Regulars
12 Gear Guide
Gadgets and gear from around the world15 News and Letters
News and correspondence from readers16 Military Vehicle Market
What’s hot, what’s not and what’s expensive18 New Books
New releases from respected publishers21 Museum
of the
Month
The Memorial
Pegasus museum48 Event
List
Events you need to
know about82 Echoes
of War
Unita’s Jonas Savimbihttp://www.twitter.com/cmvmagOn a high at Memorial
PegasusMemorial Pegasus features a purpose-built modern museum to house the airborne collection21words and pictures Craig AllenThe Memorial Pagasus Museum Museum of the MonthPegasus Memorial MuseumAvenue du Major Howard14860 RANVILLEPhone : 02 31 78 19 44
Fax : 02 31 78 19 421965 Mini ‘Twini’ Moke, a twin-engined - therefore 4xTAssault in the early hours of D-Day. It would be hard to imagine a more appropriate setting he Memorial Pegasus museum lies just over the modern Pegasus Bridge on the Caen Canal site of the famous Glider Borne
and the museum features a wealth of airborne artefacts housed in a purpose-built facility. side of the bridge, close to the Gondree Café It replaced an earlier museum on the other
which closed after a long running dispute over the lease. Thankfully, that is all in the past and the memorial is now home to a wonderful collection including the original Pegasus
Bridge which sits proudly in the grounds. Also on display outside are an M3 Half-Track and several artillery pieces along with a full-size replica of an Airspeed Horsa Assault Glider built
for the 60th commemoration. weaponry and equipment alongside medals and personal items donated by veterans. There are Inside, the display cabinets feature a wealth of
video presentations explaining the history and a well-stocked shop where you can pick up airborne books and memorabilia. Each year on the anniversary of D-Day the memorial becomes the
focus of commemoration events and hosts World War Two veterans, many of whom have received their Croix de Guerre beside the original bridge. If you are in the area it makes for a great stop
Horsa Assault Glider replica built for the 60th anniversary of D-Day along with refreshments at the Pegasus Bridge Café both of which were especially popular in this 75th anniversary year.Airborne Jeep display inside the museumABOVE:memorial grounds with a modern replacement bridging the canalBELOW: The original Pegasus Bridge lies in the The Memorial Pegasus replaced an
earlier museum82Echoes of War Jonas Savimbi words Andrew Stone pictures archiveTcharismatic, but controversial Jonas Savimbi, who fought Angola’s socialist government he former leader of Angola’s rebel group Unita was reburied earlier this year, more than 17 years after his death. The
in a civil war lasting 27 years, was killed in a battle against the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government forces in February 2002. At the time he was hastily
buried in a cemetery in the town of Luena, which led to later calls by Unita for him to be given a more prominent funeral. Unita first waged a guerrilla war against
Portuguese colonial rule from 1966 to 1974 before confronting the MPLA during the Angolan Civil War. The conflict played a major role in the
Cold War with the US and South Africa backing Unita and the Soviet Union and Cuba throwing their weight behind the governing MPLA. An estimated 500,000 people died over the
27 years the war was fought while some major battles saw leading armour from the time deployed on both sides. This included T55/62 tanks, BRDM-2 armoured vehicles and BM-
Grad Rocket Launchers on the Angolan side against Olifant tanks and Ratel infantry fighting vehicles on the Unita/South African side.
conventional battle in Africa since World War Two, the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale was fought intermittently between August 1987 and March 1988. In what would turn out to be the biggest
(SADF), it consisted of four phases. The aim of these phases was to: 1. Stop a major Angolan government offensive; 2. Inflict maximum For Unita and the South African Defence Force
casualties on the retreating forces; 3. Drive government forces back; and 4. Protect Unita from future offensives. Prior to this, the Soviet Union had supplied the
Angolan army with advanced military hardware and advisors in anticipation of a major offensive to crush Unita. In order to stop this, the SADF’s
61 Mechanised Battalion moved into Angola in August 1987 and along with Unita forces confronted an Angolan army force consisting of an estimated 6,000 men, 80 tanks and artillery
and support vehicles.September into October, the SADF and Unita inflicted heavy losses on government forces In a series of fights that took place from early
including 61 tanks and 83 armoured vehicles for the loss of five armoured vehicles. A sophisticated SA-8 anti-aircraft missile system was also captured. As a result, the Angolan army
retreated to Cuito Cuanavale, a town located in the central region of the country. Further attacks in November 1987 saw moreheavy losses inflicted on the Angolans, who were desperately defending Cuito Cuanavale. The battle continued intermittently into 1988 with
neither side gaining the upper hand, but Angolan government forces continued to suffer heavy personnel and armour losses. The operation was eventually wound down in late March, although
the SADF maintained a small force in the country which continued to harry government forces until August 1998. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale is credited by
some as opening negotiations which led to a peaceful settlement and the withdrawal of Cuban and South African troops. It also ensured
the survival of Savimbi’s Unita, which fought on despite several efforts at brokering peace during the 1990s. It was only after Savimbi’s death in 2002 that a settlement was reached. Savimbi’s
remains were finally handed to his family in late May of this year for a formal burial on June 1. While there were no government officials at the ceremony, his coffin was draped in Unita’s flag.
President Ronald Reagan meeting with Jonas Savimbi in The Oval Office in 1986. - SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA^
WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION / WIKIMEDIABM-21 Grad at an assembly point. Decommissioned Unita BMP-1 and WIKIMEDIAFurther ReadingSeveral books have been written over the years on the Angolan Civil War and the South African Border War. These include
Leopold Scholtz’s book ‘The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. Cold War Angolan Finale, 1987-1988’. A war of words has raged since the battle
about who actually won and in the book, a South African military historian and retired journalist examine the campaign, the adversaries, and their achievements on the
basis of research in SADF archives, which results in interesting conclusions. Another that will interest military vehicle enthusiasts is ‘South African Armour of the Border War
1975–89’ written by Kyle Harmse and Simon Dunstan. The Border War saw the biggest armoured battles in Africa since World War Two and with the aid of illustrations
and photographs, the book details the characteristics, capabilities and performance of the wide variety of armoured vehicles deployed by the SADF at the time.‘Savimbi’s remains were finally handed
to his family in late May of this year
for a formal burial’Got a product you’d like featured in our Gear Guide? E-mail [email protected] Got a product you’d like featured in our Gear Guide? E-mail [email protected]TravelbagThis large weekender in sturdy canvas has a traditional feel with characterful chocolate Old Calf leather details and a reinforced base with
studs. With robust rolled leather top-handles, The Hunter also features a detachable/adjustable canvas webbing strap which fixes to bag with solid metal dog clips, allowing the bag to be carried in the hand, over the shoulder or across the body as required. Lined in brown cotton twill, the
roomy interior has handy leather trimmed pockets to stash your tickets and phone. Enjoy the trip! Tremendous value: available while stocks last. Available from Hunter International for £12 13Gear
GuideA selection of tools,
equipment and gadgets from around the world
SmokeyThe Brandit Classic M65 style field jacket with removable lining has a fashionable vintage feel and look and is perfect for everyday andtheBrandit
outdoor use. Made from warm and highly breathable material, it is suitable for all seasons. A full length zip with press studs and storm flap ensures
closure along with a high collar for added protection. There’s also a concealed
hood with drawstring and elastic section for better fit. Other features include underarm vents and bottom
drawstring, two expandable chest pockets with flaps and press studs and two
for £84.95front pockets with flaps and press studs. from military1st.co.uk AvailableFantasticOutwell Tableware offers campers a choice of versatile products that look as flasks
smart at home as they do on the campsite. The beverages range, which includes this Remington Vacuum Flask, brings a pastel colour pallet to soften
the tough, quality stainless steel and aluminium materials used. It provides a neat
solution for hot and cold drinks around the campsite or on
the move. through outwell.com at £24.99 for the medium unit Available
and £29.99 for the large
Campingconvenience The new Easy Camp Air Comfy Motor range of inflatable drive-away awnings offer convenience and practicality. Fast and easy to pitch
using the supplied manual pump, the range adds versatility and extra room, without taking up a vast amount of space and weight. The range comprises Hurricane M (pictured) with protective front porch, and
Tempest M with sloping front. Features include a front D-door for the Hurricane M and a traditional straight zip front door plus D-shaped side door for the Tempest M. Windows and air vents keep the inside bright and airy, with curtains to
maintain privacy when needed. Available from
easycamp.com at £499.99 for the
Hurricane M and £559.99 for the Tempest MLarge sturdy military-style canvas and vintage-look leather bag for carrying clothing, a laptop, and more. It has an inside pocket which Travelbag
things like your charger, and mobile phone. The bag features removable is ideal for storing a laptop (up to 16’in), and other interior pockets for and adjustable straps. The front pockets have magnetic closures, and the main compartment and two side pockets have zips to open and
close. Available from http://www.notonthehighstreet.com for £69.SocketsensationThe Halfords Advanced 120-piece Socket Set is designed for the advanced mechanic as well as the DIY enthusiast. It is made from
quality chrome vanadium steel and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The set contains both metric and AF sockets,
along with different size drives, extension bars and combination spanners. It is supplied in a compact
carry case, which is perfect to keep all the pieces organised and
together. Available from Halfords
for £Techno-tankThis is the newest kit release in the 1/16 R/C tank series. It recreates the Japanese Type 10 Tank, which is also available as a 1/35 scale model kit. The Type 10 is the high-tech modern
addition to the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) and comes loaded with features such as a newly-designed 120mm smooth-bore main gun, and modular armour. The kit includes DMD Control Unit (T-08) and DMD Multi-Function Unit (MF-07) to enable
turret rotation, gun elevation/depression, and realistic sound and vibration actions. Available from fusionhobbies.com for £1,What dunnit?
The Tank Museum has teamed up with the classic mystery game
to present a fun-filled murder story based in the museum.
The Tank Museum Cluedo is the all-new board game that combines the fast-
paced gameplay of Cluedo with the iconic museum in Dorset. Players get to chose from being the historian, guide, cleaner, shop manager, mechanic or librarian, and move between the museum’s exhibitions
to see if the curator was killed by the Mark IV, TOG II, M4A4 Sherman, Tiger 131, T-72, or Challenger 2. available both in the museum shop and online.The Tank Museum Cluedo is
Gear4iPhoneMobile phones cost a small fortune these days, but they have become case
indispensable gadgets. Whether you use them to take pictures of your latest restoration project to upload to social media, or simply to
scan the web in search of parts, they’re worth protecting. The ultra-durable iPhone Platoon
Gear4 case can take on almost anything. It’s drop resistant up to 20ft – higher than an average second-storey
window - thanks to its two-part design and extra impact protection from
its robust construction. Available from various online retailers. Prices vary depending on what phone you haveCaughtThe HDC400 GPS Dash Cam is a low profile, OE-style camera that blends stylishly into your car interior. The discreet 1440P HD oncamera
resolution camera provides exceptional film quality and provides a wide 180° angle view of
provides enhanced night dynamic range (WDR) the road to capture more action. Wide
day or night. The GPS allows you to track journeys on the MyHDC vision, for exceptionally clear film,
smartphone easy. The direct to windscreen mount keeps the dash app, which also makes viewing and downloading footage on your
cam securely in place. Halfords at £129Available from
Bootsmade
A welly to keep you dry and safe in wet, muddy and dirty situations – perfect for forwalking
classic military vehicle shows! Part of the Funky Wellington Boots patterned range, these boots feature a stylish camouflage design with a hint of orange. Available from http://www.funky-
wellington-boots.co.uk for £SilentnightThe Basecamp 250 Sleeping Bag is a great piece for the
summer, insulated to keep you warm and cosy at night. With its mummy shape, it will hug your
bag which your sleeping body ensuring no heat is lost as you sleep. It comes with a small
bag stuffs into, keeping it compact and portable. The mummy-shaped
bags follow your body shape, giving you a cosier night’s sleep. The comfort temperature for this
and it weighs just 1.2kg. Available from Mountain Warehouse for £29.99sleeping bag is 5°C to 15°CSubscribe
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See pages 28-29 for this
month’s special offersBaltimore, Maryland, 1942.
Col H J Lawes, post commander, Holabird quartermaster depot and commandant of the
quartermaster motor transport school at the wheel of a “Jeep” giving his pupils first-hand instructions on
the vehicle training ground during a two-week preventive maintenance for motor vehicles course for officers
(See page 6)Classic Military Vehicle Issue 220 September 2019 Contents