823:
stumbled into the camp's trench network and an estimated 100 insurgents responded to the scene with RPG-7s and small arms. The platoon also reported coming under heavy mortar fire. After ten minutes of shooting, the insurgents escaped unharmed into the bush and scattered. A second platoon led by
Lieutenant Gerrit "Gert" Keulder also investigated Chana Mamuandi, arriving there on March 1. Their patrol made contact with a PLAN patrol, which immediately broke and ran. Seven nights later, 32 Battalion also combed Chana Hangadima but reported no sign of the enemy. By noon the following day the platoons had swept the fringe of Chana Henombe without encountering resistance. Keulder found an abandoned PLAN base in the Nutalala area and destroyed it. As the South Africans prepared to depart in the late afternoon, they were engaged by about 300 insurgents mounting a counterattack. The PLAN group mortally wounded Lieutenant Keulder before withdrawing, leaving their five dead behind them. At this point it became clear that PLAN either lacked the willingness or capability to fight sustained engagements, as even when 32 Battalion was outnumbered and outgunned their assailants would only exchange fire for about ten minutes. The insurgents would then disappear into the bush. Similar tactics were observed in the closing weeks of
802:, arrived in South West Africa to do a story on the war. He requested an opportunity to see the operational area and was permitted to photograph 32 Battalion in action as long as he refrained from publishing the unit's name or any details of its deployment. Cloete received his opportunity on 23 December, when an SADF supply convoy spotted suspicious tracks entering Ovamboland. A 32 Battalion member, Tony Viera, followed the tracks two kilometres into Angola and observed seven insurgents mingling with civilians north of Chapa Lupale. His platoon deployed around the fringe of the settlement and crawled to within seventy metres of the guerrillas. In the ensuing firefight six of the seven were shot dead. Cloete Breytenbach published an exclusive report on the action when he returned to
827:– for instance, when sweeping a final PLAN base on the Huavala River a Lieutenant Des Burman's platoon encountered token opposition from guerrillas in a fortified trench complex. Despite initially responding with machine gun fire and RPGs, PLAN soon abandoned its advantageous position and retreated to the northwest. The South Africans scoured the trenches and found them to be one and a half metres deep, sprawling over a single piece of ground one hundred and fifty metres in diameter and bolstered with camouflaged bunkers. Some Angolan civilians had also resided in them. According to their accounts the particular base had been constructed three months prior. Male PLAN recruits tended to their fields by day and returned to sleep in their bunkers by night.
188:
131:
847:. Not long after Black's statements an exceptionally large PLAN force of over 80 insurgents was able to infiltrate the border. The SADF was concerned that such raids could be indicative of a PLAN strategy to increase its semi-conventional capabilities and operate in larger groups. For over a decade South Africa had concentrated on a counter-insurgency doctrine based on fighting small, lightly armed, and relatively disorganised partisans. PLAN's decision to escalate the war had forced a change in priorities; comparatively limited actions such as Operation Seiljag were no longer regarded as adequate.
178:
162:
150:
118:
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in the fighting on the 19 February. The capture of insurgent arms had been negligible, since most of the PLAN's materiel was located much further to the north in secure bases. By the end of 1977 it was clear that the South
African government would have to take stronger action to curb insurgent activity. On 25 October 1977, the SADF claimed that there were 300 PLAN militants in the operational area and skirmishes with security forces averaged a hundred a month. A further 2,000 PLAN troops were active in Angola and 1,400 in
39:
744:(SADF) soon found itself confronted with an ever-increasing number of well-armed guerrillas infiltrating by the hundreds across the porous frontier. Unwilling to accept a purely defensive posture, South African patrols began crossing into Angola to stop PLAN cadres before they could reach their targets. An interim solution to solving the manpower problem also emerged via the growing recruitment of black and
793:
metres of the unsuspecting militants before opening fire. The insurgents made no attempt to resist, but fled towards the western bush. In their haste they inadvertently collided with a second platoon to the northwest less than an hour later. The insurgents were killed when they entered the South
Africans' camp. Both platoon leaders made contact and agreed that they had probably encountered the same group.
784:
carried on with their patrols relatively unhindered. The cache was booby trapped with anti-personnel mines. PLAN had a heavy presence in the area: at the time of deployment at least one cadre was there seeking water. Other insurgents were frequently crossing into Angola from South West Africa, presumably for resupply, before returning there again. They were in collusion with
Angolan civilians.
760:, an armed faction opposed to Angola's leftist government, to seek refuge in South West Africa. He then ordered them retrained, re-equipped, and formed into a new fighting unit led by white South African officers. Under his unorthodox leadership the battalion was tasked with denying PLAN freedom of movement within a zone roughly fifty kilometres north of the Angolan border.
809:
On
Christmas Day PLAN retaliated by attacking another 32 Battalion platoon a kilometre south of the border. The guerrillas were repelled back across the border with no casualties, and January 1977 passed almost without incident. On 19 February the South Africans located more suspicious tracks and not
838:
Between
November 1976 and March 1977 32 Battalion had accounted for at least 19 insurgents at the expense of three of their own. Besides Lieutenant Keulder, another white operator, Rifleman Christiaan Johannes Swart, had been killed on the 31 December. One of Colonel Breytenbach's platoon also died
783:
The Yati Strip was an area cleared by the SADF just one kilometre south of Angola, running parallel to the border. Platoons were typically deposited there by vehicles carrying a limited supply of food and ammunition. Operators then cached the bulk of their supplies at a position of their choice and
792:
On the 26 November, the first 32 Battalion platoon observed six PLAN guerrillas at a watering hole on the edge of Chana
Onaimbungu. This was three kilometres south of the border and well within South West African territory. The South Africans deployed into a sweep line and advanced to within fifty
822:
Sporadic engagements continued to be reported as 32 Battalion began actively searching out PLAN's forward operating bases. The first was discovered on the 22 February, when a sweep in the vicinity of Chana
Henombe encountered one two kilometres southeast of the village. A 32 Battalion platoon
814:
which afforded excellent visibility; even without adequate night vision equipment
Breytenbach's men were able to locate the target cadres near a waterhole. The insurgents fought back with surprising ferocity and mortally wounded a 32 Battalion operator before escaping. In the aftermath of the
775:
In
November 1976, Colonel Breytenbach issued his second deployment order aimed at preventing further PLAN infiltration into South West Africa. Breytenbach recognised that PLAN held the initiative, and he intended to wrest it from them with an aggressive preemptive strike strategy. Several 32
661:
border. By February, the fighting had intensified and shifted to about fourteen kilometres into Angola. In the course of a four-month period 32 Battalion had eliminated two PLAN sections, repelled a third incursion across the border, and destroyed three militant bases. The bodies of nineteen
830:
Late March saw 32 Battalion beginning to move out once more; by the end of the month the platoons were back in South West Africa, having been relieved by fresh troops. Operation Seiljag was over.
669:
Operation Seiljag was one of the largest actions involving 32 Battalion at that point, involving firefights with up to three hundred insurgents. Casualties were relatively light on both sides.
854:, which involved regular airborne and mechanised units being deployed into Angola on a conventional scale for the first time. Five rifle companies of 32 Battalion took part in this operation.
1279:
780:
or special forces headquarters, were to sweep the Yati Strip and surrounding region for PLAN camps. The minimal deployment period allocated for this operation was three months.
767:
in the night. The insurgents suffered heavy casualties and withdrew, while the South African platoon returned to its base a few weeks later without reporting further contact.
258:
763:
32 Battalion's first engagement with PLAN occurred on 17 May 1976, south of Cahana Hangadima, Angola, when guerrillas attacked an encampment of unit members and
699:. On a strategic level, the South African government was at a unique disadvantage: its continued rule over South West Africa, under the auspices of a defunct
251:
657:. It was carried out from November 1976 to March 1977 largely on the Yati Strip, a region patrolled by South African security forces parallel to the
1274:
707:, was regarded internationally as an illegal, pseudo-colonial occupation. South Africa also drew criticism for imposing its policy of racial
244:
737:
650:
717:(SWAPO). SWAPO demanded that all South African military and paramilitary units be withdrawn and replaced with a multinational
1215:
857:
Operation Seiljag was followed by two similar search and destroy operations, Operation Buckshot and Operation Seiljag II.
757:
810:
long after seven that evening two platoons led personally by Colonel Breytenbach followed them into Angola. There was a
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soldiers by the SADF. The first South African army unit which permitted black personnel to serve in a combat role was
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740:(PLAN) to begin using Angolan sanctuaries near the southern border as forward operating bases. The
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1155:
Scholtz, Leopold (2006). "The Namibian Border War: An Appraisal of South African Strategy".
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on its mandate, which provoked dissent and helped gave rise to an insurgency by the Marxist
815:
skirmish two insurgent dead were recovered as well as a cache of arms which included five
8:
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camouflage in Angola which mimicked Angolan military battledress. While operating in
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50:. To help keep their activities covert, the unit's personnel wore ubiquitous
806:. This was the first time that 32 Battalion had been publicly photographed.
756:. Breytenbach had encouraged a number of partisans loyal to the demobilised
803:
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236:
177:
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123:
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From Fledgling to Eagle. The South African Air Force during the Border War
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In mid-December, Colonel Breytenbach's brother Cloete, a journalist for
721:
mission to oversee elections. It also insisted on the relinquishment of
777:
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55:
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guerrillas were recovered, in addition to a cache of mortar bombs and
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38:
1170:
32 Battalion: The Inside Story of South Africa's Elite Fighting Unit
776:
Battalion platoons, alternatively answering to the SADF command in
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89:
725:, an enclave then regarded as an integral part of South Africa.
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from 1966 to 1989, just prior to that country's independence as
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210:
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81:
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135:
1191:(Kindle ed.). Solihull, England: Helion & Company.
58:, 32 operators used the standard issue SADF brown fatigues.
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fought a long and bitter counter-insurgency conflict in
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Battles and operations of the South African Border War
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653:(PLAN) from November 1976 to March 1977, during the
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736:allowed members of SWAPO's militant arm, the
252:
72:(4 months, 4 weeks and 2 days)
666:projectiles intended for use on PLAN raids.
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259:
245:
1224:
1142:. Cape Town: South African Roll of Honour
1120:
1108:
1072:
1048:
1027:
16:South African search and destroy campaign
715:South West African People's Organisation
136:South West African People's Organization
1275:Cross-border operations of South Africa
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1154:
1096:
1060:
1012:
850:On 4 May 1978, the SADF responded with
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1227:Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola
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1084:
965:
920:
897:
1137:
980:
677:
240:
1208:The SADF in the Border War 1966–1989
1186:
995:
730:collapse of Portuguese colonial rule
70:1 November 1976 – 31 March 1977
1229:. Durban: Butterworths Publishers.
819:rockets and six 60mm mortar bombs.
758:National Liberation Front of Angola
738:People's Liberation Army of Namibia
651:People's Liberation Army of Namibia
13:
14:
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649:campaign conducted against the
703:mandate granted shortly after
1:
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672:
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787:
765:South African special forces
7:
1140:"Swart, CJ, 2nd Lieutenant"
742:South African Defence Force
10:
1311:
1225:Steenkamp, Willem (1983).
1130:
770:
681:
1270:1977 in South West Africa
1206:Scholtz, Leopold (2013).
1172:. New York: Zebra Press.
280:
220:
202:Several infantry platoons
196:
141:
109:
62:
36:
28:
23:
1210:. Cape Town: Tafelberg.
684:South African Border War
655:South African Border War
271:South African Border War
166:Lt. Gerrit Keulder
31:South African Border War
142:Commanders and leaders
1168:Nortje, Piet (2003).
221:Casualties and losses
46:uniforms worn during
1265:1977 in South Africa
1138:Dovey, John (2015).
642:was a South African
1187:Lord, Dick (2012).
1157:Scientia Militaria
852:Operation Reindeer
678:Military situation
647:search and destroy
1290:Conflicts in 1977
1285:Conflicts in 1976
1217:978-0-624-05410-8
1015:, pp. 50–55.
752:, led by Colonel
701:League of Nations
693:South West Africa
640:Operation Seiljag
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86:South West Africa
24:Operation Seiljag
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799:The Sunday Times
732:in neighbouring
604:Oshakati Bombing
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754:Jan Breytenbach
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304:Alcora Exercise
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1295:Military raids
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1260:1977 in Angola
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1255:1976 in Angola
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1198:978-1908916624
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1125:
1123:, p. 116.
1121:Steenkamp 1983
1113:
1111:, p. 139.
1109:Steenkamp 1983
1101:
1089:
1087:, p. 110.
1077:
1075:, p. 136.
1073:Steenkamp 1983
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1049:Steenkamp 1983
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1028:Steenkamp 1983
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998:, p. 490.
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719:United Nations
682:Main article:
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1099:, p. 36.
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845:Caprivi Strip
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1144:. Retrieved
1116:
1104:
1097:Scholtz 2006
1092:
1080:
1068:
1061:Scholtz 2006
1056:
1051:, p. 6.
1030:, p. 7.
1013:Scholtz 2013
856:
849:
837:
829:
824:
821:
808:
804:Johannesburg
797:
795:
791:
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762:
750:32 Battalion
727:
708:
689:South Africa
687:
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644:32 Battalion
639:
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597:Excite/Hilti
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169:
124:South Africa
110:Belligerents
52:lizardstripe
47:
44:32 Battalion
29:Part of the
1163:(1): 19–48.
1085:Nortje 2003
966:Nortje 2003
921:Nortje 2003
898:Nortje 2003
705:World War I
316:Quifangondo
1249:Categories
981:Dovey 2015
861:References
778:Ovamboland
723:Walvis Bay
673:Background
231:1+ wounded
229:19+ killed
101:Indecisive
56:Ovamboland
996:Lord 2012
866:Footnotes
843:near the
834:Aftermath
812:full moon
788:Operation
710:apartheid
525:Wallpaper
497:Boswilger
746:coloured
618:Displace
590:Firewood
539:Abrasion
491:Gaborone
387:Wishbone
380:Klipklop
359:Saffraan
344:Cassinga
338:Reindeer
310:Savannah
226:3 killed
197:Strength
77:Location
1131:Sources
825:Seiljag
771:Prelude
697:Namibia
659:Angolan
567:Moduler
532:Cerebus
518:Magneto
485:Nobilis
471:Klinker
443:Phoenix
422:Kerslig
394:Beanbag
373:Sceptic
352:Rekstok
331:Bruilof
324:Seiljag
206:Bosvark
192:Unknown
170:†
90:Namibia
48:Seiljag
1233:
1214:
1195:
1176:
1146:31 May
841:Zambia
734:Angola
625:Merlyn
581:Packer
574:Hooper
478:Askari
464:Dolfyn
457:Karton
450:Skerwe
408:Protea
213:trucks
211:Unimog
121:
98:Result
82:Angola
817:PG-7V
664:RPG-7
611:Prone
511:Argon
504:Egret
436:Mebos
429:Super
415:Daisy
401:Konyn
366:1980s
298:1970s
284:1960s
154:Col.
1231:ISBN
1212:ISBN
1193:ISBN
1174:ISBN
1148:2015
67:Date
1251::
1161:34
1159:.
1035:^
1020:^
1003:^
988:^
973:^
928:^
905:^
874:^
209:5
204:1
1239:.
1220:.
1201:.
1182:.
1150:.
983:.
260:e
253:t
246:v
92:)
88:(
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