Rhodesian Armoured Car Regiment (RhACR)

Pass out parade of Intake 159 in May 1978.
It took place on the polo field in Salisbury, Rhodesia.

[@CK-yv6nw]

I recently got into modern African history, and I'm fascinated by Rhodesia. I'm a 19 year old from Germany, and there is little to none knowledge in the population, regarding history. Most haven't even heard about Rhodesia, which I think is a pity. So I want to thank you for sharing this video, it helps me immensely I wish you a long and happy live with your loved ones friend

[@Toncor12]

ck Thank you. Please look up the many books sold online about the Rhodesian war. Just type 'Rhodesia' on Amazon and many many will come up, some very good.

[@scallywag9392]

listen to voices of Rhodesia on KZbin too

[@Toncor12]

The main gun was 90 mm made by Denel. I had the pleasure of watching an Eland dissolve a Zambian bunker at Kazungula around 1979. Quite a few medics went in and brought out people on stretchers. I will never forget that punch-up. A ferret with us did a lot to suppress fire and did a rapid ducking and diving act when a 12.7 opened up on it.

[@smacksman1]

@Toncor12 - You are quite correct - it was a 90mm gun, not 80mm as I mentioned in my narration. My mistake (probably one of many!). I remember laying the gun on the range and very impressed with its accuracy at 2000m. Mind you, by the time I got to play, the range was known to the last meter and the sights well zeroed in.

[@Toncor12]

@@smacksman1 - it's a great video though !! Did you only find it recently? I wonder how many fantastic clips there are out there that no-one knows about!!

[@smacksman1]

@@Toncor12 It was against regs to use a camera in the bush. A bit like the regulation that forbade you to swear!

[@Toncor12]

@@smacksman1 even so, I have pictures from that punch-up

[@smacksman1]

@@Toncor12 I'm sure you have pictures. My comment above was a joke. Swearing was officially banned in the Regulations (as in the British forces) yet in actuality, every second adjective was the F word!

[@darrylleeroberts]

That was fantastic to watch. Just a bit of a correction, the Eland had a 90mm main dun.

[@smacksman1]

Correct, Darryl. I made several errors which have been corrected by viewers. Blaming my 80 year old brain is a poor excuse. Haha!

[@neilcave8434]

The instructor with the 9 mm early in the film is Sgt, van Niekirk. He was a great guy, though I didn't realise he was such a bad shot! I was in Intake 144, 1975.

[@smacksman1]

We always make jokes against ourselves. I got a sharpshooters badge only because the guys each side of me shot on my target! He was a good guy.

[@wilsoncalhoun]

Outstanding. Thank you for sharing.

[@JohnDale1401]

Excellent clip, I know of at least one RhhACR vet (a Canadian) who is quite active on FB and YT who would love to see this. He might’ve been the bloke who ran around that Eland to avoid the camera, it looks like him!

[@rhodie.]

Really interesting footage and story thank you for sharing!

[@smacksman1]

You're welcome. Sorry for the late reply

[@umvhu]

Some of those Elands didn't have any bolts to secure the turret ring to the hull. AK 47 ap was tested against a Ferret in 1976, at about 50 yards it didn't penetrate a Ferret top hatch Edit An Eland blew it's engine between Bulawayo and Gwaai River, without engine braking it took well over a mile to go from about 55mph to stop.

[@dole59723]

the eland guns were 90mm not 80....I was there and was very very familiar with these ...

[@smacksman1]

Quite right Bob. One of several mistakes I made with my poor old brain! Impressively accurate gun to fire I thought.

[@GreencampRhodie]

Thank you for defending Rhodesia & freedom. RIP all Rhodesian warriors. RISE O VOICES OF RHODESIA. Betrayed by virtue-signalling communist puppets - Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Britain, US, Russia, China, Sweden, etc etc etc.

[@smacksman1]

Ironic that communist trained troops have in 2014 and 2022 invaded Ukraine to 'free' the locals and the West is up in arms about it.

[@rhodesia1578]

My brothers best friend Russell Poole was killed in an armoured car soon into his joining of this division . Think it was around 1977 /78

[@smacksman1]

Yes, we lost a few. RIP

[@paulh3596]

Those are the Salisbury Sports Clubs fields. Rugby and cricket. The polo grounds were across the road next door to the Prime Ministers residence. Those field are now the Zimbabwe Cricket Union main venue now at Harare Sports Club.

[@smacksman1]

Thanks for thew correction. Paul. My mistake.

[@paulh3596]

The field you show is the vacant lot opposite Greenwood Park. On your map you need to travel north on 7th avenue and turn left into North avenue. SSC and polo grounds would be on your right.

[@smacksman1]

Thanks for that. My mistake. I had great difficulty finding my way on Google Maps after all these years.

[@killthecensors58]

This is a really great story and I hope you share more of your experiences of Rhodesia. This small, isolated country fascinates me. Did you leave Rhodesia in 1979 when the government gave in?

[@smacksman1]

When Kissinger lied through his teeth promising support for South Africa if they withdrew support for Rhodesia I knew the West would finally sell out Rhodesia to Russia so I left. I had lived and worked in Zambia ( Northern Rhodesia) for three years a few months after independence and watched it disintegrate from a prosperous country to a corrupt mess so I had no illusions that Mugabe would do as badly. Strangely, the West has never apologised for their actions believing they gave the countries democracy. We had a saying there 'One man, one vote, once'. Mugabe ruled for 40 years crushing all opposition and his party is still in power. So sad. I loved Rhodesia and got on well with the locals and it is they that have suffered after their 'freedom'.

[@killthecensors58]

@@smacksman1 The American government is sickeningly adept at destroying countries. They cannot create so they destroy. Genocidal criminals. Someday they will suffer a far worse fate than the Rhodesian government. What was it like after Kissinger began tightening the noose? I have seen many documentaries that seem to imply that the Rhodesians generally were shocked when Ian announced that they had lost the war. As I understand it, virtually every engagement was a smashing Rhodesian victory yet you guys had so little resources that each person was absolutely precious while the communists could call upon limitless cannon fodder to throw at you. What did regular people think of the war? From here it seemed like a hopeless cause.

[@smacksman1]

@@killthecensors58 I don't think the US handled it any worse than the UK. We felt badly let down by the UK government who seemed to just want to wash their hands of the whole problem. Very sad.

[@dreamdiction]

@@smacksman1 Let's not forget that Ian Smith's book "Great Betrayal" sets out the long list of steps taken by the South African National Party to stab Rhodesians in the back, starting from Vorster's statement to Smith in February 1975 - "We don't want to help you any more". South African voters were so easily deceived into believing the National Party lie that South Africa would be protected by Detente in which whites made endless concessions while black governments made none. Rhodesians are surprisingly reluctant to recognize the SA National Party betrayal, probably because so many Rhodesians moved down South after 1980 where the National Party under Botha and De Klerk betrayed them again by doing to South Africa what they had previously done to SWA and Rhodesia.

[@glendodds3824]

Actually, I think that many white Rhodesians are remarkably reluctant to acknowledge that South African soldiers, para-military police and airmen fought and died in the Rhodesian Bush War. Moreover, some Rhodesians are happy to talk about the racial discrimination that existed in South Africa but they say little or nothing about the discrimination that existed in Rhodesia.

[@michaelx1809]

My uncle served in the Black Devils and then with RAR

[@josuealexander8168]

nice job buddy

[@vladimirvolkhov6786]

Excellent, thank you so much for sharing. I'd love to see more of your footage, hear more of your stories. I always found the improvised Rhodesian Vehicles absolutely fascinating. What was your opinion of major Winkler, and other Americans that volunteered?

[@smacksman1]

Major Winkler was my CO for just a short period before I 'took the gap' just before the end of Rhodesia. He certainly had cavalry flair and he flew the Confederate flag into battle! I knew only one other American who was in the same training intake as me in C Company DRR (Depot of the Rhodesia Regiment) in September/November 1977. He was ex-Viet Nam with impressive scars and very camera shy. He didn't talk about his history! Good bloke.

[@louisstopforth5886]

This idiot that did the talking gave many false statements, we were all National servicemen not Regular soldiers. And he would never have been sent on his own. But yes a good Regiment it was.

[@smacksman1]

@@louisstopforth5886 Oh dear, Louis again. Yes, my error. I meant that you were full time soldiers and not part time like me. And trust me, I drove the Merc 4-5 ammo truck by myself and also the fuel tanker only had the driver on board. But at least we were in convoy. Later I was tasked with towing a broken Ferret, unescorted, from near Villa Salazar back to Buffalo Range, both of us drivers on our own and me still with some ammo on board. Now that DID concentrate my mind looking for disturbed earth on the dirt road!

[@glendodds3824]

Hi, thanks for this.

[@smacksman1]

We were given strict instructions not to take cameras into the bush. So this is all I have after years running around in my 'can't see me suit' ie. camo

[@pieterwillembotha6719]

@@smacksman1 Did you use the regular trousers with shirt or were you given a jumpsuit?

[@smacksman1]

@@pieterwillembotha6719 We had regular trousers/shirt camo to start with then a camo jump suit. Finally a sexy black jump suit!

[@pieterwillembotha6719]

@@smacksman1 lol

[@vassiliwinkler7394]

Hello! I enjoyed your video tremendously, I had family who were in the Bush War, Major Winkler. I would love to hear stories regarding his accomplishments with the RhACR and the Black Devils. @smacksman1

[@jurgen7579]

I met Maj. Winkler two or three times in the Mtoko/Mudzi Area. I was a platoon cdr with 1 BN Infantry (Guard Force) in Mtoko and we operated mostly in the Mudzi TTL. We did combined ops with the RhACR.....BTW my name is also Winkler

[@rickievandeventer5979]

My Dad served in this regiment, how can I get more details of his achievement? Thanks

[@smacksman1]

Sorry. I have no idea if there is a Regimental history group. When I left I paid up to join a regimental 'old boys' group but never heard a word from them. A bit like my service medals and Rhodesian War Bonds - never seen them.

[@pieterwillembotha6719]

Mighty fine lads you had in the services. Did the Armoured Corps train the SAS and Selous Scouts for their use with their respective use of the hotlips and pig vehicles? The Rhodesians were masters at their craft. It's so incredible to think that

[@smacksman1]

I suppose they must have done but it was all hush hush and above my 'pay grade'. I was just a lowly part time trooper.

[@Toncor12]

I don't recall SAS/Scouts having their own armoured vehicles apart from the Pig; they would have had members of the armoured car Regiment escort them.

[@pieterwillembotha6719]

@@Toncor12 Didn't the SAS use the hotlips vehicle, or was there no differentiation what group used?

[@smacksman1]

@@Toncor12 Correct. I seem to remember reading that they just borrowed the cars when they needed them.

[@Toncor12]

@@pieterwillembotha6719 I have no idea what a hotlips vehicle is.

[@allanedwards1067]

3 mistakes - 90mm guns on the cars, the pookie was a VW not a mini moke and T-34 has 76mm Guns not 100mm.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

the video says T-54 which does infact have a 100mm gun.

[@allanedwards1067]

@@matthiuskoenig3378 those T54s were broken and not able to cross the border.

[@smacksman1]

The mine detection vehicle we followed was definitely based on a Mini Moke. We called it a pookie but it didn't look the same as photos I've seen of presumably the VW pookie which looked much more sophisticated. It still looked like a Mini Moke but with fat tackies and a metal detector wand out the front - very crude.

[@smacksman1]

@@allanedwards1067 I wish I'd known that at the time. (in reply to the broken T54's)

[@greenpedal370]

@@smacksman1 Sometimes pookies did not use the fat tackies. There were also 2 versions of the detector. One was flat pans (earlier version I seem to recall) and the other tubular. What period are you talking? You may well be on to some early version.

[@urmothwr]

I have a question. Did the RhACR have a formal uniform of their own or was it still army dress greens? Because the only parade footage I've managed to find has the crews in their black jumpsuits, never dress.

[@smacksman1]

I wasn't in the regiment at the beginning but we had regular army 'can't see me suits' to start with including camo tank suits. Then we changed over to black tank suits. I can't remember the exact date of the changeover but it was about a year before the end.

[@urmothwr]

@@smacksman1 I know they used brushstroke and black simultaneously for some time but I thought it depended on the mission, since the photos of tank crews (when they got captured T55s) are all in camo jumpsuits and that was in '79 if i recall correctly. Question I have is about dress uniforms. RLI, RAR and the rest of the army used greens with their unit patches sewn on, but I've never seen one for the RhACR/RAC. Did you have dress uniforms issued at all? I can't imagine it was regulation to have you attend social events wearing the jumpsuits.

[@smacksman1]

@@urmothwr Sorry, I missed your point. No, we weren't issued with dress uniforms. Maybe the officers had party kit but not part timers like me.

[@urmothwr]

@@smacksman1 Alright, thanks! It's borderline impossible to find any information on this so I'm glad to have found your video

[@pandaman3367]

Hi! I like the video. I'm more of a BSAP fella myself, but I always do like the tales of the "black devils" rolling out. Question though, always been curious: Did the Rhodesian Security Forces have any firefighting units? Or was firefighting supplied by local brigades around the country?

[@smacksman1]

I don't think so. For small fires it was break off a branch and diy. Our Eland gun would often set off a bush fire in the winter but we just let it burn. No 'end result' difference from locals burning the brush to get new growth.

[@pandaman3367]

@@smacksman1 Fair enough, fair enough. I would imagine it is not the best idea to have civilian firefighters rolling out to fires in the bush anyway, probably reserved for bases.

[@smacksman1]

@@pandaman3367 The bush in the south east of Rhodesia is very sparsely populated. Think in terms of ranches in Texas or stations in Australia. Several thousand square miles of nothing.

[@pandaman3367]

@@smacksman1 Ah, yeah I figured as much. I would imagine in places like brady barracks a local brigade would show up or there were probably damage control stations of the sort.

[@jurgen7579]

Good question....certainly in the Bundu no firefighting units. I served most of the time in the Northeast (Hurricane) and we always laid fire to burn the bush down. Esspecially along the dirtroads.....

[@jonmacleod6162]

Really interesting, Rhodesia isn't a part of African history anyone seems to learn about in the UK.

[@smacksman1]

I think the West and the church would like to forget Rhodesia and the disaster they helped create.

[@geoffrumney6553]

Great Sqn memories. Wonder where Neville Tricket is. We rolled Eiland no 36.

[@smacksman1]

Wow! I wouldn't like to be in a rolled Eland. Lots of sharp edges and no padding!

[@smacksman1]

I read a good book (can't remember the name) covering the days of Zimbabwe hyper inflation. A farmer borrowed several millions of dollars from the bank to buy a farm. A few months later he paid off the loan by the sale of one cow! Something like that - it might have been more than one cow.

[@bskiez]

Is that you in the thumbnail?

[@smacksman1]

No. I was taking the clip

[@bskiez]

Did you enjoy the naughty nighife of Portuguese Lourenco Marques Mozambique 1960s and what about the strip club scenes of bophuthatswana in 1980s. What was the nightlife like and I heard a lot of Rhodies enjoyed that even in Portuguese Angola?

[@smacksman1]

Haha! In the 60's I spear fished off the beach south of LM at a place called Rex's Rock and in the 80's I was a clean living married man! There were some pretty racy places in Salisbury, so I was told!

[@tightcamper]

To suggest Rhodesians may have gone to Angola for the nite life is like suggesting a Brit travel to Moscow for nite life. Southern Africa is a vast area!

[@mwnciboo]

It was all Big Boss.

[@louisstopforth5886]

There are many errors with video, and this chop is doing a disservice to the RhACR Regiment. One real ripe asshole to put it mildly.

[@smacksman1]

I was very proud of my time in the RhACR but one thing you need in the Army to stay sane is a sense of humour. Yes, I made mistakes (80mm gun, etc.) 40+ years later but I took this 8mm cine film so what you see is real.

[@louisstopforth5886]

@@smacksman1 there is nothing wrong with a good sense of humour , and in times of war it should be encouraged. Intake 159 was a National service intake and my intake which we were proud of our Regiment and service, in your talk your opinions are very much negative .And that is what gets many of us hackled . For doing the video i commend any one ,but get your facts straight. My opinion after listening to it several times would be that you got nabbed either avoiding service or getting blokes out of Police reserved that had been lurking in the background not doing their bit, the tone that you set was typical of some hard done by person , after all Britain did us Rhodesians no favours but was more supportive of the terrorists and a good country was handed over to the communists on a golden platter, and look at it today, in a shambolic state of affairs. I questioned a good number of blokes from RhACR and had the same thoughts as my self , hence the dissatisfaction we have towards that video. In no way did it come over as patriotic.

[@smacksman1]

@@louisstopforth5886 I really don't understand why you are so twitchy, Louis. I was already two years part time in the bush before you were called up in 159. I could have taken the gap with my wife and two small children when I was called up as a Brit but didn't. I loved Rhodesia and my job and initially I thought we could win. As a Rhodie, would you be prepared to die for Britain if called up in the UK? Thousands did in WWII but in the 1970's? Yes, I left in early 1979 before the end because I had lived three years just after independence in Zambia and knew that the disintergration of that country under Kaunda would be no different for Rhodesia under Mugabe. In the cavalry, dipping gun barrels is a tradition from the days of saluting with sabers. In the dry season every time you fired HE it set off a bush fire as I'm sure you experienced in a contact. And the Eland brakes WERE terrible and a tank AP round would go right through. I had to 'change my underwear' a few times in certain situations but we didn't see much action. The instructors were very good and I was proud to be part of the Regiment.

[@rorygilmoreNZ]

Agreed… lovely video, thank you, but it has so many errors that one is left with the impression that the accompanying words are by someone who wasn’t there, or if so, not for long. I was intake 158, so can attest to the fact that intake 159 were not regular soldiers, (ie full time), they were conscripts. Like most of us. And they weren’t called up directly to RhACR, they (most of them) did their basics at Llewellyn in Bulawayo, and then selected or volunteered for RhACR. The Rhodesian version of the Eland had a 90mm canon. I was in Workshop troop for a while and worked on plenty Eland 90’s. It’s a damn heavy vehicle but you got used to the brakes. Also… RhACR was not formed to oppose T54 tanks. Rhodesia’s armoured corp was originally formed in WW2 and operated as part of SA’s 6th Armoured Division, taking part in the original battle of Monte Casino, and was in fact one of the first units to enter the newly liberated Florence in WW2. It’s original incarnation was as the Selous Scouts during the Federation and then a brief period as part of RLI until it became its own unit (in 72 I think). The Eland 90 was faster, nippy and more manoeuvrable than T54 tanks, of which we had “acquired” a few via good intel work by Rhodie sanctions busters …and the demise of Idi Amin. Thanks for the video, it’s great, but you should correct the text. Which does sound a bit negative. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesian_Armoured_Corps?wprov=sfti1