Military Despatches Vol 48 June 2021

General Incompetence 10 of history’s worst generals The ‘Nam Some interesting facts about the Vietnam War

Legión Española Spain’s equivalent of the French Foreign Legion

Hermann Göring World War I ace, Head of the Luftwaffe, Reichsmarschall, and one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party. For the military enthusiast Military Despatches CONTENTS YouTube Channel June 2021 Page 14

Click on any video below to view Army Speak 101 The SADF had their own language. A mixture of Eng- lish, Afrikaans, slang and tech- no-speak that few outside the military could hope to under- stand. Paratrooper Wings Most armies around the world Elite Military Quiz also had their own slang terms. Units Quiz Most military paratroopers In this video we look at some Most military forces have an are awarded their jump wings of them. elite unit or regiment or a spe- Special Forces - Spanish Legion after they have qualified. cial forces component. In this quiz we show you 15 In this quiz we show you 15 different wings and you tell us and you tell us who they are and 28 41 where they are from. where they are from. Features Vietnam - an undeclared war Reggie becomes a Jimmy 6 It was the longest war ever Our very own Photo Editor, Ten worst generals in history fought by the United States of Regine (Reggie) Lord is award- Generals that shouldn’t even America. It claimed more than ed Associate Membership of New videos been allowed to leave home 58,000 American lives and af- the South African Signals As- each week with adult supervision. fected an entire generation. Yet sociation. We will be uploading new it was a war that was never de- videos to our YouTube channel 20 clared. 42 each week. Sucked into an admin vortex TS Tiburon back in action 34 So remember to bookmark While the old SADF was pret- After a long period of lock- Submariner’s catastrophe down, TS Tiburon is back. With Military Firearms the channel and keep an eye out Who said that? ty well organised, things did for new content. sometimes fall through the The loss at sea of the Indone- a new Commanding Officer. Quiz Throughout history military cracks sian Navy’s KRI Nanggala was 44 This quiz is all about military leaders and politicians have had a tragedy. Yet this was not the firearms. We show you 15 fire- some interesting things to say 24 first time this century that sub- Rank Structure arms, you tell us what they are. about war. Pearl Harbour - a few facts marines have been involved This month we look at the ranks We give you 15 quotes, you Most of us have a good idea of in incidents. So far there have of the Spanish Armed Forces. tell us made them. what happened at Pearl Har- been more than 40. bour. Here a a few things you Quiz may not know about it. 40 Bravo Zulu Sea Cadets 77 Please remember to subscribe to our channel. Sea Cadets from TS Woltemade General Military Knowledge assist the University of Cape A general military knowledge Feel free to leave a comment, and share this video. Town after devastating fire. quiz for you this month.

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Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

PHOTO EDITOR o here we are in the first change our national motto to Regine Lord month of winter. I would “Sorry” because let’s face it, CONTRIBUTORS like to say “Another day, this seems to be an expression June in military history S Raymond Fletcher, Ryan Mur- another dollar.” Another day for that can be used to sort out an- phy, Matt O’Brien, Seaman sure, another dollar - forget about ything. Jared Sewpershad, Matt Ten- it. Complain about bad service Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review nyson, Lt Cmdr Glenn von Zeil. Last month I told all of our anywhere and the response will 50 70 85 readers about our new Military be “sorry”. Even if you escalate Military Despatches is pub- North of the Red Line Despatches YouTube Channel. I the complaint to top manage- Weapons of the Falklands War lished on-line every month. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Stories from those than fought asked, pleaded, begged for all of ment the response will be the The articles used in Military We look at the naval assets of Described as a ‘City at Sea’, the in the Border War. An excellent our readers to please subscribe to same, “sorry”. And trust me, Despatches are copyrighted both Britain and Argentina dur- size and capabilities of these air- read with some never seen pho- the channel. no-one is actually sorry in the and may not be used without ing the Falklands War. craft carriers is impressive. tographs. We need to get to 1,000 sub- least. prior permission from the edi- scribers before we can actually The response will never be Battlefield tor. Front Cover make a few cents from it. So far “How can we sort the problem The views stated in this maga- Infamous Figures 78 US troops observe the results the response has been incredible out?”, “How can we improve zine do not necessary reflect the ARA General Belgrano of a napalm strike during the (please note voice dripping with our service” or even “How can views of Military Despatches, 60 The sinking of the Argentine Vietnam War. The undeclared sarcasm). To date five people we compensate you.” All you the editor, the staff, or Hipe Hermann Göring Navy’s General Belgrano by war would last more than 19 have subscribed to the channel can expect is a “sorry”. Media. World War I fighter ace, polit- - and only one of them has ac- Some official gets caught steal- ical and military leader, Presi- HMS Conqueror. years and cost 58,318 US troops tually been a reader of Military ing five million Rands, their re- email dent of the Reichstag, Head of their lives. sponse - “sorry”. I’m getting to Despatches. Thanks guys. And [email protected] the Luftwaffe, Reichsmarschall, Gaming people still have the cheek to ask the point that when I hear the he was one of the most power- word sorry I want to start chok- 82 me why I drink so much. ful figures in the Nazi Party. ing people. Back Issues ARMA 3 - Prairie Fire Most counties have an offi- To view any back issues of cial motto. America’s motto, for That’s about it from me. Enjoy The ultimate Vietnam War this month’s issue and please try Military Despatches, go to example, is “In God we trust” experience. and subscribe to our YouTube www.militarydespatches.co.za while England’s is “Dieu et mon Channel. or click here. droit” (God and my right). In Movie Review South Africa our motto is “ǃke Until next time. e꞉ ǀxarra ǁke”. It is written in the 84 Khoisan language of the ǀXam Restrepo people, literally meaning “di- Excellent documentary about verse people unite”. an American FOB during the I really think we should Matt war in Afghanistan. 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten opened the door to Kentucky and Tennessee to Union forces 10 of the worst generals and marked the beginning of the end of Confederate resist- in history ance in the west. History tells us of a number of generals and leaders that stood head and shoulders above others. Yet on the opposite end of the scale were generals and leaders that shouldn’t even Francisco Solano López have been allowed to leave home unless under adult supervision. Paraguay is a land-locked country in South America that he pages of history reveal the Romans ever managed to never to be recovered. Caepio borders on Bolivia, Argentina many men, and wom- produce. reportedly lived out the remain- and Brazil. en, that were exception- Consul Gnaeus Mallius Max- der of his life in luxury in exile. Although Carlos Antonio T López was a dictator, he had al leaders. People that could imus was Caepio’s superior change the course of a battle or officer, but Caepio refused to Gideon Pillow done much to modernize Para- even a war. One needs only think obey Maximus at any stage. He It has been said that during the guay in the mid-19th century. GENERAL INCOMPETENCE: Gideon Pillow will not be remem- The elder López had be- of people such as Julius Caesar, wouldn’t even put his forces American Civil War the Union bered as one of the Confederacy’s best commanders. Frederick the Great, Joan of Arc, into a shared camp with Max- forces held a clear advantage queathed to his son, Francisco Hannibal Barca, and Alexander imus. in material, but that the Con- Solano López, a relatively pow- the Great to name just a few. Maximus was conducting federacy could field superior how incompetent Pillow could engagement, which possibly erful military by regional stand- In this article, however, we negotiations with the Cimbri, commanders. Gideon Pillow, be. makes the Battle of Belmont ards. are looking at generals that have a Germanic tribe that had in- however, was not one of those Pillow faced a court-martial the high point of Pillow’s mil- López senior cautioned his come to be regarded as being vaded the Roman province of superior commanders. for stealing a Mexican cannon itary career. son about using the military to among the worst ever. Some of Transalpine Gaul. Pillow first demonstrated his and attempting to spirit it home After his performance at Bel- settle diplomatic issues. But them should have been awarded Caepio, in his wisdom, de- ineptitude during the Mexi- in his personal baggage, but mont - a spectacular success let’s get real - how many chil- medals by their enemies. cided that this was the perfect can-American War, where he President Polk intervened to by Pillow standards - he was dren heed the advice of their Here then are 10 of the worst opportunity to attack the Cim- had received an appointment to clear Pillow’s record. tasked with the defence of Fort parents? Francisco certainly generals in history. bri army. On 6 October 105 the rank of major general from Scott claimed that Pillow was Donelson, a key strongpoint on didn’t. BC, Caepio led his force into his friend President James K. ‘’the only person I have ever the Mississippi River. By December 1864 López Quintus Servilius Caepio battle. His force was destroyed Polk. known who was wholly indif- Grant had encircled the fort had managed to start a war with The Romans had some excel- and, emboldened by their suc- The men serving under him ferent in the choice between but did not have enough men to neighbouring Brazil. When Ar- lent military leaders and at one cess, the Cimbri Army marched began to have their doubts when truth and falsehood.” launch an attack. Instead it was gentina denied a request for the stage the Roman Army was a on Maimus’s camp. Maximus he ordered them to entrench on When rumours of secession Pillow that launched an attack transit of a Paraguayan army force to be reckoned with. managed to form up his men the wrong side of fortifications reached Pillow’s home state of that drove back Grant’s troops. across its territory, López de- The did, however, also have but to no avail. at Camargo. Tennessee he saw this as an- Instead of breaking through clared war on that country as some truly incompetent leaders. The Romans lost an estimat- The Battle of Cerro Gordo other golden opportunity to the Union lines to Nashville, well. In fact it wouldn’t be too diffi- ed 80,000 infantry and perhaps was a resounding victory for demonstrate his military ge- Pillow somehow managed to Now you have to be some- cult to come up with a Top Ten 40,000 auxiliaries and cavalry. the Americans. Yet Pillow total- nius. He helped organise the snatch defeat from the jaws of what delusional to think that populated just with Roman gen- Caepio managed to escape un- ly bungled his role in the battle. state militia and was appointed victory by retreating to the fort. you can pick a fight with the erals. harmed, but was stripped of his This did not stop him from a brigadier general in the Con- This allowed Grant to regroup largest and second largest coun- Yet one man manages to stand Roman citizenship and exiled. submitting fanciful accounts federate army. and, when reinforcements ar- tries in South America and ac- out and rise above the rest with Now while Caepio may have of his actions at the Battles of At the Battle of Belmont Pil- rived, the fate of Fort Donel- tually win. an ineptitude that defies logic. been a terrible general, it ap- Contreras and Churubusco to low came up against Union son was sealed. Reluctant to be Argentina, Brazil, and the That man was Quintus Servil- pears that he was an exception- various newspapers. General Ulysses S. Grant, who taken prisoner, Pillow escaped Brazilian puppet government ius Caepio. al thief. This incurred the wrath of was making his Civil War de- during the night, leaving Simon in Uruguay formed an alliance, It was at the Battle of Arausio Some 15,000 talents of gold overall American commander but. B. Buckner to surrender the fort and on May 1, 1865, they de- that Caepio staked his claim to (the so-called Gold of Tolosa) Winfield Scott, someone with Pillow suffered slightly more and 15,000 Confederate troops. clared war on Paraguay. being one of the worst generals has vanished under his watch, first-hand experience of just casualties than Grant in the The loss of Fort Donelson The War of the Triple Alli- 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten ance devastated Paraguay. Its on the battlefield. After all, the army for what should be obvi- George McClellan pre-war population was reduced sight of British troops advanc- ous reasons. On paper George McClellan by more than half, and perhaps ing at a slow pace with fixed seemed to have all the qualities 90 percent of Paraguay’s fight- bayonets would so terrify the Erich Ludendorff to make a great general. Then ing-age men died in the conflict. Germans that they would aban- On the other side of the again, wars are not fought on López, possibly in a fit of don their machine guns and flee trenches in World War I was paper. madness, ordered the execution in terror. Erich Ludendorff, commanding McClellan graduated second of hundreds of people, including An impenetrable wall of lead the armies of Germany. in his class at West Point (well some of his own family mem- traveling at ballistic velocity He is one of history’s greatest ahead of classmates Stonewall bers. He was killed in combat should have been enough to examples of a general who can Jackson, George H. Gordon, on 1 March 1870. Which was point out the flaws in Haig’s win battles but still loses the and George Pickett). probably a good thing for him thinking. But this didn’t phase war. His work as an observer dur- because his father would have Haig in the least. In fact, he did a lot to ensure ing the Crimean War gave him surely wanted to have a word to On 1 July 1916 Haig ordered that Germany would find itself insight into the importance of two with his son. his men to go over the top at the in another war that it couldn’t logistics for an industrialized First Battle of the Somme. And win, but, since he died in 1937, army, and years spent as the Sir Douglas Haig 20,000 of them had the audac- he gets extra credit for being a chief of engineering for the Il- It was known as ‘The Great ity to die almost immediately. bad World War II general from linois Central Railroad made War’ or ‘The War to end All There were 60,000 total British beyond the grave. BUTCHER OF THE SOMME: General (later Field Marshal) Sir him aware of the vast potential Wars.” It could just as easily casualties on the first day of the The Germans began World Douglas Haig was given the nickname ‘Butcher of the Somme’ of rail transport. been known as ‘The War where attack. War I on a positive note when or just ‘Butcher’ for good reasons. “Little Mac” would prove incompetent generals needlessly Having amassed roughly Ludendorff and Paul von Hin- himself to be a superb organiz- sent ten of thousands of men to twice as many losses in a sin- denburg scored a crushing vic- with Allied sympathies and duce bullets, did the sensible er who kept his army well sup- their deaths.’ gle day as Arthur Wellesley, 1st tory over the Russians at Tan- an effectively bottomless war thing and surrendered. plied, efficiently run, and hap- World War I provided a fo- Duke of Wellington, had suf- nenberg. chest. As the harsh terms of the Trea- py. rum for any number of truly fered during the entire Peninsu- However, Ludendorff and Of course, that is what they ty of Versailles crippled Germa- He was also supremely gift- horrible commanders to assert lar War, Haig saw no reason to German General Staff chief did when Ludendorff pushed ny, Ludendorff effectively sab- ed at overestimating the size of themselves. change tactics. Helmuth von Moltke had al- for the use of unrestricted sub- otaged the Weimar Republic by his opponents’ armies to a de- Take Luigi Cadorna of Italy He continued to view attrition tered the Schlieffen Plan - Ger- marine warfare against Allied propagating the belief that he gree that beggared belief. Be- for example. He fought a dozen as the most effective strategy many’s overall battle plan for shipping. The United States and his armies had been unde- cause he never wanted to face battle on the Isonzo, losing all for defeating Germany. Sure- fighting a two-front war - in a entered the war, forcing Luden- feated on the battlefield. a superior force, he refused to of them, before his army com- ly the Germans would run out way that had weakened the at- dorff to accelerate his time line The “stabbed in the back” fight. This is, obviously, a prob- pletely collapsed at Caporetto. of ammunition before the Brit- tacking army on the Western for a conclusive battle against myth did much to propel the lematic quality when one’s title Franz Conrad von Hötzen- ish ran out of men. The British Front. the Allies on the Western Front. ascent of Adolf Hitler, and Lu- is general-in-chief of the entire dorf of Austria couldn’t decide lost some 420,000 men at the Instead of sweeping around The Second Battle of the dendorff was a key participant Union army. which country he wanted to in- Somme. the French defences in a mas- Somme was the first of a se- in the Beer Hall Putsch. He After months of inactivity, vade, so the German General Just over a year later Haig sive flanking movement, the ries of successful German of- served as a National Socialist McClellan was finally spurred Staff eventually took his armies was at it again. A major British Germans were checked at the fensives, but Ludendorff had member of the German parlia- to action by President Abraham away. offensive came at Passchen- First Battle of the Marne. With failed to integrate these tactical ment before authoring a book Lincoln. The resulting Peninsu- Yet it was the Western Front daele (31 July 31 - 6 November a few relatively minor chang- victories into a broader strate- about how humanity exists in a lar Campaign (April–July 1862) that provided the biggest stage 1917), where Haig lost anoth- es, that’s just about where they gic plan. state of perpetual war and why can be summed up as brilliant on which to fail. And Brit- er 275,000 troops in a battle stayed for the next four years. Ultimately, he was denied his that is a good thing. in planning, not so great in ex- ish commander Douglas Haig whose name became synony- Things could have still final showdown with the Allies Although he eventually disa- ecution. made the most of the opportu- mous with pointless slaughter. worked out okay for Germany, by German political leaders vowed Hitler, by that point Lu- Eschewing a direct overland nity. After the war, the phrase “li- provided they didn’t do some- who, realising that the Amer- dendorff had become so deeply march to the Confederate cap- Haig had largely dismissed ons led by donkeys” came to thing really stupid like provoke icans could produce soldiers involved with mysticism that ital of Richmond, McClellan the effect of the machine gun be associated with the British a previously neutral country faster than Germany could pro- few took him seriously. 8 9 Top Ten Top Ten orchestrated an impressive am- (as Lincoln called it) prevent- the common characteristics of was rebuffed by both parties. phibious landing of more than ed the exploitation of a possi- bad generals (or admirals in this 100,000 troops at Fort Monroe, ble war-ending vulnerability in case) is there inability to follow Lloyd Fredendall at the southeast end of the pen- Confederate defences. orders. And de Villeneuve was When the Germans shattered insula between the James and McClellan ran as a Demo- no exception. his troops and his reputation at York rivers. crat against Lincoln in the 1864 He disobeyed Napoleon’s or- Kasserine Pass in Tunisia in ear- Facing McClellan was the presidential election. A key ders and sailed for Cádiz instead ly 1943, Fredendall was only a Army of the Peninsula under strategy in the Democratic plat- of the Channel. This allowed major general and a corps com- John Bankhead Magruder. form that year was, appropri- Nelson’s fleet time to return and mander. America can consider Although he outnumbered ately, “not fighting,” and Mc- effectively scuttling Napole- itself lucky that he wasn’t com- Magruder’s forces by 10-to-1, Clellan lost in a rout. on’s plans for a cross-Channel manding an army. McClellan decided to play it invasion. Not that Fredendall didn’t safe and settled for a month- Pierre de Villeneuve The British blockaded the have real issues that would long siege instead of immedi- Pierre de Villeneuve, or to port at Cádiz with a numerically have tried any commander. ately overrunning Magruder’s give him is full name Pierre- inferior force, and Villeneuve, Fresh into battle and woeful- inferior force. Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre upon learning that he was to be ly inexperienced U.S. soldiers By the end of May 1862, de Villeneuve, is the only admi- relieved of command decided found themselves up against GENERAL CONFUSION: General Lloyd Fredendall had the Confederate Commanding ral to make the list of the worst to show both Nelson and Napo- habit of issuing orders in a personal code that no-one else un- Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps General Joseph E. Johnston had generals. Not bad going. leon just what he was capable derstood. veterans. The Americans lacked withdrawn his forces to Rich- He had his first brush with of. Trafalgar would be where de sufficient troops, supplies and mond, and McClellan was close history when he bravely ran Villeneuve would show Nelson air cover. enough to the Confederate cap- away at the Battle of the Nile. who was boss. 13-day siege, he somehow re- war between Mexico and the Yet Fredendall didn’t exactly ital to hear its church bells ring- His was one of just two French Nelson’s victory at the Battle sisted the urge to betray all his U.S. and offered to become an help the situation. His solution ing. ships of the line to escape the of Trafalgar was so complete allegiances and change sides. agent for the U.S. (again). was to order an Army engineer Johnston was wounded on the destruction of the French fleet that it established British su- Loyalty to himself and him- A U.S. ship conveyed him to company to build a giant bunker first day of the Battle of Seven there. premacy on the high seas for self alone would be something Mexico, and upon his arrival - a hundred miles from the front Pines, six miles east of Rich- He retreated to Malta but was more than a century. Villeneuve of a running theme in the nar- to the surprise of virtually no lines. He also issued orders to mond, and he was replaced by captured when that island fell lost 20 ships, while Nelson lost rative of Santa Anna’s life, and one - he executed a volte-face his troops in a personal code Robert E. Lee. to the British. He was soon re- none. his rise to power in Mexico was and took charge of the Mexican that no one else understood. Lee was a more than com- leased, however, and, as more Although Nelson was killed characterized by near-constant troops. Just take a look at one of the ac- petent general and he quickly capable French admirals either in combat at Trafalgar, Ville- vacillation and betrayal of his Routed by U.S. forces under tually messages that he issued. grasped McClellan’s demanour. died or somehow incurred Na- neuve outlived him only by six allies. Winfield Scott, Santa Anna was Move your command, i. e., the During the Seven Days’ Battles poleon’s disfavour, a path to the months. After being taken pris- After his defeat by the Tex- again driven into exile. walking boys, pop guns, Bak- (25 June - 1 July 1862), Lee top echelons of command was oner (again) by the British, Vil- ans at the Battle of San Jacinto, When the French deposed Be- er’s outfit and the outfit which is drove back the Union armies opened for Villeneuve. leneuve was released but com- Santa Anna was captured. He nito Juárez and installed Maxi- the reverse of Baker’s outfit and from Richmond’s doorstep. In the autumn of 1804 he was mitted suicide rather than face effectively pledged to become milian as emperor of Mexico, the big fellows to M, which is Lincoln relieved McClellan placed in charge of the French Napoleon’s wrath. an agent for the U.S. but found Santa Anna, now 70, reached due north of where you are now, but reinstated him after the dev- fleet at Toulon and tasked with that he had been deposed upon out to the U.S. for support in as soon as possible. Have your astating Union defeat at the Sec- drawing the British fleet under Antonio López de Santa Anna his return to Mexico. deposing the emperor. Simulta- boss report to the French gen- ond Battle of Bull Run. Once Horatio Nelson to the Caribbe- Mexican general Antonio His prestige restored by his neously, he contacted Maximil- tleman whose name begins with again, McClellan worked his an. López de Santa Anna probably conduct during the Pastry War ian to offer the young emperor J at a place which begins with organizational magic, restoring Villeneuve was then to return wished that everyone really did with France, Santa Anna once his services. D which is five grid squares to the morale of a shattered Union in secret and help establish na- remember the Alamo, because again claimed dictatorial pow- Having several decades of du- the left of M. army. val dominance of the English first of all he actually did win ers. plicity to draw on at this point, Is it any wonder that his com- And once again, at the Bat- Channel in preparation for a that battle (he outnumbered his Driven into exile in 1845, he everyone had a pretty good idea manders were left scratching tle of Antietam, McClellan’s land invasion of Britain. opponents between 10 and 30- contacted U.S. President James of how any such deal would their heads and not having a terminal case of “the slows” But let’s get real here. One of to-1), and secondly, during the K. Polk upon the outbreak of turn out, and the aging general clue was to what they were sup- 10 11 Top Ten posed to do? moves and reactions, and it was his warriors through a forest The Kasserine disaster had not long before he had taken clearing in an endless parade. repercussions. It was a humil- full measure of Hull. Hull, convinced that he was iating baptism of fire for the Allied with Brock was the hopelessly outnumbered (he U.S. Army in Europe, and more Shawnee chief Tecumseh, who wasn’t), surrendered Fort De- important, caused British com- was head of the most formida- troit and its 2,000-man garrison manders to dismiss their Yank ble pan-Indian military force the without firing a shot. allies as amateur soldiers for continent had ever seen. Hull The British gained control the rest of the war. was thoroughly outclassed. of the fort, dozens of cannons, While Hull dithered, Brock the brig USS Adams (recom- William Hull captured Fort Michilimackinac, missioned the HMS Detroit), History has shown us that establishing British control of and virtually the entire Michi- through the ages there have the Straits of Mackinac. gan Territory. Hull was taken been some really useless and Hull responded by ordering prisoner by the British and was incompetent generals. Howev- the evacuation of Fort Dear- court-martialed upon his return er, none they managed to get born, and the garrison was to the United States. themselves court-martialed and promptly massacred by a Pota- He was found guilty of 11 sentenced to death for inepti- watomi war band upon leaving counts, and only the interven- tude on the battlefield. the fort. tion by President James Madi- That dubious distinction falls At this point, things somehow son spared him from execution. to William Hull, the only gener- got worse for Hull. His invasion al officer in American history to of Canada came to an abrupt And there we have it, 10 of Bush War Books has probably one of the finest be ordered before a firing squad halt when he failed to capture the worst generals in history. collections of military titles available. Especially for cowardice and dereliction Fort Malden, a British position Of course there were numerous of duty. that was a laughably short dis- other names that could have on the South African Border War. Hull had served with distinc- tance from Hull’s headquarters made it to this list. tion in the Revolutionary War at Fort Detroit. The question that begs to be and was appointed governor of Hull withdrew after a series asked is how did some of these the Michigan Territory in 1805. of harassing attacks by Tecum- people advance to such a high When the War of 1812 began, seh’s highly mobile raiding rank in the first place. Some- Hull was commissioned a brig- parties. At Brownstown, south one at some stage must have adier general and tasked with of Detroit, two dozen warriors deemed them good enough to defending Michigan and invad- under Tecumseh routed more be promoted. Surely some of Click here to visit their website. ing Upper Canada. than 200 American militiamen these people should be held ac- To say that he failed in both escorting a supply column in- countable. regards would be putting it tended for Detroit. Hull’s nerve A good number of these peo- mildly. Approaching his 60th was shattered. ple did not wait until they were birthday and exhibiting a timid- Brock, sensing an opportuni- promoted to general before sud- ity that had no place in a gen- ty, advised an immediate march denly displaying their talent for eral about to lead an invasion, on Fort Detroit. On the night incompetence. Many of them Hull also had the misfortune of of August 15, 1812, Tecumseh had been incompetent junior facing two of the most gifted led his forces across the Detroit officers and should have been commanders ever to operate in River, and Brock followed the rooted out then. Yet they still North America. next morning. received promotion after pro- British General Isaac Brock While British cannons shelled motion until, finally, they were possessed a remarkable abili- the fort from the Canadian side in a position to do some serious “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” ty to anticipate his opponents’ of the river, Tecumseh marched damage. 12 0 History Republic of Cuba. The British Legion (La Legión Special Forces - Spanish Legion The Spanish Legion was Historically there had been Británica) of the Spanish Le- formed by royal decree of King a “Spanish Foreign Legion” gion also fought during the First Part twenty-six of a series that looks at Special Forces around the world. This month we Alfonso XIII on 28 January which preceded the modern Le- Carlist War. This Legion fought feature the Spanish Legion. 1920, with the Minister of War gion’s formation in 1920. On 28 for the fortified bridge of Arrig- José Villalba Riquelme stating, June 1835, the French govern- orriaga on 11 September 1835. he Spanish Legion itially known as the Tercio de rocco), and by the end of the “With the designation of For- ment had decided to hand over The Spanish Legion was (Legión Española, La Extranjeros (“Tercio of foreign- Rif War it became the “Spanish eigners Regiment there will to the Spanish government the modelled on the French For- Legión), informally ers”), the name under which it Legion”, with several “tercios” be created an armed military French Foreign Legion in sup- eign Legion. Its purpose was to T port of Queen Isabella’s claim provide a corps of professional known as the Tercio or the Ter- began fighting in the Rif War of as sub-units. unit, whose recruits, uniform cios, is a unit of the Spanish 1920–1926. The Legion played a major and regulations by which they to the Spanish throne during the troops to fight in Spain’s colo- Army and Spain’s Rapid Reac- Although foreign recruitment role in the Nationalist forces should be governed will be set First Carlist War. nial campaigns in North Africa, tion Force. spans the Spanish-speaking na- in the Spanish Civil War. In by the minister of war.” The French Foreign Legion, in place of conscript units that It was raised in the 1920s to tions, the majority of recruits post-Franco Spain, the modern In the 1920s the Spanish Le- with around 4,000 men, landed were proving ineffective. The serve as part of Spain’s Army are Spaniards. Over the years, Legion has undertaken tours of gion’s five battalions were filled at Tarragona on 17 August 1835. first commanding officer, Lieu- of Africa. The unit, which was the force’s name has changed duty in the Yugoslav Wars, Af- primarily by native Spaniards This became the first Spanish tenant Colonel José Millán- established in January 1920 as from Tercio de Extranjeros to ghanistan, Iraq and Operation (since foreigners were not easy Legion until it was dissolved Astray Terreros, referred to his the Spanish equivalent of the Tercio de Marruecos (when the Libre Hidalgo UNIFIL. to recruit) with most of its for- on 8 December 1838, when it unit as ‘La Legión’ from the French Foreign Legion, was in- field of operations targeted Mo- eign members coming from the had dropped to only 500 men. start but this only became part

14 15 of the unit’s title from 1937. though citizens from former In the original Tercio de Ex- Spanish territories also can tranjeros there were, amongst join (foreign recruits are re- others, one Chinese, three Japa- quired to have a valid Span- nese, one Maltese, one Russian, ish residence permit). and one black American. How- • Be a citizen in good legal ever, soon the majority of its standing. members were Spaniards who • Not be deprived of civil rights. joined to fight outside of Euro- • Be at least 18 years of age pean Spain. and not be 29 on the day of Tercio (lit. ‘a third’) is an old joining boot camp. Spanish military term that rough- • Be able to pass psycholog- ly translates as ‘regiment’ (orig- ical, physical and medical inally it had enough manpower evaluations. to be considered a half-brigade). In recent years, the Spanish In the 18th century tercios were Legion was involved in Bosnia replaced by regiments. There is as part of the SFOR. It also took no equivalent word in English. part in the Iraq War, deploying Dating from the 16th century, in Najaf alongside Salvador- Spanish Legion UNTIDY - NO, TRADITION - YES: Contrary to usual military practice, Legionaries are allowed to sport beards and are permitted to wear their uniforms, both traditional and service, open at the the name was chosen to evoke an troops, until the new Span- chest. the era of Spain’s military su- ish government of José Luis Málaga was transferred away, premacy as the leading Catho- Rodríguez Zapatero fulfilled its each year a company of legion- of the legion, received training basic military skills, forced Army but retains the unique, lic power in Europe under the electoral promises by withdraw- aries from one of the Tercios in: SCUBA/Maritime Warfare, marches and a stringent assault sage green Tropical uniform Habsburg Emperors. Organised ing Spanish troops from Iraq. (regiments) returns to march in Arctic and Mountain Warfare, course. After the second month, for semi-formal barrack dress into tercios in 1534, the Spanish The legion units deployed in the Holy Week procession with Sabotage and Demolitions, Par- the recruit signs a two or three and as the basis of Legion pa- infantry gained a reputation for Iraq were involved in several the Christ of the Good Death, a achute and HALO techniques, year contract. rade uniform. Perhaps the most invincibility. operations against the insur- life-size effigy of Christ Cruci- Long Range Reconnaissance, After finishing basic training distinctive feature of the mod- In 1925, the unit title was gency. In 2005, the legion was fied, adopted by the legion as Counter-terrorism and CQB, the recruit joins one of the ter- ern legion uniform is the khaki changed to Tercio de Marrue- deployed in Afghanistan as part Patron in the 1920s. Vehicle insertion, Sniping and cios, in there he receives further “gorrillo” cap or “chapiri”, with cos (‘Tercio of Morocco’). This of the NATO-led Internation- It also has its own confrater- SERE (Survival, Escape, Re- training, mostly focused on pa- red hanging tassel and piping. was soon abbreviated to ‘The al Stabilisation Force (ISAF). nity with its home chapel locat- sistance and Evasion). Much of rading and legionary tradition. Contrary to usual military Tercio’. In 1937 at the height of In 2006, the 10th Bandera was ed in this historic city, where the training was undertaken at This is the same process as in practice, Legionaries are al- the Spanish Civil War, the Ter- sent to Southern Lebanon as veterans who served in this unit Fort Bragg (USA). the rest of units in the Spanish lowed to sport beards and are cio de Marruecos was renamed part of United Nations’ Opera- are counted among its member- In 2002 the BOEL was re- army. permitted to wear their uni- La Legión, the name by which tion UNIFIL. ship. The Legion’s detachments named 19th Special Opera- From its establishment the le- forms, both traditional and ser- it is still known today. The Spanish Legion is now also take part in various Holy tions Group “Maderal Oleaga” gion was noted for its plain and vice, open at the chest. mostly used in NATO peace- Week events nationwide, in- (GOE-XIX) and was moved to simple style of dress, in con- The modern Legion keeping missions. It has 5,000 cluding its military band. Alicante, and reported directly trast to the colourful dress uni- Traditions In the 2000s, after the aban- soldiers in a Brigade of two Ter- to Army HQ as part of the Spe- forms worn by the Peninsular The Legion’s customs and donment of conscription, the cios (regiments) based in Ron- Legion Special Forces cial Operations Command, with regiments of the Spanish Army traditions include the follow- Spanish Legion once again ac- da, Málaga and Viator, Almería Although considered a special recruitment now being in a na- until the overthrow of the Mon- ing: cepted foreigners into service. (Andalusia). forces regiment, the Legion has tional basis, with personnel as- archy in 1931. This was part of • Its members, regardless Male and female native Spanish Two other independent terci- a special operations unit known signed from various Army units. the cult of austerity favoured by of rank, are titled Caballe- speakers, mostly from Central os are deployed in the Spanish as the Bandera de operaciones In 2019-20, the battalion re- a unit that considered itself on ro Legionario (“Legionary American and South American African enclaves of Ceuta and especiales de la legión (Legion turned to the Legion Command. more or less continual active Gentleman”). When women states, were included. Melilla as part of their respec- Special Operations Battalion or service. are admitted, they are titled Today, acceptance to the tive garrisons. The legion is di- BOEL). Basic training The modern legion has the Dama Legionaria (“Legion- Spanish Legion is based on the rectly controlled by the Spanish The members of this unit, Basic training lasts four same camouflage dress for ac- ary Lady”). following criteria General Staff. who were (and still mostly are) months and takes place in tive service and ordinary du- • A “Mística Legionaria” (Le- • Be a Spanish citizen; al- Although the detachment at volunteers from other banderas Cáceres or Cádiz. It includes ties as the rest of the Spanish gionary Spirit) (condensed 16 17 to never use the valved bu- Weapons used by the Spanish Legion gle but use the plain bugle instead, and together with the Parachute Light Infantry Brigade are the only ones to use the small cornetin or the piccolo bugle, used in or- dering commands and lead- ing the bugle band in play- H&K USP ing bugle calls, fanfares or marches. The medium cor- netin is used by other Span- ish Armed Forces branches. • Formerly the Legion did its march pasts in the same way as the rest of the Spanish Armed Forces, today, all of- ficers and the colour guards only do a hand salute and eyes right when marching in a twelve-point “Credo Le- • During the Holy Week pro- gion cap and accompanied H&K G36-E past. When on the halt and gionario” - Legionary creed) cessions in Málaga, the by a Legionary, alongside giving full salutes, they only • Legionaries consider them- Legionaries carry on their the legion’s marker guard do a hand salute. selves novios de la muerte shoulders the Christ of Good (gastadores) at parades and (“bridegrooms of death”). Death on Holy Thursday ceremonies, leading the Anthems and marches The nickname is also the morning. Later that same marching troops. El Novio de la Muerte (Bride- title of one of the two offi- afternoon they accompany • While throughout its his- groom of Death) is the unoffi- cial hymns of the Spanish the procession through the tory the legion has been an cial hymn and regimental slow Legion, the other one being streets of Málaga. essentially infantry force it march of the Spanish Legion, La Cancion del Legionario • Under the command of José has also included armoured, composed in 1921 with words (“The Legionary’s Song”). Millán-Astray, the legion’s artillery and engineer units. by Juan Costa set to music by The nickname hails from the motto was ¡Viva la muerte! During the 1920s and ear- hk-417 Fidel Prado. first years of the corps, when (“Long live death!”). It fell ly 1930s a squadron of Composed in 1920, La Can- it only admitted men during into disuse after the death mounted lanceros (lancers) cion del Legionario (The Le- those times. of Francisco Franco. The formed part of the legion gionnare’s Song) is the official • When in trouble, a legionary current motto is ¡Legionar- and in 1982 a mounted sec- quick march and anthem of the shouts ¡A mí la Legión! (“To ios a luchar!. ¡Legionarios tion of the Policia Militar de Legion. It was composed by me the Legion!”). Those a morir! (Legionnaires, to la Legion was formed to car- Modesto Romero and Infantry within earshot are bound to fight. Legionnaires, to die!) ry the traditional lances and Commandant Emilio Guillén help him regardless of the • The Legion had several pennants during the Holy Pedemonti. It is played by the circumstances. In practice, mascots during its history, Week Procession in Málaga military bands and bugle bands Legionaries are never sup- such as monkeys, chickens, to continue the practice. of the Legion at the regulation posed to abandon a comrade capercaillies, wild boars, • The Military bands and Bu- Heckler & Koch MG4 190 beats that it exclusively uses. on the battlefield. barbary sheep (Spanish, ar- gle bands of the legion con- Before it became the legion’s • The legion’s march step is ruis), bears or parrots. The tinue the musical traditions official march,Le Madelon and faster than the Spanish mili- modern Legion however it has since the 1920s. The Tercios Heroicos (Heroic Ter- tary standard, being 160-180 has a goat as mascot of the bugle bands of the Legion, cios) by Francisco Calles and steps per minute in contrast unit, the Goat of the Spanish together with the Regulares, Antonio Soler were its official to the standard 90 steps per Legion. It usually appears are the only such bands in march past tunes. minute. at parades, wearing a Le- the Spanish Armed Forces

18 19 a tidy sum of money and I was vators and they were called out SADF salary. In those days you delighted. to check what the problem was. would be paid a double salary Sucked into an Admin Vortex Much later the adjutant told They discovered that the eleva- in the month of your birthday. While the old SADF was pretty well organised, especially when you consider how large it me the story of what had gone tor shaft was filled with thou- As my birthday was in August, was, things did sometimes fall through the cracks. wrong. I don’t know if it was sands of files. So many that the I in fact received two months true, but it had a certain ring of elevator was unable to reach the salary. ecently I did a video for I was fortunate enough to I applied to do the course and truth about it. And at least three ground floor fully. I phoned my former adjutant our new Military Des- chat with six people that all had was accepted. At that stage the other people told me that they Apparently my file was one and told him what had hap- Rpatches YouTube chan- their own experiences with the course was held at the Army had experienced a similar situ- of the many that had gone down pened. His exact words to me nel. It was titled “Army Speak admin vortex. All of them re- Gymnasium in Heidelberg, ation. the shaft. were, “Well if you don’t tell 101 - Military slang from the quested that I not use their real which was cool because it was It appears that when the them I sure as hell won’t.” SADF and around the world.” names for the article. Let’s start where I had done my basic SADF was changing over from Colin spent ten years as a The SADF continued to pay One of the terms that caught off with Steve. training and all my subsequent hard copy files to a comput- permanent force member of the me for September and October my attention was ‘Admin Vor- courses. erised system, the data from South African Infantry Corps. and then it stopped. tex’. It refers to a disorganised I never did national service. I I passed the course and was everyone’s individual file had He tells us his story. This amounted to five months soldier or situation and is used decided midway through matric promoted to the rank of lieuten- to be captured and uploaded to salary. I opened a separate bank mainly by the British military. that I was going to join the per- ant. Three years later I was still the computer system. I served for ten years in the in- account and I put the money Now a vortex is defined as a manent force. a lieutenant. This took place at DHQ (De- fantry and had reached the rank into this account because I was powerful circular current of wa- On finishing school I joined I was a bit puzzled because I fence Headquarters) in Pretoria of captain. I was relatively hap- certain that at some stage they ter. It is also known as a mael- the army and became a member knew that everyone that did the and a team of national service- py with my job but I had also would ask for it back. strom or whirlpool. Anything of the South African Corps of course with me and had become men were responsible for cap- just become engaged. At that Two years later I spent the that gets close to it is sucked Signals. a lieutenant had since been pro- turing all the data. stage we spent a considerable money. It’s now been 34 years, down into the depths. After basic training and jun- moted to captain. Apparently these nation- amount of time on the border so I somehow don’t think they At one stage the South Afri- ior leaders course I did a num- I went to see our adjutant and al servicemen had to capture and I wasn’t sure how my soon will want it back. can Defence Force (SADF) was ber of courses and eventually explained the situation to him. a certain number of files each to be wife would feel about me a pretty large organisation. Not found myself with the rank of He then phoned Chief of Staff week and if they didn’t reach being away from home for so Martin was a member of the only was there the permanent sergeant. Personnel to try and find out their target their weekend pass long. permanent force and he re- force and national servicemen, The SADF then came up with what was going on. He chat- was cancelled. I decided that it was maybe a ceived what was possibly the but also a large citizen force. something that was called, if ted for a few minutes and then Now anyone that served in good time to leave the military quickest promotion and demo- So it is hardly surprising that my memory serves me correct- asked me if I was still being paid the military knows that a troop and seek employment in the ci- tion on record. there was the odd admin glitch ly, Formative Branch. every month. I told him that I will always come up with a vilian sector. from time to time - occasions This was where any PF ser- was being paid every month. plan. What happened that if Back then you couldn’t re- I did basics and afterwards where people would get sucked geant, staff sergeant, or warrant He finished the phone call by Friday afternoon they were sign from the army. You had to went on a junior leaders course. into the vortex. officer could and then turned to me and in- still sitting with 40 or 50 files buy yourself out and it cost me About four months later I was apply to be- formed me that according to the to capture, they would make the the princely sum of R10.00 to told that I would be going in or- come an officer. records I had left the army two files disappear. do so. ders in front of the adjutant. After suc- years before. He said that they If my memory serves me cor- I finished with the SADF Now you always get nerv- cessful com- were looking into the matter rectly there were two elevators on 30 June and, because I had ous when you are told that you pletion of the and he would get back to me. in DHQ. What these troops served for ten years, had no are going on orders. Your first Formative About two hours later I was would do was take the files and, further commitment to the mil- thought is “what am I in trouble Branch course a told that he wanted to see me. one by one, drop them into the itary. for now.” sergeant would When I walked into his office gap between the floor and the The following month on 31 I was marched into the ad- receive the he congratulated me and told elevator doors so they would July I noticed that the SADF jutants office and he congratu- ranks of lieu- that I had been promoted to fall down into the elevator shaft. had paid my salary into my bank lated me and told me that I had tenant, a staff captain 18 months ago. This was eventually discov- account. I didn’t use the money, been promoted to the rank of sergeant be- So not only was I now a cap- ered when one of the elevators reasoning that they would dis- lance corporal. I was chuffed to came a captain, tain, but I would also be get- was not going all the way down cover their mistake and make say the least. and a warrant ting 18 months back-pay, the to the ground floor. A company, me pay it back. As I was about to be marched officer became difference in salary between a I think it was called Otis, had The following month, Au- out he stopped me and asked me a major. lieutenant and a captain. It was the contract to service the ele- gust, I was once again paid my why my name was spelt wrong. 20 21 You would have your sur- left the SADF six months be- and I would only do basics in jutant. I’m in my step-out and training used to call me ‘Grens- when she saw us. name sewn on to your browns fore. July. naturally I’m wearing my rib- vegter’. I think he was a bit I told her that we were there shirt and bush jacket. I assured They were not prepared to Then, for some reason known bon for the Pro Patria. He sees jealous because he had never to arrest her husband for being him that the spelling of my sur- listen to anything I had to say only to them, I was sent to 1 this and freaks out, telling me been to the border. AWOL. She started to sob and name was correct. and I was escorted down to Na- SAI in Bloemfontein where I that I am not allowed to wear she began to shake like a leaf. He looked a bit puzzled then tal Command and placed in a would remain until I did my ba- ribbons that I have not earned. I Andrew did his two years of We then found out that her glanced at the file in front of cell for the night. sics at 5 SAI in July. Why they tell him that I was awarded the national service with the South husband had been given a full him. He read out a force num- It was only the next morning didn’t just send me straight to 5 medal, so therefore I did have African Corps of Military Po- military funeral four months ber and asked me if that was my that everything was sorted out SAI remains a mystery. the right to wear it. lice. He tells us of an incident before. He had been killed in a correct force number. I told him and I was told that I was free I arrived in Bloemfontein in I explained the story to him, that left him with a very bitter contact on the border. it wasn’t. to go. the middle of January and they telling him that I had been on taste in his mouth. I have never felt so ashamed What had transpired was that I didn’t even get an apology had no idea of what to do with the border for three months. He in my life. Can you imagine how someone that had a surname from anyone. me. And you must take into gets on the phone to the adju- After doing basics and my traumatic it must have been for that was pronounced the same account that at the stage I was tant at 1 SAI and a few harsh courses I was posted to Wits this poor young woman. Not of mine, but with a different Peter served in the army for clueless. I didn’t know how to words were exchanged. Command in Johannesburg. only had she lost her husband, spelling, had actually been pro- nearly 20 years. Yet the start of march, didn’t know how to sa- Looking back at it now, it did This was really great because I but now we arrive to arrest him. moted. By some mix up I was his military career was uncon- lute, had no idea of the different seem rather surreal. Here was lived in Randburg and I had a When we drove back to Wits brought on orders instead. ventional to say the least. ranks and so on. this little snot-nose that had sleep-out pass and, if I wasn’t I was furious. I just wanted to The adjutant promptly in- On my second day there I ad- spent three months on the bor- on duty, had every weekend off. walk into the office and punch formed me that I was no longer I was born and grew up in dressed a staff sergeant as “Hey der, been involved in two con- One morning I was told by the OC and anyone else I could a lance corporal. Hell, I was a Durban. When I was still in you.” Not a good idea I can as- tacts, and had a Pro Patria and my OC that myself and another get my hands on. Although I lance jack for less than three standard four I decided that I sure you. who had never even done basic MP had to go and arrest a guy later realised that it probably minutes. It must have been wanted to become a soldier. They ended up putting me in training. that was AWOL from his unit. wasn’t his fault. some sort of a record. When I completed matric I one of the companies that were If you think about it, it was a He was a CF (Citizen Force) But I mean how can they couldn’t wait to sign up. The already doing the second year bit of a crazy situation. Surely guy and was married. We were screw up so badly? Which ge- Johan was a member of the SADF had a recruiting office of their national service. I slow- someone should have realised told that he would probably be nius came to the conclusion that permanent force for seven in Smith Street and I went there ly start learning the ropes. that you can’t send someone at his house in Bedfordview. this guy was AWOL. Surely it years. He tells his story. and told them I wanted to join Then at the end of February into an operational area with When we arrived at his house couldn’t have been his CF unit. the permanent force. the company learns that it is absolutely no training. his wife opened the door and They must have known that he I joined the army in 1976 and I had to fill in a lot of paper- going to the border for three My corporal during basic she went as white as a sheet had been killed in action. served with the South African work and then went to Natal months. As part of the company Infantry Corps. Then, in 1982, Command to do a medical. Af- I naturally go with them. I bought myself out. I had mar- ter that I was put on a train to We spent three months on the ried in 1979 and had a two-year Pretoria. That is where the fun border, mostly patrolling the SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION old son. started. area between beacon 11 and 12. I was working for an insur- Somehow they had managed It was a busy time and our com- ance company and one Monday to lose my medical report and I pany hit a number of contacts. I evening we had just finished had to go to a place called MMI was personally involved in two supper and were sitting down to just outside of Pretoria to do an- of them. I was loving it, this is watch a bit of television when other medical. why I wanted to become a sol- SAAFA is an all-ranks Association formed to perpetuate a tradition the doorbell rang. I spent two weeks in Preto- dier in the first place. of comradeship, knowing no distinction of rank, race, language, I answered the door to find ria before I was finally sworn We returned to Bloemfontein gender or creed, which has developed over the years among two military policemen stand- in and became a member of the at the end of May and in June ing there. They were there to SADF. we had a medal parade and I members of the South African Air Force. arrest me for being AWOL (Ab- I had joined the South Af- was awarded the Pro Patria sent without leave). rican Infantry Corps and my Medal. I was more than a bit con- parent unit would be 5 SAI in Then at the end of June I get fused and told them that there Ladysmith in Natal. I was told sent to Ladysmith to report for Click on the logo above to visit the SAAFA website must be some sort of a mistake. that it was too late to do basic my basic training. I explained to them that I had training with the January intake On arrival I report to the ad- 22 23 that you may not know. Kermit Tylor but, due to his The US captured its first POW inexperience and the fact that at Pearl Harbour. His name was Pearl Harbour - a few facts American radar detected ap- the operators failed to mention Kazuo Sakamaki, a Japanese Most people will have seen one of the two well-known movies about the attack on Pearl proaching planes. America the sheer number of targets, naval officer. Harbour - Pearl Harbor or Tora, Tora, Tora. And most of us have a good idea of what hap- had about a one hour warning he thought that it was a flight Sakamazi attacked Pearl Har- pened at Pearl Harbour. Here are a few things you may not know about it. about the impending attack, but of B-17 bombers that were ex- bour in a midget submarine. a combination of miscommu- pected from the mainland. It was, however, disabled and nyone that has even a Base at Pearl Harbour in Hon- will have watched the 1970 nication and inexperience pre- So he ignored the warning. trapped on a nearby beach. basic interest in military olulu, Hawaii. movie, Tora, Tora, Tora. vented the warning from reach- He was wrong. And this was He attempted to blow it up, history will have heard The following day, 8 Decem- A lot of younger readers will ing the right people. after the Americans had spotted but the charges failed to go off. A George Elliot and Joseph and attacked an approaching He then swam underneath the about Pearl Harbour. They will ber 1941, the United States of remember the movie Pearl Har- know that on 7 December 1941 America declared war on Ja- bor released in 2001. Lockhart spotted the first wave Japanese submarine. sub to investigate the charges the Japanese launched a sur- pan, thereby bring America into In this article we look at a few using the SRC 270 radar. This prise attack on the US Naval World War II. facts relating to Pearl Harbour reached the ear of Lieutenant Many of our older readers

24 25 but passed out mid investiga- tained. On top of that the sunk- tion. He was found by a local en USS Arizona is still leaking and ended up becoming the first fuel to this day. Japanese Prisoner of War. In turn the Japanese struck A senior Japanese official op- his name from the records and posed the attack. It appears that pretended that he never existed. the Japanese decision to attack He was eventually allowed to Pearl Harbour was not a unan- return home after the war where imous one. he later worked for Toyota be- Osami Nagano was a Marshal fore dying in 1999. Admiral of the Japanese Navy and served as the Chief of the 23 sets of brothers died in the Japanese Navy General Staff attack on the USS Arizona. Be- from April 1941 to February fore World War II it was com- 1944. FINAL RESTING PLACE: The USS Arizona Memorial sits above the USS Arizona which was mon practice for brothers to He vehemently opposed an INFAMY: The original draft of sunk on 7 December 1941. serve on the same ship. attack on Pearl Harbour. He and President Franklin D. Roos- This was the case for the USS Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto evelt’s speech. that will live in world history”, Utah was hit by Japanese torpe- 30 USS Arizona veterans have Arizona which saw 37 pairs fought with each other regard- but Roosevelt scratched it out does, which quickly caused the been taken down and interned or trios of brothers serving on ing the attack. saying “As a woman I can’t go and added ‘infamy’ in its place. ship to take on water and sink. on the ship since the possibility board – a total of 77 men. Only Nagano finally gave his con- to war and I refuse to send any- It was a good decision. 64 people were killed in the at- was opened in 1982. However, 15 of them survived, with 23 sent after Yamamoto threatened one else.” tack and, like the USS Arizona, they are not the only ones with sets of brothers perishing in the to leave his position as com- Elvis Presley helped raise the dead remain interned with this option. Other veterans that attack. mander-in-chief of the Imperial Roosevelt almost didn’t use money for the USS Arizona the ship. survived the attack on Pearl The effect on family mem- Japanese Navy. the word ‘infamy’ in his speech. Memorial. The USS Arizo- One of the occupants are Harbour may have their ashes bers was so noticeable that the After the war Nagano was FDR’s ‘Infamy’ speech is of- na Memorial sits on top of the the ashes of a baby girl. Nan- scattered at the site where their military attempted to stop the tried as a war criminal but died ten regarded as one of the best sunken USS Arizona. Every cy Lynn Wagner died when she ship went down. practice of placing blood rel- of a heart attack before the trial speeches in American political year more than two million was just two days old and her atives on the same ship. But it could be concluded. history. It was only seven min- people visit the memorial, and father, Albert Wagner, had tak- Every United States Navy, largely continued throughout utes long, but its impact was visiting it is considered a highly en her ashes on board with the Coast Guard, and Merchant Ma- the remainder of the war. One member of the US Con- immediate. emotional experience. And, in intention of scattering them at rine vessel entering Pearl Har- gress voted against war with Congress declared war on part, we have Elvis Presley to sea. However, the ship was at- bor participates in the tradition The attack left an enormous Japan. After the attack on Pearl Japan only an hour after the thank for its existence. tacked before he had the chance of “manning the rails.” Person- environmental effect on Pearl Harbour the government need- speech was finished, and the President Dwight D. Eisen- and her ashes remain in Wag- nel serving on these ships stand Harbour. Mother Earth was a ed to act fast. At 12h30 on 8 public became highly support- hower approved the memorial ner’s locker to this day. at attention at the ship’s guard victim of Pearl Harbour as well. December, only one day after ive of the war effort. in 1958, but it was stipulated In 2003 a funeral service was rails and salute the USS Arizo- In 1992 Pearl Harbour was the attack, President Franklin The line, “a date that will that it be privately funded at a held at the site of the USS Utah na Memorial in solemn fashion added to the Environmental D. Roosevelt requested a dec- live in infamy” has become cost of $500,000 – about $4,5 in her honour. as their ship slowly glides into Protection Agency’s Nation- laration of war both from Con- ingrained into the public con- million today. On 25 March port. al Priority List of hazardous gress and the nation. sciousness. But that was almost 1961 Elvis put on a benefit Survivors of the attack may waste sites. The major contrib- The vote was passed in the not the case. concert which raised $64,000 be laid to rest at Pearl Harbour. And, in closing, three other uting factor to its status as haz- House by 13h10 that same after- The opening paragraph of his or nearly 13% of the structures Veterans of the USS Arizona facts that you may not know. ardous waste site is the massive noon with a vote of 388 to one. speech read, “Yesterday, De- cost. have the option of being bur- • Thousands of Japanese tour- sub-surface oil plume. That vote was from the devoted cember 7, 1941, a date which Construction went ahead and ied with their fellow shipmates ists visit Pearl Harbour on Current estimates say that pacifist and first woman in Con- will live in infamy, the United the memorial was opened on 30 aboard the sunken ship. an annual basis. more than 18,927,058 litres gress Jeanette Rankin. Her vote States of America was suddenly May 1962. If they choose that option, • Most of the sunken battle- of oil has been spilled and the reportedly resulted in hissing and deliberately attacked by na- a diver takes an urn contained ships were salvaged. plume is almost 15 soccer fields from her peers and many tried val and air forces of the Empire The ashes of a sailor’s daugh- their ashes down to the ship • The Japanese attempted to long, although officials have desperately to change her vote. of Japan.” ter went down with the USS where it is then placed under attack Pearl Harbour again said that it is stable and con- However, she stuck to her guns, The original line was “a date Utah. During the attack the USS one of the gun turrets. Over on 4 March 1942. 26 27 what looks like an execution • During the Vietnam War, Vietnam - the deadly, undeclared war was used by the anti-war a US task force known as It was the longest war ever fought by the United States of America. It claimed more than movement for propaganda ‘Tiger Force’ routinely cut 58,000 American lives and affected an entire generation. Yet it was a war that was never purposes. They claimed that of the ears of its victims declared. it showed a South Vietnam- to make necklaces from ese officer executing an in- them. he Vietnam War was of- Vietnam War Trivia Gulf of Tonkin Resolution nocent Vietnamese civilian. • When Colonel “Chappie” ficially fought between • At the end of the Vietnam (which led to the Vietnam Slinky The shooter was actually James was Vice Wing Com- North and South Viet- War, the crewmen on the War), never happened. South Vietnamese Chief mander under legendary ace T of National Police, Gener- Colonel Robin Olds during nam. It lasted for 19 years, five aircraft carrier USS Midway • In 1967, protesters in USA were used in the Vietnam months, four weeks and one pushed $10 million worth of requested a permit to levi- War as mobile radio anten- al Nguyen Ngoc Loan. He the Vietnam War, they were day and took place from 1 No- helicopters into the sea so tate the Pentagon 300 feet nas. They would sling the was executing Nguyen Van known as “Black Man & vember 1955 to 30 April 1975. that a Cessna full of evacu- in the air, through songs and Slinky over branches and Lem, also known as Bay Robin.” Although the USA never de- ees could land on the deck. chants, to exorcise it of its extend the range of their ra- Lop, a Vietcong intelligence • During the Vietnam war, clared war on North Vietnam, • Hugh Thomson, the man evil and end the Vietnam dios. officer. The photo was tak- Navy Seal teams One and some 2.7 million US troops who during the Vietnam War. Authorities agreed to • During the Vietnam War, en in Saigon on 1 February, Two amassed a combined served in Vietnam. War had landed a helicopter only 3 feet. the US military produced 1968 early in the Tet Offen- kill/death ratio of 200:1. Besides the United States, in the line of fire to confront • During the Vietnam War, an recordings of ghostly voices sive. After the war General • The United States’ use of seven other countries sent and stop American troops estimated 125,000 Ameri- and eerie sounds to play to Nguyen Ngoc Loan moved Agent Orange during the troops to fight or serve on the who had by that point killed cans fled to Canada to avoid the Vietcong, who believed to the United States where Vietnam War resulted in side of South Vietnam. They close to 500 unarmed civil- the military draft. Around that if a body wasn’t bur- he opened a pizzeria in sub- 400,000 people being killed were South Korea, Thailand, ians in the My Lai Massa- half returned to the US when ied, the person’s soul would urban Virginia. or maimed, and 500,000 Australia, Philippines, New cre, was labeled a traitor by President Carter, in his first wander the Earth forever. It • A prisoner of war during the birth defects. Zealand, Khmer Republic and Congress and ordered not to day in office, granted them was known as “Operation Vietnam War named James • During the early 1960s, there the Kingdom of Laos. The Re- speak about the event. amnesty. Wandering Soul”. No one Stockdale is said to have was a ‘Secret War’, where public of China provided mili- • The Vietnam War is known • Congressional Medal of really knows what effect it survived in such arduous the CIA recruited 50% of the tary support. as “the American War” or Honor Winner Peter Lem- had, if any. You can listen conditions that you must Hmong population to fight The belligerents on the Kháng chiến chống Mỹ in on was high on marijuana to “Ghost Tape No. 10” by renounce optimism for sto- for the US in the Vietnam North’s side were North Viet- Vietnam. when he single-handedly clicking here. The tape is icism. His optimistic fellow War. Afterwards, they were nam, Vietcong, Khmer Rouge • In 2005, NSA documents fought off two waves of Vi- undeniably creepy, filled captives all died. Having completely abandoned. and Pather Lao. The USSR, were declassified that proved etcong troops and dragged a with voices claiming to be a blindly optimistic view • Duct Tape was used during People’s Republic of China, that the second Gulf of wounded soldier to safety. from Hell, trapped there af- worsens your chances of the Vietnam War to repair North Korea and Cuba provid- Tonkin incident, which was • A popular children’s toy in ter dying senseless deaths, survival. This is called ‘The helicopter rotor blades. ed military support. used as a justification for the the United States, Slinkys looking for their children, Stockdale Paradox’. • A ‘liquid land mine’ was in- and wanting desperately to Casualties & Loses go home. • There was a false belief South North during the war that the Vi- etnamese had a superstition Country Dead Wounded Country Dead Wounded with the Ace of Spades card, South Vietnam 313,000 1,170,000 NVA / Vietcong 849,018 600,000+ considering it to be a symbol United States 58,318 303,644 China 1,100 4,200 of death and that they would Kingdom of Laos 30,000 Unknown North Korea 14 Unknown flee at the sight of the Ace. South Korea 5,099 10,962 Therefore the U.S. Play- Australia 521 3,129 ing Card Company shipped Approximately two million Vietnamese civil- Thailand 351 Unknown crates of this card to Viet- ians were also killed during the war. New Zealand 37 Unknown nam, where they were scat- tered during raids in an ef- Republic of China 25 Unknown fort to terrify the Vietcong. GAME OVER: South Vietnamese Chief of Police Nguyen Ngoc Philippines 9 64 • An infamous photograph of Loan executes Vietcong intelligence officer Nguyen Van Lem. 28 29 vented during the Vietnam • During the Vietnam War, ceive the Medal of Honour War, which was poured on a US Prisoner of War was (Desmond Doss, a medic in the ground to form a mine, forced to do a press confer- World War II, was the first). and best of all, it self-deac- ence saying that they were Bennett was killed in action tivated in four days, keeping treated well. He managed to during the Vietnam War and kids safe from mines that convey the truth by blink- posthumously received the had not been triggered. ing “TORTURE” in Morse Medal of Honour. • An Air Force Sergeant dur- code. • Three chaplains received the ing the Vietnam War cre- • Super-glue was used during medal, including Vincent ated an “underground” ra- the Vietnam War to slow R. Capodanno, who served dio station in the back of a bleeding until soldiers could with the Marine Corps and Vietnamese brothel where get to a hospital. was known as the “Grunt he played hard rock, made • During the Vietnam War, one Padre. vulgar jokes and openly op- unconventional technique • The Vietcong became ex- posed the war. The radio sta- used by the United States perts at digging tunnels. A ceremony honours the arrival of bodies of tion was operated on chan- against the Vietcong was Roy Benavidez THE BIG LIE: The Cu Chi Tunnels (about troops killed in Vietnam. Most of the coffins, however, were nel 69. replacing their ammunition empty or filled with sand. 75 kilometres north-west • Roy Benavidez, a US sol- with decoy explosive am- not as intense as in World of Saigon) were a warren dier in the Vietnam War, munition, which destroyed War II. Yet the average in- who survived the first 24 were known by staff as of tunnels used the by Viet- performed possibly the most their weapons when fired. fantryman in the South Pa- hours, died. “The Big Lie.” cong to attack targets around heroic six hours of battle • US President Richard Nixon cific during World War II • The helicopter provided un- • In the ’60s, the C.I.A. paid Saigon. Built under fortified any soldier ever has. When is suspected of sabotaging saw about 40 days of com- precedented mobility. With- Vietnamese spies with mer- villages, where peasants faced with over 1,000 NVA the Paris Peace Accords, ex- bat in four years. The aver- out the helicopter it would chandise from mail-order had been forcibly moved, (North Vietnamese Army) tending the Vietnam War by age infantryman in Vietnam have taken three times as Sears catalogues, since Cu Chi was a 200 kilometre troops, Roy P. Benavidez five years to ensure his own saw about 240 days of com- many troops to secure the they had little use for paper long network of passages flew into a gunfight to save election. bat in one year thanks to the 1.287 km border with Cam- money. with underground hospitals, 12 Special Forces soldiers • NVA General Võ Nguyên mobility of the helicopter. bodia and Laos. • The Medal of Honour was meeting rooms, multi-lev- with only a knife. He was Giáp not only gave the • One out of every 10 Amer- • 30,000 American draft awarded 259 for acts of el sleeping quarters, trap shot multiple times and be- American a torrid time in icans who served in Viet- dodgers went to Canada dur- bravery during the Vietnam doors, smokeless kitchens, lieved dead, until he spat in Vietnam. He also orches- nam was a casualty. 58,148 ing the Vietnam War, while War. 173 were to the US air raid shelters, weapons the face of the medic trying trated successive defeats of were killed and 304,000 30,000 Canadians joined the Army, 15 to the US Navy, factories, strategy rooms to put him in a body bag. It the Japanese and the French. wounded out of 2.7 million US military to fight in the 57 to the US Marine Corps and even entire underground took 13 years to get him the Even Death had a hard time who served. Although the Vietnam War. and 14 to the US Air Force. villages with theatres and Medal of Honour. finishing off Giáp – he lived percent that died is similar • On his second day in office, A Medal of Honor was also to 102 years of age. to other wars, amputations President Jimmy Carter par- awarded to the Vietnam Un- • The majority of the men who or crippling wounds were doned all evaders of the Vi- known Soldier. fought in Vietnam weren’t 300 percent higher than in etnam War drafts. • The first Medal of Honour drafted - they volunteered. World War II. 75,000 Viet- • The former Prime Minister presentation for Vietnam • In 1985 British pop singer nam veterans are severely of Vietnam moved to Or- was to Captain Roger Don- Paul Hardcastle had a hit disabled. ange County after the war, lon for actions on 6 July with a song titled 19. This, • MEDEVAC helicopters flew where he opened and ran a 1964 as commanding of- according to the song, was nearly 500,000 missions. liquor store. ficer of the U.S. Army Spe- the average age of US sol- Over 900,000 patients were • The U.S. government spent cial Forces Detachment de- diers fighting in the Vietnam airlifted (nearly half were years holding fake arrival fending Camp Nam Dong War. The average age of US American). The average ceremonies honouring the against a Vietcong attack. soldiers killed in Vietnam time lapse between wound- return of American soldiers • Thomas William Bennett was actually 22. Still young, ing to hospitalization was killed in WWII, Vietnam, (April 7, 1947 – February but not a teenager. less than one hour. As a re- and Korea to American soil, 11, 1969) was a U.S. Army • The common belief is that sult, less than one percent but the planes were actual- medic and the second con- Võ Nguyên Giáp Medal of Honour the fighting in Vietnam was of all Americans wounded, ly empty. The ceremonies scientious objector to re- 30 31 movie halls. In some places combat with the enemy. The the tunnels had multiple sto- term fragging is now of- ries. ten used to encompass any • The Cu Chi tunnel system means used to deliberately was so large and complex and directly cause the death that roads signs were used of military colleagues. The to help the Vietcong soldiers high number of fragging in- navigate their way around cidents in the latter years of and avoid bamboo-stake the Vietnam War was symp- booby traps meant for the tomatic of the unpopularity American and Australian of the war with the American soldiers that tried to ferret public and the breakdown of KITCHEN COMPLEX: One of the many kitchen complexes set them out. Favoured traps in- in the Cu Chi Tunnels. discipline in the U.S. Armed cluded punji stake pits with Forces. Documented and hidden upward-pointing Whenever troops would un- Vietnam was the Ho Chi suspected fragging incidents bamboo stakes, and bam- cover a tunnel, the tunnel Minh Trail, a network of totalled nearly nine hundred boo sticks that released an rats were sent in to kill any roads and trails extending from 1969 to 1972. extremely poisonous snake hiding enemy soldiers and from North Vietnam through • By the end of the war, seven Punji sticks were not designed to to plant explosives to de- eastern Laos and Cambo- SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE: called the three step snake, kill and enemy but rather to wound them. million tons of bombs had because its venom was toxic stroy the tunnels. A tunnel dia to South Vietnam. The been dropped on Vietnam, that a person collapsed three rat was equipped with only North Vietnamese called the the punji stick. A hole would to dig the soldier’s leg out, Laos, and Cambodia - more steps after being bitten. a standard issue .45 calibre route the Truong Son Road be dug into the ground and immobilizing the unit longer than twice the amount of • American, Australian and pistol, a bayonet and a flash- after the ridge it ran along or a number of sharpened than if the foot were simply bombs dropped on Europe New Zealand troops came light, although most tunnel Highway 559 after the en- wooded or bamboo stakes pierced. and Asia in World War II. up with a special way of rats were allowed to choose gineer brigade that built it. were placed upright in the • Air America was an Amer- • The term “Zippo Raids” was dealing with Vietcong tun- another pistol with which to The route began in a gorge ground. The presence of ican passenger and cargo coined during the Vietnam nels - tunnel rats. These arm themselves. the North Vietnamese called punji sticks would be cam- airline covertly owned and War. These were military were volunteers that would • The main supply route “Heaven’s Gate.” ouflaged by natural under- operated by the US gov- operations which involved go into the tunnels. Usually for weapons, supplies and • The object of some the growth, crops, grass, brush ernment between 1950 and burning down Vietnamese they were small in stature. troops infiltrating into South U.S.’s first military actions or similar materials. When 1976. It was used as a dum- villages. Often Zippo cig- in Southeast Asia was to someone stepped on the trap my corporation for Central arette lighters were used to disrupt the movement of the stakes would penetrate Intelligence Agency (CIA) ignite the huts. supplies along the Ho Chi through their boot. Often the operations, including many • 12,000 American helicop- Minh Trail. Throughout the sticks would be covered in in Vietnam and surrounding ters saw action during the Vietnam War a great deal of human faeces. In the harsh countries. Vietnam War. money and effort was spent tropical heat this could lead • The term fragging is used to • Many American troops were trying to shut it down. Thou- to an infection very quickly. describe the deliberate kill- not in the least impressed sands of tons of bombs were Sometimes a pit would be ing or attempted killing by with the M-16 rifle. The dropped on it, key battles dug with punji sticks in the a soldier of a fellow soldier, weapon was prone to jam- such as Hamburger Hill and sides pointing downward at usually a superior officer ming and the inside of the Khe Sanh were fought to an angle. A soldier stepping or non-commissioned of- barrel was vulnerable to cor- control it. Everything that into the pit would find it im- ficer (NCO). The word was rosion in the brutal Vietnam the U.S. forces tried was possible to remove his leg coined by U.S. military per- climate. ultimately unable to shut it without doing severe dam- sonnel during the Vietnam down. age, and injuries might be War, when such killings • The Vietcong were skilled incurred by the simple act of were most often attempted at building and employ- falling forward while one’s with a fragmentation gre- ing booby traps. One of the leg is in a narrow, vertical, nade, sometimes making it TUNNEL RAT: Probably one of the most dangerous jobs of the Vietnam War - going into Vietcong tunnels and seeking out the most common booby trap stake-lined pit. Such pits appear as though the kill- enemy. used by the Vietcong was would require time and care ing was accidental or during 32 33 their responses. the incident. On 21 May 2002, while oper- However, after he faced a court ating approximately 160 km off Submariner’s catastrophe USS Greeneville (2001) of inquiry, it was decided a full the coast of San Diego, Califor- The loss at sea with all hands of the Indonesian Navy’s KRI Nanggala was a tragedy that The USS Greeneville is a Los court-martial would be unneces- nia, Dolphin was cruising on the saddened the world. Yet this was not the first time this century that submarines have been Angeles-class fast attack subma- sary and Commander Waddle’s surface, recharging her batteries, involved in incidents. So far there have been more than 40. rine which collided with a Japa- request to retire was approved when a torpedo shield door gas- nese fishing vessel, Ehime Maru, for 1 October 2001 with an hon- ket failed, and the boat began to arlier this year the world 949A Antey (Oscar II class) diving bells and submersibles to off the coast of Oahu in February ourable discharge. flood. was both shocked and submarine Kursk (Project 949A the escape hatch of the subma- 2001. On 27 January 2002, less than Due to high winds and 3.0 to saddened to learn of the Антей Atomnaya Podvodnaya rine. On 9 February 2001, while a year after colliding with Ehime 3.4 metre swells in the ocean, E conducting a main ballast tank Maru and five months after run- approximately 70 to 85 tons of loss of the Indonesian Navy’s Lodka “Kursk” ) sank in an ac- Its response was criticised as KRI Nanggala. cident on 12 August 2000 in slow and inept. Officials misled blow off the coast of Oahu while ning aground, Greeneville col- seawater entered the ship, an On 21 April 2021 the subma- the Barents Sea, during the first and manipulated the public and hosting several civilian “distin- lided with USS Ogden (LPD-5) amount perilously close to the rine went missing in waters off major Russian naval exercise in news media, and refused help guished visitors”, mainly do- during a personnel transfer off boat’s reserve buoyancy. The Bali while taking part in a torpe- more than ten years, and all 118 from other countries’ ships near- nors to the Battleship Missouri the coast of Oman, opening a 130 flooding shorted electrical panels do drill. personnel on board were killed. by. Memorial, Greeneville struck x 460 mm hole in one of Ogden’s and started fires. It was later discovered that the The crews of nearby ships felt President Vladimir Putin ini- the 58 metre Japanese fishery fuel tanks and spilling several After 90 minutes, with fire and submarine had sunk, killing all the initial explosion and a sec- tially continued his vacation at a high school training ship Ehime thousand gallons of fuel. After flooding beyond the ability of 53 personnel on board. ond, much larger, explosion, but seaside resort. He authorised the Maru, causing the fishing boat to the collision, both vessels left the the crew to control, Command- Yet while a tragic event, it was the Russian Navy did not realise Russian Navy to accept British sink in less than ten minutes with area under their own power. er Stephen Kelety, Dolphin’s not the first time in recent histo- that an accident had occurred and Norwegian offers of assis- the death of nine crew members, commanding officer, ordered the ry that a submarine had been in- and did not initiate a search for tance after five days had passed including four high school stu- USS Dolphin (2002) crew of 41 and two civilian Navy volved in an incident or accident. the sub for more than six hours. since the accident. dents. The USS Dolphin (AGSS- employees to abandon ship. Since 2000 there have been 40 Because the submarine’s Seven days after the sinking, The commander of Greenev- 555) was a United States Navy The Oceanographic Research incidents. emergency rescue buoy had been British and Norwegian divers ille, Commander Scott Waddle, diesel-electric deep-diving re- ship McGaw was operating in This article looks at a few of intentionally disabled during an finally opened a hatch to the es- accepted full responsibility for search and development subma- the vicinity and immediately these incidents. earlier mission, it took more than cape trunk in the boat’s flooded rine. responded to Kelety’s call for 16 hours to locate the sunken ninth compartment but found no She was commissioned in assistance. They were evacuat- Kursk (2000) boat. survivors. 1968 and decommissioned in ed by boat to McGaw after the The nuclear-powered Project Over four days, the Russian The Government of Russia and 2007. hatches had been secured. All Navy repeatedly failed in its at- the Russian Navy were intensely Her 38-year career was the crew members were safely re- tempts to attach four different criticised over the incident and longest in history for a US Navy covered with only a few minor submarine. She was the Navy’s injuries. last operational conventionally She was later towed to San powered submarine. Diego and underwent three and

34 35 a half years of repairs and up- Northeastern China. strength of foil”. of spent nuclear fuel containing collision. The Navy concluded Ocean. grades at a cost of $50 million, Along with its normal comple- The poor condition of Russia’s some 5.3 gigabecquerels of radi- that “several critical navigation- A total of 208 people – 81 mil- then completed sea-trials during ment, the crew included 13 train- fleet of decommissioned nucle- onuclides. al and voyage planning proce- itary personnel and 127 civilians the summer of 2005 and returned ee cadets from the Chinese naval ar submarines concerned the The Military Prosecutor Gen- dures” were not being imple- – were on board at the time of the to her duties for one year. academy. nearby Baltic and Scandinavian eral’s office brought charges mented aboard San Francisco, accident. In mid-2006, the Navy decid- At a press conference on 8 nations, and in mid-2003, five against Captain Second Class despite Mooney’s otherwise re- At least 20 people were killed ed to retire Dolphin, citing the May 2003, Foreign Ministry countries made a combined do- Sergei Zhemchuzhnov who was markably good record. by asphyxiation and at least 21 $18 million her operations cost spokesperson Zhang Qiyue stat- nation of more than US$200 mil- overseeing the towing operation. Consequently, the Navy re- more were injured, making it the annually. She was deactivated ed that while on an exercise east lion in support of decommission President of Russia Vladimir lieved Mooney of his command worst Russian submarine disas- on 22 September 2006, and de- of Changshan Islands, the No. and disposal of the hulls. Putin removed Suchkov from and issued him a letter of repri- ter since Kursk sank in 2000. commissioned and struck from 361 submarine was incapacitat- In anticipation of receiving service on the recommendation mand. Three of the dead were mili- the Naval Vessel Register on 15 ed by a mechanical problem and those funds, Admiral Gennady of Navy Chief of Staff Vladimir Six crewmen received non-ju- tary personnel and the rest were January 2007. all 70 on board had perished. The Suchkov, Commander of the Kuroyedov. dicial punishment hearings for civilians from the Vostok, Zvez- submarine had been towed to a Northern Fleet, decided to tow hazarding a vessel and derelic- da, Era and Amur shipbuilding Ming 361 (2003) port as of the time of the press all the 16 laid up submarines USS San Francisco (2005) tion of duty, and they were re- yards who were members of the The submarine hull number conference. from Gremikha to shipyards USS San Francisco (SSN-711) duced in rank and given letters acceptance team. No. 361 named Great Wall #61 After the disaster, the crip- where they would be disman- is a Los Angeles-class nuclear of reprimand. The incident involved the ac- was a Chinese People’s Libera- pled submarine drifted for ten tled. K-159 was the 13th hull to submarine. cidental triggering of a fire ex- tion Army Navy Type-035AIP days because it was on a silent, be towed. On 8 January 2005 at 02h43 Daniil Moskovsky (2006) tinguishing system which sealed (ES5E variant) (NATO report- no-contact exercise. Because K-159’s hull was rust- GMT, San Francisco collided B-414 Daniil Moskovsky two forward compartments and ing name Ming III) conventional The boat was discovered by ed through in so many places, it with an undersea mountain about is a Project 671RTM Schuka released Halon 2402 dibromo- diesel/electric submarine. Chinese fishermen who noticed was kept afloat by spot-welding 675 km southeast of Guam while (NATO: Victor III) attack sub- tetrafluoroethane gas into them. In April 2003, during an exer- its periscope sticking above the large empty tanks to her sides as operating at flank (maximum) marine of the Russian Northern According to survivors, those cise in the Yellow Sea between surface on 25 April 2003. The pontoons. speed at a depth of 160 metres. Fleet. affected by the gas release were North Korea and China’s Shan- crew were slumped over at their Those tanks, however, were The collision was so serious On 6 September 2006, as it caught off guard and may not dong Province, the vessel suf- stations, seemingly unaware of manufactured in the 1940s, were that the vessel was almost lost; was anchored near the Rybachy have been alerted in time due fered a mechanical failure that any issue. not air-tight, and were no better accounts detail a desperate strug- Peninsula, a remote Arctic re- to warning sirens sounding only killed all 70 crew members on The submarine was initially maintained than the submarine’s gle for positive buoyancy to gion north of Murmansk and after the gas had already begun board. towed to Yulin Harbor near San- hull. surface after the forward ballast near the Norwegian border, a fire pouring in. Some of the victims It was one of China’s worst ya on Hainan Island before being On 28 August 2003, K-159 tanks were ruptured. broke out. were reported to have been una- peacetime military disasters. The taken back to the northeast sea- and her pontoons were manned Ninety-eight crewmen were The fire shut down the ves- ble to turn on breathing kits be- PLA Navy’s Commander Shi port of Dalian in Liaoning prov- by ten Russian sailors and taken injured, and Machinist’s Mate sel’s nuclear reactor but caused fore they suffocated. Yunsheng and Political Com- ince. under tow to Polyarny. Second Class Joseph Allen Ash- no damage to it and there was no On 10 November, a Russian missar Yang Huaiqing were both That crew kept the pontoons ley, 24, of Akron, Ohio, died leak of radiation. Two members Navy statement blamed the dis- dismissed as a result of the acci- K-159 (2003) pressurized and the submarine from head injuries on 9 January. of the crew died in the fire. aster on an “unsanctioned opera- dent. The submarine The K-159 hull pumped out, but during the Other injuries to the crew in- She was towed back to its base tion” of the fire suppression sys- According to the official Chi- (Russian: К–159) was a Pro- early morning hours of 30 Au- cluded broken bones, spinal inju- in Vedyayevo, near Murmansk. tem aboard Nerpa. Preliminary nese news agency Xinhua, all ject 627A “Kit” (NATO report- gust they encountered a squall ry, and lacerations. The cause of the fire was not dis- investigations concluded that the 70 crew members died when the ing name November class) nu- that ripped away one of the pon- San Francisco’s forward bal- closed, but it was suspected that system had triggered automat- submarine’s diesel engine used clear-powered submarine that toons. last tanks and her sonar dome a short-circuit was the cause. ically without human interven- up all available oxygen (because served in the Northern Fleet of K-159 did not sink immedi- were severely damaged, but her tion. it had failed to shut down proper- the Soviet Navy from 1963–89. ately, but was clearly in distress. pressure hull was not breached K-152 Nerpa (2008 & 2017) On 13 November, naval inves- ly) while the boat was submerged K-159 was decommissioned Northern Fleet was notified at and there was no damage to her K-152 Nerpa is a 8,140-tonne tigators announced that a crew- on 16 April 2003. on 30 May 1989 and laid up in 01h20, and Admiral Suchkov ar- nuclear reactor. She surfaced and Project 971 (NATO: Aku- man had turned on the system The submarine, which was Gremikha and her reactors were rived at headquarters 20 minutes arrived in Guam on 10 January la-class) nuclear-powered attack “without permission or any par- commanded by Commodore probably not defuelled. later. 2005. submarine. ticular grounds”. Cheng Fuming, had been tak- She remained in layup with By 03h00 the wreck had sunk San Francisco’s captain Com- An accident occurred aboard That, however, was not the ing part in naval exercises east little or no maintenance for 14 in the Barents Sea, 200 meters mander Kevin Mooney was re- K-152 Nerpa at 20h30 local time only incident involving Ner- of Inner Changshan Islands in years. Her outer hull rusted un- down, with nine of her crew assigned to a shore unit in Guam on 8 November 2008, during an pa. At the end of 2008 she was the Yellow Sea off the coast of til in many places it had “the and most likely 800 kilograms during the investigation of the underwater test run in the Pacific leased for 10 years to India at an 36 37 estimated cost of $670 million. Three sailors on board report- Makkah near the mouth of the board the missing submarine, in- sel while it was taking underwa- drill, killing all 53 personnel on The submarine was handed edly jumped off to safety. Navy Chesapeake Bay, requiring re- cluding Argentina’s first female ter measurements of the sea floor board. over to India on 30 December divers were also brought in as pairs to the submarine’s fairwa- submarine officer, Eliana Kraw- in Russian territorial waters. On 21 April 2021, Air Chief 2011. After being handed over to there was a possibility that 18 ter planes and rudder. czyk. The submarine carried Fourteen of the crew were Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Com- the Indian Navy, it was commis- personnel were trapped inside On 20 December 2004 a small oxygen for no more than seven killed by inhalation of smoke or mander of the Indonesian Na- sioned as INS Chakra. and Defence Minister A. K. An- fire broke out aboard Jackson- days when submerged. toxic fumes. Seven of those who tional Armed Forces, reported In October 2017 the INS tony confirmed that there were ville while she was undergoing On 27 November, it was re- died held the rank of first rank that Nanggala was believed to Chakra suffered extensive dam- fatalities. a refueling overhaul at the Ports- vealed to the press that accord- captain and two were recipients have disappeared in waters about age while entering Visakhapat- Other sources stated that a mouth Naval Shipyard. The fire ing to the submarine’s last report of the Hero of the Russian Fed- 95 km north of Bali nam harbour, including a large small explosion occurred around was immediately extinguished from 15 November, San Juan’s eration award. Indonesian Navy spokesper- hole in the sonar dome in the midnight which then triggered and the reactor was never in dan- snorkel had leaked water into the Submarine commander Den- son First Admiral Julius Widjo- bow. the two larger explosions. ger, though a shipyard firefighter forward storage batteries the day is Dolonsky was among those jono stated that Nanggala had A Russian team visited India A total of 18 sailors died in the and a sailor were treated at the before, which ignited a fire. killed. The presence of such been conducting a torpedo drill, for a joint investigation, which accident. In December 2014, a scene for smoke inhalation. After quenching the fire, the a high-ranking crew on a sin- but failed to report its results as led to the submarine being dry naval court of inquiry arrived at To round things off she collid- crew disconnected the forward gle vessel may be an indication expected. docked for repairs at a cost of the preliminary conclusion that ed with an unnamed fishing ves- batteries. The submarine contin- that the vessel was carrying out The navy subsequently sent a $20 million to fix the damage. human error as a result of crew sel while on regular patrol in the ued to move powered by the aft a high-risk task or testing a new distress call to the International fatigue caused the disaster. Persian Gulf on 10 January 2013. batteries. capability at the time of the ac- Submarine Escape and Rescue INS Sindhuralshak (2013) Initially, the navy was hopeful Her main periscope was A large search-and-rescue op- cident. Liaison Office at around 09h37 NS Sindhurakshak was a Rus- of using Sindhurakshak after it sheared off in the collision. The eration failed to find the San In comparison, submarine to report the boat as missing and sian-made Kilo-class 877EKM was salvaged, but on Navy Day ship’s commanding and exec- Juan and, on 30 November, 15 Kursk – which was lost with all presumably sunk. diesel-electric submarine of the 2015, Vice Admiral Cheema utive officers were relieved for days after San Juan went miss- hands after a similar disaster – The navy stated that it was pos- Indian Navy. confirmed the Sindhurakshak cause following the incident. ing, the Navy declared that the had 118 crew members of whom sible that Nanggala experienced A fire broke out aboard Sind- would be disposed of. In August 2017, Jacksonville rescue phase of the operation only two held the rank of captain a power outage before falling to hurakshak while the vessel was After a period of use for the completed her final deployment, was over, but the search for the 1st rank. a depth of 600–700 metres. Wid- in Visakhapatnam in February training of marine commandos, ending 36 years of Submarine submarine on the seabed would On 4 July, it was announced jojono stated that Nanggala was 2010. One sailor was killed and the submarine was sunk in 3000 Service. be continuing. that the fire had originated in able to dive to a depth of 500 me- two others were injured. metres of water in the Arabian On 11 December 2017, she On 16 November 2018, the the battery compartment. De- tres. Navy officials reported that the Sea during June 2017. arrived in Bremerton, Washing- remains of ARA San Juan were fence Minister Sergey Shoygu On 24 April 2021, the Indone- fire had been caused by an explo- ton to commence a months-long found at a depth of 907 metres also said that the submarine was sian Navy announced the finding sion in the submarine’s battery USS Jacksonville (2013) preparation for inactivation and nearly 270 nautical miles from nuclear-powered, but that the re- of debris, including a part associ- compartment, which occurred The USS Jacksonville (SSN- decommissioning. Comodoro Rivadavia, by a re- actor had been isolated from the ated with torpedo tubes, a cool- due to a faulty battery valve that 699), a nuclear powered Los mote submersible operated by fire. ant pipe insulator, a bottle of per- leaked hydrogen gas. Angeles-class attack submarine. ARA San Juan (2017) the Norwegian ship Seabed Con- According to Shoygu, the sub- iscope grease, and prayer rugs. On 14 August 2013, the Sind- The submarine had a long run of ARA San Juan (S-42) was a structor of the company Ocean marine could be repaired and re- Because the debris was found hurakshak sank after explosions bad luck. TR-1700-class diesel-electric Infinity, a private maritime com- turned to service. within 19 km of the point of caused by a fire on board when While outbound she was in- submarine in service with the pany hired by the Argentine gov- On 5 July, four members were last contact and no other vessels the submarine was berthed at volved in a collison with the in- Submarine Force of the Argen- ernment. posthumously awarded Hero of were believed to be in the area, Mumbai. The fire, followed by bound Turkish merchant vessel tine Navy from 1986 to 2017. The loss of 44 crewmen con- Russia while ten members were the debris was believed to have a series of ordnance blasts on General Z. Dogan in the vicinity On 17 November 2017, it was stituted the largest loss of life posthumously awarded Order of come from the submarine, and the armed submarine, occurred of Norfolk, Virginia on 22 March announced that San Juan had not aboard a submarine since the Courage. Nanggala was declared sunk. shortly after midnight. T 1982. been heard from since 15 No- Chinese submarine 361 mal- The Navy said Nanggala he fire was put out within two Then on 21 September 1984 vember when the vessel was 430 functioned in April 2003. Kri Nanggala (2021) might have experienced a power hours though, due to damage she hit a barge positioned across kilometres from the coast, off KRI Nanggala (402), also outage. After the finding of de- from the explosions, the subma- Chesapeake Bay’s Thimble San Jorge Gulf on its way to Mar Losharik (2019) known as Nanggala II, was one of bris from Nanggala, Yudo Mar- rine sank and was partially sub- Shoal Channel, requiring the re- del Plata from Ushuaia follow- Project 210, Project 10831 or two Cakra-class Type 209/1300 gono said the submarine might merged in 15 metres deep water placement of the submarine’s so- ing a military exercise, and that a AS-31, nicknamed Losharik, is diesel-electric attack submarines have cracked instead of explod- at its berth, with only a portion nar dome. search and rescue operation had a Russian deep-diving nuclear of the Indonesian Navy. On 21 ed, as an explosion would have of the sail visible above the water On 17 May 1996 she collid- been launched in the same area. powered submarine. On 1 July April 2021, the submarine sank been detected by sonar. surface. ed with the container ship Saudi There were 44 servicemen on 2019, a fire broke out on the ves- in the Bali Sea during a torpedo 38 39 Bravo Zulu Sea Cadets Reggie is now a Jimmy When a devastating fire broke out on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, the University of Cape Photographer, blogger, journalist and Photo Editor of Military Despatches, Regine Lord, Town was one of the victims. Serious damage was caused to academic and administrative becomes an Associate Member of the South African Signals Association. buildings, as well as to residences and the Jagger Library. When the call went out for vol- unteers to assist in retrieving items, the Sea Cadets from TS Woltemade were quick to re- n Thursday 13 May I I had met up with Pierre. I last Many of the photographs on went for a cup of coffee saw Reggie just before Christ- the Association’s website were spond. Article and photograph byLt Cdr Glenn von Zeil. Oand a spot of breakfast mas when we exchanged gifts. taken by Regine, as were many s a result of devastating During their visit the Sea Ca- High at the Ou Meul Bakery in Pine- The reason for the meeting of the photographs that appear fires on the slopes of dets also met several senior stu- • Sea J Holies - Ocean View lands. was because Reggie was being in “Jimmy’s Own”, the Associ- Devil’s Peak on Sun- dents and staff, amongst them High I was meeting up with Rob- made an Associate Member of ations quarterly newsletter. A bie Roberts, Pierre Fourie and the South African Signal’s As- And they are not the only day, 18 April 2021 where sev- Mihlali Pikashe, a Residents • Sea A Jam - Oval north High eral University of Cape Town Association Treasurer from • Sea R Johnson - Muizenberg Regine Lord, something I was sociation. veteran’s organisation to have academic, residences, adminis- Groote Schuur Residence, who High looking forward to. The South African Signals honoured Reggie. In 2019 she trative and the Jagger Library encouraged them to follow their • Sea J Richard’s - Crest Way Robbie is the Chairman of Association is a military veter- was awarded the ‘Certificate were damaged, the Chief Li- dreams as these can become a High the South African Signals As- ans organisation that is open to of Good Comradeship’ by the brarian Ms Ujala Satgoor, put reality. • Sea R Rossouw - Sibelius sociation and Pierre is the Pub- anyone that served in the South Memorable Order of Tin Hats. out a call for volunteers to as- Thank you to these TS Wolte- High lic Relations Officer. The last African Corps of Signals. This is an award normally re- sist in retrieving items. made Sea Cadets from various Perhaps their peers, schools time Robbie and I got together Associate membership can served for members of the Ten Sea Cadets under the Cape Flats schools and suburbs and communities will recognise was on 11 November, Remem- be awarded to those that have MOTHs. command of Ensign Ruben Pil- for volunteering their time and their leadership in stepping up brance Day, when we presented made a valuable contribution to Well done Reggie. I am both lay were volunteered from TS energy when most needed: when needed to perform volun- a program on Zone Radio. the Association, something that proud and honoured to have Woltemade to assist UCT Jag- • Sea N Brown - Mondale tary civic duties. Could this be It had been even longer since Regine has done. you as our Photo Editor. ger Library with the removal High what the leaders of the future of books, journals and manu- • Sea B Bull - Steenberg High will embody ? scripts. • Sea L Golden Lomb - Steen- Bravo Zulu Sea Cadets. Upon arrival the Sea Cadets berg High For more information on the were COVID-19 screened, re- • Sea L Hartogh - Manenberg South African Sea Cadets see ceived face masks, gloves and High www.seacadets.za.org hard hats before proceeding to • Sea J Heyburgh - Grassdale a Health & Safety briefing. The Sea Cadets received practical experience to comple- ment their maritime training iro the devastating effect of fire, managing the aftermath, Health & Safety, teamwork & working on confined spaces as onboard ship. Instead of passing the vict- uals or ammunition hand to hand these crates contained the knowledge of the nation. It is ironic that the crates contained children’s books. Many of the Sea Cadets ex- pressed an interest to study at ANSWERING THE CALL: Sea Cadets from TS Woltemade UCT including Marine Biology muster outside Sarah Baartman Hall at UCT to assist in recov- WELCOME: Regine Lord is presented with her certificate and badge. From left to right: Robbie and Engineering. ering books from Jagger Library after a devastating fire. Roberts, Regine Lord, and Pierre Fourie. 40 41 TS Tiburon back in action After a long period of lockdown, TS Tiburon was back. And with a new Commanding Officer to boot. Article and photographs bySea Jared Sewpershad.

S Tiburon, the South Af- • Morality The response to the reopen- rican Sea Cadet unit in ing was immense and a large TDurban re-opened after a The adult Officers and In- number of cadets returned ac- long and gruelling lockdown on structors stive to continually companied by their parents to Saturday, 24 April 2021. The better and improve the Sea Ca- celebrate the event. The Sea re-opening parade included the dets both physically and men- Cadets proudly displayed their handing over of command to tally in order to be future am- drill and many were promoted the new Commanding Officer, bassadors of South Africa. in their ranks which could not Sub Lieutenant Rajesh Sewper- The new Commanding Of- have been done during the lock- shad. ficer and his staff have worked down. After the parade all were The adult Officers and in- tirelessly to improve the unit treated to a delicious lunch. structors teach the Sea Cadets during the lockdown by reno- Thank you to the new Com- practical maritime skills as well vating where required. As on- manding Officer, Sub Lieu- as the Sea Cadets compass of going maintenance is required tenant Rajesh Sewpershad, his life which include eight core to maintain the “ship” there are staff, and the Sea Cadets of TS values they abide by: still more plans to upgrade the Tiburon for ensuring that the unit. youth of KZN continue to have • Honesty Among the dignitaries at- a safe space to learn maritime GET ON PARADE: TS Tiburon on parade after a lockdown “lay up”. • Loyalty tending, was Commander Paul skills. • Obedience Jacobs, Executive Officer of Anyone interested in assist- OPPOSITE PAGE: TS Tiburon Officers & dignitaries. From Left to Right: Ens Mikyala Pillay, Lt Gaylene Pillay, Padre Victor Naiker, SLt Rajesh Sewpershad (Commanding Officer TS Tiburon), • Accountability the Sea Cadet Corps, and Lieu- ing TS Tiburon should contact Cdr Paul Jacobs (Executive Officer Sea Cadets Corps), Ens Ruben Pillay. • Self-Respect tenant Gaylene Pillay, Officer SLt Rajesh Sewpershad at Ca- • Responsibility in Charge of TS Woltemade in [email protected] • Discipline Cape Town. Pip-Ack Shellhole The SAS President Kruger sank on 18 February 1982 with the loss of 16 lives af- ter colliding with the SAS Tafelberg in the South At- lantic.

Moth Andre van Breda will All welcome. COVID restriction will apply. recount his experiences on Refreshments available. board the ship during the sinking. Pip-Ack Shellhole, 164 Campground Road, Under Claremont Bridge (parking off Thicket Street) 1o July 2021 at 14:00

No Charges, but donations welcome.

Please RSVP by 3 July to Moth Paul Rosslee at 074 199 4113 or [email protected]

42 43 Rank Structure - Spain 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 Spanish Armed Forces. he Spanish Armed Forc- itarily powerful nations of the es are in charge of guar- European Union (EUFOR) and Brigada Subteniente Suboficial mayor Tanteeing the sovereignty Eurocorps. It also occupies a (Warrant Officer (Warrant Officer (Senior Warrant and independence of the king- prominent position in the struc- 2nd Class) 1st Class) Officer) dom of Spain, defending its ter- ture of the North Atlantic Trea- ritorial integrity and the consti- ty Organization (NATO), which Officers tutional order, according to the it joined in 1982. functions entrusted to them by It also has the oldest Marine the Constitution of 1978. Corps in the world and the old- They are composed of: the est permanent military units in Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the world: the King’s Immemo- the Royal Guard and the Mili- rial No. 1 Infantry Regiment tary Emergency Unit, as well as and the “Soria” No. 9 Light In- the so-called Common Corps. fantry Regiment. Caballero Alférez Alférez Teniente Capitán Spain is one of the most mil- Cadete (Ensign) (Lieutenant) (Captain) (Officer Cadet) Spanish Army Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Comandante Teniente coronel Coronel General de brigada (Commandant) (Lieutenant Colonel) (Colonel) (Brigadier General)

Soldado Soldado de primera Cabo Cabo primero (Soldier) (First Soldier) (Corporal) (First Corporal)

General de división Teniente general General de Ejército Capitán general (Divisional General) (Lieutenant General) (General of the Army) (Captain General)

Cabo mayor Sargento Sargento primero (Corporal Major) (Sergeant) (First Sergeant)

44 45 Spanish Navy Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Capitán de fragata Capitán de navío Contra almirante Vice almirante (Frigate Captain) (Captain) (Counter Admiral) (Vice Admiral)

Marinero Marinero de primera Cabo Cabo primero (Seaman) (First Seaman) (Corporal) (First Corporal)

Almirante Almirante general Capitán general (Admiral) (Admiral General) (Captain General) Spanish Air Force Cabo mayor Sargento Sargento primero (Corporal Major) (Sergeant) (First Sergeant) Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

Soldado Soldado de primera Cabo Cabo primero Brigada Subteniente Suboficial mayor (Soldier) (First Soldier) (Corporal) (First Corporal) (Warrant Officer (Warrant Officer (Senior Warrant 2nd Class) 1st Class) Officer) Officers

Cabo mayor Sargento Sargento primero (Corporal Major) (Sergeant) (First Sergeant)

Alférez de fragata Alférez de navío Teniente de navío Capitán de corbeta (Ensign) (Ensign) (Lieutenant) (Corvette Captain)

Brigada Subteniente Suboficial mayor (Warrant Officer (Warrant Officer (Senior Warrant 2nd Class) 1st Class) Officer)

46 47 Officers

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

Oficial Cadete Oficial Cadete Oficial Cadete Alférez (Officer Cadet) (Officer Cadet) (Officer Cadet) (Junior Officer) 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 Teniente Capitán Comandante Teniente coronel Legion. Read the February issue of Springbok by clicking (Lieutenant) (Captain) (Commandant) (Lieutenant Colonel) on the cover to the left.

Coronel General de brigada General de división Memorable Order of (Colonel) (Brigadier General (Divisional General) Tin Hats

Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate and find out more about the Memorable Order of Tin Hats. Teniente general General del Aire Capitán general (Lieutenant General) (General of the Air) (Captain General)

48 49 head to head head to head Weapons & Equipment: Falklands War This month in the final of a series of three articles we look at the assets used by the naval forces of both Britain and Argentina during the Falklands War.

n this article we will be tak- (HMS Fearless). 317.0 ing a closer look at the naval • 4 LCU (Foxtrot One to Iforces used by both Britain Centaur-class aircraft carrier Four), 100 troops or one and Argentina during the Falk- - V/STOL carrier Main Battle Tank. LCU lands War. HMS Hermes - Captain L.E. Foxtrot Four, bombed and This is a list of the naval forc- Middleton. Flagship Task sunk in the Choiseul Sound es from the United Kingdom Group 317.8 by A-4B Skyhawks that took part in the Falklands • 800 Naval Air Squadron (12 • 4 LCVP (Foxtrot Five to War, often referred to as “the BAE Sea Harriers, includ- Eight), 25 troops or a Land Task Force” in the context of ing 7 absorbed from 899 Rover with trailer. the war. training squadron and trials) • flight deck for 4 Sea King • Part of 809 Naval Air Squad- HC.4 (not embarked) ron (4 BAE Sea Harriers ab- sorbed into 800 Squadron) HMS Intrepid - Captain P.G.V. CASUALTY: The Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield was hit by an Aérospatiale AM39 Exocet An- • Part of No. 1 Squadron RAF Dingemans ti-ship missile on 4 May 1982. She sank on 10 May. 20 members of the crew died in the attack. (8 Hawker Siddeley Harrier • 4 LCU (Tango One to Four) GR.3) • 4 LCVP (Tango Five to • hit by unexploded bomb Type 22 frigates HMS Antelope - Commander • 825 Naval Air Squadron (4 Eight) from a Douglas A-4B Sky- HMS Brilliant - Captain J.F. N.J. Tobin United Kingdom Sea Kings HAS.2; formed • flight deck for 4 Sea King hawk 12 May, withdrawn Coward • sank 24 May due to unsuc- from 706 training sqn) HC.4 (not embarked) from war. Moderate Dam- • hit by IAI Dagger cannon cessful defusing attempt of Royal Navy • 826 Naval Air Squadron (12 age fire - Minor Damage unexploded bombs from Command Sea King HAS.5) Type 82 destroyer Douglas A-4B Skyhawks. In Northwood London: • 846 Naval Air Squadron (6 HMS Bristol - Captain A. Grose HMS Cardiff - Captain M.G.T. HMS Broadsword - Captain Fatal Damage • Commander-in-Chief, Fleet Sea King HC.4) Harris W.R. Canning - Admiral Sir J.D.E. Field- Type 42 destroyers • hit by IAI Dagger cannon HMS Ardent - Commander house. Invincible-class aircraft car- HMS Sheffield - Captain HMS Exeter - Captain H.M. fire, later damaged by bomb A.W.J. West • Commander Task Group riers J.F.T.G. Salt Balfour from Douglas A-4B Sky- • sank 21 May by bombs from 324.3 and Flag Officer Sub- HMS Invincible - Captain J.J. • set on fire by an Aérospa- hawk - Moderate Damage IAI Daggers and Doug- marines - Vice-Admiral Black RN tiale AM39 Exocet (Air-to- County-class destroyers las A-4Q Skyhawks. Fatal P.G.M. Herbert. • 801 Naval Air Squadron (8 Surface) Anti-ship missile HMS Glamorgan - Captain Type 21 frigates Damage BAE Sea Harriers including launched from a Dassault M.E. Barrow HMS Active - Commander In the South Atlantic: 5 absorbed from 899 train- Super Étendard 4 May. Fatal • hit by an Aérospatiale MM38 P.C.B. Canter HMS Ambuscade - Command- • Commander Task Group ing squadron) Damage (sank on 10 May) Exocet (surface-to-surface) er P.J. Mosse 317.8 (Carrier/Battle Group) • Part of 809 Naval Air Squad- anti-ship missile on 11 June. HMS Alacrity - Commander C. and Flag Officer, First Flo- ron (4 BAE Sea Harriers ab- HMS Coventry - Captain D. Major Damage J.S. Craig HMS Avenger - Captain H.M. tilla - Rear-Admiral J.F. sorbed into 801 Squadron) Hart Dyke • sank Argentine transport ship White Woodward (HMS Hermes). • 820 Naval Air Squadron (10 • sunk on 25 May by three HMS Antrim - Captain B.G. ARA Isla de los Estados. • Commander Task Group Sea King HAS.5) bombs from a Douglas A-4B Young Slightly damaged by bomb. HMS Arrow - Commander P.J. 317.0 (Amphibious Task Skyhawk. Fatal Damage • hit by unexploded bomb Lynx helicopter damaged by Bootherstone Group) and Commodore Landing platform docks from an IAI Dagger. Major return fire from armed coast- • hit by IAI Dagger cannon Amphibious Warfare - HMS Fearless - Captain E.S.J. HMS Glasgow - Captain A.P. Damage er ARA Monsunen. fire. Minor Damage Commodore Michael Clapp Larken. Flagship Task Group Hoddinott 50 51 Leander-class frigates • ran aground. Moderate HMS Junella - Lieutenant-Com- McCarthy Freeman helicopter pad and carried three HMS Andromeda - Captain J.L. Damage mander M. Rowledge • bombed by Douglas A-4B Army helicopters, 105 troops, Weatherall Skyhawk - Minor Damage Royal Maritime Auxiliary and 1,874 tons of stores and Valiant-class submarines HMS Northella- Lieuten- Service ammunition to Ajax Bay on 1 HMS Argonaut - Captain C.H. HMS Valiant - Commander ant-Commander J. Greenop RFA Sir Galahad (L3005) - Paul RMAS Typhoon (A95) June Layman T.M. Le Marchand J.G. Roberts • hit by Aermacchi MB.339A • Argentine fighters returning HMS Pict - Lieutenant-Com- • bombed on 24 May and 8 RMAS Goosander (A94) Europic Ferry – equipped with cannon/rocket and unex- from an aborted mission jet- mander D. Garwood June by Douglas A-4B Sky- helicopter pad and carried ve- ploded bombs from Doug- tisoned bombs nearby. Mi- hawks (sunk by torpedo on Ships taken from the trade hicles, ammunition, fuel, and las A-4B Skyhawks . Major nor Damage Royal Fleet Auxiliary 21 June and declared a war The following Merchant four Scout helicopters of 656 Damage Tankers grave). Fatal Damage Navy ships were requisitioned, Squadron Army Air Corps to Swiftsure-class submarines RFA Olna (A123) - J.A. Bailey as Ships Taken Up From Trade San Carlos on 21 May HMS Minerva - Commander HMS Spartan - Commander RFA Sir Geraint (L3027) - D.E. (STUFT). S.H.G. Johnston J.B. Taylor RFA Olmeda (A124) - G.P. Lawrence Nordic Ferry – equipped with Overbury Liners helicopter pad and carried HMS Penelope - Commander HMS Splendid - Commander RFA Sir Lancelot (L3029) SS Canberra – equipped with troops, stores, and ammunition P.V. Rickard R.C. Lane-Nott RFA Tidespring (A75) - S. Red- - Christopher A. Purtch- helicopter pad and carried per- to Falklands on 29 May mond er-Wydenbruck sonnel of the 3rd Commando Rothesay-class frigates Hecla-class survey vessels, • damaged by unexploded Brigade to San Carlos on 21 Norland – equipped with heli- HMS Yarmouth - Commander used as casualty ferries (hospi- RFA Tidepool (A76) - J.W. bombs from Douglas A-4B May. copter pad carried 800 men of 2 A.S. Morton tal ships) Gaffrey Skyhawks Para and men of 848 Naval Air MV Queen Elizabeth 2. – Squadron to San Carlos on 21 HMS Plymouth - Captain D. HMS Hecla - Captain G.L. RFA Blue Rover (A270) - D.A. RFA Sir Percivale (L3036) - equipped with helicopter pad May Pentreath Hope Reynolds A.F. Pitt and carried 3,200 men of the unexploded bombs from IAI 5th Infantry Brigade. At South Rangatira – equipped with heli- Daggers. Major Damage HMS Herald - Commander RFA Appleleaf (A79) - G.P.A. RFA Sir Tristram (L3505) - Georgia, the men of 2nd Battal- copter pad and Oerlikon 20 mm R.I.C. Halliday McDougall G.R. Green ion Scots Guards, 1st Battalion cannon to carry 1,000 engineers Ice patrol ship • bombed 8 June by Doug- Welsh Guards and 1/7 Gurkha with vehicles and equipment, HMS Endurance - Captain N.J. HMS Hydra - Commander R.J. RFA Brambleleaf (A81) - las A-4B Skyhawks. Major Rifles were transferred to Can- but sailed after cease fire. Barker Campbell M.S.J. Farley Damage berra, Norland and RFA Strom- ness on 27 May for transport to St Edmund – equipped with Castle-class patrol vessels. As Trawler/Minesweepers - RFA Bayleaf (A109) - A.E.T. Supply ships San Carlos. helicopter pad and carried RAF despatch vessels, carrying mail Minesweeper Auxiliary Hunter RFA Regent (A486) - J. Logan crews (18 Sqn), troops and ve- between the Task Force and As- (MSA) 11th MCM Squadron SS Uganda – equipped with hicles cension Island. Civilian trawlers converted to RFA Plumleaf (A78) - R.W.M. RFA Resource (A480) - B.A. helicopter pad and used as hos- Extra-Deep Armed Team Sweep Wallace Seymour pital ship from 11 May. Tor Caledonia – equipped with HMS Leeds Castle (EDATS) with some extempore helicopter pad and carried vehi- acoustic and sonar equipment. RFA Pearleaf (A77) - J. Mc- RFA Fort Austin (A386) - Com- Roll-on-Roll-off ferries cles and equipment; arrived 12 HMS Dumbarton Castle They were manned by Royal Culloch modore Sam Dunlop RFA Elk – equipped with helicopter June Naval personnel, mainly from pad and two Bofors 40 mm guns Churchill-class submarines 1st MCM Squadron based at Landing Ship Logistic RFA Fort Grange (A385) - to carry three Sea King helicop- Container / Cargo ships HMS Conqueror - Commander Rosyth. All five minesweepers The peacetime crews of the D.G.M. Averill ters, ammunition, and heavy Astronomer – equipped with C.L. Wreford-Brown were involved in clearing two “Round Table” ships – British vehicles including eight Bofors helicopter pad and Oerlikon 20 minefields off Port Stanley. merchant seamen, operating RFA Stromness (A344) - J.B. 40 mm guns, four FV101 Scor- mm cannon and carried thirteen HMS Courageous - Command- under Ministry of Defence ju- Dickinson pion and four FV107 Scimitar helicopters; arrived after cease er R.T.N. Best HMS Cordella - Lieuten- risdiction – were joined by Brit- attacked by A-4C on 24 May - light tanks - joined carrier battle fire. ant-Commander M. Holloway ish servicemen as signalmen, Minor Damage group on 16 May Oberon-class submarines stevedores and gunners. Atlantic Conveyor – equipped HMS Onyx - Lieutenant-Com- HMS Farnella - Lieutenant R. Helicopter support ship Baltic Ferry – equipped with with helicopter pad and carried mander A. O. Johnson Bishop RFA Sir Bedivere (L3004) - P.J. RFA Engadine (K08) - D.F. eight BAE Sea Harriers (809 52 53 May • Sea Cat Scottish Eagle – used as base • Sea Wolf Anco Charger – used as auxilia- storage tanker at South Georgia • Sea Dart ry support tanker from 24 April from 18 June and then moved with capability to transport 42 to Falklands on 14 July Surface-to-surface missiles different liquids at once • Aérospatiale MM38 Exocet Tugs / Repair / Support Ships (Anti-ship missile) Balder London – used as aux- British Enterprise III – diving • Ikara (Anti-submarine mis- iliary support tanker from 12 support ship sile) May Iris – cable ship equipped with Artillery British Avon – used as auxiliary helicopter pad and two Oer- • 114 mm L/55 Mark 8 gun support tanker from 25 April likon 20 mm cannon for use as • 114 mm L/45 Mark 6 gun despatch vessel from late May. • Bofors 40 mm L/60 Mark 9 British Dart – used as auxiliary anti-aircraft (A/A) gun support tanker from 22 April Irishman – ocean salvage tug • Oerlikon 20 mm A/A gun from 24 May. • L7A2 7.62 mm GPMG Gen- British Esk – fitted with over- eral purpose machine gun the-stern underway refuelling Salvageman – ocean salvage • Limbo Mark 10 anti-subma- equipment for use as the first tug from 7 May.(the most pow- rine mortar convoy escort oiler erful tug on British registry IN SERVICE: The luxury ocean liner RMS Queen Mary 2 was requisitioned into service and car- with 11,000 brake horsepower Torpedoes ried 3,200 British troops to South Georgia. British Tamar – fitted with over- and 170 ton bollard pull) • Mark 24 Tigerfish torpedo the-stern underway refueling • Mark 8 torpedo Squadron - aircraft later trans- Contender Bezant – equipped age control centres - carried equipment for use as convoy Stena Inspector – equipped ferred to the two carriers), six with helicopter pad and carried general supplies; arrived after escort oiler from 13 April with helicopter pad and used as Losses Hawker Siddeley Harriers, six 9 Wasp helicopters, 4 Harriers cease fire repair ship after the cease fire. 2 destroyers Westland Wessex helicopters, and 3 Chinooks; arrived after British Tay – used as auxiliary - purchased as RFA Diligence 2 frigates and four CH-47 Chinook hel- cease fire. - purchased as RFA Lycaon – Soviet-built with ar- support tanker from 12 April post-war 1 landing ship icopters (18 Squadron RAF); Argus post-war moured cable trunks and dam- 1 landing craft arrived 19 May - hit 25 May by age control centres - carried British Test – used as auxiliary Stena Seaspread – diving vessel, 1 container ship one or two Aérospatiale AM39 MV Myrmidon - equipped with ammunition and supplies; ar- support tanker from 14 April oilfield support ship equipped Exocet Air-to-Surface Anti-ship tented accommodation and rived 28 May with helicopter pad and used as missile(s) launched from a Das- portakabins armed with 20mm British Trent – used as auxiliary repair ship from 16 May. sault Super Étendard. Fatal Oerlikon cannons, arrived after Saxonia (refrigerated) – carried support tanker from 18 April Damage: Sank in tow 28 May ceasefire provisions; arrived 23 May Wimpey Seahorse – oilfield - 6 embarked Wessex HU.5 hel- British Wye – used as auxiliary supply vessel used as mooring icopters, 3 embarked Chinook Freighters Strathewe – carried supplies support tanker from 25 April. tender and tug from 8 June. HC.1 helicopters, 1 embarked Avelona Star (refrigerated) – and landing craft; arrived after Hit by bomb from Lockheed Sea Lynx HAS.2, heavy equip- equipped with helicopter pad cease fire C-130 Hercules. Minor Dam- Yorkshireman – ocean salvage Argentina ment intended for airfield con- and carried provisions; arrived age tug from 24 May. struction, and the bulk stock of after cease fire St. Helena – equipped with hel- The Argentine Navy (ARA), tents intended for infantry shel- icopter pad and four Oerlikon Eburna – used as auxiliary sup- Weaponry particularly its command- ter ashore were lost Geestport (refrigerated) – 20 mm cannon for use as mine- port tanker from 26 April The British Task Force made er-in-chief and Junta member, equipped with helicopter pad sweeper support ship after the use of a number of different Admiral Jorge Anaya, was the Atlantic Causeway – equipped and carried provisions and cease fire Fort Toronto – fresh water tank- weapons, both for offence and main architect and supporter of with helicopter pad and car- stores; arrived 11 June er from 19 April defence. a military solution to resolve ried eight ASW Sea Kings and Tankers the long-standing claim of sov- twenty Westland Wessex heli- Laertes – Soviet-built with ar- Alvega – used as base storage G.A.Walker – used as auxiliary Surface-to-air missiles ereignty over the islands. copters; arrived 27 May. moured cable trunks and dam- tanker at Ascension from mid- tanker from 10 June • Sea Slug By 1982 the country was al- 54 55 ready in the midst of a dev- Task Group 20 Bahía Paraíso transported siles) fired from Westland astating economic crisis and Commander José Sarcona (cov- Argentine forces from Cor- Wasp HAS.Mk.1 helicopters large-scale civil unrest against ering force) beta Uruguay base to South from HMS Plymouth and the repressive government and • ARA Veinticinco de Mayo Georgia in the events preced- HMS Endurance (Raised Anaya, now a member of the - a Colossus-class aircraft ing the Falklands War. and scuttled by the British ruling Junta, ordered Operation carrier in 1985). Rosario to be brought forward • ARA Comodoro Py - a Gear- Falklands Theatre of Opera- to 2 April, after a group of Ar- ing-class destroyer tions [Teatro de Operaciones Others gentina military infiltrated a • ARA Comodoro Seguí - an Malvinas] (2 April–14 June) • ARA Almirante Irízar - (act- group of Argentine scrap metal Allen M. Sumner-class de- • ARA Alferez Sobral - a So- ing as hospital ship) merchants and raised the Ar- stroyer toyomo-class patrol vessel • ARA Francisco de Gurrucha- gentine flag at South Georgia • ARA Hipólito Bouchard - damaged by Sea Skua mis- ga - a patrol ship. 19 March. an Allen M. Sumner-class siles fired by Westland Lynx General Galtieri, acting pres- destroyer HAS.Mk.2/3 helicopters Argentine Coast Guard ident, agreed in his intention • ARA Piedrabuena - an Allen from HMS Glasgow and Stationed at the Falkland Is- to mount a quick, symbolic M. Sumner-class destroyer HMS Coventry. lands. occupation, followed rapidly • ARA Punta Médanos - fleet • ARA Comodoro Somelle- • Islas Malvinas - A Z-28 type by a withdrawal, leaving only tanker ra, a Sotoyomo-class patrol naval patrol craft, damaged ARA San Luis sister ship, ARA Salta, here a small garrison to support vessel. During the war the SISTER SHIP: with machine gun fire by a docked at her base in Mar del Plata, was not operational at the the new military governor and Task Group 40 British claimed to have sunk time of the war. Westland Lynx HAS.Mk.2/3 force the UK to begin talks on Rear Admiral Jorge Allara (am- Comodoro Somellera with helicopter from HMS Alac- the long-delayed sovereignty phibious force) a Sea Skua. This claim was port ran aground in a storm fleet tanker. rity on 1 May 1982 near claim. • ARA Santísima Trinidad - subsequently dropped when and was later damaged by Kidney Island. She was cap- On 2 April an amphibious Argentine-built Type 42 de- the British evaluated war- 30 mm ADEN cannon fire Task Group 79.3 tured at Stanley by the Brit- landing was made at Stanley stroyer (flagship) time reports after the war. from BAe Sea Harrier FRS. Captain Héctor Bonzo ish on 14 June 1982 and re- and on 3 April Argentine ma- • ARA Cabo San Antonio - The ship continued to serve Mk.1s. The British eventu- • ARA General Belgrano - a named HMS Tiger Bay. rines used helicopters to take Argentine-built De Soto in the Argentine navy until ally captured the hull after Brooklyn-class cruiser sunk • Río Iguazú - A Z-28 type na- over the Georgias. County-class LST, an am- 1998 when she sank in the the war and sank her in high by Mk.8 torpedoes fired by val patrol craft, strafed and Whilst the military junta was phibious landing ship port of Ushuaia during a seas. HMS Conqueror. (See this damaged by BAe Sea Har- redeploying the assault units • ARA Hércules - Type 42 de- storm following a collision month’s Battlefield) rier FRS.Mk.1s on 22 May back to their home bases they stroyer with ARA Suboficial Castil- South Atlantic Theatre of Op- • ARA Hipólito Bouchard - in Choiseul Sound while found the British responded • ARA Granville - a Drum- lo. erations [Teatro de Opera- destroyer steaming towards Goose with a large-scale mobilisation mond-class corvette • ARA Isla de los Estados - ciones del Atlántico Sur] (15 • ARA Piedrabuena - destroy- Green with two 105 mm to organise a naval task force • ARA Drummond - a Drum- transport ship sunk by HMS April–14 June) er guns aboard, beached in and ground forces to retake the mond-class corvette Alacrity in Falkland Sound. Direct control from Puerto • ARA Punta Delgada - fleet Button Bay. The guns were islands by force. • ARA Almirante Irízar - ice- ARA Bahía Buen Suceso - a Belgrano Naval Base, Buenos tanker recovered by divers from The war could not have hap- breaker transport ship, Bahía Buen Aires Province. the Argentine Army and tak- pened at a worse time for the • ARA Santa Fe - A Ba- Suceso transported Con- Vice Admiral Juan Lombardo Task Group 79.4 en off by helicopter, though Argentines. They were expect- lao-class, GUPPY program stantino Davidoff’s party to Captain Juan Calmon one was damaged, and were ing new destroyers, frigates and submarine South Georgia precipitat- Task Group 79.1 • ARA Drummond - corvette used in the defence of Dar- submarines being built in West • ARA Isla de los Estados - ing the Falklands War. She Rear Admiral Jorge Allara • ARA Guerrico - corvette win. Later captured by Brit- Germany and their shipment supply ship was moved from Stanley to • ARA Veinticinco de Mayo • ARA Granville - corvette ish Forces, but attacked by a of French Super Étendards and the Falklands Sound on 29 - The threat of submarine Westland Lynx HAS.Mk.2/3 Exocets were not yet complete. South Georgia (3 April) April. During the trip, the attacks kept the carrier con- Submarine force (XZ691) from HMS Penelo- • ARA Guerrico - a Drum- ship spotted the schooner fined to port after 3 May. • ARA San Luis - A Type 209 pe firing a Sea Skua on 13 Argentine Navy mond-class corvette Penelope, property of the • ARA Hércules - Type 42 de- submarine. June 1982. The wreck was Operation Rosario (2 April) • ARA Bahia Paraiso - Ant- FIC, which was taken over stroyer. • ARA Santa Fe - The subma- towed to Goose Green after Vice Admiral Juan José Lom- arctic survey ship. A polar by an Argentine prize crew • ARA Santísima Trinidad - rine was disabled at Grytvy- the conflict. bardo transport, later deployed as the following day. While at Type 42 destroyer. ken by Aerospatiale AS.12 hospital ship off Stanley. anchor at Fox Bay, the trans- • ARA Punta Médanos - a ASM (Air-to-Surface Mis- 56 57 Argentine Merchant Navy clusion zone since 26 April. a fighter jet. This revealed depots during the first hours ing self-government, which has Blockade runners Under the command of Lt. to the Argentine intelligence Falkland Islands Company of 26 May. She eventually continued to devolve power to • Formosa - A 12,762-ton car- Cdr. Juan Carlos González the path of the British battle ships seized by the Argentine reached Stanley on 2 June. the islanders. go ship, attacked by Argen- Llanos. The civilian skipper group. Part of a three-trawler Navy In Argentina, defeat in the tine Douglas A-4 Skyhawks was Captain Nestor Leon- flotilla that intercepted sup- • ARA Forrest - armed coast- Losses Falklands War meant that a pos- of Grupo 5 by mistake. She ardo Fabiano. She made a ply vessel RFA Fort Grange er: She fought off the Lynx 1 cruiser sible war with Chile was avoid- was hit by an unexploded number of visual contacts on 29 April at the position helicopter that put the patrol 1 submarine ed. Further, Argentina returned 1,000 lb bomb and strafed with British aircraft and war- 34°28′S 31°26′W. On 30 craft Islas Malvinas out of 4 cargo vessels to a democratic government while bound for Rio Galle- ships, including a submarine, April she returned to Mar action near Kidney Island 2 patrol boats in the 1983 general election, gos. Survived the conflict. according to the Argentine del Plata due to mechanical on 1 May. The aircraft came 1 naval trawler the first free general election • Mar del Norte - A cargo ship version. Damaged by an un- problems. back to HMS Alacrity with since 1973. It also had a major from La Naviera company. exploded 1,000 lb. bomb and • Usurbil: Based at Buenos serious damage from small Aftermath social impact, destroying the Survived the conflict. 30 mm ADEN cannon fire Aires. Under the command arms fire. The ship rescued This brief war brought many military’s image as the “moral • Lago Argentino - An ELMA from two BAe Sea Harri- of Lt. Cdr. Fernando Pedro two survivors of the crew consequences for all the parties reserve of the nation” that they cargo ship. Survived the er FRS.Mk.1s of 800 Naval Amorena. The civilian skip- of ARA Isla de los Estados, involved, besides the consider- had maintained through most of conflict. Air Squadron, HMS Hermes. per was Captain Adolfo An- sunk by Alacrity on 10 May. able casualty rate and large ma- the 20th century. • Río Cincel - An ELMA cargo A member of the crew, sail- tonio Arbelo from Mar del She towed ARA Monsunen teriel loss, especially of ship- Militarily, the Falklands con- ship. Survived the conflict. or Omar Alberto Rupp, was Plata. Fifty per cent of her to Darwin later in the war, af- ping and aircraft, relative to the flict remains one of the largest • Puerto Rosales - A commer- killed. She was later captured crew was Spanish. Part of a ter this ship faced the attack deployed military strengths of air-naval combat operations be- cial tanker from YPF. Sur- by Royal Marines on 9 May three-trawler flotilla that in- of two British frigates and the opposing sides. tween modern forces since the vived the conflict. 1982. Narwal eventually tercepted supply vessel RFA a helicopter. She uploaded In the United Kingdom, end of the Second World War. • Río Carcarañá - An ELMA sank in a storm at 52°45′S Fort Grange on 29 April at the ARA Monsunen’s cargo and Margaret Thatcher’s popular- As such, it has been the subject cargo ship, 8,500 tons, dam- 58°02′W on 10 May 1982. position 34°28′S 31°26′W. completed the supply mis- ity increased. The success of of intense study by military an- aged by Sea Harriers in Port • María Alejandra: Owned by She made radar contact with sion to Stanley on 25 May. the Falklands campaign was alysts and historians. King. Subsequently, attacked Inda hnos. from Mar del Pla- six ships sailing in convoy on The ship was involved in widely regarded as a factor in The most significant “les- by both sides, until finally ta. On patrol northwest of the 8 May. Warned off by a war- harbour duties until the end the turnaround in fortunes for sons learned” include: the vul- sunk by Sea Skua missiles exclusion zone from 26 April ship and a helicopter, she re- of the war. the Conservative government, nerability of surface ships to fired from a Westland Lynx to 4 May. She assisted the dis- turned to Buenos Aires. • ARA Monsunen - armed who had been trailing behind anti-ship missiles and subma- helicopter on 23 May 1982. abled ARA Alférez Sobral to • Mar Azul: Based at Mar del coaster: She survived the at- the SDP-Liberal Alliance in the rines, the challenges of co-or- • Yehuin - A requisitioned oil reach Puerto Deseado. Maria Plata. Part of a three-trawler tack of two British frigates opinion polls for months be- dinating logistical support for tender, 494 tons, from the Alejandra also acted as a ra- flotilla that intercepted sup- and a helicopter, successful- fore the conflict began, but af- a long-distance projection of Geomater company. Cap- dio link between the ill-fated ply vessel RFA Fort Grange ly avoiding them by running ter the success in the Falklands power, and reconfirmation of tured 15 June 1982 and re- Narwal and the mainland. on 29 April at the posi- aground at Seal Cove. Her the Conservatives returned to the role of tactical air power, named Falkland Sound. Sold • Constanza: Owned by Arpe- tion 34°28′S 31°26′W. She supply mission was even- the top of the opinion polls by including the use of helicopters. to a British owner from Lon- mar from Mar del Plata. On tracked the 8 May convoy by tually carried out by ARA a wide margin and went on to In 1986, the BBC broadcast don in 1991, then transferred patrol northwest of the ex- radar along with Usurbil, but Forrest, which towed her to win the following year’s gen- the Horizon programme, In the to several Panamanian com- clusion zone from 26 April was ordered to return to Mar Darwin. Recovered by Brit- eral election by a landslide. Wake of HMS Sheffield, which panies. Returned to Argen- to 4 May. del Plata on 9 May before ish forces on 29 May, after Subsequently, Defence Secre- discussed lessons learned from tine control as Audax II when • Invierno: Owned by Arpe- making visual contact. the battle of Goose Green. tary Nott’s proposed cuts to the the conflict, and measures since bought by Cintra company in mar from Mar del Plata. On • Río de la Plata II: An ELMA • ARA Penelope - schooner: Royal Navy were abandoned. taken to implement them, such 2008, and under Uruguayan patrol northwest of the exclu- cargo vessel of 10,409 tons. Spotted by ARA Bahía Buen The islanders subsequently as incorporating greater stealth registry since 2011. sion zone from 5 to 9 May. Spotted by British off Ascen- Suceso at Speedwell Island had full British citizenship re- capabilities and providing bet- • Capitán Canepa: Based at sion Island and warned off and seized by an Argentine stored in 1983, their lifestyle ter close-in weapon systems for Spy trawlers Mar del Plata. From the on 24 April 1982. The most crew on 7 May. She accom- was improved by investments the Fleet. The principal British • Narwal: Owned by Com- government fishery agency successful Argentine spy plished a logistic mission the UK made after the war and military responses to the Falk- pañía Sudamericana de Pes- SEIM. ship; she collected valuable from Fox Bay to Stanley. by the liberalisation of eco- lands War were the measures ca y Exportación from Bahía • María Luisa: Based at Mar intelligence about the type of While uploading her cargo, nomic measures that had been adopted in the December 1982 Blanca. A 1,300-ton stern del Plata. Spotted a British warships, logistic craft and the schooner endured a na- stalled through fear of angering Defence White Paper. fishing freezer trawler. On warship on 26 April, short- merchantmen deployed by val bombardment by HMS Argentina. In 1985, a new con- patrol northwest of the ex- ly after being overflown by the British to the south. Plymouth on Fox Bay’s fuel stitution was enacted promot- 58 59 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history Göring’s elder siblings were to the castle Veldenstein and Feldflieger Abteilung 25 (FFA Karl, Olga, and Paula; his studying Teutonic legends and 25) – Göring had informally Hermann Göring younger brother was Albert. sagas. He became a mountain transferred himself. World War I fighter ace, political and military leader, President of the Reichstag, Head of At the time that Göring was climber, scaling peaks in Ger- He was discovered and sen- the Luftwaffe, Reichsmarschall, he was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party. born, his father was serving many, at the Mont Blanc mas- tenced to three weeks’ confine- ermann Wilhelm He was appointed command- Early life as consul general in Haiti, and sif, and in the Austrian Alps. ment to barracks, but the sen- his mother had returned home At sixteen he was sent to a tence was never carried out. By Göring (also spelt Go- er-in-chief of the Luftwaffe (air Göring was born on 12 Jan- briefly to give birth. She left the military academy at Berlin Li- the time it was supposed to be ering) was a German force), a position he held until uary 1893 at the Marienbad H six-week-old baby with a friend chterfelde, from which he grad- imposed, Göring’s association political and military leader and the final days of the regime. Sanatorium in Rosenheim, Ba- in Bavaria and did not see the uated with distinction. (During with Loerzer had been made a convicted war criminal. He Upon being named Plenipo- varia. His father, Heinrich Ernst child again for three years, the Nuremberg war-crimes tri- official. They were assigned as was one of the most powerful tentiary of the Four Year Plan Göring (31 October 1839 – 7 when she and Heinrich returned als in 1946, psychologist Gus- a team to FFA 25 in the Crown figures in the Nazi Party, which in 1936, Göring was entrusted December 1913), a former cav- to Germany. tave Gilbert measured him as Prince’s Fifth Army. They flew ruled Germany from 1933 to with the task of mobilizing all alry officer, had been the first Göring’s godfather was Her- having an intelligence quotient reconnaissance and bombing 1945. sectors of the economy for war, Governor-General of German mann Epenstein, a wealthy Jew- (IQ) of 138.) missions, for which the Crown A veteran World War I fighter an assignment which brought South West Africa (modern-day ish physician and businessman Göring joined the Prince Prince invested both Göring pilot ace, he was a recipient of numerous government agencies Namibia). his father had met in Africa. Wilhelm Regiment (112th In- and Loerzer with the Iron Cross, the Pour le Mérite (“The Blue under his control. Heinrich had three children Epenstein provided the Göring fantry, Garrison: Mülhausen) first class. Max”). In September 1939 Hitler from a previous mar- family, who were surviving on of the Prussian Army in 1912. After completing the pilot’s He was the last command- designated him as his riage. Göring was Heinrich’s pension, first with a The next year his mother had training course, Göring was er of Jagdgeschwader 1 (Jasta successor and deputy the fourth of family home in Berlin-Friede- a falling-out with Epenstein. assigned to Jagdstaffel 5. Se- 1), the fighter wing once led by in all his offices. Af- five children nau, then in a small castle called The family was forced to leave riously wounded in the hip in Manfred von Richthofen. ter the Fall of France by Heinrich’s Veldenstein, near Nuremberg. Veldenstein and moved to Mu- aerial combat, he took nearly a An early member of the Nazi in 1940, he was be- second wife, Göring’s mother became Ep- nich; Göring’s father died short- year to recover. Party, Göring was among those stowed the special- Franziska enstein’s mistress around this ly afterwards. When World War He then was transferred to wounded in Adolf Hitler’s ly created rank of Tiefenbrunn time, and remained so for some I began in August 1914, Göring Jagdstaffel 26, commanded by failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. Reichsmarschall, (1859–15 fifteen years. Epenstein ac- was stationed at Mülhausen Loerzer, in February 1917. He While receiving treatment for which gave him July 1943), quired the minor title of Ritter with his regiment. steadily scored air victories un- his injuries, he developed an seniority over all of- a Bavarian (knight) von Epenstein through til May, when he was assigned addiction to morphine which ficers in Germany’s peasant. persisted until the last year of armed forces. service and donations to the World War I to command Jagdstaffel 27. his life. Crown. During the first year of World Serving with Jastas 5, 26, and After Hitler became Chan- Interested in a career as a War I, Göring served with his 27, he continued to win victo- cellor of Germany in 1933, soldier from a very early age, infantry regiment in the area ries. Göring was named as min- Göring enjoyed playing with of Mülhausen, a garrison town In addition to his Iron Cross- ister without portfolio in toy soldiers and dressing up in less than 2 km from the French es (1st and 2nd Class), he re- the new government. One a Boer uniform his father had frontier. He was hospitalized ceived the Zähringer Lion with of his first acts as a cabi- given him. with rheumatism, a result of the swords, the Friedrich Order, the net minister was to oversee He was sent to boarding damp of trench warfare. House Order of Hohenzollern the creation of the Gestapo, school at age eleven, where the While he was recovering, his with swords third class, and fi- which he ceded to Heinrich food was poor and discipline friend Bruno Loerzer convinced nally, in May 1918, the coveted Himmler in 1934. was harsh. He sold a violin to him to transfer to what would Pour le Mérite. Following the estab- pay for his train ticket home, become, by October 1916, the According to Hermann Dahl- lishment of the Nazi state, and then took to his bed, feign- Luftstreitkräfte (“air combat mann, who knew both men, Göring amassed power and ing illness, until he was told he forces”) of the German army, Göring had Loerzer lobby for political capital to become would not have to return. but his request was turned the award. He finished the war the second most powerful He continued to enjoy war down. Later that year, Göring with 22 victories. A thorough man in Germany. games, pretending to lay siege flew as Loerzer’s observer in post-war examination of Al- 60 61 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history lied loss records showed that Hitler and the Nazi Party held oslovakia, Poland, and Danzig 1929. In the May 1928 elections only two of his awarded victo- mass meetings and rallies in (now Gdańsk). the Nazi Party only obtained 12 ries were doubtful. Three were Munich and elsewhere during Göring had become a violent seats out of an available 491 possible and 17 were certain, or the early 1920s, attempting to morphine addict; Carin’s fam- in the Reichstag. Göring was highly likely. gain supporters in a bid for po- ily were shocked by his dete- elected as a representative from On 7 July 1918, following litical power. rioration. Carin, who was ill Bavaria. the death of Wilhelm Rein- Inspired by Benito Musso- with epilepsy and a weak heart, He continued to be elected to hard, successor to Manfred von lini’s March on Rome, the Na- had to allow the doctors to take the Reichstag in all subsequent Richthofen, Göring was made zis attempted to seize power on charge of Göring; her son was elections during the Weimar commander of the “Flying Cir- 8–9 November 1923 in a failed taken by his father. Göring was and Nazi regimes. cus”, Jagdgeschwader 1. His coup known as the Beer Hall certified a dangerous drug ad- The Great Depression led to arrogance made him unpopular Putsch. Göring, who was with dict and was placed in Långbro a disastrous downturn in the with the men of his squadron. Hitler leading the march to the asylum on 1 September 1925. German economy, and in the In the last days of the war, War Ministry, was shot in the He was violent to the point 1930 election, the Nazi Party Göring was repeatedly ordered groin. where he had to be confined in a won 6,409,600 votes and 107 to withdraw his squadron, first Fourteen Nazis and four po- straitjacket, but his psychiatrist seats. In May 1931, Hitler sent to Tellancourt airdrome, then to FIGHTER ACE: During World War I Hermann Göring became licemen were killed; many top felt he was sane; the condition Göring on a mission to the Vat- an ace with 22 victories. Darmstadt. At one point, he was Nazis, including Hitler, were was caused solely by the mor- ican, where he met the future ordered to surrender the air- arrested. phine. Pope Pius XII. craft to the Allies; he refused. ter of 1920–1921, he was hired and married him on 3 February With Carin’s help, Göring Weaned off the drug, he left In the July 1932 election, the Many of his pilots intentional- by Count Eric von Rosen to fly 1922. was smuggled to Innsbruck, the facility briefly, but had to Nazis won 230 seats to become ly crash-landed their planes to him to his castle from Stock- Their first home together was where he received surgery and return for further treatment. He far and away the largest party in keep them from falling into en- holm. Invited to spend the a hunting lodge at Hochkreuth was given morphine for the returned to Germany when an the Reichstag. By longstanding emy hands. night, Göring may at this time in the Bavarian Alps, near Bay- pain. He remained in hospital amnesty was declared in 1927 tradition, the Nazis were thus Like many other German vet- have first seen the swastika em- rischzell, some 80 kilometres until 24 December. and resumed working in the air- entitled to select the President erans, Göring was a proponent blem, which Rosen had set in from Munich. After Göring This was the beginning of craft industry. of the Reichstag, and elected of the Stab-in-the-back legend, the chimney piece as a family met Adolf Hitler and joined the his morphine addiction, which Hitler, who had written Mein Göring to the post. He would the belief which held that the badge. Nazi Party in 1922, they moved lasted until his imprisonment Kampf while in prison, had been retain this position until 23 German Army had not really This was also the first time to Obermenzing, a suburb of at Nuremberg. Meanwhile, the released in December 1924. April 1945. lost the war, but instead was that Göring saw his future wife; Munich. authorities in Munich declared Carin Göring, ill with epilepsy betrayed by the civilian leader- the count introduced his sis- Göring a wanted man. and tuberculosis, died of heart Reichstag fire ship: Marxists, Jews, and espe- ter-in-law, Baroness Carin von Early Nazi career The Görings, acutely short failure on 17 October 1931. The Reichstag fire occurred on cially the Republicans, who had Kantzow (née Freiin von Fock). Göring joined the Nazi Party of funds and reliant on the Meanwhile, the Nazi Party the night of 27 February 1933. overthrown the German monar- Estranged from her husband of in 1922 after hearing a speech good will of Nazi sympathizers was in a period of rebuilding Göring was one of the first to ar- chy. ten years, she had an eight-year- by Hitler. He was given com- abroad, moved from Austria to and waiting. The economy had rive on the scene. Marinus van old son. mand of the Sturmabteilung Venice. In May 1924 they visit- recovered, which meant fewer der Lubbe - a Communist radi- Post World War I Göring was immediately in- (SA) as the Oberster SA-Führer ed Rome, via Florence and Sie- opportunities for the Nazis to cal - was arrested and claimed Göring remained in aviation fatuated and asked her to meet in 1923. He was later appointed na. Göring met Mussolini, who agitate. sole responsibility for the fire. after the war. He tried barn- him in Stockholm. They ar- an SA-Gruppenführer (Lieuten- expressed an interest in meet- The SA was reorganised, but Göring immediately called for storming and briefly worked ranged a visit at the home of her ant General) and held this rank ing Hitler, who was by then in with Franz Pfeffer von Salomon a crackdown on Communists. at Fokker. After spending most parents and spent much time on the SA rolls until 1945. prison. as its head rather than Göring, The Nazis took advantage of of 1919 living in Denmark, he together through 1921, when At this time, Carin - who liked Personal problems continued and the Schutzstaffel (SS) was the fire to advance their own po- moved to Sweden and joined Göring left for Munich to take Hitler - often played hostess to to multiply. By 1925, Carin’s founded in 1925, initially as a litical aims. The Reichstag Fire Svensk Lufttrafik, a Swedish political science at the univer- meetings of leading Nazis, in- mother was ill. The Görings bodyguard for Hitler. Decree, passed the next day on airline. sity. cluding her husband, Hitler, managed to raise the money in Membership in the party in- Hitler’s urging, suspended ba- Göring was often hired for Carin obtained a divorce, Rudolf Hess, Alfred Rosenberg, the spring of 1925 for a journey creased from 27,000 in 1925 to sic rights and allowed detention private flights. During the win- followed Göring to Munich, and Ernst Röhm. to Sweden via Austria, Czech- 108,000 in 1928 and 178,000 in without trial. Activities of the

62 63 German Communist Party were (SS) Heinrich Himmler hoped One of the terms of the Trea- He met the Austrian Chan- suppressed, and some 4,000 to create a unified police force ty of Versailles, which had been cellor Kurt Schuschnigg on 12 Party members were arrested. for all of Germany, but Göring in place since the end of World February 1938, threatening in- Göring demanded that the de- on 30 November 1933 estab- War I, stated that Germany was vasion if peaceful unification tainees should be shot, but Ru- lished a Prussian police force, not allowed to maintain an air was not forthcoming. The Nazi dolf Diels, head of the Prussian with Rudolf Diels at its head. force. Party was made legal in Austria political police, ignored the or- The force was called the Ge- After the 1926 signing of the to gain a power base, and a ref- der. Some researchers are of the heime Staatspolizei (Secret Kellogg–Briand Pact, police erendum on reunification was opinion that the Nazi Party it- State Police), or Gestapo. aircraft were permitted. Göring scheduled for March. self was responsible for starting Göring, thinking that Diels was appointed Air Traffic Min- When Hitler did not ap- the fire. was not ruthless enough to use ister in May 1933. Germany prove of the wording of the At the Nuremberg trials, Gen- the Gestapo effectively to coun- began to accumulate aircraft in plebiscite, Göring telephoned eral Franz Halder testified that teract the power of the SA, hand- violation of the Treaty, and in Schuschnigg and Austrian head Göring admitted responsibili- ed over control of the Gestapo 1935 the existence of the Luft- of state Wilhelm Miklas to de- ty for starting the fire. He said to Himmler on 20 April 1934. waffe was formally acknowl- mand Schuschnigg’s resigna- that, at a luncheon held on Hit- By this time, the SA numbered edged, with Göring as Reich tion, threatening invasion by ler’s birthday in 1942, Göring over two million men. Aviation Minister. German troops and civil un- said, “The only one who really Hitler was deeply concerned During a cabinet meeting in rest by the Austrian Nazi Party knows about the Reichstag is that Ernst Röhm, the chief of September 1936, Göring and NAZI LEADERSHIP: Adolf Hitler (left) and Hermann Göring on members. I, because I set it on fire!” In the SA, was planning a coup. Hitler announced that the Ger- the balcony of the Chancellery in Berlin during March 1938. Schuschnigg resigned on 11 his own Nuremberg testimony, Himmler and Reinhard Hey- man rearmament programme March and the plebiscite was Göring denied this story. drich plotted with Göring to use must be sped up. beyond the level which private to be false, but Fritsch had lost cancelled. By 05h30 the next the Gestapo and SS to crush the On 18 October, Hitler named enterprise could economically Hitler’s trust and was forced to morning, German troops that Pre World War II SA. Göring as Plenipotentiary of provide. resign. had been massing on the border During the early 1930s, Members of the SA got wind the Four Year Plan to undertake In 1938, Göring was involved Hitler used the dismissals marched into Austria, meeting Göring was often in the com- of the proposed action and thou- this task. Göring created a new in the Blomberg–Fritsch Affair, as an opportunity to reshuffle no resistance. pany of Emmy Sonnemann, an sands of them took to the streets organisation to administer the which led to the resignations of the leadership of the military. Although Joachim von Rib- actress from Hamburg. in violent demonstrations on Plan and drew the ministries of the War Minister, Generalfeld- Göring asked for the post of bentrop had been named For- They were married on 10 the night of 29 June 1934. labour and agriculture under its marschall Werner von Blomb- War Minister, but was turned eign Minister in February 1938, April 1935 in Berlin; the wed- Enraged, Hitler ordered the umbrella. erg, and the army commander, down; he was appointed to the Göring continued to involve ding was celebrated on a huge arrest of the SA leadership. He bypassed the economics General Werner von Fritsch. rank of Generalfeldmarschall. himself in foreign affairs. scale. A large reception was Röhm was shot dead in his ministry in his policy-making Göring had acted as witness at Hitler took over as supreme That July, he contacted the held the night before at the Ber- cell when he refused to com- decisions, to the chagrin of Blomberg’s wedding to Marga- commander of the armed forces British government with the lin Opera House. mit suicide; Göring personally Hjalmar Schacht, the minister rethe Gruhn, a 26-year-old typ- and created subordinate posts idea that he should make an of- Fighter aircraft flew overhead went over the lists of detainees in charge. Huge expenditures ist, on 12 January 1938. to head the three main branches ficial visit to discuss Germany’s on the night of the reception - numbering in the thousands - were made on rearmament, Information received from the of service. intentions for Czechoslovakia. and the day of the ceremony, and determined who else should in spite of growing deficits. police showed that the young As minister in charge of the Neville Chamberlain was in at which Hitler was best man. be shot. Schacht resigned on 8 Decem- bride was a prostitute. Göring Four Year Plan, Göring became favour of a meeting, and there Göring’s daughter, Edda, was At least 85 people were killed ber 1937, and Walther Funk felt obligated to tell Hitler, but concerned with the lack of nat- was talk of a pact being signed born on 2 June 1938. in the period of 30 June to 2 took over the position, as well also saw this event as an oppor- ural resources in Germany, and between Britain and Germany. When Hitler was named July, which is now known as as control of the Reichsbank. tunity to dispose of Blomberg. began pushing for Austria to be In February 1938, Göring vis- chancellor of Germany in Jan- the Night of the Long Knives. In this way, both of these in- Blomberg was forced to resign. incorporated into the Reich. ited Warsaw to quell rumours uary 1933, Göring was appoint- Hitler admitted in the Reich- stitutions were brought under Göring did not want Fritsch to The province of Styria had about the upcoming invasion of ed as minister without portfo- stag on 13 July that the killings Göring’s control under the aus- be appointed to that position rich iron ore deposits, and the Poland. He had conversations lio, Minister of the Interior for had been entirely illegal, but pices of the Four Year Plan. and thus be his superior. country as a whole was home with the Hungarian government Prussia, and Reich Commis- claimed a plot had been under In July 1937, the Reichswerke Several days later, Heydrich to many skilled labourers that that summer as well, discussing sioner of Aviation. way to overthrow the Reich. Hermann Göring was estab- revealed a file on Fritsch that would also be useful. Hitler their potential role in an inva- Wilhelm Frick was named A retroactive law was passed lished under state ownership – contained allegations of homo- had always been in favour of a sion of Czechoslovakia. Reich Interior Minister. Frick making the action legal. Any though led by Göring – with the sexual activity and blackmail. takeover of Austria, his native At the Nuremberg Rally that and head of the Schutzstaffel criticism was met with arrests. aim of boosting steel production The charges were later proven country. September, Göring and other 64 65 speakers denounced the Czechs menced on British air installa- or equipment. still possible for the Soviets to as an inferior race that must be tions and on cities and centres But, by July, the Germans had encircle and trap it there with- conquered. of industry. only 1,000 planes remaining in out reinforcements or supplies. Chamberlain and Hitler had a Göring had by then already operation, and their troop loss- When the Sixth Army was series of meetings that led to the announced in a radio speech, es were over 213,000 men. The surrounded by the end of No- signing of the Munich Agree- “If as much as a single enemy choice was made to concentrate vember in Operation Uranus, ment (29 September 1938), aircraft flies over German soil, the attack on only one part of Göring promised that the Luft- which turned over control of my name is Meier!”, something the vast front; efforts would be waffe would be able to deliver the Sudetenland to Germany. that would return to haunt him, directed at capturing Moscow. a minimum of 300 tons of sup- In March 1939, Göring threat- when the RAF began bombing After the long, but success- plies to the trapped men every ened Czechoslovak president German cities on 11 May 1940. ful, Battle of Smolensk, Hitler day. Emil Hácha with the bombing Though he was confident the ordered Army Group Centre to On the basis of these assur- of Prague. Hácha then agreed Luftwaffe could defeat the RAF halt its advance to Moscow and ances, Hitler demanded that to sign a communiqué accept- within days, Göring, like Ad- temporarily diverted its Panzer there be no retreat; they were ing the German occupation of miral Erich Raeder, command- groups north and south to aid in to fight to the last man. Though the remainder of Bohemia and er-in-chief of the Kriegsmarine the encirclement of Leningrad some airlifts were able to get Moravia. (navy), was pessimistic about and Kiev. through, the amount of supplies Although many in the party the chance of success of the The pause provided the Red delivered never exceeded 120 disliked him, before the war planned invasion (codenamed Army with an opportunity to tons per day. Göring enjoyed widespread FINE TASTES: Göring appreciated the finer things in life, in- Operation Sea Lion). mobilize fresh reserves; many The remnants of the Sixth personal popularity among the cluding art, jewellery, food and his tailored uniforms. Göring hoped that a victory in consider it to be one of the ma- Army - some 91,000 men out German public because of his the air would be enough to force jor factors that caused the fail- of an army of 285,000 - surren- perceived sociability, colour appointed Göring as the chair- Cross of the Iron Cross for his peace without an invasion. The ure of the Moscow offensive, dered in early February 1943; and humour. man of a new six-person Coun- successful leadership. During campaign failed, and Sea Lion which was resumed in October only 5,000 of these captives As the Nazi leader most re- cil of Ministers for Defence of the 1940 Field Marshal Cere- was postponed indefinitely on 1941 with the Battle of Mos- survived the Russian prisoner sponsible for economic mat- the Reich which was set up to mony, Hitler promoted Göring 17 September 1940. cow. of war camps to see Germany ters, he presented himself as a operate as a war cabinet. to the rank of Reichsmarschall After their defeat in the Bat- Poor weather conditions, fuel again. champion of national interests The invasion of Poland, the des Grossdeutschen Reiches tle of Britain, the Luftwaffe shortages, a delay in building Meanwhile, the strength of over allegedly corrupt big busi- opening action of World War II, (Reich Marshal of the Great- attempted to defeat Britain via aircraft bases in Eastern Eu- the US and British bomber ness and the old German elite. began at dawn on 1 September er German Reich), a special- strategic bombing. On 12 Oc- rope, and overstretched supply fleets had increased. Based in The Nazi press was on Göring’s 1939. Later in the day, speaking ly-created rank which made tober 1940 Hitler cancelled Sea lines were also factors. Hitler Britain, they began operations side. Other leaders, such as to the Reichstag, Hitler desig- him senior to all field marshals Lion due to the onset of winter. did not give permission for even against German targets. Hess and Ribbentrop, were en- nated Göring as his successor in the military, including the By the end of the year, it was a partial retreat until mid-Janu- The first thousand-bomber vious of his popularity. as Führer of all Germany, with Luftwaffe. clear that British morale was ary 1942; by this time the loss- raid was staged on Cologne on In Britain and the United Hess as the second alternate. As a result of this promotion, not being shaken by the Blitz, es were comparable to those of 30 May 1942. Air raids con- States, some viewed Göring as Big German victories fol- he was the highest-ranking sol- though the bombings continued the French invasion of Russia tinued on targets further from more acceptable than the other lowed one after the other in dier in Germany until the end through May 1941. in 1812. England after auxiliary fuel Nazis and as a possible media- quick succession. With the help of the war. Göring had already In spite of the Molotov–Rib- Hitler decided that the sum- tanks were installed on US tor between the western democ- of the Luftwaffe, the Polish Air received the Knight’s Cross of bentrop Pact, signed in 1939, mer 1942 campaign would be fighter aircraft. Göring refused racies and Hitler. Force was defeated within a the Iron Cross on 30 September Nazi Germany began Operation concentrated in the south; ef- to believe reports that Ameri- week. 1939 as Commander in Chief of Barbarossa - the invasion of the forts would be made to capture can fighters had been shot down World War II The Fallschirmjäger seized the Luftwaffe. Soviet Union - on 22 June 1941. the oilfields in the Caucasus. as far east as Aachen in winter Göring and other senior of- vital airfields in Norway and The UK had declared war Initially the Luftwaffe was at The Battle of Stalingrad, a 1942–1943. His reputation be- ficers were concerned that Ger- captured Fort Eben-Emael in on Germany immediately after an advantage, destroying thou- major turning point of the war, gan to decline. many was not yet ready for war, Belgium. Göring’s Luftwaffe the invasion of Poland. In July sands of Soviet aircraft in the began on 23 August 1942 with The American P-51 Mustang, but Hitler insisted on pushing played critical roles in the Bat- 1940, Hitler began preparations first month of fighting. Hitler a bombing campaign by the with a combat radius of over ahead as soon as possible.[79] tles of the Netherlands, Bel- for an invasion of Britain. As and his top staff were sure that Luftwaffe. 2,900 km when using under- On 30 August 1939, imme- gium and France in May 1940. part of the plan, the Royal Air the campaign would be over by The German Sixth Army en- wing drop tanks, began to es- diately prior to the outbreak of After the Fall of France, Hit- Force (RAF) had to be neu- Christmas, and no provisions tered the city, but because of its cort the bombers in large for- the Second World War, Hitler ler awarded Göring the Grand tralized. Bombing raids com- were made for reserves of men location on the front line, it was mations to and from the target 66 67 area in early 1944. the end and then commit sui- gram asking Hitler for permis- war crimes, including the plun- From that point onwards, the cide. He also stated that Göring sion to take over as the leader dering and removal to Germa- Luftwaffe began to suffer casu- was in a better position to nego- of Germany, stressing that he ny of works of art and other alties in aircrews it could not tiate a peace settlement. would be acting as Hitler’s dep- property; and crimes against sufficiently replace. By target- OKW operations chief Alfred uty. He added that, if Hitler did humanity, including the disap- ing oil refineries and rail com- Jodl was present for Hitler’s not reply by 22h00 that night pearance of political and other munications, Allied bombers rant, and notified Göring’s chief (23 April), he would assume opponents under the Nacht und crippled the German war effort of staff, Karl Koller, at a meet- that Hitler had indeed lost his Nebel (Night and Fog) decree; by late 1944. ing a few hours later. Sensing freedom of action, and would the torture and ill-treatment of German civilians blamed its implications, Koller imme- assume leadership of the Reich. prisoners of war; and the mur- Göring for his failure to protect diately flew to Berchtesgaden The telegram was intercepted der and enslavement of civil- the homeland. Hitler began ex- to notify Göring of this devel- by Bormann, who convinced ians, including what was at the cluding him from conferences, opment. Hitler that Göring was a traitor. time estimated to be 5,700,000 but continued him in his posi- A week after the start of the Bormann argued that Göring’s Jews. tions at the head of the Luft- Soviet invasion, Hitler had is- telegram was not a request for Not permitted to present a waffe and as plenipotentiary of sued a decree naming Göring permission to act as Hitler’s lengthy statement, Göring de- the Four Year Plan. his successor in the event of his deputy, but a demand to resign clared himself to be “in the As he lost Hitler’s trust, death, thus codifying the decla- or be overthrown. sense of the indictment not Göring began to spend more ration he had made soon after Bormann also intercepted an- CHEATING THE HANGMAN: Göring committed suicide by guilty”. time at his various residences. the beginning of the war. The other telegram in which Göring taking a cyanide pill the night before he was due to be hanged. The trial lasted 218 days; On D-Day (6 June 1944), the decree also gave Göring full au- directed Ribbentrop to report There are a number of theories as to how he managed to get the prosecution presented their Luftwaffe only had some 300 thority to act as Hitler’s deputy to him if there was no further hold of the cyanide pill. case from November through fighters and a small number if Hitler ever lost his freedom communication from Hitler or March, and Göring’s defence - of bombers in the area of the of action. Göring before midnight. to seize control of the state.” Palace Hotel at Mondorf-les- the first to be presented - lasted landings; the Allies had a total Göring feared being brand- Hitler sent a reply to Göring He then appointed Karl Bains, Luxembourg. from 8 to 22 March. The sen- strength of 11,000 aircraft. ed a traitor if he tried to take - prepared with Bormann’s help Dönitz, the Navy’s command- Here he was weaned off di- tences were read out on 30 Sep- power, but also feared being - rescinding the 1941 decree er-in-chief, as president of the hydrocodeine (a mild morphine tember 1946. End of the war accused of dereliction of duty and threatening him with exe- Reich and commander-in-chief derivative) - he had been taking Göring was found guilty on As the Soviets approached if he did nothing. After some cution for high treason unless of the armed forces. Hitler and the equivalent of three or four all four counts and was sen- Berlin, Hitler’s efforts to or- hesitation, Göring reviewed his he immediately resigned from his wife, Eva Braun, committed grains (260 to 320 mg) of mor- tenced to death by hanging. ganise the defence of the city copy of the 1941 decree naming all of his offices. Göring duly suicide on 30 April 1945, a few phine a day - and was put on a Göring made an appeal asking became ever more meaningless him Hitler’s successor. resigned. hours after a hastily arranged strict diet; he lost 60 pounds (27 to be shot as a soldier instead of and futile. After conferring with Koller Afterwards, Hitler (or Bor- wedding. kg). hanged as a common criminal, His last birthday, celebrated and Hans Lammers (the state mann, depending on the source) Göring was freed on 5 May by His IQ was tested while in but the court refused. at the Führerbunker in Berlin secretary of the Reich Chancel- ordered the SS to place Göring, a passing Luftwaffe unit, and he custody and found to be 138. He committed suicide with on 20 April 1945, was the occa- lery), Göring concluded that by his staff, and Lammers under made his way to the US lines in Top Nazi officials were trans- a potassium cyanide capsule sion for leave-taking for many remaining in Berlin to face cer- house arrest at Obersalzberg. hopes of surrendering to them ferred in September to Nurem- the night before he was to be top Nazis, Göring included. tain death, Hitler had incapac- Bormann made an announce- rather than to the Soviets. berg, which was to be the lo- hanged. There are a number of By this time, Göring’s hunting itated himself from governing. ment over the radio that Göring He was taken into custody cation of a series of military theories as to how Göring man- lodge Carinhall had been evac- All agreed that under the terms had resigned for health reasons. near Radstadt on 6 May by ele- tribunals beginning in Novem- aged to get hold of the cyanide uated, the building destroyed, of the decree, it was incumbent By 26 April, the complex at ments of the 36th Infantry Divi- ber. capsule. and its art treasures moved to upon Göring to take power in Obersalzberg was under attack sion of the US Army. This move Göring was the second-high- Göring’s body, as with those Berchtesgaden and elsewhere. Hitler’s stead. by the Allies, so Göring was likely saved Göring’s life; Bor- est-ranking official tried at of the men who were executed, Göring arrived at his estate He was also motivated by moved to his castle at Mautern- mann had ordered him execut- Nuremberg, behind Reich Pres- was displayed at the execution at Obersalzberg on 22 April, fears that his rival, Martin Bor- dorf. In his last will and testa- ed if Berlin had fallen. ident (former Admiral) Karl ground for the witnesses of the the same day that Hitler, in a mann, would seize power upon ment, Hitler expelled Göring Dönitz. executions. The bodies were lengthy diatribe against his Hitler’s death and would have from the party, formally re- Trial and death The prosecution levelled an cremated at Ostfriedhof, Mu- generals, first publicly admitted him killed as a traitor. scinded the decree making him Göring was flown to Camp indictment of four charges, in- nich, and the ashes were scat- that the war was lost and that he With this in mind, Göring his successor, and upbraided Ashcan, a temporary prison- cluding a charge of conspiracy; tered in the Isar River. intended to remain in Berlin to sent a carefully worded tele- Göring for “illegally attempting er-of-war camp housed in the waging a war of aggression; 68 69 Forged in Instead of the gas turbines commissioned on 10 January Draught or diesel-electric systems used 2009. Since the 1970s, Nimitz- • 11.9 m battle for propulsion on many modern class carriers have participated Flight Deck warships, the carriers use two in many conflicts and operations • 333 m x 77 m A4W pressurized water reac- across the world, including Op- Displacement Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier tors which drive four propeller eration Eagle Claw in Iran, the • 102,000 tons (full load) Described as a ‘City at Sea’, the sheer sized of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is impressive enough. shafts. They are categorized as Gulf War, and more recently in Speed What’s really impressive, however, is the capabilities of the vessel. And the US Navy has ten of nuclear-powered aircraft carri- Iraq and Afghanistan. • 30 knots them. ers and are numbered with con- Let’s begin by looking at the Surface-to-air-missile secutive hull numbers between figures for a standard Nimitz- • 3 x Raytheon GMLS Mk29 tanding 20 stories above The lead ship of the class is • USS Carl Vinson. CVN-68 and CVN-77. class aircraft carrier. eight-cell launchers for Sea the water and stretching named after World War II Unit- Theodore Roosevelt subclass As a result of the use of nucle- Sparrow S333 metres from bow to ed States Pacific Fleet com- • USS Theodore Roosevelt. ar power, the ships are capable Crew Guns stern, the sheer size of a Nimi- mander Fleet Admiral Chester • USS Abraham Lincoln. of operating for over 20 years • 3,184 (including 203 offi- • 4 x Phalanx Mk15 CIWS tz-class super aircraft carrier is W. Nimitz, the U.S. Navy’s last • USS George Washington. without refueling and are pre- cers) (three in CVN 68 and CVN impressive. What’s really im- fleet admiral. • USS John C. Stennis. dicted to have a service life of • 2,800 aircrew (366 officers) 6) pressive, however, is watching Then ten carriers in service • USS Harry S. Truman. over 50 years ESM the activity on the flight deck. are: Ronald Reagan subclass The lead ship of the class, was Length • AN/SLQ-32(V)4 Currently the US Navy has Nimitz subclass • USS Ronald Reagan. commissioned on 3 May 1975, • 317 m Decoys ten nuclear-powered Nimitz- • USS Nimitz. • USS George H.W. Bush. and USS George H.W. Bush, the Beam • 4 x SRBOC, SSTDS torpe- class aircraft carries in service. • USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. tenth and last of the class, was • 40.8 m do defence system

USS Nimitz USS Theodore USS George Roosevelt Washington

USS John C. Stennis

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

USS Carl USS Harry S. Truman Vinson

USS Ronald Reagan

USS Abraham USS George H.W. Lincoln Bush 70 71 • AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo the hydraulic cylinder system decoy absorbs the energy to bring the Air Search plane to a stop. • ITT AN/SPS-48E E/F band The arresting wire can stop • Ratheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 a 24,500 kg plane travelling at C/D band 241 k/ph in only two seconds. • Raytheon Mk23 TAS D- There are four parallel arrest- band ing wires, spaced about 5015 Surface Search metres apart, to expand the tar- • Northrop Grumman AN/ get area for the pilot. Pilots are SPS-67V G-band aiming for the third wire, as it’s Navigation the safest and most effective • Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)9 target. They never shoot for the I/J-band first wire because it’s danger- Combat Data System ously close to the edge of deck. • ACDS block 0 or block 1 To pull off a carrier landing, Weapons Control FLOATING CITY: A single Nimitz-class carrier will often carry the pilot needs to approach the more aircraft than some countries have in their entire air force. • 3 x Mk91 MOD 1 fire con- GO! An F-14D Tomcat fighter jet prepares to launch from the deck at exactly the right angle. trol system (for Sea Sparrow deck of a Nimitz-class carrier. Landing Signals Officers missile) (LSOs) help guide the plane in, largely successful, and the vari- Composition sion system to move the ship sure level so it’s just right for Engines through radio communication ous naval forces started adapt- An aircraft carrier bascially from point to point, as well the particular plane and deck • 2 x GE PWR A4W/A1G - as well as a collection of lights ing existing warships for this has to do four things. It needs as generate electricity for conditions. 194MW on the deck. purpose. The new carriers al- to: the entire ship. If the pressure is too low, the • 4 x emergency diesels - If the plane is off course, the lowed military forces to trans- • Transport a variety of air- • Various other systems to plane won’t get moving fast 8MW LSOs can use radio commands port short-range aircraft all over craft to any destination. provide food and fresh wa- enough to take off, and the cata- Fixed Wing Aircraft or illuminate other lights to cor- the world. • Launch and recover aircraft. ter, and to handle other pult will throw it into the ocean. • 12 x F/A-18E/F rect him or her or “wave him One of the major obstacles of • Serve as a mobile command things that any small city If there’s too much pressure, • 36 x F/A-18 off” (send them around for an- using air power in war is get- centre for military opera- has to deal with. This would the sudden jerk could break the • 4 x E-2C Hawkeye other attempt). ting the planes to their destina- tions, and include sewage, trash, mail nose gear right off. • 4 x AE-6B Prowler In addition to the LSOs, pilots tion. To maintain an air base • House all of the people and laundry. They would If taking off from an aircraft • 6 x S-3B Viking look to the Fresnel Lens Optical in a foreign region, the United needed to accomplish this. also need newspapers and carrier is difficult, landing on • 2 x ES-3A Shadow Landing System, commonly re- States (or any other nation) has To get everything done, an radio and television stations. one is even more so. Helicopters ferred to as the lens, for land- to make special arrangements aircraft carrier has to be a • Medical facilities with doc- To land on a flight deck that • 4 x SH-60F ing guidance. The lens consists with a host country, and then ship, an air force base, and a tors and dentists. only has about 150 metres of • 2 x HH-60H Seahawk of a series of lights and Fresnel has to abide by that country’s small city at the same time. • The hull - the main body of runway space the aircraft make lenses mounted to a gyroscopi- rules, which may change over Among other things it needs: the ship, which floats in wa- use of a tailhook. The tailhook At its most basic level, an cally stabilized platform. The time. • A flight deck - a flat surface ter. is exactly what is sounds like aircraft carrier is simply a ship lenses focus the light into nar- Needless to say, this can be on top of the ship where air- - an extended hook attached to outfitted with a flight deck -a row beams that are directed into extremely difficult in some craft can take off and land. The Flight Deck the tail of the plane. runway area for launching and parts of the world and impos- the sky at various angles. • A hangar deck - an area The system that is used by The pilot’s goal is to snag the landing airplanes. sible if the nation is hostile. The pilot will see different below deck to stow aircraft Nimitz-class carries to launch tailhook on one of four arrest- This concept dates back al- Under international Freedom lights depending on the plane’s when not in use. and recover aircraft is known ing wires, sturdy cables woven most as far as airplanes them- of Navigation laws, aircraft car- angle of approach. If the plane • An island - a building on as the CATOBAR (Catapult from high-tensile steel wire. selves. Within 10 years of the riers and other warships are rec- is right on target, the pilot will top of the flight deck where Assisted Take-Off Barrier Ar- The arresting wires are Wright Brothers’ historic 1903 ognized as sovereign territories see an amber light, dubbed the officers can direct flights rested Recovery) system. stretched across the deck and flight, the United States, the in almost all of the ocean. As “meatball,” in line with a row and ship operations. Steam-driven catapults are are attached on both ends to hy- United Kingdom and Germany long as a ship doesn’t get too of green lights. • Room for the crew to live used to launch planes from the draulic cylinders below deck. If were launching test flights from close to any nation’s coast, the If the amber light appears and work. deck. The catapult officer care- the tailhook snags an arresting platforms attached to cruisers. carrier can operate as if it is on above the green lights, the • A power plant and propul- fully monitors the steam pres- wire, it pulls the wire out, and The experiments proved American soil. plane is coming in too high; if 72 73 the amber light appears below ships and aircraft, intercept and the flight deck and hangar deck. well as spare jet engines, fuel num hydraulic elevators are big engine testing area on the ship’s the green lights, the plane is jam enemy radar signals, target Each aircraft is represented by tanks and other heavy equip- enough and powerful enough to fantail. This is the only place on coming in too low. If the plane enemy aircraft and missiles, a scale aircraft cut-out on the ment, in four zones divided by lift two 34,000 kg fighter jets. the ship where the maintenance is coming in way too low, the and pick up satellite phone and table. When a real plane moves sliding doors (a safety precau- Aft of the hangar bay, in the crews can safely blast aircraft pilot will see red lights. Pilots television signals. from point to point, the handler tion to stop a fire from spread- stern of the ship, you’ll find the jet engines to make sure they’re will often be instructed over the Below this is the Primary moves the model plane accord- ing). Aircraft Intermediate Mainte- working properly. radio, “Keep your eyes on the Flight Control, or Pri-Fly. In ingly. When the plane is out of The hangar is three decks nance Division (AIMD) shops. ball.” the Pri-Fly, the air officer and service, because it needs repair high, and it’s flanked by various The men and women in these Life below decks As soon as the plane hits the air officer assistant (known as work, the handler turns it over. single-deck compartments on shops are constantly repairing The berthing compartments deck, the pilot will push the the “Air Boss” and the “Mini There are a number of ad- both sides. There are also four and testing aircraft equipment (sleeping quarters) are ex- engines to full power, instead Boss”) direct all aircraft activ- ditional control centers below giant elevators surrounding the to keep the flight squadron op- tremely tight. Enlisted person- of slowing down, to bring the ity on the flight deck and within deck, including the carrier air hangar, which move the aircraft erating at maximum efficiency. nel share a compartment with plane to a stop. This may seem a eight kilometer radius. traffic control center (CATCC), from the hangar to the flight At the very end of the ship, the about 60 other people, all sleep- counterintuitive, but if the tail- One level below is the bridge. which takes up several rooms deck. The high-speed, alumi- AIMD shops lead to an open-air ing in single bunks, generally hook doesn’t catch any of the It is from here that the captain on the galley deck (immediate- arresting wires, the plane needs controls the ship from a com- ly below the flight deck). Like Flight Deck Crew to be moving fast enough to fortable leather chair, surround- a land-based air traffic control The flight deck crews of a Carrier Air Wing wear coloured jerseys to distinguish their functions. take off again and come around ed by computer screens. center, the CATCC is filled Aircraft handling officers Plane handlers (Trainees) for another pass. The captain directs the helms- with all sorts of radio and radar Catapult and arresting gear of- Chocks and chains – entry-level The landing runway is tilted man, who actually steers the equipment, which the control- ficers flight-deck workers under the at a 14-degree angle to the rest ship, who in turn directs the en- lers use to keep track of aircraft Yellow Plane directors – responsible for Blue yellowshirts of the ship, so bolters like this gine room to control the speed in the area (in this case, main- all movement of all aircraft on Aircraft elevator operators can take off from the side of the of the ship. ly the aircraft outside the Air the flight/hangar deck Tractor drivers ship instead of plowing into the The captain also directs the Boss’s supervision). Messengers and phone talkers planes on the other end of the Quartermaster of the Watch, The CATCC is next to the Catapult and arresting gear crews deck. who keeps track of navigation combat direction center (CDC), Visual Landing Aid electricians As soon as an aircraft lands, information, and a number of the ship’s battle command cen- Air wing maintenance personnel Purple Aviation fuel handlers it’s pulled out of the landing lookouts and support personnel. ter. The CDC’s primary respon- Air wing quality control person- strip and chained down on the When the commanding officer sibility is to process incoming nel Air wing plane captains: squad- Cargo-handling personnel side of the flight deck. Inactive is not on the bridge, he puts an information on enemy threats Green ron personnel who prepare air- aircraft are always tightly se- Officer of the Deck in charge of in order to keep the command- Ground support equipment (GSE) Brown craft for flight cured to keep them from sliding operations. ing officer fully informed. troubleshooters Air wing line leading petty of- around as the deck rocks back The level below the bridge is Hook runners ficers and forth. the flag bridge, the command The Hangar Photographer’s mates center for the admiral in charge While a small number of air- Helicopter landing signal enlisted personnel (LSE) Final checker (inspector)The The Island of the entire carrier group. craft can be kept on the flight White/ flight deck crews of a Carrier The island on an aircraft car- Below that, there are vari- deck, there is not nearly enough Quality Assurance (QA) Black Air Wing wear colored jerseys to rier is the command centre. It ous operational centers, includ- room for the 80 to 100 aircraft Squadron plane inspectors distinguish their functions. is from here that almost every- ing the flight deck control and stationed on a typical carrier. Landing signal officer (LSO) thing on the ship is run. launch operations room. In this Aircraft not in use are secured Air transfer officers (ATO) White It stands about 46 metres tall, tight, windowless space, the in the hangar bay. Think of it as Liquid oxygen (LOX) crews but it’s only six metres wide aircraft handling officer (also a carrier’s ‘parking garage’. Safety observers at the base. This is so that it called the handler or mangler) The hangar bay is located two Medical personnel (white with doesn’t take up too much space and his or her crew keep track decks below the flight deck, just Red Cross emblem) on the flight deck. of all the aircraft on the flight below the galley deck. The bay The top of the island, howev- deck and in the hangar. itself is 34 meres wide, eight Ordnance men er, is spread out to provide more The handler’s primary track- metres wide, and 209 metres Crash and salvage crews room. It carries an array of ra- ing tool is the “Ouija Board,” long - more than two-thirds the Red Explosive ordnance disposal dar and communication anten- a two-level transparent plastic length of the entire ship. It can (EOD) nas that monitor surrounding table with etched outlines of hold more than 60 aircraft, as Firefighter 74 75 Quiz General Military Knowledge his month it’s a general knowledge quiz. We ask 23 questions, you tell us the answers. It’s as simple as that. Talking about General Knowledge, I knew him back when he was still a Tcolonel. The answers are on page 00. 1. Which was the only nation 14. Where did the shortest war that Germany declared war on record take place, and 7 on during World War II? how long did in last? 2. What did the radio message 15. Lord Haw-Haw broadcast ‘November Tango Romeo’ Nazi propaganda to Britain mean? from German during World 3. Which is the senior service War II. What was his real of the UK armed forces? name? 4. The Enola Gay was the 16. In which branch of the mili- name of the aircraft to drop tary did Adolph Hitler’s the first atomic bomb on Hi- nephew, William Patrick, roshima. What was the name serve? KEEPING TABS: The ‘Island’ on a Nimitz-class carrier. It is from this vantage point that the Air Boss and the Mini-boss keep a close eye on aircraft launching or landing on the deck. of the aircraft that dropped 17. Which South African army the second atomic bomb on unit was based at Nduku- called racks, crammed together personnel can talk to their fami- • Storage capacity for re- Nagasaki? duku in Zululand? in stacks of three. lies via satellite. frigerated and dried food: 5. What was the name of the 18. The assassination of Arch- Each person gets a small enough to feed 6,000 people pilot that dropped the first duke Franz Ferdinand and stowage bin and upright locker Trivia for 70 days. atomic bomb on Hiroshima? his wife on June 28, 1914 13 for clothes and personal be- A few facts and figures: • The desalination plant 6. What was the nickname giv- is said to be the catalyst of longings, and everybody in the • Number of compartments makes 1,514,164 lt of fresh en to Britain’s’ Home Guard WWI. What was unusual compartment shares a bathroom and spaces onboard - 4,000+ water from the sea ever day during World War II? about the licence plate of the and a small common area with • Weight of each anchor - 27 – enough for 2,000 homes 7. What does the AK stand for vehicle they were assassi- a television hooked up to one of metric tons • Mail processed every year in AK-47? nated in? the carrier’s satellite dishes. • Weight of each link in the by onboard post office - 8. What trials, beginning in 19. During the Vietnam War, Officers enjoy more space anchor chains -160 kg 450,000 kg 1945, spawned the phrase “I who was known as Hanoi and finer furnishings, but their • Weight of each propeller - • Each carrier has its own zip was only following orders”? Jane? space is limited, too. Every- 30,000 kg code (postal code) 9. Who was the only woman to 20. In the Vietnam War, what body onboard has to get used to • Weight of each rudder - 41 • Number of dentists - five ever win the American Med- was dropped from aircraft tight quarters. metric tons • Number of medical doctors al of Honour? during Operation Ranch The ship has everything its • Storage capacity for avia- - six 10. Who was the first person Hand? residents need to live, even if tion fuel - 12.5 million litres • Beds in hospital ward - 53 to be awarded the Honoris 21. In what year did National it’s not as comfortably as they • Number of telephones on- • Number of chaplains in in- Crux? Service end in the South Af- would like. There are multiple board - 2,500+ terdenominational chapel - 11. The Tokagypt is the Egyp- rican Defence Force? galleys (kitchens) and mess • Number of televisions on- three tian version of the Russian 22. Where was the first place 23 halls onboard, which collec- board - 3,000+ • Number of haircuts every Tokarev TT-33 pistol. What ever bombed by the South tively serve as many as 18,000 • Total length of electrical ca- week - 1,500+ makes the Tokagypt unique? African Air Force? meals a day. ble onboard - 1,600+ km • Number of barbershops - 12. What did the acronym 23. What famous American avi- The ship also has a sizable • Air conditioning plant ca- one M.A.S.H stand for? ation group flew P-51 Mus- laundry facility, dentist and pacity - 2,040 metric tons, 13. By what name are the Rus- tangs with bright red tails? doctor’s offices, various stores enough to cool more than sian Special Forces com- and a bank of telephones where 500 houses) monly known as? 76 77 On 2 May 1982 the Argentine Navy light cruiser ARA 3 April 1982, one day after the to increase the amount of time General Belgrano, which was General Belgrano was sunk by the Royal Navy subma- Argentine invasion. available to ascertain whether outside and to the south-west of rine HMS Conqueror with the loss of 323 lives. Losses Conqueror arrived in the ex- any vessel in the zone was hos- the exclusion zone, was ordered battlefield from the General Belgrano totalled just over half of Ar- clusion zone around the Falk- tile or not. south-east. land Islands 21 days later and Regardless of the uncertainty Lombardo’s signal was inter- gentine military deaths in the Falklands War. was ordered to scan the area for of the zone’s legal status, it was cepted by British Intelligence. Argentine shipping, particular- widely respected by the ship- As a result, Prime Minister he Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de bol for the political party of the ly the aircraft carrier Veinticin- ping of neutral nations. Margaret Thatcher and her War las Malvinas) was a 10-week undeclared then-president Juan Perón. Sold co de Mayo (“25th of May”). The Argentine military junta Cabinet, meeting at Chequers war between Argentina and the United with her was another of her T began to reinforce the islands in the following day, agreed to a Kingdom in 1982 over two British dependent class, the USS Boise, renamed late April when it was realised request from Admiral Terence territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland ARA Nueve de Julio, which Sinking of the General Bel- that the British Task Force was Lewin, the Chief of the De- Islands and its territorial dependency, South was withdrawn in 1977. grano heading south. As part of these fence Staff, to alter the rules of G Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. 17 de Octubre was one of the On 2 April 1982 Britain de- movements, Argentine Naval engagement and allow an at- The conflict began on 2 April, when Argentina main naval units that joined the clared a Maritime Exclusion units were ordered to take posi- tack on General Belgrano out- e invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, fol- 1955 coup in which Perón was Zone (MEZ) of 200 nautical tions around the islands. side the exclusion zone. lowed by the invasion of South Georgia the next overthrown, and was renamed miles around the Falkland Is- Two Task Groups designat- Although the group was out- n day, in an attempt to establish the sovereignty it General Belgrano after General lands within which any Argen- ed 79.1, which included the side the British-declared total had claimed over them. Manuel Belgrano, who founded tine warship or naval auxiliary aircraft carrier ARA Veinticin- exclusion zone of 370 km radi- e The Argentinians were convinced that the the Escuela de Náutica (School entering the MEZ might be at- co de Mayo plus two Type 42 us from the islands, the British British would not send troops nearly 13,000 of Navigation) in 1799 and had tacked by British nuclear-pow- destroyers, and 79.2, which decided that it was a threat. Af- kilometres to try and recaptured the territory. Yet fought for Argentine independ- ered submarines (SSN). r included three Exocet missile ter consultation at Cabinet lev- on 5 April, the British government dispatched a ence from 1811 to 1819. On 23 April, the British Gov- armed Drummond-class cor- el, Thatcher agreed that Com- naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy General Belgrano acciden- ernment clarified in a message a vettes, both sailed to the north. mander Chris Wreford-Brown and Air Force before making an amphibious as- tally rammed her sister ship that was passed via the Swiss General Belgrano had left Ush- should attack General Belgra- sault on the islands. Nueve de Julio on exercises in Embassy in Buenos Aires to the l uaia in Tierra del Fuego on 26 no. Two of the vessels involved in the conflict were 1956, which resulted in damage Argentine government that any April. At 15h57 (Falkland Islands the Argentine Navy light cruiser ARA General to both. Argentine ship or aircraft that Two destroyers, ARA Pie- Time)[ on 2 May, Conqueror Belgrano and the Royal Navy submarine HMS General Belgrano was out- was considered to pose a threat dra Buena and ARA Hipólito fired three 21-inch Mk 8 mod Conqueror. fitted with the Sea Cat anti-air- to British forces would be at- Bouchard (also ex-USN ves- 4 torpedoes (conventional, craft missile system between tacked. sels) were detached from Task non-guided, torpedoes), each History 1967 and 1968. On 30 April this was upgrad- Group 79.2 and together with with an 363 kg)Torpex war- B ARA General Belgrano was launched in ed to the total exclusion zone, the tanker YPF Puerto Rosales, head. March 1938. At that time she was not known as Nicknamed ‘Conks’, the within which any sea vessel or joined General Belgrano to While Conqueror was also e the General Belgrano. In fact she wasn’t even HMS Conqueror was a British aircraft from any country en- form Task Group 79.3. equipped with the newer Mark part of the Argentine Navy. Churchill-class nuclear-pow- tering the zone might be fired By 29 April, the ships were 24 Tigerfish homing torpedo, l She was originally named USS Phoenix, a ered fleet submarine which upon without further warning. patrolling the Burdwood Bank, there were doubts about its re- Brooklyn-class cruiser, and part of the United served in the Royal Navy from The zone was stated to be “... south of the islands. On 30 liability and Commander Wr- States Navy. On 7 December USS Phoenix was 1971 to 1990. She was the third without prejudice to the right g April, General Belgrano was eford-Brown decided to stick alongside at Pearl Harbour when the Japanese submarine of her class, follow- of the United Kingdom to take detected by the British nucle- with the Mk 24’s. Two of the launched their attack. ing the earlier Churchill and whatever additional measures r ar-powered hunter-killer sub- three torpedoes hit General She survived Pearl Harbour undamaged and Courageous, that were all de- may be needed in exercise of its marine Conqueror. The sub- Belgrano. went on to earn nine battle stars for World War signed to face the Soviet threat right of self-defence, under Ar- a marine approached over the One of the torpedoes struck II service. At the end of the war, she was placed at sea. ticle 51 of the United Nations following day. 10 to 15 metres aft of the bow, in reserve at Philadelphia on 28 February 1946, Conqueror, commanded Charter.” n On 1 May 1982, Admiral outside the area protected by decommissioned on 3 July that year and re- by Commander Chris Wre- The concept of a total ex- Juan Lombardo ordered all Ar- either the ship’s side armour or mained laid up at Philadelphia. ford-Brown, was deployed dur- clusion zone was a novelty in gentine naval units to seek out the internal anti-torpedo bulge. o USS Phoenix was sold to Argentina in Oc- ing the Falklands War, setting maritime law; the Law of the the British task force around the This blew off the ship’s bow, tober 1951 and renamed 17 de Octubre after sail from Faslane Naval Base Sea Convention had no pro- Falklands and launch a “mas- but the internal torpedo bulk- the “People’s Loyalty day”, an important sym- on the Gareloch in Scotland on vision for such an instrument. Its purpose seems to have been sive attack” the following day. heads held and the forward 78 79 powder magazine for the 40 that submarines were “under- mm gun did not detonate. It is handed, unfair, and damned believed that none of the ship’s un-English” and that person- company were in that part of nel should be hanged as pirates, the ship at the time of the ex- Lieutenant Commander Max plosion. Horton began flying the flag The second torpedo struck after returning from successful patrols. about three-quarters of the way La Nación published a read- along the ship, just outside the er’s letter from Admiral Enri- rear limit of the side armour que Molina Pico (head of the plating. The torpedo punched Argentine Navy in the 1990s) through the side of the ship be- in 2005 in which Molina Pico fore exploding in the aft ma- wrote that General Belgrano chine room. was part of an operation that The explosion tore upward posed a real threat to the Brit- through two messes and a re- ABANDON SHIP: The ARA General Belgrano begins to list to ish task force, but was holding laxation area called “the Soda port and sink towards the bow. The photograph was taken by a SILENT SERVICE: When HMS Conqueror sank ARA Gener- off for tactical reasons. Moli- Fountain” before finally rip- member of the crew. al Belgrano it became the first and only nuclear submarine to na Pico added that “To leave ping a 20-metre-long hole in have engaged an enemy vessel with torpedoes. the exclusion zone was not to the main deck. to General Belgrano, as they British nuclear submarines leave the combat zone to enter Later reports put the number were out of touch with her in the continued to operate in the sea exclusion zone as the limit of its sinking of General Belgrano as a protected area”. Molina Pico of deaths in the area around the gloom and had not seen the dis- areas between Argentina and military action. “a legal act of war”, explaining explicitly stated that the sinking explosion at 275 men. After tress rockets or lamp signals. the Falkland Islands, gathering On 1 May 1982, Admiral Juan that “acts of war can be carried was not a war crime, but a com- the explosion, the ship rapidly Adding to the confusion, the intelligence, providing early Lombardo ordered all Argentine out in all of the enemy’s terri- bat action. filled with smoke. crew of Bouchard felt an impact warning of air raids and effec- naval units to seek out the Brit- tory” and “they can also take Conqueror’s war did not after The explosion also damaged that was possibly the third torpe- tively imposing sea denial. ish task force around the Falk- place in those areas over which the sinking of the General Bel- General Belgrano’s electrical do striking at the end of its run A further effect was that lands and launch a “massive at- no state can claim sovereignty, grano. The crew of the subma- power system, preventing her (an examination of the ship later the Argentinian Navy’s carri- tack” the following day. in international waters”. rine had to face Argentine Air from putting out a radio distress showed an impact mark consist- er-borne aircraft had to operate In 2003, the ship’s captain After the war, Conqueror re- Force attempts to locate her in call. ent with a torpedo). from land bases at the limit of Hector Bonzo confirmed that turned to Faslane, flying a Jolly the days after the attack, which Though the forward bulk- The two ships continued on their range, rather than from an General Belgrano had actually Roger adorned with torpedoes, had shocked the Argentine peo- heads held, water was rushing their course westward. By the aircraft carrier at sea. been manoeuvring, not “sailing a customary act of Royal Navy ple and ruling dictatorship. in through the hole created by time the ships realised that some- The minimal role of the Navy away” from the exclusion zone. submarines after a kill. Conqueror did not fire again the second torpedo and could thing had happened to General in the rest of the campaign led to Captain Bonzo stated that any When asked about the inci- in anger throughout the war, but not be pumped out because of Belgrano, it was already dark a considerable loss of credibility suggestion that HMS Conquer- dent later, Commander Wre- helped the task force by using the electrical power failure. and the weather had worsened, and influence within the Junta. or’s actions were a “betrayal” ford-Brown responded, “The sophisticated monitoring equip- In addition, although the ship scattering the life rafts. The legality of the sinking of was utterly wrong; rather, the Royal Navy spent thirteen ment to track Argentine aircraft should have been “at action sta- Argentine and Chilean ships General Belgrano has been dis- submarine carried out its duties years preparing me for such an departing from the mainland. tions”, she was sailing with the rescued 772 men in all from 3 to puted due to disagreement on according to the accepted rules occasion. It would have been In 2003 a search team aboard water-tight doors open. 5 May. In total, 323 were killed the exact nature of the Maritime of war. regarded as extremely dreary if Seacor Lenga, crewed by Ar- The ship began to list to port in the attack: 321 members of Exclusion Zone (MEZ) and In an interview two years be- I had fouled it up”. gentine and British veterans, and to sink towards the bow. the crew and two civilians who whether General Belgrano had fore his death in 2009, he fur- The Jolly Roger is a symbol was sponsored by National Twenty minutes after the at- were on board at the time. been returning to port at the time ther stated that: “It was abso- that has been used by subma- Geographic to find the sunken tack, at 16h24, Captain Bonzo of the sinking. lutely not a war crime. It was an rines, primarily those of the cruiser but failed to locate the ordered the crew to abandon Outcome and controversy Through a message passed via act of war, lamentably legal.” Royal Navy Submarine Service ship. The area where Gener- ship. Inflatable life rafts were Following the loss of General the Swiss Embassy in Buenos In August 1994, an official and its predecessors. The prac- tice came about during World al Belgrano sank, that was not deployed, and the evacuation Belgrano, the Argentinian fleet Aires to the Argentine govern- Argentine Defence Ministry War I. found, is classified as a War began without panic. returned to its bases and played ment nine days before the sink- report written by armed forc- Remembering comments by Grave under Argentine Con- The two escort ships were un- no major role in the rest of the ing, the UK made clear that it no es auditor Eugenio Miari was First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ar- gress Law 25.546. aware of what was happening conflict. longer considered the 320 km released which described the thur Wilson, who complained 80 81 Gaming

While Sergeant Matt ‘Ace of Spades’ O’Brien may love the smell of napalm in the morning, what he doesn’t fancy is trying to stay alive in the jungles of Vietnam.

n the past I have done re- community groups located etnam - the South Vietnamese views on ARMA 3 in three around the world. Army). Iseparate issues of the mag- The map is called Cam Lao You can play in a wide range azine. And guess what - here’s Nam and is a scaled down ver- of military roles, with 41 de- another one. sion of Vietnam and parts of tailed uniforms, 30 vests, 28 ARMA 3 is by far the best Cambodia and Laos. It cov- backpacks, 15 accessories and mil-sim (military simulator) ers 300 km2 and enables play- 20 headgear items - all with that I have come across. While ers to design and run missions many variations. it was released in 2013 what throughout all phases and loca- There are 54 new vehicles keeps it fresh is all the creator tions of the war. and static weapon variants. weapons while the PAVN are ence the ambience of the jungle aged to fall into a punji trap, and content that continually adds The three major cities are This includes five new MACV equipped with imported Chi- as it comes alive with realistic there are also deadly snakes. stuff to the base game. The vast there - Saigon, Hanoi and Hue. helicopters and one PAVN heli- nese and Russian equipment. sounds of wildlife, weather and To play SOG Prairie Fire you majority of this content is free. Other highlights include the copter, two new heavily-armed What I’ve found really unique disturbed vegetation. will need to own the ARMA 3 On the odd occasion people US Air Force base at Pleiku, gunboats, and two new light to Prairie Fire is the authentic The editor means that you can base game. will create content for ARMA the Bru Montagnard jungles, tanks. and atmospheric sound effects. use the entire map to create your For those that have an interest 3 that they require you to pay Hamburger Hill, and the Plain You also get the F-4 Phantom To bring this fascinating period own scenarios and the modding in the Vietnam War, SOG Prai- for. This is the case with S.O.G of Jars. II with 22 weapons, in USAF, of history to life, every sound community is already hard at rie Fire is a must have. Prairie Fire. Travel by boat through the ee- US Navy and USMC colours. has been crafted to improve the work creating campaigns and Savage Game Design, crea- rie swamps of the Mekong Del- They have to face off against experience of close-quarters single player missions that you tors of the DLC (Downloadable ta to discover the bustling ports the S-75 SAM missile and fighting in steaming jungles. will be able to download for content), developed it with the of Da Nang, Sihanoukville and RSNA-75 radar. You will hear enemies whis- free. help of US veterans and Viet- Haiphong, mysterious Paradise There are also five new small per as they approach in the Savage Game Design have namese advisors. Island, the secret airstrip of boats (two wooden motorboats dark, or yelling as they rush to already made a multi-player S.O.G. Prairie Fire immerses Dharma island, and imposing and three sampans), with many overrun you. scenario called Mike Force. you deep within enemy territo- Ha Long Bay. variants, some armed. There The immersive medical sys- Here you choose one of four ry as a member of covert special Then there are the extensive are even two bicycle types for tem adds wounded enemies specialist teams, and co-operate ops unit MACV-SOG (Military hidden camps, caves, and tun- transporting supplies down the calling out, and dark humour to build bases, expand capabili- Assistance Command - Special nels of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Ho Chi Minh Trail. shared by wounded soldiers. ty and find and destroy the ene- Operations Group) and delivers There is a multi-player co-op You will also find 55 new The extensive recreation of my in this unique, intense, com- an Arma 3 sandbox experience campaign for up to 14 players, weapons and variants. Go into every weapon, explosion, bul- bined arms, conquest mission. you won’t forget. as well a five single player sce- battle as the US and South Viet- let crack, vehicle, and footstep I’ve already spent a few Featuring the authentic com- narios. namese armies, carrying stand- sounds creates an immersive hours playing Prairie Fire and I bat, full-spectrum battlefield, You can play as one of four ard-issue gear or run recon as and unforgettable feeling for must say that I am impressed. and powerful scenario editor factions - MACV Special Oper- the elite teams from MACV players. I played a scenario as part of a Arma 3 is renowned for, play- ations Group, PAVN (People’s SOG and the US Special Forc- To complement the sounds of small SOG team deep in enemy Publisher - Bohemia Interactive ers can now experience the full Army of Vietnam, also known es, wielding obscure and cus- battle, many new special effects territory and it had me on the Genre - Mil-Sim scope of the Vietnam War on as NVA or North Vietnamese tomised weapons. have been added to deliver a tru- edge of my chair. And it’s not their own, with friends, or with Army), Viet Cong, or ARVN The VC are normally armed ly kinetic battlefield experience. just the enemy that you have to Score 8.5/10 one of the thousands of Arma (Army of the Republic of Vi- with outmoded but still deadly Even outside of combat, experi- worry about. Twice I’ve man- Price - R152 (on Steam) 82 83 Book Review Movie Restrepo Review Released: 2010 Running time: 93 minutes Directed by: Tim Hetherington & Sebastian Junger North of the Red Line ver the years, much has medics, submariners and pa- been written about in- dres. Erstwhile antagonists also eleased in 2010 and flows north to the Pech, which Restrepo is a film not just Odividuals and the forc- stepped up to the plate, placing directed by American then flows east to the Kunar about the events of combat, es and their operations in what their own personal first-hand journalist Sebastian River valley on the porous bor- but also about “brotherhood,” became commonly known as experiences amongst those of R South Africa’s Border War, or their enemies of yesterday: Junger and British photojour- der with Pakistan. As an exam- according to Junger. The film nalist Tim Hetherington, Re- ple of the ever-present dangers, shows the dedication to their Grensoorlog, but never before Russians, Cubans, Angolans strepo is a documentary film. the first scenes cover a fire-fight duty as a soldier and their has the human spirit of this and SWAPO. The story is fur- The film begins with back- after a military Hummer is disa- commitment to one another 23-year-old conflict been so ther enriched by the inclusion ground that reads: “In May bled on a narrow mountain road as brothers. The film is narrat- graphically and unashamedly of a rich plethora of hitherto 2007, the men of Second Pla- by an IED. ed by several men who fought captured and chronicled as in unseen ‘unofficial’ photographs toon, Battle Company began The soldiers are ferried in by with PFC Juan S. Restrepo. The this book. of stolen memories, in a war sit- a 15-month deployment in the Chinook and begin their de- men discuss loss such as dead Equally unique, was the ex- uation where the taking of any Korengal Valley of eastern Af- ployment at Combat Outpost civilians and soldiers, as well clusive use of social media to such photographs was strictly ghanistan. It was considered (OP) Korengal, or “KOP”, and as the emotional distress that invite and encourage individu- prohibited. Veterans unabash- one of the most dangerous post- early in the campaign PFC Juan the soldiers are left with in its als to tell their personal stories, edly wear their hearts on their ings in the U.S. Military.” S. Restrepo is killed, as well as aftermath. without apology or recrimina- sleeves, speaking of the psycho- The film explores the year another team member, PFC Vi- The film ends with a coda that tion, and so provide an indeli- logical impact of untold trage- raderie. that Junger and Hetherington moto. The film portrays nego- reads: “In April 2010, the Unit- ble oral history of the war. dy and grief; of bravery and un- spent in Afghanistan on assign- tiations with the local people, ed States Army withdrew from Over a period of three years, mitigated fear; of shenanigans Softcover, 540 pages ment for Vanity Fair, embed- construction of an advanced the Korengal Valley. Nearly 50 21,000 of them spoke: nation- and mischievous escapades to Cost: R400 ded with the Second Platoon, B outpost called “OP Restrepo”, American soldiers died fighting al service troopies, permanent relieve the pressures of war; of Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd as well as the challenges and in- there.” force officers, aviators, aircrew, miracles and fate; and of cama- Infantry Regiment, 173rd Air- termittent fire-fights they face. borne Brigade Combat Team of In the latter part of the film, the U.S. Army in the Korangal the dangerous mission Opera- Valley. tion Rock Avalanche is shown The 2nd Platoon is depict- along with some of its tragic ed defending the outpost (OP) consequences. One event was named after a platoon medic the loss of Army Sgt. Larry who was killed earlier in the Rougle. It was there, in 2007, campaign, PFC Juan Sebastián when Army Sgt. Rougle, who Restrepo, a Colombian-born served two tours in Iraq and naturalized U.S. citizen. three in Afghanistan, was am- The film chronicles the lives bushed by a large number of of the men from their deploy- Taliban. ment to the time of their return It was learned that Rougle, home, and begins with video at point, took the brunt of the footage of PFC Restrepo on a attack, allowing his soldiers train one week prior. The goal to secure a position and fight. of the deployment was to clear Army Sgt. Larry Rougle, who is Smokeshell Anglo Boer War The Bleed the Korengal Valley of insur- a recipient of the Purple Heart, R375 R460 R395 gency and gain the trust of the is buried in Arlington National Click on the poster to watch a local populace. The Korengal Cemetery. trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 84 85 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June Atlas MB326KM Impala to an end. OET) was Killed in Action This month in military history Mk II was shot down by an- • 1908 - Sir Redvers Henry during a contact with PLAN Some of the significant military events that happened in June. Highlighted in blue are the names ti-aircraft fire near Cuvelai in Buller, British general dur- insurgents in Northern of those members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) that lost their lives during the month Southern Angola while car- ing Second Anglo-Boer War, Owamboland. He was 25. of June. rying out close-air support dies. • 1986 - Rifleman T. Kefas operations. He was 35. • 1940 - Heavy German bomb- from 101 Battalion SWATF 1 June gin covering much of Brit- Tsumeb. He was 19. • 1982 - Private Robert Wil- ing of the Dunkirk beach- was Killed in Action during ain with smoke screens, as • 1980 - Umkhonto weSizwe liam Benjamin Ostram from head. a contact with PLAN insur- • 1879 - Eugene Louis Jean the Air Force Command Post • 1944 - WWII: North Afri- gents near the Cut-Line. He Joseph Napoleon, the 22 troops crowd assembly areas strikes at the Sasol Complex, for D-Day. causing damage estimated at in Windhoek was critical- ca. North Africa is used as was 24. year old Prince Imperial of ly injured on 29 May 1982 a base of operations for Op- • 1986 - Staff Sergeant L. Mu- France, is killed in the An- • 1948 - Cease-fire ends Israeli R66 million. War for Independence. • 1980 - Two members from when he fell off the back of eration Frantic – 130 Fly- torwa from 202 Battalion glo-Zulu War when he and a moving vehicle in Wind- ing Fortresses fly to Russia, SWATF was Killed in Action a British reconnaissance • 1964 - Military coup installs 102 Battalion SWATF were a junta in Greece. killed when their Buffel hoek. He succumbed to his bombing targets in Romania during a contact with PLAN party are attacked by about injuries in the Windhoek and Hungary as they go. insurgents near the Angolan forty Zulus in the vicinity of • 1976 - Lance Corporal No- Troop Carrier overturned in lind Trevor Small from 4 the Operational Area. They State Hospital on 1 June • 1978 - US offers to airlift Border. He was 28. Itelezi Mountain and Ityo- 1982. He was 21. French paratroopers out of • 1989 - Sapper Francois tyozi River in Zululand. The SAI was killed just north of were: Rifleman B. Herunga Grootfontein after he appar- ((22). Rifeman J. Matundu • 1988 - Two members from the escalating violence in Crowley from the School of prince’s horse, “Fate”, bolts 101 Battalion SWATF were southern Zaire. Engineers was accidentally and the prince, in attempting ently suffered a seizure and (20). blacked out while behind • 1981 - Festivities to mark Killed in Action during a • 1979 - Rifleman Abraham killed when a telephone pole to mount his fleeing horse, is contact with enemy forces Johannes Willemse from the fell on top of him. He was stabbed to death. the wheel of the military the twentieth anniversary of Landrover he was driving. the South African Republic in Southern Angola. They Infantry School was killed in 23. • 1915 - First Zeppelin air raid were: Rifleman G K Sem- a private motor vehicle acci- • 1995 - USAF Capt Scott over England. The vehicle left the road and reach a climax with a mas- collided with a water tower sive military display in Dur- ba (24). Rifleman J Savinga dent at Wellington while on a O’Grady’s F-16C shot down • 1916 - Battle of Jutland: (26). 7-day pass. He was 20. over Bosnia. Fleets return to port. which collapsed on top of ban, attended by P.W. Botha, the vehicle. He was 19. the Prime Minister. • 1981 - 2nd Lieutenant Christ- • 2004 - DR Congo rebel lead- • 1917 - The French Army 2 June offel Petrus Taylor from 1 er General. Laurent Nkunda “Mutinies” begin: Troops go • 1977 - Private Johannes Jur- • 1981 - Rifleman Gavin John • 1879 - A 1000-strong search Parachute Battalion died in 1 takes the town of Bukavu on strike. Order is restored in gens Lensley from 16 Main- Harvey from “B” Company, party finds the body of the Military Hospital after being after a week of fighting with about four weeks, with min- tenance Unit was killed af- 1 Parachute Battalion was Prince Imperial of France, critically injured on 29 May army troops. imal violence, and the Ger- ter being struck by a bullet severely wounded during Louis Napoleon, who was 1981. He was 20. mans never learn of them during a shooting incident at follow-up operations against killed when Zulu warriors • 1982 - Special Constable 3 June • 1939 - The South African Grootfontein. He was 18. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents attacked a small British re- Petrus Venasio from the • 1935 - Two Italian outposts Police takes over the tasks • 1978 - 2nd Lieutenant Philip on 22 May 1981. He was connaissance party in the South West Africa Police are attacked by Haile Se- of the German South-West Michael Dietlof Mare’ from evacuated to the Hospital in vicinity of Italezi Mountain Counter –Insurgency Wing: lassie’s troops in Ethiopia. African police. 423 mem- 6 Squadron was killed while Grootfontein where he was and Ityotozi River in Zulu- Ops-K Division (KOEV- Thirty Ethiopian soldiers are bers of the disbanded police on a routine training flight stabilised before being evac- land the previous day. force are incorporated into out of Air Force Base Port uated by air to 1 Military • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- the force. Elizabeth. He was 22. Hospital in Pretoria the fol- er War: British Prime Min- • 1943 - WWII: According to • 1980 - Rifleman Petrus Jo- lowing day. He unfortunate- ister Arthur Balfour reads an entry in the squadron’s hannes Bonnet from 61 ly succumbed to his wounds the terms of surrender to diary, 28 Squadron of the Mechanised Battalion died in 1 Military Hospital on 1 the House of Commons in SA Air Force is formed as of severe chest and lung inju- June 1981. He was 21. London after the signing of a transport squadron at the ries sustained when the Buf- • 1982 - Major Eugene Kotze the Treaty of Vereeniging in SAAF Base Depot Almaza, fel Troop Carrier in which SD, Station Pilot at Air Pretoria on 31 May which Cairo. he was traveling, overturned Force Base Ondangwa was PW Botha brought the Second South • 1944 - Allied forces be- outside the 61 Mech Base in Killed in Action when his African (Anglo-Boer) War 86 87 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June killed. amid Allied concerns the • 1979 - Flight-Lieutenant Jer- ZAR. in Durban. He was 27. seize control of Somalia’s • 1940 - World War II: The Germans might stage a Stal- ry Rawlings seizes power • 1916 - Lord Kitchener • 1986 - Seven members from capital, unifying the city for withdrawal of Allied Forces ingrad-style defense that in his first military coup in drowns when the SS Hamp- 250 Air Defence Artillery the first time in 16 years and from Dunkirk ends. would devastate the historic Ghana. shire sinks after being hit by Group, South African Air posing a direct challenge to • 1940 - Major German air ‘Eternal’ city. • 1980 - Three members from a German mine near the Ork- Force were killed in a private the UN-backed government. raid on Paris. • 1963 - British Minister of 32 Battalion were Killed ney Islands. motor vehicle accident in • 1944 - Last Italian air raid War John Profumo resigns in Action, south of Mutu- • 1942 - Midway Campaign: the early hours of the morn- 6 June on Gibraltar, by Mussolini’s over an affair with Christine anjamba (approximately Yamamoto orders the Com- ing while traveling between • 1918 - The US Marines se- “Republican Air Force”. Keeler. 80km inside Angola) during bined Fleet to retire. Pretoria and Hammanskraal. cure Belleau Wood. • 1959 - First US Air Force • 1969 - Joseph-Désiré Mobu- the first phase of Operation • 1942 - USA declares war on They were returning to the • 1944 - D-Day: The Allied Academy graduation. tu’s troops kill over 100 stu- Sceptic. The casualties were: Bulgaria, Hungary, and Ro- Unit from a weekend sports Forces land on the beaches • 1978 - Security Police chief, dents during a demonstration 2nd Lieutenant Pieter van mania. pass. The accident occurred of Normandy in the largest Brigadier C.F. Zietsman, in the Congolese capital Kin- der Walt (19). Staff Sergeant • 1944 - First B-29 raid over 25km from Hammanskraal. sea and air operation in the announces that about 4,000 shasa. Simao Domingos Braz (27). Tokyo; one plane is lost due The casualties were: Cor- military history of the world. South African exiles are un- • 1969 - The Minister of De- Rifleman Joshua Joao (24). to engine failure. poral Michael Christopher • 1968 - Sir Miles Dempsey, dergoing guerrilla training fence, P.W. Botha, accompa- • 1982 - Revised figures for • 1952 - The monument at Marx (19). Airman Deon Commander of the Canadian in Mozambique, Angola, nied by General Hiemstra, the Defence Budget indi- Delville Wood, unveiled on Phillipus Beukes (19). Air- First Army on D-Day, dies at Tanzania and Libya; of these Lieutenant-General J.P. Ver- cate the funds available to 10 October 1926 to honour man Grant Sinclaire Strange the age of 69. about three quarters have ster, Chief of the Air Force the South African Defence the thousands of SA soldiers Braithwaite (18). Airman • 1975 - Britain, France, and been recruited by the ANC. and Lieutenant-General W.P. Force have been increased to who were killed there dur- Matthys Gideon Britz (19). the United States use their • 1984 - Rifleman Gabriel Louw, Chief of the Army, R3,068 million. ing the Battle of the Somme, Airman Dawid Lindeque UN Security Council veto to Kampanza from 203 Battal- visits France (4-10 June). He • 1982 - Israel attacks targets World War I, is rededicated (19). Airman Frans Cor- stop a proposed arms embar- ion SWATF was Killed in denies that the visit involves in south Lebanon. to include World War II. nelius Moolman (19). Air- go against South Africa. Action in a Landmine Ex- the purchase of arms. • 1989 - The Chinese govern- • 1967 - The Six Day War be- man Marthinus Louis Nel • 1977 - Corporal Salmon plosion in Northern Owam- • 1973 - Over four thousand ment ordered its troops to tween Israel and its neigh- (19). Petrus Claasen from the boland. He was 22. French troops are to be with- open fire on unarmed pro- bouring countries Egypt, • 1987 - Two members from Technical Service Corps • 1985 - Rifleman Thomas drawn from Madagascar at testers in Tiananmen Square Jordan and Syria breaks out Infantry School were killed Training Centre died in 1 Daniel from 101 Battalion the request of Gabriel Ra- in Beijing. with Israel launching air in a private motor vehicle Military Hospital after being SWATF was accidentally manantsoa, the head of the • 1992 - Colonel David Fred- strikes on Egypt, destroying accident 8km from Vrede- shot dead in a shooting in- recently imposed military erik Strauss from Air Force most of that country’s air fort while on weekend pass. cident in Northern Owam- government. Headquarters died in 1 Mil- force on the ground. Syria, They were: Rifleman Fran- boland. He was 25. • 1974 - First Woman US itary Hospital from compli- Jordan and Iraq enter the cois Nel (18). Rifleman Pie- Army Aviator: Sally Mur- cations resulting from Brain conflict. ter van der Linde (18). 4 June phy. Cancer. He was 49. • 1978 - Corporal Charles • 1993 - Forces of Somali • 1918 - US and French • 1978 - Warrant Officer II Jo- • 1997 - South Africa an- Benjamin de Villiers from 1 warlord Mohammed Farah halt the Germans at Cha- seph Johannes Burger HCS nounces the development of SAI was killed in a military Aidid ambush UN soldiers teau-Thierry. from 2 SAI was killed in a a revolutionary canon an ex- vehicle accident in Bloem- in Mogadishu, killing twen- • 1942 - Reinhard Heydrich, military vehicle accident at ternally powered gun code- fontein. He was 22. ty-two Pakistani soldiers. Himmler’s henchman, is as- Messina. He was 38. named EMAK3S, designed • 1984 - Rifleman M. Sipipa • 2006 - Islamic militants with sassinated at the age of 38. • 1979 - Rifleman David Jo- by Denel at the request of from 202 Battalion SWATF alleged links to al-Qaida • 1944 - During World War II hannes van Heerden from ARMSCOR. was Killed in Action during a in Europe, Rome was liber- Eastern Province Command contact with SWAPO/PLAN ated by the U.S. 5th Army, was killed at M’pacha after 5 June Insurgents. He was 22. led by General Mark Clark. being struck by a bullet from • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- • 1984 - Rifleman Andries Rome had been declared an an accidental discharge of a er War: British troops enter Christiaan Jacobs from Reg- open city by German Field fellow soldiers rifle. He was Pretoria and Lord Roberts iment Port Natal was killed Albert Kesselring Marshal Albert Kesselring 28. captures the capital of the in a military vehicle accident 88 89 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June critically injured in a military the south West Africa Police tests an airplane-mounted Kevin Henry Stanley (19). “Ace of Aces” (74 confirmed • 1984 - Two members from vehicle accident. He was 20. Counter-Insurgency Wing: machine gun. • 1981 - Israeli air strikes de- kills, 30+ possibles), dies at 5 Reconnaissance Regiment • 1978 - Sergeant Coenrad Ops-K Division (Koevoet) • 1916 - Germans capture Fort stroy Iraqi nuclear weapons the age of 59. were Killed in Action during Jacobus Theron from 32 were killed in action follow- Vaux, Verdun. facilities. • 1960 - Argentine govern- a contact with enemy forces Battalion Died of Wounds ing a contact with SWAPO/ • 1917 - Battle of Messines: • 1982 - Rifleman Carlos ment demands Israel release in Southern Angola. They in 1 Military Hospital after PLAN insurgents in North- Mines totalling nearly 500 Everisto from 32 Battalion Adolf Eichmann. were: Corporal D. Shiningi- suffering multiple shrapnel ern Owamboland. The casu- tons of explosives demolish was Killed in Action during • 1965 - US troops ordered to vali (24). Lance Corporal K. wounds in a friendly fire in- alties were: Special Warrant the German trenches, and the a contact with enemy forces fight offensively in Vietnam. Awino (22). cident on 6 May. He was 19. Officer J.M. Tsitula (34). Canadian Corps storms the in Southern Angola. He was • 1976 - Corporal Hendrik Jo- • 1985 - Rifleman Izaskar • 1979 - Lance Corporal Hen- Special Sergeant Lindu ridge 21. sias Stephanus Coetzee from Kariko from 911 Battalion drik Swart from SWA SPES Valentino (26). • 1940 - British and French • 1982 - Sergeant Lloyd Mi- 4 Maintenance Unit was SWATF was Killed in Ac- was Killed in Action during a • 1988 - Airman Ian-Roy troops evacuate Narvik, Nor- zwandile Mbele from 5 Re- killed in a military vehicle tion during a contact with contact with SWAPO/PLAN Francois Erasmus from the way. connaissance Regiment was accident at Wenela Base in SWAPO/PLAN insurgents insurgents in the Oshivello Air Force Gymnasium was • 1942 - Battle of Midway: Killed in Action during a the East Caprivi. He was 19. near the Cut-line. He was area. He was 24. killed in a private vehicle ac- The USS ‘Yorktown’ (CV-5) Contact with Enemy Forces • 1979 - Rifleman Johannes 22. • 1980 - Corporal Mario van cident while returning to the goes down, after a desperate in Southern Angola. He was Leonardus Truter from 8 • 1987 - Corporal Jacques Wyk from 32 Battalion was Air Force Gymnasium from fight to save the ship. 28. SAI was critically wounded Barand Zaayman from 1 killed in action. He was 20. a weekend pass. He was 19. • 1942 - The Germans capture • 1985 - Trooper Johannes in the head when his Tempo- SAI was killed on the Ma- • 1981 - Rifleman Robert • 1988 - With a border dis- Sebastopol. Ludwig Basson from 701 rary Base near Beacon 6 was selspoort to Glen Road out- Owen Brindle from SWA pute escalating into bombing • 1944 - British 50th division Battalion SWATF was killed attacked by SWAPO/PLAN side Bloemfontein when his SPES died from a gunshot raids, hundreds of foreigners liberates Bayeux. at M’pacha after being struck insurgents on 4 February. Ratel overturned while he wound accidentally sus- scramble out of Eritrea, fear- • 1962 - Phosphorous bombs by a bullet resulting from an This serious head wound left was instructing a pupil in tained as a result of a acci- ing war with Ethiopia. are detonated at Algiers Uni- accidental discharge of a fel- him completely paralysed driving skills. He was 19. dental discharge of a fellow • 1991 - Rifleman Johannes versity by members of the low soldiers rifle. He was 19. and he remained in intensive • 1988 - Colonel Andre Bek- soldiers rifle at Etale Base. Frederick Lombaard Nel Organisation de l’Armee Se- • 1990 - President F.W. de care in 1 Military Hospital ker from the South African He was 18. from 8 SAI was accidentally crete (OAS), a secret (terror- Klerk lifts the state of emer- until he succumbed to his Air Force was killed when • 1982 - 30,000 Israeli troops killed when he was run over ist) French army organisation gency in SA. wounds on 8 June 1979. He his civilian Christen Husky invade Lebanon to drive out by a Ratel during field ma- opposed to the withdrawal of • 1991 - Several Lesotho army was 19. aircraft crashed at Wonder- the PLO. noeuvres at the Army Battle French troops from Algeria. officers are arrested after • 1981 - 2nd Lieutenant Dun- • 1983 - Rifleman Vincent School. He was 20. • 1967 - Israeli forces reach attempting a counter-coup can Frederick Lahner from Mandla Mthembu from 121 Suez Canal in Egypt, two to reinstate Major-General 32 Battalion was killed when Battalion was Killed when 7 June days into Six-Day War. Metsing Lekhanya, ousted his Buffel Troop Carrier his Buffel Troop Carrier • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1977 - Lieutenant Alwyn on April 30. overturned at Buffalo Base. overturned in Windhoek. He War: The battle of Roodewal Merwe van Zyl from Regi- • 1997 - Foreigners flee heavy He was 21. was 20. Siding takes place near Kop- ment Oranjerivier died in the fighting between rival mili- • 1985 - Captain Curtis McLe- pies, OFS. General De Wet Grootfontein Hospital after tias in Brazzaville, Republic od from 4 Squadron was and eighty men attack two contracting malaria while of Congo. killed when his Atlas MB- companies (172 men) guard- serving in the Operational 326KM Impala crashed at ing a train and supplies. Eight Area. He was 26. 8 June Sandfontein near Lanseria. British soldiers are killed; • 1981 - Two members of the • 1900 - Botha’s Pass in Natal He was 29. twenty-four wounded and South African Medical Corps comes under attack by Gen- • 1985 - 2nd Lieutenant Mark- between 500 and 600 crates were killed after suffering eral Buller’s forces. us Wynand Pearson from of ammunition are taken. multiple shrapnel wounds in • 1948 - John Rudder becomes 7 SAI was killed in action • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer an accidental hand grenade the first black officer in the while on patrol in Southern War: Units under General explosion at Walvis Bay. US Marine Corps. René Fonck Angola. He was 21. Hunter occupy Lichtenburg. They were: Private Henry • 1953 - Colonel René Paul • 1985 - Two members from • 1912 - US Army Air Service John Pieterse (20). Private Fonck, Allied World War I 90 91 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June boom Airport during a rou- rectly for the built-up area of accidentally killed while SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Pietersburg during a routine • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer tine training flight. He was Monument Park. Realising busy building a bunker at in Southern Angola. He was training flight. He was 23. War: General Redvers Henry 46. this and although extremely Bagani. He was 20. 24. • 1977 - Dutch Marines rescue Buller occupies Volksrust af- • 1995 - Marines rescue low, he persisted with his left • 1979 - Rifleman Johannes • 1982 - Rifleman K Comox- hostages on a train held by ter a victory at Allemansnek. downed USAF Capt Scott turn in a final effort to avoid Wilhelmus Landerd Jans oxo from 201 Battalion Moluccan terrorists. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer O’Grady in Bosnia. damage to property and in- from the Johannesburg Reg- SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1985 - Rifleman Litwayi War: President Steyn issues jury or death to persons on iment was Killed in Action tion during a contact with Herbert from 202 Battalion a proclamation refuting Lord 9 June the ground. The aircraft was in Southern Angola. He was SWAPO/PLAN insurgents SWATF was killed in a mili- Robert’s annexation procla- • 1865 - The Second Basotho by this time so low as to ex- 22. near the Cut-Line. He was tary vehicle accident at Vun- mations. He points out that War, known as Siqiti war, clude the possibility of ejec- • 1980 - Rifleman Jose Miguel 25. gu-Yungu. He was 20. the Orange Free State gov- breaks out. tion and it hit the ground just from 32 Battalion was Killed • 1982 - Israeli troops reach • 1994 - After 49 years, the ernment is still in existence • 1938 - The Chinese breach as it cleared the built-up area, in Action in a landmine ex- outskirts of Beirut. Soviet military occupation of and its military forces are the Yellow River dykes at disintegrating on impact and plosion in Southern Angola • 1991 - Ticker tape parade up East Germany ended. At one still unconquered and thus in Huayangkuou, halting a Jap- killing him instantly. For his during operations against en- Broadway to honour Gulf time there had been 337,800 terms of the Hague Conven- anese offensive at the cost of actions he was awarded a emy forces. He was 29. War veterans. Soviet troops stationed in tion, military rule cannot be perhaps 800,000 lives. posthumous Honoris Crux. • 1980 - Thirteen members Germany. Over 300,000 imposed. • 1940 - French government He was 21. of 61 Mechanised Battalion 11 June Russians died during World • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer flees Paris for Tours, as Ger- and 1 SAI (attached) were • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer War II in the Battle for Ber- War: The two-day Battle of man troops cross the Seine. 10 June Killed in Action or Died of War: Colonel B.T. Mahon lin. Diamond Hill or Donker- • 1940 - Norway surrenders to • 1915 - British and French Wounds during the attack on occupies Potchefstroom. hoek, started on the previous Germany, as King Haakon troops secure German Cam- the PLAN Smokeshell Base • 1900 - The battle of Donker- 12 June day, ends when darkness sets VII flees into exile in Lon- eroon, Africa. complex during Operation hoek (Diamond Hill) marks • 1898 - The Philippines de- in and Comdt.-Gen. Botha don. • 1917 - The South African Sceptic in Southern Angola. the continuation of the South clared their independence orders his burghers to return • 1942 - Nazis raze Lidice, Native Labour Contingent The casualties were: Lieu- African War. from Spain. The islands were to Bronkhorstspruit. The Czechoslovakia. About were recruited and employed tenant Johannes Jacobus Du • 1904 - German Lieuten- named after King Philip II. following day Lord Roberts 1,400 people are slaughtered. to assist Britain in the First Toit (HC) (22). Rifleman ant-General Lothar von Tro- Once freed from Spain, the withdraws to Christinen Hill, • 1944 - Normandy: U.S. VII World War with labour du- Francois Johan Loubser tha lands in Swakopmund, islands were then invaded Sammy Marks’ farm. & V Corps link up to form a ties. (19). Rifleman Petrus Jo- South West Africa. and occupied by U.S. forc- • 1918 - First air raid by an continuous beachhead. • 1944 - Ouradour-sur-Glane: hannes Joubert (19). Rifle- • 1940 - World War II: North es. They became an Ameri- American aviation unit, • 1959 - The first ballistic mis- SS massacre 642 men, wom- man Gert Johannes Venter Africa. British planes raid can colony and remained so France. sile sub is launched from en, and children in a French (25). Rifleman Gerhardus Italian targets in Libya fol- until after World War II. • 1937 - The Purges: Stalin USS ‘George Washington’ village. Johannes Kemp (19). Rifle- lowing Italy’s declaration (SSBN-598). • 1967 - Cease fire ends the man Jacobus Hendrik Fou- of war against Britain and • 1967 - Military service be- Six Day War (Syria, Jordan, rie (20). Corporal Paul Kru- France on the 10th. comes compulsory for White Iraq, Egypt vs. Israel). ger (20). Rifleman Stephen • 1940 - Italian air raid on South African men. • 1974 - Captain Petrus Jo- Maritz Cronje (19). Rifle- Malta. • 1976 - 2nd Lieutenant Kevin hannes Coetzer from 6 SAI man Peter William Warren- • 1940 - RAF raids Genoa and Roy Winterbottom HC (P) suffered severe brain injuries er (19). Rifleman Roberto Turin. from 4 Squadron had just in a private motor vehicle Nicola de Vito (19). Rifle- • 1960 - Libyan president taken off from Air Force base accident on 8 June 1974 near man Michael Clarence Luyt Colonel Muammar Gadhaffi Waterkloof in his Atlas MB- Lichtenburg while on leave. (19). Rifleman Francis John admits to providing funds, Muammar Gadhaffi 326KM Impala Mk II, when He remained on life support Lello (19). Rifleman An- munitions, and training to it suffered engine failure due in 1 Military Hospital until drew John Madden (19). the IRA. to a bird strike. There was a he succumbed to his injuries • 1981 - Rifleman Antonio Jo- • 1968 - Lieutenant Johannes busy road ahead of him, so on 10 June 1974. He was 29. hannes from 101 Battalion Viljoen from 1 Squadron he began a left turn. which • 1975 - Corporal Timothy SWATF was Killed in Ac- was killed when his Canadair set him up on a heading di- Chadwick from 6 SAI was tion during a contact with CL13B Sabre crashed near 92 93 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June initiates mass executions of contact with SWAPO/PLAN ing the waterway over to works on Honshu. Andries De Bruine from 1 dre Clifford Meyers from 6 senior military personnel insurgents in Northern Egypt after operating it for • 1952 - Keel laid for the USS Squadron was killed in when SAI was accidentally killed • 1943 - British King George Owamboland. He was 26. seventy-four years. ‘Nautilus’ (SSN-571), the his Canadair CL13B Sabre after suffering severe head IV lands in Algiers at the • 1989 - Private Clive Dean • 1970 - P.W. Botha announc- first nuclear powered sub- crashed near Pienaarsriver. injuries when he fell 10m start of a North African tour MacKenzie from 1 Mainte- es that South Africa is es- marine. He was 23. from a slide during training of Allied troops. nance Unit was killed instant- tablishing a new submarine • 1979 - Rifleman Lloyd • 1964 - Last French troops at Grootfontein. He was 26. • 1943 - Himmler orders ex- ly when he was electrocuted base at Simonstown at a cost Matthew Marthinus Kas- leave Algeria. • 1984 - Ciskei’s former Com- termination of all Polish after accidentally touching of $7.7 million. toor from the South African • 1974 - Minister of Defence mander of the Armed Forces, ghettos. overhead high tension wires • 1973 - Captain Anthonie Jo- Cape Corps was killed in a P.W. Botha announces dur- Major-General Charles Sebe, • 1944 - First V-1 cruise mis- at the Bulkop Railway Sta- hannes Brits from 8 Squad- military vehicle accident at ing a press visit to the Ca- brother of President Lennox sile attack on London. tion while in the process of ron was killed when his Grootfontein. He was 20. privi Strip that the Defence Sebe, is sentenced to twelve • 1944 - US troops liberate offloading military supplies. AT-6 Harvard crashed near • 1982 - Falklands: Argentines Force has taken over protec- years’ imprisonment after Carentan and Chaumont, He was 18. Bloemfontein during a rou- surrender to Britain, ending tion of the country’s northern being found guilty of incite- Normandy. • 1993 - US helicopters and tine training flight. He was the 74 day war. borders as a full military op- ment to public violence. • 1962 - Two members from gunships destroy four of So- 28. • 1985 - The SA Defence eration, replacing the police • 1988 - A meeting between Central Flying School Dun- mali warlord Mohammed • 1993 - Twenty Somalis are Force attacks alleged ANC in the area. the End Conscription Cam- nottar were killed instant- Farah Aidid’s arms depots, killed and fifty more wound- homes and offices in Gabo- • 1975 - Rifleman Rumai Tete- paign (ECC) and the SADF ly when their AT-6 Harvard one week after his forces al- ed when Pakistani members rone, Botswana, in Opera- ko from Alpha Group (Later takes place, with a main ob- struck the ground and dis- legedly killed twenty-three of the United Nations (UN) tion Plecksy. Twelve or thir- 31 Battalion) was killed after jective to discuss alternative integrated near Dunnottar Pakistani members of the peacekeeping forces fire into teen people are killed. being attacked and trampled national service. In August while they were carrying out United Nations (UN) peace- a crowd of demonstrators to death by an enraged Buf- Minister of Defence Magnus unauthorised low level aero- keeping forces in a series of protesting UN attacks on 15 June falo while on Patrol in South- Malan broke off relations batics. The crew of the air- fire fights. warlord Mohammed Farah • 1864 - General Robert E ern Angola. He was 22. with the ECC. craft were: 2nd Lieutenant • 1999 - NATO peacekeeping Aidid.. Lee’s home, Arlington, be- • 1978 - Bombardier Christo • 1993 - Rifleman Johan Bruce Erroll Gaylard (19). forces begin operating in comes a US military ceme- Loots from 4 Artillery Reg- Cloete from 8 SAI died from Air Mechanic Hermanus Kosovo, Yugoslavia. 14 June tery. iment was killed at Oshakati a gunshot wound accidental- Lambertus Booysen (18). • 1775 - The first U.S. Mili- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer after being struck by a bullet ly sustained in a shooting in- • 1967 - Israel declares it will 13 June tary service, the Continen- War: Sergeant J. Rogers of resulting from an accidental cident at Boskop. He was 21. keep some of ground won • 1900 - The “Boxer Rebel- tal Army consisting of six the SA Constabulary earns discharge of a fellow sol- from Egypt, Jordan and Syr- lion” begins in China. companies of riflemen, was a Victoria Cross near Thaba diers rifle. He was 19. 16 June ia in Six-Day War. • 1917 - Major German bomb- established by the Second Nchu. • 1981 - Rifleman Peter An- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1976 - A military coup in er raid on London’s East Continental Congress. The • 1915 - After the 1914 Rebel- Uruguay overthrows civilian End, 162 die, including 18 next day, George Washing- lion, General Christiaan de Adolf Hitler and president Juan Bordaberry, children at the Upper North ton was appointed by a unan- Wet is found guilty of high Benito Mussolini beginning a nine-year dicta- Street School. imous vote to command the treason in the High Court, torship. • 1942 - World War II Britain army. Bloemfontein, and sentenced • 1983 - Staff Sergeant Donald loses 230 tanks in desert bat- • 1912 - The headquarters of to six years’ imprisonment Norman Coleby from Regi- tles. the defence force of the Un- and a fine of £2000. Within a ment Groot Karoo Died of • 1942 - Peenemunde: First ion of South Africa is found- few months the fine had been Wounds 10 km south of Cu- V-2 rocket reaches 1.3 km. ed in Pretoria. paid from voluntary contri- velai. He was 27. • 1944 - First V-1 raid: one • 1917 - General John J. Persh- butions. • 1983 - Special Constable K of ten missiles fired strikes ing and his staff reach Paris. • 1934 - At a meeting in Rome Kambirua from the South London, six die. • 1940 - The Nazis open Hitler meets Mussolini for West Africa Police Coun- • 1951 - UN forces reach concentration camps at the first time. ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Pyongyang, Korea. Auschwitz and Oranienburg. • 1940 - The Germans capture Division (Koevoet) was • 1956 - Last British troops • 1944 - First B-29 raid on Ja- Verdun. Killed in Action during a leave Suez Canal base, turn- pan; 60 bombers hit the steel • 1962 - 2nd Lieutenant Johan 94 95 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June War: Start of the ‘scorched Nghifino from the South West • 1940 - Operation Ariel: Last with SWAPO/PLAN insur- Base, Walvis Bay. The Post Napoleon, suffered a crush- earth’ policy. Lord Roberts Africa Police Counter-Insur- British and Allied troops gents. He was 20. Mortem revealed that he ing military defeat from a issues a proclamation warn- gency Wing: Ops-K Divi- evacuated from France. • 1982 - Two members of 5 was suffering from a brain combined Allied army of ing the Republican forces sion (Koevoet) was Killed in • 1942 - World War II: The Reconnaissance Regiment tumour. He was 20. 113,000 British, Dutch, Bel- that houses in the vicinity of Action during a contact with first American expeditionary were Killed in Action dur- • 1993 - United Nations (UN) gian, and Prussian troops. Boer activities will be burnt SWAPO/PLAN insurgents force lands in Africa. ing a Contact with Enemy troops storm the headquar- • 1823 - The British Army and the inhabitants made in Northern Owamboland. • 1945 - Final Japanese de- Forces. They were: Sergeant ters of Somali warlord Mo- adopts trousers for infantry, prisoners of war. He was 32. fensive line on Okinawa Lloyd Mziwandile Mbele hammed Farah Aidid in in lieu of breeches & gaiters. • 1911 - The City of Fez, Mo- • 1992 - Two members from breached. (28). Lance Corporal Oiva Mogadishu, but he is not • 1940 - Hitler and Mussolini rocco, is occupied by the 117 Infantry Battalion were • 1963 - Field Marshal Sir Shilongo (22). there. confer in Munich, discuss French army. killed when their Military Alan Francis Brooke, Vis- • 1982 - Special Constable A. • 1997 - Sierra Leone’s mili- the imminent surrender of • 1953 - Soviet tanks crush Vehicle was involved in a count Alanbrooke, dies at the Ndawedapo from the South tary leader, Johnny Paul Ko- France and plans for an inva- workers’ protest in East Ber- head on collision with civil- age of 79. West Africa Police Coun- roma, is sworn in as head of sion of Switzerland. lin. ian vehicle at Mankweng. • 1965 - Vietnam: First B-52 ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K state and pledge to restore • 1940 - Winston Churchill • 1955 - Abortive coup against They were: Corporal Sedi- raid, 50 km north of Saigon. Division (Koevoet) was peace to the war-weary West says “this was their finest President Juan Peron of Ar- ma Johannes Lebepe (25). • 1967 - China becomes killed in action during a con- African nation. hour”. gentina. Rifleman Kgabo Theophil- world’s fourth thermonucle- tact with SWAPO/PLAN in- • 1998 - USS ‘Missouri’ (BB- • 1942 - Dr. Bernard Whit- • 1957 - French offensive in lus Kubjana (25). ar power. surgents in Northern Owam- 63) is dedicated as a war me- field Robinson becomes the Algeria. • 2006 - Up to 5,000 children • 1975 - The British Minister boland. He was 26. morial, Pearl Harbour.. first black officer in the U.S. • 1965 - Civil war starts in still serve in the Ugandan of State for Defence says that • 1984 - Trooper Andre van Navy. Chad. armed forces even though the ending of the Simon’s Neel from 202 Battalion 18 June • 1945 - William “Lord Haw- • 1975 - The Simon’s Town they are officially banned Town Agreements means SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1812 - After much debate, Haw” Joyce is charged with agreement on naval coop- from enlisting, a senior UN an end to all the military co- tion during a contact with the U.S. Senate voted 19 to treason. eration between Britain and official said. operation between Britain SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. 13 in favour of a declaration • 1974 - Marshal of the Soviet South Africa is formally and South Africa. He was 19. of war against Great Britain, Union Georgi Zhukov, dies ended by mutual agreement 17 June • 1977 - Private Johannes • 1985 - Rifleman Juston King prompted by Britain’s vio- at the age of 78. after 169 years. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Albertus Erasmus from 11 from 6 SAI was killed in lation of America’s rights • 1975 - Two members from • 1976 - Rifleman Clifford War: “Steinaecker’s Horse”, Squadron was killed in a pri- Private Vehicle Accident at on the high seas and British Infantry School accidentally Donald Holland from the an irregular unit of about vate motor vehicle accident. Uitenhage while returning incitement of Indian warfare drowned at Gamkaskloof. Durban Light Infantry was fifty mercenaries in British He was 19. to his Unit from a leave pass on the Western frontier. The They were: Rifleman Gabri- killed at Ruacana when he service, using Black armed • 1978 - Rifleman (Mrs) Hey- to clear out on completion of next day, President James was struck by bullet resulting tribesmen and operating letta Swanepoel from the his National Service. He was Madison officially pro- from an accidental discharge from Swaziland, damages Bronkhorstspruit Comman- 21. claimed the U.S. to be in a of a fellow soldiers rifle. He a bridge near Kaapmuiden. do collapsed and died after • 1987 - Two members from state of war. The War of 1812 was 19. The rail traffic to Delagoa suffering a fatal heart attack the Central Flying School at lasted over two years and • 1977 - Rifleman Stephen Bay is interrupted for about while on official duty at Dunnottar were killed when ended with the signing of the Jones from Regiment fourteen days. the Zonderwater Shooting their AT-6 Harvard, Serial Treaty of Ghent in Belgium Schoonspruit died from a • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Range at Cullinan. She was No. 7048 crashed on the farm on December 24, 1814. gunshot wound accidental- War: President M.T. Steyn 40. Rietkuil, 10km South East • 1815 - On the fields near ly sustained at the Oshivello appoints judge J.B.M. Hertz- • 1979 - 2nd Lieutenant Sam- of Delmas during a training Waterloo in central Belgium, Training Area. He was 27. og as general. uel Walters Coetzee from 32 sortie. The casualties were: 72,000 French troops, led by • 1984 - Rifleman Johann • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer Battalion was Killed in Ac- Captain Bruce Matthew Jacobus Hurter from 1 Para- War: British politician David tion during a contact with Nelson (26). Captain Ricar- chute Battalion was killed in Lloyd George denounces the enemy forces. He was 20. do Henrico Vergottini (26). a private motor vehicle acci- concentration camp policy. • 1980 - Rifleman M Tjisota • 1989 - Rifleman Neill Mohammed dent. He was 24. • 1940 - France asks Germany from 37 Battalion was Killed Knight from 4 SAI collapsed Farah Aidid • 1984 - Special Sergeant N. for terms of surrender. in Action during a contact and died while at Rooikop 96 97 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June el Johannes Erasmus (19). by the U.S.S. Kearsarge. • 1976 - Corporal Robert • 1992 - Warrant Officer 1 Jo- killed when his AT-6 Har- • 1984 - Special Constable Rifleman Gerhard Joshua • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Sheppard Gibbon from 1 hannes Jacobus Fourie from vard crashed near Dunnottar Blasius Kutenda from the Franzen (19). er War: General Buller en- Special Service Battalion 10 Engineer Squadron was while on a routine training South West Africa Police • 1983 - Rifleman Johan ters Volksrust, the first town was killed in a military vehi- critically injured in a mili- flight. He was 19. Counter-Insurgency Wing: Steyn from 3 SAI died from in the ZAR to fall into his cle accident. He was 19. tary vehicle accident on 15 • 1973 - The Minister of De- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) a gunshot wound acciden- hands. • 1979 - Two members from 8 June 1992. He was admitted fence denies that South Af- was Killed in Action dur- tally self-inflicted while at • 1948 - USSR blocks ac- SAI were killed when their to the Pietersburg Hospital rican troops are supporting ing a contact with SWAPO/ Potchefstroom. He was 18. cess to West-Berlin: Berlin Buffel Troop Carrier over- where he succumbed to his Portuguese armed forces in PLAN insurgents in North- • 1984 - Rifleman Paulus Blockade begins. turned at Oshivello. They injuries on 19 June 1992. He Mozambique, as alleged by ern Owamboland. He was Hausiku from 202 Battalion • 1953 - Julius and Ethel were: Rifleman Daniel Jo- was 45. FRELIMO. 25. SWATF was Killed in Ac- Rosenberg were executed by hannes Mocke (19). Rifle- • 1992 - The Goldstone Com- • 1983 - Trooper Jan Hendrik • 1987 - Rifleman K. Tjihote tion during a contact with electrocution at Sing Sing man Gerritt Franchois Roos mission recommends that the de Lange from 2 Special from 102 Battalion SWATF SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. Prison in New York. They (19). 32nd Battalion “should not Service Battalion was killed was Killed in Action dur- He was 20. had been found guilty of pro- • 1980 - Rifleman Jacobus again be used for peacekeep- after being struck by a bullet ing a contact with SWAPO/ • 1985 - Private Kurt Preuss viding vital information on Frederick van den Bergh ing duties anywhere in South resulting from an accidental PLAN Insurgents in North- from the Technical ser- the atomic bomb to the Sovi- from 53 Battalion SWATF Africa”. The Commission’s discharge of a fellow sol- ern Owamboland. He was vice Corps was killed when et Union during 1944-45. was Killed in Action when Tokoza Committee says that diers rifle. He was 17. 22. struck by a bullet resulting • 1968 - Candidate Officer his patrol was ambushed by the battalion has commit- • 1984 - Two members from • 1988 - Rifleman Ian Michael from the accidental dis- Alwyn Johannes Botha SWAPO/PLAN insurgents ted acts of violence against the 2nd Battalion Trans- Webb from 6 SAI died in charge of a fellow soldier’s from Regiment Molopo was near Etale Base. He was 19. residents of the Phola Park vaal Scottish accidentally hospital at Tsumeb after sus- rifle. He was 21. killed in a Military Vehicle • 1985 - Private Johannes squatter camp. drowned while their patrol taining severe head injuries • 1987 - Five members from Accident 11 kilometres from Philippus Prinsloo from 101 was crossing the Cunene when the right front tyre of 32 Battalion were Killed in Zeerust. He was 18. Base Workshops was killed 20 June River near the Ruacana Falls. a SAMIL truck burst caus- Action during a contact with • 1973 - 2nd Lieutenant Hen- in a military vehicle acci- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Bo- They were: Rifleman Arthur ing the driver to lose control enemy forces near Evale drik Willem Alberts from 4 dent at Bagani. He was 20. er War: The British execute Hendrik Boshoff (21). Rifle- approximately 5km past the in Southern Angola during Squadron was killed when • 1987 - Lance Corporal Ger- P.W. Kloppert, a Cape rebel, man Leslie George Wasas Tsumeb turn-off. He was 20. Operation Radbraak. The his Atlas MB326M Impala hardus Christiaan Meyer by hanging. Cloete claimed (21). casualties were: Corporal Mk I crashed near Masito from the Technical Service that he was not a rebel be- Bernard Sokola (34). Lance while engaged in Operation Corps was killed in a mili- cause he had Orange Free Corporal Joao Vocolo (32). Brolly Tree 3, a training ex- tary vehicle accident at the State citizenship. Rifleman Joao Goncalves ercise that was being carried Army Battle School at Lo- • 1939 - Heinkel He-176 rock- (38). Rifleman Paulus Ka- out in the Zeerust area. He hatla. He was 24. et plane flies for first time, at Ethel and Julius pinga (22). Rifleman Lituya was 23. • 1987 - Rifleman Adriaan Peenemunde. Rosenberg Ntjamba (19). • 1975 - Sergeant Daniel Jo- Gerhardus Riekert from the • 1941 - The U.S. Army Air • 1988 - Special Warrant Of- hannes Labuschagne from Brakpan Commando was Corps is reorganized as the ficer Daniel Katapotle from 19 Squadron was killed in a killed in a military vehicle Army Air Forces. the SWA Police Counter-In- military vehicle accident in accident in Brakpan. He was • 1963 - Cold War: Washing- surgency Wing: Ops-K Di- Rhodesia. He was 30. 24. ton-Moscow “hot line” es- vision (Koevoet) was Killed • 1975 - Rifleman Diederick • 1987 - Rifleman Willem tablished. in Action during a contact Johannes Vorster from Ser- Uithaler from the South Af- • 1963 - Air Mechanic Robert with SWAPO/PLAN insur- vices School was acciden- rican Cape Corps was killed Henry Mentis died from a gents in Northern Owam- tally killed when struck by after being struck bullet re- gunshot wound accidentally boland. He was 37. a bullet resulting from the sulting from the acciden- sustained while stationed at 19 June accidental discharge of a fel- tal discharge of a fellow Voortrekkerhoogte . He was • 1864 - The Alabama, Amer- low soldiers rifle while he soldiers rifle while at the 17. ican raider, is sunk outside was stationed at Oshakati. Touw’s River Training Area. • 1968 - Candidate Officer Cherbourg harbour, France, He was 19. He was 23. Pieter Frans Jurgens was 98 99 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June 21 June • 1979 - Two members from Construction Regiment was China Sea. bouti, the United States’ only Potchefstroom after flying • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer 32 Battalion were Killed killed in a Military Vehicle • 1944 - Russians begin “Op- base in Africa. into High Tension Wires. War: “In a letter to St John in Action during a contact Accident at Musese in West- eration Bagration”, the De- The aircraft crew were: 2nd Broderick, Secretary of War, with enemy forces in South- ern Kavango. He was 56. struction of German Army 23 June Lieutenant Johan van Sit- Lord Kitchener declares, ‘It ern Angola near Beacon 32. Group Centre. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer tert (21). Candidate Officer was a mistake to regard the They were: 2nd Lieutenant 22 June • 1945 - Okinawa secured: War: British forces advance. Petrus Johannes van Deven- Boers as a civilized race Willem Adriaan de Vos (19). • 1939 - World War II: France 110,000 Japanese troops, General Clements reaches ter (22). which could ever be an asset Rifleman S. Mukonda (27). surrenders to Germany eight 100,000 civilians, 17,520 Winburg. General Hamil- • 1974 - Lieutenant Freddie to the British Empire: they • 1980 - Corporal Petrus Jo- days after the German forces US troops died. ton enters Heidelberg after Johannes Zeelie from 1 Re- are uncivilized Afrikaner hannes Badenhorst from 5 invaded the country. • 1955 - Soviets shoot down a slight skirmish. General connaissance Commando savages with a thin White ve- SAI was critically wounded • 1940 - About 10,000 Afri- US patrol plane over the Clery joins Buller at Stand- was Killed in Action while neer ...’ He asks the cabinet on 20 June 1980 in an ex- kaner women, led by Mrs Bering Sea. erton. engaged on anti-insurgent to endorse a scheme that will plosion while doing evening H.C. Steyn, march to the • 1984 - Rifleman Andries • 1902 - Field-cornet Salmon operations in Southern An- allow the permanent ban- “Klaarstaan” in the Ops Union Buildings to protest Kees from the South African van As is executed by a fir- gola. He was the first South ishment of all Boers who at Room at Concor Base, east about the South African in- Cape Corps died from gun- ing squad after being found African soldier to be Killed any time have fought against of Ruacana. He succumbed volvement in World War II shot wounds accidentally guilty by a British Court in Action during the Border Britain, as well as their fam- to his wounds and resultant on the side of Britain. The sustained. He was 18. Martial of murdering Cap- War. He was also the only ilies... He suggests the Fiji blood loss in the early hours women protested against • 1985 - Corporal Johannes tain Richard Miers. member of Special Forces to Islands in the South Pacific.” of 21 June. He was 20. South Africa’s participation Gobe from 201 Battalion • 1940 - Hitler orders prepara- ever receive the Louw Wep- • 1919 - Scapa Flow: Germans • 1980 - Corporal Willem in World War II on the side SWATF was Killed in Ac- tions for an invasion of Swit- ener Decoration. He was 22. scuttle over 400,000 tons of Adriaan Finnies from 41 of Britain and requested that tion during a contact with zerland. • 1980 - Sergeant Jacobus warships. Battalion was Killed in Ac- South Africa should with- SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1942 - Rommel breaks the Daniel Cilliers from 17 • 1942 - World War II: The tion during a contact with draw from the war. near the Cut-line. He was Gazala Line and drives on Squadron was Killed in ac- Second South African Di- SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents. • 1941 - Starting at 3:15 am 29. Egypt. tion when his Alouette III vision under Major-Gener- He was 18. Operation Barbarossa be- • 1987 - Airman John Liam • 1970 - Two members from was shot down by an RPG- al H.B. Klopper surrenders • 1982 - Bombardier Dirk gins, as some 3.2 million Corrigan from the Lowveld 42 Squadron were killed and the German force under Hero Onne Hassebroek German soldiers plunged Airspace Control Sector was when their Cessna 185A General Rommel captures from 84 Motorised Brigade headlong into Russia across accidentally shot dead by a crashed at Vaal River near 25,000 Allied troops, under was killed in a Military Ve- an 2,987 kilometre front, visitor at Mariepskop while whom 10 722 South Afri- hicle Accident in Sector 70. in a major turning point of he was on guard duty. He cans at Tobruk on the coast He was 23. World War II. At 7 am that was 20. of Libya. • 1982 - Three members from morning, a proclamation • 1990 - Signaller Ronald • 1948 - Berlin Airlift begins. the South West Africa Police from Hitler to the German Leon Wheeler from Group • 1967 - Air Mechanic Adam Counter-Insurgency Wing: people announced, “At this 10 was killed in a military Hendrik Schoeman from 1 Ops-K Division (Koevoet) moment a march is taking vehicle accident at Um- Squadron was accidentally were Killed in Action dur- place that, for its extent, komaas. He was 20. killed at AFB Pietersburg ing a contact with SWAPO/ compares with the greatest • 1993 - The UN resumes food after he was sucked into the PLAN insurgents in North- the world has ever seen...” distribution in Mogadishu, Erwin engine air intake of a Cana- ern Owamboland. They • 1942 - The heaviest single Somalia, ten days after fight- Rommel dair C13L Sabre while set- were: Special Constable day’s loss of life in Aus- ing between UN troops and ting the fuel pumps during a Paulus Antonius (20). Spe- tralian military history; 845 those of warlord Mohammed full engine run. He was 19. cial Constable Immanuel soldiers and 208 civilians Farah Aidid halt. • 1977 - Rifleman Raymond Kavulu (29). Special Con- aboard the Japanese pris- • 2003 - A US Marine is killed Ward from the SWA SPES stable Theophillus Ndevelo oner-of-war ship ‘Montevi- and eight other service mem- was killed in a military vehi- (26). deo Maru’ was sunk by the bers are injured by errant cle accident while travelling • 1983 - Sergeant Terrence American submarine ‘Stur- bombs dropped by a US to De Aar. He was 24. Moffat Atkinson from 1 geon’ (SS 187) in the South B-52 Stratofortress in Dji- 100 101 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June

7 anti-tank rocket during the from 1 Satellite Radar Sta- 4,000 Indian Braves near the killed after being struck by a 32 Battalion were acci- • 1977 - Gunner Willem Chris- later stages of Ops Sceptic. tion at Mariepskop died Little Bighorn River. Only bullet resulting from an acci- dentally shot dead by own tiaan Lentink from 14 Artil- He was 23. from head injuries received one scout and one horse on dental discharge of a fellow forces in a friendly fire inci- lery Regiment was killed in a • 1982 - A Defence Amend- in a private motor vehicle the US side survive the bat- soldiers rifle. He was 19. dent near Evale in Southern Military Vehicle Accident in ment Bill provides for a accident. He was 20. tle. • 1979 - Gunner Jeffrey James Angola during Operation Pretoria. He was 20. re-organisation of the de- • 1980 - Private Michael Jo- • 1940 - Hitler tours Paris, tak- Mitchell from 4 Artillery Groenslang. They were: • 1977 - Rifleman Christiaan fence system intended to hannes Range from the South ing in the Eiffel Tower, Na- Regiment died in 1 Military Corporal James Conroy Hendrik van der Westhuizen give the South African De- African Defence Force Insti- poleon’s Tomb, and the Op- Hospital after suffering ex- (20). Rifleman Antonio Pe- from the Witwatersrand Ri- fence Force (SADF) ade- tute (SADFI/SAWI) in Pie- era. tensive burns accidentally dro Manuel (32). fles was killed when he acci- quate manpower to deal with tersburg was killed when the • 1941 - Finland declares war sustained when a fuel tank • 1983 - Leading Seaman dentally fell off the back of a almost every conceivable military vehicle in which he on the Soviet Union. exploded at the Regiment in George Edward Wellington moving Unimog. He was 21. threat. was travelling, overturned. • 1942 - World War II: Gen- Potchefstroom. He was 20. Ford from the 1st Marine • 1984 - Corporal Johannes He was 18. eral Sir Claude Auchinleck • 1980 - Two Members from Brigade, South African Ma- 27 June Christiaan Theunissen from • 1983 - Corporal George Lou- becomes commander of the Central Flying School Dun- rines was killed in a military • 1905- Mutiny in the Russian 7 SAI was Killed in Action. is Steytler from 1 Parachute British Eighth Army in North nottar were killed when their vehicle accident while on battleship ‘Potemkin’. He was 21. Battalion Died of Wounds Africa. AT-6 Harvard crashed 1,6 deployment in Eastern Ca- • 1918 - First use of para- • 1994 - Some 2,500 French after being critically wound- • 1942 - World War II: British kilometres North of Dunno- privi. He was 20. chutes to escape an aircraft troops head into Rwanda ed in the head when his Pa- Air Force stages 1,000-bomb- ttar while carrying out simu- • 1988 - Angolan, Cuban, in combat: two German air- to protect civilians, the first trol TB was attacked by a er raid on Bremen, Germany. lated instrument flying. They South African and United men jump. outside forces sent there FAPLA/Cuban force while • 1942 - Eisenhower takes were: Lieutenant Donald States officials meet in Cai- • 1941 - The Germans capture since UN. Secretary-Gen- in an area approximately command of U.S. forces in Gordon Stanbury (22). Can- ro, in search of independ- Bialystok. eral Boutros Boutros-Ghali 38km from Cahama. He suc- Europe. didate Officer Lloyd Doug- ence for Namibia in tandem • 1942- As the Eighth Army appealed for international cumbed to his wounds while • 1950 - The Korean War las Liebenberg (19). with a withdrawal of Cuban abandons Mersa Matruhin, involvement to stop the gen- on the Casevac helicopter breaks out. Nearly 90,000 • 1981 - Lance Corporal Fred- troops from Angola. North Africa, Rommel’s ocide. ferry flight back to AFB On- North Korean soldiers and erick Aspeling from North • 1991 - The last Soviet troops forces claim to have captured • 1997 - In the Central African dangwa. He was 19. hundreds of Russian-built West Command was killed leave Czechoslovakia. another 6,000 British troops. Republic, soldiers fire on • 1997 - Defence Minister T-34 tanks cross the border in a Military Vehicle Acci- 26 June • 1944 - American troops lib- foreign peacekeepers in the Joe Modise warns that the into South Korea. South Af- dent, at Oudtshoorn. He was • 1917 - First American com- erate Cherbourg from the third major rebellion since proposed R1,4 billion cut in rica, as one of the founding 19. bat troops arrive in France. May. the defence budget could se- members of the United Na- • 1981 - Corporal Johan Cor- • 1934 - Germany and Poland riously disrupt the defence tions, decide to assign a fight- nelius Du Toit from Reg- sign a non-aggression pact. 24 June force’s ability to function er squadron to the UN forces iment Langenhoven was • 1939 - Polish anti-aircraft • 1916 - World War I: The first and to contribute to the fight to help defeat North Korea. Killed in Action in Southern gunners down a German Battle of the Somme begins. against crime. The Korean War claimed Angola. He was 24. plane that had “strayed” over It lasted five months and the the lives of thirty-six SA Air • 1981 - Staff Sergeant Willem the Hela Peninsula. death toll of more than 1 25 June Force members. Marthinus Roothman from million resulted in an allied • 1677 - Governor Johan Bax • 1960 - Corporal Petrus Cor- the South African Corps of advance of 125 square miles. of the Cape, who waged war nelius van der Merwe of the Military Police was killed in Many SA troops were killed against the Hottentot (Khoi- South African Air Force was a military vehicle accident in in action. Khoi) Chief Gonnema from killed when his Defence Fly- Oudtshoorn while on a call- • 1917 - Russian Black Sea 1676, concludes ‘a good, ing Club Piper Cub crashed out to investigate a case. He fleet mutinies at Sebastopol. lasting peace’. and burnt out near Pretoria was 41. • 1940 - France signs an armi- • 1862 - Custer’s Last Stand. while on a routine general • 1981 - Signaler Dirk Jaco- stice with Italy. 250 men of the US 7th Cav- flying training flight. He was bus Venter from 84 Signals Boutros • 1945 - Victory parade in Red alry, under General George 24. Unit was killed in a military Boutros-Ghali Square in Moscow. Armstrong Custer, are at- • 1972 - Rifleman Arno vehicle accident. He was 22. • 1978 - Private Anton Nel tacked by between 2,000 and Roesstroff from 1 SAI was • 1982 - Two members from 102 103 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June Germans. in Action North East of Cal- 28 June encircle portions of German during a vehicle recovery naissance Regiment died • 1950 - North Korean ueque. He was 19. • 1914- Archduke Frans Fer- Army Group Centre. operation at Tsumeb. He was from a gunshot accidentally troops reach Seoul, as the • 1988 - Eleven members of dinand, Austrian heir to the • 1945 - Operation Olympic: 22. sustained while at Fort Dop- Security Council calls on UN the SADF were Killed in Ac- throne, and his wife are shot President Truman set the • 1985 - Rifleman H. Andreas pies, Caprivi Strip. He was members to aid South Korea tion during a retaliatory air and killed by a student in Sa- invasion of Japan for 1 No- from 101 Battalion SWATF 22. and Truman orders USAF & strike by Angolan Air Force rajevo. This leads to World vember. died from a gunshot wound • 1986 - Rifleman L.N.D. Jonas USN into action. MiG-23 aircraft on SADF War I. • 1949 - US troops withdraw accidentally sustained while from 101 Battalion SWATF • 1950 - US sends 35 military positions near the Calueque • 1919 - The signing of the from Korea after World War in Northern Owamboland. was Killed in Action during a advisers to South Vietnam. Dam after SADF Artillery Treaty of Versailles formally II. He was 23. Contact with SWAPO/PLAN • 1971 - The Chairman of had accurately bombarded ended World War I. • 1965 - Lieutenant Lourens • 1988 - Rifleman Christiaan insurgents in Southern Ango- Armscor announces that Cuban and FAPLA positions • 1942 - British 8th Army in Benjamin Schlesinger from Fick from 1 SAI was critical- la near the Cut-line. He was under an agreement with a in the town of Techipa on 26 North Africa retreats from 1 Squadron was killed near ly injured in a private vehicle 26. French aviation company, and 27 June 1988 causing German attack to El Alamein. Louis Trichardt when his accident and died later that • 1988 - The SA Defence Force Mirage III and F jet fighters heavy casualties. The casu- • 1942 - North Africa. Gener- Canadair CL13B Sabre suf- day. He was 19. claims that 200 Angolan and will be built in South Africa alties were: Lieutenant Noah al Rommel and his Panzer- fered a suspected bird strike. Cuban troops died in a clash with the help of French per- Tucker of 8 SAI (23). Cor- armee Afrika capture Fuqa. He failed to eject from the 30 June at Calueque earlier in the sonnel. poral Ewert Phillipus Koorts • 1965 - President Johnson or- aircraft before it struck the • 1851 - The Battle of Viervoet, week. • 1976 - First women cadets of 8 SAI (19). Lance Corpo- ders US ground forces to Vi- ground, exploding on im- in the British-Basotho War, • 1988 - Zimbabwe foils a enter the Air Force Academy. ral Johannes Reinhard Ger- etnam. pact. He was 24. takes place. The British un- South African commando at- • 1977 - Private Hendrik Jo- hardus Holder 8 SAI (19). • 1975 - Private Gerhard Eras- • 1965 - Captain Peter Max- der Warden suffers a reverse. tempt to rescue five alleged hannes Naude from 42 Rifleman Johannes Mat- mus Smith De Beer from 1 well from Central Flying • 1917 - Greece declares war South African agents awaiting Squadron was killed in a pri- theus Strauss Venter of 8 Maintenance Unit was killed School Dunnottar, a veteran on the Central Powers. trial for bomb attacks against vate motor vehicle accident. SAI (19). Rifleman Thomas in a military vehicle accident of the Korean War, was killed • 1934 - “The Night of Long the ANC in Zimbabwe. He was 18. Benjamin Rudman of 8 SAI in Grootfontein. He was 18. instantly when his AT-6 Har- Knives”: Hitler’s “blood • 1989 - Sudanese military • 1980 - Rifleman Nicolaas Jo- (20). Rifleman Phillipus Ru- • 1976 - Three British mer- vard crashed at Potchef- purge”. leader Omar Hassan al- hannes Kruger from 25 Field dolph Marx of 8 SAI (19). cenaries, Andrew McKen- stroom Airfield after the left • 1936 - Emperor Haile Selas- Bashir topples the civilian Squadron was Killed in Ac- Rifleman Andries Stepha- zie, John Barker and Costas wing of the aircraft struck the sie of Ethiopia appears be- administration of Sadeq tion when he stepped on and nus Johannes Els of 8 SAI Georgiou and an American, ground when he attempted to fore the League of Nations al-Mahdi. detonated a boosted anti-per- (19). Trooper Michael John Daniel Gearhert, are sen- execute a roll at low level. to appeal for help following • 1992 - Four members from sonnel mine near Okatope in van Heerden of 8 SAI (19). tenced to death in Luanda for He was 42. Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia 9 SAI were killed when their Northern Owamboland. He Lance Corporal Wynand Al- their part in the Angolan civil • 1966 - North Vietnam: US and his exile. Samil 20 vehicle overturned was 20. bert van Wyk of 1 SSB (19). war. bombs fuel storage facilities. • 1941 - Leading German at Middelrust. The casual- • 1985 - Rifleman J. Filimon Trooper Gregory Scott of • 1986 - Rifleman Geelbooi • 1970 - US/ARVN end two Protestant clergymen con- ties were: Sergeant Clinton from 101 Battalion SWATF 2 SSB (19). Trooper Emile Zamblenzini Mthimunye month military offensive into gratulate Hitler on the inva- Donavan Elliot (25). Lance was Killed in Action during a Erasmus of 10 Armoured from 115 Battalion was mur- Cambodia. sion of the Soviet Union. Corporal Cleston Beukes contact with SWAPO/PLAN Car Squadron (20). dered at Weltevrede after be- • 1977 - Rifleman M. Make- • 1960 - The Belgian Congo (19). Rifleman Jacobus Ad- insurgents. He was 23. • 1990 - Lance Corporal C ing attacked by persons un- he from 34 Battalion (Later becomes the independent ams (24). Rifleman Aubrey • 1986 - Rifleman Frikkie Car- Chimongaia from 201 Battal- known and burned to death. 202 Battalion) SWATF was Republic of the Congo, with John Ruiter (19). olus from the South African ion Died from Natural Causes He was 20. Killed in Action during a Joseph Kasavubu as presi- Cape Corps died from a gun- at Omega. He was 27. contact with SWAPO/PLAN dent and Patrice Lumumba shot wound sustained during • 1995 - SA signs a protocol of 29 June insurgents. He was 22. as prime minister. Civil war the accidental discharge of intent on military coopera- • 1913 - Bulgarian troops in- • 1982 - Lance Corporal Jaco- soon erupts. a fellow soldiers rifle at De tion between the Ministry of itiate hostilities with Serbia bus Johannes Gerhardus van • 1962 - The French Foreign Aar. He was 26. Defence of South Africa and in Macedonia, triggering the Staden from 61 Base Work- Legion leaves Algeria for the • 1988 - 2nd Lieutenant Mul- the Ministry of Defence of Second Balkan War. shops was accidentally killed last time. ler Meiring of 61 Mecha- the Slovak Republic. • 1944 - Bobriusk: Soviets when he was crushed be- • 1980 - Corporal Theo Bence nised Battalion was Killed tween two military vehicles van Niekerk from 1 Recon- 104 105 quiz Military General Military Knowledge Despatches 1. The United States of Amer- 12. Mobile Army Surgical Hos- forest cover and crops in ica. pital. North Vietnam. 2. Nothing to report. 13. Spetsnaz. 21. In 1993. Website 3. The Royal Navy. 14. Zanzibar. They declared war 22. Brixton Ridge in Johannes- 4. Bock’s Car. on Britain and then surren- burg. It was during the Rand 5. Colonel Paul Tibbets. dered 38 minutes later. Rebellion in 1922. 6. Dad’s Army. 15. William Joyce. 23. The 332nd Fighter Group “Things don’t have to 7. Avtomat Kalashnikova. 16. The United States Navy. (The Tuskegee Airmen). change the world to be 8. The Nuremberg war crimes 17. It was 5 Reconnaissance trials. Commando. They only be- important.” 9. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. came 5 Reconnaissance Steve Jobs She was awarded the medal Regiment after they moved 13 during the American Civil to Phalaborwa. War. 18. It was A 111 118. Armistice 10. Corporal Pieter Arnoldus Day 11 November 1918. Swanepoel, 2 SAI, HCS, 11 19. American actress Jane Fon- November 1975. da. 11. It is the only version of the 20. Agent Orange - a powerful pistol that has a safety catch. herbicide used to eliminate

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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