Operation Dingo: Rhodesian Raid on Chimoio and Tembue, 1977 [Paperback]

This book is look at the innovation of one of the world's most renowned country, Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe); considered by most in their time to have been the best military at counter-insurgency warfare. In the American military Airmobile/Air Assault units are designed and trained for air insertion and vertical envelopment, a tactical maneuver in which troops, are generally air-landed into key positions to attack the rear and flanks of an enemy force, in effect cutting off or encircling the enemy force to decimate it. The Rhodesian Fireforce is a variant of the same tactic; a vertical envelopment of a target by helicopter-borne and parachute infantry, supported by close air support; this combined arms aerial Blitzkrieg was developed by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. Fireforce counter-insurgency missions were designed to trap and eliminate ZANLA and ZIPRA insurgents before they could flee by reacting to enemy ambushes, farm attacks, or Observation Post sightings, and could also be called in by trackers or patrols who made contact with the enemy and called for reinforcements. It was first deployed in January 1974, but would be made famous in the audacious raid in to Mozambique known as Operation Dingo in 1977.

This book covers this raid in minute detail coving every aspect from all the involved personalities, the units, planning, execution, results, lessons learned, complete timelines and the ultimate consequences of the operation. This book is lavishly illustrated with excellent maps, graphics and line drawings, as well as load of black & white photography, some very graphic. The format of the book reminds kind of the Osprey line of books but with a whole lot more detail. The book is also physically larger at approximately 13.5"x 10.5" which is not a standard size print, but it works well with the format. This book is also volume one of the "africa@war" series, a four volume set that will include;

Volume 2 - FRANCE IN CENTRAFRIQUE: From Bokassa and Operation Barracude to the Days of EUFOR (Africa@War)

Volume 3 - BATTLE FOR CASSINGA: South Africa's Controversial Cross-Border Raid, Angola 1978 (Africa@War)

Volume 4 - SELOUS SCOUTS: Rhodesian Counter-Insurgency Specialists (Africa@War)

All I can say is this current volume is excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in irregular warfare and military history.

This book is NOT a magazine, contrary to another reviewer's narrow-minded comments. The author packs in a huge amount of info into the 72 pages, covering two landmark ops in detail. What I liked was the broad coverage - besides tactics and a narrative of the ops, the political context, specialist equipment etc are all featured. Particularly useful are the colour maps, showing clearly the various stages of each operation - a factor missing in too many military books. If you are looking for a good concise narrative that will tell you a high degree of info regarding these ops, then this is a good start, and can be used to then build on via additional reading.

Excellent account of how a the Rhodesian Security Forces brought down an army ten times larger and more powerfull armed.

A must read, this small in size book is packed with everything and anything you would need to know about Operation Dingo a must read and a must buy!