The following units are present on the border at the start of the game. Unless otherwise stated, all units are the size and troop quality as listed in the "Externals" supplement. SWAPO All SWAPO units are under the command of the Northern Front at Xangango. (Note, in the interest of making this a better game for the Angolans, SWAPO has been reinforced with an infantry brigade.) At Xangango NORTHFRONT Front Headquarters Front Recon Company, with 1 command stand and 3 recon infantry stands Front Tank Company, with 1 T-34/85 Front Engineer Company Front Artillery Battalion, with: 1 command infantry stand 2 82mm mortar stands (ds) 1 82mm RR stand Front AA Company 1st Infantry Battalion, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade At Pembe, Durnequero, Amhenca, and Cafima, the following units are present: Specialist Unit Front Detachment, with: 1 command infantry stand 4 infantry stands At Otchinjau the following units are present Specialist Unit Front Artillery Battalion, with: 1 command infantry stand 2 82mm mortar stands (ds) 1 82mm RR stand 1 122mm rocket launcher 1 gun crew stand (ds) 4 medium trucks At Chamangale, the following units are present: Specialist Unit Recon Company, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade AT Company, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade At Evale, the following units are present: Headquarters, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade Tank Company, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade Engineer Company, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade AA Company, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade Transport Company, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade 3rd Infantry Battalion, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade Artillery Battalion, 1st SWAPO Infantry Brigade All units are allowed at their starting location entrenchments for all personnel stands, weapons pits for all weapons, and bunkers for all command, staff, and command infantry stands. In addition, front headquarters and specialist units are allowed 24" of minefields; and 24" of wire to help defend their locations. FAPLA There are three FAPLA Brigades in the area: the 17th Infantry, 3rd Antiaircraft, and 35th ODP. In addition, a reinforced battalion of the 18th Brigade has the responsibility for guarding the Quedas Ruscanas Hydroelectric Dam. The deployment area and breakdown of these units is as follows: All units are as listed in the "Externals" supplement. 17th FAPLA INFANTRY BRIGADE Brigade Headquarters Brigade Recon Company Brigade Engineer Company Brigade AT Company Brigade AA Company Brigade Tank Company Brigade Supply Company Infantry Battalion (ETR-152) 2 Infantry Battalions (Truck) Brigade Artillery Battalion Battalion Headquarters 122 Battery 2 76 Batteries Mortar Battery The 17th should be broken down into a small headquarters and from three to five battle groups. One battle group should be placed with the headquarters at Humbe, and one group each at Ngiva and Xangango. The remaining groups, if any, can be placed at any named point at the start of the game. Only one battle group can be assigned to any given point. All units are allowed at their starting location entrenchments for all personnel stands, weapons pits for all weapons, and bunkers for all command, staff, and command infantry stands. In addition, the brigade headquarters is allowed 24" of minefields and 24" of wire to help defend its locations. Battle Group, 18th FAPLA INFANTRY BRIGADE Infantry Battalion (Truck) Detachment, Brigade AA Company, with: 1 SA-7 team 1 UAZ-469 1 gun crew stand 1 ZPU-23-2 1 light truck Detachment, Brigade Artillery Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: command stand 1 UAZ-469 2 medium supply trucks 2 122 Batteries, each with: 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 122mm D 30 howitzer 1 medium truck Mortar Battery, with: 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 120mm mortar 1 medium truck The 18th is placed at Quedas Ruscanas. It is allowed entrenchments for all personnel stands, weapons pits for all weapons, and bunkers for all command, staff and command infantry stands. In addition, it is allowed 24" of minefields and 24" of wire to help defend its location. 35th ODP INFANTRY BRIGADE Brigade Headquarters Brigade Recon Company Brigade Engineer Company Brigade AT Company Brigade AA Company Brigade Tank Company Brigade Supply Company 3 Infantry Battalions, each with: Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 UAZ-469 3 Infantry Companies, each with: 2 infantry stands Brigade Artillery Battalion, with: Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 UAZ-469 3 82mm mortar stands (ds) 3 medium trucks 1 82mm RR stand 1 light truck The 35th should be broken down into a small headquarters and from four to five battle groups. One battle group should be placed with the headquarters at Ngiva, while the remaining groups can be placed at any named point at the start of the game not garrisoned by either the 17th or 18th Brigade or the I st SWAPO Brigade. Only one battle group can be assigned to any given point. Mortars attached to infantry battalions function as battalion mortars. All units are allowed at their starting location entrenchments for all personnel stands, weapons pits for all weapons, and bunkers for all command, staff and command infantry stands. In addition, the Brigade Headquarters is allowed 24 " of minefields and 24" of wire to help defend its location. 3rd ANTIAIRCRAFT BRIGADE Brigade Headquarters Brigade Supply Company 1 Antiaircraft Missile Battalion Battalion Headquarters, with: 3 Batteries, each with: 1 SA 4 TEL 1 SA-14 team 1 medium truck 2 Antiaircraft Gun Battalions, each with: Battalion Headquarters, with: 4 Batteries, each with: 1 gun crew stand 1 SA-7 team 1 S-60 57mm 1 medium truck The 3rd Antiaircraft Brigade has its brigade headquarters, missile battalion, and supply company at Xangango. One gun battalion is divided between Ngiva and Quedas Ruscanas, the remaining battalion should divided up among any named points where FAPLA and SWAPO units are located, with a maximum of one gun per location. The weapons at Xangango are considered able to cover the bridge over the Cunene River. All units are allowed at their starting location entrenchments for all personnel stands, weapons pits for all weapons, and bunkers for all command, staff, and command infantry stands. ANGOLAN REINFORCEMENTS The Angolan government will view any South African attack as being at one of three levels of intensity. These are: Light: South African occupation of any named point, or the known existence of a South African battle group in Angola. (This last exists when South African troops have passed through a named point into Angola, and have not yetexited the country.) The Angolan government will take steps to drive the South Africans back across the border. Medium: A South African occupation of any SWAPO encampment point. The Angolan government must take steps to drive the South Africans back across the border. Heavy: South African occupation of either Xangango, Quedas Ruscancas, or Ngiva.The Angolan government must regain control of those points as quickly as possible, as well as drive the South Africans back across the border. At the start of each day, the gamemaster will determine the level of the South African attack as known to the Angolan government at that point, and roll on the following table for possible reinforcements. Reinforcements will arrive two turns after they are rolled for at the indicated points. The table can only be adjusted upwards, and the level of intensity remains at that level until all South African forces have returned across the border. Thus if Xangango is attacked by the South Africans, the offensive will remain as Heavy even after South African troops withdraw from that point. SOUTH AFRICAN LEVEL OF OFFENSIVE Die Light Medium Heavy * 0 1 Battle Group 11th Mech 1 Battle Group Cuban 1 Tank Bttn Angolan 9 - 1 Battle Group 18th Inf 1 Battle Group 18th Inf 6-8 - 1 Battle Group 11th Mech 1 Battle Group Cuban 2-5 - - 1 Battle Group 11th Mech 2-5 - - - If Quedas Ruscanas is attacked, roll twice on this table, and add 2 to each die roll. The pool of possible reinforcements is as follows: North of Cuveleai: The 11th Mechanized Brigade and the 5th Independent Tank Battalion are operating in this area. The gamemaster should form the 11th into three "battle groups" plus a small headquarters element. The headquarters will arrive with the second battle group, which is sent south. These groups will arrive at 11:00 at Cuveleai on the day they are activated. Northwest of Cahama: A Cuban Motor Rifle Regiment and the BTR- 152 Battle Group of the 18th Infantry Brigade are operating in this area. The gamemaster should form the Cuban Motor Rifle Regiment into three "battle groups" plus a small headquarters element. The headquarters will arrive with the second battle group which is sent south. These groups will arrive at 11:00 at Cahama on the day that they are activated. If all units rolled for have already been called into action, reroll. Thus, if the 18th Infantry is called out, then reroll any roll that calls for that unit again. Angolan Air Force The Angolan Air Force elements of FAPLA will not normally be operating over this area. However, in the event of a South African attack, aircraft will be released to support counterattacks and fly air support. Aircraft can fly a mission every other turn, and can be over an area a maximum of one hour. Each Cuban "battle group" has an FAC attached to it, so direct support missions can be only flown in support of Cuban units. All aircrews are considered as Experienced, Morale: 8. To determine what assets are available, the gamemaster will roll ID6 on the following table at the start of each day. SOUTH AFRICAN LEVEL OF OFFENSIVE Die Light Medium Heavy * 0 1 MiG-24 2 MiG-21 2 MiG-23 4 MiG-21 1 MiG-23 9 - 2 MiG-21 1 MiG-17 2 MiG-21 2 MiG-23 8 - 1 MiG-24 2 MiG-21 1 MiG-23 7 - - 2 MiG-21 6 - - 2 MiG-24 1-5 - - - The transport aircraft and helicopters of the Angolan Air Force are far too valuable to risk in any sort of combat zone. They will not be released into this area. All characteristics for above units can be gotten from Combined Arms, with the following exceptions: 1. The MAW used is the RPG-7. 2. There is no LAW available 3. All SWAPO stands and all ODP stands have a ROF of 1 and a range of 6"/12". More Externals Mini Campaign Game Part I, II, III Part IV, V, VI, VII Appendix 1: South African Forces Appendix 2: Angolan Forces Appendix 3: Terrain Campaign Map More Externals 1980-1989: SW Africa and Angola Introduction: 1915-1979 SADF: South African Defense Forces in South West Africa SWATF: South West Africa Territorial Forces Koevoet: Operation Crowbar SWAPO: South West Africa People's Organization FAPLA: People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola Cuban Forces in Angola UNITA: National Union for the Total Liberation of Angola South Africa Specs: Combined Arms Charts Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly #2 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com