Thanks, but no thanks - 10 dangerous roles in the military
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Military Despatches
Vol 45 March 2021
Thanks, but no thanks
10 dangerous roles in the military
It pays to be a winner
The US Navy SEALs
An offer you can’t refuse
Did the US Military and the Mafia collaborate?
Colonel Arthur ‘Bull’ Simons
US Army Special Forces legend
For the military enthusiast
CONTENTS
March 2021
Page 14
Click on any video below to view
How much do you know
about movie theme
songs? Take our quiz
and find out.
Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African
Goede interviews former Defence Force used
28’s gang boss David a mixture of English,
Williams. Afrikaans, slang and
techno-speak that few Special Forces - US Navy SEALS
outside the military
could hope to under-
stand. Some of the terms 46
Features
were humorous, some Changes to the engine room
6 The Sea Cadets announce new
were clever, while others
Ten dangerous military roles appointments.
were downright crude.
These are ten military roles in 48
history that you did not want.
Remembrance Day
Part of Hipe’s “On the 22 32 Seaman Piper Pauwels from
couch” series, this is an Who’s running the show? It’s not really a game TS Rook researches the mean-
interview with one of The nine people that became How simulators are changing ing of Remembrance Day.
author Herman Charles Chief of the SADF. the way the military trains. 50
Bosman’s most famous 24 36
characters, Oom Schalk Memories of a Sea Cadet
An offer you can’t refuse Long distance air mail Deene Collopy, Country Man-
A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in Did the US Military and the Ma- The Excalibur extended-range ager for Oil Spill Response
dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area fia collaborate in World War II? guided artillery shell could be- Limited, remembers some of the
war between rival taxi plagued with gang 26 come one of the deadliest weap- annual courses he did as a young
organisations. violence, to view first- Miracle of the skies
ons on the modern battlefield. Sea Cadet.
hand how Project Almost torn in half, an Ameri- 38
Ceasefire is dealing with can B-17 bomber attempts to Military ranks
Quiz
the situation. make it back home. The Angolan Armed Forces.
28 44 43
Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every-
When the cold war turns hot International Seafarers Day Military Small Arms
thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. We show you 15 side arms, you
An incident that nearly led to A day in the life of a seafarer.
war. tell us what they are.
Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe.
00 3
CONTENTS
Page 76
Editor’s
PUBLISHER
Sitrep Hipe Media
EDITOR
Matt Tennyson
PHOTO EDITOR
C
all the weather depart- tleman and I wish him everything Regine Lord
ment and tell them to get of the best for his special day.
the Ark out of mothballs. Someone mentioned to me that
CONTRIBUTORS
Captain WM Bartie, Robin G.
March in military history
We’re probably going to have a I tend to do a number of articles
Coles, Deene Collopy, Ryan
flood. on the Sea Cadets. They’re prob-
Murphy, Matt O’Brien, Seaman Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review
The reason I say this is that it ably right. Now I was never a
Piper Pauwels, Matt Tennyson.
is 10 February and basically the Sea Cadet, nor was I in the navy. 75
March issue of Military Des- I was army for my entire military 52 62
Military Despatches is pub- At the front
patches is ready to go. career. lished on-line every month. World War I Avro Lancaster bomber The remarkable story of Gener-
There are a number of reasons It’s just that the Sea Cadets are The articles used in Military This month we compare the The RAF bomber that carried al Jannie Geldenhuys. He wsa
for this. First of all I was getting cunning. How, you may well ask. Despatches are copyrighted weapons and equipment of the out the night-time bombing regarded by many as one of
tired of only completing the mag- Well they take the time to actual- and may not be used without major combatants of World War raids over Germany. the leading military command-
azine a few minutes before mid- ly send articles to Military Des- prior permission from the edi- I. ers that South Africa ever pro-
night on the last day of the month. patches. Battlefield duced.
tor.
The second reason is that I have So if you have an organisa- Famous Figures
The views stated in this maga- 68
two other magazine that I have to tion, newsletter or even a story zine do not necessary reflect the
get ready for March. that you feel would be of interest 58 Ten bloodiest battles Front Cover
views of Military Despatches, These ten battles claimed more
Third, and probably most im- to “the military enthusiast”, feel the editor, the staff, or Hipe Arthur ‘Bull’ Simons Members of the US Navy
portant, I need to do some other free to send it to us and we will Media. The US Army Special Forces than 11 million casualties. SEALS on a training exercise
work of the paying variety. do our best to publish it. Colonel best know leading the off the west coast of America.
One of the magazines I’m do- Gaming
As many of you know, I was Hipe! Sơn Tây, an attempt to rescue
ing for March is the quarterly born and raised in Ireland. And P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 US prisoners of war from a 72
issue of ‘Jimmy’s Own’, the of- this month, on 17 March, is Saint South Africa. North Vietnamese prison.
ficial magazine of the South Afri- Patrick’s Day. So I will be hav-
SPMBT
An excellent military simulator
can Signals Association. ing a few of my relatives - Un- email that is free of charge.
It’s a very special edition and cle Bushmills, Uncle Tullamore editor@hipe.co.za
devoted entirely to Sydney ‘Un- Dew, Uncle Jameson, and Un- Series Review
cle Syd’ Ireland who will be cel- cle Paddy - around to celebrate. Back Issues
ebrating his 100th birthday on 9 I may even invite my American To view any back issues of 74
March. As far as I know he is the cousin Jack Daniels. Sláinte. Military Despatches, go to Blackadder goes forth
last surviving South African sig- www.militarydespatches.co.za Set in the trenches of World
naller of World War II. Until next time. or click here. War I, British Army Captain
I’ve had the honour and pleas- Edmund Blackadder will do
Matt
ure of knowing Uncle Syd for a anything to escape the front
number of years. He is a true gen- lines.
4 5
Top Ten Top Ten
to clear the tunnels of enemy,
10 most dangerous military gather intelligence, and blow
the tunnels up one by one.
roles Infantrymen, primarily from
Australia, New Zealand and
These are ten military roles in history that you did not want. America, volunteered for the
O
job and became known as ‘tun-
ften the mere fact that rowers, could always be relied galleys. Many regarded this as nel rats’. Their motto was the
you’re in the military is on. a death sentence because few Latin phrase “Non Gratus Ro-
dangerous enough. This Contrary to popular belief, would survive the battles to dentum” - ”not worth a rat”.
is especially true during times ancient galley rowers tended come, or the harsh conditions. The men had to be small and
of war. not to be slaves, but were in- Chained to the benches where thin to stand any chance of mak-
People serve in the military stead free men who were well they worked, most spent their ing their way through the tight
for a variety of reasons. Many respected for their profession. entire short existence confined passageways.
will do so because of patriotism The work of the galley row- to the rowing deck. Whenever troops discovered
and a sense of duty towards their er was skilled and required high They were unable to wash or a tunnel entrance the area would
country. Others see it as an ad- levels of training and coordina- even go to the toilet. It was of- CLAUSTROPHOBIA: A tunnel rat prepares to enter a Viet Cong first be checked for booby traps
tunnel complex.
venture and a test of manhood. tion between each rower. ten said that with the right wind before a tunnel rat was sent in.
Many serve because they In battle the lives of all on direction you could smell a gal- Armed with only a pistol, a
don’t have a choice in the mat- board were reliant on the talents ley long before you would see Tunnel Rats and even provinces. This meant bayonet and a flashlight, the
ter and are conscripted or draft- of the men rowing the galley. So it. From the 1940s during the In- that the Viet Cong could move tunnel rat would be lowered
ed into service. And there are it made sense that ancient navies Unable to move, the rowers dochina War against the French forces and equipment unseen into the tunnel.
others that consider it a career. would be reluctant to place their would often develop sores on colonial forces, the Viet Minh and protected. Many of them chose not to
Those that serve in a combat lives in the hands of unskilled their body, caused by the fric- created an extensive network of To combat this problem the arm themselves with the stand-
role often face greater dangers and unreliable slaves. tion of the chains as they rowed. underground tunnels and com- US military tried flooding the ard issue .45 calibre pistol. Due
that those that do not. Yet there This would, however, change These wounds would often be- plexes. tunnels, or using gas to kill or to the confined space, they dis-
are some combat roles that are dramatically between the an- come infected in the unsanitary These were later expanded by flush out those within. Yet the liked the intense muzzle blast
more dangerous than others. cient world and the middle ages. conditions, resulting in even the Viet Cong during the Viet- sheer size of the tunnels and of the .45, which would often
The strange thing with some By the 1600s the size of gal- more deaths. nam War. By the 1960s there the use of simple, but highly ef- leave them temporarily deaf.
of these roles is that people ac- leys and galley fleets was be- Even if the men survived were underground hospitals, fective water traps, meant that The preferred pistols were 9x19
tually volunteered for them. coming much larger. This meant these terrible conditions, they training grounds, storage fa- these attempts met with little mm calibre, often with an im-
Here are ten dangerous com- that a greater number of rowers still had to contend with the cilities, headquarters and even success. provised suppressor.
bat roles in history, in no par- were needed. The supplies of greatest danger - battle on the stages for political theatre. The The tunnels were spread over The tunnels were filled with
ticular order. skilled oarsmen could not keep open seas. Viet Cong, who were skilled several levels, with each level dangers. Defending soldiers of-
up with the demand. If a ship was sunk, the rowers, at guerrilla warfare, might stay sealed by a watertight trap door. ten manned holes on the sides
Galley Rower The era of the galley slave chained to their benches, would underground for several months There were U-bends in tunnels of the tunnels through which
Before the invention of the was born as navies manned be dragged down to a watery at a time. on the same level and these spears could be thrust, impaling
steam engine, ships had two their fleets with whichever un- grave. The Viet Cong would often would often be filled with water, a crawling intruder.
means of propulsion. fortunate that they could seize. Capture by the enemy may emerge from the tunnels, launch preventing gas from spreading. There were dangerous crea-
They would either rely on the This practice became espe- have seemed a good option, but a quick raid or ambush, then es- The Americans even tried tures such as snakes, rats, spi-
free, but unreliable, wind, or on cially common in France when it was not. It was a case of heads cape back into the tunnels be- sending dogs down into the ders, scorpions and ants. Ven-
human sheer brute force. the king ordered judges to sen- you lose, tails you also lose. fore the might of the American tunnels, but they were quickly omous snakes were placed
Although sails could harness tence men to the galleys for They would either be put to war machine could be turned killed by the numerous traps inside a hollow bamboo tube
the power of the wind, a calm their crimes instead of issuing death, or used as galley slaves against them. lining the tight passageways. that was attached to a tripwire.
day could leave you drifting at the death penalty. by the enemy. The tunnel complexes could It was decided that the only When tripped, the snake would
the mercy of the sea. Human Criminals were usually giv- stretch for hundred of kilo- way to clear the tunnels was by fall onto the intruder.
power, in the form of galley en a ten year sentence to the metres, often linking villages sending in specialised soldiers Often the tunnel rats would
6 7
Top Ten Top Ten
operate in the dark so that they trition rate of pilots. of World War II, the skies over noeuvres.
light of their torch did not give Germany were not the safest
First of all, early aircraft were This meant flying in this con-
them away. beset with technical problems. place to be. fined, see-through turret, envel-
It was a job filled with stress Engines would stall in a steep The US Army Air Forces and oped by the pitch-black sky and
as every centimetre of a tunnel climb or tight turn. In a steepthe Royal Air Force Bomber constantly revolving the turret
could prove deadly. They would dive the wings could tear off. Command began the strategic to scan the eerie darkness for a
strain their senses, listening for Machine guns would often jam bombing campaign of German shadow that could be an attack-
the slightest sound such as a during combat. There was no cities. This was also known as ing night fighter.
man breathing or try to smell radio communication between area bombardment. German night fighter fa-
the sweat of a person close by. planes or to the ground. According to a British Air voured the tactic of attack a
CRAMPED CONDITIONS: Space inside the Sperry ball Turret
Clearing a section of tunnel Pilots would often have as Staff paper, “The ultimate aim British bomber from behind,
was limited.
and setting up the explosives little as ten hours flying timeof an attack on a town area is to and the tail gunner was usually
could take anywhere from a few before being sent into combat. break the morale of the popula- their first target.
minutes to several hours. Some of them found it difficulttion which occupies it. To en- by angry German civilians and the belly gunner first.
Many of the tunnel rats in Vi- enough to manage straight and sure this, we must achieve two lynched from the nearest lamp- It was not uncommon for the Flamethrower operator
etnam did not survive the war. things: first, we must make the
level flight, let alone the twists post. turret door to jam shut in a dam- The idea of setting your ene-
Later, similar teams were and turns of a dogfight. town physically uninhabitable German civilians referred to aged bomber, leaving the belly my on fire is nothing new and
used by the Soviet Army during Many pilots, on both sides, and, secondly, we must make the bombers crews as terror- gunner unable to bail out. man has done his best to turn
the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the people conscious of constant
were killed in aircraft accidents. flieger (terror flyers). flame into a weapon for thou-
and the Israel Defence Forces. personal danger. The immedi-
In fact the life expectancy of a The bombers used by the US Tail gunner sands of years.
Afghanistan has an extensive pilot during World War I was a ate aim, is therefore, twofold, Army Air Force were the Boe- During the strategic bomb- From as early as the first cen-
series of historic tunnels used mere 11 days. namely, to produce destruction ing B-17 Flying Fortress and the ing campaign against Germany, tury ‘Greek Fire’ was deployed
for transporting water, the kariz, One of the greatest dangers and fear of death.” Consolidated B-24 Liberator. being a tail gunner in a Vickers in a flamethrower-type weapon
and during the 1979–1989 Sovi- they faced was that of their air- The US Army Air Force car- The B-17 was armed with 13 Wellington bomber or a Avro on board naval ships in order to
et war in Afghanistan, such tun- ried out daylight raids over Ger-
craft catching fire. Most of the 12.7 mm M2 Browning ma- Lancaster bomber was not the give the Byzantines a combat
nels were used by Mujahideen planes were made from wood many, while the RAF bombed chine guns, while the B-24 had most desirable job. advantage.
fighters. The Soviet 40th Army and canvas and would often at night. 10. One thing they both had in The RAF carried out their In 900 AD the Chinese devel-
had their own tunnel rats, who catch fire when hit. Besides facing heavy anti-air- common was a Sperry ball tur- bombing missions at night. The oped a piston-type flamethrow-
were tasked with flushing peo- While parachutes were avail-craft fire, bomber crews also ret in the belly of the aircraft. tail gunner would spend many er that used a substance similar
ple out of the tunnels, then go- able (they were issued to bal- faced the danger of German The Sperry ball turret was hours a night flying backwards to gasoline.
ing through the tunnels to dis- loon observers) they were not Luftwaffe fighters. And many very small in order to reduce in cramped, freezing and soli- The modern flamethrower
arm booby traps and kill those issued to pilots. of these bombing missions were drag, and was typically operated tary conditions. as we known it was first put to
who remained. carried out without fighter es-
If a pilot’s aircraft caught on by the smallest man of the crew. The life expectancy of a rear deadly use during the First and
A similar Israeli team called cort.
fire they had three options. First To enter the turret, the turret gunner, also known as ‘tail-end Second World Wars.
SAMOOR (“Weasel”) is part of It was only in 1944 that the in-
of all they could ‘bail out’ of the was moved until the guns were Charlie’, was desperately short; Able to produce a long stream
the Yahalom elite combat engi- troduction of the Lockheed P-38
burning aircraft and fall to their pointed straight down. The gun- estimates vary but suggest that of accurate flame, the weap-
neering unit. death. Secondly, they could re-Lightning, Republic P-47 Thun- ner placed his feet in the heel they could expect to be shot on seemed an ideal solution to
main with the aircraft and burnderbolt and the North American rests and occupied his cramped down, or killed, within two break the stalemate of trench
World War I pilot to death. P-51 Mustang allowed Allied station. weeks, or up to five operations. warfare.
World War I was the first Or thirdly, as most pilots fighters to escort bombers all He would put on a safety strap According to Yorkshire Air Mu- It could incinerate enemy sol-
war where aircraft were used would carry a pistol with them,the way to their target. and close and lock the turret seum, 20,000 rear gunners lost diers sheltering in bunkers or
in combat. While many pilots he would shoot himself in the Even bomber crews that man- door. There was no room inside their lives during World War II. trenches, or cause them to flee
would go on to survive the war, head. Most opted for the last aged to bail out after being shot for a parachute, which was left The primary role of the tail for their lives. The problem was
casualties among pilots were choice. down over Germany were not in the cabin above the turret. gunner was to defend his air- that they could be gunned down
still very high. safe. There was the very real A common tactic of the Ger- craft from enemy fighter attack before they were close enough
There were numerous factors Ball turret gunner danger that, upon parachuting to man fighters was to come up from the rear, and to warn the to use the flamethrower.
that contributed to the high at- From early 1943 until the end the ground, they could be seized under the bomber and take out pilot when to take evasive ma- During World War II the
8 9
Top Ten Top Ten flamethrower was used to as- aged it could also cause the sault heavily defended enemy U-boat to sink to the bottom. positions such as bunkers and If the water was deep enough pillboxes were the enemy shel- the U-boat’s hull would be tering inside could be burnt to crushed. If, however, the water death or flushed out by the in- was not deep enough to crush tense flames. the hull, the U-boat could lie on Yet the flamethrower opera- the seabed, unable to surface. tors didn’t have things all their Eventually they would run out own way. There were a variety of breathable air and the crew of deadly risks of using flame- would die a slow death. throwers in combat. Statistics show that U-boat The equipment was heavy and crew suffered a 75% casualty made moving around a combat rate during World War II. In zone slower and therefore more BANZAI: A Japanese Kamikaze dives towards a US Navy ship, other words, three out of four of dangerous. aiming to crash his aircraft into it. them did not survive the war. The flamethrower also had a very short burn time and would convoys through the Battle of three eight-hour shifts. One SOE/OSS Operative use up fuel very quickly. If you SAFE THIS TIME: A U-boat crew poses for the camera after re- the Atlantic. shift was for sleeping, one for Early during World War II the missed your target you would turning from a patrol. Yet 75% of U-boat crew would not survive The advancement of ASDIC, normal duties, and one for mis- British had been forced out of now be faced by an enemy who the war. known as SONAR by the Amer- cellaneous tasks. It was a rou- Europe. It was vital that they es- would probably not be amused icans, meant that escorts could tine that could quickly become tablish some sort of a presence, that you just tried to set him on could have a strong psychologi- An Escort Group consisted of detect submarines under water. monotonous. especially in France. fire. cal effect on the operator. several small warships organ- The men that commanded Yet these conditions were To this end the British estab- The weapon was also very That, combined with the con- ized and trained to operate to- and crewed U-boats were vol- nothing compared to coming lished the Special Operations visible, making its operator a stant danger, would often be gether providing protection for unteers and the selection pro- under attack. Executive (SOE). These men prime target for enemy fire, es- enough to tip even a balanced trade convoys. cess was rigorous. They were a If they were detected by an and women would be given pecially from snipers. Even if individual over the edge. Escort groups were a World breed apart and wore their uni- escort ship they could expect to training and then sent into oc- the bullet missed you, it could At Iwo Jima flamethrower op- War II tactical innovation in form with pride. come under depth charge attack. cupied Europe, and sometimes puncture the flamethrower tank, erators suffered a massive 92% anti-submarine warfare by the Yet the conditions they had to A depth charge attack could even Germany. causing you and nearby soldiers casualty rate with the average Royal Navy to combat the threat work and live under were harsh. go on for hours until either the Their tasks could include an- to be engulfed in flames. life expectancy to be just four of the Kriegsmarine’s “wolf- They would often be at sea for U-boat managed to escape, or ything from spying on the ene- Another major problem was minutes. pack” tactics. months at a time, living and they were sunk or forced to the my and gathering intelligence, that the range of the flame- Early escort groups often con- working in cramped conditions. surface. to recruiting and training local thrower was far less than that of U-boat crewman tained destroyers, sloops, naval Fresh rations were consumed If a depth charge exploded resistance groups. They would a rifle. In order to be used effec- During World War I and trawlers and, later, corvettes of very quickly and for the re- close enough to the U-boat it also carry out acts of sabotage. tively, the operator would have World War II the Germans made differing specifications lack- mainder of the trip they would could damage the hull. The wa- The work was both demand- to get close to their target. This excellent use of their U-boats ing the ability to manoeuvre eat canned food. They could not ter pressure would then cause ing and dangerous. The slight- gave the enemy time to pick (submarines). together as a flotilla of similar shower and often were unable to the hull to implode. Death est slip-up could result in cap- them off. In fact during World War II warships, but rigorously trained wash clothes due to the limited would be quick as those inside ture and execution. It could also have a heavy they came close to turning the in anti-submarine tactics to amount of fresh water on board. were crushed. If, for example, you were op- psychological effect on the op- entire tide of the war by deny- use teamwork emphasizing the While they travelled on the The ballast tanks could also erating in France, it would not erator. The sight of men on fire, ing Britain vital supplies during unique sensors, weapons, speed surface as much as possible, be damaged, forcing the U-boat be enough to be merely able to screaming in pain. The constant the Battle of the Atlantic. and turning radius of each ship. when they were forced to dive to surface, where they would be speak French. You would have stream of charred bodies and the To counter the threat of the The development of these ‘es- the air would become stale very at the mercy of the guns of the to be fluent and it would have smell of burnt flesh, and know- U-boats, merchant ships began cort groups’ proved an effective quickly. escort ships. to sound as if French was your ing that you were the cause, travelling in armed convoys. means of defending shipping The day was divided up into If the dive controls were dam- first language. 10 11
Top Ten Top Ten
Most of your identity docu- for the Japanese. The Ameri- battalions were used extensive- Among the penal battal- One of the most infamous pe- stall discipline and stop them
ments, travel permits, and so on cans were closing in and were ly by both the German and So- ions these missions were often nal units was the 36th Grenadier from retreating in battle, Stalin
would be forgeries. If they were about to launch an invasion of viet armies. known as “Reise in den Him- Division of the Waffen SS. The issued the infamous Order 227
not up to date and spot on, you Okinawa, one of the homeland Prior to the war the Germans mel” (Journey to Heaven) mis- units was originally made up in July 1942. It was also known
could easily be caught out. islands. had used soldiers that were con- sions. of convicted poachers and their as the “Not one step back” or-
Your cover story as to who In desperation, the Japanese sidered disruptive to general In the German Wehrmacht it skill was used to hunt and kill der. No unit was allowed to re-
you were and what you were Imperial Army came up with morale but were otherwise wor- was possible to be a high rank- partisans on the Eastern Front. treat and anyone that did could
doing there had to be perfect a solution - Kamikaze (Divne thy of service in specialised pe- ing officer one day and then re- Yet the unit grew and its ranks face immediate execution or
and stand up to any scrutiny. Wind) attacks. nal units. duced to the rank of private in a were swelled by some of Ger- transfer to a penal battalion.
You would also have to know What this meant was that a pi- However with the war turning penal battalion the next day. many’s worst criminals and The NKVD Secret Police that
if there were any curfews en- lot would climb into his plane, against them all sorts of pris- The 500th SS Parachute Bat- most insane men. The unit soon commanded the battalions con-
forced in the area and any local fly out over the American fleet, oners, convicted soldiers and talion (SS-Fallschirmjägerbat- gained a reputation for extreme sidered them cannon fodder. The
regulations. put his plane into a steep dive, even hardened criminals were aillon 500) was the parachute brutality towards civilians. units would be sent to where the
You needed to know the lay and deliberately crash it into a conscripted into the ranks in a unit of the Waffen-SS employed The unit fell under the com- fighting was the thickest. They
of the land and who the local ship. desperate bid to stave off defeat. in dangerous actions behind mand of SS-Oberführer Oskar were kept under armed guard.
contacts were. The planes were often loaded Used to carry out the most enemy lines. It was decided to Direlwanger, a man with whom When they went into action they
Unfortunately most opera- with explosives to make them dangerous and back breaking extend enlistment to those in few could compete in cruelty. were followed by troops known
tives dropped into occupied Eu- more effective. tasks, the doomed men were the SS disciplinary units which He was a convicted child mo- as ‘Barrier guards’. They would
rope were quickly captured by While these attacks were not kept in line by officers and mil- were formed from officers, lester and described as a psy- set up machine guns and mow
the ruthless but highly efficient always that successful (pilots itary police units along with the non-commissioned officers and chopathic killer and an expert in down anyone trying to retreat.
German Gestapo. would often miss the ships due promise that should they serve soldiers who had problems with extermination and a devotee of Those that served in Russian
Operatives captured were of- to a lack of flight training) they with bravery they might be al- military law. sadism and necrophilia. penal battalions had two choic-
ten tortured in the most horrific did shock the Americans. In fact lowed to return to regular army The 999th Light Afrika Divi- The Soviets used about es - advance and be killed by the
ways, interrogated, and usually the Americans gave them the units. sion was formed from civilian 430,000 men in penal battal- Germans, or retreat and be shot
executed. Because they were nickname of “Baka Bombs”. In reality they had little choice criminals and prison inmates ions. by your own troops.
not wearing a uniform they Baka is the Japanese term for in the matter, for refusal to carry who had been deemed “unfit for They were considered ex- Not much of a choice when
were not entitled to be treated idiot. out the often suicidal missions military service” pendable and in an effort to in- you consider it.
as prisoners of war, but as spies. would result in summary exe-
When the Americans entered Penal Battalion cution for the original sentence.
the war they formed the Office For as long as there have been For those men on death row this
of Strategic Services (OSS) and wars, criminals and undesirable would mean a bullet to the back
they worked closely with the elements have been viewed as of the head or an appointment
SOE. useful but disposable cannon with the hangman’s noose.
The SOE would later go on to fodder. Once the condemned men ar- Journal of the South African Legion
become Britain’s MI6 and the They were viewed as ideal for rived at their designated units Tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Legioen
OSS would become the CIA. dangerous or suicidal missions they would be given the most
or tasks that were beneath regu- dangerous tasks which could
lar soldiers. involve clearing minefields, at- The SA Legion is a national organisation, part of a world-
Kamikaze pilot Arranged into penal battal- tacking heavily defended posi- wide family that addresses the needs of ex-service per-
This was one of those jobs ions, they faced a short life of tions to soften up the enemy for sonnel and their dependents by way of housing, pensions,
were your survival rate was rat- misery and suffering, followed the real soldiers waiting behind employment and general welfare. It is apolitical, non-sec-
ed at around about zero percent. by an almost certain death on them, or used as cannon fodder tarian, non-racial, non-sexist and non-partisan.
Not exactly a great recruitment the front lines. to defend a specific location
slogan. Yet most Kamikaze pi- The Romans used penal le- where they would sacrifice their The Springbok is the official journal of the South African
lots were volunteers. gions and Napoleon used penal lives, allowing regular army Legion. Read the December issue of Springbok by click-
Towards the end of World War battalions. But it was during the units they time needed to re- ing on the cover to the left.
II, things were not going well Second World War that penal treat.
12 13
ious Scouts and Raiders (Joint) in November 1942 during Op- Naval Combat Demolition
Special Forces - US Navy SEALs training.
The Scouts and Raiders’ mis-
eration Torch on the North Af-
rican Coast. Scouts and Raiders
Units (NCDUs)
In September 1942, 17 Navy
sion was to identify and rec- also supported landings in Sic- salvage personnel arrived at
Part twenty-four of a series that looks at Special Forces around the world. This month we onnoitre the objective beach, ATB Little Creek, Virginia for
ily, Salerno, Anzio, Normandy,
feature the United States Navy Seals. maintain a position on the des- a week-long course in demoli-
and southern France.
A
long with the Brit- The CIA’s highly secretive and As a result, the joint Army, ignated beach prior to a landing, The second group of Scouts tions, explosive cable cutting,
ish Special Air Ser- elite Special Operations Group Marine Corps, and Navy Am- and guide the assault waves to and Raiders, code-named Spe- and commando raiding tech-
vice (SAS), the United (SOG) recruits operators from phibious Scout and Raider the landing beach. cial Service Unit No. 1, was es- niques.
States Navy Seals are probably SEAL Teams, with joint opera- School was established in 1942 Navy chief petty officers and tablished on 7 July 1943, as a On 10 November 1942, the
the most recognised special tions going back to the MACV- at Fort Pierce, Florida. sailors came from the boat pool joint and combined operations first combat demolition unit
forces unit in the world. SOG during the Vietnam War. at ATB, Solomons, Maryland, force. successfully cut cable and net
The United States Navy Sea, This cooperation still exists to- Scouts and Raiders and Army Raider personnel The third and final Scouts barriers across the Wadi Sebou
Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, day, as evidenced by military The Scouts and Raiders were came from the 3rd and 9th In- and Raiders organization oper- River during Operation Torch
commonly known as Navy operations in Iraq and Afghan- formed in September of that fantry Divisions. They trained ated in China. Scouts and Raid- in North Africa.
SEALs, are the U.S. Navy’s pri- istan. year, just nine months after the at Little Creek until embarking ers were deployed to fight with This enabled USS Dallas
mary special operations force attack on Pearl Harbour, from for the North Africa campaign the Sino-American Cooperative (DD-199) to traverse the water
and a component of the Naval Origins the Observer Group, a joint the following November. Organization (SACO). and insert U.S. Rangers who
Special Warfare Command. Although not formally found- U.S. Army-Marine-Navy unit. The first group included Phil captured the Port Lyautey aer-
Among the SEALs’ main ed until 1962, the modern-day Recognizing the need for a H. Bucklew, the “Father of odrome.
functions are conducting small- U.S. Navy SEALs trace their beach reconnaissance force, a Naval Special Warfare,” after By April 1944, a total of 34
unit special operation missions roots to World War II. select group of Army and Navy whom the Naval Special Air NCDUs were deployed to Eng-
in maritime, jungle, urban, arc- The United States Military personnel assembled at Am- Force Warfare Center|Na- land in preparation for Opera-
tic, mountainous, and desert recognized the need for the cov- phibious Training Base (ATB) val Special Warfare tion Overlord, the amphibious
environments. SEALs are typ- ert reconnaissance of landing Little Creek, Virginia on 15 Center building is landing at Normandy.
ically ordered to capture or to beaches and coastal defences. August 1942 to begin Amphib- named. On 6 June 1944, under heavy
eliminate high level targets, Commissioned in fire, the NCDUs at Omaha
or to gather intelligence October 1942, this Beach managed to blow eight
behind enemy lines. group saw combat complete gaps and two partial
All active SEALs are
male and members
of the U.S. Navy.
14 15
gaps in the German defences. maritime and coastal targets. Navy Crosses, 42 Silver stars,
The NCDUs suffered 31 They also developed a close 402 Bronze Stars, two Legions
killed and 60 wounded, a working relationship with the of Merit, 352 Commendation
casualty rate of 52%. Mean- Republic of Korea Underwater Medals, and 51 Navy Achieve-
while, the NCDUs at Utah Demolitions Unit (predecessor ment Medals
Beach met less intense enemy to the Navy Special Warfare Later awards would bring the
fire. They cleared 640 metres of Flotilla), which continues to- total to three Medals of Honour
beach in two hours, another 820 day. TRIDENT: Special Warfare in- and five Navy Crosses. SEAL
metres by the afternoon. On 15 September 1950, UDTs signia known as the “SEAL Tri- Team One was awarded three
Casualties at Utah Beach supported Operation Chro- dent” Presidential Unit Citations and
were significantly lighter with mite, the amphibious landing at one Navy Unit Commendation;
six killed and eleven wounded. Incheon. UDT 1 and 3 provided recommended the establish- SEAL Team Two received two
During Operation Overlord, not personnel who went in ahead of ment of guerrilla and coun- Presidential Unit Citations.
a single demolitioneer was lost the landing craft, scouting mud ter-guerrilla units. THE NAM: A Navy SEAL on an operation in Vietnam. The Viet By the end of the war, 48
to improper handling of explo- flats, marking low points in the These units would be able to Cong referred to them as “the men with green faces,” due to the SEALs had been killed in Viet-
sives. channel, clearing fouled propel- operate from sea, air or land. camouflage paint they wore during combat missions. nam, but estimates of their kill
lers, and searching for mines. This was the beginning of the count are as high as 2,000.
OSS Maritime Unit Four UDT personnel acted as Navy SEALs. All SEALs came UDTs. Upon making it to a cial Zone where they were to
Much like their brethren in wave-guides for the Marine from the Navy’s Underwater SEAL team, they would under- disrupt the enemy supply and Reorganization
the US Army Special Forces landing. Demolition Teams, who had go a SEAL Basic Indoctrination troop movements and in the On 1 May 1983, UDT–11 was
(the Green Berets), the Navy In October 1950, UDTs sup- already gained extensive expe- (SBI) training class at Camp Mekong Delta to fulfil riverine re-designated as SEAL Team
SEALs claim a lineage to the ported mine-clearing opera- rience in commando warfare in Kerry in the Cuyamaca Moun- operations, fighting on the in- Five, UDT–21 was re-designat-
Office of Strategic Services tions in Wonsan Harbor where Korea; however, the Underwa- tains. After SBI training class, land waterways. ed as SEAL Team Four, UDT–
(OSS). frogmen would locate and mark ter Demolition Teams were still they would enter a platoon and Combat with the VC was di- 12 became SEAL Delivery Ve-
The OSS was a paramilitary mines for minesweepers. necessary to the Navy’s am- conduct platoon training. rect. Unlike the conventional hicle Team One (SDVT–1), and
organization and also a progen- On 12 October 1950, two phibious force. In March 1962, SEALs were warfare methods of firing artil- UDT–22 was re-designated as
itor of the CIA. Army Special U.S. minesweepers hit mines The first two teams were deployed to South Vietnam lery into a coordinate location, SDVT-2.
Forces, founded in 1952 by and sank. UDTs rescued 25 formed in January 1962 and sta- as advisors for the purpose of the SEALs operated close to SEAL Team Three, was es-
former members of the OSS, sailors. tioned on both US coasts: Team training Army of the Republic their targets. tablished 1 October 1983 in
established the first military The next day, William Gi- One at Naval Amphibious Base of Vietnam commandos in the Into the late 1960s, the Coronado, California. SEAL
special operations combat diver annotti conducted the first U.S. Coronado, in San Diego, Cali- same methods they were trained SEALs were successful in a Team Eight was established on
units nearly a decade before the combat operation using an “aq- fornia and Team Two at Naval themselves. new style of warfare, effective 1 October 1988 at Naval Am-
SEALs were created in 1962. ualung” when he dove on USS Amphibious Base Little Creek, The Central Intelligence in anti-guerrilla and guerrilla phibious Base, Little Creek,
Some of the earliest World Pledge. in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Agency began using SEALs in actions. SEALs brought a per- Virginia.
War II predecessors of the For the remainder of the war, Formed entirely with per- covert operations in early 1963. sonal war to the enemy in a pre- United States Special Opera-
Green Berets and SEALs were UDTs conducted beach and riv- sonnel from UDTs, the SEALs The SEALs were later involved viously safe area. tions Command (SOCOM) was
the Operational Swimmers of er reconnaissance, infiltrated mission was to conduct counter in the CIA sponsored Phoenix The VC referred to them as established in April 1987 and
OSS. guerrillas behind the lines from guerilla warfare and clandes- Program where it targeted Vi- “the men with green faces,” due its Naval component, United
sea, continued mine sweeping tine operations in maritime and etcong (VC) infrastructure and to the camouflage face paint the States Naval Special Warfare
Korean War operations and participated in riverine environments. personnel for capture and as- SEALs wore during combat Command (NAVSPECWAR-
During the Korean War the Operation Fishnet, which dev- Men of the newly formed sassination. missions. COM), also known as NSWC,
UDTs fought intensively, be- astated the North Koreans’ fish- SEAL Teams were trained in The SEALs were initially de- The last SEAL platoon left was established at the same
ginning to employ demolition ing capability. such unconventional areas as ployed in and around Da Nang, South Vietnam on 7 December time.
expertise gained from WWII hand-to-hand combat, high-al- training the South Vietnamese 1971, and the last SEAL advi- Since 1983 the SEALs have
and use it for an offensive role. Vietnam - birth of the SEALs titude parachuting, demolitions, in combat diving, demolitions sor left South Vietnam in March taken part in numerous opera-
Continuing to use water as The Navy needed to deter- and foreign languages. and guerrilla/anti-guerrilla tac- 1973. tions and campaigns. These in-
cover and concealment as well mine its role within the spe- The SEALs attended Un- tics. The SEALs were among the clude:
as an insertion method, the Ko- cial operations arena. In March derwater Demolition Team re- As the war continued, the highest decorated units for their • Operation Urgent Fury -
rean Era UDTs targeted bridges, 1961, Admiral Arleigh Burke, placement training and they SEALs found themselves po- size in the war, receiving by United States invasion of
tunnels, fishing nets, and other the Chief of Naval Operations, spent some time training in sitioned in the Rung Sat Spe- 1974 one Medal of Honour, two Grenada.
16 17
• Operation Prime Chance - sailors were barred from becom-
Iran–Iraq War. ing Navy SEALs by naval regu-
• Operation Just Cause - Unit- lation; however, this prohibition
ed States invasion of Pana- no longer exists.
ma. As early as August 2015, it
• Operation Desert Shield - was reported that the “Navy is
Gulf War. planning to open its elite SEAL
• Operation Restore Hope - teams to women who can pass
Somalia Intervention. the gruelling training regimen.”
• Operation Enduring Free- In that same month, Admiral
dom – United States inva- Jon Greenert, the Chief of Na-
sion of Afghanistan. val Operations at the time, said
• Iraq War. that “he and the head of Naval
• Operation Enduring Free- NEPTUNE SPEAR: SEAL Team 6 carried out the raid that finally Special Warfare Command,
dom – Philippines. took down Osama bin Laden. Rear Admiral Brian Losey, be-
• Operation Enduring Free- lieve that if women can pass
FREEZING COLD: The selection process to become a SEAL is
dom – Horn of Africa. Division officers on the ground, selling nationalized Libyan oil the legendary six-month Basic
tough. Normally about 80 percent of them won’t make the grade.
Some SEAL operations re- killed Osama bin Laden in Ab- on the black market. Underwater Demolition/SEAL
ceived wide media coverage. bottabad, Pakistan about 56 km (NEC) 5326 Combatant Swim- ty Training (ProDev) (BUD/S) training, they should
These include: from Islamabad in a CIA oper- Selection and training mer (SEAL) or, in the case of • 6-month Unit Level Training be allowed to serve.”
ation. Before getting accepted into commissioned naval officers, (ULT). ULT is unit training On 3 December 2015, it was
Maersk Alabama hijacking President Barack Obama later Basic Underwater Demolition/ the designation Naval Special conducted by each Groups announced that there are now
On 12 April 2009, in response confirmed the death of bin Lad- SEAL (BUD/S) training, a pro- Warfare (SEAL) Officer. Training Detachment. Core “no exceptions” to all military
to a hostage taking incident off en, but did not directly mention spective candidate must pass a Navy SEAL training pipeline: unit training blocks are Air roles in the U.S., and women
the coast of Somalia by Soma- the involvement of DEVGRU, certain number of both mental • 8-week Naval Recruit Train- Operations, Land Warfare, can become U.S. Navy SEALs.
lian pirates, three Navy SEALs saying only that a “small team” and physical requirements. ing Maritime, Urban and Special The Washington Examiner re-
from DEVGRU simultaneously of Americans undertook the op- These tests include: Pre-en- • 8-week Naval Special Reconnaissance. ported on 10 August 2017: “A
engaged and killed the three pi- eration to bring down bin Lad- listment medical screening, Warfare Prep School (Pre- • 6-month Squadron Integra- woman aiming to become the
rates who were closely holding en. ASVAB, AFQT, C-SORT, and BUD/S) tion Training (SIT) first female Navy SEAL officer
the hostage, Captain Richard The unprecedented media PST. Then, the candidate must • 3-Week BUD/S Orientation Those enlisted SEALs with a quit about a week into the initial
Phillips, of the freighter ship coverage raised the public pro- get a SEAL contract by passing • 24-week Basic Underwater medical rating will first attend training”.
Maersk Alabama. file of the SEAL community, the SEAL Physical Screening Demolition/SEAL Training the Special Operations Combat In 2019 the first woman com-
The pirates and their hostage particularly the counter-ter- Test: 450 metre swim in 12:30, (BUD/S) Medic Course for 6 months in pleted Navy SEAL officer as-
were being towed in a lifeboat rorism specialists commonly 50 push-ups in two minutes, 50 • 5-week Parachute Jump Fort Bragg, North Carolina be- sessment and selection; how-
approximately 90 metres be- known as SEAL Team 6. sit-ups in two minutes, 10 con- School fore joining a team in order to ever, she was not selected for a
hind USS Bainbridge when The official name of the mil- secutive pull-ups in two min- • 26-week SEAL Qualifica- become a SEAL/Special Opera- SEAL contract as she had not
each of the pirates were killed itary operation was Operation utes, and a 2.4 km run in 10:30. tion Training (SQT) tor Corpsman. listed the SEALs as her top-
by a different DEVGRU sniper Neptune Spear. Candidates receiving a pass- Upon graduation from SQT, Those pursuing Officer posi- choice war-fighting community.
with a single shot to the head. ing score may then be admitted trainees receive the U.S. Navy tions first attend the Junior Of-
Morning Glory oil tanker into training to become Navy SEAL Trident, designating them ficer Training Course (JOTC) to SEAL teams and structures
Death of Osama bin Laden On 16 March 2014, thirty U.S. SEALs. SEAL training is ex- as Navy SEALs. learn about operations planning Naval Special Warfare Com-
In the early morning of 2 May Navy SEALs from SEAL Team tremely rigorous. The attrition They are subsequently as- and how to perform team brief- mand is organized into the fol-
2011 local time, a team of Navy 2 took control of MV Morning rate fluctuates, but averages at signed to a SEAL Team or ings. In total it can take over 2.5 lowing configuration:
SEALs of the Naval Special Glory, a tanker full of oil loaded about 80 percent. SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) years to completely train a Navy • Naval Special Warfare Group
Warfare Development Group from a rebel-held port in Lib- The average candidate spends Team and begin 18-months of SEAL for his first deployment. 1: SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5, 7
(DEVGRU), previously called ya. The raid by Navy SEALs over a year in a series of formal pre-deployment training before • Naval Special Warfare Group
“SEAL Team 6”, along with took place in international wa- training courses before being they are considered deployable. Women 2: SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8, 10
a Belgian Malinois Military ters off the coast of Cyprus; the awarded the Special Warfare This training consists of: No woman has ever become a • Naval Special Warfare
Working Dog (named “Cairo”), raid was a success, preventing Operator Naval Rating and the • 6-month Professional Devel- Navy SEAL. Group 3: SEAL Delivery
supported by Special Activities a Libyan splinter militia group Navy Enlisted Classification opment – Individual Special- Until December 2015, female Vehicle Team 1, SEAL De-
18 19livery Vehicle Team 2
Weapons used by the SEALs • Naval Special Warfare
Group 4: Special Boat
Teams 12, 20, 22
• Naval Special Warfare
Group 10: NSW Support
Activity One, NSW Sup-
port Activity Two, Mission
Support Centre (“organize,
M4A1 Carbine train, educate, equip, de-
ploy and sustain specialized
intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance and prepa-
ration-of-the-environment
capabilities”)
MK 16 SCAR • Naval Special Warfare
Group 11: SEAL Teams 17,
18 (formerly Operational
Support Teams 1, 2)
• Naval Special Warfare De-
velopment Group: Assigned
operationally to JSOC (for-
merly SEAL Team 6)
The total number of per-
sonnel, including SEALs and Bush War Books has probably one of the finest
SWCCs assigned to Naval Spe- collections of military titles available. Especially
M249 SAW Machine Gun cial Warfare Command is ap-
proximately 8,195 out of a total
on the South African Border War.
8,985 military staff, and 10,166
including civilian support staff.
Click here to visit their website.
Sig Sauer P226
Motto’s
The SEALs have two mot-
to’s:
• The Only Easy Day Was
SOCOM MK 13 Mod 5 Yesterday.
• It pays to be a winner.
“War does not determine who is right - only who is left”
20 00Who was running the show?
Prompted by an e-mail from a reader, MATT TENNYSON decided to take a closer look at the various Admiral
1 April 31 August 4 years, South African
people that were the Chiefs of the SADF. Hugo Biermann
1972 1976 152 days Navy
(1916–2012)
J
ohn Verster, who has been that General Rudolph Hiemstra covered that both of us were
a reader of Military Des- had been the only member of wrong. General Rogers was
patches since the very first the South African Air Force to never the Chief of the SADF,
issue, sent me an e-mail after become Chief of the SADF. but General Hiemstra was not
reading the February issue of John asked if General Bob the only member of the South General
1 September 6 October 4 years, South African
the magazine. Rogers had not been the Chief African Air Force to hold the Magnus Malan
1976 1980 35 days Army
In the ‘This month in Mili- of the SADF at some stage. title. (1930–2011)
tary History’ I had mentioned I did some research and dis-
Chief of the South African Defence Force (SADF)
The Union Defence Force (UDF) was renamed ‘South African Defence Force’ in November
1958. The Commandant General’s title was then changed to ‘Commandant General SADF’.
It was changed to ‘Chief of the SADF’ in July 1973, after Admiral Hugo Biermann assumed General
7 October 30 October 5 years, South African
the post the year before. After South Africa’s first democratic election, the South African Defence Constand Viljoen
1980 1985 23 days Army
(1933–2020)
Force (SADF) became the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Time in Defence
Chief of the SADF Took Office Took Office
Office Branch
General
1 November 31 October 4 years, South African
Johannes Geldenhuys
General 1985 1990 364 days Army
1 November 31 December 2 years, South African (1935–2018)
Stephen Melville
1958 1960 60 days Air Force
(1904–1977)
General
1 November 31 October 2 years, South African
Andreas ‘Kat’ Liebenberg
General 1990 1993 364 days Army
1 January 31 December 4 years, South African (1938–1998)
Pieter Grobbelaar
1961 1965 364 days Army
(1908–1988)
General
1 November 30 April South African
General Georg Meiring 180 days
1 January 31 March 6 years, South African 1993 1994 Army
Rudolph Hiemstra (born 1939)
1966 1972 90 days Air Force
(1912–2007)
General Georg Meiring would also go on to become the first Chief of the South African Nation-
al Defence Force (SANDF), a position he would hold from 1 May 1994 to 31 May 1998.
22 23employees. try of the United States into the
An offer you can’t refuse, capeesh Through the Navy Intelli- war, Luciano’s aid was sought
gence’s Mafia contacts from by the Armed Services in induc-
Did the Mafia and the US Military really collaborate during World War II, or was it merely the imagi- Operation Underworld, the ing others to provide informa-
nations of a fiction writer? Sometimes the truth is far stranger than fiction.
names of Sicilian underworld tion concerning possible enemy
W
personalities and friendly Sicil- attack. It appears that he coop-
ar can often lead gins also claimed that it was negotiations, the State of New ian natives who could be trust- erated in such effort, although
to some interest- nothing more than a work of York moved Luciano from the ed were obtained and actually the actual value of the informa-
ing bedfellows and, fiction. Or was it? Clinton prison to Great Mead- used in the Sicilian campaign. tion procured is not clear.”
as is often stated, truth can be ow Correctional Facility, which The Joint Staff Planners for Luciano was deported to his
a lot stranger than fiction. But Operation Underworld is much closer to New York the US Joint Chiefs of Staff homeland Italy on 9 February
the Mafia and the United States During the early days of City. (JSP) drafted a report titled 1946. There was a media hype
Military working hand-in-hand, World War II, the U.S. Office The State of New York, Lu- Special Military Plan for Psy- of Luciano’s role after his de-
surely not. of Naval Intelligence suspected ciano and the Navy struck a deal chological Warfare in Sicily portation. The syndicated col-
In 1981 Jack Higgins released that Italian and German agents in which Luciano guaranteed that recommended the “Estab- umnist and radio broadcaster
a fiction novel titled ‘Luciano’s were entering the United States full assistance of his organiza- lishment of contact and com- Walter Winchell even reported
Luck’. The book was set in the through New York, and that tion in providing intelligence to Salvatore ‘Lucky’ munications with the leaders in 1947 that Luciano would re-
summer of 1943 with the Allies these facilities were susceptible the Navy. Luciano of separatist nuclei, disaffect- ceive the Medal of Honour for
poised to invade Sicily. to sabotage. In addition, Luciano associ- ed workers, and clandestine his secret services. Obviously
ized crime groups in New York
The Allies knew that the price The loss of SS Normandie ate Albert Anastasia - who con- radical groups, e.g., the Mafia, this never happened.
City and elsewhere.
of the invasion would be high in in February 1942, especially, trolled the docks and ran Mur- and giving them every possible
Luciano allegedly guaranteed
blood and time unless the island raised fears and suspicions in der, Inc., an organized crime aid.” The report was approved Controversy and criticism
no dockworker strikes through-
people rose in revolt against the Navy about possible sabo- group, active from 1929 to by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in There was considerable pub-
out the war. In return, the State
their Nazi oppressors. tage in the Eastern ports. 1941, that acted as the enforce- Washington on April 15, 1943. lic controversy during the late
of New York agreed to com-
Yet only the Mafia could A Navy Intelligence Unit, B3, ment arm of the Italian-Amer- days of the war and afterwards
mute Luciano’s sentence.
command an uprising, and Ma- assigned more than a hundred ican Mafia, Jewish Mob, and
Luciano’s actual influence is Luciano is released surrounding the connection be-
fia supremo Antonia Luca hated agents to investigate possible other closely connected organ- In the summer of 1945, Lu- tween the U.S. Government and
uncertain, but the authorities
everything American. Someone Benito Mussolini supporters
did note that the dockworker ciano petitioned the State of the Mafia.
very persuasive was needed to within the predominantly Ital-
strikes stopped after the deal New York for executive clem- In 1953, Governor Dewey,
change his mind. ian-American fisherman and ency, citing his assistance to the pushed by allegations that he
was reached with Luciano.
And the American’s knew just dockworker population on the Navy. Naval authorities, embar- sold Luciano his pardon, or-
the person with that persuasive waterfront.
power - imprisoned Mafia boss Their efforts would be fruit-
Operation Husky rassed that they had to recruit dered a confidential investi-
Italian Americans were very organized-crime to help in their gation by the state’s commis-
Salvatore ‘Lucky’ Luciano. less. The Italian Mafia con-
helpful in the planning and exe- war effort, declined to confirm sioner of investigation, William
While Higgins’ novel was a trolled the docks and the water-
cution of the invasion of Sicily Luciano’s claim. Herlands.
work of fiction, it was a lot clos- front and no-one would say a However, the Manhattan Dis- Herlands released his 2,600-
and the Mafia was involved in
er to the truth than many people word without their permission. trict Attorney’s office validated page report in 1954, which
assisting the U.S. war efforts.
realised. It was something that The Navy knew that they
Luciano’s associates found the facts and the state parole offered proof of Luciano’s in-
Higgins was renowned for. would have to start thinking out-
numerous Sicilians to help the board unanimously agreed to volvement with the Navy with-
His 1975 best-seller ‘The Ea- side of the box. They contacted
Naval Intelligence draw maps recommend to the governor out finding any wrongdoing by
gle has landed’ was about a plot Meyer Lansky. He was associ-
of the harbours of Sicily and that Luciano be released and Dewey.
by the Nazis to capture Win- ated with the Jewish Mafia and
dig up old snapshots of the deported immediately. Naval officials reviewed the
ston Churchill. While Higgins was known as the ‘Mob’s ac- On 4 January 1946, Governor report and requested Dewey to
coastline.
claimed that the book was pure countant’. He was also a close
Vito Genovese, another Ma- Thomas E. Dewey, the former not release it on the grounds
fiction, many people believed associate of Luciano.
fia boss, offered his services to prosecutor who placed Luciano that it would be a public-rela-
that it was based on fact and Salvatore Luciano was serv-
the U.S. Army and became an into prison, commuted Lucky tions disaster for the Navy and
that there was an actual plan to ing a 30 to 50 year sentence in FACT OR FICTION: Jack Hig-
interpreter and advisor to the Luciano’s sentence on the con- it might damage future similar
capture Churchill. A plan that the Clinton Prison. The Navy gins’ fictional novel was a lot
U.S. Army military government dition that he did not resist de- war efforts. Dewey agreed, and
almost worked. asked Lansky to broker a deal closer to the truth than people
in Naples. He quickly became portation to Italy. the report was not released until
With ‘Luciano’s Luck’, Hig- with Luciano. To facilitate the realised. Dewey stated, “Upon the en- after his death in the mid-1970s.
one of AMGOT’s most trusted
24 25You can also read
