The Rhodesian Army used the Unimog 416 off-road truck extensively during the Bush War from the mid- 1960s to the late-1970s, as Glenn Sands discovered
Like many military enthusiasts, Neil Grange’s long interest in World War Two history and a few annual visits to the War and Peace Show led him to take the leap into acquiring a military vehicle of his own. But, bucking the familiar path of the Willys Jeep or Land Rover, Neil sought something different and more personal.
Having lived in South Africa for several years, Neil got to know several army veterans of the Rhodesian Bush War, and this served to increase his interest, not only in that conflict but also in other wars on the continent from the Zulu and Boer Wars and the World Wars. Neil added:
“All these interests led me to appreciate military vehicles, getting to know the Bush War veterans, and how the Unimog came to symbolise the Rhodesian Army in some ways. It could go anywhere and was extremely reliable, which was ideal for the environment. In some way, it became an iconic vehicle.”
Neil continued: “The Rhodesian Army proved to be very innovative in acquiring and modifying vehicles for the war. Adding armoured plating to standard lorries creat…
