Specs

Barrel length excluding flash hider = 230mm
6 Groove barrel with a 1:7 twist rate.
Weight empty 3.2kg/7lb
The rifle has a max length of 730mm and a stock folded length of 501mm.

General.

The rifle action is gas piston driven with the piston located above the barrel and forward of the bolt carrier (in contrast with the AK/Galil/LM system). Control and return of the piston is managed by a captured recoil spring system with the recoil spring placed around the piston (This setup is derived from the Sig 551 – the 552, which has been replaced by the 553, utilised a recoil spring system similar to the AK/Galil/LM design with the recoil spring positioned rearward of the bolt carrier). The bolt carrier and the piston are linked by the removable charging lever. Disassembly of the bolt carrier and piston is achieved by detaching the removable charging lever.

A polymer overmolded charging lever is located on the right hand side of the receiver (similarly positioned to the lever on the AK/Galil/LM rifles). The bolt locks open on an empty magazine (contrary to the AK/Galil/LM mode of operation).  Bolt release is managed by utilising the bolt release button located on the left hand side of the receiver which works great for speedy and easy charging of the rifle after a loaded magazine has been seated in the lower receiver.

The magazine is seated with the familiar “rock in” motion used on the AK/Galil/LM etc. Each magazine features tabs for side by side locking of 2 (or more) mags together without the use of magazine couplers. A magazine can be seated even with the top round protruding forward out of the magazine (a situation that can occur when two mags are coupled side by side due to top placed round inertia movement under recoil impulse). The mag does not feature the fairly large lip catch found on AK/Galil/LM mags and this allows an empty mag to drop free with the push of the mag release paddle.

Ambi safety levers that rotate from safe to fire with a 45 degree movement are located on the lower receiver. The safety levers remind one of the safety lever system used on the AR platform.

Upper and lower receivers are detachable from one another, in a manner very similar to the AR platform, by sliding the two contained pins outward (engineered as only the Swiss would). The upper receiver is attached to the barrel and has a non-removable dustcover which also has the bolt carrier rails attached to it. The lower receiver contains the trigger group and has the stock attached. Trigger pull is smooth in take-up with a crisp break and short reset.

The piston and the piston gas tube are removable from the front of the rifle. The front hand guards are locked into place by the gas tune and can be easily removed by unlocking the gas tube.

The upper receiver has a B&T picatinny rail with a small fold-up rear BUIS recessed in to the rail. The front BUIS is small with a fold open front sight blade. Both BUIS are minimalistic but all that is needed for BUIS utility.

I mounted a Trijicon RMR RM06 on the forward portion of the rail where the receiver and rail ends  which allows co-witness with the BUIS if needed and does not  interfere with manipulating the charging lever with the support hand reaching over/under the receiver  or with manipulating the lever with the strong hand. Imo the RM06 compliments the rifle very well.

After the rifle has been charged and a round loaded in the chamber and barring a malfunction that necessitates the charging lever to be worked it is not necessary to utilise the charging lever to keep the rifle running and loaded due to the slide locking back on an empty magazine and the availability of the slide bolt carrier release button described above.

The muzzle is protected by a B&T Rotex flash hider which in my opinion does nothing to help hold the muzzle down onder recoil impulse. I have a suspicion that a standard A2 type “bird cage” flash hider would be more effective. I am waiting for an Ase Utra BoreLock flash hider that I will try to see what the effect will be. It is quite difficult to find a flash hider or brake in 14x1LH thread not made for a 7,62×39.

Overall quality and finish is Swiss perfect in all areas and aspects. The bolt carrier is perfectly finished with no tool marks evident and the bolt shaft is polished to a very high sheen for perfect movement within the carrier. The bolt carrier and bolt are overall extremely well made and finished.

It is rumoured that several Special Forces units in the world are using the Sig 553 SOW (Special Operations Weapon) and more specific GSG-9 (Germany), GIGN (France), GEOG (Argentina), DEA (USA), Navy Seals (USA) and the US – Air Force.

I found it interesting that very little review information could be found about the 553 and I attribute this to the possible lack of 553 rifles in the USA. The USA owners and users are usually a huge and very valuable source of information when it comes to rifles like these, but not so in the instance of the 553.

Article by Khumba, GunSite SA Forum Moderator and Member.

Many thanks from the GunSite SA Team for this continbution.

As I was working on a long-range hunting load for my 300 WM, I had an existential experience, you might say, a catharsis. You know, a bringing to the surface of some deep repressed emotion in an effort to identify a nagging truth that keeps popping up and antagonizing me. I had tried Amax, Berger and Sierra Game Kings, and guess what? The Sierra Game King won the day on accuracy. I really tried to get the same consistency out of the Amax and the Berger, but my rifle would not cooperate with me. I asked myself, why was I working on another load when I already have 10 loads for my Savage 116FHSS 300WM, all of which provide 100 yards accuracy under an inch? Why another one? They do allow me the versatility of being game and condition specific when in the field, but why another load? I just wanted a 600yd load, to use on long shots down gas lines and for shooting across big open fields.

I will admit that I am at a point in my life, where I am tired of trying to always tweak the next load, the next miracle bullet, and then labor in the field hoping that it delivers and meets my expectations or at least in some way comes close to the published hype. I have through the years taken a lot of game and enjoyed my hunting very much, but find myself always haunted by the green boxes sitting on my shelves. It seems like they have eyes and are gazing at me in disbelief, for not using them as much as I have in the past.

For 30 years there has been this green thread laced throughout all of my experience of shooting, reloading, hunting and taking game. Yes, the foundation for my experience with hand loads and using them on game – was first laid years ago with Sierra bullets. From time to time I would continue that green thread, weaving it through my experiences in the field. Funny thing though, I don’t kill anymore game nor do I kill game any better with the new whiz bang, super-duper bullets of today in all those years with Sierra bullets. In fact, when I culled game over a two-year period, it was the Sierra Game King bullets that did the majority of that work. And when I switched to a bonded bullet like the Speer Hot Core, the Swift Scirocco or a monolithic bullet like the Barnes X during that time – I found myself quickly going back to the Sierras, especially the 165gr HPBT. For more than 30 years now, I have taken coyote, deer, hogs, black bear, bobcat, beaver, coon, and wild dogs with conventional cup core bullets. I have close personal friends that have taken more than one bull elk with 165gr Sierra Game King SBT out of a 300 WM and 300 WSM.

Through the years I have taken game with Sierra, Nosler, Remington, Swift, Hornady, Barnes, Speer, Hawk, Woodliegh, and Winchester bullets. I have experienced these different makes of bullets in the field, and they have given me an empirical understanding of bullet performance. In looking back through all my diary notes, Sierra bullets have dispatched 75% of all the game I have taken in the field.

With that said, it brings home the following point. I find myself gravitating back to those green boxes. Even though there are many options out there for me to use, when it comes to different types of bullets – and I have certainly tried many of them on game. I think I know why I keep coming back to Sierra. The reason is simple! They are consistently accurate, predictable in the field, and most of all, they dispatch game efficiently and with remarkable quickness. When a hunter puts a premium cup core bullet where it is supposed to go, and uses the appropriate weight and design for the game hunted – they will have outstanding success.

I have found Sierra bullets to be heads and shoulders above the many choices out there, especially when it comes to being consistently accurate over the range of different cartridges and rifles I have owned. I am talking about hunting loads and bullets, not match loads, because I don’t compete in matches. I am not saying that other bullets that I have used in developing hunting loads are not as accurate. Some specific loads using other bullets have been more accurate at times, but in the overall use of bullets for my different rifles and cartridges when loading for accuracy Sierra has been the most consistent. My main hobby through the years has been developing loads, then taking them to the field and testing them on game. After all these years, I still tend to reach for that familiar green box. This is especially true, when I am having trouble getting accuracy with a certain cartridge and rifle combination, while using different makes of bullets.

It is easy to be caught up in the popular notion – that only bonded or solid copper bullets are the best choice for use in the field. I have not experienced problems with cup core bullets in taking game through the years, before the advent of all the new specialized bullets of today. So, what has changed? The cup core bullets have not changed! Therefore, an obvious prejudice and bias for bonded or monolithic type bullets developed in my thinking. Why not? They were touted as the next best thing since sliced bread and everybody who was anybody was using them. Why would I want to be different and resist the obvious? Frankly, through the years I have had to track more game farther when using bonded or solid copper bullets than when using cup core bullets. I consider Sierra and Berger to be premium bullets. Premium bullets are not limited to just bonded or monolithic designs, by any stretch of the imagination.

Years before using the bonded bullets and later the all copper bullets, I dispatched hogs, whitetail, mule deer and black bear with cup core bullets. Success was the order of the day when using these conventionally designed bullets. We have been bombarded over the last 20 years with the notion that conventional cup core bullets are not worth the effort and much less dependable when taking game. It is almost as if the marketing of bullets today has been successful in creating the notion – that the only real premium bullets are either bonded or solid copper. I have been at times just as guilty as many who have bought into the notion that Sierra bullets and other cup core bullets are not dependable – when taking game from coyotes to bear – and that is simply not true. I used them and have not experienced any lose of game, and we are talking about a lot of game taken with cup core bullets.

Amazing how we will adopt an idea or belief, because someone wrote an article in a national publication. Yet, the new concept (without a bonded or all copper bullet we can’t have real performance) that we have been encouraged to accept is undermining what we have actually experienced in the field – telling us that our experiences are inferior. Yep, let’s throw out all the empirical evidence of a lifetime spent in the field, because something comes along that seems to have more bells and whistles. We are told it is better and who are we to question things? We are just the average hunter, who goes out year after year with bullets that have worked for years, and got the job done. Now we are told there is a new and better bullet in town and our old bullets just won’t cut the mustard. I agree that the newer bullets are better for some applications, as the older cup core bullets are better for other applications – but the idea being pushed in some quarters today, is that we need to drop what we have been using and only use the new design exclusively. Yes!! The do it all better bullet for true performance in the field – while we are left with that nagging question that looms in our mind, “how did we get it done in the field for all these years, without this new wonder bullet?”

When one considers the devastating performance on game, the accuracy that is consistently achieved with Sierra and Berger type bullets – plus the bang for the buck spent – they are still a viable option for the hunter today. I for one could in all honesty use bullets that come out of those green boxes sitting on my shelves, for the rest of my hunting life – and not be disappointed. I am looking to simplify my game specific loads, by following my own empirical experiences of proven success through the years in the field – I’m popping the top on those green boxes more often.

Wait, what about those big animals like elk, moose and brown bear? There is an impressive list of hunters who have used conventional cup core bullets to dispatch the big ones here in North America. Isn’t it great that we can use the bullets we have come to like and that gets the job done for us – whether it is one of the old bullets or one of the newer designs. That is what is so great about hunting in America – we have so many good options. But to say that only the newer designs will give you consistent performance in the field on game is simply not true.

This last season, like those earlier seasons in my hunting life, I decided to switch from my use of bonded or homogenous copper bullets and used only Sierra bullets. That familiar satisfying experience took place again – game on the ground in short order. Those Green Boxes – they still have the same good stuff inside of them.

To start my credentials are as follows: I am a Paramedic in South Africa, trained in advance life support encompassing advanced cardiac, pediatric and trauma life support. I am not however trained in any form of combat or tactics and my knowledge I wish to share here is simply informative and my own anecdotal experience over several years of working the streets of South Africa as a Paramedic.

To start, having some basic equipment is essential for rendering 1^st aid and without this you are better off not doing anything (ex no gloves to protect yourself from bodily fluids).

Gear Selection:

A good 1^st aid kit doesn’t need to be large or expensive and most items can be bought at any pharmacy or even a supermarket.  Your main objectives when applying 1^st aid is to stop bleeding and manage a person’s airways / breathing. Improvisation is often key when in a situation where 1^st aid equipment is not available. This can include for example – towels or a person’s own clothing for controlling bleeding or a rope / cable ties to act as a tourniquet. Some good-to-have items should include, but not limited to:

• Bandages of various sizes
• Trauma pads or dressings (to be applied under the bandage)
• Latex Gloves (thicker is better) & eye protection (your shooting glasses would work here).
• CPR mouth piece / barrier (acts as a barrier between you and victim when performing CPR)
• Personal prescription medications (how long until you can get new meds?)
• Extra prescription glasses (you are lost without your eyes)
• If you have severe allergies or Asthma, ask a Dr about an EpiPen?
• Asthma Pump (asthma is a very common ailment)
• Contact numbers of local EMS providers (memorize also store on your phone)
• Medical Aid details (no card no entry)
• Burn Shields (sterile aloe dressings used for burn wounds). These come in all sizes.
• Rescue scissors (sturdy robust scissors with rounded point) – excellent for cutting through clothes, seat belts, etc.
• Tourniquet – to be used in life threatening situations only (explained later)
• Simple plasters, tweezers, ointments, sun block, tape.
• Glucose Gel (as used by Sports people) – instant energy supply.
• …continue list here

1^st aid kits should be kept in your car, home and that “get-out-of-jail” bag. Each bag might be tailored according to weight, size and envisioned situations.

A-B-C’s of First Aid

The basis for all forms of emergencies remain the same, be it a Paramedic or a bystander. A simply acronym to remember is H-H-H…A-B-C. This stands for:

H – Hazards – as with any situation, sizing up the scene and making sure you too don’t become a victim is essential. This can include car accidents, shooting or simply no protective wear on a patient covered in blood.

“The chances of infection through blood into your eyes is FAR higher than with a direct needle stick into your hand…look after your eyes!”

H – Hello – This covers several bases – it determines the patients LOC (level of consciousness) and ability to communicate. You want to at this stage introduce yourself and ask the person if they require your help. You now have explicit consent and the patient knows who you are and what you are doing.

“Imagine the security guard who has just been shot and you coming running up to them without identification…this might fall under Hazardous too if they are still armed”

H – Help – Get assistance earlier then later. Where possible send someone else, ensuring they know your location (GPS co-ords, directions, landmarks), Ambulance number(s), patients priority, that they have a cell phone or money for a phone box. Lastly tell them to come to you with feedback.

Numbers to remember:

• Metro Provincial Ambulance service – 10177
• Police – 10111 (who can dispatch any number of services for you)
• NetCare 911 Private Ambulance service – 082 911 (if you have medical aid)
• ER24 Private Ambulance service – 084 124 (if you have medical aid)
• Keep numbers of your local hospitals, Doctors on your phone and in 1^st aid kit.

A – Airways – By protect, we mean the ability for air to move freely into their lungs without obstruction or allowing fluids to enter the lungs. An unconscious person loses the ability to protect their airways and should be of great concern. Ask the patient to stick out their tongue. If they can do this they are protecting their own airways. At the same time you can evaluate their mouth for blood, broken teeth, swelling, etc.

If they are not able to comply with your commands (ie they are unresponsive, confused, lethargic) we must assume they cannot protect their airways. Laying a person on their side (recovery position) with their face towards the ground will avoid aspiration of the person vomitus, blood. Having said this, any person involved in a trauma related incident may have spinal injuries and these needs to be considered before moving them. Where possible do not move a patient with suspected neck injuries.

C – Circulation – We need to stop all bleeding and if in cardiac arrest – perform CPR.

Bleeding is controlled by 1) Direct pressure 2) Indirect pressure on pressure points (in the groin, under the arm) and 3) elevation (lifting the bleeding limb higher than the heart). If bleeding in uncontrolled (ex bright arterial spurting blood causing patient to lose consciousness) and becomes life threatening, the use of a tourniquet may be advantageous. The rule-of-thumb here is Life over limb…wrap any form of rope / cable tie / belt tightly above the wound in a tourniquet manner until blood supply becomes cut off. Note: this will cause the limb to become deoxygenating and will result in the loss of that limb (after a period of time).

For both those who have and haven’t attended a 1^st course, as of 2010 significant changes have be made by the AHA (American Heart Association) in CPR algorithms. Maybe it is time for that refresher?

The new protocols place a great emphasis on simple chest compressions (in a person who is pulseless) and less emphasis on breathing. Reasons for this include: blood in the body remains oxygenated for a period of time, even after arrest and during this time the bodies demand is relatively low (except where cardiac arrest is due to asphyxiation). Other reasons include wasting time between compressions causing inadequate perfusion to the brain and heart.

Ballistics

Lastly to make this article relevant to this website, here are some things to consider about GSW (gun shot wounds).

Often a GSW has a small entry hole and may be misleading as to the underlying injuries. A high velocity projectile such as a bullet causes massive hydrostatic forces that can significantly damage organs and major blood vessels, even if not in direct contact. Externally little or no bleeding may be noted but the patient may rapidly become shocked (they will appear pale, lethargic, fast “tachy” pulses). Also remember your hollow point rounds which are designed to break-up on impact and specifically designed to cause internal damage.

Secondly the path of a bullet through a human can be misleading. People have been shot in the foot and the bullet found in their chest. Also remember that anyone who has been shot can potential have a spinal injury and should be handled accordingly.

Questions you should be asking include: 1) Calibre of firearm(s) 2) Number of shots fired 3) Are any of the injuries in or around the spinal or neck region or may have crossed the midline.

Conclusion

With or without medical training the first person to assist in a medical emergency can directly influence the outcome of that person’s life or even your own. Remembering the basics of H-H-H-A-B-C, sizing up a scene, getting help and ensuring air goes in-and-out and blood round-and-round.

As part of your “Home Protection” or “Dooms day readiness” or even a mishap at your local range  – condition yourself not only in protection / defence scenario’s but also how to cope with the aftermath.

By Jacques Lourens
http://www.mediczone.co.za

Compiled by Johan van Heerden

You have never lived until you have almost died and for those who fight for it, life has a flavour that the protected will never know.

Background

The South African Police Service Special Task Force (SAPS STF) is the special operations element of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The STF is considered to be among the best of such units in the world. The South African Special Task Force has a formidable reputation in counter terrorism, counter insurgency and hostage rescue. The STF, like their military special forces counter parts (The Reconnaissance Commandos, which is regarded as probably the finest light infantry in the world), are internationally regarded as being deadly experts in bush warfare.

The Task Force falls under operational control of the Division: Operational Response Services and is responsible for dealing with all high-risk operations, such as hostage situations on land, sea and air, including rescue-related operations.

The Operational Response Services Division of the SAPS provides specialized operational response services to the community by -

• maintaining public order;
• preventing cross-border crime;
• providing airborne support during law-enforcement operations; and
• carrying out medium-risk and high-risk operations.

This division consists of the Border Police, the SAPS Air Wing, the Special Task Force, Crime Combating units and Intervention units.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996) makes the National Commissioner of the SAPS responsible for the establishment of a Special Task Force to undertake high-risk operations which require specialized skills (with reference to section 218 (1) (m) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1993 (Act No 200 of 1993) retained by section 24, schedule 6 of the new Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

The necessity for the South African Police Service to establish a unit capable of handling high-risk operations was identified as early as 1971, probably following the identification in 1968 of a requirement for a Special Forces capability within the South African Army according to international military trends. Initial planning and formation occurred, including studies of and visits to foreign Special Forces, formulation of appropriate structures and techniques for an African context, and formation and training of a core group of founder members.

In 1972 Special Forces is formally established as an entity in South Africa, with the establishment of the first Special Forces unit – 1 Reconnaissance Commando – in Oudtshoorn, and thereafter moved to Durban.

The Special Task Force owes its origin to the Fox Street siege, which occurred on Monday 29 April 1975. David Protter, a senior security officer at the Israeli Consulate situated on the 5th floor of the Hershleigh Building in Fox street, Johannesburg, with the assistance of his brother Charles Protter, took over the Consulate on the morning of 29 April 1975 to “proof to Jerusalem that the security at the Johannesburg Consulate was poor”. David Protter killed Major Giora Raviv, who was the Chief of Security at the consulate since November 1974, and held other employees and some children hostage. At about 13h15 Protter, armed with two Uzi submachine guns, eight Beretta .22 pistols, a .22 pellet gun, a 6.35 Lancelot pistol, a .45 ACP Colt pistol, a 9mm Walther pistol and about 2 000 rounds of ammunition, started opening fire at people strolling on the sidewalks of Fox and Von Brandis streets, wounding several. Protter misled the SAP into thinking that the consulate was taken over by six terrorist – three Japanese and three Lebanese, including one woman. Because very little, if anything had been done by the way of training army units, and nothing by the police, to deal with matters like hijacks and takeovers of buildings by terrorists, 2-Recce from Johannesburg and later 1-Recce from Durban, who have done a great deal of training in the handling of these types of situations, was summoned to Fox street. Later it was established that David Protter was solely responsible for the siege, and he was convinced by General van den Bergh to give himself up and let the hostages go. David Protter was sentenced to fifty-nine years imprisonment and Charles Protter to five years imprisonment. As a result of this incident, it was decided to establish a unit within the SAP that would specialize in the handling of hostage and similar situations.

It was envisaged that the unit would be an elite force consisting of some 200 officers and non-commissioned officers. Due to the South African Police Service’s commitments in the former Rhodesia, to protect South Africa’s borders and fight with the Rhodesian Security Forces against Communist terrorists planning to take over Rhodesia, it was however, not possible to establish the unit until 1 February 1976.

During 1993, Efficiency Services approved the restructuring of the unit, and based on operational needs, two additional components based in Durban and Cape Town was established.

All Task Force applicants are volunteers and have to comply with stringent physical requirements before being admitted to the basic training and selection course. The basic training course is twenty-six weeks long and includes weapons, rural and urban combat as well as basic parachute training courses. Compulsory advanced courses include special skills such as diving, VIP protection, explosives and medical training. The total initial training period is nine months, but completing all the requisite advanced courses to become a fully-fledged Special Task Force operational member may last up to three years.

Selection courses have, since the unit’s inception, been the sole source of operational manpower. To date the selection courses have been held, with a total number of roughly 1,656 applicants, of which 362 have completed it successfully. At present, applicants (male and female) must be permanent members of the South African Police Service, at least 21 years of age, have served at least two years in the police service with the rank of constable, sergeant or inspector, be physically and mentally stable to undergo rigorous training and be between 21 to 32 years old during training. Such an applicant must also be mature, have sound judgment and display definite leadership qualities. Training is conducted approximately 230km from Pretoria at the Task Force training centre. On average, only 25% of the applicants pass selection.

As members of this unit are exposed to great risks as a result of its prescribed activities and duties, it was decided that it would consist of volunteers only. Members wishing to join this unit must meet certain requirements, pass an extremely strict screening test and undergo specialized training. Perseverance and dedication are vital characteristics for members of the STF. Volunteers have to be medically fit, have good eye-sight and good hearing. STF are looking for members of average built, with sharp minds and an iron will to survive, regardless of circumstances. It is very important that members are able to swim well.

Members who apply for an exciting and rewarding career in the STF must be -

• willing to undergo and pass psychometric evaluations;
• medically fit, that is, free from injuries and diseases, (doctor’s recommendations);
• able to swim unassisted;
• prepared to undergo training for nine months, (basic & advanced training);
• voluntary applicants;
• permanent members of the SAPS with the rank of constable, sergeant or inspector;
• comply with the specific physical requirements for male or female candidates respectively; and
• prepared to do advanced courses for three years, to become a fully-fledged Special Task Force operational member.

There are certain qualities the STF looks for in candidates, namely: physical strength and ability; mental endurance; a sense of responsibility; maturity; perseverance; rational and methodical thinking; the ability to handle stress; observation and orientation ability; leadership skills; and a sense of adventure with the right (responsible) mind set.

The STF is interested in applicants who do not suffer from any phobias (claustrophobia etc.). Applicants must be willing to perform duties of an extraordinary nature and, after basic training, to be stationed at one of the STF operational units in Pretoria, Durban or Cape Town.

For the STF Training Course (Course 25 of 2005) a total of 453 applications were received. When pre-selection was done, only 108 of the 453 candidates measured up to pre-selection requirements. The reasons were mainly because the candidates were physically unfit or could not swim. Of the 108 who made it through pre-selection, only 42 completed the Preparation and Condition (PREPCON) phase, while only 20 candidates managed to complete the Vasbyt.

The recruits who withdrew from the PREPCON phase admitted that they had not prepared sufficiently for training because they had thought that STF’s standards may have been lowered.
Members of the unit have visited foreign units of a similar nature on several occasions, to ensure that the structure and procedures of the unit is in line with international trends, and to keep abreast of changes in training and other specialized fields.

The techniques employed by the unit are techniques developed and perfected locally as well as techniques used by special units abroad and adapted to South African conditions.

Members of the STF continually undergo refresher courses to ensure that the standard of fitness and expertise is kept at a high level. Members must always be ready to leave for any place in the country or Africa. The nature of the activities of the STF entail, almost without exception that the members have to leave at short notice. The fact that their families do not know their destination, the nature of the task to be performed and the duration of their absence, means that these families are also subjected to tension and inconvenience.
As far as could be determined, no woman has been able to pass STF selection.

In 2004 it was reported that the SAPS STF may have lost nearly 60 percent of its active members to private companies recruiting security personnel to work in Iraq.

The STF maintain that it will not lower its standards to accommodate more members, seeing as that The Special Task Force’s primary task is the handling of hostage situations. These are highly specialized and very delicate operations. They will and can only be working with members of the highest quality and standard – this is the only way to make a job successful.

(Sources: Facebook.com SAPS Special Task Force; Miller, David. Special Forces: The Men, The Weapons and The Operations; Quarrie, Bruce. SAS and Elite Forces: The Elite Military Units of the World; SAPS.gov.za http://www.saps.gov.za/careers/operational_response_service.htm; SAPS.gov. za. http://www.saps.gov.za/docs_publs/publications/journal/june04/taskforce.htm; SAPS.gov.za.http://www.saps.gov.za/docs_publs/publications/journal/jul05/ special_task_force.htm; Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf. htm; Stiff, Peter. The Silent War: South African Recce Operations 1969 – 1994. South African Special Forces League. www.recce.co.za. The History of the Special Forces in South Africa; Special Task Force. http://samagte. freewebpages.org/polisie/taakmag/taakmag.html; Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/South_African_Police_Service_ Special_Task_Force)

Mission

“The Special Task Force of the South African Police Service provides a specialized and impartial service to the community, by handling high risk operations that fall beyond the scope of classic policing in a professional and responsible manner.

The mission, which underwrites the fundamental constitutional framework, is in line with the mission of the South African Police Service and embodies the policing philosophy and policy of the Minister for Safety and Security”.

Aim

The primary aim of the unit is as per Section 218(1) (m), of the Constitution, namely the handling of :

“… high risk operations which require specialized skills.”

The scope of the aim as determined in the constitutional requirements for the unit, necessitates the unit to be capable of fulfilling various functions.

Primary Functions

• The handling of high risk situations which cannot be dealt with efficiently by ordinary members of the South African Police Service.
• The handling of hostage situations on land, sea and air.

Land encompass busses, trains and buildings such as national key points and embassies.
Sea encompass oil platforms , ships in harbors and own territorial waters.
Air encompass all civilian local and international aircraft.

• The handling of urban and rural terror.
• The provision of assistance to other divisions of the SAPS, which require the specialized skills, techniques and equipment of the unit, such as Murder and Robbery, Motor Vehicle Theft, SANAB, etc.
• The provision of assistance to units responsible for the protection of high profile VIP’s, as well as the periodic unassisted protection of high profile VIP’s where the skills required, fall beyond the capabilities of available VIP units, such as the provision of snipers for counter-sniper measures.
• The provision of a specialized rescue service, and assistance during natural disasters that require high proficiency in mountaineering, emergency diving and other rescue operations.
• The rendering of a specialized operational, tactical and continuation training to all members of the Special Task Force to enable the unit to perform the primary and secondary functions of the unit.
• The rendering of a specialized policing service to neighboring countries’ police, in accordance with agreements reached between the South African government and the countries involved.

(Source: Special Task Force. http://samagte.freewebpages.org/polisie/ taakmag/taakmag.html)

Secondary Functions

• Consultation on and the provision of specialized training to other South African Police Service divisions and other approved organizations.
• The evaluation of specialized equipment.
• The execution of any other duties that fall within the scope of high risk operations, assigned by the Minister for Safety and Security and the National Commissioner of the SAPS or the Divisional Commissioner, Crime Prevention and Response Services.

(Source: Special Task Force. http://samagte.freewebpages.org/polisie/ taakmag/taakmag.html)

The Selection Process
PRE-SELECTION
Successful applicants to the STF will be notified of the dates when the pre-selection panel will be visiting their province. At the pre-selection they will be assessed as follows:

• A completed medical form by a registered general practitioner (form provided by the STF);
• Psychological assessment which includes a cognitive evaluation and a personality profile.

STF assessment:
Physical fitness and strength

• 3,2 km run in boots, long trousers and with a rifle within 18 minutes
• 5 pull-ups without resting (palms forward)
• 60 sit-ups in 2 minutes
• 35 push-ups in 1 minute without resting
• 10 x 25 meter sprints in 65 seconds

Swimming
200 meter swim, any style without assistance – in dark water (dam)

Endurance
15 km walk with 15kg in 3 hours

PREPCON
After successful completion of pre-selection candidates will proceed to the PREPCON phase which is held outside Pretoria for 3 weeks. The purpose of this phase is to prepare candidates for the tough Vasbyt which is to follow. PREPCON is a conditioning phase and members who are not already fit will not succeed through this phase. The PREPCON phase prepares members:

• Physically and
• Mentally
• With the skills required during Vasbyt
• With the basic skills for modules on the STF Basic Training Course which have proven difficult to master

PREPCON also conditions the candidate for:

• Discomfort
• Lack of sleep
• Overall physical and mental hardiness

Members completing PREPCON automatically gain entrance to Selection – Vasbyt which is an immediate follow-on to PREPCON.

VASBYT
Vasbyt is a period of 84 hours during which a person is tested for the necessary qualities to become a Special Task Force member. This is an 84-hour period during which stamina, teamwork, persistence, and problem-solving under pressure are tested to the ultimate.
Selection – Vasbyt has a four-fold purpose:

• Proving that the candidate has the physical ability and mental strength to complete the STF training
• Proving that the candidate will have the cognitive level to grasp and understand the STF subject matter within the allocated time
• The candidates’ perception of their physical and mental limitations are extended during Vasbyt and this experience is banked to be called upon when confronted with physically or mentally challenging situations in the operational arena
• Contributes to the esprit de corps of the STF operators, forming a bond regardless of race, culture, religion or gender

After Selection-Vasbyt, candidates will start the STF Training Course of which the duration is 28 weeks of training, excluding breaks. The STF Training Course includes weapon training, basic rural operations training, urban operations training, parachuting training and hostage release training.
(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

WEAPON TRAINING (6 weeks)
Members are trained for proficiency in:

• Assault rifles
• Shotguns
• Submachine guns
• Pistols
• Fitness and strength
• Unarmed combat

(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

BASIC RURAL OPERATIONS (6 weeks)

Members are trained in:

• Support weapons
• Grenade launchers
• Foreign weapons
• Minor explosive devices
• Pyrotechnics
• Bush craft
• Battle craft
• Navigation
• Heavy vehicle ops
• Follow-up ops
• Observation posts
• Helicopter deployments

(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

URBAN OPERATIONS (7 weeks)
Members are trained to:

• Secure dangerous suspects (high-risk warrants)
• Securing dangerous barricaded suspects
• Cash-in-transit heists
• Robberies
• Other high-risk urban operations
• Urban helicopter deployments
• Basic planning, command and control of urban ops

(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

PARACHUTING (4 weeks)
Members are trained to deploy by:

• Basic static line
• Static line with equipment
• Static line night parachuting
• Basic free fall
• Free-fall at night
• Free-fall with equipment

(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

HOSTAGE RELEASE (5 weeks)
Members are trained in:

• Advanced individual/team movement
• Hostage assault planning, command and control

Tactical assaults on:

• Aircraft
• Trains
• Vehicles
• Small water vessels

(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

STF ADVANCED TRAINING CYCLE
(2 years to complete whilst working operationally at one of the STF units)
The Training Cycle includes:

• Chemical and biological defense
• Explosive identification and breaching
• Medical Level 3
• Advanced VIP Protection
• Emergency diving
• Advanced rural tactics and survival

(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

OTHER OPTIONAL/ SPECIALIZED COURSES AVAILABLE TO STF MEMBERS:

• Sniper course
• Advanced Medical Ordinance (level 6)
• Advanced tracking
• Skippers course
• High speed driving
• 4×4 driving
• Operational commanders training
• Many other courses, depending skills and interests.

(Sources: Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm)

A Couple of Significant Operations
(Source: Special Task Force. http://samagte.freewebpages.org/polisie/ taakmag/taakmag.html)

25 January 1980 – The Siege of Volkskas Bank, Silverton
Four terrorists, armed with AK47 assault weapons and hand grenades, held the Volkskas Bank in Silverton, Pretoria under siege. They threatened to kill the hostages if all their demands were not met.
In the ensuing release operation, Special Task Force members killed all the terrorists, while hostage casualties were caused by hostile small-arms fire and a hand grenade explosion.

25 – 30 January 1980 – Laingsburg flood disaster
The Special Task Force lead the search – and rescue operations. 47 bodies were recovered in 5 days. The Special Task Force also rendered disaster relief assistance to the local population.

13 December 1989 – Body recovery at Selby Mine – Johannesburg
Two members of the Special Task Force assisted the Brixton Murder and Robbery Unit in recovering a corpse from the Selby mineshaft, Johannesburg.
The corpse was found at a depth of 141 meters. Obstructions, bad construction and the threat of toxic gases created additional hazards.
Two members of the Special Task Force were individually lowered into the shaft, but were forced to return to the surface owing to respiratory difficulties.
One member was given oxygen apparatus and lowered down the shaft again. After securing the corpse to a rope, he was hoisted to the surface.
Both members were awarded the South African Police Cross for Bravery for their unselfish deed.

11 January 1993 – Hostage situation – Walmer, Port Elizabeth
An ex-defence force member took a woman hostage and held her at gunpoint.
As negotiations failed, the Special Task Force entered the building and incapacitated the captor with 2 shots. The hostage was not hurt.

4 July 1993 – Hijacked Fokker FU28 at Jan Smuts International Airport
A Fokker FU28 airliner of Royal Swazi Airlines with 21 passengers on board was hijacked and diverted to Jan Smuts Airport, near Johannesburg.
The SAPS Special Task Force was summoned to the scene and 22 members were dispatched to the airport to contain the situation and release the hostages.
After being informed by the psychologist on the scene that the hijacker was emotionally unstable and irrational and a threat to the hostages, the Special Task Force was given the command to recapture the aircraft and to release the hostages.
The hijacker was wounded in the head during the storming of the aircraft. A hostage was wounded in the shoulder and the pilot in the leg.
No casualties were sustained by members of the Special Task Force.

30 July 1988 – Hostage situation- Goedemoed prison
Using sharpened objects, 22 prisoners attacked the prison warders at Goedemoed Prison.

One of the warders failed to escape and was taken hostage in a cell.
The hostage was stabbed twice in the neck while one of the warders was trying to negotiated with the prisoners.

The SAPS Special Task Force was called in to assist in the matter. Nine members of the Special Task Force were flown to Goedemoed Prison.
The Special Task Force freed the hostage with the assistance of the negotiator (warder) and the Reaction Unit of Bloemfontein.

The two prisoners who held the warder hostage, were wounded, one of them fatally.

14 September 1988 – The Bus Capture at Lesotho
The Pope visited Maseru on the above date. Four members of the Lesotho Freedom Alliance hijacked a bus transporting 74 passengers at the British Embassy.
The SAPS Special Task Force was called in to assist in the matter.
When negotiations failed, the terrorists began shooting at the bystanders in the British Consulate. They then attempted to use the bus to ram through the embassy gates.
The Special Task Force stormed the bus, killing three terrorists and capturing one. They disarmed an improvised booby trap (explosive device).
17 hostages who were injured by hostile gunfire were stabilized by Special Task Force medics.

10 July 1994 Arrest of Weapon Smugglers at Nduma
Weapons are regularly smuggled from Mozambique to South Africa via the Kruger National Park which borders on Mozambique.
The Organized Crime Unit and Firearm Tracing Unit requested the Special Task Force to be of assistance by way of observation duties of specified areas which had been identified by informers as areas which the smugglers readily use.
10 members of the Special Task Force were deployed to the Nduma area in the Kruger National Park where they established observation posts.
The operation was successful and three (3) Mozambicans were traced and arrested. The members seized 30 AK47 rifles and three (3) SAM-7 ground-to-air missiles.

27 October 1994 – Hostage Situation and Attempted Suicide at Telkom Offices, Pretoria
A man armed with a firearm and was upset about the non-payment of his salary, entered the Telkom Distribution offices where he worked and took a number of people hostage.
The hostage negotiators and 21 members of the Special Task Force were deployed to the scene. After prolonged negotiations, all the hostages were released but the man refused to surrender and threatened to take his own life.
The Special Task Force were still in position and ready to take action while the negotiations with the man continued. While the negotiations were taking place, the man decided, without warning, to move to another office.
The man was over-whelmed in the passage after his attention had been drawn by a stun grenade and he was disarmed. Neither the man or the people who disarmed him were injured in the incident.

15 June 1994 – Rescue Operation Salu Building, Pretoria
On 15 June 1994, 28 members of the Special Task Force raced to the city centre to assist with a rescue operation.
A building with a number of floors was on fire and personnel working in the building above the floors which were on fire, were trapped.
Members of the Special Task Force, SAPS Air Wing and SA Air Force using helicopters rescued people from the top of the building.
Other members used roping equipment to evacuate the trapped people to safety. Only a small number of people were treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation.

1 March 1995 – Hostage Situation Bella Vista, Johannesburg
A man took his fiancee and her little daughter hostage after a family dispute.
The hostage negotiators and six members of the Special Task Force were deployed to the scene. During negotiations, the man continually held a knife against the throat of his fiancee and also sodomized her in the presence of her daughter. The child was also ill-treated by the man while his fiancee had to watch.
A tactical release of the hostages was the only way out. One member of the Special Task Force was employed as a sniper and during the tactical release of the hostages, the man was fatally wounded. A firearm was found in the room where the man had held the woman and child hostage.

27 November 1995 – Kidnapping and Hostage Situation, Vereeniging
The Intelligence Service and CID of Secunda and Vereeniging requested the assistance of the Special Task Force in an operation to locate the whereabouts of a man who had been kidnapped and was being held hostage.

Information at hand was that the man had been kidnapped by 3 men and was being held hostage in a Daleside, Vereenigng house. 9 members of the Special Task Force were made available for the operation and the kidnapped man was released uninjured during a tactical release. All three men were arrested without a single shot being fired. 5 fire-arms which had been used by the hostage takers were seized.

6 August 1995 Hostage Situation Hollywood Café, Sunnyside
A man fleeing from the SAPS on 6 August 1995, took a woman hostage in the Hollywood Café, Esselen Street, Sunnyside.
The Special Task Force was summoned to the scene by Radio Control after which the hostage taker was arrested and the hostage tactically released.
The man was found guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping, pointing of a firearm and possession of an unlicenced firearm.

24 to 25 February 1995 Hostage Situation (1) St Albans Prison – Port Elizabeth
On 24 February 1995, 22 members of the Special Task Force were summoned to St Alban’s Prison, Port Elizabeth where approximately 105 prisoners had taken a prison warder as hostage.
During the night of 24 – 25 February 1995, after prolonged negotiations the prison warder was released after a tactical release lasting 20 seconds.
One hostage taker was fatally wounded. One injured and the other prisoners were arrested. The hostage was released without injuries. Two firearms and a M26 hand grenade were seized after the operation.


12 August 1996 Hostage Situation 34 Baccus Street, Irene
On 12 August 1996 a man took a year old baby hostage at 34 Baccus Street, Irene. The Special Task Force deployed 21 members to the scene. During negotiations, snipers were deployed in the vicinity.
The snipers observed that the man held the baby in front of him with a knife to it’s throat all the time. The hostage taker only moved a curtain occasionally to see what was going on outside, but never let go of the baby.

Negotiations which had lasted a long time did not succeed and it was decided on a tactical release of the baby by members of the Special Task Force.
During the tactical release, both snipers fired simultaneously, fatally wounding the hostage taker. The baby was safely released without any injuries.

22 May 1997 Hostage Situation Nando’s, Johannesburg
Three robbers trying to rob Nando’s on the corner of Cromhout and Kimberley Streets, Johannesburg were cornered by members of the SAPS Johannesburg after being alerted by members of the public. The robbers took the employees of Nando’s hostage.

A gun-battle between the robbers and the SAPS took place during which two members of the SAPS were wounded.
19 members of the Special Task Force were deployed. During the release of the hostages, the three robbers were wounded and arrested. No members of the public were injured.

11 July 1996 Hostage Situation Northriding, Johannesburg
A 39 year old man took his wife and children as hostage. The Special Task Force deployed 12 members to protect the hostage negotiators and to do a tactical release.
After prolonged negotiations it was decided to tactically release the hostages after which the hostage taker was arrested without a shot being fired. The wife and two children were unscathed after their release. A 9mm pistol and 112 rounds of ammunition were seized.

3 to 4 August 1997 Hostage Situation, Bloemfontein
A man who had been fleeing from the Police after a robbery went awry entered a block of flats to hide. The police followed the fugitive into the flats where the man had taken a woman hostage to negotiate his release.
6 members of the Special Task Force were summoned to the scene. After prolonged negotiations, it was decided upon a tactical release of the woman.
The situation started on 3 August 1997 and the woman was only tactical released by the Special Task Force on 4 August 1997. During the tactical release of the woman, the hostage taker was fatally wounded by a sniper.

7 March 1998 Hostage Situation, Pretoria
On 7 March 1998 a man armed with a .357 revolver took two children hostage and on several occasions threatened to shoot the children if his demands were not met.
The hostage negotiators attempted to negotiate for a considerable time with the man for him to abandon is demands, but were unsuccessful. The Special Task Force had deployed 16 members to the scene and the children were tactically released without a shot being fired. The children were released unscathed and the man arrested.

11 August 1998 Arrest of Transit Robbers, Midrand
The Republic of South Africa has been characterized by an increase in transit robberies. The robbers strike with military precision and time and again have got away with large quantities of money. During these robberies, the robbers do not hesitate to make use of firearms and on several occasions innocent members of the public have lost their lives.
Information was gathered by the Special Investigation Unit about another such robbery about to take place and the Special Task Force was called in to assist with the guarding of the money and possible arrest of the suspects.
27 members of the Special Task Force were deployed to be of assistance during the operation. The information gathered was spot on and 5 robbers were fatally wounded, 5 wounded and 2 arrested. 5 vehicles, 3 AK47 rifles and 3 firearms were recovered at the scene.

26 November 1998 Farm Attacks, Hammanskraal
Attacks on farms in the RSA have assumed enormous proportions. The CID of a local police station at Hammanskraal maintained that they had gathered information about a planned attack on a farm in their area.
Members of the Special Task Force had on several occasions followed up the information, but were not successful.

On 26 November 1998 the SAPS Hammanskraal again approached the Special Task Force with new information. 10 members of the Special Task Force were deployed to the scene where the members protected the farmer and his family in two separate dwellings. The attackers struck the farms as stated by the information and when the members of the Special Task Force attempted to arrest them, a gun-battle ensued. 4 attackers were fatally wounded, 1 wounded and arrested. 4 firearms and a knife were recovered on the scene.
No farm inhabitants were injured.

16 May 1995 Arrest of Dangerous Criminal, Citrusdal
On 12 May 1995 8 members of the Special Task Force, Cape Town were summoned to Citrusdal to trace and arrest a dangerous fugitive in the Citrusdal area.
On 16 May 1995 the suspect was traced to a storm water drain in the Citrusdal area. A gun-battle between the fugitive and a member of the Special Task Force ensued. The fugitive was wounded in both hands and the member of the Special Task Force in his upper arm.
The fugitive was arrested and was found guilty on several charges of murder, attempted, murder and robbery.

20 October 1996 Arrest of Suspects on a Ship Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town
On 20 October 1996 10 members of the Special Task Force, Cape Town were summoned to the Table Bay harbour for a hostage situation on a Chinese boat, the Win Furr. On arrival at the scene it was established that the captain of the ship had been held hostage but was released. When a member of the SAPS boarded the boat to arrest the suspects he was disarmed by them and they threatened to shoot the police.
Members of the Special Task Force decided to do a tactical release when a gun-battle ensued. Two Chinese crewmen who were part of the mutiny were wounded and 15 others arrested.
A member of the Special Task Force lost his thumb when a stun grenade exploded in his hand.

12 February 1998 Rescue Operation City Centre, Durban
A fire started on the 28th floor of the Commercial City building in central Durban. Members of the Special Task Force, Durban were lowered by Air Force helicopter onto the roof of the building.
Several people trapped by flames outside the 12th floor were rescued. It was dangerous for members due to the risk of the ropes burning.

May 1996 Arrest of Subject
Members of the Special Task Force, Durban were summoned to the Port Shepstone beachfront where they came across a man who was firing at any person who dared to move. The situation was brought under control after a Special Task Force sniper shot the pistol out the suspect’s hand from a distance of 35 meters.

Operation Rachel I to V Tracing and Destroying Weapon Caches in Mozambique
Five (5) dangerous cross-border operations involving members of the South African Police Service and Mozambican Police have already taken place in respect of the tracing and destroying of weapon caches in Mozambique. The following weapons and explosive ordnance have thus far been recovered and destroyed:
Rifles – 5903
Pistols – 13
Explosives – 42kg
Detonators – 254
Hand grenades – 842
Land mines – 81
Anti-peronnel mines – 5260
Mortars – 4220
Projectiles – 5780
Ammunition – 189392
Magazines – 1360

8 September 1995 – Tracing of Suspects, Siyabuswa
Information was gathered by the Pretoria Murder and Robbery Unit about a planned armed robbery of a factory in Siyabuswa on 8 September 1995. It was a Friday which was also payday with a large amount of wages at the factory.
The information gathered was very vague as the identity of the suspects was not available, the type of transport to be used and the manner in which the robbery would take place. The Special Task Force deployed 9 members to the scene to assist with protection of the factory and arrest of suspects, if needed. The robbers entered the premises and tried to holdup the cashier. The Special Task Force members reacted and a gun-battle ensued. Two robbers were fatally wounded, one wounded and one arrested. One vehicle and firearms were seized on the scene.

10 to 12 February 1997 – Hostage Situation St Albans Prison, Port Elizabeth
Five civilians were taken hostage by about 52 prisoners at the St Albans Prison, Port Elizabeth. The hostages were held in the maximum security section of the prison.
During the night of 11 February 1997, 38 members of the Special Task Force entered the prison after prolonged negotiations were unsuccessful and released the hostages. Entry to the security section was gained by using explosives to remove the cell door. The time lapse to release the hostages was only 30 seconds.

During the tactical release of the hostages one hostage was killed and one wounded. The other prisoners were arrested and handed over to the prison authorities.

6 April 1997 – Hostage Situation, Utrecht Prison – 1996
The commander and two officers from the Utrecht Prison were released by members of the Special Task Force, Durban. 66 prisoners were arrested and four firearms which were illegally in the possession of prison warders were seized.

6 April 1997 – Hostage Situation West Street, Durban
A father took his family hostage in a parked vehicle in West Street, Durban. During negotiations the Special Task Force used a stun grenade to break the cars window and releasing the hostages. There were no shots fired or any injuries.
A pistol was confiscated from the man before he could use it. This incident received world wide coverage.

August 1995 John Ross House, Esplanade, Durban
Members of the Durban Child Protection Unit had a warrant to remove a baby from her mother’s care. The mother decided that nobody would get her baby and decided to hang the baby outside the window of her 10th floor flat. Members of the Special Task Force entered the flat and grabbed the baby from the mother. The mother was charged for attempted murder and child abuse.

5 January 1999 Arrest of Serial Rapist/Murderer Capital Park, Pretoria
Since October 1998 a number of rapes and murders and occurred in the Capital Park suburb of Pretoria. The specific area is mountainous and very little activity occurs in the area making it ideal for a person to hide or conceal something.

Over a period of 3 months, 7 corpses had been found in the area, which suggested that a serial rapist and murderer was active in the area.
The assistance of the Special Task Force was requested and observation posts were to be established to gather information which might lead to the arrest of the suspect(s). 11 members of the Special Task Force were deployed to the area. On the first night, a suspect was spotted and arrested. The suspected man has been positively linked to the rapes and murders by means of DNA tests.

26 January 1999 – Hostage Situation Venda University, Thohoyandou
On 26 January 1999, 10 members of the Special Task Force were deployed to the Venda University where a man, armed with a firearm, had taken a woman hostage in an room. The man had fled from police officials who attempted to arrest him on a charge of robbery.
After negotiations had failed, the members decided on a tactical release of the hostage. The room could only be entered through a wooden door, which was locked.
By way of a tactical release the hostage taker was fatally wounded and the woman released.

Operational Deployments
ASSISTANCE: CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: ST ALBANS: PORT ELIZABETH: 1997-02-10 TO 1997-02-12: SPECIAL TASK FORCE
On 1997-02-10 at 12:15 the Special Task Force received a call from Senior Superintendent John Best, of POP, Port Elizabeth to assist during a hostage situation which had arisen at St Albans Prison, Port Elizabeth. Six hostages were held by 55 prisoners with 2 pistols and other sharpened weapons.
A total of 40 Special Task Force members were mobilized from Special Task Force, Pretoria and Special Task Force, Cape Town. All the members were transported by air transport to Port Elizabeth.

On their arrival at St Albans members attended a briefing. The briefing was elucidated through videos, photographs and plans of the building.
After the briefing the plan was explained to members and members were divided into several groups.

The groups took in their appointed positions.

At 03:00 the Special Task Force was given permission to act. The members positioned themselves right in front of the entrance route. The persons holding the hostages suspected that the Police had begun to take action and informed one another by whistling. The Special Task Force members then withdrew.

Planning commenced anew, and this led to new needs arising. An additional 5 Special Task Force members departed from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth with the needed equipment.

A joint JOC meeting was held on 1997-02-11 at 18:00. The persons holding the hostages demanded the following: 11 vehicles, food, lights, a telephone and a lawyer. They were granted the following: food, lights, a telephone and a lawyer.

The leader made no concessions. The lawyer was involved in the negotiations. The lawyer led the leader by giving him confidential information. The lawyer was withdrawn from the conference table when it became evident that he was unwilling to help release the hostages.

The National Commissioner of Correctional Services decided, following the discussions of the lawyer with the leader that members should not take action, as there was a small possibility that the hostages would be released in the morning. Entry could, therefore, wait for yet another day.

The Commissioner was persuaded to change his decision because the present time would be the most effective for launching a successful operation and that the leader was not even prepared to release one hostage to reflect his honourable intentions. The Commissioner gave his approval for the action to continue in the morning.

At 02:00 the members advanced towards various entrance routes and took action at 03:25.
The hostages were rescued into safety within 40 seconds. All five of them were unharmed. Members of the Special Task Force then withdrew. Correctional Services and members of POP ensured that the cells were safe and searched them.

The outcome was as follows:

• Five hostages were rescued.
• One prisoner died.
• One prisoner was wounded.
• Two steel doors were shot open.
• The locks of various store doors had been broken.
• The SAPS suffered no losses.

ASSISTANCE: NATIONAL INVESTIGATION TAS UNIT, NATAL SOUTH: SHOBASHOBANE MASSACRE AT IZINGOLWENI: 2 FEBRUARY 1996 TO 3 JUNE 1996: SPECIAL TASK FORCE

On 2 February 1996 the Special Task Force was deployed to assist, in Port Shepstone, the National Investigation Task Unit, Natal South, which was charged with the investigation into the Shobashobane massacre in the Izingolweni district.

The Special Task Force performed the following services:

• The protection of Director Engelbrecht, Superintendent Moodley and four other officers.
• Making arrests and also protecting investigating officers.

The following members of the Special Task Force were on duty from 1996-02-02 to 1996-06-31 during the Shobashobane investigation:
Protection services: 1996-02-02 to 1996-06-31
Seven Officers’ names removed for safety reasons

On 18 April 1996 Operation Shobashobane commenced and these tasks were performed by the members of the Special Task Force. The operation ran from 18 to 29 April 1996.
On 29 April 1996 Senior Superintendent Fryer scaled down the assistance to only one team, as well as two members for protecting Director Engelbrecht. The team consisted of the following Special Task Force members:
DETECTION TEAM

• Six officers

PROTECTION SERVICES

• Two officers

During Operation Shobashobane the Special Task Force and the investigating officers were assisted by Captain W N, a SAPS pilot flying one BK 117 helicopter, Doctor F and six medical orderlies of 7 Medical Battalion, Pretoria. Sincere thanks is expressed to these persons, and the organizations they represent, for their contribution to the operation.
Suspects were arrested by the Special Task Force and investigating officers.
The Special Task Force’s services and assistance were terminated on 3 June 1996.
No difficulties were experienced.
Good cooperation was experienced between the various units and other organizations.

Some Weapons used by the SAPS Special Task Force

ASSAULT RIFLES

R1 7.62x51mm

In 1958, SA tested 16 different infantry firearm to replace the .303 No4Mk1/2 rifle. One of these firearms was the Belgium FN FAL.

Thousands of FN rifles was bought by the South African Government (The first batch – or batches – of rifles arrived in the SA in 1960 or 1961) and issued to members of the South African Defense Force and South African Police during the 1960’s and 70’s.

SA made FN FAL type rifles after they learned from Belgium how to do mass production. At some time in the early 1960s an agreement was signed between FN and Armscor whereby the FAL would be produced, under licence, by LIW (Lyttleton Ingeneurswerke), an Armscor/Denel subsidiary located outside Pretoria. They named these firearms the R1 rifle (Rifle 1).

(Sources: Hamann, Hilton. The Gun and You: The safe use of firearms in South Africa. Chapter 25: The Controversy about the R1 and R4 South African Assault Rifles. Wells, Peter. The History of the 7.62mm FN-F.A.L. Rifle in South Africa. http://www.saaaca.org.za/links/SIG/fal/fal.htm)

R5 5.56x45mm

The R1 was phased out by the R4 (rifle 4) in the early 1980’s, as development started in 1979. About the time when South Africa carried out its first large scale incursion into Angola (Operation Savannah in 1975-76) the new military rifle made its appearance. Troops were told that it would take the place of the venerable R1 or FN that so many soldiers had grown to trust.

As the R1 was an infantry rifle, the trend in the world was to move away to assault rifles. The AK47, M16 and Galil are an example of some assault rifles. It needs to be noted that the first Galil’s were chambered for the 7, 62 x 51 mm round of ammunition. R1 rifles were sent to the Commandos to protect the home land. These rifles was only finally recalled in the late 1990’s

In the 1970’s and 1980’s there was close co-operation in defense matters between Israel and South Africa, one fruit of which then was the 5.56 mm R4 rifle, which was in essence a modified version of the Israeli Galil rifle. The R4 was first fielded in 1982, and replaced the Belgian FN FAL in South African service.

The modifications were intended to make the weapon easier to use by the South African troops who were taller and more heavily built than the Israelis, and also to meet the more stringent demands of bush warfare.

The R4 was originally fitted with a solid butt, but this was later replaced by a twin-strutted stock which could be folded to the right. A detachable bipod was also issued with every weapon.

The R5 was a shorter version of the R4 used by the South African Marine Corps and Airforce, as well as SAPS.

(Sources: Denel DLS Vektor. Product Data Sheets. Hamann, Hilton. The Gun and You: The safe use of firearms in South Africa. Chapter 25: The Controversy about the R1 and R4 South African Assault Rifles.)

HANDGUNS

Browning High Power 9mmx19

Both the South African military and police made use of the HP as it was called. The military Special Forces up to today still use the weapon. A small quantity of HP’s come from the Railway Police and was used by the SAPS Special Task Force.

Some of these weapons were also issued to practical pistol shoots in the SAP and SAPS that take part in IPSC championships.

(Sources: Odendaal, H.J. Capt. Serious and Violent Crime Unit – South African Police Service. Q AND A: POST WW2 ARMS OF SOUTH AFRICA: A Brief South African Small Arms History in relation to the Military and Police)

Heckler & Koch USP 9mm x 19

The SAPS Special Task Force replaced its Browning HP’s with Heckler and Koch USP semi automatic pistols. It was decided upon on the fact that it could accommodate a tactical light, as none of the Glocks nor the Sig Sauers had tactical light rails at that stage.

It is said that the Sig-Sauer P226 (which is also issued to the British Special Air Service) and P228 (which is a compact version of the P226) gave the USP a good run for its money.

It is rumoured that the STF is currently looking at replacing their USP’s.

(Sources: Odendaal, H.J. Capt. Serious and Violent Crime Unit – South African Police Service. Q AND A: POST WW2 ARMS OF SOUTH AFRICA: A Brief South African Small Arms History in relation to the Military and Police, Gunsite: www.gunsite.co.za/forum).

SUB MACHINEGUNS

Uzi and Mini-Uzi SMG’s 9mmx19

The Sten was one of the first SMG’s in Africa. With the Sterling SMG, it was used hand in hand by the military and law enforcement in South Africa. The Sten was fazed out by the Walther MPL, commonly revered to as the Walther HMC (hand machine carbine) All HMC’s was withdrawn by 1990. Some BXP SMG’s was used in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, but it was never a success. The Railway Police once again supplied the SAP with some Uzi and Mini Uzi SMG’s. It was and still is been used today by specialized units of the SAPS and Special Task Force.

(Sources: Odendaal, H.J. Capt. Serious and Violent Crime Unit – South African Police Service. Q AND A: POST WW2 ARMS OF SOUTH AFRICA: A Brief South African Small Arms History in relation to the Military and Police).

Heckler & Koch MP5-A3 9mm x 19

Both the SAPS Task Force and Military Special Forces use the Heckler and Koch MP5 as a sub machine gun during deployment. The A3 version has a retractable butt stock. The Heckler & Koch MP5 is considered the standard by which all other sub machineguns are judged.

(Sources: Odendaal, H.J. Capt. Serious and Violent Crime Unit – South African Police Service. Q AND A: POST WW2 ARMS OF SOUTH AFRICA: A Brief South African Small Arms History in relation to the Military and Police)

SNIPER RIFLES
Accuracy International PM 7.62 mm Sniper Rifle

The Accuracy International Model PM rifle was designed from the start for tactical use. The A.I. was designed to meet challenging criteria: guaranteed first round accuracy; unchanging zero; a stock unaffected by environmental changes; bipod, stock and trigger adjustable to meet individual firer’s requirements; telescopic sight; reliability; interoperability; and economy. A.I.’s solution was to use a massive and very stiff integral chassis, which would be impervious to environmental changes and is precisely reproducible. The barrel is made of stainless steel, and has a normal accuracy life in excess of 5 000 rounds. It attaches to the action by a screw thread bedding against a locking ring, and can be changed in approximately five minutes without stripping the rifle. The shooter can carry out all but the most major repairs on his weapon himself, three Allen keys and a screwdriver being the only tools required. All accessories mate directly to the chassis, including the stock, butt, spacers, sling swivels, trigger unit, magazine and catch, handstop and bipod. The weapon entered service with the British armed forces in 1985 as the L96A1.

(Sources: Darman, Peter. Military Handbooks: SAS; Miller, David. Special Forces: The Men, The Weapons and The Operations)

Various Pictures
(Sources: MSN Groups:http://groups.msn.com/SouthAfrican PoliceService Photos/varioussapsphotos.msnw; http://groups.msn.com/SouthAfricanPolice ServicePhotos/specialtaskforcepics.msnw; Shadowspear.com http:// shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm; Special Task Force. http://samagte. freewebpages.org/polisie/taakmag/ taakmag.html)

Task Force Members practicing Air Craft Assault and Building Clearance with Heckler & Koch MP5’s and 9mm USP Pistols.

Task Force members with HK MP5 submachine guns in a Bus Assault Exercise.

Task Force members with HK MP5 submachine guns in a Bus Assault Exercise.

Task Force Members practicing Building Clearance with MP5 A3 Sub machineguns and what appears to be a High Power 9mm pistol.

Chest and Shoulder Badges of the SAPS Special Task Force

Task Force members posing with the R5 5.56 mm Assault Rifle, Uzi 9mm sub machinegun and a pump action shotgun.

This article was compiled by Johan van Heerden, a GunSite SA Forum Member.

Discuss this article in our forum here

Many thanks from GunSite SA Admin for this continbution.

COMPLETE LIST OF SOURCES

Bothma, L.J. Die Buffel Struikel: ‘n Storie van 32 Bataljon en sy mense.

Darman, Peter. Military Handbooks: SAS.

Denel DLS Vektor. Product Data Sheets.

Facebook.com SAPS Special Task Force.

Google. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8259482298417043974 &q=special+task+force

Google. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8904237222486035817 &q=&hl=en

Gunsite.co.za. www.gunsite.co.za/forum

Hamann, Hilton. The Gun and You: The safe use of firearms in South Africa. Chapter 25: The Controversy about the R1 and R4 South African Assault Rifles.

Miller, David. Special Forces: The Men, The Weapons and The Operations.

MSN Groups:

http://groups.msn.com/SouthAfricanPoliceServicePhotos/varioussapsphotos.msnw

http://groups.msn.com/SouthAfricanPoliceServicePhotos/specialtaskforcepics.msnw

Odendaal, H.J. Capt. Serious and Violent Crime Unit – South African Police Service. Q AND A: POST WW2 ARMS OF SOUTH AFRICA: A Brief South African Small Arms History in relation to the Military and Police.

Quarrie, Bruce. SAS and Elite Forces: The Elite Military Units of the World.
SAPS.gov.za http://www.saps.gov.za/careers/operational_response_service. htm
SAPS.gov.za. http://www.saps.gov.za/docs_publs/publications/journal/ june04/ taskforce.htm
SAPS.gov.za. http://www.saps.gov.za/docs_publs/publications/journal/jul05/ special_task_force.htm
Shadowspear.com http://shadowspear.com/sapsstf.htm

South African Special Forces League. www.recce.co.za. The History of the Special Forces in South Africa.

Specialoperations.com. http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/South_ Africa/Special_Task_Force/ Default2.htm

Special Task Force. http://samagte.freewebpages.org/polisie/taakmag/ taakmag.html

Stiff, Peter. The Silent War: South African Recce Operations 1969 – 1994.

Time-Life Books (ed.) The New Face of War: Special Forces and Missions. By the Editors of Time-Life Books.

Wells, Peter. The History of the 7.62mm FN-F.A.L. Rifle in South Africa. http://www.saaaca.org.za/links/SIG/fal/fal.htm

Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Police_Service_Special_Task_Force

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQOdHA6_yyM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUt8lf18P8E&feature=related

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9H2snXI4mo&feature=related

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-9iO2xtDGk&feature=related

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgLd8DjUgD4

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enYpo5gXeXg&feature=related

Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMq4rbkjCUs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYS9hT M0iQ4

Now today, the art of forged knives is being revived. With the refinement of modern carbon steels some of the toughest and sharpest knives are being made today. One of the key diferences between stainless and carbon steels (apart from the obvious) is the fact that carbon steels can be selectively hardened and tempered. A process that can be clearly seen in these blades.

As with a above knife there are techniques that bladesmiths can use to manipulated the pattern achieved from the quenching process.

Selective hardening offers the opportunity for the Smith to give the steel varying hardnesses. The edge quench makes the edge as hard as it can be. Too hard. It then needs to be tempered to reduce stress and increase toughness. Now the blade has a hard edge and a softer back. However we don’t want the tip to be as hard as the edge. So the tip is over tempered to make it softer than the edge but still harder than the back. This is to avoid chipping should the blade fall tip down into something hard. Then the tang has to be a spring temper softer that the rest. So we now have a blade with four different hardnesses. The feat cannot be achieved with stainless steels due to their high alloy (mainly chrome) content.

The blade should then be tough enough to perform several cutting tasks and test without blunting or deforming from stress. Her I can be seen cutting a 2×4 with a knife I made. I performed this task twice and the blade was still razor sharp.

Now the knife should be able to perform a bend test. The blade is inserted into a vice and the maker has to bend the blade at 90deg without it snapping (as seen below)

These are qualities that all forged blades have no matter the size. A select few make forged knives in SA though we are trying to spread the word. Please visit the SABA (Southern African Bladesmiths Association) website www.sabladesmith.co.za for details on bladesmithing and meetings being held.

By Stuart Smith
info@forgedknives.co.za
http://www.forgedknives.co.za

Want to find out more? Follow this discussion and ask questions in our forums: Carbon Steel

Damascus steels origins stretch to as far away as India where it was (and is to this day for those who duplicated the methods) called Wootz steel. Now, Wootz is not a true steel but more like carburised Iron. Smelted in a blast furnace made from iron and charcoal cooked up in a crucible. The carbon migration to the iron made it stronger and more suited to swords and knives. When etched after forging the steel would display a unique pattern which reflected the internal grain structure. These ingots and billets were traded through the ancient city of Damascus which became synonymous with quality steels.

However in northern Europe the viking tribes were combining smelted steel with bars of iron to imbue their weapons with both hardness and toughness. These differing layers formed more bold patterns (usually twisted) on the blades.

One of the last civilised cultures to adapt this method were the Japanese who learned it from Chinese tradesmen who in turn gained the knowledge from the subcontinent of India. What makes the Japanese so special is that they took these techniques and perfected them to a degree that was unsurpassed for hundreds of years.

Many of the damascus techniques were lost but in the early seventies a man name Bill Moran re ignited the flame of damascus which set in motion the snowball effect of todays current damascus masterpieces. Though now days what makers are producing is not in fact true damascus. Todays blades are more accurately called pattern welded steel. Though the techniques are very much similar the patterns are largely aesthetic because much of the steel produced to day is of such a sophisticated level that mixing steels adds little to the overall strength of the blade.

So what makes damascus blade look the way it does. As with the ancient vikings we are mixing two different kinds of steel. But instead of trying to adjust the performance to create a carbon balance in the steel we are doing so to make a beautiful blade that contains carefully designed patterns to show off the beauty of the knife. I use various kinds of carbon steels in my damascus blades. For my high carbon selection i use O1, 5160, 1070 and 1080. These are steels high in carbon but low in other alloys. To create a contrast we then mix any one of these steels with something that is high in nickel like L6 or K600. The nickel resists the etching process and stays polished while the carbon steel will take the etch turning it dark grey to black.

When ‘mixing’ the different steels we need to bond them together at the molecular level otherwise there is no structural strength. This bonding occurs when we heath the many alternating layers of steel to a degree when if struck by a hammer the weld themselves together effectively making a new singular solid billet of steel. We can then increase the number of layers by folding this billet by cutting and re welding at high heats each time doubling the layer count. An interesting fact about the manufacture of traditional Japanese sword is that they are folded no more than 12 times. I’ve heard people saying ít was folded thousands of times!’. This is not true. When steel is heated there is an instant cooling of the outer layer. This forms fire scale. If a blade were folded a thousand times there would be no steel left to make a sword. What actually people ere inferring is the fact that the sword has thousands of layers.
Through differing techniques we can control the pattern to create amazing patterns. This I will cover in another article.

What I have written here today is an over simplification of the process but should enlighten you all to what is involved in making a damascus blade.

By Stuart Smith
info@forgedknives.co.za
http://www.forgedknives.co.za

Want to find out more? Follow this discussion and ask questions in our forums: Making Damascus Steel

A good few months back now I was chatting to Roger Stockbridge of MRST and during our conversation he mentioned that he was bringing in some RPA International rifles, of Tonbridge in Kent. Knowing little about their pedigree, but having heard of RPA before, and more importantly, being in the next town, I was pretty interested and Roger kindly setup a visit for me.

A couple weeks and many internet hours later, I found myself driving anxiously and hopelessly around an industrial estate trying to locate their premises. Luckily Peter, at the end of the phone guided me in to their covert operation, kept discreet due to the nature of their business. I thought this was pretty cool and felt rather privileged to be invited over.

Now I’m far from qualified to write a review on the rifles technical aspects, so this is largely based on my opinions and observations.

OK, so if you don’t know who RPA are or what they are about, checking out their website http://www.rpainternational.co.uk, you will soon realise that they are not just some run of the mill rifle manufacturer, but maybe a little more specialised. OK, a lot more. I’ve been trying to find a way of accurately describing their ‘hunting’ line of rifles, I just can’t, the best I can do is to say they are of a premium industrial grade. Thinking of your regular power tool, this would be the premium grade machine that industry professionals would use. That possibly doesn’t do it justice, but it’s the best I’m going to come up with. Every aspect of this rifle is precisely built, for a purpose, and to be used. RPA manufacture their own actions, they source premium barrels and have stocks custom made to their specifications.

Arriving in the boardroom, I was in precision rifle heaven. Where you’d expect to find pictures hanging, I found rifles and the trophy cabinets contained actions, magazines and rifle accessories, I could definitely get used to this. My first impressions were that these rifles offered something different, something that I battled to put my finger on initially, until I did. While these are technically production rifles, they’re not.

At the heart of their rifles is the impressive vault-like Quadlite action, precisely machined with it’s four locking-lugs and designed for long range competition, sporting, varmint and bench shooters alike. This is a no mess, no fuss action with a fantastic two stage trigger to match. The action is smooth, positive and built like a tank.

There is a choice of two different synthetic stocks, one a classic American profile, the other a thumb hole. Made by Robertson Composites from a combination of reinforced epoxy, glass fibre and Kevlar, the stocks resonate strength and rigidity, with a weight that is befitting to such a rifle. Finished in a matt black, tactile stippled texture, I’m pretty confident they’ll stand up to a torrent of abuse.  Now I’ve never been that interested in thumbhole stocks, but it just seems to suit this package and bridges the gap between a hunting and precision rifle, giving you that added confidence.

The barrel as you’d expect is of a varmint profile, manufactured from super-match-grade stainless steel, with a matt finish and heavy fluting. There are no open sights, although the action is drilled and tapped and the barrel is screw-cut for a suppressor.

I generally feel that most things have a defining factor, and for me, the RPA’s one is it’s trigger. It is superb. Every time the trigger breaks it puts a helpless smile on your face as you think to yourself, ‘I can’t possibly miss.’

I remember meeting a guy who used to race 10 year old’ish formula one cars, and while admiring his machines asking what the most impressive thing was about driving a car like that was. His answer, ‘the breaks.’ He went on to say that you can go fast in a lot of cars and a lot of them will handle well, but nothing he’d ever driven had filled him with as much confidence as those breaks did. I don’t think I really understood what he meant until I handle the RPA rifles.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to handle some fantastic firearms along with the truly impressive Rangemaster sniper rifles which are in a league of their own, and right up my ally. The afternoon has given me a new perspective on what rifles as tools can and should be, along with the realisation that I’ll never be happy until I own a Rangemaster!

A big thanks to Roger who arranged my invitation to RPA with Mark and to Peter for showing me around, it was much appreciated.

Craig

MRST is the South African Agent for RPA International. Tel: 012 993 4844 or email: mrs@lantic.net
or visit RPA International at http://www.rpainternational.co.uk

So you’ve finally got your license or you’ve decided that your trusty blaster isn’t doing much to protect you locked up in the safe. Either way you find yourself making the wise decision to carry the most effective self defence tool available to you, hopefully on an EDC (Every Day Carry) basis. Unfortunately most of us then realise that carrying this thing around can be uncomfortable and annoying, sometimes this leads to the gun going back to its old job of protecting the inside of your safe which is obviously sub optimal.

Like with many things, if you dress the part it makes the whole experience substantially more user friendly. Dropping a mousegun into your pocket may be quick and easy, but in my opinion you are giving up too much ability in your gear in the interest of expedience. My experience is in carrying a full size service pistol all day every day, so that is where this article is going to come from. These procedures will work for you if you go with a compact or sub compact pistol and they will even be ever so slightly easier to carry and conceal.

Personally I always carry on my right side hip (I’m right handed), this means that all the repetition I gain drawing in practise , training and competition translate to my EDC set up. I almost always carry in an IWB (Inside the Waistband) holster as I find it offers me the best concealment over the widest selection of wardrobe. Which particular holster you choose is another article all of its own. For now let me recommend that you don’t skimp on your choice as with most things if you buy quality you only cry once. My current choice and recommendation is the Comp Tac MTAC which is available from hailstormza.com. For me this gives the best compromise between speed and concealment, and because it’s tuckable it will work in almost any dress code.

Your belt is one of the most important, and at the same time, one of the most ignored portions of the EDC wardrobe. A stiff well build belt makes a substantial difference to your comfort while carrying a pistol especially at the end of a long day and concealment is considerably easier with a proper belt. Try it and you will be surprised.

When buying trousers keep a few things in mind. First off make sure that they have belt loops, sorry but your shell suit bottoms ain’t going to work properly if you want to be armed. That solid belt we discussed besides being an aid to comfort and concealment is also your third hand in the event of you needing to manipulate your pistol should one of your hands be wounded and out of the fight.

If you’re carrying IWB you will most likely find that getting your pants one size bigger makes things a whole lot more comfortable. Many gun owners try an IWB holster in a pair of pants that they can just barely fit into as it is, and then complain that IWB is too uncomfortable, if you normally wear a 36” get your next pair as a 38”. All of a sudden that hunk of steel will feel a lot less like it’s trying to become one with your pelvis.

The heavier the material your trousers are constructed from the less noticeable the holster itself will be to a keen observer. Once again hoping you can wedge that pistol into your rugby shorts isn’t going to offer the best of ,or even an average amount of speed ,concealment or security. Darker colours will also make things less noticeable to any observers, either bad guys or work colleagues, who we would rather weren’t aware that we are armed.

Your shirt choice will, like your trousers, be dependent on the environment you find yourself in. In a more formal environment that tuckable function on the holster allows far more versatility as you will be able to take your jacket or other concealing garment off. The baggier the shirt the easier concealment will be, this doesn’t mean you have to dress like a slob but that your shirt does need to be a little looser. This allows you to blouse it out a bit when you tuck it around your pistol, no point having the gun covered but the shirt so tightly over it that anyone standing near you can read the serial number through the shirt. Have a look in the mirror make sure you can’t see the silhouette of the pistol you’re trying to conceal. Move around when you check.

If you can, try choose your shirts in darker colours and/or with stripes or some sort of pattern, these will combine to make the pistol less likely to be noticed if you move in such a way that the shirt is pulled more tightly against it. I have found myself in employment where I had to wear a white dress shirt every day, if this applies to you, try picking slightly thicker shirts preferably with a textured material. Unfortunately as with so much gear the better the quality of the shirts you buy the better they will be at hiding that gun.

In a less formal environment the same rules will apply and being able to leave your shirt untucked will make access a little easier. As I sit here typing this I am wearing a 5.11 short sleeve button up shirt, these work like a bomb if they match the environment. When looking at a button up shirt try to find something that is cut in a similar fashion, it hangs slightly lower than many shirts lessening the chances of the pistols butt hooking on the hem and exposing itself. Also, as with formal shirts, the looser cut helps reduce the chances of the butt of the pistol printing. With Polo shirts and T shirts the same rules apply. A little looser and longer cut combines with a good quality material in a dark colour or with a pattern is going to make life a whole lot easier. Those super tight jobs designed to show off your six pack are also going to ensure that the whole world can see that you’re armed. Unfortunately you will need to decide whether being the height of fashion or being prepared to defend your life against the forces of darkness, is more important to you.

A concealment garment like a jacket or photojournalist style vest can make concealment a bit easier but we need to keep some things in mind. If they have any draw strings or similar at the bottom hem cut them off straight away, a piece of string and a plastic bobble hooked in your trigger guard while trying to reholster can lead to all sorts of unpleasant BANG noises. Be careful that, on a cold day, you can reach the pistol under a jersey, a hoodie and a zipped up jacket. Winter makes concealment easier but access much more difficult. ALWAYS try some test draws from under today’s concealment.
Be aware that a hoodie or sweatshirt with an elasticised bottom hem my ride up during the day and if that is your only layer of concealment for the day you will need to keep a very close eye to ensure your pistol isn’t hanging out for the world to see.

Many users like an open front concealment garment. This can work very well especially if you prefer an Outside the Waistband Holster. Ensure though that it hangs low enough to conceal the pistol and holster when you lean over or lift your arms. The photojournalist style vest is very popular as a concealment garment, they conceal the pistol very well, are more lightweight than a jacket, so many find them usable all year round and they normally have lots of pockets to stow all sorts of gear in. I don’t really find them comfortable and find I get better concealment from a closed front garment but if they work for you they have some distinct advantages. Bear in mind some do worry that like the big black moonbag they do shout “gun” to many. Whenever I see someone wearing one I assume that there is very likely a pistol under there somewhere.

Something to bear in mind is that a surprising number of people will know exactly what the word GLOCK printed on your cap or T shirt means. People will read your “I’d rather be shooting t shirt” so bear in mind that true concealment is more than just having the gun covered.

Far too many people make excuses that they can’t carry a reasonable size fighting pistols because they need to dress well for work. By properly combining your pistol and support gear (holster, mag pouches and belts) and dressing to conceal it is possible to be prepared without compromising on pistol choice or making it obvious that you are armed. For a good few years I worked in an environment where I was not allowed by company policy to carry a firearm. The above assisted me in being armed everyday while being concealed sufficiently to stay employed and not offend the customers.

Obviously I would never recommend that you flout company policy with regards to firearms or signage in any environment you visit. Big boy rules, as always, apply. You make the decision to be armed or not and you live with the consequences either way.

This article was written by BigT, a GunSite SA Forum Member.
Many thanks.

The object of this article is not so much to solicit agreement as to which items you should pack in your bag, but rather to make you start thinking more seriously about the possibility that you may, in fact, need such a bag or backpack, etc. and what you think it should contain for best results for your situation.

In SA today it seems like there are almost daily incidents of service delivery protests, taxi strikes and protests, xenophobic riots, etc. Usually, the Police show up, shoot some rubber, thump some heads, contain the situation and except for those in the immediate area, life proceeds as usual with maybe some inconvenience here and there.

Mob mentality is an ugly thing. People will sometimes commit the most unspeakable acts when caught up in a mob, some because they feel anonymous, others because they get caught up in the frenzy or feel like they, too, will be singled out by the mob if they refuse to participate. Whatever the reason or motivation, to doubt the homicidal potential of a mob is foolish thinking, indeed. With the Cup here, there is also the potential for things like bomb threats, hooliganism, and mass demonstrations…not to mention maybe much worse.

At the stage when you can confirm to your satisfaction that there is, or almost certainly will be soon, trouble on your route, you have two basic choices…stay where you are, or leave and head for your destination, be it work, home, or elsewhere. The natural tendency is to believe that “it won’t be that bad”…and maybe it won’t…or it just might be every bit ‘that bad’ or worse. The point is that you will have to make a judgment call based on what you know at the moment and not on all the information you may have later.

If you make enough judgment calls, sooner or later you will be wrong, but that’s the way of the world and no one has a crystal ball. I don’t know about you, but if my safety and that of my loved ones may be at stake, I prefer to err on the side of caution. Better to use up a sick leave day or just not open the shop, or maybe keep the kids home from school, etc. than to find yourself right in the middle of a huge mess wishing you had.

But as always, there will be those who really do have to go in…emergency workers, farmers with fresh produce loaded and ready for market, some who own their own businesses and will have employees coming in, court personnel, etc. There will also be situations where incidents start and spread into an area that will effect you while you are AT work or away from home or a place of (relative) safety. While it is certainly possible that your home may not be the best place of safety for you and a different choice (‘Bug Out’ location) would be a good idea, that is a subject for another time. For brevity’s sake we will confine this discussion to getting home. Thus the ‘Get Home Bag’ concept.

Don’t allow yourself to be too insulated from what is happening around your area. Check the news now and then, and certainly check before you leave for work or head home. The very last thing you want to do is to drive right up in the middle of a mob intent on taking out its’ frustrations on whoever happens to show up! Stay as up-to-the-hour on what may be happening as you possibly can.

So let us say that you are at work or several miles away from home and a bad situation develops on your route back…what to do? Obviously it is a good thing if you know several ways to get back and forth, so if you don’t, start scouting out alternate routes now, before you need one for real. Find out which side streets you can take, back roads, parallel routes, etc. Maps and / or GPS are good, but verify either before you trust them. Construction zones may have roads blocked or detours, etc. that don’t show up, and we all know someone who has been led astray by their GPS!

Best case scenario is you are able to drive around the trouble area and you get home safely with only minor inconvenience…worst case is that you have to ditch your vehicle for whatever reason (car crash, blocked streets, tyres cut, too much unwanted attention, etc.) and set off on foot. Now is when that Get Home bag will come in handy.

There are all sorts of bags, backpacks and such available at prices from very low to some that will take your breath away. My preference is for a good quality backpack that does not scream ‘tactical’ or ‘well to do yuppie’ etc. Something dark and in a neutral colour (gray, green, brown, etc) with maybe just a little decoration…stripes or such…like you see normal people and school kids carry every day. ‘Low key’ is the word here, and while it needs to be sturdy, it does not need to be so well made that you could drag it through 7 kilometers of thorn bush with no damage. If a friend sees it in the boot of your car and says something like ‘Wow! Cool bag dude!’ it will probably attract the kind of attention you are trying to avoid.

I prefer a backpack simply because you can sling it one armed or you can wear it, and it carries high enough that it won’t be banging your thighs when you walk. Whatever your choice, it is what you pack in it that will help get you home with the least amount of inconvenience. Note that there are some items that simply will not keep well if stored in a hot car boot or inside your SUV, and others that will.

First, you should make a realistic appraisal of how long it would take you to walk all the way from your workplace back home if you had to detour around what you would consider the most likely potential area for trouble. Not how long it would have taken you back when you were in great shape and didn’t smoke…I mean today…now. Add to that another 20% for unforeseen issues and you will have an idea of what items you should be packing.

I like to start with any medications you must have, such as blood pressure meds, etc. and make certain you have enough for a full day away from home. Find out from your doc or research on the web if the meds will stand being stored in your vehicle…many will but not all. I also like to include an extra pair of glasses if you need them to see well…store them in a hard case so they are intact should you need them. I use an older pair that are slightly wrong for my eyes now, but still work lots better than none at all.

Since most will only be looking at a day or less to get home, even on foot, I think that something like a couple of good energy bars (not the candy that masquerades as energy bars in many grocery stores) and 2 liters or so of water should be enough. Those bars go down better with water, and if it is hot weather staying hydrated is good to do. Still, water is heavy, so if you can make do with 1 liter it will lighten your load.

Use a container for your water that won’t break or split easily. Those flimsy plastic bottles you buy bottled water in, in the store, are almost worthless…get something like a few nalgene bottles or similar from a camping store…with these you can also distribute the weight more evenly…you can thank me later.

If you can, wear clothing at work that will blend in and be useful for a hike. You mainly want to be certain you have some decent socks and boots in case you have to negotiate rough ground or glass, etc. on streets. If you wear a suit and tie, pack a change of clothes or you will stand out like a sore thumb. Ditto for women who must dress in office clothes or who usually wear heels, sandals, etc.

While takkies are good for walking on some surfaces, they give you no ankle support and will shred quickly if you have to go through rocks, glass, etc…even worse if they get wet. Your boots should be broken in and not new when the are packed…getting home is not the time to break in new ones.

Some sort of rain gear can be nice to have, and in winter you will probably need a jacket of some sort. Fleece is light but bulky, and does not stop wind or water. Nylon does stop wind and will suffice in a pinch during a light mist or sprinkle, etc. but it does not breathe well.Some of the newer wonder fabrics do very well but the jackets are expensive. I like wool simply because it will still keep you warm when wet, but good wool is both expensive and heavy. If all else fails, a large, heavy duty lawn trash bag can become a makeshift rain jacket with some slits for the head and arms. It will also help you ‘blend’ in some not so nice locations.

I am a ‘550 cord’ fan. It is light, takes up very little space and can be used for all sorts of things, so I always have some in my bag. 50ft should be enough but 100ft is what I carry…use OD or black, etc…not light colours.

Since there is no guarantee that you will only need the bag in day time, I always keep a small, bright LED torch with a set of spare batteries in my bag. I use the Olight 20 I got from Khumba here on the forum but there are several others that are also good for such use. What I really like about the little Olight is that I can select one of several levels of brightness quickly in case I do not need enough light to land a large airplane.

I like to have a couple of spare magazines for my CCW along and a good, sturdy fixed blade knife. If I had to wear dress clothes I would also include a sturdy belt…either a good thick leather trouser belt made to carry a gun with or something like the Wilderness Instructor belt. (Make certain the belt will fit your belt loops) I also like some sort of waterproof container for my cell phone in case it rains…water will kill one quickly. If nothing else, a clear, zip lock bag will work fairly well. On that note, be sure and keep your cell phone charged up as much as possible. SHTF is no time for a dead battery!

Duct Tape (also known as ‘100 mile an hour tape’ or GI tape, etc.) is available at Home Centers and also in OD green / brown at surplus stores. I usually have a meter or two of it wrapped around a writing pen.

Same for toilet paper…take it off the roll and wrap around something flat…drop in zip lock. It takes up much less space that way, stays dry, and it is an essential if you are out for a while. (ask anyone who knows what stress does to your system)

Last but not least I add my IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) which includes a military style ‘blow out’ kit (Israeli Battle Dressing; Quick Clot; Some varied bandages; a tourniquet; adhesive tape; a triangle bandage; a pair of EMT shears and some Nitrile gloves. To that I add a small ‘boo boo’ kit consisting of Ibuprofen, various size plasters, some triple antibiotic ointment, eyewash, hand sanitizer, a cold pack, some moleskin (for shoes / boots) and some burn ointment.

Nothing in this bag is what I would call a ‘large’ item, but weight adds up fast. The lighter you can travel the better, so if you really feel like you can skip something then do so. To recap…after we put on our get home clothes and boots, we will be carrying…

Water (1 to 2 liters)
2 to 4 Energy Bars
Poncho and / or jacket
1 or 2 large yard trash bags
550 cord
Toilet paper
Duct Tape
Spare magazines
Syurdy Fixed blade knife
Blow Out Kit
Boo boo kit

The water is the big item but water is absolutely essential, so I feel it is worth the weight. There are other items you might want to add, such as a small transistor radio, a pair of small binoculars, other food items, etc. but the list above will get you back home if you are not too far away and can manage to skirt trouble.

Variations of this bag can also be made up for spouses and children should they be with you and need to bail out as well. Even a 6 or 7 year old can carry a small pack, although you will obviously have to adjust walking speed for them.

No one wants to think that such a bag will be needed, and I certainly hope I never need mine, but better to have and not need in my opinion than to need and not have.

Good Luck

This article was written by Ikor, a GunSite SA Forum Member.
Many thanks.

For the last six months I have been testing a pair of Revision Hellfly glasses, to say I’m impressed wouldn’t cover it. These glasses are outstanding, I have been wearing them almost every minute I am outside. Driving, shooting or just walking around I have used them constantly. Normally I hate wearing glasses of any sort. I normally wear them on the range because they are a necessary but other than that I haven’t worn them much at all. The Hellflys on the other hand are a pleasure to wear. At under an ounce they weigh almost nothing and their design makes them very comfortable, even for me, for extended periods.
Visual clarity through them is very impressive and on first donning them most users have commented on how clear everything appears. The frames also don’t interrupt my field of vision in any way that I can notice, so from a tactical point of view I’m not running around with permanent blind spots. They look pretty damn good too. The Hellflys are available in a selection of frame and lens colours so you can select the look that most appeals to you.

I also tested a Sawfly system. The Sawflys are wrap around lens eye protection which come packaged with three lenses. Clear ones ideal for indoor ranges and night shoots. Yellow lenses which give great clarity when it’s not too bright outside and smoked lenses which work fantastically when you’re outdoors on a sunny day. The lenses are quick and easy to change so if conditions change just open the carry case and stick in the lenses that best suit the current conditions.
The Sawflys would be the best choice if you are in the market for pure shooting glasses. The wrap around lenses offer maximum visibility and the set kept in your range bag would ensure that you were prepared for any shooting conditions.

Looking cool and having nice sunglasses is one thing but ,if we are going to wear these things for shooting and eye protection on the street , These things need to be tough. Revision claim that their lenses will withstand a blast of 12ga number 6 shot at five metres. That should offer ample protection against ricochets and flying fragments. In fact on their website Revision show a set of their goggles that saved a US Soldiers sight when they stopped a fragment from an IED.
In order to see how they hold up the guys from Rescomp (the local agents) kindly supplied me some Sawfly lenses to break, sorry I mean test. I decided I wasn’t just going to try what Revision advertised; I decided to try destroying them. First off I hit them with a 24 gram 12 Gauge load of number seven shot from five metres. Just as expected they stopped this with no issue even with the centre of the pattern striking the narrowest part of the glasses where they would sit above the bridge of your nose. This successfully completed I then took the same lenses and from five metres hit them again. This time I used a 3 Inch Magnum load of number four birdshot. The centre of the pattern once again struck in the same place. Impressively ,though a much tougher load than advertised and on a set of already shot lenses no pellets penetrated. That rights not one. The lenses themselves were distorted but nothing got through to injure the eyes of the wearers.

Not one to give up at breaking things my next trick was to shoot them with AAA’s. Yup buckshot! After digging around in the backstop for a while trying to find them we discovered that unfortunately the centre of the still tight 5 m pattern had hit in the exact same place again. This did manage to shear the lenses down the middle. It was incredibly impressive though, as none of the AAA pellets had penetrated the lens I recovered. That’s right it took me three close range rounds of 12 ga to break these things. And the lenses managed to stop buckshot pellets after already being shot twice.
I am very confident that short of actually getting shot in the face my Revision Hellflys will protect my eyes against anything that I am likely to catch in the face. 100% UV A-B-C protection is also a big plus when spending time under the African sun. I suggest that anyone in the market for eye wear either for shooting or for general purpose looking cool has a chat to the guys at Rescomp on 012 333 4768 or by emailing info@rescomp.co.za . You won’t regret choosing Revision!
Thanks to Rescomp for supplying the glasses I tested and got to break.

Article by BigT, GunSite SA Forum Member.

Many thanks to Rescomp and BigT from the GunSite SA Team for this continbution.