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Sunday 31 January 2010

The Battles of the Forgotten War in Angola, SE Zambia and South West Africa




The SADF Border Operations by year:


Operation Savannah - Angola 1975

The 1st large scale cross border operation of the bushwar. A covert operation by 4 SADF battlegroups [Foxbat, Zulu, Alfa and Bravo] in support of the pro Western Freedom movements [UNITA and FNLA] in Angola..." In 30 days, the SADF covers over 3000 km's into Angola to within artillery range of the capital of Luanda.


Battle for Ebo - Angola 1975

The Battle for Ebo during November 1975 will be remembered as a black day for the South African soldiers and those fighting along side them.


The Battle of Bridge 14 - Angola 1975

The Battle of Bridge 14 took place in December 1975 during Operation Savannah in Angola. It represented a major defeat of the communist forces in Angola - the MPLA and the Cubans - by South African troops.


Battle of Bridge 14

This was a battle fought at a bridge on the Nhia River on 22 December 1975. The bridge had been blown by retreating enemy forces who were being pursued by the SADF. South African Sappers successfully rebuilt the bridge under heavy fire, allowing the amoured column to advance and route the enemy on the opposite bank.


Danny Roxo famously single-handedly killed twelve Cuban and MPLA soldiers during a reconnaissance of the bridge, an action for which he was awarded the Honoris Crux.

Several other Honoris Crux medals were awarded for bravery during this battle, some posthumously.


Operation Carlota - Angola 1975

Cuban assistance to FAPLA.


Operation Cobra - Angola 1975

Attack of SWAPO elements by Bravo Group under Col. Jan Breytenbach.




Operation Silver - Angola 1977 - 1983

Official support to UNITA. Renamed to Op Disa in 1983.


Operation Kropduif - Angola October 1977

The Battle of Eheki involving 1-Recce, 2-Recce and 32-Battalion.

Operation Bruilof - Angola 1978

Utilising Ratel 20's, Battlegroup Juliet (61 Mech BN GP) attacked several enemy positions in Angola.

Operation Seiljag - Angola 1978

Involving 32 Battalion.

Operation Rextill - Angola August 1978

Op by the SADF in retaliation to SWAPO's attack on Katima Mulilo, codenamed Op Revenge.


Operation Reindeer - Angola 1978

Crossborder operation launched under the new South African policy of hitting SWAPO sanctuaries in neighboring Angola, was really three separate attacks linked only by timing and overall purpose. They were: an airborne assault on Cassinga (Codename "Moscow"), some 250 kilometers inside Angola; an overland assault on a series of SWAPO bases near Chetequera (Codename "Vietnam"), twenty-five kilometers north of the Angolan border, and a helicopter-borne sweep through a series of small SWAPO bases seventeen to twenty-one kilometers east of Chetequera."

The heliborne assualt involved 32 Bn, which attacked the SWAPO Base camps of Omepepa, Namuidi and Henhombe. As part of the attack on Chetequera, Dombondola was also a target.

The Battle of Cassinga - Angola 1978 (Codename "Moscow")


The Battle of Cassinga (4 May 1978) was a controversial South African airborne attack on a South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) base (or refugee camp) located at the former town of Cassinga.


Operation Safraan - Zambia 1979

Some of the targets in Zambia were areas around Sinjembela, Omatako Omaramba and the forest area of Njena


Operation Rekstok - Zambia 1979

Some of the targets in Angola were bases around Muongo, Oncua, Henhombe and Heque.


Attack on Nova Catengue - Angola 1979

An ANC Training Camp that was attacked and bombed by the SAAF on 14 March 1979.

Operation Dice - Zambia 1979

Destruction of Zambian bridges by 1-Recce Alpha Group.

Operation Tiro a Tiro - Angola 1980

32 Bn attack on Savate, a major FAPLA base.
For more info on the attack on Savate, click HERE.

Operation Skeptic - Angola 1980

Attack on the SWAPO stronghold at Chifufua in Angola codenamed "Smokeshell" [May - June 1980], and developed into an extended operation which produced the first serious clashes between the SADF and the Angolan Army and mechanised elements of SWAPO.


Operation Beanbag - Mozambique 1981

Raid of a MK stronghold in Matola near Maputo.

Operation KAT - Mozambique 1981

Destruction of the ANC headquarters in Mozambique.

Operations Carnation, Protea and Daisy - Angola 1981

Operation PROTEA was launched on August 23, 1981. Its objectives were to destroy SWAPO's command and training center at Xangongo and to destroy SWAPO's logistic bases at Xangongo and Ongiva.


Cambeno Valley - Angola 1981

Insertion point of 5 Recce during Operation Super

Operation Kerslig - Angola 1981

Attack on oil installations in Luanda harbour by Special Forces Operators from 1- and 4-Recce.

Operation Meebos - Angola 1982

Consisted of a number of air attacks on SWAPO's command centres,including the destruction of Mupa in Angola.

Operation Dolfyn - Angola 1983


Op included artillery, armoured car, anti tank and mortors as well as 61 Mech.  Operation against SWAPO north of Cuvelai and search and destroy op against SWAPO west and east of the Cunene river, also to ensure FAPLA pulled out of Cuvelai.

Operation Altar - Angola 1982 - 1984

SADF assistance to RENAMO [Later became OP Mila].

Operation Yahoo - Lesotho 1982

Raid on the ANC facilities in Maseru Lesotho by 5-Recce.

Operation Phoenix - Angola 1983

In February 1983 SWAPO launched a new offensive by deploying a special force of 1700 guerillas into Ovambo. Phoenix was the counterstrike by the SADF against the SWAPO infiltration.

Operation Skerwe - Mozambique 1983

SAAF air strikes on ANC targets in Matola near Maputo.

Operation Vine - Mozambique 1983

Raid on the ANC offices in Maputo by 1-Recce.

Operation Askari - Angola 1983 to 1984

The primary aim of Operation ASKARI, "was to disrupt the planned infiltration of SWAPO's special units into South West Africa.

Operation Argon - Angola 1985

4-Recce raid on oil storage tankers in Cabinda - Angola, which led to the capture of Capt. Wynand du Toit [later promoted to Major].

Operation Plexi - Botswana 1985

Raid on the ANC facilities in Gaborone Botswana by 1-, 4- and 5-Recce.

Operation Boswilger - Angola 1985

After the SADF withdrawal from Angola on 1 April 1985, SWAPO launched operations across the border from bases in Angola. Boswilger was the counter.

Operation Weldmesh -Wallpaper - Angola 1985

A short-term operation [at the request of UNITA]. The op involved the deployment of a Multiple Rocket Launcher Unit and succeeded in stopping the southward movement of FAPLA units in and around the Angolan town of Mavinga.

Operation Alpha Centuari - Angola 1985

An operation aimed [and that succeeded] in stopping a FAPLA advance on the UNITA stronghold of Jamba.

Operations Modular, Hooper and Packer - Angola 1985 - 1988

Operations which included the Cuito Cuanavale and Mavinga battles.
Mavinga - Angola

The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale - Angola, the last major offensive in Angola.



Operation Kodak - Zimbabwe 1986

Raid on ANC offices in Harare Zimbabwe by 5-Recce.

Operation Colosseum - Angola 1986

5-Recce raid on SWAPO bases in Angola.

Operation Rolio - Zambia 1987

Raid on ANC offices in Livingstone Zambia by 1-Recce.

Operation Coolidge - Angola 1987

Op by 4-Recce to destroy the Cuito River bridge.

Operation Prone - Angola 1988

Operation Hilti / Excite [May - June 1988] - The last major firefight that 32 Battalion, together with elements from 61 Mech, participated in, within Angola. It was during this battle that a group of Mig 23's attack the Calueque Dam, seriously damaging the bridge and water pipeline and killing several NSM's from 8 SAI.

Operation Linger - Angola 1988

Operation Merlyn - Angola 1989

Operation Displace - The withdrawl of the SADF from the operational area 1988 - 1989



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11 comments:

  1. A correction on Operation Yahoo. Early 1982 Swapo’s Vulcan Unit infiltrated south of the ‘red line’ to the farming and mining communities of Tsumeb, Otavi etc. The SADF responded with Op Yahoo. The Army units involved where 61 Mech Bn and companies of 1 Para Bn, 203 Bn, 201 Bn, 6 SAI Bn, 911 Bn, 7 SAI, 4 SAI and platoons from 3 SAI and Sector 50. Helicopters and light aircraft of the SAAF were also involved as were Koevoet. Heavy casualties were inflicted on Swapo in more than 30 contacts. Swapo lost 67 KIA and 16 POW (another 36 fled back into Angola). SADF lost 9 KIA and 15 WIA in contacts and 1 KIA and 26 WIA due to Swapo landmines.

    The raid on the ANC facilities in Maseru Lesotho by 5-Recce was Operation Lebanta.

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  2. Hi Anonymous

    Thanks for your input and correction, wish more veterans would offer input as I and my content may be off as was in this case. So much history in this campaign - Regards

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  3. Operation Rextill - Angola August 1978
    Op by the SADF in retaliation to SWAPO's attack on Katima Mulilo, codenamed Op Revenge.

    I was there in the bungalow in 78 with 2SSB when the the 10 chaps died. My best mate Dennis Goofy)Elworthy was one of them. I was shot in the shoulder 3 weeks later in the follow up ops and spent a few months in 1MIL. Can you believe - it is more than 30 yrs ago... ago

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  4. Hi Anonymous

    Thanks for the input, yes, even for me it's now getting to near two decades ago, another life time ago but the memories are like yesterday. Take care and please keep in touch with interesting bits.

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  5. Very interesting, I plan to write a book about these times
    George from Bulgaria

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  6. Hi Ian, the photo that you are using for "Operation Reindeer - Angola 1978" is infact in 1988 Operation HOOPER guys from E11B Rathel.

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  7. Thanks for the input again guys, pics were put on the older pages in no particular order, pretty much a rush job. Will look at the older pages soon - take care

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  8. strange how there seems to be a gap with the engineers pre 85 and post 86. I with some others did a number of 'jobs' with 44 para,101 bat and even with koevoet. Even had to sign some declaration of secrecy due to 'wandering' over a certain parrallel. I sappose we all did our bit however insignificant it may have seemed.

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  9. What about Dolfyn?

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  10. Thanks Anonymous for the tip on Dolfyn, post updated to reflect.

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  11. The war, as it became, really started about 72/73 when Swapo started laying mines in Caprivi and attacked an SAP post. Believe we went in to assist the cops and in 75 when Angola went we started the 3mth camps.
    Remember in 73 walking a patrol in Caprivi and we were suddenly surrounded by Portuguese when they stood up around us. We hadn't seen a thing and then realized we had a lot to learn.

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