Equipment
Bikes:
Suzuki SP 370 — used for Bike Squad training and general SADF use. Obsolete and heavy.
Honda XL 350 — used for training until 1983 and was the ops bike from 1977 to 1980. Heavy and cumbersome, but Honda reliable.
Honda XR 500 — all models used in training and on ops from 1979 until bike squad disbanded. Main versions were the “Bigwheel” of 1979/80, the “ProLink”of 1981-82 and the “Twin Carb” from 1984. Except for the Bigwheels, the XRs were state of the art 4-stroke bikes at the time.
Vehicles:
Various models of British Bedford trucks
SAMIL 20, 50, 100 models. Licence-built versions of 4x4 and 6x6 Magirus Deutz trucks, outstanding vehicles adapted for SA and bush conditions.
Buffel — SA built mine-proof vehicle built on a Unimog chassis, carried a section of 10 men. Excellent in the bush, saved many lives in landmine explosions. However, it was top-heavy and unstable, and many lives were lost in roll-over accidents on roads and in the bush. If driven sensibly it was a safe vehicle anywhere.
Flatbed Buffel — basically a Unimog (baby Mog, small version) with a Buffel mine-proof driver’s cab. Used as logistics carriers on larger operations and “externals” into Angola.
Kwevoel — Mine-proof driver’s cab on a 6x6 Samil 100 chassis.
Withings — Samil 50 and 100-based recovery vehicles with mine-proof drivers’ cabs.
Ratel — SA-built 6x6 wheeled “AFV” Armoured Fighting Vehicle. Extremely capable personnel carrier designed specifically for African terrain. Versions included the Ratel 10, 20 and 90. The 90 was armed with a 90mm gun and fought with much success against Russian T-34, T-54 and T-55 tanks in 1987-88 when the bush war turned conventional.
Weapons:
R1 rifle, SA-made FN FAL 7,62x57 mm
R4 rifle, SA-made Galil 5,56 mm
M79 40mm grenade launcher, know as the “snotneus” (snotty nose). US made, no idea how they ended up in the SADF
M26 HE hand grenades
M83 British smoke grenades, various colours including White Phos which was not a popular thing to carry as it was extremely dangerous. These grenades were still the same style as WW2.
LMGs — bike squad carried nothing heavier than R1s initially, and R4s from 1980.
Mortars — 60 mm Patmors were carried occasionally, the last documented occasion was Platoon 6 in 1981.
Claymores — carried occasionally, but were not suited to bike squad’s high-mobility operatioms and was discarded after a patrol or two.
Radios:
B25 HF platoon radio, very unpopular because of its weight and size.
A53 VHF Platoon Commander and Section Leader radio.
Ratpacks:
SA-made rations, each box held enough tinned food and sundries for 24 hours.
Personal kit:
Webbing — all SWASPES personnel were issued with vest-type nylon webbings, but some men wore chest webbings they scrounged from somewhere or made themselves. SADF webbing at the time was still the WW2-era canvas type, only the small knapsacks were carried on ops.
Helmets — SADF-issed pisspot style helmets were issued to all riders, they were worn or not depending on the situation or personal preference. After a few mishaps riders invariably ended up wearing them religiously.
Riding gear — the SADF-issue WW2 pilot style goggles were mostly discarded because of the uncool factor, most riders used commercial MX goggles. Leather MX boots were standard issue at Potchefstroom and were taken to Ovamboland, but were not worn much because bike squad walked and ran many miles for various reasons, mostly when tracking spoor. Gloves were essential but not issued, so everybody brought their own MX gloves. A few riders wore kidney belts at various times but they too were soon discarded.
