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Operation Askari
Operation Askari
Operation Askari was a military operation during 1983 in Angola by the South African Defence Force (SADF)
during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War.
20.1 Background
Operation Askari, launched on 6 December 1983, was the SADF’s sixth large-scale cross-border operation into An-
gola and was intended to disrupt the logistical support and command & control capabilities of People’s Liberation
Army of Namibia (PLAN) the military wing of the South West Africa People’s Organisation SWAPO, in order
to suppress a large-scale incursion into South West Africa that was planned for the beginning of 1984. The Peo-
ple’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola
(MPLA), the Angolan governing party, were targeted during this mission as PLAN bases were close to FAPLA bases
and had been used as a place of refuge during SADF operations.
20.2 Planning
Operation Askari was planned to begin on 9 November 1983 but was postponed for one month because the South
African government was conducting talks with African leaders.[1]:Ch5 The operation would instead begin on 9 De-
cember with four phases planned. The first phase involved placing special forces teams around Lubango, operating
to gather intelligence for an SAAF attack known as Operation Klinker on 29 December, against a PLAN training
base outside that town.[1]:Ch5 Phase two consisted of reconnaissance, probing and attacks on the Angolan towns of
Cahama, Mulondo and Cuvelai to force the FAPLA and PLAN troops to flee the towns during mid December to
mid January.[1]:Ch5 Phase three was the domination of the area of concern by the SADF.[1]:Ch5 And the final phase,
halting any infiltration of PLAN units through the area dominated into SWA/Namibia.[1]:Ch5
20.3 Order of Battle
20.3.1 South African and South West Africa Territorial forces
[1]:Ch5[2]:165
Operation commander – Brigadier Joep Joubert
Task Force X-Ray – Commandant Gert van Zyl / Commandant Ep van Lill / Commandant Welgemoed
• three mechanized companies – 61 Mechanised Battalion (plus 4 SAI and 8 SAI)
• one armoured car squadron – 1 SSB – Ratel 90
• two troops MRL – Valkiri MRLS
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20.3. ORDER OF BATTLE
Eland-90 armoured car. Askari marked its final deployment in Angola with the SADF.
• one G-4 155mm battery
• one G-2 140mm battery
• two Ystervark 20mm AA battery
Task Force Victor – Commandant Faan Greyling
• one mechanized company – 1 SAI
• one mechanized company – Regiment Groot Karoo / Regiment de la Rey
• one Eland-90 armoured car squadron – Regiment Mooirivier / Regiment Molopo
• one G-2 140mm battery
• one troop MRL – 4 SAI – Valkiri MRLS
• two anti-aircraft troops
Task Force Echo-Victor – Commandant Eddie Viljoen
• four motorized infantry companies – 32 Battalion
Task Force Tango
• one mechanized company – 4 SAI
• one armoured car squadron – 1 & 2 Special Service Battalion
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CHAPTER 20. OPERATION ASKARI
FAPLA 9K31 Strela-1 captured at Cuvelai during Askari.
• one troop 140mm G-2 artillery – 2 SAI
Combat Team Manie
• four platoons motorized infantry – 202 Battalion
• two platoons motorized infantry – 7 SAI
• one armoured car squadron
• one 81mm mortar platoon
20.3.2 FAPLA/SWAPO forces
Cahama
• 2nd Brigade
• Cuban battalion
• PLAN Western HQ
Mulondo
• 19th Brigade
20.4. BATTLES
53
Cuvelai
• 11 Brigade
• two Cuban battalions
• PLAN’s Moscow, Alpha and Bravo battalions
Caiundo
• 53rd Brigade
20.4 Battles
20.4.1 Battle of Quiteve
The objective for the towns of Quiteve and Mulondo was again to conduct a probe of the towns defence’s by ground
forces, attacking it by artillery and by aircraft, in doing so intimidating the FAPLA forces into fleeing the town.[3]:5
Task Force X-Ray left Xangongo on 11 December with its first target at Quiteve which was taken on 12 December
without much fighting as FAPLA had fled the town.[2]:169 Two FAPLA tanks had been sent south from Mulondo
towards Quiteve but they attacked by SAAF Mirages destroying one, the other retreated.[2]:169 Task Force X-Ray
then moved south west to Cahama.[2]:169
20.4.2 Battle of Mulondo
After an advance by FAPLA infantry and tanks from Mulondo had been stopped by a SAAF air attack, a smaller
SADF force called Combat Team Tango, was sent forward with artillery to the area around the town of Mulondo
with the same objective that had been achieved with Quiteve.[1]:Ch5[2]:169 From around 16 December until around
15 January 1984, the SADF plan called for action to force FAPLA’s 19th Brigade to withdraw from the area and
position UNITA troops in their place.[1]:Ch5[3]:5 During this phase, FAPLA successfully used their own recces to track
the small SADF force and were successful in attacking the South Africans with artillery, forcing them to withdraw
frequently.[3]:6 This forced the SAAF to conduct air missions against this town, drawing away missions that were to
be utilised against Cahama and Cuvelai. In one of these attacks on 23 December, a Impala strike aircraft was struck
and damaged by a SA-9 surface-to-air missile but returned to base at Ongiva.[1]:Ch5[3]:6 The plan to take Mulondo
failed and by the early January a political decision had been made to end this part of Operation Askari.[3]:6 FAPLA’s
19th Brigade maintained their nerve and stayed in place.[3]:5
20.4.3 Battle of Cahama
The objective for the town of Cahama was again to conduct a probe of the towns defence’s by ground forces, attacking
it by artillery and by aircraft, in doing so intimidating the FAPLA and PLAN forces into fleeing their areas of control
around the town.[3]:5 The ground and air plan was to begin during mid December until mid January, but in reality,
special forces teams were already operating, since mid November, around the town and to the north disrupting the
enemies logistics route from Chibemba.[3]:5 PLAN headquarters to the west of Cahama was bombed by the SAAF in
early December and remaining forces fled to the safety of FAPLA defences in the town.[2]:169 The objective was the
responsibility of Task Force X-Ray which moved into position on 16 December after leaving the town of Quiteve.[3]:5
Two teams positioned themselves to the east of the town while the third was positioned to the north.[2]:171 Bombing
from the air and bombardment from artillery begun immediately on the town’s defences. FAPLA artillery returned
fire and artillery duels begun.[2]:171 Some of the air support was reduced when Task Force Mannie got into trouble
in Caiundo.[3]:5 FAPLA, fearing that the combat team positioned north of the town meant a SADF attack towards
Chimbemba and Lubango, launched an armoured column of tanks and personnel carriers towards Cahama.[4]:6 The
attack by T-55 tanks was fought off by Ratel-90’s crews better mobility and training despite being undergunned.[2]:173
A side operation known as Operation Fox was conducted to capture a SA-8 battery south west of Cahama. Making
use of air and ground forces, the objective was to drive the battery away from the towns defence’s to a better position
for SADF ground and special forces to capture it intact.[3]:5 The plan failed and by 31 December a political decision
54 had been made, brought about by international pressure, to end this part of Operation Askari.[3]:5 FAPLA’s 2nd
Brigade had maintained their nerve and stayed in place.[3]:5 Task Force X-Ray then moved north east to Cuvelai to
assist Task Force Victor.[2]:176
20.4.4 Battle of Cuvelai
Task Force Victor, consisting mostly of citizen force soldiers, were tasked with probing and attacking a PLAN camp
and a FAPLA brigade in and around Cuvelai.[2]:171 They moved from Mongua to Cuvelai and the probing of enemy
positions began. By 28 December, plans were changed to wrap up Operation Askari by 31 December, which meant
Task Force Victor’s orders were to attack the PLAN camp a few miles north east of the town that was heavily defended
and surrounded by minefields.[2]:172 After the attack began, the task force was counterattacked by FAPLA tanks from
Cuvelai that had come to PLAN’s defence.[5]:181 The attack was stopped by Eland-90s and artillery by a task force
ill-equipped with antitank weapons. The enemy remained in place and the task force was then tasked to attack Cuvelai
from the northeast.[2]:174 This attack went ahead in bad weather, flooded rivers, into prepared enemy minefields and
against positions manned by 23mm AA guns backed by tanks.[2]:174 There were also problems in leadership by some
junior SADF officers and refusal to follow orders by some soldiers.[2]:174 Commandant Greyling finally ordered a
withdrawal but it turned into a disordered retreat and he was eventually able to regroup his task force.[2]:175 Greyling
was ordered to re-attack but he refused without better planning and reconnaissance.[2]:175
Brigadier Joubert made a decision to reinforce Task Force Victor for a final attack on Cuvelai.[2]:176 Task Force X-
Ray arrived very tired at Cuvelai on 3 January, to reinforce Task Force Victor, after spending 16 hours marching
from Cahama.[3]:8 Commandant van Lill took over command of Task Force Victor from Commandant Greyling for
the joint attack planned for 4 January and had to deal with further “unrest” in the ranks of Victor.[2]:176 Enemy radio
intercepts also reported requests for further FAPLA and Cuban reinforcements.[2]:176 Units were rearranged and an
attack planned with Victor attacking Cuvelai from the south and X-Ray from the east.[2]:176
On the afternoon of 3 January, the FAPLA positions in and around Cuvelai were attacked by the SADF in two
waves.[3]:8 The first wave consisted 10 Impalas and 4 Canberra bombers while the second wave consisted of Impala
strike aircraft.[3]:8 The aim of the bombing raids were to destroy the FAPLA artillery and the anti-aircraft guns that
would be used against the SADF armoured personnel carriers.[3]:8 SADF radio intercepts of the FAPLA garrisons
reports to Lubango, reported loses of 75% of their artillery.[3]:8
On 4 January, around 8am, the SADF attack began supported by artillery.[2]:177 The Ratel-20 personnel carriers
had to cross minefields to reach the enemy positions and frequently retreated when encountering the hidden 23mm
AA positions.[2]:177 The SADF artillery was supported by an Alloutte helicopter used in a spotter role, flown by
Captain Carl Alberts, who won a Honoris Crux medal when he used his aircraft as bait to identify the 23mm AA gun
positions.[2]:178 FAPLA counterattacked with ten T-55 tanks which succeeded in destroying a Ratel and killing five
men, but the tanks were eventually driven off by artillery and finally destroyed by Ratel-90’s in the afternoon.[2]:178
Another medal was won one by Lieutenant Alexander Macaskill trying to rescue the five men in the Ratel.[2]:178
By the late afternoon, most of the enemy positions were in SADF hands with the remaining FAPLA troops fleeing
northwards towards Techamutete.[2]:179
Earlier Combat Team Echo Victor had been tasked to clear PLAN positions north of Cuvelai and south of Techamutete.[2]:180[6]:Ch11
During this period, against orders, Techamutete was taken by the Echo Victor on 24 December after the town garri-
son fled but were then told to hold the town.[2]:180[6]:Ch11 After the final attack on Cuvelai on 3 January 1984, Combat
Team Echo Victor was used as a stopper group against enemy forces fleeing that town.[2]:180 The retreating enemy
forces from Cuvelai fled towards the town on 5 January only to be attacked by 32 Battalion.[2]:180 An anti-tank team
was then detached from Combat Team Tango to support Echo Victor who had destroyed a fleeing T-54 tank, but
they arrived late due to logistical issues.[2]:181 Operations continue in the Techamutete region, with all units, barr 32
Battalion, back at bases in SWA/Namibia by 13–15 January.[2]:181 Small SADF units remained in Calueque, N’Giva
and Xangongo.[5]:181
20.4.5 Battle of Caiundo
Combat Team Manie’s role was to deceive the enemy as to where the real SADF attack would be coming from.
Manie’s target was the town of Caiundo. Combat Team Manie advanced from Rundu towards Caiundo where it
began to probe the towns defences hoping, as was the plan, to frighten the FAPLA troops of the 53rd Brigade into
fleeing the town. During one of these probes, a SADF platoon, who got too close the town, was discovered by a
FAPLA reconnaissance team. On 18 December 1983, a FAPLA company attacked the platoon. Sources differ on
20.5. AFTERMATH
55
the SADF casualties, with nine dead, one missing, one captured to as low as five dead and one captured.[2]:172[3]:7 A
vehicle, weapons, and equipment were seized by the Angolans.[3]:7 South African air assets were moved from their
missions in Culuvai to Caiundo.[2]:172 By the end of hostilities in January, the air and ground attacks had failed to
dislodge FAPLA from the towns defenses. The captured black member of the SWATF was exchanged on 23 May
1984 for 30 Angolans and 1 Cuban.[7]
20.5 Aftermath
Roll of 61 Mechanised personnel killed during Askari.
Both sides took casualties. On the Angolan side, casualties were FAPLA 426 killed and 3 captured, PLAN 45 killed
and 11 captured, while the Cubans lost 5 killed and 1 captured.[1]:Ch5 SADF casualties were 21 killed in action while
4 died accidentally.[1]:Ch5 Wounded in action for the SADF included 65 men with another 18 wounded accidentally
with 11 wounded in vehicle accidents for a total of 94 soldiers.[1]:Ch5 The SADF captured vast amounts of Angolan
equipment and supplies especially after the capture of the town of Cuvelai.
The end result of Operation Askari was the Lusaka Accords and the implementation of a Joint Monitoring Commis-
sion. By 5 January 1984, SWAPO’s Sam Nujoma requested the UN Secretary General to arrange a ceasefire.[5]:181
With the help of the Americans, this was concluded between Angola and South Africa on 31 January.[5]:182 On 6
February, Foerign Minister Pik Botha proposed a Joint Monitoring Commission (JMC) to monitor withdrawals and
violations of the ceasefire.[5]:182 Talks concluded with an agreement called the Lusaka Accord that detailed the for-
mation and implementation of the JMC which after many weeks of disagreements, finally met on 3 May at N’Giva,
Angola.[5]:182
On 12 January 1984 in Moscow, the Soviets decided to increase military aid to Angola, placing more modern military
equipment in the country and increasing the radar network across southern Angola so as to reduce the SAAF operating
capability.[5]:182 This would take around fourteen months and would result in plan to attack UNITA in south-eastern
Angola.[5]:183
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CHAPTER 20. OPERATION ASKARI
20.6 References
[1] Scheepers, Marius (2012). Striking inside Angola with 32 Battalion. Johannesburg: 30 ̊South. ISBN 978-1907677779.
[2] Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8.
[3] “Operation Askari”. Scientia Militaria. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
[4] “The South African Defence Force versus SWAPO and its allies: Operation Askari, 1983-1984.”. North West University
Repository. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
[5] George, Edward (2005). The Cuban intervention in Angola : 1965-1991 : from Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale (1. Publ.
Ed.). London [u.a.]: Frank Cass. ISBN 0415350158.
[6] Geldenhuys, Jannie (2008). At the Front: A General’s Account of South Africa’ Border War (Kindle ed.). South Africa:
Jonathan Ball Publishers SA. ISBN 186842331X.
[7] “South Africa Exchanges Prisoners With Angola”. New York Times. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
20.7 Further reading
• George, Edward (2005). The Cuban intervention in Angola : 1965-1991 : from Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale
(1. Publ. Ed.). London [u.a.]: Frank Cass. ISBN 0415350158.
• Nortje, Piet (2004). 32 Battalion : the inside story of South Africa’s elite fighting unit. Cape Town: Zebra Press.
ISBN 1868729141.
• Scheepers, Marius (2012). Striking inside Angola with 32 Battalion. Johannesburg: 30 ̊South. ISBN 978-
1907677779.
• Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-
05410-8.
• Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa’s border war, 1966-1989. Gibraltar: Ashanti Pub. ISBN 0620139676.
• Wilsworth, Clive (2010). First in, last out : the South African artillery in action 1975-1988. Johannesburg: 30
South. ISBN 978-1920143404.