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Operation Southern Cross
Operation Southern Cross
Operation Southern Cross (1986) was a military operation by the South African Defence Force during the South
African Border War and Angolan Civil War.
25.1 Background
During May 1986, the South African Defence Force (SADF) began planning an operation that called for the capture
of the People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) controlled town and airbase at Cuito Cua-
navale.[1]:227 The units would consist of 32 Battalion, South African Air Force, Special Forces and National Union
for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) troops. The operation would be carried out at night and aided by
air and artillery attacks. Cuito Cuanavale was a military base used previously to launch Cuban and Angolan attacks
on the UNITA held town of Mavinga with the objective to capture it and eventually launch an attack on the UNITA
headquarters at Jamba. The 13th and 25th FAPLA Brigades were deployed protect Cuito Cuanavale.[2]:Ch9
This initial plan was scrapped by the SADF and modified to become just an artillery bombardment on Cuito Cua-
navale. This occurred during July 1986. The SADF would use the Valkiri multiple rocket launchers and the G5 155
mm artillery guns.[2]:Ch9 32 Battalion would be used for escort and protection duties. The town was bombarded for
two nights and failed to achieve its destruction.[1]:227
The original assault plan was then revived and this became the planning tool for Operation Alpha Centauri during
August 1986.[1]:227
25.2 References
[1] Nortje, Piet (2004). 32 Battalion : the inside story of South Africa’s elite fighting unit. Cape Town: Zebra Press. ISBN
1868729141.
[2] Wilsworth, Clive (2010). First in, last out : the South African artillery in action 1975-1988. Johannesburg: 30 ̊South. ISBN
978-1920143404.
25.3 Further reading
• Nortje, Piet (2004). 32 Battalion : the inside story of South Africa’s elite fighting unit. Cape Town: Zebra Press.
ISBN 1868729141.
• 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.