Fighter pilot memoirs & accounts of Cuban, SAAF and Angolan air combat in Southern African skies Most books on the Angolan Bush War, especially those in English, present the South African perspective of events. Now a former MiG-23 Squadron Commander...

The inside story of a Recce's Special Forces training year The South African Special Forces, or Recces, has always been known for their gruelling selection course that pushes soldiers to the ends of their physical and mental limits. Many sign...

In this video, Jean-Michel Caffin, who served in the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI), SAS, and Recce's, discusses his experiences and observations about the Rhodesian army. Here are the key points from his discussion: Unique Qualities of the Rhodesian Army (1:53-7:00): Caffin...

Angolan and Cuban Forces, 1976-1983 As of mid-1976, the civil war in Angola was seemingly decided: supported by a large contingent of Cuban forces, the MPLA established itself in power in Luanda. Its native competitors, the US-French-Zaire-supported FNLA, and UNITA,...

Colonial–Communist Clash, 1961–1974 When a large group of rebels invaded Angola from a recently independent Congo in 1961, it heralded the opening shots in another African war of independence. Between 1961 and 1974, Portugal faced the extremely ambitious task of...

Rhodesian Bush War Operator Ranged against two powerful communist terrorist armies, the small, under-equipped army of Rhodesia defied all military convention by not only resisting the onslaught, but taking the fight to the very heart of the ZIPRA and ZANLA...

The Night Belongs to Us Every AK-47 is now firmly trained on the approaching man. Adrenaline pumps through the operators’ veins. They hold their breath, their hearts in their mouths. 1 Recce. One of the sharpest, most versatile and deadliest specialist...

The world has witnessed several battles since the dawn of time. Whether ancient or recent, they all contain a wealth of data useful for life in several circumstances. These battles, which had a significant influence on the life of...

Twelve Months that Transformed a Continent The story of the Cuban-South African war in Angola in 1987–88 through the eyes of the South Africans who fought in it. The Angolan Civil War lasted over a quarter of a century, from 1975...

Small Team Missions Behind Enemy Lines A gripping first-hand account of the combat operations and life of a member of the secretive and elite South African Special Forces, known as ‘Recces’. South African Special Forces, known as the ‘Recces’, are...

The road to Cuito Cuanavale: Soviet Soldiers’ accounts of the Angolan War For almost fifteen year South Africa was involved in a civil war in Angola, the so-called Bush War, on behalf of the UNITA faction. The climax of this...