# Gazelle helicopters, Marauder armoured vehicles join the fight in Mozambique

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/03/gazelle-helicopters-marauder-armoured-vehicles-join-the-fight-in-mozambique/
- Published: 2021-03-06T10:23:48+01:00
- Author: Sarah Lesedi

Pro-government forces in Mozambique have been supplied with at least two Gazelle
light utility helicopter to help with the counter insurgency fight in Cabo Delgado.

The two Gazelle helicopters were delivered by South Africa’s defense company Paramount
Group, as part of a rearming initiative for the Mozambican Government.

Both Gazelles were acquired from former British Army stock by Paramount in an auction,
says Scramble Magazine.

Military Africa understands that at least four other ex-UK SA 341B Gazelles from
Stapleford will be supplied to Paramount.

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![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_20210306_101558_368.jpg)

Ex-British Army SA 341B Gazelles

According to a December 2020 report by Africa Intelligence, Paramount was contracted
to supply at least 12 Marauder armoured vehicles and four Gazelle helicopters to
Mozambique.

Also, Paramount is training fifteen Mozambican pilots at the Paramount Technical
Training Academy based at Polokwane International Airport, while Burnham Global 
is also training Mozambican military personnel on armoured vehicles operations.

The Gazelles will join several other aircraft in Mozambique including a UH-1 Huey,
Bell Long Ranger, Alouette III, Jet Ranger, Mil Mi-8, Mi-17 and Gazelle helicopters,
Cessna Caravan, Diamond DA 42.

The airpower is operated and flown by Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) a South African 
companies.

The combat helicopters appears to have been slightly modified, they have been fitted
with PKM, Chinese-made W85 heavy and Type 80 general purpose machine guns, Soviet-
designed AGS-17 30 mm automatic grenade launchers. The doors have been dismantled
for convenience. Also, DAG employees use homemade bombs made from gas cylinders.

Last year in April, a Gazelle flown by Dyck Advisory Group [was shot down by insurgents.](https://www.military.africa/2021/03/gazelle-helicopters-marauder-armoured-vehicles-join-the-fight-in-mozambique/military.africa/2020/04/south-african-mercenarys-gazelle-helicopter-shot-down-in-mozambique)
Also in June, a Bat Hawk microlight scout aircraft [crashed](https://www.military.africa/2021/03/gazelle-helicopters-marauder-armoured-vehicles-join-the-fight-in-mozambique/military.africa/2020/06/south-african-mercenaries-dag-loses-another-aircraft-in-mozambique)
in an accident in the vicinity of the village of Muidumba. The pilot was seriously
injured, but survived and was evacuated to South Africa.

 military.africa/2020/06/south-african-mercenaries-dag-loses-another-aircraft-in-
mozambique

In another incident, during an attack on Mocimboa De Praia town by the terror group,
a Gazelle helicopter operated by DAG showed up an provided some air support, but
due to severe range limitations since it was flying out of its base in Pemba, it
had to return and rearm. The assault on the port town resulted in the [sinking of a French-made HSI32 high-speed interceptor boat](https://www.military.africa/2021/03/gazelle-helicopters-marauder-armoured-vehicles-join-the-fight-in-mozambique/military.africa/2020/08/mozambique-terrorists-sinks-french-made-hsi32-interceptor-boats),
defending the town. An FFB fast attack craft was also damaged.

 military.africa/2020/08/mozambique-terrorists-sinks-french-made-hsi32-interceptor-
boats

In September 2019, Russia [delivered an Mil Mi-17 helicopter to the Mozambican Air Force. ](https://www.military.africa/2021/03/gazelle-helicopters-marauder-armoured-vehicles-join-the-fight-in-mozambique/military.africa/2019/09/mozambique-receives-mi-17-helicopter-and-other-russian-hardware)
An Antonov An-124-100 transport aircraft from the 224th Flight Unit of the Russian
Air Force offloaded the helicopter and other military hardwares at the Nacala airport
in northern Mozambique.

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 military.africa/2019/09/mozambique-receives-mi-17-helicopter-and-other-russian-
hardware

At least 160 Russian military advisors have apparently been deployed to Mozambique
since the end of August, especially in Cabo Delgado.

Asides the Gazelles, Paramount’s Marauder armoured personnel carriers have been 
supplied to Mozambique since November last year.

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![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Paramount-marauder-mrap-armoured-
vehicle-in-Mozambique.jpg)

Paramount Group Marauder MRAP (Paramount image)

The Marauders were fitted with a turret-mounted machinegun. According to local media,
the type will be used in the fight against insurgents.

In June last year, the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) told
Parliament that South Africa supplied weapons to Mozambique but did not disclose
any further details. “We couldn’t say no to Mozambique as it is a legitimate government
under attack by terrorists,” committee chair, Jackson Mthembu, Minister in the Presidency
said, referring to the insurgency in Cabo Delgado province.

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