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To evaluate the impact of a single peak powerful channeler from The Wheel of Time—such as Rand al’Thor, Demandred, or Nynaeve—on the largest operations of the Rhodesian Bush War (1964-1979), we’ll integrate their demonstrated capabilities into the conflict’s historical context. The Rhodesian Bush War, also known as the Zimbabwe War of Independence or Second Chimurenga, was a guerrilla war pitting the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) against the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA). Its largest operations were cross-border raids targeting insurgent bases, such as Operation Dingo (1977), which involved significant coordination of air and ground forces. A peak channeler’s presence would dramatically alter these operations’ dynamics, scale, and outcomes, depending on their allegiance.
Rhodesian Bush War Context
Key Operations: Operation Dingo (November 23-25, 1977) targeted ZANLA bases at Chimoio and Tembue in Mozambique, 40-90 miles from Rhodesia’s border. It involved 200 RSF troops (Rhodesian Light Infantry, SAS), 42 helicopters (Alouettes), 8 Hawker Hunters, 6 Vampires, 3 Canberra bombers, 6 Dakotas, and 12 Lynxes. Results: ~1,200 ZANLA killed at Chimoio, 5,000+ casualties overall, with 2 RSF dead, 8 wounded.

Forces: RSF peaked at 15,000 active troops (3,400 regulars, rest conscripts/reservists), supported by 45,000 police/reservists and South African aid. ZANLA/ZIPRA fielded 20,000-38,000 guerrillas by 1979, operating from rural Rhodesia and external bases (Zambia, Mozambique).

Terrain: Dense bush, savanna, and mountains; operations spanned hundreds of miles, with bases often hidden in rugged, forested areas.

Tactics: RSF relied on Fireforce (helicopter insertions, airstrikes, sweeps) and intelligence-driven raids; guerrillas used ambushes, hit-and-run attacks, and civilian support.

A peak channeler—assume Rand with Callandor or Demandred with his sa’angreal and circle—can kill tens of thousands in 1-2 hours (e.g., Rand’s Trolloc battle: 20,000-30,000 dead), wielding fire, lightning, Deathgates, and environmental weaves. Their impact hinges on stamina (1-2 hours peak output), range (200-500 meters, extendable via gateways), and strategic placement.
Scenario 1: Channeler with Rhodesian Security Forces
Channeler Profile: Rand al’Thor, post-Towers of Midnight, with Callandor, deployed during Operation Dingo.
Impact on Operation Dingo
Deployment: Rand gateways from Salisbury to Chimoio (90 miles) at 0600, November 23, 1977, ahead of the air assault, positioning atop a hill overlooking the ZANLA base (10,000+ guerrillas, dependents).

Fire Waves: Rand unleashes massive fire waves (500-meter swaths), incinerating barracks, training fields, and ammo dumps. Each wave kills 500-1,000 in seconds, mirroring napalm but instant and terrain-adaptive. In 10 minutes, he wipes out 5,000-7,000—half the camp—before RSF paratroops land.

Deathgates: Sweeping gateways (200 meters/run) slice through defensive lines and bunkers, killing 1,000-2,000 more and neutralizing anti-aircraft guns (e.g., captured SA-7s). Helicopters face no resistance, landing unopposed.

Lightning and Funnels: As survivors flee, Rand summons lightning (20-50 deaths/bolt) and wind funnels, lifting hundreds into the air and raining them as corpses. Another 2,000-3,000 die in 20 minutes, scattering resistance.

Broader Campaign Impact
Tembue Follow-Up: Rand gateways to Tembue (November 25), repeating the devastation: 3,000-5,000 ZANLA killed in 30 minutes. Total Operation Dingo toll rises from 1,200 killed to 10,000-15,000, with zero RSF losses.

External Bases: Over weeks, Rand hits ZIPRA camps in Zambia (e.g., Mkushi, 1,600 guerrillas) and other Mozambique sites (e.g., Nyadzonya, 1,000+ killed historically). Each raid kills 5,000-10,000, potentially eliminating 30,000-50,000 insurgents in a month—crippling ZANLA/ZIPRA’s external strength (38,000 total by 1979).

Internal Control: Rand targets rural guerrilla bands (100-500 fighters), using gateways for surprise strikes. Fireforce becomes redundant as he clears entire regions (e.g., Operation Hurricane zone) in hours, killing thousands more.

Outcome
Casualties: Rand inflicts 50,000-70,000 guerrilla deaths in 1-2 months, exceeding historical war totals (20,000-30,000 over 15 years). RSF losses drop near zero in his operations.

Strategic Shift: With external bases gutted and rural insurgency crushed, Rhodesia holds militarily by 1978. International pressure (sanctions, South African withdrawal) persists, but the war’s end delays beyond 1979—possibly forcing a stalemate or negotiated settlement favoring Ian Smith’s regime. Mugabe’s 1980 election is derailed without ZANLA’s manpower.

Scenario 2: Channeler with ZANLA/ZIPRA
Channeler Profile: Demandred, with sa’angreal and a 72-channeler circle (recruited from captured Aes Sedai or wilders), aiding ZANLA during Operation Dingo.
Impact on Operation Dingo
Deployment: Demandred positions at Chimoio, sensing RSF preparations via scouts or weaves, ready by 0600, November 23.

White-Hot Beams: As Dakotas drop paratroops and Hunters strafe, Demandred fires balefire-like beams, vaporizing 6 Dakotas (120 troops), 4 Hunters, and 2 Canberras mid-flight. In 5 minutes, he downs 20-30 aircraft (200-300 personnel), halving the air assault.

Fire Waves: Demandred sweeps fire across landing zones, burning 100-150 RSF troops and 10-15 Alouettes (50 crew). Surviving paratroops (50-70) are pinned, unable to sweep the camp.

Ground Heaving: He erupts the earth under RSF stop-lines, hurling 50-100 troops and vehicles skyward, killing most. The 200-man force collapses, with 150-180 dead in 15 minutes.

Broader Campaign Impact
Counteroffensive: Demandred gateways 5,000 ZANLA from Chimoio into Rhodesia (e.g., Umtali), unleashing fire and lightning on RSF bases. Each strike kills 500-1,000 regulars/reservists, totaling 5,000-10,000 in days—half the RSF’s active strength.

Air Denial: Ice shards and lightning shred RhAF squadrons (e.g., 50-70 planes at New Sarum), downing most in hours. Rhodesia loses air superiority, grounding Fireforce.

Salisbury Assault: By December 1977, Demandred hits Salisbury, burning barracks, police stations, and white settlements. Thousands die (e.g., 5,000-10,000 civilians/soldiers), collapsing morale and government control.

Outcome
Casualties: Demandred kills 15,000-25,000 RSF/police and 10,000-20,000 civilians in 1-2 months, dwarfing historical RSF losses (2,000-3,000 over 15 years). ZANLA losses drop as RSF offensives falter.

Strategic Shift: Rhodesia’s military crumbles by early 1978; Smith’s regime falls within months, not 1979. ZANLA/ZIPRA seize power, installing Mugabe or Nkomo by mid-1978, bypassing Lancaster House. South Africa withdraws support faster, fearing escalation.

Key Factors and Limitations
Stamina: Peak output lasts 1-2 hours (e.g., Rand’s Trolloc battle), requiring rest. In Dingo’s 4-day span, they’d dominate daily peaks but not sustain 24/7 pressure—leaving gaps for RSF/ZANLA recovery.

Range: Line-of-sight (200-500 meters) limits impact beyond gateways. RSF’s 1,200-man air force or ZANLA’s dispersed 10,000s could exploit this with long-range strikes (e.g., Canberra bombs, 10 km).

Countermeasures:
RSF vs. Demandred: Overwhelming air/artillery barrages (e.g., 100+ sorties, 81mm mortars) might force shields or retreat if timed post-exhaustion.

ZANLA vs. Rand: Guerrilla dispersal and numbers (38,000 external) could overwhelm via attrition if he’s isolated.

Scale: The war’s 400,000 square miles dwarf a channeler’s immediate reach. They’d excel in concentrated ops (e.g., Chimoio) but struggle to cover all fronts (e.g., Operation Tangent, 200 miles away).

Comparative Impact
RSF with Rand:
Effect: Turns Dingo into a massacre (10,000-15,000 ZANLA dead vs. 1,200), extends Rhodesian survival by years. Equals a tactical nuke or corps (15,000 troops, 200 guns) in hours—beyond Rhodesia’s historical arsenal (42 helicopters, 35 planes).

War Outcome: Delays defeat, possibly forcing a white-minority stalemate or stronger South African backing.

ZANLA with Demandred:
Effect: Crushes Dingo (150-300 RSF dead vs. 2), accelerates Rhodesian collapse by 1978. Matches an army’s offensive power (15,000 troops, air wing) in minutes—outstripping ZANLA’s T-55s and RPGs.

War Outcome: Victory in months, not years, reshaping southern Africa’s Cold War balance.

Conclusion
A peak channeler transforms the Rhodesian Bush War’s largest operations into one-sided slaughters:
RSF-Aligned: Rand annihilates ZANLA/ZIPRA bases, prolonging Rhodesia’s existence past 1979, potentially altering the region’s postcolonial trajectory.

ZANLA/ZIPRA-Aligned: Demandred dismantles RSF’s military and government, ending the war by 1978, cementing guerrilla victory early.

Their impact—killing 10,000-70,000 in weeks—compresses the war’s 15-year toll (30,000) into bursts, making them strategic superweapons. Stamina and range limit total dominance, but in key ops like Dingo, they’re decisive, shifting the conflict’s outcome dramatically based on allegiance.

Чёрт, спросить, что ли, сколько космодесантников заломают какую-нибудь группу армий "Центр"...