Episode 40 – 61 Mechanised Battalion special edition with former commander Roland de Vries

This is episode 40 and it’s a special edition focusing on one of the most successful military organisations in African military history. That’s the 61 Mechanised Battalion Group which first saw action during Operation Reindeer as Battle Group Juliet which was targeting SWAPOs western front at Chetequera. As you know from previous episodes, one of the takeaways from the entire operation was the need to establish a permanent conventional mechanised combat unit inside the Operational Area. By January 1979 61 Mechanised Battalion was formally named and established at Otavi before moving to Tsumeb in April 1979. It was eventually settled at Omuthiya just north of Etosha Pan while the HQ remained at Tsumeb. Joining me for parts of this episode is the former commander and founder, Roland de Vries. A big thank you to him for spending time with me outlining the rationale for the creation of a multi-service brigade.