Sad news about the passing of Tony Ewels
Those on our field trip to the Transkei will remember Tony as our guide to the battlefields of Gwadana, Ibeka, Umzintsane and Centane on 5 August 2017. His sage counsel saved us from blundering into Keiskammahoek sometime later when affirmative aerobics was de rigueur in the area. RIP, Tony.
New members
We welcome Sandy Shell and Leon van der Westhuizen from Cape Town and Theo van der Walt from Port Alfred. Welcome aboard, we look forward to the pleasure of your company.
SAMHS 2023 subscriptions
Thanks to members who have renewed their SAMHS membership for 2023.
Renewal details are on the SAMHS website, see
https://www.samilitaryhistory.org/applic23.pdf
If you haven’t renewed membership by 31 March 2023, we’ll get the message that you don’t intend to do so and look forward to you renewing membership when it suits you.
SAMHSEC 13 February 2023 meeting
Franco Cilliers discussed the development of the Ratel Infantry Combat Vehicle.
In 1968 a conference was held about the future threats faced by South Africa. One of the outcomes was the creation of a committee to investigate the local development or import of an infantry combat vehicle for the SADF.
The committee started work in 1970 and began by evaluating various vehicles. The first two vehicles evaluated were the UR413 and the M3 Panhard. Springfield Bussing, the local agent for MAN trucks and busses, approached the Chief of the Defence Force with a request to propose a vehicle for consideration. The vehicle was called the Buffel and was the first 6x6 vehicle to be considered.
One of the user requirements for the new vehicle was that it should mount a 20 mm cannon. The 4x4 vehicles evaluated were unable to mount a 20 mm turret, which only the 6x6 vehicles could do. The Springfield Buffel became the leading contender after it was thoroughly evaluated. The Buffel was then modified and this model was called the Ratel SS (Soft Steel). One of the big differences between the Buffel and Ratel SS was the replacement of the Allison gearbox with a Renk gearbox, due to sanctions. This vehicle was then further evaluated and, after modifications requested by the Infantry, the vehicle became known as the Ratel Mk 1.
After initial operational use of the vehicle, further upgrades were requested, which led to the Ratel Mark 2. During its service, further improvements were identified which led to the Ratel Mark 3.
The infantry combat vehicle Ratel was armed with dual feed 20 mm cannon. The dual feed allows the gunner to switch between armour piercing and high explosive ammunition with the flick of a lever.
The Ratel proved to be a very versatile vehicle with variants armed with 60 breech loading mortar, 81mm mortar on a turntable in the hull, infantry support/antitank vehicle armed with a 90mm low pressure cannon or anti-tank missile launcher. There were also command and technical support variants.
The Ratel was proof against 12.7 x 99 mm armour piercing ammunition on the front, 7.62 x 51 mm armour piercing ammunition on the sides and medium artillery shrapnel all round.
The 6x6 wheeled configuration of the vehicle gave it outstanding mobility with an on-road range of 1000 km and off-road range of about 600 km.
A total of about 1300 Ratels were built, with 60 exported to Morocco. After 1994 with reduction in strength of the SANDF, redundant vehicles were sold to various African and Middle East countries.
The Ratel is still in service with South Africa and other countries. There is a proposal to upgrade remaining Ratels with new drive line components, new turret systems and to improve the armour protection.
Franco’s presentation is in the SAMHS Zoom library.
SAMHSEC RPC 27 February 2023
Pat Irwin presented overviews of Fort Brown and Fort Double Drift in preparation for SAMHSEC’s 12 March field trip and Ian Copley shared the experiences of national serviceman who had served under Ian’s command in the 1960s. Reports on both talks and links to the Zoom library recordings are to be included in SAMHSEC’s April newsletter.
SAMHSEC Field Trip 12 March 2023
The return same day field trip to the Bain Monument at the Ecca Pass on the Queen’s Road between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort, Fort Brown and Fort Double Drift on 12 March 2023 is confirmed.
Notice of SAMHSEC AGM 13 March 2023
Notice is hereby given of the SAMHSEC AGM to be held at 1900 on 13 March 2023 by means of Zoom. The Chairman’s and Treasurer’s reports for 2022 will be distributed to members in advance. Nominations for members to serve on the SAMHSEC Committee for 2023 and agenda points for the AGM are to be submitted to me by e-mail to culturev@lantic.net before 28 February 2023, please.
Alan Mantle is to tell us about Leonardo da Vinci as a Military Engineer.
As background for his presentation, Alan tells us that from an early age Leonardo had been apprenticed in the renowned art workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. He ultimately qualified as a Master in the painter’s guild of Saint Luke with experience in the fields of chemistry and metallurgy in addition to painting and sculpting. At the peak of his career and in search of new challenges, he proposed his services to the Duke of Milan as a Military Engineer. (Refer the attached letter).
It is ironic that not only was he without any previous experience in this field, but he was a closet pacifist who defined war as a “madness”.
However, as military development was a major requirement of the ruling powers at that time, it became an important activity for him, in addition to his painting and his wide range of scientific studies.
Extract from Leonardo's Letter (1480) to Ludovico Sforza Duke of Milan
Most illustrious Lord,
Having now sufficiently considered the specimens of all those who proclaim themselves skilled contrivers of instruments of war, and having noted that the invention and operation of the said instruments are nothing different to those in common use:
I shall endeavour, without prejudice to anyone else, to explain myself to your Excellency unfolding to your Lordship my secrets, and then offering them to your best pleasure and approbation to realize at opportune moments as well as all those things which shall be briefly noted below.
1) I have plans of extremely light and strong bridges, adapted to be most easily carried, and with them you may pursue, and at any time flee from the enemy; and others, secure and indestructible by fire and battle, easy and convenient to lift and place. Also methods of burning and destroying those of the enemy.
2) I know how, when a place is besieged, to remove the water from the moats and make an endless variety of bridges, and covered ways and ladders, and other machines pertaining to such expeditions.
3) If, by reason of the height of the banks, or the strength of the place and its position, it is impossible, when besieging a place, to avail oneself of the plan of bombardment, I have methods for destroying every fortress or other structure, even if it were founded on rock.
4) Again I have kinds of mortars; most convenient and easy to carry; and with these can fling small stones almost resembling a hail-storm; and with the smoke of these causing great terror to the enemy, to his great detriment and confusion.
5) I have means by secret and tortuous mines and ways, constructed without noise to reach a designated [spot], even if it were needed to pass under a moat or a river.
6) I will make covered chariots, safe and unassailable which, entering among the enemy and their artillery, there is no body of men so great but they would break them. And behind these, infantry could follow quite unhurt and without any hindrance.
7) In case of need I will make cannon, mortars and light ordnance of fine and useful design, out of the common type.
8) Where the operation of bombardment should fail, I would contrive catapults and other machines of marvellous efficacy and not in common use. And in short, according to the variety of cases, I can contrive various and endless means of offence and defence.
9) And when the fight should be at sea I have kinds of many instruments most efficient for offence and defence; and vessels which will resist the attack of the largest guns and powder and fumes.
10) In time of peace I believe I can give perfect satisfaction and to the equal of any other in architecture and the construction of buildings, both public and private; and in conducting water from one place to another.
Also I can execute sculpture in marble, bronze and clay and in painting do as well as any other, whosoever he may be.
And if any one of the above-named things seem to anyone to be impossible or not feasible, I am most ready to make the experiment in your park, or in whatever place may please your Excellency
— to whom I commend myself with the utmost humility.
SAMHSEC Requests the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 27 March 2023.
SAMHSEC
WW 2 German artillery graveyard
https://www.google.com/search?q=ww2+german+artillery+graveyard&rlz=1C1 GCEA_enZA1047ZA1047&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450l8.14599051j0j15&sour ceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6a17b9b3,vid:K-YtlnuHn_w