South African Defence Force armor -- a wishlist

Vorster · Post by **Vorster** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:25 pm

Hi Thomas

I haven't forgotten about the pics I have promised, but I must admit that I seem to have lost your postal address. Please resend it to me and I will have that DVD on the way.

On the Saffer stuff. Yeah GHQ please do some. I will even provide you with scale drawings of the stuff. If you guys are patient you might even get solid works models of the Ratels.

Cheers

Theunis

6thompsons · Post by **6thompsons** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:42 pm

Just a quick FYI; the US is currently using the Buffel APC for route clearance.
Regards,
Charie T.

Vorster · Post by **Vorster** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:00 pm

It is not the same buffel that we used in the 70s and 80s. It is a modded Casspir.

6thompsons · Post by **6thompsons** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:02 pm

Buffalo Armored Vehicle
Counter IED Vehicle

Technical Solution Group (TSG)

The Buffalo heavily armored EOD vehicle follows the South African monocoque capsule protection concept with US manufactured automotive platform, offering protection from IEDs and up to 45 pound landmine explosion under any wheel and 30 pound mine explosion under the centerline protection. An upgrade package offers protection from Self Forged Fragmentation (SFF) mines. The vehicle is used with US forces in Iraq for route clearing and counter IED activities.

http://www.defense-update.com/products/b/buffalo.htm

See link above for photos.

Vorster · Post by **Vorster** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 12:50 pm

Sorry my bad it only has design features found on the Casspir. The Monocoque hull is definately Casspir but that is where it ends.

The real Buffel which was also known as the Grensdonkie (literaly translated as Border Donkey. It was called this because it was used so extensively on the SWA/Namibia border for many years providing stalward service like a donkey). It was also known Kots Koets (Vomit Comet as it was top heavy and made you very car sick at high speeds on uneven roads due to the swaying of the loose body. I've climbed up on and all I could say is that my 100kgs actualy pulled that vehicle almost over).

Below a pic of that great old vehicle.

javelin98 · Post by **javelin98** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:38 am

That's a great design, especially how they sloped the underbody to allow better deflection of a mine blast. I'd like to see how the C-in-C mini of the Buffel looks, if anyone's got some pics of it.

Vorster · Post by **Vorster** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:25 pm

Scotia does one as well. Go have a look at this site. http://wargaming.info/6mm/page2.shtml.

Yeah the 43 degree sloped hull can be found on all our mine protected vehicles. (Oops did I just give away a secret?). But problem is that hull is attached with cables to the Unimog chassis below and has a very nasty tendency to sway. Another nice feature is that the hull is used to store water for the troop. Thus it isn't just an empty space but served a secondary purpose. The water also helped to stop the blast and cool it down.

This was one of the most successful mine protected APCs we had. They have now been withdrawn from service (wanna buy one $ 5500) and replaced with the Casspir and the Mamba. The Casspir apeared in the 80s and which is alot better than the Buffel and alot more dangerous (not many survivors of people who fought against the police COIN units issued with Casspirs). The Mamba is a stripped down vertion of the RG 31 used by the US Army in Iraq. It shares alot of features and spares with Casspir, being decended from Casspir, and componants and this is why we field both.

By the by any of you guys had feedback on the RG 31s the the American forces use in Iraq.

lekw · Post by **lekw** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:29 pm

I can't wait for GHQ to come out with some South African infantry. Would go great with the Bush warriors packs. At the momenent I am using the WWII British in digger hats for south african infanry. I do some work on the weapons. Looks okay, I was thinking of maybe trying to use NVA as well.

Vorster · Post by **Vorster** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:23 pm

You can use bear headed oaks as well. Our guys weren't very big on head gear and the ubiqious bos hoed (bush hat) was mostly worn just to keep the bad ** CENSORED ** Ovambo sun out the eyes.

Be carefull of helmets the only time I've seen our guys wear helmets were the paras in 78 when we hit Cassinga (go have a look here there are some nice ideas for a infantry only wargame of the Cassinga strike http://flecha.co.uk/CASSINGA.html). Those were also not standard SA issue. I've also seen pics of gun crews wearing what looks like east german helmets. Best is to use bear headed isrealis if you can get them.

Another intresting thing is that guys walking point or flank cover during patrols on Oom Willie's Pad wore sunglasses as the refelction from the white sand was blinding. Out in the bush though you faced the wrath of the section leader if you pulled such as stunt.

jb · Post by jb » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:07 am

...hey Vorster, that is one H3LL of an interesting site...! Danke.
This looks like some nice little scenarios can be had out of this thing...now I know why Thomas is so interested in SA.

Vorster · Post by **Vorster** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:52 pm

Pleasure. It is a sadly forgotten war which produced some of the most daring raids and ops in the world. Don't forget the Rhodesians (do I hear the psssss of the PC guys here) they had some stunning commando raids. Been reading up on them. There is an interesting op in which 200 Rhoddy SAS and Rhodesian Light Infantry wiped out a terr (another psss) camp in Mozambique and killed almost 1500 terrs for the loss of two. Apparently the guys stopped counting at 1200 bodies and had at that stage not even coverd half of the camp.

I am working on TO&Es and will pass them on once they are done.

South African Defence Force armor -- a wishlist

SA Vehicles

South African Infantry