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Battle
for Cassinga: South Africa’s Controversial Cross-Border
Raid, Angola 1978 - Mike McWilliams
Africa @ War Series - a new series of thin light-reading books, covering
specific subjects in general.
Battle for
Cassinga is written as a first-hand account by an ordinary South
African paratrooper who was at the 1978 assault on the Angolan
headquarters of PLAN, the armed wing of SWAPO. The book relates
why the South African government took the political risk in attacking
the fortress in an external operation and examines the SWAPO
claims that Cassinga was a refugee camp guarded by a few PLAN
soldiers. It also explains why Sam Nujoma the SWAPO leader had
no option but to perpetuate this falsehood. The battle, although
a resounding success, suffered some setbacks which could have
been disastrous to the South African paratroopers had they not
maintained the initiative. The improvisations made by the commander
Col Jan Breytenbach ensured that a flawed jump and poor intelligence
did not adversely affect the outcome. The unforeseen Soviet-made
anti-aircraft guns used against both aircraft and ground troops
threatened to derail the attack. An appearance of a large column
of armor manned by Cubans from the nearby town of Techamutete,
when half the South African force had already left the battleground,
placed the remaining lightly armed paratroopers in mortal danger.
The landmines laid by the South Africans, together with the brave
actions of the South African Air Force pilots saved the day,
allowing the remaining forces to withdraw safely. Battle for
Cassinga looks at all the players in a critical light. SWAPO
and PLAN, the SADF and the commanders from both sides, Dimo Amaambo
of PLAN and Jan Breytenbach of the SADF as well as the brave
soldiers from both sides who fought for their political ideologies
but perhaps more importantly for their own band of brothers.
Sept 2011. Softback, 297 x 210 mm. 80 pages. 8-page colour & B/W
Photo Section, Maps.
Normal price £16.95 excl P&P
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Choppertech
1976-80: A Gunner's Reflection of Fireforce Operations in Rhodesia
- Gordon 'Beaver' Shaw
This
book covers the author's and other crewmen's experiences in No 7
Alouette Squadron as helicopter Technicians/Gunners who flew numerous
operational sorties in Alouette G and K Car gunships on Fireforce
operations during the Rhodesian Bush War.
Soft Cover, A4 sized:, approx 360 pages, high quality gloss paper.
Includes many photos and pencil / charcoal drawings, approx 47 pages
of photos.
Normal Price £38.00 excl P&P - Pre-order price £35.00
(delivery in 6-10 weeks)
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Executive Outcomes: Against all Odds - Eeben Barlow
Eeben Barlow a former lieutenant-colonel in the Permanent Force of the South African Defence Force, served in the Engineer Corp, the Reconnaissance Wing of the elite 32-Battalion, Military Intelligence and in the shadowy Civil Co-operation Bureau division of Special Forces.
When the government arbitrarily disbanded the CCB Barlow found himself on the street. Taking advantage of his exceptional military skills he formed Executive Outcomes, a private company under whose aegis he was invited to train the SADF's Special Forces in intelligence skills and to stem the flow of stolen diamonds from the De Beers Corporation's properties.
He was then invited to recruit a force of ex-servicemen retrenched from the SADF to assist an oil company in the recovery of equipment that they had been forced to abandon at Soyo in north-western Angola after it was overrun by UNITA rebels. EO's successes resulted in a contract to re-train the Angolan army and lead it in a fight to defeat the UNITA rebels.
A contract to restore order in Sierra Leone and other like contracts followed, including one to rescue Western hostages taken by separatist rebels in Indonesia .
Normal Price £35.00 excl P&P
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Long
Range Desert Group Rhodesia: The Men Speak - Jonathan Pittaway
This title offers a comprehensive view of the Rhodesian contribution
to the special forces LRDG during the 2nd World War. Covering the
organisation, training and operations, it contains the most detailed
account of the Rhodesian patrols of the LRDG - as written by men
who were actually there.
Private publication. Nov 2008. Softcover, US Letter size, coffee-table
quality, gloss finish, 462 pages, 1000 photos,.
Normal price £30.00 excl P&P. Ordered on request, delivery
in 6-10 weeks |
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Operation
Dingo: Rhodesian Raid on Chimoio and Tembue 1977 - JRT Wood
Africa @ War Series - a new series of thin light-reading books, covering
specific subjects in general.
Startling in its innovation and daringly suicidal, Operation Dingo
was not only the Fireforce concept writ large but the prototype for
all the major Rhodesian airborne attacks on the external bases of
Rhodesian African nationalist insurgents in the neighbouring territories
of Mozambique and Zambia until such operations ceased in late 1979.
Fireforce as a military concept is a "vertical envelopment" of
the enemy, with the 20mm cannon being the principle weapon of attack,
mounted in an Alouette III K-Car, flown by the air force commander,
with the army commander on board directing his ground troops deployed
from G-Cars (Alouette III troop-carrying gunships and latterly Bell "Hueys" in
1979) and parachuted from DC-3 Dakotas. In support would be propeller-driven
ground-attack aircraft and on call would be Canberra bombers, Hawker
Hunter and Vampire jets.
On 23 November 1977, the Rhodesian Air Force and 184 SAS and Rhodesian
Light Infantry paratroopers attacked 10,000 Zimbabwe African National
Liberation Army cadres based at 'New Farm', Chimoio, 90 kilometres
inside Mozambique. Two days later, the same force attacked 4,000
guerrillas at Tembué, another ZANLA base, over 200 kilometres
inside Mozambique, north of Tete on the Zambezi River. Estimates
of ZANLA losses vary wildly; however, a figure exceeding 6,000 casualties
is realistic. The Rhodesians suffered two dead, eight wounded and
lost one aircraft. It would produce the biggest SAS-led external
battle of the Rhodesian bush war.
Sept 2011. Softback, 297 x 210 mm. 80 pages. 8-page colour & B/W
Photo Section, Maps.
Normal price £16.95 excl P&P |
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See
You in November: The Story of Alan 'Taffy' Brice - an SAS Assassin
- Peter Stiff
Formerly titled See You in November - The Story
of an SAS Assassin. Updated 4th edition (Nov 2010) with additional
information and photographs.
In September 1979 'Taffy', a Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation
operator, went to London to assassinate Robert Mugabe at the Lancaster
House constitutional talks. His plan to detonate an explosive device
in the foyer of the Royal Gardens Hotel, Kensington, was advanced
to trigger stage when the operation, code named 'November' was called
off....
This is the true account of the Rhodesian Intelligence war, told
by Taffy, the code name of the leader of the Central Intelligence
Organisation's most secret external operational team. It is an incredible
story of more than six years of high adventure, of bravery and of
cunning, of fortitude and of an aloneness brought about by the participants
being aware that if they were caught, their country, Rhodesia, would
disavow all knowledge of them. It is a story that if Rhodesia still
existed, would not have been told.
4th Edition manuscript finalised Oct 2010. Trade soft cover. 320pp,
size 242 X 168cm, 25pp b/w and colour illustrations.
Normal Price £33.00 excl P&P - Pre-order price £29.70
(delivery in 6-10 weeks) |
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Selous
Scouts: Rhodesian Counter-Insurgency Specialists - Peter Baxter
Africa
@ War Series - a new series of thin light-reading books, covering
specific subjects in general.
Formed in 1973
by the legendary Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Reid-Daly at the behest
of Rhodesian military supremo General Peter Walls, the Selous
Scouts were to write their name into the annals of military history
as one of the finest counterinsurgency units of all time, through
their innovative pseudo-guerrilla tactics, brilliant reconnaissance
operations into Zambia and Botswana and daring flying-column
raids into Mozambique. Feared and hated by the liberation movements
ZIPRA and ZANLA, the Scouts wreaked untold havoc and destruction
on their Soviet- and Chinesebacked enemies, accounting for 68%
of guerrilla casualties within Rhodesia alone, during the bitter
bush war of the 1970s. Uniquely ahead of its time, the regiment-a
brotherhood of men that traversed cultural and racial barriers;
their Shona motto was 'Pamwe Chete' (together only)-was to produce
the type of soldier that earned for the unit one Grand Cross
of Valour, nine Silver Crosses and 22 Bronze Crosses of Rhodesia.
"Its members consisted of some of the finest guerrilla-fighting men
in the western world, unconventional in many ways, disregardful of parade-ground
discipline, unorthodox in their dress, yet a force so tightly knit in the face
of danger that those who knew anything about them could only marvel" -
The Citizen
Nov 2011. Paperback 297mm x 210mm 72 pages 8pp colour photos, many
b/w photos, maps
Normal price £16.95 excl P&P
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So
Far and So Good - Denis Petmezaki
Denis was born on the flat roof of a house in Omdurman, Sudan in
1931. He and his elder sister Daphne enjoyed happy times there
until they were sent to England for their education. Having been
abandoned there, Denis and his sister battled against the odds
sans parents, who remained in North Africa whilst WWII bombs fell
on the UK. Denis left school at fourteen to escape a home which
by now afforded him little affection. Returning to Africa, Denis
marries his Fay and fights in the Rhodesian Bush War. Through his
sensitive descriptions, one can revel in the wonder and addiction
that is Africa. Robert Mugabe took power, inducing Denis to make
the searingly painful decision to emigrate to Europe with his wife
and four girls. There they started over resurrecting their home
and business lives with great fortitude for many years before taking
a further plunge by all moving to Australia. Denis remains humble
and honest to the end. This book of zest is fire in the belly stuff
for anyone who has had to overcome obstacles in life. For those
who need to turn disaster into some form of good or benefit, this
man of courage will be a true inspiration.
June 20011. Paperback (216mm x 140mm), 818 pages.
Normal price £27.50 excl P&P
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Special
Air Service Rhodesia: The Men Speak - Jonathan Pittaway
The "2nd Edition" - re-titled, revised, updated. and re-worked
with a lot of new material added to the earlier 2004 publication SAS
Rhodesia: Rhodesians and the Special Air Service - J Pittaway & C
Fourie
This title has been lavishly illustrated with many previously unseen
photos of operations & personnel and includes personal stories
by well known men, and details gallantry citations. It includes full
nominal rolls, Rolls of Honour, chronologies, orbats, tables, medals,
badges, uniforms, documents, maps and miliaria. There are numerous
black & white & colour illustrations throughout.
Oct 2009. Soft cover, US Letter size, coffee-table quality, gloss
finish, with over 400 pages, 1000 photos.
Normal price £36.00 excl P&P. Ordered on request, delivery
in 6-10 weeks |
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The
Search for Puma 164: Operation Uric and the Assault on Mapai
- Neill Jackson & Rick Van Malsen
In September 1979, Rhodesian ComOps planned a massive air and ground
strike against Frelimo and ZANLA positions in the Mapai area of Gaza
Province in Mozambique. This operation was given the codename of
Operation Uric, and was separately known as Operation Bootlace in
South Africa, in an attempt to conceal the involvement of Rhodesia’s
only allies in the cross-border strike. From a political point of
view, Operation Uric was designed to strike a heavy blow against
the ZANLA forces based in the region, and thereby hopefully weaken
Robert Mugabe’s bargaining power at the then upcoming Lancaster
House conference, as well as make Mozambique's President Samora Machel
put pressure on Mugabe to reach an early settlement. In total, 40
targets were identified and designated in Gaza Province for attention
during the course of 6 days of Operation Uric. These ranged from
Frelimo military headquarters, base camps and outposts, through economic
targets such as bridges, dams, canals, roads and railway lines, to
ZANLA transit camps and storage facilities. The strike force comprised
of 112 men from the Rhodesian SAS, 192 Rhodesian Light Infantry paratroopers,
12 demolition experts from 1 Engineer Squadron, and 72 South African
Recce Commandos. The force was supported by a variety of aircraft
from both Rhodesian and South African Airforces. During the latter
stages of the operation, a SAAF Puma carrying elements of 1 Commando
1RLI and 2 Engineer Squadron was shot down by a RPG 7 on the outskirts
of Mapai, killing all 17 on board. Because of the expediency of the
battle, all the bodies had to be left behind where they had died.
After the battle, ZANLA & Frelimo withdrew from the area, leaving
local tribesmen to bury the men in two large unmarked graves. Thirty
years later, the graves were finally found by a small search party
led by former RLI Lieutenant Rick van Malsen and the seventeen men
were then finally laid to rest by their comrades-in arms, with a
short service, and placement of a memorial cross at the site.
July 2011. Hardback, 234cm x 153cm. 480 pages, 200 colour & b/w
photos, sketches, maps.
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The
Victoria Falls: Zambezi River. Sketched on the spot, 1862 - Thomas
Baines, FRGS
A selection of seven of the finest paintings reprinted in full colour
from the Thomas Baines book originally published in 1865. These magnificent
paintings gave the outside world their first pictorial impressions
of Darkest Africa's greatest scenic secret. Ideal for Home & Office
décor.
(Outside dimensions 50cm W x 39,5cm H, picture area 41cm x 28cm).
Folio (loose sheets) in presentation packaging.
Normal Price £30.00 excl P&P |
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Viscount Down: The Complete Story of the Rhodesian Viscount told by a SAS Soldier - Keith Nell
In 1978, Air Rhodesia's Viscount 'Hunyani' Flight RH 825 flying a scheduled service between Kariba and Salisbury in 1978, was struck by a heat-seeking SAM-7 missile, fired by a gang of Joshua Nkomo's ZIPRA terrorists, shortly after take-off. Only eighteen out of fifty-six survived the crash - all passengers who were seated in the rear of the aircraft. While five survivors were away from the crash scene looking for water, a group of terrorists turned up and bayoneted, bludgeoned and shot to death ten of the survivors. Three crash survivors who had remained at the aircraft managed to avoid being killed by running away and hiding in the bush. After spending the night in the bush, the eight were found the next day and rescued by Security Forces. Six months later, Air Rhodesia Viscount 'Umniati' was shot down by another missile - this time, all 59 perished. Author Keith Nell, a Rhodesian SAS special forces soldier, was personally involved in locating and eliminating the Viscount Gang responsible. This story can now be authenticated through substantiating documents and accounts by various persons involved as well as by the SAS and Institute of Security Studies.
Paintings and sketches by internationally acclaimed Rhodesian artist Craig Bone.
Approx 420 pages, plus 30-40 pages colour photos
Produced in two Editions: Hardback (Available now), Softback (Available in
SA only, rest of the world +/- April / May).
Southern Africa delivery addresses - dispatched
from JHB, SA within 2 days (Hardback & Softback)
Rest of the World delivery addresses - dispatched from the UK, within
2 days (Hardback only)
Prices - See options in 'Add to Cart' drop
down lists (includes respective P&P)
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War
Stories by Al Venter and Friends - Al J Venter
Al J. Venter's new book 'War Stories', has strong South African
links, but includes forays into other countries. Comprising of
35 chapters, most of which were written by well-known people who
were there in various operational theatres. The book starts off
with Neall Ellis's chapter on his flying the Russian Mi-8s on supply
missions in Afghanistan. Some excellent Rhodesian material is covered
by SAS Colonel Brian Robinson, RLI troopie Hannes Wessels, Selous
Scouts Lt Col Ron Reid-Daly. Former Selous Scout Aubrey Brooks,
a section leader in Colonel Mike Hoare's invasion force that tried
to take the Seychelles by force, covers that aborted operation
including his own arrest and subsequent sentencing to death. South
Africa's Border Wars are covered, to list a few, a chapter written
by Paul Els on the first battles that started it all, Graham Gillmore
on the 44 Parachute Brigade, Al Venter's experiences during Parabat's
Charlie Company's attack on Cuamato where their Pumas were ambushed
by RPG-7's. Combat correspondent Willem Steenkamp writes on what
it was like to report on wars in those days. There are chapters
on Portugal's African campaigns which today's generation know very
little about. Venter aims to put the record straight since Lisbon
was fighting guerrillas in Africa twice as long as America remained
active in Vietnam. Other pieces include a story on experiences
with a private military company in Iraq, Myke (Hawkeye) Hawke own
exploits fighting drug gangs, US Colonel Lester (Les) Grau compares
Soviet 1980 efforts with whats going on in Afghanistan today......
and many more. A very interesting compendium of military writing
that will be thoroughly well-illustrated throughout, with plently
of photos.
Nov 2011. Paperback 430 pages. 22 x 15.7 x 3.1 cm
Normal Price £24.95 excl P&P |
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We
Fear Naught but God: The Story of the South African Special
Forces "The Recces" - Paul Els
Revised (updated) Edition, 2008/9. (Replaces
the 1st Edition published by Covos Day, 2000)
The story of the elite South African Special Forces ("the Recces")
from inception in the 1960s to disbandment in 1993. A unique account
of one of South Africa's premier units, masters in the art of reconnaissance
and clandestine warfare. Pro-rata, the most highly decorated unit
during the wars in Angola and Namibia / SWA. Special forces operators
were carefully selected and trained to gather covert strategic and
tactical information about enemy activities. They learned how to
observe silently, harass the enemy and destroy selected targets -
all behind enemy lines. Frequently required to face great dread,
they had to learn to control that fear in order to survive. This
book brings the reconnaissance soldiers - the recces - to those who
have wondered about what kind of men they were. Their families, their
heartaches, their sufferings and achievements. These men were not
assassins who eliminated spies in hotel rooms. They were responsible
men who had a sense of integrity and served their country proudly.
This is no gung-ho account, but rather a loving compiled series of
accounts put together by the author who was there from the inception
of this fine regiment. This is about the "operators", the men of
the Recces, their exploits in Angola, SWA/Namibia and other southern
africa territories. The original and hard-to-get, much sought after
publication has been reworked with additional information, updates,
corrections plus many new photographs, many of which are being published
for the first time.
ISBN 978-0-620-41298-8. Softback 150 x 210 x 24mm. 416 pages, 820
photos.
1st (Revised) Edition. April 2009. Now Out of Stock / Print - Only
100 copies were printed
2nd (Revised) Corrected Edition. Dec 2009. Only 100 copies were printed
(this version are the ones available to order here)
Normal Price £30.00 excl P&P |
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Zimbabwe
Banknotes & Coins
- 1980-2009 (Poster)
Photographic 'history' of most of the banknotes, bearer cheques,
and coins used in Zimbabwe, showing how quickly the Zimbabwe Dollar
which was once considered to be among the highest valued currency
units when it was first introduced with the country's independence
in 1980, rapidly eroded to eventually become one of the least valued
currency units in the world. Due to the rampant hyper-inflation,
the country's Reserve Bank produced many denominations during the
life of the Zimbabwe Dollar right up to the currency's suspension
in April 2009. From the humble 2 Dollar to a Million Dollar (which
could'nt even buy a loaf of bread shortly after that note's introduction)
then onto the largest note ever printed - 100 Trillion Dollars. During
the life of the Zimbabwe banknotes, the Reserve Bank dropped several
zeros through 3 separate re-denominations in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
The notes are reproduced 3/5 actual size, whilst the coins are shown
in almost actual size. Poster size - A1 (84cm x 59.4cm), printed
on durable glossy paper.
Normal Price £8.00 each excl P&P |
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Zulu
Zulu Golf: Life and Death with Koevoet- Arn Durand
'There is no dignity in death. Six bodies are piled up in front
of me, shot to shit. I can see that their bones are white, their
blood is red and their brains are yellow. I've done this; I've helped
to kill them.'
The gripping account of Arn 'Jim' Durand's first two years with the
notorious Special Ops K ('Koevoet'), South Africa's most deadly fighting
unit during the Border War. Through Durand's eyes, the reader will
experience the madness, mayhem and complexity of the war. A unit
of the South African police, Koevoet was the most deadly fighting
force involved in the Border War. This book is the account of Arn
Durand's first years with Koevoet, from 1982 to 1983. He describes
patrols, ambushes and contacts, situations of certain death, dealings
with the enemy and relationships with his Ovambo colleagues. This
book does not glorify war or peddle propaganda. It simply relates,
in a deadpan style, what it was like to be a killing machine in the
heat of battle. During the six years that he served there (he is
currently working on the sequel), he engaged in 127 contacts with
the enemy, SWAPO, and saw over 300 enemy die. He was ambushed many
times and survived three anti-tank mine explosions. This is a personal
account: military history through the eyes of the individual. Few
books on the war are first-hand accounts by someone who did the fighting
and the killing. A gripping read: this is a powerful story about
extreme experiences.
June 2011. Softback, 288 pages.
Normal Price £14.99 excl P&P |
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