africaken:
uganda soldiers in central africa hunting Kony

Lovely photo. Let's hope they've updated their EW tactics: back in 2007 a Ugandan SF patrol under-estimated the enemy and used their mobiles to communicate. The LRA fvckers used EW to track the signals, ambushed and killed 8 of them.

On the plus side, I read a SOCOM paper enumerating the number of ways the embedded US SF were being schooled by the Ugandans on operating in the bush.

Henry240:
#Nigeria COIN #War on Terror # Nigeria CTCOIN #REVA MRAPs #IED




Many people do not realize this, but the campaign in the N.E is one of the world's worst for IEDs and VBIEDs. IEDs present a clear and imminent threat for troops engaging terrorists in that region.

More strength to the men of the NA. Glad to see the REVA APCs are performing to spec, from the pics I've seen at least. My worry is that the BH fvckers will learn and adapt. Perhaps it's time the NA looked at these and other similar:

frumentius:


There Henry, fixed it for you:

Pic 1: FIB - Tanzanian Special Forces + Malawian Battalion soldier (in blue helmet) in a South African Mamba APC;

Pics 2 & 3: FIB - Tanzanian Battalion soldiers (an aside: Tanzo soldiers and their SF are equipped almost the same, except their SF doesn't wear UN blue; I always laugh when I see pics online labelled FIB + SF with UN blue);

Pic 4: Malawian OTT Puma M26 APC; they have about 10 of these in the DRC. They were rumoured to receive the latest M36 variant before the new govt cancelled the deal.

-I'm sure you served with them in the eastern-DRC, how was working with them, your experience in general?


-Terrain, it sure looks like the roads in your AOR doesn't look paved or motorable, how did the terrain affect your operations?

-you mean all the Tanzanian troops deployed were equipped with the Galil ACE, SF or not?

jln115:

Wonder if the deployment will consist out of the AUs African standby force (ASF) ?

Doesn't work like that, unfortunately. This is the major problem with how the AU Force was conceived, 10 plus years ago:

1) There's the ASF which is composed of 5 Regional Brigades (SADC, EAC, ECCAC, ECOWAS & Maghreb) which can only intervene <u>within</u> their own region; at the moment, only SADC and the EAC Brigades are deployment ready; the EAC which is the only Brigade which can go into Burundi is hamstrung because the regional politicians are divided and support various factions in Burundi. An other regional Brigade can only go in on invitation of the Regional body;

2) The Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) can be deployed from AU HQ to stabilise the situation until a Regional Force is ready; the RDC is also not ready, which is why SA and a few others created ACIRC, which is a "coalition of the willing"of sorts until RDC is ready.

Theoretically, the AU in Addis can call for ACIRC to be deployed. This presents a number of problems:
1) Seeing SA has been funding ACIRC to be raised and on stand-by, who pays for the deployment?
2) Say ACIRC goes in and stabilises the situation, can the divided region commit the force to relieve them?

This illuminates the fault at the conceptual underpinnings of the ASF: the assumption that if one country within a region went rogue, the others would rally and set things to right. Sure, it has worked in SADC with everyone united on sorting out Lesotho, but demonstrably it's not working in Burundi where Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya are working at cross-purposes based on their own perceived self-interest. Hell, Nkurunziza has even managed to check the UN by threatening to pull his troops out of Somalia should the UN fund any deployment in his country.

In conclusion, a lot of moving variables which have curtailed my bike trip from Durban to Dar es Salaam !

frumentius:


More strength to the men of the NA. Glad to see the REVA APCs are performing to spec, from the pics I've seen at least. My worry is that the BH fvckers will learn and adapt. Perhaps it's time the NA looked at these and other similar:

From the pics shared, that's as close anyone from the outside can get an idea of the operations. Relevant authorities only release little in-terms of visuals.


The Revas are performing creditably well, the photos shared proves this. In my opinion, Nigeria needs to ramp up MRAP purchases first. Nigeria has only managed to procure an estimated 330+ Armoured personnel carriers. Of this estimated number, only 200+ are proper MRAPs, the others been LAVs ( Igirigi, Streit Spartan & Warrior, and Inkas).

The numbers are still small when compared to the size of the military carrying out OPs in the N.E theater.


IED disposal robots can be used to deal with bomb threats. Cheaper and can be made or bought in considerable numbers, while more investment be made in acquiring more MRAPs.

Henry240:
SAAF

Do SAAF have a media wing? Their photos are da.m.n too good

frumentius:


Doesn't work like that, unfortunately. This is the major problem with how the AU Force was conceived, 10 plus years ago:

1) There's the ASF which is composed of 5 Regional Brigades (SADC, EAC, ECCAC, ECOWAS & Maghreb) which can only intervene <u>within</u> their own region; at the moment, only SADC and the EAC Brigades are deployment ready; the EAC which is the only Brigade which can go into Burundi is hamstrung because the regional politicians are divided and support various factions in Burundi. An other regional Brigade can only go in on invitation of the Regional body;

2) The Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) can be deployed from AU HQ to stabilise the situation until a Regional Force is ready; the RDC is also not ready, which is why SA and a few others created ACIRC, which is a "coalition of the willing"of sorts until RDC is ready.

Theoretically, the AU in Addis can call for ACIRC to be deployed. This presents a number of problems:
1) Seeing SA has been funding ACIRC to be raised and on stand-by, who pays for the deployment?
2) Say ACIRC goes in and stabilises the situation, can the divided region commit the force to relieve them?

This illuminates the fault at the conceptual underpinnings of the ASF: the assumption that if one country within a region went rogue, the others would rally and set things to right. Sure, it has worked in SADC with everyone united on sorting out Lesotho, but demonstrably it's not working in Burundi where Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya are working at cross-purposes based on their own perceived self-interest. Hell, Nkurunziza has even managed to check the UN by threatening to pull his troops out of Somalia should the UN fund any deployment in his country.

In conclusion, a lot of moving variables which have curtailed my bike trip from Durban to Dar es Salaam !

Wow!! So the exercises done at Amani Africa which were specifically designed for exactly this situation was basically done for nothing!!

Man, I was actually looking forward to what the AFS was capable of!

Anyway, should've expected it, after all TIA(This is Africa).

stillchris:


i don't think AU will deploy without permissiin from burundian government.

unless there's evidence of genocide and the UNSC gives the go ahead

I think they were given 96 hours to comply or be invaded or something like that *Laughing emoji* the Force should just be prepared to engage with forces loyal to the sitting President

jln115:

Wonder if the deployment will consist out of the AUs African standby force (ASF) ?

Hmmmm but Burundi is part of the ASF no?
So if the were to deploy...this might sound a bit vague burnt worry is that Burundians will use the tactics they learned at AMANI to counter to ASF

gottfried21:

Hmmmm but Burundi is part of the ASF no?
So if the were to deploy...this might sound a bit vague burnt worry is that Burundians will use the tactics they learned at AMANI to counter to ASF

Well it all depends on the amount of troops they sent to Amani , which I personally believe wasn't anything significan. But yes it is definitely a possible threat, that they could use the training received at Amani against the ASF, the SANDF face a similar threat in the DRC were they train government troops.

africaken:
Bomb Found Aboard Air France Flight - Kenya Airport Officials



http://sputniknews.com/world/20151220/1032048952/bomb-air-france.html

false alarm ,it was fake as stated by air france CEO

jln115:

Well it all depends on the amount of troops they sent to Amani , which I personally believe wasn't anything significan. But yes it is definitely a possible threat, that they could use the training received at Amani against the ASF, the SANDF face a similar threat in the DRC were they train government troops.

Those Burundians are no joke I tell you back in Congo they targeted Namibian Y-12 transports with SAMs and AA guns forcing the Namibians on the ground to miss out on a week's worth of rations and shoot gorillas instead

Henry240:


-I'm sure you served with them in the eastern-DRC, how was working with them, your experience in general?


-Terrain, it sure looks like the roads in your AOR doesn't look paved or motorable, how did the terrain affect your operations?

-you mean all the Tanzanian troops deployed were equipped with the Galil ACE, SF or not?

1) Both the Tanzos and Malawians were professional, well-trained, disciplined soldiers! As both countries are members of SADC and send officers to SA for advanced courses, integrating SOPs wasn't as hard as one would expect. Though there were problems:

a) Tanzo Eastern-block artillery with the D-30 system was limited in terms of efficiency. The Denel M8 81 mm Long Range Mortar was more effectively brought into play from Forward OPs for 2 reasons :-
i) Digital targeting system;
ii) Real-time data links.

b) SA mortar doctrine calls for both offensive and defensive uses; the FIB 4IC was a Canadian who thought mortars were at best defensive weapons and at worst, obsolete; needless to say, he was converted and I suspect will forever proselytise.

c) Malawian Batt had an entire Company who could have walked into any SF unit in the world. I've never seen so many Tower of Power badges on any individual company and yet, because their military has no SF, they were relegated to "elite infantry company". [this has changed, I'm told, with that same Company forming the 1st nascent SF unit in the Malawian military in the latest SADC SF Exercise in Zimbabwe; pics attached of that MALBATT Co.]

2) Terrain? Go back to my pics! The east of the DRC is volcanic hills, jungle and lake-bound flat ground upon which nestle the tropical cities. The last dictator, Mobutu, deliberately didn't build rail or road links to impede mobility lest he be overthrown! I personally know of an instance when guys from 6SAI in 35 vehicles drove 10 hours, and then walked 8 hours, to a target 70km away!

3) As for the TanzoBATT, when I was in DRC, their BATT consisted of 800 pax, in a ratio of 1:4 for fighting vs support infantry. This excludes about 30 SF and artillery whose number I never did determine. Most optimistically, they could always deploy 160-180 fighting men.
At those numbers, it makes sense they are so well equipped.

jln115:

Wow!! So the exercises done at Amani Africa which were specifically designed for exactly this situation was basically done for nothing!!

Man, I was actually looking forward to what the AFS was capable of!

Anyway, should've expected it, after all TIA(This is Africa).

Amani Africa II was a worthwhile exercise. For example, it revealed what some of us have always known: only SADC and EAC can undertake a regional operation at brigade level.

The problem remains at AU level: who can they mobilise to intervene on the continent? This is not a military problem, but a problem of politics.
Again I repeat, if the EAC cannot unanimously agree to invite other regions to send forces into Burundi, the AU can kvetch and moan all they want, nothing will be done.

gottfried21:

Those Burundians are no joke I tell you back in Congo they targeted Namibian Y-12 transports with SAMs and AA guns forcing the Namibians on the ground to miss out on a week's worth of rations and shoot gorillas instead

All due respect, the Burundian military has largely remained non-partisan with the nonsense going on in that country. What Nkurunziza has done is deploy sections that he couldn't trust to oppose his authoritarianism to Somalia, Mali and CAR. All the reports I've seen indicate the military has stayed out of this latest crisis. Which would mean now's the time for the AU to break its own rules, ignore the divided Regional body and deploy there. Hopefully with the support of the Burundian Army. SA did it before, and now it can be done with far more legitimacy if the AU Peace and Security Council finds its gonads.

Some humour in these uncertain times: Taliban Special Forces!
What, no more spray and pray?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35123748

africaken:
false alarm ,it was fake as stated by air france CEO

this is looking like another stupid kenyan moment .the kenyan airport authority officials were claiming it was a real bomb,then hour later its being confirmed by air france CEO ,it was a fake bomb.we have the interior ministry,the police,kenya airport authority but we had to be confirmed by the CEO of air france that this was hoax hours later

this was the report released immediately by kenya airport authority before it was deleted

frumentius:


All due respect, the Burundian military has largely remained non-partisan with the nonsense going on in that country. What Nkurunziza has done is deploy sections that he couldn't trust to oppose his authoritarianism to Somalia, Mali and CAR. All the reports I've seen indicate the military has stayed out of this latest crisis. Which would mean now's the time for the AU to break its own rules, ignore the divided Regional body and deploy there. Hopefully with the support of the Burundian Army. SA did it before, and now it can be done with far more legitimacy if the AU Peace and Security Council finds its gonads.

museveni did intervene in south sudan successful,i expected tanzania to have intervene.it seems non of the regional want to due to cost,politics,militarily incapable or still involve in regional or domestic issues.anyone who wants to intervene has to intimidate the Burundians by show of force

#Nigeria COIN #Nigerian Airforce #War on Terror

frumentius:
Some humour in these uncertain times: Taliban Special Forces!
What, no more spray and pray?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35123748

the tactics used in counter terrorism have being used by terror organisation to carry out terror attacks e.g CQB,sniping and counter sniping ,breaching fortifications when attacking secure locations e.g embassies,military installations

frumentius:
Some humour in these uncertain times: Taliban Special Forces!
What, no more spray and pray?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35123748

Apart from the humor, most terror organisation employ Special forces tactics. What we all term as guerrilla tactics.

africaken:
this is looking like another stupid kenyan moment .the kenyan airport authority officials were claiming it was a real bomb,then hour later its being confirmed by air france CEO ,it was a fake bomb.we have the interior ministry,the police,kenya airport authority but we had to be confirmed by the CEO of air france that this was hoax hours later

this was the report released immediately by kenya airport authority before it was deleted

LOL........ Incompetence at it's height.

frumentius:


1) Both the Tanzos and Malawians were professional, well-trained, disciplined soldiers! As both countries are members of SADC and send officers to SA for advanced courses, integrating SOPs wasn't as hard as one would expect. Though there were problems:

a) Tanzo Eastern-block artillery with the D-30 system was limited in terms of efficiency. The Denel M8 81 mm Long Range Mortar was more effectively brought into play from Forward OPs for 2 reasons :-
i) Digital targeting system;
ii) Real-time data links.

b) SA mortar doctrine calls for both offensive and defensive uses; the FIB 4IC was a Canadian who thought mortars were at best defensive weapons and at worst, obsolete; needless to say, he was converted and I suspect will forever proselytise.

c) Malawian Batt had an entire Company who could have walked into any SF unit in the world. I've never seen so many Tower of Power badges on any individual company and yet, because their military has no SF, they were relegated to "elite infantry company". [this has changed, I'm told, with that same Company forming the 1st nascent SF unit in the Malawian military in the latest SADC SF Exercise in Zimbabwe; pics attached of that MALBATT Co.]

2) Terrain? Go back to my pics! The east of the DRC is volcanic hills, jungle and lake-bound flat ground upon which nestle the tropical cities. The last dictator, Mobutu, deliberately didn't build rail or road links to impede mobility lest he be overthrown! I personally know of an instance when guys from 6SAI in 35 vehicles drove 10 hours, and then walked 8 hours, to a target 70km away!

3) As for the TanzoBATT, when I was in DRC, their BATT consisted of 800 pax, in a ratio of 1:4 for fighting vs support infantry. This excludes about 30 SF and artillery whose number I never did determine. Most optimistically, they could always deploy 160-180 fighting men.
At those numbers, it makes sense they are so well equipped.

The SANDF at some time wanted to replace the 81 with the longer range and newer 60.

gottfried21:

Those Burundians are no joke I tell you back in Congo they targeted Namibian Y-12 transports with SAMs and AA guns forcing the Namibians on the ground to miss out on a week's worth of rations and shoot gorillas instead

They don't have resources to battle any of the ready standby forces.

The majority of the military wouldn't be willing to fight.

Did you know: No SAAF aircraft "protected" by special paint was downed during the conflict in Angola?

africaken:
museveni did intervene in south sudan successful,i expected tanzania to have intervene.it seems non of the regional want to due to cost,politics,militarily incapable or still involve in regional or domestic issues.anyone who wants to intervene has to intimidate the Burundians by show of force

I can't really call the South Sudan intervention successful.

It would be a huge mistake for Tanzania to go at it alone, "military specialists and advisors" would poor into Burundi from some country. To deliver a strike a it's president once threatened against TZ.

gottfried21:

Those Burundians are no joke I tell you back in Congo they targeted Namibian Y-12 transports with SAMs and AA guns forcing the Namibians on the ground to miss out on a week's worth of rations and shoot gorillas instead

Do u have more details on the sort of mission the two Namibian choppers were on in the DRC when they had their mid air collision?

Any pics of the Namibian contingent in the DRC?

ViceAdmiral:


Do u have more details on the sort of mission the two Namibian choppers were on in the DRC when they had their mid air collision?

Any pics of the Namibian contingent in the DRC?

Honestly I have no clue
I suggest you contact NBC and One Africa to ask them whether they can provide you with some DRC footage...I've tried it before it works
Other than that...this is the only picture I have

gottfried21:

Honestly I have no clue
I suggest you contact NBC and One Africa to ask them whether they can provide you with some DRC footage...I've tried it before it works
Other than that...this is the only picture I have

Wouldn't u like to share with us the footage here

ViceAdmiral:


Wouldn't u like to share with us the footage here

This was a while back hey I can ask them again if you'd like

gottfried21:

This was a while back hey I can ask them again if you'd like

Please do and be sure to share them here

frumentius:


1) Both the Tanzos and Malawians were professional, well-trained, disciplined soldiers! As both countries are members of SADC and send officers to SA for advanced courses, integrating SOPs wasn't as hard as one would expect. Though there were problems:

a) Tanzo Eastern-block artillery with the D-30 system was limited in terms of efficiency. The Denel M8 81 mm Long Range Mortar was more effectively brought into play from Forward OPs for 2 reasons :-
i) Digital targeting system;
ii) Real-time data links.

b) SA mortar doctrine calls for both offensive and defensive uses; the FIB 4IC was a Canadian who thought mortars were at best defensive weapons and at worst, obsolete; needless to say, he was converted and I suspect will forever proselytise.

c) Malawian Batt had an entire Company who could have walked into any SF unit in the world. I've never seen so many Tower of Power badges on any individual company and yet, because their military has no SF, they were relegated to "elite infantry company". [this has changed, I'm told, with that same Company forming the 1st nascent SF unit in the Malawian military in the latest SADC SF Exercise in Zimbabwe; pics attached of that MALBATT Co.]

2) Terrain? Go back to my pics! The east of the DRC is volcanic hills, jungle and lake-bound flat ground upon which nestle the tropical cities. The last dictator, Mobutu, deliberately didn't build rail or road links to impede mobility lest he be overthrown! I personally know of an instance when guys from 6SAI in 35 vehicles drove 10 hours, and then walked 8 hours, to a target 70km away!

3) As for the TanzoBATT, when I was in DRC, their BATT consisted of 800 pax, in a ratio of 1:4 for fighting vs support infantry. This excludes about 30 SF and artillery whose number I never did determine. Most optimistically, they could always deploy 160-180 fighting men.
At those numbers, it makes sense they are so well equipped.

I have always wondered why the d-30 was deployed and we didnt provide the g5s

Logistics shouldent have been an issue since we had plenty of time for the build up

The only real advantage the d has over the g is that its light enough to be moved under an orgx... but surely the range on the g compensates for that?

Also, 122mm < 155mm

MikeCZAR:
The SANDF at some time wanted to replace the 81 with the longer range and newer 60.

The debate continues Mike, trust me. Personally I'd remove all 120s from dismounted infantry for the 60 and 81.