![]() During the 1970’s, they as well as the royal family lived in Rhodesia. The Albanian Royal Guard was a breakaway faction loyal to the Albanian royal family that had gone into exile starting in 1939. Koevoet images and captions above used by permission of Jim Hooper, author of Koevoet – Experiencing South Africa’s Deadly Bush War, a first-person account of a western journalist embedded within Koevoet. This photo was also printed in the article “The Accidental Target” on of November 1989 issue of Soldier of Fortune Magazine. Less than two hours later, five insurgents are dead but two members of Koevoet have lost legs from anti-armor rifle grenades. Sitting behind his turret with a GA-1 20mm gun and Browning 7.62mm, he is reporting that his trackers have found ten sets of fresh spoor crossing the Chandelier Road. WO Attie Hattingh, Zulu Uniform team leader wears the obsolete … camo jacket. July 1988, winter in Ovamboland, northern Namibia, where temperatures can drop below freezing at night. This does not appear to have been commonly done in the unit since they were only authorized to wear the SWAPOL pattern that became associated with them, the South African Police pattern, and, after March 1986, a solid green uniform. The images below were taken in July, 1988 and show Warrant Officer Attie Hattingh unofficially wearing a Rhodesian camouflage jacket. Part of picture printed in “Angolan Firefight” article he wrote in September 1987 issue of Solider of Fortune Magazine (page 76). Ken Gaudet in 1981 as part of 44 Patachute Brigade. “Unconventional” users included western-backed organizations like UNITA and RENAMO as well as their communist-backed opponents (ANC, MPLA, PAC). Some Rhodesian camouflage items were used after 1980 by special units of the SADF like 44 Parachute Brigade (pictured below, Ken Gaudet from 1981), the Recces, and South African aligned units like Koevoet. Hatsīritish/commonwealth style shorter brim. Like some late war pants in the standard heavy weight fabric, they have no reinforcement panels. The main difference between these and the standard issue pants’ cut is that they lack the waist adjustment tabs. The ones here appear to be earlier production (1977) than those and are very similar to the cut of the standard issue trousers. The pair show in these photos are not the typical SAS lightweight cut, which is more similar to the British windproof trousers (source:, ). The lightweight trousers are often found in this cut that is clearly based on the British windproof’s (source:, ). Instead, these lightweights were more often used for parades and other light duty, including by other units like the Rhodesian Light Infantry very late in the Bush War (1979, source: ) SAS Lightweight #1: It was a limited trial for the Rhodesian SAS, who ultimately did not use the items in the field since they were insufficiently druable. These trousers were made in the same lightweight twill as the shirts. Likely later production due to more simplified details (no pleats on pockets, squared pocket flaps). The current Zimbabwe army shirt tries to emulate this type of shirt. ![]() Probably earlier production than Sample 6 (below) due to pleats on pockets, scallops on pocket flaps and other “extra” features. The shirts were made of a lighter weight cotton twill than the jackets. ![]() ShirtsĪlso British influenced due to Rhodesia’s British colonial heritage, these were based on the British tropical shirt. Probably from different dye lot since dark brown does not redden with fading (See Sample 2). Much darker brown than Sample 3, otherwise identical in cut. Issued to “Willard” (name written on inside back across tag). Has zippered pocket on bottom back outside.īased on the more simplified features that are similar to Sample 4 (below, has 1976 date), I think it is mid – late war production. Sample 2: Earlier (Mid-War?) Bush Jacket #2Įarlier war production. Note that shades of green and brown in dye lots should not be used to “date” items (that is what tags are for) since these varied throughout production life of items. Identical to Sample 2, but much less faded. Sample 1: Earlier (Mid-War?) Bush Jacket #1 These tended to be made from thicker cotton drill twill material in a British combat smock jacket style cut. This page is not an extensive list of all possible items and variations of those item that have been made in this camouflage pattern. The items on this page are all in the more common, standard version of the Rhodesian camouflage pattern used throughout the 1970’s most notably during the Rhodesian Bush War.
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