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SOUTH-AFRICAN BUSHWAR 1966 - 1989

SADF Artillery Weapons Page 3: G6, Valkiri MLRS, 120mm Mortar,
Support Equipment.

TIP!!! To easily copy your old photos, simply photograph them with a digital camera with the flash off. Results are often better than scanning. Good indirect sunlight such as on a cloudy day is perfect. Save it in jpeg format.

TIP!!! Submit your photos and experiences by clicking on this email link, or the photos above. These might be used on this page, or in the future BOOK on the SOUTH AFRICAN BUSHWAR. Help to tell the story about this very clandistine and contraversial conflict!!!

Specs to follow...

More to follow soon!...

G6 sideview and topview

G6 sideview illustrating the roomy ammunition handling ans storage spaces.

G6 3D Plan. Note the mid-enjin installation for proper weight distribution, and the 6x6 all wheel drive.

G6 topview plan showing the 80deg. traverse angle of the turret.

G6 sideview showing the elevation angle of the 155mm main gun (-5deg. - +75deg.)

A very early prototypy G6. Note the early type smoke extractor and muzzle brake. Turret is still"clean" as it is prototype, lacking smalling fittings and fixtures. Headlights and drivers cabin also differ from later production models.

Another early prototype vehicle, this time with the production smoke extractor and muzzle brake. Note the "clean" turret void of fittings and fixtures found on the production models

Another pre-production vehicle. Note muzzle velocity? measurement dish-antennae above barrel, and 2x2 smoke grenade launchers on the turret.

Same vehicle as in the previous picture. Note muzzle velocity? measurement dish-antennae above barrel, and 2x2 smoke grenade launchers on the turret.

Early production vehicle, in the configuration of the 3 G6's that saw action in Angola in 1987-89. Note topmounted 50. Browning MG, commander's copula, and 4x4 smoke grenade launchers.

Same version of the G6 as in the previous picture; in the configuration of the 3 G6's that saw action in Angola in 1988-89. Paintscheme is SADF Nutria.

Pre-production G6 on Helmoed-Romer Heitmann's pocket book of SADF weapons. Note prototype turret and muzzlebrake.

Cover of SADF publication: Early production vehicle, in the configuration of the 3 G6's that saw action in Angola in 1987-89. Note topmounted 50. Browning MG, commander's copula, and 4x4 smoke grenade launchers.

Cover of SADF Paratus magazine Aug 1987: Early production vehicle, in the configuration of the 3 G6's that saw action in Angola in 1987-89.

Same as previous picture - close-up. Picture taken most likely on Danie Theron Artillery range at Potchefstroom. Note vehicles in background and "battlesmoke" from the SADF's 75th anniversary exercise.

Same as previous picture - SADF's 75th anniversary exercise. Note 2 G6's firing at maximum elevation and several Ratel IFV's.

Same as previous picture - close-up.

Troops training to change a tyre on a G6

G6 demontrating mobility in loose sand and dust

G6 firing 2 smoke grenades as part of its self-defense systems.

Loading ammunition from ground stockpile through the rear hatches.

Bushwar era G6 on display at Fort Klapperkop, Pta in the late 1980's. Note Union Buildings in the background. This G6 alledgly took part in the Angolan battles with Fapla and the Cubans in 1987-89

Bushwar era G6 on display at the South Anfrican National Museum of Military History - JHB, 2004. Note SADF 3-tone camuoflage introduced at the end of the 1980's.

3/4 front view.

Front view.

Muzzle brake and fume extractor detail..

3/4 rear view.

Close-up right-hand side.

Close-up right-hand side. Note wedge-shaped front holding additional ammunition and serving as a "bundu-bashing" ram to clear a path in offroad conditions.

Close-up 3/4 reat view.

Rear view. Note floodlight for night replenishment of ammunition through the ammo hatches visible. Stabilisation legs are down.

Rear view. Detail of rear hydraulic stabilisation legs lowered in firing position.

Detail of front hydraulic stabilisation legs lowered in firing position.

Left sideview.

Right sideview.

Close-up of drivers cabin left side.

Close-up of drivers cabin righthand side.

Close-up of front torsion bar suspension..

Driver's armoured glass windscreen with small arms damage (cause unknown.)

Driver's seat and euipment directly behind it.

Driver's cockpit, showing the relatively cramped conditions, and being isolated from the rest of the crew.

Driver's cockpit detail.

Driver's cockpit detail-closeup.

G6 underside looking backwards. Note the smooth armoured surface essential in the African Bush where rock, logs, etc, could play havoc with exposed pipes, suspension, etc. It is also part of the landmine resistant design. Note front stabilising legs in down position.

G6 underside looking backwards. Gearbox covers open.

Looking up inside the empty engine compartment, showing the steel engine hatches painted in SADF brown. This vehicle was originally painted in SADF brown.

Looking up inside the empty engine compartment, towards the rear.

Looking up inside the empty engine compartment, towards the front.

For the modelers! SADF 3-tone camouflage introduced in the late 1980's, and still being used by the SANDF of today. The brown is the old SADF Nutria Brown used for vehicle colour before the 3-tone pattern.

Ratel 20mm IFV, G6, G5 and Buffel MRV on display at the SA National Museum of Military History, JHB, 2004.

Valkiri sideview, showing the rear stabilising hydraulic legs, and launcher tubes lowered in traveling position. With a canvas cover over the back, it was very difficult to distinguish between a normal Unimog, and a Valkiri vehicle.

Valkiri Mk I on static display at the School of Artillery, Potchefstroom, circa 1983. Stabilising legs lowered.

Valkiri Mk I on display as part of an SADF display at a fair on the East Rand - early 1980's

Valkiri Mk I? firing a practise missile (lightblue) at the Lohatla Army Battle School. Note the movie camera set up to photograph the event.

Valkiri Mk I? firing a live HE missile (darkgreen) at the St Lucia coastal Artillery range

Valkiri Mk II in firing position. Note the modified cab roof, made of sheet metal, instead of the normal canvas roof of the standard Unimog of this type.

Valkiri Mk II in firing position. Special windscreen and front grill added to assist with cross-country moving (bundu-bashing) in the thick bush of Angola.

Valkiri Mk II's on a 61 Meg Bn parade.

Camouflaged Valkiri Mk I' on the Potchefstroom Artillery Range during training exercises - 1985.

M5 120mm mortar on static display at the School of Artillery, Potchefstroom, 1983. At this stage the existance of this weapon was still secret, and it was seldom seen. Used by the Airborne Batteries of the Field Regiments in conjunction with the Paratroopers.

"Secret" photo of M5 120mm mortars hangered with G4's at the School of Artillery, Potchefstroom, 1983.

120mm mortar bomb (illumination) displayed with 81mm and 60mm bombs, as well as 40mm Grenade Rounds - AAD 2004. The 120mm illumination round illuminated a large area, slowly decending by small parachute.

M5 120mm mortar in the towed configuration in a street parade, behind a landrover - Outshoorn. Normally, the tow vehicle was a Unimog that carried the crew and ammunition.

M5 120mm mortar on display at Potchefstroom, 1985. Gnr. Grant Sayer and L/Bdr. Victor Schroeder looking on.

"Cymbiline" Mortar Locating Radar, UK made, in storage at the SA National Museum, JHB, 2004. Used by the Locating Battery of the Artillery Field Regiments to locate enemy mortars. proved not very reliable in the Bush conditions.

Same as previous picture

"Green Archer" mortar locating radar in storage at the SAAF museum, Does anybody knows the difference with the Cymbiline set?

SAAF Kudu forward observation aircraft used by the artillery OP's to direct fire onto the enemy. The Kudu was manufactored by Atlas Aircraft Corporation

Same as previous picture

Artillery OP equipment used to plot enemy guns by their sound, through a series of microphones. The writer took the photo during training at the school of Artillery, 1979. L/Bdr Fouche on the A55 radio. Note map table and paper for recording readings.

BSM "Battery Sergeant Major's office on display at the SA National Museum of Military History, 2004. Containerised, fitting on the back of a Samil 20 2ton truck. Fitted out with desk, worksurfaces, mapboards, etc.

Experimental once-off 8x8 mine resistant Samil 100 guntractor on demonstration for the civvies, Potchefstroom, 1985. Never went into production.

Exploding TM-46 Soviet antitank mine, Artillery Range, Potchefstroom, 1985. Mine warfare was a significant element of the Bushwar, requiring the SADF to develop a large series of worldleading Mine Resistant Vehicles.

155mm G6
"Rhino" 6x6
Mobile
Artillery
System

155mm G6
"Rhino" walkaround,
SANH
Museum, JHB.

127mm "Valkiri"
Multiple
Rocket
Launcher.

M5 120mm
Mortar.

Artillery
Support
Equipment.