FAPLA's 59 Brigade was instructed to provide 21 Brigade with 3000 litres of diesel fuel, 2000 litres of petrol, a tanker with lubricants, three BRDMs and two BTR-60s. The 21 Brigade battalion that had deployed in search of the artillery, was brought back to rejoin the...
Cuito Cuanavale
14 Jan 1988 Cuito Cuanavale
Operation Hooper and the siege of Cuito Cuanavale begins in earnest. Cold War T-62 main battle tanks are brought into action for the first time by FAPLA
24 Oct 1987 Cuito Cuanavale
In a very sophisticated operation, 4 SAAF Mirage F-1AZ fighter aircraft launch a dummy attack on the airfield at Cuito Cuanavale. Knowing they are no match for the MIG-23 fighters, their task is to bluff them that they were about to attack. As they overfly the base,...
14 Oct 1987 Cuito Cuanavale
The SADF G5 artillery bombardment of Cuito Cuanavale begins. This lasts for weeks wearing down FAPLA’s will to fight. FAPLA 59 Brigade is ordered to locate and destroy these artillery batteries. Task Force Delta shadows 59 Brigade, but is unable to engage, because the...
6 Feb 1988 Cuito Cuanavale
A SAAF Buccaneer formation flew a second strike using the H2 weapon system against the Cuito Cuanavale bridge, the results were reported inconclusive
8 Dec 1985 – Cuito
A single SAAF Buccaneer carried out a successful LOROP (Long Range Oblique Photography) of the Cuito bridge and Angolan brigade concentrations east and west of the river.
20 Feb 1988 – Cuito Cuanavale
A SAAF Mirage F1AZ (#245) piloted my Maj.Every is shot down by a SA-13 missile whilst on a Vergooi bombing run near Cuito Cuanavale
13 Dec 1987 Cuito Cuanavale
SAAF Mirage F1Azs escort a Buccaneer to hit the bridge over the River Cuito near Cuito Cuanavale with a H2 guided bomb at 14h35, but the bomb again malfunctioned an fell into the river just short of the bridge.
12 Dec 1987 – Cuito Cuanavale
SAAF Mirage F1Azs escort a Buccaneer to hit the bridge over the River Cuito near Cuito Cuanavale with H2 guided bombs
8 Dec 1987 Cuito Cuanavale
5 x SAAF Mirage F1AZs escort a Buccaneer to hit the bridge over the River Cuito near Cuito Cuanavale with H2 guided bombs at 17h25, but technical problems caused it to be cancelled