This offensive differed from its predecessors in that all the 32 Battalion companies were deployed in Owamboland, and spent the first seven days attacking designated targets in the ‘shallow’ area between four and nine kilometres inside Angola.
A tactical headquarters was set up at Elundu, and on 11 September platoons crossed the border to Chana Hangadima. Finding no enemy, they returned to the Yati Strip towards evening and began preparing to attack a base at Chana Henombe. On reaching the base, they estimated that it had been abandoned some three weeks earlier. On the way back to the Yati, the platoons conducted a sweep through Chana Bau, but again no sign of the enemy was found.
A third search-and-destroy mission south and east of Chana Tofima produced very different results. Six platoons crossed the border on foot at 02h00 on 13 September, and began a sweep to the south just after first light. Both flanks made contact with SWAPO three kilometres south-east of the chana, and a ten-minute firefight broke out. As the estimated 200 SWAPO fled to the north, the platoons pursued them, walking into an ambush four kilometres east of the chana. This contact lasted about 20 minutes, and because the platoons were conserving ammunition, they did not pursue the enemy any further. A sweep of the area turned up seven dead guerrillas, as well as a large number of weapons and documents. Seven members of the platoon took shrapnel wounds and one was hit by an AK47 round.
After limited success in the ‘shallow’ area, normal patrols resumed between beacons 29 and 31. On 22 September, platoons led by Captain Pieter Botes and Second Lieutenant H Louw picked up enemy spoor moving to the south at Chana Hangadima. The lead scout reported sentries on the run and hearing enemy movement to the south. Moving in an extended line, the two platoons approached to within 30 m of the enemy before opening fire with small arms, RPG 7s, 60-mm mortars and 7,62-mm GPMG machine guns. A fierce firefight ended with the enemy abandoning their 1,2-m deep trenches, but Botes immediately despatched Louw’s platoon to follow them. A second contact was made some 500 m into the bush, lasting about three minutes before the enemy ‘bombshelled’.
A sweep of the area showed that SWAPO had been in a favourable position, with a 150-m trench system. The only problem was, their defences were directed towards an attack from the south, and 32 had come in from the north, throwing the well-prepared plan into disarray. Five dead SWAPO were found, all aged about 18 and wearing brand new mustard-coloured uniforms. Three AK47 rifles, a 60-mm mortar, two VZ52 light machine guns, four RPG 7 rockets, three RGD 5 hand grenades and a large quantity of food were confiscated.
That night a temporary base 600 m south of Beacon 28, where the platoons of Second Lieutenant R Griessel and Sergeant S Gericke had laid up, came under attack by a large group of enemy using RPG 7s as well as 82-mm mortars, and either a 75-mm or 82-mm recoilless gun firing from inside Angola. The bombardment was brief but heavy.
Meanwhile, the platoon led by Botes had moved towards Chana Chinota, and at 04h00 on 25 September, during an attack on their temporary base, the sound of an enemy helicopter was heard for the first time, to the north, for about 20 minutes. The SWAPO assault came in three waves, the first lasting 30 minutes and the other two about five minutes each. A sweep of the area at first light revealed 78 shallow foxholes and four 82-mm mortar positions to the north, while seven LMG nests were found 200 m south of the temporary base, covering both the western and eastern flanks. Had the platoon moved southwards during the battle, as SWAPO had clearly expected them to do, they would have run straight into the machine guns.
Low on ammunition, Botes took the platoon back to the Yati for replenishment, but the next day they returned to Chana Chinota in search of their attackers. During a night patrol on 27 September, the platoon found them, exchanging fire briefly before going into hot pursuit of the enemy for four kilometres before they melted into the night.
At Chana Namixi, patrols led by Second Lieutenant Griessel and Lieutenant Daan de la Rey ambushed seven SWAPO on their way to the waterholes, killing two and wounding another. For the first time, an AK47 with a folding butt was captured.
In the first week of October, all the companies were recalled to Buffalo to prepare for a combined operation with Special Forces. It would be the biggest offensive since Operation Savannah.