Fireforce
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.
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