Chapter 11: RLI Operations Patrols & OP's

In the early days (74) we did many patrols in the rural areas that, to be honest, weren't very successful ... The locals and the Gooks had eyes on us from the time we dropped off until the time we were uplifted ... they were an exercise in utter frustration – Over time welearnt a few tricks and had some fun though ... Around the beginning of 75 we decided that straight patrols were useless so we developed a slightly different plan – we inserted 2 clandestine sticks into OP (Observation Post) a day or two before inserting patrols – and it worked a treat ... The second OP I was on we had a couple of brilliant guys who a month later moved on to scouts – We logged all the locals movement in the area as to where they went and times etc... 2 Days later a pattern emerged and we realized that 4 women headed off in slightly different directions but seamed to end up going in to a thickly wooded riverine area about 2kms fro our OP ... We watched and sure enough there was movement in and out with what looked like food and the women only emerged the next morning – Sargegot on the radio to HQ and reported that he suspected the Gooks were being fed and were camping in that area ... We were told to stand by and at first light the next morning we were told fire force were on their way ... What a pleasure to watch a fire force deployment from the side... 1 Cdo (Commando) arrived and the shit and snot flew for about 15 minutes – An hour later they had mopped up and were ready to depart ... We watched as SB arrived and loaded the dead Gooks and started questioning the locals which made for very interesting viewing ... Later that afternoon we noticed many children walking around the hill behind us – they were obviously sent out to find us but our position was pretty secure...

OP sighting and set up is the most difficuilt thing to do properly ... Firstly it must be from a position where no one would dream they could be observed from ... The top of a hill is not an option at all as this is the first place the Gooks sent their little Majiba's... (Children recruited by Gooks to warn of SF presence) ... The side of a hill is slightly better but the best is unexpected places – one of the best ever was done by a Scout from a Road Drain on the main road overlooking an area ... He didn't move for 2 weeks...

My best ever was in some thick bush concealing a Donga (Ditch or wash out) in the middle of 5 Villages Maize fields ... We got incredible info on the activitees of the locals and 3 weeks after that a cordon was put up around the area using RAR and fire force went in and had an absolute party ... The 2Cdo guys were reved a bit and a couple of guys were injured but the Gooks lost 12 Love ... We continued clandestine patrols while not on fire force but the Gooks were on to us generally after day 2 and left the area ... Selous Scouts did an exceptional Job of it...

The Fire Foce expanded and the Commandos started doing it full time with 3 Cammandos in Fire Force and one on time off ... this worked pretty well and I must admit we had better time off than the National Service guys who never seamed to get home for a break...

Fire Force – A Loss & a Hero...

Russell – SCR – The contact

I was scheduled for an early break from the bush back to Salisbury for my engagement announcement and party – It was the only date that could be organized that we could get the family together and Maj N (OC Sp Cdo) kindly gave me leave. I was due to leave at 9am with a scheduled run to Salisbury but was called into the Ops room before I could leave. The boss said he needed me desperately and please could I do this one call out and he would insure that I was in Salisbury that night. We were really short on guys as we only had 3 x 4man sticks. Fire force sticks were a maximum of 4 Guys with kit in those days as that was a full load for an Allouette. We had no para backup but in ops briefing the Boss was quiet happy as there was a full company of RAR on the ground already.

All of our officers were on another op and Dog section (Mortar troop – Dog section tag is another story) and a few other sticks were the only available sticks. I was the senior Sergeant on the ground and was I in for a crazy day.

The OP briefing was short and sweet -

RAR are pinned down by a section of Gooks and were in the shit. Get there ASAP and sort it out.

I must digress slightly here as I will try to explain communication from the ground to K Kar (Gun Ship with OC directing Ops). K Kar had a 20mm Cannon and generally was the up rated Allouette and could stay airborne for a lot longer than the G Kars (troop carriers with single or double .30 Browning's mounted.) The OC generally circled the contact scene and assessed the ground and then deployed his troops as either stop groups or assault groups. Generally this was passed on to the stick leader in the chopper so that he and his stick could hit the ground and know what to do and not jam up the air waves with explanations.

The Radios we had were excellent but you had to literally glue the phone type handset to your ear to hear anything. With K Kar circling above you it was often near impossible to hear what was going on. A few months before we did user trials on a single ear piece, throat mike and the press to talk button located in the pistol grip of the FN connected to the radio by a cable. Fantastic idea except a throat mike is next to useless and no one can hear what you say – So I stripped a TR48 headset with a boom mike and adapted it to the head set. Hey presto you could hear and be heard. With this modification I could hear exactly what was going on down on the ground even from inside the chopper. I had listened to the coms from the RAR as we were flying in and they really sounded down and out. The Boss was battling to understand the guys on the ground and you could hear the frustration growing in his voice as were flying in.