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Operation Super
Operation Super
Operation Super was a military confrontation during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War in March
1982 to prevent SWAPO guerrillas infiltrating into South West Africa through the Kaokoveld[1]:101 from a location
near the abandoned Portuguese town of Iona in the Angolan province of Namibe.
13.1 Order of Battle[2]:159
13.1.1 South African forces
• 10 men – 5 Reconnaissance Regiment
• several platoon elements – 32 Battalion
• 2 Alouette III gunships and Puma transport helicopters
13.1.2 PLAN forces
• over 230 men
13.2 Battles
13.2.1 Initial contact
On 9 March 1982, ten SADF South African Special Forces Brigade soldiers (“Recces”) dressed in PLAN uniforms
launched a reconnaissance mission near Iona, based on intelligence they had gathered about SWAPO operations in
the area.[2]:159 A standby force consisting of a platoon from 32 Battalion and two Alouette gunships ready to react
when required.[2]:159 The Recces, who were inserted by helicopter, quickly determined that there was considerable
PLAN vehicle traffic in the area. After planting a TM 62 anti-tank landmine in the road, they withdrew to high
ground to observe what unfolded.[2]:159 Later in the day, 10 March, six PLAN trucks entered the valley, with one of
them detonating the mine.[3]:181 The mine left the vehicle stranded, whose occupants simply transferred to the other
vehicles before driving off, two heading south and three returned northward.[3]:182
A while later a patrol of 28 PLAN soldiers arrived on the scene on foot and started looking for evidence of the
attackers.[2]:159 They eventually found the tracks of the Recces, and started following them. The Recces, realizing that
their position was now compromised, immediately called for re-enforcements from 32 Battalion who were assigned
to cover them.
Meanwhile, the Recces were running out of time while they waited for the re-enforcements to arrive. In a desperate
attempt to stall for time, they tried to pass themselves off as PLAN soldiers as soon as the PLAN patrol was within
earshot, accusing the PLAN patrol of being members of UNITA. A fierce argument between the parties ensued, but
ended abruptly when the Recce commander shot the PLAN commander. A heated firefight erupted, that was joined
at this time by 32 Battalion and an Alouette helicopter gunship fitted with 20 mm cannon.[2]:159 When the fighting
finally stopped, 21 PLAN soldiers had been killed, seven captured and one escaped.[2]:159
Interrogation of the PLAN prisoners captured during this action revealed the presence of a previously unknown
camp nearby in the Cambêno Valley at 16°56′29′′S 12°36′32′′E / 16.9413°S 12.6088°E, so a plan was immediately
formulated to attack it.
13.2.2 Camp assault
A helicopter-borne assault involving 40 members of 32 Battalion was launched on the 12 March, however the attack
had to be aborted at the last minute to due thunderstorm activity that limited visibility.[2]:160 It was feared that any
further attempt to attack the camp would be futile, as the helicopters had been close enough to be heard. However
scouts positioned around the area reported no movement out the valley, so a second attack was launched at dawn the
following day, 13 March.[2]:160
The helicopters initially struggled to find the well-camouflaged camp, until they were virtually on top of it. At this
point the enemy, realizing they had been spotted, started firing at the helicopters with everything they had.[2]:160 The
32 Battalion assault force was immediately dropped, only 50m from the camp where the intense fire was coming
from. The assault force consisted of two platoons and a 81mm mortar section.[2]:160
The guerrillas had built their camp in the bottom of the valley flanked by high ground on either side.,[2]:160 a factor
that played strongly against them in the ensuing 18-hour battle. Alouette helicopter gunships used their 20mm cannon
to great effect, but were fired upon in turn with RPG rockets and at least 4 SAM-7 missiles (the latter not arming
due to helicopters being too close).[2]:160 The battle was fought throughout the rocky ravine supported by mortar
fire. The battle lasted over seven hours by which time the soldiers of 32 Battalion resorted to using enemy weapons
as they began to run out of ammunition.[3]:183 As evening fell the 32 Battalion company readied itself for a PLAN
counterattack.
13.3 Aftermath
By the next morning, 14 March, a further 24 SADF soldiers were flown in but no counterattack by PLAN occurred.[2]:161
and battlefield was found to be littered with dead. 197 insurgents and 3 members of 32 Battalion died, with seven
to eight prisoners captured.[2]:161 Significant quantities of food, weapons and logistical equipment were captured by
the South Africans.[2]:161 From information gathered from interrogation of the prisoners, a search over three weeks
was made for a further PLAN base consisting of 50 soldiers.[3]:184 This search, carried out by a company from 32
Battalion, failed to find the base which was supposedly south of Iona.
Coordinates: 16°53′25′′S 12°34′21′′E / 16.8902°S 12.5724°E
13.4 References
[1] Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa’s border war, 1966-1989. Gibraltar: Ashanti Pub. ISBN 0620139676.
[2] Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8.
[3] Nortje, Piet (2004). 32 Battalion : the inside story of South Africa’s elite fighting unit. Cape Town: Zebra Press. ISBN
1868729141.
13.5 Further reading
• 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.
• Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa’s border war, 1966-1989. Gibraltar: Ashanti Pub. ISBN 0620139676.