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Commando - Shoot To Kill: Rhodesian Bush War Operator
Ranged against two powerful communist terrorist armies, the small, under-equipped army of Rhodesia defied all military convention by not only resisting the onslaught, but taking the fight to the very heart of the ZIPRA and ZANLA terrorist machines. The efforts of the Rhodesian army and air force shocked the world; how could such a small force of men repel the hordes of Russian and Chinese backed communist terrorists who threatened to overwhelm them? At the very heart of the Rhodesian war effort lay the RLI. The Rhodesian light infantry Commandos were second to none. Brave, tough, resourceful, stubborn and highly trained, the exploits of the RLI soon became legend, not only in Africa but the world over. Where ever the war situation was at its most dangerous, you would almost certainly find ‘The Incredibles’ at the epicentre of the action.
“Stu was taking first stag and he woke Richard and me when he heard it. The voices were coming from the bush north of our location. We were unable to accurately determine distance, but estimated they were about fifty metres away. Often FRELIMO and ZANLA had little regard for noise discipline, even in circumstances such as this. So, the enemy was out here searching for us? The voices came closer then suddenly sheared off into the distance. Shortly afterwards there was more noise. Orders being issued and the clanking of unsecured kit drifted through the bush from several tens of metres away. We still couldn’t see anything but it was obvious we had been overtaken and possibly encircled. In response to a question from Stu, I whispered that I didn’t think the enemy knew our location. They were being far too indifferent. Had they known they would have approached cautiously, making as little noise as possible. No, they were looking for us alright, but didn’t know where we were.
We were on the alert now. We had about twelve hours of daylight left before we could move, plenty of time for Freddie to find us….”
‘Commando – Shoot To Kill’ is a thrilling account of service with the elite Rhodesian Light Infantry during the final year of the Bush War. Peter Rische describes heart stopping behind the lines reconnaissance missions and the realities of brutal close quarters combat as he leads the reader into the heart of the bitterest conflict in sub Saharan African history.
“Stu was taking first stag and he woke Richard and me when he heard it. The voices were coming from the bush north of our location. We were unable to accurately determine distance, but estimated they were about fifty metres away. Often FRELIMO and ZANLA had little regard for noise discipline, even in circumstances such as this. So, the enemy was out here searching for us? The voices came closer then suddenly sheared off into the distance. Shortly afterwards there was more noise. Orders being issued and the clanking of unsecured kit drifted through the bush from several tens of metres away. We still couldn’t see anything but it was obvious we had been overtaken and possibly encircled. In response to a question from Stu, I whispered that I didn’t think the enemy knew our location. They were being far too indifferent. Had they known they would have approached cautiously, making as little noise as possible. No, they were looking for us alright, but didn’t know where we were.
We were on the alert now. We had about twelve hours of daylight left before we could move, plenty of time for Freddie to find us….”
‘Commando – Shoot To Kill’ is a thrilling account of service with the elite Rhodesian Light Infantry during the final year of the Bush War. Peter Rische describes heart stopping behind the lines reconnaissance missions and the realities of brutal close quarters combat as he leads the reader into the heart of the bitterest conflict in sub Saharan African history.
- GenresNonfiction
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2018
34 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 23, 2023
The book's final words are the lesson learned by all those who paid the price fighting communist brutes in Rhodesia:
Don’t ever be complacent about your freedoms. They have been bought and paid for with someone’s blood. While it is now not usual for political change to occur through war or armed insurrection, it is quite easy for those who do not have your best interests at heart to affect change by socioeconomic means. We should all exercise caution in today’s complex and ever-changing world lest we fall victim to oppression by guile….
Don’t ever be complacent about your freedoms. They have been bought and paid for with someone’s blood. While it is now not usual for political change to occur through war or armed insurrection, it is quite easy for those who do not have your best interests at heart to affect change by socioeconomic means. We should all exercise caution in today’s complex and ever-changing world lest we fall victim to oppression by guile….
September 3, 2019
Very interesting
A great source of anecdotes describing the tactical wherewithal of the best of the best of the 20th century. Not preachy or full of political messages; just what happened. Some typos but all of these types of memories have typos (I’m extremely sensitive to finding them though)
A great source of anecdotes describing the tactical wherewithal of the best of the best of the 20th century. Not preachy or full of political messages; just what happened. Some typos but all of these types of memories have typos (I’m extremely sensitive to finding them though)
October 24, 2019
History from a soldier's eyes
Refreshingly honest account of the life and times of very brave men fighting for their homeland while the rest of the world abandoned them. The book is well written and editted, easy to read and hard to put down. Very enjoyable, highly recommended.
Refreshingly honest account of the life and times of very brave men fighting for their homeland while the rest of the world abandoned them. The book is well written and editted, easy to read and hard to put down. Very enjoyable, highly recommended.
December 19, 2024
-4.5- This was a fantastic biography of a Rhodesian Light Infantry soldier during the last stages of the Bush War. My only complaint, and it is a rather mild one for me is god damn man get a proofreader! At times I felt like I needed an enigma machine to decipher the misspellings and bad grammar. This book drops the reader right in the heart of the combat with the author on recce (reconnaissance missions) to root out terrorists within and outside Rhodesia. One fantastic element is the author unapologetically kills the shit out of terrorists throughout the book and his only reflection is every damn one of them deserved a bullet. I ever run into you at a bistro in the South of France (where the author resides) I will be buying you a frosty beverage. This book was a quick read and I highly recommend it.
December 31, 2020
Sad tale
The story of a war against communism and the free world refusing to join the fight that a small nation fought. As a result the story is of intestinal fortitude and tactical genius to develop TTPs with what they had.
The story of a war against communism and the free world refusing to join the fight that a small nation fought. As a result the story is of intestinal fortitude and tactical genius to develop TTPs with what they had.
July 13, 2023
Really good book from a brave man.
This book had me saying to myself "Oh crap, now he's in trouble!" Great descriptions of combat situations. Brave Rhodesian who fought to the end.
This book had me saying to myself "Oh crap, now he's in trouble!" Great descriptions of combat situations. Brave Rhodesian who fought to the end.
February 25, 2020
Excellent book
Excellent book about the struggle in Rhodesia and the men that fought for her.
Worth your time if you're interested in the history of Rhodesia
Excellent book about the struggle in Rhodesia and the men that fought for her.
Worth your time if you're interested in the history of Rhodesia
September 27, 2021
Tale of a Rhodesian Patriot
Good story from a man who was involved in the war and ultimately betrayed by politicians. As always the feckless support commie scum.
Good story from a man who was involved in the war and ultimately betrayed by politicians. As always the feckless support commie scum.
October 3, 2022
Great read
Communist took over and 10000 of thousands died from disease poverty and hyper inflation but the liberals are happy with the some BS. fjb
Communist took over and 10000 of thousands died from disease poverty and hyper inflation but the liberals are happy with the some BS. fjb
December 5, 2023
Bush battles
A great read.
An honest no nonsense tale of one man’s Rhodesian bush war experience.
No punches pulled easy read
A great read.
An honest no nonsense tale of one man’s Rhodesian bush war experience.
No punches pulled easy read
August 20, 2024
This book is Fiction.
He has obviously read a few non-fiction books on the Rhodesian war and some of the narrative is correct.
However, a lot of the equipment, weapons, terms and operations that are mentioned in the book are incorrect from the RLI (his characters corps) perspective, either caried out by other units or confused with what he has read in books on Vietnam.
As for the opening battle scene which seems to be based on operation Dingo, he has little idea of the operation especially the length of the operation.
Reasonable book for entertainment but would have liked to have seen a bit more accuracy in the story line.
He has obviously read a few non-fiction books on the Rhodesian war and some of the narrative is correct.
However, a lot of the equipment, weapons, terms and operations that are mentioned in the book are incorrect from the RLI (his characters corps) perspective, either caried out by other units or confused with what he has read in books on Vietnam.
As for the opening battle scene which seems to be based on operation Dingo, he has little idea of the operation especially the length of the operation.
Reasonable book for entertainment but would have liked to have seen a bit more accuracy in the story line.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews