RHODESIA OPERATION MIRACLE, 1979
Posted by Tamuka Munaku on Facebook 27 October 2019
In September 1979 the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian Security Forces (ZRSF) launched a cross border attack against Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) large new camp inside Mozambique which was less than 20 Km from the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian border. The Operation, called MIRACLE, was briefly planned to comprise of a mobile force of 320 Selous Scouts / Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) in 12 infantry vehicles, supported by 9 Eland armored cars of Rhodesian Armoured Car Regiment (RhACR) and 6 towed 25-pound artillery guns with ammo trucks. The whole 64 square kilometers area, named New Chimoio, was heavily fortified, with an extensive system of trenches and bunkers protected by heavy weaponry and anti-aircraft guns. ZANLA also cited a large force of men and anti-aircraft weapons on the high ground to defend the camps below from air-strikes by the Rhodesian Air Force, this site has been nick-named Monte Cassino.
Under cover of darkness on 26 September 1979 the column, under the command of Captain Richard Passaportis of the Scouts, left Nkomo Barracks for Ruda Base Camp in the Honde Valley, just one km from the Mozambique border. The crossing onto Mozambique proved very problematic – the vehicles, loaded with troops and ammo, bogged down while attempting to cross the river.
Eventually, the bulldozer had to drag each vehicle across, with the Puma APCs towed field guns being stuck well behind the convoy. The convoy of over twenty vehicles was still struggling over the river when Canberras of No 5 Squadron opened airstrikes over New Chimoio at the scheduled time of 0700 hours – the element of surprise has been lost. By mid-morning, head elements of the column had reached Madison Garden (forward area), but it was not before 1400 hours, seven hours after the Air Force bombing runs, that the main body of the convoy finally arrived.
From Madison Square, the column of Scouts pushed east, heading towards the road that would take them north to the camp. Arriving at preliminary positions down of Monte Cassino late afternoon, the troops were attacked by RPG-7 and 75mm recoilless rifle fire that killed one. The following morning, further anti-aircraft defensive positions were identified. Flying through a cloud of flak, a Hunter strike from No 1 Squadron dropped sixteen 1000-pound Golf bombs on enemy positions.
This allowed the Rhodesians to capture this hill which the defenders had vacated, taking their heavy weaponry with them. Meanwhile RLI were able to direct mortar fire and Hunter strikes onto Monte Cassino that was taken on next day. That night, an RLI scouts, positioned at a road block on the main road to Chimoio, saw a column of tanks) and BTR-152 APC with a company of FRELIMO infantry. There is no agreement in the sources whether tanks were T-34 or T-55 –, also it is not clear if they belonged to ZANLA or ZIPRA (it is known that ZIPRA operated T-34-85). Richard Passaportis ordered RhACR CO, Major Winkler, to move his Eland armored cars into a protective cordon around. Meanwhile, artillery was targeted onto the FRELIMO convoy. The tanks immediately responded with some wild firing as they turned to flee the area. This was met by another salvo of gunfire from Rhodesian artillery, one round scored a direct hit on a tank.
When large numbers of FRELIMO reinforcements arrived on day 4 the decision was made by ZRSF Command to withdraw as no further advantage was to be gained in pursuing ZANLA. The bulk of Rhodesian troops pulled back by September 30, leaving several teams of scouts. That were withdrawn by October 6, 1979.
Operation MIRACLE was over. ZRSF lost 3 aircraft, 5 airmen, 1 RLI and 3 Scouts KIA, and 3 seriously injured. ZANLA/FRELIMO losses unknown.
inside Mozambique which was less than 20 Km from the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian border. The Operation, called MIRACLE, was briefly planned to comprise of a mobile force of 320 Selous Scouts / Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) in 12 infantry vehicles, supported by 9 Eland armored cars of Rhodesian Armoured Car Regiment (RhACR) and 6 towed 25-pound artillery guns with ammo trucks. The whole 64 square kilometers area, named New Chimoio, was heavily fortified, with an extensive system of trenches and bunkers protected by heavy weaponry and anti-aircraft guns. ZANLA also cited a large force of men and anti-aircraft weapons on the high ground to defend the camps below from air-strikes by the Rhodesian Air Force, this site has been nick-named Monte Cassino.
over the river when Canberras of No 5 Squadron opened airstrikes over New Chimoio at the scheduled time of 0700 hours – the element of surprise has been lost. By mid-morning, head elements of the column had reached Madison Garden (forward area), but it was not before 1400 hours, seven hours after the Air Force bombing runs, that the main body of the convoy finally arrived.
ZIPRA operated T-34-85). Richard Passaportis ordered RhACR CO, Major Winkler, to move his Eland armored cars into a protective cordon around. Meanwhile, artillery was targeted onto the FRELIMO convoy. The tanks immediately responded with some wild firing as they turned to flee the area. This was met by another salvo of gunfire from Rhodesian artillery, one round scored a direct hit on a tank.
