Episode 78 – Operation “foreskin” and 32 runs into a SWAPO firestorm

Welcome back to South African Border Wars with me your host, Deus Latham, this is episode 78. We're travelling with three two battalions echo and gulf companies that had entered Angola, deployed in pseudo operations in 1984, something called Operation Forte was on the go. When we left off the convoy of vehicles it headed directly north and retargeting Savati about 50 kilometers into Angola. Colonel Eddie Fillion led this unusual operation. It was early September 1984 and after crossing the Catalan, the convoy stopped north of Kattwiti on the road to Savati. At first light the following day, Sargent North gear clammed aboard a bifle with four soldiers and drove off to a unique base 15 kilometers away to pick up a guide. But you need to give the Sargent a less than cordial welcome. They were detained, you need to guards couldn't believe that they weren't fubbler because the South Africans had arrived from the north. After half an hour of explaining, a unique officer arrived. He was Colonel Sivirino and it taken to carrying a walking stick in classic officer tradition. He was also well turned out, ironed uniform and polished boots. Sivirino was suspicious. He could not believe that the SID of convoy had somehow passed his base and other unita positions without being spotted. Now they were close to Savati. Once he'd been convinced he offered to help and pointed to his gas track and it's a tiny driver who looked like he wasn't even of high school age. Being so young this youngster was also completely an utterly innovative death as he sped off in the gas. It had taken Sargent North gear 90 minutes to reach the unita base and as buffle it took them 20 minutes for the return journey where the rest of the South Africans waited, skidding through the sandy trails at over 60 kilometers per hour. Sivirino didn't seem to notice and jumped out of his gauze to greet Colonel for the unit. They set off once again passing Savati travelling along the Kabunga River heading north. Eventually the road ran out. They were now driving along a trail and crossed the Tundau River and stopped that night as a spot selected by unita. For Leon seemed unhappy, the nearest water was at least a kilometer away. They were all issued their unique uniforms and equipment and began to familiarize themselves with the KY500 communication system. Everything wasn't Portuguese. Eventually the 1800 hours on the 7th of September the convoy took off again with Colonel Savarino leading the way to what he said was a well-prepared base 90 kilometers north near the Tecchampola River. They arrived at 0400 in bright moonlight, but for Leon sensed they may not be in a great spot. He ordered the soldiers to make themselves comfortable for a few hours of sleep before they had offload. For Leon had kept an eye on the map and his position. The S.A. units were now in no man's land between Unita's base to the east on the banks of the Kabunga River and the Fapla Brigade deployed to their west around Tecchampota and Kasinger. They were going to be a buffer for any large scale attack. Colonel Foulune then spent a few hours searching for a new site for his base and found an ideal spot for the east at Kattrecha, which was close to the Kabunga River. Savarino complained that Foulune put his foot down and they moved. There's always some degree of tension amongst allies when it comes to commanders and this was no different. Two days later Echor and Foxtrot companies began patrolling towards the Canadian Tecchampola rivers looking for Swapu. Between September and the end of November, 53 patrols were recorded, which picked up Swapu's spoole closer to Tecchampota and Kasinger. The Angolans were supposed to be ensuring the Swapu had left the area as part of the fast degrading JMC process towards peace, but they were clearly ignoring the insurgency. Then on the 19th of October, Foxtrot company found a small group of Swapu, 30 kilometers east of Kasinger, just south of the Bali River. There was a short sharp firefight, but Swapu retreated after being bombarded with 60 millimeter mortars and 40 millimeter grenades. Two weeks later, on the 3rd of November, Foxtrot company and Foxtrot clashed near Bambi and a Fapu soldier by the name of Ernesto Sijemi was taken prisoner. He told 3-2 battalion that Swapu were allowed to move through Digimotetti and were walking to assembly points just north of the cut line with South-West Africa. By now, the SEDF had learned a few extra lessons about operating as unita. And one concerned there, especially manufactured Poloni roles, I mentioned last episode. The SEDF wanted to supply the men of Operation Forte with food that could not be linked to South Africa, so instead of the usual tin food, they'd concocted a sausage in plastic, a kind of bush Poloni. But the big problem with this design was that the sausage tended to blow up in the hot and golden conditions. Choups found their backpacks covered in this meaty sludge and goo. The Poloni was replaced with dry rations, and so the patrolling continued with the SEDF noting each Swapu spoored, until suddenly in early November, the leader group was summoned to Eddie Fulyun's tent. "The time had come he said to be circumcised. And just to show true leadership, Fulyun said he'd go under the knife first. Special forces Dr. Liv Tenant Bitkutser was to carry out the sensitive surgery, the first on a South-African soldier almost 200 kilometers inside enemy territory. Each NCO or officer was lay down on a rough table, at least those who agreed. The reason was simple, hygiene. Choups had to spend almost four weeks at a time unwashed, and this was going to cause them health problems in the heat and humidity of Angola. According to 32 vet Pitnurke, the response was mixed, with Sergeant Major Mike Rogers suggesting they changed the name of the operation from forte to foreskin. Strangely enough, Sergeant Martinez Ferreira based at Tundau heard about the circumcision plan and wanted to ensure that he remained healthy, so he took a three-day journey through the bush to reach the bush surgery. The doctor took one look at him and told the sergeant he'd wasted his time. He was already circumcised. Perhaps Mar Ferreira had forgotten to tell him. His trip, however, was not a failure. He'd bought 500 kilograms of flour with him, and the troops then ate fresh baked bread from then on. While Foxtrot was finding Swapo Trails, Gulf Company was not, they'd been deployed down both sides of the Kubang River heading to the cutline from the north and had found no sign whatsoever of Swapo. Local intelligence officers believed Swapo had now switched their base in the region to Bambi post. That had been wiped out during operation of scurry, but Captain Erman Mulder now believed it was back in business. While the Reckys were carrying out suit operations to the west, dressed as Swapo, and carrying no backpacks and very little webbing, three two's unit air equipment was causing the South Africans problems. They carried traditional military grade backpacks, but the design led to shoulder and back injuries. Patrols were averaging two weeks at a time, and many of the troops carried 81mm mortar bombs as well as their own water and ammunition. There was much grumbling, eventually, for Lunar-Lawd Foxtrot and Gulf to revert to their three two battalion backpacks. And that was just in time for the troops to be relieved by Bravo Company and Charlie Company, led by Lieutenant Richard Olson and Captain Frank Klenenberg. Bravo and Charlie patrol for almost a month when Bravo Company ran into 150 Fuplar soldiers, 45 kilometres west, of the three two base on the Kubang River. Two Swapo guys had led Fuplar towards the South Africans, and they were moving in single file through the bush when Bravo spotted them in open fire. During the three hour battle, one of Fuplar's 82mm mortar spotters climbed a tree for a better view and was then shot out of it. Fuplar believed they were facing unitar and fought with great vigor. They suddenly stopped fighting and withdrew shortly after its radio intercepts confirmed 15 Fuplar did 11 wounded, one captured. Here with the South Africans and Sidinggola fighting Fuplar pertaining to the unitar while supposedly coordinating peace moves at the same time. You can see how this whole JMC idea was doomed. For Lunar then realised that had he not moved his initial base eastwards, this large Fuplar patrol would have stumbled on the HQ. Meanwhile, his relationship with Colonel Saberina remained strained until the latter stepped on an anti-personnel mine and was killed. The replacement unitar Commander Colonel Joel asked Fuplarion to start training his men in the principles of warfare including fire and movement in other maneuvers which the three two commander agreed to. The South Africans were aiming at finding Swapo's new Bambi post position. They began sniffing around the area in early 1985. Just past mid-day in the 3rd of February, a platoon from Echo Company was patrolling close to the Kuvalayan Bambi rivers around 80 kilometres west of their main three two base. Someone was chopping trees done and as they moved into investigate, the platoon took fire. They hit the deck and spotted around half a dozen men jumping into a url truck which sped off. Echo Company platoon commanders thought this was part of a Fuplar contingent from Tecumuteti, seeing that Swapper apparently didn't use vehicles in this part of Angoda. they were wrong. The platoon moved a few kilometres east to set up a temporary base, then they came under sporadic 122mm rocket fire attack but the enemy missed. Still that was quite a surprise. Then a few days later on the 11th of February, a platoon from 3/2's Charlie Company was involved in a routine patrol near the Bali River when things went very badly wrong. The company had been warned to make a detour around the area where eco-company had been hit by a rocket fire but the platoon's leadership decided to take a short cut. They marched straight into one of the better protected Swapo bases and they were hopelessly outnumbered. At first the enemy was shocked and for a few moments Charlie's platoon seemed to hold the initiative but the massive firepower facing them quickly became apparent. Swapo's over 100 men and women opened fire with everything they had. In the first half an hour the company took heavy casualties with Swapo's 82mm mortars causing havoc. British operator Lieutenant Dave Light died instantly hit below his eye. When Swapo tried to drag his body away they were fought off at managed to take his 872 radio and wristwatch. Things were going to get a lot worse. Medics were running around trying to attend the wounded which was stacking up. Seven members of the company died almost immediately. Most are shrapnel wounds from the 82mm Swapo mortars. One of the men had been hit numerous times and had a huge stomach wound shut himself. It was bloody chaos. The company fought until dark when the casualties were moved to a temporary emergency base. Three more died that night and a fourth before dawn. 11 men were now dead and at first light on the 12th of February Lieutenant H.G. Funveik, who was the special forces doctor, reported he'd run out of bandages, intravenous fluids, and painkillers. They'd also had to separate the wounded over many meters just in case of another bombardment by Swapo's 82mm mortars. At ten hundred hours another three two riflemen died of his shrapnel wounds. Then two Swapo were killed as they crept through the bush towards Chinese company. Meanwhile Bravo had been dispatched from headquarters and were on their way to help. But the thick bush and gullies made movement difficult and they were forced in a grueling trek through the terrain as vehicles couldn't approach. There were dropped six kilometers away and jogged through the sand only arriving at 1,700 hours' city. Charlie had been fighting for two days by then that almost run out of ammunition and were about to be overrun themselves. They now began moving everyone back out of the killing zone including carrying 19 wounded unhomemade stretches and the bodies of the 12 dead. The South Africans eventually reached the vehicles near the Bale River arriving back at HQ with body bags and casualties. But there was some better news. Colonel Fulyun had spotted a landing strip that was overgrown. It had belonged to one of the local farmers before he'd fled during the Civil War. They called for a decoded to be sent to Elif the wounded. The strip was cleared and checked for mines. They quickly began driving a buffle back and forth along the airstrip and along side. Fortunately it turned out because the buffle triggered an antipersonal mine. Fulyun wasn't so sure about other mines and told comms to contact the decoder and call off the landing but the pilot didn't answer. They had no choice but to set fire to the diesel fuel torches lining the runway and the decoder landed. Within six minutes it was back in the air all dead and wounded aboard along with the opsymetics. Attention turned to the two swapper prisoners who'd been taken during the battle. One revealed that he was a swapper commander and been ordered to march to the eastern area headquarters. They had headed to what they thought was the 8th battalion supply camp but actually was Charlie Company's temporary base. Their base was 600 meters north. So it was a kind of copycat moment. He'd walked into a 3-2 mobile HQ and Charlie Company and stumbled into a swapper fire base with catastrophic results. The initialed wild letter echo company was patrolling 30 kilometres east of Kissinger and they spotted Spur, at least six swapper on the move. After plans were made to ambush the six heavy mortars began falling on echo's temporary base and about 70 swapper guerrillas began to surround them. They withdrew systematically but to the north as swapper had cut off their escape to the south. It was a furious firefight and the enemy managed to capture echo company's equipment including a commander's KY500 radio and the B-22 radio codes. That was damaging and worse. They had also captured an area map with all three two bases and some unit bases identified as well as all the patrol routes being used. An echo company soldier was killed and another wounded in the retreat. With this new intelligence swapper began to make it more difficult for 3-2 and staff sergeant Ron Gregory suggested they shift from using the tracks and vehicles to using donkeys. The animals were also used by swapper to transport the heavier food and ammunition. This turned out to be a godsend not only did it make travel easier but it confused swapper with all that the SEDF would only use vehicles. Both sides were learning bush tricks from each other by this stage of this long war. The South Africans were still searching for Bambi port base but it wouldn't be long before it was found. Finally in March 1985 and after crossing the Kuvali river 140 men from Alpha and Foxtrot companies found two sets of tracks a few hours old leading north. Their intelligence reports suggest that Bambi was west of the Kuvali rivers so the groups split in two for action. Reconnaissance team and a corporal Louis Lombard scouted a head for Foxtrot while Alpha's recon group was led by major Mike Baston. Foxtrot headed south east and crossed more swappers than they heard voices in the bush. Lombard noted the position and withdrew. The next morning Foxtrot and Alpha joined forces and at 1500 on the 26th of March they began their attack. A 55 man stopper group trotted off to take a position north of swappers base and then the 85 other men began their advance. There were only a few meters away from the base when they began firing, killing seven swappers and two whupless soldiers including a lieutenant. One of the South Africans was wounded in the knee but they escaped largely unscathed. The base was then systematically destroyed and all spare food removed. It was less than a month later on the 15th of April 1985 that Pretoria announced they'd withdrawn from the JMC peace moves and its cease to exist in late May. Secret negotiations were on the go already involving the S.A.D. of Anunita to ensure that the moment the South Africans withdrew from the process Anunita would head into the territory three to battalion had secured along with 61 mech and the wreckage. Operational order number one slash 85 authorised three to battalion to attach a liaison team to Unita's HQ 40 kilometers north east of Ionde in May. It was this war in the east that was sucking the South Africans into a much more serious conflict. The fighting along the Kobango and Kuvale rivers was mutating. In August and September 1985 Fumpla started a major conventional offensive to seize control of their country from Unita. Strong mechanised forces were on the way, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles advanced from Guido, Kuanavali, south east towards Mavinga. The MPLA, the Cubans and the Russians, went to control this little village because it had an air strip that could be turned into an air base. If the Angolan government managed to secure this strip, they could target Unita's headquarters at Jamba. Soviet advisors were deployed to make sure that Fumpla was successful. With a JMC dead in the water and the ruling national party facing a concerted uprising back in South Africa, their reaction was to increase military firepower. And of course, by starting their mechanised attack from Guido, Kuanavali, the Angolans had set off what would become the final phase of this war which would end at that strategic town in 1988. What happened next is for episode 79. Please rate the podcast on iTunes. It helps increase the series' visibility. If you want to contact me, you can email me through the website abwarpodghost.com or direct message me on Twitter @dislaven. Until next, goodbye.