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Operation Meebos
Operation Meebos
Operation Meebos occurred during July and August 1982 with the objective of attacking SWAPO’s People’s Lib-
eration Army of Namibia (PLAN) bases and new regional headquarters in Southern Angola by the South African
Defence Force (SADF) based in South West Africa/Namibia. The plan involved the use of South African Air Force
helicopters flown from mobile helicopter administrative areas (HAA) with a SADF Tactical Headquarters based deep
in Angola and protected from possible People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) attacks by 61
Mechanised Battalion. These helicopters would fly 32 Battalion and paratroopers from the HAA areas to SWAPO
targets identified by reconnaissance teams deep in the Angolan bush and by signal and human intelligence.
14.1 Background
Planning for Operation Meebos began when the SADF feared that PLAN and FAPLA would attempt to retake the
Angolan towns of Xangongo and Ongiva. These towns had been captured by the SADF during Operation Protea
and had been occupied ever since. Ongiva contained a SADF tactical and logistical headquarters with an airfield to
support ground and airborne operations to conduct counter-insurgency operations in Southern Angola. The second
part of the operation involved identifying the SWAPO bases and headquarters which appeared to be constantly on the
move. The plan called for 61 Mechanised Battalion to protect the mobile Advance airfields from possible FAPLA
and SWAPO attacks while the SAAF helicopters would transport 32 Battalion and 1 Parachute Battalion companies
to attack SWAPO bases identified by reconnaissance teams. The operation began on the 13 July 1982 and was wound
down by the 25 August 1982.
14.2 Order of Battle
14.2.1 South African Forces
• Two companies of 32 Battalion
• One company of 1 Parachute Battalion
• 61 Mechanised Battalion Group
• Various SAAF units of combat aircraft and helicopters
14.2.2 SWAPO forces
• Various units based around Evale, Ionde, Mupa and other targets
• Alpha Battalion
• Bravo Battalion
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CHAPTER 14. OPERATION MEEBOS
14.2.3 Angolan forces
• 11th FAPLA Brigade based at Cuvelai and Techamutete
14.3 Battle
On the 13 July, one company of 61 Mechanised Battalion moved from Ongiva up to Xangongo. By the 18 July a
further two companies and the headquarters of 61 Mech moved into Xangongo were combat readiness training was
begun, practising for the forthcoming operation. SAAF Mirages attacked the FAPLA air defences at Cahama around
the 21 July. On the 22 July, SADF reconnaissance units had discovered a possible SWAPO headquarters near Mupa.
It was attacked firstly by Alouette gunships followed by an airdrop by helicopter of ground troops which killed around
18 PLAN soldiers but the base was found to have been evacuated. 61 Mechanised Battalions mortar and gun batteries
were moved up to Xangongo on the 24 July.
At last 61 Mechanised had completed its combat readiness training around Xangongo and departed there on 27 July
heading in the direction of Mongua hoping to confuse FAPLA and PLAN intelligence as to it final destination before
disappearing off into the Angolan bush. Finally after three days of pushing through the bush, 61 Mech met up with
two companies of 32 Battalion by the 30 July, 25 km east of Mupa. There they found what they thought was a
suitable site for a HAA position. On the same day, 32 Battalion reconnaissance units had discovered a PLAN base
close to the Calonga River, 21 km on the western side of the Cuvelai/Techamatette road and about 31 km south-west
of Techamutete. Plan was developed for a parachute drop at first light on 31 July, north of the target and a helicopter
drop of 32 Battalion at three other points with protection provided by Alouette gunships.
The 31 July did not start well as the vicinity of the HAA was attacked by FAPLA artillery. The FAPLA unit expended
its artillery shells in the attack and the HAA had to be moved. The tactical headquarters was moved up to the new
HAA from Ongiva. At the same time the 32 Battalion reconnaissance units could not find a suitable drop zone and
also noticed the base was being evacuated. The airdrop was cancelled and the paratroopers were called back to
their base in SWA/Namibia. The plan was modified and the paratroopers were collected and joined 32 Battalion
for a very delayed helicopter drop. By the time the SADF arrived at the target all that could be found were PLAN
stragglers. It must be noted that the SAAF insistence that their helicopters not remain at the HAA sites overnight
would continue to negatively influence the operation in the future due to the distance between the HAA and SAAF
bases in SWA/Namibia.
1 August begun with the HAA being moved further north and a few days earlier aerial intelligence had discovered a
base close by. The Tactical headquarters at the HAA began planning another mission consisting of an air attack by
Mirage’s followed by a helicopter troop assault with air protection by Alouette gunships. The attack took place on 2
August around midday with an attack by Mirages followed by an Alouette gunships who where attacked by 14.5 mm
AA guns and RPG-7s. 32 Battalion was the first wave of ground troops dropped in by Puma helicopters followed
by a second wave of paratroopers. The battle ended after some fierce fighting. One soldier of 32 Battalion had been
killed and two were wounded. As for the PLAN soldiers, 144 died during the battle with weapons and ammunitions
captured.
3 August began with the receipt of signal intelligence concerning FAPLA proposing to move a twenty-two vehicle
logistics convoy from Techamutete to Cuvelai. This was to resupply the 11th Brigade with artillery shells it had
expended on the 31 July. A quickly prepared plan was developed with an air-drop by helicopter of a 61 Mech ambush
platoon along the road. The ambush began around 05h30 on the 4 August stopping the convoy and destroying some
of the vehicles. Alouette gunships followed up and by 08h00 the ambush was over with twenty vehicles destroyed
and two captured. The rest of 61 Mechanised Battalion reached the ambush platoon later that day. The following
days to the 9 August were quiet with the 61 Mechanised Battalion remaining close to the Techamutete/Cuvelai road.
By the 9 August a PLAN base was discovered north of the Mui River about 15 km to the west of the Cuve-
lai/Techamutete road by members of the 32 Battalion reconnaissance units. 32 Battalion and 1 Parachute troops
were airlifted by Puma’s accompanied by Alouette gunships around midday to the base. During a second air-drop,
the helicopters were ambushed en route to the base by a hidden PLAN anti-aircraft teams and resulted in one Puma
helicopter being shot down killing the three airmen and twelve paratroopers. Alouettes gunships attacked the crash
site dispersing the PLAN soldiers around the downed helicopter and 61 Mechanised elements move up to site to
retrieve the bodies and the helicopter. The helicopter wreck itself was removed the following day. In total, 106
PLAN soldiers were killed at the base that was attacked.
Another PLAN base was discovered on the 10 August by the 32 Battalion reconnaissance units about 30 km north
14.4. AFTERMATH
of Cuvelai. Again it was attacked by Mirages and Alouette gunships. Around 11h00 the infantry companies of 32
Battalion and 1 Parachute Battalion were air-dropped into the contact area guided by the gunships and attacked the
base. The attack killed 116 PLAN soldiers with no loses by the SADF forces.
14.4 Aftermath
PLAN casualties for this operation were calculated at 345 killed.[1] The SADF forces had captured or destroyed vast
amounts of ammunition and stores and gathered vital intelligence data. The operation was announced to the South
African public by the SADF Headquarters on the 15 August. It was believed this operation would not have been
revealed had it not been for the high casualty figure of 29 SADF soldiers who had died during the fighting.[2] This
could not be hidden from the South African public.
14.5 Further reading
• Steenkamp, Willem. South Africa’s Border War 1966 – 1989. Ashanti Publishing, 1989.
• 61 Mech Battalion Group Veterans Association http://www.61mech.org.za/operations/10-operation-meebos
14.6 References
[1] Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa’s Border War 1966 – 1989. P. 103.
[2] Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa’s Border War 1966 – 1989. P. 103.