More than two years in the writing, this book is the warts-and-all story of the birth, career and death of the South African Defence Force's 61 Mechanised Battalion Group (1979-2005) - generally acknowledged as the best fighting unit in Africa in its time. '61 Mech' was structured as a combined-arms unit with integral infantry, armoured and artillery components the first in Africa and arduously trained in a fast-moving mobile warfare doctrine which was not based on adapted European tactics, but was specifically designed for fighting modern bush wars in the forbiddingly difficult African battle-space. AUTHORS: Willem Steenkamp has been a journalist, soldier, writer of fact and fiction, military tattoo producer and specialist tour guide. Helmoed-Roemer Heitman is an independent defence and national security analyst and writer. He has advised parliamentarians, the Ministry and Department of Defence, the combat services, the State Advocate and South African and foreign defence firms. 61 maps, 400 plus photographs, 2pp of colour (badges & insignia)

Author Biography

Willem Steenkamp has been a journalist, soldier, writer of fact and fiction, military tattoo producer and specialist tour guide. A military reservist, he was called up for military service on various occasions from 1976 onwards and took part in four external operations, including an attachment to 61 Mech on its first real test of strength: 1980's 'Operation Sceptic'. After the end of the border conflict in 1989, he served on a presidential advisory council and as a security advisor during the 1994 election, as well as helping to write the seminal 1996 Defence Review. Subsequently, he was a consultant to the SA National Defence Force and Ministry of Defence on several occasions. He is the author of 18 factual books and novels, co-writer of a stage play and two television scripts, and has won three literary prizes. Helmoed-Roemer Heitman is an independent defence and national security analyst and writer. He has advised parliamentarians, the Ministry and Department of Defence, the combat services, the State Advocate and South African and foreign defence firms. He advised various parties during the drafting of the 1996 White Paper on Defence, and served on a work group of the later 1998 Defence Review, as well as serving on the 2011/14 Defence Review Committee. He is the South African correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly and other defence periodicals, and has written several books on the South African armed forces. He served as a reservist in the South African Army from 1970 to 1996 in various capacities and holds Economics and Public Administration Degrees from the University of Cape Town and an MA in War Studies from King's College London.