Operation Super
Encyclopedia
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
from a location near the abandoned Portuguese town of Iona 16.8902°N 12.5724°W in the Angola
n province of Namibe
.
launched a reconnaissance mission near Iona, based on intelligence they had gathered about SWAPO operations in the area. The Recces, who were inserted by helicopter, quickly determined that there was considerable SWAPO 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. Later in the day, two SWAPO trucks entered the valley, with one of them detonating the mine. The mine strangely had little effect on the vehicle however, whose occupants simply transferred to the other vehicle before driving off.
A while later a patrol of 28 SWAPO arrived on the scene on foot and started looking for evidence of the attackers. 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 SWAPO as soon as the SWAPO patrol was within earshot, accusing the SWAPO patrol of being members of UNITA
. A fierce argument between the parties ensued, but ended abruptly when the Recce commander shot the SWAPO commander. A heated firefight erupted, that was joined at this time by 32 Battalion and an Alouette helicopter gunship fitted with 20 mm cannon. When the fighting finally stopped, 21 SWAPO guerrillas had been killed, six captured and one escaped.
Interrogation of prisoners captured during this action revealed the presence of a previously unknown camp nearby in the Cambêno Valley at 16.9413°N 12.6088°W, so a plan was immediately formulated to attack it.
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. The 32 Battalion assault force was immediately dropped, only 50m from the camp where the intense fire was coming from.
The guerrillas had built their camp in the bottom of the valley flanked by high ground on either side, 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). By the next morning, 201 insurgents and 3 members of 32 Battalion were dead, with a large number of prisoners captured. Significant quantities of food, weapons and logistical equipment were captured.
South African Border War
The South African Border War, commonly referred to as the Angolan Bush War in South Africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa and Angola between South Africa and its allied forces on the one side and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's...
and Angolan Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
in March 1982 to prevent SWAPO guerrillas infiltrating into South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
through the Kaokoveld
Kaokoveld
The Kaokoveld Desert is a coastal desert of northern Namibia and southern Angola.-Setting:The Kaokoveld Desert occupies a coastal strip covering , and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Namibian savanna woodlands to the east, and the Namib Desert to the south. It includes the...
from a location near the abandoned Portuguese town of Iona 16.8902°N 12.5724°W in the Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n province of Namibe
Namibe
Namibe is the capital city of Namibe Province in Angola. It is a coastal desert city located in southwestern Angola and was founded in 1840 by the Portuguese rulers of the territory. The city's current population is 132,900...
.
Initial contact
On 12 March SADF ReccesSouth African Special Forces Brigade
The South African Special Forces Brigade is the only Special Forces unit of the South African National Defence Force ....
launched a reconnaissance mission near Iona, based on intelligence they had gathered about SWAPO operations in the area. The Recces, who were inserted by helicopter, quickly determined that there was considerable SWAPO vehicle traffic in the area. After planting a TM 62
TM-62 series of mines
TM-62 is the designation for a series of Russian anti-tank blast mines. The mines have a central fuze and typically have a 7.5 kg explosive charge, however they vary greatly in detail...
anti-tank landmine in the road, they withdrew to high ground to observe what unfolded. Later in the day, two SWAPO trucks entered the valley, with one of them detonating the mine. The mine strangely had little effect on the vehicle however, whose occupants simply transferred to the other vehicle before driving off.
A while later a patrol of 28 SWAPO arrived on the scene on foot and started looking for evidence of the attackers. 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
South African 32 Battalion
32 Battalion was a special light infantry battalion of the South African Army, composed of black and white commissioned and enlisted personnel...
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 SWAPO as soon as the SWAPO patrol was within earshot, accusing the SWAPO patrol of being members of UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
. A fierce argument between the parties ensued, but ended abruptly when the Recce commander shot the SWAPO commander. A heated firefight erupted, that was joined at this time by 32 Battalion and an Alouette helicopter gunship fitted with 20 mm cannon. When the fighting finally stopped, 21 SWAPO guerrillas had been killed, six captured and one escaped.
Interrogation of prisoners captured during this action revealed the presence of a previously unknown camp nearby in the Cambêno Valley at 16.9413°N 12.6088°W, so a plan was immediately formulated to attack it.
Camp assault
A helicopter-borne assault involving 40 members of 32 Battalion was launched the next day, however the attack had to be aborted at the last minute to due thunderstorm activity that limited visibility. 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 the followed day.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. The 32 Battalion assault force was immediately dropped, only 50m from the camp where the intense fire was coming from.
The guerrillas had built their camp in the bottom of the valley flanked by high ground on either side, a factor that played strongly against them in the ensuing 18 hour battle. Alouette helicopter gunships used their 20mm cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
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). By the next morning, 201 insurgents and 3 members of 32 Battalion were dead, with a large number of prisoners captured. Significant quantities of food, weapons and logistical equipment were captured.