Military Despatches October 2017 Stranger than fiction Facts, figures and trivia about D-Day Military Myths and Urban Legends Great stories, but are they true or just myths?

Head-to-Head Three elite units, the SAS, US Navy SEALS and Spetsnaz go head-to-head

Forged in Battle The Japanese Kamikaze

The Few The

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

Feature Articles 6 D-Day - facts, figures & trivia Click on any video below to view A few facts, figures and trivia about D-Day, the Allied invasion to liberate Europe during World War II. How much do you know about movie theme 12 Military myths and urban legends songs? Take our quiz Over the next few months we will be looking at some well-known, and some lesser known, myths and leg- and find out. ends about the military and seeing if they are true or not. Page 6 Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African 14 The Maleoskop Statue Group and its story Goede interviews former Defence used The memorial to the members of the South African Po- 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, lice that died during Counter Insurgency operations. Williams. Afrikaans, slang and 18 The Best things in life are free techno-speak that few One of the most important things for a conscript in the outside the military South African Defence Force was his weekend pass. could hope to under- Getting home though was often a problem. stand. Some of the terms were humorous, some Head-to-Head Page 16 were clever, while others 22 SAS - US Navy SEALS - Spetsnaz were downright crude. Three elite units, the British Special Air Service, the US Navy SEALS, and the Russian Spetsnaz go head-to- Part of Hipe’s “On the head this month. couch” series, this is an interview with one of Famous Figures author Herman Charles 34 Anthony Beauchamp-Proctor Bosman’s most famous South Africa’s leading air ace of World War I. His 54 characters, Oom Schalk aerial victories earned him the Victoria Cross. Page 22 A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area Cover Photograph war between rival taxi plagued with gang South African Air Force Saab Gripen fighters swoop organisations. violence, to view first- down to carry out an attack on a South African Navy hand how Project frigate off the coast of , Cape Town. The pho- Ceasefire is dealing with tograph was taken during a security exercise in prepa- the situation. ration for the 2010 Soccer World Cup that was held in South Africa. Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. 00 3 Forged in Battle Page 34 34 The Kamikaze Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equip- ment or units that have been tried and tested on the bat- tlefield. This month we look at the Japanese Kamikaze pilots in World War II. Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media 38 The Battle of Britain EDITOR In May 1940 launched a massive blitz- Matt Tennyson krieg against Western Europe. They overran Belgium, the Netherlands and France in only a matter of weeks. CONTRIBUTORS Britain stood alone and with the Germans preparing Raymond Fletcher, MR Loub- for an invasion, the Battle of Britain was about to start. o, here we are, issue four is done and dusted. And ser, Ryan Murphy, Matt Video O’Brien, Matt Tennyson, HJ Quiz done before the last day 41 Aircraft Identification Sof the month. link van Heerden. Page 38 This month seems to have a We show you a World War II aircraft and you tell us bit of an aeronautical feel to it. Military Despatches is pub- what it is. It wasn’t planned that way. It’s Click on the underlined link lished on-line every month. just that a number of the articles The articles used in Military Reviews are about aircraft or pilots. Despatches are copyrighted Page 45 We’ve finally started a Pa- will open another website, au- and may not be used without 42 Game Review - IL-2 Sturmovik treon account so that people are dio file, or video. prior permission from the edi- We look at IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad. This able to become patrons of the And don’t worry, we check tor. combat flight simulator is realistic and pays lots of at- magazine. Read the article on all the websites, audio files and The views stated in this mag- tention to detail. page 17 for more details. videos beforehand to ensure azine do not necessary reflect Next month is Armistice Day, that they do not contain viruses the views of Hipe!, the editor, Movie Review - The Great Escape so look out for a few articles or malware. We trust that you the , or Hipe Media. 44 about that. Can you believe will enjoy this feature. Based on the non-fiction book by Paul Brickhill, this that it’s November next month. If there are any articles that Hipe! 1963 film directed by John Sturges is the story of one Then it’s Christmas and 2017 is you would like to read, then P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 of the most daring prisoner of war escapes during at an end. Where did the year please feel free to drop us an e- South Africa. World War II go to? mail and let us know. We will I am sure that most readers then try our best to produce an 45 Book Review Page 46 know that Military Despatch- email article regarding the subject. [email protected] Cuito Cuanavalle: 12 Months of War that Transformed es is an interactive magazine. Once again, thanks for your a Continent by Fred Bridgland and We Fear Naught That means that there are links support and feel free to distrib- but God: The Pictorial Edition of the South African to other websites, audio, and ute the magazine as you see fit. Special by Paul Els. Two good reads. video links. Where you see a If you have an article that you photograph with the red “play” think our readers will find inter- button, this means that it is a esting, please feel free to sub- The Lighter Side video link. If you are connected mit it. to the Internet all you need to Until next month. 46 Ready for inspection do is left click on the play icon Soldiers in any army around the world will normally and the video will open up in a have one thing in common - their intense dislike for separate window. inspections. And the old South African Defence Force Any text that is blue and un- seemed to love holding inspections. derlined means that it is also a link. Left click on the text and it Matt 4 5 D-Day - facts, figures and trivia Supreme Headquarters of Allied Expeditionary Forces 6th June 1944 A few facts, figures and trivia about D-Day, the Allied invasion to liberate Europe dur- ing World War II. General Dwight D. Eisenhower Marshall of the RAF General Walter Bedell-Smith On Tuesday 6 June 1944 the Air Crew in, saying his sight was too Supreme Commander of the Sir Arthur Tedder Chief of staff to the Allied Expeditionary Forces largest seaborne invasion force • 31,000 (not including air- bad to read them. Deputy Supreme Commander Supreme Commander in history landed on an 80 km borne troops or their air- • Beach landings in Norman- stretch of the Normandy coast crews) dy were chosen instead of Air Marshal General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery Sir Bertram Ramsay in France. Land Forces the Pas-de-Calais because Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory Commander of the XXIst Army Commander of the Navy Forces Codenamed Operation Nep- Vehicles defences were lighter and Commander of the Air Forces Commander of the Land Forces tune, it was part of Operation • 20,000 (including over advancing troops would Overlord, the liberation of Ger- 1,000 tanks) have fewer rivers and canals man-occupied northwestern Men landed on the beaches to cross. Europe from Nazi control. It • American sector - 57,500 • There were to be five land- Air Marshal General Lewis Brereton General Sir Miles General Omar Sir Arthur Coningham was also the launch of the long- (Utah - 23,250, Omaha - ing zones along a 80 km 9th US Air Force Dempsey Bradley 2nd Tactical Air Force Tactical & Strategic Air Forces Commander British Commander Ameri- awaited second front. It was 34,250) stretch of coast. The Ameri- 2nd Army can 1st Army simply termed D-Day. • British sector - 75,215 (Gold cans would attack at Utah - 24,970, Juno - 21,400, and Omaha, the British at Figures Sword - 28,845) Gold and Sword and Cana- General Gerard General J.T General Leonard General Joseph On D-Day, General Dwight Troops parachuted or landed dian troops at Juno. Bucknall Crocker T. Gerow L. Collins D. Eisenhower commanded a by glider • It was vital that D-Day take Commander Br 30 Commander Br 1st Commander Am 5th Commander Am 7th force without parallel in history. • Americans - 15,500 place on the date of the Corps - Gold Corps - Gold & Juno Corps - Omaha Corps - Utah Naval Forces • British - 7.990 highest half- at the most Ships • Total - 24.900 Westerly beach (Utah), 40 • 138 warships Total land forces deployed minutes after first light and Admiral Alan G. Kirk Admiral Sir Philip Vian • 221 destroyers, frigates, cor- • 156,205 following a night when the Tactical Naval Forces West Tactical Naval Forces East vettes moon rose between 01h00 • 187 mine sweepers Trivia and 02h00. Such occasion • 495 smaller vessels • Planning for Operation occur only three days each tune’ was the code name for pected someone was trying Allied Forces would invade • 58 submarine chasers Overlord began in earnest month and in June 1944 they the landings, ‘Overlord’ was to pass information to the France from the northern • 4,000 of all in 1943 with Dwight D were the 5th, 6th and 7th of the ensuing battle for Nor- enemy, although a search of coast. To fortify and prepare types Eisenhower made supreme that month. If the invasion mandy and a ‘Bigot’ was the writer’s home and office for this, he assigned Erwin • 441 auxiliary Naval craft commander. British general wasn’t launched on one of the code name for someone turned up nothing. Rommel to head construc- and small boats Bernard Montgomery, hero those three days it would who had high level security • Operation Overload was the tion of defenses. Rommel • 864 Merchant Navy ships of the Eighth Army in North have had to be postponed for clearance. name given to the whole was placed in charge of fin- • Over 300 other small craft Africa, was put in charge of another month. • In 1944 authorities became of the Normandy Invasion. ishing Hitler’s Atlantic Wall Servicemen the ground troops. • D-Day was originally set for concerned when a number of Each separate task was which consisted of 3,800 km • 112,824 British sailors • About 3,200 June 5 but had to be post- secret code names appeared named differently. Opera- of bunkers, landmines, and • 52,889 American sailors missions were launched in poned for 24 hours because as answers in the Daily Tele- tion Neptune was the am- various obstacles to make a • 4,998 other Allied service- the run-up to the invasion of bad weather. graph’s crossword puzzle. phibious invasion, Opera- beach landing more difficult men to take photos of vital loca- • During D-Day preparations In the month before the D- tion Pointblank the massive and hazardous for the Allies. • 25,000 Merchant navy tions. top-secret code names were Day attacks, no less than bombing campaign prior to • A phantom army of dummy • Total - 195,701 • In the summer of 1943 an used to hide the allies’ plans five code names, including the invasion, and Operation camps, planes and tanks was Air Forces early copy of the plans blew from the enemy. ‘Utah’, ‘Utah’, ‘Omaha’ and ‘Nep- Bodyguard to ensure infor- constructed in Kent and Es- Aircraft out of a window in Norfolk ‘Omaha’, ‘Gold’, and tune’ were spotted in the mation of the invasion never sex in order to deceive Ger- • 11,590 aircraft House, London. A man who ‘Sword’ were beaches on the puzzle answers. Alarm bells reached the Germans. mans into thinking the inva- • 3,500 gliders was passing by handed them Normandy coastline, ‘Nep- rang at MI5, which sus- • Hitler anticipated that the sion would be at Calais.

6 7 • On 28 April 1944, eight coast of France, surfacing ships full of US servicemen on the morning of D-Day to and equipment were mak- guide in the invading craft ing their way to the Devon using beacons. coast in the UK to take part • Defences on the beaches in a rehearsal for the D-Day included concrete gun em- landings. Unfortunately, a placements, wooden stakes, mistake in their paperwork mines, anti-tank obstacles, meant the ships were using barbed wire and booby different radio frequencies, traps. Around 50,000 Ger- so when a group of German man troops opposed the D-1: At 23h00 on 5 June 24,000 British and American airborne boats picked up on the heavy troops dropped behind German lines. Their objective was to landing forces. radio traffic, the slow-mov- seize vital roads and brides ahead of the landings at Normandy. • General Dwight Eisenhower ing US landing ships and NOT THE REAL THING: A dummy tank is moved into place. An once said “Andrew Higgins entire phantom army was created in order to deceive the Ger- their lack of communication is the man who won the war mans into thinking the invasion would be at Calais. begin a programme of sabo- man military while the main proved to be easy targets for tage. Phrases used included forces landed further to the for us”. But who is Andrew the German torpedoes. In “le dés est sur le tapis” (the west. Higgins? Higgins is the total some 800 people were dent. He apparently confid- • Eisenhower’s famous state- dice is on the carpet) – an • The first British casualty man who designed and built killed in the botched opera- ed his fears to his wife the ment to the troops as he order to destroy trains and on D-Day was Lt “Den” LCVPs, the amphibious ve- tion, a heavier loss than on evening before the landings gave the order for Operation railway lines. Brotheridge, shot in the hicles that enabled the Al- some of the D-Day beaches. telling her: “Do you realise Overlord open with “You • High command thought a neck shortly after landing in lied forces to cross the chan- Worried about leaked intelli- that by the time you wake up are about to embark upon successful landing would France in a glider at 00h16. nel. Eisenhower is reported gence and a drop in morale, in the morning 20,000 men the Great Crusade, toward cost 10,000 dead and 30,000 His unit was tasked with to have said, “If Higgins had Allied commanders ordered may have been killed?” which we have striven these wounded – 30,000 stretchers taking the crucial target of not designed and built those a blackout on all informa- • Over the years many people many months. The eyes of and 60,000 blankets were is- Pegasus Bridge, an objec- LCVPs, we never could tion about the attack and have wondered what the ‘D’ the world are upon you.” sued. tive that was achieved. have landed over an open some families never found in D-Day stands for; some • US General Dwight D. • From 23h00 on 5 June some • Many paratroopers that day beach. The whole strategy out how their relatives had have suggested Disem- Eisenhower wrote a let- 24,000 airborne troops were were dropped in the wrong of the war would have been died. barkement-Day, Decision- ter that was to be opened delivered behind the Ger- place including US Private different.” • Terence Otway, whose unit Day and even Death-Day. ‘in case of failure’. In it he man lines to secure im- John Steele. His parachute • The flat-bottomed landing was tasked with attacking In reality the D just stands wrote “Our landings in the portant roads and bridges. famously became snagged craft were originally de- the Merville battery on D- for ‘Day’. D-Day and H- Cherbourg-Havre area have Along with more than 2,000 on the church steeple at signed to rescue flood vic- Day, wanted to be sure that Hour represent the secret failed to gain a satisfactory aircraft, 867 gliders were Sainte-Mère- Eglise. He was tims on the Mississippi river his men wouldn’t leak this time and day an operation foothold and I have with- used. trapped for two hours before in the US. highly sensitive information is set to begin, so before drawn the troops. My deci- • To add to the illusion, early being taken prisoner. • US troops went ashore in advance, so to test securi- and after WWII many other sion to attack at this time on D-Day morning “Ru- • At 03h00 1,900 Allied on the landing beaches at ty he send thirty of the pret- operations had a ‘D-Day’. and place was based upon perts” – dummies dressed bombers attacked German 06h31, followed an hour lat- tiest members of the Wom- The day before D-Day was the best information avail- in paratrooper uniforms lines. A staggering three er by the British and Canadi- en’s Auxiliary Air Force, in known as ‘D-1’ and the day able. The troops, the air and complete with boots and million kilograms of bombs ans on their beaches. There civilian clothes, down to the after as ‘D+1’, meaning that the Navy did all that bravery helmets – were dropped in were dropped that day. A to- were 61,715 British troops, local pubs. The women were if the day of the operation and devotion to duty could Normandy and the Pas-de- tal of 10,521 combat aircraft 21,400 Canadian soldiers told to do all they could try changed, all the dates in do. If any blame or fault at- Calais. The dummies were flew a total of 15,000 sorties and 73,000 Americans. and get the information. the plans did not have to be taches to the attempt it is equipped with recordings on D-Day, with 113 lost. • The heaviest losses were None of the men fell into the changed. mine alone.” The letter is of gunfire, while the real • A naval bombardment from on where US trap. • New gadgets designed for D- mistakenly signed July 5 in- troops supplied additional seven battleships, 18 cruis- forces suffered 2,000 casu- • Despite his well-document- Day included a “ stead of June 5; presumably sound effects to create the ers, and 43 destroyers began alties. ed capacity for inspirational tank” and a flame throwing he was a little preoccupied illusion of a large scale air- at 05h00 and went on until • Field Marshal Erwin Rom- speeches, on the night before tank called “the crocodile”. at the time. borne attack. This operation, 06h25. Midget submarines, mel was in charge of de- D-Day Winston Churchill There were even collapsible • Coded messages were sent code-named “Titanic,” was called X-boats, lay sub- fending northern France was feeling less than confi- motorbikes. to alert French Resistance to designed to distract the Ger- merged in the sea off the from the expected Allied in- 8 9 were accidently destroyed hands, and Caen, a major by a lab technician. objective, was not captured • The victory in Normandy until 21 July. Only two of can’t be traced to a single the beaches (Juno and Gold) moment. The Germans had were linked on the first day, been unable to complete the and all five beachheads were Atlantic Wall and the de- not connected until 12 June. ception tactics had paid off • British Prime Minister Win- with many of the German ston Churchill landed on forces diverted from the key the beach at Gray-sur-Mer coasts. Even the French Re- (Juno) on 12 June, General sistance, having heard from de Gaulle on 14 June and their English sources of the King George VI on 16 June. invasion, had launched suc- On 6 June the Canadian 50th cessful attacks that slowed Infantry Division had landed BEAM ME UP SCOTTY: German reinforcements. at Juno and by the end of the James Doohan, who played • The Allies failed to achieve day had landed 21,400 men, the part of chief engineer Mont- any of their goals on the first 3,200 vehicles and 1,100 gomery Scott in Star Trek took day. Carentan, St. Lô, and tons of supplies. part in the D-Day landings. Bayeux remained in German Key Allied role players - D-Day HITTING THE BEACHES: American troops come ashore from one of the landing craft. By the evening of the first day more than 150,000 troops had been landed on the five beaches.

vasion. On 6 June he was at the failure to capture the city • Actor Richard Todd starred home in Germany celebrat- of Caen, D-Day saw the Al- in The Longest Day, a 1962 ing his wife’s 50th birthday lies establish a successful film about D-Day, as Major having been told the sea was beachhead from which they John Howard. He was in- too rough for a landing. could continue the invasion volved in the real landings • Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was of Normandy. By the eve- as an officer in the 7th Para- asleep when word of the in- ning of the first day, along chute Battalion. vasion arrived. No one dared with more than 150,000 • James Doohan, who would wake him and it’s said vital men, 20,000 vehicles had go on to find fame as Scotty time was lost in sending re- been landed. in Star Trek, was a lieuten- inforcements. • The Allies ferried two pre- ant in the Royal Canadian Dwight D. Eisenhower Arthur Tedder Walter Bedell-Smith • Spanish-born double agent fabricated harbours called Artillery on D-Day and lost Garbo plied the Germans Mulberries across the Chan- a finger during the fray. with misinformation that led nel to help supply the beach- • The stunning Omaha Beach them to believe the Norman- head with equipment. The scene in the 1998 movie dy landings were just a ruse. one at Arromanches in- Saving Private Ryan, star- • The newly developed drug volved 600,000 tons of con- ring Tom Hanks, cost $9,24 penicillin went with troops crete. million to film and used on D-Day and saved thou- • Total Allied casualties on D- 1,000 extras. sands of lives. Day were much lighter than • Famous photographer Rob- • Condoms were issued to feared – around 10,000 with ert Capa captured some of soldiers – most were used 4,572 killed including 1,641 the most memorable images for covering the end of their Brits. The Germans are es- of the action though only rifles to keep them dry. timated to have lost about a handful of the frames he • Despite setbacks, including 9,000. took survived. The others Bertram Ramsay Traffod Leigh-Mallory Bernard Montgomery 10 11 B-29 Superfortress bombers Military myths and urban legends during the Pacific Campaign. He flew 25 missions and was Over the next few months we will be looking at some well-known, and some lesser awarded the Purple Heart for known, myths and legends about the military and seeing if they are true or not. injuries sustained during a raid on Japan.

id you know that Hit- during the , in- War. He had the sec- The Myth ler’s real surname was flicting over 150,000 casualties ond highest amount of During World War II a British DSchicklgruber? Or that on the Germans and destroy- kills during the war. His hit officer disabled a German tank Roosevelt knew that Pearl Har- ing over 800 tanks. The French song “Sunshine On My Shoul- with an umbrella. bour was going to happen? And army was let down by poor der” was actually about his ex- The Verdict of course you must know that leadership, dumb tactics, bad ploits as a sniper. True carrots help you see in the dark. logistics and commanders try- The Verdict The Reality And if you did know any of ing to fight a defensive war. False Major Digby Tatham-Wart- the above, sorry to disillusion The Reality er was a British paratrooper you, but none of it is true. The Myth Not only was Denver not a dropped at Arnhem during Op- It’s not surprising that myths US President Franklin D. sniper in Vietnam, he never eration Market Garden. will spring up about wars, the Roosevelt knew that the attack served in the US Military at any He said that he carried an um- events that took place during on Pearl Harbour was going stage. brella with him because he al- wars, and the people that fought to take place. He allowed it to THE FUHRER QUICK STEP: Adolf Hitler danced a jig on learn- ways had trouble remembering in them. While some of them happen as a pretext for war. The Myth ing the news that France had surrendered. Or did he? the passwords after a drop. Few are true, most of them are noth- The Verdict A German U-boat, the men could mistake the man car- ing more than myths and urban False U-1206, sank when the experi- sub came under attack and was The Myth rying an umbrella in the middle legends. The Reality mental toilet it used overflowed, badly damaged. The captain or- Hollywood actors Jimmy of a war to be anything but Brit- Over the next few months we While there were fears that causing a flood that could not dered it to be scuttled. Stewart and Charles Bronson ish. will examine a few of them and the Japanese were going to be stopped. were decorated World War II During the failed attempt to see whether they are true, or launch an attack, the Americans The Verdict The Myth veterans. hold the bridge at Arnhem he nothing more than a myth. had no idea of where and when True (kind of...) When France surrendered af- The Verdict actually did disable a German it would happen. The Reality ter only six weeks Hitler was True tank by thrusting the umbrella The Myth Pearl Harbour was a combi- This story is true. Well al- so overcome with joy that he The Reality through the observation slit of France meekly surrendered to nation of bad luck, poor train- most true. The U-1206 was a danced a jig that was captured Both Stewart and Bronson the tank and wounding the driv- Germany in 1940 because the ing, and bitter rivalry between new German submarine carry- on camera. served in the US Army Air er. French were cowards. branches of the US military. ing a newly developed form of The Verdict Corps during World War II. Another account was when The Verdict The US Navy believed that high- toilet that could False Stewart served with a B-24 the battalion chaplain was False the Japanese did not have the be used at lower depths than the The Reality squadron and flew over 20 pinned down by mortar fire, The Reality ability to attack Pearl Harbour older systems. On learning the news that over Europe. Tatham-Warter walked over, While it is true that the because of its shallow depth, While on patrol the captain France had surrendered after He was decorated with two Dis- opened the umbrella as if to French did surrender quickly making it almost impossible to had to use the heads and when only six weeks, Hitler took a tinguished Flying Crosses, the give him cover from the fire, - the Germans achieved this in launch torpedoes from planes. he went to flush the toilet he ac- slight step back in shock. The French , and and calmly escorted the chap- six weeks, something they had The incoming Japanese cidentally opened a valve to the event was indeed captured on multiple Air Medals. lain to safety. been unable to do in four years planes were detected by radar outside. film. Bronson, who was born Wounded and captured, he during World War I - the rea- but no warning was passed on. This caused water to flood in The British then edited the Charles Dennis Buchinsky, escaped from the hospital with sons are oversimplified. Radar was brand new and being which contacted the subs bat- film to make it look as if Hitler came from a family that was so another British officer. The French were relying operated by men who barely teries, causing deadly chlorine was dancing a silly jig. It was a poor that he had to wear his sis- heavily on the Maginot Line knew how to use it at the time. gas to form. clever bit of propaganda by the ter’s dress to school. Trust you enjoyed these. Next to stop the German advance. In order to vent the gas the British and it certainly worked. He worked in a coal mine un- month we’ll look at a few more Instead of attacking it the Ger- The Myth captain ordered the sub to sur- It stirred up outrage and mock- til he was drafted into the US military myths and urban leg- mans went around it. US country singer John Den- face, which it did, right in front ery of Hitler. Army Air Corps. Trained as ends and see how many are true. French troops fought hard ver was a sniper during the of the Scottish coastline. The an aerial gunner, he served on 12 13 Pretoria. The Maleoskop Statue Once the statues were in safe custody, the SAP COIN Unit Veterans League requested per- Group and its story mission on two occasions (2015 Article written byHJ van Heerden and edited by MR Loubser. & 2016), to relocate the statues at the Voortrekker Monument he first shots in the South African Air Force and 1 Para- ter Insurgency (COIN) duties in for permanent placement in the African Border War that chute Battalion) and armed a full combatant role in Rhode- Garden of Remembrance. Both Twould last for 23 years SWAPO/PLAN guerillas. sia (now Zimbabwe), the South these requests were rejected were fired on the South West The following Bush War West African border and borders due to the so called “Apartheid” African (now Namibia) and legends, Captain “Rooi Rus” of the Republic of South Africa. connection of the statues. Angolan border on the 26th Swanepoel, Captain Johan Vik- In the early 1970`s all mem- In the beginning of 2017, a August 1966 during a contact tor (both SA Police) and Cap- bers of the SA Police who were COIN League Veteran, indi- at Ongulumbashe in the west of tain Jan Breytenbach (SA De- called to do duties on the bor- cated the availability of a piece Ovamboland. fence Force), formed part of the ders were exposed to a 6 week of land that could be developed ROUTE MARCH: COIN training at Maleoskop 1970 to 1989. This is regarded as the first first contact. Counter Insurgency (COIN) in a memorial and where these confrontation between the For the entire duration of the Training programme on a farm statues could permanently be South Africa Security Forces Border War (1966 to 1989), in the Northern Transvaal close and land was handed over dur- Unit Veterans League to en- relocated in the north of Preto- (that consisted of members of members of the South African to the town of Groblersdal. ing 2003, to a local indigenous able the restoration and reloca- ria. The proposal was investi- the South African Police, South Police (SAP) performed Coun- This training facility was tribe after a successful land tion to an acceptable Garden of gated and later discussed at the called Maleoskop and over the claim. The statue group was Remembrance. After a lengthy AGM of the SAP COIN Veter- years to follow, vast numbers of then removed and relocated to and difficult negotiation pro- ans League and agreed to en- SA Police members who would the South African Police Ser- cess, the request was granted gage in a formal 99 year lease- serve in the SA Police COIN vice (SAPS) Transport Museum and on the 25th of April 2015, hold period to obtain the land unit received specialized COIN in the Pretoria CBD. Since 2008 the two statues were transferred and erect the statues as part of and tactical training at this fa- numerous military and police to a place of safe keeping in a memorial. cility. associations requested permis- In memory of the more than sion to relocate the statues to 107 police officers who paid the Voortrekker Monument in the highest price performing the Garden of Remembrance. COIN duties, Colonel Buks van The SAPS management at the Staden, a crafty sculptor, was time rejected the requests. commissioned to create the Ma- After the closure of the SAPS leoskop Statue Group. Colonel Transport Museum the statues van Staden cast these statues by were vandalized and seriously melting thousands of spent R1 damaged. The four arms were Cartridges. broken off, the rucksack, two R These statues depict a stand- 1 rifles and bronze Roll of Hon- ing white policeman protecting our were sold to unscrupulous his kneeling wounded black scrap dealers and melted - lost brother at arms in a combat situ- forever. ation. On the 1st of April 1987, During May 2014, the SA the Maleoskop Memorial con- Police COIN Unit Veterans sisting of the statue group and League was established and in a scroll of honour was unveiled 2015 submitted a request to the by the Deputy Minister of Law management of the South Afri- and Order, Mr. Roelf Meyer. can Police Service for the trans- THEN AND NOW: Mr Roelf Meyer during unveiling at Maleos- Due to the winds of change, fer of ownership of the statue kop on the 1st April 1987 (left). The statues at the SAPS Trans- the Maleoskop training centre group to the SA Police COIN port Museum in Pretoria after they were damaged (right). 14 15 https://www.patreon.com/militarydespatches

ast month I wrote an ar- As stated, we will not be plac- to become patrons of Military ticle titled “Qua Vadis ing paid advertising in Military Despatches. You can click on LMilitary Despatches”. It Despatches at any time. Any ad- the link above to go to the page was about some of the reasons verts in the magazine are there and see what it is all about. why I do this monthly online free of charge and because we We would like people to be- magazine. feel that it is something that come patrons, yet no-one is One of the main reasons for will be of interest or benefit to under any obligation to do so. doing this publication is to try our readers. We have no intention of ever and raise funds to assist military So if you have an event that becoming a ‘subscribers only’ veterans. you wish to promote, let us magazine. It will remain free WE WILL REMEMBER THEM: The annual commemoration of the Battle of Ongulumbashe held That taken into account, Mili- know in time and we will do and you will be free to distrib- on 26 August 2017. tary Despatches is, and will re- our best to accommodate you. ute it to whoever you want. main, a free online magazine We have also started a page Thanks for your support. In order to commemorate the bat Assosiacion, 102 Battalion, who was a participant in the for military enthusiasts. on Patreon for those that wish memory of the 107 SAP COIN MOTHS, SA Legion and SA Battle of Ongulumbashe on 26 Unit members who died in the Air Force Society, amongst oth- August 1966 when it all began. war, the COIN Unit Veterans ers. In future the annual COIN Useful links League have an annual Com- The development of the SAP Unit commemoration service memoration service and this COIN Memorial will be con- will be held on the 3rd Saturday Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- year it was held on the 26th of ducted in four phases, the proj- of August to commemorate the line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. August 2017. The statues were ect involves a pedestal for the Battle of Ongulumbashe and to Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for transferred to the relocation site statues and a memorial wall pay homage to our fallen com- veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The to be erected and restored to it`s containing the Roll of Honour rades who made the ultimate second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click previous glory for the memori- and other emblems. The physi- sacrifice and never returned on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. al service. The COIN Veterans cal restoration of the two dam- home. League members spent a couple aged statues will be the fifth of Saturdays and this resulted in and last phase. RIP: Lt Genl JJ Viktor (SOE) the timeous temporary erection In order to accumulate funds (17/12/1929 - 5/7/2017) of the statues, ready for the big for the development and res- day. toration of the Statues and the Bibliography: The big day eventually ar- memorial project, the COIN Els PJ; 2004. Ongulumbashe: rived and on the 26th August Unit Veterans League commis- Die begin van die Bosoorlog. 2017, the memory of our fallen sioned 120 numbered miniature Groep 7 Drukkers . comrades was honoured at the replicas of the Statues as a lim- www.groep7.co.za Maleoskop Statue Group at ited edition. the new memorial site. In at- They are issued with a cer- Lubbe L; 2014. Van Owam- tendance were Veterans from tificate of authenticity signed boland tot Mashonaland: Inter- the SA Police COIN Unit Vet- by the first Honorary President pak Books erans League, the KOEVOET of the COIN Veterans League, [email protected] Veterans League, SADF Para- the late Lt Genl JJ Viktor (SOE) 16 17 would arrive as normal and The best things in life are free climb onto the train. We would find an empty compartment One of the most important things for a conscript in the South African Defence Force was his week- and entrench ourselves in the end pass. Getting home though was often a problem. luggage rack. The train would arrive at or a national serviceman When we left the camp we at about 8.00pm and would Heidelberg at 7.00am the fol- in the South African walked about five kilometres then arrive in Durban at about lowing morning and we would FDefence Force (SADF) up the N3 so that there was less 9.00am the following morning. climb off the train on the side nothing was more important of a chance of the Military Po- This was a perfect method of opposite the platform. that a weekend pass. Often, lice finding us hitching. It was transport because it was reli- Clive and I would then have however, it was a mission to freezing cold that night and able, warm, and comfortable. to jog back to camp to ensure get home. there was very little traffic on The only drawback was the that we made it in time. Most national servicemen the road. fact that a 2nd Class return ticket Although we were supposed did not have their own cars and We stood on the side of the would set you back R45.00. In to check in by midnight on the even if they did they were not road until about ten o’clock 1976 that was still a fair whack Sunday, we had received spe- allowed to keep them on the that night and we didn’t get of money, especially if you re- FREE RIDE: Catching a train home for the weekend was ex- cial permission to arrive late base. For many of them the a lift. Eventually we walked ceived a national serviceman’s pensive for your average national serviceman. Unless you because we told our company only way to get home was to back to camp, went to our bun- salary. There was no way that stowed away for a free ride that is. commander that we travelled hitch hike. galow and went to sleep. The Clive and I could afford that by train. Before the introduction of the following morning we decided type of money. I had a plan up that the conductor did not spot in our case, it was perfect to I must tell you this bit ‘Ride Safe’ campaign hitching to abandon our attempt at go- my sleeve though. When the you for the next 13 hours. To hide two young troops. though. One Friday night we in uniform was against stand- ing home and we spent most train arrived in Heidelberg the achieve this we had to be very As I said, we would shove were heading down to Durban ing orders. Still, most national of the weekend wandering ticket inspector, or conductor, tricky. our bags under the seats and and we climbed on the train servicemen did it. around Heidelberg. If you’ve would jump off onto the plat- It was no good sitting in the then climb into the luggage at Heidelberg and found our- The other options were to ei- ever been to Heidelberg you form and then count how many compartment without a care rack, jump into our sleeping selves an empty compartment. ther catch a plane or a train, but will know that this is about as people were boarding the train in the world because the con- bags, and make ourselves as We would normally find a both of these were expensive. much fun as watching paint at Heidelberg. This was not ductor would usually do a few comfortable as possible. If the 1st Class compartment be- Especially on a national ser- dry. The most exciting think that difficult because it was patrols up and down the train. conductor walked past and cause there was more chance viceman’s salary. Some, how- in Heidelberg at that time was usually only a handful of pas- He had a list that showed ex- looked into the compartment, of finding one empty that in ever, did come up with a plan. going to watch the traffic lights sengers. The conductor would actly who was supposed to be it would appear to be empty 2nd Class. Ryan Murphy did his basic change colour. I don’t know if then know how many tickets on the train and it also showed because there was no way that So anyway we find an empty training at the Army Gymna- much has changed since then. he had to check. what compartments they were he would spot us in the luggage compartment, stow our bags, sium in 1976 and he explains Two weeks later we received Clive and I waited across the supposed to be in. If he saw rack unless he walked into the and climb into the luggage rack how he avoided standing in the another weekend pass and railway line on the far side of two army guys sitting in a compartment, turned around, to settle down for the night. cold with his thumb extended, this time I was determined to the platform. When the train compartment that he knew and checked the luggage space. When the train arrived at hoping for someone to stop get home. Clive and I left the arrived we ran up and climbed was supposed to be empty he It may not have been the most Newcastle in the early hours of and give him a lift. camp and walked into town to on from the opposite side to would have immediately asked comfortable trip but at least the morning, Clive and I were I did basics in the July in- a steakhouse, the only one in the platform. By doing this we for our tickets. Likewise if he we knew that we were head- fast asleep. Some guy board- take of 76. I was at the Army Heidelberg, called the Golden had avoided being seen by the came upon a compartment that ing home and it wasn’t costing ed the train and came into the Gymnasium in Heidelberg and Egg. We had a plate of chips conductor, so he would not be was supposed to be empty and us anything. The next morning compartment. What we didn’t at the time I lived in Durban and a cold drink and then looking for us to check on our the door was locked from the there were usually plenty of realise was that this poor sap, North. walked down to Heidelberg tickets. inside he would put two and people climbing off in Durban, who was on his way to Durban, One of my friends at school railway station. This was a dis- Which was probably just as two together very quickly. so it was unlikely that the con- had paid extra to hire the entire had been a guy by the name of tance of about four kilometres. well because we didn’t have Above the door in each com- ductor would even notice you. compartment for himself. Clive and we did basics togeth- The Trans-Natal Express is a ticket. Once on the train we partment was a luggage space On the Sunday night we So he walks in and tries to er. On our first weekend pass a train that used to run every would find an empty compart- that extended out over the cor- would reverse the procedure. put his bags under the seats but Clive and I decided to hitch day between Johannesburg and ment and stash our bags under ridor of the train. Because most of the people they don’t seem to fit. He looks down to Durban. What an ab- Durban. In those days it would the seats. You could store a fair amount catching the Trans-Natal would under the seats and sees that solute nightmare. arrive at Heidelberg station The trick was then to ensure of baggage in that space or, as board at Durban Station, we there are already bags there. 18 19 Ride Safe Campaign

TRAVEL IN STYLE: According to Murphy it was always best to For any soldier in any hide in a 1st class compartment. Normally because there was army, getting home on leave more of a chance of finding one empty. is special. For those con- Then he tries to put his stuff nally fallen asleep. scripts that served in the old into the luggage rack on of The next morning he had SADF it was just as special. course he sees these two pairs rolled out from under the seat, Towards the end of their of bleary eyes looking down at shocking the hell out of these basic training, troops were him. To say that he was upset four guys who were now wide- given leave over a weekend. would be putting in mildly. awake. Luckily for him they It was known as a pass. He stormed off to find the had seen the funny side of it If they were not on the conductor and Clive and I knew and they hid him in the com- border or on duty, troops Bush War Books has probably one of the finest we were in trouble. We jumped partment until the train arrived would normally receive a down from the luggage rack, in Durban. pass weekend every second collections of military titles available. Especially grabbed our bags, and headed When we did arrive in Dur- week. However these could, on the South African Border War. out of the compartment. ban I jumped off the train and and often were, cancelled for I told Clive that we should headed for the exit as quickly a variety of reasons. split up because the conductor as possible. There were some The main problem facing would be looking for two of us. other army guys on the train troops was how to get home. I spent the rest of the night and I saw that the conductor For many the only option Click here to visit their website. ducking and diving the con- had cornered them and was de- was to hitch hike or thumb ductor. At one stage I hid in a manding to see their tickets. I a lift. This, however, was toilet and used my back and met up with Clive outside the against SADF Standing Or- feet to brace myself between station and we headed home. ders and troops found hitch- the walls up near the roof. The Sneaking a ride on the train ing could be charged. conductor actually opened the was kind of fun and it still Eventually the SADF door and looked into the toilet. brings back pleasant memo- came up with the Ride Safe If he had looked up I would ries. I sometimes wonder how Campaign. Troops on pass have been bust. easy it would be to get away were issued with a Day-Glo Clive headed down towards with stuff like that now. orange sash and there were 2nd Class and he saw a com- Maybe one weekend I’ll take designated pick up points for partment door that was slightly a train trip down to Durban and those wish to give a troop a opened. He had quietly opened see if I can still pull it off. That lift. the door and on entering he had would be a gas. Matt Hurter, a local musi- seen that there were four guys cian, even did a song to pro- mote the campaign. asleep in the compartment. He “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” had slid under the seat and fi- 20 00 At the end of World War II the were no longer required and in- been based at Hereford since Head to Head British Government saw no fur- stead they were sent to fight in 1960. ther need for the SAS and it was the Malayan Emergency. In 1959 the third regiment, disbanded on 8 October 1945. Mike Calvert had already 23rd SAS Regiment, was SAS - Navy Seals - Spetsnaz The following year the gov- formed a new unit called the formed by renaming the Re- ost countries that have unconventional tactics, tech- hostage rescue, high-value tar- ernment had a rethink and de- Malayan Scouts (SAS) and had serve Reconnaissance Unit. a military force will niques, and modes of employ- gets/man-hunting, intelligence cided that there was a need for formed a squadron of 100 vol- Since then 22 SAS Regiment also have a special ment”. operations, mobility operations, a deep-penetration unteers. They became A Squad- has taken part in operations M unit. ron, 21 SAS squadron became B around the world. This includes forces element. Depending on the country, and unconventional warfare. NATO defines special op- may perform In Head to Head this month The Artists Rifles took on the Squadron, and 1,000 Rhodesian countries such as , erations as “military activities some of the following func- we will be looking at three dif- mantle as 21st SAS Regiment volunteers became C Squadron. Oman, Aden, Northern Ireland, conducted by specially des- tions: airborne operations, ferent special forces units from on 1 January 1947. By this stage the British had Gambia, the Falklands, Bosnia, ignated, organised, trained, counter-insurgency, “counter- three different countries, name- In 1951 21 SAS squadron recognised the need for a regu- Kosovo, Sierra Leone, , and equipped forces, manned terrorism”, foreign internal de- ly Britain, the and was raised to fight in the Ko- lar army SAS regiment. 22nd , Syria and other with selected personnel, using fense, covert ops, , Russia. rean War. After three months of SAS Regiment was added to countries. training they were told that they the army list in 1952 and have The Units SEALS

The United States Navy’s On 23 November 1943, the Korea. Sea, Air and Land Teams, better U.S. Marine landing on Tarawa Admiral , the known as the Navy SEALs, are Atoll accentuated the need for Chief of Naval Operations, rec- the US Navy’s prmiary special hydrographic reconnaissance ommended the establishment of operations force and a compo- and of guerrilla and counter-guerrilla nent of the Naval Special War- obstacles prior to any amphibi- units. fare Command. ous landing. This led to the for- This was the beginning of The Navy SEALs can trace mation of Underwater Demoli- the Navy SEALs. All SEALs their roots back to World War II tion Teams (UDT). came from the Navy’s Under- Special Air United States when the US Navy recognised During the UDT water Demolition Teams. The Spetsnaz Service (SAS) Navy SEALS the need for the covert recon- units worked closely with the first two teams were formed in naissance of landing beaches Republic of Korea naval spe- and stationed on and coastal defences. cial forces. both US coasts: Team One at History In 1942 the Amphibious In 1961 President John F. Naval Amphibious Base Coro- Special Air Service Scout and Raider School was Kennedy was passionate about nado, in , California established at Fort Pierce, Flor- the need for unconventional and Team TWO at Naval Am- The SAS was founded in tachment, Special Air Service ever, was a major success. ida. The Scouts and Raiders warfare and phibious Base Little Creek, in 1941 as a regiment and in 1950 Brigade, was formed in Transported by the Long Range were a joint US Army, Marine as a measure against guerrilla Virginia Beach, Virginia. it was reconstituted as a corps. July 1941 by David Stirling and Desert Group, it attacked three and Navy unit. warfare. Seal Teams One and Two saw Presently the corps consists was intended to be a commando airfields in , destroying 60 In September 1942 Navy In a speech to Congress he an- extensive combat in Vietnam. of 22 Special Air Service Regi- force that operated behind ene- aircraft with the loss of 2 men Combat Demolition Units were nounced his intention to spend They amassed a combined kill/ ment, 21 (Artists) Special Air my lines. It consisted of five of- and 3 Willys Jeeps. In Septem- trained in demolitions, explo- over $100 million to strengthen death ratio of 200:1. Service Regiment (Reserve) ficers and 60 other ranks. ber 1942, it was renamed 1st sive cable cutting and comman- U.S. special operations forces Since Vietnam the Navy and 23 Special Air Service Their first mission, in No- SAS, consisting at that time do raiding techniques at ATB and expand American capabili- SEALs have taken part in op- Regiment (Reserve). 21 and 23 vember 1941, was a disaster. It of four British squadrons, one Little Creek in Virginia. ties in unconventional warfare. erations in countries such as Regiments are reserve units un- was a parachute drop in support Free French, one Greek, and the Some of the earliest World Kennedy did not, however, Grenada, Panama, the Persian der the operational command of Operation Crusader. A total Folboat Section. The Folboat War II predecessors of the create the Navy SEALs. His an- Gulf, , Iraq, Afghani- of 1st Intelligence, Surveillance of 22 men, a third of the unit, Section would later go on to be- SEALs were the Operational nouncement was only a formal stan, Philippines and the Horn and Reconnaissance Brigade. were killed or captured. come the Swimmers of the Office of Stra- acknowledgement of a process of Africa. Originally known as L De- Their second mission, how- (SBS). tegic Services, or OSS. that had been under way since 22 23 Spetsnaz using , using kay- of skis, snowshoes and moun- techniques, and hostage rescue aks and rigid-hulled inflatable tain climbing techniques. in buildings or on public trans- Spetsnaz is the abbrevia- naval brigades and a number functions have created special boats. They often train with the The four squadrons rotate port. tion for Войска специального of separate detachments and units also known as Spetsnaz, Special Boat Service. duty. One is maintained on Their first deployment was назначения, tr. Voyska spetsial- companies, operating under the such as the Leader special cen- Air troop specialise in free Counter Terrorism duty in the during the Balcombe Street nogo naznacheniya which can Main Intelligence Directorate tre in the Ministry of Emergen- fall parachuting and high alti- UK, a second is on deployment, Siege in December 1975. Mem- be translated as Special Pur- (GRU) and collectively known cy Situations (MChS). tude parachute operations that a third will be preparing for bers of the Provisional Irish pose Forces or Special Purpose as Spetsnaz GRU. 2013 saw the creation of the include High Altitude Low deployment while doing short Republican Army (PIRA) had Military Units. Historically These units and formations Special Operations Forces of Opening (HALO) and High Al- term training, and the fourth been trapped in a flat by the they were special military units existed in the highest possible the Russian Federation en- titude High Opening (HAHO) will be preparing for long-term Metropolitan Police. After a six controlled by the military intel- , and were disguised compassing all special military techniques. overseas training such as jungle day siege the PIRA unit heard ligence service GRU. as Soviet paratroopers (Army units in the Armed Forces of the Mobility troop use vehicles or desert exercises. on BBC Radio that the SAS In 1950, Georgy Zhukov spetsnaz) or naval infantrymen Russian Federation. and are experts in desert war- After the massacre at the 1972 were being sent in. They then advocated the creation of 46 (Naval spetsnaz) by their uni- Spetsnaz were very active fare. They are also trained to an Summer Olympics, British surrendered. military spetsnaz companies, forms and insignia. during the Soviet war in Af- advance level of motor mechan- Prime Minister Edward Heath The first documented ac- each consisting of 120 service- Twenty-four years after the ghanistan and the Mujahideen ics and can field-repair most ve- ordered that an SAS Counter tion abroad by the CRW wing men. This was the first use of birth of Spetsnaz, the first had great respect for them. hicle breakdowns. Revolutionary Wing (CRW) be was assisting the West German “spetsnaz” to denote a separate counter-terrorist unit was estab- After the collapse of the Mountain troop are special- established. counter-terrorism group GSG 9 military branch since World lished by the Chairman of the USSR, Spetsnaz forces of the ists in Arctic combat and sur- They are trained in Close at in 1977. War II. KGB, Yuri Andropov. From the Soviet Union’s newly formed vival. The are trained in the use Quarter Battle (CQB), sniper These companies were later late 1970s through the 1980s, republics took part in many lo- expanded to battalions and then a number of special-purpose cal conflicts such as the Civil United States Navy SEALS to brigades. However, some units were created in the KGB war in Tajikistan, Chechen separate companies (orSpN) and the Ministry of Internal Af- Wars, Russo-Georgian War and There are 10 Navy SEAL sonnel. Operations. and detachments (ooSpN) ex- fairs (MVD). the Crimea Crisis. teams and a SEAL Delivery A typical SEAL SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5 and 7 isted with brigades until the dis- During the 1990s, special Spetsnaz forces also have Vehicle Team (SDVT). will have an Officer in Charge are based at Naval Amphibi- of the Soviet Union. detachments were established been called upon to resolve A SEAL team will normally (OIC), normally a lieuten- ous Base Coronado, Califor- The special purpose forces of within the Federal Penitentiary several high-profile hostage consist of six and ant, a platoon chief and two nia. SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8, and the Armed Forces of the Rus- Service (FSIN) and the Air- situations such as the Moscow each platoon can be task or- squads commanded by a lieu- 10 are based at Naval Am- sian Federation (RF) included borne Troops (VDV). Some theatre hostage crisis and the ganised for operational pur- tenant (junior grade). phibious Base Little Creek, fourteen land brigades, two civil agencies with non-police Beslan school hostage crisis. poses into four squads of The remaining members of Virginia. eight 4-5 man fire teams/boat the team are operators with A SEAL Delivery Vehicle crews. The size of each SEAL specialty skills in ordinance, unit, SDVT-1, is located in Organisation Team with platoons and sup- communications, diving, , Hawaii. An 22 Special Air Service Regiment port staff is about 300 per- medical, etc. SDV platoon consists of 12– Platoon core skills con- 15 SEALs. sist of: Sniper, Breacher, SEAL Team 6 was dissolved Based in Hereford in the possessing a particular skill in Communicator, Maritime/ in 1987. The Navy then es- United Kingdom, 22 SAS usu- addition to the basic skills he Engineering, Close Air Sup- tablished the Naval Special ally has a strength of between has learned during his extensive port, Corpsman, Point-man/ Warfare Development Group, 400 to 600. There are four op- training. These skills would in- Navigator, Primary Driver/ also known as DEVGRU. erational squadrons: A, B, D clude signals, medic, demoli- Navigator (Rural/Urban/ While DEVGRU is admin- and G. tion, linguist, etc. Protective Security), Heavy istratively supported by Naval Under the command of a ma- Each troop in a squadron will Weapons Operator, Sensitive Special Warfare Command, jor, each squadron consists of specialise in a different area. Site Exploitation, Air Opera- they are operationally under roughly 65 men. Each squad- This is made up of boat troop, tions Master, Lead Climber, the command of the Joint ron is divided into four troops air troop, mobility troop and Lead Diver/Navigator, Inter- Special Operations Com- and a small headquarters sec- mountain troop. rogator, Explosive Ordnance mand. Much about DEVGRU tion. A troop will normally con- Boat troop specialise in mari- Disposal, Technical Surveil- remains classified. sist of 15 men with each man time skills that include diving lance, and Advanced Special 24 25 Spetsnaz remaining candidates move to patrols. Dressed in old World phase the candidates are being the jungle phase that takes place War II uniforms and carrying chased by a ‘Hunter’ force that The organisation structure of tachments such as Saturn. in Belize, Brunei or Malaysia. a tin filled with survival equip- attempts to track them down Spetsnaz is far more complex The basic Spetsnaz unit com- Candidates are taught naviga- ment they are given a map point and capture them. than most. That is because there prises a team of eight to ten tion, patrol formations, patrol and told they have to reach it by Those that are captured or is not a single Spetsnaz unit. soldiers commanded by an of- movement and jungle survival first light. make it through the week then The Russian Ground Forces ficer. Within each team there is skills. If they make the rendezvous have to face the final selection have their own Spetsnaz units, a specialist in communications, Those that pass this phase point (RV) within a certain time test, arguably the hardest, resis- as does the Russian Navy. The reconnaissance, sniping and ex- then return to Hereford to train window they may receive a lit- tance to interrogation that last Russian Airborne Troops have plosives, and every member of in battle plans and foreign tle something to eat before be- for 36 hours. Those that pass the 45th Guards Spetsnaz Bri- the team has been cross-trained weapons. This is followed by a ing given the next RV. If they this final phase are rewarded gade. to ensure that a mission can week-long escape and evasion miss the window, they get noth- with a transfer to an operational The Federal Security Service continue, even if a specialist is exercise. ing. squadron. of the Russian Federation (FSB) lost. Candidates are formed into During the escape and evasion have various Spetsnaz units Modern Russian forces are as does the National Guard of structured in operational fronts United States Navy SEALS Russia. Finally the Ministry of that each contain a Spetsnaz Justice also has its own inde- Brigade. Before even applying to do then go on the selection of eight week Naval Recruit pendent regional Spetsnaz de- Basics Underwater Demoli- course. During selection can- Training, eight week Naval tion SEAL (BUD/S) training didates can be removed from Special Warfare Prep School, a prospective candidate must the course or they can Drop on 24 week Basic Underwater Selection and Training first pass a number of mental Request (DOR). Demolition/SEAL Training 22 Special Air Service Regiment and physical requirements. Hell Week, in the third week (BUD/S), five week Parachute They must then pass the of the first phase of selection, Jump School, and 26 week The SAS never recruit di- Endurance or, as the SAS refer 6.4 km in 30 minutes and swim SEAL Physical Screening Test consists of five and a half days SEAL Qualification Training rectly from the general public. to it, the Fan Dance. 3.2 km in 90 minutes or less. which involves a 457 metre of cold, wet, and very difficult (SQT). Selection is open to any serv- This is a 64 km march with Typically only 15-20% will swim in under 12.30 minutes, operational training on less Upon graduation from SQT ing member of the UK Armed full equipment that scales and make it through the hill phase. 50 push ups in two minutes, than four hours of sleep. they receive the US Navy Forces, but historically most of descends Pen y Fan, the highest Most will drop out within the 50 sit-ups in two minutes, On average only 25% of SEAL , designating the candidates will come from peak in south Wales. first few days and by the end 10 consecutive pull-ups, and the candidates will make it them as Navy SEALS. They airborne or commando units At the end of the hill phase only about 30 will remain. a 2.4 km run in under 10.30 through Hell Week. are assigned to a SEAL Team such as One Parachute Regi- candidates must be able to run Following the hill phase the minutes. The typical Navy SEAL or a SDV Team and begin ment. Those that make the grade training cycle will consist 18 months of predeployment There are two selection cours- training. es a year, one in summer and This consists of six month one in winter. They are held in Professional Development, Sennybridge and in the Brecon six month Unit Level Training Beacons, both of which are in Detachment (ULT), and six Wales. month Squadron Integration A selection course will nor- Training (SIT). mally start with about 200 can- ULT training blocks are Air didates and last for five weeks. Operations, Land Warfare, They first have to do a Personal Maritime, Urban and Special Fitness Test (PFT) and then an Reconnaissance. Annual Fitness Test (AFT). In total it can take over two The hill phase sees the can- and a half years to completely didates march cross country train a Navy SEAL for his first against the clock. The distance deployment. is increased each day. This cul- THE FAN DANCE: Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons is the lo- HELL WEEK: This grueling phase of training is all about being minates in what is known as the cation for the Endurance march during SAS selection. wet, cold, hungry, and mentally and physically exhausted. 26 27 Spetsnaz SPAS 12 and SPAS 15 , Remington 870 com- The selection and training for penalty awaits anyone who be- physical abuse of candidates is bat shotgun, Browning HP pis- Spetsnaz is very demanding. trays the Spetsnaz. not uncommon. They are often tol, 18 pistol, and SIG Candidates must be physically During the selection phase denied rations so that they have 226 and 228 pistols. fit, intelligent and politically re- candidates face obstacle cours- to forage for food themselves. They are also trained, and liable before they will even be es and long gruelling marches, In addition to their basic use, foreign weapons. Accuracy International considered. many of which are conducted in military training, they receive PM Sniper Rifle Once they pass the basic re- full chemical warfare protective specialised training in hand-to- quirements they then have to clothing, including gas masks. hand combat, silent killing tech- sign a loyalty oath. In this they Compared to western stan- niques, parachuting including US Navy SEALS acknowledge that the death dards the training is harsh and HALO techniques, infiltration The SEALS use a wide va- techniques including defeat- riety of weapons, often depen- ing alarm systems and locks, dent on mission type or, to an Remington 870 sabotage, demolition, foreign extent, personal preference. languages, survival, rappelling, Pistols used include the 9 mm sniping, reconnaissance, map SIG Sauer P226, .357 Smith the CAR-15, often fitted with though other HK submachine reading, foreign weapons, for- and Wesson revolver, .45 HK an M203 grenade launcher, guns are also used. eign vehicle operation, and for- Mk 23 Mod O Special Opera- the M16A2, and the veteran The HK MP5K-PDW is eign tactics and procedures. tions Forces Offensive Hand- 7.62 mm M14 because of its designed specifically for Those that get through spe- gun designed specially for US- larger round and impressive NAVWARCOM use. cialised training then take part SOCOM, 9 mm HK P9S, and stopping power. For ship-boarding, jungle and in a series of battlefield exer- the .45 M1911A1 pistol. The main choice of subma- close-quarters work the Rem- cises in realistic environments The primary choice of rifle is chine gun is the HK MP5, al- ington 870 combat shotgun is such as mock Cruise missile popular. bases, NATO airfields and com- Squad support weapons in- munication facilities. All exer- clude the 7.62 mm M-60. cises involve the use of explo- The principal sniper weapons YOU CAN’T TAKE IT: An instructor goads a candidate, trying to sives and live rounds. are the 7.62 mm Remington CAR-15 get them to quit. M40A2, the 7.62 mm M86, the M24, the 7.62 mm M21, and the Small arms .50 calibre McMillan SASR. Special Air Service Spetsnaz The SAS make use of and are As most Spetsnaz missions trained to use a large variety of Minimi LGM take place deep behind enemy RPG-16 weapons. lines they tend to be lightly This can include the HK MP5 armed and carry only a small submachine gun (entire range), selection of weapons. M16 A2 assault rifle with 40 These could include an mm M203 grenade launcher, AK-74 or AN-94 assault rifle, 7.62 mm FN SLR, M249 Min- imi light machine gun, 7.62 a silenced 9 mm pistol, a knife and up to 10 grenades. In addi- mm GPMG (General Purpose tion each team carries an SVD Machine Gun), Accuracy Inter- sniper rifle, RPG-16 grenade national PM sniper rifle, SSG launcher, and an under-rifle 3000 sniper rifle, Barret .50 AN-94 grenade launcher. M16 A2 long-range sniper rifle, Franchi

28 29 on shooting down kite balloons Famous Figures in Military History and observation aircraft. Also notable is the drop in his “out of control” victories; from Anthony Beauchamp-Proctor here on out, the record shows Andrew (Anthony) Frederick Weatherby Beauchamp-Proctor, VC, DSO, MC and bar, DFC (4 destruction after destruction of September 1894 - 21 June 1921) was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was the enemy. South Africa’s leading ace of World War I, credited with 54 aerial victories. His June string would only run to the 13th, but in that time, eauchamp-Proctor was ter view from the cockpit and so ticularly esteemed as a flier, but he would destroy four balloons, born on 4 September he could reach controls. Blocks was a deadly shot. an observation two-seater and 1894 in Mossel Bay, of wood were also fastened on Beauchamp-Proctor’s pilot- a fighter. Only one fighter went B down out of control. Cape Province, the second son his rudder bar so he could reach ing skills can be judged by the of a school teacher. He was it. fact he had three landing acci- On the 22nd, he was awarded attending the University of On 10 June 1917, he soloed, dents before he ever shot down the . July would Cape Town studying engineer- when he had just over five hours an enemy plane. pass without incident. On Au- ing when the European war flying time. He crashed upon Beauchamp-Proctor contin- KNIGHTS OF THE AIR: Beauchamp-Proctor flew an SE5 dur- gust 3, he was granted one of broke out. He took leave from landing, wiping out the landing ued to fly the SE5 with modifi- ing his career with the RFC/RAF. Pictured above is an SE5a, the first ever Distinguished Fly- his studies to join the Duke of gear. Nevertheless, he contin- cations to the aircraft’s seat and an upgrade of the standard SE5. ing Crosses. Edinburgh’s Own Rifles (The ued to fly solo. He was passed controls, something his Phila- The break in his victory string Dukes). He served as a signal- on to a bomber squadron, Num- delphia-born American squad- contributed to Beauchamp- “ace” of the American Lafayette lasted almost a month, as he man in the German South-West ber 84, with a little under ten ron mate, Joseph “Child Yank” Proctor’s poor airmanship. Flying Squadron.” The German went on home leave and helped Africa campaign. hours flying experience. Boudwin, who stood only two His initial confirmed victory equivalent was Oberkanone, a recruitment drive for the RAF. In August 1915 he was de- When he joined 84 Squadron inches taller, also had to use. did not come until the turn of which means ‘top gun’. On 8 August, he returned mobilised with an honorable in July 1917, it was reforming The alterations to relatively the year. On 3 January 1918, Although the definition var- and resumed with tally number discharge. He promptly went as a fighter squadron. primitive controls could have he sent a German two seater ied from country to country and 29, another balloon. On Au- to work with the South African ‘down out of control’. He then was never officially approved, gust 9 Beauchamp-Proctor was Field Telegraph and re-enrolled France 1917-18 claimed victories four more it was used during both World leading No. 84 Squadron on a in university. He managed to On 23 September 1917, times in February, becoming an Wars, with aces universally patrol over their base at Ber- complete his third year of col- the unit went to France fly- ace on its final day. Only one of hailed as heroes. tangles, with Boudwin and six- lege before reenlisting, this time ing SE5s. Under the com- his first five victories resulted In April Beauchamp-Proctor foot-four tall Hugh Saunders as into the mand of Major William in the destruction of an enemy; claimed only one kill. Among wingmen, and got involved in a (RFC), in March 1917. Sholto Douglas the unit the other four were planes sent his 11 victories for the month of heated engagement at 2:00 pm, He was accepted as an Air became one of the most down as ‘out of control’. May were five on 19 May. On that involved the threesome in Mechanic Third Class. From effective scout squadrons March brought him four more that morning, he knocked an combat against Fokker D.VII there he passed on to pilot train- in the RFC/RAF during victories; three of them were enemy observation plane out of fighters of JG I, led that day by ing at the School of Military 1918. scored within five minutes on the battle; fifteen minutes later, the future Nazi Reichsmarschall Aeronautics at Oxford in Eng- The squadron would the 17th. With five kills to his he destroyed an Albatross D.V Hermann Göring. land, where he was also com- be credited with a victory name Beauchamp-Proctor was scout. That evening, at about He would claim an additional missioned. total of 323, and would now regarded as an ‘ace’. 6:35 PM, he downed three more 14 victories, and end the month Learning to fly presented a produce 25 aces. How- The term ‘ace’ - or, more pre- Albatros D.Vs. with his claims list extended to slight problem for Beauchamp- ever, Beauchamp- cisely ‘fighter ace’ - was first By the 31st, his roll had 43. Proctor - he stood only five feet Proctor would be used during World War I to de- climbed to 21 victims -16 fight- One memorable day was the two inches tall. This meant he pre-eminent, scribe a pilot who had brought ers and five observation aircraft. 22nd; he attacked a line of six was unable to see out of the with almost tri- down at least five enemy -air The next day marked a change enemy balloon over the British cockpit and his feet couldn’t ple the number craft. The first-ever reference of focus for him; he shot down 3rd Corps front. He set the first reach the rudder bars. of successes in print to an air ‘ace’ appeared an observation balloon. For one afire with his machine guns His aircraft seating was al- of the second in an article in The Times of the remainder of his career, he and forced the other five to the tered to accommodate him; his leading ace. He 14 September 1917, which de- would choose to blind the en- ground, the observers taking to seat was raised so he had a bet- was not par- scribed Raoul Lafayette as ‘the emy, choosing to concentrate their parachutes. 30 31 His 15 ‘kills’ for August toria Cross later in the month, and devotion to duty. While on London Gazette, tober 3 he drove down, com- would include five balloons, all on the 30th. offensive patrol he observed 3 August 1918 pletely out of control, an enemy destroyed, and two more two- an enemy two-seater plane at- scout near Mont d’Origny, and seater planes. He was now up to Post war tempting to cross our lines. He Distinguished Service Order burnt a hostile balloon; on Oc- 43 victories. September claims He was discharged from hos- engaged it and opened fire, with “A fighting pilot of great tober 5, the third hostile balloon would be all balloons - four of pital in March 1919 and em- the result that it fell over on its skill, and a splendid leader. He near Bohain. them. barked on a four month long side and crashed to earth. rendered brilliant service on the On October 8, 1918, while In the first few days of Oc- lecture tour of the USA, before On a later occasion, when on 22nd August, when his Flight flying home at a low altitude, tober, he would destroy three returning to England and quali- patrol, he observed three en- was detailed to neutralise hos- after destroying an enemy two- more balloons and three Fokker fying as a seaplane pilot with emy scouts attacking one of our tile balloons. Having shot down seater near Maretz, he was D.VII fighters, one of which a permanent commission as a bombing machines. one balloon in flames, he at- painfully wounded in the arm burned. Another D.VII spun Flight Lieutenant in the RAF. He attacked one of these, and tacked the occupants of five by machine-gun fire, but, con- down out of control. After his VC investiture at after firing 100 rounds in it, it others in succession with ma- tinuing, he landed safely at his- On 8 October he was hit by Buckingham Palace in No- fell over on its back and was chine-gun fire, compelling the aerodrome, and after making ground fire and wounded in the vember 1919 he was awarded seen to descend in that posi- occupants in each case to take his report was admitted to hos- arm, ending his front line ser- a year’s leave, and this enabled tion from 5,000 feet. He then to parachutes. pital. vice. him finish his BSc degree in attacked another group of hos- He then drove down another In all he has proved himself Up until the end of May, he Engineering. tile scouts, one of which he shot balloon to within fifty feet of conqueror over fifty-four foes, destroyed six enemy planes down completely out of con- the ground, when it burst into destroying twenty-two enemy single-handed, and shared the Death trol, and another crumpled up flames. In all he has accounted machines, sixteen enemy kite destruction of two others. He He was killed on the 21 June and crashed to earth. for thirty-three enemy machines balloons, and driving down six- drove ten down out of control, 1921 in a training accident fly- In addition to these, he has The final resting place of and seven balloons.” teen enemy aircraft completely and shared in another ‘out of ing a Sopwith Snipe, in prepa- destroyed another hostile ma- Captain Beauchamp-Proctor. DSO citation, out of control. control’ victory. Two of his vic- ration for an air show at the chine, and shot down three He was one of only 19 pilots Supplement to the Captain Beauchamp-Proc- tims were captured. RAF Hendon. completely out of control. He that were awarded the Victoria London Gazette, tor’s work in attacking enemy Certainly a creditable record, His aircraft went into a vi- has at all times displayed the Cross during World War I. 2 November 1918 troops on the ground and in re- and like many other aces, with cious spin after performing a utmost dash and initiative, and Only three people have ever connaissance during the with- no conquests over balloons. slow loop, and he was killed in is a patrol leader of great merit been awarded two Victoria Victoria Cross drawal following on the Battle Balloons, with all the anti-air- the ensuing crash. At least one and resource.” Crosses. The first was Cap- “Between August 8, 1918, of St. Quentin from March 21, craft artillery guarding them, observer remarked that the loss MC citation, tain Arthur Martin-Leake of the and October 8, 1918, this of- 1918, and during the victorious and patrolling fighter airplanes of control and subsequent crash Supplement to the Royal Army Medical Corps. He ficer proved himself victor in advance of our Armies com- won his first VC in 1901 during ready to intercede for them, of the aircraft could have been London Gazette, twenty-six decisive combats, mencing on August 8, has been the Anglo-Boer and his second were very dangerous targets. linked to Proctor’s diminutive 22 June 1918 during World War I. destroying twelve enemy kite almost unsurpassed in its Bril- Commonly they were hunted size. The second double VC win- balloons, ten enemy aircraft, liancy, and. as such has made an by co-ordinated packs of at- He was originally buried Distinguished Flying Cross ner was Captain Noel Godfrey and driving down four other en- impression on those serving in tacking fighters. at Upavon, Wiltshire, but in “Lt. (T./Capt.) Andrew Chavasse also of the Royal emy aircraft completely out of his squadron and those around Beauchamp-Proctor’s victory August 1921 his body was re- Weatherby Beauchamp-Proc- Army Medical Corps, earning control. him that will not be easily for- list ran to a total of 54; two (and turned to South Africa where he tor, M.C. A brilliant and fearless both during World War I. His bar Between October 1, 1918, gotten. one shared) captured enemy was given a state funeral. leader of our offensive patrols. was awarded post-humously. and October 5, 1918, he de- Capt. Beauchamp-Proctor aircraft, 13 (and three shared) There still exists confusion His formation has destroyed The third was New Zealand- stroyed two enemy scouts, burnt was awarded Military Cross on balloons destroyed, 15 (and over Beauchamp-Proctor’s giv- thirteen enemy machines and er Captain Charles Upham three enemy kite balloons, and 22 June 1918; D.F. Cross on 2 one shared) aircraft destroyed, en name. For decades he was brought down thirteen more out who earned both awards dur- drove down one enemy scout July 1918; Bar to M.C. on 16 and 15 (and one shared) aircraft listed as “Anthony” but more of control in a period of a few ing World War II. completely out of control. On September 1918; and Distin- ‘out of control’. recent scholarship indicates months. an enemy formation with great October 1, 1918, in a general guished Service Order on 2 No- His 16 balloons downed made “Andrew”, which apparently is On a recent morning his pa- dash, destroying one machine engagement with about twenty- vember 1918.” him the leading British Empire the name on his tombstone. trol of five aeroplanes attacked and forcing two others to col- eight machines, he crashed one VC citation, balloon buster. an enemy formation of thirty lide, resulting in their destruc- Fokker biplane near Fontaine Supplement to the On 2 November, he had been Citations machines and was successful tion.” and a second near Ramicourt; London Gazette, awarded a Distinguished Ser- Military Cross in destroying two of them. In DFC citation, on October 2 he burnt a hostile 30 November 1918 vice Order, crowned by the Vic- “For conspicuous gallantry the evening he again attacked Supplement to the balloon near Selvjgny; on Oc- 32 After the ceremony the pilots Forged in Battle returned to their barracks to await their orders and write let- ters to their families. One of the pilots, Reserve Ensign Susumu Kaijitsu wrote: “My activities are quite ordi- Kamikaze nary. My greatest concern this Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equipment or units that have been morning is not about death, but tried and tested on the battlefield. This month we look at the Japanese Kamikaze pilots. rather of how I can be sure to very soldier that has tak- The pilots, in Zero fighters duty is “Gimu wa yama yori sink an enemy carrier. Please en part in combat knows laden with bombs, responded omoku, shi wa hane yori mo watch for the results of my mea- that there is a chance that with great enthusiasm, crashing karui” (Duty is heavier than a gre efforts. If they prove good, E think kindly of me and consider they may be killed or wounded. their fighters on the carriers and mountain, while death is lighter It is a risk that goes along with causing hundreds of casualties. than a feather). my good fortune. Most of all, THE FINAL PHOTO: A group of young Kamikaze pilots, carry- the job. The attack failed and the Moreover the tradition of do not weep for me.” ing samurai swords, pose for a final photograph before flying They also composed and read Yet how would you feel about Americans dealt a decisive death instead of defeat, cap- their one-way mission. combat if you knew beyond blow to what remained of the ture and perceived shame was a death poem, a tradition stem- any shadow of a doubt that you Japanese Navy. deeply entrenched in Japanese ming from the samurai, who did were going to get killed? Would While the Americans had military culture. It was one of in what was called a taiatari Operation Kikusui it before committing seppuku you have second thoughts? taken Leyte Gulf and Iwo Jima the primary traditions of the (body attack) in planes laden It was called Operation Kiku- (ritual suicide by disembowel- Not only did the men of the the greatest battle of the Pacific samurai, who lived by the code with some combination of ex- sui (Floating Chrysanthemum), ment). Tokubetsu Kōgekitai not have War awaited them - the Battle of Bushido (The Way of the plosives, bombs, torpedoes and named after the symbol of spiri- Kamikaze would wear their second thoughts, they actually for Okinawa. Warrior). There was no greater full fuel tanks. Every single pi- tual purity. senninbari, a “belt of a thou- looked forward to their deaths. Okinawa is the largest of the honour than to die in battle. lot volunteered. The Kikusui pilots rose early sand stitches” given to them by After the costly defeats at Ryukyu Islands and is basically The word Kamikaze can be on the morning of 6 April 1945 their mothers. Leyte Gulf and Iwo Jima in the last stop before the Japanese The defence of Oki- translated as ‘Divine Wind’. and after a light breakfast they Presently a whistle blew - the 1945 the Japanese were a beat- mainland. It was considered by nawa It comes from the word kami assembled in the crew-hut. signal to prepare for take-off. en nation. But out of the despa- both the Japanese and Ameri- Vice-Admiral Onishi was which means ‘god’, ‘spirit’, or In a solemn ceremony they They left their sealed letters on rate defence of their homeland cans to be of the utmost impor- faced with the task of depriv- ‘divine’, and kaze which means were served sake (rice wine) or their beds and hurried out to the were born the Kamikaze pilots tance strategically. ing the Americans the use of ‘wind’. water, known as mizu no saka- parade ground. - volunteers for certain death. From Okinawa to Tokyo is Okinawa’s airfields which had Legend has it than in August zuki, by veteran pilots. Each After a roll call they saluted Officially titled Tokubet- a distance of 1,554 kilome- the potential to handle 5,000 1281 Mogul conqueror Kublai man was given a black ceremo- their superiors and their com- su Kōgekitai (Special Attack tres, easily within the range of planes. Khan sent a huge fleet to in- nial belt which was inscribed rades and climbed into the Unit), they were more com- American B-29 Superfortress He did not have enough vade Japan. While waiting to with the code of Bushido. He trucks that would take them monly known as Kamikaze (Di- bombers. The Japanese had to planes to carry out conventional land their invasion force the put the belt on and then drank vine Wind). make a stand at Okinawan or attacks and he decided to stake Japanese Sun Goddess sent a a toast to Emperor Hitohito, to It was during the Battle of lose the war. It’s garrison of everything on suicide tactics. typhoon that destroyed the Mo- the everlasting survival of Nip- Leyte Gulf that the legend of 70,000 troops were prepared to He gathered his remaining gul fleet and saved Japan. This pon, and to a glorious death. the Kamikaze was born. Com- fight to the death to defend it. pilots together and told them typhoon was given the name They then sang the Kamikaze mander of the Japanese air that the fate of Japan lay in Kamikaze. Song of the Warrior: forces in the Philippines, Vice- Duty above all their hands. He invited them Now Onishi’s young pilots In serving on the seas, be a Admiral Takijiro Onishi, in- One of the most important to volunteer for the Kamikaze were about to become the new corpse saturated with water, structed his pilots to crash their things in Japanese culture is the okubetsu Kōgekitai (Kamikaze Kamikaze, a Divine Wind that In serving on land be a corpse planes into the flight decks of concept of giri (duty). There Special Attack Squad) and of- would once again destroy the covered with weeds, KIKUSUI FLAG: The flag American aircraft carriers in an is a strong sense of duty to the fered them a glorious death for hateful invaders and save the In serving in the sky, be a showed a half-chrysanthemum effort to damage them and pre- Emperor, the country, and to the Emperor and the homeland. homeland. corpse that challenges the floating on water. It was the vent them from launching their one’s family - in that order. Pilots would attempt to crash On the morning of 6 April clouds. symbol of spiritual purity and represented the air-sea nature planes. One of the sayings regarding their aircraft into enemy ships 1945 Onishi was about to Let us all die close by the side of Operation Kikusui. launch his secret weapon. of our Sovereign. 34 35 across the field to their aircraft. aged to hit a ship. The other It was an odd assortment of 81% either missed their target aircraft that stood on the field: or were shot down. single-engined Zeke and Zero A later analysis by the US fighters with 272 kg bombs Strategic Bombing Survey con- strapped under them; Baku cluded that if the Kamikaze at- mass-produced planes of crude tacks had been introduced ear- and minimal construction with- lier in the war, and if they had out any armour, but with 250 kg been sustained in greater power of TNT encased in the nose, set and , they could to explode on impact; and giant well have caused the Allies to conventional bombers which withdraw or to revise their stra- had been modified to carry the tegic plans. Ohka (Cherry Blossom). But whatever we may think The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka about the Kamikaze, whatever Japanese Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka (“cherry was a rocket-powered aircraft DEATH DIVE: A Japanese kamikaze pilot in a damaged single- FLYING BOMB: the strategists, politicians and blossom”), a specially built rocket-powered kamikaze aircraft made of wood. It had a 1,200 kg engine bomber, moments before striking the U.S. Aircraft Car- historians of the future may rier USS Essex, off the Philippine Islands, on 25 November used towards the end of the war. The U.S. called them Baka bomb built into the fuselage. It Bombs (“idiot bombs”). postulate, there is one thing would be flown to the target un- 1944. that cannot be denied - and that der a bomber and then released was the sublime spirit of the close to the target. A pilot would second wave. to fight off the attackers. The incredible battle raged 368 damaged with thousands Kamikaze corps, whose pilots then guide it onto the target. The Kamikaze pilot’s manual American and British fighters for eighty-two days and nights. of lives lost. They had also lost brought to the world a forgotten Before climbing into the told pilots never to close their were being launched from the On some days the Japanese 763 aircraft in battle against the message of human courage. cockpit, pilots would normally eyes. This was because if a pilot decks of the aircraft carriers, could only muster a few planes, Kamikaze and their escorts. Were they brave, patriotic, tie a hachimaki around their closed his eyes he would lower climbing to take on the escort- but on others mounting great It had cost the Japanese just misguided, or mad? Everyone helmet. The hachimaki was a the chances of hitting his target. ing Mitsubishi Zeros flown by and costly attacks. over 7,800 aircraft and pilots will have their own thoughts on head scarf worn as a symbol of In the final moments before the veteran Japanese pilots. before the last Kamikaze had the matter. Yet no matter what perseverance, effort, and cour- crash, the pilot was to yell His- For the Allies it was like The Verdict died in a ball of fire. your personal opinion, one age. satsu (Clean Kill) at the top of watching a mysterious force at By 21 June 1945 the Ameri- It is estimated that only about think is for sure. They were a They now waited for the final his lungs. work, not human but unbeliev- cans had lost 40 ships sunk and 19% of Kamikaze pilots man- corps forged in battle. order to take off on their one- The manual also explained ably brave and stupid. way mission. how a pilot may turn back if the Vice-Admiral Charles R. pilot could not locate a target Brown of the United States Hissatsu! and that “[a pilot] should not Navy said, “There was a hyp- A total of 355 planes, divid- waste [his] life lightly.” One pi- notic fascination to the sight so ed up into two waves, took off lot who continually came back alien to our Western philoso- from Kanoya and Skikoku on 6 to base was shot after his ninth phy. We watched each plung- April 1945. return. ing kamikaze with the detached Their target was the Allied All hell was let loose as plane horror of one witnessing a ter- Armada of 1,500 vessels strung after plane hit the sea and ex- rible spectacle rather than as the out around the beachheads of ploded. It took some time for intended victim. We forgot self Okinawa. the Allies to realise that the Jap- for the moment as we groped There were 195 navy planes anese pilots were deliberately hopelessly for the thought of in the first wave and it included trying to crash their planes into that other man up there.” 80 Kamikazes of various types, vessels. One hundred and thirty five nine Type One bombers car- Destroyers and other small Kamaikaze sacrificed them- rying Ohkas, and 107 escort ships veered wildly to dodge selves or were shot down in that fighters. The army’s Tokubetsu the Kamikazes, listing to 45 first attack. During the first day of 160 assorted Kamikaze took degrees in abrupt turns while Operation Kikusui had cost the off a little later, making up the their gunners desperately tried Japanese 248 planes and pilots. 36 37 While the enjoyed weeks. The Germans total Battlefield an edge in total aircraft during strength exceeded 2,520 ser- the early stages of the battle, the viceable planes. RAF Fighter RAF had a secret weapon in the Command could only must 749 The Battle of Britain form of Radio Direction Find- fighters. In May 1940 Nazi Germany launched a massive blitzkrieg against Western Europe. ing, better known as radar. The RAF squadrons includ- They overran Belgium, the Netherlands and France in only a matter of weeks. Britain Shortly after the technology ed many foreign pilots. Of the stood alone and with the Germans preparing for an invasion, the Battle of Britain was was developed in the 1930s, more than 2,900 RAF pilots about to start. the British built a ring of radar who served in the Battle of Brit- stations along their coastline. ain, only around 2,350 were These “Chain Home” stations British. The rest were natives n 10 May 1940, after shall never surrender.” the majority of the squadrons were still primitive - a civilian of Commonwealth territories the , the On 18 June 1940 Hitler told should be held back to defend Observer Corps was required such as Canada, Australia, New Battle of France began Herman Goering, “The war is Britain. O to spot low-flying aircraft - but Zealand and South Africa, as in earnest. finished. I’ll come to an under- Part of his letter stated, “It they nevertheless became a cru- well as expatriates from Poland, In a matter of weeks Belgium standing with England.” should be made clear to the Al- cial part of Britain’s strategy. Czechoslovakia, Belgium and and the Netherlands has been On the same day Winston lied Commanders on the Conti- By pinging approaching Luft- other countries under Nazi oc- overrun and France was set to Churchill made a broadcast to nent that not a single aeroplane waffe raiders with radio waves, cupation. The Eagle Squadrons fall as well. the British people. “What Gen- from Fighter Command beyond the RAF could pin down their were three fighter squadrons of The remnants of the British eral Weygand called the Battle the limit will be sent across the location and scramble fighters the , formed and French armies were trapped of France is over. The Battle of Channel, no matter how desper- to intercept them, thereby rob- with volunteer pilots from the on the beaches at Dunkirk. Britain is about to begin.” ate the situation may become.” bing the Germans of the ele- United States. The Germans halted their ad- Hitler hoped that the British On 10 July 1940 the Ger- ment of surprise. The Polish No. 303 fighter vance on Dunkirk in what be- government would seek a peace mans launched a surprise air Nazi leaders never appreciat- squadron downed 126 German came known as the “Halt Or- agreement. If, however, all oth- raid against a British shipping ed the importance of British ra- planes during the battle - more der”. Contrary to popular belief, er options failed he considered convoy in the English Channel. dar, and their failure to degrade than any Allied unit - and one of it was not Adolf Hitler that gave an invasion as a last resort. Many consider this strike to be it allowed the RAF to consis- the RAF’s top scoring aces was the order. It was given the code name Phase One of the Battle of Brit- THE PROTAGONISTS: Four tently remain a step ahead of the Josef Frantisek, a Czech aviator Generalfeldmarschall (Field Unternehmen Seelöwe (Opera- ain. of the main aircraft that took Luftwaffe. who single-handedly claimed Marshals) Gerd von Rundstedt tion Sea Lion) and was planned On 19 July 1940 Herman Go- part in the Battle of Britain. (Eagle Day), on 13 17 aerial victories. and Günther von Kluge sug- for September 1940. ering was promoted to Reichs- From top - British Spitfire, Ger- August 1940, was the first day Adolph Gysbert Malan, bet- gested that the German forces As a precondition for an in- marschall of Germany. On the man Messerschmitt Bf 109, of Unternehmen Adlerangriff ter known as Sailor Malan, was around the Dunkirk pocket vasion Hitler specified that he same day Hitler addressed the British Hawker Hurricane, Ger- (Operation Eagle Attack). The a South African fighter pilot should cease their advance wanted both air and naval su- Reichstag. man Heinkel he 111. aim of the operation was the de- who led No. 74 Squadron based on the port and consolidate to periority. Luftwaffe (Air Force) “I feel it to be my duty before struction of RAF Fighter Com- at RAF Biggin Hill. Under his avoid an Allied breakout. The commander Herman Goering my own conscience to appeal tumn, they will have lost the mand and give the Germans air leadership No. 74 Squadron be- order was sanctioned by Hitler assured Hitler that he would once more to reason and com- war.” superiority. came one of the RAF’s most ac- on 24 May. easily sweep the Royal Air mon sense in Great Britain. I On 31 July 1940 Hitler said, The German attacks on 13 complished squadrons. Malan It gave the Allies time to evac- Force (RAF) from the skies in consider myself in a position “The air war will start now and August inflicted significant scored 27 kills, seven shared uate more than 330,000 Allied just a few days. to make this appeal since I am will determine our ultimate rel- damage and casualties on the destroyed, three probably de- troops from Dunkirk between Earlier, on 16 May 1940, Air not a vanquished foe begging ative strength.” ground, but, marred by poor in- stroyed and 16 damaged. Malan 26 May and 4 June 1940. Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, favours, but the victor, speaking The following day Hitler’s telligence and communication, developed a simple set of rules On 4 June 1940 British Prime Commander-in-Chief of the in the name of reason. I can see Directive 17 for the combat of they did not make a significant for fighter pilots (see insert). Minister Winston Churchill RAF Fighter Command, had no reason why this war must go air and sea warfare against Eng- impression on Fighter Com- On 15 August 1940 Goering made one of his famous speech- sent a historic and vital letter to on.” land was issued. mand’s ability to defend British called off attacks on radar sites es. the Air Council. Lord Halifax rejected Hitler’s Between 8 and 23 August air space. in view of the fact that not one “We shall fight on the beach- The Air Council wanted peace terms on 22 July 1940. 1940 Phase Two of the Battle of Goering had promised Hitler of those attacked had been put es, we shall fight on the land- Dowding to commit most of his French foreign minister Paul Britain takes place. British radar that Adlertag and Adlerangriff out of action. ing grounds, we shall fight in fighter squadrons to the Battle Baudouin said, “If the Germans stations and RAF airfields come would achieve the desired re- Phase Three of the Battle of the fields, and in the streets. We of France. He was adamant that do not master England this au- under attack. sults within days, or at worst Britain took place between 24 38 39 August and 6 September 1940. manded they shift their focus As well as attacking radar toward “erasing” British cities Quiz Sailor Malan developed a stations and RAF airfields, the from the map. set of simple rules for fight- Luftwaffe had been bombing The bombing campaign now er pilots, to be disseminat- British ports and their defences known as began on 7 Aircraft Identification ed throughout RAF Fighter as part of Operation Sea Lion. September 1940 with a raid on his month we’re looking at aircraft that all flew during World War II. Can you name them? Command, which eventually On 24 August 1940 a bomber London, and dozens more at- We can tell you that they cover American, British, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian could be found tacked to the dropped bombs, believed to be tacks followed over the next Taircraft. wall of most airbases: accidentally, on central London several weeks. Phase four of the Answers on page 47. instead of the docks. Nine peo- battle, the Blitz, begins. TEN OF MY RULES FOR ple were killed. While the bombings took a 1 2 3 AIR FIGHTING Winston Churchill was out- sobering toll on British civil- raged and ordered an immediate ians, they also temporarily re- • Wait until you see the retaliation. On 25-26 August a lieved pressure on the RAF, al- whites of his eyes. Fire force of over 70 bombers from lowing it to repair its crippled short bursts of one to two RAF Bomber Command set off airfields and refresh its pilots. seconds only when your for Berlin, which was just with- The respite proved critical. sights are definitely “ON”. in range. Their targets were ar- On 14 September 1940 Hit- • Whilst shooting think of mament factories in the north of ler postponed Operation Sea 4 5 6 nothing else, brace the the city and Tempelhof Airport. Lion for three days. The Luft- whole of your body: have Due to ferocious German an- waffe launched a massive air both hands on the stick: ti-aircraft fire the bombers had attack on 15 September in an concentrate on your ring to fly too high and the bombs effort to score a knockout blow sight. consequently landed on fields, against the RAF. The Luftwaffe • Always keep a sharp look- woods and some residential ar- suffered their heaviest losses out. “Keep your finger eas. Damage was slight and no- of the battle. First reports indi- out”. one was killed. cated that 175 German planes 7 8 9 • Height gives you the ini- It was, however, a huge em- had been shot down. The day tiative. barrassment to Goering. Earlier, has now become celebrated as • Always turn and face the in a speech to the Luftwaffe, he . attack. had stated, “No enemy bomber On 17 September 1940 Op- • Make your decisions can reach the Ruhr. If one reach- eration Sea Lion was postponed promptly. It is better to act es the Ruhr, my name is not Go- indefinitely. From 1 to 31 Octo- quickly even though your ering. You may call me Meyer.” ber 1940 the final phase of the tactics are not the best. Hitler was not just embar- Battle of Britain takes place. 12 • Never fly straight and lev- rassed, he was furious. In a The Germans carry out high 10 11 el for more than 30 sec- speech at the Sportspalast in altitude bombing by day and onds in the combat area. Berlin on 4 September, he an- night. On 12 October Operation • When diving to attack al- nounced, “If the British Air Sea Lion is called off until the ways leave a proportion of Force drops two, three or four following Spring. your formation above to thousand kilos of bombs, then King George VI appoints act as a top guard. we will drop 150,000, 180,000, Air Chief Marshal Dowding a • INITIATIVE, AGGRES- 230,000, 300,000 or 400,000 Knight Grand Cross of the Or- SION, AIR DISCIPLINE, kilos, or more, in one night. If der of Bath on 30 September 13 14 15 and TEAMWORK are they declare that they will at- 1940. words that MEAN some- tack our cities on a large scale, From 31 October 1940 night thing in Air Fighting. we will erase theirs!” attacks on cities continued until • Go in quickly – Punch Ignoring the progress the May 1941. The daylight attacks hard – Get out! Luftwaffe was making in at- did not. The Battle of Britain tacking RAF air bases, he de- was over. 40 41 Gaming

Ready to defend the Motherland, Matt O’ Brien climbs into the cockpit to face the might of the Luftwaffe.

hile I enjoy flight Ju 87 D-3 (Stuka), and the He missions. It’s easy and with a simulators, they can 111 H-6. The Russian planes few quick clicks of the mouse Wget a bit boring. You are the LaGG-3 Series 29, Yak- button you can set up a mission. get in your aircraft and, if ev- 1 Series 69, IL-2 AM-38 (model You could, for example, take erything goes to plan, you fly 1942), and the Pe-2 Series 87. off from a certain airfield, fly to from point A to point B. And the aircraft are superb in a point on the map, bomb an en- That’s why I really enjoy a both their look and feel. Realis- emy aerodrome and then return good combat flight simulator, tic sounds and physics, detailed to your base. and IL-2 Sturmovik has always aircraft systems modeling, ad- Scenarios are single missions been one of those titles that has vanced aerodynamics and state- included in the game or created day and night cycle, various warfare. Besides the eight air- ers online is fun, but it can be a set the bench mark. of-the-art flight modeling gives by players in the Mission Edi- seasons, and a wide range of craft available there are also steep learning curve. I first played IL-2 Sturmovik you a real sensation of flight. tor. weather types that will influ- two tanks to use. The Russian If you enjoy flight simulators back in 2001 and it was a de- The detailed damage model Online Multi-Player mode ence aircraft behaviour and aer- T-34-76 and the German Pz III then you won’t go wrong with cent game back then. not only changes the visual look lets you fly with others. There ial engagements. Ausf L are both available. this one. Things have changed over the of an aircraft, but also its han- can be up to 100 aircraft in the The AI (artificial intelligence) The tanks are just as highly past 16 years however, and the dling, making an aerial dogfight sky. Not only can you be a pilot, is also well done. There is a big detailed as the aircraft and you latest versions of the game are interesting and unpredictable. you can also crew a bomber as difference between taking on can get involved in some clas- incredible. The developers of the game a gunner. an enemy pilot that has only a sic tank battles. IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of went to a lot of trouble to get The Mission Editor tool few hours combat experience to When starting off you can set Stalingrad was released in 2014 everything as accurate as pos- makes possible to create your taking on an ace. the level of difficulty. It is advis- and Battle of Moscow was re- sible. own scenarios of any complex- On the subject of AI, you can able to use the Quick Mission leased in 2016. A new game, The action takes place on a ity for single-player and multi- use your radio to issue orders to Builder to set up a few simple Battle of Kuban is due for re- 358 х 230 km map - The largest player alike. AI planes under your control. missions. This will allow you lease any time soon. and most detailed recreation of When leaving on a mission In missions you can choose to get to grips with flying the In this review we’ll be taking the Battle of Stalingrad theatre you get the opportunity to set whether you want to be a fight- plane and give you a feel for a look at IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle ever modeled in a flight simu- up your aircraft. How much er pilot taking on other fighters the characteristics of the craft of Stalingrad. lation with unique structures, fuel do you need? What type in dogfights or go after bomber you’re flying. As stated earlier, it’s a com- buildings and landscapes. of ammunition, based on target formations. Or maybe you want Knowing what you plane can bat flight simulator that covers There are various modes type or tactics, will you select? to fly an attack plane such as the and cannot do is important. The the Battle of Stalingrad from available. The single player The realistic graphics and Stuka or the IL-2 AM-38. Why Yak-1, for example is highly Operation Uranus on 19 No- campaign tells the story of unique visual effects are stun- not fly a bomber such as the He manoeuvrable. Yet the Bf 109 vember 1942 and continues to recreated battles that are his- ning: clouds, lightning, trac- 111 H-6 or Russian Pe-2. G-2 is faster, has a quicker rate Publisher - 1C Company the complete liberation of the torically accurate. You will be ers, explosions and huge smoke You can take on ground tar- of climb, and a ceiling level city on 2 February 1943. there from the start of the battle plumes - all of them fully real- gets such as tanks, trucks, AAA 2,000 m higher than the Yak. Genre - Combat Flight Sim You get to fly as either the So- in November 1942 and, if you ized to recreate the aerial com- batteries, artillery units or even Once you get the hang of it, Platform - PC viet Air Force or the Luftwaffe survive, will be there until the bat scenery of war time Stalin- armoured trains. start the single player campaign Score - 8.5/10 and there are eight planes that end in February 1943. grad. Talking about tanks, if you and fly a few scenarios before you can fly. The German planes The Quick Mission Builder The environment also plays get tired of flying you can try you go online. Price - R679 are the Bf 109 F-4, Bf 109 G-2, allows you to set up your own a big role. There is a dynamic your hand at some armoured Going up against other play- 42 43 Movie Review Book Review

Cuito Cuanavale The Great Escape 12 Months of War that Transformed a Continent irected by John Stur- to have 200 POWs escape at the The Cast ges, The Great Escape same time. Richard Attenborough - Sqn. read Fred Bridgland’s book, than 50,000. The battles centred lished in 2017 has a new fore- is a 1963 film based on The POWs are organised into Ldr. Roger Bartlett, “Big X” then titled ‘The War for Af- around the small town of Cuito word as well as additional in- Da escape of British Common- teams. Flight Lieutenant Robert Steve McQueen - Capt. Virgil I rica: Twelve Months that Cuanavale. formation. wealth prisoners of war from Hendley is “the scrounger”. His Hilts, the “Cooler King” Transformed a Continent” when Bridgland put together his a German POW camp during job is to get hold of needed ma- James Garner - Flt. Lt. Robert it was first published in 1990. story through scores of inter- World War II. terials from a camera to clothes Hendley, the “Scrounger” It was written only two years views with SADF men who The film is based on Paul and identity cards. Charles Bronson - Flt. Lt. Dan- after the events had taken place. were on the front line. Brickhill’s 1950 book of the Australian Flying Officer ny Velinski, the “Tunnel King” The book deals with Angolan New South African developed same name, a non-fiction first- Louis Sedgwick, “the manu- James Coburn - Flt. Off. Louis campaign to capture Jamba, the and produced weapons such as hand account of the mass es- facturer”. He makes tools from Sedgwick, the “Manufacturer” headquarters of the rebel group the G5 and G6 cannon as well cape from Stalag Luft III in Sa- picks for digging to a pump to Donald Pleasence - Flt. Lt. Co- Unita. as the Valkiri MRL (Multiple gan (now Żagań, Poland), in the provide air to the tunnels. lin Blythe, the “Forger” The Angolans had the sup- Rocket Launcher) were tested province of Lower Silesia, Nazi Flight Lieutenants Danny David McCallum - Lt. Cmdr. port of Cuban troops and Soviet for the first time in battle and Germany. Valinski and William “Willie” Eric Ashley-Pitt, “Dispersal” advisors, while Unita was sup- proved devastating. In 1943 the Germans are per- Dickes are “the tunnel kings” in Gordon Jackson - Flt. Lt. An- ported by the South African De- The Oliphant tank was also turbed about the number of es- charge of the digging. drew MacDonald, “Intelli- fence Force (SADF). used, the first time the South caping Allied POWs. They have Flight Lieutenant Colin gence” A force of around 3,000 SADF Africans had deployed tanks had to expend large resources Blythe is the “forger” respon- James Donald - Gp. Capt. troops and 8,000 Unita fighters since World War II. on recapturing them. sible for identity documents, Ramsey, the Senior British Of- went up against a force of more The rewrite of this book, pub- Allied flyers fall under the railway tickets and maps. ficer (SBO) Luftwaffe and they decided to The Great Escape is a film John Leyton - Flt. Lt. William built a new, high-security pris- that has stood the test of time. Dickes, the “Tunnel King” We Fear Naught but God on camp named Stalag Luft III Most of the characters in the Angus Lennie - Flt. Off. Ar- The Pictorial Edition of the South African Special Forces to house the serial offenders. movie are based on real people chibald Ives, the “Mole” aul Els, the author of the Reconnaissance Regiment and It was then decided to form an As the camp commandant, or a composite of a few people. Nigel Stock - Flt. Lt. Dennis book, served in Special then Special Forces Headquar- airborne element (1 Reconnais- Luftwaffe Colonel von Luger Roger Bartlett, for example, Cavendish, the “Surveyor” Forces as a signaller for 5 ters for a number of years. sance Commando in Durban), a puts it, “We have decided to put is based on P This book on South African seaborne element (4 Reconnais- all our rotten eggs in one bas- Roger Bushell, a South African Special Forces is the forth edi- sance Commando in Lange- ket.” who planned the great escape. tion and the first pictorial -ver baan) and a pseudo element ( 5 The prisoners have an escape However, many details of sion of the history of the South Reconnaissance Commando in committee and most of them the actual escape attempt were African Special Forces, Opera- Dukuduku, Zululand). have ended up in the new camp. changed for the film, and the tors and Operations. A Citizen Force unit, 2 Re- RAF Squadron Leader Roger role of American personnel in There are more than 2,000 connaissance Commando, was Bartlett is brought to the camp both the planning and the es- photographs showing events established in 1975. under the guard of the Gestapo cape was largely fabricated. never before captured in one This book is a must for those and SS. Bartlett is the head of In the end 76 prisoners man- print. interested in Special Forces and the escape committee and is aged to escape. Only three made It deals with the history of the for military collectors. known as Big X. He immedi- it to safety and 50 of those re- Special Forces from their start ately begins to plan an escape captured were executed by the in 1970, the establishment of 1 Both books are available at from the camp. Gestapo. Reconnaissance Commando in https://www.warbooks.co.za/ His plan is to dig not one, but Click on the movie poster to 1972, and the move to Durban three escape tunnels nicknamed watch a trailer of the film. in 1974. Tom, Dick and Harry. He aims 44 45 Now this was no simple On the lighter side matter of pulling the blankets straight. Making a bed in the army was a mission of its own. The part where the sheet folds Ready for inspection over the blanket had to be a cer- tain measurement, as did the Soldiers in any army around the world will normally have one thing in common - their distance between the top sheet intense dislike for inspections. And the old South African Defence Force seemed to and the bottom sheet. The blan- love holding inspections. kets had to be squared at the sides and hospital corners had or those who have never night was taken up with prepar- to dry you would busy to be at each corner at the foot experienced a military ing ourselves and our bungalow yourself with other tasks. All of the bed. Your blanket had to Finspection it is difficult to for inspection. There was just boots and shoes had to be pol- RUB-A-DUB-SCRUB: A conscript tackles the job of scrubbing be tight enough for the corporal even try and begin explaining so much that had to be done. ished and shinned so that they the bungalow floor. to bounce a coin off of it. Your what it was like. First of all we had our indi- gleamed. towel was then folded across Harry (18) did his basic train- vidual equipment and clothing Then you would clean and For some reason, and I think floor, cleaning the toilets and the bottom of the bed. ing at the Army Gymnasium in to sort out. All of your clothing polish the badges on your beret it was planned that way, we showers, and a hundred and one I know many guys that used Heidelberg during 1976. Let’s had to be cleaned and ironed and step-out jacket, as well as would always go shooting on other tasks. to sleep on the floor on a spare hear his thoughts on inspec- just so. There was no such thing the silver buttons on the jacket. a Thursday, the day before the Floors had to be polished and blanket rather than sleep on the tions. as dirty laundry for an inspec- Next was your webbing. You big inspection. shined. We all had two small bed that had taken so much ef- tion. had to see that it was clean and Finally, when everything was squares of blanket and these fort to make. Of course if you If there is one thing I will We didn’t have a washing that nothing was missing. spotless, you would lightly oil were called ‘taxies’. You put were caught sleeping on the never forget from my national machine, so we used to do our Cleaning your rifle was al- the weapon and then wipe off them under your boots when floor you landed in big trouble. service then it’s those bloody washing in the bath. We would ways a time consuming and any excess oil. you walked around, or I should Finally you placed your rifle inspections. fill the bath with cold water, dirty task. We would normally By then it was hoped that your rather say slid around, the bun- and working parts (breach- Look, I’ve got nothing against pour in some washing powder, sit on the floor on a blanket or, clothes would be dry. More of- galow. block and slide) on the bed. being neat and tidy, but those and then climb into the bath. if the weather was not too cold, ten than not your clothes would These taxies served a dual Then you stood next to your inspections went totally over- What you did was walk up and sit outside the bungalow. still be damp and you would purpose. First of all you helped bed, waiting for the inspection. board. down, almost stamping your You would first remove the have to use an iron to iron them polish the floor and keep it shin- Our company commander During basics we would have feet. This was done before sup- dust cover from the weapon dry. ing. Secondly they prevented was a permanent force lieu- a bungalow inspection every per so that your clothes had at and take out the breach-block Ironing wasn’t just a matter anyone scuffing the polished tenant and he wasn’t too bad. morning. These were carried least a chance of getting dry. and slide. Then you would take of giving your clothes a quick floor with their boots. Except when it came to inspec- out by our corporal. We had washing lines that off the foresight, allowing you once over. Forget that for a Finally when everything was tions. Then he was like a dog on Friday mornings were the were shared by the entire com- to remove the gas piston and laugh. Creases had to be ironed clean, and if there was still time, heat. worst because those were not pany, so you had to rush to spring. into pants and shirts. You would you got into bed for a few hours He would walk into the bun- normal inspections, but were make sure that you got a space. You would then sit with a then pack your cupboard and sleep. galow with the corporal and carried out by the company We used to chain our wash- small steel brush, an old tooth- again this wasn’t a simple mat- The following morning be- usually took no more than ten commander, the company ser- ing to the line and lock it with a brush and some cleaning fluid. ter of just folding and hanging gan early, whether you had steps before he spotted some- geant major and our corporal. padlock. This may sound ridic- I personally found that diesel stuff. Everything in the cup- slept or not. You went and had thing wrong. If they found something wrong ulous but trust me it was neces- was the best thing to clean your board had to be in a specific a shower and shave and then “Corporal, is that a smudge on a Friday then you could bet sary. If someone from another rifle with. place and hung or folded just gave the bathroom and toilets a on the window? No corpo- that you would have a real bad squad were missing an item of Every part had to be cleaned so. final clean. ral, what’s wrong with these weekend. clothing, they would merely thoroughly. The gas piston was Now that your individual Then it was off to breakfast. people? Are they pigs? Totally It’s hard to explain to some- come to the washing line and sometimes a pain in the butt equipment was sorted out you Many a Friday morning we did unsatisfactory corporal, it just one who wasn’t there what it replace it. If your washing was to clean. Especially if you had had to begin work on the bun- not even bother going to break- won’t do. I suggest that tomor- was really like. not chained to the line then you been to the shooting range and galow. Everyone was allocated fast because there was still too row you take them for a bit of I can remember more than can bet that some of it would go fired the weapon. Carbon used a specific task such as cleaning much work to be done. One extra training.” one Thursday night when we missing. to build up on the gas piston windows, sweeping and mop- of the last things you did was Our corporal would take this didn’t sleep at all. The entire While your washing was and it was difficult to remove. ping the floor, polishing the make your bed. as an affront against him and we 46 47 knew that the following day we follow rules and regulations. would have the dubious plea- Martin (18) recalls one of the sure of extra drill or a few trips troops in his squad that always around the obstacle course. seemed to be in trouble.

It seemed that nothing you We had a guy in our squad could do would ever please by the name of Manny. He was the corporal when it came to Portuguese and from the south inspections. According to Co- of Johannesburg. He was trou- lin (18) this was all part of the ble with a capital T. game plan and that no matter I actually liked Manny. He how much effort you put in, it had this dry sense of humour still wouldn’t be good enough. and always had something to Colin explains his theory. INSPECTION BED: Everything had to be laid out and spaced say. Our corporal hated him precisely. with a passion. Try as you might, our corporal We had our first weekend pass would always find something and when Manny came back he Muttering and mumbling we way. We stood up and grabbed a How the beds were laid out dif- wrong with the bungalow. Yet ANOTHER INSPECTION BED: had brought a bottle of brandy started to clean again. We re- cloth, a broom, anything to look fered from unit to unit. somehow I think that he would did the windows, polished the busy. with him. have always found something floors again, and redid every- He walked into the bungalow would have no hesitation in ing three panes of glass in the Now this was against all rules to moan about, no matter what thing that had been done earlier. and looked around. cancelling our weekend pass. frame. At least then it won’t and standing orders. First of all you did. Here’s a perfect exam- True to his word, he came “Yes,” he proclaimed with So we used to work damn look so obvious.” as national servicemen we were ple of what I’m talking about. back just after ten that night. a smile. “That’s one hundred hard on a Thursday night to He took one of his army boots not allowed to drink spirits. One Thursday night we were His reaction was even worse. times better. Now this bunga- make sure that everything was and, using the heel as a ham- Secondly you were not allowed preparing for the Friday morn- “Rubbish!” he ranted and low is looking ready for inspec- up to standard. mer, broke the three remaining to keep alcohol in the barracks. ing inspection. raved. “This is rubbish. Do tion. Why can’t you get it right One particular Thursday panes of glass. We picked up all And you were not allowed to This was the big inspection you call this clean? This place first time? Okay, you can get night we were polishing the the glass and threw it away. drink in your bungalow. that was carried out by the cor- looks like a whore’s handbag. some sleep now.” floors and cleaning the win- The following morning the Manny was saving his bottle poral along with our company You troops are looking for me. The lying, low-down piece dows. One of the guys cleaning company commander, with our for the following weekend so commander and company ser- I’m going to give you one last of slime! Between ten o’clock the windows asked someone to corporal in tow, carried out the he could sneak a few drinks. geant major. We would always chance. I will come back at and midnight we had not lifted throw him the bottle of window inspection. I was certain that On the Friday morning it was go full out for that one because midnight and if this place is a finger. The bungalow was ex- cleaner. he would notice that one of the the inspection from the com- if we had a bad inspection we not clean then you and me will actly the same as it was when The bottle came sailing windows had no glass in it. pany commander and company knew that we would be in deep talk at the obstacle course this he told us that it looked like a through the air and the guy that He completed the inspection sergeant major. trouble. weekend.” whore’s handbag. Yet suddenly had asked for it somehow man- and we breathed a collective Your bed had to be made with Anyway we cleaned like cra- He stormed out, slamming he thought it was one hundred aged to miss his catch. The bot- sigh of relief. Just as he was just one blanket but, because zy and I must say that the bunga- the bungalow door behind him. times better. tle crashed straight through the about to leave he turned to us it was winter, we were issued low was looking good. At about We were so disheartened. It was then that I started to window. and nodded his head. with three blankets. For inspec- eight that evening the corporal Personally, I thought that the understand a little bit about We were in a flat . The “Do you see that window,” he tion two of the blankets had to walked in, took one look at the bungalow was looking cleaner beating the system. window was one of those that pointed straight at the broken be folded and stored on the top place, and went crazy. than it ever had. had four separate panes of glass window and our hearts sank. shelf of your cupboard. “Look at this place,” he “Screw that,” one of the guys Yet even though conscripts divided by a frame and one of “Next week I want to see all the While inspecting Manny’s shouted. “It looks like a bloody said, and lay down on his bed. hated inspections with a pas- these panes had been shattered. windows looking as clean as cupboard the sergeant major pigsty. Now I’m going to come As if on a signal we all lay down sion, there were always one or There would be no way that we that.” noticed that the blankets were back in about two hours time on our beds and did absolutely two bizarre or funny moments. could replace it before inspec- not straight. So he ripped them and this place had better be nothing for the next two hours. Mark (17) recalls one of them. tion the next morning. Given the fact that conscripts from the cupboard. clean!” Just before midnight one of We wracked our brains until came from all walks of life, The only problem was that We were disappointed be- the guys who was waiting out- Every Friday morning was one of the guys in the bungalow you would always get those Manny had hidden his full bot- cause we had really worked side came running in and said our big inspection. If we had came up with a suggestion. from the wrong side of the line. tle of brandy between the folds hard getting the place clean. that our corporal was on his a bad inspection our corporal “Let’s break out the remain- Those that just couldn’t seem to of one of the blankets. 48 49 The bottle came flying out sheet that covered the floor, so at a speed and hit the sergeant one big advantage was that we Take a different look at a career... major right between the eyes didn’t have to polish the floor. before falling to the floor and There were serious disadvan- breaking. tages though. First of all it was It knocked the sergeant ma- winter and at night it was freez- jor straight onto his bum and he ing inside the tent. sat there on the floor and for at Even with the tent flaps least five minutes cursed at the closed I would often wake up top of his voice. A sailor would shivering in the early hours of have paid a month’s salary to the morning. I just couldn’t get learn language like that. warm. Manny was charged with a The other thing was the dust. whole list of offences and given It was very dry and there was a summary trial that same day. no grass where our tents were, He ended up being sentenced just this red dirt. When the wind to seven days in detention bar- used to blow, which it seemed NEAT & TIDY: Everything had racks. to do all the time, everything to be packed just so. And it took us weeks to get would get coated with this fine rid of the smell of brandy. layer of dust. We would get ready for in- there it became progressively Some troops were not even spection in the mornings and worse. When asked to sum up fortunate enough to stay in a our tent would be perfect. his basic training, Harry (18) bungalow during basic train- By the time the corporal ar- had the following thoughts. Every month hundreds of new magazines and newspapers are going online and they all ing. Wayne (17) spent his ba- rived for inspection, however, need content. They need someone to write articles and many of them will pay you for it. sic training in a tent along with everything would be covered If you had to ask me for a seven other troops. with dust and we would fail phrase or saying that I remem- Hipe Magazine is offering a three-month online journalism course where we will show There weren’t enough bun- inspection. It used to drive us ber best from basic it would you how to write the type of articles that people want to read and magazines want to galows to accommodate our mad. have to be “Staan lanks julle buy. intake, so about 80 of us were beddens gereed vir inspeksie.” housed in tents. Inspections usually got the (Stand next to your beds ready And best of all the course is 100% free. We had a canvas ground- day off to a bad start and from for inspection).

Aircraft Identification - Quiz Answers 1. Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” (Japan) 10. Boulton Paul Defiant (Britain) 2. Gloster Gladiator (Britain) 11. Heinkel He 177 Greif (Germany) 3. Ambrosini SAI.207 (Italy) 12. Junkers Ju 87 “Stuka” (Germany) 4. GAL. 49 Hamilcar (Britain) 13. (Britain) Do you think you have what it takes to become a cyber 5. Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Germany) 14. de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito (Britain) journalist? 6. Short S.25 Sunderland (Britain) 15. Boeing B-29 Superfortress (USA) It’s a perfect way to earn a little extra or even as a new career. 7. Tupolev TB-3 (Russia) 8. Hawker Typhoon (Britain) For more INFORMATION send us an e-mail at editor@ 9. Messerschmitt Me 262 (Germany) hipe.co.za with the heading ‘cyber journalist’ and we will send you all the details.

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E-books Produced in any electronic format required.

2D & 3D Animation Produced in any video format.

Video Production Scripting, storyboard, filming and edit- ing done to any video format required. We also do aerial and underwater video and stills.

Still Photography

If you’re thinking digital media then think Hipe Media.