- and philosophy, revering Sun the basis of the Viet Minh, the to support anti-Japanese forces cial and a dedicated Vi- Tzu. He also made a particu- armed wing of the Vietnam In- in mainland Asia, actively sup- etnamese nationalist. lar study of Napoleon’s gener- dependence League. plied and trained Giáp and the Giáp had two sisters alship, and greatly admired T. For the next few years he and Viet Minh. and a brother. E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of his comrades worked steadily to Major Archimedes Patti, in When Giáp was eight Wisdom, learning from it prac- build up a small military force charge of the so-called ‘Deer years old his father was tical examples of how to apply and to win local people over to Team’ unit, taught the Viet Minh arrested by the French minimum military force to max- the communist cause. By the to use flamethrowers, grenade colonial authorities for imum effect. end of 1943 several hundred launchers and machine guns. subversive activities. The French outlawed the In- men and women had joined the In a single month they suc- He died in prison a few dochinese Communist Party af- Viet Minh. ceeded in training around 200 weeks later. ter the signing of the Molotov– During the summer of 1943 hand-picked future leaders of the Soon after this one Ribbentrop Pact. The reasoning Giáp learnt that his wife had army they were to oppose a few 58 59 decades later. Growing stronger, French government announced Giáp’s forces took more territo- that it intended to withdraw ry and captured more towns up from Vietnam. until the announcement on 15 August by the Japanese Emper- The Interwar Years or of his country’s unconditional With the French gone, Giáp surrender to the allies. moved back to Hanoi. He ex- On 2 September 1945 Ho Chi panded and modernised the Minh declared the independence army, re-equipping it with Rus- of the Democratic Republic of sian and Chinese weapons sys- Vietnam. He formed a new gov- tems. ernment, with Giáp as Minister On 7 May 1955 he inaugu- of the Interior. rated the Vietnamese Maritime He had no idea that the fu- Force and on 1 May 1959, the ture of postwar Vietnam had al- Vietnamese People’s Air Force. ready been decided by Truman, During the late 1950s Giáp Churchill and Stalin at the Pots- that they would eventually grant practice, he had his twenty-four served as Minister of Defence, dam conference. Vietnam its independence. 105 mm howitzers placed on Commander in Chief of the Peo- The country would be occu- Ho Chi Minh and the other the forward slopes of the hills ple’s Army of Vietnam, Depu- pied temporarily to get the Jap- leaders of the Viet Minh did not around Dien Bien Phu, in deep, ty Prime Minister, and deputy anese out. The northern half trust the word of the French and mostly hand-dug emplacements chairman of the Defence Coun- would be under the control of continued the war. protecting them from French cil. the Nationalist Chinese and the While growing stronger in aircraft and counter-battery fire. The departure of the French southern half under the British. Vietnam, the Việt Minh also With anti-aircraft guns sup- and the de facto partition of In October the British moved expanded the war and lured the plied by the Soviet Union, Giáp Vietnam meant that the Hanoi out and handed control back French to spread their force to was able to severely restrict the government only controlled to the French. In May 1946 an remote areas such as Laos. In ability of the French to supply the north part of the country. agreement between the French FUTURE LEADERS: Võ Nguyên Giáp (left) and Hồ Chí Minh December 1953, French mili- their garrison, forcing them to In South Vietnam there were and the Chinese was made. The in Hà Nội, October 1945. tary commander General Hen- drop supplies inaccurately from still several thousand guerillas, Chinese moved out, and the ed dramatically on 23 October that it could not hold Hanoi ri Navarre set up a defensive high altitude. known as Viet Cong, fighting French moved in. when the French commander against the French, retreated complex at Ðiện Biên Phủ in Giáp ordered his men to dig a against the government in Sai- Ho Chi Minh and Võ Nguyên Argenlieu ordered the cruiser back up into the northern hills the Mường Thanh Valley, dis- trench system that encircled the gon. Giáp pursued lengthy negotia- Suffren to bombard Haiphong in where it had been based two rupting Việt Minh supply lines French. From the outer trench, It was decided that the time tions with the French, seeking to response to repeated skirmishes years previously. passing through Laos. He sur- other trenches and tunnels were for escalating the armed strug- avoid an all-out war to cement with Vietnamese forces as they On 19 December the Vietnam- mised that in an attempt to rees- gradually dug inward towards gle in the South was right and in their independence. tried to bring arms and contra- ese government officially de- tablish the route, Giáp would be the centre. The Viet Minh were July that year Giáp ordered the Ho Chi Minh departed for band into the port. clared war on France and fight- forced to organise a mass attack now able to move in close to the opening up of the Ho Chi Minh France on 31 May to negotiate Around six thousand people ing erupted all over the country. on Ðiện Biên Phủ, thus fighting French troops defending Dien trail to improve supply lines to with the French at Fontaineb- were killed, and fourteen thou- The first few years involved a conventional battle, in which Bien Phu. Viet Cong units. leau and Giáp was effectively sand wounded in the bombard- a most low-level, semi-conven- Navarre could expect to have On 13 March 1954, Giap in charge of the government in ment. tional resistance fight against the the advantage. launched his offensive. For 54 The Vietnam War Hanoi. Giáp, acting as de facto Pres- occupying French forces. Giáp took up the French chal- days, the Viet Minh seized po- Giáp remained commander In August 1946 Giáp married ident in the absence of Ho Chi When it became clear that lenge. While the French dug in sition after position, pushing the in chief of the People’s Army Ba Hanh and they went on to Minh, tried to maintain some France was becoming involved at their outpost, the Việt Minh French until they occupied only of Vietnam throughout the war have two boys and two girls. kind of peace but by the time in a long drawn-out and so far not were also preparing the battle- a small area of Dien Bien Phu. against South Vietnam and its Ho returned in November, both very successful war, the French field. While diversionary attacks The French surrendered on allies, the United States, Aus- First Indochina War sides were on a war footing. government tried to negotiate an were launched in other areas, 7 May. Their casualties totaled tralia, Thailand, South Korea, The tense standoff between Local fighting broke out re- agreement with the Viet Minh. Giáp ordered his men to cov- over 2,200 men dead, 5,600 and the Philippines. the Vietnamese government and peatedly and on 27 November They offered to help set up a na- ertly position their artillery by wounded and 11,721 taken pris- He oversaw the expansion of the French occupiers escalat- Ho’s government, concluding tional government and promised hand. Defying standard military oner. The following day the the PAVN (People’s Army of 60 61 Vietnam) from a small self-de- fence force into a large con- ventional army, equipped by its communist allies with consid- erable amounts of relatively so- phisticated weaponry, although this did not usually match the weaponry of the Americans. Giáp has often been assumed to have been the planner of the Tết Offensive of 1968, but this appears not to have been the case. The best evidence indicates that he disliked the plan, and when TOWARDS THE END: This photograph of Võ Nguyên Giáp it became obvious that Lê Duẩn was taken in the mid-1990s. and Văn Tiến Dũng were going to conduct it anyway, he left Vi- nents to change strategy. Com- of National Defense and he was etnam for medical treatment in munist leaders met in Hanoi in made Deputy Prime Minister in Hungary, and did not return until March for a series of meetings July 1976. In December 1978 after the offensive had begun. to plan for a massive offensive he oversaw the successful Viet- Peace talks between represent- against the South. namese invasion of Cambodia atives from the United States, which drove the Khmer Rouge South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Fall of Saigon from power and ended the Cam- and the NLF (National Liber- On 30 April 1975 Saigon fell. bodian genocide. In retaliation, ation Front of South Vietnam - The standard view of this period Cambodia’s ally China respond- better known as the Viet Cong) is that after Ho Chi Minh’s death ed by invading the Cao Bang began in Paris in January 1969. in September 1969, Giáp lost a province of Vietnam in January In an effort to put pressure power struggle in 1972 shortly 1979 and once again Giáp was on both North and South Viet- after the failed Easter Offensive in overall responsibility for the nam during the negotiations, where he was blamed by the Po- response, which drove the Chi- President Nixon ordered a se- litburo for the offensive’s fail- nese out after a few months. He ries of air raids on Hanoi and ure. finally retired from his post at Haiphong, codenamed Opera- Giáp was recalled to Hanoi the Defense Ministry in 1981 tion Linebacker II. where he was replaced as field and retired from the Politburo The operation ended on 27 commander of the PAVN and in 1982. He remained on the January 1973, after 12 days with from then on watched subse- Central Committee and Deputy heavy casualties and destruction. quent events from the sidelines, Prime Minister until he retired Both the U.S. and North Viet- with the glory of victory in 1975 in 1991. nam then agreed to sign the Paris going to the chief of the general On 4 October 2013, the Com- Peace Accords that had been pro- staff, General Văn Tiến Dũng, munist Party of Vietnam and posed in October. South Vietnam and that Giáp’s role in the 1975 government official announced objected, but had little choice but victory is largely ignored by of- that Võ Nguyên Giáp had died. to accept it. Clearly, the advan- ficial Vietnamese accounts. He was given a state funeral tage had been given to Hanoi. on 12 and 13 October 2013 and The last U.S. combat troops Post War his body lay in state at the na- left in March 1973. Despite the Soon after the fall of Saigon, tional morgue in Hanoi until his treaty, there was no end in fight- the Socialist Republic of Viet- burial at the Vũng Chùa - Đảo ing. South Vietnamese attempts nam was established. In the Yến in his home province of to regain communist controlled new government, Giáp main- Quảng Bình. He was 102 at the territory inspired their oppo- tained his position as Minister time of his death. 62 57 Forged in £60 each, the War Office con- Greece 1944–45 sidered them a waste of money. • Athens battle The Paras were not issued North West Europe 1944–45 with any special weapons and • Normandy Landing their small arms were the same • Pegasus Bridge Utrinque Paratus as the rest of the army. • Merville Battery They used the standard bolt • Breville The Parachute Regiment action Lee–Enfield rifle and the • Dives Crossing Enfield or Webley revolver or • La Touques Crossing the M1911 pistol. • Southern France Formed more than 78 years ago and colloquially known as the Paras, the Parachute Regiment is For a submachine gun, they • Arnhem regarded as one of the most elite units in the world. And they have the battle honours to prove it. used the British Sten in North- • Ourthe west Europe, which was is- • Rhine sued in higher numbers than t was none other than Brit- the British Army. The first op- to a normal infantry battalion. Arnhem ish Prime Minister Winston eration by the Parachute Regi- Paratroopers attached to Eighth Operation Market Garden was Churchill that di- ment was Operation Biting in Army used the Thompson sub- an ambitious plan to shorten the I machine gun in the North Afri- war in Europe. rected the War February 1942. The objective Office to was to capture a Würz- can and Mediterranean theatre The strategic goal was to investi- burg radar on the coast and during Operation Dragoon. encircle the heart of German Each section had a Bren light industry, the Ruhr Area, in a gate the of France. The raid siveness. Emphasis was given to machine gun and the platoon pincer movement. The aim of possibility was carried out by ‘C’ physical fitness, marksmanship had a 2-inch mortar. The only Operation Market Garden was of creating a Company, 2nd Parachute and fieldcraft. battalion heavy weapons were to establish the northern end of corps of 5,000 parachute corps. from a converted bar- A large part of the training eight 3-inch mortars, four Vick- a pincer ready to project deeper Churchill had been impressed rage balloon and this focused on assault courses and ers machine guns and after into Germany. by the success of German air- was finished with five route marches. borne troops during the Battle parachute jumps from an 1943, ten PIAT anti tank weap- The success of the operation of France. If it worked for the aircraft. Anyone that failed to Equipment ons. depended on taking a series Germans then Churchill was complete a parachute jump was The Paras did have their own World War II Battle Honours determined that it would work returned to his old unit. distinctive uniform. First was During World War II the Para- for the British as well. At the end of the course those the maroon beret at first with the chute Regiment earned no fewer On 22 June 1940 No. 2 Com- that had qualified were present- Army Air Corps cap badge and than 23 battle honours. mando was turned over to para- Battalion, under the command ed with their maroon beret and from May 1943 the Parachute These were: chute duties and on 21 Novem- of Major John Frost. parachute wings. They were Regiment cap badge which is North West Europe 1942 ber it was re-designated the In India, the 50th Indian Para- then posted to a parachute bat- still in use today. • Bruneval 11th Special Air Service Bat- chute Brigade was raised on 27 talion. Parachute wings were worn North Africa 1942–43 talion, with a parachute and October 1941, comprising 151 Parachute training was not on the right shoulder above the • Oudna glider wing. It was these men (British), 152 (Indian) and 153 without its dangers. During the airborne forces patch of Bel- • Soudia who took part in the first British (Gurkha) Parachute Battalions first 2,000 jumps at Ringway lerophon riding the flying horse • Djebel Azzag airborne operation, Operation along with the brigade signals, three men were killed. Pegasus. • Djebel Alliliga Colossus, on 10 February 1941. sapper squadron and 80 Para- Paratroopers were expected to On operations, Paras wore • El Hadjeba On 10 February 1941 In Sep- chute Field Ambulance. fight against superior numbers the airborne forces pattern steel • Tamera tember, the battalion was re- of the enemy that was equipped helmet instead of the normal • Dejebel Dahara designated the 1st Parachute Training with artillery and tanks. There Brodie helmet. After 1942, the • Kefel Debna Battalion and assigned to the Volunteers would have to do a had to be a strong esprit de corps Denison smock was issued as Sicily 1943 1st Parachute Brigade. 12 day course carried out at the for them to have any chance of the first camouflaged uniform • Primosole Bridge To fill out the brigade, the No. 1 Parachute Training School success. for the British Army. Italy 1943–44 2nd, 3rd and 4th Parachute Bat- at Royal Air Force base Ring- Training was designed to en- The British Paras did not use • Taranto talions were raised by calling way. courage a spirit of self-disci- a reserve parachute. At a cost of for volunteers from all units in The initial jumps were made pline, self-reliance, and aggres- • Orsogna 64 65 of nine bridges, the last being The 2nd Battalion spent more War. These were: rescued six members of the at the city of Arnhem over the time there than any other infan- • Falkland Islands Royal Irish Regiment that were Rhine river. try battalion. Between 1971 and • Goose Green being held hostage by an armed Market was the airborne el- 1996, 51 men of the Parachute • Mount Longdon rebel group known as the West ement of the operation. The Regiment were killed while • Wireless Ridge Side Boys. American 101st Airborne Divi- serving in Northern Ireland. In January 2003, the British sion would be responsible for The 21st Century government announced that the capturing the bridges around The Falklands War In May 1999, the British gov- 1st Armoured Division would Oosterbeek while American On 2 April 1982, the Falk- ernment decided to send a force be sent to the Persian Gulf for 82nd Airborne Division would lands War began when Argen- of 17,400 troops to take part in potential operations in Iraq. take care of the bridges around tine forces began the invasion operations in Kosovo, saying Included were the 1st and Nijmegen. The final bridge at of the British Overseas Territo- that the troops would be needed 3rd Battalions, Parachute Regi- Arnhem would be left to the ries of the Falkland Islands and to rebuild the infrastructure af- ment. The Regiment won battle Parachute Regiment. South Georgia. ter the Kosovo War. This force honours at Al Basra. They would have to cap- British Prime Minister Mar- included the 1st Battalion, Para- In May 2006, as part of the ture the road, rail and pontoon garet Thatcher announced on 3 chute Regiment. 16 Air Assault Brigade, the 3rd bridges over the Lower Rhine April that a naval task force was In August 2001, the 2nd Bat- Battalion were sent to Afghani- at Arnhem and hold them until being sent to the South Atlantic talion took part in NATO’s in- stan for Operation Herrick. relieved, which was expected to STALEMATE: The Paras controlled one side of the bridge, the to “restore British administra- In December 2006, it was an- occur two or three days later. SS the other. The above image is a still photo from the film ‘A tion’ to the Falkland Islands”. nounced that Corporal Bryan On 17 September the 1st Bridge too Far’. Part of the force that was sent Budd 3rd Battalion had been Parachute Brigade landed and to the Falklands included the awarded a posthumous Victo- headed towards Arnhem, but At the start of the opera- Regiment in the war were for 2nd and 3rd Battalions, Para- ria Cross for two separate acts only the 2nd Battalion, large- tion the Allies captured several the Battle of Arnhem. The two chute Regiment. of “inspirational leadership and ly unopposed, made it to the bridges between Eindhoven recipients were Captain John On 21 May, the the greatest valour” bridges. and Nijmegen. Hollington Grayburn of the 2nd 2nd Battalion was which led to his The railway bridge was blown Lieutenant-General Brian Battalion, and Captain Lionel the first major unit to death during actions up as they approached and the Horrocks’ XXX Corps ground Ernest Queripel of the 10th Bat- land in the Falklands, just against the Taliban in Af- pontoon bridge was missing a force advance was delayed by talion. Both awards were post- south of San Carlos on the ghanistan in July and August section. the initial failure of the airborne humous. eastern side of San Carlos Wa- 2006. By dusk, most of the 2nd units to secure bridges at Son Arnhem has since become a ter. Battalion and some support- en Breugel and Nijmegen, and byword for the fighting spirit The first battle in the- cam In conclusion ing units, including the Brigade German forces demolished the of British paratroops and set a paign was the Battle of Goose tervention in the Republic of Nowadays the 1st Battalion Headquarters, numbering about bridge over the Wilhelmina Ca- standard for the Parachute Reg- Green, undertaken by the 2nd Macedonia (Operation Essen- is permanently under the com- 740 men, had taken the northern nal at Son before it could be iment. Battalion on 28 May. On 29 tial Harvest) to disarm the rebel mand of the Director Special end of the Arnhem road bridge. secured by the 101st Airborne May, after a day long battle, the National Liberation Army. Forces in the Special Forces According to Allied intelli- Division. Post War Argentine commanders, agreed In May 2000, Operation Support Group. The 2nd and gence, the bridges at Arnhem The 82nd Airborne Division’s For most of the next 20 years, to surrender. Palliser was the name given 3rd Battalion are parachute in- would be defending by noth- failure to capture the main high- the Parachute Regiment was in- The battle had cost the bat- to the evacuation of British, fantry, and the 4th Battalion ing more than German Home way bridge over the Waal River volved in numerous peacekeep- talion 15 dead and 37 wound- Commonwealth and European falls under Army Reserve. Guard. at Nijmegen before 20 Septem- ing and small scale operations ed. The Argentinians had lost Union citizens from Sierra Le- During World War II the Para- What they did not know was ber also delayed the advance of associated with the withdrawal 55 dead, about 100 wounded one. chute Regiment was given the that the 9th SS Panzer Division, XXX Corps. from empire. and 1,500 were taken prisoner. Included in the task force was nickname ‘Red Devils’, both under SS-Obergruppenführer Although they were only sup- This included operations in Lieutenant-Colonel H. Jones 1st Battalion, less ‘A’ Company for their distinctive maroon be- Wilhelm Bittrich, had been posed to capture and hold the Cyprus and the Suez during the was later awarded a posthu- but reinforced by ‘D’ Company, rets and their fighting spirit. withdrawn from the front lines bridge for 48 hours, the Paras 1950s, and in Kuwait, Aden and mous Victoria Cross, amongst 2nd Battalion. Their motto is Utrinque Para- and stationed just outside of held it for nine days against a Malaysia during the 1960s. other awards, were one DSO, During Operation Barras, a tus (Ready for anything), some- Arnhem for a period of rest and panzer division. From 1970 the British spent and two DCMs. combined team from one Com- thing they have proved count- refitment. They arrived in Arn- The only awards of the Vic- 38 years in Northern Ireland The Parachute Regiment won pany of the 1st Battalion and less times. They are a regiment hem on the second day. toria Cross to the Parachute during Operation Banner. four battle honours during the the SAS (Special Air Service) that was forged in battle. 66 67 With an advantage of two-to-one in tanks and with talion positioned to block enemy forc- total air superiority, the outcome of the Battle of Abu- es coming from the northeast or Ageila was a forgone conclusion for the Israeli Defence Egyptian defences against the positions of the 12th battlefield Force during the 1967 Six-Day War. The Egyptian defence was Brigade to the east or southeast. constructed as follows: the To the east in front of the 12th 2nd infantry Division prepared Brigade positions on the ridge n 5 June 1967 the Israeli Defence Force had importantly, the Israelis had sig- defenses in the area between at Umm Tarafa was an outpost launched a pre-emptive strike against the nificant advantage in armour: Abu-Ageila and Kusseima, with manned by an infantry company united Arab forces of Egypt, Syria and Jor- Against 66 Egyptian World War the center placed at the area Um- of 38th Battalion, a squadron of O Katef Plateau – Ruafa Dam, with tanks from 288th Battalion, and dan. II-era Soviet T34/85 with 85 In the first hours of the war the Arab air forces had mm guns and 22 SU-100 with the 12th Infantry Brigade de- two B-10 recoilless guns. been all but neutralised, giving the Israeli Air Force 100 mm guns, the Israeli forc- fending Um-Katef and the 10th At Position 239, south of Umm air supremacy and removing the threat of Arab air es fielded a total of 150 mod- Infantry Brigade Kusseima. Tafara was a platoon of 37th In- attack. ern tanks: light AMX-13s with Um-Katef made a good po- fantry Battalion, with two B-10 Yet while the war was all but over on the first day, 75 mm guns, as well as a hun- sition, because it was bordered recoilless guns and two antitank A by an area of sand dunes to the weapons. Further east at Tarat there were still ground battles to be fought. The Bat- dred British Centurion and both tle of Abu-Ageila was one such battle. M-50 and M-51 Sherman tanks, Maj General Ariel Sharon north and rocky mountains to Umm Basis near the Israeli bor- The Battle of Abu-Ageila (also known as the Battle considerably upgraded from the south. der was the 2nd Reconnaissance b of Umm-Qatef) was a military confrontation between their WWII vintage and armed • 63rd armoured battalion On this plateau, the Egyptians Battalion, which was to give the Israel Defence Forces and the Egyptian Army in with French 75 mm and 105 mm (with Centurion tanks) constructed three parallel trench- warning of any Israeli attack. • 99th “Negev” Infantry Bri- es of about five kilometres each, the Six-Day War of June 1967. tank guns. Battle u The decisive defeat of the Egyptians was critical The guns used by the Centuri- gade reinforced by concrete bunkers. to the eventual loss of the entire Sinai Peninsula to ons here were the 105 mm Roy- • 80th Paratroopers Brigade Every trench was defended by The Israeli attack-plan was Israel. al Ordnance L7 tank guns, spe- • 6 artillery battalions (105 an infantry battalion, with the based on intelligence gathered - Leading Israeli forces was Major General Ariel cifically designed to defeat the mm & 155 mm Howitzers) forward trench reinforced by two days before the war started, Sharon, later a prominent politician and prime min- Soviet T-54 (much more modern • Divisional engineering bat- a dug-in tank squadron. To the which indicated Um-Katef was ister of Israel. than both types of tanks used by talion rear were two supporting artil- defended by only one infantry the Egyptians in this battle). • Force A-B, improvised bri- lery battalions (330th, 334th), battalion. A gade-size battle group behind them the balance of Based on this information, the Background On the other side, the best The Israeli attack at Abu-Ageila was part of the Is- tank gun available for the Egyp- 288th Tank Battalion ready to Israelis planned a frontal attack raeli offensive into the Sinai Desert. Southern Com- tians was the 100 mm cannon Egyptian forces counter-attack. by their reinforced independent g mand’s offensive consisted of three divisions: Israel used by the 22 SU-100 tank de- • 2nd Infantry Division To the north, blocking the Ba- tank battalion. After aerial bom- Tal’s 84th Division, Avraham Yoffe’s 31st Division, stroyers (a late-WWII artillery • 12th Infantry Brigade tur Track at Position 181, were bardments, this tank battalion and Ariel Sharon’s 38th Division. piece over-matched by Centuri- • 37th, 38th, 39th Infantry Bat- 38th Infantry Battalion, 299th started its attack on Um-Katef e Sharon was tasked with the capture of the road on’s frontal armour, although it talions Artillery Battalion and an an- on the 5 June at 08:15. junction at Abu-Ageila, in order to gain access to the posed a threat to AMX-13s). As • 51st Artillery Brigade titank company of ten SU-100. The attack came to a halt how- central route into the Sinai Desert. The Egyptians had a result, in addition to the IDF’s • 330th, 332nd, 334th Artillery They were to protect the flank of ever, due to resistance from an i taken considerable preparations to prevent a breach numerical superiority, the Israeli Battalions the main position to the south- unknown Egyptian formation there. tanks also had a greater effective • 2 Anti-aircraft Companies east. and an unknown minefield, Egyptian defences had focused on the Um-Katef range and firepower than their • 1 Anti-tank Rocket Compa- Five kilometres to the West of causing the loss of seven Israeli (or Umm-Qatef) plateau to the east of Abu-Ageila, Egyptian opponents. ny the Um-Katef Plateau perime- Centurions. l Attached to 12th Brigade ter was the Ruafa Dam. Dug in New orders for the independ- roughly 25 kilometers (16 mi) from the Israeli bor- der. The defences were an important part of the over- Order of battle • 6th Tank Regiment (66 here were the 352nd Infantry ent tank battalion were to break all defence plan, called Qahir, in the preparations for Israeli forces T34/85) Battalion, and the 332nd and off the attack and to attack from a the expected war, later known as the Six-Day War. • 38th Armoured Division • 288 Tank Battalion 336th Artillery Battalions. Five the north, through the sand • Divisional Mechanised Re- • 1 Mechanised Antitank Bat- kilometres to the northwest of dunes. Now the 14th armoured Opposing Forces connaissance Battalion talion (22 SU-100) Abu-Ageila, at the well and brigade (two tank battalions Su- Israeli troops numbered about 14,000. Egyptian • 14th Armoured Brigade • 352nd Infantry Battalion logistic center at Awlad Ali, the per Shermans and two armoured troop strengths have been estimated at 8,000. More (with Super Sherman tanks) • 299th Artillery Battalion balance of the 6th Tank Regi- infantry battalions in halftracks) • 336th Medium Artillery Bat- ment (one tank battalion) was was ordered to attack frontally 68 69 further south. After a short aerial bombardment, this attack com- menced at 12:30, but was forced to a halt as well. Now that strength and po- sitions of the Egyptians were known, General Sharon changed his plans. The independent tank battalion was ordered to drive through the sand dunes follow- ing a camel-path and attack the Egyptian armour at the Ruafa Dam. artillery, made it to their attack Battle Where the music does the talking At the same time, the 14th ar- positions at 23:00. The victory at Abu-Ageila moured brigade would attack The attack started on 5 June, meant the road to the Central Si- from the East. However, before at 00:00 hours, after the Israe- nai was open for the Israelis in Click here to listen live this could happen, Um-Katef li artillery had been firing from general, Sharon and his forces in would have to be taken, a task 23:30–00:00 hours with Israeli particular. given to Sharon’s infantry bri- tanks moving into position un- Many of the Egyptian units Catch Military Despatches editor Matt Tennyson on the Sunday Breakfast Zone from gade, held in reserve up till then. der the noise of the artillery. remained intact and could have 09h00 to 12h00 every Sunday morning on Zone Radio 88.5 fm. This infantry attack was to oc- After heavy fighting, the Is- tried to prevent the Israelis from cur under the cover of darkness, raeli infantry battalions broke reaching the Suez Canal. How- following a secondary approach Matt brings you hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s - the hits we love and re- through the trenches at Um- ever, when the Egyptian Min- member. And you can WhatsApp your requests through on +27 72 447 8044 to Um-Katef through the sand Katef, with one-third of them ister of Defense, Field Marshal dunes. Meanwhile, the Israeli cleared by 02:30. Now the en- Abdel Hakim Amer heard about armour would provide support gineers started clearing a way the fall of Abu-Ageila, he pan- The Voice of the Valley on 88.5 fm and all Israeli artillery would be through the minefield which icked and ordered all units in the used in support of this attack. was completed at 04:00, allow- Sinai to retreat to the west bank This meant there would be no ing the 14th armoured brigade to of the Suez canal within a single Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate suppressing fire on the Egyptian roll on to the Ruafa Dam. day. and find out more about the Memorable Order of Tin Hats. artillery, making the Israeli in- On 6 June at 07:00, the Israe- There was no plan for the re- fantry extremely vulnerable. It lis attacked the Egyptian tank treat, so the units left behind was decided that the Egyptian battalions and antitank battal- heavy equipment, and some- artillery would be taken out of ions from two sides, with the times even outpaced their com- action prior to the attack using Centurion tanks of the 14th from manders. This resulted in the the brigade of paratroopers. the east and the Super Sherman Israelis racing to capture aban- However, with only six heli- tanks from the west. doned sites, and obtaining sig- copters available, only a limited After three hours of fighting, nificant amounts of abandoned number of units could be used. these Egyptian units were de- tanks and equipment. Meanwhile, the independent stroyed, after which remnants of So much was captured intact tank battalion was engaged by the 12th Egyptian Brigade were that after the war three mech- the Egyptian defenders in the cleared. At around 12:00, the anized and two armoured bri- sand dunes by 16:00 and were road junction at Abu-Ageila was gades were created from this able to continue to their posi- in Israeli hands and the road to abandoned equipment. The tions near Abu-Ageila and the the Sinai was open. withdrawal order effectively Ruafa Dam at 18:00. The battle ended with 40 KIA meant the defeat of Egypt. By 8 The infantry brigade was in and 19 tanks lost for the Israe- June, most of the Sinai area had place at around 23:00, while the lis, and 2,000 killed and 60 tanks been occupied by Israeli forces. paratroopers, after being discov- lost on the Egyptian side. ered and fired upon by Egyptian 70 71 Gaming Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for take off with Captain Matt ‘Crash’ O’Brien. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

n the previous 38 issues of Bing Maps data, accessing over bolt is there. Military Despatches I have two petabytes (two million gi- The standard version has 14 Ireviewed games and sim- gabytes) of data from the cloud propeller or twin propeller air- ulators that have been military on demand. craft. This includes the Icon A5 related. This is not the case with Flight Simulator populates which means you can take off this review. the world with animals and and land on water. There are While this simulator may roads with vehicles, water will also three turbo-prop aircraft, a even show you the glide slope ing. I took off from Cape Town an uncapped connection. not be of interest to everyone flow realistically based on wind jet (Cessna Citation CJ4), and when you come in to land. International Airport (FACT) The standard version costs if, however, you are a pilot or direction, grass will have indi- two commercial airline planes On more difficult settings and using VFR (Visual Flight R999, the deluxe version have an interest in flying then vidual grass blades and trees (A320 Airbus and 747-B). you get to do everything. Start Rules) was able to follow the R1,300 and the premium de- read on. will have individual leaves, The deluxe version has an- up your aircraft from cold, deal M5 up to Muizenberg and then luxe R1,899. The very first Microsoft flight creating the illusion of a living other five propeller or twin- with ground services such as re- follow Main Road through to Click here to view the various simulator, Flight Simulator world. prop aircraft. The premium de- fuelling, communicate with Air Simon’s Town. aircraft and hand-crafted air- 1.0, was released back in 1982. The game world includes luxe version has another three Traffic Control (ATC), taxi to Talking about airports, there ports (including Cape Town). Eleven upgraded versions were over 2 million cities and towns, propeller aircraft, a jet, and a the runway, fly the aircraft ac- are more than 37,000 of them released during the following 1.5 billion buildings, 2 trillion commercial airliner. cording to your flight plan, and in the game of which 30, 35, or years with the last one, Flight trees, and 37,000 real-world You can adjust the settings to land. 40 are hand-crafted replicas of Simulator X, released in 2006. airports. make flying as simple or as re- The actual flying of the - air their real-world counterparts, Then in September 2019 Mi- For the first time ever in a alistic as you choose. You can craft is superb. There are also depending on the edition. crosoft announced that they game I was able to fly over my set up a flight plan to go from realistic physics and weather You can fly anywhere in the were working on a new version own house. Yet while the graph- airport A to airport B. systems, and utilization of re- world. Fly over Victoria Falls, of Flight Simulator. It was re- ics are incredible, this is a flight The most basic level will put al-world weather data. Connect Table Mountain, Mount Ever- leased to “universal acclaim” simulator. So how realistic is you at the controls of the air- to real-world weather via the In- est, the pyramids, Machu Pic- on 18 August 2020. actually flying an aircraft in the craft you have selected with the ternet and the conditions where chu or wherever you want to go. Flight Simulator simulates game? To sum it up in one word engines running and you will be you are flying will be 100% ac- When connected to the In- the entire Earth using textures - “Wow!” lined up on the runway ready to curate to what is happening in ternet you can not only choose and topographical data from There are three versions of take off. You take off, fly to the real life. real-world weather but can also Bing Maps. Three-dimensional FS 2020. There is a standard airport that you have selected, The clouds and weather sys- choose real-world air traffic. representations of the world’s version, a deluxe version and a and land. tem is beautiful. Clouds are If there is a plane in the sky in features, such as terrain, trees, premium deluxe version. There are various ‘assists’ that volumetrically modelled, with real life, it will be in the game grass, buildings, and water are The standard version comes you can select to make things 32 layers determining shape, at exactly the same position and generated by Microsoft Azure with 20 aircraft, the deluxe easier. For example you can se- density, and “fuzziness”. Fly- altitude. technology. with 25 and the premium de- lect that your co-pilot handles ing through rain or a storm is You will need a pretty power- Publisher - XBox Game Studio FS 2020 was developed by luxe with 30. Each aircraft has all communications, set the ra- amazing. Wind and turbulence ful computer, graphics card, and Genre - Flight Sim Asobo Studio. Flight Simulator been developed in conjunction dios to the right frequency and will affect your aircraft just as hard drive space to handle the Score - 9.8/10 uses Asobo’s in-house devel- with the actual aircraft design- so on. You can select markers it does in real life. game. And you will also need a Price - R999 (on Steam) oped game engine, and leverage ers. Every instrument, nut and that show you directions and Flying at night is breathtak- good Internet speed, preferably 72 73 Movie Enemy at the Gates Book Review Review Released: 2001 Running time: 131 minutes Cuito Cuanavale - Frontline Director: Peter Jean-Jacques Annaud Accounts by Soviet Soldiers nemy at the Gates is a ied German at Moscow Univer- Battle for Stalingrad by Wil- ompiled and edited by ence of the war and their views 2001 film loosely based sity Danilov has her transferred liam Craig and the movie runs Gennady Shubin, Igor and assessment of their South Eon a true story. It is a to an intelligence unit away for 131 minutes. CZhdarkin, Vyacheslav African enemies as well as their fictionalized version of sniper from the battlefield. Barabulya and Alexandra Cuban and Angolan allies will Vasily Zaytsev, a Hero of the With the Soviet snipers, and Cast Kuznetsova-Timonova this fascinate South African read- Soviet Union during World War Zaytsev in particular, taking an • Jude Law – Vasily Zaytsev book is a follow-up to the very ers. At the same time they offer II. increasing toll on German of- • Joseph Fiennes – Commisar successful Bush War which new insights into the conflict. In 1942 Zaytsev, a young ficers the director of the Weh- Danilov provided personal, first-hand Having known quite a few shepherd from the Ural Moun- rmacht sniper school at Zossen, • Rachel Weisz – Tania Cher- encounters of Soviet military people that took part in the bat- tains, finds himself on the front Major Erwin König, is de- nova advisors to the Angolan Army. tle I’ve been lucky enough to lines during the Battle of Stal- ployed to Stalingrad to take out • Bob Hoskins – Nikita Khrush- This volume concentrates on listen to first-hand accounts. I ingrad. Zaytsev. When the Red Army chev the climax of this conflict - the also read a number of books on After a failed attack on a command learns of König’s • Ed Harris – Major Erwin 1987/8 Battle of Cuito Cua- the battle, mostly written from German position Zaytsev uses mission, they dispatch König’s König navale. the South African perspective. his impressive shooting skills, former student Koulikov to • Ron Perlman – Koulikov It was the largest battle on Af- This book gives a fresh and taught to him at a young age help Zaytsev kill him. • Eva Mattes – Mother Filip- rican soil since World War II. unique perspective in that it by his grandfather, to save both Sacha Filippova, a young So- pova South Africa and Unita went up gives a glimpse of how the many of the stories. After all, himself and a Russian Political viet boy, volunteers to act as a • Gabriel Marshall-Thomson against Angolan FAPLA troops ‘other’ side saw the battle. no matter in which army you Commissar, Danilov. double agent by passing König – Sasha Filippova and their Cuban allies. It was a The book is well written and were, soldiers remain soldiers. Shortly afterwards Nikita false information about Zayt- • Matthias Habich – General battle that to this day is hotly the accounts really are personal. Khrushchev arrives in Stalin- sev’s whereabouts, thus giving Friedrich Paulus debated with both sides claim- Anyone that served in combat Softcover: 208 pages grad to take over the defence of Zaytsev a chance to ambush the ing victory. will find themselves nodding Price: R255.00 the city. He demands ideas to major. The Soviet soldier’s experi- their heads and identifying with improve the morale of the So- Zaytsev and Tania have fallen viet troops. in love and this causes a great Danilov suggests that people deal of jealousy from Danilov need to have heroes to give who disparages Zaytsev in a them hope and that the army letter to his superiors newspaper needs to be publish- What follows is a deadly ing stories about the exploits of game of cat-and-mouse as the these heroes. two snipers hunt each other in Khrushchev asks Danilov if the ruined city. he knows any heroes in Stalin- While Vasily Zaytsev was grad and he says that he knows a real person, the story of his of one. duel with König is fictional. No The army newspaper paints sniper named König has ever Zaytsev as a national hero and been identified in the German a propaganda icon. He is trans- records. ferred to the sniper division and Enemy at the Gates is well he and Danilov become friends. worth watching. There are a Both become romantically couple of really good scenes interested in Tania Chernova, a such as when König sets a trap The Battle of Savate We Conquer from Above Vryval resident of Stalingrad who has for Zaytsev in an old factory. R300 R395 R275 become a private in the local The film was based on the Click on the box cover to militia. Seeing as how she stud- book Enemy at the Gates: The watch a trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 74 75 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September wounds while still aboard Abraham Lincoln reluc- Danzing Jews were deport- This month in military history the helicopter and was certi- tantly restores Union Gen- ed. fied dead on arrival. He was eral George B. McClellan to • 1944 - Future President Some of the significant military events that happened in September. Highlighted in blue are the names of those members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) that lost their lives during the 18. full command after General George Herbert Walker month of September. • 1983 - Korean Air Lines John Pope’s disaster at the Bush is serving as a torpe- Flight 007 was shot down by Second Battle of Bull Run, do bomber pilot in the Pa- 1 September were later awarded the Vic- • 1979 - Lieutenant Chris a Russian fighter jet while Virginia, on August 29 and cific theater of World War • 1862 - Following his bril- toria Cross for extraordinary Jansen from 1 Satellite Ra- on route from New York to 30. II when his squadron is at- liant victory at the Second bravery. dar Station at Mariepskop Seoul, killing all 269 per- • 1864 - During the American tacked by Japanese anti-air- Battle of Bull Run two days • 1900 - Britain annexes the was killed in a private motor sons on board. The Boeing Civil War, Atlanta was cap- craft guns. Bush was forced earlier, Confederate General ZAR (Transvaal Republic). vehicle accident at Pilgrims 747 reportedly strayed 160 tured by Sherman’s Army. to bail out of the plane over Robert E. Lee strikes retreat- • 1900 - During the Second Rest. He was 22. kilometres off course over “Atlanta is ours, and fairly the ocean. After floating on ing Union forces at Chantil- Anglo-Boer War Comman- • 1981 - A bloodless coup un- secret Soviet Russian mil- won,” General William T. a raft for four hours, a sub- ly, Virginia, and drives them dant Piet Fourie, joined by der General André Koling- itary installations on the Sherman telegraphed Presi- marine crew fished a safe away in the middle of an Nieuwoudt and Kritzinger, ba ousts President David Kamchatka Peninsula and dent Lincoln. but exhausted Bush out of intense thunderstorm. Casu- take Ladybrand, OFS, in a Dacko of the Central Afri- Sakhalin Island. It crashed • 1870 - Napoleon III surren- the water. alties and losses: US 1,300 street by street fight, but fail can Republic. in the Sea of Japan. dered to the Prussians during • 1945 - Japan officially signs - CSA 800. to capture the British garri- • 1981 - Albert Speer, German • 1986 - Rifleman Simon the Battle of Sedan, result- the act of unconditional sur- • 1870 - The Battle of Se- son, who retreats to a posi- architect and Nazi leader Robert Hood from 32 Bat- ing in the fall of the Second render to the Allied nations dan was fought between tion at the foot of Platberg. (Reich Minister for Arma- talion was killed when he French Empire. on board the American bat- the French and the Prussian • 1939 - Germany invades Po- ments and War Production), accidentally fell off the back • 1878 - Werner Eduard Fritz tleship Missouri in Tokyo forces in Sedan, France re- land, starting World War II. dies of a stroke at 76 of a moving Buffel Troop von Blomberg was born on Bay. sulting in German victory. • 1950 - Korean War: 13 North • 1982 - The United States Air Carrier near Rundu. He was this day. He was a German • 1958 - United States Air The French Emperor, Napo- Korean divisions open as- Force Space Command is 24. Generalfeldmarschall, Min- Force C–130A–II is shot leon III was captured in the sault on UN lines. founded. • 1988 - Lance Corporal ister of War, and Command- down by fighters over Yere- battle resulting in the end of • 1963 - The new Air Force • 1983 - Warrant Officer Class Petrus Jacobus Herbst from er-in-Chief of the German van, Armenia when it strays the Second French Empire. Memorial on Bays Hill, II Johannes Petrus Lode- Walvis Bay Command was Armed Forces until January into Soviet airspace while • 1878 - British Major Gen- south of Pretoria, is inaugu- wickus van Bosch from killed in a Military Vehi- 1938. conducting a SIGINT mis- eral John Frederick Charles rated by State President C.R. the South African Engineer cle Accident between Otji- • 1898 - In the Anglo-Egyp- sion. All the crew were lost. Fuller was born on this day. Swart and attended by about Corps, attached to Sector 20 warongo & Okahandja. He tian War Lord [Sir Herbert] • 1962 - Soviet Russia agreed He was an advocate of tank 8 000 people, including dig- Headquarters was killed in was 20. Kitchener’s force of 25,000 to send arms to Cuba, lead- warfare and became one of nitaries of other countries. a military vehicle accident • 1995 - Chief warlord Charles decisively defeats the Der- the founders of modern ar- The monument is a memori- between Rundu and Bagani Taylor and other key militia vishes at the Battle of Om- moured warfare. He was al to almost 3,000 members when his military vehicle leaders are installed in a new durman, Sudan, taking also a strong Nazi sympa- of the SAAF who died in ac- was involved in a head-on ruling council in Liberia. Khartoum. 10,000 Sudanese thiser. tion through the years in war collision with another mili- • 2003 - A new UN force with fall in battle. • 1900 - During the Second and peace. tary vehicle. He was 39. a wider mandate takes over • 1898 - The machine gun is Anglo-Boer War Two Aus- • 1967 - Ilse Koch, Nazi war • 1983 - Seaman A.R. Roux from the French-led force in used for the first time in bat- tralians of the Tasmanian Im- criminal (commonly known from the South African Ma- the eastern Democratic Re- tle. perial Bushmen, Lieutenant as “The Bitch of Buchen- rines was critically wounded public of Congo. • 1939 - Nazi Germany cap- Wylly and Private Bisdee, wald”) hangs herself in pris- after being accidentally shot tured the Free City of Dan- display exceptional bravery on at 60. by another Leading Seaman 2 September zig, Poland.. A concentration during an ambush by Boers • 1969 - Colonel Muammar while his platoon was on pa- • 31 B.C. - Roman legions camp was set up at Stutthof, in assisting a wounded of- Gaddafi seizes power in trol in the Caprivi. He was under Augustus Caesar de- where several prominent ficer and allowing five oth- Libya after a coup d’état, casevaced by helicopter to feated Mark Anthony’s na- er wounded to escape. They deposing King Idris and ex- Katima Mulilo but unfor- val force at Actium. Albert Speer iling him to Egypt. tunately succumbed to his • 1862 - Civil War: President 76 77 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September ing to the October Missile wound after being acciden- 3 September informed of the upcoming people survived the initial were Killed in Action when Crisis after the shipments tally shot by a fellow sailor • 1777 - The Flag of the Unit- “liquidation” of the ghet- crash but 10 survivors were a 42 Squadron Atlas AM3-C were discovered by the U.S. while carrying out guard ed States is flown in battle to, unsuccessfully fought executed by the ZIPRA Ter- Bosbok, Serial No 934 was • 1964 - Alvin York, American duty at the Slangkop Radio for the first time. The Brit- against their Nazi captors. rorists who returned to the shot down by a Soviet SA-8 World War I soldier who led Station. He was 24. ish Army and their Hessian • 1943 - Italy signed an ar- accident scene to loot the Gecko Surface-to-Air Mis- a famed attack on a German • 1989 - Lance Corporal Hen- allies defeated an Ameri- mistice with the Allies dur- aircraft contents. The re- sile South of Lomba river machine gun nest (Medal of drik Jacobus Bekker from can militia at the Battle of ing World War II in Europe maining eight passengers in Southern Angola during Honour), dies at 76. the Eastern Transvaal Com- Cooch’s Bridge. as the British Eighth Army, managed to escape. The four Ops Modular. The casualties • 1977 - Rifleman Matthys mand Provost Unit, South • 1783 - The American Revo- commanded by General crew members were posthu- were: Lieutenant Richard Christiaan Henn from 4 SAI African Corps of Military lution ends with the signing Bernard Montgomery, in- mously awarded the Rho- William Glynn (21). Com- was critically injured in a Police, was accidentally of the Treaty of Paris by the vaded the Italian mainland desian Meritorious Conduct mandant Johann Christiaan military vehicle accident killed after being struck by a United States and the King- from Sicily. Medal (MCM) for brave and Du Randt (32). between Middelburg and moving train while on leave dom of Great Britain. Amer- • 1950 - A US Military As- gallant conduct. • 2001 - Sierra Leone’s presi- Greefswald on 31 August in Nelspruit. He was 18. ica is officially free from sistance Advisory Group • 1980 - General Constand dent Ahmed Tejan Kabbah 1977 and succumbed to his • 1999 - Major Kenneth Ar- Britain. arrived in Saigon to look Viljoen is appointed as shakes hands with his rebel injuries in 1 Military Hospi- thur Newman from 22 • 1800 - Two rebels of the into the French request for Chief of the South Afri- counterpart General Issa Se- tal on 02 September 1977. Squadron was killed when Graaff-Reinet Rebellion American military aid and can Defence Force (SADF) say, and declares the West He was 18. his Alouette III Helicopter, five years previously, - Mar assistance in the training and Lieutenant-General Jan African nation’s war over. • 1978 - Rifleman Arau Chil- Serial No. 616 suffered en- thinus Prinsloo and Adriaan of the South Vietnamese Geldenhuys as Chief of the emba from 5 Reconnais- gine failure and crashed in van Jaarsveld, are sentenced troops. Army, with effect from 7 4 September sance Regiment attached to dense bush at Sea View, Port to death and sixteen rebels • 1974 - Joint routine exer- October 1980. • 1862 - Union General Lee D Squadron Rhodesian Spe- Elizabeth. He was 50. receive life-long penalties. cises are held between the • 1981 - Rifleman Cornelius invades North with 50,000 cial Air Service, was killed • 2002 - The Sudanese gov- They had rebelled against British Royal Navy and the Jacobus Vermaak from Spe- Confederate troops. instantly in Mocambique ernment suspends peace the Company and had pro- South African Navy, under cial Forces Headquarters • 1886 - The last major U.S.- when he accidentally walked talks with the country’s main claimed the territory a free the Simonstown Agreement, died in the Edenvale Hospi- Indian war came to an end into the helicopter tail rotor rebel group, the Sudanese republic. and again from 14 October tal from injuries sustained in as Geronimo was captured. after being inserted into the People’s Liberation Army, • 1916 - The Allies turn back 1974. a Military Vehicle Accident He died of natural causes in designated drop zone inside or SPLA, after rebels seize the Germans in WW I’s Bat- • 1978 - Four Crew Members in Edenvale. He was 19. 1909 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. enemy territory. He was 24. the strategic town of Torit. tle of Verdun. and 44 Passengers from Air • 1985 - Two members from 6 • 1900 - Danie Theron, an • 1982 - Two members from • 1969 - The Nigerian Central • 1939 - Great Britain and Rhodesia Viscount “Hun- SAI were killed when their Afrikaner patriot believing 5 Maintenance Unit were Government forces began France declared war on Nazi yani” Flight RH825 were Buffel Troop Carrier over- in the just and divine right grievously burned in an ac- Operation OAU in order to Germany after its invasion killed when the aircraft was turned in Grahamstown. The of the Boer to stand against cidental petrol explosion seize the remaining Biafran of Poland two days earlier. shot down by ZIPRA insur- casualties were: Rifleman British interference, died at Ondangwa on 30 August cities. Though the Biafran • 1939 - The United Kingdom gents using a Soviet SAM- Orlando De Portugal Gon- during the Second Anglo- 1982. Both members were forces were not very strong and France begin a naval 7 Grail shoulder-launched calves (19). Rifleman Shaun Boer War in an inferno of evacuated to the 1 Military they managed to keep con- blockade of Germany that Surface-to-Air Missile ap- Patrick Atkins (21). Hospital Burn Unit where trol over Umuahia and later lasts until the end of the war. proximately five minutes af- • 1986 - South Africa’s gov- they succumbed to their recaptured Owerri and Aba This also marks the begin- ter take-off from Kariba Air- ernment re-imposes order injuries on 02 September cities. ning of the Battle of the At- port. Almost immediately a prohibiting journalists from 1982. The casualties were: • 1972 - U.S fighter-bombers lantic. distress signal was received reporting actions of security Private Gordon Gray Cross- attacked, Phuc Yen, one of • 1941 - First use of Zyclon– to the effect that the aircraft forces. land (18). Private Hendrik the largest air bases in North B gas in Auschwitz (on Rus- engines had failed. The air- • 1987 - One member from Lambertus Groenewald Vietnam, and shot down a sian prisoners of war). craft crashed near the north- 42 Squadron and one mem- (20). MiG aircraft. In all, 47 MiG • 1942 - In possibly the first ern border with Zambia in ber from 4 Field Regiment • 1984 - Able Seaman Crisp- aircraft were shot down Jewish ghetto uprising, the Urungwe Tribal Trust in John Canner from SAS since the North Vietnamese residents of the Łachwa Land, 40km South-East Constand Viljoen Unity died from a gunshot attack began. Ghetto in occupied Poland, of Kariba Dam. Eighteen 78 79 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September

lyddite and shrapnel. vessels of war enter these National Liberation Front to his injuries in 1 Military • 1901 - During the Second States 101st Airborne Divi- • 1916 - British forces take waters, they do so at their will halt military operations Hospital on 04 September Anglo-Boer War Lieuten- sion and the South Vietnam- Dar-es-Salaam in Tangan- own peril.” in the South for three days, 1982. He was 18. ant Hannam and members ese 1st Infantry Division yika. • 1944 - Two days after the September 8-11, in mourn- • 1984 - Private Auguste of the Bushveld Carbineers, combined forces in what • 1918 - United States troops start of the Allied mission ing for Ho. He had been the Jansen from the Natal Com- fighting on British side, fire was to become the last ma- land at Archangel, in north- to liberate Belgium, the spiritual leader of the com- mand Workshop, Technical on wagons with women and jor operation in which the ern Russia and stay 10 British forces liberated An- munists in Vietnam since the Service Corps was admitted children who offer no resis- U.S ground forces partici- months. The landing was twerp from the Germans. earliest days of the struggle to Addington Hospital on tance, killing two children pated. It was also meant to part of an Allied interven- In February 1945, Belgium against the French and, later, 01 September 1984 suffer- and wounding a girl. strengthen the combat ca- tion in the civil war raging in was entirely freed from Ger- the United States and its ally ing from severe head inju- • 1914 - The Battle of the pability of the South Viet- that country after revolution man occupation, after five in Saigon. ries after being assaulted by Marne. Thirty miles north- namese army so they could in 1917 led to the abdication months of joint operation by • 1975 - Representatives of persons unknown. He suc- east of Paris, the French 6th enable them to fight the of Czar Nicholas II in favour the USA, Canada, Britain Egypt and Israel sign interim cumbed to his injuries on 04 Army under General Mi- Viet Cong in the North. of a provisional govern- and Poland. peace agreement in Geneva. September 1984. He was 19. chel-Joseph Maunoury be- This parachute regiment left ment; the seizure of power • 1945 - The Wake Island • 1980 - Rifleman A.F. Chipa • 1990 - Rifleman Anton Ma- gins attacking the right flank South Vietnam from March by Vladimir Lenin and his Japanese garrison’s 2,200 from 32 Battalion acciden- lan from Infantry School of German forces advancing 1972. radical socialist Bolshevik Japanese soldiers finally lay tally drowned near Buffalo. was accidentally killed on the French capital. By the • 1972 - Eleven members of Party; and, finally, Russia’s down their arms and surren- He was 27. when a 40mm multiple gre- next day, the counterattack the Israeli Olympic Team withdrawal from participa- der to a detachment of U.S. • 1980 - Private Frederick nade launcher barrel explod- was total. More than two were killed during an attack tion alongside the Allies in Marines days after their Jacobus Janse van Vuuren ed during a firing training million soldiers fought in on the Olympic Village in World War I. government had already for- from the Air Force School exercise at Oudtshoorn. He the Battle of the Marne, and Munich by members of the • 1939 - The House of Assem- mally capitulated. Wake Is- of Technical Training was was 22. 100,000 of them were killed Black September faction bly defeats Prime Minister land was one of the islands killed in a Private Motor Ve- or wounded. of the Palestinian Libera- Hertzog’s motion of neutrali- bombed as part of a wider hicle Accident, at Nelspoort. 5 September • 1939 - President Franklin tion Army. Israeli jets then ty and adopts Smuts’ amend- bombing raid that coincided He was 21. • 1781 - In the Battle of the Roosevelt declares US neu- bombed Palestinian posi- ment in favour of joining the with the attack on Pearl Har- • 1981 - Four members from Chesapeake the British Navy trality at start of WW II in tions in Lebanon and Syria war. Hertzog resigns pre- bor and they had held since 1 Special Service Battal- is repelled by the French Europe. in retaliation on September miership the next day and he 23 December of 1941. ion were killed when their Navy, leading to the British • 1965 - Air Mechanic Henry 8, 1972. and his followers side with • 1967 - The U.S. 1st Marine Eland armoured car over- surrender at Yorktown. Cecil Oosthuizen from the • 1978 - Rifleman Michael Dr Malan’s National Party. Division launches Operation turned during a training ex- • 1876 - German field marshal Air Force Gymnasium was Horn Du Plessis from 2 SAI Smuts becomes premier and SWIFT, a search and destroy ercise at Ottosdal. The casu- and World War II war crimi- killed in a private motor ve- was grievously burned and retains the name United Par- operation in Quang Nam alties were: 2nd Lieutenant nal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb hicle accident in Krugers- suffered smoke inhalation ty for his followers. and Quang Tin Provinces in Derek Charl De Villiers was born on this day. Units dorp. He was 19. • 1940 - The American de- I Corps Tactical Zone (the (20). Trooper Mark Rodney under Leeb’s command • 1969 - In Vietnam Lt. Wil- stroyer Greer becomes the region south of the Demili- Harty (20). Trooper Willem committed atrocities against liam Calley is charged with first U.S. vessel fired on in tarized Zone). A fierce four- Frederick Raubenheim- the civilian population and six specifications of premed- the war when a German sub day battle ensued in the Que er (19). Trooper Johannes closely cooperated with the itated murder in the death of aims a few torpedoes at it, Son Valley, 25 miles south of Martin Schoeman (18). SS Einsatzgruppen, the mo- 109 Vietnamese civilians at sparking heightened ten- Da Nang. During the course • 1982 - Private Johannes Al- bile killing squads primar- My Lai in March 1968. sions between Germany and of the battle, 114 men of the bertus O’Neill from 5 Main- ily tasked with the murder • 1970 - Operation Jefferson the United States. It was a U.S. 5th Marine Regiment tenance Unit was grievously of the Jewish population as Glen was launched on Sep- case of mistaken identity. were killed while the North burned at Ondangwa on 30 part of the Holocaust. He tember 5th 1970 in the Hue Roosevelt unofficially de- Vietnamese forces suffered August 1982 when he lit was found guilty and sen- Province to protect the criti- clared war on anyone who 376 casualties. a cigarette while standing tenced to three years. cal installations. The United further attacked American • 1969 - Radio Hanoi an- near petrol drums and the • 1877 - Crazy Horse, the last vessels in the North Atlan- nounces the death of Ho Chi petrol fumes ignited causing great Sioux war chief, dies Ho Chi Minh tic: “If German or Italian Minh, proclaiming that the an explosion. He succumbed on this day at the age of 37. 80 81 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September

while assisting to extinguish 1982, sentenced in 1983 to under General French, oc- before he could be rescued. ley Regiment was killed in a • 1940 - The German Luft- a veld fire in Windhoek. He life imprisonment for pass- cupy Carolina. On the same He was 18. military vehicle accident at waffe began its Blitz bomb- succumbed to his injuries ing military secrets. day forces under General • 1976 - Soviet air force pilot Sishen. He was 58. ing campaign against Lon- later in the day. He was 19. • 1986 - Sapper Gary Edward Buller occupy Lydenburg. Lt. Viktor Belenko lands a • 1985 - Private Pierre Botha don during World War II. • 1980 - Lance Corporal Er- Schentke from 1 Construc- • 1932 - The Battle of Bo- MiG-25 jet fighter at Hako- from 61 Base Workshops • 1942 - Australian and Amer- nesto Sophia from 32 Battal- tion Regiment was acci- queron started between the date in Japan and requests died in an accidental shoot- ican forces inflict a signifi- ion was accidentally killed dentally killed when a road Bolivian and the Paraguyan political asylum in the Unit- ing incident at the Base. He cant defeat upon the Japa- by friendly fire in Southern grader drove over him dur- armies. The battle was a ma- ed States. was 20. nese at the Battle of Milne Angola during Operation ing construction work at the jor encounter in the Chaco • 1977 - Corporal Thomas • 1986 - Lance Corporal Fred- Bay. Vastrap. He was 31. new 102 Battalion Base at War. The Bolivians had John Lewis Jones from 1 erick Johannes Klaasen from • 1977 - Rifleman J.M. Maqui- • 1982 - Private Robert Peter Homba in the Kaokoveld. taken over the Boqueron Kavango Battalion SWATF Air Force Base Waterkloof nda from 32 Battalion died van Spronsen from 5 Main- He was 19. outpost in 1932. The battle was killed when the Bedford was killed in a private mo- from a gunshot wound, acci- tenance Unit was Grievous- • 1993 - Seven Nigerian UN raged on for more than three truck in which he was trav- tor vehicle accident in Paul dentally self-inflicted while ly burned at Ondangwa on peacekeepers are killed in weeks and finally resulted in elling on the Rundu / Bagani Kruger Street, Pretoria. He on operations in Southern 30 August 1982 when a cig- an ambush by Somalis in the Bolivians surrendering. Road, left the road and col- was 20. Angola. He was 30. arette was lit while standing Mogadishu. • 1939 - South Africa declares lided with a tree some 60 km • 1987 - Lance Corporal Mel- • 1978 - Major Lukas Gerhar- near petrol drums and the war on Germany. west of Ondangwa. He was vin Ashley Beneke from 1 dus Grundling from 1 Para- petrol fumes ignited, caus- 6 September • 1944 - Soviet forces captured 21. Parachute Battalion Path- chute Battalion accidentally ing an explosion. He suc- • 1228 - The Holy Roman the city of Tartu manned by • 1977 - Commandant Jo- finders was Killed in Action drowned at Wepener during cumbed to his injuries in 1 Emperor, Frederick II land- 69,000 German troops on hannes Petrus Human from during a contact with enemy a parachute jump with full Military Hospital on 05 Sep- ed in Acre, Palestine to mark their way to re-establishing Sector 70 Headquarters forces at the Lomba River in kit. He was 29. tember 1982. He was 19. the beginning of the Sixth their rule in Estonia. SWATF was killed in a pri- Southern Angola during Ops • 1986 - Private Shaun Antho- • 1982 - Douglas Bader, the Crusade. Frederick II was a • 1949 - Allied military au- vate motor vehicle accident. Modular. He was 19. ny Sprowson from 16 Main- World War II RAF fighter successor to the Roman rul- thorities relinquish control He was 49. • 1988 - Sergeant N. Kiban- tenance Unit was killed pilot, dies on this day at the ers of the antiquity and was of former Nazi Germany as- • 1978 - 2nd Lieutenant An- guka from 32 Battalion was when his SAMAC Horse age of 72. Bader lost both crowned emperor by Pope sets back to German control. dre Leon Opperman from killed in a military vehicle and Trailer overturned on his legs in an accident be- Honorius II in 1220. • 1965 - The US Marines and 32 Battalion was Killed in accident. He was 35. the Rundu to Bagani Road. fore the war, but he recov- • 1776 - during the American South Vietnamese forces Action in Southern Angola. • 1993 - Seven Nigerian Unit- He was 20. ered, retook flight training, Revolutionary War, Ezra launched Operation Piranha, He was 19. ed Nations peacekeepers are • 1987 - An intricate prisoner passed his check flights and Lee, an American colonial as part of a major event dur- • 1979 - During an external killed in an ambush by So- exchange takes place in Ma- then requested reactivation soldier, commanding the ing the course of the Viet- operation in Mocambique, malis in Mogadishu. puto, involving 133 Ango- as a pilot. ‘Turtle’ submarine attempt- nam War on the Batangan code-named Ops Uric, a • 1996 - Army troops drive lan soldiers, anti-apartheid • 1983 - Sergeant Ernestus ed to time bomb to the hull Peninsula. The operation in- SAAF Puma helicopter car- Hutu rebels from their hill- activists, Klaas de Jonge, a Jacobus van Staden from 8 of British Admiral Richard cluded a raid on the Vietnam rying 3 SAAF Crew Mem- side positions outside Bu- SAI was critically injured in Howe’s flagship ‘Eagle’ in Army 1st regiment, by the bers and 14 South African rundi’s capital after three a private motor vehicle acci- New York Harbor. It was the Allied forces which resulted Nationals, all members serv- days of fighting. dent near Bloemfontein. He first use of a submarine in in several Vietnamese casu- ing in the Rhodesian Armed succumbed to his injuries in warfare. alties. Forces, was shot down near 7 September the Universitas Hospital in • 1861 - Forces under Union • 1975 - Rifleman Leon Jo- Mapai in Mocambique. The • 1939 - The German Consul- Bloemfontein shortly after General Ulysses S. Grant hannes de Wit Scheepers SAAF casualties were: Cap- ate in Cape Town packs up admission. He was 24. bloodlessly capture Pa- from 2 SAI was part of a tain Paul Denzil Velleman after South Africa’s official • 1983 - The trial of Com- ducah, Kentucky, which group of patrols that were (25). Lieutenant Nigel Da- declaration of war on Ger- modore Dieter Gerhardt on gives the Union control of clearing all the islands vid Osborne (22). Sergeant many the previous day. charges of spying for the the mouth of the Tennessee down-river from Calueque Dirk Wilhelmus Marthinus Soviet Union began in the River. Dam. During this process, Retief (29). Cape Town High Court. • 1900 - During the Second he accidentally fell into the • 1980 - Rifleman Alfred Gor- Douglas Bader Gerhardt was arrested in Anglo-Boer war the British, Cunene River and drowned don Smith from the Kimber- 82 83 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September Dutch anthropologist, Pierre South West Africa. police are in Rhodesia ac- 4 SAI was killed in a mili- Erie U.S. Naval Captain Ol- ipation of the South African Andre Albertini, a French • 1941 - The German Army tively helping in the fight tary vehicle accident. He iver Hazard Perry defeats a Police in Rhodesian anti-ter- university lecturer and Ma- began its blockade of Len- against Nationalist guerril- was 19. British flotilla. rorist operations. jor Wynand du Toit, a South ingrad, lasting until January las. This follows an attempt • 1976 - Rifleman Christiaan • 1900 - Representatives of • 1974 - The South African African officer captured in 1944, resulting in the deaths by several hundred guerrillas Hendrik Pauley from the 1st the ZAR and the Free State Minister of Defence states Angola two years before of almost one million Rus- to invade South and South Battalion Botha Regiment governments meet in Nel- that South Africa will pro- that. sian civilians. West Africa, from Zambia, died from a gunshot wound spruit and decide to allow vide bases and communica- • 1988 - Constable Herma- • 1943 - The United States at the urging of the Libera- accidentally sustained in a President Kruger to go to tion facilities to the maritime nus Cornelius Johannes Du Army Air Forces (USAAF) tion Committee of the OAU shooting incident. He was Europe (initially for a peri- forces of Western nations in- Plessis from the South West carried out a bombing raid in Kampala in July 1967. 17. od of six months), to prevent terested in the defence of the Africa Police Counter-In- against the Italian town of • 1975 - USAF Tech Sergeant • 1976 - Longtime leader of the possibility of his falling Cape route. surgency Wing: Ops-K Di- Frascati. The raids targeted Leonard Matlovich, a deco- Communist China, Chair- into British hands and to • 1979 - Rifleman Albertus vision (Koevoet) was Killed the German General Head- rated veteran of the Viet- man Mao Zedong, died. As plead the Republican cause Gottlieb from 101 Battal- in Action during a contact quarters for the Mediterra- nam War, appears in his Air a Chinese revolutionary sol- in Europe. ion SWATF was killed in a with SWAPO/PLAN insur- nean zone (O.B.S.) and the Force uniform on the cover dier and statesman, he had • 1901 - The youngest Boer military vehicle accident in gents in Northern Owambo- Italian headquarters near the of Time magazine with the proclaimed the People’s Re- commandant, 19 year old Northern Owamboland. He land. He was 27. town. headline “I Am a Homo- public of China in 1949 in Commandant Piet van der was 19. • 1992 - Rifleman Johannes • 1943 - General Dwight sexual”. He is later given a Beijing. Merwe and twenty-three • 1985 - Major Johan Petrus Lodewyk Bouwer Lourens Eisenhower publicly de- general discharge. • 1984 - Major Erasmus Jo- burgers are killed in action Uys from the Bothaville from 4 SAI was killed in a clared the surrender of Italy • 1977 - Candidate Officer hannes Louw from 8 SAI at Driefontein, Cape Colo- Commando was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident at to Allies in the year 1943. Leon Loubser Jones from 4 was killed instantly when a ny, when attacked by about military vehicle accident at White River. He was 18. The Italian government Squadron was killed when fellow Officer accidentally 700 troops under Colonel the intersection of the Bo- • 1994 - The U.S. Army closed agreed to suspend all con- his AT-6 Harvard flew into shot him in the back of the Crabbe. Only three burghers thaville and Wesselsbron its headquarters in Berlin, flicts with the Allies. rising ground while he was head with a 1 000ft rocket escape. Road. He was 51. ending the American mili- • 1944 - London was attacked carrying out a low level parachute flare during a • 1914 - The SA parlia- • 1987 - Special Sergeant tary presence in the once- with a V2 (‘Vergeltung- flight near Pretoria. He was training exercise at Riem- ment decides with 91 votes Simeon Shikulo from the divided city after nearly half swaffen’, or ‘retaliatory 20. vasmaak outside Upington. against twelve to enter into South West Africa Police a century. weapon’) rocket for the first He was 29. WW1. Counter-Insurgency Wing: time on this day in 1944. 9 September • 1990 - Rifleman Derio - Ar • 1919 - Following the defeat Ops-K (Koevoet) was Killed 8 September The attack created a crater • 1943 - The invasion of endse from the 2nd Bat- of Germany in World War I, in Action during a contact • 1886 - Siegfried Sassoon of 10 m, took three lives and Salerno began during World talion South African Cape the victorious Allies signed with SWAPO/PLAN insur- was born on this day. Dec- injured 22 people. War II in Europe as Allied Corps was critically injured the Treaty of Saint-Germain gents in Northern Owambo- orated for bravery on the • 1945 - United States troops forces under General Mark in a military vehicle acci- ceding parts of pre-war Ger- land. He was 28. Western Front, he became arrive to partition the south- Clark made amphibious dent on 07 September 1990 man-Austria to Italy and one of the leading poets of ern part of Korea in response landings along the western and succumbed to his inju- Czechoslovakia. Austria the First World War. to Soviet troops occupying coast of Italy near Naples. ries in hospital on 09 Sep- was also forbidden to unite • 1900 - General Buller, with the northern part of the pen- Initial gains by the Allies tember 1990. He was 26. with Germany. 12,000 men and forty-eight insula a month earlier. met strong resistance from • 1943 - Hitler’s troops occu- guns, attack General Botha’s • 1951 - Jürgen Stroop, SS German forces. 10 September pied Rome and took over the position at Paardeplaats, General during World War • 1948 - Following the with- • 1802 - Frans Bresler, land- protection of Vatican City. near Lydenburg and Botha, II and commander of Nazi drawal of Soviet forces from dros of Graaff-Reinet, con- • 1967 - Speaking at a special with his force of 2,000 men, forces during the Warsaw North Korea, the Demo- fers with Lieutenant-Gover- news conference the Rho- evacuates his position. Ghetto Uprising, execut- cratic People’s Republic of nor Francis Dundas in Algoa desian Prime Minister, Ian • 1914 - General Louis Botha ed by hanging for crimes Korea was proclaimed with Bay on the withdrawal of Smith, welcomes the partic- announces the South Afri- against humanity at age 56. Pyongyang as its capital. British troops from the east- can government’s decision • 1967 - It is officially dis- • 1971 - 2nd Lieutenant Peter ern frontier of SA. Ian Smith to carry the war into German closed that South African Schalk van der Merwe from • 1813 - At the Battle of Lake 84 85 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September • 2004 - Mercenary leader Si- was 44. pro-Confederate Missouri forced the German navy to Cowie from 6 SAI was where he unfortunately suc- mon Mann is sentenced to • 1977 - Rifleman Rodriques State Guard emerged victo- forbid such acts of kindness killed in a private vehicle cumbed to his wounds later seven years in jail by a Zim- Pedro from 32 Battalion rious in the battle. to get an upper edge in the accident while returning in the day. He was 29. babwean court on weapons was accidentally killed in • 1918 - American Expedi- war. to the unit after a weekend • 1980 - Lieutenant Vincent charges. This was for plan- an anti-personnel landmine tionary Forces under the • 1943 - Former Italian Dic- pass. The accident occurred Peter Lautenslager from ning a coup d’état in Equa- explosion while assisting to command of General Per- tator Benito Mussolini was at Howsens Poort, South of 8 Squadron was Reported torial Guinea. lay a minefield during an op- shing launched the U. S’s rescued by German para- Grahamstown. He was 18. Missing on 12 Septem- • eration in Southern Angola. major offensive in Europe troopers on orders from Ad- • 1974 - Military officers de- ber 1980 when his Atlas 11 September He was 32. as an independent army. The olf Hitler. Mussolini was pose Emperor Haile Selassie MB326K Impala Mk II flew • 1813 - British troops arrive • 1977 - Corporal Albertus Pe- attack occurred at the Saint- being held prisoner by Ital- from the Ethiopian throne he into the ground near Xan- in Mount Vernon and pre- trus van Zyl from the Tyger- Mihiel salient in France. ian authorities following the had occupied for more than gongo while providing close pare to march to and invade berg Commando was Killed This was a strategic loca- collapse of his Fascist re- fifty years. air support to Army Ground Washington D.C. in Action when his Buffel tion that was occupied by gime. • 1978 - Candidate Officer Forces in Southern Angola. • 1814 - The climax of the Troop Carrier detonated a the Germans who blocked • 1944 - U.S. Army troops Lancelot Emberger from The subsequent Board of Battle of Plattsburgh, a ma- landmine near Oshigambo. rail traffic between Paris and enter Germany for the first Central Flying School, Enquiry found no evidence jor United States victory in He was 31. eastern sections of the front. time. Dunnottar was killed when of hostile enemy action. He the war which ended Brit- • 1983 - 2nd Lieutenant Deon The American offensive • 1960 - The Central Afri- his AT-6 Harvard failed to has no known grave. He was ain’s final invasion of the De Villiers from 3 Medical forced the German army de- can Republics, Ghana and recover from a spin and 23. northern states. Battalion Group was killed cided to abandon the salient. Guinea threaten to withdraw crashed near Delmas. He • 1980 - The Turkish army un- • 1840 - British bombard Bei- in a military vehicle acci- • 1931 - Andries J. Bester their troops from a security was 22. der the leadership of Gener- rut to force Mehmet Ali, pa- dent in Bloemfontein. He (81), Boer commandant dur- force unless the United Na- • 1979 - Rifleman Johannes al Evren carried out a coup. sha of Egypt, to submit. was 26. ing Second Anglo-Boer War, tions gives up its control of Conga HC from “C” Com- Before the coup, the coun- • 1900 - Martial law is de- • 2001 - Thousands are killed dies in Paul Roux, OFS. Leopoldville radio and the pany, 31 Battalion (201 Bat- try was in a chaos and was clared in the Transvaal. after terrorists crashed hi- • 1940 - Italian forces begin Congo’s airports. talion) was Killed in Action without an elected presi- • 1919 - U.S. Marines invade jacked airliners into the an offensive into Egypt from • 1966 - Minister of Defence during a contact with enemy dent. The coup was gener- Honduras. World Trade Centre in New Libya. P.W. Botha announces in forces in Zambia. During ally welcomed by the public • 1941 - Franklin D. Roos- York and the Pentagon in • 1942 - RMS Laconia, a Brit- Cape Town that the posts of this action, he deliberately because it brought order to evelt orders any Axis ship Washington. The effect was ish troopship, was carrying Secretary for Defence and drew enemy fire upon him- the nation. found in American waters felt world wide, also in SA, civilians, Polish soldiers and Commandant-General of self in order to save the life • 1982 - Sergeant William be shot on sight. where i.e. flights to the USA Italian POWs to Britain via the Defence Force are to be of his Officer, Lieutenant Paul Courtnay from 4 Re- • 1944 - The first Allied troops were suspended, security West African coast when combined under one head. Coetzee. Rifleman Conga connaissance Regiment of the U.S. Army cross the measures at airports tight- a German U-boat U-156 • 1968 - Warrant Officer Class was posthumously awarded died as a result of injuries western border of Germany. ened, and the economy af- torpedoed the ship. Oper- I Pieter Francois Pienaar for the Honoris Crux Decora- sustained in a private mo- • 1956 - Billy Bishop VC, CB, fected adversely. ating partly under the dic- the South African Corps of tion for his unselfish act of torcycle accident in Central DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED, tates of the old prize rules, Signals was killed when his self-sacrifice. He was 25. Durban. He was 24. Canadian World War I flying the U-boat commander military vehicle overturned • 1980 - Corporal Jose Fran- ace, dies aged 62. 12 September immediately commenced 11 miles from Colesburg on cisco from 32 Battalion was • 1965 - The 1st Cavalry Di- • 1861 - The First Battle of rescue operations, broad- the Naauwpoort Road.. He critically wounded by can- vision of the United States Lexington was fought dur- casting their humanitarian was 37. non fire from an Alouette Army arrives in Vietnam. ing the American Civil War intent to all Allied forces in • 1969 - Rifleman Cornelius Gunship during a contact • 1974 - Warrant Officer Class between the Union Army the area.,and was joined by Gregorius Labuschagne with a numerically superior II Olaf Volmer Jensen from and the pro-Confederate all U-boats in the vicinity. from 4 SAI was accidentally enemy force in Southern 2 SAI Died of Wounds at the Missouri State Guard. The American bombers deliber- killed after he suffocated as Angola. He was evacuated hospital at Walvis Bay after battle was fought from Sep- ately bombed U-156 and the a result of gas at the Klerks- to Grootfontein Hospital sustaining multiple shrap- tember 12 to September 20, rescue mission proved disas- dorp Provincial Hospital. nel wounds in an accidental 1861 and is also known as trous to both the survivors He was 18. Benito Mussolini hand grenade explosion. He the Seige of Lexington. The and the Germans. This event • 1971 - Rifleman Trevor 86 87 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September

• 1982 - Corporal Christiaan Corps was killed in a motor gonne operation that helped bia announce agreement of Mutirua from 102 Battal- vehicle he was driving over- Benjamin Ehlers from the vehicle accident in Mam- bring about the Armistice of peaceful settlement of two- ion SWATF accidentally turned near Richmond. He Air Force Gymnasium was elodi, North of Pretoria. He November 11, 1918. year-old Yemeni civil war. drowned during a river was 17. killed in a private motorcy- was 21. • 1862 - Union soldiers find • 1970 - Six members from 5 crossing while his patrol cle accident. He was 22. • 1990 - Lieutenant Edward a copy of Robert E. Lee’s SAI and one member from was carrying out a follow- 14 September • 1983 - Rifleman Michael Diggle from 42 Squadron battle plans in a field outside 3 SAI were killed while be- up Operation against SWA- • 1795 - British troops march Anthony Costello from 7 was killed when his Aer- Frederick, Maryland. It is ing transported in a Gladi- PO/PLAN insurgents. He from Simonstown and Gen- SAI was accidentally killed macchi AM-3C Bosbok the prelude to the Battle of ator Troop Carrier back to was 22. eral J.H. Craig enters Cape during a fire and movement crashed at Potchefstroom. Antietam. Ladysmith Army Camp. • 1987 - Six members of 32 Town. Sluysken formally exercise. He was 20. He was 20. • 1882 - During the Egyptian The casualties were: Rifle- Battalion were Killed in Ac- surrenders on 16 September. • 1983 - Rifleman Johannes • 1990 - A treaty was signed Rebellion, British forces un- man Hilton Dudley Coker tion in a single incident dur- • 1812 - Napoleon and his August van der Westhui- by East and West Germany der Wolseley rout the Egyp- (19). Rifleman John Grinyer ing Ops Modular in South- troops first entered Moscow zen from the South African and the Allies of World War tians at Tel-el-Kebir and (20). Rifleman Peter Alfons ern Angola. The Casualties as the retreating Russians Cape Corps was killed after II allowing for the restora- proceed to occupy Egypt Ernst Leonhardt (19). Rifle- were: Captain Alfred Des- set the city on fire. Napo- being struck by a bullet from tion of sovereignty to a re- and the Sudan. man Kevin Eric Mack (18). mond McCallum (28). 2nd leon found it was impossible an accidental discharge of a unified Germany. • 1889 - Lieutenant-Colonel Rifleman Richard Neville Lieutenant José Raimundo to stay through the winter in fellow soldiers rifle while at R.G. Kekewich arrives in Marriott (17). Rifleman Alves (20). Lance Corporal the ruined city. He then be- Bagani. He was 19. 13 September Kimberley to assess the Gregory George Olyott (18). Matthys Michael De Klerk gan a retreat from Moscow • 1984 - Rifleman Pieter Tal- • 1759 - James Wolfe, British military situation and to ad- Rifleman Mark Felice Val- (20). Trooper Marthinus Jo- which became one of the jaard from 1 Parachute Bat- Army officer who defeated vise the new General Officer lero (18). hannes Kuyler (20). Lance great disasters of military talion was killed when his the French in Canada and Commanding British Troops • 1976 - Rifleman Chris- Corporal Joao Rodrigues history. Fewer than 20,000 Buffel Troop Carrier over- captured Quebec, dies in in South Africa, Lieutenant- tiaan Frederik Ehlers from Mananza (33). Lance Cor- of the original 500,000 men turned. He was 19. battle at the age of 32. General F.W.E.F. Forestier- 11 Commando Regiment poral Waite Tchipango (31). with him survived the Rus- • 1985 - Major Johannes An- • 1847 - During the Ameri- Walker, on the defence of was Killed in Action dur- • 1988 - Gunner Andre Mei- sian campaign. dries van der Vyver from 32 can–Mexican War, U.S. the town. ing a contact with SWAPO/ ring from 4 Artillery Regi- • 1852 - Arthur Wellesley, Battalion was decapitated forces under General Win- • 1900 - During the Second PLAN insurgents approxi- ment was killed in a military Duke of Wellington and by aircraft propeller and field Scott capture Mexico Anglo-Boer War Lord Rob- mately 9km from Eenhana. vehicle accident at the Army British Prime Minister died instantly. He was 31. City effectively ending the erts issues a proclamation He was 19. Battle School at Lohatla. He (1828-30) dies at 83. • 1985 - Private Ricky Grant war. calling on the Republican • 1977 - Lance Corporal Paul was 19. • 1886 - Erich Hoepner, World Whitaker from 5 Mainte- • 1851 - American Army phy- forces still in the field to sur- Onre Dossena from the • 1990 - Private Warren Ralph War II German general and nance Unit died after being sician Walter Reed (1851- render. Natal Mounted Rifles was Beech from 1 Military Town early proponent of mecha- accidentally blasted in the 1902) was born in Glouces- • 1914 - General Jan C.G. Killed in Action when his Management Fire Depart- face with a fire extinguisher ter County, Virginia. Best Kemp resigns as officer in Bosvark vehicle detonated ment was accidentally killed at Ondangwa. He was 18. known for his Yellow Fever the SA army because of the a boosted a Yugoslavian when he fell from a fire tow- • 1987 - Rifleman Fanie de research, he served as an war policy of the Botha gov- TMA-3 Cheese Mine while er at Voortrekkerhoogte dur- Bruin from the South Afri- army surgeon for more than ernment and joins the Rebel- travelling to Nkongo. He ing fire practice drills when can Cape Corps was killed 20 years. The U.S. Army’s lion force. was 19. his harness safety shackle when his Buffel vehicle general hospital in Wash- • 1940 - Italy invades Egypt. • 1985 - Chief Petty Offi- failed. He was 19. overturned during a contact ington, D.C., is named in his • 1946 - Amon Göth, Aus- cer Colin George Clement • 1991 - Rifleman Amos van and subsequent hot pursuit honour. trian SS commandant of from Naval Base Simon- Wyk from the South African operation against SWAPO/ • 1860 - Army General John the Płaszów concentration stown collapsed after appar- Cape Corps died in Grey’s PLAN insurgents in North- J. Pershing (1860-1948) was camp, is executed by hang- ently suffering a heart attack Hospital after being critical- ern Owamboland. He was born in Laclede, Missouri. ing at the age of 37. while he was at the Cater- ly injured when the Samil 20 21. He commanded the Ameri- • 1951 - During the Korean ing School. He died later in • 1987 - Lance Corporal Ste- can Expeditionary Force War the 32 day Battle of 2 Military Hospital. He was phen Lesley Roman from (AEF) during World War I Heart Break Ridge begins. 42. John J. Pershing the South African Cape and oversaw the Meuse-Ar- • 1964 - Egypt and Saudi Ara- • 1985 - Rifleman M.H. 88 89 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September nisation and armoured war- accidentally drowned during Koos de la Rey, en route to suffering a fatal heart attack and cremated on 15 Sep- bridgehead around Salerno. fare, was born on this day. a military training exercise Potchefstroom with general during a fitness walk. He tember 1992. He was post- • 1945 - The surrender of the • 1901 - Andrey Andreyevich at the Midmar Dam while he Beyers, is shot dead when was 52. humously awarded the Ho- Japanese troops in Hong Vlasov, World War II Rus- was undergoing Basic Mili- his chauffeur-driven car fails • 1984 - Rifleman Otto Bis- noris Crux for bravery and Kong is accepted by Roy- sian Red Army general, was tary Training. He was 22. to stop at a roadblock near marck Harms was acciden- selfless devotion above and al Navy Admiral Sir Cecil born on this day. • 1993 - Lance Corporal Piet- Langlaagte, Johannesburg. tally killed at the Germiston beyond the call of duty in Harcourt. • 1914 - The first ships with er Joachim Smith died from (The roadblock had been railway station when he was the face of brutal torture. He • 1955 - The military coup to South African soldiers on a gunshot wound accidental- erected to forestall William struck by a moving train. He was 21. unseat President Juan Perón board leave for the ports of ly sustained while at Broed- Foster of the Foster Gang, was 19. • 1988 - Lance Corporal Brian of Argentina is launched at German South West Africa erstroom. He was 22. who shot dead a policeman • 1985 - Corporal Bruce An- Collin Deyes from Air Force midnight. to invade the territory. • 2002 - The Lord’s Resis- during the day.) drew Fidler HC (Posthu- Headquarters was killed in- • 1955 - A Soviet Navy Zulu- • 1942 - A plan designed to tance Army (LRA), a Chris- • 1916 - Tanks were first used mous) was an Ops Medic stantly when his private class submarine becomes fight Italian forces, Opera- tian fundamentalist rebel in combat, during the Allied from 7 Medical Battalion motor vehicle was involved the first to launch a ballistic tion ‘Agreement’ is execut- group trying to overthrow offensive at the Battle of the Group operating with Spe- in an accident in Potgieter missile. ed in Libya. the Ugandan government Somme, in World War I. cial Forces that were pro- Street and overturned. He • 1970 - King Hussein of Jor- • 1980 - Rifleman Robert Ed- since 1987, stages a series of • 1940 - The height of the viding operational support was 20. dan declares military rule ward Buchholtz from 4 SAI attacks in which four people Battle of Britain occurred to Paratroopers and other • 1997 - An Egyptian military following the hijacking of was killed in a private mo- are killed and forty-one ab- as massive German air raids SADF and UNITA Forces court convicts seventy-two four civilian airliners by the tor vehicle accident in East ducted. took place against London, in Southern Angola dur- Islamic militants of subver- Popular Front for the Lib- London while on a weekend • 2003 - President Kumba Southampton, Bristol, Car- ing Operation Magneto. He sion and sentences four of eration of Palestine (PFLP). pass. He was 20. Yalla of Guinea-Bissau is diff, Liverpool and Man- was Reported Missing on 14 them to death. This results in the formation • 1985 - Sergeant Peter Hen- toppled in a military coup. chester. The British claimed September 1985 when two of the Black September Pal- ry Anthony from 8 SAI • 2004 - The South African 185 German planes were vehicles were ambushed by 16 September estinian paramilitary unit. was killed when his Buffel Air Force’s newest addition, shot down. approximately 40 enemy • 1776 - The Battle of Harlem • 1975 - The first prototype Troop Carrier overturned the Gripen fighter jet, takes • 1942 - U.S. Navy aircraft troops. Most of the UNITA Heights is fought during the of the Mikoyan MiG-31 in- near Etale Base. He was 25. its first flight around Cape carrier USS Wasp is torpe- soldiers were killed and the American Revolutionary terceptor makes its maiden • 1985 - T/Leading Marine Town, causing an ear-pierc- doed at Guadalcanal. two Artillery Officers and War. flight. Simon Games Auld from 1 ing sonic boom. • 1950 - UN forces land at In- Medical Orderly (Bruce) • 1891 - German admiral and • 1978 - Rifleman Gregory Marine Brigade was killed chon in South Korea during who were in the second ve- politician Karl Dönitz was James Engledoe from the in a private motor vehicle 15 September the Korean War. hicle were wounded. The born on this day. South African Cape Corps accident in Port Elizabeth. • 1776 - British forces under • 1962 - The Soviet ship Pol- two Officers successfully • 1910 - SS Colonel Erich was killed when his Buffel He was 19. General William Howe cap- tava heads toward Cuba, one evaded but Bruce was cap- Kempka, who served as Ad- Troop Carrier overturned in • 1988 - Sapper Andre’ tured New York during the of the events that sets into tured. He was brutally tor- olf Hitler’s primary chauf- Northern Owamboland. He Stephan Lategan from 5 American Revolution. motion the Cuban Missile tured and interrogated by feur from 1934 to April Military Works Unit was • 1882 - British forces occupy Crisis. the enemy before being ex- 1945, was born on this day. accidentally killed on the Cairo. • 1967 - Egyptian commander ecuted but he never once • 1914 - The Siege of Przemyśl Dwaalboom Road near Tha- • 1901 - Fifteen members of in Six-Day War with Israel, revealed the Order of Battle (present-day Poland) begins bazimbi while loading a the notorious special Brit- Field Marshal Abdel Hakim for an upcoming operation during World War I. road grader. He went under ish unit called the Bushveld Amer, commits suicide. in support of UNITA, or the • 1940 - Italian troops con- the trailer to insert the retain- Carbineers send a petition to • 1978 - France returns the SADF Artillery positions or quer Sidi Barrani. ing pin but the pin snapped Colonel Hall of the Royal deposit paid by South Africa the location of the SAMS • 1943 - The German Tenth causing both the trailer and Artillery, requesting a full for two corvettes and two Surgical Team thereby en- Army reports that it can no grader to fall on him, killing and impartial inquiry into submarines. abling them to successfully longer contain the Allied him instantly. He was 21. the alleged atrocities perpe- • 1982 - Warrant Officer Class evade capture and reach • 1992 - Seaman Goodman trated by members of their II Pieter Ryno Johannes South African lines. His re- Mthunzi Maphumulo from unit. Swart from the Maritime mains were repatriated back Juan Peron Naval Station SAS Jalsena • 1914 - Boer leader General Operations Centre died after to South Africa in June 1992 90 91 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September

was 18. 23. curred as General Robert nitely. Military Hospital on 17 Sep- pies Nelspruit without op- • 1982 - Rifleman Gabriel Jo- • 1988 - Rifleman Sean Co- E. Lee and the Confeder- • 1941 - Soviet forces enter tember 1981. He was 19. position and Lord Roberts hannes Schwartz from In- chrane Ellis from 61 Mech- ate armies were stopped at Tehran marking the end of • 1982 - Corporal Luther transfers his headquarters fantry School was killed in anised Battalion Group was Antietam in Maryland by the Anglo-Soviet invasion Johannes Botha from the there. a military vehicle accident at killed in a Military Vehicle General George B. McClel- of Iran. Northern Transvaal Provost • 1914 - A body of Active Cit- Otjiwarongo. He was 21. Accident between Ogongo lan and numerically supe- • 1944 - Allied Airborne Unit was killed in private izen Force (A.C.F.) troops • 1982 - Beginning of a two and Okalongo. He was 21. rior Union forces. By night- troops parachute into the motor cycle accident in Hill- of the Union of SA, nearly 1 day massacre in Palestinian • 1991 - Two members from fall 26,000 men were dead, Netherlands as the “Market” brow, Johannesburg. He was 800 strong, lands at Lüderitz refugee camps in West Bei- the SADF Dog Training wounded, or missing. half of Operation Market 23. Bay (Angra Pequena) in rut as Christian militiamen Centre died from the ef- • 1894 - Battle of the Yalu Riv- Garden. • 1984 - Corporal C Paulo South West Africa and ad- (the Phalangists) entered fects of smoke inhalation er, the largest naval engage- • 1944 - German forces are from 32 Battalion was ac- vance some distance into the Sabra and Shatila and began at Bourkes Luck while as- ment of the First Sino-Japa- attacked by the Allies in the cidentally smothered and desert. shooting hundreds of Pal- sisting to extinguish a rag- nese War. Battle of San Marino. suffocated during a training • 1931 - The Mukden Incident estinians, including elderly ing veld fire. The casualties • 1901 - Commandant-Gener- • 1962 - Warrant Officer Class exercise. He was 28. gives Japan a pretext to in- men, women and children. were: Lance Corporal Adri- al Louis Botha and General 1 Johannes Jacobus Squier • 1987 - Sergeant Rudolf vade and occupy Manchu- • 1983 - Three members from an Marcel Juskiewicz (18). Cheere Emmett join forces Heunis from 91 Ammuni- Morris from the South Afri- ria. 102 Battalion SWATF were Lance Corporal Michael to invade Natal. tion Depot collapsed and can Cape Corps died from a • 1939 - Lord Haw-Haw (Wil- Killed in Action during a Swanepoel (19). • 1901 - A Boer column de- died after suffering a fatal stab wound received during liam Joyce) begins transmit- contact with a large group • 1999 - Lieutenant Sibusiso feats a British force at the heart attack while in Preto- an altercation with a fellow ting pro-Nazi/anti-Allied of SWAPO/PLAN insur- Madubela of the South Afri- Battle of Blood River Poort. ria. He was 45. soldier while at the Touws- propaganda. gents near the Cut-line. The can National Defence Force • 1901 - Boers capture a squad- • 1963 - Adolph Gysbert river Training Area. He was • 1940 - The British liner SS casualties were: Rifleman K (SANDF) went on a murder ron of the 17th Lancers at the (Sailor) Malan, SA fighter 29. City of Benares is sunk by Kavari (19). Rifleman J Tin- rampage at 1 South Afri- Battle of Elands River. pilot during WWII and lat- • 1991 - Rifleman Louis Jo- German submarine U-48; da. (18). Rifleman K Kavari can Infantry Battalion. He • 1916 - Manfred von Rich- er national president of the hann Swart from the Dog those killed include 77 child (18). opened fire with an R4 Au- thofen (“The Red Baron”), Torch Commando, dies in Training Centre died from refugees. • 1985 - Lance Corporal tomatic Assault Rifle, kill- a flying ace of the German Kimberley. the effects of smoke inhala- • 1943 - The Jews of Minsk Glen Stuart Ruthven from ing seven serving SANDF Luftstreitkräfte, wins his first • 1965 - The Battle of Chawin- tion while assisting to extin- are massacred at Sobibór. 3 Medical Battalion Group members including one fe- aerial combat near Cambrai, da is fought between Paki- guish a veld fire at Bourkes • 1943 - Adolf Hitler orders was killed when his Buffel male civilian worker in the France. stan and India. Luck. He was 19. the deportation of Danish Troop Carrier overturned at employ of the SANDF and • 1939 - Soviet Russians in- • 1980 - Rifleman Adriaan Jews. Maitland. He was 28. wounding another twelve vaded Eastern Poland, meet- Christoffel Ackerman from 18 September • 1985 - Gunner Alec Ridgard were wounded, one critical- ing little resistance and 7 SAI was accidentally shot • 1759 - During the Seven from 10 Artillery Brigade ly. His murder spree came to taking over 200,000 Poles dead by a fellow member Years’ War, the British cap- was critically injured in a an abrupt end when he was prisoner. This was done in while stationed at Nkongo ture Quebec City. private motorcycle accident intercepted and shot dead. accordance with the Nazi- Base. He was 20. • 1898 - War is barely averted on 14 June 1985 at We- • 2007 - Mercenaries working Soviet Pact in which the • 1981 - Rifleman Gerhardus when a British expedition stonaria. He was admitted to for Blackwater Worldwide Nazis and Soviets had pre- Johan Myburgh from 1 SAI to establish a route through the H.F. Verwoerd Hospital shoot and kill 17 Iraqis in determined how they would died from a gunshot wound Africa reaches an obscure in Pretoria where he suc- Nisour Square, Baghdad. divide up Poland. accidentally sustained while Sudanese fort and finds the cumbed to his injuries on 16 • 2014 - The Islamic State of • 1939 - German submarine at Omuthiya. He was 19. French already there. September 1985. He was 19. Iraq and the Levant launches U-29 sinks the British air- • 1981 - Trooper Diederick • 1900 - During the Second • 1987 - Rifleman Pieter An- its Kobani offensive against craft carrier HMS Coura- Arnoldus Steyn from 2 Spe- Anglo-Boer War Brigadier- dreas Visagie from 61 Mech- Syrian–Kurdish forces. geous. cial Service Battalion was General Stephenson occu- anised Battalion Group was • 1940 - Following Nazi Ger- critically injured in a mili- Killed in Action during a 17 September many’s defeat in the Battle tary vehicle accident on 7 contact with enemy forces • 1862 - The bloodiest day of Britain, Hitler postpones September 1981 and suc- Sailor Malan in Southern Angola. He was in U.S. military history oc- Operation Sea Lion indefi- cumbed to his injuries on 1 92 93 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September • 1944 - The British subma- Rundu. He was 18. after a bloody military coup the Belgian Congo (Force Haiti, with the stated goal of carrying boats in the Suez rine HMS Tradewind tor- • 1979 - Corporal Andries Pe- by the State Law and Order Publique) under the com- restoring democracy. Canal. Israel claims the pedoes the Japanese ship trus Hanneman from North- Restoration Council. Thou- mand of General Charles • 2003 - UN Security Council ships violated the Egyptian- Jun’yō Maru, 5,600 killed. ern Transvaal Command sands, mostly monks and ci- Tombeur captured the town agrees to send 15,000 peace- Israeli agreement banning • 1945 - General Douglas Ma- was killed in a Military Ve- vilians (primarily students), of Tabora after heavy fight- keeping troops to Liberia. small craft navigation in the cArthur moves his command hicle Accident at Potgiet- are killed by the Tatmadaw. ing. • 2006 - The Thai military waterway. headquarters to Tokyo. ersrus. He was 19. • 1991 - Yugoslavia begins • 1918 - Two infantry battal- stages a coup in Bangkok. • 1979 - Emperor Bokassa I • 1947 - The U.S. Air Force • 1981 - Rifleman Petrus Jaco- a naval blockade of seven ions of Cape Corps capture The Constitution is revoked is overthrown in a bloodless was established as a sepa- bus van Staden from 1 Para- Adriatic port cities. Square Hill in Palestine. and martial law is declared. coup in the Central African rate military service. chute Battalion was killed in • 1997 - Anti-Personnel Mine • 1939 - The Battle of Kępa Republic. • 1948 - Operation Polo is a private motor cycle acci- Ban Convention is adopted. Oksywska concludes, with 20 September • 1979 - Rifleman S. Shan- terminated after the Indian dent on the Bloemfontein to • 2015 - Two security per- Polish losses reaching • 1834 - The troopship Char- gweni from 101 Battalion Army accepts the surrender Winburg Road. He was 18. sonnel, 17 worshippers in a roughly 14% of all the forc- lotte is wrecked in Algoa SWATF was Killed in Ac- of the army of Osman Ali • 1981 - Corporal Johannes mosque, and 13 militants are es engaged. Bay and ninety-seven peo- tion during a contact with Khan, Asaf Jah VII, Nizam Jacobus van Staden from the killed following a Tehrik-i- • 1944 - Armistice between ple drown. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents of Hyderabad. Transvaal Scottish died in a Taliban Pakistan attack on a Finland and Soviet Union is • 1857 - The Indian Rebellion in Northern Owamboland. • 1961 - Dag Hammarskjold, private motor vehicle acci- Pakistan Air Force base on signed, marking the end of of 1857 ends with the recap- He was 24. United Nations (UN) Secre- dent. He was 23. the outskirts of Peshawar. the Continuation War. ture of Delhi by troops loyal • 1981 - Two members from 4 tary General, dies when his • 1986 - Airman Hendrik • 2016 - Seventeen Indian • 1957 - First American un- to the East India Company. SAI were Killed in Action in plane crashes under mys- Frensch van Zyl from the Air Army security personnel derground nuclear bomb test • 1915 - A new battalion con- Southern Angola when their terious circumstances near Force Base Hoedspruit Fire killed in the Indian Admin- (part of Operation Plumb- sisting of Cape Coloured Buffel troop carrier with 11 Ndola in Northern Rhodesia Section was found murdered istrated Kashmir by anti- bob). men, called the Cape Corps, troops on board, detonated (now Zambia). by persons unknown at Lin- government militants. • 1978 - Rifleman John James is established with the view a landmine. The casualties • 1964 - North Vietnamese bro Park, Johannesburg near Hearn Cloete from the Rand of being dispatched to East were: Rifleman Roderick Army begins infiltration of the Alexandra Township 19 September Light Infantry was acciden- Africa in 1916. James Leonard MacIntosh South Vietnam. with a knife wound to the • 1676 - Jamestown is burned tally killed in a mortar bomb • 1941 - The Holocaust in (18). Rifleman Edward Dan- • 1969 - Rifleman Collin -Ar neck. He was 20. to the ground by the forces explosion at the Swartland Lithuania: Four hundred iel van Rooyen (19). thur Williams from 4 SAI • 1988 - 2nd Lieutenant Petrus of Nathaniel Bacon during Training Area near Rundu. three Jews (128 men, 176 • 1987 - Rifleman (Gunner) died from lung complica- Gerhardus Lourens Koen Bacon’s Rebellion. He was 23. women and 99 children) William George Beukman tions after participating in from 61 Mechanised Battal- • 1863 - The first day of the • 1983 - Special Constable U. were murdered by Einsatz- from 4 SAI was killed in ac- an unauthorised gas exercise ion Group was critically in- Battle of Chickamauga, in Ndiaombe from the South kommando 3 and the local tion. He was 19. held at the training grounds jured on 16 September 1988 northwestern Georgia, the West Africa Police Counter- police in Nemenčinė. in Doornkop. He was 18. when his Ratel overturned bloodiest two-day battle of Insurgency Wing: Ops-K • 1942 - The Holocaust in • 1970 - Private Abraham Ja- while traveling between the conflict, and the only (Koevoet) was Killed in Ac- Ukraine: In the course of two cobus Goosen from 1 Air Ogongo and Okalongo in significant Confederate vic- tion during a contact with days a German einsatzgrup- Depot was accidentally Northern Owamboland. He tory in the war’s Western SWAPO/PLAN insurgents pen murders at least 3,000 killed in a crane accident at was evacuated to 1 Military Theater. in Northern Owamboland. Jews in Letychiv. Voortrekkerhoogte. He was Hospital in Pretoria where • 1870 - Having invaded the He was 31. • 1965 - Following the Battle 17. he succumbed to his injuries Papal States a week earlier, • 1984 - Rifleman David of Burki, the Indian Army • 1971 - Egypt and Israel ex- on 18 September 1988. He the Italian Army lays siege Schalk van der Merwe from captures Dograi in course change rocket fire across was 19. to Rome, entering the city 1 SAI died from a gunshot of the Indo-Pakistani War of Suez Canal. • 1997 - Muslim extremists the next day, after which the wound sustained as a result 1965. • 1973 - Rifleman Terence fire on a bus outside a muse- Pope described himself as a of an accidental discharge of • 1967 - Israeli tank shelling Arthur Langley from 3 SAI um in Cairo, killing ten peo- Prisoner in the Vatican. a fellow soldiers rifle while sinks three Egyptian troop- died from a gunshot wound, ple, mostly German tourists. • 1916 - During the East Afri- at the De Brug Training accidentally self-inflicted • 1998 - End of pro-democ- can Campaign of World War Area. He was 18. Douglas MacArthur while he was stationed at racy uprisings in Myanmar I, colonial armed forces of • 1994 - U.S. troops invaded 94 95 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September • 1993 - Erich ‘Bubi’ Hart- is associated with Operation in the Chimoio area of Mo- after he was caught spying the end of the Invasion of 23 September mann, World War II Luft- Moolah. cambique during Operation on British troops on Long Is- Poland. • 1869 - General Christiaan waffe fighter pilot, dies on • 1960 - United Nations de- Snoopy. He was 23. land, his last words, “I only • 1965 - The Indo-Pakistani Frederik Beyers, Boer gen- this day at the age of 71. ploys 4 000 troops to Ka- • 1982 - Rifleman Dumba Ca- regret that I have but one life War of 1965 (also known as eral, is born in Stellenbosch. Hartmann was the leading tanga to prevent the massa- tumbele from 201 Battalion to lose for my country.” the Second Kashmir War) • 1890 - Field Marshal Fried- fighter ace of World War II cre of Baluba tribesmen by SWATF was killed in an ac- • 1828 - Shaka, Zulu chief and between India and Pakistan rich von Paulus (1890-1957) with 352 credited kills. provincial troops and police cidental explosion in an am- founder of the Zulu empire, over Kashmir, ends after the was born on this day. Von • 2011 - The United States in Congo. munition bunker at Omega. is murdered by his two half- UN calls for a ceasefire. Paulus led the German 6th military ends its “Don’t ask, • 1964 - The North American He was 23. brothers Dingane and Mh- • 1979 - Rifleman William Army at Stalingrad. don’t tell” policy, allowing XB-70 Valkyrie, the world’s • 1988 - Rifleman Douw Cor- langana. Dingane assumes Ledgeton Saunders from 3 • 1942 - The Matanikau ac- gay men and women to serve first Mach 3 bomber, makes net from 7 SAI attached the throne. SAI was shot dead by an- tion on Guadalcanal begins openly for the first time. its maiden flight from Palm- to 202 Battalion SWATF • 1882 - Field Marshal Wil- other soldier while on guard when U.S. Marines attack dale, California. was killed when his Buffel helm Keitel, who served as duty in a bunker at Eenhana. Japanese units along the 21 September • 1966 - Able Seaman Philli- Troop Carrier overturned at Chief of the Armed Forces He was 18. Matanikau River. • 1780 - During the American pus Johannes Havenga from Mashari. He was 19. High Command (Oberkom- • 1980 - Iraq invades Iran. • 1950- During the Battle of Revolutionary War, Bene- SAS Simonsberg was killed • 1989 - Rifleman Rivers Am- mando der Wehrmacht or • 1985 - Rifleman Hymie Dia- Hill 282 in Koera, the first dict Arnold gives the British in a diving training accident mon Sibuyi from the Kruger OKW) in Nazi Germany mond from 5 SAI was killed US friendly-fire incident on the plans to West Point. in False Bay. He was 20. National Park Commando during World War II, was in a private motor vehicle British military personnel • 1896 - British force under • 1971 - Candidate Offi- was killed after being at- born on this day. accident, at Vryheid. He was since World War II occurs. Horatio Kitchener takes cer Hendrik Oswald Mey- tacked by a lion while on • 1900 - As result of a mili- 19. • 1979 - The world press Dongola in the Sudan. er Odendaal from Flying foot patrol in the Northern tary notice on this date, the • 1989 - Two members from speculates that a bright flash • 1899 - During the Second Training School Langebaan- section of the Kruger Na- first two refugee camps are 85 Combat Flying School detected by an American Anglo-Boer War, Hong weg was killed when his tional Park. He was 31. established at Pretoria and were killed when their At- satellite between SA and the Kong offers military assis- Atlas MB326M Impala Mk • 1990 - Charles Taylor, lead- Bloemfontein, initially with las MB326M Impala Mk I Antarctic was caused by a tance to Great Britain. I crashed in the Kouebokke er of a Liberian rebel fac- the aim to protect the fami- crashed near Sabie during a South African nuclear bomb • 1942 - The Holocaust in Mountains near Citrusdal tion, announces a unilateral lies of burghers who had routine training flight. The explosion. Ukraine: On the Jewish while carrying out a solo cease-fire set to take effect surrendered voluntarily. As casualties were: Lieutenant • 1983 - Lieutenant Frans holiday of Yom Kippur, Na- night Navigation exercise. the next day. the families of combatant Werner Bredenkamp (20). Willem Conradie from the zis send over 1,000 Jews of He was 20. • 2004 - Major Catherine La- burghers were also driven Lieutenant Deon Joubert South West Africa Police Pidhaitsi to Bełżec extermi- • 1978 - Rifleman Johanne buschagne (25) makes his- into these and other camps, (20). Counter-Insurgency Wing: nation camp. Cornelius Du Plessis from tory when she becomes the they ceased to be ‘refugee’ • 1991 - 2nd Lieutenant Na- Ops-K (Koevoet) was killed • 1942 - The Holocaust in Po- 11 Commando Regiment first woman fighter pilot in camps and became ‘concen- thaniel Roesch from the Dog in a motor vehicle accident. land: At the end of Yom Kip- was critically wounded in the world to fly a Gripen tration’ camps. Training Centre died from He was 30. pur, Germans order Jews to a shooting incident at Etale fighter jet during the open- • 1900 - The British, under the effects of smoke inhala- • 1986 - A force of about permanently evacuate Kon- Base. He later succumbed ing of the African Aerospace Colonel Settle, enter Sch- tion while assisting to extin- stantynów and move to the to his wounds in 1 Military and Defence Air Show at the weizer-Reneke, in western guish a veld fire at Bourkes ghetto in Biała Podlaska, es- Hospital. He was 21. Waterkloof Air Force base. Transvaal. Luck. He was 19. tablished to assemble Jews • 1978 - Sergeant Hendrik • 2013 - Al-Shabaab Islamic • 1914 - German submarine • 1998 - Eight members of the from seven nearby towns, Gerhardus van der Merwe militants attack the West- SM U-9 torpedoes and sinks SANDF, six from 1 Para- including Janów Podlaski, from 1 Reconnaissance gate shopping mall in Nai- the British cruisers HMS chute Battalion and two Rossosz and Terespol. Regiment attached to “D” robi, Kenya, killing at least Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy from 7 Medical Battalion • 1942 - The Boeing B-29 Su- Squadron Rhodesian Spe- 67 people. on the Broad Fourteens off Group, were killed in action perfortress makes its maiden cial Air Service was Killed the Dutch coast with the loss by Lesotho Army Forces flight. in Action when he was hit 22 September of over 1,400 men. during Ops Boleas. • 1953 - Lieutenant No Kum- in the throat by enemy rifle • 1776 - During the American • 1939 - Joint victory parade sok, a North Korean pilot, fire while participating in Revolution, Nathan Hale of Wehrmacht and Red Catherine Labuschagne defects to South Korea and an attack on a ZANLA Base was executed without a trial Army in Brest-Litovsk at 96 97 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September

fifty armed dissidents infil- • 1960 - USS Enterprise, 25 September crashed into Table Bay. He 26 September the newly created Eighth trate the Togolese capital of the world’s first nuclear- • 1900 - The British under has no known grave and re- • 1895 - Jürgen Stroop, the Army. Troops included Lome in an attempt to topple powered aircraft carrier, is Generals R. Pole-Carew mains unaccounted for. He SS commander that led the South African, Australian, President Gnassingbe Ey- launched. and I.S.M. Hamilton occupy was 25. suppression of the Warsaw New Zealand, Indian, Free adema’s government. They • 1964 - South African ordi- the deserted Komatipoort • 1981 - Rifleman Frederick Ghetto Uprising in 1943, French, and Polish soldiers. are defeated by the military. nance workshops have pro- on the ZAR eastern border Hikab from the South Af- was born on this day. • 1941 - The Military Police • 1990 - Lieutenant Sean duced the first Belgian F.N. with Portuguese East Africa rican Cape Corps, attached • 1899 - The ZAR govern- Corps is created as a perma- James McGuiness from 42 rifle, which is now ready to (Mozambique).Burnt out to Sector 30 Headquarters ment formally requests nent branch of the United Squadron was grievously go into production. railway cars form a train al- SWATF was killed when his military assistance from the States Army. burned when his Aermacchi • 1978 - Hasso von Man- most twelve kilometres long Buffel Troop Carrier over- Orange Free State in accor- • 1950 - Personnel of the SA AM-3C Bosbok crashed at teuffel, the German general on the Selati line. turned in the Etosha Game dance with the 1897 Politi- Air Force’s No 2 (Flying Potchefstroom on 12 Sep- who commanded the 5th • 1901 - The attack on Fort Reserve. He was 22. cal Defence Agreement. Cheetah) Squadron leave tember 1990. He succumbed Panzer Army during World Itala, occupied by the Brit- • 1985 - Rifleman Anton Bo- • 1901 - Fort Prospect, about Durban to assist the United to his injuries in 1 Military War II, died on this day at ish, takes place with the tha from Infantry School fifteen kilometres east of Nations in the Korean War. Hospital on 23 September the age of 81. British force retreating af- was critically injured in a Itala, is defended by about 80 • 1950 - United Nations troops 1990. He was 23. • 1979 - Civilian rule is estab- ter fierce fighting and with private motor vehicle acci- men under Captain Rowley recapture Seoul from North lished in Ghana after the first heavy losses on both sides. dent between Mossel Bay of the Dorsetshire Regiment Korean forces. 24 September military coup under Jerry • 1901 - Captain R.D.C. and Oudtshoorn on 23 Sep when attacked by a burgher • 1959 - Lieutenant General • 1645 - Battle of Rowton Rawlings on 4 June, 1979. Miers of the South African 1985. He was transferred force under Cheere Emmett. Sir Leslie James Morshead, Heath, Parliamentarian vic- • 1982 - Rifleman Don An- Constabulary is shot and to the Tygerberg Hospital A party of Zulu policemen who led the Australian and tory over a Royalist army dries Spence from Bravo killed under a flag of truce where he unfortunately suc- under Sergeant Gumbi, out- British troops at the Siege commanded in person by Company, 1 Parachute Bat- by Field-cornet Salmon van cumbed to his injuries on 25 side the British lines at the of Tobruk (1941) and at the King Charles. talion was killed after be- As, who is tried and execut- September 1985. He was 24. time of the first attack, fights Second Battle of El Alam- • 1780 - Benedict Arnold flees ing struck by a bullet from ed nine months later. • 1987 - Private Adriaan Jaco- their way through to share in ein, dies on this day at the to British Army lines when an accidental discharge of • 1915 - World War I: The bus Naude from 1 Mainte- the defence, and the attack is age of 70. the arrest of British Major a fellow soldiers rifle af- Second Battle of Cham- nance Unit was accidentally repelled with their help. • 1978 - Private Jacob Daniel John André exposes Ar- ter a contact with SWAPO/ pagne begins. electrocuted while offload- • 1917 - World War I: The Otto van As from 1 Mainte- nold’s plot to surrender West PLAN insurgents in South- • 1944 - Surviving elements ing military supplies at the Battle of Polygon Wood be- nance Unit was killed in a Point. ern Angola. He was 20. of the British 1st Airborne Modder River Station, South gins. military vehicle accident at • 1877 - Battle of Shiroyama, • 1987 - Armed forces seize Division withdraw from of Kimberley. He was 18. • 1918 - The last major battle Grootfontein. He was 18. decisive victory of the Im- control of Transkei, oust- Arnhem in the Netherlands, • 1987 - Lance Corporal Her- of World War I, the Battle • 1981 - Captain Noel John perial Japanese Army over ing Prime Minister George thus ending the Battle of man Adolf Oosthuizen from of the Argonne, began as a the Satsuma Rebellion. Matanzima. Arnhem and Operation Mar- 1 Reconnaissance Regiment combined force of French • 1884 - German weapons de- • 1997 - Following the slay- ket Garden. attached to Fort Doppies was and Americans attacked the signer and engineer Hugo ing of hundreds of civil- • 1955 - The Royal Jordanian killed in a military vehicle Germans along a 64 kilome- Schmeisser was born on this ians in a series of incidents Air Force is founded. accident while engaged in tre front. day. One of the most popu- believed linked to upcom- • 1964 - The Mozambican anti-insurgency operations • 1941 - During World War lar German weapons dur- ing elections and the long War of Independence against in South Eastern Angola. He II, the Western Desert Force ing World War II was the though sporadically fought Portugal begins. was 26. was upgraded with the addi- MP-40 submachine gun. It civil war, the military wing • 1964 - Corporal Johannes • 1991 - Klaus Barbie, Ger- tion of two complete corps: was often erroneously called of Algeria’s principle Islam- David Kriel, an Air Photog- man SS captain, known as the XIII and XXX. General “Schmeisser” by the Allies, ic opposition group calls for rapher attached to 22 Flight the “Butcher of Lyon”, dies Sir Alan Cunningham was although Hugo Schmeisser a truce and orders its guer- (Later 22 Squadron) was on this day. given overall command of was not involved in the de- rillas to ‘stop combat opera- Reported Missing when the • 1993 - Three US soldiers are sign or production of the tions’. helicopter he was flying in killed in Somalia when their weapon. suffered engine failure and helicopter is shot down. Klaus Barbie

98 99 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September

Malcolm from 104 Vol- queror and his army set sail vate motor vehicle accident people on board. nia. during the second Basotho unteer Air Squadron was from the mouth of the River hear Ottoshoop while doing • 1993 - The UN Security • 1961 - A military coup in War. killed when his Piper PA- Somme, beginning the Nor- a compulsory 30 day camp. Council bans sales of arms Damascus effectively ends • 1900 - The position of Com- 28 crashed while carrying man conquest of England. He was 22. and fuel to the National the United Arab Republic, mander-In-Chief at the War out an officially authorised • 1777 - Lancaster, Pennsyl- • 1982 - Staff Sergeant Willem Union for the Total Indepen- the union between Egypt and Office in London is offered SAAF tasking. He was 60. vania becomes the capital Petrus Burger from South dence of Angola (UNITA) Syria. to Lord Roberts. • 1982 - Private William Hen- of the United States, for one African Army Headquarters because the rebel movement • 1984 - Corporal Petrus Jo- • 1900 - Major His Highness ry Ludick from the Army day after the Second Conti- died at 1 Military Hospital failed to stop fighting the hannes Du Plessis from 1 Prince Christian Victor Al- Catering Corps was killed in nental Congress evacuates after suffering a fatal heart government and renegotiates Special Service Battalion bert Ludwig Ernst Anton, a Military Vehicle Accident Philadelphia to avoid invad- attack. He was 62. a 1991 peace settlement to died after being grievously heir of Norway, grandson of at Kuruman. He was 20. ing British forces. • 1984 - Two members from end the country’s civil war. burned in an accidental petrol Queen Victoria and ADC to • 1983 - Soviet nuclear false • 1862 - General Louis Botha, 2 Special Service Battal- • 1993 - General James ‘Jim- stove explosion at Oshakati Lord Roberts, dies of enteric alarm incident: Military of- soldier, statesman and first ion were accidentally killed my’ Doolittle, commander while the armoured vehicles fever in Pretoria. ficer Stanislav Petrov identi- prime minister of the Union when their SAMIL 20 over- of the Doolittle Raid, a bold were in a laager. He was 22. • 1911 - Italy declares war on fies a report of an incoming of South Africa, is born near turned at Groot Marico after long-range retaliatory air • 1988 - Rifleman Rionell the Ottoman Empire. nuclear missile as a comput- Greytown, Natal. the front tyre burst, causing raid on the Japanese main Prins from 53 Battalion was • 1918 - Bulgaria signs the er error and not an American • 1899 - The ZAR calls up the the driver to lose control of islands, on April 18, 1942, accidentally killed after be- Armistice of Salonica. The first strike. South African Republican the vehicle. The casualties four months after the attack ing struck by a bullet result- Hindenburg Line is broken • 1985 - Special Warrant Of- Burgher Force. were: Trooper Jeams Andries on Pearl Harbour, dies at the ing from an accidental dis- by an Allied attack. Germa- ficer Jacob Stephanus from • 1900 - During the Second Solomon Theodorus Randall age of 96. charge of a fellow soldiers ny’s Supreme Army Com- the South West Africa Police Anglo-Boer War the poli- (20). Trooper Frans Hendrik • 1996 - In Afghanistan, the rifle during operations in mand tells the Kaiser and Counter-Insurgency Wing: cy of concentration camps Jansen van Vuuren (19). Taliban capture the capital Southern Angola. He was 20. the Chancellor to open ne- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) is officially sanctioned by • 1985 - Rifleman Coenraad city Kabul after driving out • 1991 - Strategic Air Com- gotiations for an armistice. was Killed in Action dur- Lord Roberts. Johannes Jacobus Bel from President Burhanuddin Rab- mand (SAC) stands down • 1935 - Haile Selassie, Em- ing a contact with SWAPO/ • 1940 - The Tripartite Pact is 4 SAI was killed in a private bani and executing former from alert all ICBMs sched- peror of Ethiopia, warns the PLAN insurgents in North- signed in Berlin by Germany, motor vehicle accident while leader Mohammad Najibul- uled for deactivation under League of Nations that he is ern Owamboland. He was Japan and Italy. on weekend pass. He was 22. lah. START I, as well as its stra- going to mobilise his forces 39. • 1942 - Last day of the Sep- • 1987 - A British newspaper • tegic bomber force. because of threats of inva- • 1987 - Rifleman Rudolf Jo- tember Matanikau action on reports heavy fighting be- 28 September • 1995 - Bob Denard and a sion by Italy. hannes Badenhorst from Guadalcanal as United States tween Angolan government • 1781 - American forces group of mercenaries take • 1936 - Spanish insurgents Regiment de la Rey was Marine Corps troops barely forces and Unita, in which backed by a French fleet be- the islands of the Comoros in continue their march to the killed in a military vehicle escape after being surround- SA is allegedly taking part. gin the siege of Yorktown, a coup. capital of Spain Madrid and accident. He was 20. ed by Japanese forces near • 1990 - Corporal Freek Jo- Virginia, during the Ameri- • 2012 - Somali and African large numbers of clergy have • 1988 - Gunner Ignatius Wil- the Matanikau River. hannes Palmer from the can Revolutionary War. Union forces launch a co- helmus Ferreira from 4 Ar- • 1944 - The Kassel Mission Cape Regiment Died of • 1918 - The Fifth Battle of ordinated assault on the So- tillery Regiment was killed results in the largest loss by Wounds after being shot by Ypres begins. mali port city of Kismayo to 9km from Kathu on the Ku- a USAAF group on any mis- an unknown gunman using • 1939 - Nazi Germany and take back the city from al- ruman road when he was hit sion in World War II. a home-made weapon while the Soviet Union agree on a Shabaab militants. by a civilian vehicle while • 1981 - Rifleman America he was on foot patrol in division of Poland after their assisting to dig out a field Jose from 32 Battalion was Kwamashu. He succumbed invasion during World War 29 September gun that was stuck in the shot dead by a fellow soldier to his wounds in Addington II. • 1865 - The Battle of Naau- sand. The vehicle failed to during an argument at Buf- Hospital later in the day. He • 1939 - Warsaw surrenders to wpoort, near Clarens in the stop at the accident scene. falo. He was 26. was 26. Nazi Germany during World eastern OFS, takes place He was 21. • 1982 - Private Renier Nico- • 1992 - A Nigerian military- War II. laas Johannes Grobler from transport plane crashes short- • 1944 - Soviet Army troops 27 September 3 Satellite Radar Station at ly after taking off from Lagos liberate Klooga concentra- Jimmy Doolittle • 1066 - William the Con- Mafeking was killed in a pri- September 27, killing all 163 tion camp in Klooga, Esto- 100 101 This month in military history ... September This month in military history ... September now joined the rebels in pro- opened fire. The casualties 30 September ing a Soviet blockade, and assembly line. wound, accidentally self-in- tests against the leftist con- in this unfortunate incident • 1832 - Lord Frederick in which the SAA took part, • 1980 - Iran continued bomb- flicted after he shot himself trolled government. Many were: Sergeant Jan Pieter Sleigh Roberts, British of- comes to an end. ing oil installations in Bagh- in the chest while playing of the priests were butchered Albertus Furstenburg (24). ficer in command during • 1954 - The U.S. Navy sub- dad in retaliation for Iraq with his firearm in the Duty by Government forces. This Corporal Leslie Muller (19). Anglo-Boer War 2, is born marine USS Nautilus is aircraft bombing it’s oil re- Room at Lohathla. He was civil war is being fought by Rifleman Jan Joachim Jaco- in Cawnpore, UK. commissioned as the world’s fineries in the Persian Gulf. 18. two extreme parties who are bus de Vos (18). Rifleman • 1901 - The Battle of Moed- first nuclear reactor powered This is the 9th day of the • 1988 - Rifleman Lefu An- trying to gain control of the Cornelius Johannes Lourens wil takes place, with the vessel. war between these major oil dries Chauzane from 54 country. (19). Boer forces under General • 1971 - It is officially an- producing nations with both Battalion was accidentally • 1938 - Just two weeks after • 1979 - Ex-president Macias De la Rey and Kemp retreat- nounced that the British and claiming victory during each killed near the entrance to 5 the Munich agreement was Nguema of Equatorial Guin- ing after fierce fighting. South African naval units skirmish. Maintenance Unit in Owam- signed and the British Prime ea is executed following his • 1901 - Cornelis Broeksma, will engage in a month of • 1983 - Rifleman Joshua boland. He was 18. Minister Neville Chamber- overthrow on 3 August. No an attorney from Holland, is joint manoeuvres in South Daniel Joubert Steyn from 4 • 2004 - The AIM-54 Phoe- lain announced to the world Equatoguinean soldier par- executed as a traitor by fir- African waters from 4 Octo- SAI, attached to 61 Mecha- nix, the primary missile for “Peace In Our Time” Hitler ticipates in the execution, ing squad at the Johannes- ber to 3 November 1971. nised Battalion Group was the F-14 Tomcat, is retired is pushing the bounds of the because Macias Nguema burg Fort. Information about • 1975 - The Hughes (later accidentally killed in a from service. Almost two agreement on the German was and is still believed to appalling conditions in con- McDonnell Douglas, now shooting Incident at Omuth- years later, the Tomcat is re- occupation of Czechoslo- have magical powers. The centration camps and the Boeing) AH-64 Apache iya. He was 20. tired. vakia and taking additional job is done by hired Moroc- number of deaths that he had makes its first flight. Eight • 1988 - Sapper Robert Re- areas under Nazi control. can troops. collected got into the hands years later, the first produc- nison from the Army Battle Many suspect he had no in- • 1981 - Two helicopter crew- of the British. His informa- tion model rolled out of the School died from a gunshot tention of slowing his occu- men from 19 Squadron and tion made its way in code pation of other countries and four members of the SADF via Amsterdam to London. a second world war is inevi- including a Medical Doctor • 1915 - Radoje Ljutovac be- table. were Killed in Action when comes the first soldier in • 1939 - The Active Citizen their Aerospatiale SA330L history to shoot down an en- Force units of SA are autho- Puma crashed at Oshakati. emy aircraft with ground-to- rised to accept volunteers The casualties were: Lieu- air fire. for the duration of the war. tenant Desmond O’Connor • 1931 - The War Museum • 1941 - Holocaust in Kiev, (21). Sergeant Daniel Fran- at the ‘Vrouemonument’ Soviet Union: German Ein- cis Lamprecht (27). Lieuten- (Women’s Memorial) in satzgruppe C begins the ant (Dr) Cecil George Bartie Bloemfontein is officially Babi Yar massacre, accord- (27). Candidate Officer inaugurated by General ing to the Einsatzgruppen James van Zyl (21). Private Hertzog. operational situation report. Hendrik Jacobus Baden- • 1966 - Nazi war criminals • 1942 - East Africa. South horst (19). Rifleman Rich- Albert Speer and Baldur von African troops are landed ard Anthony Herbst (20). Schirach were released from at Tulearon (Toliara) on the • 1990 - Rifleman Barry Hart Spandau prison after serving south west coast of Mada- from 6 SAI was killed in a 20 years. The prison, origi- gascar, to support the East military vehicle accident nally built for 600 inmates, F-14 Tomcat African force based at Ta- on Beit Bridge Road while was left with only one pris- nanarive (Antananarivo). traveling towards Vhembe oner, former Deputy Führer • 1977 - Four members from 4 Base. He was 23. Rudolf Hess. SAI were killed in a friendly • 1990 - The YF-22, which • 1949 - The Berlin Airlift, fire incident near Okalongo would later become the F-22 which delivers 2 million when a soldier who formed Raptor, flies for the first tons of food and fuel to West part of an ambush position, time. Berliners while circumvent- 102 103 quiz Military The Tin Hat Despatches 1. SADF M87 until 1916. 11. US ACH Kevlar composite helmet that 6. M1 helmet Advanced Combat Helmet replaced the staaldak in the late Used by the Americans dur- used by the United States. Website 1980s. ing World War II. and after- 12. Viking helmet 2. German Stahlhelme wards. No, they did not have horns. Replaced the traditional Pick- 7. Galea 13. Mitznefet elhaube during World War I in Standard helmet used by the Combat helmet used by the 1916. This is a Werhmacht ver- Roman Legion. Israeli Defence Force (IDF). “Things don’t have to sion. 8. Brodie helmet 14. M38 Stalhelme change the world to be 3.M15 Adrian helmet Used by British and Com- Used by the German important.” Standard French helmet dur- monwealth troops during both Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) Steve Jobs ing World War II. World Wars. in World War II. 4. Type 92 helmet 9. German Stahlhelme 15. M63 helmet Japanese etsukabuto (steel Waffen SS steel helmet. Iden- The M63, better known as helmet) used during World War tified by the SS lighting runes. the staaldak, was used by the II. 10. SSH40 SADF until the late 1980s when 5.Pickelhaube Used by the Russians during it was replaced with the kevlar Boiled leather spiked combat World War II. M87. helmet used by the Germans

Useful links Our aim is to make the Military Despatches website easy to use. Even more important to us, we Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- want to make the website informative and interesting. The latest edition of the magazine will be line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. available, as will all the previous editions. More over, there will be links to videos, websites, and Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for articles that our readers may find interesting. So check out the website, bookmark it, and pass the veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The URL on to everyone that you think may be interested. second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. Have you checked out the bookshelf on the website? Here you can open and read individual articles on screen with no need to download anything.

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