MiG-29 I’Fulcrum”-A first-line Soviet fighter that has been heavily exported to their allies. It is easily a match for American types such as the F-16 and F/A-18. It is equipped with a good radar and missile armament.
Mirage F.1-A single-seat, single-engine fighter, the Mirage F. I is an inexpensive, if mediocre, fighter first produced for France and now widely exported. Customers included South Africa, Iraq, Libya, and other third-world countries. In South African service, it is armed with air-to-ground ordnance or Kukri air-to-air missiles.
National Party-A South African political party closely allied with the
Broederbond and the concept of apartheid. First
coming to power in 1948, its officials established the network of laws that constituted apartheid in South Africa. It has now mellowed somewhat in its outlook and is moving very slowly toward reform. Even this minor liberalization has spawned right-wing political groups totally opposed to change. These include the Conservative Party and the Heerstige (reconstituted) National Party, which is even more conservative than the
Conservative Party itself.
NSC-National Security Council-A special committee made up of cabinet members, military officers, and other U.S. government officials. Its role is to provide information and advice to the President regarding issues that could affect national security.
01if ant tank-A testimony to the effects of arms embargoes on the South
African Army. Originally purchased in the 1950s as British Centurion tanks, the vehicles have been upgraded and improved, since South Africa does not have the ability to build her own and cannot buy any more abroad.
Although not up to modern standards, their 105mm guns and well trained crews are a match for anything the South African Army can reasonably expect to encounter.
OP-Observation Post-A small, often concealed, position occupied by one or two men whose mission is to provide early warning of enemy movement.
Osprey-A new aircraft under development by the military. Although it appears to be a propeller plane, it can rotate its wing surfaces to the vertical and take off and land like a helicopter. It can carry troops or cargo and is being considered for a variety of uses, most importantly carrying assault troops from amphibious ships to the beach. In this configuration, it could also be used as a commuter transport.
PFC-Private first class.
Puma-A French-designed troop-carrying helicopter, it has been widely exported, including to South Africa. It is also used as a gunship by the
South Africans, mounting a stabilized
30mm gun in the troop door. In its infantry -carrying role, it can carry sixteen to twenty troops.
114-The standard South African infantry weapon, it is patterned after the
Israeli Galil assault rifle. It weighs ten pounds and fires a 5.56mm bullet from a thirty-five-round magazine.
Radar-guided missiles-All air-to-air missiles have some sort of guidance mechanism to help them find the target. The two most common types are infrared, or heat-seeking, systems, such as the AIM-9L Sidewinder, and radar-guided systems, such as the AIM-7M Sparrow. Essentially, radar guided missiles home in on a target “painted” by a friendly radar. They are longer-ranged than heat-seeking missiles and can usually attack a target from any angle. They are also more complex and cost more to build.
Rangers-Although they are sometimes confused with paratroopers or other
Army units, U.S. Rangers have a specialized, demanding mission. They are tasked with striking targets deep behind enemy lines, in battalion or larger strength. This is usually done by parachute, but can be done by other means. Their targets are always strategic, critical to the outcome of a campaign.
RANKS:
U.S. Army South African Army
AFRIKAANS ENGLISH
2nd Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt.)
Ist Lieutenant (Ist LuitenantLieutenant
Lt.)
Captain (Capt.) KapteinCaptain
Major (Maj.) MajoorMajor
Lieutenant Colonel KommandantCommandant (Lt. Col.)
Colonel (Col.) KolonelColonel
Brigadier General Brigadier Brigadier (Brig. Gen.)
Major General Majoor GeneroalMajor General (Maj. Gen.)
Lieutenant General LuitenantLieutenant General (Lt. Gen.) Generaal
General (Gen.) GeneraalGeneral
Ratel-This boxy, six-or eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier comes in many variants, equipped for troop or cargo transport, command, or fire support. It is used by the mechanized infantry units of the South African
Army,
Renarno-Portuguese acronym for “Mozambique National Resistance.” Created in 1976 as an anticommunist guerrilla organization, it is dedicated to the overthrow of the Mozambican Frehmo government.
Rooikat-An armored fighting vehicle designed and built in South Africa.
Rooikat is Afrikaans for “lynx.” The vehicle itself is lightly armored, with a high-velocity, 76mm gun and an advanced laser fire-control system, including gyro stabilizers It is a match for second-line and older tanks.
RPG-Rocket-Propelled Grenade-Russian designation for a series of simple antitank weapons. The most common is the RPG-7, which is a shoulder-fired weapon with a short range.
RPK-A Russian designation for a light machine gun of mediocre performance, especially when compared to the U.S. M60 machine gun. It weighs a little over twelve pounds.
RSA-Republic of South Africa.
RTO-Radio Telephone Operator-Any soldier assigned to carry and operate a unit’s radio. He is usually found within arm’s reach of the officers.
S-60-The designation for a single-barreled 57mm antiaircraft gun. It is normally deployed in batteries of six or regiments of twenty-four. The guns are radar guided.
SA-8 Gecko-A newer, mobile antiaircraft missile, it can engage aircraft at low and medium altitude. It is completely self-sufficient, with the radar and missiles mounted on an amphibious wheeled vehicle.
SAM-Surface-to-Air Missile-A general term applied to any missile used to shoot at aircraft.
SAR-Search and Rescue-The use of aircraft and specialized rescue teams to search for and recover aircrews downed behind enemy lines.
Sarin-One variety of “nerve gas.” Sprayed over enemy troops, it kills by inhalation or skin contact. An extremely small dose, measured in milligrams, is lethal. It works by interfering with the nervous system.
T-62A-The successor to the T-55 tank, the T-62A first appeared in the 1960s. It mounts a I I 5mm gun and improved fire-control system. It has thicker armor, but compares poorly with its U.S. equivalent, the M60 tank.
T-72 tank—A modern Russian design, the T-72 mounts a 125mm gun and improved armor. It has several flaws, notably its fire-control system and a cranky automatic loader. Nevertheless, the T-72’s heavy armor is still hard to penetrate, especially from the front.
TOW-Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided missile-A large, long-range antitank missile that first saw service in Vietnam and was a spectacular success. Since then it has been improved and is now the standard U.S. heavy antitank weapon. It has a range of 3,750 meters.
UH-60 Blackhawk-A troop-carrying helicopter used by the U.S. military. It can carry a squad of infantry and is also used for special warfare missions, and for sub-hunting by the U. S. Navy.
ZU-23-A Russian twin 23mm cannon on a ground mounting, it has a small chance of hitting a jet aircraft, but has the advantage of being cheap and numerous. It can also be used against ground troops.