![]() However, due to lack of suitable volunteers in rural areas, a lot of the white policemen joining PATU sticks were white immigrants to Rhodesia who had lived in urban areas and had no experience of the bush. The plan for the unit was that they would be able to stay in the field for long periods of time after rapid deployment. Initially they patrolled in police uniform but after Operation Cauldron, where there was hesitancy from a Rhodesian Light Infantry commando on firing at an enemy because they wore the same colour trousers as the BSAP's riot uniforms, PATU were issued camouflage uniforms. This ratio would be common and there was only one all-black stick. The remaining four would tend to be made up of four white policemen, though some did have tracking experience. The group would always be led by a black policeman from a tribe who had tracking and hunting skills and would act as interpreter. Their tactics involved them being deployed in groups of five known as "sticks". They played a key role in the Battle of Sinoia in 1968 where they killed seven ZANLA guerrillas with air support from the Royal Rhodesian Air Force. Though PATU was not designed as a military unit, they eventually ended up taking on the role of a reconnaissance unit for the Rhodesian Security Forces. The first volunteers were mostly older police reserves who had training in tracking and bush craft but this later extended to regular policemen who had tracking skills. Following the start of the Rhodesian Bush War, Bailey was given permission by the BSAP to set the unit up. Bailey had observed tactics of the Long Range Desert Group and believed that smaller specialist units that could be deployed faster were more advanced ways to win wars. PATU was formed in 1966 by the BSAP Chief Superintendent Bill Bailey who had served in the SAS during the Second World War. Until 1953, the BSAP was the only armed uniformed force permanently raised in Southern Rhodesia. The unit was abolished in 1980 following the dissolution of the BSAP. The concept was created for guerrilla bush warfare and the personnel were both black and white policemen. patu aruhe - a pounder used to break up edible fern roots for food.The Police Anti-Terrorist Unit (PATU) was a paramilitary auxiliary arm of the British South Africa Police (BSAP) in Rhodesia.patu muka - a pounder used to soften flax fibre (muka) in preparation for weaving.Another short handled club made from iron was the Patiti or war hatchet. Other short handled clubs made from wood include those named for the Kotiate and Wahaika forms. These closely resemble the mere in outline but are much thicker because the greywacke stone used was more easily broken than the harder and more resilient pounamu. patu pounamu or mere - made from pounamu (greenstone).Maori decorated the patu by carving into the wood, bone or stone. Patu made from pounamu were generally called " mere". ![]() ![]() The most prestigious material for the patu was pounamu (greenstone). Patu were made from hardwood, whale bone, or stone. If the foe could be grasped by the hair then the patu would be driven up under the ribs or jaw. The blow administered with this weapon was a horizontal thrust straight from the shoulder at the enemy’s temple. A patu is mainly used as a striking weapon. These types of short-handled clubs were handmade weapons used during inter-tribal wars.
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