The Saints - The Rhodesian Light Infantry (Hardcover)

We've seen the stories of the more `glamorous' Selous Scouts, the SAS and the Rhodesian Air Force, but very little about the RLI, often underrated, but arguably one of the most effective counter-insurgency units of all time. This was the unit that brought the `Fireforce' concept to the world's attention-the devastatingly ruthless airborne envelopment and annihilation of a guerrilla enemy. Dubbed "The Killing Machine" by Charles D. Melson, chief historian of the US Marine Corps, the RLI was a veritable `foreign legion' with over 20 diverse nationalities serving in her ranks. The RLI, a truly international airborne battalion, fought the bitter Zimbabwean `bush war' for 15 years, against the overwhelming tide of communist-trained guerrillas. Kill rates don't win wars, but during its brief 19-year history, it is estimated that the RLI accounted for between 12,000 and 15,000 enemy guerrillas, for the loss of 135 men. RLI soldiers were recipients of four Silver Crosses and 42 Bronze Crosses of Rhodesia. An RLI trooper holds the world record for operational parachute descents -a staggering 73 op jumps-most under 400 feet. The Saints is not intended as a definitive history but, with more of a classic `scrapbook' feel, the presentation attempts to capture the essence of this fine unit-what it was like to be a troopie, one of the `ouens'.

General

Imprint:	30 Degrees South Publishers
Country of origin:	South Africa
Release date:	June 2013
Dimensions:	260 x 215 x 31mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	544
ISBN-13:	978-1-920143-87-9
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > African history > General Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Land forces & warfare > General Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 Books > History > African history > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 Promotions
LSN:	1-920143-87-4
Barcode:	9781920143879

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!