Episode 11 – Battle Group Foxbat retreats but a blitzkrieg begins as Task Force Zulu gears up

We heard last episode how Battle Group Foxbat had been heading towards Norton de Matos or Balombo as its now know, en route to the port of Lobito in support of Unita and opposing the MPLA as well as its army FAPLA. That battle group had only just been formed up on 2nd October 1975 before it was thrust into the conflict, rushing towards at least one and possibly more Fapla companies supported by armoured cars which had taken up position in Balombo. It was now 5th October and Foxbat along with Unita battalions, had been pushing westward in an attempt at halting FAPLA’s approach to Huambo and Cuito. I am dropping the older names because as you’ll hear, it’s going to get very confusing and for those following this saga using Google or similar, you’ll not find the older names anyway. An MPLA reconnaissance plane had been spotted as they approached Balombo on the 4th October but Major Holtzhauzen who led Battle Group Foxbat was convinced they hadn’t been seen parked under expansive trees. He was wrong, they had been spotted. The MPLA was also aware that South Africans were among the Unita soldiers and had rushed Cuban advisors to the area.