The M79 is known as the "Snotneus" in South Africa, which translates to "snot-nose," a nickname for the weapon's distinctive appearance and the way its projectiles would land in the field. The M79 was used by the South African Defence Force (SADF) and supplied to...
The 60mm Patmor is a lightweight, man-portable patrol mortar system, primarily associated with South African defence companies like Denel Land Systems and Truvelo. "Patmor" is a contraction of "Patrol Mortar". Key Features and Specifications Type: Muzzle-loading,...
HQ of several guerrilla training bases run by the CSI – Chief of Staff (Intelligence). This base was located in the Angolan border region and was associated with specific SADF Special Forces, Intelligence, and "Other" units. It was one of several bases, such as Fort...
Our first operation, code-named First Blood, was to destroy a temporary base in Zambia belonging to SWAPO, the guerrilla group fighting for the independence of South West Africa [now Namibia]. The base was a small transit camp, situated less than ten kilometres over...
Awarded the Honoris Crux for his action during Operation Coolidge
Recce Operator Badge 303
Bert Sachse commanded the South African Army's 5 Reconnaissance Regiment (5 Recce) during two different periods. He first led the regiment as a commandant from 1983 to 1984, and later returned as a colonel to serve a second term as commander from 1990 to 1993....
Jim Maguire (46) a former Royal Marine from London who went on to serve in the Rhodesian and South African special forces, was a mercenary in Ivory Coast for three months.
In the early 1980s the South African Reconnaissance Commandos (now the South African Special Forces Brigade) identified the need for a special medical unit to support Special Forces on operations and the Detachment Medical Special Operations was formed. Under command...
José Correia Pinto Ribeiro was a Portuguese soldier, born in Guinea-Bissau, who became a decorated sergeant in the special forces of both Portugal and South Africa, known by his operational name "Carnaval" (Carnival). He served as a paratrooper (parabiathlete) in the...