First Angolan War

Attacker OOB and Data Card:
South African and UNITA

by Andrew Laing

Attacker’s Information

Attacker’s Briefing

After successfully halting the FAPLA advance in September 1987, the time has come to push FAPLA back towards the Cuito River. The FAPLA unit to be targeted is the 47th Mechanised Brigade, which is isolated on the south bank of the Lomba River. With the South African Air Force and the SADF heavy artillery having already softened them up, 47th Brigade has started withdrawing across the river. Your objective is to ensure that 47th Brigade is wiped out (at least 20 stands destroyed) and that there are no FAPLA battalions in good morale status south of the Lomba River by the end of the game. Do not incur heavy losses as this is still an “undeclared war” and there would be serious political repercussions in South Africa.

Attacker’s Initial Forces and Setup

20th South African Brigade (commanded by Col. Deon Ferreira)
All battalions are NATO 1st Line troop quality and Regular morale

Brigade HQ Company: HQ stand in Truck
Recon Company: 2 Infantry stands
AA Support Company: 4 SAM-7 teams in Trucks (may be attached out individually to Btns)

Combat Group Alpha (commanded by Commandant “Bok” Smit)

Battalion HQ: HQ stand in Ratel-Command
1 Support Company: 1 Ratel ARV, 1 Engineer in Buffel, 1 Ystervark SP 20mm AA, 1 Ratel-81 Self-propelled (SP) Mortar
1 Anti-Tank Company: 2 Ratel ZT-3
1 Infantry Company: 3 Ratel-20 Infantry Combat Teams
1 Armoured Car Coy: 2 Ratel-90 Armoured Cars
1 Infantry Company: 4 Buffel Infantry Combat Teams

Combat Group Bravo (commanded by Commandant Robbie Hartslief)

Battalion HQ: HQ stand in Buffel
1 Support Company: 1 Ystervark SP 20mm AA, 1 Unimog Truck with 106mm RR, 1 Unimog Truck with HMG, 1 Engineer in Truck, 2 81mm mortars & Trucks
1 Infantry Company: 4 Buffel Infantry Combat Teams
2 Infantry Coys, ea. with: 3 Casspir Infantry Combat Teams
1 Anti-Tank Squadron: 3 Ratel-90 Armoured Cars

Combat Group Charlie (commanded by Major Dawid Lotter)

Battalion HQ: HQ stand in Ratel-Command
1 Support Company: 1 Ratel-81 SP Mortar
1 Armoured Car Coy: 2 Ratel-90 Armoured Cars
1 Infantry Company: 3 Ratel-20 Infantry Combat Teams

20th SA Artillery Regiment (Commandant J. van der Westhuisen)
14 turns of ammunition
Battalion HQ: HQ stand in Truck
1 G-5 Btry (Quebec Btyr): 2 G-5 Howitzers & Trucks, Forward Observer (FO)
1 MRL Btry (Papa Btry): 2 Valkiri MRL’s with a FO
1 Mortar Btry (Sierra Btry): 2 120mm Mortars & Trucks with a FO

  • All South African forces in Combat Groups Alpha, Bravo and Charlie may enter the board on Turn 1 from the east edge of the board, south of the Lomba River.
  • Standard Reserve and Outflank rules apply (one third of the battalions may be held in Reserve and one third of bat talions may be given an Outflank order).
  • South African battalions may only Outflank on the south edge of the board.
  • All artillery in the 20th Artillery Regiment is set up off- board, with only the FO’s entering the board on Turn 1 from the east edge of the board, south of the Lomba River or FO’s may be assigned to Outflanking South African battalions.
  • A further two companies of 32 Battalion were attached to the 20th SA Artillery Regiment but are not relevant to this scenario (they were providing ground protection for the artillery) and so are not shown in the Order of Battle lists above.

Elements of the UNITA forces in Southeast Angola (commanded by Col. Tarzan)
Third World troop quality and Green morale.
2 Regular Infantry Btns (3rd and 5th), ea.with:
Battalion HQ: 1 HQ stand
1 Support Company: 1 Medium Machine Gun stand, 1 120mm mortar stand & Truck, 1 107mm RR & Truck
3 Infantry Coys, ea with: 2 Infantry Stands

1 Semi-Regular Infantry Battalion (13th Semi-Regular Infantry Battalion)
Battalion HQ Company: 1 HQ stand
1 82mm mortar stand
3 Infantry Coy, each with: 2 Infantry Stands

1 Special Forces Infantry Battalion (275th Special Forces Infantry Battalion):
Battalion HQ: 1 HQ stand
2 Infantry Coy, each with: 2 Infantry Stands

  • The 3rd Regular Battalion enters from the east edge of the board, south of the Lomba River from Turn 1.
  • The 5th Regular Battalion and 275th Special Forces Battalion enter from the south edge of the board from Turn 1.
  • The 13th Semi-Regular Battalion enters from the north edge of the board from Turn 1.
  • Standard Reserve rules apply (one third of battalions may be held in reserve).
  • No Outflank orders may be given to UNITA battalions.

First Angolan War Operation Moduler: The Destruction of 47th Brigade - 3 October 1987 Andrew Laing

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