SA Special Forces in Liberia

[He219]

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=392573

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=392567

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030810/i/1060541090.4026572890.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030810/i/1060541048.4160839765.jpg


South African special forces (http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,1405824-6099-0,00.html) arrive in Monrovia August 10, 2003, ahead of the visit by South African President Thabo Mbeki for Monday's handover ceremony. Liberia (news - web sites)'s leader-in-waiting, Vice-President Moses Blah, said on Sunday he was '100 percent sure' he could bring peace to the West African country after President Charles Taylor bows out under U.S. pressure to end 14 years of strife. Blah said that as soon as Taylor leaves office on Monday he would invite to his home the leaders of rebels whose attacks on Monrovia have left at least 2,000 dead since June and stranded hundreds of thousands without food. *******/Juda Ngwenya

[stuntman]

Whats with the old kits? (Ak, Canadian body armor etc...) Not that new canadian body armor is bad but I thought SA had there own?

[Hullebullen]

It's not ak's, it's south-african produced Galil's known as the R5 in SA service. But there seem to be an RPG as well as an PK machine-gun. Maybe they are also produced locally in SA, I dunno...

[budanski]

what kind of vehicle is that?

[He219]

I dunno about the ride, but the South Afrikans are masters at bush fighting. It makes sense that they make use of locally procured weapons and ammunition since they are readily available, ie. RPG, PK(?) etc.

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=392962

South African soldiers secure the airport for the arrival of South African President Thabo Mbeki in Monrovia, Liberia (news - web sites), Monday, Aug. 11, 2003.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030811/capt.sge.pma03.110803144028.photo01.default-384x279.jpg

South African soldiers on patrol in Monrovia to prepare for Thabo Mbeki's upcoming visit to attend the transition of power in Liberia

[EvanL]

During Apartheid, the West blocked the transportation of arms to SOuth Africa. Because of this they had to rely on states that didnt have such a good track record at that time i.e.) communist countries hence the PK and RPGs, and even Israel which at that time was being blasted for its developtment of nuclear weapons with help from SA. They also managed to develop many typoes of their own weapons which they still use today. Like the Vector. And i think the vehicle is one of those Eagle LUVW.

[He219]

EvanLloyd: A buddy of mine mentioned to me that Israel and SA jointly developed atomic weapons. SA got rid of theirs under pressure from the US, I believe - but had 'them' at one point.

[Trident-za]

Yes, South Africa had a nuclear weapons programme which was disbanded.

As for the RPGs/PK etc - these are not locally produced at all. As EvanLloyd mentioned earlier, South Africa was banned from buying weapons for a long time, so we "made do" with what we could get our hands on. The weapons in question will almost certainly have been captured during the Angola conflict. A huge supply of weapons and ammunition were captured between the early 70s and 1988 by South African troops in Angola, and these are still used today by SA SFs.

[He219]

Trident-za:
Long time no hear!

BTW,
Procured does not equate to Produced; ie. = aquired

Welcome baaack!

;)

[He219]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030813/capt.sge.qen23.130803184649.photo01.default-400x259.jpg


Fighters who were loyal to then- Liberian President Charles Taylor (R) pass by members of the South African special forces in Monrovia(AFP/File/Georges Gobet)

That is a phat FAV! Places for Six guys, .30 MG (M1919?) through the windshield, twin .50 Barbette and Solar Pannels on the hood for the batteries?? Sounds perfect for a wild night on the town......

[seventy6er]

that really looks like solar-panels. although it doesn't make much sense to me to use them on a FAV. in my understanding, solar-panels are very fragile. correct me if i'm wrong...

[ShotOver]

Yeah, they are pretty weak. I have never heard of them on a military vehicle before...

But on the other hand, this is my first look at South African Special Forces, so everything is a surprise.

[robmika]

Maybe its the newest honda... a low emission solar powered FAV :lol:

[Dominique]

The vehicle's called the BAT. They have two versions, the Mk. I and Mk. II. They are produced by Export Trading Service for the SA Special Forces Brigade.

In addition two the twin MG's (which have been converted to 7.62 from .30 cal) they can carry .50 cal HMGs and a 107 mm multiple launch rocket system.

[Sharky79]

another shot from a distance

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030811/241/4xzuf.html

[ibstolidude]

cannot speak for the SA troops - but the US uses solar panles to recharge batteries for commo + - it beats the expensive resupply efforts needed for the batteries - usually food/water can be stocked and supplimented - fuel locally procurred - but batteries specific to your equipment - good luck.

[Seiyuuki]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030813/capt.sge.qen23.130803184649.photo01.default-400x259.jpg

Why are Toyota so popular? Liberia, Afghanistan, Toyota everywhere...

[Royal]

Why are Toyota so popular? Liberia, Afghanistan, Toyota everywhere...

Because, they're cheap, reliable, rugged and easy to aquire...

[usa320]

There were some Toyatas in Somalia and Iraq as well... In iraq there was a TOyota pickup that was painted pink and hat a .50 mounted on it- there was a video of the engagement- if i remember correctly an M-3 blew the gay pick up to hell...

[Haiw]

those 'gay pickups' were used by US SOF as well...