Overview

* A chronicle of the military revolution of The Rhodesian Light Infantry - from commando unit to killing machine extraordinaire Few, if any, regiments have left their mark on the history of modern warfare as did the Rhodesian Light Infantry. Raised on 1 February 1961 the RLI first evolved into a commando unit then became involved in mundane border-control duties in the Zambezi Valley. Later as the bush war intensified the RLI was to evolve into a ruthlessly efficient 'killing machine'. This book chronicles the military evolution of the RLI from the peacetime soldiering days through to the constant high-intensity combat of the final years. Initially comprising volunteers from South Africa and Britain the RLI was always under strength until 1976 when the percentage of national servicemen serving in the RLI was dramatically increased to meet ever-increasing operational demands. The historical record will show how these young men, led and commanded by an outstanding combination of tough and battle-hardened non-commissioned officers and a skilled and aggressive officer corps, inflicted massive damage on the ZANLA and ZIPRA insurgent forces. The ruthless efficiency of the joint Air Force and RLI Fireforce operations where the RLI was deployed by helicopter and later also by parachute was to account for the deaths of in excess of 12,000 insurgents during the course of the war at a rate of 160 enemy killed for every one of their own lost: a truly remarkable record.

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9781920143596

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Mark Adams was born in Cape Town in 1953. Through an agreement between the Rhodesian and South African governments Mark, along with a number of others, was recruited into the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI). He joined 2 Commando, before being commissioned as a subaltern into 3 Commando as OC 12 Troop in 1974. In 1978 he was awarded the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia (BCR) for valour and later that year was posted to the School of Infantry to train officer cadets. As GSO3 (Ops) HQ 3 Brigade he saw out the Zimbabwean transition before returning to South Africa in 1980. He served three years with the South African paras, involved in training at 1 Parachute Battalion and 44 Parachute Brigade before finally leaving the military. Chris Cocks was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1957 and served three years and 28 days as a combat NCO with 3 Commando, the Rhodesian Light Infantry from 1976 to 1979. He has written four books: the bestselling Fireforce: One Man's War in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, its sequel Out of Action, a steamy novel Cyclone Blues, and co-wrote The Saints, the RLI's history. He is the historian for The Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association and edits its magazine, The Cheetah.

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