Rhodesian Security Forces

Rhodesian Security Forces
Emblem of the Rhodesian Army. The absence of the Queen's crown indicates that this is a post-1970 pattern.
Founded	1964
Disbanded	1980
Service branches	Rhodesian Army Rhodesian Air Force British South Africa Police Ministry of Internal Affairs Guard Force
Headquarters	Salisbury, Rhodesia
Related articles
History	Rhodesian Bush War

The Rhodesian Security Forces were the military forces affiliated to the Rhodesian government. Founded in 1964 as the armed forces of the self-governing British colony of Rhodesia, they remained loyal to the Salisbury government after it unilaterally declared Rhodesia's independence on 11 November 1965. Britain and the United Nations refused to recognise this, and regarded the country as a rebellious British colony throughout its existence. The security forces fought on behalf of the unrecognised government against the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) – the military wings of the communist Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and Zimbabwe African People's Union respectively – during the 1960s and 1970s in the Rhodesian Bush War. The Lancaster House Agreement and the return of Rhodesia to temporary British control on 12 December 1979 changed the security forces' role altogether; during a five-month interim period, they helped the British governor and Commonwealth Monitoring Force to keep order in Rhodesia while the 1980 general election was organised and held. After the internationally-recognised independence of Zimbabwe in April 1980, the security forces, ZANLA and ZIPRA were integrated to form the new Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of a ground force (the Rhodesian Army), an air force, a police force and various personnel affiliated to the Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAF). Despite the impact of economic and diplomatic sanctions, Rhodesia was able to develop and maintain a potent and professional military capability;^[1] in June 1977, Time magazine reported that "man for man, the Rhodesian army ranks among the world's finest fighting units."^[2]

Rhodesian Army

A re-enactor portrays a Rhodesian Light Infantry trooper, circa 1979. The primary infantry weapon of the Rhodesian Army was the FN FAL battle rifle, which was camouflaged as seen here.

The regular army was always a relatively small force, but by 1978–79 it consisted of some 10,800 regulars nominally supported by about 40,000 reservists. While the regular army consisted of a professional core drawn from the white population (and some units, such as the Rhodesian SAS and the Rhodesian Light Infantry, were all-white), by 1978–79 the majority of its complement was actually composed of black soldiers. The army reserves, in contrast, were largely white. ^[3]

The Rhodesian Army HQ was in Salisbury and commanded over four infantry brigades and later an HQ Special Forces, with various training schools and supporting units. Numbers 1,2, and 3 Brigade were established in 1964 and 4 Brigade in 1978.^[4]

• 1 Bde – Bulawayo with area of responsibility in Matabeleland
• 2 Bde – Salisbury with area of responsibility in Mashonaland
• 3 Bde – Umtali with area of responsibility in Manicaland
• 4 Bde – Fort Victoria with area of responsibility in Victoria province

During the Bush War, the army included:

• Army Headquarters Army HQ
• The Rhodesian Light Infantry
• C Squadron 22 (Rhodesian) SAS (in 1978 became 1 (Rhodesian) Special Air Service Regiment)
• Selous Scouts
• The Rhodesian Armoured Car Regiment (The Black Devils)
• Grey's Scouts
• The Rhodesian African Rifles (also including independent companies numbered 1–6 and, briefly, 7)
• The Rhodesia Regiment (eight battalions, numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)
• 1 Psychological Operations Unit
• The Rhodesian Defence Regiment (two battalions)
• The Rhodesian Intelligence Corps
• The Rhodesian Artillery (one depot, one field regiment)
• Six Engineer Squadrons (numbered 2, 3, 4, 6, 7) 1 Engr Sqn
• 5 Engineer Support Squadron
• Three Brigade Signals Squadrons (numbered 1 to 3), 41 Troop 4 (Bde.) Signals Squadron, and three Signal Squadrons numbered 8, 10-12
• Two Services Area HQs (Matabeleland and Mashonaland)
• Two Ordnance and Supplies Depots (Bulawayo, Salisbury)
• Two Base Workshops (Bulawayo, Salisbury)
• 1 Air Supply Platoon
• Three Maintenance Companies (numbered 1 to 3)
• Three Medical Companies (1, 2, 5) and the Army Health Unit
• Tsanga Lodge
• Five Provost Platoons (numbered 1 to 5) and the Army Detention Barracks
• Six Pay Companies (numbered 1 to 5, 7)
• Rhodesian Army Education Corps
• Rhodesian Corps of Chaplains
• Army Records, and Army Data Processing Unit
• Rail Transport Organisation Platoon
• 1 Military Postal Platoon
• Training establishments: School of Infantry, 19 Corps Training Depot, School of Military Engineering, School of Signals, Services Training School, Services Trade Training Centre, Medical Training School, School of Military Police, Pay Corps Training School, School of Military Administration.

Rhodesian Air Force

The Rhodesian Air Force was never a large air force. In 1965, it consisted of only 1,200 regular personnel. At the peak of its strength during the Bush war, it had a maximum of 2,300 personnel of all races, but of these, only 150 were pilots actively involved in combat operations. These pilots, however, were rotated through the various squadrons partly to maintain their skills on all aircraft and partly to relieve fellow pilots flying more dangerous sorties.

British South Africa Police

The British South Africa Police (BSAP) were the first line of defence in Rhodesia, with the specific responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country.^[4]

INTAF

Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAF) officers were heavily involved in implementing such civic measures as the protected villages program.

Combined Operations

Map showing operational areas of the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Bush War^[5][6]

The Rhodesian Bush War required that each of the security forces work in a combined effort to combat the enemy. Therefore it became essential to establish an organisation known as Combined Operations in Salisbury to co-ordinate the efforts of each service. The Rhodesian army took the senior role in Combined Operations. Combined Operations was responsible for the conduct of all operations both inside and outside Rhodesia. Combined Operations had direct command over the Joint Operational Centres (JOCs) deployed throughout the country in each of the Operational Areas. There was a JOC per Operational Area.^[4]

The operational areas were known as:

• Operation Hurricane – North-east border, started in December 1972
• Operation Thrasher – Eastern border, started in February 1976
• Operation Repulse – South-east border, started in May 1976
• Operation Tangent – Matabeleland, started in August 1976
• Operation Grapple – Midlands, started in August 1977
• Operation Splinter – Kariba, started in June 1978
• Salops – Operations in and around Salisbury, started in 1978

Military equipment of Rhodesia

Name	Type	Country of Origin	In Service	Notes
T-55	Main Battle Tank.	Soviet Union	8-12	8 T-55LD tanks given by South Africa, together with South African Defence Force advisers for the purpose of training the Rhodesian crews. Some T-55 tanks captured from Mozambique.[7]
T-54	Main Battle Tank.	Soviet Union		Captured.
T-34	Main Battle Tank	Soviet Union	5-10	Some captured from Mozambique.
Browning Hi-Power	Pistol	Belgium
M1911	Pistol	United States
Beretta 92	Pistol	Italy
Walther P38	Pistol	West Germany
Enfield revolver	Revolver	United Kingdom		Enfield No. 2 Mk I Revolver.
Star	Pistol	Spain		Star Model 1920, Star Model 1921 and Star Model 1922.
Sten	Submachine Gun	United Kingdom
Sterling	Submachine Gun	United Kingdom
Uzi	Submachine Gun	Israel		Some of local manufacture.
Škorpion vz. 61	Submachine Gun	Czechoslovakia		Some of local manufacture.
Lee Enfield	Rifle	United Kingdom		No. 4 Mk I and No 4 Mk I (T)
Browning Auto-5	Shotgun	United States
Ithaca 37	Shotgun	United States
FN FAL	Rifle	Belgium		South African R1 and British L1A1. Also used heavy barreled light machine gun variant.
M14	Rifle	United States
M16	Assault Rifle	United States		M16A1. Used very late in the war.
Heckler & Koch G3	Rifle	West Germany		G3A3, received from Portugal.
AK-47	Assault Rifle	Soviet Union		Captured.
AKM	Assault Rifle	Soviet Union		Captured.
SKS	Carbine	Soviet Union		Captured.
Dragunov	Sniper Rifle	Soviet Union		Captured.
RPD	Light Machine Gun	Soviet Union		Captured.
RPK	Light Machine Gun	Soviet Union		Captured.
PK	Light Machine Gun	Soviet Union		Captured.
KPV	Heavy Machine Gun	Soviet Union		Captured.
Bren	Light Machine Gun	United Kingdom		Mark 3.
FN MAG	General Purpose Machine Gun	Belgium
Browning M1919	Medium Machine Gun	United States		M1919A4.
Browning M2	Heavy Machine Gun	United States
RPG-7	Anti-Tank Weapon	Soviet Union		Captured.
M72 LAW	Anti-Tank Weapon	United States
Bazooka	Anti-Tank Weapon	United States		M20 Super Bazooka.
M18 Claymore	Anti Personal Mine	United States
Mine G.S. Mk V	Anti Tank Mine	United Kingdom
Ferret	Armoured Car	United Kingdom	20-48	Mk 2/2.
Ratel	Armoured Car	South Africa	54	Ratel 90.
BRDM-2	Armoured Car	Soviet Union		Captured.
BTR-152	Armoured Personnel Carrier	Soviet Union		Captured.
Eland Mk7	Armoured Car	South Africa	139	60 Eland-90s and 70 Eland-60s.
T17	Armoured Car	United States	20	T17E1.
Thyssen Henschel UR-416	Armoured Personnel Carrier	West Germany	50
MILAN	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	France/ West Germany	9	9 Launchers and 75 missiles from South Africa.
M40	Anti-Tank Weapon	United States	24
B-10	Anti-Tank Weapon	Soviet Union		Captured.
B-11	Anti-Tank Weapon	Soviet Union		Captured.
Casspir	Armoured Personnel Carrier	South Africa	100	Casspir Mk 3.
Buffel	Armoured Personnel Carrier	South Africa	100
Pookie	Mine Detection vehicle	Rhodesia
Universal Carrier	Armoured Personnel Carrier	United Kingdom	30	Improved Universal carrier armed with two FN MAG.
OTO Melara Mod 56	Howitzer	Italy	18
M101	Howitzer	United States	12
Ordnance QF 25 pounder	Howitzer	United Kingdom	24
L16	Mortar	United Kingdom	100
BM-21 Grad	Multiple Rocket Launcher	Soviet Union	5	Captured.
Strela 2	Surface-To-Air Missile System	Soviet Union	15	Captured.
ZPU	Anti-Aircraft Gun 14.5mm	Soviet Union	20	Captured.
ZU-23-2	Anti-Aircraft Gun	Soviet Union	12	Captured.
Land Rover	4×4 Vehicle	United Kingdom
Willys MB	4×4 Vehicle	United States		M38.
Unimog	4×4 Vehicle	West Germany
Bedford MK	Truck	United Kingdom
English Electric Canberra	Bomber	United Kingdom	21	3 from South Africa, 18 Canberra B 2s and 3 Canberra T 4s.
Hawker Hunter	Fighter	United Kingdom	12	Hunter FGA 9.
de Havilland Vampire	Fighter	United Kingdom	67	35 from South Africa.
Supermarine Spitfire	Fighter	United Kingdom	22	Mk 22.
North American T-6 Texan	Trainer Aircraft	United States	21	AT-6 Harvard, sold to South Africa.
Percival Provost	Trainer Aircraft/Light Attack Aircraft	United Kingdom	25	Provost Mk 52.
Aermacchi AL-60	Utility Aircraft	Italy	11	AL-60F-5 "Trojan".
Canadair North Star	Transport Aircraft	Canada	4	C-4 Argonaut.
Douglas DC-7	Transport Aircraft	United States	2
Cessna Skymaster	Light Attack Aircraft	United States	23	Reims-Cessna FTB 337G 'Lynx'.
Aermacchi SF.260	Trainer Aircraft/Light Attack Aircraft	Italy	49	SF.260C and SF.260W "Genet".
Douglas C-47 Dakota	Transport Aircraft	United States	22
Britten-Norman Islander	Transport Aircraft	United Kingdom	6
Beechcraft Baron	Transport Aircraft	United States	1	Baron 95 C-55
Cessna 421	Transport Aircraft	United States	1
Percival Pembroke	Transport Aircraft	United Kingdom	2	Percival Pembroke C.1
Cessna 185	Utility Aircraft	United States	17
Bell UH-1 Iroquois	Helicopter	United States	11	Agusta-Bell 205. Used very late in the war.
Aérospatiale Alouette III	Helicopter	France	97
SNIAS Alouette-II	Light Transport Helicopter	France	5	of South African origin.
Armscor Darter	Air to Air Missile	South Africa	some
Golf & Alpha	Aircraft bombs	Rhodesia	several
Matra 68mm	Aircraft rockets	France

See also

• Rhodesian Light Infantry
• Selous Scouts
• Rhodesian Air Force
• Fireforce

Notes and references

References

Journal articles

Bibliography

External links

• Rhodesian Militaria: Army - Detailed photos & descriptions of genuine Army & Brigade patches.

v t e Rhodesian Security Forces of the Bush War Regular Army: Grey's Scouts · Rhodesian African Rifles · Rhodesian Armoured Corps · Rhodesian Light Infantry (History: 1961–1972 · 1972–1977 · 1977–1980) · Rhodesia Regiment (7 Independent Company) · Rhodesian Special Air Service · Selous Scouts Air Force: Rhodesian Air Force Others: British South Africa Police · INTAF · Security Force Auxiliaries

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