Rhodesian Security Forces (Lion Country)

The Rhodesian Security Forces are the military forces of the Federation of the Rhodesias. The RSF has its origins in the volunteer corps of the British South African Company, who were established to keep order in the company-run territory.

Despite the countries isolation from 1963-1982, Rhodesia was still able to maintain a potent and skilled fighting force. With the lifting of the embargo, the Rhodesian military was able to modernise considerably.

Colonial Rule
The first 'Rhodesian' army to operate in the area were the South (and North) Rhodesian Volunteer Corps, both made up of mercenaries under the control of the British South Africa Company. These forces helped the Dominion of South Africa invade the German colonies of Southwest Africa (Namibia) and East Africa (Tanzania). When South Rhodesia was brought under direct British rule in 1923, though the South Rhodesian volunteer corps were the colonies de-facto army. The Southern Rhodesian defense act of 1927 established a professional army for the colony, the volunteer corps was disbanded due to the high costs.

In 1936, when the self-governing colony of South Rhodesia, and the non-self governing colony of North Rhodesia joined together in federation in 1936, the South Rhodesian Army and the North Rhodesian Volunteer Corps were folded together, and renamed the Rhodesian Security Forces.

The RSF's first experience with war was in 1939, when Rhodesia joined the Second World War against Germany, on behalf of their overlord Britain. All in all, 46,243 Rhodesians of all races took part in the war, with around a quarter of these men serving in Europe itself.

Rhodesia's army helped the British empire (along with New Zealand and Australia) during both the Malayan Emergency, from 1948-1960, and the Mau Mau Uprising from 1952-1960. In 1963, Rhodesia unilaterally declared her independence from Great Britain.

Rhodesian Bush War
The period of the drawn out Rhodesian Bush War (1963-1992) was the largest and most important conflict the RSF was involved in. From 1963 to 1974, the RSF was tasked with containing and stabilising the countryside by putting down RAPP and ZALF attacks.

However, after the collapse of Portuguese rule in Mozambique and Angola, the RSF was put on the defensive, and switched to search and destroy, all the while honing their counter-insurgency tactics to one of the most effective anti-terrorist and asymmetrical warfare forces the world had known. However, Rhodesia's lack of a coastline, plus the embargo on trade with the country put the nation in a precarious situation. During this period, the army would make do with every weapon it was able to source, even ones captured from the enemy.

With the conclusion of the Bush War in 1992, the RSF is mostly tasked with peacekeeping exercises in the wild countries (tribal areas) and halting black market operations, as well as people trafficking. It numbers 34,500 active personnel, and 73,000 reserves, though a half-years mandatory military training is required for everyone over the age of 18, this isn't counted in official numbers.

Rhodesian Airforce
The Rhodesian Airforce was established in 1935 in South Rhodesia, a year before federation. The airforce of the time was mostly made up of training aircraft, the pilots themselves were a reserve force and were meant to utilise other aircraft in the even of war. In WWII, Rhodesian pilots were sent to Canada to learn to use the British aircraft based upon their already existing skills.

After WWII, the Rhodesian airfoce increased in size, and a professional force was established. From the 1950s until 1963, Rhodesia underwent a modernisation effort to replace their few outdated propeller aircraft. The most popular aircraft were the (then modern) Canberra B2 jet bomber, and the De Havilland Vampire fighter. Rhodesia was also unique in having a large helicopter force, then a rarity.

Upon independence and the beginning of the Bush War, the airforce would prove to be vitally important in combatting guerrilla activity, aircraft would be necessary for the success of the famous Fireforce anti-insurgency tactic. Despite the antiquated aircraft, the planes were kept in exceptional working order.

Nowadays, the so-called 'legacy' airforce (made up of older Vampires, Cessnas and Canberras) is still in operational use as a reserve, as well as for reconnaissance missions, though Rhodesia has since procured a more modern set of aircraft following a join manufacturing operation with South Africa. The airforce itself numbers 16,000 active and 5,200 reserves.

Rhodesian Navy
Rhodesia lacks access to the sea. Despite this, the army still services a potent brown-water navy that operates along the Zambezi river, as well as in lake Malawi. The navy was brought into existence in 1959, to protect lake Malawi's commercial operations. The 'river regiment', made up of gunboats that can be easily transported across land, was established in 1978, to defend against insurgent operations along the Zambezi river.

Now the navy is made up of several small cruisers and gunboats operational in lakes Malawi and Tanganyika, and many gunboats and transports operating along the Zambezi and lake Kariba. The navy also operates a small amphibious division.

The naval forces number 5,200.