| Rhodesian Security Forces | |
| Founded: | 1964 |
| Disbanded: | 1980 |
| Branches: | |
| Headquarters: | Salisbury |
| Commander-In-Chief: | See list |
| Commander-In-Chief Title: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Minister: | See list |
| Minister Title: | Minister of Defence |
| Commander: | See list |
| Commander Title: | Head of the Rhodesian Armed Forces |
| History: | Rhodesian Bush War |
| Ranks: | Military ranks |
The Rhodesian Security Forces were the military forces of the Rhodesian government. The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of a ground force (the Rhodesian Army), the Rhodesian Air Force, the British South Africa Police, and various personnel affiliated to the Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Despite the impact of economic and diplomatic sanctions, Rhodesia was able to develop and maintain a potent and professional military capability.
The Rhodesian Security Forces of 1964–80 traced their history back to the British South Africa Company armed forces, originally created during company rule in the 1890s. These became the armed forces of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia on its formation in 1923, then part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland military in 1953. After the break-up of the Federation at the end of 1963, the security forces assumed the form they would keep until 1980.
As the armed forces of Rhodesia (as Southern Rhodesia called itself from 1964), the Rhodesian Security Forces remained loyal to the Salisbury government after it unilaterally declared independence from Britain on 11 November 1965. Britain and the United Nations refused to recognise this, and regarded the breakaway state as a rebellious British colony throughout its existence.
The security forces fought on behalf of the government against the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army—the military wings of the Marxist–Leninist black nationalist Zimbabwe African National Union and Zimbabwe African People's Union respectively—during the Rhodesian Bush War of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Lancaster House Agreement and the return of Rhodesia to de facto British control on 12 December 1979 changed the security forces' role altogether; during the 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 Rhodesian security forces, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army were integrated to form the new Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Around 5,000 Rhodesian military and intelligence personnel were recruited by South Africa in 1980 as part of Operation Winter.
| Unit Name: | Rhodesian Army |
| Dates: | 1927–1980 |
| Country: | Rhodesia |
| Allegiance: |  United Kingdom (1927–1965)(1965–70) (1970–79) (1979) United Kingdom (1979–80) |
| Branch: | Ground forces |
| Garrison: | Salisbury |
| Battles: | World War I World War II Rhodesian Bush War |
| Disbanded: | 18 April 1980 |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Shoulder flash & recruitment logo |
| Countries: | Foreign volunteers drawn from France, the United Kingdom and the United States. |
The majority of the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers were disbanded in 1920 for reasons of cost, the last companies being disbanded in 1926. The Defence Act of 1927 created a Permanent Force (the Rhodesian Staff Corps) and a Territorial Force as well as national compulsory military training.[1] With the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers disbanded in 1927, the Rhodesia Regiment was reformed in the same year as part of the nation's Territorial Force. The 1st Battalion was formed in Salisbury with a detached "B" company in Umtali and the 2nd Battalion in Bulawayo with a detached "B" Company in Gwelo.[2] Between the World Wars, the Permanent Staff Corps of the Rhodesian Army consisted of only 47 men. The British South Africa Police were trained as both policemen and soldiers until 1954.[3]
About 10,000 white Southern Rhodesians (15% of the white population) mustered into the British forces during the Second World War, serving in units such as the Long Range Desert Group, the Rhodesian Armoured Corps, No. 237 Squadron RAF and the Special Air Service (SAS). Pro rata to population, this was the largest contribution of manpower by any territory in the British Empire, even outstripping that of Britain itself. Southern Rhodesia was in fact the first Commonwealth country to officially declare war on the Axis powers.
Southern Rhodesia's own units, most prominently the Rhodesian African Rifles (made up of black rank-and-filers and warrant officers, led by white officers; abbreviated RAR), fought in the war's East African Campaign and in Burma. During the war, Southern Rhodesian pilots proportionally earned the highest number of decorations and ace appellations in the Empire. This resulted in the Royal Family paying an unusual state visit to the colony at the end of the war in thanks to the efforts of the Rhodesian people.
The Southern Rhodesia Air Force (SRAF) was re-established in 1947 and, two years later, Prime Minister Sir Godfrey Huggins appointed a 32-year-old South African-born Rhodesian Spitfire pilot, Ted Jacklin, as air officer commanding tasked to build an air force in the expectation that British African territories would begin moving towards independence, and air power would be vital for land-locked Southern Rhodesia. The threadbare SRAF bought, borrowed or salvaged a collection of vintage aircraft, including six Tiger Moths, six North American Harvard trainers, an Avro Anson freighter and a handful of De Havilland Rapide transport aircraft, before purchasing a squadron of 22 Mk. 22 war surplus Supermarine Spitfire from the Royal Air Force (RAF) which were then flown to Southern Rhodesia.[4]
In April 1951, the defence forces of Southern Rhodesia were completely reorganised.[5] The Permanent Force included the British South Africa Police as well as the Southern Rhodesia Staff Corps, charged with training and administering the Territorial Force. The SRAF consisted of a communication squadron and trained members of the Territorial Force as pilots, particularly for artillery observation. During the Malayan Emergency of the 1950s, Southern Rhodesia contributed two units to the Commonwealth's counter-insurgency campaign: the newly formed Rhodesian SAS served a two-year tour of duty in Malaya starting in March 1951, then the Rhodesian African Rifles operated for two years from April 1956.
The colony also maintained women's auxiliary services (later to provide the inspiration for the Rhodesia Women's Service), and maintained a battalion of the RAR, officered by members of the Staff Corps. The Territorial Force remained entirely white and largely reproduced the Second World War pattern. It consisted of two battalions of the Royal Rhodesia Regiment, an Armoured Car Regiment, Artillery, Engineers, Signal Corps, Medical Corps, Auxiliary Air Force and Transport Corps. In wartime the country could also draw on the Territorial Force Reserve and General Reserve. Southern Rhodesia, in other words, reverted more or less to the organisation of the Second World War.
Matters evolved greatly over twenty years. The regular army was always a relatively small force, but by 1978–79 it consisted of 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.
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.[6]
During the Bush War, the army included:
See main article: Military ranks of Rhodesia.
See main article: Rhodesian Air Force.
The Royal Rhodesian Air Force (RRAF), as it was named in 1954, was never a large air force. In 1965, it consisted of only 1,200 regular personnel. It was renamed as the Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) in 1970. 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.
See main article: Military ranks of Rhodesia.
See main article: British South Africa Police. The police force of Rhodesia was the British South Africa Police. They were the main first line of defense in both Southern Rhodesia and, later, Rhodesia, with the specific responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country.[6]
BSAP units:
See main article: INTAF. While not a part of the Security Forces, Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs officers were heavily involved in implementing such civic measures as the protected villages programme during the Bush War. The INTAF consisted by District Assistants and District Security Assistants, and led by District Commissioners.
See main article: Rhodesia Prison Service. The Rhodesia Prison Service was the branch of the Rhodesian Security Forces responsible for the administration of Rhodesian prisons.
See main article: Guard Force. This was the fourth arm of the Rhodesian Security Forces. It consisted of both black and white troops whose initial role was to provide protection for villagers in the Protected Village system. During the latter stages of the Bush War they provided a role in the protection of white-owned farmland, tribal purchase lands and other strategic locations. They also raised three infantry Battalions and provided troops in every facet of the war in each of the Operational Areas. It was a large component of the Security Forces, with a strength of over 7,200 personnel. Its headquarters were in North Avenue, Salisbury. Its training establishment was based at Chikurubi in Salisbury.
The guard force cap badge was a castle on top of a dagger, below the castle was a scroll reading 'Guard Force'
See main article: Security Force Auxiliaries.
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 Headquarters (COMOPS) in Salisbury to co-ordinate the efforts of each service. The Rhodesian army took the senior role in Combined Operations and was responsible for the conduct of all operations both inside and outside Rhodesia. COMOPS 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.[6]
The operational areas were known as:
Source: original regiments.org (T.F. Mills) via webarchive.
| Name | Type | Country of origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browning Hi-Power[14] | Semi-Automatic Pistol | |||
| Enfield revolver | Revolver | Enfield No. 2 Mk I Revolver. | ||
| Mamba | Semi-Automatic Pistol | |||
| Star[15] | Semi-Automatic Pistol | Model 1920, 1921, 1922, Star Model BM. | ||
| Walther PP | Semi-Automatic Pistol | Captured. | ||
| American 180[16] [17] | Submachine gun | Issued to SAS | ||
| Austen | Submachine gun | Austen "Machine Carbine" Mk I. | ||
| Sanna 77 | Submachine gun | Issued primarily to Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs. | ||
| Northwood R-76 | Submachine gun | |||
| Owen Gun | Submachine gun | |||
| Sa 25 (vz. 48b) | Submachine gun | Some of local manufacture. | ||
| Sten | Submachine gun | Mk II. | ||
| Sterling | Submachine gun | |||
| Uzi[18] | Submachine gun | Some of local manufacture. | ||
| AK-47[19] | Automatic Rifle | Captured. | ||
| AKM[20] | Automatic Rifle | Captured and used by Rhodesian Armoured Corps. | ||
| FN FAL | Battle Rifle | Belgian FNs, South African R1s. | ||
| Heckler & Koch G3 | Battle Rifle | G3A3, received from Portugal. | ||
| L1A1 | Battle Rifle | Issued primarily to reservists. | ||
| Lee–Enfield[21] | Bolt-action rifle | Some converted into sniper rifles. | ||
| M16A1 | Automatic rifle | Used very late in the war. | ||
| Mini-14 | Semi-Automatic rifle | Smuggled from U.S. | ||
| SKS | Semi-automatic rifle | Captured. | ||
| Bren | Light machine gun | Mk 3. | ||
| Browning M2 | Heavy machine gun | |||
| Browning M1919 | Medium machine gun | Helicopter-mounted weapon. | ||
| Degtyaryov 1938/46[22] | Light machine gun | Captured. | ||
| FN MAG | General purpose machine gun | MAG-58. | ||
| KPV | Heavy machine gun | Captured. | ||
| PKM | General purpose machine gun | Captured. | ||
| RPD | Light machine gun | Captured. | ||
| RPK | Light machine gun | Captured. | ||
| Browning Auto-5 | Shotgun | |||
| Ithaca 37 | Shotgun | |||
| Dragunov | Sniper rifle | Captured. | ||
| Armscor M963 | Fragmentation grenade | Sourced via South Africa, Derived from INDEP's licence-made M26 grenade | ||
| STRIM 32Z[23] [24] [25] | Anti-tank rifle grenade | Sourced via South Africa? | ||
| STRIM 28R[26] [27] | Rifle grenade | Sourced via South Africa? | ||
| PRB 424 | Rifle grenade | |||
| Armscor 42 Zulu | Rifle grenade | Sourced via South Africa, Derived from PRB 424 | ||
| Mecar ENERGA | Anti-tank Rifle grenade | Latterly sourced via South Africa | ||
| M18 Claymore | Anti-personnel mine | |||
| Mine G.S. Mk V | Anti-tank mine | |||
| Bazooka | Anti-tank weapon | M20 Super Bazooka. | ||
| M72 LAW | Anti-tank weapon | |||
| RPG-2[28] | Anti-tank weapon | Captured. | ||
| RPG-7 | Anti-tank weapon | Captured. |
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILAN | Anti-tank missile | / | 9 launchers, 75 missiles. | |
| M40 | Anti-tank weapon | |||
| B-11 | Anti-tank weapon | Captured late in the war.[29] |
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scout & reconnaissance cars | |||||
| BRDM-2 | Scout Car | Captured. | |||
| Eland | Reconnaissance car |  South Africa | 60 | ||
| Ferret | Scout Car | 28 | Mk 2/2. | ||
| Marmon-Herrington | Reconnaissance car | South Africa | |||
| T17E1 Staghound | Reconnaissance car | 20 | Combat ineffective for the Bush War | ||
| Utility trucks | |||||
| Mercedes-Benz L1517[30] | Utility Truck | ||||
| Utility Truck | |||||
| Utility Truck | |||||
| Bedford MK | Utility truck | ||||
| Bedford RL | Utility truck | ||||
| Unimog 416 | Utility Truck | ||||
| Armoured personnel carriers | |||||
| Buffel | Wheeled Personnel Carrier | South Africa | |||
| Bullet | Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 1 | |||
| Crocodile | Wheeled Personnel Carrier | 130 | |||
| MAP75 | Wheeled Personnel Carrier | 200–300 | |||
| MAP45 | Wheeled Personnel Carrier | 100–200 | |||
| Leopard | MPAV | ||||
| Mine Protected Combat Vehicle | Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 60 | |||
| Pookie | Mine Detection and Removal (by Contact) vehicle | Built on Volkswagen Kombi chassis. | |||
| Hippo | Wheeled Personnel Carrier | South Africa | |||
| Shorland | Armoured Car | 2 | Custom hulls and Ferret turrets. | ||
| Thyssen Henschel UR-416[31] | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 10 | |||
| Universal Carrier | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 30 | Improved Universal Bren carrier. | ||
| Tanks | |||||
| T-34[32] | Medium Tank | 15 | Captured from Mozambique. | ||
| T-55 | Main Battle Tank | / | 8 | Polish T-55LD tanks provided by South Africa. | |
| 4×4 light vehicles | |||||
| Mazda B1600 | Light truck | 300 | Fitted with machine gun turret. | ||
| Land Rover | 4×4 Vehicle | Mine-resistant variant designated Armadillo. | |||
| Willys MB | Jeep | M38. | |||
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL 5.5 | 140mm Howitzer | 4 | |||
| BM-21 Grad | 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher | Captured. | |||
| L16 | 81mm Mortar | 30 | |||
| M101[33] | 105mm Howitzer | 6 | |||
| Ordnance QF 25 pounder | 87mm Howitzer | 18 | |||
| OTO Melara Mod 56 | 105mm Howitzer | 18 |
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37mm Gun M1 | Anti-aircraft gun | ||||
| Oerlikon 20 mm cannon | Anti-aircraft gun | 1 | Captured. | ||
| Zastava M55 20mm autocannon[34] | Anti-aircraft gun | Captured. | |||
| Strela 2 | Surface-To-Air Missile System | 15 | Captured. | ||
| ZPU | Anti-aircraft gun | 10 | Captured. | ||
| ZU-23-2 | Anti-aircraft gun | Captured. |
| Name | Type | Country of Origin | In Service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aermacchi AL-60 | Utility Aircraft | 9 | AL-60F-5 "Trojan". | ||
| Aermacchi SF.260 | Trainer Aircraft/Light Attack Aircraft | 31 | SF.260C and SF.260W "Genet". | ||
| SNIAS Alouette-II | Light Transport Helicopter | 8 | |||
| Aérospatiale Alouette III | Helicopter | 48 | Several supplied by the SAAF. | ||
| Beechcraft Baron[35] | Transport Aircraft | 1 | Baron 95 C-55. | ||
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | Helicopter | 11 | Agusta-Bell 205A. Used very late in the war. | ||
| Britten-Norman Islander | Transport Aircraft | 6 | |||
| Canadair North Star | Transport Aircraft | 4 | C-4 Argonaut. | ||
| Cessna 185 | Utility Aircraft | 17 | |||
| Cessna 421 | Transport Aircraft | 1 | |||
| Cessna Skymaster | Light Attack Aircraft | 21 | Reims-Cessna FTB 337G 'Lynx'. | ||
| de Havilland Vampire | Fighter | 32 | |||
| Douglas C-47 Dakota | Transport Aircraft | 12 | |||
| Douglas DC-7 | Transport Aircraft | 2 | |||
| English Electric Canberra | Bomber | 18 | |||
| Hawker Hunter | Fighter | 13 | Hunter FGA 9. | ||
| North American T-6 Texan | Trainer Aircraft | 21 | AT-6 Harvard, sold to South Africa. | ||
| Percival Pembroke | Transport Aircraft | 2 | Percival Pembroke C.1 | ||
| Percival Provost | Trainer Aircraft | 16 | Provost Mk 52. | ||
| Supermarine Spitfire[36] | Fighter | 22 | Mk 22. | ||
| Golf[37] | General-purpose bomb | ||||
| Alpha | Cluster bombs | The Canberra carried 300 Alpha bombs in groups of 50 inside six hoppers fitted to the bomb bay[38] | |||
| SNEB 68mm | Aircraft rockets |
