Rhodesia: Special Forces Units
v.1.0 April 1, 2001
This historical order of battle is by Mr. Gordon A, MacKinlay.
GREYS SCOUTS
Raised July 1975, as The Mounted Infantry Unit, at Inkomo. Redesignated 1976 as Grey's Scouts, perpetuating the name of the volunteer unit raised during the Matabele Rebellion. A mixed race unit, some 150-200 strong in 1977. Some personnel transferred in 1980 to the Zimbabwe National Army 1st Mounted Infantry Battalion.
SELOUS SCOUTS
Raised 1973 under the cover story of being a special tracking unit (company sized) at Inkomo. Actual role being a clandestine pseudo terrorist unit, tasked to kill the enemy in their own areas. Mixed race, with a Black majority. Named after Frederick Selous (1851-1917), hunter explorer and friend of Cecil Rhodes. Became a para trained, 1,000 strong regiment by 1977. Disbanded 18 April 1980 with some of its Black soldiers transferred to the 4th (Holding Unit) Battalion, Rhodesian African Rifles; the Zimbabwe Government in Oct1980 raised the Zimbabwe National Army 1st Parachute Battalion, based on the Scouts.
THE 1st (Rhodesian) SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT
Formed as C Squadron, Malayan Scouts, from volunteers in 1950. Served in Malaya, redesignated C Squadron 22nd SAS. Based in Ndola, Northern Rhodesia, it was transferred to the command of the Southern Rhodesian Government in 1963 on the breakup of the Central African Federation. Being only some 25 strong, it regained squadron strength by 1965. Expanded to a regiment in Jun1978, 3 squadrons, some 250-300 men. Some Black soldiers into the Regiment in 1979. Disbanded 1980, some personnel transferred to the Zimbabwe National Army 1st Parachute Battalion.