Salisbury fuel depot attack

The Salisbury fuel depot attack was a raid on the fuel depot in Salisbury's Southerton industrial area on December 11, 1978, during the Rhodesian Bush War. It was claimed by both ZIPRA and ZANLA groups.[1] The attack resulted in millions of dollars’ worth of damages and the destruction of more than a quarter of Rhodesia's fuel.

Salisbury fuel depot attack
Part of Rhodesian Bush War
TypeRPG attack
Location
TargetBP Shell fuel depot
Date11 December 1978
11:00pm
Executed by ZANLA
Outcome
  • 17 million gallons of fuel valued at $18 million wiped out
  • A quarter of Rhodesia's fuel reserves destroyed
Casualties0 killed
Unknown injured

Attack

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On the night of 11 December 1978, a unit penetrated the outskirts of Salisbury (now Harare) and fired a volley of rockets and incendiary device rounds into the main oil storage depot. The storage tanks burned for five days, giving off a column of smoke that could be seen 130 km (80 mi) away.[2][failed verification] The fire destroyed 22 of the 28 giant storage tanks and wiped out about 17 million gallons of fuel, a quarter of Rhodesia's fuel reserves. After surveying the burnt out ruins, Ian Smith described the sabotage as being the one of Rhodesia's biggest setbacks since the war began.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Who Bombed Salisbury Fuel Tanks: ZANLA Or ZIPRA? - The Citizen Bulletin". www.thecitizenbulletin.com. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ "The Fragility of Domestic Energy". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  3. ^ Journal of Southern African Affairs. Kings Court Communications. 1980. p. 33.