Military Despatches Vol 31 January 2020 Tank Killers The most powerful anti-tank weapons It’s a traditional thing Some strange US Military traditions The Lanceros Colombia’s Special Forces Castle Itter One of the strangest battles of World War II For the military enthusiast CONTENTS January 2020 Page 10 Click on any video below to view Colombia’s How much do you know about movie theme Special Forces songs? Take our quiz and find out. Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Williams. Afrikaans, slang and techno-speak that few outside the military could hope to under- stand. Some of the terms Features 24 were humorous, some The Mongol Warriors were clever, while others 6 The Mongol military tactics were downright crude. Strange US military traditions and organization enabled the Throughout history the military Mongol Empire to conquer has been renown for tradition. nearly all of continental Asia, Part of Hipe’s “On the Some of these traditions are of- 18 the Middle East and parts of eastern Europe couch” series, this is an ten seen by outsiders as strange The Highest Honour interview with one of or even bizarre. And the US While most military forces 28 military has some strange tradi- author Herman Charles award medals and decorations, A matter of survival tions of its own. it is the ones awarded for brav- Bosman’s most famous Preparing your kill for eating. characters, Oom Schalk 14 ery that are held in the high- Lourens. Live and Learn est regard. We look at medals A taxi driver was shot Hipe spent time in awarded for valour by a few Some historical ‘facts’ we take 30 dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area different countries. plagued with gang for granted may not actually be Ranks war between rival taxi This month we look at the Co- violence, to view first- fact. The well-known Roman 22 organisations. salute is one of these. lombian Armed Forces hand how Project Straight Shooting 16 Ceasefire is dealing with This month we feature the Quiz the situation. A stitch in time Smith & Wesson Model 10 and Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- A stitch removed in time saves the Smith & Wesson Mk 22 17 thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. nine. By Sea Cadet Petty Of- Mod 0 ‘Hush Puppy’. General Knowledge ficer Clayton Cornelius. Some basic general military Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. knowledge this month. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 68 Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson PHOTO EDITOR t still doesn’t seem all that And I must confess that a good Regine Lord long ago that we were cele- time was had by all. CONTRIBUTORS brating the new millennium. Now when I look back twenty January in military history I Clayton Cornelius, Raymond And now we’re already two dec- years later I realise that of the six Fletcher, Ryan Murphy, Matt ades into the new millennium. of us, there are only two of us O’Brien, Matt Tennyson. It you sit back and think about still left. Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review it, the end of 1999 was quire a I also recall that during my Military Despatches is pub- 36 54 67 big thing and something that not time spent serving in the mili- lished on-line every month. SAP Special Task Force that many people get to experi- tary I spent more than one Old Strongest military forces M1 Abrams MBT The articles used in Military The South African Police Special ence. Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day This month we take a look at With many innovative features, Despatches are copyrighted Task Force is the Special Opera- 31 January 1999 was the end in the bush. As I’m sure many of AT weapons of the ten strongest the M1 Abrams is rated as one and may not be used without tion element of the South African of the year (no big deal, been our readers did as well. military forces in the world. of the best main battle tanks in prior permission from the edi- Police. They are considered to be there done that), and it was the 2019 has been an interesting the world. tor. amongst the best of such Units in end of a decade (done that a few year not only in South Africa, The views stated in this mag- Famous Figures the world. times as well). But it was also but throughout the world. There azine do not necessary reflect Battlefield the end of a century and, with a have been a number of high 50 the views of Hipe!, the editor, 60 Front Cover few odd exceptions, there were points, but probably even more the staff, or Hipe Media. Chris Ryan not many around that had expe- low points. Battle of Itter Castle Author, television presenter, se- Modern anti-tank weapons can rienced that before. It was also It is said that someone with The World War II battle where Hipe! curity consultant, former Spe- kill or incapacitate almost any the end of a millennium, some- perfect vision has 20/20 vision. US and German troops fought P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 cial Air Service sergeant, and tank on the battlefield. thing that no living person had And we’re now in 2020, so let’s the German SS. South Africa. member of the famous ‘Bravo ever experienced before. So, home that people start to see Two Zero’ incident, Chris Ryan if you were around back then, things a bit clearer. Not only email has made a name for himself. Gaming consider yourself one of a select here in South Africa, but in the [email protected] few. rest of the world as well. 64 I still remember that a few May I take this opportunity to Back Issues Freeman: Guerilla Warfare journalist mates and I started wish you and your loved ones a To view any back issues of An excellent combination of planning back in 1995 where we peaceful and prosperous 2020 Military Despatches, go to RTS and FPS. were going to see in the new mil- and may you experience blue www.militarydespatches.co.za Movie Review lennium. We eventually came to skies and smooth sailing. or click here. the conclusion that there was Until next time. one place we had to be - Times 66 Square in New York City. And Ultimate Force when the new millennium rolled Action packed British televi- in, that was where six of us were. Matt sion series. 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten something like this. If a troop Ten strange US military traditions produces a coin then anyone that does not have a coin has Throughout history the military has been renown for tradition. Some of these traditions are often to buy a drink for everyone in seen by outsiders as strange or even bizarre. And the US military has some strange traditions of its the bar that does have the same own. coin. If everyone in the bar has a ne of the definitions of Finally, it’s the moment of get unique and personalised call coin, then the person with the tradition is “a specific truth - the day they get to make signs. But there is no guarantee least valuable coin has to buy a Opractice of long stand- their first jump from a plane. that the name will be cool. drink for everyone in the bar. ing.” It’s tradition for qualified Pilots have a tradition of tell- Most cultures, religions and jumpers to fill the trainees side ing stories about the rookie pi- CHALLENGE COIN: A South African Infantry School challenge 5. Moustache contests organisations have traditions, pockets with Hostess Cherry lot, much like a roast. coin. This is available at Bush War Books. Military units are constantly some of which have been Pies. Some of these stories are em- competing with each other. And around for thousands of years. When the trainees jump their barrassing, well most of them cause of all the sweat the troops to pass through two rows of the it should come as no surprise And one of the organisations minds are focused on everything embarrassing, but some of them lost. And a dirty sock, because troops from their platoon. that one of the most macho that is steeped in tradition is the they’ve learnt in training. When are awesome and suited to the what would a grog bowl be Each troop gets to punch them things out there is facial hair. It military. It would take a book the ground approaches they aviator in question. The squad- without one? on their shoulder. By the time often gets quantified into some on its own just to begin describ- concentrate on the landing. ron then votes on a call sign for they reach the end of the lines sort of a challenge. ing some of the traditions of Feet and knees together, el- the rookie. And the call sign 7. Blood wings and blood their arms are usually lame and The problem is that the mil- various military formations. bows tucked in, chin on chest, they select is for life. stripes they will sport two big bruises itary doesn’t allow most forms Saluting, marching, the body turned to make a right or When a civilian gets promot- for the next few days.