Military Despatches Vol 25 July 2019 Operation Barras A mission nicknamed ‘Operation Certain Death’ Broken Warriors What happens when the shooting stops? Forged in Battle World War II’s Tiger tank Head-to-Head The strongest military forces in the world Audie Murphy America’s most decorated World War II hero

For the military enthusiast CONTENTS July 2019 Page 22 Click on any video below to view

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Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, A South African on D-Day Williams. Afrikaans, slang and On 6th June 1944 a number of South Afri- techno-speak that few cans took part in D-Day. outside the military could hope to under- 24 30 stand. Some of the terms Features were humorous, some SADF casualty figures Broken Warriors were clever, while others 6 Less less than a third of SADF What happens when the shoot- were downright crude. Top Ten Roman inventions troops were killed in action. ing stops? Are soldiers being What happened to the rest? left with a broken legacy. The Roman army came up with weapons that helped it gain su- 26 Part of Hipe’s “On the 32 premacy on the battlefield We will remember him couch” series, this is an Rank Structure 12 A South African expat is lost This month we look at the interview with one of while serving in the French Special Forces - Egypt Egyptian Armed Forces. author Herman Charles Part Five of a series that takes Foreign Legion. Bosman’s most famous a look at Special Forces units 27 36 characters, Oom Schalk around the world. A matter of survival Paraquedistas Portugueses A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in 16 This month we’re looking at Hanover Park, an area In May the Regimento de Para- hunting. dead in an ongoing Ready, aim, fire! quedistas celebrated their 64th war between rival taxi plagued with gang birthday. violence, to view first- Most military courts have the organisations. power to impose the death sen- Quiz hand how Project tence, usually carried out by a 29 Ceasefire is dealing with firing squad. Four-legged heroes 21 the situation. 20 At a memorial parade in Preto- Submachine guns Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- Turning back the clock ria, tribute was paid to the an- This month our quiz is all about thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. Jock Hutton jumped into Nor- imals that died in the Border submachine guns, both new and mandy in 1944. Last month he War. And for the first time, a old. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. did it again. dog carried a wreath. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 64

Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

DEPUTY EDITOR fficially we’re in the big project. From July I have John Verster second half of the year. taken over administration of the PHOTO EDITOR It’s cold in Cape Town MOTH Cyber Shellhole. July in military history O Regine Lord and really starting to feel like The Cyber Shellhole is for winter. people that want to become CONTRIBUTORS Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review So last month was the second members of the Moths but are McGill Alexander, Pedro Cas- anniversary of Military Des- unable to attend meetings be- tanheira, Paul Els, Raymond 40 50 65 patches. I must confess that I cause they live in an area where Fletcher, Ryan Murphy, Matt Pilgrim Days had a glass or two of Bushmill’s there are no Moth Shellholes. Strongest military forces Tiger I O’Brien, Matt Tennyson, Karen From Vietnam to the SAS, Whisky to celebrate. Then I had Currently there are members in This month we take a look at The famed German Tiger tank. Theunissen, Chris Whitehead. Alastair MacKenzie book is a another few glasses when I re- Ireland, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the ten strongest military forces great read. alised that it was time to start the DRC and other countries Military Despatches is pub- in the world. the next issue. and areas. Battlefield lished on-line every month. Front Cover Besides doing Military Des- Next month I plan on do- The articles used in Military Famous Figures 56 patches every month, I also do ing an article explaining more Despatches are copyrighted Operation Barras Paratroops jump over Norman- a few other projects. I edit three about what the Cyber Shellhole and may not be used without 46 dy in June 2019. It was part of The mission to rescue British other magazines (two monthly is, who qualifies to join, and prior permission from the edi- Audie Murphy the events to celebrate the 75th and one quarterly) and maintain how to go about joining. troops held hostage in Sierra tor. Poet, songwriter, Hollywood anniversary of the D-Day land- five websites. I am also a mem- Another project that I am Leonne was given the nickname The views stated in this mag- actor with his own star on the ings. ber of the Memorable Order of tackling is our website. It’s a bit ‘Operation Certain Death’. azine do not necessary reflect Walk of Fame, and the most Tin Hats (MOTH), a veteran’s bland at the moment and I have the views of Hipe!, the editor, decorated American soldier of organisation. And let’s not for- some ideas on how to improve the staff, or Hipe Media. World War II. get my membership of the Cape it. I also welcome any sugges- Gaming Welsh Choir (Deputy Editor tions that you may have, and Hipe! 62 John Verster is also a member I promise that I will listen to P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 of the choir as well as being a them. South Africa. Steel Division Normandy 44 MOTH). As you can imagine, That’s about it for this month. A game both historically accu- this all takes up a bit of my time. Now to have a glass of Bus- email rate and fun to play. My wife sees so little of me mill’s, then start all over again. [email protected] that she has taken to calling Movie Review me darling, sweetie and love Until next month. Back Issues 64 - mainly because she can’t re- To view any back issues of member my name. Military Despatches, go to The Blue Max So I thought what I really www.militarydespatches.co.za A World War I classic set in the needed was to tackle another Matt or click here. skies above Europe. 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten 7. Testudo mation could stand sideways The name onager can be Top Ten Inventions of the Roman Army The testudo (Latin name for or backwards with shields held roughly translated as “wild “tortoise”) is probably one of as the front rows, so as to pro- ass”. The weapon was named Throughout the centuries, the Roman army came up with various weapons that helped it gain tect the formation’s sides and after the animal because of its supremacy on the battlefield, and here are the top 10 military inventions of the Roman army. the most important aspects of the Roman military. rear; this reduced the speed and ability to kick. hen it came to su- legion had 55 carrobalista in 8. Plumbata In the testudo formation, the mobility of the formation, but The onager consisted of premacy on the bat- their ranks. One of the most common men would align their shields to offered consistent defensive a large frame placed on the tlefield, the Roman’s It could fire a heavy arrow tactics in early warfare was for form a packed formation cov- strength against opposing in- ground to whose front end a ver- W fantry and excellent protection tical frame of solid timber was were no slouches. or bolt up to 460 metres from archers to be positioned behind ered with shields on the front In its day Rome managed to a target and was easy to move ranks of infantry. and top. The first row of men, against arrows and other mis- rigidly fixed. A vertical spoke conquer half of their known around during a battle. The archers would fire a vol- possibly excluding the men on sile attacks. that passed through a rope bun- world. This would not have ley of arrows at the enemy and the flanks, would hold their One of the drawbacks of the dle fastened to the frame had a been possible without the skills 9. Pilum then the infantry would charge. shields from about the height of testudo was that it was difficult sling attached which contained of the mighty Roman Army. While the long spear and the From the 4th century AD on- their shins to their eyes, so as to for those inside the formation a projectile. To fire it, the spoke Throughout the centuries, the javelin had been around for wards the Roman Army began cover the formation’s front. to use their personal weapons. or arm was forced down, against Roman army came up with var- some time, the Roman pilum to use the plumbata. Basically, The shields would be held in Yet this formation could slowly the tension of twisted ropes or ious weapons and tactics that proved very effective in battle. it was a throwing dart, with a such a way that they presented a move forward towards the en- other springs, by a windlass, not only revolutionised war- About two metres in length, lead weight attached to it. shield wall to all sides. The men emy, safe from any arrows or and then suddenly released. fare, but also helped them gain the pilum had a pryramid-like in the back ranks would place missiles, until they were within As the sling swung outwards, supremacy. point made from hardened met- their shields over their heads range to engage. one end would release, as with Here are the Top Ten military al. The rest of the spear con- Plumbata to protect the formation from a staff-sling, and the projectile inventions of the Roman Army. sisted of a long, narrow shaft above, balancing the shields 6. Onager would be hurled forward. The Many of their tactics are still in of weaker metal. The shaft and on their helmets, overlapping The onager was an imperi- arm would then be caught by use today. point were attached to a fairly them. al-era Roman torsion powered a padded beam or bed, when it heavy wooden haft. If necessary, the legionaries siege engine; in other words, a could be winched back again. 10. Carrobalista Because of this the pilum had on the sides and rear of the for- small catapult. The onagers of the Roman The ballista was an ancient incredible penetrating power. missile weapon that launched When thrown at enemy shields a large projectile at a distant the pyramidal head would pen- Each infantry soldier was target. It most more than likely etrate through the shield. The armed with fiveplumbata which created by the Ancient Greeks. shape of the head meant it was were stored on the inside of his But it was the Romans that extremely difficult to pull it out. shield. Testudo upgraded the system and per- The weight of the haft would As the infantry moved in to fected it on the battlefield. also pull the shield down, the attack, they would throw First they came up with the meaning that the bearer of the their plumbata at the enemy. manuballista, which was often shield would often have drop With the plumbata, every in- deemed one of the most ad- the shield and fight without it. fantry soldier was effectively vanced siege engines in the Ro- The advantage of the thin an archer at the same time. This man military. The manuballista metal shaft meant that it would meant that he could strike the was a hand-held version of the bend and, even if it the ene- enemy before facing them di- ballista. my could remove it from their rectly in open battle. But the real game-changer shield, it would be impossible was the carroballista, a ballista to throw back. mounted on a cart. A carroballista was pulled by mules, and required ten sol- diers to operate it. Each Roman Pilum 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten Empire were mainly used for They could build a sturdy grip between the vessels and a besieging forts or settlements. Onager pontoon bridge across a wide route for the Roman legionar- They would often be armed river in less than two weeks. ies to cross onto the enemy ship with large stones that could be and capture it. covered with a combustible 3. Corvus Once sufficient legionaries substance and set alight. Up until the 3rd century BC had boarded the Carthaginian Rome’s military strength was crew and marines were quickly 5. Castrum in land-based warfare. Its main put to the sword and the enemy In the Roman Republic and assets were the discipline, skill ship captured. the Roman Empire, the Lat- and courage of the Roman Le- The Battle of Cape Ecnomus in word castrum (plural cas- gions. was possibly the largest naval tra) was a building, or plot of Before the First Punic War battle in history by the num- land, used as a fortified military began in 264 BC, the Roman ber of combatants involved. A camp. In English, the terms Republic had not campaigned combined total of about 680 Roman fort, Roman camp and outside the Italian Peninsula. warships carrying up to 290,000 Roman fortress are commonly This meant that they had little crew and marines took part in used for castrum. or no experience in naval com- the battle. However, scholastic conven- “chief engineers”, who requisi- for one or more entire legions. with positions between for the bat. The Roman fleet of 330 war- tion tends toward the use of tioned manual labour from the From the most ancient times division artillery. Their opponent, Carthage, ships plus an unknown number the words fort, camp, marching soldiers at large as required. Roman camps were construct- was a seafaring nation. They of transports had sailed from camp and fortress as a transla- They could throw up a camp ed according to a certain ideal 4. Pontoon Bridge used the sea as a means of trade Ostia, the port of Rome, and tion of castrum. under enemy attack in as little pattern. The castrum’s special Although the Romans didn’t and had a strong and very capa- had embarked approximate- Castrum was the term used as a few hours. structure also defended from invent the pontoon bridge, they ble navy to protect them. ly 26,000 picked legionaries for different sizes of camps in- More permanent camps were attacks. made excellent use of it during The Romans had to come up shortly before the battle. cluding a large legionary for- castra stativa (standing camps). The base was placed entire- their military campaigns. with a means of getting their Their plan was to cross to tress, smaller forts for Cohorts The least permanent of these ly within the vallum (“wall”), It was used extensively and soldiers on board the Carthag- Africa and invade the Carthag- or Auxiliaries, temporary en- were castra aestiva or aestival- which could be constructed un- helped the Roman Army win inian ships where they could inian homeland. The Carthag- campments, and “marching” ia, “summer camps”, in which der the protection of the legion many battles of strategic impor- use their infantry skills to their inians were apparently aware forts. the soldiers were housed sub in battle formation if necessary. tance. advantage. To achieve this the of the Romans’ intentions and The diminutive form castel- pellibus or sub tentoriis, “under The vallum was quadrangular Julius Caesar was a com- Romans came up with the cor- mustered all available war- lum was used for fortlets, typi- tents”. Summer was the cam- aligned on the cardinal points mander that loved using the vus. ships, 350, off the south coast cally occupied by a detachment paign season. of the compass. The construc- pontoon bridge, shocking the The corvus (meaning “crow” of Sicily to intercept them. of a cohort or a century. For the winter the soldiers re- tion crews dug a fossa (trench), enemy by using it to cross riv- or “raven”) was a bridge 1.2 When they met, the Carthag- A castrum was designed to tired to castra hiberna contain- throwing the excavated materi- ers that the enemy believed pro- metres wide and 10.9 metres inians took the initiative and the house and protect the soldiers, ing barracks and other buildings al inward, to be formed into the tected them from attack. long, with a small parapet on battle devolved into three sepa- their equipment and supplies of more solid materials, with agger (rampart). Constructing a pontoon both sides. The engine was rate conflicts, where they hoped when they were not fighting or timber construction gradually On top of this a palisade bridge was no simple matter. probably used in the prow of the that their superior ship handling marching. being replaced by stone. of sudes or valli (stakes) was Roman engineers would have ship, where a pole and a system skills would be decisive. A marching column ported The camp allowed the Ro- erected. The soldiers had to car- to calculate both the speed and of pulleys allowed the bridge to After a prolonged and con- the equipment needed to build mans to keep a rested and sup- ry these stakes on the march. strength of the river, as well as be raised and lowered. fused day of fighting the and stock the camp in a bag- plied army in the field. Neither Over the course of time, the the distance. There was a heavy spike Carthaginians were decisively gage train of wagons and on the the Celtic nor Germanic armies palisade might be replaced by a They would have to deter- shaped like a bird’s beak on the defeated, losing 30 ships sunk backs of the soldiers. had this capability: they found fine brick or stone wall, and the mine how much timber would underside of the device, which and 64 captured to Roman loss- Camps were the responsibili- it necessary to disperse after ditch serve also as a moat. have to be cut, as well as the was designed to pierce and an- es of 24 ships sunk. ty of engineering units to which only a few days. A legion-sized camp always type of timber that needed to be chor into an enemy ship’s deck The high number of Carthag- specialists of many types be- The largest castra were le- placed vigilarium (watchtow- used. It was also their duty to when the boarding bridge was inian ships captured was as a longed, officered by architecti, gionary fortresses built as bases ers) at intervals along the wall select a suitable crossing point. lowered. This allowed a firm direct result of the corvus. 8 9 Top Ten 2. Battlefield surgery Africa, it would have been im- In order to be successful on possible to control such a vast the battlefield the Roman Army territory without a stable net- had to take good care of its sol- work of roads and highways. Other noteworthy diers. Roads were built to boost inventions An important part of the Ro- trade and commerce through man military structure were the various parts of the territory Pugio: A pugio was a dag- immunes, soldiers who were and enable easier travel. But ger used by Roman soldiers, “immune” from combat duty that wasn’t the main reason. likely as a sidearm. Like oth- and fatigues through having a Roads and highways were er items of legionary equip- more specialist role within the primarily built to speed up the ment. army. movement of the military. Immunes included architects, If there was an uprising at the Gladius: The Latin word engineers, but also doctors and far end of the empire the army for ‘sword’, the gladius was members of the medical staff. could reach that area much a short sword, about 60 cm Because it had doctors who quicker on roads built of stone, long, that was the standard were also part of the army, the bricks and hardened lava. sword for Roman infantry. Romans were able to keep the Roman engineers had strict army up and running even in construction standards for Hasta: Hasta is a Latin word the midst of the biggest blood- every road that was built, which meaning a thrusting spear. shed. meant that every road or high- Hastae were carried by early Bush War Books has probably one of the finest Roman doctors and their staff way had the same quality of Roman legionaries (camil- used medical innovations such build. lan); in particular they were collections of military titles available. Especially as haemostatic tourniquets and The roads were regular- carried by and gave their on the South African Border War. arterial clamps which helped ly maintained and they were name to those Roman sol- prevent blood loss and saved curved for better water drain- diers known as hastati. hundreds of thousands of lives. age, which kept them dry and Another important aspect of mud free. Scutum: The scutum was a Click here to visit their website. the Roman battlefield surgery By the year 200 AD the Ro- rectangular shield that cov- was the administration of an- man Empire had more than ered a soldier from the shins tiseptic measure before an op- 80,000 kilometres of roads and to just below the eyes. The eration. All instruments were highways, including numerous scutum was vital to the tes- disinfected with hot water and posthouses for the army to rest tudo formation used by the thereby made usable for the and replenish their supplies. Romans. next patient in line. A Roman army was therefore For its time this was quite capable of moving around 32 Tribulus: A tribulus (caltrop) revolutionary and proved to be kilometres a day. It was esti- was a weapon made up of highly effective. mated that there were about 30 four sharp nails or spines ar- military highways and at least ranged in such a manner that 1. Roads and highways 370 roads connecting the em- one of them always pointed At the height of its power the pire and allowing the military upward from a stable base Roman Empire encompassed to keep everything under con- (for example, a tetrahedron). an enormous territory. trol. Caltrops served to slow down Stretching from the island Many of the Roman roads the advance of horses, war el- of Great Britain to present-day have survived the centuries and ephants, and human troops. Turkey, including the whole of can be seen even to this day. “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” the Mediterranean and North 10 00 They were created to fulfil a Battalions (515th, 616th, personal contacts to ensure that number of specialised roles that 818th) they are conscripted into the or- Special Forces - Egypt required small, agile, and resil- • 12 Marine Commandos ganisation. Part Five of a series that takes a look at Special Forces units around the world. This month ient units. Infiltration behind Companies Recruits report to the Sa’ka we look at Egypt. enemy lines, ambushing sup- • Three Infiltration Anti-ter- School in Inshas, Alsharqiya. ply lines, assaulting command ror Battalions (777th, 888th, Unlike the rest of the Army he Egyptian Armed The modern Egyptian armed War, War on ISIL and the Sinai posts, and anti-armour to name 999th) which has almost spartan infra- Forces are the state mili- forces have been involved in insurgency. a few. • 12 Infiltration Companies. structure the School has rela- Ttary organisation respon- numerous crises and wars since The Sa’ka consists of eight Sa’ka, like the rest of the tively decent training areas and sible for the defence of Egypt. independence, from the 1948 Sa’ka Special Forces Regiments/ Armed Forces primarily re- accommodation. They consist of the Egyptian Arab–Israeli War, Egyptian The Egyptian Army has two Groups (Brigade level) (117th, cruits through conscription. It The training program itself is Army, Egyptian Navy, Egyp- Revolution of 1952, Suez Cri- organisations that operate un- 123rd, 129th, 135th, 141st, does have a core of professional split into two, Initial Training tian Air Force and Egyptian Air sis, North Yemen Civil War, der the Administration of Spe- 147th, 153rd, 159th) (1 H.Q.) officers and NCOs. (basics) and the Primary Sa’ka Defence Command. Six-Day War, Nigerian Civil cial Units - the Paratroopers (of which three are Lightning/ Conscripted recruits are Course. In addition, Egypt maintains War, War of Attrition, Yom Kip- and Sa’ka (Thunderbolt). Saaqa regiments and three chosen based on their general The initial training follows 397,000 paramilitary troops. pur War, Egyptian bread riots, The Sa’ka Forces were es- Commandos regiments, the physical health and an analysis the same basic syllabus as the The Central Security Forces 1986 Egyptian conscripts riot, tablished in the 1950s by Ma- remaining two are the Marine of their personality. There are, rest of the Egyptian Army. comes under the control of the Libyan–Egyptian War, Gulf jor General Galal Haredi after Commandos and the Infiltration however, problems with this A lot of time is spent doing Ministry of Interior. The Bor- War, War on Terror, Egyptian the experiences of Egyptian Anti-terror units). method. parade ground drill to install der Guard Forces falls under Crisis, Second Libyan Civil Officers with the United States • 18 Commandos Battalions: Sa’ka’s history and impact on discipline and the recruits are the control of the Ministry of Army Rangers. (230th to 247th) Egyptian pop culture makes it also taught basic firearm skills, Defence. • 72 Commandos Companies popular with young conscripts. section tactics and field craft. • Three Marine Commandos Many will pay a bribe or use The syllabus hasn’t had any

12 13 Unit 777 Weapons major changes in decades and, In 1978, Egyptian Army Spe- while Major General Abdul passengers. coupled with the short train- cial Forces were dispatched to Hafiz Al-Bagori, Governor of Using the same hole, the op- ing period of only six weeks, it Larnaca International Airport, Qena started negotiations with erators gained entry to the plane means that many of the recruits Larnaca, Cyprus in response to the three terrorists in order to but in the confusion opened fire are of poor standard. the hijacking of a Cyprus Air gain time. indiscriminately and killed and Heckler & What is different during ini- passenger aircraft by operatives The terrorists were persuad- injured more passengers. Koch MP5 tial training at the Sa’ka school of the Popular Front for the ed to allow the aircraft to land In the ensuing chaos, passen- is the heavy emphasis placed Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). in Luxor for refuelling. Nego- gers that managed to flee the on physical fitness to prepare The operation was organized tiations continued until 15h00, plane were then gunned down recruits for the Primary Sa’ka hastily, and Egyptian author- when the governor told the by snipers in positions around Course. ities failed to notify Cyprus terrorists that engineers were the airport who mistook them It’s a pass or fail month long of the arrival of the unit. As Unit 777 ready. The engineers were two for terrorists attempting to es- ordeal that is both physically the Egyptian commandos ap- disguised Sa’ka officers, who cape. The total number of pas- Heckler & and mentally challenging. It proached the plane on the tar- went inside and outside the sengers killed was 57, out of 88 Koch MP7 focuses on very demanding PT mac, they were mistaken by the Flight 321, a Cairo-Luxor flight, aircraft several times in order total. sessions, brutal assault courses, Cyprus security forces as ter- and asked the pilot to land in to appear to be maintenance traditional martial arts, and in- rorist reinforcements. Cypriot Tripoli. workers. Minutes later three of- Aftermath stilling an ethos which puts per- security forces opened fire on They demanded the release of ficers stormed the aircraft and Egyptian President Anwar Heckler & sonal sacrifice for the country, the approaching Egyptian SF five Libyans imprisoned in Cai- captured the hijackers. Sadat had been assassinated Koch G36 corps, and soldier’s comrades members, who were without ro in connection with two assas- The force that stormed the air- during a military parade in Oc- before all else. nearby cover and conspicuous sination attempts. The context craft was later announced to be tober 1981. After a recruit passes the in desert camouflage clothing. was the deterioration of rela- a special unit within the Sa’ka Despite that, and the failure Primary Sa’ka Course is is no The fire-fight cost the lives of tions between Egypt and Libya Forces and further information of two of Unit 777’s missions, it Colt M1911 longer regarded as a soldier 15 members of the 79 members after the Yom Kippur War due was classified, the same force became clear that the Egyptian but rather as a Fida’i or a sac- of the Egyptian commando to Libyan opposition to Sadat’s which was later named 777. authorities were determined to rificial warrior. The theme is so force sent, however there were peace policy. take immediate and forceful entrenched into the corps that no reported Cypriot fatalities. There had been a breakdown EgyptAir Flight 648 action against terrorists. Since their motto is literally “Victory The incident resulted in a in unification talks between the In 1985, Unit 777 was dis- then the have been no major or Martyrdom”. major row between the govern- two governments, which subse- patched again to deal with a hi- hijacking incidents involved AKM In the end the School produc- ments, with the Egyptians ac- quently led to the Libyan-Egyp- jacking, this time to Malta. Egyptian aircraft. es Conscripts who are physical- cusing the Cypriots of a lack of tian War. An Egypt Air Boeing 737 ly robust, motivated, and have cooperation and recklessly kill- Fifteen minutes after take off (EgyptAir Flight 648) had Current status a unique ethos but are poorly ing their troops. from Cairo International Air- landed in Luqa Airport under After the outcomes of their skilled for what should be elite The Cypriots accused the port, an Italian pilot called the the control of Abu Nidal fac- first two major operations, Unit Special Forces soldiers in the Egyptians of failing to inform airport to report that he had re- tion terrorists, purportedly as 777 was temporarily disbanded, 21st Century. them of the arrival of Egyptian ceived a beam aerial from the retaliation for Egypt’s failure and formed again later to deal SIG SG 550 troops and of blatantly disre- Egyptian aircraft heading to to protect the terrorists that had with internal threats. The unit Unit 777 garding their national sover- Luxor that it had been hijacked hijacked the MS Achille Lauro is currently located in south- Unit 777, also known as Task eignty. and the flight was under terror- earlier that year. ern Cairo and is equipped with Force 777, is an Egyptian mili- The aftermath of the failed ist control. Although the operation was Mi-8 helicopters. tary counter-terrorism and spe- night-time incident and the need President Sadat ordered the planned more carefully this Unit 777 is known to have Heckler & cial operations unit. of a professional counter-terror- Prime Minister and the Minis- time, the TF 777 operators com- received training from US Spe- ter of Defense to make the nec- Koch USP It was created in 1978 by ism unit in Egypt resulted in the mitted several mistakes that cial Operation Forces (Delta the government of Anwar Sa- creation of Unit 777. essary decisions to protect the would eventually prove fatal to and SEALs), as well as from dat in response to concerns of passengers and arrest the ter- many of the hostages. European forces, including the increased terrorist activity fol- EgyptAir Flight 321 rorists. The Prime Minister and As explosives were detonated British SAS, French GIGN, and lowing the expulsion of Sovi- On August 23, 1976, three the Minister of Defense quickly to attempt to blow a hole on the the German GSG 9. et military advisors from the armed terrorists claiming to be flew to Luxor International Air- top of the airframe, the explo- SIG P226 country by Sadat and his efforts from the Abd Al-Nasir Move- port where they started a secret sion ripped through the cabin to achieve peace with Israel. ment hijacked the EgyptAir meeting in the airport’s tower, area, immediately killing 20 14 15 aid available to help these sol- icked the structure and pro- were the regulations that ap- diers. As a result, he published visions of the First Geneva plied to anyone that served in the Ready, aim, fire! his book, A Memory of Solfe- Convention. SADF. rino, in 1862, on the horrors of • The Third Geneva Conven- Most people that served in the Most military courts have the power to impose the death sentence, usually carried out by a war. His wartime experiences in- tion “relative to the Treatment military were bound to the same firing squad. Yet did this really happen? spired Dunant to propose: of Prisoners of War” replaced laws as the general civilian pop- n any civilian occupation, Over time nations and cultures Yet when it came to the mili- • A permanent relief agency the 1929 Geneva Convention ulation. refusal to carry out an order, began to define and adopt rules tary laws were often pretty hazy. for humanitarian aid in times that dealt with prisoners of If a member of the armed forc- walking out on your job or and laws. Certain acts or behav- If, for example, a soldier killed of war. war. es committed a offence that was I • A government treaty recog- • In addition to these three con- deemed to be a crime by the laws falling asleep at your post could iour were deemed to be crimes an enemy soldier during war it result in you being fired. and, therefore, anyone commit- was not regarded as murder. nizing the neutrality of the ventions, the conference also of the land, that person could be Yet try and pull those same ting those crimes could be pun- More often than not the mili- agency and allowing it to added a new elaborate Fourth prosecuted and punished in a ci- stunts while serving in the mili- ished. tary was acting on behalf of the provide aid in a war zone. Geneva Convention “relative vilian court of law. This includ- tary and the consequences could Some crimes were deemed to state - the same people that drew The former proposal led to the to the Protection of Civilian ed crimes such as murder, rape, be far more serious. The word be ‘capital offences’ and anyone up the laws. establishment of the Red Cross Persons in Time of War”. It armed robbery and so on. “fire” could take on a whole new committing such a crime could It became standard practice for in Geneva. The latter led to the was the first Geneva Conven- Many acts that were not con- meaning. face capital punishment. the military to have their own set 1864 Geneva Convention, the tion not to deal with combat- sidered as offences under civil From time immemorial the Capital punishment, also or rules, regulations and laws. first codified international treaty ants, rather it had the protec- law were, however, against mil- military has always marched known as the death penalty, is a Many of the military laws are that covered the sick and wound- tion of civilians as its subject itary regulations and therefore to the beat of a different drum. government-sanctioned practice taken directly from civilian law. ed soldiers in the battlefield. matter. The 1899 and 1907 considered as ‘crimes’. There were no hard and fast rules whereby a person is killed by the Yet because they need to main- Inspired by the wave of hu- Hague Conventions had al- Because a person committing or regulations for the treatment state as a punishment for a crime. tain discipline and order, many manitarian and pacifistic enthu- ready contained some pro- these acts could not be tried in of wounded enemy, prisoners of The sentence that someone of their laws are unique to the siasm following World War II visions on the protection of a civil court of law, the military war, or the civilian population. be punished in such a manner is military. and the outrage towards the war civilians and occupied terri- had to come up with their own After a battle it was not uncom- referred to as a death sentence, For example, falling asleep on crimes disclosed by the Nurem- tory. Article 154 specifically judicial system. mon for captured or wounded whereas the act of carrying out the job is not regarded as a crime berg Trials, a series of conferenc- provides that the Fourth Ge- These military courts could enemy to be put to death. the sentence is known as an ex- by civilian law. Military law, es were held in 1949 reaffirming, neva Convention is supple- both prosecute and punish and Some armies were notorious ecution. however, deems this to be not expanding and updating the pri- mentary to these provisions offender. How these military for their treatment of the enemy Capital crimes varied from only a crime, but a serious crime or Geneva and Hague Conven- in the Hague Conventions. courts operated differed from - both military and civilian. Cer- culture to culture. In ancient at that. But more of that later. tions. It yielded four distinct Naturally not everyone always country to country. tain armies in history were not- Egypt, for example, killing a cat, After the Battle of Solferino in conventions: abides by the Geneva Conven- In the SADF, for example, if a ed for their tactics. If an enemy even if by accident, was deemed 1859, Swiss businessman Henry • The First Geneva Conven- tion. soldier left his base or post with- village or town was captured the a capital crime and those found Dunant went to visit wounded tion “for the Amelioration of So by the 20th century there out permission and returned later men would be killed, the women guilty would be executed. In soldiers. the Condition of the Wound- were rules in place as to how war he could be charged with being raped and taken into slavery, and most cultures murder was, and He was horrified at the lack of ed and Sick in Armed Forces should be conducted. AWOL (Absent Without Leave). the village or town pillaged. still is, deemed a capital crime. facilities, personnel, and medical in the Field” was the fourth There were rules in place While this was against regula- update of the original 1864 which dealt with the treatment of tions as stipulated in the MDC, convention and replaced the wounded soldiers, prisoners of it was not considered a serious 1929 convention on the same war, and the civilian population. offence. The offender would subject matter. Yet the rules were pretty fast normally have to face what was • The Second Geneva Conven- and loose when it came to the known as a ‘Summary Trial’. tion “for the Amelioration of treatment and punishment of This, if my memory serves me the Condition of Wounded, one’s own forces. correctly, could be conducted by Sick and Shipwrecked Mem- As mentioned earlier, the mili- any officer with the rank of ma- bers of Armed Forces at Sea” tary usually had their own set of jor or higher. replaced the Hague Conven- rules, regulations and laws. Any- A form, known as a DD1 (De- tion of 1907. It was the first one who served in the old South fence Document 1) would be Geneva Convention on the African Defence Force (SADF) completed on which the charge protection of the victims of will remember the MDC (Mil- or charges would be stipulated. maritime warfare and mim- itary Discipline Code). These The offender would be asked 16 17 to plead and if they pleaded tively quickly. soldiers were executed for deser- ic stress syndrome and combat if we cannot say which - and to guilty, as most did, they could be A firing squad is normally tion in World War One. stress reaction. acknowledge that all these men sentenced up to a maximum of composed of several military During World War II, under Another perspective is that the were victims of war”. 90 days detention. personnel. Usually, all members the Nazi regime, things were far decisions to execute were taken In 2007, the Armed Forces Another thing about the mil- of the group are instructed to fire worse. A total of 35,000 received in the heat of war when the com- Act 2006 was passed allowing itary is that most soldiers sen- simultaneously, thus preventing death sentences with an estimat- mander’s job was to keep the the soldiers to be pardoned post- tenced to detention served their both disruption of the process by ed 22,000 to 25,000 soldiers ex- army together and fighting. humously, although section 359 time in a military prison, and not a single member and identifica- ecuted. Britain was one of the last of the act states that the pardon a civilian one. tion of the member who fired the More than 200,000 British countries to withhold pardons “does not affect any conviction In the SADF these military lethal shot. and Commonwealth troops were for men executed during World or sentence.” prisons were known as DB (De- To avoid the disfigurement of court-martialed during World War I: In 1993, John Major em- The Shot at Dawn Memorial tention Barracks). They were run multiple shots to the head, the War I, with 20,000 of them phasised to the House of Com- is a monument at the National by the Military Police. shooters are typically instructed found guilty of offences carrying mons that pardoning the men Memorial Arboretum near Al- Any offence in which the pun- to aim at the heart, sometimes the death penalty. would be an insult to those who rewas, in Staffordshire, UK. It ishment could be more than 90 aided by a paper target. Of the 200,000 or so men died honourably on the battle- commemorates the 309 British days detention were considered The prisoner is typically blind- court-martialed during the First field and that everyone was tried Army and Commonwealth sol- to be serious offences. In these folded or hooded, as well as re- World War, 20,000 were found fairly. diers executed after courts-mar- cases the offender would face a strained, although in some cas- guilty of offences carrying the However, in August 2006 the tial for desertion and other capi- military court-martial. es prisoners have asked to be death penalty. Of those, 3,000 SHOT AT DAWN: The memo- then Defence Secretary, Des tal offences during World War I. A court-martial was a much allowed to face the firing squad actually received it, and of those rial to the British servicemen Browne, reversed this decision. The memorial portrays a more serious affair than a sum- without their eyes covered. Ex- sentences, 346 were carried out. executed by firing squad dur- He stated that he did not want “to young British soldier blindfold- mary trial. A court-martial would ecutions can be carried out with The others were given lesser ing World War I. second guess the decisions made ed and tied to a stake, ready to be normally take the form of a trial the condemned either standing sentences, or had death sentenc- by commanders in the field, who shot by a firing squad. The me- with a presiding judge, a pros- or sitting. es commuted to a lesser punish- properly defended, and some were doing their best to apply morial was modelled on the like- ecutor and a defence attorney There is a tradition in some ju- ment, e.g. hard labour, field pun- were minors. the rules and standards of the ness of 17-year-old Private Her- (many of them being trained risdictions that such executions ishment or a suspended sentence The usual cause for their of- time”, but that “it is better to ac- bert Burden, who lied about his lawyers as well as officers). The are carried out at first light or (91 of the men executed were fences has been re-attributed in knowledge that injustices were age to enlist in the armed forces precise format varies from one at sunrise. This gave rise to the under a suspended sentence: 41 modern times to post-traumat- clearly done in some cases, even and was later shot for desertion. country to another and may also phrase “shot at dawn”. of those executed were previ- depend on the severity of the ac- Execution by firing squad is ously subject to commuted death Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate cusation. distinct from other forms of ex- sentences, and one had a death and find out more about the Memorable Order of Tin Hats. Some countries like France and ecution by firearms, such as an sentence commuted twice be- Germany have no courts-martial execution by shooting to the fore. in times of peace and use civilian back of the head or neck. Most of the British soldiers courts instead. However, the single shot by executed by firing squad were A court-martial normally had the squad’s officer with a pistol shot for desertion, a total of 266 the power to sentence an offend- (coup de grâce) is sometimes in- of them. Others were shot for er, if found guilty, to death. The corporated in a firing squad ex- murder (37), cowardice (18), most common form of military ecution, particularly if the initial quitting a post without authori- execution would be by firing volley turns out not to be imme- ty (7), striking or using violence squad. diately fatal. against a superior officer (6) dis- In the past, execution by firing During World War I it was obedience to a lawful command squad was sometimes called fu- common for those found guilty (5), mutiny (3) and sleeping at a sillading (from the French fusil, by court-martial for desertion post or casting away arms (two rifle). Execution by shooting is a and other capital offences to be each). fairly old practice. Some reasons executed by firing squad. The names of those executed for its use are that firearms are German military courts, for were left off all war memorials. usually readily available and a example, imposed 150 death It is alleged that soldiers accused gunshot to a vital organ, such as sentences during World War I. of cowardice were often not giv- brain or heart, usually kills rela- However only eighteen German en fair trials; they were often not 18 19 Turning back the clock Quiz Last month Jock Hutton parachuted into a field in Normandy, France. This was 75 years Submachine Guns after he jumped into the same field on 6 June 1944. ByPaul Els. he introduction of the submachine gun to the battlefield gave squads immense firepower. Here are 15 submachine guns, ranging from World War II to the present day. You tell us what n 1939 Jock Hutton joined Tthey are. You’ll find the answers to the quiz on page 00. the ‘Black Watch’ in the IUnited Kingdom, just shy of his 15th birthday, and soon 1 2 3 found himself in the middle of World War II. In 1943 he joined the British Parachute Regiment. In the early hours of 6 June 1944 he parachute into a field on the outskirts of Ranville, Normandy. His battalion had the important job of seizing and 4 6 holding vital bridges before the D-Day landings. On 22 June 1944 he was wounded and sent back to the United Kingdom. He later re- 5 turned to his unit and deployed NICE TO MEET YOU: Sergeant Major Jock Hutton, along with to the Ardennes where he was his tandem jump partner Sergeant Billy Blanchard, meet with captured by the Germans. He es- Prince Charles. 7 8 9 caped and in 1945 he parachuted PHOTO: CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES into Germany for further battles. He remained in the British problem” to jump from 1,500 jump, Jock’s reply was classic. Army until 1955 when he went metres strapped to a member of “During my lifetime I have to Northern Rhodesia and took the Red Devils parachute dis- never been terrified. I’m just a part in the first selection course play team, landing less than ten vicious little Scotsman.” for the Rhodesian SAS (Spe- metres from the watching Prince However, a career in parachut- cial Air Service). He passed the of Wales. ing – all those jarring encounters 12 course and, in 1967, become the After brushing himself down with the ground – has taken its 11 SAS Squadron Sergeant Major. and putting on his Parachute toll. In 1981 he moved to South Regiment beret to go with his Told that he and his tandem Africa and served from 1981 to borrowed Red Devils jump- jump partner, Colour Sergeant 10 1985 in the elite 5 Reconnais- suit, he joked: “At my age, life Billy Blanchard, had landed sance Regiment in Phalaborwa. tends to get a little bit boring, so closer to the “X” target marker In June this year, Jock turned you’ve got to grab any chance of than several of the young, full- back the clock by jumping into excitement you can.” time Red Devils, Mr. Hutton 13 14 15 the very same field at Ranville Asked if he had found the ex- said with a twinkle in his eye: that he had jumped into 75 years perience frightening, he said: “Aye, that’s experience.” before. And this at the age of 95. “Once I stuck my head out the “The doctor said to me, ‘You It was part of the events to cele- door and I got a heave from the haven’t got a tailbone any more, brate the 75th anniversary of the back I was away. Mr. Hutton. It’s gone up so far D-Day landings. When asked by a journalist if it’s now your collar bone,” he Jock Hutton said it was “no he had been scared during the laughs. 20 21 the Burma Star. There were other South Af- A South African on D-Day ricans who participated in the D-Day landings, significant On 6 June 1944 there were a number of South African’s that took part in the D-Day land- numbers of them seconded to ings. tells of one of them. McGill Alexander the RAF and the Royal Navy. he 6th of June 1944, field guns. mando in the Far East. Part of I have never been able to es- was “The Longest Day” He subsequently command- the 3rd Commando Brigade, it tablish whether any South Af- for thousands of young ed another artillery troop dur- was based in Ceylon and was ricans jumped with the par- T atroopers on the night of 5/6 men who took part in the ing the Battle of El Alamein. suffering from a shortage of D-Day landings in Normandy, After volunteering for ser- officers when he joined it in June 1944. France as part of Operation vice with the Royal Marines, November 1944. But it was a great honour OVERLORD. It was the larg- Van Noorden trained as a After undergoing jungle and privilege for me to be able est amphibious assault in his- Commando and underwent warfare training in Belgaum to participate, in 2004, in the tory and heralded the demise parachute training. near Goa in India he took part 60th anniversary commem- of Nazi Germany. He was dropped behind the in the amphibious assault on orative parachute jump onto As we think of the many German lines in Holland to the Japanese at Myebon in the wartime Dropping Zone young men who lost their lives carry out a secret mission, and Burma and the subsequent bit- near Ranville in Normandy. fighting for the freedom the on his return was posted to ter battle of Hill 170 close to Dressed in the uniform of the Western World enjoys today, it 47 (Royal Marine) Comman- Kangaw in January 1945. British paratroopers of the is fitting to pause and consid- do in time to take part in the The Commandos were con- 1940s we exited from a war- er the very real fear and trepi- D-Day landings. As a platoon stantly engaged in fierce com- time Dakota aircraft to come dation that must have gripped commander, Van Noorden par- bat that lasted for 36 hours down on the peaceful fields of their hearts as their vulner- ticipated in an independent before the Japanese withdrew. France - thanks to the brave able landing craft lurched mission by his Commando, It was the crucial battle of the men who had faced the ene- through waters churned up by between the landing British Arakan campaign, after which my in that same place all those exploding shells and as the and American Armies in the the Marines were withdrawn years before. slow-moving transport air- centre of the invasion forces, to Poona in India to train for a I can only salute those who craft flew through that terrible to capture the harbour of Port- landing in Malaya. fought, and especially the barrage of anti-aircraft fire to en-Bessin. The Commando But Van Noorden was de- many who died, for our free- drop their paratroopers. landed after a perilous run-in tached to be dropped with the dom. Though South African forc- through rough seas and among pathfinders of the Ghurka par- es were not involved in that mines, during which four of atroopers during the capture of theatre of the war, there were its fourteen assault craft were Rangoon. His task was to call South Africans seconded to knocked out. in naval gunfire support. This 60 YEARS ON: Dressed in the British Forces who partic- After a tough fight lasting was his last operation before authentic World War II kit, ipated in that momentous op- several days, they took their returning to South Africa. McGill Alexander (above) pre- eration. objective. Having landed on After the war he remained in pares for the jump. One of them was Lt H.K.J. GOLD Beach, close to the the Permanent Force, eventu- “Pik” van Noorden, who was town of Arromanches, they ally commanding 5 SA Infan- GREEN ON, GO: 60 years seconded to the Royal Marines had to fight through 12kms of try Battalion in Ladysmith and after the original jump, McGill and trained as a commando vigorously contested territory, going on to become the Direc- Alexander exits a Dakota over and paratrooper. experiencing German coun- tor of Infantry. Ranville in Normandy, France. He had been an officer in the ter-attacks and with Van Noor- He retired as a major gen- SA Artillery, fighting at To- den calling in artillery and eral, and Inspector General of bruk and escaping when the Naval gunfire support. This he the SA Army. He was probably Germans overran the garrison. was, as a gunner, well quali- the most battle-experienced He was firing over open sights fied to do. officer in the Army and one at the advancing German tanks Van Noorden was next post- of the very few South African with his troop of 25-pounder ed to 42 (Royal Marine) Com- Army soldiers to be awarded 22 years. elling in the back of the vehicle base swimming pool. 97 people Even a short war such as the had to be wearing their seat- died from drowning. SADF casualty figures 1982 Falklands War between belts. Of course some didn’t Accidents with explosives the United Kingdom and Ar- and they would pay the conse- resulted in 89 deaths. A mor- According to official records, 2,573 members of the SADF died while on active service. Yet gentine resulted in the death of quences. tar bomb falling short during a less than a third of them were killed in action. How did the rest die? 255 British troops and 633 Ar- The next highest cause of live fire exercise, troops play- gentinian troops. And this was death was as a result of aircraft ing with a hand grenade - these n 1957 the New Defence African Medical Services, was clared war, they were involved in a war that lasted just over accidents. These were not as were just some of the causes. Act, Act No.44 of 1957 formed. in combat in South West Africa two months. a result of damage to aircraft A total of 85 people died as Iwas passed, merging the In 1968 conscription was in- (now Namibia), Angola, Rho- Yet the figure of 2,573 SADF during combat, but accidents. a result of disease or natural former Union Defence Force troduced when it was decided desia (now Zimbabwe), Mo- deaths is a misleading one. It Many of these accidents took causes. These included heart (including Reserves), the Cit- that all white South African zambique, and Zambia. would be easy to assume that place during pilot training. 241 attacks, strokes, asthma attacks izen Force, Commandos and males would be required to do The undeclared war in South these people died during the people died in aircraft acci- and so on. South African Permanent Force a period of compulsory military West Africa and Angola became Border War. This, however, is dents. According to the official re- into the South African Defence service. known as the ‘Border War’. It not the case. A total of 236 SADF mem- cords, 24 members of the SADF Force (SADF), headquartered Note carefully the use of the lasted from 26 August 1966 to In fact only 791 members of bers lost their lives in shooting committed suicide while on ac- in Pretoria. word compulsory. It was not a 21 March 1990. A total of 23 the SADF were killed in ac- accidents. It was not uncom- tive service. The SADF consisted of a per- request, it was an instruction years, six months, three weeks tion or died as a direct result of mon for there to be accidental Finally, 15 members of the manent Force, a Citizen Force and it was backed up by an act and two days. The SADF took combat. That is only 30.7 %. So discharges (AD). In the major- SADF were killed by wild an- and Commandos. The three of parliament. part in no fewer than 52 major what happened to the remain- ity of cases no-one would be imals. These included croco- arms of the SADF were the Every white male who was a operations. ing 69.3 %? How did they die? injured. This was not, however, diles, hippo, and elephant. Army, Air Force and the Navy. South Africa citizen or had per- In the 37 years that it existed, The shocking, and sad, fact is always the case. Troops shot Later a fourth arm, the South manent residence was required a total of 2,573 members of the that the highest cause of death either themselves or someone *Authors note: Please note to register with the South Afri- SADF died while on active ser- in the SADF was as a result of else as a result of an AD. that the figures used in this ar- can Defence Force in the year vice. motor vehicle accidents. Naturally other accidents ticle are taken from the official that he turned sixteen. Considering the fact that the A total of 844 members of occurred on a frequent basis. figures given. The total number Conscription was better SADF was involved in a ‘war’ the SADF lost their lives in People would be electrocuted, of deaths may have been high- known as ‘National Ser- for 23 years, this is not a high accidents involving vehicles, struck by vehicles, fatally in- er. It also does not take into vice’. At first it was for figure. Especially when you both military and civilian. This jured in falls. More than a few consideration those wounded, a period of nine months compare it to the American equates to 32.8 %. died in parachute accidents. disfigured or permanently dis- and was then extended casualty figures during the Vi- Many troops were killed driv- 151 people died as a result of abled. Nor those that suffered to a period of 12 months. etnam War, another undeclared ing home on a weekend pass, or accidents. from psychological effects. In 1978 national service was in- war. while returning to their base af- Another cause of death was creased to 24 months. In 1989 The Americans were involved ter a pass. drowning. This could have been national service was reduced in Vietnam for 20 years. During The driver of a Buffel APC as a result of trying to cross a back to one year. that time they suffered 58,318 would lose control of the vehi- river, being caught in a flash The SADF was disbanded in dead and more than 300,000 cle and it would roll. It was a flood, or even drowning in the 1994 and absorbed into the new wounded. The US had more sol- standing order that troops trav- South African National De- diers killed in action (KIA) in fence Force (SANDF). a single year than the SADF While the SADF was never had in 23 involved in any de-

24 25 We will remember him Paraquedistas Portugueses A South African expat and member of the French Foreign Legion, Lorenzo Rodrigues, In May the Regimento de Paraquedistas celebrated their 64th birthday. The regiment has a passed away in France during May. He will be remembered. By Paul Els. strong affinity with Africa. ByPedro Castanheira.

South African expat and fter the successful use The paratroopers were issued later in 1975, they were the last former student from of airborne forces in the unique berets and camouflage force to leave African territory. A Durban High School ASecond World War by uniforms. Airborne forces ini- A total of 160 Portuguese par- (DHS), in KwaZulu-Natal, Germany and the Allies, other tially jumped using the venera- atroopers were killed in action. tragically passed away last armed forces began to examine ble German tri-motored Junkers In 1993, further changes in the week in France, whilst rescu- the possibility of forming par- Ju 52 aircraft. The unit was first organization of airborne forces ing the lives of others. achute Troops for special mis- deployed to Tancos, which still took place when the Defence Lorenzo Rodrigues had been sions. Among these armed forces serves as headquarters for to- Minister decided that the entire living in Nimes, France, with were the Portuguese. day’s Portuguese airborne forc- corps should leave the Portu- his wife and daughter, and In 1955, Portuguese Defence es. guese Air Force and become part worked in the French Foreign Ministry cabinet approved a re- In 1961, conflict erupted in the of the Portuguese Army. Legion. quest for funds for airborne par- African colonies, which soon This also meant that the Com- DHS posted a message on atroop training. evolved into a series of guerril- mandos Regiment would be dis- its Facebook page Monday Two Army captains went to la campaigns against Portuguese banded and the commandos that saying: “It is with profound France to take the French par- rule. Troops were required to had taken the parachute course sadness that we learned of achute course at the École de fight in Africa, and the BCP be- would be part of the new unit the passing of DHS Old Boy, Troupes Aeroportèes. After the came the RCP, or Regimento de which was named BAI - Brigada Lorenzo Rodrigues, Class of Portuguese Air Force was creat- Caçadores Pára-quedistas (Par- Aerotransportada Independente 2011. ed as an independent branch of atrooper Hunter, or Ranger Reg- (Independent Airborne Brigade). “Lorenzo joined the French the military, was decided that the iment). The Parachute Troops School Foreign Legion two years ago paratroopers would be part of the BCP 21 was stationed in Luan- is based in Tancos, Portugal and and died tragically in an act of Air Force, much like the German da, Angola. Two regiments were serves as the instruction centre bravery saving members of his organizational structure during stationed in Mozambique - BCP for recruitment and training of unit during a rafting exercise. World War II. 31 in Beira and BCP 32 in Naca- the Portuguese paratroopers. He saved eight lives and sadly The BCP - Batalhão de la. BCP 12 was stationed in Bis- Like other Portuguese Air- drowned while saving his Cor- Lorenzo Rodrigues with his daughter Leia. Caçadores Páraquedistas (Par- salanca, Guinea-Bissau. borne units, the troops of the poral. atrooper Hunters Battalion) was The Paras were the first force School are nicknamed Boinas “Lorenzo leaves his wife, I don’t think even the school’s his mom posted another mes- formed in 1956. to be sent to Angola and, 14 years Verdes (Green Berets) while re- Fiona Rodrigues, and two 150 year history could live up sage beneath this photo, say- cruits are nicknamed Cacatuas month old daughter, Leia Ro- to the respect and admiration ing: “Rest in peace my beauti- (Cockatoos). drigues. Our deepest condo- you have just earned.” ful son. You died a hero…” The Paras saw action in Bos- lences to Lorenzo’s family and Lorenzo’s mother had posted nia, Kosovo, East Timor and Af- friends. a message on 17 May beneath ghanistan. In 2018 their actions “Lorenzo will received a a picture of his baby daugh- in the Central African Republic Military Funeral in Marseilles. ter, her granddaughter, saying: saw them clearing the region of RIP, Lorenzo.” “My baby girl. Love of my the armed groups that terrorized The school ended the mes- life. See you soon. I have my the people. sage with ‘Deo Fretus’ (in God visa.” Lorenzo replied to her On 23 May 2019 the Regiment we trust). message, saying: “Love you celebrated their 64th anniversary One Old Boy, Chyavan Ma- mom:)” at a parade in Tancos. haraj, said: “Our motto was al- He then posted a photo with Their motto is Que nunca por ways ‘May they ever remember members of his unit: vencidos se conhecam - That you that as he is, so is his school.’ Two days later, on 19 May, PARAS: Members of the Paratroopers Regiment on parade in never forget to know. Tancos. 26 27 Rhodesians Worldwide The four-legged heroes If you’ve never heard of Rhodesian’s Worldwide magazine, then you should have. Especially At a memorial parade in Pretoria, tribute was paid to the animals that died in the Border if you have an interest in the history of Rhodesia. By Chris Whitehead. War. And for the first time, a dog carried a wreath. have not used this means of loyal subscribers. he use of animals in war- of communication with Each edition would be sent fare is as old as war it- I all of you before, but I am out from their dining room ta- Tself. The use of cavalry, reaching out to you for your ble and with it went an appeal troops mounted on horses, was help. for new subscribers. They common in most armies. An incident happened today asked each subscriber to send The Carthaginian used war that brought me to this point. them addresses of other Rho- elephants with deadly effect. A lady sent me an obituary for desians or to take a few extra The Roman’s countered this placing in the magazine and magazines (it was eight pages by using war pigs. These were she told the family of the per- in those days) and mail them pigs that were covered in oil son that she was doing this. onto their friends. and set alight. They caused the They are Rhodesians and There was no budget for elephants to panic and stam- they had never heard of Rho- advertising and really where pede, creating havoc among the desians Worldwide maga- could one advertise and hope Carthaginian. zine despite it existing for 34 to find Rhodesians, because During World War I modern years, despite our Facebook although we are scattered weapons such as the machine pages and appeals, despite us around the world there are no What I would like you to gun meant that cavalry charges attending a variety of gather- focal points for where we all do, as a subscriber to Rhode- became suicidal. Yet animals ings in UK, Australia, RSA live. sians Worldwide magazine, continued to play a vital role. and USA and despite us send- Many countries have no is to take the attached digi- Horses, donkeys, mules and ing out over 1,000 compli- national newspaper, even a tal magazine which is a 2015 camels carried food, water, am- mentary copies over the past country like Rhodesia had back issue and the subscrip- munition and medical supplies for work. Dogs, cats, and more dogs were used for tracking and twenty years at least three main newspa- tion form and email these to to men at the front, and dogs unusual animals including mon- detecting explosives. 34 Years ago when Geoff pers that i can think of. This your Rhodesian friends and and pigeons carried messages. keys, bears and lions, were kept At a recent Memorial Parade Hill and his Mum, Zaeta, means of spreading the word family with an appeal to them Canaries were used to detect as pets and mascots to raise mo- at the Voortrekker Monument started the Rhodesians World- was very effective. to help keep the spirit alive poisonous gas, and cats and rale and provide comfort amidst in Pretoria, a dog was used to wide magazine they did so on The magazine is still pro- by subscribing. dogs were trained to hunt rats the hardships of war. carry a wreath that was laid on a shoestring and with the help duced in my home and until If they are simply interest- in the trenches. During our own Bush War behalf of all the animals lost in a year ago was enveloped and ed in hearing more about the Animals were not only used horses were used to patrol while the Bush War. This was a first. sealed on the kitchen coun- magazine or possibly getting ter by Annette and our great a sample paper copy they can friend, Katrina. email me at rhodesiansworld- It’s a Bospadda Fast forward to 2019, the [email protected] with their ast month we had a graph of a strange-looking ve- and were designed to protect magazine is a 36 page mag- questions or physical address. competition where we hicle and asked you to tell us railway lines during periods azine with glossy covers and I am hoping to roll out a new showed you a photo- what it was. of crises. Only two were built, a wealth of stories inside. It easier to use digital subscrip- L It was a Bospadda (Bush known as ‘Chris’ and ‘Kobus’. is the principal preserver of tion in the coming months as Frog), a convertible ar- Congratulations to Lionel our country’s history. So with well. moured vehicle built van der Schyff from Pip-Ack the internet and email and I Thank you for your past for the South African Moth Shellhole in Cape Town. am appealing to you for your support and for helping to Railway Police in the Your prize will be delivered to help. preserve our country’s histo- 1970s. you shortly. ry. Click on the cover on the left They could run on Look out for more competi- to read an online version. either rail or road tions soon. 28 29 It is about finding your triggers army days, and trust me, they and ways to prevent it from es- saw the difference in you. It Broken Warriors calating to distress. It is about is watching someone you love finding healthier tools to cope change right in front of you, Soldiers do not start wars, they fight in them. But what happens when the shooting stops? with your symptoms. Your brain with no way to make it better Are soldiers being left with a broken legacy. By . Karen Theunissen pathways work pretty much or even being let in. They heard like a gorge that is formed by and felt your nightmares lying t is the one topic that South ‘comrades’ who have manip- talion war veterans attempts in water repetitively flooding the next to you in bed. They un- African men do not dis- ulated the system by claiming the ghost town of Pomfret. same area. Your reactions are derstand more than you Icuss around a braai. Rugby, benefits and sympathy as they formed by thoughts and feel- know, and will support sure, the politics of sports and apparently single-handedly What is PTSD? ings flooding the same paths you if you are saying the country, definitely, and how won the war, but in reality nev- The concept is not new – it over and over again. You have you are having a the younger generation would er really saw any action. is as old as warfare. However to find another route and not have benefited from military So what makes PTSD of South weaponry improvements meant just land in the same dropzone. service given the discipline and African Border Boys so differ- that greater damages and dan- You will have to recce it, but shared camaraderie, perhaps, ent from some other war veter- gers occurred, and soldiers suf- you have to find another path or bad ‘army’ day and need space, video. but PTSD, not a chance. ans? One of the reasons is that fered more. The psychological risk being exposed to the same or need to talk nonsense with the There has been a movement If you are ‘bossies’, or let’s the resolution of the war was impact was being researched enemy within yourself. And guys. They will not understand to train psychiatric service dogs get real, ‘bosbefok’, it means vague and incomplete. There during World War II, but the putting a barricade down does if you are drinking too much to to help veterans with PTSD. that you are ‘befok in your kop’, was never any formal exit, so it eventual diagnosis was coined not work forever - even if you forget, or become grumpy and There is no doubt that the com- so talking to a friend or seeing is not like World War I or World after the Vietnam War. are not consciously aware of it. irritable and not tell them why. panionship and intuition of a a doctor will just confirm it, War II. There was never any de- Instead of listing symptoms The flow of water either pools But if you man up, you will re- beloved pet can often help when right? So instead you have an- briefing, unless around the braai of PTSD, perhaps it is easier to up and causes a behavioural re- alise that this is because they are there are no words. other beer, pour a stronger Klip- fires or in a pub. There were understand the diagnosis if you action in your brain, or needs to worried as you are clearly not They are using virtual reality pies and Coke and find another never any specialised treatment look at terms and descriptions go elsewhere such as in terms coping if this is your behaviour. for exposure therapy for veter- way to get around not sleeping facilities, like you see with the given in the past: shell shock, of your physical health. If you are still going from zero to ans. An individual is immersed at times. As you get older, the American’s Veteran Affairs. war hysteria, battle neurosis, wanting to kill in 3 seconds flat, in a computer-generated virtual nightmares and flashbacks be- There were never any open combat exhaustion, soldier’s What can you do? please seek help. It is not worth environment, either through the come less frequent, or perhaps platforms for discussions. In- heart. Sufferers have difficulty I have been around long taking another life or going to use of a head-mounted display moulded in a collage of bad deed, the rules of the game with intrusive memories, such enough not to preach or shout prison. If you are feeling that you device or entry into a comput- memories. changed. It was not like a as nightmares and flashbacks of orders to any soldier. So let me want to kill yourself, please seek er-automated room where im- As a mental health service change to the rules of tackling in traumatic events, especially if rather tell you what my patients help. As a warrior, you should ages are present all around. provider, I am frustrated and rugby – instead all of a sudden a triggered by certain sensations. have taught me. You have a know a question about life and This environment can be pro- saddened when seeing proud whole new game was played in They often avoid thoughts, ac- legacy. You have a story. It is death is not a touchy-feely topic, grammed to help the person South African men, now all old- our political landscape. tivities and people which re- worth telling and sharing. But it is triage. directly confront feared situa- er than 55 years, being down- And South African war vet- mind them of the traumatic the story is a chapter in a book. Speaking of digging dongas, tions or locations that may not trodden and deflated by the lack erans were left with no coping event, often feeling detached Do not let PTSD define your let me share some helpful strat- be safe to encounter in real life. of support they received at the strategies or tools to deal with and emotionally numb. They whole life story. You may feel egies that mental health pro- And there have been so many ‘exit’ of the Border War. They this. And this is true of veter- are easily startled and fright- weak and alone, but you are not. fessionals and fellow warriors fundraising initiatives – even were angry as hell for a long ans from both sides of the war. ened. They battle with emo- There is a brotherhood of warri- have devised. Workshops For boxing matches by ex-Special time, but even that has passed It did not help that alcohol was tions of depression and hope- ors, from the beginning of time, Warriors (www.wfw.org) is a Forces. A brilliant video can be for some. Sure, they attempt- the psychological lubricant to lessness, irritability with anger who have walked the same road non-profit organisation in San seen here. Could this work for ed tablets, no, not a chance the wheels coming off. The outbursts, and often engage in as you have. Most of them are Diego who provide vocation- us? will they sit and talk about only tool was the ‘dop’ system self-destructive behaviours. willing to walk alongside you. al training in welding, milling, their childhood and army days – in the seventies and eighties Apart from medication to as- For pete’s sake, they will prob- machining, woodworking and About the author to someone who has not been it was 15 cents for a beer, 10 sist with the symptoms of de- ably help you dig a new donga computer aided design. They Karen Theunissen is an occu- there, and yes, they have read cents for rum and whiskey, and pression, anxiety, irritability instead of a brain pathway. Yes, employ veterans to reskill vet- pational therapist who special- a few books and webpages of a whopping five cents for bran- and insomnia, psychotherapy is your wives or girlfriends were erans to rebuild America, one ises in mental health. Visit her people who have written about dy, vodka and other hard liquor. also indicated. And no, it is not not there, or so you think, but veteran at a time. Watch this website here. it. And many still stew about The same tool that the 32 Bat- just to talk about your feelings. they knew you throughout your 30 31 Rank Structure - Egypt Officers

Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at the rank structure of various armed forces. This month we look at the Egyptian Armed Forces. he Egyptian Armed Egypt is a participant in NA- Much military information is Forces’ consists of the TO’s Mediterranean Dialogue not made publicly available, in- Molazim Molazim awwal Naqib TEgyptian Army, Egyp- forum. Egypt is one of the few cluding budget information, the (2nd Lieutenant) (Lieutenant) (Captain) tian Air Force, Egyptian Navy countries in the Middle East, names of the general officers and Egyptian Air Defence and the only Arab state, with a and the military’s size (which is Forces. reconnaissance satellite and has considered a state secret). Their inventory includes launched another one EgyptSat Senior members of the mil- equipment from different coun- 1 in 2007. itary can convene for the Su- tries around the world. Equip- The Armed Forces enjoy con- preme Council of the Armed ment from the Soviet Union is siderable power and independ- Forces, so during the course Ra’id Moqaddim ‘aqid being progressively replaced by ence within the Egyptian state. of the Egyptian Revolution of (Major) (Lieutenant Colonel) (Colonel) more modern U.S., French, and They are also influential in 2011, when Mubarak resigned British equipment, a significant business, engaging in road and and transferred power to this portion of which is built under housing construction, consum- body on 11 February 2011. license in Egypt, such as the er goods, resort management, M1 Abrams tank. and vast tracts of real estate.

Egyptian Army ‘amid Liwaa’ Fariq Non-commissioned Officers (NCO) and Warrant Officers (Brigadier General) (Major General) (Lieutenant General)

Jondi ‘arif Raqib Fariq awwal Moshir (Private) (Corporal) (Sergeant) (Colonel General) (Field Marshal) Egyptian Air Force Non-commissioned Officers (NCO) and Warrant Officers

Raqib awwal Mosa’id Mosa’id awwal (Staff Sergeant) (WO II) (WO I) Jondi ‘arif Raqib (Aircraftman) (Corporal) (Sergeant)

32 33 Raqib awwal Mosa’id Mosa’id awwal Raqib awwal Mosa’id Mosa’id awwal (Flight Sergeant) (Warrant Officer) (Chief Warrant Officer) (Chief Petty Officer) (WO II) (WO I) Officers Officers

Pilot Officer Flying Officer Flight Lieutenant Ensign Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant

Squadron Leader Wing Commander Group Captain Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain

Air Commodore Air Vice Marshal Commodore Rear Admiral

Air Marshal Chief Air Marshal

Egyptian Navy Vice Admiral Admiral Non-commissioned Officers (NCO) and Warrant Officers Egyptian Army Egyptian Air Force Egyptian Navy

Jondi ‘arif Raqib (Able Seaman) (Leading Seaman) (Petty Officer) 34 35 string tied between two points A matter of survival - Hunting Pt I will give you a straight edge to check them against) and as Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at survival, something a that has always been important for those in the military. This month we look at hunting. smooth as possible. At one end make a notch (b) 6 mm deep to fit the bow string. ne method of obtain- shot is effective but very risky. short time to become proficient Be sure to check that the notch ing food from game or A point just to the back of the with it. in the end of each arrow is wide birds is to hunt for it. front shoulder is a good target. For the bow a well-seasoned O enough to fit over your bow- Yet this is not always as simple A firm, accurate strike there will piece of wood, preferably yew, string. as it sounds. drop most animals instantly. is ideal. But you’re just going to First of all you’re going to If an animal drops first shot, have to do without. Flighting arrows need some sort of knowledge wait five minutes before ap- The tension in unseasoned To increase accuracy arrows on the kind of animals you are proaching. Just stand back and wood is short-lived so make should be flighted. The chanc- hunting. Tracking skills and ac- observe. If not dead but bleed- several bows and change over es of you hitting a target with curate marksmanship are also ing, the loss of blood will weak- to another one when the one an arrow that is not flighted are useful. They make it easier to en it and it won’t be able to bolt you are using losses its spring. about the same as the Proteas be in the right place and to take when you do approach it. winning a major sporting event advantage of the terrain. If an animal is wounded and Making the stave any time soon. Acquiring skill as a hunter moves away, with for 15 min- Shaping the bow slight pressure - the main ten- Feathers make the best flights, will come with time and experi- utes before following up. If you Fashion the stave so that it is 5 sion is added when you pull but other materials, such a pa- ence. There are, however, a few follow immediately it may trav- cm wide at the centre, tapering back to shoot. per, light cloth or even leaves tips that you can use. el all day. to 1,5 cm at the ends. Notch the Secure the string to the bow trimmed to shape, can be used. The first thing you will need ends (a) to take the bowstring with a round turn and two half (c) Split feathers, starting to do is move as quietly as pos- Bow and arrow about 1.25 cm from the ends. hitches at each end. from the top, down the centre sible. Move slowly and stop There’s a good chance that in Remove the bark if you choose. If the wood is untreated re- of the quill. regularly. Carry your weight on a survival situation you will be When the bow has been whit- lease one end of the string (d) Leave 20 mm of quill at your rear foot so that you can without a firearm. Even if you tled into shape rub it all over whenever the bow is not in use each end of the feather to tie to test the next step with the toes do have a firearm, your ammu- with oil or animal fat. to release the tension. Other- the arrow. before transferring your weight. nition will be limited. So, un- wise the stave will set in shape. (e) Tie three flights equally Sniff the air and listen. Hunt less your name is Hercules and Fitting the string A properly made bow will To determine the correct spaced around the shaft. against the wind, or at least your parents lived on Mount stave length for you hold one A rawhide string is best, cut to be more efficient and more ac- across it. Zeus, you’re going to need to a width of 3 mm, but any string, curate that just bending a plia- end of the stave at the hip with (See diagram overleaf). The best time to hunt is at first make a weapon. This is where a the right hand, reach out with cord, or thin rope can be used. ble stick - but once it loses it’s light. Game is far more active bow and arrow is useful. your left hand and mark the ex- The stems of old nettles pro- spring don’t waste time with it. during this period. Of course It’s one of the most effec- tent of your reach as the length vide tough fibres and these can Make another. the are also about in the eve- tive improvised weapons and of the bow. be twisted together to make a nings, but the light will be rap- is easy to make. It takes only a satisfactory bowstring. Making arrows idly getting worse and you will If the bow has a lot of give Any straight wood will do for need to find your way back to a shorter string is likely to be arrows. Make arrows about 60 your camp. needed, but when strung the cm long and about 6 mm wide. When hunting during the day, string should only be under Keep them straight (a piece of try to hunt moving uphill in the morning and return to camp in the afternoon. After hunting for b the day you will be tired and it’s easier to then move downhill. Get as close to the target as you can without revealing your presence. An accurate head

36 37 just below the arrow, extending the arm forwards. Keep the bow arm locked and draw the string smoothly back Armoured across the front of your body, with the arrow at eye level and lined up with the target. Warfare Release the string - just let go, e do not snatch at it as you do so. d Learning how to make and Studies use an improvised bow is not c something that you want to do Group if you suddenly find yourself in a survival situation. You are hereby cordially invited to attend the meetings Practice making a bow and of the Armoured Warfare Studies Group. The aim of arrows, then spend a bit of the AWSG is to provide in-depth technical presenta- time improving your accuracy. tions for both layman and expert alike, as well as dis- Then, if you ever find yourself cussions on all aspects of Armoured Warfare, from An- in a real survival situation, you cient Times to the Present. Topics will include technical will be better prepared. discussions on the history and development of the use of armour, tanks, armoured cars, armoured trains, battleships, submarines, ground attack aircraft and helicopters as well In the next issue we will look as the use of strategy, tactics, armoured battles, personalities etc., with armour as the at how to make a sling, a cata- main focus. Arrow heads Split the end of the shaft, in- pult, a bola, and spears. At the business end of the sert the arrow head and bind We will also look at how to Presentations confirmed are: (Note – order of presentations may vary) arrow a sharp point is needed. it tightly. Sinews are goof for make a spear thrower to in- Thursday 18th July 2019: Greg Pullin – The Russian T-34 Tank. The arrow itself can be sharp- binding. Apply wet and this crease the distance of a thrown Thursday 19th September 2019: Pierre De Villiers - The Ju87G Kanonenvogel (Stuka) ened and hardened in a fire, but will harden, securing the head spear. ground-attack/ tank-buster aircraft of WW2. a firm tip is better. firmly. Thursday 22nd August 2019: Marius vd Merwe - Operation Bagration - the destruction Tin is excellent or flint can be of the German Army Group Centre, June 1944 – 75th anniversary. shaped into a really sharp ar- Archery technique Thursday 17th October 2019: Johan vd Berg - The PzKpfw VI Tiger I – Part 2. rowhead. Fit an arrow into the bow- Thursday 21st November 2019: Marius vd Merwe – The M-4 Sherman Tank-Pt 3. With patience even bone can string and raise the centre of the be made into a good tip. bow to eye-level. Hold the bow Who will benefit? Anyone interested in Military History and armoured warfare. Modellers (encouraged to bring along their models for display and demonstrations), Wargamers, Video Gamers, military veterans and serving members, researchers, students, etc. Come share your knowledge with us!

Venue: Regiment Orange River hanger, Fort Ikapa, Wingfield. Directions: From the N1, take the M7 Jakes Gerwel Goodwood southbound. After 1,1 km, turn left (East) on the M25 Frans Conradie Drive. After 500m, turn left (North) into Townsend St at the first set of traffic lights. Follow Townsend St to Ft. Ikapa Military base. Sign in at the guardhouse. Follow the road to the 1st TJunction, turn right. Turn right again at the 2nd turn to the right and 1st right again and follow the road towards the ROR signpost. Dress Code – Informal. Cash bar available. Flint Tin Burnt Bone Time: 7 Pm for 7:30 (until 10:15 pm). First meeting free of charge. R20-00 for members. Please support our hosts! Enquiries: 082 3235542/ 082 5790386. E-mail: [email protected] 38 head to head head to head itary functions, operate as com- • Active Coast Guard – 4,700 • Corvettes – 10 ponents of the internal security • Reserve personnel – 378,700 • Submarines – 12 Military Strength forces in peacetime, and are • Patrol vessels – 34 In the first of a series of articles, the ten strongest current military forces go head-to- subordinate to the Ministry of Land Forces • Mine warfare vessels – 11 head. Interior. • Combat tanks – 3,200 In wartime, they are subordi- • Armoured Fighting Vehicles Air Force ver wondered which To determine this a number of we will take a closer look at nate to the Army and Navy. The – 9,500 • Total aircraft – 1,067 country currently has the factors must be taken into con- the weapons and equipment of President of Turkey is the mili- • Self-propelled artillery – • Fighters – 207 strongest military force? sideration. These include total these ten countries, allowing tary’s overall head. 1,120 • Attack aircraft – 207 E • Towed artillery – 1,272 • Transports – 87 Or how about the ten countries military personnel, land forces, them to go head-to-head. with the strongest military forc- naval forces and air forces. South Africa, by the way, Manpower • Rocket launchers – 350 • Trainers – 289 es. Over the next few months ranks at No. 32. • Total military personnel – • Total helicopters – 492 891,300 Naval Forces • Attack helicopters – 94 • Active military personnel - • Total ships – 194 355,800 • Aircraft carriers – 0 10. Germany • Active Gendarmerie – • Frigates – 16 Annual Defence Budget - $49,100,000,000 152,100 • Destroyers – 0

The Bundeswehr (Federal Informationsraum (Cyber and Naval Forces 8. United Kingdom Defence) is the unified armed Information Space Command). • Total ships – 81 Annual Defence Budget - $47,500,000,000 forces of Germany and their • Aircraft carriers – 0 civil administration and pro- Manpower • Frigates – 10 curement authorities. • Active military personnel - • Destroyers – 0 The Bundeswehr is divided 182,055 The British Armed Forces, The United Kingdom is one of • Self-propelled artillery – 89 • Corvettes – 5 also known as Her Majesty’s five recognised nuclear powers, • Towed artillery – 126 into a military part (armed forc- • Reserve personnel - 28,250 • Submarines – 6 es or Streitkräfte) and a civil • Total military personnel – Armed Forces, are the military is a permanent member on the • Rocket launchers – 35 • Patrol vessels – 0 services responsible for the de- United Nations Security Coun- part with the armed forces ad- 210,305 • Mine warfare vessels – 12 ministration (Wehrverwaltung). fence of the United Kingdom, cil, is a founding and leading Naval Forces The military part of the fed- Land Forces its overseas territories and the member of the NATO military • Total ships – 76 Air Force Crown dependencies. They alliance, and is party to the Five • Aircraft carriers – 1 eral defence force consists of • Combat tanks – 900 • Total aircraft – 613 the Heer (Army), the Marine • Armoured Fighting Vehicles also promote Britain’s wider Power Defence Arrangements. • Frigates – 13 • Fighters – 122 interests, support international Overseas garrisons and facil- • Destroyers – 6 (Navy), the Luftwaffe (Air – 8,389 • Attack aircraft – 178 Force), the Streitkräftebasis • Self-propelled artillery – peacekeeping efforts and pro- ities are maintained by the Brit- • Corvettes – 0 • Transports – 72 vide humanitarian aid. ish Armed Forces in various lo- • Submarines – 10 (Joint Support Service), the 209 • Trainers – 75 Zentraler Sanitätsdienst der • Towed artillery – 0 Today, the British Armed cations around the world. • Patrol vessels – 22 • Total helicopters – 313 Forces consist of the British • Mine warfare vessels – 13 Bundeswehr (Joint Medical • Rocket launchers – 38 • Attack helicopters - 65 Service), and the Cyber- und Army, Royal Navy, Royal Ma- Manpower rines, and the Royal Air Force. • Total military personnel – Air Force The British Armed Forces in- 157,500 • Total aircraft – 811 clude standing forces, Regular • Active military personnel – • Fighters – 129 9. Turkey Reserve, Volunteer Reserves 146,500 • Attack aircraft – 150 Annual Defence Budget - $8,600,000,000 and Sponsored Reserves. • Reserve personnel – 11,000 • Transports – 46 Its Commander-in-chief is • Trainers – 289 the British monarch, currently Land Forces • Total helicopters – 319 Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri of Turkey. They consist of the The Gendarmerie and the Queen Elizabeth II, to whom • Combat tanks – 331 • Attack helicopters – 49 (Turkish Armed Forces) are the Army, the Navy and the Air Coast Guard, both of which members of the forces swear al- • Armoured Fighting Vehicles military forces of the Republic Force. have law enforcement and mil- legiance. – 4,607 40 41 head to head head to head Land Forces Naval Forces Air Force 7. Republic of Korea • Combat tanks – 1,004 • Total ships – 131 • Total aircraft – 1,572 • Armoured Fighting Vehicles • Aircraft carriers – 4 • Fighters – 297 Annual Defence Budget - $38,300,000,000 – 3,072 • Frigates – 0 • Attack aircraft – 297 • Self-propelled artillery – • Destroyers – 37 • Transports – 41 The Daehanminguk Guk- Corps), Daehanminguk Gong- • Towed artillery – 3,854 202 • Corvettes – 6 • Trainers – 301 gun (Republic of Korea Armed gun (ROK Air Force), Daehan- • Rocket launchers – 215 • Towed artillery – 500 • Submarines – 18 • Total helicopters – 636 Forces, also known as the ROK minguk Yebigun (ROK Reserve • Rocket launchers – 99 • Patrol vessels – 6 • Attack helicopters – 119 Armed Forces), are the armed Forces), and Daehanminguk Naval Forces • Mine warfare vessels – 25 forces of South Korea. Minbangwidae (ROK Civil De- • Total ships – 166 Created in 1948 following fence Corps). • Aircraft carriers – 1 the division of Korea, the ROK • Frigates – 13 Armed Forces is one of the Manpower • Destroyers – 12 5. France largest standing armed forces in • Total military personnel – • Corvettes – 13 Annual Defence Budget - $40,500,000,000 the world. 3,699,000 • Submarines – 16 South Korea’s military forces • Active military personnel – • Patrol vessels – 64 are responsible for maintaining 599,000 • Mine warfare vessels – 11 The French Forces Armées 205,121 • Aircraft carriers – 4 the sovereignty and territorial • Reserve personnel – Françaises (French Armed Forc- • Civilian personnel – 60,337 • Frigates – 11 integrity of the state, but often 3,100,000 Air Force es) encompass the Armée de terre • Gendarmerie personnel – • Destroyers – 12 engage in humanitarian and dis- • Total aircraft – 1,614 (Army), the Marine nationale 103,504 • Corvettes – 0 aster-relief efforts nationwide. Land Forces • Fighters – 406 (Navy), the Armée de l’Air (Air • Reserve personnel – 32,303 • Submarines – 10 It consists of the Daehan- • Combat tanks – 2,654 • Attack aircraft – 466 Force), the Garde nationale (Na- • Gendarmerie reserve – • Patrol vessels – 23 minguk Yukgun (ROK Army), • Armoured Fighting Vehicles • Transports – 40 tional Guard) and the Gendarme- 25,000 • Mine warfare vessels – 17 Daehanminguk Haegun (ROK – 2,870 • Trainers – 301 rie nationale (Gendarmerie) of Navy), Daehanminguk Hae- • Self-propelled artillery – • Total helicopters – 777 the French Republic. Land Forces Air Force byeongdae (ROK Marines 2,140 • Attack helicopters – 112 The President of France heads • Combat tanks – 406 • Total aircraft – 1,248 the armed forces as chef des • Armoured Fighting Vehicles • Fighters – 273 armées (Chief of the Armed – 6,300 • Attack aircraft – 273 Forces). • Self-propelled artillery – 109 • Transports – 128 6. Japan • Towed artillery – 152 • Trainers – 301 Manpower • Rocket launchers – 12 • Total helicopters – 566 Annual Defence Budget - $47,000,000,000 • Total military personnel – • Attack helicopters – 56 426,265 Naval Forces The Jieitai (Japan Self-De- with North Korea, have reignit- South Korea and Australia. • Active military personnel – • Total ships – 118 fence Forces), also referred ed the debate over the status of The Jeitai consists of the to as the Self-Defence Forces, the JSDF and its relation to Jap- Rikujō Jieitai (Japan Ground Japan Defence Forces, or the anese society. Self-Defence Force), Kaijō Jie- 4. India Japanese Armed Forces, are the New military guidelines, an- itai (Japan Maritime Self-De- Annual Defence Budget - $55,200,000,000 unified military forces of Japan nounced in December 2010, fence Force), and Kōkū Jieitai that were established in 1954, will direct the JSDF away from (Japan Air Self-Defence Force). and are controlled by the Min- its Cold War focus on the for- The Indian Armed Forces are Additionally, the Indian commands and institutions such istry of Defence. mer Soviet Union to a focus on Manpower the military forces of the Re- Armed Forces are supported as the Strategic Forces Com- In recent years they have been China, especially regarding the • Total military personnel – public of India. It consists of by the Indian Coast Guard and mand, the Andaman and Nico- engaged in international peace- territorial dispute over the Sen- 310,457 three professional uniformed paramilitary organisations (As- bar Command and the Integrat- keeping operations including kaku Islands, while increasing • Active military personnel – services: the Indian Army, Indi- sam Rifles, and Special Frontier ed Defence Staff. The President UN peacekeeping. cooperation with the United 247,157 an Navy, and Indian Air Force. Force) and various inter-service of India is the Supreme Com- Recent tensions, particularly States, United Kingdom, India, • Reserve personnel – 63,300 42 43 head to head head to head mander of the Indian Armed • Armoured Fighting Vehicles • Submarines – 16 Forces. – 2,815 • Patrol vessels – 139 • Self-propelled artillery – • Mine warfare vessels – 1 2. Russia Manpower 200 Annual Defence Budget - $44,000,000,000 • Total military personnel – • Towed artillery – 4,060 Air Force 2,598,921 • Rocket launchers – 266 • Total aircraft – 2,082 The Vooruzhonnije Síly • Active military personnel – • Fighters – 520 Manpower Naval Forces Rossíyskoj Federátsii (Russian 1,443,921 Naval Forces • Attack aircraft – 694 • Total military personnel – • Total ships – 352 Armed Forces) are the military • Reserve personnel – • Total ships – 295 • Transports – 248 3,586,128 • Aircraft carriers – 1 forces of the Russian Federa- 1,155,000 • Aircraft carriers – 1 • Trainers – 364 • Active military personnel – • Frigates – 13 tion, established after the disso- • Frigates – 13 • Total helicopters – 692 1,013,628 • Destroyers – 13 lution of the Soviet Union. Land Forces • Destroyers – 11 • Attack helicopters – 17 • Reserve personnel – • Corvettes – 82 The Commander-in-Chief of • Combat tanks – 4,184 • Corvettes – 22 2,572,500 • Submarines – 56 the Armed Forces is the Pres- • Patrol vessels – 45 ident of Russia. The Russian Land Forces • Mine warfare vessels – 47 Armed Forces were formed in • Combat tanks – 21,932 3. China 1992. • Armoured Fighting Vehicles Air Force The branches of the Russian Annual Defence Budget - $242,000,000,000 – 50,049 • Total aircraft – 4,078 Armed Forces are the Ground • Self-propelled artillery – • Fighters – 869 Forces, Aerospace Forces, Mar- 6,083 • Attack aircraft – 1,459 itime Fleet, Coastal Troops, Na- • Towed artillery – 4,465 • Transports – 401 The Chinese People’s Liber- man of the Central Military Naval Forces val Infantry, Strategic Missile • Rocket launchers – 3,860 • Trainers – 494 ation Army (PLA) is the armed Commission (usually the Gen- • Total ships – 714 Troops, Airborne Troops, and • Total helicopters – 1,485 forces of the People’s Republic eral Secretary of the Commu- • Aircraft carriers – 1 Special Operations Forces. • Attack helicopters – 514 of China (PRC) and its found- nist Party of China). • Frigates – 52 ing and ruling political party, In times of national emer- • Destroyers – 33 the Communist Party of China gency, the People’s Armed • Corvettes – 42 (CPC). Police and the People’s Liber- • Submarines – 76 1. United States The PLA consists of five pro- ation Army militia act as a re- • Patrol vessels – 192 Annual Defence Budget - $716,000,000,000 fessional service branches: the serve and support element for • Mine warfare vessels – 33 Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, and the Strategic Ground Forces (Army). Air Force The United States Armed • Reserve personnel – 811,000 • Corvettes – 15 Support Force. Units around • Total aircraft – 3,187 the country are assigned to one Manpower Forces are the military forces of • Submarines – 68 • Fighters – 1,222 the United States of America. Land Forces • Patrol vessels – 13 of five theatre commands by • Total military personnel – • Attack aircraft – 1,564 geographical location. 2,545,000 It consists of the Army, Marine • Combat tanks – 6,287 • Mine warfare vessels – 11 • Transports – 193 Corps, Navy, Air Force, and • Armoured Fighting Vehicles The PLA is under the com- • Active military personnel – • Trainers – 368 mand of the Central Military 2,035,000 Coast Guard. – 39,223 Air Force • Total helicopters – 1,004 The president of the Unit- • Self-propelled artillery – • Total aircraft – 13,398 Commission (CMC) of the • Reserve personnel – 510,000 • Attack helicopters – 281 CPC. It is legally obliged to ed States is the Command- 992 • Fighters – 2,362 follow the principle of civilian Land Forces er-in-Chief of the Armed Forc- • Towed artillery – 864 • Attack aircraft – 2,831 control of the military, although • Combat tanks – 13,050 es. • Rocket launchers – 1,056 • Transports – 1,153 in practical terms this principle • Armoured Fighting Vehicles • Trainers – 2,853 has been implemented in such – 40,000 Manpower Naval Forces • Total helicopters – 5,760 a way as to ensure the PLA is • Self-propelled artillery – • Total military personnel – • Total ships – 415 • Attack helicopters – 971 under the absolute control of 4,000 4,397,128 • Aircraft carriers – 24 the Communist Party. Its com- • Towed artillery – 6,246 • Active military personnel – • Frigates – 22 mander in chief is the Chair- • Rocket launchers – 2,050 1,358,193 • Destroyers – 68 44 45 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history He was accepted into the US September 1943 mainland Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Army on 30 June 1942 and re- Salerno landing at Battipaglia. Bronze Star. Audie Murphy ported to Camp Wolters for ba- While on a scouting party along Poet, songwriter, actor with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and one of sic training. the Volturno River, he and two European Theatre America’s most decorated combat soldiers during World War II, Audie Murphy did it all. After basic he was sent to Fort other soldiers were ambushed; During the first wave of the Meade for advanced infantry German machine gun fire killed Allied invasion of southern he old South African De- the children on her own. He got a job at a radio repair training. During basic training, one soldier. France, Murphy received the fence Force (SADF) had To help support his family, shop and at a combination gen- he earned the Marksman Badge Murphy and the other survi- Distinguished Service Cross- Tsome interesting slang Murphy dropped out of school eral store, garage and gas sta- with Rifle Component Bar and vor responded by killing five for action taken on 15 August terms and expressions. in the fifth grade and got a job tion in Greenville. Expert Badge with Bayonet Germans with hand grenades 1944. One of the terms for some- picking cotton for a dollar a day. Hunt County authorities Component Bar. and machine gun fire. Murphy was with the 1st Bat- one that took needless risks was He was skilled with a rifle and placed his three youngest sib- Murphy was promoted to ser- talion, 15th Infantry Regiment Audie Murphy. As in, “Who do was a more than adept poacher. lings in Boles Children’s Home, Mediterranean Theatre geant on 13 December 1943. during the 27–28 August offen- you think your are, Audie Mur- He would hunt small game to a Christian orphanage in Quin- Murphy was shipped to Cas- After being promoted to staff sive at Montélimar that secured phy?” help put food on the table. lan. ablanca in French Morocco on sergeant in January 1944 Mur- the area from the Germans. Well in the case of Audie Murphy was 16 when, in Enlistment in the army 20 February 1943. phy was hospitalised in Naples Along with the other soldiers Leon Murphy from Texas, he 1941, his mother died of en- He was assigned to Company with malaria. who took part in the action, he was the Audie Murphy. docarditis and pneumonia. Her From an early age Murphy B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Missing out on the initial received the Presidential Unit He was one of the most deco- death hit Murphy really hard. had always wanted to be a sol- Regiment, 3rd Infantry Divi- beach landings at Anzio, he re- Citation. rated American combat soldiers dier. sion, which trained under the turned to his unit on 29 January. Murphy’s first Purple Heart of World War II and received After the Japanese attack on command of Major General He took part in the First Battle was for a heel wound received every military combat award Pearl Harbour on 7 December Lucian Truscott. of Cisterna and was made a pla- in a mortar shell blast on 15 for valour available from the 1941 he rushed off and tried He participated as a platoon toon sergeant in Company B. September 1944 in northeastern US Army. to enlist. He was turned down messenger with his division at He returned with the 3rd Divi- France. Yet who exactly was Audie by the Army, Navy and Marine Arzew in Algeria in rigorous sion to Anzio, where they re- His first Silver Star came af- Murphy, and how did go about Corps. training for the Allied assault mained for months. ter he killed four and wounded becoming such a legend. Murphy had two problems landings in Sicily. On 7 May Taking shelter from the three at a German machine gun that cause the armed forces to Early life he was promoted to private first weather in an abandoned farm- position on 2 October at L’Om- reject him. First of all, he was class to corporal on 15 July. house on 2 March, Murphy and et quarry in the Cleurie river Audie Leon Murphy was underweight, failing by some When the 3rd Infantry land- his platoon killed the crew of a valley. born on 20 June 1925 in King- margin to meet the minimum ed at Licata, Sicily, on 10 July, passing German tank. He then Three days later, Murphy ston, Texas. weight requirements. Murphy was a division runner. crawled out alone close enough crawled alone towards the Ger- He was the seventh of The biggest problem, On a scouting patrol, he killed to destroy the tank with rifle mans at L’Omet, carrying an twelve children and his however, was the fact two fleeing Italian officers near grenades, for which he received SCR-536 radio and directing parents were share-crop- the Murphy was under Canicattì. the Bronze Star with “V” de- his men for an hour while the pers of Irish descent. age. You had to be 18 Sidelined with illness for a vice (the ‘V’ stood for valour’. Germans fired directly at him. As a young boy, Mur- to enlist in the mili- week when Company B ar- Murphy continued to make When his men finally took the phy was a loner. He tary. Murphy was rived in Palermo on 20 July, he scouting patrols to take German hill, 15 Germans had been killed had an explosive tem- only 17. rejoined them when they were prisoners before being hospital- and 35 wounded. Murphy’s ac- per and was subject to This did not de- assigned to a hillside location ised for a week on 13 March tions earned him a Bronze Oak mood swings. ter Murphy. He protecting a machine-gun em- with a second bout of malaria. Leaf Cluster for his Silver Star. His father, Emmett put on a bit of placement, while the rest of the Sixty-one infantry officers He was awarded a battlefield Murphy, was a drifter weight, had his 3rd Infantry Division fought at and enlisted men of Compa- commission to second lieuten- and he would often dis- sister provide an San Fratello en route to the Al- ny B, 15th Infantry, including ant on 14 October, which el- appear for long periods of affidavit that falsi- lied capture of the transit port Murphy, were awarded the evated him to platoon leader. time. Eventually he desert- fied his date of birth of Messina. Combat Infantryman Badge on While en route to Brouvelieures ed the family and Murphy’s by a year, and then tried Murphy participated in the 8 May. He was also awarded a on 26 October, the 3rd Platoon mother, Josie, had to raise again six months later. 46 47 of Company B was attacked by Film career Korea. was buried with full military a German sniper group. Mur- Throughout an acting career At his request, he transferred honours at Arlington Nation- phy captured two before being spanning from 1948 to 1969, to inactive status on 1 October al Cemetery. In attendance shot in the hip by a sniper; he Murphy made more than 40 1951 because of his film com- were Ambassador to the U.N. returned fire and shot the sniper feature films and one television mitments with MGM Studios, George H.W. Bush, Army Chief between the eyes. series. and returned to active status in of Staff William Westmoreland, At the 3rd General Hospi- He starred as himself in the 1955. Murphy was promoted to and many of the 3rd Infantry tal at Aix-en-Provence, the re- 1955 film To Hell and Back the rank of major by the Texas Division. moval of gangrene from the which was based on the book Army National Guard in 1956 His grave is the cemetery’s wound caused partial loss of he wrote in 1949. and returned to inactive status second most-visited gravesite, his hip muscle and kept him out Most of his roles were in in 1957. after that of President John F. of combat until January. Mur- westerns and he made guest Kennedy. PTSD phy received his first Bronze ART IMITATING LIFE: A scene from the 1955 film To Hell and appearances on celebrity tele- Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Back. The film was based on the book of the same name and vision shows and starred in the Since his military service, Honours and Awards Heart for this injury. starred Audie Murphy as himself. series Whispering Smith. Murphy had been plagued with • Medal of Honour The Colmar Pocket, 82,200 On 11 November 2010, Mur- insomnia and bouts of depres- • Distinguished Service Cross km2 in the Vosges Mountains, ing through a ditch towards Postwar military service phy was given his own star on sion, and he slept with a loaded • Silver Star Medal x 2 had been held by German him. Murphy was offered a chance the famous Hollywood Walk of pistol under his pillow. • Legion of Merit troops since November 1944. For an hour, Murphy stood to attend West Point Military Fame. A post-service medical ex- • Bronze Star x 2 On 14 January 1945, Murphy on the flaming tank destroy- Academy, but he never enrolled. Murphy was a fan of country amination on 17 June 1947 re- • Purple Heart x 3 rejoined his platoon, which had er returning German fire from This was probably when he re- music, in particular Bob Wills vealed symptoms of headaches, • Army Good Conduct Medal been moved to the Colmar area foot soldiers and advancing alized the extent of academic and Chet Atkins, but was not a vomiting, and nightmares about • Distinguished Unit Citation in December. tanks, killing or wounding 50 preparation needed to pass the singer or musician himself. the war. His medical records x 2 He moved with the 3rd Divi- Germans. He sustained a leg entrance exam. Through his friend Guy indicated that he took sleeping • American Campaign Medal sion on 24 January to the town wound during his stand, and He was sent home for 30 days Mitchell, Murphy was intro- pills to help prevent nightmares. • European-African-Middle of Holtzwihr, where they faced stopped only after he ran out of of recuperation, with permis- duced to songwriter Scott Turn- In an effort to draw attention Eastern Campaign Medal a strong German counter-attack. ammunition. Murphy rejoined sion to travel anywhere within er in 1961. The two collaborat- to the problems of returning • World War II Victory Medal He was wounded in both legs, his men, disregarding his own the United States during that ed on numerous songs between Korean War and Vietnam War • Army of Occupation Medal for which he received a second injury, and led them back to re- period. While on leave, Murphy 1962 and 1970, the most suc- veterans, Murphy spoke out with Germany clasp Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for pel the Germans. He insisted on was showered with parades, cessful of which was “Shutters candidly about his own prob- • French Legion of Honour his Purple Heart. As the compa- remaining with his men while banquets, and speeches. He re- and Boards” and “When the lems with post-traumatic stress (grade of Chevalier) ny awaited reinforcements on his wounds were treated. ceived a belated Good Conduct Wind Blows in Chicago”. disorder. • French Croix de Guerre with 26 January, he was made com- For his actions that day, he Medal on 21 August. It was known during Mur- silver star mander of Company B. was awarded the Medal of Hon- He was discharged with the Texas Army National Guard phy’s lifetime as “battle fatigue” • French Croix de Guerre with The Germans scored a direct our. The 3rd Infantry Division rank of first lieutenant at a 50 At the end of World War II, and “shell shock”, terminology palm x 3 hit on an M10 tank destroy- was awarded the Presidential percent disability classification the 36th Infantry Division re- that dated back to World War • Belgian Croix de Guerre er, setting it alight, forcing the Unit Citation for its actions at on 21 September and trans- verted to state control as part I. He called on the government with palm crew to abandon it. Murphy or- the Colmar Pocket, giving Mur- ferred to the Officers’ Reserve of the Texas Army National to give increased consideration • French fourragère in col- dered his men to retreat to po- phy a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Corps. Guard. and study to the emotional im- ours of the Croix de Guerre sitions in the woods, remaining for the emblem. In 1949 he released a book After the 25 June 1950 com- pact of combat experiences, and • Combat Infantryman Badge alone at his post, shooting his On 16 February, Murphy was detailing his experiences. It mencement of the Korean War, to extend health care benefits to • Marksman Badge with Rifle M1 carbine and directing artil- promoted to first lieutenant and was titled To Hell and Back. Murphy began a second military war veterans. Component Bar lery fire via his field radio while was awarded the Legion of Although only Murphy’s name career and was commissioned • Expert Badge with Bayonet the Germans aimed fire directly Merit for his service from 22 appears on the book cover, it as a captain in the 36th Infan- Death Component Bar at his position. January 1944 to 18 February was in fact a collaboration with try Division of the Texas Army On 28 May 1971, Murphy • Outstanding Civilian Ser- Murphy mounted the aban- 1945. He was moved from the writer David “Spec” McClure. National Guard. Although he was killed when the private vice Medal doned, burning tank destroyer front lines to Regimental Head- The book was later translated wanted to join the fighting and plane in which he was a passen- • Texas Legislative Medal of and began firing its .50 calibre quarters and made a liaison of- into Dutch, Italian, French, and juggled training activities with ger crashed into Brush Moun- Honour. machine gun at the advancing ficer. Slovene. his film career, the 36th Infan- tain, near Catawba, Virginia. Germans, killing a squad crawl- try Division was never sent to On 7 June 1971, Murphy 48 49 Forged in that it was over-engineered, Schachtellaufwerk-pattern road design in January 1937 when using expensive materials and wheels, often jamming them the Waffenamt (German Army battle labour-intensive production solid. This was a problem on Weapons Agency) requested methods. the Eastern Front in the muddy Henschel to develop a Durch- The Tiger was prone to cer- rasputitsa season and during bruchwagen (“breakthrough Tiger I tain types of track failures and periods of extreme cold. vehicle”) in the 30–33 tonne breakdowns, and was limited in Some 1,347 were built be- range. Only one prototype hull range by its high fuel consump- tween August 1942 and Au- was ever built and it was never Tiger! The very name was enough to invoke fear. Regarded as one of the best tanks during World tion. gust 1944. After August 1944, fitted with a turret. War II, the Tiger tank was forged in battle. It was expensive to production of the Tiger I was Combat experience against maintain, but generally phased out in favour of the Ti- the French SOMUA S35 cav- esignated the Panzer- Porsche, and the Roman nu- Sd.Kfz. 182. The tank was lat- mechanically reliable. ger II. alry tank and Char B1 heavy kampfwagen VI Ti- meral was added after the later er re-designated as PzKpfw VI It was difficult to trans- tank, and the British Matilda II Dger Ausf, it was often Tiger II entered production. The Ausf. E in March 1943, with port, and vulnerable to Early history infantry tanks during the Battle shortened to just ‘Tiger’. initial designation was Panzer- ordnance inventory designation immobilisation when Henschel & Sohn began the of France in June 1940 showed It was the first German - ar kampfwagen VI Ausführung H Sd.Kfz. 181. mud, ice, and snow froze development of a large tank that the German Army need- moured vehicle that mounted (‘‘Panzer VI version H’’, ab- While the Tiger I was an out- between its overlapping ed better armed and armoured the 8.8 cm KwK 36 gun (not breviated PzKpfw VI Ausf. H) standing design for its time and and interleaved tanks. to be confused with the 8.8 cm where ‘H’ denoted Henschel as devastating on the battle field, it Flak 36). the designer/manufacturer. was not without its faults. The tank was given its nick- It was classified with ord- One of the problems was name “Tiger” by Ferdinand nance inventory designation

50 51 On 26 May 1941, Henschel line-electric hybrid power unit because they had suffered a and Ferdinand Porsche were which needed large quantities Specifications mechanical breakdown, or had asked to submit designs for of copper for manufacture of become stuck in the mud or a a 45-tonne heavy tank, to be its electrical drivetrain compo- • Designer - Erwin Aders, swamp and couldn’t be recov- ready by June 1942. nents, a strategic war material Henschel & Son ered. Porsche worked on an updat- of which Germany had limited • Designed - 1938–41 A total of 868 Tigers were ed version of their VK 30.01 supplies with acceptable elec- • Manufacturer - Henschel lost due to reasons other than (P) Leopard tank prototype trical properties for such uses. • Weight - 54 tonnes. 57 combat. while Henschel worked on an Production of the Panzerkamp- tonnes (Ausf. E) The Tiger I had an advantage improved VK 36.01 (H) tank. fwagen VI Ausf. H began in Au- • Length - 6.316 m. 8.45 m over most British, American Henschel built two prototypes: gust 1942. gun forward and Russian tanks in that was a VK 45.01 (H) H1 with an Expecting an order for his • Width - 3.56 m effective at a greater range than 8.8 cm L/56 cannon, and a VK tank, Porsche built 100 chassis. • Height - 3.0 m they were. 45.01 (H) H2 with a 7.5 cm After the contract was awarded • Crew - 5 (commander, The other major advantag- L/70 cannon. to Henschel, they were used for gunner, loader, driver, as- PANZER MARCH: German Tiger I’s roll across the Russian es they held over the Russians steppes. a new turretless, casemate-style sistant driver) was that they had a crew of five, • Armour - 25-120 mm Design tank destroyer; 91 hulls were fully available; the PzGr 40 Early versions of the Tiger I’s while the Russians used a crew • Main armament - 1 x 8.8 On 22 June 1941, Germany converted into the Panzerjäger shell used tungsten, which was turret included two pistol ports of four. In Russian tanks the cm KwK 36 L/56. 92 AP launched Operation Barbaros- Tiger (P) in early 1943. in short supply as the war pro- however one these was replaced crew commander also acted as and HE rounds sa, the invasion of the Sovi- The Tiger I had frontal hull gressed. with a loader escape hatch and the gunner. • Secondary armament - 2× et Union. The Germans were armour 100 mm thick, frontal • PzGr. 39 (armour-piercing, the other deleted from later de- The Germans had a separate x 7.92 mm MG 34. 4,500 shocked to encounter Soviet turret armour of 100 mm and a capped, ballistic cap) signs. crew commander and he was rounds. 4,800 rounds T-34 medium and KV-1 heavy 120 mm thick gun mantlet. • PzGr. 40 (armour-piercing, able to search for targets with- (Ausf. E) tanks, and, according to Hen- The Tiger had 60 mm thick composite rigid) Combat out also having to concentrate • Engine - Maybach HL230 schel designer Erwin Aders: hull side plates and 80 mm ar- • Hl. Gr. 39 (high explosive German doctrine placed great on firing the main gun. P45 V-12 690 hp, 515 kW) “There was great consternation mour on the side superstruc- anti-tank) emphasis upon the heavy tanks All the German tanks also • Power/weight - 9.5 kW / when it was discovered that the ture/sponsons, while turret • sch. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (in- destruction of enemy tanks in had radios, so they were able tonne Soviet tanks were superior to sides and rear were 80 mm. The cendiary shrapnel). both the defence and the of- to communicate with each con- • Suspension - Torsion bar anything available to the Heer top and bottom armour was 25 The internal layout was typ- fence. stantly. Only the lead Russian • Ground clearance - 0.47 m (Army).” mm thick; from March 1944, ical of German tanks. Forward The Germans based their fig- tanks had radios and they com- • Operational range - Road: An immediate weight in- the turret roof was thickened to was an open crew compartment, ures on the number of enemy municated with the other tanks 195 km. Cross country: crease to 45 tonnes and an in- 40 mm. with the driver and radio-opera- tanks killed against the number using a system of flags. 110 km crease in gun calibre to 8.8 cm Armour plates were mostly tor seated at the front on either of German Tiger tanks lost. This meant that the crew • Speed - Maximum, was ordered. The due date for flat, with interlocking construc- side of the gearbox. If you use this method to de- commander had to stand up in road: 45.4 km/h. Sus- the new prototypes was set for tion. The armour joints were of Behind them the turret floor termine the effectiveness of the the cupola to do this, not an ide- tained, road: 40 km/h. 20 April 1942, Adolf Hitler’s high quality, being stepped and was surrounded by panels Tiger tank, then they did very al situation in the heat of battle. Cross country: 20–25 53rd birthday. Unlike the Pan- welded rather than riveted and forming a continuous level sur- well in combat. For all of it’s faults, the Tiger km/h ther tank, the designs did not were made of maraging steel. face. This helped the loader to A total of 713 Tiger tanks were was still regarded as one of the incorporate sloped armour, an The 56-calibre long 8.8 cm rior penetration to the 7.5 cm retrieve the ammunition, which lost in combat. This number in- best tanks of World War II. It innovation taken from the T-34. KwK 36 was chosen for the KwK 40 on the Sturmgeschütz was mostly stowed above the cludes the Tiger I, Tiger II and was a weapon that was forged Porsche and Henschel sub- Tiger. A combination of a flat III and Panzer IV but inferior to tracks. Three men were seat- the King Tiger. In contrast Ti- in battle. mitted prototype designs, each trajectory from the high muz- the 7.5 cm KwK 42 on the Pan- ed in the turret; the loader to ger’s killed 8,600 enemy tanks. Today, only seven Tiger I making use of the Krupp-de- zle velocity and precision from ther tank under ranges of 2,500 the right of the gun facing to That is a ratio of 11.52 enemy tanks survive in museums and signed turret. They were Leitz Turmzielfernrohr TZF 9b metres. At greater ranges, the the rear, the gunner to the left tanks destroyed for every Tiger private collections worldwide. demonstrated at Rastenburg in sight (later replaced by the mo- 8.8 cm KwK 36 was superior in of the gun, and the command- lost. Tiger 131 at the UK’s Tank front of Hitler. nocular TZF 9c) made it very penetration and accuracy. er behind him. There was also a Yet this doesn’t taken into ac- Museum, which was captured The Henschel design was accurate. The ammunition for the Ti- folding seat on the right for the count the number of Tiger tanks during the North Africa Cam- accepted, mainly because the Compared with the other con- ger had electrically fired prim- loader. that were lost due to other rea- paign, is currently the only one Porsche VK 4501 (P) prototype temporary German tank guns, ers. Four types of ammunition The turret had a full circular sons. restored to running order. design used a troubled gaso- the 8.8 cm KwK 36 had supe- were available but not all were floor and 157 cm headroom. Tigers would be abandoned 52 53 32. Shock absorber 40. MG Ammo pouch PzKpfw VI Tiger (SdKfz 181) Ausf E 33. Torsion bar suspension 41. Zimmerit anti mine protection, 34. Overlapping bogie wheels 200 kg over whole tank 1. 88 mm L/56 gun 20. 88 mm bins 35. Commanders cupola 2. 7.92 mm MG34 21. Hydraulic traverse foot pedal 36. Fan drive clutch lever 3. 7.92 mm MG34 22. Hydraulic traverse control 37. Air intake valve control 4. MG34 Ammo pouch 23. Disc brake drum 38. Petrol primer 5. Smoke dischargers 24. Steering unit 39. Petrol tap 6. Escape hatch 25. Steering wheel 7. Commanders seat 26. Gearbox 8. Traverse handwheel 27. Drivers seat 9. Pistol port 28. Handbrake 10. Traverse gearbox 29. Accelerator 11. Commanders shield 30. Foot brake 12. Gunners traverse handwheel 31. Clutch 35 13. Gunners elevating handwheel 14. Gunners seat 15. MG Firing pedal 16. Binocular telescope 17. Air cleaning system 5 6 18. Maybach engine 4 19. Fug 5 radio 2 7 17 9 16 11 8 10 12 1 41 18 38 4 14 36 40 13 37 19 20 39 3 20 4 22 15 21 23 24 25 27 26 32 28 33

30 31 29 34

54 55 The mission - rescue five British soldiers and their local satellite telephone to contact liaison officer from a vicious militia group in a war-torn the British Broadcasting Corpo- African country. Those taking part in the hostage rescue ration (BBC) for a lengthy in- battlefield nicknamed the mission ‘Operation Certain Death’. terview in which they outlined a series of demands, including a re-negotiation of the Lomé Peace Accord and the release of ituated close to the equator and covering Capture prisoners held by the Sierra Le- an area of 71,740 square kilometres, Si- On 25 August 2000, a patrol one authorities. erra Leonne is a former British colony in S led by Major Allan Marshall The BBC had prior warning West Africa. consisting of 11 men from the 1 from the Foreign Office that By 2000 the country had been consumed by R IRISH & an official from the the interview would take place. a vicious civil war that had begun nine years Sierra Leone Army acting as in- “Colonel Cambodia” quick- earlier in 1991. O terpreter, Lieutenant Musa Ban- ly depleted the batteries in the The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was gura, left their base in Waterloo telephone, but his call to the a rebel army opposed to the government. They WILD BOYS: Local militia group the Wild Boys were a law unto p to visit Jordanian peacekeepers BBC enabled specialists from were aided by a number of militia groups. One themselves and unpredictable at best. attached to the United Nations the Royal Corps of Signals to such group was the Wild Boys. Mission in Sierra Leone (UN- allowed British forces to ne- the layout of the village and the determine the exact position of e While they starting off fighting for the RUF, AMSIL) and based at Masiaka. gotiate for the soldiers’ release building in which the soldiers the telephone. r the Wild Boys soon changed allegiance and Over lunch, they were in- themselves, as his government were being held. fought on the side of the government against formed that the West Side Boys lacked the requisite expertise. Two days later, on 31 August, The situation deteriorates the RUF. They were involved in at least one op- had begun to disarm, despite The negotiations were led five of the eleven hostages were The West Side Boys were a eration directed by British officers in exchange their initial reluctance, and by Lieutenant Colonel Simon released in exchange for a satel- both unstable and unpredicta- for weapons and medical supplies. Marshall decided to take the pa- Fordham, commanding officer lite telephone and medical sup- ble. They were more often than The Wild Boys, however, refused to integrate t trol to investigate en route back of 1 R IRISH, who was assisted plies. not high on cannabis, cocaine into the reconstituted Sierra Leone Army and to their base. by a small team which includ- The OC of the captured sol- and the potent local moonshine began operating as bandits from the abandoned i The patrol turned off the main ed hostage negotiators from the diers had originally decided to known as palm wine. villages of Magbeni and Gberi Bana, on oppo- road onto a dirt track that led to Metropolitan Police. release the youngest first, but The gang’s drug habits also site sides of Rokel Creek. o the village of Magbeni, where The West Side Boys would this was changed to the married posed a problem for the British British forces were deployed to Sierra Le- the West Side Boys were based. not allow negotiators any clos- men last minute. However, out negotiators as the cannabis and one in May 2000, initially for a non-combat- As they approached the base, er to the village of Magbeni of the married men the West palm wine often caused them n ant evacuation operation under the codename they were surrounded by a than the end of the track from Side Boys wanted two of them to forget discussions and agree- Operation Palliser, in which they were tasked large group of West Side Boys, the main road, so Fordham met to remain due to their signals ments they had made just the with evacuating foreign nationals - particularly who used an anti-aircraft gun there with the self-styled “Brig- experience. previous day. The cocaine made those from the United Kingdom, other Com- mounted on a Bedford truck to adier”Foday Kallay, the gang’s The released soldiers includ- them distrustful and paranoid. B monwealth countries, and others for whom the block the patrol’s route. Mar- leader, to negotiate for the sol- ed the Sergeant Major, two The drugs and alcohol also British government had accepted consular re- shall dismounted his vehicle, diers’ release. corporals and two rangers. The had the effect of making their sponsibility. a then resisted an attempt to grab On 29 August, Fordham de- West Side Boys told the British behaviour erratic. Kallay con- As part of the mission, British forces secured his rifle and was beaten. manded proof that the captive negotiators that the remaining ducted a mock execution in Sierra Leone’s main airport, Lungi. Having se- r He and the rest of the patrol soldiers were still alive, and captured soldiers would not which he threatened to shoot cured Freetown and Lungi, and evacuated the were then forced into canoes Kallay brought with him to be released until the gang’s re- the soldiers unless they told him foreign nationals who wished to leave, the in- at the bank of Rokel Creak and that day’s meeting the two of- maining demands were met. why they had entered the West r itial forces left and were replaced by a “Short transported to Gberi Bana, a vil- ficers from the group—Mar- The released soldiers were Side Boys’ territory. Lieutenant Term Training Team” (STTT), whose mission lage on the other side of the riv- shall, the company commander, flown for debriefing to RFA Sir Bangura was treated far worse a was to train and rebuild the Sierra Leone Army. er, just upstream from the point and Captain Flaherty, the regi- Percivale, of the Royal Fleet than the Irish soldiers, often re- The STTT was initially formed from a detach- of the initial confrontation. mental signals officer. During Auxiliary, off the coast. ceiving beatings. s ment from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian British forces in Sierra Leone the meeting, Flaherty shook After the release of the sol- The demands of the West Regiment, who were replaced in July 2000 by were operating on the authority hands with Fordham and cov- diers, the West Side Boys’ Side Boys was becoming more 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (1 R of the Sierra Leone government, ertly passed him a sketch map spokesman, the self-styled demanding with each pass- IRISH). but President Ahmad Kabbah of Gberi Bana which detailed “Colonel Cambodia”, used the ing day. The wanted immunity 56 57 from prosecution, safe passage the required strength, including 10 September. The two villages nition store was found and se- to the UK to take up university a signals group, snipers, heavy were to be assaulted simultane- cured and, once the rest of the courses, and guaranteed accept- machine gun sections, and a ously - Gberi Bana, where the buildings had been cleared, the ance to the re-formed Sierra Le- mortar section. Royal Irish were held, by the paras took up defensive po- one Army. By 5 September, the British SAS and Magbeni by the pa- sitions to block any potential media was openly speculating ras. In addition to the remaining counter-attack and patrols went Military planning on the possibility that an oper- Royal Irish soldiers, the SAS into the immediate jungle in One of the negotiating team, ation would be launched to free were also tasked with extracting search of any West Side Boys posing as a Royal Irish major, the remaining soldiers, having Lieutenant Musa Bangura and a hiding in the bushes. The vil- was in fact a member of the picked up on 1 Para’s height- group of Sierra Leonean civil- lage was completely secure by Special Air Service (SAS). His ened readiness. ians who were being held by the 08h00. job was to provide reconnais- The following day, the media West Side Boys. sance and gather intelligence in was reporting that British forc- The task force left Hastings Conclussion case an assault was required. es had arrived in Sierra Leone - approximately 15 minutes’ DON’T MOVE: SAS troopers keep a suspected Wild Boy under After medical checks, the As planning for a potential “as a contingency”. The British flying time from the West Side close guard after the assault. Royal Irish soldiers, who had military operation to release special forces kept a low profile, Boys’ camp - at approximately been held for 17 days, were al- the captive soldiers progressed, as was traditional, and the me- 06h15. Chinooks and destroy the heavy West Side Boys as a toilet, and lowed to telephone their fam- it became clear that, given the dia interest surrounding 1 Para Downstream from the villag- weapons that had been identified had been starved and beaten ilies and then rejoined their number of West Side Boys and allowed D Squadron, 22 SAS to es—approximately 15 minutes’ by the SAS observation teams. during his captivity, and thus battalion in Freetown. The pa- their separation between two enter Sierra Leone unnoticed. flying time, just out of the West After the first sweep by the at- had to be carried to the helicop- ras were flown to RFA Argus, locations (Gberi Bana as well A pair of SAS observation Side Boys’ visual and hearing tack helicopters, two Chinooks ter. Less than 20 minutes after where they spent the night be- as the village of Magbeni; see teams (one on each side of Rokel range, the helicopters went into carried the SAS to Gberi Bana. the arrival of the SAS, the re- fore being flown back to the below), the operation could not Creek) were inserted near the a holding pattern to allow the The troopers fast-roped into the maining members of the Royal United Kingdom the next day. be conducted by special forces villages by assault boats manned SAS observation teams time to village and immediately came Irish patrol, including Bangura, D Squadron, 22 SAS also left alone. by the Special Boat Service get into position to prevent the under fire from the West Side had been evacuated from the Sierra Leone the day after the The headquarters of 1st Bat- (SBS). They began monitoring West Side Boys from attacking Boys. area. operation, along with Director talion The Parachute Regiment the West Side Boys’ movements any of the captives before the Early on in the confrontation, The third Chinook carried Special Forces and his head- (1 Para) was ordered to as- and gathering intelligence, such extraction teams were on the the British operation sustained half of the enhanced A Compa- quarters staff. semble an enhanced company as details of weapons, as well as ground. its first casualty. Trooper Brad- ny group from 1 Para to Mag- Operation Barras achieved its group, which would support identifying viable landing sites Once the observation teams ley Tinnion was shot and seri- beni. The helicopter hovered mission of freeing all the hos- special forces if such an oper- for helicopters. were in position, the helicopters ously injured. He was dragged low above the landing zone that tages. Operation Barras also ation was launched. The bat- proceeded up the line of Rokel back to the helicopter and flown had been identified by the sec- freed 22 Sierra Leonean civil- talion’s commanding officer The assault Creek, the Chinooks flying low to the medical team aboard the ond SAS observation team and ians who had been held captive selected A Company, led by On 9 September the SAS enough that the downdraft tore RFA Sir Percivale, dying de- the paras jumped from the rear by the West Side Boys. Major Matthew Lowe, which teams near the West Side Boys’ off the corrugated iron roofs of spite intensive resuscitation at- ramp. The British suffered one sol- had been on exercise in Jamaica base reported that they had seen several huts in the villages, in- tempts on board. The returning Chinook, car- dier killed and 12 wounded. At at the time of the initial British no sign of the captive soldiers cluding the roof of the building The SAS proceeded to clear rying the remainder of the A least 25 Wild Boys were killed deployment to Sierra Leone. during the four days they had in which the Royal Irish were the village, engaging those Company group came under and 18 were captured. Several members of A Com- been in position. There were being held. West Side Boys who offered fire from a heavy machine gun Two Conspicuous Gallantry pany were new recruits who also concerns that the West Side As the helicopters approached, resistance and capturing those in Magbeni, which was prompt- Crosses, five Military Crosses, had only completed basic train- Boys might move further in- the SAS observation team at who surrendered, including Fo- ly strafed by one of the 657 and five Distinguished Flying ing two weeks prior. Lowe land, and either kill the soldiers Gberi Bana engaged West Side day Kallay. Squadron Lynx helicopters un- Crosses were awarded. Brig- decided that replacing them or move them to a location from Boys in the vicinity of the cap- The SAS located the captive til it ceased firing. adier John Holmes (Director with more experienced sol- which it would be more diffi- tives to prevent any gang mem- British soldiers from the latter’s As the company group moved Special Forces) was awarded diers would risk undermining cult for British forces to extract bers from attempting to kill them shouts of “British Army, Brit- forward, an explosion - possibly the Distinguished Service Or- the cohesion and morale of the them. The combination of these before the area was secured. ish Army!”, though Bangura a mortar fired by the British fire der for his part in the opera- company, but several specialist factors led to the assault being Upon their arrival, the two had been held separately and support group - injured seven tion. Trooper Tinnion received units from elsewhere in 1 Para given the green light. Lynx attack helicopters strafed proved more difficult to locate. men, including company com- a posthumous Mention in Des- were attached to A Company to The operation was to com- the villages to make the landing He was found in a squalid open mander Major Matthew Lowe. patches. bring the company group up to mence at first light the next day, zones as safe as possible for the pit, which had been used by the The West Side Boys’ ammu- 58 59 Gaming

Armed with his water-wings, a bucket and spade, Private Matt O’Brien hits the beaches at Normandy and finds it’s not exactly a holiday.

hen it comes to strat- you with tips and tricks. One of The final campaign is Op- egy gaming there are these websites is the Steel Divi- eration Epsom. Here you get Wsome war-games that sion Wiki. to take on the roll of the Brit- are historically accurate and ish 15th Infantry Division. The some that are fun to play. It is Basics four missions are: It’s a long not often that you will find a Steel Division Normandy 44 way, Battle for the Odon, The game that does both. can be played either as single Scottish Corridor, and Over the With Steel Division Norman- player or multi-player. hill and far away. This is a very dy 44, game developer Eugen Spend some time in single hard difficulty campaign (im- Systems seems to have got this player mode before you think of possible difficulty would be a Infantry divisions rely heavily Units ing frontline that not only pro- right. tackling human players. In sin- better word). on cheap and numerous infan- There are eight different unit vides a helpful guideline for First of all, it’s a great looking gle player you can choose from I must have played this last try, infantry tanks & artillery. types - Recon, tank, infantry, tracking enemy movements (in game. The maps are detailed campaign, mission or skirmish campaign more than thirty Less mobile than more mech- support, anti-tank, anti-air, ar- general, if it bulges out, some- and accurate, as are the units games. times before I finally managed anised ones, they can slowly tillery, and air. Each has advan- one is up to no good and you used in the game. A lot of atten- There are three campaigns to to succeed. It did feel good to grind an enemy to death. tages and disadvantages and might want to take care of it). tion has been paid to detail. choose from. Two for the Allies eventually get it right. Airborne divisions are very select the right mix of units is Certain types of units do not af- The controls are fairly easy to and one for the Germans. The There are eight historical sce- lightly equipped, relying most- vital. fect the frontline, so keep that get to grips with. Anyone that Allies consist of British, Cana- narios that can be played against ly on elite infantry and the abil- in mind. has played a real-time strategy dian, French, Polish and Amer- AI (Artificial Intelligence) or ity of its first-wave troops to Game play game should almost immedi- ican units. other players. operate behind enemy lines. Steel Division includes three ately feel at home with its inter- Each campaign consists of Skirmish mode is the best Although they lack armoured distinct phases for every battle: face. four separate missions, each method of learning the game, punch, paratroopers are ver- Phase (A) involves light units While it’s easy to learn how of which must be completed to and it will provide hours of satile units able to face almost looking for the enemy & secur- to play the game, there s a sig- move on to the next one. gaming. You choose the map every enemy opponent, and ing key positions. nificant learning curve in terms The first campaign is Mission (there are 17 of them), choose they may count on full air sup- Phase (B) unlocks medium of how to play Steel Division Boston where you get to take whether you want to be the Al- port. Airborne units (with wings units to engage the enemy and well, but it’s attractive and en- on the role of the American 82 lies or the Germans, select your by their name) do not receive try to push the frontline. joyable enough to get started Airborne Division. The four division type, and off you go. penalties for being surrounded. Phase (C) unlocks all the with that it’s hard not to want to missions are: Hedgerow Hell, Mechanised divisions are heaviest units for a full scale play more. Blood on the Rivers, Burning Division types ‘reinforced’ infantry divisions, battle. There are a number of tutori- Bridges, and Iron Fist. This is Divisions are the basic level with armoured transport, as- In each phase you get a lim- als that will teach you the ba- a medium difficulty campaign. of organization in Steel Divi- sault-guns and/or self-propelled ited amount of units to deploy, sics of the game. I suggest that In the second campaign, At- sion. Each division can be one artillery & anti-tank guns. based on the battlegroup you’ve you play through these. lantikwall, you play the role of four types, with their own Armoured divisions usually created. When starting out, us- What I do suggest is that you of the German 21st Panzer Di- units to choose from, advan- rely on tanks, some heavy in- ing the auto-fill battlegroup op- Publisher - Paradox Interactive go onto YouTube and check vision. The four missions are: tages, and disadvantages. Each fantry in armoured transport tion, it is a good way to get a out some of the great videos on Sie kommen! Pegasus Bridge division also has its own limit and self-propelled howitzer & feel for the division you select- Genre - RTS how to play the game. (Atlantikwall), Panzer Vor! and of activation points and number anti-tank guns. They are the ed. Score - 7.5/10 You can also check out a num- The Lion’s Den. This is a hard of slots to fill in while creating most mobile divisions. Finally, maps feature a shift- Price - R139 (on Steam) ber of websites that will provide difficulty campaign. your battlegroups. 60 61 Book Review Movie The Blue Max Review Released: 1966 Running time: 156 minutes Directed by: John Guillermin Pilgrim Days

ilgrim Days - From journeyed ‘the Golden Road Vietnam to the SAS by to Samarkand’. This extraor- et in the skies of Europe On his first mission, Stachel, carrying on a discreet affair with Alastair MacKenzie is a dinary new work from the during World War I, The in a Pfalz D.III, shoots down a her husband’s nephew. P really good read. author of Special Force: The Blue Max is a British war British S.E.5, but does not re- Soon afterwards, Stachel is S If there was ever anyone Untold Story of 22nd Special film released in 1966 and direct- ceive credit for his kill because shot down after rescuing a red who went a little further, a Air Service Regiment (SAS) ed by John Guillermin. there were no witnesses. Stachel Fokker Dr.I triplane fighter plane little beyond, it was Alastair vividly documents, in a detail In contrast to films that ro- searches the countryside for the from two British fighters. When MacKenzie. that stuns, the experience of manticise the Flying Aces of the wreckage, giving the impression he returns to the airfield, he is In a career spanning 30 infantry combat in Vietnam, Great War, the protagonist of that he cares more about him- stunned when he is introduced to years, MacKenzie served life with the Paras, the tempo The Blue Max is depicted as a self than the combat death of a the man he saved: Manfred von uniquely with the New Zea- of selection for UK Special man who appears to have no re- comrade in arms. In his defence, Richthofen (Carl Schell) – the land Army in Vietnam, the Forces, covert SAS operations gard for anyone but himself. Set he points out to his fellow pilots Red Baron. Richthofen offers British Parachute Regiment, in South Armagh and SAS against the realities of modern that in his time in the trenches Stachel a place in his squadron, the British Special Air Service Counter Terrorist training on warfare, the film also explores there were so many dead, no one which Stachel declines, explain- (SAS), the South African De- the UK mainland, vehicle- the decline of chivalry and the had time to grieve over a single ing his desire to “prove himself” fence Force’s famed ParaBats, mounted Pathfinder Brigade advent of total war. person. with his current squadron. the Sultan of Oman’s Special insertions into Angola and German Corporal Bruno Soon afterwards, he attacks Will Stachel eventually win Paperback - 224 pages Forces and a host of private maritime counter-terrorism Stachel (George Peppard) is of an Allied two-man observation his Blue Max. And what will it Cost - R550 security agencies and defence work in Oman. middle class origins. He leaves aircraft, incapacitating the rear cost him? You’ll have to watch contractors. the trenches to join the German gunner. Instead of downing the the movie to find out. MacKenzie lived the sol- Army Air Service. defenceless aircraft, he signals dier’s life to the full as he In the spring of 1918 he be- the pilot to fly to the German comes a pilot, is promoted to base. As they near the airfield, lieutenant, and is sent to join a the wounded rear gunner revives squadron. and reaches for his machine-gun, Stachel has one burning ambi- unseen by the admiring ob- tion - to win the Pour le Mérite servers on the ground. Stachel (The Blue Max), Germany’s is forced to shoot the aircraft highest award for valour. To down. Afterwards, a disgusted achieve this he must shoot down Heidemann believes Stachel has 20 enemy aircraft. Stachel does committed a war crime just to not care what he has to do to win gain a confirmed kill. the medal. The incident brings Stachel to At the squadron he is taken the attention of General Count under the wing of Lieutenant von Klugermann (James Ma- Willi von Klugermann (Jere- son), Willi’s uncle. When the my Kemp). Their commander, General comes to the base to Hauptmann Otto Heidemann award his nephew the Blue Max, (Karl Michael Vogler), is an he meets Stachel. As Stachel is aristocratic officer whose be- a commoner, the General sees Weekend Warriors Gunship over Angola Border War Badges lief in chivalry and the laws and great propaganda potential in R350 R260 R400 customs of war conflict with him. Meanwhile, Kaeti (Ursula Click on the poster to watch a Stachel’s disregard for them. Andress), the general’s wife, is trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 62 63 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July • 1983 - Rifleman Johannes battle last well into the night • 1979 - Rifleman Daniel Ger- This month in military history Albertus Wessels from Reg- with Rommel’s limited forc- hardus van Brakel from 61 Some of the significant military events that happened in July. Highlighted in blue are the names of iment Christiaan Beyers es holding off the British Mechanised Battalion died those members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) that lost their lives during the month of died from a gunshot wound through the use of 88 mm from a gunshot wound sus- July. accidentally sustained while Flak Guns used as anti-tank tained at stand-to as a result he was stationed at Vhembe artillery. of an accidental discharge 1 July • 1942 - World War II: North ing South Africa, sign the Base. He was 18. • 1943 - Lt Charles Hall, 99th at of a fellow soldiers rifle • 1863 - Beginning of the Bat- Africa. Hampered by sand- Nuclear Non-proliferation • 1986 - Rifleman Gavin Ba- Pursuit Sqn, becomes the while at Omathiya. He was tle of Gettysburg during the storms, General Erwin Rom- Treaty, to curb the spread of zil Glinski from 7 SAI was first black USAAF pilot to 19. American Civil War. mel’s Panzerarmee Afrika nuclear weapons. killed when his Buffel Troop shoot down a Nazi plane, a • 1982 - Special Sergeant • 1911 - A German gunboat, overrun an infantry brigade • 1968 - Two members from Carrier overturned at Acko- Focke-Wulf 190 over Pan- Hilalius Thomas from the Panther, reaches Agadir, at Dier el Shein as his troops Central Flying School Dun- rnhoek. He was 18. telleria. South West Africa Police Morocco, claiming that the move towards El Alamein. nottar were killed when their • 1989 - Lieutenant Nikolaos • 1944 - Marshal von Kluge Counter Insurgency Wing: French has ignored the terms • 1942 - The Germans cap- AT-6 Harvard crashed short- Sataras from Group 13 was replaces von Rundstedt in Ops K Division (Koevoet) of the 1906 Algeciras Con- ture Sevastopol after a long ly after take-off after strik- Killed in a private motor ve- command in France. was Killed in Action during ference. Thereby Germa- siege. ing High Tension Cables hicle accident at Gravelotte • 1966 - First French nuclear a contact with PLAN insur- ny precipitates the second • 1943 - The “Women’s Army near Dunnottar. They were: near Tzaneen while on offi- explosion, Mururoa atoll. gents in Northern Owam- Moroccan crisis, deepening Auxiliary Corps” is renamed Captain Ernest Lodewicus cial duty. He was 19. • 1976 - Gunner Cornelius boland. He was 32. divisions, which would ulti- the “Women’s Army Corps”. Groenewald (27). 2nd Lieu- Johannes Holtzhauzen from • 1987 - Rifleman Augistinus mately lead to the outbreak • Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, tenant Anton Fick Bosch 2 July 14 Field Regiment was Mbambo from 202 Battal- of World War I in 1914. Victor of Pearl Harbour, (21). • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer killed in a Military Vehicle ion SWATF was Killed in • 1912 - The South African Loser of Midway, commits • 1982 - 2nd Lieutenant Camp- War: the British forces occu- Accident, at Potchefstroom. Action during a contact with Department of Defence be- suicide on Saipan at the age bell Uys from 32 Battalion py Utrecht after the defend- He was 18. PLAN Insurgents in South- comes a separate state de- of 57. died from a gunshot wound ing burgers had to retire the • 1979 - Gunner Rolf Edu- ern Angola. He was 19. partment under Law no 13 • 1946 - US atomic bomb test accidentally sustained while previous day. ard Ortmann from 10 Light • 1988 - Corporal Anton Prin- of 1912. at Bikini Atoll, the forth nu- he was at Buffalo Base. He • 1901 - Second Anglo-Bo- Anti-Aircraft Regiment was sloo from 203 Battalion • 1913 - The 12th Infantry clear explosion. was 19. er War: Six unarmed Boer killed when the military SWATF was killed in action (Pretoria Regiment) later • 1948 - The Berlin airlift, • 1983 - Sapper Andries Petrus prisoners (later called the ambulance he was driving East of Cuito Cuanavale in known as the Princess Al- in which South Africa also Burger from 1 Construction Geyser group) are murdered at high speed, overturned South Eastern Angola. He ice’s Own Pretoria Reg- takes part, starts. It lasted Regiment was killed when by members of the Bushveld and caught fire in Wynberg, was 21. iment, but since 31 May until 12 May 1949. he was accidentally run over Carabineers who operated Cape town. He was 20. • 1988 - A car bomb explodes 1961 again known as Pre- • 1950 - First US ground by a construction vehicle. as a special British unit in toria Regiment, is formed troops arrive in Korea. He was 19. the Spelonken area, not far from the Northern Mounted • 1955 - The basic agreement • 1983 - Two members from from Louis Trichardt. Rifles, part of the Central about the transfer of Simon- 32 Battalion were Killed in • 1926 - Congress authoriz- South African Railways vol- stown naval base to the Un- Action during a contact with es the Distinguished Flying unteers. ion of South Africa by the enemy forces during Ops Cross. • 1913 - Second Balkan War: United Kingdom is conclud- Dolfyn in Southern Angola. • 1942 - World War II: North Serbia & Greece declare ed. The formal transfer took They were: Sergeant Gerrit Africa. British Command- war on Bulgaria. place at a historic ceremony Hendrik Du Rand (21). Ri- er-in-Chief (Middle East) • 1916 - Battle of the Somme on 2 April 1957. fleman Edwin Kasera (23). Claude Auchinleck, acting begins. • 1961 - British troops land in • 1983 - Corporal Andries on information obtained by Claude Auchinleck • 1918 - The US 4th Marine Kuwait to prevent an Iraqi Petrus Malan from 701 Bat- Ultra, sends troops south Brigade secures Belleau invasion. talion SWATF was killed to outflank General Erwin Wood. • 1968 - Britain, Soviet Union, when his Buffel Troop carri- Rommel’s Panzerarmee Af- • 1940 - German troops occu- United States and fifty-eight er overturned in the Opera- rika but hits them head-on py the Channel Islands. non-nuclear nations, includ- tional Area. He was 19. instead. The ensuing tank 64 65 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July

at the Ellis Park Rugby Sta- Executive. 290 passengers aboard. A borders of Abyssinia (now Carnation. He was 20. Joseph Kabila and Ugandan dium. Two spectators are • 1976 - 103 hostages are res- subsequent U.S. military in- Ethiopia), Eritrea, and Su- • 1983 - Staff Sergeant John President Yoweri Museveni killed and thirty-seven in- cued by an Israeli comman- quiry cited stress related hu- dan, are attacked and cap- Christian Anthony Oliver meet for first face-to-face jured. do unit at the raid on En- man failure for the mistaken tured by the Italian Northern from the South African En- peace talks in Tanzania as tebbe airport in Uganda in identification of the civilian Army under the command gineer Corps was critical- part of an effort to end the 3 July operation Thunderball (later Airbus as an enemy F-14 of the Duke of Acosta. ly injured when his Samil three-year war in Congo. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer re-named Operation Yoni). fighter jet. • 1942 - First American bomb- 50 vehicle overturned at War: The British abandon Seven pro-Palestinian guer- • 1992 - Two members from ing mission over Nazi-occu- Moshesh near Rundu. He 5 July Utrecht, occupied the pre- rilla hijackers, twenty Ugan- 116 Battalion were killed pied Europe. succumbed to his injuries a • 1830 - The French occupy vious day, on receiving re- dan soldiers and three hos- near Punda Maria, in the • 1955 - The basic agreement short while later. He was 33. the North African city of ports of General Grobler’s tages are killed in the raid. Kruger National Park when about the transfer of Simon- • 1984 - Sergeant John- Algiers. The colonisation of approach. • 1983 - Corporal Frederick their Mamba vehicle col- stown naval base to the Un- ny Ralph Adams from the Algeria was seen as a way of • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Coenraad Greyling from 5 lided with a tree during a ion of South Africa by the Army Catering Corps was providing employment for War: Lord Roberts orders SAI was accidentally killed follow-up operation against United Kingdom is conclud- grievously burned on 2 July veterans of the Napoleonic Col. Baden-Powell to evac- at Itenga Base near Opuwa MK Operatives that had en- ed. The formal transfer took 1984 when a phosphorus wars. uate Rustenburg and to oc- in an explosion inside the tered the area from Mocam- place at a historic ceremony grenade exploded while he • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer cupy Commando Nek and Ops Room. The Platoon bique. The casualties were: on 2 April 1957. was playing with it in a bun- War: Commandant-General Silkaatsnek. Commander and Signaller Lance Corporal Nicholas • 1960 - The Congolese army ker at Hurricane Base, Rua- Louis Botha receives a tel- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer were both injured in the ex- Bizeki (34). Rifleman Tonki mutinies. cana. He died in 1 Military egraph from President Kru- War: A general council of plosion and they were evac- Frans Kekana (18). • 1974 - Trooper Jan Albertus Hospital on 4 Jul 1984. He ger urging him to continue war with President Steyn uated to 1 Military Hospital Kotze from 1 Special Ser- was 23. fighting. presiding, hears the case in Pretoria. He was 21. 4 July vice Battalion was killed in • 1986 - Two members from • 1943 - The Battle of Kursk: against Barend Cilliers, ac- • 1983 - Lance Corporal Ka- • 1879 - The Battle of Ulun- a Military Vehicle Accident 1 Parachute Battalion were Despite a massive German cused of the murder of Lieut. rools Jonkers from the South di, decisive battle during the in Eastern Caprivi. He was killed in a Military Vehi- assault; the Soviets lose Cecil Boyle. The accused is African Cape Corps was Zulu War, takes place with 19. cle Accident at Richmond some ground, but halt the at- acquitted. The court finds Killed in Action when his the British forces gaining the • 1979 - Rifleman Balthazer in the Cape. They were: tack in about a week. that Cilliers had received patrol walked into a PLAN upper hand and Cetshwayo, Johannes Carolus van der Corporal Jacobus Nicolaas • 1975 - Otto Skorzeny, World a direct order from Gener- ambush in Northern Owam- king of the Zulus, suffers his Walt from SWA SPES was Claase(21). Rifleman Rich- War II Waffen SS Ober- al Philip Botha to shoot the boland. He was 19. final defeat. killed when his Buffel Troop ard Alexander Knipe (20). sturmbannführer and the prisoner. General Botha has • 1987 - Two members from 1 • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer Carrier overturned near Ru- • 2001 - Congolese President man that led the rescue mis- subsequently been killed in Special Service Battalion, at- War: Republican General acana. He was 19. action. tached to the 10th Armoured C.F. Beyers captures a troop • 1979 - Rifleman Carlo Jo- • 1940 - World War II: The Car Regiment were Killed train near Naboomspruit, hannes Kotze from 1 SAI British Royal Navy sinks the in Action when they walked Transvaal, killing nine sol- was critically injured in a French fleet in North Africa. into a “kraal”, unaware that diers. military vehicle accident at • 1950 - First US-North Kore- two PLAN insurgents were • 1913 - Fighting breaks out Otjiwarongo Base on 3 July an clash during the Korean hiding in one of the huts. as a riotous crowd on the 1979. He was evacuated to 1 War. The casualties were: Troop- Johannesburg market square Military Hospital in Pretoria • 1954 - World War II food ra- er Joseph Johannes Cloete is confronted by police and where he succumbed to his tioning ends in Britain. (18). Trooper Van Zyl Jac mounted soldiers during the injuries on 04 July 1979. He • 1962 - The Algerian Revolu- van Heerden (19). first miners’ strike. was 19. Otto tion against the French ends. • 1988 - Iran Air Flight 655 • 1936 - League of Nations • 1981 - Rifleman Pieter Skorzeny Algeria eventually gains in- was destroyed while flying applies sanctions on Italy Adriaan van Niekerk from dependence after 132 years over the Persian Gulf after for the invasion of Ethiopia. 6 SAI was accidentally of French rule. Abderrah- the U.S. Navy Warship Vin- • 1940 - World War II: East shot dead by own forces in man Farès is appointed as cennes fired two surface- Africa. British posts at Kas- Southern Angola in a friend- President of the Provisional to-air missiles, killing all sala and Gallabat, on the ly fire incident during Ops 66 67 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July sion that freed the deposed accidental discharge of a fel- Troop carrier overturned dentally shot dead at the 8 July dentally sustained. He was Italian dictator Benito Mus- low soldier’s rifle. He was on the White Road between Oshivelo shooting range • 1943 - During the Nazi oc- 18. solini from captivity, dies at 18. Bagani and Rundu, just east when he took up a position cupation of France, Resist- • 1980 - Corporal Pierre the age of 67. of Mashari. They were: Cor- behind one of the targets ance leader Jean Moulin Babin from 1 Construction • 1977 - Pakistan: coup by 6 July poral Frans Adonio (31). Ri- during a fire and movement died following his arrest and Regiment was accidentally General Mohammad Zia ul- • 1865 - The Pretoria Ri- fleman Kafuru Bango (29). drill. He was 23. subsequent torture by the killed while towing a broken Haq. fle Corps is founded under Rifleman Pedro Kadem- • 1980 - Rifleman Johannes Gestapo. down military vehicle when • 1977 - Corporal Peter Noel Stephanus Schoeman as a ba (30). Rifleman Petrus Jacobus Joubert from 1 • 1944 - British troops cap- he lost control of his vehi- Wiggell HC from the Tech- volunteer corps to defend Kapango (28). Rifleman Os- Maintenance Unit was killed ture Caen, a month behind cle, causing it to overturn nical Services Corps was Pretoria and surroundings. car Nando (23). when he accidentally fell off schedule. between Omega and Chetto. Killed in Action during a The local police force was • 1983 - Rifleman B. Nga- the rear of a moving military • 1950 - General Douglas He was 24. contact with PLAN insur- instituted at a later date. rukua from 102 Battalion vehicle. He was 23. MacArthur is named com- • 1981 - Rifleman T. Tjakuva gents while attached to Bra- • 1916 - Second-Lieutenant SWATF was Killed in an ac- • 1981 - Private Wayne Ivor mander-in-chief of United from 102 Battalion SWATF vo Company Regiment Al- William Nimmo Brown of cidental Hand Grenade Ex- Purdon from the Jozini Mil- Nations (UN) forces in Ko- died from Malaria contract- goabaai. He was 25. the 1st SA Infantry is killed plosion in Northern Owam- itary Base was killed in a rea, including more than 800 ed while serving in the Op- • 1977 - Sapper William in the Battle of the Somme boland. He was 22. military vehicle accident be- South Africans. erational Area. He was 27. Thomas Wiggell from 2 and becomes the first South tween Magudu and Cando- • 1960 - The newly independ- • 1982 - Rifleman Vegkurid Field Engineer Regiment African officer killed in 7 July ver. He was 18. ent Republic of Congo’s Kavari from 102 Battalion was killed in a Military Ve- France during World War I. • 1798 - Napoleon Bonapar- • 1983 - Lance Corporal Al- army mutinies against Prime SWATF was killed when hicle Accident at Bethle- • 1917 - Arab horsemen led te’s army begins its march exander John Tucker from Minister Patrice Lumum- the Buffel Troop carrier in hem. He was 20. by British officer T.E. Law- towards Cairo from Alex- 1 Parachute Battalion was ba’s government. Europeans which he was travelling, • 1980 - Rifleman J. Dingom- rence also known as Law- andria, Napoleon’s desert Killed in Action when his are reported to be fleeing overturned at Opuwa. He bo from 31 Battalion (210 rence of Arabia capture the nemesis. Patrol was ambushed by the country. Belgium sends was 24. Battalion) SWATF was acci- heavily garrisoned Turkish • 1944 - RAF drops 2,572 tons combined FAPLA/Cuban troops to Congo Republic. • 1982 - Two members from dentally killed when he fell fort at Aqaba. on Caen, to support ground force while operating in an Patrice Lumumba appeals 201 Battalion SWATF were from a horse and broke his • 1942 - German troops cap- attack. area North of Xangongo, ap- to the UN for military assis- Killed when the Buffel neck. He was 23. ture Voronez, USSR. • 1944 - Saipan: Japanese proximately 32km from Ca- tance. Troop carrier in which they • 1981 - Rifleman Aubrey • 1945 - Movement to the US troops make a final “banzai” hama, He was 19. • 1979 - Lance Corporal Ger- were travelling, overturned. Leonard Neveling from 6 of captured German scien- charge. • 1983 - Rifleman V. Ka- hardus Johannes Jordaan The casualties were: Rifle- SAI was Killed in Action tists and equipment begins. • 1944 - U.S. B-29s from Chi- mundiro from 202 Battalion (SAAF) from 2 Satellite man T.A.S. Mesongo (27). during a contact with enemy • 1967 - The Biafran War na attack Japan. SWATF was Killed in Ac- Radar Station, Ellisras died forces in Southern Angola. erupts as Nigerian forces • 1944 - US troops capture tion during a contact with from a gunshot wound acci- He was 18. invade the Republic of Bia- Rosignano, NW of Rome. enemy forces in Southern • 1982 - Corporal Andre van fra. The war claimed some • 1948 - First women sworn Angola. He was 19. der Walt from 4 Vehicle Re- 600,000 lives. About one into the US Naval Reserve. • 1990 - An illegal demon- serve Park was killed in a million died of starvation. • 1960 - USSR shoots down a stration in Kenya becomes private motor vehicle acci- • 1976 - Women are admitted US aircraft over the Barents known as the “Saba Saba” dent approximately 20km to the U.S. Naval Academy Sea. (Seven Seven the date in from Bloemfontein on the for the first time. • 1960 - Belgium sends troops Swahili). The government Winburg - Bloemfontein • 1980 - Rifleman Francis to the newly independent sends in police and military, road. He was 21. Mukweli from 33 Battalion Congo. killing at least twenty and • 1985 - Airman Benjamin SWATF was killed in a Mil- • 1966 - Vietnam: Marines in- arresting several hundreds, Arthur Nell from the South itary Vehicle accident in the itiate “Operation Hasting” - including politicians, human T.E. Lawrence African Air Force was ac- Caprivi Strip. He was 37. to clear NVA from the DMZ. rights activists and journal- cidentally shot dead at his • 1982 - Five members from • 1976 - Rifleman Leon Hen- ists. Guard Post at Eros Airport, 201 Battalion SWATF were drik Delport from the Dur- Windhoek as a result of an Killed when their Buffel ban Regiment was acci- 68 69 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July

Rifleman Joas Masonga • 1915 - World War I: Dr from 102 Battalion SWATF place in Mauritania. are jailed for conspiring to gallops away. When stopped (29). Theodore Seitz, governor was Killed in Action when he • 1980 - Corporal Clive Ro- smuggle military compo- by a British soldier, Ruiter • 1987 - Angolan news agen- of German South West Af- triggered a Soviet POMZ-2 land Hardenberg from 4 Re- nents into South Africa. dismounts and distracts the cy Angop reports that South rica, surrenders at the farm Anti-Personnel Picket Mine connaissance Regiment ac- • 1986 - Rifleman R Tjiposa soldier, allowing the presi- African troops, backed by Khorab, between Otavi and while on patrol. He was 27. cidentally drowned during from 102 Battalion SWATF dent to escape into darkness planes, tanks and artillery, Tsumeb, to General Louis Corporal Kavetu was the a training exercise at Sal- was killed when his Buffel without hat or coat. After the used chemical weapons in Botha. last 102 Battalion Bush War mander Bay, Langebaan. He Troop Carrier overturned in battle Ruiter and the other attacks inside Angola. The • 1934 - Reichsfuhrer-SS Operational Casualty. was 20. Northern Owamboland. He Blacks are left behind and SA Defence Force says the Himmler takes command • 1981 - Rifleman Lionel was 25. he rejoins his employer. allegations are an attempt to of German Concentration 10 July van Rooyen from 1 South • 1986 - Special Constable • 1901 - The complete Free minimise setbacks incurred Camps. • 1899 - Second Anglo-Boer African Infantry attached Tjiposa Virero from the State Executive Council, by Unita victories in the • 1940 - RAF bombs Germa- War: Queensland, Australia, 61 Mechanised Battalion South West Africa Police except the president who es- area. ny. offers military aid to Britain. Group died from multiple Counter-Insurgency Wing: caped with the help of Ruit- • 1988 - Rifleman Leon • 1941 - The British break • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer shrapnel wounds accidental- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) er, 29 persons, is captured Volschenk was critically Germany’s air-ground ops War: In a letter to Lord Rob- ly sustained when a 120mm was Killed in Action during in Reitz by General Broad- wounded in the stomach on code used on the Russian erts, Chief Commandant de mortar round exploded pre- a contact with PLAN insur- wood and sent to Heilbron 30 June 1988 after being ac- Front. Wet protests against the in- maturely during a live fire gents in Northern Owam- as prisoners. cidentally shot by an LMG • 1944 - US secures Saipan: discriminate destruction of training exercise between boland. He was 29. • 1915 - The German cruiser during a live fire and move- 3,200 US, 27,000 Japanese private property by British Tsintsabis and Omuthiya, ‘Konigsberg’ is scuttled near ment exercise at Oshivello. KIA, & many civilian sui- troops. prior to the launch of Ops 11 July Dar-es-Salam, Tanganyika. He was evacuated to 1 Mil- cides. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Protea. He was 19. • 1882 - The British fleet bom- • 1942 - Japanese GHQ ac- itary Hospital in Pretoria • 1979 - Rifleman Stephanus War: Colonel Lawson re- • 1982 - Two members from bards Alexandria, Egypt. knowledges the results of were he succumbed to his Petrus Janse van Vuuren ports that the De Beer and 42 Squadron were flying • 1899 - The Battle of Sil- the Battle of Midway. wounds on 08 July 1988. He from SWA SPES (SWATF) Van Rooyen’s commando, over an Army column near kaatsnek, west of Pretoria, • 1979 - Rifleman Peter Wayne was 20. was Killed in Action when raiding the upper Tugela Ondangwa in their Atlas starts with General De la Rey Bowry Atherton from 11 his horse detonated a land- from the Free State, includes AM3C Bosbok when the pi- launching a three-pronged Commando Regiment died 9 July mine while on patrol along thirty armed Basotho and lot decided to execute an un- attack on the British forces. from a gunshot wound ac- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- the pipeline North of Etale. twenty other armed Blacks. authorised stall turn at low The British, under Colonel cidentally sustained at Jan er War: Lieutenant General He was 18. • 1913 - Second Balkan War: level for the benefit of the Roberts, surrenders the next Hunter and Brigadier-Gen- • 1980 - Rifleman H. Muhenje Romania declares war on troops on the ground. The morning. eral Sir Hector A. MacDon- from 102 Battalion SWATF Bulgaria. aircraft failed to recover and • 1901 - With dawn approach- ald arrive at Bethlehem, was Killed in Action during • 1943 - The Allied invasion crashed nearby, killing both ing, General Broadwood OFS. Hunter takes over a contact with PLAN insur- of Italy began with an attack crew members on board. surprises the Free State command of all the British gents in Northern Owam- on the island of Sicily. The The casualties were: Lieu- force, accompanied by Pres- forces in the north-eastern boland. He was 26. British entry into Syracuse tenant Otto Carel Janse van ident Steyn, in Reitz. Pres. Free State. • 1985 - Corporal Pieter Apol- was the first Allied success Rensburg (24). Candidate Steyn’s Griqua groom, Jan • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer lis from the South African in Europe. General Dwight Officer Anton Geno Roux Ruiter, wakes the President, War: ‘Long Cecil’, the gun Cape Corps attached to 53 D. Eisenhower labelled the (20). borrows a saddle and helps designed and manufactured Battalion was killed after invasion “the first page in • 1985 - Corporal A.L. Tef- the president to mount and, by G.F. Labram and used by suffering a fatal gunshot the liberation of the Europe- fo from 5 Reconnaissance mounting another horse, the British during the siege, wound as a result of an acci- an Continent.” Regiment was killed in- is taken from Kimberley by dental discharge of a fellow • 1953 - American troops stantly after being struck by train to be exhibited during soldiers rifle. He was 24. abandon Pork Chop Hill, lightning during a thunder- the visit of the Duke and • 1985 - Chad and Zaire sign Korea. storm while on operations Duchess of Cornwall, later an agreement on military • 1960 - Belgium sends troops in Southern Angola. He was Heinrich Himmler King George V and Queen co-operation. to Congo. 24. Mary. • 1988 - Corporal M. Kavetu • 1978 - A military coup takes • 1985 - Four British men 70 71 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July Kemp Dorp as a result of in which he was travelling, was killed in a military ve- Basin and the importance of War: The Free State govern- (19). an accidental discharge of overturned on the road in hicle accident at Rundu. He moving out before they are ment is to dispense with the • 1982 - Three crew and five a fellow soldier’s rifle. He front of Special Forces Head was 18. bottled up. idea of a capital, and they passengers of a SAAF 21 was 17. Quarters in Pretoria. He • 1979 - Lance Corporal J.L. • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer become a government ‘in Squadron Swearingen Mer- • 1982 - Rifleman Munehem- succumbed to his injuries a Samutiki from 33 Battalion War: J.P. Coetzee, Cape re- the field’. lin 4A and four members ba Muharukua from 102 short while later. He was 27. SWATF was killed when his bel, is executed by the Brit- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer of a civilian Piper Navajo Battalion SWATF was killed Buffel Troop carrier over- ish and all male adults are War: British General French were killed when the air- when the Buffel Troop Car- 12 July turned in the Operational ordered to attend. drives Scheepers out of the craft were involved in a rier in which he was a pas- • 1899 - Second Anglo-Boer Area. He was 27. • 1936 - 15,000 World War Camdeboo Mountains and mid-air collision at night senger, overturned in North- War: Lord Brassey of Vic- • 1980 - Rifleman T. Josef I veterans from all nations Major Moore, with a detach- over the residential area ern Owamboland. He was toria, Australia, offers Brit- from 35 Battalion SWATF swear an “Oath of Peace” ment of Connaught Rang- of Swartkops. The SADF 26. ain volunteers for service in died from a gunshot wound and observe a minute of si- ers, defeats the Boers under casualties were: Captain Jan • 1985 - Sapper Kenneth South Africa. accidentally sustained in the lence at the Ossuary at Ft. Myburgh at Zuurvlakte and Izak Tobias de Villiers (25). Claude Cole from 2 Field • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Operational Area. He was Douaumont, Verdun. captures his laager. Lieutenant Leon Goldstein Engineer Regiment died er War: A court martial at 24. • 1966 - Candidate Officer • 1942 - Japanese Admi- (21). Flight Sergeant (Miss) from a gunshot wound acci- Fouriesburg confirms Boer • 1982 - Rifleman Katopora Christo Cornelius Johannes ral Yamamoto creates the (Air Hostess) Annerie Nie- dentally sustained as a result ex-Commandant S.G. Vil- Tjiharukua from 102 Battal- Joubert from Air Operations Eighth Fleet for operations mand (23). Major General of the accidental discharge joen’s sentence of five years ion SWATF was killed when School Langebaanweg was in the South Pacific. Dirk Johannes van Niekerk of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He hard labour for treason. his Buffel Troop Carrier killed when his AT-6 Har- • 1972 - Vietnam: Jane Fonda (53). Major General Jacobus was standing guard duty at 2 • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- overturned near Opuwa. He vard crashed near Velddrif makes first of 10 broadcasts Marthinus Crafford (48). Field Engineer Regiment in er War: Lord Kitchener re- was 25. during a routine training ex- on Radio Hanoi. Colonel Johan Adam Coet- Bethlehem at the time of the ceives a hero’s welcome in • 1983 - Lieutenant Bruce ercise. He was 19. • 1976 - Two members from zer (48). incident. He was 19. London on his return. Charles Chinery from 40 • 1971 - Firing squads in Mo- 11 Squadron and two ground • 1992 - President de Klerk • 1985 - Special Constable • 1941 - First Luftwaffe air Squadron was killed when rocco execute ten army of- crew personnel from 19 announces the future dis- U. Ngombe from the South raid on Moscow. his Atlas MB326M Impala ficers accused of trying to Squadron were killed when bandment of two security West Africa Police Coun- • 1943 - During World War Mk I suffered engine failure overthrow King Hassan. an 11 Squadron Cessna force units, the 31 and 32 ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K II, in the Battle of Kursk, shortly after take-off from • 1982 - Rifleman Jean Louis 185A crashed at the Umtali battalions, and the dissolu- (Koevoet) was Killed in Ac- the largest tank battle in his- Air Force Base Waterkloof. Moerdyk from SWA SPES River Mouth. The casualties tion of the controversial po- tion during a contact with tory took place outside the He was 22. (SWATF) was killed in a were: 2nd Lieutenant Mario PLAN insurgents in North- small village of Prohorov- • 1994 - Germany’s Constitu- military vehicle accident at Almeroe Janse van Rens- ern Owamboland. He was ka, Russia. About nine hun- tional Court ended the ban Bagani. He was 20. burg (21). Corporal Charles 27. dred Russian tanks attacked on sending German troops • 1982 - Rifleman Karetu Lloyd van der Merwe (23). • 1986 - Rifleman L. Sivanda an equal number of Ger- to fight outside the coun- Muhenje from 102 Bat- Private Izak Jacob Joubert from 202 Battalion SWATF man tanks fighting at close try. The ban had been in ef- talion SWATF was criti- Geyser (18). Private Ger- was Killed in Action during range. When Hitler ordered fect since the end of World cally wounded on 12 July hard Nicholaas van Rooyen a contact with PLAN insur- a cease-fire, 300 German War II. The ruling allowed 1982 during a contact with gents. He was 22. tanks remained strewn over German troops to join in PLAN insurgents in North- • 1989 - WO I Johannes Petrus the battlefield. United Nations and NATO ern Owamboland. He suc- Coetzee from 16 Mainte- • 1944 - Theresienstadt Con- peace-keeping missions. cumbed to his injuries at nance Unit was killed in a centration Camp disbanded, 05h00 the following morn- Military Vehicle Accident with 4,000 people gassed. 13 July ing. He was 26. 10km from the Mangetti • 1984 - A car bomb explodes • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1998 - Unita again occupies Dunes. He was 50. in Durban, killing five and War: At a council of war, two towns in Angola and • 1990 - Private Iain Bruce injuring twenty-seven peo- Chief Commandant De Wet hundreds of inhabitants flee. Robertson from the Techni- ple. explains the shortcomings cal Service Corps was criti- • 1973 - Rifleman Abraham of the Republican concen- 14 July Isoroku Yamamoto cally injured when the Ratel Frederik Greeff from 3 SAI tration in the Brandwater • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer 72 73 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July lice unit, Koevoet. General Erich Ludendorff were: Rifleman Christof- the concentration camps interior of the sun and wiped a landmine explosion in • 1993 - Somali militiamen launched Germany’s fifth, fel Booysen (21). Rifleman in SA. The commission, out all plant and animal life Northern Owamboland. He fire on UN headquarters in a and last, offensive to break Marthinus Hendrik Grobler whose members are reputed within 1,6 kilometres. was 25. new wave of assaults hours through the Chateau-Thier- (20). Sapper Nicolaas Jaco- to be impartial, includes Mrs • 1946 - A US court sentences • 1986 - Flight Sergeant Ed- after Somali militants dis- ry salient. bus Gerhardus Helberg (17). Millicent G. Fawcett who 46 SS-men to death for the ward Michael Bloem from tribute leaflets calling for re- • 1937 - Buchenwald Concen- • 2000 - In a rare display of recently criticised Emily Malmedy massacre. 31 Squadron was Killed venge attacks on American tration Camp opens. force, UN troops launch a Hobhouse and Dr. Jane Wat- • 1960 - Albert Kesselring, in Action when his Alou- soldiers. • 1944 - Britain’s Greenwich rescue mission that frees erson, daughter of a British German airman and field ette III Helicopter collided • 1995 - South Africa and Observatory is damaged by all 222 peacekeepers and general, who recently wrote marshal, dies at the age of with a radio mast stay-wire Russia sign a military coop- a German V-1 flying bomb. eleven military observers against “the hysterical whin- 74. at Okankolo in Northern eration agreement. • 1948 - US World War I Gen- trapped by rebels inside a ing going on in England” • 1977 - Soviet advisers are Owamboland during late af- eral of the Armies John J UN base in eastern Sierra while “we feed and pamper expelled from the Republic ternoon counter-insurgency 15 July Pershing, dies at the age of Leone. people who had not even the of Somali by orders of the operations in the area. He • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer 87. grace to say thank you for president, Muhammad Si- was 39. War: Chief Commandant De • 1960 - UN troops arrive to 16 July the care bestowed on them”. yad Barre. • 1993 - Staff Sergeant Rich- Wet, Pres. Steyn and mem- help deal with the political • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1977 - Rifleman Christiaan ard Ebanhaezer Gericke bers of the Free State gov- crisis following Moïse Kap- War: Lord Methuen reoccu- War: In the Free State, Lieu- Michael Albert Tesnar from from 31 Battalion SWATF ernment break out of the enda Tshombe’s declaration pies Rustenburg. This is the tenant-General E.L. Elliot’s the Lydenburg Commando was killed in a motor vehicle Brandwater Basin through of independence for Ka- third British occupation of drive ends. At the cost of was Killed in Action during accident between Schmidts- Slabbert’s Nek, with about tanga province on 11 July. the town. only three British casual- a contact with PLAN insur- drift and Kimberley. He was 2,000 men, 400 vehicles and Meanwhile the province of • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- ties, the drive has resulted gents near Ruacana. He was 27. five field-guns. Their col- South Kasai also declares er War: Three commandos in three burghers killed and 24. • 2006 - The first of South Af- umn passes within three km independence, calling itself under the newly appointed wounded, sixty-one pris- • 1981 - Rifleman G. Ruhuzo rica’s fleet of Gripen aircraft of Paget’s (British) camp at the Federal State of South Combat General Viljoen, oners, 7,000 horses, 7,000 from 102 Battalion SWATF ordered to re-equip the SA Sebastopol, OFS. Kasai, with Joseph Ngalula attack about 4,650 British cattle, 6,000 rounds of am- was Killed in Action during National Defence Force is • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer as head of parliament. soldiers with twenty field munition and 300 vehicles a contact with PLAN insur- War: Dr K. Franks, camp • 1981 - Rifleman Ettienne guns and four to five ma- captured. gents. He was 26. doctor at the Mafeking con- Zwanepoel from 1 SAI was chine guns under General • 1916 - World War I: The • 1984 - Private Gabriel Jo- centration camp reports that accidentally shot dead dur- Hutton at Tierpoort, Rietvlei South African brigade is hannes Jacobus Frederik the camp is “overwhelmed” ing a training exercise at the and Olifantsfontein, ZAR. called to capture Delville Crouse from 72 Motorised by 1,270 women and chil- Wepener Training Area. He The burghers are support- Wood in France in a fierce Brigade was killed in a mil- dren brought in after sweeps was 18. ed by three field guns and two-day battle. itary vehicle accident in Al- on the western ZAR. Lack • 1982 - Special Constable two pom-poms, but they • 1940 - Hitler orders prepa- berton. He was 19. of facilities adds to the hard- Vusi Tsiposa from the South have to charge over open rations for “Operation Sea • 1984 - Rifleman Daniel ships encountered by the West Africa Police Coun- ground. Commandant-Gen- Lion”. Adonis Douwrie from the new arrivals. ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops eral Botha, who observes • 1944 - With the aid of the South African Cape Corps • 1916 - World War I: The K (Koevoet) was Killed in the Republican charge from Polish Resistance, the Sovi- was Killed in Action in Battle of Delville Wood, the Action during a contact with a vantage point, later says he ets capture Vilna, Lithuania, bloodiest battle ever fought PLAN insurgents in North- has never seen a braver and from the Germans. by South Africans, starts. ern Owamboland. He was more determined attack. The • 1945 - The experimental It lasted till 20 July. Of the 27. heaviest resistance comes Atomic bomb “Fat Boy” • 1984 - Three members from was set off at 05h30. in the 121 SA officers and 2,032 from the New Zealanders Albert soldiers, only 750 soldiers the Special Forces Head- and Irish Fusiliers. desert of New Mexico de- survived. quarters Unit were killed • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer sert, creating a mushroom Kesselring • 1918 - World War I: Dur- when their Unimog Troop War: The British Coloni- cloud rising 12,497 metres. ing the Battle of the Marne Carrier overturned near al Office appoints a Ladies The bomb emitted heat three in World War I, German M’pacha. The casualties Commission to investigate times the temperature of the 74 75 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July transported by road to Ys- • 1975 - Captain Geoffrey week in August road between De Rust and Shaw, who was killed along ty-six persons died in that terplaat Air Force Base from Dennis Law from 40 Squad- • 1935 - Ethiopian King Haile Uniondale while on week- with half of the 600 men attack. Cape Town Harbour. ron was killed instantly Selassie urges his country- end pass. He was 18. in the regiment. This battle • 1997 - Charles Taylor, a re- • 2006 - Maluleke George, the during a weapons demon- men to fight to the last man • 1982 - Rifleman Frisiano marked the first use of black bel leader with a reputation deputy defence minister, at- stration exercise at Bloem- against the invading Italian Dala from 201 Battalion Union troops in the war. for brutality, wins Liberia’s tends the 90th commemora- fontein when the complete army. SWATF died in 1 Military • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer first peaceful presidential tion of the Battle of Delville main plane of his AT-6 • 1936 - The Spanish Civ- Hospital from injuries re- War: Lord Kitchener writes election following a sev- Wood in France. During the Harvard separated in flight il War begins in the early ceived in a Military Vehicle in a letter concerning the en-year civil war. ceremony, a new South Afri- while the aircraft was diving morning hours with a revolt Accident at Rundu on 06 Ladies’ Commission sent can coat of arms is unveiled onto the target. He was 29. at Melilla in Spanish Mo- July 1982. He was 24. out to investigate into con- 20 July at the South African memo- • 1976 - Rifleman Andries Jo- rocco. • 1983 - Rifleman Jan Harm ditions in the concentration • 1871 - Queen Victoria abol- rial on the site. The names of hannes Blaauw from 2 Par- • 1942 - Maiden flight of the Kruger from 1 Parachute camps: “... I doubt there ishes the practice of pur- Black members of the South achute Battalion was Killed Messerschmitt Me 262, the Battalion died after suffer- being much for them to do chasing commissions in the African Labour Corps who in Action after he and his first operational jet fighter. ing severe brain injuries in here as the camps are very British Army. died at Arques-la-Bataille twin brother Pieter, had a • 1944 - US troops capture St. a non-military related acci- well looked after. Kendal • 1901 - Second Anglo-Bo- and those who perished on brief contact with a group of Lo, Normandy. dent. He was 23. Franks was quite astonished er War: Boer General C.J. board the SAS Mendi are SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1963 - Candidate Officer • 1985 - Rifleman George at the excellence of some of Spruyt is killed in action also unveiled at the muse- while on patrol. Matthys Marthinus Hattingh Mike Thompson from the the camps ...”. while attempting to cross um. • 1981 - Private David Gor- from Air Operations School Army Catering Corps was • 1918 - German armies re- the railway line between Val don Munro from Sector at Langebaanweg was killed killed when his Buffel Troop treat across the Marne. Station and Vlaklaagte on 17 July 70 Headquarters died in 1 when his AT-6 Harvard Carrier overturned at Os- • 1941 - Winston Churchill his way to invade Natal. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Military Hospital in Preto- crashed into a mountain- hakati. He was 22. flashes “V for Victory” for • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer er War: Lieutenant-Colonel ria from Malaria contracted side near Porterville in bad • 1988 - Angola, Cuba, and the first time. War: At Paardekop, in the M.O. Little, commanding while serving in the Opera- weather. He was 19. South Africa, after talks • 1942 - German occupiers Gatsrand, near Vereeniging, the 3rd Cavalry Brigade of tional Area. He was 18. • 1972 - Egypt demands the in New York from 11-13 confiscate bicycles in the General J.C. Smuts and a 738 mounted men, is ordered • 1986 - Trooper Willem Jan Soviet Union remove its July under US mediation, Netherlands. small party are surprised in in the direction of Lindley to Pienaar from the School of 20,000 advisers from the announce that they have • 1991 - In a report pub- join the hunt for De Wet. Armour died in the Univer- country, accusing it of fail- reached tentative agreement lished in the New Na- • 1917 - World War I: King sitas Hospital in Bloemfon- ing to supply promised arms. on a document containing tion, a former South George V orders the Brit- tein after being critically • 1973 - Rifleman Keith principles for a settlement in African army sergeant, ish royal family to dispense injured in a military vehicle Hahn from 1 SAI was killed south-western Africa. Mr. Felix Ndimene, with German titles and sur- accident in Bloemfontein. when the Bedford vehicle in • 2005 - General William alleges that members names. Saxe-Coburg be- He was 18. which he was travelling as Westmoreland, Command- of the Five Reconnais- comes Windsor and Batten- a passenger, overturned at er of the US forces in Vi- sance Regiment, which burg becomes Mountbatten. 18 July Kandelaars River Station. etnam, between 1964-1968, is part of South Africa’s • 1943 - RAF bombs German • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- He was 18. dies at the age of 91. special forces, carried out rocket research base at Pen- er War: In the first drive in • 1980 - Lance Corporal Nico- an attack on a Sowe- nemunde, on the Baltic. the Cape Colony, the Brit- laas Jacobus van der Merwe 19 July to-bound train in Sep- • 1944 - Having helped the ish under overall command from 1 Special Service Bat- • 1863 - During the Ameri- tember 1990. Twen- Russians to liberate Vilna of General French are de- talion was Killed in Action can Civil War, Union troops from the Germans, the lead- ployed along the Beaufort while on patrol 10km from made a second attempt to ers of the Polish resistance West Graaff-Reinet line and Ondangwa. capture Fort Wagner near “Army Krajowa” are arrest- march north. • 1981 - Rifleman James Charleston, South Carolina. William ed by Stalin. • 1914 - The British Roy- Findlay-Marshall from the The attack was led by the • 1945 - US Third Fleet un- al Navy extends an invita- Infantry School was killed 54th Massachusetts Colour- Westmoreland dertakes surface and air at- tion to the German Imperial in a private motor vehicle ed Infantry, commanded tacks on targets near Tokyo. Navy to take part in a fleet accident on the National by Colonel Robert Gould 76 77 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July their sleep. His Black or- undergoing basic training. er War: New South Wales, or be destroyed. 22 July a training exercise when he derly, Kleinbooi, is shot and He was 19. Australia, offers 1,860 of- • 1962 - Indian and Chinese • 1942 - Defeated on all was accidentally run over by killed but General Smuts • 1983 - Two members from ficers, non-commissioned troops skirmish in the Him- fronts in 16 day war with an armoured vehicle in con- manages to get away by the South West Africa Po- officers and men to Britain alayas. Peru, Ecuador agrees to a ditions of poor visibility. He shouting orders in English lice Counter-Insurgency for service in SA. • 1975 - Lance Corporal cease fire. was 20. and stealing away on bare Wing: Ops-K Division (Ko- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Douglas Brian Snell from • 1942 - 1st Battle of Alamein: • 1987 - Soviet PM Gor- feet. He later retrieves all evoet) were Killed in Ac- War: British General Lord 11 Commando Regiment British halt German-Italian bachev agrees to negotiate the documents he has had to tion during a contact with Robert’s advance along the died from a gunshot wound drive under Rommel. a ban on intermediate-range leave behind in the dark. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents eastern line begins, starting resulting from the acciden- • 1942 - 300,000 Warsaw nuclear missiles. • 1916 - World War I: Only in Northern Owamboland. from his outposts east of Pre- tal discharge of a fellow sol- Ghetto Jews are sent to Tre- • 2001 - Bertie Felstead of the three SA officers and 140 They were: Special Consta- toria along the Delagoa Bay dier’s rifle while stationed in blinka extermination camp. Royal Welch Fusiliers, the men march out of Delville ble Frans Hamutewa (27). railway line for more than Northern Owamboland. He • 1943 - Patton captures Paler- last known survivor of the Wood. Six days earlier, on Special Constable Klemens 56 km. Commandant-Gen- was 18. mo. Christmas Truce of 1914, moving in, the strength of Mpase (22). eral Louis Botha split his • 1984 - Private Johannes • 1946 - Jerusalem: The Irgun dies at the age of 106. the brigade was 3,433. In • 1987 - Captain Barend Jaco- force of about 2,200 men Ricardo Matthee from 16 bombs British HQ in the 1920 the SA government bus Vorster from 8 Squad- into small groups to render Maintenance Unit died King David Hotel, 90 die. 23 July bought the wood and erect- ron was killed when his At- isolated local resistance to from a gunshot wound re- • 1983 - Sergeant Walter Al- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer ed a monument. las MB326M Impala Mk I the huge army moving east- sulting from the accidental exander Robinson from 61 War: Lord Milner is present- • 1922 - The League of Na- crashed into the sea off Dur- wards. discharge of a fellow sol- Base Workshop, Technical ed with the freedom of the tions agrees to award former ban during a joint training • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer dier’s rifle while stationed at Service Corps died in his City of London at the Guild- German colonies as man- exercise with the South Af- War: Captain Danie Theron Grootfontein. He was 21. sleep in the Single Quarters hall. dates. rican Navy. He was 24. and his men capture a train • 1985 - Rifleman Christiaan at TEK Base after apparent- • 1940 - The “Blitz” begins: • 1944 - US Marines land on • 1988 - Corporal Johannes from the Welsh fusiliers. Jack from the Army Cater- ly suffering a fatal heart at- the first all-night Luftwaffe Guam. David Gerhardus van der After looting what they ing Corps was killed in a tack. He was 42. raid on London. • 1944 - A plot by senior army Merwe from 3 Parachute could carry, they placed the Military Vehicle Accident at • 1984 - Rifleman Gerhard • 1942 - German troops cap- officers to assassinate Adolf Battalion was killed when wounded under medical care Oshikuku. He was 26. Ernst De Lange from 1 Par- ture Rostov. Hitler fails. his Buffel Troop Carrier in a railway carriage, which • 1986 - Corporal Mark Twain achute Battalion was Killed • 1942 - World War II: Hur- • 1949 - Israel’s 19 month war overturned at Batavia. He they push out of danger and Whiteley from 701 Battal- in Action during a contact ricanes of No.1 Squadron of independence ends. was 25. set the train on fire. The next ion SWATF was accidental- with SWAPO/PLAN insur- shoot down thirteen Ju-87s • 1954 - An agreement was • 1988 - South Africa, Ango- day he was congratulated by ly shot dead by own forces. gents while on patrol north over the South African po- signed in Geneva, Switzer- la and Cuba formally accept De Wet and promoted to the He left the TB at night to re- of Ondangwa. He was 20. sitions in the Alamein line, land, ending hostilities be- the principles of an Angola/ rank of commandant. lieve himself and was mis- • 1987 - Corporal Adriaan tween French forces in Viet- Namibia peace plan. The • 1901 - Second Anglo-Bo- taken for a SWAPO/PLAN Jonker from 2 SWA SPES nam and the People’s Army three countries, in separate er War: The burning of insurgent on his return. He (SWATF) was accidentally of Vietnam. statements, announce their Bremersdorp. was 24. killed in Windhoek when • 1976 - Last US troops leave agreement on the withdraw- • 1941 - Himmler orders • 1987 - Rifleman George Im- his parachute failed during Thailand. al of foreign troops from building of Majanek Con- melman was stationed at the a practice jump at the J. G. • 1982 - Corporal Michael Angola and independence centration Camp. Army Battle School. He was Strydom Airport. He was 20. Daniel Otto from 912 Bat- for South West Africa/Na- • 1944 - Colonel Claus Schenk accidentally killed when he • 1987 - Rifleman Lyall Greg- talion SWATF was killed mibia. von Stauffenberg (37), ex- was crushed between a load- ory Sole from 2 SAI died when his SAMIL 20 vehicle ecuted by firing squad, & er and a tipper during con- of injuries sustained during overturned at Okahandja. 21 July Geneal Ludwig Beck (64), struction work. He was 22. • 1983 - Rifleman James • 1798 - Napoleon defeats the assisted suicide, for their • 2004 - An Egyptian and Tjuima a SWATF basic Arab Mameluke warriors at part in the plot to assassinate three Kenyans, along with Claus trainee, died in hospital from the Battle of the Pyramids in Hitler. four other truck drivers, are von Stauffenberg complications after con- Egypt. • 1945 - U.S. radio broadcasts taken hostage by a militant tracting Pneumonia while • 1899 - Second Anglo-Bo- demand that Japan surrender Iraqi group. 78 79 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July North Africa. military meeting between dar screens to see a blizzard 25 July the fifth atomic explosion. • 1987 - Private Cornelius Jo- • 1943 - Battle of Kursk ends: Angola, South Africa and of false echoes. As a result, • 1866 - Ulysses S. Grant is • 1947 - The US Army, Navy, hannes Kriel from 93 Am- Soviets win the greatest tank Cuba ends in Cape Verde. only twelve of 791 Allied named the first full gener- & Air Force are subordinat- munition Depot was killed battle in history. The talks follow reports that bombers involved were shot al in the history of the US ed to the new Department of in a Military Vehicle Acci- • 1944 - Soviet Army captures a fresh contingent of 2,000 down. Army. Defence. dent at Jan Kempdorp. He Lublin, Poland. Cuban troops, combined • 1945 - At the conclusion of • 1898 - During the Span- • 1982 - Rifleman M.J.J. was 21. • 1951 - Lieutenant FM Bek- with Angolan forces, is the Potsdam Conference in ish-American War, the U.S. Mahlio from 113 Battalion • 1988 - Rifleman Roelof van ker and Lieutenant RM moving along the front. Germany, Winston Church- invaded Puerto Rico, which died from a gunshot wound Aswegen from the Infantry du Plooy, serving with the • 1989 - Airman (Miss) Mari- ill, Harry Truman and Chi- was then a Spanish colo- accidentally sustained while School was killed in a pri- SAAF Cheetah Squadron in anna Christina Murphy from na’s representatives issued ny. In 1917, Puerto Ricans stationed at Phalaborwa. He vate motor vehicle accident the Korean War, are killed in the Highveld Airspace Con- a demand for unconditional became American citizens was 26. near Curries Post while on action. trol Sector died in the H.F. Japanese surrender. The Jap- and Puerto Rico became an • 1983 - Special Sergeant leave pass. He was 18. • 1951 - Henri Philippe Pe- Verwoerd Hospital from in- anese, unaware the demand unincorporated territory of Leonard Mattheus from the • 1990 - Liberian rebels at- tain, Marshal of France, Vi- juries received in a private was backed up by an Atomic the U.S. Partial self-govern- South West Africa Police tack an airfield in Monrovia, chyite, dies in prison at the motor vehicle accident on bomb, rejected the Potsdam ment was granted in 1947 Counter-Insurgency Wing: closing off that city’s last age of 95. the N1 highway near Wit- Declaration on 26 July. allowing citizens to elect Ops-K Division (Koevoet) link to outside world. • 1952 - Egyptian military of- bank. She was 18. • 1969 - Muhammad Ali is their own governor. was the Driver of Koevoet • 1994 - Israel & Jordan for- ficers led by Gamal Abdel • 1994 - Gambian soldiers convicted of refusing induc- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer Casspir Zulu Foxtrot 2. He mally end a state of war that Nasser overthrow King Fa- proclaim military govern- tion in the US Army. War: In the month since 25 was Killed in Action when existed since 1948. rouk I. ment in Dakar, Senegal. • 1973 - Four men from the June, Emily Hobhouse has his vehicle was hit by a So- • 2006 - Carl M. Brashear, the • 1970 - UN Security Coun- Japanese Red Army, a mil- addressed 26 public meet- viet RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rock- first black diver in the US cil adopts resolution 282 24 July itant group dedicated to a ings in Britain on the con- et after the vehicle ran into a Navy, dies at the age of 75. (1970) calling on States to • 1897 - A combined force worldwide communist rev- centration camps, raising SWAPO/PLAN ambush just • 2009 - Harry Patch, the last take a series of measures to of the Seventh Hussars, lo- olution, hijack a Japan Air- money to improve condi- North of Okatopi. He was British Army veteran of the strengthen the arms embar- cal troops and the newly lines plane. They release the tions. 26. World War I trenches, dies go against South Africa. The recruited British South Af- 137 occupants, then blow it • 1934 - Nazi coup fails in • 1987 - Flight Sergeant Hen- at the age of 111. vote was 12 in favour and rica Police attacks Masho- up and are arrested in Libya. Austria. drik Andries Prinsloo Engel- 3 abstentions (France, UK, na chief Mashayamombe’s • 1977 - Egypt’s President An- • 1938 - Spanish Republican brecht from Air Force Base 26 July USA). kraal. The Chief was killed war Sadat orders his troops Army begins an offensive Rooikop was critically in- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1973 - Eddie Rickenback- and the rebellion, started in to observe immediate cease- on the Ebro. jured on 22 July 1987 when War: General Piet de Wet, er, the top American ace of June1896, came to an end fire in fighting with Libya. • 1943 - RAF bombs Fokker he accidentally fell off the brother of Chief Comman- World War I with 26 kills, in November 1897, with the • 1977 - Sergeant Izak Cor- airplane factory in Amster- backing of a moving Lan- dies at the age of 82. surrender of Nyanda and nelius Du Plessis from 1 Air dam. drover while returning to • 1973 - Rifleman Stuart Craig Kagubi. Depot died in 1 Military Hos- • 1943 - Mussolini was de- AFB Rooikop from Swakop- McGregor from 4 SAI died • 1936 - Spanish Nationalists pital. He was suffering from posed just two weeks after mund. He succumbed to his from a gunshot wound to the form a junta to conduct the cancer. He was 25. the Allied attack on Sicily. injuries in Walvis Bay on 25 stomach while stationed at civil war with the Spanish • 1984 - Rifleman Arthur James • 1944 - Allied breakthrough July 1987. He was 35. Greefswald. He was 18. Republic. Henn from the South African at St-Lo, Patton begins his • 1974 - Greek military dicta- • 1943 - RAF bombs Ham- Cape Corps died from a gun- drive across France. torship collapses. burg, initiating a firestorm. shot wound accidentally sus- • 1944 - First jet fighter used • 1984 - Rifleman K. Mu- • 1943 - During World War tained. He was 20. in combat, the Messer- rongo from 202 Battalion II in Europe, the Royal Air • 2000 - In Sierra Leone, schmitt 262. SWATF was Killed in Ac- Force conducted Operation dozens of rebels, including • 1945 - Japan says it will sur- tion during a contact with Gomorrah, raiding Ham- children, surrender to UN render, but not uncondition- Muhammad SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. burg, while tossing bales of forces in the eastern city of ally. He was 22. aluminum foil strips over- Kenema and turn over their • 1946 - US detonates an un- Ali • 1988 - A surprise top-level board to cause German ra- weapons. derwater A-bomb at Bikini, 80 81 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July dant C.R. de Wet, and his the time of the accident. He sca. He was 18. initial an agreement to end vilians in Hamburg, Germa- tra heavy articulate vehicle. staff lay down their arms at was 19. • 1991 - Rifleman Mohapi British occupation of the ny. The firestorm occurred He was 23. Kroonstad. The two brothers • 1973 - Rifleman Joseph Petrus Mdakane from 21 Suez Canal Zone. after 2,326 tons of bombs • 1983 - Rifleman Eduard were never reconciled again. Petrus Hermanus Viviers Battalion was accidentally • 1978 - UN Security Council and incendiaries were Cornelius Mostert from 5 • 1942 - RAF bombs Ham- from 3 SAI accidentally killed when he was run over endorses Western plan for dropped by the Allies. SAI, attached to SWA SPES burg. drowned while his patrol by a Samil 20 in Lenz Base. ending guerrilla warfare in • 1945 - Kamikaze sink their (SWATF) was killed when • 1944 - The U.S. Army be- was crossing the Kavango He was 23. Southwest Africa and mak- last ship, the USS ‘Cal- his Buffel Troop Carri- gan desegregating its train- River. His foot got stuck be- • 1994 - The Department of ing it independent new state laghan’ (DD-792), off er overturned in Northern ing camp facilities. Black tween rocks in deep water Defence is allocated some of Namibia. Okinawa. Owamboland. He was 18. platoons were then assigned and by the time assistance Rl0.5 billion, more than 8.7 • 1985 - Rifleman James Rich- • 1960 - Dag Hammarskjold, • 1988 - Rifleman Sipho Brian to white companies in a first arrived and he was freed, per cent of the budget. ard Willard Rudd from 3 secretary-general of the UN, Msomi from 121 Battalion step toward battlefield in- he had already drowned. He SAI was killed in a military arrives in the Congo to try to was Killed in Action during tegration. However, the of- was 18. 27 July vehicle accident at Omauni. end the civil war. a contact with FRELIMO ficial order integrating the • 1979 - Corporal David Mi- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Bo- He was 18. • 1972 - Two members from Forces at Muzi, near Jozini armed forces didn’t come chael Muller from 2 Special er War: Chief Commandant • 1987 - Rifleman Andre the Army Services School on the Mozambique border. until July 26, 1948, signed Service Battalion died from C.R. De Wet, operating in Hartzenberg from Infantry were killed in a military ve- He was 27. by President Harry Truman. injuries sustained in a mili- the Bethlehem district, is- School was killed in a Mil- hicle accident at Voortrek- • 1944 - Russian troops arrive tary vehicle accident on the sues instructions to Com- itary Vehicle Accident at the kerhoogte. They were: Pri- 29 July on the Vistula. 23 July 1979 when his Lan- mandant Willem D. Fouche Infantry School Training vate Carel David Aucamp • 1900 - The Alabama, Amer- • 1945 - The U.S. Cruiser Indi- drover overturned approxi- in the Eastern Cape Colony Centre in Oudtshoorn. He Labuschagne (18). Private ican raider of the Southern anapolis arrived at Tinian Is- mately 8km from Jozini. He to summarily execute any was 19. Jonathan Peter Knight (18). States during the American land in the Marianas with an was 22. armed Blacks they capture. • 1990 - Rifleman Alan Full- • 1979 - Rifleman Ignatius Civil War, arrives in Saldana unassembled Atomic bomb, • 1981 - Lance Corporal Mi- • 1909 - Orville Wright er from 3 SAI was acciden- Matheus Fick Du Plessis Bay for provisions. met by scientists ready to chael Steven Hadlow from demonstrates a plane for the tally killed at the Vooruitsig from 5 SAI was accidental- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- complete the assembly. 44 Parachute Regiment US Army, flying 72 minutes. Shooting Range after being ly killed at Elundu after be- er War: General Marthi- • 1953 - The beginning of Fi- Pathfinder Company was • 1943 - Stalin issues Order struck by a bullet that rico- ing struck by a bullet from nus Prinsloo, leader of the del Castro’s revolutionary Killed in Action during a No. 227: “Panic makers and cheted off a stone wall at the a fellow soldiers unattended Republican forces in the “26th of July Movement.” contact with enemy forces cowards must be liquidated range. He was 21. rifle when the weapon dis- Brandwater Basin, sends In 1959, Castro led the re- in Southern Angola. He was on the spot. Not one step • 1995 - Korean War Veter- charged after it fell over and bellion that drove out dic- 25. backward . . . !” ans Memorial dedicated in hit the ground. He was 21. tator Fulgencio Batista. Al- • 1981 - Two members from • 1944 - First British jet fight- Washington. • 1980 - Corporal Johan Hein- though he once declared that Jozini Military Base were er enters combat, the Gloster • 2004 - Sixty-seven of the rich Wasserman from Air Cuba would never again be killed when their military Meteor. sixty-nine suspected merce- Force Headquarters was ruled by a dictator, Castro’s vehicle overturned near • 1944 - Soviets liberate naries plead guilty to lesser killed when his military ve- government became a Com- Jozini. They were: Corpo- Majanek Concentration charges of violating Zimba- hicle that was parked next to munist dictatorship. ral Rory Clyde Joliffe (19). Camp. bwe’s immigration and civil the Ben Schoeman Highway • 1957 - USSR launches its Rifleman Samuel Matenjwa • 1953 - The undeclared Ko- aviation laws. near Pretoria, was crushed first intercontinental multi- (34). rean War ends, after three after being struck by an ex- stage ballistic missile. • 1988 - Swapo claims SA is years of fighting between 28 July • 1968 - Candidate Officer moving military equipment North Korean and Chi- • 1914 - World War I: Aus- Bruce Spafford Human and troops to the Ango- nese Communists against tria-Hungary declares war from Central Flying School la-South West Africa border. the United Nations forces on Serbia a month after the Dunnottar was killed when • 1989 - Private Johannes (mainly South Korean and murder on Archduke Fer- his AT-6 Harvard crashed Gysbertus de Klerk from American). dinand in Sarajevo. World near Balfour while on a rou- 16 Maintenance Unit was • 1954 - Armistice divides Vi- War I begins. Joseph tine general flying training killed in a Military Vehicle etnam in two. • 1943 - During World War II, Stalin flight. He was flying solo at Accident 15 km south of To- • 1954 - Britain and Egypt a firestorm killed 42,000 ci- 82 83 This month in military history ... July This month in military history ... July an emissary to Gen. Hunt- dentally dropped his loaded • 1982 - Rifleman Daryl Peter 31 July killed in a military vehicle ost School was killed when er, asking a 4-day armistice. rifle and a shot went off, hit- Croeser of 61 Mechanised • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer accident at Kimbezi in East- his SAMIL 50 overturned at Hunter refuses and insists ting him in the head. He was Battalion was Killed in Ac- War: General De la Rey ar- ern Caprivi. He was 21. the Army Battle School. He on unconditional surrender. 19. tion in Southern Angola rests ex-General Schoeman • 1982 - Rifleman Domingo was 18. • 1949 - Berlin Airlift ends, as • 1988 - Sergeant Zacharias during Ops Meebos when on his farm near Pretoria for Dala Denge from 32 Bat- • 1990 - The chief of the SA Soviets end blockade. Eduardo from 32 Battalion Ratel 72 detonated a double refusing to obey an order to talion was Killed in Action defence force, Gen. Jannie • 1953 - Soviets shoot was killed in a military ve- boosted Yugoslavian TMA- escort a convoy of supply during a contact with enemy Geldenhuys, announces that down US patrol bomber hicle accident. He was 35. 3 Cheese mine. He was 19. wagons. forces in Southern Angola. the Citizens Cooperation northeast of Vladivostok. • 1991 - Major Wilfred de • 1986 - Lance Corporal R.H. • 1917 - World War I: Third He was 30. Bureau (CCB) will be dis- • 1965 - Private Petrus Fred- Koker from 1 Reconnais- Makaranga from 202 Bat- Battle of Ypres (Passchen- • 1987 - Airman Jacques de banded. erick Johannes Kruger from sance Regiment was acci- talion SWATF was Killed in daele) begins (ends Nov. Villiers Snyders from TEK • 1991 - Two members from the Army Service Corps died dentally killed while partic- Action during a contact with 10th), perhaps 500,000 die Base was killed in a pri- 111 Battalion were killed from a gunshot wound acci- ipating in a night parachute SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. or are injured on both sides. vate motorcycle accident in when their military vehicle dentally sustained at Brits. training exercise at the He was 25. • 1925 - Last Allied occupa- Central Pretoria when his that was transporting pa- He was 18. Hellsgate Training Area. He • 1987 - Rifleman Johannes tion forces leave the Rhine- motorcycle collided with a tients to 1 Military Hospital, • 1969 - Lieutenant Andrew le was 32 Petrus Wessels Groenewald land. truck at the intersection of overturned on the N4 High- Roux from 8 Squadron was • 2003 - Sierra Leonean rebel from 8 SAI was critical- • 1970 - Black Tot Day: Par- Church and Rebecca Street. way near Cullinan. They killed when his AT-6 Har- leader Foday Sankoh, who ly Injured and paralysed in liament abolishes the Royal He was 18. were: Rifleman Bonisani vard crashed into the Rust- had been in United Nations a landmine explosion near Navy’s 330 year tradition • 1987 - Rifleman Louis Sam- Abednego Sibuyi (27). Ri- fontein Dam. He was 23. custody since 2000 and was Katima Mulilo on 14 July of a daily issue of grog, re- uel Du Piesanie from In- fleman Morris Mavabaza • 1980 - Sapper Hans Wolf- awaiting trial on charges 1983. He was placed into a placing it with a daily can of fantry School was killed in Simbine (33). gang Pfeffer from the South of mass murder and other care facility after discharge beer. a private motor vehicle ac- • 1991 - George H.W. Bush African Engineer Corps crimes, dies at a hospital in from 1 Military Hospital but • 1978 - Sapper Louis Fran- cident 8km from Beaufort and Mihail Gorbachev sign died in 1 Military Hospital Freetown, after a stroke. three years later, compli- cois Porter from 46 Survey West. He was 23. the Strategic Arms Reduc- after contracting cerebral cations arose as a result of Squadron, South African • 1989 - Private Edward Ste- tion Treaty. meningitis while serving in 30 July these injuries and gangrene Corps of Engineers, was phen Cooper from the Prov- the Operational Area. He • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- set in. He was re-admitted was 24. er War: General Marthi- to 1 Military Hospital where • 1982 - Rifleman Johan Wil- nus Prinsloo surrenders in he died on 30 July 1987. He helm Christiaan Scheepers the Brandwater Basin, near was 24. from 5 SAI was killed while Clarens. Some generals re- • 1987 - An ANC car bomb on official duty when his fuse to surrender and escape attack directed at the head- private motor vehicle over- through Golden Gate with quarters of the Wits Com- turned while he was on his about 1,500 men. mand, takes place in Quartz way to attend a military pa- • 1909 - US Army accepts de- Street, Johannesburg. One rade. He was 18. livery of its first military air- person is killed and six- • 1983 - Rifleman Andre Jor- plane. ty-eight are injured. daan from 3 SAI was Killed • 1966 - US airplanes bomb • 2002 - President Joseph in Action in a landmine ex- demilitarized zone in Viet- Kabila of the Democrat- plosion in Northern Owam- nam. ic Republic of the Congo boland. He was 19. • 1979 - Sapper Colin Ste- and Rwandan President • 1986 - Rifleman Martin Jo- phen Rees from the School Paul Kagame sign a peace hannes Botes from 2 SAI of Engineers died from a agreement intended to bring was killed while standing gunshot wound accidentally an end to the civil war that guard duty at the Seleleke- sustained while he was sta- started in 1998. More than la High School in Soweto tioned at Kroonstad. He was 2,5-million people died. Third Battle of Ypres when a fellow guard acci- 24. 84 85 quiz Military Submachine Guns 1. Uzi (Israel). Despatches 2. MAT-49 (France). 9 1 3. PPSH-41 (Soviet Union). 4. FN P90 (Belgium). Website 5. Škorpion (Czechoslovakia). 6. Sterling submachine gun (UK). 7. QCW-05 (China). 8. Thompson M1A1 (USA). 9. Steyr AUG PARA (Austria). “Things don’t have to 10. MAC-10 (USA). change the world to be 11. MP40 (Germany). 4 11 important.” 12. Owen Gun (Australia). Steve Jobs 13. Heckler & Koch MP5 (West Germany). 14. PP-19 Bizon (Russia). 15. KRISS Vector (USA).

Useful links Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- Our aim is to make the Military Despatches website easy to use. Even more important to us, we line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. want to make the website informative and interesting. The latest edition of the magazine will Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for be available, as will all the previous editions. More over, there will be links to videos, websites, veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The and articles that our readers may find interesting. So check out the website, bookmark it, and second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click pass the URL on to everyone that you think may be interested. on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites.

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