Externals 1980-1989

Guide to Forces of
South West Africa and Angola

FAPLA: People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola

by Greg Novak

The People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola had been created from the military forces of MPLA when that organization had taken over Angola. FAPLA was armed and trained by the Soviet Union and its Cuban advisors, and ended up a micro version of the Soviet Army. During the 1980s, FAPLA was made up of the following units:

    10 military districts
    5 mechanized infantry brigades
    17 infantry brigades
    11 ODP "infantry" brigades
    4 antiaircraft brigades
    10 independent tank battalions
    6 artillery battalions

The term "brigade" is misleading at best, as the FAPLA brigades were a cut-down version of the Soviet Motor Rifle Regiments. The mechanized and motorized infantry brigades served as the field force, while the remaining ODP infantry brigades were in reality security forces stationed about the countryside. In those areas where UNITA was active, these brigades were of a multi-battalion strength, and supported by some heavy weapons. In areas where UNITA was not active, these "brigades" were barely a battalion in size, and heavy weapons were lacking. Again, as mentioned, the SWAPO units served with FAPLA and are counted in the above totals for the infantry brigades.

The best equipped FAPLA brigades were the five mechanized brigades.

FAPLA MECHANIZED BRIGADE
Regular; Morale: 9

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 BTR 60PU
    1 staff radio van
    1 support stand
    1 medium truck

Brigade Recon Company, with:

    1 recon PT-76 light tank
    2 recon BRDM-2s

Brigade Engineer Company, with:

    1 command engineer stand
    1 TMM bridge
    1 medium truck

Brigade AT Company, with 1 BRDM- 2 AT-3
Brigade AA Company, with:

    2 SA-14 teams
    1 ZSU-23 or ZSU-57
    2 UAZ-469s

Brigade Supply Company, with:

    1 command stand
    2 support stands
    1 UAZ-469
    4 medium trucks

1 Infantry Battalion, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 command infantry stand
      1 BTR-60PU
      1 BTR-60

    3 Infantry Companies, each with:

      3 infantry stands
      3 BTR-60s

    Support Company, with:

      1 82mm mortar stand
      1 medium truck
      1 gun crew stand
      2 SA-7 teams
      1 ZPU-2
      2 light trucks
      1 AGS-17 stand
      1 AT-3 stand
      2 BTR-60s

2 Infantry Battalions, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 command infantry stand
      2 BTR-152s

    3 Infantry Companies, each with:

      3 infantry stands
      3 BTR-152s

    Support Company, with:

      1 82mm mortar stand
      1 medium truck
      1 gun crew stand
      2 SA-7 teams
      1 ZPU- 2
      2 medium trucks
      1 AGS-17 stand
      1 AT-3 stand
      1 BTR- 152

Brigade Tank Battalion, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command T-54/55 tank
      1 support stand
      1 medium supply truck with trailer

    3 Tank Companies, each with 2 T-54/55 tanks

Brigade Artillery Battalion, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 FO stand
      2 UAZ-469s
      1 TOC van
      2 support stands
      2 medium supply trucks with trailers

    2 122 Batteries, each with:

      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 122mm D 30 howitzer
      1 medium truck

    2 76 Batteries, each with:

      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 76mm ZIS-2 howitzer
      1 medium truck

    MLR Battery, with 2 BM-21

    Mortar Battery, with:

      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 120mm mortar
      1 medium truck

Infantry Brigades

FAPLA's 17 infantry brigades had the following organization on paper:

FAPLA INFANTRY BRIGADE
Regular; Morale: 8

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 UAZ-469
    1 staff radio van
    1 support stand
    1 medium truck

Brigade Recon Company, with:

    1 recon PT-76 light tank
    2 recon BRDM-2s

Brigade Engineer Company, with:

    1 command engineer stand
    1 TMM bridge
    1 medium truck

Brigade AT Company, with 1 BRDM-2 AT-3
Brigade AA Company, with:

    2 SA-7 teams
    2 UAZ-469s
    2 gun crew stands
    2 ZPU-23-2s
    2 light trucks

Brigade Tank Company, with:

    1 command T-54/55 tank
    1 T-54/55 tank

Brigade Supply Company, with:

    1 command stand
    2 support stands
    1 UAZ-469
    4 medium trucks

1 Infantry Battalion, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 command infantry stand
      2 BTR-152s

    3 Infantry Companies, each with:

      3 infantry stands
      3 BTR- 152s

    Support Company, with:

      1 82mm mortar stand
      1 medium truck
      1 SA-7 team
      1 gun crew stand
      1 ZPU- 2
      1 light truck
      1 AGS-17 stand
      1 82mm RR stand
      2 BTR- 152s

2 Infantry Battalions, each with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 command infantry stand
      1 UAZ-469
      1 medium truck

      3 Infantry Companies, each with:

        3 infantry stands
        2 medium trucks

      Support Company, with:

        1 82mm mortar stand
        1 medium truck
        1 gun crew stand
        1 SA-7 team
        1 82mm RR stand
        1 ZPU-2
        2 light trucks

    Brigade Artillery Battalion, with:

      Battalion Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 FO stand
        2 UAZ-469s
        1 TOC van
        1 support stand
        1 medium supply truck with trailer

      1-2 122 Batteries, each with:

        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 122mm D 30 howitzer
        1 medium truck

      1-2 76 Batteries, each with:

        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 76mm ZIS-2 howitzer
        1 medium truck

      MLR Battery, with 1 BM-21
      Mortar Battery, with:

        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 120mm mortar
        1 medium truck

Notes

1. The artillery battalions for the infantry brigades usually only had four batteries of artillery.

2. Most of the infantry brigades did not have an infantry battalion in BTR-152s, but rather all three battalions were carried in trucks.

3. Some of the infantry brigade's tank companies were equipped with SU-100s and T-34/85s in place of the T-54/55.

4. Not all infantry brigades' recon companies were equipped with PT- 76s.

ODP INFANTRY BRIGADE
Green; Morale: 6

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand 1 UAZ-469 1 command infantry stand 1 support stand 1 medium truck

Brigade Recon Company, with 1-2 recon UAZ-469s
Brigade Engineer Company, with 1 command engineer stand
Brigade AT Company, with: 1 82mm RR stand and 1 light truck
Brigade AA Company, with:

    2 gun crew stands
    2 ZPU-2
    2 light trucks

Brigade Tank Company, with 1 T-34/85 tank
Brigade Supply Company, with:

    1 command stand
    1 support stands
    1 UAZ-469
    4 medium trucks

1-3 Infantry Battalions, each with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with 1 command stand and 1 UAZ-469
    3 Infantry Companies, each with 1-3 infantry stands

Brigade Artillery Battalion, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 UAZ-469s
      1-3 82mm mortar stands (ds)
      1-3 medium trucks
      1 82mm RR stand
      1 light truck

Army Level Units

The Army level units of the FAPLA were the following:

INDEPENDENT TANK BATTALION, with:
Regular; Morale: 9

Battalion Headquarters, with:

    1 command T-55/62
    1 support stand
    1 medium supply truck with trailer

3 Tank Companies, each with 2 T-55/62

Notes

1. Ten independent tank battalions existed in FAPLA.
2. The independent tank battalions were often paired with infantry battalions from the mechanized infantry brigades to form battle groups.

ANTIAIRCRAFT BRIGADE
Regular; Morale: 8

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 UAZ-469
    1 staff radio van
    1 support stand
    1 medium truck

Brigade Supply Company, with:

    1 command stand
    2 support stands
    1 UAZ-469
    2 maintenance vans
    2 medium trucks

1 Antiaircraft Missile Battalion, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 UAZ-469
      1 medium truck

    3-5 Batteries, each with:

      SA3/4/6/8/9 TEL
      1 SA-14 team
      1 medium truck

    1-2 Antiaircraft Gun Battalions, each with:

      Battalion Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 UAZ-469
        1 medium truck

      3-5 Batteries, each with:

        1 gun crew stand
        1 SA-7 team
        1 S-60 57mm or M-38 37mm AA gun
        1 medium truck

Notes

1. The AA missile battalions were actually part of the Angolan Air Force.
2. The AA missile battalions were equipped with various mixture of Soviet SAMs, with the systems being upgraded throughout the 1980s.

INDEPENDENT ARTILLERY BATTALION, with:
Regular; Morale: 9

Battalion Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 FO stand
    2 UAZ-469s
    1 TOC van
    2 support stands
    2 medium supply trucks with trailers

3 Batteries, each with:

    1 gun crew stand (ds)
    1 medium truck
    1 weapon

Notes

1. Six independent artillery battalions existed in FAPLA.
2. The battalions are equipped with either the 122M31/37 field gun, 130M46/54 field guns, 152M43/171 howitzers or the BM 24 NILR. All weapons in the battalion are of the same type.

Air Force

The Air Force elements of FAPLA were equipped with Soviet aircraft, as well as a interesting mixture of other aircraft purchased from Romania and other western countries. Spare parts, ground crews, and trained pilots were problems for the Angolan Air Force, with most aircraft flown and maintained by Cuban personnel. By 1989, the following aircraft in terms of CA aircraft were in service with the Angolan Air Force.

Ground Attack

    6 MiG- 17
    12 MiG-23
    2 Su-22

Fighter: 18 MiG-21 MF/bis
Transport

    3 An- 12
    7 An-26
    2 An-2

Ground Attack Helicopter

    6 MiG-24
    1 SA-365M

Transport Helicopter

    12 MiG-8
    4 MiG-17
    6 Alouette III

More Externals 1980-1989: SW Africa and Angola

Externals Mini Campaign Game

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© Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak.
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