Episode 12 – Xangongo, Ongiva, Lubango and Namibe fall in Operation Savannah

This is episode 12 and we’re covering the first weeks of Operation Savannah which began in October 1975. Battle Group Zulu had entered Angola and then turned east first, then west and finally southwards to attack the major town of Ongiva from the north. After taking Ongiva, Zulu would turn back north westerly towards Xangongo and then head onwards to the port of Namibe. As we heard last episode however, there was chaos in southern Angola. The MPLA held Ongiva along with the armed wing FAPLA, while the area featured patches of both UNITA and MPLA units, along with FNLA towards central Angola. Some elements of the Portuguese army remained in places such as in the port of Lobito which was an additional challenge. Furthermore, Cubans were on the ground along with Russian advisors. And now, Battle Group Zulu with its two echelons, Alpha and Bravo, entered this morass. We heard last episode how Zulu had been confronted on the road south to Ongiva by elements of UNITA who probably confused the South African’s with Portuguese troops – or were just in a mood to start shooting at anything.