Battle of Sinoia

Battle of Sinoia
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War
Battle site Battle of Sinoia (Zimbabwe)
Date 28 April 1966 Location Sinoia, Rhodesia (today Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe) 17°21′24″S 30°16′28″E / 17.356619°S 30.274358°E / -17.356619; 30.274358 Result Rhodesian victory
Belligerents
Rhodesia British South Africa Police	ZANLA (ZANU)
Commanders and leaders
Frank Barfoot	Simon Chimbodza †
Units involved
British South Africa Police	Unknown
Strength
: 40 men 4 helicopters	ZANLA: 7
Casualties and losses
: none	ZANLA: 7

 Rhodesia

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The Battle of Sinoia was a small military engagement fought near Sinoia (modern-day Chinhoyi) between a small group of Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) guerrillas and Rhodesian police on 28 April 1966. The skirmish is sometimes considered as the opening engagement of the Rhodesian Bush War (Second Chimurenga). A team of seven ZANLA cadres engaged with British South Africa Police forces near the northern town of Sinoia. The guerrilla group was wiped out, the police killing all seven. There were no police casualties.

In March 1966 four small groups of ZANLA guerillas crossed the Zambezi near Chirundu, the first nationalist incursion following UDI. One group, comprising seven men from Guruve, Hurungwe and Makonde Districts travelled to the Sinoia area, but their presence was detected by the British South Africa Police. Throughout the day of 28 April 1966 the two sides skirmished, and all seven ZANLA men were killed after their ammunition ran out.