Volume 3, Issue 4

WAR IN ANGOLA

Volume 3, Issue 4 27 January 2012 www.warinangola.com THE NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND FACTS RELATING TO THE CONFLICT IN ANGOLA AND SOUTH-WEST AFRICA (NAMIBIA) FROM 1975 TO 1989

Operation Packer: 82 Mechanised Brigade

March 1988: Cuito Cuanavale, Angola • Supporting elements included: The force for the third attack on the Tumpo area • two troops of 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, consisted of 82 SA Brigade and four Unita battalions. • six troops of 13 Field Engineer Regiment, and 82 SA Brigade comprised of • five reconnaissance teams of 4 Recce. • two squadrons of tanks from Regiment Presi- dent Steyn, Unita deployed as follows: • an armoured car squadron of Regiment • On the east bank of the Cuito River: Mooirivier, • the 3rd, 4th and 5th Regular Battalions; and • two mechanised infantry battalions - Regiment De La Rey and Regiment Groot Karoo. • the 18th and 118th Semi-Regular Battalions • Two batteries of Regiment Potchefstroom Uni- • On the west bank: versity, one each with G-5s and G-2s; • The 66th and 75th Semi-Regular Battalions • a 120 mm mortar battery of 44 Parachute Brig- Of UNITA’s forces on the east bank, the regular ade; battalions and the 18th Semi-Regular Battalion • a multiple rocket launcher troop of 19 Rocket would work with 82 SA Brigade. The 118th Semi- Regiment. (Continued on page 2)

Featured Gallery:

The bridge over the River Cuito... Cuban soldier control a Sagger anti- UNITA soldiers on parade—a testi- tank missile mony to their training

Inside this issue: Next Week’s Features: • Prelude to the SADF’s participation in the Angolan Training Base Mpupa 2 Civil War: Training base: Serpa Pinto

Featured Equipment:The R2M1 anti-personnel mine 3 • Featured Equipment: The POMZ-2 anti-personnel mine Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Zhdarkin Part 28 4 • Operation Packer: The 3rd attack on Operation Packer: The 1st attack on Tumpo Part 1 5 Tumpo Part 2 "WE'VE GOT A RUSSIAN!" Part 3, by Jim Hooper 6 www.sashowcase.com • The English-Afrikaans thing in the CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ARTILLERY SOLDIERS 7 SADF

This past week: “Somewhere on the Border…” 9 • Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Zhdarkin Part 29 Last week’s latest topics on the Forums 12

www.warinangola.com

Page 2 WAR IN ANGOLA

Training Base Mpupa

The eighteenth article on Henry Kissinger to inves- about the American af- the prelude to the partici- tigate the requirements terwards at Serpa Pinto. pation of the South Afri- of the FNLA. He was Nothing came of his can Defence Force in the impressed (so he said) promised aid… Angolan Civil War: with the standard of training of the FNLA after Commandant Knoetze On 15 September 1975, only one week. He would had learned that a flood Commandant Breyten- report back favourably. of people were expected bach started training at He explained that the to arrive at the camp UNITA guerillas being trained Mpupa with four instruc- USA was indeed willing during his visit to Mpupa tors. There were 250 to provide weapons, on 15 September 1975. men, and as planned, ammunition, and logisti- This indeed started to divided into a mortar cal support, but not any happen. Within two platoon, a machine gun soldiers because the weeks there were 400 platoon and three rifle USA did not wish to get men at Mpupa, and it platoons. This group involved in another Viet- was foreseen, as included trained and nam-situation. Pedro planned, that a militia Link to this story: half-trained FNLA- promised a lot, amongst and holding forces could http://www.warinangola.com/ supporters, ex-flechas be trained as well. A total Default.aspx?tabid=1272 other things: a thousand and Portuguese. They man-pack weapons com- of 2 000 could be trained were underfed and prising of machineguns, for this purpose, armed poorly equipped with 15 mortars, rocket launch- with Sten sub- rifles of which only two ers as well as logistical machineguns. were serviceable. They supplies for 180 days. “...the USA were therefore com- About half of the FNLA He was well pleased with soldiers at Mpupa were pletely dependent on the the fact that the RSA was indeed RSA for weapons, am- sent on to Serpa Pinto was providing training during the beginning of munition and general and operational planning willing to equipment. October 1975 where to the FNLA, and he another training base provide Some days after the suggested that an Air had been established. A training at Mpupa had Zaire cargo plane be group of 270 remained at weapons, started, Chipenda, Kam- stationed at Rundu, Mpupa. Their machine- buta, and an American, a which could be used for gun and mortar training ammunition, so-called João Pedro, logistical replenishment had reached a satisfac- arrived. The last men- during operations. tory level and the plan and logistical tioned were probably a Although Chipenda did was to deploy them op- member of the CIA oper- erationally early in Octo- support...” not seem to doubt the ating under a nom-de- legitimacy of João ber 1975. They still ur- guerre. He claimed, that Pedro, he could not con- gently needed uniforms he, on the initiative of firm that he truly was CIA and boots though, but President Ford himself, when he was asked this was supplied shortly had been ordered by Dr. afterwards.

Operation Packer: 82 Mechanised Brigade www.sashowcase.com (Continued from page 1) the east bank by that to confuse Fapla as to date. the direction of the main Regular Battalion was attack. The tank-heavy deployed on the high The intention was to force centred on Gerhard ground at the Cuito- begin with a first light Louw's two squadrons of Cuanavale confluence to attack by 32 Battalion on Regiment President protect the artillery ob- the Fapla elements Steyn, would then attack server there. south of the Tumpo. 32 the main positions using Battalion would be rein- a north-ern approach 82 SA Brigade's mission forced with elements of route. Unita would simul- was to operate in con- Regiment Groot Karoo. taneously launch probing junction with Unita to This attack and a attacks against the Fapla Training of the FNLA had laid the destroy the Fapla forces 'groundshout' operation positions at Cuito Cua- foundation of the future 32 Battal- east of the Cuito by 20 south of the Anhara ion navale from the north March or drive them off Lipanda were intended and south.

Images from “Grensoorlog” series, by Linda de Jager, reproduced with kind permission by MNET

www.warinangola.com

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 Page 3

Featured Equipment: The R2M1 anti-personnel mine

The South African R2M1 waterproof booster were SADF's Border War, SA- anti-personnel mine was a available for this purpose. truth.Co.Za, copyright modern, high explosive non- ©Omutumua Oshili - text metallic mine developed to Forty mines and eight con- available under the terms of be safely handled but not tainers, each holding five the Creative Commons easily detectable once laid. boosters, were packed in Licence 2.0 Its low metal content made the standard plastic box. it difficult to detect with nor- mal mine detectors, and its The boosters, which were nutria colouring made it packed separately, were A piece of open ground could difficult to see. inserted when the mine was easily have been sown with anti- laid, and the safety clip was personnel mines, virtually un- It was fired by a pressure- removed immediately be- seen, below the surface, waiting for an unwary victim sensitive direct-acting fore it was finally placed. striker fitted with a 6.5g LZY waterproof detonator and designed primarily for use in anti-personnel minefields. From “South African Arma & It was possible to lay this Armour”, by Helmoed- mine in water streams and Römer Heitman; and rivers up to a depth of 1m. A

Specifications “Its Country of Origin: South Africa

Diameter: - nutria

Weight: 90g (oz) colouring

Body Material: Plastic made it Charge: 57gm (oz) RDX/TNT 88:12 difficult Fuse: 3 to 7 kg pressure to see.”

The R2M1 anti-personnel mine

www.sashowcase.com

www.warinangola.com

Page 4 WAR IN ANGOLA

Memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Zhdarkin, Part 28

This is the twenty-eighth turbing you? It is possi- mal and I shouldn’t worry part of a 52-part series ble that they may kill the – that I was, after all, taken from “We did not others (he meant the Geronimo. Despite such see it even in Afghanistan. advisors), but not you, reassurances, my balls Memoirs of a participant Geronimo”, he said. My dropped in terror. of the Angolan war (1986- mouth immediately 1988)”, by Lieutenant opened wide. “And what else?” I ex- Colonel Igor Anatolevich claimed. “Nothing. They Zhdarkin “You understand”, I said, know you after all, you that it is in fact not nec- speak Portuguese, you Russian advisors assisting with the planning of operations 1987 essary to kill them”. behave normally with the (photo: © Igor Ignatovich) They simply knew me locals” – and, in fact, I here, they had already “Its fine, if you say they was able somehow to seen me more than won’t kill them, but in any get along with them. once, and they knew that case the fact remains I spoke Portuguese and that you have only 20 That is how to explain: that I was an interpreter. minutes to get out of “Here I am, a so-called “Ah, this is “Geronimo”, here,” was the answer.” so-and-so, I would tell let him go! In principle, them, but you will be- “Well”, I exclaimed, have courteously with “Despite they treated most of the “does that mean that interpreters this way and me”. The Angolans sim- until that time we’ll man- ply could see that if I sometimes the special- age to get drink?” such re- ists, particularly those punished them, then it who could speak Portu- “Yes, he said, we’ll do it” was for something they assurances guese. did and not simply out of When we returned, after personal whim. More- I asked him – excuse me this discussion, I got over, as I have already my balls but how is the situation drunk like a pig. They made clear, I made seri- around here? told me openly that as ous efforts to take care often as I would visit this of them – their general dropped in “Is there something dis- place, all would be nor- terror.” I made serious efforts to take care of them

way-of-life, their food – (also in the pit in the him and waited for him and, in fact, none of ground), and a small very much. He could them in my care ever bath house was con- adjust and repair every- went hungry. And, fairly structed, even equipped thing! Moreover, he often, I would simply sit with a steam room. The could speak Portuguese and chat with them about food was so-so, basically a little bit… this and that. And they tinned food from all were, after all interested countries of the world. In terms of eating, he in my company. Some on the whole was a glutton. He would go through breakfast, www.sashowcase.com could not eat that food – How was the work (after all, only tinned lunch and dinner, and and the way of life in food during two years in within an hour and a half “Pechora”? Angola!), but others got Sergei would get a tin of used to it. food, open it and begin – Our way of life, of eating out of it. I would course, was more or less For example, Captain usually ask him, “Sergei, regulated. We lived in Sergei Rymar, he was a there is something I don’t dug-outs, three or four specialist at the anti- understand – just now people in each. During aircraft C-125 “Pechora” you had lunch, so why the Angolan winter complex. He was unique are you again feeding (between June and Au- in that he could (as we yourself? “You know”, gust), it was very cold joked) with his eyes shut was his answer – “I need and the temperature both put together and to eat”. would fall to only one or dismantle the P-18 and two degrees above zero. P-19 – tracker stations We would walk around in Russian advisors assisting with against the enemy air- To be continued next training on observation equip- Angolan parkas. ment: © Igor Ignatovich) craft. Angolans were week in Part 29... There was a canteen very glad to work with

www.warinangola.com

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 Page 5

Historical Account: Operation Hooper: The third attack on Tumpo Part 1

Extract taken with the the armoured car squad- The three available com- author's permission ron, a mechanised infan- panies of 32 Battalion from: “War In Angola - try company of Regiment were reinforced with the The Final South Afri- De La Rey and Unita's mortar platoon and an 5th Regular Battalion. anti-tank missile team of can Phase“, by Hel- Supporting elements Regiment Groot Karoo, moed-Römer Heitman. included the mortar pla- an engineer section and toon of Regiment De La an anti-aircraft troop of 7 The attack was to take Rey and some of its anti- LAA. This force was place in five phases: tank missile teams. commanded by Major Olifant Main Battle Tank in action Phase 1 Training, plan- Other elements included Thinus van Staden. at the Army Battle School during ning and preparation. an anti-aircraft troop of 7 an exercise LAA, an engineer troop The deception force was Phase 2 Movement to with two Plofadders, two led by the commanding forward assembly areas reconnaissance teams of officer of Regiment Groot and forming-up places. 4 Recce, and an element Karoo, Commandant Dougie Stern. It con- Phase 3 Attack by 32 of Regiment Groot Karoo for mopping-up. The G- sisted of his headquar- Battalion south of the ters, one of his mecha- “The Tumpo. •. 5, G-2 and 120 mm mortar batteries and the mul- nised infantry compa- deception Phase 4 Main attack on tiple rocket launcher nies, his assault pioneer the bridgehead. troop were in direct sup- platoon, and an engineer plan was to port. The 5th Regular section and one of the Phase 5 Withdrawal of Battalion was to join up Liaison Teams. the South African forces. commence just prior to the move The remaining mecha- The main attacking force into the forward assem- nised infantry company simultaneous was to consist mainly of bly area. of Regiment De La Rey the two tank squadrons, and an engineer platoon ly with this move.” Protection force covering the rear elements formed the protection assembly area south- The deception plan was force covering the rear east of the Chambinga to commence simultane- elements. source. They were to ously with this move. It move along the north included a simulated Phase 2 was to com- bank of the river to their mine incident, flares, mence at 21h00 on D-1 forward assembly area movement by elements and be completed by just inside the western of Regiment Groot Karoo 06h00 on D-Day. The bush line, some four along the route, and main force was to move kilometres east of the 'groundshout' simulation www.sashowcase.com out of its assembly area Tumpo source. of tank movement. just inside the eastern bush line of the 32 Battalion was to move At 05h00 on D-Day the Chambinga high ground out of its assembly area main force would move at 21h00 to move to its on the Chambinga high off from its forward as- forward assembly area ground at 01h00 on D- sembly area and move just inside the western Day, and join up with the westwards south of the bush line four kilometres elements of Regiment Dala River to reach its east of the Dala source. Groot Karoo in the for- start line by 08h00. The mine-rollers would ward assembly area. be brought up to the The combined force Phase 3 was to com- tanks here. would then move off at mence at 06h00 and last 04h00 to a forming-up until 08h00 on D-Day. The elements of Regi- place south of the shona Given favourable ment Groot Karoo that on the eastern side of weather, the SAAF South African Eland 90 armoured car in action were to operate with 32 the road from Capamba would carry out an attack Battalion, were to move to Tumpo, to arrive there at first light. 32 Battal-ion out at 22h30 from their by 06h00. would launch a probing (Continued on page 8)

Images from “Grensoorlog” series, by Linda de Jager, reproduced with kind permission by MNET

www.warinangola.com

Page 6 WAR IN ANGOLA

"WE'VE GOT A RUSSIAN!" Part 3

Copyright © Jim Hooper at Ongiva. He was a big trucks blundered into us 2010 guy, absolutely terrified, and we opened fire. Four (www.jimhooper.co.uk) which was understand- vehicles were immedi- able, but obviously no ately shot out and "Lt Naude interrupted to combat soldier. started burning. As we say someone was ap- moved through the area proaching from the direc- "At 2330 hours we heard we found 27 abandoned tion of our troops. I knew vehicles starting up all vehicles, doors open and it had to be one of ours, around us. I ran north personal effects still in- C-160 Transall transport plane but as I knelt to pick up with two platoons and coming in to land side. We booby-trapped something he started set an ambush. The next all of them, then returned shooting. One of my men moment we heard a to the TB. It wasn't until who had been lying on shot. Immediately every 0200 that we finally got the ground returned fire vehicle was switched off. some sleep. The next and killed him. Five min- After a while we heard morning we contacted utes later my platoon people starting to talk, “He was a HQ and they sent in the arrived, and I had them then laughter and shout- Pumas to take out the take the three Russian ing - one of the FAPLA PoW and the Russian big guy, bodies back to the PT- soldiers had accidentally bodies." 76s where the other fired his weapon and the absolutely dead Russian was, and others were giving him Charlie Company's last to bring back the jeep. I shit. They all started act before leaving the terrified, put the prisoner in it and again and began moving field was to rescue the drove back to the tempo- across the road to the children they had discov- which was rary base we'd estab- west, then into a sand ered the day before. lished. As we questioned quarry and out the other After feeding them, Van him we learned that his side. I redeployed my Staden saw that they understand name was Nikolai men farther up the road were returned to Ongiva Pestretsov, a 36-year-old to a new ambush posi- and placed in the care of able...” sergeant major in charge tion. We were still setting the civilian population of FAPLA maintenance it up when one of the

The children were returned to Ongiva

which had remained moured vehicles de- request Pestretsov's behind. stroyed. address. There has been www.sashowcase.com no answer. Of the many cross- In a complicated prisoner border and punitive raids exchange involving an Postscript: Since this has by the SADF into Angola SADF PoW, two Ameri- been written, 32 Bn, the between 1975 and 1988, can mercenaries cap- most successful combat few were as overwhelm- tured while fighting for unit to have seen service Link to this story: ingly successful as Pro- the FNLA in 1975, and in the entire history of http://www.warinangola.com/ tea. SWAPO, FAPLA, an American ferry pilot the South African De- Default.aspx?tabid=1112 Cuban and Soviet losses forced down in Angola, fense Force, was dis- were conservatively esti- Sergeant Major Pestret- banded as the result of mated at over 1,000 sov, two Soviet pilots negotiations between the killed and 3500 to 4000 and three Cuban soldiers South African govern- wounded, while hun- captured by Unita and ment and the African dreds of vehicles - about 40 FAPLA PoWs National Congress. trucks, BM-21s, BTRs. were repatriated through BMPs, BRDMs, PT-76s, the International Com- Copyright © Jim Hooper T-34s and T-55s - were mittee of the Red Cross 2010 destroyed or captured, ten weeks after Pestret- (www.jimhooper.co.uk) along with tons of ammu- sov's capture. Hoping to nition, food and other get his account of the Puma helicopter at a landing strip supplies. The SADF and attack on Ongiva and his SWATF lost ten men capture, the author wrote killed, plus one Alouette twice to the Russian III helicopter and six ar- Ministry of Defense to

Images from “Grensoorlog” series, by Linda de Jager, reproduced with kind permission by MNET

www.warinangola.com

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 Page 7

Uittreksel uit “Ag man dit ‘WAS’ lekker in die Army” - van Danie Matthee In die vroeë sewenti- eerste vereiste is gerjare moes dat die hanteerder sogenaamde profiele moet slimmer uitgewerk word om die wees as die geskikste dienspligtiges hond! per rekenaar toe te wys vir verskillende vakindelings. 'n Tenk- Generaal J Gel- drywer moet byvoor- denhuys A South African dog-handler with beeld onder 'n his dog bepaalde gewig en lengte wees en oor 'n bepaalde koordinerings- vermoeë beskik. Toe vra iemand toevallig wat die profiel is wat geskryf word vir 'n hondehanteerder. Die antwoord was: Die

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ARTILLERY SOLDIERS

“The status now conferred ii. have a sense for ur- on me, as an Artillery Sol- gency. dier, carries a special re- iii. protect my launcher at www.sashowcase.com sponsibility and demands the risk of my own life. of me a special sense of duty. I will, therefore, also iv. ensure that all Artillery be held accountable by equipment remains ser- law and code, for the man- viceable and maintained ner in which I carry out my according to doctrine. “protect my duty. v. ensure that Artillery launcher at I, as an Artillery Soldier, teamwork is done profes- the risk of solemnly take the follow- sionally to enhance coming pledge: radeship and the sharing my own of Artillery common goals a. I will, at all times: and values. life” i. apply the three golden vi. ensure that my physi- rules of the Artillery: cal fitness is up to stan- (1) Do an independent dard as required for an check on all technical Artillery Soldier. work. vii. Obey and apply the (2) Think and plan in ad- SA(N)DF Code of Con- vance. duct” (3) Ensure that simultaneous actions take “THIS IS MY SOLEMN South African G-5 guns deployed place. in their howitzer role PLEDGE, SO BE IT”

Images from “Grensoorlog” series, by Linda de Jager, reproduced with kind permission by MNET

www.warinangola.com

Page 8 WAR IN ANGOLA

The third attack on Tumpo Part 1

(Continued from page 5) continuing their ap- gage targets on the west proach, with the Unita bank. The 32 Battal-ion attack at 06h00 against infantry riding on the force would provide fire the Fapla positions south tanks. support for the main at- of the Tumpo River, ap- tack from its position proaching them from the The Unita forces on the south of the Tumpo. The south-east. As soon as west bank would move Unita elements on the these positions had been into their forming-up west bank would simulta- places by 08h00. SA Parachute Infantry (Parabats) taken, 32 Battalion would neously launch their dropped during an exercise exploit up to the Tumpo Phase 4 would com- probing attacks on Fapla and take up a defensive mence at 08h00 on D- positions north and south position. An observation Day. The main force and of Cuito Cuanavale. post would then be de- the 5th Regular Battalion Once the main attack ployed to engage targets would begin advancing in the Tumpo area and was completed, the 5th southward inside the Regular Battalion was r& “Unita on the west bank with western bush line to at- the 81 mm and 120 mm occupy the Fapla posi- tack the main Fapla positions. If it were not too would also mor-tars. The anti-tank tions. It was to break into missile teams of Regi- late by then, Unita would the forward Fapla posi- also attempt to destroy attempt to ment Groot Karoo would tions, and then pass the also deploy to engage the bridge. The South tanks through for the African forces would destroy targets in the Tumpo attack on the bridgehead area and on the west then withdraw to their as- proper. It was then to sembly areas. the bank of the Cuito. exploit to the Cuito flood- The main force and the plain, where the tanks Next week, in Part 2: bridge.” 5th Regular Battalion would take up fire sup- The attack... would meanwhile be port positions and en-

* Please note that the above extract is copyrighted under the Berne Convention in terms of Link to this story: the Copyright Act (Act 98 of 1978). No part of this extract may be reproduced or transmitted http://www.warinangola.com/ in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or Default.aspx?tabid=1007 by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the pub- lisher. Published by Ashanti Publishing Limited, Gibraltar, a division of Ashanti International Films Limited, Gibraltar.

www.sashowcase.com

Images from “Grensoorlog” series, by Linda de Jager, reproduced with kind permission by MNET

www.warinangola.com

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 Page 9

This past week, “Somewhere on the Border…”

Frente Revolucionário districts, while the num- the Kremlin supplied to the CIA for Angola Africana para à Inde- ber of active terrorists weaponry amounting to were withheld is ac- pendència Nacional das were estimated to have between 300 and 500 cepted by the House of Colonias Portugueses been 1 075 and 890 re- million marks between Representatives on 27 (FRAIN) was created as spectively. During that March 1975 and January January 1976. a unified front of organi- year there were 370 inci- 1976. sations with the purpose dents (an average of 31 The rest of Bob Denard's of obtaining liberty for per month): it included On 23 January 1976, "French Hoods" arrived the Portuguese colonies ambushes, attacks, land- Task Force Zulu arrived at Silva Porto on 27 at Pereira de Eça in January 1960. mine explosions, etc., in January 1976. which 38 Portuguese (Ongiva) and handed The final “Agreement over equipment to Civil- On 20 January 1981, an soldiers were killed and attack on a suspected between the Govern- 170 were wounded ian Force units. ment of the Republic of SWAPO base near South Africa and the America’s first donation The French Premier, Donguerra was can- Government of Portugal to Holden Roberta after Jacques Chirac, denied celled because it was on the first phase devel- the coup was approved on 24 January 1976 that occupied by FAPLA. France had any involve- opment of the water re- on 22 January 1975. ment with Angola at all. On 21 January 1981, a sources of the Cunene 32 Battalion assault River” was signed on 21 An interim coalition government under the High Task Force Zulu person- force was withdrawn January 1969. Commissioner Brig-Gen. nel left Pereira de Eça without locating SWAPO. (Ongiva) for Grootfontein The Portuguese claimed Silva Cardosa was put A platoon of 8 SAI was on 25 January 1976. that there were, during together, which was to surprised and attacked the period of January come to power in Angola In America, an amend- by SWAPO on 27 Janu- 1969 to January 1970, on 31 January 1975. ment to the budget bill ary 1982. about 95 terrorist camps driven by Senators Tun- in the Moxico and 68 in On 21 January 1976, "Die Welt" reported that ney, Cranston en Clark, the Cuando-Cubango through which all funding

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SADF AND SWATF! Write the names of the units represented by the flashes below each one. Find the answers in next week’s issue! ______

Last week’s unit flashes:

91 SWA Bri- The Institute Sector 30 was gade, also for Aviation one of the four known as the Medicine was sectors which Reaction Force situated in specifically fell www.sashowcase.com of the SWATF, Verwoerdburg directly under was a mobile and provided a South-West reserve based in Windhoek unique range of services to African Territory Force to support SWATF opera- the SADF and also to other (SWATF) control. Each tions in Sectors 10 or 20. It state organisations. Various sector had its own head- was modelled on the SADF specialists in the SADF — quarters which was respon- motorised brigade and in- such as aircrew — under- sible for the command and cluded a headquarters, went exhaustive testing at administration of Area Force three infantry battalions the Institute to ensure that Units in its Area Of Respon- plus an armoured car regi- they were physically capa- sibility. Sector 30’s head- ment and an artillery regi- ble of carrying out the duties quarters was in Otji- ment. Support units in- that may have been as- warongo, 301 Battalion was cluded a maintenance unit, signed to them. It also of- deployed in this sector. The G-2 140mm gun of a South engineer unit, workshop and fered research facilities in African Artillery battery talks an field ambulance unit. its area of expertise. Images from “Grensoorlog” series, by Linda de Jager, reproduced with kind permission by MNET

www.warinangola.com

Page 10 WAR IN ANGOLA

Please send your event notices to [email protected]

Schedule of Events JANUARY 2012 • 29 January 2012 — Militaria 2012, Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat UK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 • 30-31 January 2012 — 7th Annual CBRNe Defense Conference, USA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 • 31 January 2012 — Military Vehi- cles Latin America Summit 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 • 5 February 2012 — MOTH BOR- DER BOYS PARADE: Bergvliet

• 6-8 February 2012 — 5th Annual 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Military Radar Summit, USA

• 9 February 2012 — SA Military 29 30 31 History Society Cape Town: The South African Navy’s Role in Operation Savannah

All 26 issues of the first volume of the War In Angola News- letters, presented in a single, high quality, well-bound, 310-page hard-cover A4-sized book. The printed edition includes a complete Table Of Contents, a comprehensive Glossary of all the terms, acronyms, abbreviations and equipment used in the newsletters, a select Bibliography, as well as a detailed Index. Finally, to replace the Events Sec- tion on page 10 of every issue, a full-colour, detailed hand- drawn Schematic Drawing of relevant equipment has also been included. Designed to be the first of many more vol- umes to come… Each full colour volume is now available to order at R695 each, plus R50 for shipping! (That’s just over R2 per page, INCLUDING the hard cover!). Order you copy now from the War In Angola Online Store at http://www.warinangola.com/ www.sashowcase.com Default.aspx?tabid=801 NEW IN THE PRINTED EDI- (“Wired”), and overlaid TION OF THE WAR IN AN- onto an appropriate back- GOLA NEWSLETTERS VOL- ground setting. UME 1: 26 FULL COLOUR hand Each Volume is printed drawn sketches of equip- digitally in colour on both ment used in the War In sides of 310 pages White Angola. Every tenth page Bond 80 g/m² paper, of each newsletter (that is folded, gathered and this page) has been re- perfect (buffalo) bound placed by a beautiful full– with hard covers drawn on; or partial-page colour Caselining (Cover) printed plate, each sketch drawn in colour on Gloss Art 150 by Will Schoeman g/m²

www.warinangola.com

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 Page 11

PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP

With over 6,400 UNIQUE visi- To this effect, some new infor- sonal WARBLOG where tors to War In Angola, view- mation will only be made avail- you can post your own ing in excess of 167,000 able to Registered users that stories and photos and pages per month, the time have subscribed to the annual create your own profile has come to allow a select PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP. few to rise above the rest. • Allow or disallow public This subscription will have a users to comment on In order to continue expanding number of advantages: your posts and/or photos the site and adding additional functionality it is essential that • Access to a growing • Communicate directly some sort of revenue is gener- library of information not with other PREMIUM ated to overcome the ever- available to other users MEMBERS increasing costs. • A 5% discount on the • Be the FIRST to learn of While by no means minimising Newsletters Volume 1 new developments and the information available to PRINTED EDITION information on WIA Public and Registered users (which is what attracts all the • A 5% standing discount • Free subscription to this attention in the first place), it on ALL items sold on weekly newsletter takes considerable time and WIA while a subscriber (electronically) and ac- effort to research, find and pub- cess to a high- • Access to your own per- lish new information all the time. quality printable version

Subscribe online or download a high- quality version of this newsletter for 5% Off printing purposes from: www.sashowcase.com http://www.warinangola.com/Default.aspx? tabid=1082

SUBSCRIBE NOW! Special Offer Sign up for: Period* Price ZAR Price USD Price GBP Get 5% off your orders when you also subscribe to be a PREMIUM MEMBER. PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP Per Year R120.00 $15.00 £10.00 PREMIUM MEMBERS get access to stacks This Free Weekly Newsletter Weekly Free Free Free

SADF “Ouman” (War Veteran) Sticker Each Free Free Free

Page Sponsorship (per page) 2 months R300.00 $37.00 £24.00

Website Site Wide Advertisement 2 months R800.00 $98.00 £65.00

“An Unpopular War” Poster each R300.00 $37.00 £24.00

TOTAL:

Method of Payment Name

EFT (details will be emailed) Address

PayPal [email protected] of additional information which increases Country: every week and get a 5% standing dis- Email: count on ALL items ordered, such as the “Bush War” or “Grensoorlog” DVDs * Prices subject to change and confirmation

Signature

THE NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND FACTS RELATING TO THE CONFLICT IN ANGOLA AND SOUTH-WEST AFRICA (NAMIBIA) FROM 1975 TO 1989

The War In Angola 34 Glen Oak Rd Phone: +27 (0)72 409-6271 Welcome Glen Fax: 086 626-3388 (SA only) Simons Town 7995 South E-mail: [email protected] Africa

www.warinangola.com

Re-fighting the War In Angola in Miniature

THE NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND FACTS RELATING TO THE CONFLICT IN ANGOLA AND SOUTH-WEST AFRICA (NAMIBIA) FROM 1975 TO 1989

The War In Angola 34 Glen Oak Rd The War In Angola website (www.warinangola.com) is dedicated Welcome Glen to recreating and re-fighting the battles between the adversaries Simons Town 7995 South Africa of the Angolan War (or Border War as it is also known), that is, Phone: +27 (0)72 409-6271 the SADF and UNITA on the one side and the Soviet-supplied Fax: 086 626-3388 (SA only) FAPLA, Cuba, and SWAPO on the other side. In order to recreate E-mail: [email protected] the battles as accurate as possible, a lot of research is required about the equipment, organisation, quality, uniforms, command, support and logistical structures behind the different forces. There are two sides to the website: the gaming and recreation of the miniature battles; and the historical facts and research of the forces behind the battles. The dividing line between the two sides is deliberately blurred in order to expose both sides to all the users, thereby promoting and exposing the wargaming and modeling hobby to the historically inclined and vice-versa.

Johan Schoeman

www.sashowcase.com Get your FREE SADF Veteran Sticker: http://www.warinangola.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1088

Link to the Forums: http://www.warinangola.com/ Last week’s latest topics on the Forums Default.aspx?tabid=590

Repatriation of the mortal Broer (guest) was in fact in 18 Li... remains of the Ebo Four by Onthou asb die datum 03-06- RE: 2 Special Service Battal- host 2012 dit is die dag van die muur ion by johansamin "Dear Friends You are hereby van herrnering by die monu- cordially informed that the An- ment WE WILL REMEMBER I also don't have much on 2 golan authorities have now also THEM SSB, other than what is here: given their consent for the exhu- http://www.warinangola.com/ mation and repatriation of the RE: 2 Special Service Battal- Default.aspx? mortal remains of the Ebo Four. ion by Need2Know (guest) tabid=1239&Parameter=65 I do Key role... have a bit more on 1 SSB, Thank you for the link Johan, which is here: http:// RE: The attack on 16 Brigade: Appreciate it! So this was a www.warinangola.... armour regiment. How easy 9 November 1987 by steveh was it in the 1980's to transfer RE: 14 Light Artillery Regi- “The noise was deafening as between regiments? Lets say ment by Tjoops we moved forward past 12 from this armour regiment to Bravo and took their place in other regiments? ... Hi Johan, Yeah, I can't really the advance formation. Bullets remember ALL the details, but kept smacking and pinging off RE: Engineers in Oshakati by found a fantastic write-up on the armour and I was straining ammazulu (guest) Wikipedia on 44 Parachute Bri- to see anything other th... gade. I was at Cuito in 1988, Happy 2012 got shot to shit, as you men- RE: Engineers in Oshakati by RE: 14 Light Artillery Regi- tioned, still ... Chris (Broer) (guest) ment by Tjoops RE: 14 Light Artillery Regi- Hier is ek weer vir hulp Is daar PLEASE PLEASE forgive me, ment by johansamin medals gegee indien jy langer again the age played it's mis- as 6 of 9 maande op die grens Hi, Deon... Great to hear from takes on me! It is NOT 14 Light you! I was aware of a 120mm was behalwe die diens medal Regiment (Which was in fact en propatria Battery deployed bewteen me fact an "berede" horseback regi- and Cuito during Packer but RE: Engineers in Oshakati by ment according to Wikipedia! I had NO IDEA who they were...