The special forces of Rhodesia were elite units that formed part of the Rhodesian Army during the Rhodesian Bush War. From 1977 they reported directly to the Commander, Combined Operations Lieutenant General Peter Walls.[1]
The Rhodesian military considered two units to be special forces, the Special Air Service and the Selous Scouts.[2] Combined Operations also considered the Grey's Scouts mounted infantry unit to be an elite unit, but it was not as well trained or effective as the SAS or Selous Scouts.[3]
Headquarters, Special Forces was established on 1 July 1978 to control the special operations conducted under Combined Operations.[4]
The SAS and Selous Scouts were disbanded in 1980 following the end of the Rhodesian Bush War and Rhodesia's transition to Zimbabwe.[5]
See also edit
References edit
- Citations
- ^ Cilliers 1985, p. 68.
- ^ Melson 2005, p. 58.
- ^ Melson 2021, p. 100.
- ^ Melson 2005, p. 68.
- ^ Melson 2005, p. 75.
- Works consulted
- Cilliers, Jakkie (1985). Counter-Insurgency in Rhodesia (PDF). Beckenham, United Kingdom: Croom Helm. ISBN 0-7099-3412-2.
- Melson, Charles D. (March 2005). "Top Secret War: Rhodesian Special Operations". Small Wars & Insurgencies. 16 (1): 57–82. doi:10.1080/0959231042000322567. S2CID 145455177.
- Melson, Charles D. (2021). Fighting for Time: Rhodesia's Military and Zimbabwe's Independence. Oakville, Connecticut: Casemate Academic. ISBN 9781952715075.
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