Rhodesian COIN (consolidated thread, inc original RLI)

[JMA]

Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Reid-Daly

Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Reid-Daly, who has died aged 81, was the colourful and outspoken founder and commander of the Selous Scouts regiment, whose unorthodox tactics during Rhodesia's bush war against nationalist insurgents were as effective as they were controversial.

[JMA]

‎33 years ago today, right now I was sitting in the briefing in the hanger at New Sarum air base prior to the first Chimoio raid with 96 SAS guys, 103 other RLI guys and a whole bunch of Blue Jobs. H-hour was 07h45 on 23 November 1977... they didn't know what hit them.

...and no it wasn't a refugee camp.

RIP - Frans Nel (SAS) and Phil Haigh (Air Force)

[JMA]

Not enough gunships? A Cessna will do. Take off the door, mount a 30-Browning on the floor (with a primitive sight) operated by your mate, the gunner and next door farmer and sit on a flak jacket to prevent unwanted penetration of the nether regions... and there you have a Cessna gunship... Rhodesian style. They got some.



Throwing hand grenades out the door was also an attack variation.

As they say, don't just sit there and do nothing... do something, anything.

[IntelTrooper]

Don't know if this has been posted before or is in the right thread -- just happened across this on YouTube. Might be of interest to some folks.

Rhodesia Unafraid (Part 1)

[JMA]

You fit a few 30 browning gun pods under the wings and Bob's you uncle...



No. 1953. Beech V35A Bonanza (VP-WHM)

The guns were fired by solenoids which were activated by a push-to-talk button on the control column. The sighting mechanism was very simple, yet effective. A fold-out arm with a ring sight on it was snapped into place. A dot on the windshield provided the second reference - line up the dot in the ring, put both on the target and press the trigger.

So if you are ever faced with an existential war your CAS options are limited only by your imagination.

Now if you really want to upgun this kite you do the following:

A further modification was done to the aircraft - unfortunately I don't have any photos of it - which provided my father the ability to drop a series of three or five grenades from the bottom of the aircraft. Basically, there was a hole in the floor (which was normally sealed with a resin plug) between the co-pilot's feet. The grenades were stored in steel tubes in a removable armoured box right behind the pilot and observer, directly over the C of G. All pins were removed from the grenades; the handles were held in place by the walls of the tube. The tube was blocked on both ends by means of two large steel pins, and locked in place by split pins (re-used from the grenades). A spring loaded cap was fitted to the top-end of the tube. At the required time the resin plug was removed from the floor and the tube was attached over the hole in the floor and locked in place. The top pin was removed causing the spring loaded cap to exert pressure on the grenades. A cable was attached to the bottom pin by means of a dog-leash clip. On final approach to the target, the bottom safety pin was removed. Once over the target, the cable was pulled, removing the bottom pin and causing the spring loaded cap to force the grenades from the tube. A further safety device was available and used in the event of a 'hang-up' in the tube. I had to use it on two separate occasions. While not very scientific it worked... Dad would hold the aircraft very steady and I would carefully remove the spring loaded cap, take a small pole (cut from a mopane tree) and push the hung-up grenades out the tube.

I kid you not.

[JMA]

RLI BIRTHDAY – 1 FEBRUARY

On 1 February 1961 the all white Rhodesian Light Infantry was formed as a result of growing concerns within Rhodesia over the shape post colonial Africa was taking (and anticipated would take) where the colonial order had given way to brutal dictatorships and economic collapse often at the hands of the ex-colonial African troops. By September 1961 the RLI were deployed to the Congo border and border control duties to prevent the chaos resulting from the attempted secession of the province of Katanga from spilling over into the then Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

After the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965 the insurgency began to increase steadily over time until 1973 by when the RLI had elements permanently deployed on border control and internal operations all the time. The 1974 coup d’etat in Portugal and the ensuing collapse of their colonies exposed Rhodesia to an additional 1,200km of border across which insurgents could infiltrate. To maximise the use of limited forces and to ensure a rapid ability to concentrate those forces the Fire Force concept was developed using Air Force Allouette III helicopters and Lynx (Cessna 337) CAS piston-engined aircraft and primarily the RLI.

The ruthless efficiency of the joint Air Force and RLI Fire Force operations where the RLI was deployed by helicopter and later also by parachute was to account for the deaths of in excess of 12,000 insurgents during the course of the war at a rate of 160 enemy killed for every one of their own lost: a truly remarkable record. By mid 1976 the RLI comprised about half conscripted Rhodesian National Servicemen and of the balance there was a large representation of Brits, Americans, Canadians, Australians and others. Ultimately recruits from some 35 different nationalities passed through the RLI.

Periodically withdrawn from Fire Force operations to take part in cross-border operations into neighbouring Zambia and Mozambique together with the Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) and supported by the Air Force the RLI was party to inflicting further immense damage to externally based insurgent forces and their logistic support.

On 31 October 1980, after a short but action packed nineteen year existence, the RLI was disbanded after the political settlement which arose from the Lancaster House Conference where nationalist and guerrilla leader, Robert Mugabe, was declared winner of an election marred by massive intimidation and became Prime Minister of the newly independent Zimbabwe.

However, the RLI lives on and on 1 February 2011 will celebrate its 50th birthday. Functions and gatherings both large and small will be held around the world to remember the regiment, honour the fallen and celebrate together the good times when all were young and soldiered with “the incredible” Rhodesian Light Infantry.

[William F. Owen]

Not enough gunships? A Cessna will do. Take off the door, mount a 30-Browning on the floor (with a primitive sight) operated by your mate, the gunner and next door farmer and sit on a flak jacket to prevent unwanted penetration of the nether regions... and there you have a Cessna gunship... Rhodesian style.

The US had been using Cessna O-1's, O-2's and all sorts of light aircraft through out the 1960's and well into the mid-1970's. Talk to any of the "SPAF" - Sneaky Pete's Air Force - and they all have stories of dropping grenades out of the window.

....but today, 40 years on, it's like using Bleriot's 1909 plane in the Battle of Britain. Modern armies and airforces should not be looking to emulate products of improvisation. A modernised derivative of an AU-23 is about as low as anyone should go, and even the case of that is pretty tough to make.

[JMA]

The US had been using Cessna O-1's, O-2's and all sorts of light aircraft through out the 1960's and well into the mid-1970's. Talk to any of the "SPAF" - Sneaky Pete's Air Force - and they all have stories of dropping grenades out of the window.

....but today, 40 years on, it's like using Bleriot's 1909 plane in the Battle of Britain. Modern armies and airforces should not be looking to emulate products of improvisation. A modernised derivative of an AU-23 is about as low as anyone should go, and even the case of that is pretty tough to make.

Posting the Cessna and Beechcraft photos was just for info and for fun.

You can off-set the stuff private individuals got up to to support the war effort against wars and operations that grind to halt when the GPS batteries run down.

Modern blinkered soldiering which frowns upon the use of initiative, improvisation and extemporization by junior commanders (down to junior NCOs) is worse off for this serious error of judgement.

The problems with converting light commercial piston engined aircraft to a weapons delivery role are the limited payload and the ability to find pilots with the balls to fly them (in a combat role). And in the absence of SAMs (SA-7/Grail/or equivalent) are still viable in most of the world, 90% of Africa, a lot of Asia, South America and a bunch of islands.

[William F. Owen]

The problems with converting light commercial piston engined aircraft to a weapons delivery role are the limited payload and the ability to find pilots with the balls to fly them (in a combat role). And in the absence of SAMs (SA-7/Grail/or equivalent) are still viable in most of the world, 90% of Africa, a lot of Asia, South America and a bunch of islands.

I'd strongly agree. Many nations buy combat aircraft they just do not need.

[JMA]

I'd strongly agree. Many nations buy combat aircraft they just do not need.

... nor can maintain nor can operate...

The South African Air Force currently musters 23 operational fighter aircrew.

...58 of 167 helicopter pilot posts (34%) are currently vacant... 30% of posts for transport pilots are vacant (48 of 156 posts)... the shortage of air traffic controllers, where only 29 of 77 posts (37%) are filled... a shortage of engineers with only 70 of 130 posts (54%) filled... read here