Captain Andre Odendaal served in the South African Army during the Border War, beginning his national service with 31 Battalion before being selected for the elite 5 Reconnaissance Regiment (5 Recce), with notable experiences also including interactions with the...
Star pistols - most notably the Model B, Super B, and Model BM - served as standard sidearms for the South African military and police for decades. Manufactured by the now-defunct Spanish company Star Bonifacio Echeverria, these 1911-style, all-steel firearms are...
Served with Breytenbach in Biafra. Was one of the founder members of 1 Recce
The "Wonga Coup" (2004): In March 2004, Du Toit was arrested in Equatorial Guinea alongside several other former 32 Battalion members. He was accused of leading an advance party for a failed coup d'état aimed at overthrowing President Teodoro Obiang.Black Beach...
Jean-Michel Caffin is a former military officer and current business executive who served in the Rhodesian Security Forces and South African Special Forces
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....
