Guns For Hire - Here Come The Mercenaries
Mercenaries have been around a long time but in a modern context the Congo is fixed firmly in the modern mind. The height of success for modern mercenaries was in the Congo when they helped put down the Marxist sponsored Simba revolt. Using superior fire power and speed the poorly led and poorly armed Simbas were no match.
The Simbas were part cult and their witch doctors put 'magic' water on them to ward off bullets; this work against terrified government troops who abandoned positions and left their weapons and supplies for the rebels. Simbas were not the only rebels but they were the most delusional, so delusional was shown when they attacked mercenaries and Belgian paratroopers who just machine gunned them down.
The Simbas were so primitive that some thought they could win just using edged weapons. Not all remained so stupid as they also had modern weapons but most firearms were probably bolt action rifles whilst some also had Kalshicovs and other assault rifles.They also liked to dine on the livers of their captives sometimes eating them whilc they still lived. Belgians and other civilians were special targets but the Simbas and other rebels of a Marxist persuasion also targeted middle class people who were brutally slain.
The government forces were backed by the Belgians and other Europeans as well as the US which supplied planes and exiled Cuban pilots. So there was a mini civil war among foreigners too because some communist Cubans were also present on the rebel side. The Simbas lacked anti-aircraft fire which was unfortunate for them. After being attacked from the air the Belgian paratroopers and mercenaries would finish the job.
The mercenaries, most who were white, were mostly veterans of other conflicts in Africa and Indo China. Some were well educated and even gentlemanly but they also had a reputation for their brutal tactics and treatment of prisoners. Of course, many of the prisoners had recently participated in massacres of nuns, priests, children and others. The mercs also did funny things like put skulls with Simba head dresses on their jeep bonnets. It must have been a little demoralising for the Simbas.
I decided to get some figures ready quickly so my first mercenaries were partially repainted figures I had done representing the last Bosnian war. The berets were already there, some being conversions. The figures are cheapo made in China modern infantry. The equipment and weapons were not entirely accurate but I made some pretence at adapting, with a little trimming on the guns and cutting off the shoulder pads on the straps. The colour scheme was repainted from urban colours to jungle camo.
The next mercenaries I do will include helmets and bush hats. I'll also be doing UN troops for the earlier stoush of 1960 with the attempt at Katanga independence squashed by the UN forces.
The Simbas were part cult and their witch doctors put 'magic' water on them to ward off bullets; this work against terrified government troops who abandoned positions and left their weapons and supplies for the rebels. Simbas were not the only rebels but they were the most delusional, so delusional was shown when they attacked mercenaries and Belgian paratroopers who just machine gunned them down.
The Simbas were so primitive that some thought they could win just using edged weapons. Not all remained so stupid as they also had modern weapons but most firearms were probably bolt action rifles whilst some also had Kalshicovs and other assault rifles.They also liked to dine on the livers of their captives sometimes eating them whilc they still lived. Belgians and other civilians were special targets but the Simbas and other rebels of a Marxist persuasion also targeted middle class people who were brutally slain.
The government forces were backed by the Belgians and other Europeans as well as the US which supplied planes and exiled Cuban pilots. So there was a mini civil war among foreigners too because some communist Cubans were also present on the rebel side. The Simbas lacked anti-aircraft fire which was unfortunate for them. After being attacked from the air the Belgian paratroopers and mercenaries would finish the job.
The mercenaries, most who were white, were mostly veterans of other conflicts in Africa and Indo China. Some were well educated and even gentlemanly but they also had a reputation for their brutal tactics and treatment of prisoners. Of course, many of the prisoners had recently participated in massacres of nuns, priests, children and others. The mercs also did funny things like put skulls with Simba head dresses on their jeep bonnets. It must have been a little demoralising for the Simbas.
I decided to get some figures ready quickly so my first mercenaries were partially repainted figures I had done representing the last Bosnian war. The berets were already there, some being conversions. The figures are cheapo made in China modern infantry. The equipment and weapons were not entirely accurate but I made some pretence at adapting, with a little trimming on the guns and cutting off the shoulder pads on the straps. The colour scheme was repainted from urban colours to jungle camo.
The next mercenaries I do will include helmets and bush hats. I'll also be doing UN troops for the earlier stoush of 1960 with the attempt at Katanga independence squashed by the UN forces.
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