1992 was an exciting time to be an Ordnance Soldier; after close to 20 years with few operational tours; the RNZAOC was deploying a supply unit with supporting elements from the RNZCT, RNZEME, RNZSig, RNZMC and later RNZIR to support the international and United Nations famine relief efforts in Somalia.

New Zealand Supply Detachment

The New Zealand Army first deployed to Somalia in 1992 with a Supply Detachment, which was part of the original United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). To facilitate the purchase of goods in neighbouring Kenya, personnel were also deployed there regularly. The original commitment was 28-strong, with most members arriving in Somalia in early 1993.

New Zealand Supply Platoon

The Supply Detachment was replaced in July 1993 with a more substantial 43-strong Supply Platoon. Due to the deteriorating security situation, it included an infantry section from 1 RNZIR, which marked the first deployment of Kiwi combat troops since the Vietnam War. This Platoon witnessed the Battle of Mogadishu unfold, including the events of the infamous Black Hawk Down incident.

A second Supply Platoon rotated in January 1994. This platoon was present for the draw-down and withdrawal of most of the western forces, which were completed by 30 March 1994, which then left the New Zealand platoon, Australian MOVCON, Air Traffic Controllers and ASASR troop and the Irish Transport Company as the few western contingents remaining in Somalia.

Role of the Supply Units

The purpose of the New Zealand Supply units was the provision of supplies to the UN Force. To facilitate this, a section was situated at the Port of Mogadishu working with the Catering and food supply contractor to the UN, Morris Catering, and a section were located at the Airport where a warehouse was maintained holding general stores.

Conditions in Somalia

The New Zealand troops were poorly equipped and only issued with primary small arms and fragmentation vests, which given the threat level, was inadequate for the task. Vehicle movement was by light-skinned commercial vehicles, and due to the risk of ambush and IEDs, vehicle movement was often limited, and often the situation deteriorated to a state where vehicle movement was stopped altogether, and helicopters had to be used to fly to the United Nations locations around Mogadishu. Gunfire was constant, with Somali bandits climbing into the surrounding buildings and sporadically firing into the airfield and seaport, with random mortar fire also being a continuous threat and annoyance. An increasing casualty list of UN personnel and relief workers served as a continuing reminder of the hostility and dangers of working in Somalia.

Brigadier Charles Lott, who served in Somalia, recalls that the drive between the UNOSOM HQ in the university compound in Mogadishu itself and the airport was hair-raising:

“Speed was the main weapon against Somalis who were often under the influence of the hallucinatory herbal drug known as khat and were taking pot shots. It was common practice for the crew of New Zealand vehicles travelling between Mogadishu and the airport to have their Steyr on “instant”, wedged between the front seats ‒ the driver with a Sig Sauer also on “instant”, jammed into the door handle.” “Weapon discipline was very important as was a constant wariness of burning tyres, a Somali signal that there is “bad stuff” about to go down, come and join the fun.”

The New Zealanders, he said, worked long hours, often ten hours a day, seven days a week. In one month alone, more than 1000 tonnes of rations were distributed, including live goats.

Taniwha Hill

The New Zealander’s home in Mogadishu was a camp in the sand hills between the Indian Ocean and Mogadishu Airport, which had been christened “Taniwha Hill”. Taniwha Hill was a self-contained location with heavily sandbagged tents providing the most austere accommodation and a large mess tent/kitchen/recreation area as the central point of the camp. Ablution facilities were rudimentary, with buckets for showers and dissected 44-gallon drums for toilets, which required daily disposal by stirring and burning. Modern ablution blocks with hot and cold running water and flush toilets were provided in the last weeks of the deployment.

Withdrawal

The Supply Platoons ended their mission in June 1994.

Reunion

A highly successful reunion was held in 2013, with past members returning from as far away as the UK to attend; a takeaway from this reunion was a Somalia Journal which no doubt takes pride in place on many bookshelves. The next reunion is planned for 2018.

Facebook Page

The Kiwi Somalia veterans have an active Facebook Group, Taniwha Hill – Kiwi Somalia Veterans where members stay connected, share photos, and organise events.

(Copyright © Robert McKie 2017)