Rhodesian Security Forces

battle rifle. 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. 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. 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. 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. In April 1951, the defence forces of Southern Rhodesia were completely reorganised. 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, • 1 Bde – Bulawayo with area of responsibility in Matabeleland • 2 Bde – Salisbury with area of responsibility in Mashonaland • 3 Bde – Umtali with area of responsibility in Manicaland • 4 Bde – Fort Victoria with area of responsibility in Victoria province During the Bush War, the army included: • Army Headquarters • The Rhodesian Light Infantry • C Squadron (Rhodesian) SAS (in 1978 became 1 (Rhodesian) Special Air Service Regiment) • Selous Scouts • The Rhodesian Armoured Car Regiment (The Black Devils) • Grey's Scouts armoured cars of the Rhodesian Armoured Corps. • The Rhodesian African Rifles • The Rhodesia Regiment (eight battalions, numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10); also National Service independent companies numbered 1–6 and, briefly, 7), though at times one or more of these independent companies were attached to the RAR during the Bush War. • Psychological Action Group (Psyac) • The Rhodesian Defence Regiment (two battalions) • The Rhodesian Intelligence Corps • The Rhodesian Artillery (one depot, one field regiment) • Six Engineer Squadrons (numbered 2, 3, 4, 6, 7) 1 Engr Sqn • 5 Engineer Support Squadron • 1 Brigade • Headquarters Abbreviation: HQ 1 Bde • Signals Squadron Abbreviation: 1(Bde) Sig Sqn • 2 Brigade • Located: Llewellyn Barracks • 3 Brigade • Headquarters Abbreviation: HQ 3 Bde • Signals Squadron Abbreviation: 3(Bde) Sig Sqn • 4 Brigade • Headquarters Abbreviation: HQ 4 Bde • 41 Troop, Signals Squadron Abbreviation: 41 Tp 4(Bde) SigSqn • Two Services Area HQs (Matabeleland and Mashonaland) • Two Ordnance and Supplies Depots (Bulawayo, Salisbury) • Two Base Workshops (Bulawayo, Salisbury) • 1 Air Supply Platoon • Three Maintenance Companies (numbered 1 to 3) • Three Medical Companies (1, 2, 5) and the Army Health Unit • Tsanga Lodge • Five Provost Platoons (numbered 1 to 5) and the Army Detention Barracks • Six Pay Companies (numbered 1 to 5, 7) • Rhodesian Army Education Corps • Rhodesian Corps of Chaplains • Army Records, and Army Data Processing Unit • Rail Transport Organisation Platoon • 1 Military Postal Platoon • Training establishments: School of Infantry, 19 Corps Training Depot, School of Military Engineering, School of Signals, Services Training School, Services Trade Training Centre, Medical Training School, School of Military Police, Pay Corps Training School, School of Military Administration. • Rhodesian Women's Service Ranks == Rhodesian Air Force ==

The Royal Rhodesian Air Force (RRAF), as it was named in 1954, was never a large service. 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. Ranks == 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. BSAP units: • British South Africa Police ('The Regiment') • Patrol • Criminal Investigation Division (CID) • Police Anti-Terrorist Unit (PATU) • Support Unit (the 'Black Boots') • Special Branch • SB-Scouts • Police Mounted Unit • Urban Emergency Unit (Riot & SWAT) • Police Reserve ==Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs==

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. • Administrative Reinforcement Unit (ARU) == Prison services ==

The Rhodesia Prison Service was the branch of the Rhodesian Security Forces responsible for the administration of Rhodesian prisons. == 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' == Auxiliary Army (Pfumo reVanhu) ==

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 (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. The operational areas were known as: • Operation Hurricane – North-east border, started in December 1972 • Operation Thrasher – Eastern border, started in February 1976 • Operation Repulse – South-east border, started in May 1976 • Operation Tangent – Matabeleland, started in August 1976 • Operation Grapple – Midlands, started in August 1977 • Operation Splinter – Kariba, started in June 1977 • Salops – Operations in and around Salisbury, started in 1978 == Senior military officials in Rhodesia ==

Source: original regiments.org (T.F. Mills) via webarchive. • Commandant, Southern Rhodesia Defence Force: • 19uu Col. George Parson, CBE, DSO • 1936.10.09 Brig. John Sidney Morris, CBE, KStJ, KPM, CPM • Commander Military Forces • Col D. S. H. Somerville (1939–40) • Brig J. W. Watson (1940–43) • Brig E. R. Day (1943-) • 1947 Maj-Gen Storr "Dooley" Garlake, CBE • Chief of the General Staff: • 1953 Maj-Gen Storr "Dooley" Garlake, CBE • 1959.04.12 Maj-Gen Robert Edward Beaumont Long, CBE • 1963.06 Maj-Gen John Anderson, CBE • 1964.10.24 Maj-Gen Rodney Roy Jensen Putterill, CBE • GOC Rhodesian Army: • 1968.10 Lt-Gen Keith Robert Coster, OBE, ICD, SASS • Commander of the Rhodesian Army: • 1972.08 Lt-Gen George Peter Walls GLM DCD MBE • 1977.05.16 Lt-Gen John Selwyn Varcoe Hickman, OLM, MC • 1979.03.08 Lt-Gen A.L.C. 'Sandy' Maclean, OLM, DCD == Military equipment of Rhodesia ==

Small arms Missiles and Recoilless Rifles Vehicles Artillery Air Defence Air force equipment ==See also==

;References ;Journal articles • ;Bibliography • • • • • • • • ==Further reading==