Operation Uric
Encyclopedia
Operation Uric was a military operation by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War
. During the operation, which took place from September 1 to September 7, 1979, up to 400 Zimbabwe Rhodesia
n soldiers and a small number of SADF personnel attacked bridges and a major combined Frelimo and Zanla command center in Gaza Province
, Mozambique
. Along with Operation Miracle this was one of the largest external operations of the war.
(or Second Chimurenga
) the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) had to deal with an increasing flow of externally trained insurgents coming into Rhodesia, latterly Zimbabwe Rhodesia
, from its neighboring countries, especially from Zambia
and Mozambique, the latter in particular after its independence in 1975.
The objectives of Operation Uric were to attack the ZANLA forces in their command and training center before they could enter Zimbabwe Rhodesia and to cut off supply routes into the Gaza Province
of Mozambique. It was also hoped that the destruction of communication and railway lines, roads and bridges as far as 200 miles into Mozambique would have an impact on the economic situation and the morale of those who supported Zanla and Robert Mugabe
.
Targets were the bridges at Aldeia Da Barragem along with a vital irrigation canal feeding a major agricultural area in Mozambique. Air strikes were planned on Frelimo installations in Mapai
and Maxaila in order to demoralise the occupants. Afterwards the base at Mapai should be taken and destroyed by Zimbabwe Rhodesian ground forces.
. Helicopters were at Chipinda Pools airstrip within Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Due to bad weather conditions the attack began on September 5. Rhodesian SAS troops where airlifted to Aldeia De Barragem and four other targets to destroy bridges and infrastructure. Hawker Hunter
jets and Cessna Lynx
aircraft bombed the area and provided air support. During evacuation of a wounded soldier one AB-205A helicopter was shot down by a RPG-7
with the technician killed on impact. The Pilot Flt Lt
Dick Paxton was rescued by the SAS.
On September 6 the Army Base at Mapai was bombarded by Hawker Hunter
s destroying the command centre and the main radar station. Afterwards the Zimbabwe Rhodesian troops were transported by helicopter to attack positions near the base. During transport operations one South African Puma helicopter was hit by an RPG-7 killing all 14 Zimbabwe Rhodesian commandos and the South African pilots on board. The highest loss of life for the Rhodesian Security Forces in a single incident during the war. The crash site was later bombed in an attempt to cover the South African markings on the Puma helicopter.
The Mapai base was fortified by interconnecting zig-zag trenches which provided good cover for the defenders. Heavy fighting took place between the Rhodesian Army and FPLM
soldiers. Mapai was repeadly bombarded by Hunter jets and Canberra
bombers. Shortly before sundown decision was taken to withdraw by the Supreme Commander of the Rhodesian Army General Walls
.
n advisors. Zimbabwe Rhodesian soldiers were exceptionally well trained and motivated, but international sanctions and isolation lead to increased problems in replacing aircraft, arms and ammunition.
Politically the operation lead to Samora Machel
putting pressure on Robert Mugabe
to take part in the Lancaster House peace talks. He wanted to prevent Mozambique from being dragged further into the war with Zimbabwe Rhodesia, which already had negative effects on its economy.
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
. During the operation, which took place from September 1 to September 7, 1979, up to 400 Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 12 December 1979...
n soldiers and a small number of SADF personnel attacked bridges and a major combined Frelimo and Zanla command center in Gaza Province
Gaza Province
Gaza is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 75,709 km² and a population of 1,333,106 .Xai-Xai is the capital of the province. Inhambane Province is to the east, Manica Province to the north, Maputo Province to the south, South Africa to the west, and Zimbabwe to the...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Along with Operation Miracle this was one of the largest external operations of the war.
Targets
During the Rhodesian Bush WarRhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
(or Second Chimurenga
Chimurenga
Chimurenga is a Shona word for 'revolutionary struggle'. The word's modern interpretation has been extended to describe a struggle for human rights, political dignity and social justice, specifically used for the African insurrections against British colonial rule 1896–1897 and the guerrilla war...
) the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) had to deal with an increasing flow of externally trained insurgents coming into Rhodesia, latterly Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 12 December 1979...
, from its neighboring countries, especially from Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and Mozambique, the latter in particular after its independence in 1975.
The objectives of Operation Uric were to attack the ZANLA forces in their command and training center before they could enter Zimbabwe Rhodesia and to cut off supply routes into the Gaza Province
Gaza Province
Gaza is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 75,709 km² and a population of 1,333,106 .Xai-Xai is the capital of the province. Inhambane Province is to the east, Manica Province to the north, Maputo Province to the south, South Africa to the west, and Zimbabwe to the...
of Mozambique. It was also hoped that the destruction of communication and railway lines, roads and bridges as far as 200 miles into Mozambique would have an impact on the economic situation and the morale of those who supported Zanla and Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
.
Targets were the bridges at Aldeia Da Barragem along with a vital irrigation canal feeding a major agricultural area in Mozambique. Air strikes were planned on Frelimo installations in Mapai
Mapai, Mozambique
- History :In June 1976 a Selous Scouts attack from Rhodesia named Operation Long John was launched on the ZANLA transit camp in Mapai and Chicualacuala...
and Maxaila in order to demoralise the occupants. Afterwards the base at Mapai should be taken and destroyed by Zimbabwe Rhodesian ground forces.
Attack
Prior to the attack 200 Zimbabwe Rhodesian troops had been deployed into an area 100 miles inside of Mozambique east-southeast of ChigubuChigubo District
Chigubo District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. It has a population of 20,685 .-Further reading:*...
. Helicopters were at Chipinda Pools airstrip within Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Due to bad weather conditions the attack began on September 5. Rhodesian SAS troops where airlifted to Aldeia De Barragem and four other targets to destroy bridges and infrastructure. Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
jets and Cessna Lynx
Cessna Skymaster
The Cessna Skymaster is a United States twin-engine civil utility aircraft built in a push-pull configuration. Its engines are mounted in the nose and rear of its pod-style fuselage. Twin booms extend aft of the wings to the vertical stabilizers, with the rear engine between them. The horizontal...
aircraft bombed the area and provided air support. During evacuation of a wounded soldier one AB-205A helicopter was shot down by a RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
with the technician killed on impact. The Pilot Flt Lt
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Dick Paxton was rescued by the SAS.
On September 6 the Army Base at Mapai was bombarded by Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
s destroying the command centre and the main radar station. Afterwards the Zimbabwe Rhodesian troops were transported by helicopter to attack positions near the base. During transport operations one South African Puma helicopter was hit by an RPG-7 killing all 14 Zimbabwe Rhodesian commandos and the South African pilots on board. The highest loss of life for the Rhodesian Security Forces in a single incident during the war. The crash site was later bombed in an attempt to cover the South African markings on the Puma helicopter.
The Mapai base was fortified by interconnecting zig-zag trenches which provided good cover for the defenders. Heavy fighting took place between the Rhodesian Army and FPLM
Military of Mozambique
The Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique or FADM were formed in mid August 1994 from the previous warring factions of the Mozambique Civil War, which ended in 1992...
soldiers. Mapai was repeadly bombarded by Hunter jets and Canberra
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
bombers. Shortly before sundown decision was taken to withdraw by the Supreme Commander of the Rhodesian Army General Walls
Peter Walls
Lieutenant General George Peter Walls MBE GLM served as the Commander of the Combined Operations Headquarters of the Military of Rhodesia, and later Zimbabwe, from 1977 until his retirement on 29 July 1980 during the Rhodesian Bush War...
.
Aftermath
The battle resulted in over 300 dead Zanla and Frelimo soldiers and a number of damaged bridges, buildings and infrastructure. Zimbabwe Rhodesian casulties were 15. Despite the achieved kill-ratio of over 20:1 the operation was not regarded as a success by the Zimbabwe Rhodesian military. It became obvious that the Rhodesian Security Forces would soon become technologically inferior to their enemies, which by the time was well equiped and trained by their RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n advisors. Zimbabwe Rhodesian soldiers were exceptionally well trained and motivated, but international sanctions and isolation lead to increased problems in replacing aircraft, arms and ammunition.
Politically the operation lead to Samora Machel
Samora Machel
Samora Moisés Machel was a Mozambican military commander, revolutionary socialist leader and eventual President of Mozambique...
putting pressure on Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
to take part in the Lancaster House peace talks. He wanted to prevent Mozambique from being dragged further into the war with Zimbabwe Rhodesia, which already had negative effects on its economy.