Operation Askari a Combat Mission Deep Into Angola

In the early 1980s, the Angolan Bush War was raging. Against insurmountable odds, a small group of soldiers from the 1 Special Service Battalion valiantly fought against the communist regime.
In this video, we take a look at the 1 Special Service Battalion, a unit that was able to withstand bullets and bombs and remain undefeated in the Angolan bush war. Through this video, we get a glimpse into the incredible bravery and heroism of conscripts who fought against insurmountable odds in the Angolan bush war.
#war #veteran #armoured #armouredvehicle
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Should you wish to find more information on these battles the books they are available on Amazon and can be obtained by clicking on the link below:
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Brothers in Arms: One Legendary Tank Regiment’s Bloody War From D-Day to VE-Day
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South African Armour of the Border War 1975-89 (New Vanguard Book 243)
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South African Armoured Fighting Vehicles: A History of Innovation and Excellence, 1960-2020
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Combat: South Africa at War Along the Angolan Frontier
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The SADF in the Border War: 1966-1989
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By the time they would participate in this Bush War raid it was starting to look like a conventual war with thousands of Russian advisors and close to forty thousand Cubans participating in the Angolan Bush War. You started to see Russian MiG 21's in the sky and a range of Cuban T54/55 and T62 tanks on the ground. There was sophisticated artillery target radar tracking. One of the main objectives of the raid was to capture a surface to air missile system (Sam 8) which was successfully done. This was the first to fall into Western country hands.
0:00 Introduction
01:08 Operation Askari Trip to Caiundo
06:50 Operation Askari Crossing the Cunene then north to Mulondo
19:18 Clearing Out
26:58 Lest we Forget Tribute to Fallen Comrades
31:03 Tribute to Neil Lombard by his brother Leon
40:57 The last post "Lest we forget"
We also remember fallen comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice and the challenges their families faced as all information was embargoed and families were provided with little information of what happened to their sons. We share the story of Leon Lombard who's brother was killed in the early part of the war and how he dedicated his life to join and fight in the same unit. We hope the sharing of these stories helps bring some peace to those family members who lost loved ones in the war.
A special thanks to Leon Lombard, Herman Du Plessis, Mark Francklin, Warren Hornsey, Paul Dougherty, Andrew Tricker, Stephen Tegner, Johann Prinsloo, 1SSB C Squadron 1983-1984 Veterans Group, 1 SSB Veterans Group, Department Veteran Affairs Australia.
To Mark Palavestra, Megan Sinclair, Ky Sinclair and Mike Webb who assisted and provided much needed guidance to the production.
"Lest we forget"
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
If you liked what you heard, subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows. If you would like to get more information on any of the topics or tell your military story, reach out to Mark Palavestra or John Sinclair on LinkedIn.
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This information on this site is intended as a general reference for Internet users. It is made available on the understanding that Historic Military Interviews, as a result of providing this information or sharing these veterans experiences and stories, is not engaged in providing professional advice or necessarily takes a particular stance or point of view. Viewers & Listeners should seek their own advice re undertaking any commercial actions or understanding of these actions and shared experiences. All information in this site is provided "as is", with no guarantee of accuracy, timeline

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

One of the many cross border raids that would take place during the Angolan bush war.

[@garywilson1761]

I am fetching Donald

[@user-tw5uw6ew6d]

Win the fire fight, win the war, as the famous words of our trainer "killer Jakes"

[@ericbivins8014]

Respect to you guys from a USMC vet.

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for watching.

[@wytbarnard5494]

Thank you so much for a very powerful film. Although I am an old Rhodesian soldier I found this a wonderful memory of a very difficult time. I truly hope you can do the same for the fine soldiers of my country. Thank you
W Barnard

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Barbara for watching and your feedback.

[@ErrolI-ez5iq]

I am a very proud member of 1SSB.
I was stationed in Walvis Bay in 1969 and all my camps were on the border. Oshikati Ondongwa, Nkurunkuku, Runda etc. Took part in operation Savanna. Best time of my life.

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[@christovanzyl1768]

Was in that convoy going up to Caindo driving a Samil 50 loaded to the brim with 90mm cannon shells

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for watching Christo, scary driving a vehicle full of ammunition in a war zone.

[@luckydubeinrc5165]

@@HistoricMilitaryInterviews 9F3 kwevool, 81 patmors , kos, mines, explosives :)

[@craigbritz1684]

And then Nelson Mandela became prime minister and one of the first things he did was he went to Cuba to shake hands with his mate Fidel Castro. This must have been an insult to all of us who fought in the border/angolan war

[@johngoosen1962]

Compliment was the comanding cuban general being executed tragic as it is.

[@gideonpeter6129]

Good very good for Cde Nelson Mandela to shake the hands of the Cubans comrades. Did you wanted him to shake hands with the Askaris and AWB?

[@gerhardmichau4829]

Enjoyed the talk and interview was in the school of armour 1973 then went to 1SSB 1974 my civilian unit was the Pretoria Highlanders thanks again

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for watching.

[@charleshofman7637]

Hi was at school of armour and then 2ssb in 70's

[@leonmuller3411]

Guys, you just making the Heart of another fellow X-Soldier soft, damn man, i miss my 7.62 Caliber LMG Machine Gun, i miss everything of those years, though i'm now 53 yrs old, doesn't mean the heart is cold, but current events with all the lies & shit do make my hearts wanna turn cold

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Leon for watching. Subscribe to the channel to get notifications of similar videos in the future.

[@antongruber5978]

Nothing like a slung LMG
63 , ready to let rip

[@easyganer]

Thanx for doing this vid and you wold at the end is very nice and hart worming thanx and for let the ppl tal there said to the Bush war thanx you

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for watching and the feedback.

[@eros69eros1]

Kaptein Du Plessis. I remember all so clearly. I was the OpsMedic Squadron. Du Mond was captain's drive and Richy his gunner! Best memories! Ops Askari 83/84. Thsnx for this!

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for sharing Gerhard

[@grantoconnor6019]

The Angolan Oil fields were of more interests to the Americans than the SAM7 missiles. The war was well under way before any SAM7 missiles were deployed. They SAM7's were merely part of the war spoils at the end of the day. Good and sad memories. Thank you.

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Grant for watching and your input. You make a good point.

[@pedroleal7118]

And diamonds, and Uranium, and Titanium &,&,&...

[@edmundwessels2072]

Well today there's a direct flight from the US to Angola and a massive American township.

[@stuartgorton7746]

Proud member of 1SSB 1987 The best and still is .

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for sharing

[@mikebooyens3807]

Lest we forget. To my father WO1 MA "Piet" Booyens (PMM, MMM), RSM School of Armour ('67-69), RSM 2SSB ('69-'72) & RSM 1SSB ('72-'76). "Faithful True and Steady, Come what may we're ready"

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Mike for the information on your Dad

[@Toncor12]

You produce wonderful, wonderful videos like this one but may I encourage you to make the music very soft or drop it altogether when a person is talking. It actually serves no point at all in my humble opinion when the storyteller is talking but being part of the instroduction etc is okay..

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for the feedback. Good point and we have noted it for future videos.

[@ianhinrichsendrummer2113]

Absolutely, when the music stopped it was so much better and then it started AGAIN!!

[@user-tw5uw6ew6d]

All airsupport came from Ondangwa airfield

[@janvanheerden265]

The mudic is too loud

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for watching Jan, we have made a note of the music.

[@IansDrumsandBass]

Totally agree with you

[@softturd]

my brother fought with 32 i miss him incredibly

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for watching

[@craigbritz1684]

Why? Did he die?

[@softturd]

@@craigbritz1684 not with 32, after that he joined thr recces
lost him to cancer in 2019...his name is on the 32 memorial site though..not the actual tree but a service with old comradesof 32 paid respects there so i think so.

[@rossitherhodie5659]

I'm Rhodesian and was in Rhodie war 70's....Respect to you guys, we could have held on with your armourments, our joint forces and leadership, but politicians cooked the cat as usual and now both countries are &^%*^*, well just look for yourselves. Such a waste of human lives and hard work. Just think how different and Great our nations could have been. Yes we made some mistakes by not integrating ALL south African and Rhodesian races earlier and giving them the same opportunities, but it was all about standards and keeping out communism.

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Peter, did you see our latest video on the Rhodesian SAS

[@hendriklamprecht3028]

I was there B escadron with major du toit ,61 meg ,wil never forget

[@brandaoz]

Now they know what we went trough...

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

1 SSB was part of the South African 6th Armoured DIVISION in Italy, not the 6th Armoured Regiment.
The reason SA put up an armoured division was because there were not enough men to form an infantry division.
The British and Americans tried to get SA to furnish infantry rather because of the death toll of infantrymen.
Most of 6th Div. SA in Italy were volunteers who had fought in the East African Campaign and in North Africa as infantrymen.

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for sharing.

[@neilblunt1926]

My late father was in both East African and Libya as part of South African Irish (having an Irish mother or grandmother) regiment in the 6th Div. He was captured at Sidi Rezeg, taken to Italy as a POW and managed to escape across the Alps into Switzerland where he had to wait out the rest of the war. I always was proud of what he did as I am proud of and salute all my fellow soldiers who fought in Angola and SWA. As for me my little part was totally insignificant as part of 3 SAI at Rundu from mid Jan.69 to mid April 69 long before the real war started. Doing mostly showing our faces that the Army was there, training in the bush and the odd patrol. The only scariest of all was night patrolling in Rundu itself. Oh and escorting a Portugese Officer deep into the Caprivi Strip for him to be taken over the river. Again a salute to all of you that actually fought.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

@@neilblunt1926 I volunteered to join the Transvaal Scottish after my camps were finished, went from Armoured Corps to infantry.
The 3rd Battalion Transvaal Scottish were almost wiped out at Sidi Rezeg, most of the troops captured by the Germans.
That's what happens when tanks face unsupported infantry.
Some of the SA men held by the Italians escaped when Italy surrendered to the Allies despite being told to stay in their POW camps by their own officers... and joined up with Italian partizans fighting the Germans.

[@hintersland7262]

What the hell is the background music for??!!

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for the feedback. This was one of our first videos when we started podcasting a number of years ago. Quality was not up to scratch.

[@IansDrumsandBass]

So freakin irritating 😡😡😡

[@user-kq7ri9zd7t]

The music destroyed an otherwise good video

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for the feedback. This was one of our first videos and we did mess up the music.

[@wpforever5257]

I see Rufus Slabbert and Barries Barnard there

[@mikethomas1866]

Sergeant slabs.....what a character😂😂

[@Rustie_za]

the music on this is very annoying and distracting

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Johann for the feedback.

[@eros69eros1]

40 years ago this time askari 83/84

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Gerhard for your feedback.

[@pieterbeukes1411]

Saluut, Kav J Pretoruis,....... landmuin ondplofing op patrolie in Kahokoland ( langs die Kaminjap)

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for sharing the story.

[@IansDrumsandBass]

Capt Pretorius - 1 SAI BN?

[@gideonpeter6129]

Cowards 😂😂😂😂😂

[@IansDrumsandBass]

Honestly, that music was so disruptive to the talking, I turned the vdo off after 2 minutes.😱😱

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks for the feedback Ian. It was one of the first videos we did. Something we need to redo.

[@IansDrumsandBass]

@@HistoricMilitaryInterviews 👍🏻

[@janhenning4678]

The background music spoil the whole video

[@HistoricMilitaryInterviews]

Thanks Jan for the feedback. It was one of the first videos we did.

[@angeloangelides713]

The music utter crap. Why, why, why do you play it. The music serves no purpose except to make people stop watching the full video