The Zimbabwe Crisis

[Owen]

CONTINUING/RELATED POSTS: Operation Constitution [GA] GAPFOR - Zimbabwe Operation Foundation Operation: HELPING HAND POR | HUM | Operation Jardim [High Kingdom of France] Operation Blockbuster Irish Deployment to Zimbabwe Spain | Operation Angel [Zimbabwe] The Formation of UZACOM [Zaire] Operation Desperate Plea RULE: Free-for-all no turn base system unless you are directly involved in a battle with another player. This post is for operational matters in Zimbabwe only, not communications. Use the tag system to get another players attention.

THE ZIMBABWE CRISIS​

​

Date:	20 December 1996 - Present
Location:	Zimbabwe, South Africa, Venda
Status:	Ongoing: UZACOM Forces secure Harare

BELLIGERENTS​

Provisional Executive Council of Zimbabwe Rhodesia Unified Zimbabwe Aid Committee (UZACOM): Ireland (Operation Constitution) Argentina (Operation Foundation) Zaire (Operation Desperate Plea) France (Operation Blockbuster) Portugal (Operation Jardim) Spain (Operation Angel) Global Assembly Peacekeeping Force (GAPFOR): Spain Poland

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) Support: Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO)

Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) African National Congress (ANC) uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) South African Communist Party (SACP) uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK)

South Africa South African Defence Force (Operation Rhodes) South African Police (Internal Security) Venda Venda Defence Force (Operation Khokhola) Venda Police (Internal Security) Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana Defence Force (Operation Simolola) Rhodesian Front (Operation Rhodes) Support: Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO)

COMMANDERS AND LEADERS​

Trevor Hawkins Rudo Matchaba Bishop Abel Muzorewa Richard Bruton Seán Barrett Adolfo Cambiasso Juan Manuel Fangio Nzanga Mobutu Laurent-Désiré Kabila Henri VII Donato Nogueira Norberto Almeida Rafael Cortés Gustavo Suárez Pertierra Aleksander Kwaśniewski Janusz Onyszkiewicz

Solomon Mujuru Emmerson Mnangagwa Clarence Makwetu Patricia de Lille

Joshua Nkomo Philip Valerio Sibanda Thabo Mbeki Joe Modise Chris Hani Charles Nqakula

P.W. Botha F.W. de Klerk Magnus Malan Adriaan Johannes Vlok General Johannes Geldenhuys Patrick Mphephu Brigadier General Gabriel Ramushwana Lucas Mangope Brigadier Jack Turner William Harper

STRENGTH​

Ireland: 4,500 France: 1,382 Argentina: 900 Spain: 423 Portugal: 218

Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army: 5,000

Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army: 5,000

South African Defence Force: 36,750 Venda Defence Force: 950 Bophuthatswana Defence Force: 1,040 Rhodesian Front: 5,000

CASUALTIES AND LOSSES​

None

None

None

None

 

[Owen]

Operation Rhodes (South African Defence Force) Operation Khokhola (Venda Defence Force) Operation Simolola (Bophuthatswana Defence Force)​

TOP SECRET​

South African Defence Force: South African Army (Army Headquarters) I South African Corps 12th Infantry Battalion (1,000x Regular Personnel, 16x SAMIL 100, 18x SAMIL 50, 10x SAMIL 20) 7th Infantry Division 7th Provost Company (200x Regular Personnel, 4x SAMIL 50, 24x SAMIL 20) 7th Division Signal Unit (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 72nd Motorised Brigade 3rd Special Service Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 80x Rooikat AFVs, 8x Ratel ZT-3s, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 7th Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 70x Casspir MRAPVs, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 10th Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 70x Casspir MRAPVs, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 14th Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 70x Casspir MRAPVs, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 2nd Artillery Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 16x G6 Howitzer, 8x Bateleur MLRs, 18x SAMIL 100, 12x SAMIL 20) 72nd Signal Unit (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 7th Maintenance Unit (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 31st Field Workshop (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 12th Field Engineer Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 73rd Motorised Brigade 1st Special Service Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 80x Rooikat AFVs, 8x Ratel ZT-3s, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 8th Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 70x Casspir MRAPVs, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 15th Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 70x Casspir MRAPVs, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 21st Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 70x Casspir MRAPVs, 16x SAMIL 100, 16x SAMIL 50) 14th Artillery Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 16x G6 Howitzer, 8x Bateleur MLRs, 18x SAMIL 100, 12x SAMIL 20) 73rd Signal Unit (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 5th Maintenance Unit (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 32nd Field Workshop (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) 17th Field Engineer Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) Territorial Force Far North Command Far North Command Provost Unit (200x Citizen Force Personnel, 4x SAMIL 50, 24x SAMIL 20) Far North Command Workshop Unit (200x Citizen Force Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) Far North Command Signals Unit (200x Citizen Force Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) Far North Command Maintenance Unit (200x Citizen Force Personnel, 12x SAMIL 100, 4x SAMIL 50, 12x SAMIL 20) Soutpansberg Military Area Headquarters (300x Citizen Force Personnel) Army Group 16 116th Infantry Battalion (Sepedi) (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel) 2nd Battalion, Regiment Northern Transvaal (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 50x Ratel IFVs, 8x SAMIL 100, 8x SAMIL 50) 1st Battalion, Regiment Limpopo (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 20x Mamba APCs, 8x SAMIL 100, 15x SAMIL 50) 2nd Battalion, Regiment Limpopo (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 20x Mamba APCs, 8x SAMIL 100, 15x SAMIL 50) 2nd Battalion, Regiment Kruger National Park (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel) 2nd Regiment, Transvaalse Staatsartillerie (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 8x G5 Howitzer, 4x Bateleur MLRs, 9x SAMIL 100, 6x SAMIL 20) Army Group 29 113th Infantry Battalion (Shangaan) (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel) 117th Infantry Battalion (Sepedi) (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel) 1st Battalion, Regiment Christiaan Beyers (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 20x Mamba APCs, 8x SAMIL 100, 15x SAMIL 50) 3rd Battalion, Regiment Christiaan Beyers (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 20x Mamba APCs, 8x SAMIL 100, 15x SAMIL 50) 4th Battalion, Regiment Christiaan Beyers (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 20x Mamba APCs, 8x SAMIL 100, 15x SAMIL 50) 5th Battalion, Regiment Christiaan Beyers (1,000x Citizen Force Personnel, 20x Mamba APCs, 8x SAMIL 100, 15x SAMIL 50) Commando Group 13 Phalaborwa Commando Unit (600x Commandos) Letaba Commando Unit (600x Commandos) Sandrivier Commando Unit (600x Commandos) Soutpansberg Commando Unit (600x Commandos) Limpopo Commando Unit (600x Commandos) Pietersburg Commando Unit (600x Commandos) Special Forces Command 44th Parachute Brigade 1st Parachute Battalion (800x Regular Personnel) 2nd Parachute Battalion (800x Regular Personnel) 3rd Parachute Battalion (800x Regular Personnel) 4th Parachute Battalion (800x Regular Personnel) 18th Light Artillery Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 18x G7 Howitzers, 10x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 44th Pathfinder Company (200x Regular Personnel, 20x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 101st Air Supply Unit (100x Regular Personnel, 10x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 44th Field Engineer Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 20x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 44th Anti-Aircraft Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 20x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 44th Maintenance Unit (200x Regular Personnel, 20x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 44th Field Workshop (200x Regular Personnel, 20x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 44th Signal Squadron (100x Regular Personnel, 10x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) 44th Anti-Tank Regiment (200x Regular Personnel, 20x Jakkals Utility Vehicles) South African Special Forces Brigade 3rd Reconnaissance Commando (500x Special Forces, 5x Wasp DRVs, 20x Gecko RDLVs) State President's Guard Infantry Unit Zimbabwe Border Company (500x Citizen Force Personnel, 12x Casspir MRAPVs, 8x Mamba APCs) South African Air Force (Air Force Headquarters) Southern Air Command 1st Squadron (400x Regular Personnel, 24x Mirage F1s) 2nd Squadron (400x Regular Personnel, 35x Altas Cheetahs) 7th Squadron (400x Regular Personnel, 50x MB-326 Impalas) 16th Squadron (200x Regular Personnel, 18x Denel Rooivalks) 28th Squadron (400x Regular Personnel, 12x C-130 Hercules, 9x Transall C-160Z) 31st Squadron (400x Regular Personnel, 15x Atlas Oryxs, 10x Alouette IIIs) Airspace Control Command 250th Air Defence Artillery Group 250th "Steel Ingot" Air Defence Artillery Wing 120th Air Defence Squadron (100x Regular Personnel, 14x Cactus NGs) 122nd Air Defence Squadron (100x Regular Personnel, 14x Cactus NGs) Tactical Support Command 70th Mobile Deployment Wing 18th Deployment Support Unit (100x Regular Personnel) 92nd Tactical Airfield Unit (100x Regular Personnel) 97th Tactical Airfield Unit (100x Regular Personnel) 140th Radar Squadron (50x Regular Personnel, 4x Plessey Tactical Mobile Radar) 142nd Radar Squadron (50x Regular Personnel, 4x Plessey Tactical Mobile Radar) 500th Security Squadron (100x Regular Personnel) 501st Security Squadron (100x Regular Personnel) Mobile Communications Unit (100x Regular Personnel) 4th Air Servicing Unit (100x Regular Personnel) South African Navy (Navy Headquarters) South African Corps of Marines 1st Marine Brigade 8th Marine Company (200x Marines, 4x Namacurra-class Harbour Patrol Boats) South African Medical Service (Medical Service Headquarters) Medical Command Northern Medical Command 8th Field Ambulance Unit (300x Regular Personnel, 30x SAMIL 20s) 6th Medical Battalion Group (750x Regular Personnel, 85x Mfezi Ambulances) Venda Defence Force: Defence Headquarters 1st Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 100x Mamba APCs) Signals Unit (100x Regular Personnel, 40x SAMIL 20s) Air Wing (50x Regular Personnel, 2x Alouette IIIs, 2x Cessna Citation IIs, 2x CASA C-212 Aviocar) Bophuthatswana Defence Force: Bophuthatswana Army (Army Headquarters) 1st Military Area Special Forces Task Force (200x Special Forces) 2nd Military Area 2nd Infantry Battalion (800x Regular Personnel, 100x Mamba APCs) Bophuthatswana Air Force (Air Force Headquarters) 1st COIN Squadron (20x Regular Personnel, 3x Pilatus PC-7s) 3rd Helicopter Squadron (20x Regular Personnel, 6x MBB BK 117s) Rhodesian Front: 5,000x Militiamen

The South African Government would decide that the security situation in Zimbabwe was getting too dire and that Zimbabwe was becoming a staging ground and headquarters for terrorist organisations such as the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania along with their respective armed wings. In order to curb the risk of attacks into South Africa across the border, the Soutpansberg Military Area would be set up between Messina and the border and follow the length of the Limpopo River. This was a highly militarised area which is regularly patrolled by SADF and SAP with support from the Venda Defence Force and Police. It would be deemed necessary to extend this Military Area into Zimbabwe, to create a sort of buffer zone between Zimbabwe and South Africa free of terrorists and highly militarised to repel their attacks. However the final objective was much more grand, to return Zimbabwe to white minority rule under the Rhodesian Front-led Government of William Harper. The South African Government would contact the Venda and Bophuthatswana Government's for their support and they would be more than happy to, after all they were puppet states of South Africa. The first objective was to begin moving forces under the Soutpansberg Military Area Headquarters and Far North Command in Pietersburg. Already Rhodesian Front paramilitary would begin assembling in Pietersburg. 72nd and 73rd Motorised Brigades would begin making their way from Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively along with support elements; 7th Provost Company and 7th Division Signal Unit also based in Johannesburg. The independent Horse, Dog and Motorbike Assisted Infantry Battalion of 12th Infantry Battalion would begin making its way from Potchefstroom as well. This would be supported by all elements of Far North Command including Army Group 16 and Army Group 29 which were made up of Citizen Force and Commando Group 13 which would be assisting Police in the Soutpansberg Military Area to thwart attacks. From Special Forces Command, 44th Parachute Brigade would also make its way to AFB Louis Trichardt from Verwoerdburg along with 3rd Reconnaissance Commando at Phalaborwa. The Zimbabwe Border Company of the State President's Guard Infantry Unit would also be doing its regular patrol duties in the Soutpansberg Military Area. In terms of Air Force assets, there would already be a considerable amount at AFB Louis Trichardt such as 1st, 2nd and 7th Squadrons with Atlas Cheetahs, Atlas Impalas and Mirage F1s. 31st Squadron at AFB Hoedspruit would also be moved to AFB Louis Trichardt temporarily with Atlas Oryx and Alouette III helicopters. Likewise a few Denel Rooivalks would be moved from 16th Squadron at AFB Bloemspruit and the C-130 Hercules at AFB Waterkloof would be on standby to transport paratroopers. The 70th Mobile Deployment Wing would be moved from AFS Snake Valley to Louis Trichardt. The South African Navy's Corps of Marines would have 8th Marine Company stationed at Messina doing river patrols on the Limpopo River with Namacurra-class Patrol Boats and would also be supporting the operation. In terms of South African Medical Service, the 8th Field Ambulance Unit and 6th Medical Battalion Group would be moved into position with the latter coming from Pretoria and the former being already based at Pietersburg. In terms of Venda Defence Force, the 1st Infantry Battalion and Signals Unit would make their way to the north of Venda and the Air Wing would be on standby. The Bophuthatswana Defence Force would have the 2nd Infantry Battalion and the Special Forces Task Force move to Pietersburg along with 1st COIN Squadron and 3rd Helicopter Squadron of the Bophuthatswana Air Force move to AFB Louis Trichardt.

 

[Owen]

The troops would stand down and be demobilised. The Rhodesian Front was alerted that there was no longer an objective to get them into Zimbabwe. Operations would be concluded by South Africa, Venda and Bophuthatswana.