Fire Force is a variant of the military tactic of vertical envelopment by helicopter‑borne and parachute infantry. The tactic was developed by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War (1964–1979). It emphasized rapid deployment of infantry by air to locate, contain, and engage insurgent units.
The tactic was primarily employed by the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI), the Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR), and the Special Air Service (SAS), assisted by the Air Force (RhAF). The Fire Force counterinsurgency missions were designed to intercept insurgent units of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA).
The tactic was used in response to ambushes, farm attacks, observation post (OP) sightings, and calls from trackers or patrols who had made contact and required reinforcements. It was first deployed in January 1974 and saw its first combat action a month later on 24 February 1974.
An operational assault or response group under Fire Force typically consisted of a first wave of 32 soldiers transported to the scene by three Alouette helicopters (G-Cars) and one C-47 Dakota (referred to as a Paradak), with a command/gunship helicopter (K-Car variety) and a light attack aircraft (Reims-Cessna Lynx, a modified Cessna Super Skymaster) in support. The group could be deployed from a single airstrip, which was a key advantage for the use of the tactic.
Four-man stick Unlike conventional military units, Fire Force troops were broken down into 'sticks' of four men instead of the usual eight- or nine-man sections. This was because the Rhodesian Air Force Alouette III helicopters could only carry four men.
Of the four men, one was the stick leader, with an A63 or A76 VHF radio, an FN FAL rifle, 100 rounds of ammunition (7.62×51mm NATO), and several types of grenades. The second was a machine gunner with an FN MAG machine-gun and 400 rounds. The remaining two were riflemen with FN FAL rifles with 100 rounds each, as well as grenades, and rifle grenades. The grenades carried were usually one M962 high-explosive (HE) grenade, one M970 white phosphorus grenade, a smoke grenade, one or two rifle grenades, and an Icarus rocket flare each.
One of the riflemen was a trained combat medicRhodesian Cover Shooting and carried a medical pack. Every soldier also carried a saline drip. Rifles were zeroed for 100 m, and sights were set to the same range. Every third or fourth round loaded into the rifle magazine was a tracer. During 1979, one of these two men was issued a radio. Pistols were optional, and all paratroopers were entitled to carry a Belgian FN Hi-Power or Spanish Star Model B 9×19mm pistol. Each soldier also carried a lightweight sleeping bag in a mat pack on his back.
A single stick made up the stop groups (stops), patrols, ambushes, and often sweep lines, although larger sweep lines could be made up from para-sticks or by combining the sticks deployed by the G-cars, or from those sticks transported by the "Land-tail". In all formations, the MAG gunner was positioned next to the Stick Leader.
Aircraft
The Fire Force would be based at an airfield with usually four helicopters, one Dakota and a light-attack aircraft (known as the "Lynx").
The helicopters were Alouette IIIs (in 1979 a few Agusta-Bell 205As "Cheetahs" were used). Of these, one was equipped with a MG 151/20 20-mm cannon and flown by the senior pilot. The cannons were equipped with trays, which took 200 or 400 high explosive incendiary (HEI) rounds. This helicopter was called the "K-Car" (K denoting Kill/Command)Military Operations Volume 1 Issue 4, Spring 2013, Rhodesia: Lessons Learned and had a crew of three (pilot, gunner/technician (gunner-tech), and Fire Force commander). The Fire Force Commander directed ground operations from a height of , high enough over the contact area to see everything that was happening.
Some K-Cars (known as Dalmatian K-Cars) were armed with four Browning .303 (7.7 mm) machine guns (instead of the 20-mm cannon) but were not popular with the troops, as they were less effective. The number of enemy personnel killed by the K-Car varied significantly, from zero to the entire insurgent unit. The K-Car would carry a spare FN FAL to replace any malfunctioning rifle and two A63/A76 VHF radios, a spare for the ground troops, and one for the commander in case he had to disembark the K-Car. The commander in the K-Car would carry the radio codes, specifically, the daily Shackle code. All would wear flak jackets to protect them from ground fire.
The other three helicopters were known as "G-Cars" (G denoting Gunship) and were armed with machine guns (originally one FN MAG replaced with twin Browning .303 machine guns each) with 500 rounds per gun. These G-Cars carried the 4-man Sticks along with their pilot and technician, who also operated their machine guns. The G-Cars had headsets for the stick leaders so they could stay aware of developments while in the air. The G-cars were also used for casualty evacuation and to resupply the Fire Force troops with ammunition and equipment.
The Dakota carried five sticks: two on the port side, three on the starboard. Apart from the parachutes, their equipment was identical to the heli-sticks.
The Reims-Cessna FTB 337G "Lynx" was the main light attack aircraft used on Fire Force missions. The Lynx aircraft were armed with twin Browning .303 machine guns mounted above the wing and 37 mm SNEB rockets, locally made Mini "Alpha" Bombs (cluster bombs), Mini "Golf" Bombs ( blast and shrapnel bombs), and Frantans (frangible napalm drop tank). The Percival Provost Mk 52 was originally used in the light attack role before the Lynx came into service. Hunter ground-attack fighter jets, Canberra light bombers, and, more rarely, Vampire fighter-bombers were on 24-hour standby should a Fire Force encounter stiff resistance.
In 1979, the 'Jumbo' Fire Force came into being. The Jumbo Fire Force was created by bringing two Fire Forces together, giving it two K-Cars, eight G-Cars, a Dakota, and a Lynx, often with the support of Hunter ground-attack fighter jets.
Tactics The standard Fire Force assault consisted of one K-car, three G-cars, a Dakota, and the Lynx. Often, there was no Dakota involved or more G-cars. When, in 1979, Cheetahs (Bell Hueys) were introduced, a Fire Force might go into action with two or three of these, each carrying two (sometimes three) stops. There were many times when no Lynx was used.
Though there were only three main Fire Forces most of the time, the Fire Force had responsibility for huge swathes of Rhodesia, many thousands of square miles each. A commando of the Rhodesian Light Infantry or an infantry company of the Rhodesian African Rifles would be designated as a Fire Force at a forward airfield for six weeks, or sometimes, several months. By 1977, all Rhodesian regular infantry were trained paratroopers and would in turn be deployed by helicopter or parachute or brought in as reinforcements from the vehicles of the 'land tail'.
Any sightings of the enemy within the Fire Force zone were reported, and a siren sounded in the base. Eight sticks (32 men) were deemed the "First Wave". The First Wave troops rushed to their helicopters (after donning their webbing). The paratroopers went to the tent where their equipment and parachutes were held, and the dispatchers and off-duty comrades would help them kit out. Normally, the Second Wave (or land tail) rushed to the trucks, although if "jousting," or if the contact area was nearby, they would wait at the airfield to be picked up by the G-Cars after the First Wave had been dropped off.
Troops alternated through designations of heliborne, paratroopers, land tail, and off-duty throughout a Bush Trip. The land tail was often an important factor in the refuelling of helicopters and the recovery of deceased persons (enemy and civilian), parachutes, and enemy weapons and equipment. Sometimes there was a small third wave if numbers permitted. Quite often, only the First Wave was involved in the action. In general, most soldiers preferred to be in the heliborne First Wave.
In addition to direct insertions, the RhAF used C-47s to deliver troops to areas inaccessible by their helicopters, especially during cross-border strikes. The Rhodesians were particularly fond of airdrops, and consequently, the entire SAS and approximately half of the rest of their forces trained as paratroopers. 29 aircraft were also used to extract isolated groups of troops in emergency situations. Troops operating outside of Rhodesia wore special harnesses, which they could quickly attach to trapeze bars lowered from helicopters to rapidly hook up and depart under fire. 30 airdrops were also used to resupply troops operating away from supply areas.
The RhAF also used airpower in more traditional roles. When patrols encountered formations larger than they could handle, they would call in close air support; for example, in November 1977, an SAS patrol operating in Mozambique set up a mine-triggered ambush along a known ZANLA and FRELIMO supply route. However, when the supply convoy arrived, it consisted of over 400 troops supported by anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), a far too formidable target for either the fifteen men in the SAS patrol or helicopters. To the advantage of the SAS, the ZANLA stayed in place after the lead vehicle in the convoy struck a mine, giving the RhAF time to bring in Hunter aircraft and let the SAS stay hidden.
Arrival on target The K-Car was always the first to arrive at the scene. The K-Car Commander had to first attempt to confirm the precise area where the enemy had been spotted by the OP. Usually, the terrain was extremely broken and covered in vegetation, which made this task particularly difficult. The K-Car Commander then had to make a plan—where to position the first stops, where to make the main sweep, and in what direction. The first troops to arrive were always brought in by the G-Cars, which followed the K-Car in a column (sometimes far behind, for they were a bit slower than the K-Car). Sometimes the sticks were dropped immediately, but on many occasions, the G-Cars would circle the scene several times before the commander made his final decisions.
Very often, the K-Car occupants would see the enemy (or any perceived enemy), and then the Helicopter Gunner/Technician would attack them with his 20 mm cannon, using bursts of two to four shells (but no more than five). The 20 mm cannon poked out of the port side; there was no "lead in", and the exploding high-velocity shells would impact right next to and often on their intended targets. The cannon fire was highly lethal, resulting in high casualty rates for those targeted by it.
Usually, the G-Car sticks were positioned in areas where the enemy would most likely traverse (often a riverbed or dry "donga"), where there was more vegetation, thereby attempting to surround or cut off enemy movement. If there was a hill or ridge that gave sweeping observation, more than one stick might be placed there. Sometimes, G-car sticks would form the main sweep line immediately after they were deployed instead of the paratroopers, depending on the circumstances at hand. The G-Cars would make dummy landings to confuse the enemy while placing men in cut-off or stop positions.