Transkei Defense Forces equipment/weaponry known?

andyjp · 10-28-2009, 01:07 AM

After finding some Transkei camouflage for a pretty good price, I've started craving finishing off this whole kit. So far I've been able to find virtually nothing on the Transkei Defense Forces, with no info on the TDF's weaponry or gear.

So, my questions are does anyone out there know
1. What service rifle was used by the TDF?
2. What standard gear was used by the TDF?
I'd thought about having a FAL or R4 with it and a SADF M83 vest, but I'd really like to get this as accurate as possible and not be using gear that wouldn't have been used.
Any pictures or other info would also be quite appreciated. Thanks!
-Andy

vor033 · 10-29-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyjp

After finding some Transkei camouflage for a pretty good price, I've started craving finishing off this whole kit. So far I've been able to find virtually nothing on the Transkei Defense Forces, with no info on the TDF's weaponry or gear.

So, my questions are does anyone out there know
1. What service rifle was used by the TDF?
2. What standard gear was used by the TDF?
I'd thought about having a FAL or R4 with it and a SADF M83 vest, but I'd really like to get this as accurate as possible and not be using gear that wouldn't have been used.
Any pictures or other info would also be quite appreciated. Thanks!
-Andy

Hi Mate,

I have a book Called The South African War Machine by a Helmoed-Romer Heitmen Published in 1985 and it has a short section on the TDF, it shows the TDF using the G3 Rather than the FAL with Standard webbing being a version of the South African 70 Pattern web gear

The TDF does not seem to have used the R4 ot the M83 Vest mainly becaue the Transkei t broke of diplomatic and military contacts with South African no long after it gained independance.

Also for a number of years had as GOC Ron Reid Daly ex CO of the Selous Scouts who collected around him a number of ex RLI, SAS and Selous Scouts to help organise and train the TDF and how these people may have influenced the TDF over the years i am afriad i dont know, although the TDF was thought of as being quite good.

I hope this little bit of info helps

korvinag · 10-29-2009, 04:40 PM

Hi there,

i'd advise ask about it here, @ this thread: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...d.php?t=134312

cheers!

Skukuza · 11-01-2009, 05:19 AM

I thought they used the R4 just like the SADF.

andyjp · 11-10-2009, 04:57 PM

Thanks Vor! I really appreciate that. Might just have to pick myself up a copy of the book. Might help with other Africa kits.

baboon6 · 11-14-2009, 07:05 AM

Some information on the TDF from a paper on small arms proliferation in Southern Africa:

http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/books/hide...outhAfrica.pdf

The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was formed in 1975, and Transkei
gained independence in 1976. With independence came an SADF officer
corps, with arms and equipment from an SADF infantry company. From
1978 to 1981, SADF officers were forced to leave the TDF during a break
in relations between Chief Kaizer Matanzima’s Transkei government and
the South African government. Thereafter the officers returned. The TDF
was given additional equipment from the SADF, including firearms, after
the restoration of relations.

In a coup d’état in 1987, the TDF took over Transkei under the leadership
of Major General Bantu Holomisa. Once more, the SADF officers left.
Holomisa retained political control until South Africa’s democratic elections
in 1994. In 1993, the TDF was estimated to be between 3 500 and 4 000
strong, with another 3 300 paramilitary and reserve forces listed. In 1993
the TDF’s fighting forces comprised 1 800 to 2 100 people, and consisted
of:

• A light infantry battalion, estimated at around 1 000 people
• A special forces regiment, 300-500 strong
• A mounted battalion, 500 strong
• Military police, 100 strong

In addition, the TDF was equipped with an infantry school, an air wing, a
signals unit, and a maintenance unit. Most of the TDF’s equipment was of
the light infantry type, including rifles, light machine guns, mortars, and
mine-protected vehicles. The 1993/94 budget for the TDF was R165.5m
(then US$ 50m).70 After 1994, according to Holomisa “[A]ll the equipment
of the TDF was handed over to the SANDF… Nothing went missing.”71
SANDF records show that the TDF handed over 3 300 firearms to the
SANDF after integration.

Holomisa's statement is patently untrue as this chart from the same paper shows; it also gives an idea of what equipment the TDF had. Machine guns "PPK" and "SPS" must be typos- I can only think the former is actually PKM, the latter I have no idea:

Table 6.14: Firearms known by the SANDF to have been held by the
TDF and not integrated into SANDF holdings, 1998

Type of firearm Number of firearms
not returned
Pistol CZ-75 9mm 30
Pistol Star 9mm 21
Pistol Z88 9mm 55
Pistol Vzor 70 7.65mm 47
Revolver .38 52
Rifle R1 - 7.62mm 59
Rifle AK-47 - 7.62mm 15
Rifle R4 - 5.56mm 229
Rifle G3 7.62mm 142
Submachine gun 9mm 19
Machine Gun Mag 7.62mm 5
Machine Gun PPK 7.62mm 6
Machine Gun SPS 7.62mm 6
Grenade Launcher 40mm 6
Anti Riot 37mm 10
Mortar 60mm 12
Mortar 81mm 1
Total 715

10-28-2009, 01:07 AM	#1
andyjp Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Transkei Defense Forces equipment/weaponry known? After finding some Transkei camouflage for a pretty good price, I've started craving finishing off this whole kit. So far I've been able to find virtually nothing on the Transkei Defense Forces, with no info on the TDF's weaponry or gear. So, my questions are does anyone out there know 1. What service rifle was used by the TDF? 2. What standard gear was used by the TDF? I'd thought about having a FAL or R4 with it and a SADF M83 vest, but I'd really like to get this as accurate as possible and not be using gear that wouldn't have been used. Any pictures or other info would also be quite appreciated. Thanks! -Andy

10-29-2009, 04:40 PM	#3
korvinag Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LIVE NOW, PAY LATER Posts: 1,028	Hi there, i'd advise ask about it here, @ this thread: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...d.php?t=134312 cheers!

11-01-2009, 05:19 AM	#4
Skukuza Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 159	I thought they used the R4 just like the SADF.

11-10-2009, 04:57 PM	#5
andyjp Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Thanks Vor! I really appreciate that. Might just have to pick myself up a copy of the book. Might help with other Africa kits.

11-14-2009, 07:05 AM	#6
baboon6 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 1,491	Some information on the TDF from a paper on small arms proliferation in Southern Africa: http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/books/hide...outhAfrica.pdf The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was formed in 1975, and Transkei gained independence in 1976. With independence came an SADF officer corps, with arms and equipment from an SADF infantry company. From 1978 to 1981, SADF officers were forced to leave the TDF during a break in relations between Chief Kaizer Matanzima’s Transkei government and the South African government. Thereafter the officers returned. The TDF was given additional equipment from the SADF, including firearms, after the restoration of relations. In a coup d’état in 1987, the TDF took over Transkei under the leadership of Major General Bantu Holomisa. Once more, the SADF officers left. Holomisa retained political control until South Africa’s democratic elections in 1994. In 1993, the TDF was estimated to be between 3 500 and 4 000 strong, with another 3 300 paramilitary and reserve forces listed. In 1993 the TDF’s fighting forces comprised 1 800 to 2 100 people, and consisted of: • A light infantry battalion, estimated at around 1 000 people • A special forces regiment, 300-500 strong • A mounted battalion, 500 strong • Military police, 100 strong In addition, the TDF was equipped with an infantry school, an air wing, a signals unit, and a maintenance unit. Most of the TDF’s equipment was of the light infantry type, including rifles, light machine guns, mortars, and mine-protected vehicles. The 1993/94 budget for the TDF was R165.5m (then US$ 50m).70 After 1994, according to Holomisa “[A]ll the equipment of the TDF was handed over to the SANDF… Nothing went missing.”71 SANDF records show that the TDF handed over 3 300 firearms to the SANDF after integration. Holomisa's statement is patently untrue as this chart from the same paper shows; it also gives an idea of what equipment the TDF had. Machine guns "PPK" and "SPS" must be typos- I can only think the former is actually PKM, the latter I have no idea: Table 6.14: Firearms known by the SANDF to have been held by the TDF and not integrated into SANDF holdings, 1998 Type of firearm Number of firearms not returned Pistol CZ-75 9mm 30 Pistol Star 9mm 21 Pistol Z88 9mm 55 Pistol Vzor 70 7.65mm 47 Revolver .38 52 Rifle R1 - 7.62mm 59 Rifle AK-47 - 7.62mm 15 Rifle R4 - 5.56mm 229 Rifle G3 7.62mm 142 Submachine gun 9mm 19 Machine Gun Mag 7.62mm 5 Machine Gun PPK 7.62mm 6 Machine Gun SPS 7.62mm 6 Grenade Launcher 40mm 6 Anti Riot 37mm 10 Mortar 60mm 12 Mortar 81mm 1 Total 715