1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >>

---

[19.05.2009 18:47:04] Johan Schoeman
Thanks Max.... The information is much appreciated and will definitely influence the outcomes of future (miniature) SAAF airstrikes!

Pleas convey my thanks and appreciation to Valery Cheriomykhin, Alexei Kisel, M. Fedosiuk and Alexander Kisel for their information.

I will probably get back to you with some more detailed enquiries, but in the meantime I think I have enough to continue with the scenario design... but I still wonder by which radar the Canberras were picked up causing them to turn back...? riddles and more riddles...:-)

Any info on that Engineering equipment will also be appreciated. (I understand that you are very busy with the expo, so there is no rush).

Thanks again, Max

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

---

[18.05.2009 21:16:15] igor ignatovich
to Petrus Botha. Sorry to hear the sad developments in your country! Those, who remember not their past, have no future! To our shame, we are starting to review our role in the Bush War just now. Because there \"had not been\" such a war, officially. Thanks to Max Gladkov and other enthusiasts, we do have a possibility of exchanging our views (they differ, ya know!), and get those of our former foes. You are welcome, and we are positive. Regards,Angola vet.

---

[18.05.2009 15:01:35] Max Gladkov
Hi Johan,

The text below is the answer to your questions that I received from one of our AA experts Alexander Kisel:

Hello, Maxim. Johan Schoeman’s questions were partly addressed by M. Fedosiuk and Valery Tcheriomukhin. My version of the answer will only be some more specific.

1. The 47 Brigade had 4 SA-13 Gopher systems (БМ Стрела-10), sections of antiaircrafters with SA-7 Grail (Стрела-2М) and SA-18 Grouse (Игла), and a battery of ZU 23-2 AA guns. On top of that, the AA defense of the disposition was responsibility of some units of the 52 AA Brigade missilized with SA-8 Gecko systems (ЗРК ОСА): one battery (4 vehicles) with a PU-12-based command post and a Land Roll radar (П-19) headed by the brigade commander stayed with the 47 Brigade, while one more battery was deployed on the northern bank, on the positions of one of the infantry brigades (the 59th). During the pell-mell retiring, FAPLA forces only managed to carry over to the northern bank the 4 SA-13 Gopher systems.
2. The 59 and 21 Brigades had very similar AA systems, for the exception that a battery of SA-8 was only in the 59 Brigade.
3. Normally during air strikes fully alert (Alert Mode #1 in the Soviet and Russian terminology) were the Land Roll radar and one SA-8; on top of that the duty air defense facilities of SA-13, lightweight AA systems and ZU 23-2 AA guns were on standby. No information about air strikes was received from the radar system based in Cuito Cuanavale. Therefore, it is safe to say that the AA assets deployed in the river Lomba area were acting autonomously.
4. The AA operations were significantly influenced by the terrain of the area (high bush) that allowed concealed deployment and efficient camouflage coating of the units, while making positions selection much more difficult, especially for the radars and SA-8. Visual control-based reconnaissance only did not allow timely detection of approaching SAAF aircraft in order to make all SA-8 facilities fully alert, which was aggravated by the fact that they would normally approach at a low altitude.

Best regards,

MG

---

[16.05.2009 22:39:03] Max Gladkov
Petrus, this story with your initials sounds real great:) By the way, in the same "Our Memoirs" section you can select the line of Igor Zhdarkin to download Igor's book of recollections in a much better, or at least readable English. Igor was in Angola in 1987-88, like myself and apparently yourself. He was an interpreter in the 21 Brigade - I am sure, you will find his story interesting.

Regards,

MG

---

[16.05.2009 22:01:18] petrus botha
Thank you Max. Looking forward and hoping to hear from any Russia Veterans from my time at Mavinga/Lomba Rivier. Seeking clarities for many unaswered questions and would also give answers where I can. Kind regards, PF. (PF my initials was also used in the SANDF slang to refer to Permanent Force members, you can imagine how much jesting and joking my initials provided in an army of conscripts!)

---

[16.05.2009 14:52:45] Max Gladkov
Hi Petrus,

Thank you for the info about rifleman Le Roux and the destiny of the memorial.

On our website, in the "Our Memoirs" section you can find the just published diary of Daniel Gukov, former advisor to a battalion commander in FAPLA 16 Infantry Brigade. To read it in English you can use autimated translation that is available on our site (left menu), as well as on Johan Schoeman's site. Howevr Daniel's recollections date back to earlier Mavinga events. To find someone who was in the 16 Brigade in 1987-88, I posted your message on our Russian Guestbook in Russian.

To Johan Schoeman-

Johan, currently I am translating a pretty detailed post with answers to some of your questions.

Kind regards,

MG

---

[15.05.2009 20:28:07] petrus botha
Rifleman Le Roux mentioned in your mails is comemorated with others at the 4 SA Infantry memorial, Middelburg, South Africa, my old Unit. We annually comemerated the dead in a parade, but under the new government the memorial was removed and what remains of it much neglected. A sad story indeed as my fallen comrades from Operation Modular is comemorated at the same memorial,Corporals Duvenhage and Van Heerden, riflemen Schutte and Steward

---

[15.05.2009 20:15:17] Johan Schoeman
Thanks, Max! It is much appreciated...!

---

[15.05.2009 20:15:02] petrus botha
I am a veteran of Operation Modular (November 1987) took part in the Battles for Mavinga, first battle 09/11/87 against FAPLA 16TH Brigade. Any Russian veterans?

---

[14.05.2009 18:13:21] Max Gladkov
Johan,

There is some early reaction to your questions.

Valery Cheriomykhin, a former Soviet military advisor in Angola, writes \"There were С-125 \"Печора\" (SA-3b Goa) systems deployed in the area of Cuito-Cuanavale and Menongue, not С-75 (SA-2 Guideline)\".

There is also a post from a veteran (Alexei Kisel), who directly participated in those events and was responsible for the deployment of those systems. He will try to get back to you with his recollecions later if he mnages to find his notes. That\'s it for now.

Best regards,

MG

---

[13.05.2009 22:40:50] Max Gladkov
Johan, hi again,

I've translated your questions into Russian, and now they are on our Russian Guestbook. Lets wait for comments.

Regards,

MG

---

[13.05.2009 18:27:00] Max Gladkov
Johan, Andrei is OK now and he is giving you his very best. I know that he has been very busy at work, and moreover preparation for our photo exhibition has entered its most important phase, and Andrey is one of the key figures in it. But I am sure he will get back in touch shortly.

With best regards,

MG

---

[13.05.2009 16:58:29] Johan Schoeman
Thans Max, that would be great!

Looking forward to your feedback....

I haven\'t heard from Andrei at all. Has he recovered well from his sickness? I am still curious to know if we were in the same bunker but at different times at all. And you guys REALLY know how to dig end reinforce a bunker! I was most impressed with the size and strength of it.

Having done a bit of research on Russian Military Mobile Engineering, I can see how it was possible to construct such an intricate network of trenches and bunkers so quickly: With equipment like the BTM Trench Digger, MDK-2M Rotary Excavator, ST 210 Mobile Crane, BAT-M Engineers vehicle, it would certainly be possible. I wonder though, to what extend this equipment were available and used in preparing defensive positions in Angola?

The reason I am asking is that I just acquired models of these vehicles to be used as part of my miniature FAPLA forces...

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

---

[13.05.2009 08:25:52] Max Gladkov
To Gert Minnaar

Hi Gert,

These days we’ve been quite busy preparing our photo exhibition that we’ll be opening 5 June in Moscow. But I’d rather call it good news.
I know that Warrant Officer Pestretsov lives in Kaliningrad Oblast (Region) – he runs a farm there. Unfortunately, he is not an Internet user, and coming in touch with him may be difficult. My friend Alexei Pobortsev, a prominent Russian TV reporter and like myself a former military interpreter and Angola veteran, is in contact with Pestretsov. Probably, he will be able to help you forward a message to him, but, I think, the wording of the message will be very important – as you know, Pestretsov was not just captured. He was captured by the body of his wife shot down from a South African helicopter. Andrei Polikanov can tell you this story better – he came to that area immediately after those events. But for us it is still a big question mark why our commanders in Luanda had forbidden our advisers in the area to evacuate their wives in advance. Moreover, as far as I know there were their kids there. Anyway, I think, some very special words should be chosen to address Pestretsov…

To Johan Schoeman

Johan, the soonest possible I will translate your questions into Russian and post them on our Russian Guestbook, and then I’ll come back to you with the answers.
I hope that you are all ok, guys, and apologize for answering with a delay – preparation for the exhibition has been keeping us quite busy of late.

Kind regards,

MG

---

[12.05.2009 23:35:47] Johan Schoeman
I am busy drawing up the scenario for the miniature refight of the SADF's attempt to tackle FAPLA's 47 Brigade on the south bank of the Lomba river on the 13th to 16th September 1987.

It is known that permission for the SAAF airstrike planned for the morning of the 13th was withdrawn at the last moment due to the critical stage of the negotiations for the POW exchange involving Captain Du Toit, who was captured in Cabinda in 1985.

However, on the morning of the 16th, Mirages struck at 06h23, dropping pre-fragmented 250 kg bombs into the positions of 47 Brigade. This was followed by a strike by Buccaneers, but the Canberras which were to follow after them, were recalled when it became clear that they have been acquired by FAPLA's radars.

As I am incorporating the airstrike(s) into the scenario for the battle of the 16th, I am faced by the following questions, which I hope the experts from the Russian Veterans of Angola can help answer:

1. What was the nature of the air-defence radar and weapons that would have been (were?) deployed as part of 47 Brigade? We know that after the destruction of the brigade on 3rd of October 1987, the SADF captured/destroyed 4 SA-8 launcher vehicles together with 2 BTR-60 PU SA-8 command vehicles and a SA-8 logistics vehicle. There was a Flat Face air defence radar that was captured, and at least 6 ZU-23-2 AA guns. Would this have been the entire complement of the AA capacity of the brigade?

2. The air defence systems of the nearby 59 and 21 Brigades would also have been utilized in the overall air defence capability of the target area. Is is safe to assume that both 59 and 21 Brigade's air defence systems would have been similarly structured as that of 47 Brigade?

3. Obviously the Canberras were aqcuired by some larger air defence radar installations either at the Forward Command Post at Cuito Caunavale, or further back at Menongue. Are there any information on the nature, organization, strength, and positions of these systems? I am supposing here that the Russian advisors would have played a key part in the deployment of these systems.

4. I understand that FAPLA deployed SA-2 (Guideline), SA-3 (Goa), SA-6 (Gainful), SA-8 (Gecko), SA-9 (Gaskin), and even SA-13 (Gopher) systems in the vicinity, and that these were supported by Fan Song, Side Net, Spoon Rest, Low Blow, Flat Face, Land Roll, Long Track, and Thin Skin Radars. If this were true, the air defence certainly comprised of an impressive array of machinery, and was it certainly a wonder that any of the SAAF airstrikes could penetrate a defence screen like that. Any comments on this from the experts would be most welcome...

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

---

[11.05.2009 22:48:36] Gert Minnaar
Hi Sergei and Max, I hope you are well.
Do you think it will be possible to make contact with the Russian Warrant Officer who was captured in August 1981 by the South Africans during Operation Protea?
Kind regards
Gert Minnaar
www.61Mech.org.za

---

[02.05.2009 13:04:46] Max Gladkov
To Mike Beyl

Will you tell us more about that?

MG

---

[02.05.2009 02:34:02] MIKE BEYL
WAS IN THE ANGOLA BUSH WAR IN 78/79/80 SOMETIMES WITH THE OS TERIVEIS.IM SURE YOU GUYS WONT AND CANT FORGET US.

---

[27.04.2009 23:45:48] Sergei Nekrasov
To Gert Minnaar

Dear Gert,

Thank you very much for your very interesting response. I will try to come up with my account of those events shortly.

Best regards,

Sergei

---

[27.04.2009 23:30:45] Johan Schoemn
According to Brigadier R.S. Lord, in a publication published by Directorate Public Relations and Documentation Service SADF, called OPERATION ASKARI (A SUB-COMMANDER\'S RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE OPERATION),:

\"During December 1983 - January 1984 we lost 32 soldiers compared to the 407 [Page 9] SWAPO terrorists that were killed. A ratio of nearly 13: 1. The overall figures for 1983 were 96 security force to 913 SWAPO\'s, a ratio of just under 10:1.\"

**Ссылка »***

I found this after my previous post...;-)

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

---

[27.04.2009 23:17:47] Johan Schoemn
For an extensive list of all South African casualties over the years, see John Dovey's South African Roll Of Honour Database at **Ссылка »***

You will find Rifleman GP le Roux from 4 SAI listed as well as quite a number of others from 4 SAI. The Story under his name lists 2 others that were killed in the same way, Rfn Smit and Rfn Schronen:

"Were killed when a mortar round hit the rollbar of their buffel on the 31/12/83."

Also listed is Lt Liebenberg who was killed in the attack on Cuvelai on 31 Dec 1983...:

"As part of Operation Askari in 1983/1984, the first attack by South African mechanised infantry on Cuvelai began on the morning of 31 December 1983. During the initial assault an 81mm mortar platoon and the artillery were tasked to provide indirect fire support. The South Africans, who were not visible directly from the Cuvelai base, were met by intense 23mm fire. The officer in command of the mortar section, Second Lieutenant P.M. Liebenberg, lifted the mortar fire by 50 metre leaps to try and suppress this fire, but shortly after the beginning of the attack, the mortars suddenly became quiet as an enemy 23mm gunner hit the tower of Liebenberg's Ratel, fatally wounding him. "

There is a total of 132 Names listed for 1983, but its difficult to establish exactly how many died in Operation Askari.

Figures seem to indicate a loss of seven SADF members - see **Ссылка »*** for details and references.

I found all the losses of my own then 4 Artillery Regiment listed as well, but they were not from Operation Askari.

And by the way, Operarion Askari will be one of the operations we will eventually be refighting in miniature...

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

---

[27.04.2009 15:42:31] Gert Minnaar
Dear Sergei,

Thank you for your comments.

The Operation Askari part of our website is still under construction , and we need to add a lot more information .Our website only came into operation on 26 February this year , but is a work in progress, and we are working hard to get the rest of the information available.I trust that soon we will have more information available about Operation Askari for you to read.

On the member site of our website we have recently loaded interesting documents about Operation Askari which a non-member cannot view, but will soon create a facility where FRIENDS OF 61 MECH can join and support our website with an annual subscription which will allow one to view these documents , photo\'s and stories.

You are right , the SA forces suffered more casualties than rifleman GP le Roux during Operation Askari, and those soldiers most probably formed part of units other than 61 Mech that also took part in this operation.

It appears that you were in Cahama when the South Africans launched their assault , and it will be fantastic if you will be prepared to use the facility on our website at FORMER FOES to tell your experience of it. Alternatively , you are welcome to mail me your story or stories at admin@61Mech.org.za , and I can load it onto our website for you.I think many SA veterans will be keen to read your accounts of events.

From the little information at my disposal right now, it appears that a mortar bomb hit the roll bar of the Buffel troop carrier in which they were traveling , and rifleman GP le Roux together with other soldiers , were killed by that explosion.I will do some more research on this.

By the way , I also took part in Operation Askari in a very limited capacity, because I was a law student in my second year at the University of Pretoria at that time and went to Namibia do do a compulsory military camp at my old unit, 61 Mech, where I served full time in 1981 as a platoon commander .I was deployed in December 1983 as a liaison officer for Task Force X-ray and was based at Oshakati , without crossing the border into Angola that year.

It was part of my tasks to send the recovered kit en personal belongings of rifleman GP le Roux and his fellow soldiers that were killed in the mortar blast , off to Pretoria.


Kind regards
Gert Minnaar
www.61Mech.org.za

---

[24.04.2009 21:05:33] Sergei Nekrasov
To Gert Minnaar

Recently I visited your website to find some information about Operation Askari and found almost nothing. However I encountered an interesting entry in the Roll of Honor reading:
Rifleman GP Le Roux / 31 Dec, 1983 / Op Askari.

If my understanding is correct, Rifleman GP Le Roux was killed December 31 1983 during Operation Askari. I remember that day perfectly well. And briefly describe the day’s events in my reminiscences. It is on that day that an attempt was made to carry out an assault on 1 Battalion of FAPLA’s 2 Brigade in Kahama. The assault was shattered, combat operations against the 2 Brigade ceased, and we could watch 1984 in at ease. It would be interesting to know about the circumstances of Rifleman GP Le Roux’s death, although I understand that it is hardly possible.

This name is the only Op Askari casualty mentioned in your Roll of Honor. I do not know which other SADF units participated in that operation, but I have always thought that there must have been more casualties. It would also be great if you could recommend some websites of SAAF veterans’ organizations.

Kind regards

---

[24.04.2009 17:22:21] Johan Schoeman
Dear Max, Andrei, and Gert

Andrei, sorry to hear that you are ill. I hope you recover soon. I await your response eagerly! It would be great to know if we were both in the same bunker, even if at different times (thankfully!).

Max, yes... I realise that my initial models of the T-55 were T-62\'s - They were the only models we had for use at that time, but they had to represent T-54\'s in the scenario.

I think its absolutely awesome that we can get the experts behind the equipment to comment and contribute... I was waiting for someone to slap me acroos the wrist for calling T-62\'s T-54\'s... ;-) There are unfortunately other such errors as well, some of which I may not even be aware of, so it is much appreciated when you do point them out!

In the interim, I am happy to say that my FAPLA forces have actually received the correct T-55 models and I have a number of T-54\'s and T34/85s on the way from both Scotia and CinC (manufacturers)... I also received a number of Radar systems, including the Flat Face, Thin Skin, and FanSong E, which I believe were all in use in Angola (I stand to be corrected). I have also received some SA-2 Guideline and SA-3 Goa missiles for deployemnt against the SADF Mirages and Buccaneers in our next game! I also have some MiG-21 and MiG-23 and even a SU-22 being painted up at the moment!

I was also part of 61 Mech during Operation Daisy in November 1981 and acted as Battery Captain (doing the Artillery logistics for the 120mm Mortar Battery (43 Bty)) during the op. Gert and I have spoken previously and I would really recommend participation in the 61Mech site. Gert, I don\'t see that you registered on the www.warinangola.com site yet, and would like to post these communications on my forums as well, but with your contributions under your own name. Please do register...;-)

Regards

Johan Schoeman
www.warinangola.com

---

[22.04.2009 15:01:02] Gert Minnaar
Hi Max,

Thank you very much for your positive response.

I will be very happy if you translate this post into Russian , we are keen to receive contributions from the Russian veterans in Angola about their experiences in that country. On our website they can click on FORMER FOES and then submit their stories.

I was a platoon commander with the mechanised infantry of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group in 1981 during Operation Protea and Operation Daisy , and during Operation Protea we came across T34 tanks .

I think in 1987/1988 at Cuito the T54/T55 tanks were deployed by the Angolan army. I will contact some of the other 61 Mech veterans about the T62 tanks, because by 1987 I was no longer involved in the military.

Kind regards

Gert Minnaar
www.61Mech.org.za

---

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >>

Your name*:
Your message*:
Please add 1 to this number* :