frumentius:


Yes, slink away you cowardly liar.

Great.

Take up whatever issues you have with your reporter. You don't like it, that's your problem, not mine.

Nigerian navy SBS training

Nigerian Navy SBS, deep-water indoor training

@GreenandGold I'm sorry. Can't resist. Will only post a few. How long has that page been up?

...

Hrmnn:


I'm not sure if one foreign battalion would be sufficient to seize Harare, but Zimbabwe's military is a shadow of its former self.

Despite its former legacy of great professional competence and, despite having produced some truly elite units, the ZDF is nowhere near as formidable as it was during the Second Congo War.

There are several reasons for this.

1) Most of Zimbabwe's heavy equipment and tanks are unserviceable.*

Less than 10 of the famous Cascavel armoured cars mentioned in that article are serviceable. This is because the ZDF bought 90 of them, which gave them a maintenance budget they could not sustain on their own without foreign financial aid. They should've bought less actual vehicles and budgeted more for spare parts. The result is when the IMF and World Bank learned that the ZDF was taking development aid intended for development purposes and using it to buy Cascavel parts, they cut it off. So all the Cascavels became unserviceable due to no funding to buy the parts. The parts for tanks like the T-55/Type 59 are even more expensive so it was only a matter of time before they ran out of money to pay for those too.

You also have to understand that after the Congo War ended foreign exchange levels in Zimbabwe were critically low at a time when it was badly needed to replace wartime losses of preexisting equipment.

2) Very poor morale.

It's a sad fact of life that the ZDF loses entire battalions to desertion. No other modern African military that I know of has lost literally multiple battalion-sized units because all of the personnel decided to go AWOL.** The reasons are the soldiers are being very badly treated by the Zim government, they aren't paid enough to support their families and the government doesn't even pay what little they do get on time because it is bankrupt.

The last time the government defaulted on salary payments that I'm aware of was in 2016. The soldiers stood in line all day to draw their pay then nearly rioted when the bank told them there was no money to pay them with.

How the soldiers get fed also varies from unit to unit. In some army battalions the only food at the canteen is the salt in the salt shakers. The men are not issued rations because the government ministry tasked with importing them cannot afford the revenue dues(!) So out of desperation, they are trying to grow their own food but of course this is not enough to feed the whole unit. So more soldiers desert because they have nothing to eat.***

3) The force has become increasingly politicised since 2000. I think this sort of speaks for itself. The junior officers in the ZDF are the most badly affected by this, as it means they get passed over for promotion by people connected to ZANU-PF. During election year in Zimbabwe the rate of desertion always spikes, supposedly because the soldiers do not appreciate being used by ZANU-PF during the election cycle for political purposes.

Now, all this being said I would still say the ZDF was and still is one of the most promising fighting forces in the SADC region, after Angola's FAA and the SANDF. But its rate of decline in the past twenty years has been unprecedented. It badly needs reform and that is the fault of the politicians and securiocrats in Harare who have ignored making the ZDF a priority since the Congo war.

Forgive me for dwelling on the negative, I know one of the purposes of this thread is to focus on the positive aspects of many African armies rather than what we all know to be wrong with them. However this does need to be said. Hopefully military reforms in Zim come sooner than later, I know most of the soldiers themselves would have nothing less.

*http://www.thezimbabwean.co/2011/07/zna-crippled-report-exposes-decay/

**I did not believe this figure either when I first read it. But friends I have in northern Limpopo assure me it's true. There are deserters from Zim coming in all the time wanting to do work for local security companies. https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/amphtml/2007/0425/p04s01-woaf.html

***http://nehandaradio.com/2014/03/27/looming-starvation-army-barracks/

All that's true,only a 'tard would deny. About a decade back,the ZAF asked the KAF for help reviving their grounded Hawks due to the sanctions. They actually offered to pay with diamonds from Marange! Not wanting hysterical int'l screeching from the BBC/CNN/CBS/PETA and the RSPCA the KAF declined.
My point is the arrogant assumptions in that predictive programming piece! Do you really think for a nanosecond Zimbos would be overjoyed to see their erstwhile coloniser who caused the whole land issue and subsequent poo to return? What kind of special needs would Zim security be to think SAS operators are S African big game hunters? How incompetent would they have to be to be sleeping on the job while their throats are slit?
The whole piece reminded me of the very real 2004 Guinea Bissau coup attempt. The coup leader was Simon Mann, but the brains (HAH!)was Dennis Thatcher,they often had dinner with his mum. The mofo breezed into official Zim arms manufacturers buying arms and the CIO put two and two together soon enough. Things would've gone very very badly for Dennis,dearest but Mum prevailed over some VIPs and he never even did a months time.
Speaking of Giunea bissau and coups,Frederick Forsyth,the Zionist propagandist was there in 2009 during the last coup attempt when the prez was hacked to pieces. I know you all think I'm a conspiracy theorist (btw,the word was invented by the CIA,no really!) so let me just say wow! WHAT A COINCIDENCE!

Henry240:


Yes, SAAF crashes are as a result of inadequate pilot training, technical incompetence and forced BEE quota system.

This is the 4 Nigerian A109 crash, 2 from the Navy and this is the 2nd one from the Air Force.

The crashes are not unusual, considering the thousands of sorties they carry out each year.

N/B, I never defended the A109.

This is what happens when you sleep and wake up in anger and frustration.

The FJs are not being delivered and the Su-30 story turned out to be a tooth fairy tale.

Please consult your health care practitioner, you should be in plenty of pain.

ssaengine:
@GreenandGold I'm sorry. Can't resist. Will only post a few. How long has that page been up?

I can tell you that page will have to rely on old pics shortly. Higher is scrambling to id the culprits. Apparently the pics from 4 Recce came from one source who's lucky that he's no longer active.

ssaengine:
@GreenandGold I'm sorry. Can't resist. Will only post a few. How long has that page been up?

I wouldn't know. Just came across is. You know me, I just love something fresh

frumentius:


I can tell you that page will have to rely on old pics shortly. Higher is scrambling to id the culprits. Apparently the pics from 4 Recce came from one source who's lucky that he's no longer active.

They're screwed. There's even video of operators firing rifles and the Browning on Hornet.


I guess I'll go back to posting my private security pictures

frumentius:


I can tell you that page will have to rely on old pics shortly. Higher is scrambling to id the culprits. Apparently the pics from 4 Recce came from one source who's lucky that he's no longer active.

I was going to say I highly doubt that page will be up for long. Since everyone has seen them.....might as well post the rest here rrrright?

GreenandGold:


They're screwed. There's even video of operators firing rifles and the Browning on Hornet.


I guess I'll go back to posting my private security pictures

First the Rooivalk video and now this. Thing is, Recces do film their training for analysis and review in AAR. Till this, they've been really good in not leaking anything out. In this day and age though, our media policy is in serious need of an update.
Me, I'll just post some approved pics from 4 Recce.

ssaengine:
@GreenandGold I'm sorry. Can't resist. Will only post a few. How long has that page been up?

Not long....when I started following about a week and a half ago it only had about 40 followers .....today I saw over a 150 followers, so I'm guessing the page can't be over 2 months old

jl115:

Not long....when I started following about a week and a half ago it only had about 40 followers .....today I saw over a 150 followers, so I'm guessing the page can't be over 2 months old

Yep. Hell, they've even got pics of the current Sniper Course.

frumentius:


Yep. Hell, they've even got pics of the current Sniper Course.

Yeah..........It's fvcking awesome!! But I'm guessing not so much for my non civilian counterparts!

Actually I have found a stash of the Recce pictures, their faces clearly showing but I'm not telling... I even have one dude driving a Hornet like he's going to check on his girlfriend

Some show their private lives outside camp. These guys have cool private lives.

GreenandGold:
Actually I have found a stash of the Recce pictures, their faces clearly showing but I'm not telling... I even have one dude driving a Hornet like he's going to check on his girlfriend

Some show their private lives outside camp. These guys have cool private lives.

It's not going to end well. The training pics can always be explained away cos there are sometimes civilian contractors in attendance. Not so easy with the DRC ops pics. Only someone from 5 took those. And if I can be reprimanded for harmless pics simply because they were taken in the AO, mission pics will be dealt with severely.

In other news, my long overdue Master's is almost ready for submission.

GreenandGold:
Actually I have found a stash of the Recce pictures, their faces clearly showing but I'm not telling... I even have one dude driving a Hornet like he's going to check on his girlfriend

Some show their private lives outside camp. These guys have cool private lives.

I'm sure those guys know the rules with regards to posting pictures............if it's posted on social media like FB, Instagram ect you are free to share it, and even show their faces, they wouldn't pose for a selfie if they weren't aloud to be photographed!!

Henry240:
**** it also seems the Nigerian Navy is interested in a Naval helicopter from Airbus helicopters. The Nigerian Navy might procure the Panther helicopter from France. This helicopter. I guess we would all wait and see.

Confirmed by Janes Defence

Paris Air Show 2-17: Nigerian Navy lining up Panther helicopters

The Nigerian Navy is in talks with Airbus Helicopters over the procurement of three AS565MBe Panther helicopters for shipborne operations, a company executive told Jane's during the Paris Air Show.

He said the excellent performance demonstrated by the US Coast Guard's (USCG's) fleet of AS365-based MH-65 Dolphin helicopters is one of the main reasons for the Nigerian interest in the helicopter. The Nigerian Navy operates two former USCG Hamilton class cutters as offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

The AS565MBe is the latest version in the Panther family and features several improvements over older models, including a full glass cockpit and more powerful SAFRAN HE Arriel 2N turbine engines.

http://www.janes.com/article/71837/paris-air-show-2-17-nigerian-navy-lining-up-panther-helicopters

My top pic for 2017....so far

random...

jl115:

I'm sure those guys know the rules with regards to posting pictures............if it's posted on social media like FB, Instagram ect you are free to share it, and even show their faces, they wouldn't pose for a selfie if they weren't aloud to be photographed!!

Recce training pics can only be released through official channels. On deployments they're supposed to take reasonable precautions when media is around. The problem comes of course when personal pics get out of the unit or are shared with civilians.
That said, I still think the SANDF needs enter the 21st century with the media policy.
For example, a pic of a Recce next to an Oryx in the DRC, with his face blacked out, should not get anybody in trouble.

You'll also have noticed I've refrained from posting any of the pics from that page. Saying, "But they were already online", would be no defence.

frumentius:


Recce training pics can only be released through official channels. On deployments they're supposed to take reasonable precautions when media is around. The problem comes of course when personal pics get out of the unit or are shared with civilians.
That said, I still think the SANDF needs enter the 21st century with the media policy.
For example, a pic of a Recce next to an Oryx in the DRC, with his face blacked out, should not get anybody in trouble.

You're right there... People are interested in seeing pics of special forces (and the rest of the military), that's why we're here.

I don't know where this media blackout thingy came from, the Border War has hundreds if not thousands of pictures taken. I get "new" ones on my Pinterest every week as if the war is ongoing.

jl115:

I'm sure those guys know the rules with regards to posting pictures............if it's posted on social media like FB, Instagram ect you are free to share it, and even show their faces, they wouldn't pose for a selfie if they weren't aloud to be photographed!!

I wouldn't want to risk their jobs. They could have posted on the reckless thought that the bosses don't even know what Instagram is. However, I am keeping for the pics for my own personal collection.

frumentius:


Recce training pics can only be released through official channels. On deployments they're supposed to take reasonable precautions when media is around. The problem comes of course when personal pics get out of the unit or are shared with civilians.
That said, I still think the SANDF needs enter the 21st century with the media policy.
For example, a pic of a Recce next to an Oryx in the DRC, with his face blacked out, should not get anybody in trouble.

You'll also have noticed I've refrained from posting any of the pics from that page. Saying, "But they were already online", would be no defence.

I guess that's more applicable to you than me.......since there's not much DOD can legally do to me for sharing Instagram photos!

GreenandGold:


I wouldn't want to risk their jobs. They could have posted on the reckless thought that the bosses don't even know what Instagram is. However, I am keeping for the pics for my own personal collection.

Photos of training or on deployment yes......photos of Recce posing for a photo at Huntex......not so much

jl115:

Photos of training or on deployment yes......photos of Recce posing for a photo at Huntex......not so much

OK OK

I'll post some of these... Recce private life.

ActivateKruger:



This is what happens when you sleep and wake up in anger and frustration.

The FJs are not being delivered and the Su-30 story turned out to be a tooth fairy tale.

Please consult your health care practitioner, you should be in plenty of pain.

To be honest, if there is anyone suffering from frustration here, it is you.

Funny, Henry240, doesn't even act like you exist. I have never for once even seen him respond to your posts.

Why do you even bother, it's truly pathetic.

Are you that desperate for his attention?

kabe1:


To be honest, if there is anyone suffering from frustration here, it is you.

Funny, Henry240, doesn't even act like you exist. I have never for once even seen him respond to your posts.

Why do you even bother, it's truly pathetic.

Are you that desperate for his attention?

Actually he does, it doesn't end well most of the times for him.... Once beaten, twice as shy.

GreenandGold:


OK OK

I'll post some of these... Recce private life.

Now that I see a bike, Frumentius when's your SADC explore tour coming?

ActivateKruger:



Actually he does, it doesn't end well most of the times for him.... Once beaten, twice as shy.

You're such a butt-hurt loser. I have not seen even one since i registered here.

However, if you want to go on clamouring for his d**k, good for you.

ActivateKruger:


Now that I see a bike, Frumentius when's your SADC explore tour coming?

Was supposed to be in December, but with the number of riders having increased from 3 to 5 and 2 egg-beaters rotating into the DRC, postponed to the 1st quarter of 2018.