First In, Last Out

by Wilsworth, Clive

• ISBN13: 9781920143404
• ISBN10: 1920143408
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-08-15
• Publisher: 30 Degrees South Pub Pty Ltd

Summary

This work covers all operations of the Border War in which the South African gunners took part, starting in early 1975 when a young second lieutenant was seconded to train UNITA troops in Angola on US 4.2-inch mortars'”through Operation Savannah, the first operation, to the last rounds that were fired in June 1988 against the Cuban 80th Division in southern Angola. During this period, the artillery grew from an under-strength troop of 17 men and two medium guns to an artillery brigade supporting a mechanized division. It is a story of heroism, of fear, of well-planned, successful operations and of losses to own forces by ill-timed and inaccurate fire. It tells the story of the 8,500 South African gunners who took part in operations during that time. Personal accounts are merged with historical fact organized in chronological order, highlighting the shortage of modern equipment and the efforts to combat a well-equipped, numerically superior enemy through innovation, application of the principles of war and sheer pluckiness.

Author Biography

Clive Wilsworth was called up for national service in 1969 to the School of Artillery, Potchefstroom, and then posted to 4th Field Regiment as an assistant op officer. After a six-year stint with the Natal Field Artillery and as a territorial captain with the Regiment Port Natal, he signed on as a regular with 14th Field Regiment, South African Artillery. From 1978 to 1988, as a battery commander and Intelligence Staff Officer, he saw action in several major operations during the Border War. He was involved in the development of new weapon systems, leading the first 127mm multiple-rocket launcher and G6 courses. His last posting was to Army HQ, Pretoria as Project Officer for the development of the Artillery Target Engagement System-the digitization of the artillery. He retired in 1994 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Clive is now a business consultant living in Johannesburg.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 4
Message from the sponsor	p. 5
Preface	p. 6
South African Artillery Units	p. 9
Other South African Units	p. 10
FAPLA Brigades	p. 10
Definitions	p. 11
A brief background to the build-up	p. 19
Some explanations: adding a little colour	p. 28
Operation Savannah: the-first shots	p. 42
Budgie, Bruilof, Seiljag and Reindeer (1976-1978)	p. 144
Ruacana and Katima Mulilo: fixed fire bases	p. 163
Operations Bowler and Sceptic: covering two borders	p. 183
Operations Protea and Daisy: longer reach	p. 193
Askari: near disaster	p. 220
Operations Wallpaper and Alpha Centauri: big results	p. 241
Moduler and Hooper: the big fights	p. 261
Packer, Hilti and Prone: last rounds	p. 340
A bigger punch: the development of new equipment	p. 368
Epilogue	p. 402
Select bibliography	p. 405
Index	p. 407
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