Battle of Mapai: Zanla superiority shock Rhodesians

31 Mar, 2017 - 00:03 0 Views
Battle of Mapai: Zanla superiority shock Rhodesians

The ManicaPost

Hatred Zenenga
The Zimbabwe Liberation Struggle was a war, led to the end of white minority-rule and the creation of the Republic of Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980.

The Smith racist regime fought against the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU). Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the military wing of ZANU and the Zimbabwe African People’s Revolutionary Army, the military wing of ZAPU waged a bitter bush war courageously to achieve the freedom to form a government chosen by the majority of the population.

The Rhodesian Army was despite a United Nations arms embargo well-equipped and had an upper hand against freedom fighters. The standard Rhodesian infantry weapon was the Belgian FN Rifle supplemented by the G3 rifle. However, other weapons such as the Sten SMG, Uzi, Browning Hi-Power pistol, Colt M16 rifle, GPMG MMG,81 mm mortar, and Claymore mines were used.

After the 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), the Rhodesians produced some of their own armoured vehicles, including unlicensed copies of the Mercedes-Benz UR-416. They were heavily reliant on South African and domestically-produced weapons and equipment, as well as international smuggling operations.

In addition, the Rhodesian army had a relatively well equipped air force and used a large proportion of equipment such as the vintage Douglas Dakota transport aircraft and the early British jet-fighter the De Havilland Vampire.

It also used what became more modern types of aircraft like the Hawker Hunter, Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters and Canberra bombers. Very late in the war, the Rhodesian forces were able to obtain and use a few smuggled in Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters.

The means with which the Rhodesians procured weaponry meant that the arms embargoes had little effect on the Rhodesian war effort.

The Rhodesians also used many mercenaries from Britain, South Africa, Portugal, Canada, New Zealand and the United States with the latter three being held in high regard for their Vietnam War experience. This week, we take a look at one courageous fight put up by freedom fighters against Rhodesian army fire forces at Mapai inside Mozambique.

One Petter-Bowyer a Rhodesian combat pilot, in his book “Winds of Destruction”, makes a rare admission of defeat in a 1979 famous and big battle at Mapai. Zanla forces matched the Rhodesians pound for pound, and emerged victorious, prompting the Smith regime to the negotiating table with leaders of the liberation struggle.

Petter-Bowyer recounts the battle: “In September 1979, Rhodesian army commander General Peter Walls made a plan to attack Mapai, a fortified Zanla base in Mozambique.

“All along, it had been agreed that Mapai was conventionally defended by Zanla, and was too strong a target to take on directly. But General Walls ordered an attack on a much larger fresh Zanla force that was alert and armed with vastly superior weapons.’’

The Rhodies, who had started the day looking invincible with their fighter jets, helicopters and well-equipped troops had a rude awakening, when they discovered that the reality on the ground was something else.

“As the attack happened, our mutually expressed fears were well founded. The nightmare that followed started off with the downing of a South African Airforce Puma (helicopter gunship) well short of Mapai itself. An RPG rocket exploded behind Captain P.D. Velleman instantly killing him and his crewmen, Lieutenant N.D. Osborne and Sergeant D.W.M. Retief. There was no hope for the 12 Rhodesian soldiers aboard as the helicopter smashed through trees and broke up in a line of flaming wreckage.

“Hunters and Canberras struck and re-struck Mapai before ground forces, now depleted, landed near the target. From the outset, it was clear that Zanla was too well-established to simply pack up and run.

“Close quarter contacts in the face of intense enemy fire from every conceivable type and calibre of weapon proved the Rhodesian troops’ abilities to cope with heavy enemy fire, but the target was just too complicated to be overrun.

“The intensity of anti-aircraft fire directed at attacking jets amazed even the most battle hardened soldiers. Equally amazing and extremely discomforting, was that these heavy weapons were turned against the troops whenever the jets were not around.”

General Walls soon realised that Mapai could not be taken easily.

The inevitability of unacceptably heavy Rhodesian casualties forced him to decide on a withdrawal – not a pleasant situation for Rhodesia’s top general.

This was the first time the Rhodesian forces had failed to overrun the enemy. It was an issue that dampened the spirits even more than knowing that our Government was about to face difficult times in their talks (Lancaster House talks).

As Zimbabweans prepare to celebrate our 37th independence anniversary, it should always be remembered that there were battles won and battles lost by our freedom fighters.

Share This:

Sponsored Links

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds