Pic of the Day: Rhodesian Soldier Fires a Para FAL Variant During the Bush War

In the throes of the Rhodesian Bush War, resourceful Rhodesian forces, adept in marksmanship and reliant on the formidable penetration of the 7.62x51mm round, circumvented embargoes and sourced diverse FAL variants, countering the Kalashnikov-armed ZANLA and ZIPRA insurgents with tailored tactics and relentless grit, heralding a turbulent era that eventually birthed Zimbabwe and witnessed a consequential shift in military armament.

An American adventure and sacrifice in Rhodesia

John Alan Coey was an American who fought and died in Rhodesia. This article is a commentary and analysis of a complicated and unique person based on his memoirs. It was received well and regarded as accurate by those who knew him, including his brother. I consider Rhodesia a bit of American Military History due […]

Epic tale of Rhodesian commandos gets a reprint

It has been 32 years ever since Chris Cocks first published his acclaimed book narrating his experiences with the elite Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI). Now, five editions later, he is reprinting his masterpiece. But it’s not just a reprint. Cocks has gone in and re-wrote the book to make it even better. “Over the last […]

The Rhodesian SAS: Battle against all odds

Read the previous part here.  With the 1960s coming to a close 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 country of Mozambique. Rhodesia and Mozambique had established a good relationship and […]

The Rhodesian SAS: Covert external operations

You can read the previous part here. We explored the historical background of the Rhodesian SAS C Squadron. Now it is time to focus on a few of the missions that they undertook during the Rhodesian Bush War, a war that threatened to destroy the government of Rhodesia, take the land and evict those of […]

The Rhodesian SAS: selection & operator training

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 […]

The Rhodesian SAS, a little known but deadly Special Operations unit

The U.K.’s Special Air Service needs no introduction to anyone remotely interested in military history or Special Operations. However, there is much more to learn about this elite unit when one traces its existence and influence across the once global British Empire. Much of the power of the Brits was derived from their colonies and […]

The Special Operations world of Sub-Saharan Africa: South African Recces

You can read part one here. Langebaan — Western Cape Province, South Africa. It has a predominantly white population of slightly over 8,000 and is located approximately 120 km north of the iconic city of Cape Town. Langebaan boasts of an ecosystem that is the epitome of natural serenity and the lagoon waters of its […]