List Summary >> Previous >> This >> Next
Operation Protea.
Operation Protea
Operation Protea was a military operation during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War in which
South African Defence Forces (SADF) destroyed a number of South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO)
bases in Angola. During the operation, which took place from August 23 to September 4, 1981, up to 5,000 SADF
soldiers occupied Cunene province, Angola.[1]
11.1 Planning
Operation Protea was launched on 23 August 1981. Its objectives were to destroy the SWAPO command and training
center at Xangongo and its logistic bases at Xangongo and Ongiva.
Xangongo, located at 16°44′57′′S 14°58′28′′E / 16.7491°S 14.9745°E was the headquarters of SWAPO’s “north-
western front” from where it directed SWAPO units operating primarily in the Kaokoland and in western and central
Ovamboland. There were also other SWAPO bases, which were used as supply depots and training bases for SWAPO
recruits, sited to the south and southeast of the town.
Ongiva, a town located less than fifty kilometers north of the Angola-South-West Africa border at 17°04′06′′S
15°43′34′′E / 17.0682°S 15.7262°E, was an important SWAPO logistical and personnel centre which supported
operations in central and eastern Ovamboland and in the Kavangoland.
Both Xangongo and Ongiva were key bases in supporting SWAPO’s war effort in South-West Africa, because of
their location close to its border. Their destruction would undermine SWAPO’s ability to conduct operations in their
“north-western front” and also have a psychological impact by reinforcing the message of Operation Reindeer to
SWAPO that it no longer had the luxury of sanctuaries in southern Angola.
11.2 Order of Battle.[2]:169[3][4]:Chp7[5]:123
11.2.1 South African forces
Brigadier Rudolf Badenhorst – Overall Commander
Task Force Alpha
Colonel Joop Joubert – TF Commander
Battle Group 10 – Commandant Roland de Vries
• one Mechanised infantry company – 61 Mechanised Battalion
• one Parachute company
• one Armoured car squadron
• one Mortar platoon
• one 140mm artillery troop
• one combat engineer troop
Battle Group 20 – Commandant Johan Dippenaar
• one mechanised infantry company
• two motorised infantry companies
• one armoured car squadron – two Ratel-90 troops and two Eland-90 troops
• one medium artillery troop
• one 81mm mortar platoon
• one field engineer troop
• one assault pioneer platoon
• two Protection platoons
Battle Group 30 – Commandant Chris Serfontein
• three motorised infantry companies – National service units
• one armoured car squadron – Eland-90
11.2. ORDER OF BATTLE.[2]:169[3][4]:CHP7[5]:123
• 120m mortar battery – 43 Light Battery
• 81mm mortar platoon
• Field engineer troop
• two protection platoons
Battle Group 40 – Commandant Deon Ferreira
• three motorised infantry companies – 32 Battalion
• one armoured car squadron – Eland-90
• 120mm mortar battery – 41 Light Battery
• four anti-tank teams
• two protection platoons – 1 Platoon from B company of 202 Battalion and 1 other platoon
Combat Team Mamba (Mobile Reserve) – Commandant Johnny Coetzer
• one mechanised company – 61 Mechanised
• one anti-tank platoon – Ratel-90 – 61 Mechanised
• two Ratel 60 sections
• 140mm G-2 artillery troop – 1 Medium Battery (4 Field Regiment)
Task Force Bravo
Colonel Vos Benade – TF Commander
Battle Group 50 – Commandant Frans Botes
• four motorised companies – 201 Battalion
• 81mm Mortar platoon
Battle Group 60 – Commandant James Hills
• three motorised infantry companies – 32 Battalion
• one 81mm Mortar platoon
Mobile Reserve – Commandant Johnnie Coetzer
• 1 Parachute Battalion – two companies and one pathfinder platoon
• 52 Reconnaissance Regiment – one special forces team
Battle Group 30
• detached from TF Alpha
Battle Group 40
• detached from TF Alpha
11.2.2 Angolan forces
11 Brigade based at Ongiva and is the district headquarters
• two infantry battalions
• two anti-aircraft battalions – 23mm guns
• one tank company – T-34
• one armoured-car company – BTR-23
• one artillery battery – 82mm and 76mm guns
19 Brigade based at Xangongo with elements at Humbe and Peu Peu
• two infantry companies
• one tank company – T-34
• one armoured car squadron – BTR-23
• one artillery battery
• three 122mm rocket launchers
• seven anti-aircraft guns
21 Brigade
• based at Cahama
11.2.3 Soviet military advisors
• based at Xangongo and Ongiva
11.2.4 SWAPO forces
• Xangongo – 500 SWAPO regulars and 500 semi-regulars
• Between Cahama and Humbe – one SWAPO battalion
• Ongiva – SWAPO headquarters
11.3 Battles – Task Force Alpha
On 23 August, the SADF units left the bases and headed towards the Angolan border. On the night of the 23 August,
Battle Group 10 would cross at Ruacana while Battle Groups 20, 30 and 40 would cross at Ombalantu.[5]:129 A South
African special forces team was placed in position to begin monitoring the Cahama/Xangongo highway for any enemy
reinforcements.[2]:171 The same day the SADF left their bases, the South African Air Force (SAAF) launched a strike
with various aircraft against air-defence targets in Angola at Cahama and Chibemba.[5]:129[6]:Chp7 This was called
Operation Konyn.
11.3. BATTLES – TASK FORCE ALPHA
11.3.1 Humbe
Battle Group 10 crossed into Angola at Ruacana just before midnight on 23 August and headed northwards through
dense bush to their forming point that was 12 km north-west of Humbe.[7]:437 They arrive at their form-up point on
time even after their progress was slowed after encountering obstacles not shown on their maps.[7]:443 At this point
they found that H-Hour had been moved back one hour to 11h30 due to the eastern battle groups of Task Force
Alpha encountering navigation problems on their march to Xangongo.[7]:442 Commandant de Vries divided his force
into two combat teams, one of Ratel-20’s, Ratel-90’s and 81mm mortars in the attack group and the second team as
a mobile reserve of Buffels and Eland-90’s, with the 140 mm artillery in the rear.[7]:446 As Battle Group 10 followed
the road south-east to Humbe, the SAAF began to bomb the town of Xangongo. The group’s artillery began firing
140 mm artillery rounds at Humbe but was informed by their aerial spotter plane that the trenches close to the town
seem abandoned and nor was there any enemy to the battle group’s rear in the direction of Cahama. The artillery
fire was ceased and their alternative target at Techiulo, that was closer, was then taken without incident as FAPLA
soldiers fled on seeing the battle group arrive, leaving behind a group of Irish Catholic nuns at the mission station
in the village.[7]:449-50 By 12h30 the group was heading back towards Humbe passing by the empty trenches and
sighting no fleeing enemy from Xangongo, entered the empty town of Humbe.[7]:451 They soon left the town and
positioned themselves within 3 km of the bridge over the Cunene River and Xangongo. The two combat teams of
Ratel-20’s and paratroopers were then sent closer to the river and begun to encounter contact with FAPLA troops
fleeing Xangongo.[7]:452 By dusk the river plain was under the battle groups control and they laagered there overnight
though sporadic fire could be heard overnight from Xangongo.[7]:456 Apart from being woken and called to arms
when a FAPLA column attempted a breakout from Xangongo via the bridge, this was taken care of by the other
battle groups and they were stood down and rest of the night was peaceful for Battle Group 10.[7]:459 On the 25
August, after gathering up enemy equipment on the river plain, Battle Group 10 crossed the bridge over the Cunene
river and by 09h00 they were in Xangongo.[7]:460 There mission would be to hold the town, protect the task force
from FAPLA to the north-west while the other battle groups pursued their objectives in the south-east.
11.3.2 Xangongo
Battle Group 20, 30 and 40 crossed the border at Ombalantu into Angola just before midnight on 23 August and
headed northwards through dense bush.[5]:129 Battle Group 40 led the way followed by 20 and 30 but was slower
moving and the other groups who could not overtake to increase the pace towards the forming point.[5]:129 This was
due to the fact the Buffel troop carriers were slower than the Ratel’s.[2]:171 By 09h15 on 24 August, these battle groups
found themselves to far east due to a navigation error and lost time.[5]:129 After correcting their error, the air attack
on Xangongo was pushed back by one hour to 12h00.[5]:129 The three battle groups would find their way to their
forming-up point west of the town and waited for the air and artillery attack. The air attack on Xangongo began at
11h50 when four Buccaneers from 24 Squadron attacked installations and anti-aircraft sites with AS-30 missiles, one
hitting a barracks while the other three failed to hit the targets due to malfunctions.[6]:Ch7 At 11h54, five Canberra
bombers (12 Squadron) dropped bombs, followed by dive bombing by three further waves of 8 Mirage F-1AZ’s (1
Squadron), 6 Mirage F-1CZ’s (3 Squadron) and 4 Mirage IIICZ’s (2 Squadron).[6]:Chp7 The last wave of rocketing
was carried out by eight Impala’s finishing at 12h10.[6]:Chp7 Then followed a twenty minute artillery barrage of the of
town’s defensive positions by G-2 guns and Valkiri multiple rocket launchers.[2]:171
Battle Group 40 was tasked with taking the town of Xangongo, its defenses and the bridge over the Cunene. The
plan was to attack from two place, the north-east with Combat Team 41 and the south-east with Combat Team 42
and this begun around 12h50.[2]:171 The teams began to assault the layers of trenches and bunkers that made up the
towns defenses.[5]:130 The fort and water tower, key targets in the town, were eventually reached and taken. The
bridge was reached by the combat teams by 17h30 and was immediately prepared with demolition charges by the
engineers.[4]:Chp7 It was found later that FAPLA and PLAN officer and their Soviet advisors had hurriedly fled the
town while the FAPLA and SWAPO soldiers held their positions and fought furiously.[5]:133 Battle Group 40 task
with mopping up in Xangongo was completed on the 25 August and would now be attached to Task Force Bravo
which was operating to the east against PLAN bases, setting out for the town of Evale after the 26 August.[2]:174
Battle Group 20 was tasked with the southern end of the town and its airfield to the west.[2]:171 The first trenches
reached by the battle group around 13h25 were found to be empty but as they advanced further, they begun to receive
small arms fire and then more serious fire from 23mm anti-aircraft guns.[5]:130 Battle Group 20’s attack on southern
Xangongo was now held up by ZU-23-2 AA guns and the advance was halted as air strikes were called. Two attacks
by Mirage aircraft an hour later failed to destroy the site and a third attack by artillery was not successful either.[5]:130
Captain Laubscher, flying an observation aircraft, had fired smoke rockets to narrow the Mirages’ attack, but failed
so he decided to attempt a direct hit with smoke rockets to accurately mark the target for the Mirages.[5]:132 He dive
bombed the target firing one smoke rocket directly into the gun position but by this time the Mirages were out of
ordnance and fuel.[5]:132 It was later found that his smoke rocket had hit the operator of the gun.[5]:132 Captain Danie
Laubscher of 42 Squadron was awarded the Honoris Crux decoration for bravery.[8] Two and a half hours later the
ground attack had resumed this time with limited enemy ZU-23-2 fire, attacking bunkers and trenches and eventually
took the airfield.[5]:133 By 18h00, Battle Group 20 was in control of its objectives, having destroyed at least four
tanks and capturing vehicles, guns and ammunition.[2]:171 Battle Group 20’s rest overnight was disturbed by an enemy
truck column that advanced from the south into the groups positions and would be destroyed by Ratel 90’s and by
the midday on 25 August, the battle group was in control of all positions south of the town but lost one soldier in the
process.[5]:134 Later Battle Group 20 would attack a PLAN base to the south of Xangongo towards Cuamato but was
found to be abandoned except for equipment.[2]:174
On the 25 August, after gathering up enemy equipment on the river plain, Battle Group 10 crossed the bridge over the
Cunene river and by 09h00 they were inside Xangongo.[7]:460 Now based at Xangongo, Battle Group 10 was allocated
to protect Task Force Alpha from a FAPLA counterattack from Cahama towards Xangongo.[7]:468 It was also tasked
with protecting the bridge and ensuring it was ready for demolition when required.[7]:468 The paratroopers attached
to this battle group were sent to seek out PLAN positions further north of Xangongo but all the bases were found to
be abandoned.[7]:463[5]:135 Meanwhile the pathfinder group which had been operating around Peu-Peu were attached
to the battle group.[7]:464 Combat Team 3 was commanded by Major Joe Weyers and would position itself close to
Chicusse about 18 km south-east from Cahama on the 25 August. If contact with FAPLA took place, then the plan
was to stop FAPLA’s movement or fight a delaying action back to Xangongo.[7]:469 The combat team would consist
of three armoured car troops of Ratel and Eland 90’s, platoon Ratel-60’s, one Ratel-20 Mechanised infantry platoon,
troop of 4 G-2 artillery pieces, engineer section, an unmanned aerial vehicle and 44 Parachute Brigade’s pathfinder
group with Colonel Jan Breytenbach.[7]:468 The combat team advanced north-westwards and took up positions across
the Cahama/Xangongo highway with the pathfinders in the flanks to the south and guns in the rear.[7]:470
Around 22h20, the artillery troop reported eight enemy vehicles heading for the combat team’s rear from the south-
east. The enemy artillery unit, consisting of a BTR-152 APC, BM-21 MRL’s and 23 mm AA guns, passed into
the combat teams laager and were ambushed and destroyed with the SADF taking three wounded and capturing two
BM-21’s.[7]:471-2 Mopping up continued on the morning of 26 August but around sunrise, the team were by FAPLA
122 mm rockets that failed to hit their position.[7]:472 On the 27 August, Combat Team 3 was recalled to Xangongo
and then sent westwards of the town as a stopper group close to Catequero.[7]:473
Two troops of Ratel-90’s were later withdrawn from Combat Team 3 the same day and attached to Combat Team 2
and sent towards Ongiva via Mongua as a reserve and joined up with Battle Group 30 around 13h00.[7]:482 Combat
Team 2 would return to Xangongo from Ongiva by 16h00 on the 28 August.[7]:485 On the 29 August, Combat Team
2, replaced Combat Team 3 as the stopper group and the former returned to Xangongo for rest.[7]:487 Later that
day Combat Team 2 would be recalled too, as Battle Group 10 had received orders to return to SWA/Namibia
on 1 September and preparations were required to return with the captured enemy equipment.[7]:487 On the same
day Combat Team Mamba disbanded and their units rejoined Battle Group 10 and became the stopper group until
the 31 August.[7]:487-88 Combat Team 3 escorted an artillery group to a position north-west of Mucope on the 30
August.[7]:488 The artillery group fired on Cahama but on their return to Xangongo, they discovered an FAPLA battle
group close to Mucope and after the combat team received reinforcements from their battle group, they attacked only
to find the FAPLA forces had retreated to Cahama.[7]:488 On the 31 August, Xangongo and its bridge was handed
over to UNITA and their SADF military intelligence liaison Commandant Mo Oelschig and headed for Ongiva via
Mongua collecting the remains of the Alouette that had been shot down 25 August.[7]:500 After spending the night at
Ongiva, the underground fuel tanks at the airfield were destroyed and by the 1 September, Battle Group 10 was back
at base in South-West Africa/Namibia.[7]:501
11.3.3 Peu-Peu
On 24 August, at 11h05, anti-aircraft sites at Peu-Peu were attacked by four SAAF Impala’s using rockets.[6]:Chp7 By
11h45, attacks were continued by four Buccaneers who fired four AS-30 with only three striking a barracks.[6]:Chp7
Battle Group 30 advanced to a position north-east of Xangongo and found that the FAPLA troops, tanks and artillery
at Peu-Peu were preparing to support their troops in Xangongo.[5]:133 The South African battle group attacked first
and after a short fight forced FAPLA to flee the town destroying tanks, artillery and personnel carriers.[5]:133 Unable
to mop-up in the town as night fell and with reports of enemy to the west, it would be captured by the South Africans
the following morning.[2]:171 FAPLA left behind up to 300 tons of ammunition, 120000 litres of diesel and 90000
litres of petrol.[5]:133 Battle Group 30 would then release a combat team to back up Battle Group 20 who had thrown
in their reserve in Xangongo.[5]:133 Battle Group 30 was back in Xangongo on 26 August and joined Battle Group 20
11.3. BATTLES – TASK FORCE ALPHA
for the advance to positions north of Ongiva and the attacked planned for the 27 August.
11.3.4 Mongua
Combat Team Mamba was tasked with taking the village of Mongua east of Xangongo on the 25 August.[7]:480 This
was a precursor to an attack on Ongiva on 27 August by Battle Group’s 20 and 30. FAPLA maintained a mechanised
force including tanks around the village and who’s size had been underestimated.[7]:480[5]:136 The combat team attacked
first with Valkiri rockets but soon encountered the enemy trenches, 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns and 76mm artillery
that held up the infantry attack and so Ratel 90’s and Ratel 60 mortar teams were deployed to silence the guns.[5]:136-7
The infantry was then released to attack and clear the trenches.[5]:133 The teams Ratel 20’s and 90’s soon overran
the village destroying several T-34 tanks and forcing FAPLA to flee towards Ongiva.[7]:480[5]:138 The SAAF lost two
men when their Alouette III helicopter was shot down by 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns while providing fire support for
the combat team.[5]:137 Combat Team Mamba would now wait until the following day to be joined by the two battle
groups for the attack on Ongiva.
11.3.5 Ongiva
On the 27 August, Battle Group 20 was tasked with the attack on the airfield at Ongiva while Battle Group 30 was
tasked to attack the town itself. Battle Group 20 and 30 departed Xangongo on 26 August, leaving the town under
control of Battle Group 10, and followed the road east to Mongua.[7]:480 There Combat Team Mamba, who had taken
the town the day before, joined them and would act as the two battle group’s reserve during the attack on Ongiva.[7]:481
They then headed south-east to their assembly point north of Ongiva in preparation for the attack at 07h00 on 27
August.[7]:481 The SAAF had made a pamphlet drop on the town warning civilians and FAPLA to leave as the South
African’s fight was with PLAN, but 11 Brigade was instructed to stay and defend.[7]:481 PLAN were ordered to strike
the SADF in the rear but appeared to take no part in the battle during the following days.[5]:139
The SAAF would open the attack on the morning of 27 August with the first rocket attack by two Mirage III’s against
anti-aircraft positions north of the runway at Ongiva.[6]:Chp7 One of these Mirages was struck by a SA-7 missile but
made it back to its base in SWA/Namibia with serious tail damage.[6]:Chp7 The second rocket attack at 07h45 by
four Mirage F-1AZ’s on anti-aircraft positions close to the airport also drew anti-aircraft fire, SA-7’s and 57 mm
guns without any hits.[6]:Chp7 A third rocket attack at 07h48 by four Mirage III’s hit targets close to the town. The
fourth rocket attack at 07h52 by four Mirage III’s hit targets close to the town drawing anti-aircraft fire and SA-7’s
with no hits.[6]:Chp7 08h00 saw another attack this time by five pairs of Canberra and Buccaneer bombers dropping
bombs north of the town but on the wrong target but seemed to silence some anti-aircraft positions.[6]:Chp7 Six Mirage
F-1AZ’s drop air burst bombs on the airfield at 08h10 and the last attack at 08h15 was on 11 Brigade headquarters
by six Mirage F-1AZ’s air bursting bombs.[6]:Chp7
After bombarding the targets with artillery fire, Battle Group 20 set off for targets in and around the airfield.[5]:139
Battle Group 20 was divided into four combat teams. Combat Team 50 was the reserve, while Combat Team 10 hit
targets south of the airfield, Combat Team 20 attacked targets south-east of the airfield and the last team 30 directly at
the airfield and its installations.[5]:139 Combat Team 10 encountered 23mm anti-aircraft gun at its target and cleared
them with artillery and infantry attacks.[5]:139 A counterattack by at least three T-34’s was beaten off by Ratel-90’s
with two tanks destroyed.[5]:139 FAPLA then fled their positions.[5]:139 Combat Team 20 took the enemy positions by
15h30 but was slowed by 23mm anti-aircraft guns and RPG-7s but mortars and infantry cleared the positions.[5]:140
Combat Team 30 attacked the airfield from the south-east and east-west along the runway.[5]:140 The team met fierce
fighting from FAPLA infantry and anti-aircraft guns and all movement forward by the SADF was held up for two
hours despite artillery fire but the use of mortar fire against a water tower helped stop the guns receiving information
on the South African positions and the airfield was taken around 14h00 with FAPLA fleeing.[5]:140 With Battle Group
20’s control of the airfield, it secured Battle Group 30’s flank for its attack on the positions in and around the town of
Ongiva.[5]:141
Battle Group 30 began its attack on the town defense’s but their advance was slowed by minefields and heavy
resistance.[5]:141 Reports came in of the sighting of T-34 tanks from the east.[5]:141 The commander summoned ad-
ditional anti-tank armour and Battle Group 10 detached Combat Team 2’s Ratel-90 troops and were hastily sent to
Ongiva arriving around 13h00.[7]:482 In the mean time they attempted to slow their advance by attacking them with
120 mm mortars that had had no effect in slowing them down.[5]:141 Combat Team 2 went into action immediately but
by the time action commenced, dusk was falling and they fired only to discourage the tanks advance.[5]:141 As night
fell, all that could be seen was the flashes from the tanks and when all the Ratel’s fired on the position, succeeded in
destroying two tanks and ending further enemy attacks.[5]:141 Battle Group 30 then pulled back and laagered for the
night readying themselves for an attack the next day.[5]:141 On 28 August, Battle Group 30 resumed their attack on
Ongiva only to find the FAPLA defenses, equipment and town abandoned.[5]:141 By 12h08, Ongiva was under South
African control[2]:175
Also on the morning of 28 August, a FAPLA convoy was discovered fleeing northwards from Ongiva towards An-
chanca by a company from 32 Battalion who were attached to Battle Group 60.[2]:175 It called in a SAAF airstrike
of Mirage’s and Impala’s that attacked the convoy followed by an attack by Alouette gunships.[5]:142 They succeeded
in destroying tanks, trucks and armored personnel carriers.[5]:142 As the 32 Battalion company moved into to mop
up, they discovered the bodies of four Russians, two Soviet officers and two civilian women.[5]:142 One soviet soldier
Warrant Officer Nikolai Feodorovich Pestretsov was captured when he remained behind with his wife’s body.[5]:142
It was later discovered that thirteen Soviet military advisors had died that day.[5]:142
Battle Group 20 would begin to garrison the town, but with civilians beginning to ransack it later on the 28 August,
by the 29 August they attempted to restore order by distributing captured food and clothing and tried to help restore
utilities to the town with the help of the remaining civil servants.[5]:149 30 August saw Battle Group 20 begin to
prepare the captured equipment for its return to SWA/Namibia while other elements of the battle group patrolled the
road from Ongiva through Namacunda to Santa Clara clearing it of mines as this would be the route the battle groups
would leave Angola.[2]:175 By 31 August, Battle Group 30 was detached from Task Force Alpha and was attached to
Task Force Bravo, who were conducting operations against PLAN bases to the north-east of Ongiva, and sent to the
town of Anhanca.
11.4 Aftermath
By the 2 September all units were back in SWA/Namibia and Battle Group 10 resumed being called 61 Mecha-
nised Infantry Battalion while the other battle groups disbanded.[5]:142 The Soviets casualties stood at thirteen, nine
officers and four civilians while one soldier was captured.[5]:142 South African casualties included 10 dead and 64
wounded.[5]:143 PLAN and FAPLA casualties were high with 831 dead and 25 captured.[5]:143
The following equipment, said to be between 3000 and 4000 tons, was captured:[5]:143
• 6-9 T-34 tanks
• 3-4 PT-76 tanks
• 4 BRDM-2 APC
• 2 BM-21 MRL
• 25-43 ZIS-3 76 mm guns
• 16 ZU-23 AA guns
• 17 14.5 mm AA guns
• 13 M-55 20 mm AA guns
• 94-97 SA-7
• 240 trucks
• 1800 small arms
• 250 tons ammunition
• 490 000 lt petrol
• 120 000 lt diesel
The end of Operation Protea did not signal the end the South African activity against SWAPO in southern Angola as
Operation Protea was quickly followed up by another attack, Operation Daisy.
11.5. REFERENCES
[1] Manning, Susan A. (1999). Modern Dance, Negro Dance: Race in Motion. P. 17.
[2] Nortje, Piet (2004). 32 Battalion : the inside story of South Africa’s elite fighting unit. Cape Town: Zebra Press. ISBN
1868729141.
[3] 61 Mechanised Battalion Veterans Group http://www.61mech.org.za/operations/7-operation-protea
[4] Wilsworth, Clive (2012). First In Last Out. The South African Artillery in Action 1975 – 1988. Solihull, England: Helion
& Company Limited. ISBN 9781908916853.
[5] Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8.
[6] Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledging to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War. Solihull, England: Helion
& Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
[7] de Vries, Roland (2013). Eye of the Storm. Strength lies in Mobility. Tyger Valley: Naledi. ISBN 9780992191252.
[8] Louw, Martin & Bouwer, Stefaan (1997). The South African Air Force at War. P. 179
11.6 Further reading
• Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledging to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War. (Kindle ed.).
Solihull, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
• Nortje, Piet (2004). 32 Battalion : the inside story of South Africa’s elite fighting unit. Cape Town: Zebra Press.
ISBN 1868729141.
• Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-
05410-8.
• de Vries, Roland (2013). Eye of the Storm. Strength Lies in Mobility. Tyger Valley: Naledi. ISBN 9780992191252.
• 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.
• 61 Mechanised Battalion Veterans Group http://www.61mech.org.za/operations/7-operation-protea