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Saturday 28 July 2012

The Border



Typical border views

My time on the border was spent with 25 Field in Oshakati and a short spell at Ombalantu which was about 30km from the Angolan Border.

Oshakati base is situated in one of the most developed towns in the Ovamboland area in Northern Namibia, It is the capital of the Oshana Region and is the second most densly populated area in Namibia. Oshakati base was officially founded as base of operations by the SADF in 1966.


Sapper wall Oshakati

On June 24 1988 a joint SADF / SAP operation took place tracking four heavily armed insurgents who crossed the border and attacked a local farm, in the attack the farmer and his grandmother both survived due to escaping in their bakkie. The insurgents were cornered about 20km north of the farm and in the ensueing firefight all were killed with one SADF KIA.



View from tower at Oshakati

Uutapi, also known as Outapi or Ombalantu is a town in Northern Namibia lying near the border of Angola. The town is now well known for the Omukwa Baobabtree which was well used in the army base. The base was home to not only SADF troops but 911 SWATF.


View from chopper Ombalantu

Ombalantu base had it's fair share of being revved during the years of operational activity. Swapo would on occasion initiate attacks by firing a RPG rocket from the T-Junction in the area slightly to the right of the base entrance, a distance of about 900m. The RPG would airburst over the base and this would signal the attack by mortars and GRAD-P 122mm rockets. On one such attack in 1988 we returned fire with our 81mm mortars and other weapons, although the insurgent was already long gone. One of our mortars landed behind the CUCA owners new blue Mercedes and peppered the vehicle with shrapnel. He duly pitched up at camp the following day seeking reparation for the damage. Needless to repeat our CO's comments to him.



Multiple stack AT landmine

What can one say about one's time on the border. At times it was manic exitement and for most of the times it was routine and boring doing base maintenance and on down time, one played cards sun tanned, went fishing or swimming. A lot of time was spent thinking about home, girlfriends, family and friends.



Sweeping road for mines



I am sure that all troops who served on the border experienced in some way the horrors of war and for most these are stories should never be told, however in not divulging specific details one can share some of the operational experiences we had during this conflict. I guess this in a way helps some veterans deal with what was experienced there and some may even come to terms with what they either did or saw.





On patrol view from 30cal on buffel


Any one remember,  all personnel entering the operational area were given these really bitter tasting anti malaria pills as malaria was a reality. Also who remebers the stories of the Blou Pille that was supposed to suppress any sexual urges one may have had on the border, I wonder if this was true, I never really enjoyed coffee after being told that.





Huambo Angola

Then there was guard duty, ugh. For the most part this was gratefully not a solo time, 24 hours a day 365 days a year there was always someone watching and standing guard. At times this was not taken seriously and troops were caught messing about, even sleeping.


The ever busy Go-Carts


Hygiene was very important on the border to maintain a healthy lifestyle as best as one could in these situations, however the facilities were dire and the most part lacking in what we all now take for granted. There were cold water shower bags, piss lillies as urinals and go carts or thunder boxes as toilets, as above and below.



Field toilet with piss lillies





Hunting mines


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