Battle of Cuito Cuanavale

The battle for the town of Cuito Cuanavale is a myth. The conduct of Operations Modular, Hooper, Packer and Displace by South African and UNITA forces in the 6th Military Region of southeastern Angola initially prevented FAPLA and its allies from occupying the UNITA town of Mavinga. The success achieved in this endeavor then led to the conduct of offensive military operations to force FAPLA and its allies to relinquish their bridgehead over the Cuito River and to redeploy to the western bank at Cuito Cuanavale. The FAPLA deployment and occupation of Cuito Cuanavale, on the western bank of the Cuito River, was never contested militarily by opposing forces during 1987 and 1988. Drawing on his personal experience on the Cuito battlefield and elsewhere during this period, personal interviews with South African commanders who were on the ground, declassified documents and other sources, the author dispassionately relates the sequence of events that has widely become known as the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. Opening with an overview of the military situation in southern Angola prior to the 1987 offensive by the FAPLA force and its allies to take Mavinga, this compelling narrative goes on to describe the subsequent FAPLA advance on Mavinga, the South African and UNITA forces' defensive battle on the Lomba River, the counter-offensive and pursuit by South African and UNITA forces and the attacks by South African armoured forces on the FAPLA deployments east of Cuito River. The strategic encounter battle across the breadth of the 5th and 6th military regions of southern Angola which then ensued between South African forces on the one hand, and Cuban and FAPLA forces on the other, draws this period of conflict to a close. This contribution towards an improved understanding of the South African military operations during the campaign leaves the reader with two abiding impressions: a clear, concise narrative of the clash between the opposing forces and the author's profound respect for and appreciation of his fellow South African soldier.