The 32nd South African Battalion in 1982 had 900 men under Commander Col. Jan Breytenbach. Originally called 'Bravo Group' it soon earned the nickname 'Os Terrivos' : The terrible ones. It's purpose was clandestine operations across the Angolan border, using mainly non South Africans veterans of the Rhodesian and Angolan wars , one requirement was to speak Portuguese , on a mission they were to look and act like the enemy. Reconnaissance group ( 60-70 men ) Operated in 4 or 5 man recce teams , but more often would send in a 12 man patrol ( 3 recce teams ) . Personnel were more often whites with plenty of combat experience , coming from Rhodesia , Portugese colonies and some French , Australians and Americans. Each patrol would have 2 PK gpmg;'s , 4 RPD's or RPK , 4 AK47/AKM (each man also carrying an M79 grenade launcher) . Ambush patrols would also carry mines and RPG 7's . Mortar company six 81mm mortars in 3 sections 7 Rifle Companies ( A to G ) Each company would have a White CO and 2nd in command, with 4 white NCO's as platoon commanders. Each platoon (actually half platoons) comprised 14 black troops who were allocated one Puma helicopter Back to Frontline Vol. 2 Iss. 1 Table of Contents Back to Frontline List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Rolfe Hedges 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