Operation Excess (Rhodesia)

Operation Excess was a military operation launched by the Rhodesian Security Forces, on the 27th of July 1968, in response to an incursion of ZIPRA terrorists in Mashonaland West province.

The Operation
The cadres were detected on the 26th July when a Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAF) employee discovered unfamiliar bootprints in the bush near Makuti. JOC was moved south-east to Karoi on the 28th July, and 2 Commando was deployed there. 3 Commando was sent with Tactical HQ to patrol the Angwa River Bridge, to the north-east, near the border with Mozambique.

This squad was organised in five sections, three of eight men each and two of seven men each. Heading for Mount Darwin, about 150 km north-east of Salisbury, their objective was to subvert local tribesmen and recruit some for training overseas.

The Support Group, which was already based up at Kanyemba, sent one of its troops into the area along with six Police Anti-Terrorist Unit (PATU) teams. E Company, RAR moved to the west to act as stops.

7 Troop, 2 Commando and the Support Group troop followed tracks to discover a vacant insurgent camp in the early morning on the 28th July; the guerrillas had been made nervous by the increased helicopter activity north of their location and left. 13 Troop found fresh tracks the next morning and followed them.