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[13.10.2009 16:51:10] Max Gladkov
Dear Johan, Ian-

Personally I never saw any AK-74\'s or any ammo for them in Angola in 1987-88. Neither did Orest Korgut in 1981-83.

Kind regards,

MG

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[09.10.2009 19:07:00] Johan Schoeman
Thanks Max.... I received a reply from the Freedom Park's Public Relations Department, and they have sent my enquiry on to their Heritage and Knowledge Department, from which I have had no response yet...
I am trying to get the entire names database with all 75,000 names... hopefully their nationalities will be included.
Johan

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[09.10.2009 16:14:07] Max Gladkov
Dear Johan,

Thank you for these corrections - they are already on our Russian page along with Ian's question. Is it still possible to get the list of Russian names mentioned on the Wall in Freedom Park?

Many thanks, and have a great weekend,

MG

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[09.10.2009 15:00:35] Johan Schoeman
Another question from Ian Taylor for some much appreciated feedback:

"Finally, I was "invited" but could not go to a live firing demonstration of an AK74 (5.45x39), around 1984. Where any AK74's sent to angola, or possibley carried by individual advisers?"

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[09.10.2009 14:47:42] Johan Schoeman
Dear Max, sorry.... Two errors in my statement have been pointed out to me by General Opperman, who is the CEO of the SADF Wall of Rememberance project, which I would just like to amend...

a. The reference to Fort Klapperkop is wrong... it is actually Freedom Park where the original Wall of Names are hosted.

b. The new SADF Wall of Rememberance is being erected without ANY form of South African government assistance and the funds for it was (and still is) privately raised.

General Opperman also indicated that a personal invitation to attend the Inauguration was sent to the Russian Military Attache in South Africa, who has indicated that he would attend (or despatch someone that would attend on his behalf)

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

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[07.10.2009 01:31:01] Johan Schoeman
Max, I have requested access to the names database of 75,000 names listed on the Wall Of Names at Freedom Park. I already confirmed that at least 2,107 Cuban names have been listed, which was contained in a journal handed over by the Cuban Ambassador in 2006. Hopefully they will get back to me soon.

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

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[06.10.2009 22:03:36] Max Gladkov
Dear Johan-

Thank you very much for this very interesting information, and please allow me to conratulate you and your brothers-in-arms on this very important and outstanding event! Like yourselves, we know quite well what it means to be disregarded by your own country...

By the way, is there any opportunity to get the names of the Soviet military mentioned on the original wall? This may be very important for us. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

MG

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[06.10.2009 17:10:54] Johan Schoeman
Max, just for your members\' interest:

Official Inauguration of the SADF Wall Of Rememberance

The Board of Directors of the Voortrekker Monument and Nature Reserve in South Africa will be hostng the official inauguration of the SA Defence Force Wall of Remembrance at 09h15 for 09h50 on Sunday, 25 October 2009.

**Ссылка »***

This is the first time our fallen friends of the SADF have been recognised by the post-apartheid South African government. The sad fact of it all is that the original Wall of Rememberance at Fort Klapperkop contains the names of fallen ANC, SWAPO, Cuban, and yes, even Soviet comrades killed during the SADF years of 1961 through 1994, but not a SINGLE SADF name! Yet it does list the names of Boers from the Anglo Boer War of 1899-1901!

It is therefore an honour and privilidge for us as ex-SADF members to be able to honour our own fallen in this way.

If there are any Russian Angolan Veterans planning to be in South Africa on this day, I invite you to please honour us as former adversaries by attending this inauguration. Please note that attendance is by RSVP only...

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

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[06.10.2009 16:37:48] Johan Schoeman
Thank, Max.... that's absolutely no problem. I appreciate your effort!

I will post your feedback on my forums, please do thank Orest Korgut on our behalf.

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

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[05.10.2009 23:03:43] Валерий Назаров
Был приказ Савимби,1980году, за каждого арестованного из его верхушки он будет убивать русских,болгар и других иностранцев?

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[03.10.2009 22:38:46] Max Gladkov
Hi Johan,

Here are the answers to Ian's questions kindly given by Orest Korgut, former Soviet military advisor to FAPLA's 19 Brigade in Mulondo, 1983-84:

As to T55 – the ejector of T55’s gun is mounted on the gun's muzzle, and designed to remove powder gases from the barrel and the fighting cab after shooting. When the casing of the ejector was perforated, or the valve ball was lost, powder gases would fill the fighting cab, which only Soviet tankmen could sustain. Any “rattling of hot brass around the turret” is out of question.

Now to PT76 – the deep water driving kits of ordinary tanks, as well as those of amphibious tanks and APV’s included a life jacket made of thin khaki tarpaulin with integrated sealed plastic bags filled with cotton wool. Most likely, it was a life jacket.

Regards,

MG

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[02.10.2009 19:44:31] Max Gladkov
Johan, I have posed Ian's questions on our Russian Guestbook. Sorry for keeping silence - time to pay for two summer months of doing nothing:)))

Regads,

MG

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[02.10.2009 05:29:34] Johan Schoeman
Max, just had the following questions raised. Maybe someone knowledgable on your side can provide some answers?

Ian Taylor posted the following:
"Around about 1982 I handled a piece of kit recovered from a PT76, it was initially thought to have been some sort of flak jacket but was far to light and flimsy, I think we decided it was some sort of floatation jacket, seeing as the PT76 was an amphibious AFV." Any idea what this might be?

Also from Ian:
"In 1979, a cargo vessel bound for Uganda, cargo being T-55's (Libyan) docked, at I think it was Durban. Cargo was impounded. Except for at least one they were handed over to Rhodesia. SADF kept one for evaluation. I remember speaking to a Captain, Rhodesian Army service Corp., who was involved in testing, he said the T55's had some sort of automatic case ejector, which did not allways work resulting in a piece of hot brass rattling around the turret? Anyone have any first hand experience?"

Regards
Johan Schoman
www.WarinAngola.com

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[10.09.2009 22:56:25] Max Gladkov
Johan, thank you very much indeed! And please extend my thanks to the veterans of 61 Mech! That sounds really great. I will translate your invitation into Russian and post it on our Russian page the soonest possible.

Kind regards,

MG

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[10.09.2009 22:25:05] Johan Schoeman
Max, The veterans of 61 Mech Bn Grp, of which I am a member too, have indicated an interest in accommodating members of the Union of Russian Veterans of Angola during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa next year.

Would there be any interest from your members in obtaining alternative accommodation at the homes of veteran members of 61 Mech during this period? It would definitely provide for a more affordable stay during this very busy time.

A formal invitation will be extended from the 61 Mech Battalion Group Veterans Association as soon as I can guage the interest from your members. It might even be necessary to involve a travel agency in this if the interest is sufficient to warrant it.

Your feedback on this will be appreciated...

Regards

Johan Schoeman

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[09.09.2009 21:59:08] Max Gladkov
Dear Dean, Paul, Richmond, Petrus and all,

Thank you very much for your high appreciation of our efforts. And sorry for having kept silence for a while. Summer is a "silent" season in Russia. However it is time to get back to work and to the business of our Union. BTW, we are turning 5 this year! And I am sure, we will have a lot of stories to share this year and the years to come.

As to the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes jr, they are very much to the point.

Kind regards,

MG

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[08.09.2009 22:18:56] petrus botha
Hallo Max and veterans, we have not talked in a while. Hope you are all well. On yet another aniversary of Operation Modular, one is struck again by the words of American Civil War veteran and later renowned author, Oliver Wendell Holmes jr, "... The generation that carried on the war has been set apart by its experience. Through our great good fortune, in our youths our hearts were touched with fire. It was given to us to learn at the outset that life is a profound and passionate thing..." Warm regards.

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[07.09.2009 14:00:41] Richmond Mugu
Thanks for the site. very nice one.

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[11.08.2009 16:40:37] Paul Morris
Hi All,

I found your website this morning and I\'ve been reading through these conversations with real interest. I was with 61 Mech in 1987 and fought in Angola for three months during Op Modular.

I was a rifleman with an 81mm mortar platoon, so bottom of the food chain!

I am fascinated by what I\'ve read and that you have a veterans organisation. I would really like to keep in touch to hear what you and your comrades are talking about.

I have recently started doing some research into the experiences of veterans from the wars in Southern Africa with a view of writing a book. I\'m in the middle of writing an MA dissertation right now so the project is progressing slowly!

I\'d be interested to share stories and experiences with anyone who was involved in the conflicts. Right now it would be good to be in touch with other veterans, Russian, South African, Angolan, Cuban, Namibian etc etc. I would really like to interview veterans as part of my research, but this is not my main motivation for being in touch right now. I am just interested in sharing stories.

Thanks for an interesting website!

Warm regards
Paul

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[04.08.2009 17:54:21] Dean Wingrin
I am the webmaster of The Unofficial South African Air Force Website (www.SAairforce.co.za).

I'm in the process of compiling a book with stories written by those who served in or against the South African Air Force, describing their personal experiences. These could be about their general experiences, a particular posting or a specific incident.

I am loking for contributions from anyone who served in Angola against the SAAF during the period 1966 to 1989.

Please email all contributions to dean@SAairforce.co.za

Many thanks.

Dean Wingrin

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[04.08.2009 16:09:05] Richard Harris
Dear Max,
I am near Atlanta, Georgia. I totally agree about exchanging drinks and emails rather than shells and mortars. That sounds like a good motto for cold war warriors. I believe there is a Cuban Mig 25 pilot that was in Angola and also Afghanistan. He is the one that flew to the USA in a Mig and about a year later, rented a Cessna in Florida and landed on a road in Cuba to pick up his family.

Best regards,
Richard

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[04.08.2009 03:12:59] Max Gladkov
Dear Richard,

Thank you very much for your kind words. There will be many more interesting articles for you to read. And I will be happy to translate interesting materials in English into Russian too. It is great that we are eager exchange stories today rather than shells.

By the way, where do you live in the USA? I am on vacation in St. Augustine, Florida, until 25 August. And I know some other Russian veterans of Angola based in America. As you can see, having a drink together is not a problem at all. My email address is maximgladkov@hotmail.com

Looking forward to meeting you,

MG

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[03.08.2009 21:57:10] Richard Harris
Dear Max,
Thanks for going to the effort of translating these interesting articles to English. As an artillery officer that was there at Cuvelai ('83/84) and Cuito in 1988, they are very enlightening. Currently living in the USA, I would be interested in meeting others, from either side, for a drink. It seems like none of the soldiers involved received the honor or recognition for their service.

Regards,
Richard

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[31.07.2009 20:57:22] Max Gladkov
Dear Eben, Gary,

Thank you very much for your high appreciacion of our work. Having met a lot of South Africans in the past couple of years, I know for sure now that we have many more things to share than to fight for.

Dear Tinus,

Here is a responce to one of your questions that I received from one of the Russian veterans who was directly responsible for guarding the Angolan coast.

"As it was described before in the [Russian] Guestbook, in June 1986, the Cuban vessel “Habana” and the Soviet ships “Captain Chirkov” and “Captain Vislobokov” were blasted in the port of Namibe. The “Habana” sank at the terminal, and the Soviet vessels left for the USSR after repair.

To ensure security of the Soviet ships stevedored in Angolan ports while maintaining the necessary supply of equipment, materiel and ammunition, in autumn 1986 an agreement was made between the Soviet Ministries of Defense and Maritime Fleet under which the Soviet Ministry of Defense undertook safeguarding of Soviet ships in the ports of Angola.

The Soviet Chief Military Advisor in Angola assigned a mission to the Advisor of the Commander-in-Chief of the Angolan Navy to ensure safeguarding and effective countersabotage protection of the Soviet ships under stevedoring in Angola.

According to the Agreement, once a Soviet cargo vessel had arrived in Luanda, a team of three Soviet advisors/specialists from the Navy group were sent to it – one acting as commandant and the other two as grenadiers. Sometimes motor boats of the Angolan Navy were used to safeguard ships in the port of Luanda. To counter divers’ attacks such security teams used grenades and small-arms. The expenditure of grenades varied between 2 and 6-8 per hour depending on mooring site, nature of cargo, and time of day. Unidentified objects found in the water close to the vessel were shot up from fire arms.

The vessels prepared for departure to the USSR were examined by Cuban divers who explored the underbody and the screws.

These vessel protection and countersabotage measures helped to ensure the security of the Soviet ships in Angolan ports and maintain uninterruptable supply of FAPLA with the equipment, materiel, and ammunition delivered from the Soviet Union.

The Cubans also practiced preventive grenade-throwing to protect the ships moored in Luanda, and in Namibe, when their ships were there they deployed a mortar battery on the tip of the cape, over the port area, and mortared the sea approaches in the offshore zone.

Kind regards,

Vladimir Ovsyannikov"

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[30.07.2009 16:24:22] Eben Pretorius
Hi.
I served in Southern Angola during the later months of 1987 in 61 Mechanised battalion (SADF).I just read through the "The Memoirs of Veterans of the War in Angola".
Nice work, it is interesting to read about what happened from the then enemies viewpoint.

I have been fortunate to have visited Moscow & St Petersburg in the meantime, and to work with Russian people on a daily base.

Keep up the good work.
Eben

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