SADF Military Operations
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SADF Military Operations 1975 -1989 Contents 1 List of operations of the South African Border War 1 2 Operation Savannah (Angola) 3 2.1 Background .............................................. 3 2.2 Military intervention .......................................... 4 2.2.1 Support for UNITA and FNLA ................................ 5 2.2.2 Ruacana-Calueque occupation ................................ 5 2.2.3 Task Force Zulu ........................................ 5 2.2.4 Cuban intervention ...................................... 6 2.2.5 South African reinforcements ................................. 6 2.2.6 End of South African advance ................................ 6 2.3 Major battles and incidents ...................................... 6 2.3.1 Battle of Quifangondo .................................... 7 2.3.2 Battle of Ebo ......................................... 7 2.3.3 “Bridge 14” .......................................... 7 2.3.4 Battle of Luso ......................................... 7 2.3.5 Battles involving Battlegroup Zulu in the west ........................ 8 2.3.6 Ambrizete incident ...................................... 8 2.4 Aftermath ............................................... 8 2.5 South African order of battle ..................................... 9 2.6 Association .............................................. 9 2.7 Further reading ............................................ 9 2.8 References ............................................... 9 3 Operation Bruilof 13 3.1 Background .............................................. 13 3.2 Further reading ............................................ 13 3.3 References .............................................. 13 4 Operation Seiljag 14 4.1 Notes ................................................. 14 4.2 Bibliography .............................................. 14 5 Operation Reindeer 15 i ii CONTENTS 5.1 Background .............................................. 15 5.2 Planning ................................................ 15 5.2.1 Target Alpha “Moscow” ................................... 15 5.2.2 Target Bravo “Vietnam” ................................... 16 5.2.3 Target Charlie ......................................... 16 5.3 SADF Order of Battle ......................................... 16 5.3.1 Cassinga ............................................ 16 5.3.2 Chetequera and Dombondola ................................. 17 5.3.3 Omepepa-Namuidi-Henhombe ................................ 17 5.4 Battles ................................................. 17 5.4.1 Cassinga ............................................ 17 5.4.2 Chetequera and Dombondola[2] ................................ 17 5.4.3 Omepepa-Namuidi-Henhombe[3]:129-132 ........................... 18 5.5 Aftermath ............................................... 18 5.6 See also ................................................ 18 5.7 Further reading ............................................ 18 5.8 References ............................................... 19 6 Operation Vanity 20 6.1 Operation ............................................... 20 6.2 Aftermath ............................................... 20 6.3 References ............................................... 21 6.4 Further reading ............................................ 21 7 Operation Rekstok 22 7.1 References ............................................... 22 7.2 Further reading ............................................ 22 8 Operation Safraan 23 8.1 Further reading ............................................ 23 8.2 References ............................................... 23 8.3 See also ................................................ 23 9 Operation Klipklop 24 9.1 Further reading ............................................ 24 9.2 References ............................................... 24 10 Operation Konyn 25 10.1 Background .............................................. 25 10.2 Aftermath ............................................... 25 10.3 References ............................................... 25 10.4 Further reading ............................................ 25 11 Operation Protea 27 CONTENTS iii 11.1 Planning ................................................ 27 11.2 Order of Battle.[2]:169[3][4]:Chp7[5]:123 .................................. 27 11.2.1 South African forces ..................................... 27 11.2.2 Angolan forces ........................................ 30 11.2.3 Soviet military advisors .................................... 30 11.2.4 SWAPO forces ........................................ 30 11.3 Battles - Task Force Alpha ...................................... 30 11.3.1 Humbe ............................................ 31 11.3.2 Xangongo ........................................... 31 11.3.3 Peu-Peu ............................................ 32 11.3.4 Mongua ............................................ 33 11.3.5 Ongiva ............................................ 33 11.4 Aftermath ............................................... 34 11.5 References ............................................... 35 11.6 Further reading ............................................ 35 12 Operation Kerslig 36 12.1 Background .............................................. 36 12.2 Aftermath ............................................... 36 12.3 References ............................................... 36 13 Operation Super 37 13.1 Order of Battle[2]:159 .......................................... 37 13.1.1 South African forces ..................................... 37 13.1.2 PLAN forces ......................................... 37 13.2 Battles ................................................. 37 13.2.1 Initial contact ......................................... 37 13.2.2 Camp assault ......................................... 38 13.3 Aftermath ............................................... 38 13.4 References ............................................... 38 13.5 Further reading ............................................ 38 14 Operation Meebos 39 14.1 Background .............................................. 39 14.2 Order of Battle ............................................ 39 14.2.1 South African Forces ..................................... 39 14.2.2 SWAPO forces ........................................ 39 14.2.3 Angolan forces ........................................ 40 14.3 Battle ................................................. 40 14.4 Aftermath ............................................... 41 14.5 Further reading ............................................ 41 14.6 References ............................................... 41 iv CONTENTS 15 Operation Phoenix (South Africa) 42 15.1 Background .............................................. 42 15.2 Operation ............................................... 42 15.3 Aftermath ............................................... 42 15.4 References ............................................... 42 15.5 Further reading ............................................ 43 16 Operation Skerwe 44 16.1 Background .............................................. 44 16.2 Operation ............................................... 44 16.3 Aftermath ............................................... 44 16.4 References ............................................... 45 16.5 Further reading ............................................ 45 17 Operation Dolfyn 46 17.1 Background .............................................. 46 17.2 Further reading ............................................ 46 17.3 References ............................................... 46 18 Operation Karton 47 18.1 Background .............................................. 47 18.2 Battle ................................................. 47 18.3 Aftermath ............................................... 47 18.4 Further reading ............................................ 48 18.5 References .............................................. 48 19 Operation Klinker 49 19.1 Background .............................................. 49 19.2 Further reading ............................................ 49 19.3 References ............................................... 49 20 Operation Askari 50 20.1 Background .............................................. 50 20.2 Planning ................................................ 50 20.3 Order of Battle ............................................ 50 20.3.1 South African and South West Africa Territorial forces ................... 50 20.3.2 FAPLA/SWAPO forces .................................... 52 20.4 Battles ................................................. 53 20.4.1 Battle of Quiteve ....................................... 53 20.4.2 Battle of Mulondo ....................................... 53 20.4.3 Battle of Cahama ....................................... 53 20.4.4 Battle of Cuvelai ....................................... 54 20.4.5 Battle of Caiundo ....................................... 54 CONTENTS v 20.5 Aftermath ............................................... 55 20.6 References ............................................... 56 20.7 Further reading ............................................ 56 21 Operation Boswilger 57 21.1 Background .............................................. 57 21.2 Further reading ............................................ 57 21.3 References ............................................... 57 22 Operation Cabinda 58 22.1 Background .............................................. 58 22.2 Aftermath ............................................... 59 22.3