Armoured north

Buy Armoured Warfare in the North Africa Campaign - Anthone Tucker-Jones for R375.00

The climactic death-throes of Soviet Communism during the 1980's included a last-gasp attempt at strategic franchise expansion in Southern Africa. Channelled through Castro's Cuba, oil-rich Angolan armed forces (FAPLA) received billions of dollars of advanced weaponry including MiG 23 and Sukhoi fighter jets, SAM 8 missile systems and thousands of armoured vehicles. Their   intent - to eradicate the US-backed Angolan opposition (UNITA), then push southwards into South Africa's protectorate SWA/Namibia, ostensibly as liberators. 1985 saw the first large-scale mechanized offensive in Southern African history. Russian Generals planned and oversaw the offensive but without properly accounting for the tenacity of UNITA (supported by the South African Defence Forces - SADF) or the treacherous terrain typical in the rainy season. The '85 offensive floundered in the mud and FAPLA returned to their capital Luanda. The South Africans stood down, confident their 'covert' support for UNITA had demonstrated the folly of prosecuting war so far from home against Africa's military Superpower. The South Africans were mistaken. Fidel and FAPLA immediately redoubled their efforts, strengthening fifteen battalions with even more Soviet hardware while Russian and Cuban specialists oversaw troop training. As Cuban and Angola fighter pilots honed their skills over the skies of Northern Angola, David Mannall, a normal 17-year old kid completing High School, was preparing for two years of compulsory military service before beginning Tertiary education. Through a series of fateful twists he found himself leading soldiers in a number of full-scale armoured clashes including the largest and most decisive battle on African soil since World War II. This is the David and Goliath story that, due to seismic political changes in the region, has never been truthfully told. The author lifts the hatch on his story of how Charlie Squadron, comprising just twelve 90mm AFVs crewed by 36 national servicemen, as part of the elite 61 Mechanised Battalion, engaged and effectively annihilated the giant FAPLA 47th Armoured Brigade in one day - 3 October 1987. Their 90mm cannons were never designed as tank-killers but any assurances that it would never be used against heavy armour were left in the classroom during the three-month operation and never more starkly than the decisive 'Battle on The Lomba River'. The Communist-backed offensive died that day along with hundreds of opposition fighters. 47th Brigade survivors abandoned their remaining equipment, fleeing north across the Lomba, eventually joining the 59th Brigade in what became a full-scale retreat of over ten thousand soldiers to Cuito Cuanavale. The myth perpetuated by post-apartheid politicians goes something like this "The SADF force that destroyed 47th Brigade on 3 October numbered 6,000 men and that all the hard yards were run by the long suffering UNITA!" The inconvenient truth is that there were just 36 South African boys on the front-line that day, but it is also true to say they would never have achieved such a stunning victory without the support of many more. This is their story. Paperback, 192 pages First Published October 2014, Second Revised Edition May 2015        

Prince Alfred's Guard(PAG)1939-1945-Set-Cap Badge-Collar Badges-Shoulder Title At the beginning of the Second World War PAG provided reinforcements for units going to North Africa. In 1943 PAG converted to an armoured regiment  and was sent to Italy with the 6th SA Armoured Division where it saw active service. PAG remains an armoured regiment to this day

The climactic death-throes of Soviet Communism during the 1980's included a last-gasp attempt at strategic franchise expansion in Southern Africa. Channelled through Castro's Cuba, oil-rich Angolan armed forces (FAPLA) received billions of dollars of advanced weaponry including MiG 23 and Sukhoi fighter jets, SAM 8 missile systems and thousands of armoured vehicles. Their   intent - to eradicate the US-backed Angolan opposition (UNITA), then push southwards into South Africa's protectorate SWA/Namibia, ostensibly as liberators. 1985 saw the first large-scale mechanized offensive in Southern African history. Russian Generals planned and oversaw the offensive but without properly accounting for the tenacity of UNITA (supported by the South African Defence Forces - SADF) or the treacherous terrain typical in the rainy season. The '85 offensive floundered in the mud and FAPLA returned to their capital Luanda. The South Africans stood down, confident their 'covert' support for UNITA had demonstrated the folly of prosecuting war so far from home against Africa's military Superpower. The South Africans were mistaken. Fidel and FAPLA immediately redoubled their efforts, strengthening fifteen battalions with even more Soviet hardware while Russian and Cuban specialists oversaw troop training. As Cuban and Angola fighter pilots honed their skills over the skies of Northern Angola, David Mannall, a normal 17-year old kid completing High School, was preparing for two years of compulsory military service before beginning Tertiary education. Through a series of fateful twists he found himself leading soldiers in a number of full-scale armoured clashes including the largest and most decisive battle on African soil since World War II. This is the David and Goliath story that, due to seismic political changes in the region, has never been truthfully told. The author lifts the hatch on his story of how Charlie Squadron, comprising just twelve 90mm AFVs crewed by 36 national servicemen, as part of the elite 61 Mechanised Battalion, engaged and effectively annihilated the giant FAPLA 47th Armoured Brigade in one day - 3 October 1987. Their 90mm cannons were never designed as tank-killers but any assurances that it would never be used against heavy armour were left in the classroom during the three-month operation and never more starkly than the decisive 'Battle on The Lomba River'. The Communist-backed offensive died that day along with hundreds of opposition fighters. 47th Brigade survivors abandoned their remaining equipment, fleeing north across the Lomba, eventually joining the 59th Brigade in what became a full-scale retreat of over ten thousand soldiers to Cuito Cuanavale. The myth perpetuated by post-apartheid politicians goes something like this "The SADF force that destroyed 47th Brigade on 3 October numbered 6,000 men and that all the hard yards were run by the long suffering UNITA!" The inconvenient truth is that there were just 36 South African boys on the front-line that day, but it is also true to say they would never have achieved such a stunning victory without the support of many more. This is their story. Paperback, 284 pages First Published October 2014, Second Revised Edition May 2015   

Title: Set Of Rand Light Infantry Badges. Info: SADF. 1 x Larger badge and 2 x smaller badges for beret and jackets. The Rand Light Infantry (RLI) is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve unit or United States Army National Guard unit. Origin. The history of this Regiment dates back to the Transvaal Cycle Corps, which was formed in Johannesburg on 1 October 1905 from the Bicycle Section of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment. A small section of this unit subsequently took part in the suppression of the Bambata Rebellion in Zululand. After its return from this conflict the unit recognised the possibilities of mechanisation and members of the Regiment manufactured three armoured cars, creating a motorised fighting unit. This led to the renaming of the unit in 1909 to the Transvaal Cycle and Motor Corps. On 1 July 1913 the Regiment was renamed the 11th Infantry (Rand Light Infantry) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force. Simultaneously, the unit was converted to a normal infantry regiment. The Regiment's Pretoria detachment was transferred to the 12th Infantry (Pretoria Regiment). World War One. During World War I the Regiment took part in the South-West Africa, suffering light casualties – only two dead and eleven wounded. In 1932 the Regiment was renamed the Rand Light Infantry. World War Two The RLI was mobilized for World War II in June 1940 and gained fame in North Africa where it took part in many front line engagements and earned battle honours at Bardia, Gazala and El Alamein. (See 1st SA Infantry Division) After the defeat of Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the RLI returned to South Africa and was merged with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles. The remaining members of the Regiment were trained in armour, and sent as reinforcements to the South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy. Wikipedia. Height: 34cm. Width: 35cm. Condition: Very Good. Price: R 395.00 Inc Vat for all Three Badges.

Title: Set Of Rand Light Infantry Badges. Info: SADF. 1 x Larger badge and 2 x smaller badges for beret and jackets. The Rand Light Infantry (RLI) is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve unit or United States Army National Guard unit. Origin. The history of this Regiment dates back to the Transvaal Cycle Corps, which was formed in Johannesburg on 1 October 1905 from the Bicycle Section of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment. A small section of this unit subsequently took part in the suppression of the Bambata Rebellion in Zululand. After its return from this conflict the unit recognised the possibilities of mechanisation and members of the Regiment manufactured three armoured cars, creating a motorised fighting unit. This led to the renaming of the unit in 1909 to the Transvaal Cycle and Motor Corps. On 1 July 1913 the Regiment was renamed the 11th Infantry (Rand Light Infantry) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force. Simultaneously, the unit was converted to a normal infantry regiment. The Regiment's Pretoria detachment was transferred to the 12th Infantry (Pretoria Regiment). World War One. During World War I the Regiment took part in the South-West Africa, suffering light casualties – only two dead and eleven wounded. In 1932 the Regiment was renamed the Rand Light Infantry. World War Two The RLI was mobilized for World War II in June 1940 and gained fame in North Africa where it took part in many front line engagements and earned battle honours at Bardia, Gazala and El Alamein. (See 1st SA Infantry Division) After the defeat of Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the RLI returned to South Africa and was merged with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles. The remaining members of the Regiment were trained in armour, and sent as reinforcements to the South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy. Wikipedia. Height: 34cm. Width: 35cm. Condition: Very Good. Price: R 255.00 Inc Vat for all Three Badges.

  REGIMENT BOTHA TITLE BADGE Named or the Prime Minister and Boer general, Regiment Botha was formed on April 1 1934 at Ermelo and recruited in the then-northern and eastern Transvaal. By 1939 there were two battalions but only the second was mobilised on June 19, 1940. The unit was brigaded with 3 Transvaal Scottish and the SA Irish and served in Ethiopia. It arrived in North Africa as part of 5 SA Brigade in May 1941 and met its nemesis at the hands of the Deutsches Afrika Korps on Totensontag, November 23, 1941 when, as Major G Tylden puts it, it was “badly cut up at Sidi Rezegh and suffered heavily”. The next month, the survivors of 2 Regt Botha and the other units of 5 SA Brigade were reorganised into a composite battalion for further service. The identity of the other units disappeared and after reinforcement by a draft of Witwatersrand Rifles, 2 Regt Botha was back at full strength by April 1942. The regiment fought at first Alamein from July to October 1942, helping to stop Panzerarmee Afrika in its tracks. The unit returned to South Africa in January 1943. In August, 2 Regt Botha and Regiment President Steyn merged “for the duration” to form the Botha-President Steyn Armoured Commando, assigned to 6 SA Armoured Division. Once in Italy, the unit as broken up, with some going to the Pretoria Regiment and other to the Imperial Light Horse (now Light Horse Regiment). In 1951 2 Regiment Botha became the Regiment Christiaan Beyers.   Current role: Motorised infantry =  Current base: Barberton Battle honours: Motto: Altyd gereed (Always ready).       Condition:  Good. Complete. Uncleaned.   Sold as seen in the images. Images form part for the description.  

The Churchill by Bryan Perrett Hardcover (Armour in Action Series 4) First Edition 1974 ISBN 0 7110 0533 8 Black and white photographs and sketches of tank battles in Dieppe, North Africa,Italy and Normandy and North West Europe. Plus postage -Please see below. Bryan Perrett was born in 1934 and educated at Liverpool College. He served in the Royal Armoured Corps, the 17th/21st Lancers, Westminster Dragoons and the Royal Tank Regiment, and was awarded the Territorial Decoration. During the Falklands and Gulf wars, he worked as defence correspondent for the Liverpool Echo. A highly successful author, Bryan is married and lives in Lancashire. Note ex library book (stamped withdrawn) Book is covered with a plastic cover  which has kept this book in very good condition and tightly bound.Barcode Library sticker and number written on the last page and back inside of the cover. If you look closely at the first photo you may see a little damage to the dust cover on the top left and right corners. For postage with a tracking number within South Africa please add R50.00 or Postnet to Postnet (up to 5 kg) at R105.00  or contact me for more information or if you buy more than one item at the same time I will combine the postage costs.If combined postage applies please contact me before making payment and I will advise the postage. Collection (Pietermaritzburg) can be arranged. Thank you.   

The Churchill by Bryan Perrett Hardcover (Armour in Action Series 4) First Edition 1974 ISBN 0 7110 0533 8 Black and white photographs and sketches of tank battles in Dieppe, North Africa,Italy and Normandy and North West Europe. Plus postage -Please see below. Bryan Perrett was born in 1934 and educated at Liverpool College. He served in the Royal Armoured Corps, the 17th/21st Lancers, Westminster Dragoons and the Royal Tank Regiment, and was awarded the Territorial Decoration. During the Falklands and Gulf wars, he worked as defence correspondent for the Liverpool Echo. A highly successful author, Bryan is married and lives in Lancashire. Note ex library book (stamped withdrawn) Book is covered with a plastic cover  which has kept this book in very good condition and tightly bound.Barcode Library sticker and number written on the last page and back inside of the cover. If you look closely at the first photo you may see a little damage to the dust cover on the top left and right corners. For postage with a tracking number within South Africa please add R55.00 or Postnet to Postnet (up to 5 kg) at R105.00  or contact me for more information or if you buy more than one item at the same time I will combine the postage costs.If combined postage applies please contact me before making payment and I will advise the postage. Collection (Pietermaritzburg) can be arranged. Thank you.   

The Churchill by Bryan Perrett; Hardcover (Armour in Action Series 4) First Edition 1974 ISBN 0 7110 0533 8 Black and white photographs and sketches of tank battles in Dieppe, North Africa,Italy and Normandy and North West Europe. Plus postage -Please see below. Bryan Perrett was born in 1934 and educated at Liverpool College. He served in the Royal Armoured Corps, the 17th/21st Lancers, Westminster Dragoons and the Royal Tank Regiment, and was awarded the Territorial Decoration. During the Falklands and Gulf wars, he worked as defence correspondent for the Liverpool Echo. A highly successful author, Bryan is married and lives in Lancashire. Note ex library book (stamped withdrawn) Book is covered with a plastic cover  which has kept this book in very good condition and tightly bound.Barcode Library sticker and number written on the last page and back inside of the cover. If you look closely at the first photo you may see a little damage to the dust cover on the top left and right corners. For postage with a tracking number within South Africa please add R50.00 or Postnet to Postnet (up to 5 kg) at R105.00  or contact me for more information or if you buy more than one item at the same time I will combine the postage costs.If combined postage applies please contact me before making payment and I will advise the postage. Collection (Pietermaritzburg) can be arranged. Thank you.   

 WW2 Memorabilia From The Late Officer DL Kukard KIA Dec 1944 North Africa Included in this lot is an original framed Training certificate issued by the South African Tank Corps dated 6 Jan 1943 to 28 May 1943 And again 28 May 1943 to 26 August 1943. Signed by a luitenant colonel AFV training centre. Also is an original framed menu for the EL Alamein Dinner dated 25/10/1944. This is rare !! There is also a framed photo of Field Marshal Smuts, A regimental photo of the South African Tank Corps Armoured Fighting Vehicles, a large framed photo of officer DL Kukard. Included is also a EL Alamein Commemoration medallion dated 23/10/97 A small piece of history which includes two rare and collectable items. A must have for any military collector Collection sold as one lot.

Natal Mounted Rifles 1940-1950's (Set) The NMR was part of the 1st SA Infantry Division (2nd SA Brigade) during the second World War and and saw action in East Africa and North Africa.Thereafter it was transferred to the 6th SA Armoured Division and saw service in Italy.   ###   Silver Collection  on show from  6th  to   25th June, if you're an  Avid Collector of interesting pieces, Please  see our selection of around  20  items, ranging from  R150  to  R6,750.  ###   Please also note that  Axis Militaria   will be closing their auctions from 19:00 pm to 21:00 pm Monday Nights. (SAST, GMT+2)           

Royal Durban Light Infantry (RDLI) 1919-1950 When the campaign in North Africa came to a close in 1943, the RDLI was then transferred to the 6th South African Armoured Division and then deployed to Italy seeing the end of the war there.The title "ROYAL" was dropped when South Africa became a Republic in 1961.   ###   Silver Collection  on show from  6th  to   25th June, if you're an  Avid Collector of interesting pieces, Please  see our selection of around  20  items, ranging from  R150  to  R6,750.  ###   Please also note that  Axis Militaria   will be closing their auctions from 19:00 pm to 21:00 pm Monday Nights. (SAST, GMT+2)   

Natal Mounted Rifles 1940-1950's (Set) The NMR was part of the 1st SA Infantry Division (2nd SA Brigade) during the second World War and and saw action in East Africa and North Africa.Thereafter it was transferred to the 6th SA Armoured Division and saw service in Italy.   ###   Large   Lucite Badge Collection   on show from  17th July- 20th August Over   200 Badges   on show, ranging   from R35- R175   starting b id.   ###     Please also note that  Axis Militaria   will be closing their auctions from 19:00 pm to 21:00 pm Monday Nights. (SAST, GMT+2)           

"SPRINGBOKS IN ARMOUR" HARRY KLEIN FIRST EDITION, 1965, PURNELL & Sons No previous ownership marks, a clean unmarked copy;  Binding sound;  338pp., Appendices, Bibliography, Index and Index to Arms, Formations, Regiments and Units. Illustrated with coloured frontispiece, 37 bl & wh photographs and 2 fold-out maps. First Edition. An authoritative account by an officer who served with the unit, and of the reconnaissance force which made up the South African Armoured Car Regiments of the South African Tank Corps, and their engagements in Kenya, Abyssinia and later, North Africa. Size: 25.3cm x 16.3cm Purnell & Sons, Cape Town 1965 no dustjacket postage quoted for South Africa only