Operation Miracle (Rhodesia)

Due to bad weather, the start of operations had to be delayed by several days.

Before attacking the base, the RSF ground forces had to cross a river. The artillery was bogged down, and the guerillas were alerted to the size of the column.^[5] The column was further delayed by ZANLA fire.^[9][5] The first wave of the Selous Scouts began clearing the trenches, but the rest of the column only arrived late in the afternoon.^[5] Meanwhile, the air-dropped Rhodesian Light Infantry joined the battle, and Mpunzarima, a key ZANLA military leader, was killed.^[9] At dawn, Nhongo distributed marijuana to some of his troops to reduce their stress.^[10] The Rhodesian troops were harassed during the night by RPG-7s, recoilless-rifles and mortars.^[5]

The RSF force renewed its assault. Nhongo personally went to the front to boost the morale of his troops, using a big stick to hit those reluctant to fight.^[10] Guided by a Reims Cessna "Lynx" aircraft, Hawker Hunter attack jets neutralised ZANLA fortifications in Hill 774. The position was taken at 3 p.m. by a troop of the Selous Scouts.^[3] English Electric Canberra bombers also bombed the anti-aircraft positions.^[6]

During the night, RSF artillery fired at ZANLA positions to prevent the partisans from sleeping.^[10] At 10 a.m., two troops of Selous Scouts and a RLI section (around 100 men) led an assault on Monte Cassino. The summit was taken after the partisans had retreated, as was Hill 761.^[11] At the end of that day, Nhongo ordered his fighters to retreat, with mortar teams providing cover fire.^[12] During the late night, FRELIMO sent three or more T-34 or T-54 tanks^[7][10][11] and a squad of infantry to support the rebels, but RSF 25-pounders quickly reacted, guided by Rhodesian SAS, and the tanks retreated after the lead tank was put out of action.^[10][11]

The Rhodesian force withdrew on the morning of 6 October,^[11] taking captured equipment with them.^[13] To avoid retaliation attacks from Mozambique, the Rhodesian Air Force bombed FRELIMO facilities, but one Canberra and one Hunter were shot down.^[11] ZANLA suffered hundreds of casualties^[14] but was largely intact. The battle had no consequences for the Lancaster House discussions.^[1]

• Geldenhuys, Preller (13 July 2007). Rhodesian Air Force Operations with Air Strike Log. Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920169-61-9.
• Tendi, Blessing-Miles (2020). "The Longest Time". The Longest Time. In The Army and Politics in Zimbabwe: Mujuru, the Liberation Fighter and Kingmaker. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 96–124. doi:10.1017/9781108561600.005. ISBN 9781108561600. S2CID 241531278.
• Moorcraft, Paul L; McLaughlin, Peter (April 2008) [1982]. The Rhodesian War: A Military History. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-84415-694-8.
• Baxter, Peter (2011). Selous Scouts: Rhodesian Counter-Insurgency Specialists. Helion & Company Limited and South Publishers (Pty) Ltd. ISBN 978-1-907677-38-0.
• Wessels, Hannes; Scheepers, Andre (2018). We Dared to Win: The SAS in Rhodesia. Casemate. ISBN 9781612005874.