African military geosciences : military history and the physical environment / Jacques Bezuidenhout & Hennie Smit, editors.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bezuidenhout, Jacques, editor.

Smit, Hennie, editor.

Series:

African Military Studies ; Volume 22

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Military geology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (iii, 225 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

[Place of publication not identified] : Sun Press, [2018]

Summary:

This eight-chapter volume, African Military Geosciences: Military History and the Physical Environment, is a tour-de-force covering nearly 500 years of African military geosciences. It is a truly global book that reveals keen insights into regional, national and international military-forces activities centered in Africa and how the understanding of geosciences plays important roles. It is written for the specialist, but also attractive to the general military buff - well referenced and illustrated with figures from primary sources, historical catalogues and compendia. The publication explores the "age of sail", harbour defenses, the trafficability of desert environments and marshes, as well as climate controls on sailing or land battles. There is even insight into an elite artillery unit staffed by women during Second World War - essentially covering the whole gamut. Ultimately, the reader explores a nearly 500-year journey around the African continent and beyond.

Contents:

Intro

Foreword

Introduction

CHAPTER 1: The influence of terrain and climate on military operations in South Africa

Reconnoitring the landscape

The nature and importance of geographic knowledge

Water and the levels of war

Four environments for politics and warfare

Conclusion: Breaking camp

Endnotes &amp

References

CHAPTER 2: Saldanha Bay: The influence of underlying geology on military and naval history in the age of sail

The geology of the Saldanha Bay area

The importance of Saldanha Bay to shipping in the age of sail

The Battle of Saldanha Bay, 1781: Disaster for the VOC

The Battle of Saldanha Bay, 1796: British defensive triumph

Saldanha and the second British occupation of the Cape, 1806

Concluding remarks

CHAPTER 3: Wasted geography: The British annexation of the Cape in 1795

The physical geography of the Cape Peninsula and surrounding area

The wind regime of the Cape Peninsula and its influence on shipping in the age of sail

British attempt on the Cape: strategic setting and opposing forces

British arrival at the Cape and negotiations

Attack on Muizenberg: assaulting a natural defensive position

Final operations and Dutch surrender

Concluding remarks: wasting geographic advantages in defence

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 4: A historical analysis of the influence of climate and terrain on the South African military operationsin East Africa, 1940-1941

The East African operational environment

Strategic and operational planning

The influence of climate and terrain on the South Africa nmilitary operations

Conclusion

Endnotes and References.

CHAPTER 5: Military prospecting for groundwater by geology and geophysics: Work by 42nd geological section (South African engineer corps) in Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean region during the Second World War

Geophysics versus water divining

Endnotes and References

CHAPTER 6" "Wehrgeologenstelle 12": Rommel's military geology team in North Africa, 1941-1943

Rommel's Wehrgeologenstelle 12

Groundwater investigations and water supply maps

Comparison of German, Italian and British maps for assessment of off-road trafficability in North Africa

German landscape classification for off-road trafficability

Comparative scope and importance of military geology workin the preparation of trafficability maps for Axis and British forces in North Africa

CHAPTER 7: The influence of geography on the development of the Second World War defences of Saldanha Bay harbour

The geography of the Saldanha Bay area

Saldanha before the outbreak of the Second World War

South Africa and the Second World War

The influence of geology and geography on the creation offixed defences at Saldanha Bay

Creating anti-submarine defences at Saldanha Bay

Notes on Second World War operations in and around Saldanha Bay

CHAPTER 8: The Cuvelai-Etosha basin: An environmental and climatic linkage to the operations of the warring parties in the 1966-1989 war for Namibian independence

Study area

Research methodology

Results and discussion

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-928480-09-8