PAST EVENTS

The illustrated talk which Cmdt Danie Laäs, presently serving as SO1 Ops of 84 Motorised Brigade in Durban, gave on "OPERATION MODULAR" at our October meeting, provided an interesting insight into a conventional battle fought by South African troops during the bush-war in Angola on 3 October 1987. It arose from an Angolan (FAPLA) offensive in the Cuito Canavale area and a combined South African-Unita attempt to counter it. The strength of Cmdt Laäs' own force consisted basically of two squadrons and two firegroups of Ratel 90s, one motorised and two mechanised infantry companies (the former comprising the slick 32 Battalion), anti-aircraft and heavy artillery in support, and Unita's 3rd Regular Battalion.

The FAPLA force consisted of 16, 21, 59 and 47 Brigade (Bde). Each Angolan Bde totalled some 2 700 men. It was 47 Brigade's misfortune to have become the objective of "61 Mech". As that Bde advanced southwards from Cantato it reached the marshy area of the Lomba River. Having crossed it, the Bde's tactical group took up position. The South African forces' planned a six-phase attack: the advance to the assembly area; the movement to the start line; the attack by one section of the Tactical Group and a subsequent link-up with the second; a combined advance on 47 Bde; and the final phase, being the return to base.

Movement to the assembly area commenced at 20h00 on 2 October 1987. Unita first made contact with the Angolan force at 09H45 on 3rd Oct but was forced to withdraw due to heavy Angolan counter-attack. During mid-morning 32 Battalion met with opposition from an Angolan tank. Intelligence reports indicated that the Angolan 59 Bde had despatched additional tanks to support 47 Bde. These were checked by another Unita force in the north, as well as by artillery and MRL (Multiple Rocket Launcher) fire. The battle raged until noon, when the Combat Group commander gave orders for the South Africans to withdraw for a break.
Amazingly, the bush was so dense that all combat contact with the Angolans ceased almost immediately the two forces became disengaged - a matter of some 250 meters apart from one another. This break gave "61 Mech" an opportunity to replenish and redistribute ammo, repair flat tyres on the Ratels, and even to enjoy a welcome cup of coffee. Cmdt Laäs remarked on the almost total silence which prevailed, following the noise of battle, despite the fact that the two forces were so close to one another that they could hear the Angolans talking.
Half-an-hour later the attack was resumed but was met by an Angolan counter-attack. Then followed another break and the third attack during which, unfortunately some soldiers of the South African 32 Battalion came under fire from their own guns without, however, suffering any casualties. The fourth and final attack commenced at mid-afternoon with a determined assault on 47 Bde. During this offensive the Angolan tanks were systematically destroyed, and as the remnants of 47 Bde attempted to flee across the open countryside, adjacent to the Lomba River, they came under devastatingly accurate fire from the advancing South Africans. 47 Bde's losses included 18 T54/55 tanks (12 were captured), some 40 combat vehicles, including missile launchers (over half were captured), 85 other vehicles (45 were captured) and an estimated 250 Angolans killed. The South African losses, in respect of "61 Mech", totalled 1 killed, 2 wounded and one Ratel put out of action, but recovered.

The number of questions which followed Cmdt Laäs highly technical talk was an indication of the audience's interest in this aspect of modern South African military history. Prof Mike Laing thanked the speaker most warmly.

By way of a curtain raiser MGH presented its "Military Magazine", an excellent example of genealogical research of the Venter family including its military antecedents.

FUTURE EVENTS

Programme of Monthly Meetings:

NOVEMBER 14TH, Thursday, Fellow-member Major Darrell Hall will present an illustrated talk on "THE GULF WAR"

December In recess.

1992
January 9 Lt Col JCW Aust will talk on The Rhodesian Light Infantry.

The venue for all meetings is the functions room, first floor, Westville North Library, 167 Blair Atholl Road, Westville. The Library is on the corner of Blair Atholl and Iver Roads, at the robot-controlled intersection of Blair Atholl - Iver - Dunkeld Roads. Meetings are held on the second Thursday in the month at 19H45 (7.45p.m.) Please bvring your own glass and bottled refreshments'. Ice supplied. FRIENDS AND INTERESTED PERSONS ARE WELC0ME TO COME ALONG.

(Mrs) Tania van der Watt
Secretary: Durban Branch
S.A. Military History Society
Box 870 Hillcrest 3650
Tel. 74mmmm