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April 03, 2011
| 28mm 1970’s Rhodesians and ZANLA guerrillas | Operating from bases in the neighbouring countries of Mozambique and Zambia, guerrillas belonging to the organisations ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army) and ZIPRA (Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army) fought against the security forces of the state of Rhodesia in an internal conflict that lasted 15 years. This began in earnest after the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965, when Rhodesia’s white African minority government broke from the Commonwealth in order to resist pressure from Britain to transfer political power to the country’s black African majority. Rhodesia later proclaimed itself a republic in 1970 and the insurgency steadily escalated from 1971 onwards. While successful militarily, the white minority government ultimately recognised the steadily increasing strength of its opponents and in 1980 ceded power to the black majority under a British brokered peace settlement. This gave rise to the new state of Zimbabwe, but as early as 1982 splits had started to appear between ZAPU and ZANU (the political wings of ZIPRA and ZANLA) and the consequences of this remain with Zimbabwe to this day.
Drawing on counter-insurgency techniques learned during the Malayan Emergency, the Rhodesian army was able to field highly motivated and well trained troops, exemplified by the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI), Selous Scouts, and Rhodesian African Rifles. In time the Rhodesian government forces evolved a highly effective operational technique known as Fire-Force. This was a way to use the government’s limited manpower resources effectively on the battlefield, using a combination of helicopter borne and Para dropped troops to surround and destroy guerrilla units once identified on the ground. A process sometimes called ‘vertical envelopment’. As well as Fire-Force operations within Rhodesia, the RLI were active in external operations against guerrilla camps in neighbouring countries, such as Operation Miracle, staged against a large ZANLA camp in Mozambique in September 1979. Airstrikes and armoured cars played a large part in this attack, which was dubbed 'Monte Casino' by the Rhodesians. The base featured fortified positions and bunkers linked by a trench system and protected by anti-aircraft guns.
Although under international arms embargo, Rhodesia nonetheless received support from South Africa, Portugal, and Israel. The basic rifle was the SLR (actually the South African version, known as the R1) with FN MAG light machine-guns as the support weapon. With these sturdy arms, and MG151 20mm cannon armed Alouette helicopters (known as K-cars) in the air above, the RLI became a ruthlessly effective fighting force. The size of the RLI 'stick' of four men was determined by how many men could deploy from an Alouette helicopter.
For their part, the guerrilla groups received backing from China, North Korea and the Soviet Union, and this is reflected in their weaponry. A wide range of weapons were supplied to the guerrillas; AK-47’s, RPD light machine-guns and RPG-2’s being indicative of a well supplied unit. Photos of the guerrillas show a surprising amount of uniformity, with various types of tan shirt and trousers very commonly worn, often in combination with Rhodesian or Portuguese issue camouflage items.
We would recommend that gamers interested in this period and conflict should take a look at Iron Ivan Games’ ‘Seek Out, Close With and Destroy’ rules and their supplement – ‘Man among Men: The Rhodesian Bush War’. As well as the miniatures released here (and don’t forget to check out our new release offer below) we will be interested in adding more figures to this range if there is enough demand. So we have listed the following items in our 100 Club 20th Century section.
100CLUB20C56 BSAP Rhodesian 1977 100CLUB20C62 Rhodesian paratroopers c.1977 100CLUB20C63 Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) 100CLUB20C64 Greys Scouts (mounted) c.1970 100CLUB20C65 Alouette 3 Helicopter
If we can get a total of 150 figures pre-ordered across at least ten customers, we will make them!
Here are the codes and details for the new figures and details of our limited new release offer.
28mm 1970’s Rhodesians and ZANLA guerrillas (from our Moderns range) Sculpted by Kosta Heristanidis 100MOD120 1970’s Rhodesian Light Infantry set 1: four man ‘stick’ wearing peaked cap. Includes 1 x ‘stick’ leader with radio, 2 x ‘troopies’ with SLR, 1 x machine gunner with FN MAG 100MOD121 1970’s Rhodesian Light Infantry set 2: four man ‘stick’, bare headed or boonie hats. Includes 1 x ‘stick’ leader with radio, 2 x ‘troopies’ with SLR, 1 x machine gunner with FN MAG 100MOD122 1970’s Rhodesian Selous Scout tracker (1)
100MOD130 1970’s ZANLA guerrilla leader, with AK-47, in beret (1) 100MOD131 1970’s ZANLA guerrilla, with AK-47, in beret (4) 100MOD132 1970’s ZANLA guerrilla, with AK-47, in peaked cap (4) 100MOD133 1970’s ZANLA guerrilla, with AK-47, bare headed (4) 100MOD134 1970’s ZANLA guerrilla, with RPG-2, in peaked cap (1) 100MOD135 1970’s ZANLA guerrilla, with RPD LMG, in peaked cap (2) 100MOD136 1970’s ZANLA guerrilla, with AK-47, in sun hat (1)
Figures are sold individually unless a set is indicated. The number in parentheses denotes the number of available variants for that product code. Variants are supplied randomly, but Eureka Miniatures will always endeavour to supply a representative sample.
New Release Special Offer
THE “We don’t want to be vertically enveloped” DEAL All 17 available ZANLA guerrilla figure variants for au$45.00 (normally au$50.15)*
* Excluding shipping (and ‘Goods and Services Tax’ payable by Australian customers only)
Click here to see detailed pictures of all our Rhodesian Bush War figures.
Click here to see more colour pictures of this range.
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