Operation Excess (Rhodesia)

Operation Excess was a military operation launched by the Rhodesian Security Forces, on 27 July 1968, in response to an incursion of ZIPRA terrorists in Mashonaland West province.[1]

Operation Excess
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War (or Second Chimurenga)
Date27 July-12 August 1968
Location
Mashonaland, Rhodesia
Result Rhodesian victory
Belligerents
 Rhodesia ZIPRA
Commanders and leaders
Rhodesia Lt. Fanie Coetzee
Flt. Lt. Petter-Bowyer		 Unknown
Units involved

Rhodesian Army

  • RLI
    • 2 Commando
    • 3 Commando
  • RAR
    • E Company
BSAP
RRAF		 unknown
Strength
unknown
4 helicopters		 30+
Casualties and losses
1 wounded 15 killed
8 captured
7 missing
Total:
30

The Operation

The cadres were detected on 26 July when a Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAF) employee discovered unfamiliar bootprints in the bush near Makuti. Joint Operations Command (JOC) was moved south-east to Karoi on 28 July, and 2 Commando was deployed there. 3 Commando was sent with Tactical HQ to patrol the Angwa River Bridge, to the north-east, near the border with Mozambique.

This squad was organised in five sections, three of eight men each and two of seven men each. Heading for Mount Darwin, about 150 kilometres (93 mi) north-east of Salisbury, their objective was to subvert local tribesmen and recruit some for training overseas.

The Support Group, which was already based up at Kanyemba, sent one of its troops into the area along with six Police Anti-Terrorist Unit (PATU) teams. E Company, RAR moved to the west to act as stops.

7 Troop, 2 Commando and the Support Group troop followed tracks to discover a vacant insurgent camp in the early morning on 28 July; the guerrillas had been made nervous by the increased helicopter activity north of their location and left. 13 Troop found fresh tracks the next morning and followed them. By the end of the operation, the insurgents had taken 23 casualties, 15 killed and 8 captured, for 1 Rhodesian soldier wounded.[2]

References
  1. Petter-Bowyer 2005, pp. 140–143
  2. Binda 2008, p. 90

Bibliography
  • Petter-Bowyer, P J H (November 2005) [2003]. Winds of Destruction: the Autobiography of a Rhodesian Combat Pilot. Johannesburg: 30° South Publishers. ISBN 978-0-9584890-3-4.
  • Binda, Alexandre (May 2008). The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry. Johannesburg: 30° South Publishers. ISBN 978-1-920143-07-7.

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