Operation Uric

Operation Uric
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War (or Second Chimurenga)
Date1–8 September 1979
Location
Mapai, Gaza Province, Mozambique
22°50′53″S 31°57′39″E / 22.848084°S 31.960901°E / -22.848084; 31.960901
Result Rhodesia-Zimbabwe victory
Belligerents
 Zimbabwe Rhodesia
 South Africa		 ZANLA (ZANU)
Mozambique Mozambique
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Peter Walls Josiah Tongogara
Units involved

Rhodesian Army

RhAF
SADF

unknown
Strength
Zimbabwe Rhodesia:
200 soldiers
8 Hawker Hunters
11 Dakotas
1 "Warthog" Dakota (ELINT)
6 Canberras
6 Lynxes
28 helicopters
South Africa:
3 aircrewmen
1 Puma helicopter		 :
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Zimbabwe Rhodesia:
17 killed
1 wounded
1 Bell UH-1 destroyed
South Africa:
3 killed
1 SA 330 Puma destroyed		 :
300+ killed
Mozambique:
22 killed
32 wounded

Operation Uric (or Operation Bootlace for the South Africans) was a cross-border raid carried out in Mozambique by operatives of the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War, with combat assistance from the South African Air Force. During the operation, which took place from 1 to 7 September 1979, up to 200 Rhodesian and South African military personnel attacked bridges and a major staging point for Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) insurgents in Gaza Province. Along with Operation Miracle, this was one of the largest Rhodesian external operations of the war.