Operation Uric

Operation Uric
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War (or Second Chimurenga)
Date 1–8 September 1979 Location Mapai, Gaza Province, Mozambique 22°50′53″S 31°57′39″E / 22.848084°S 31.960901°E / -22.848084; 31.960901 Result ZANLA victory
Belligerents
Zimbabwe Rhodesia  South Africa	ZANLA (ZANU) Mozambique
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Peter Walls	Josiah Tongogara
Units involved
Rhodesian Army SAS RhAF SADF SAAF	unknown
Strength
: 200 soldiers 8 Hawker Hunters 12 Dakotas 6 Canberras 6 Lynxes 28 helicopters : 3 aircrewmen 1 Puma helicopter	: Unknown
Casualties and losses
: 17 killed 1 wounded 1 Bell UH-1 destroyed : 3 killed 1 SA 330 Puma destroyed	: 300+ killed : 22 killed 32 wounded

Operation Uric (or Operation Bootlace for the South Africans) was a cross-border raid carried out in Mozambique by operatives of the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War, with combat assistance from the South African Air Force. During the operation, which took place from 1 to 7 September 1979, up to 200 Rhodesian and South African military personnel attacked bridges and a major staging point for Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) insurgents in Gaza Province. Along with Operation Miracle, this was one of the largest Rhodesian external operations of the war.