Dan Tharp

Counter-Insurgency. COIN. The last 13 years have passed with the finest minds of military science observing, assessing and drawing up battle appreciations for fighting and eradicating insurgencies.

The 1970s and 80s inspired a whole subculture of ‘Mercs.’ Americans had come back from the Vietnam War and a whole industry of magazines, schools and people who lied about their service came out of the woodwork. Soldier of Fortune Magazine was entering its heyday of popularity bringing attention to the conflicts in Southern Africa. […]

Some of the most explosive combat in Special Operations history is almost completely unknown to the Western World. Everyone knows about Navy SEALs and Green Berets but nobody knows about the deep recce, sabotage, and direct action missions conducted by the Rhodesian SAS. The Rhodesian Light Infantry was a killing machine, participating in combat jumps […]

The helicopter has become an iconic image of war. It changed the way soldiers were able to deploy on the battlefield, dramatically reduced the mortality rate of wounded soldiers and delivers hell fire and brimstone to the enemy. To most Americans, the Bell UH-1 Huey in Vietnam was synonymous with the war itself. To the […]

The U.K.’s Special Air Service needs no introduction to anyone remotely interested in Military History. However, there is much more to learn about this Elite unit when you trace its existence and influence across the once worldwide British Empire. Much of the power of the British influence derived from their colonies and stock of available […]

The men of the Malayan Scouts returned as Heroes to their Native Rhodesia. Filled with experience and the haggard look of men hardened by battle, they were promptly deactivated. Rhodesia relied mainly on the Rhodesian African Rifles, the Native Regiment led by white officers and Territorials or Reservists for their standing Army. Like many Armies […]

(A note to Readers: With the root background of the Rhodesian SAS C Squadron having been explored, it is time to focus on a few of the missions that they undertook against the backdrop of a War on Terror. A war thats aim was to destroy the Government of Rhodesia, take the land and evict […]

With the 1960’s closing and the success rate of incursions into Rhodesia from Zambia dropping to practically zero, both African Nationalist groups ZANU and ZAPU looked for alternatives. To the East of Rhodesia lay the nation of Mozambique. Both countries had established a good relationship and many Rhodies went to the beaches along the African […]

In the mid 1970’s, much effort was being put into strangling northern Mozambique. More and more ZANU Terrs were based there in the Tete Province. The relationship that ZANU had with FRELIMO made Mozambique a very difficult area to operate in, especially over a prolonged period. Captain Robert Mackenzie, an American who had served with […]

Amongst the Special Operations Forces of the Rhodesian Army, by far the Selous Scouts have garnered the most interest and discussion. The Unit has recently received much more attention by general military buffs, all the way up to active duty professors at West Point, Annapolis and even Ft. Leavenworth’s War College. This attention is a […]

The hallmark of the Selous Scouts was Psuedo-Terrorist Operations. The intent was to infiltrate the enemy without them knowing it. That sounds very simplistic but it was a vital strategic prong in Rhodesia’s War on Terror. The RLI, Rhodesian African Rifles and Independent companies of the Rhodesian Regiment were available to meet the enemy on […]

With new tasks at hand, new tactics needed to be implemented. The Eastern border area was named Operation Hurricane. Eventually, the whole country would be divided into their own Operational Commands. As the Terrs moved into Northern Mozambique, intelligence was vital to stopping them cold. A difficult prospect, as the Tete province in the northwest […]