Fighting Vehicles and Weapons of Rhodesia 1965-1980 - Peter Locke & Peter Cooke

This book started as research carried out independently by the authors, who joined forces late in 1991. Initially intended to cover the vehicles only, it was expanded in 1993 to include all ground-based technology developed to prosecute the war. Although the events and developments described herein all took place within the last two decades and as such are recent history, the situation since the end of the war in Rhodesia in 1980 has changed radically. Researching this topic has been made challenging simply because during the war information was shared on a strict need-to-know basis, and after the war records were destroyed, many of the people who were involved migrated, and much of the equipment scrapped. For obvious reasons the new Government of Zimbabwe has preferred to look to the future.

Nevertheless, post-war reconciliation be-tween the former antagonists is a remarkable tribute to all concerned. It is appropriate now to document what is known about the wartime accomplishments of Rhodesians before time further obscures their achievements. This book does not dwell on the moral or political issues of the Rhodesian conflict but focuses instead on the material aspects: the unique vehicles and weapons which evolved and the technological and entrepreneurial spirit that created them. Coverage of the technological developments may appear one-sided but this is not intentional. Guerilla innovations are included where applicable.