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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