Elite 244 - Soldiers of Fortune: Mercenaries and Military Adventurers, 1960–2020

This highly illustrated title traces the development of mercenary soldiering from individuals and small units in the African wars of the 1960s – 90s to today's state-employed corporate military contractors. The phenomenon of mercenary soldiering has constantly recurred in the news since the 1960s and has always attracted lively interest. The concept of 'mercenaries' began in the former Belgian Congo during the 1960s when men such as Mike Hoare and Bob Denard assembled hundreds of military veterans to 'do the fighting' for a particular leader or faction. This idea soon evolved into small teams of individuals training and leading local forces with varying success; wars in Rhodesia and on South Africa's borders attracted foreign volunteers into national armed forces, and veterans of these conflicts later sought employment elsewhere as mercenaries. The wars in the former Yugoslavia also attracted foreign fighters inspired as much by political and religious motives as by pay. This picture then evolved again, as former officers with recent experience set up sophisticated commercial companies to identify and fill the needs of governments whose own militaries were inadequate. Most recently, the aftermath of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has seen such contractors taking on some of the burden of long-term security off major national armies, while the subsequent rise of ISIS/Daesh has added a parallel strain of ideological volunteers. The author is well placed to describe how the face of mercenary soldiering has evolved and changed over 60 years. Using first-hand accounts, photos and detailed illustrations, this book presents a compelling snapshot of the life, campaigns and kit used by mercenary operatives engaged in fighting within both larger and more specific conflicts around the world. Title Page Table of Contents Preface: Venezuela, May 2020 Introduction Africa The Congo Katanga, 1960–63 The Congo, 1964–68 5 Commando, 1964–65 Mutinies, 1966–68 Aftermath Rhodesia Initial Clashes, 1964–66 Intensification, and The First ‘Externals’, 1972–74 Foreign Volunteers Opposing Forces and Operations, 1974–79 Biafra, 1968–70 Angola, 1975–76 Background ‘Colonel Callan’ Summary Executions Aftermath South Africa’s Border War, 1966–89 Background Recces Units Recruitment in Angola: 32 Battalion Pathfinders The Indian Ocean The Comoros Background The 1978 Coup Interlude in Chad, 1981–90 The Coups of 1989 and 1995 The Seychelles Background Operation ‘Anvil’, 1981: The Plan The Operation Aftermath South America Suriname Background Mercenary Involvement, 1986–91 Colombia Background Planned Strike Against FARC, 1988 Operation ‘Phoenix’, 1989: The Plan The Operation Second and Third Contracts, 1989 and 1991 Aftermath The Break-Up of Yugoslavia Background Outbreak of Hostilities Foreign Fighters, 1991–95 Aftermath War in the 21st Century Private Military Companies Pioneers of Military Outsourcing Executive Outcomes Sandline International The ‘Wonga Coup’: Equatorial Guinea, 2004 Iraq and Afghanistan Dealing with the Fall-Out Daesh Wagner Conclusion Select Bibliography eCopyright