![]() ![]() ![]() Most of the guerrilla groups encountered numbered 10 or so men, so the sections often faced an enemy of equal size.Īnother Episode of the Battle for Victoria Falls: A Fight to the DeathĪs the war progressed, the Scouts modified Were often used as relays when communications became difficult due to the topography. Order to reach both his supporting half-section and the parent troop. Each sectionĬommander normally carried two very high frequency and one shortwave set in Scouts as an “NCO outfit.” Communications often caused problems. The standard weapon was theįN FAL assault rifle, although some troopers found AK-47s with folding stocksĮxperienced tracker the importance of these men led many to describe the Greys The reins), but were, nevertheless, sometimes used. General purpose machineguns were too heavyįor most troopers to control with one hand (the other being required to hold Supporting the other and they remained a kilometer or so apart. One half-section was normally responsible for Most patrols were undertaken by 8-man sections divided It is difficult to report on their movements and actions in a logical orĬhronological manner. Place at section and troop level across the entire breadth of the country, so Roamed throughout the bush during the war, regimental headquarters (RHQ) Although the sabre elements of the Scouts The squadrons were deployed under the JOCĬommanders and served in all the operational areas and individual troops were Men in civilian life with considerable personal wealth and responsibilities. “B Squadron became a highly efficient force even At the same time, the territorial troop was expanded into a full Greys had started their own 5-month training course for new recruits at Enkomo Unsatisfied with the basic training of new soldiers and by the end of 1978 the Of training and drill on the Greys and organized a major series of exercisesįor “A” Squadron in northern Rhodesia in the autumn of 1977. MacKenna wanted to impose uniform standards Number of “foreign adventurers” many of whom had been rejected by the SAS and Stephens, in his attempts to gain recognition for the regiment, had taken in a MacKenna was determined to mould the Greys into a properly disciplined unit. New CO, Mick MacKenna, who was Sandhurst (the British West Point) trained. Regiment had been trained as infantry and 8-week riding courses were held atĮnkomo to help them adjust to this novel form of warfare. With the Selous Scouts, the Greys mixed black and white soldiers as well as Near Salisbury where they shared the camp with the Selous Scouts. Hotchkiss 60mm weapons, but this idea did not progress beyond limited trials. Was believed that the squadron might have a mortar troop equipped with two Some experiments were conducted with mortars when it Specially converted Mercedes 7.5ton trucks, each of which carried an 8-man Veterinarian and his assistant, and eight vehicle drivers. Mechanics, two clerks, two farriers (blacksmiths), two stablemen, a Men the commanding officer, his second in command, two signallers, two Sections with a platoon commander and a platoon sergeant. Troop was based on the British infantry platoon structure of three 8-man (draftees) and one of territorials (similar to the U.S. professionals), one of national servicemen “A’ Squadron, as it was known, was subdivided into three Initially, the regiment consisted of just Stephens used his considerable charm and influence to win recognition for the regiment and in January 1977, it shed its experimental status and became a full-fledged element of the Rhodesian Army. In the beginning, the regiment had a somewhat anomalous status as it was not officially recognized by Army headquarters. ![]() In 1975, its name was changed to the “Greys Scouts,” an altogether more suitable title which harked back to a British cavalry regiment used in Matabeleland in the late nineteenth century. Tony Stephens, a Rhodesian, began to collect men and horses to form an experimental group known as the Mounted Infantry Unit. There were also the more obvious benefits of speed and the ability to cover great distances without unduly tiring the rider. One advantage was that the greater height of a mounted man gave him a significant advantage when following tracks. Police and other elements also saw the utility of horses for Wire and discovered that they were able to find intruders much quicker than Sappers decided to use their mules and horses for mounted inspections of the Mugabe’s ZANLA men crossing the border from newly-independent Mozambique. They were building a barrier of mine fields intended to stop The cordon sanitaire on the northern border rediscovered the use of the horseįor tracking. ZIPRA terrorists armed by the USSR with AK-47’s.Įngineers involved in the construction of ![]()
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