South African Border War

Operation Coolidge

Operation Coolidge was a covert military operation conducted by the South African 4 Reconnaissance Regiment in August 1987, where a team of 4 Recce Commandos was inserted by helicopter into an area north of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola to target infrastructure,...

Operation Moduler

The southern element of the FAPLA offensive was launched from the area of Cuito Cuanavale on 14 August 1987. The brigades involved here were 25 Brigade, already deployed east of the Cuito River at Tumpo, and 16, 21, 47, 59, 66, 8, and 13 Brigades, which were deployed...

11 Apr 1987 Luena

A FAPA Hind MI-8T helicopter is shot down at Luena in Angola leaving three dead. The aircraft is piloted by W/O Jesus Martinez Santos from Cuba

FIRST SHOT COUNTS

FIRST SHOT COUNTS

Tank Killers Take on Big Game A Soviet T-55 battle tank rumbles slowly through the southern Angolan countryside, its two mates in echelon close behind. The FAPLA tank commander peers nervously at every shadow, at every oddly shaped bush and rock. He knows the South...

Operation Sea Warrior

Operation Sea Warrior

Operation Sea Warrior was a South African Special Forces operation that took place from 20 June to 1 September 1985 to  sabotage and reconnaissance mission carried out by 4 Reconnaissance Commando into central Angola during the Bush War, targeting the Benguela railway...

South Africa’s New Range Rifles

South Africa’s New Range Rifles

Springbok civilians' LM4 semiauto CIVILIANS in South Africa - particularly border farmers and cattlemen - have unusual home-defense requirements. Constantly threatened by bands of heavily armed insurgents and an escalating terrorist movement.most of the people with...

11 May 1985 Ogandjera

On 11 May 1985 PLAN executed one of their most successful standoff attacks when the SADF base at Ogandjera was attacked at 00h25 using 82mm mortars. 11 x SADF members were wounded

Operation Opsaal

According to official records Askari ended on 20 January, but in fact 32 Battalion’s contingent, referred to as Task Force EV, stayed in the area east of Tetchamutete to continue operating against SWAPO, and Opsaal (Saddle Up) was actually the third phase of Askari....

Operation Askari

Operation Askari, launched on 6 December 1983, was the SADF's sixth large-scale cross-border operation into Angola and was intended to disrupt the logistical support and command & control capabilities of People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) the military wing...

14 Sep 1983

Cuban soldier  Carlos Emigdio Molina Sánchez is KIA in a confrontation with UNITA

7 Aug 1983 Cangamba

Cangamba, at nightfall on 7 August 1983, there was a heavy firefight in front of Sector No. 1 as UNITA advanced from the houses, shouting, and the defenders were forced to retreat. The artillery fire destroyed the last remaining BRDM. In Sector No. 3, Cuban...

6 Aug 1983 Cangamba

Cuban soldier Emilio Jardín López is KIA at Cangamba. Operation Karton

Operation Karton

Operation Karton (Operation Cardboard) was a secret military operation during August 1983 by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War. UNITA attacked on 1 August with between 3000 and 6000 soldiers with the SADF...

Operation Klipklop

Operation Klipklop was a retaliatory action following the standoff mortar bombardment on Ruacana. during the South African Border War between the Republic of South Africa and SWAPO. The operation began at first light on the 30 July 1980 when South African forces...

Operation Dolfyn

Operation Dolfyn (Operation Dolphin) was a military operation in Angola from May 1983 by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War. The aim of the operation locate and destroy the People's Liberation Army of...

Operation Snoek

By early 1983 the South African forces had established unrestricted mobility in central Angola for at least 100 km on either side of the road from Cuvelai–Ongiva to Santa Clara. Ongiva became the general operational base, and 32 Battalion’s operations were controlled...