Rhodesian Security Forces

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Current revision as of 01:13, 10 November 2007

The Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) is the military agency of the Republic of Rhodesia. Is is comprised of the Rhodesian Army, the Rhodesian Army Special Forces, the British South Africa Police (BSAP), the Rhodesian Air Force, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Prime Minister serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Much of the country's military hardware is of British or South African origin, although much of it is domestically manufactured; in fact, during the Rhodesian Bush War, the country was forced to design many indigenous weapons and vehicles, due to a mandatory arms embargo imposed by the UN. Much of the equipment of indigenous design, such as the Pig and Crocodile mine-protected APCs, were well suited to the country's climate and proved highly effective in anti-terrorist operations. The integration of the armed forces, which began gradually during the Bush War, was largely complete by the mid-1980s. Today the Rhodesian Security Forces is of the most highly disciplined, best-trained, and efficient militaries in the world, comparable to the IDF or the United States military.

[edit] Structure

[edit] Rhodesian Army

Flag of the Rhodesian Army.

The Rhodesian Army is the land component of the RSF. Its command structure and organization are modelled directly on the British Army. The Army is commanded by a Lieutenant-General responsible to the Minister of Defense.

[edit] Organization

Army Headquarters
Four Brigade Headquarters, two District Headquarters, and Special Forces Headquarters
Rhodesian Light Infantry
Rhodesian Special Air Service
Selous Scouts
Rhodesian Armored Corps ("The Black Devils")
Grey's Scouts
Rhodesian African Rifles (six independent companies)
Rhodesia Regiment (eight battalions)
One Psychological Operations Unit
Rhodesian Defense Regiment (two battalions)
Rhodesian Intelligence Corps
Rhodesian Artillery (one depot, one field regiment)
Six Engineer Squadrons
Five Engineer Support Squadrons
Three Brigade Signals Squadrons
Two Service Area Headquarters (Matabeleland and Mashonaland)
Two Ordnance and Supplies Depots (Bulowayo, Salisbury)
Two Base Workshops (Bulowayo, Salisbury)
One Air Supply Platoon
Three Maintenance Companies
Three Medical Companies and the Army Health Unit
Tsanga Lodge
Five Provost Platoons and the Army Detention Barracks
Six Pay Companies
Rhodesian Army Education Corps
Rhodesian Corps of Chaplains
Army Records, and Army Data Processing Unit
Rail Transport Organization Platoon
One Military Postal Platoon

[edit] Rhodesian Army Special Forces

[edit] Rhodesian African Rifles

During the Bush War, the Rhodesian African Rifles were comprised of two battalions composed of black soldiers, commanded by white officers. Their knowledge of tribal cultures, ability to speak native languages, and bush skills allowed them to obtain local intelligence that the average white soldier could not, and function better in Rhodesia's climate and terrain than most white troops could. The RAR made a name for itself during the Malayan Emergency, when it fought with distinction and bravery against communist insurgents; however, their performance early in the Bush War was rather poor, until improved training remedied this. By the end of the war, many of the RAR's troops were participating in elite force operations, including the various "fireforces."

The RAR today is a fully integrated force, comprised of six independent companies.

[edit] Rhodesian Light Infantry

The Rhodesian Light Infantry is a commando regiment proficient in counterinsurgency and anti-terrorism operations. It is composed of five battalions, each made up of four units with 90 personnel. Members are trained as paratroopers and provide the backbone of the "fireforces." The RLI specializes in external operations and cross-border raids, and is highly effective in intercepting attempted terrorist incursions into the country.

[edit] Rhodesian Special Air Service

Modelled on the British unit of the same name, the SAS specializes in counterinsurgency and clandestine operations. Members are rigorously tested for both physical and mental stamina, and trained in parachuting, canoeing, bushcraft, explosives techniques, and much more. It is one of the most renowned and efficient elements of the security forces.

[edit] Selous Scouts

Cap badge of the Selous Scouts.

The most effective - and perhaps the most famous - component of the Rhodesian Army Special Forces is the Selous Scouts, a clandestine special forces regiment named in honor of British explorer Frederick Courteney Selous. Created in 1973, the Scouts killed more terrorists during the Bush War than all the other special forces combined, while suffering extremely limited casualties. The stringent training volunteers had to endure assured that only the very best were accepted into the Scouts' ranks. During the Bush War, the Selous Scouts was a mixed race force that included many blacks among its ranks, including several former insurgents who had defected to the government side. Among its missions were tracking and infiltration operations, pseudo-operations, long-range reconnaissance missions, and cross-border anti-terrorist raids. Members were trained in parachuting, bush survival and tracking, and clandestine and counter-guerrilla skills. The Selous Scouts was and remains one of the finest and most highly regarded special forces in the world. The motto of the Selous Scouts is pamwe chete, which translated from Shona means "all together", "together only" or "forward together".

[edit] Grey's Scouts

The Grey's Scouts are a mounted unit trained for tracking on horseback. The unit is named in honor of George Grey, a hero of the First Matabele War.

[edit] British South African Police

Flag of the BSAP.

The BSAP serves as Rhodesia's national police force, and is tasked with maintaining law and order throughout the country. Although modelled on the British police system, the BSAP is structurally, organizationally, and developmentally more similar to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Commissioner of Police commands the BSAP, and he is answerable to (and appointed by) the Minister of Justice and Law and Order. The BSAP is comprised of the Duty Uniform Branch, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch, Support Unit, and Police Reserve.

[edit] Rhodesian Air Force

Flag of the RhAF.

Like the other branches of the armed forces, the Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was modelled on its British counterpart. The RhAF is composed of approximately 2,300 personnel, of whom 450 are pilots. The RhAF is commanded by an Air Marshal, who is appointed by - and answerable to - the Minister of Defense.

[edit] Ministry of Internal Affairs

Flag of IntAf.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (IntAf for short) is staffed by personnel acknowledged as experts on tribal cultures, customs, laws, mores, and society. Personnel are trained to be fluent in at least one native language, usually Shona. Officers of IntAf serve at Joint Operational Centers, where they are involved in implementing civic measures such as the protected villages programs. The paramilitary auxiliary force Pfumo reVanhu (Shona: "Spear of the People"), which provides security for rural villages, is a component of IntAf.

Flag of Pfumo reVanhu.

[edit] Training establishments

School of Infantry
19 Corps Training Depot
School of Military Engineering
School of Signals
Services Training School
Services Trade Training Center
Medical Training School
School of Military Police
Pay Corps Training School
School of Military Administration

[edit] Major equipment of the Rhodesian Security Forces

[edit] Major Army equipment

Type	Designation	Inventory
Armored fighting vehicles
Main battle tanks	Challenger 1	56
	Chieftain Mk 3/5	120
	T-55, Type 59, Type 69 (captured from Mozambique during the Bush War)	n.a.
Light tanks	FV101 Scorpion, FV107 Scimitar, Sabre	30
	Type 63 (captured from Mozambique during the Bush War)	n.a.
Infantry fighting vehicles	Ratel 20, Ratel 81, Ratel 90, Ratel Command, Ratel Maintenance, Ratel Logistic, Ratel ZT3	250
Armored fighting vehicles	Rooikat 76, Rooikat 105	98
Armored personnel carriers	Gila, Buffel, Casspir, Mamba, Reva, Pig, Crocodile, EE-11 Urutu, ACMAT TPK 4.20 VSC	1,200+
	BRDM-1, BRDM-2, BTR-152, BTR-50 (captured from Mozambique during the Bush War)	n.a.
Armored cars	Eland Mk7, Panhard AML, EE-9 Cascavel	150
Medium mine-protected vehicles	Cheetah, RG-31 Nyala, RG-32 Scout	75
Support vehicles
Trucks	SAMIL 20, SAMIL 50, SAMIL 100, MAN	600
Utility vehicles	Land Rover Defender 110, Land Rover Wolf	130
Artillery
Towed howitzers	105mm: L118 Light Gun, G7	40
	122mm: D-30 (captured from Mozambique during the Bush War)	4
	155mm: G5	35
Self-propelled howitzers	122mm: 2S1 (captured from Mozambique during the Bush War)	12
	155mm: AS-90	18
Mortars	60mm: Brandt	120
	81mm: L16	100
	120mm: M120	1,500+
Air defense artillery	ZPU-1, ZU-23-2, M1939, ZSU-23-4 (captured from Mozambique during the Bush War)	n.a.
Aircraft
Transports	DHC-4 Caribou, DHC-5 Buffalo, DHC-6 Twin Otter, C-47 Skytrain	9
Observation	O-2 Skymaster	4
Helicopters	Aérospatiale Alouette III	15

[edit] Major Air Force equipment

Type	Designation	Inventory
Transports	DHC-4 Caribou, DHC-5 Buffalo, DHC-6 Twin Otter	12
	C-47 Skytrain	4
	C-130 Hercules	3
	Boeing 777	1
Ground attack	F-5E Tiger II	13
	Hunter FGA.9	5
	BAE Hawk 200	6
Bombers	Canberra B(I).12	2
Fighters	Cheetah C	8
	Cheetah E	2
	Tornado ADV	4
Helicopters	Aérospatiale Alouette III	25
	Schweizer 300C	11
	Westland Lynx AH.7	5
Observation	O-2 Skymaster	12
Trainers	Pilatus PC-7	14
	Hawk 120/LIFT	6
	Cheetah D	10

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ===Organization===
 *Army Headquarters
-*4 Brigade Headquarters, 2 District Headquarters, and Special Forces Headquarters
+*Four Brigade Headquarters, two District Headquarters, and Special Forces Headquarters
 *Rhodesian Light Infantry
 *Rhodesian Special Air Service
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 *Rhodesian African Rifles (six independent companies)
 *Rhodesia Regiment (eight battalions)
-*1 Psychological Operations Unit
+*One Psychological Operations Unit
 *Rhodesian Defense Regiment (two battalions)
 *Rhodesian Intelligence Corps
 *Rhodesian Artillery (one depot, one field regiment)
-*6 Engineer Squadrons
+*Six Engineer Squadrons
-*5 Engineer Support Squadrons
+*Five Engineer Support Squadrons
-*3 Brigade Signals Squadrons
+*Three Brigade Signals Squadrons
-*2 Service Area Headquarters (Matabeleland and Mashonaland)
+*Two Service Area Headquarters (Matabeleland and Mashonaland)
-*2 Ordnance and Supplies Depots (Bulowayo, Salisbury)
+*Two Ordnance and Supplies Depots (Bulowayo, Salisbury)
-*2 Base Workshops (Bulowayo, Salisbury)
+*Two Base Workshops (Bulowayo, Salisbury)
-*1 Air Supply Platoon
+*One Air Supply Platoon
-*3 Maintenance Companies
+*Three Maintenance Companies
-*3 Medical Companies and the Army Health Unit
+*Three Medical Companies and the Army Health Unit
 *Tsanga Lodge
-*5 Provost Platoons and the Army Detention Barracks
+*Five Provost Platoons and the Army Detention Barracks
-*6 Pay Companies
+*Six Pay Companies
 *Rhodesian Army Education Corps
 *Rhodesian Corps of Chaplains
 *Army Records, and Army Data Processing Unit
 *Rail Transport Organization Platoon
-*1 Military Postal Platoon
+*One Military Postal Platoon
 ==Rhodesian Army Special Forces==
@@ Line 112: / Line 112: @@
 | Armored cars || Eland Mk7, Panhard AML, EE-9 Cascavel || 150
 |-
-| Medium mine-protected vehicles || Cheetah, RG-31 Nyala || 75
+| Medium mine-protected vehicles || Cheetah, RG-31 Nyala, RG-32 Scout || 75
 |-
 | Support vehicles
@@ Line 163: / Line 163: @@
 |-
 | Ground attack || F-5E Tiger II || 13
+|-
+| || Hunter FGA.9 || 5
 |-
 | || BAE Hawk 200 || 6
 |-
-| Fighters || Atlas Cheetah || 8
+| Bombers || Canberra B(I).12 || 2
+|-
+| Fighters || Cheetah C || 8
+|-
+| || Cheetah E || 2
+|-
+| || Tornado ADV || 4
 |-
 | Helicopters || Aérospatiale Alouette III || 25
@@ Line 179: / Line 187: @@
 |-
 | || Hawk 120/LIFT || 6
+|-
+| || Cheetah D || 10
 |}
 [[Category:Armed forces by country]]
 [[Category:Military of Rhodesia| ]]