RLI trooper (MAG Gunner) photographer unknown, possibly Grand Reef circa 1978TYPICAL RHODESIAN FIRE FORCE PROCEDURES
One hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skilful.
Subduing the other’s military without battle is the most skilful.
The Art of War…
Denma Translation
Fire force was an operational response to a terrorist sighting or incident in an operational area and was composed of a first wave of 32 troopers carried to a scene by three Alouette 3 helicopters and a Paradak (DC3) with a command gunship (K Car) armed with a 20 mm cannon and a crew of 3 which consisted of the Army commander (Sunray) pilot and Technician/gunner. The three troop carrying helicopters were known as G Cars and carried four troopers along with the pilot and technician/gunner.
The stick of four troopers was known as a stop or stop group. Stop 1 being in the lead G Car and the others following.
Each Stop consisted of four troopers one commander , with an A63 VHF Radio, a FN rifle with 100 rounds of .762 NATO ammunition, smoke and fragmentation grenades and basic medical aid kit, the troops would also carry a sleeping bag and basic ration pack food in case of having to remain at the contact scene overnight.
One member of the stop was a machine gunner armed with an FN MAG machine gun and carried 400 rounds. The remaining two were riflemen and carried an FN with 100 rounds, grenades, etc. (By 1972 one of these riflemen was also issued with a radio)
The Paradak carried five stops.
Once on the scene these eight stops would be known as the first wave and had a huge area to cover. There were normally three fire forces operating within Rhodesia at one time.
One hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skilful.
Subduing the other’s military without battle is the most skilful.
The Art of War…
Denma Translation
Fire force was an operational response to a terrorist sighting or incident in an operational area and was composed of a first wave of 32 troopers carried to a scene by three Alouette 3 helicopters and a Paradak (DC3) with a command gunship (K Car) armed with a 20 mm cannon and a crew of 3 which consisted of the Army commander (Sunray) pilot and Technician/gunner. The three troop carrying helicopters were known as G Cars and carried four troopers along with the pilot and technician/gunner.
The stick of four troopers was known as a stop or stop group. Stop 1 being in the lead G Car and the others following.
Each Stop consisted of four troopers one commander , with an A63 VHF Radio, a FN rifle with 100 rounds of .762 NATO ammunition, smoke and fragmentation grenades and basic medical aid kit, the troops would also carry a sleeping bag and basic ration pack food in case of having to remain at the contact scene overnight.
One member of the stop was a machine gunner armed with an FN MAG machine gun and carried 400 rounds. The remaining two were riflemen and carried an FN with 100 rounds, grenades, etc. (By 1972 one of these riflemen was also issued with a radio)
The Paradak carried five stops.
Once on the scene these eight stops would be known as the first wave and had a huge area to cover. There were normally three fire forces operating within Rhodesia at one time.
Great post! Your description of this reminds of the recent book on the RLI The Saints that I'm reading now.
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