45 Commando RM

Landing in Dar-es-Salaam.

The previous page was: "45 Commando Lion"

January 1964, 45 cdo RM were called in to regain control of Kolletto Barracks, at Dar-es-Salaam. This was the main barracks for protecting the city.

There were two other regimental barracks further along the coast. They had joined in with the rebellion; they had control of their barracks.

Tanganyika now Tanzania, asked Britain for assistance. Three Battalions of Tanganyika's troops had rebelled thinking they could the job better themselves. They did not like Army discipline; thinking an Army could command without it?

They were being trained to be self-sufficient by British Army Officers and Sergeants.

45 Commando Lion

HMS Centaur was close by

45 cdo RM were the nearest Commando Unit, they were in Aden. The aircraft carrier HMS Centaur was close by in the Gulf.

The commandos boarded the Centaur then they left for Tanganyika.

Some men in the three battalions were opposed to the idea of being trained to learn military discipline. They didn't think that was necessary.

Most of the British officers and sergeants went home on Christmas leave in the UK. They also took their families with them leaving just a skeleton staff requirement.

Seizing on this unique opportunity the rebels took control of the battalions. They rounded up the skeleton staff and their families; took them to the airport and sent them all back to the UK.

The rebels were now going to run their army their way.

The first wave of choppers

The first wave of choppers dropped Commandos in the centre of the large sports field that belonged to Kolletto Barracks.

The untrained rebel soldiers ran around excitedly firing at the choppers as they were coming in; and the Commandos who started jumping out of them.

The rebels did not hit any of their targets. 45's Royal Marine Commados ran directly towards the rebel soldiers with their weapons ready to fire.

The rebel soldiers on seeing the well disciplined Commandos come charging at them; suddenly panicked they had a very quick change of mind.

They scattered everywhere running in all different directions; running as fast as they could until they were out of sight. They could be seen peeping through the barrack room' windows and pearing round the corner of buildings; there was no leader to be seen?

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Built by the Germans

Some of the rebel soldiers had made it to the guardroom where they felt safe; they locked the door keeping a barrier between themselves and the Commandos outside.

The guardroom was well built, they felt secure and were confident that they were safe while they were inside. The walls were two feet thick, the bars at the windows were made of thick steel rods; the big door was made of solid steel.

The guardroom had been built by the Germans when they had ruled Tanganyika.

Some of 45's Commandos took up firing positions where they could get cover opposite the front of the guardroom across the driveway.

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Ordered the soldiers to surrender

The Troop Officer took up a position, standing behind a statue of Queen Victoria; he had a mega-phone in his left hand and a pistol in his right. The rest of the troop were spread-out behind the plants and shrubs that decorated the entrance to the barracks.

When the Commando's Officer ordered the rebel soldiers to throw down their arms and surrender, or he would give his men orders to open fire, they laughed at him saying very un-polite words.

The Officer told them this was no laughing matter, he gave them the order again, the response was the same. He gave them a final warning, where they responded by telling him in no uncertain manner to go away.

An order was given to put an anti-tank rocket through the guardroom window on the right hand side of the door. The rocket went between the iron bars exploding inside the guardroom.

The plaster came off the ceilings and walls in every room, turning the plaster to dust; it came pouring out of every apeture, then the door swung open. A short burst from a machine-gun killed three instantly. The officer gave the order to stop firing which was obeyed.

It now dawned on the rebel soldiers just how serious their situation was. They suddenly became very frightened, some would not come out. Clouds of white dust were everywhere; it was still pouring out of the guardroom in clouds.

One Battalion captured two to go

When the dust started to settle it was obvious who was in control; the rebels did exactly as they were asked. The officer told those still in the guardroom that it would be safe to come out if they were unarmed. Slowly they came out with their hands held high.

Other commandos went round the barracks rounding up the rest of the soldiers, they gathered them together sitting them on the ground with their hands on their heads.

The first of the other two battalions further up the coast surrendered after only a short fight; the rebels did not have any fight in them.

When the Commandos landed at the last of the three barracks the whole battalion was sitting on the edge of the sports field with their hands on their heads.

Their rifles had been discarded they were piled in a heap.

This is how 45 Commando Royal Marines captured 3 battalions that were many miles apart in one day without having any injuries.

The next Link below will be: "45 Commando Tommy Treacher's D-Day"

45 Commando Dar-se-Salaam 45 Cdo Tommy Treacher's D-Day

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