Battle of Cuito Cuanavale

The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in 1987/88 was an important episode in the Angolan Civil War (1975 to 2002).
Between 9 September and 7 October 1987, the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA), in an
attempt to destroy the guerrillas of UNITA (the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola), advanced
into southeastern Angola from Cuito Cuanavale to attack UNITA at Mavinga. The South African Defence Force
(SADF), whose primary objective was to protect UNITA in southern Angola in order to prevent the South West
African People's Organization (SWAPO) from using southern Angola to launch attacks into South West Africa,
once more intervened on UNITAs behalf. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, which took place over about six
months, was at that time the biggest battle on African soil since World War II.[11]
The southwards FAPLA/Cuban advance against UNITA was halted with heavy casualties and was abandoned,
and the battle then stalemated. Cuba and FAPLA switched their attention westward, the SADF removed the bulk
of its resources to counter the new threat, and all sides resumed negotiations.[12] Both sides claimed victory in the
battle.[13][1
Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
Part of Angolan Civil War and South African Border War

Date
Location
Result

September 1987 March 1988

150950S 191023ECoordinates:
150950S 191023E
Cuito Cuanavale, Angola
MPLA advance halted, Stalemate[2][3][4]
Belligerents

MPLA (FAPLA)
Cuba (FAR)
SWAPO (PLAN)
ANC (MK)[1]

UNITA (FALA)
South Africa (SADF)

Commanders and leaders

Gen. Leopoldo "Polo"
Cintras Fras

Colonel Deon Ferreira

PVD SD SM MMM

Strength
11,500 combined estimate
(1,500 Cuba);[5][page needed][6]
10,000 FAPLA)

11,00012,000 combined
estimate (3,0004,000
SADF;[7] 8,000 UNITA[8]

Casualties and losses

31 (Official)
3,000[10]

4,785 killed[9]

[hide]

v
t

Battle of Cuito Cuanavale

Operation Moduler

Operation Hooper

Operation Packer

The Angolan Civil War played out against the backdrop of the Cold War struggle between the Soviet Union and
the United States. Both superpowers tried to influence the outcome of the civil war through proxies.
For 13 years until 1974, three armed groups fought for Angola's independence from Portugal: the Soviet-backed
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) (with its armed wing FAPLA), led by Agostinho Neto;
the conservative National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA), led by Holden Roberto and supported by Mobutu
Sese Seko of Zare; and UNITA, led by Jonas Savimbi (a former Maoist who broke away from the National
Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA), later sponsored by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and South Africa).
After the Carnation Revolution of April 1974 in Portugal, the new revolutionary government of Portugal let go
of Portugal's African overseas possessions, including Angola. The Treaty of Alvor comprised a series of
agreements between the three rebel factions and Portugal that were to pave the way to independence. Under its
terms, a transitional government was formed, elections were scheduled for the end of the year, and 11 November
1975 was slated as Angola's independence day. Fighting between the three rebel factions started soon after the
transitional government took office on 31 January 1975, with each movement gaining control of their traditional
areas of influence by mid-1975: The MPLA in the capital and central Angola, the FNLA in the north and UNITA
in the south.[15] The FNLA was effectively eliminated in the 1970s, and the struggle for control continued
between the Soviet backed MPLA government and the United States and South African backed UNITA
movement. The MPLA government of Angola and SWAPO were supported by Cuba and the Soviet Union and
some countries of the Eastern bloc, while UNITA was supported by the West, albeit clandestinely, foremost the
United States and South Africa.

Cuito Cuanavale
Jamba
Benguela
Calueque
Luanda
Mavinga
Menongue
Xangongo
Cahama
Rundu
Ruacana
Tchipa

Angola
After the Cubans had helped the MPLA gain power in 1975 they considered it necessary to stay in the country
until conditions stabilized in favour of the MPLA. The Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries supplied
the Angolan army (FAPLA) with armament, advisors and specialized technical staff. UNITA managed, with
South African and US support, to pose a threat to the MPLA government. UNITA received backing from the US,
most notably in the form of Stinger missiles that helped repel the air superiority of the FAPLA forces.[16] South
Africa provided UNITA with military support in the form of occasional cross-border missions from South West
Africa (modern Namibia).
Despite the termination of the League of Nations mandate by the UN General Assembly in 1966, which South
Africa refused to recognise, South Africa had continued to govern South-West Africa (Namibia). 1966 saw the
beginning of the armed resistance by the SWAPO and South African counter insurgency operations. After
Angolas independence in 1975, SWAPO gained the support of the Angolan government and operated against the
South African forces from bases in Southern Angola. The South African government's strategic concern was thus
to ensure continued UNITA control over regions bordering Namibia, so as to prevent the SWAPO guerrillas from
receiving Angolan support and gaining a springboard in southern Angola from which to launch attacks into
South West Africa. Its security strategy was shaped by the doctrines of pre-emptive interventionism and counterrevolutionary warfare. Following the South African Operation Protea in August 1981, in which it temporarily
occupied 50.000 km of Cunene province, UNITA took effective administrative control of most of Cunene in
January

Operao Saludando Octubre ("Operation Greeting October")

Because of the UNITA insurgency, the central government never managed to gain control of the whole country;
UNITA had control of much of south-eastern Angola. Whenever it was threatened, South Africa intervened on its
behalf. South Africa kept the whole southern border in Angola and at times up to 50,000 km of Cunene province
occupied and conducted invasions and raids into the country.[17]
In 1987, as part of the Angolan government campaign against UNITA and for the control of south-eastern
Angola, the Angolan army launched campaign Operao Saludando Octubre to drive UNITA forces from their
stronghold cities of Mavinga, a former Portuguese military base and Jamba in the southeast of the country just
above the Caprivi Strip.[18] As in previous campaigns, planning and leadership was taken over by the Soviets and
the higher ranks in the units were taken over by Soviet officers. Major-General Ryabchenko would command the
Angolan forces in the battle.[19][unreliable source?] Soviet command did not include the Cuban forces in Angola and the
Cubans initially did not engage in combat but took over support functions.[20] FAPLA's equipment was upgraded
including 150 T-55 tanks and Mi-24 helicopters. The Soviets dismissed the advice of the Cubans, as in the
campaigns before, who warned that the operation would create another opportunity for a South African
intervention. It was decided to commence the attack from Cuito Cuanavale.
Taking notice of the massive military build-up, South Africa warned UNITA. The Angolan campaign was
initially successful and made considerable gains into south-eastern Angola. The South African government
became aware that UNITA would not be able to withstand the onslaught. On 15 June it decided to intervene and
authorised covert support.[21] On 4 August 1987 the SADF launched Operation Moduler which was to stop the
Angolan advance on Mavinga to prevent a rout of UNITA. The SADF 61 Mechanized Battalion crossed into
Angola from their base at the border town of Rundu.

Objectives and outcomes

The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale was part of the Angolan Civil War. The MPLA strategic objective was to destroy
UNITA, win the civil war and thus take sole control of the entire country. As part of that process their army
(FAPLA) advanced south-east from Cuito Cuanavale to attack UNITA at Mavinga.
The South African strategic objective was to prevent SWAPO from using southern Angola to launch attacks into
South West Africa. To achieve this the SADF supported UNITA in southern Angola, and when FAPLA advanced
from Cuito Cuanavale to attack UNITA at Mavinga, the SADF intervened to protect UNITA by stopping that
advance.
The FAPLA attack was comprehensively smashed by the SADF intervention, with FAPLA and its Cuban allies
suffering heavy casualties. The SADF objective was thus achieved, in that the FAPLA advance was halted
outside Cuito Cuanavale, and was abandoned shortly thereafter.[22] The Cuban/Angolan objective was thereafter
reduced to securing the town of Cuito Cuanavale on the west of the river from capture.[18][22] The SADF had a
political imperative to avoid casualties wherever possible. There was never an attempt made to capture the town
of Cuito Cuanavale, and the SADF had orders to avoid the town unless it fell into their hands without a fight.[23]
[24][25]

Although the SADF achieved its objective of smashing the advance and protecting UNITA, FAPLA/Cuba also
claimed victory in the battle.[14] In a speech to the Cuban people delivered while visiting Cuba in 1991, Nelson
Mandela repeatedly reiterated this view, and claimed that the battle of Cuito Cuanavale "marked an important
step in the struggle to free the continent and our country of the scourge of apartheid." [26] This perspective locates
the outcome of the battle within the context of the withdrawal of the SADF from Angola and the independence
of Angola.[5]
The UNITA strategic objective was to survive, and ultimately to rule the country. They succeeded in surviving,
and they continue to contest elections, but have never won a parliamentary majority.

Battle
Also known as the Battle of the Lomba River, this battle took place near the town of Cuito Cuanavale in southern
Angola. To the South African Defence Force it took the form of four phases, which ran consecutively as a single
overall battle. These were:
1. Operation Moduler - The aim of which was to halt and reverse the FAPLA advance on the
UNITA strongholds of Mavinga and Jamba.
2. Operation Hooper - The aim of which was to inflict maximum casualties on the retreating
FAPLA forces after they had been halted, to ensure there were no further attempts to
resume the advance.
3. Operation Packer - The aim of which was to force the FAPLA forces to retreat to the west of
the Cuito River, and to provide UNITA with a sustainable self-defence.
4. Operation Displace The aim of which was to maintain a deterrence to any resumed
advance against UNITA, while the bulk of the troops and equipment were withdrawn.
Operation Moduler
Main article: Operation Moduler

On 4 August 1987 the SADF launched Operation Moduler, which was to stop the Angolan advance on Mavinga
to prevent a rout of UNITA. The SADF 61 Mechanized Battalion crossed into Angola from their base at the
border town of Rundu.
In August FAPLA's 16th, 21st (both light infantry), 47th (armoured) and 59th (mechanized) brigades, about 6000
men and 80 tanks plus artillery and support vehicles, departed from Cuito Cuanavale to cross the Lomba River.
They received air support from the airbase at Menongue, including MiG 23s deployed in ground attacks.[27] Four
more brigades were kept to defend Cuito Cuanavale and its approaches.[28]
Facing them were the UNITA forces composed of the 3rd Regular, 5th Regular, 13th Semi-Regular and 275th
Special Forces Battalions,[29] supported by about 1000 SADF troops with armoured vehicles and artillery. On 28
August FAPLA reached the northern banks of the Lomba River on route to Mavinga, where they were engaged
by the SADF.
In a series of bitter fights [30] between 9 September and 7 October, SADF and UNITA achieved their primary
objective of preventing the FAPLA from crossing the river. The Soviets withdrew their advisors and left the
FAPLA without senior leadership, and FAPLA forces crumbled and ran. FAPLA suffered heavy losses, with all
four brigades losing about 60-70% of their strength. Throughout the battle, FAPLA had lost 1059 dead and 2118
wounded, along with 61 tanks, 83 armoured vehicles and 20 rocket launchers. The SADF lost 17 killed and 41
wounded, plus 5 armoured vehicles. The SADF also captured a highly sophisticated SA-8 anti-aircraft missile
system the first time the weapon had fallen into western hands.[31] The Angolan army headed into a retreat over
190 km back to Cuito Cuanavale, which it desperately held on to.[32]
Chester Crocker, who was the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during the Reagan
Administration, said that: "In some of the bloodiest battles of the entire civil war, a combined force of some 8000
UNITA fighters and 4000 SADF troops not only destroyed one FAPLA brigade but badly damaged several others
out of a total FAPLA force of some 18 000 engaged in the three-pronged offensive. Estimates of FAPLA losses
ranged upward of 4000 killed and wounded.Large quantities of Soviet equipment were destroyed or fell into
UNITA and SADF hands when FAPLA broke into a disorganized retreat... The 1987 military campaign
represented a stunning humiliation for the Soviet Union, its arms and its strategy. ... As of mid-November, the
UNITA/SADF force had destroyed the Cuito Cuanavale airfield and pinned down thousands of FAPLA's best
remaining units clinging onto the town's defensive perimeters."[33]
On 29 September, South African and UNITA forces, having gained the upper hand, launched a counter-attack.
The objective was to inflict a crushing blow to the FAPLA, so that they would not consider another offensive in
the following year.[23] The restrictions previously placed on the SADF by their political masters were lightened,
and the SADF committed tanks for the first time. The 4th SA Infantry Battalion was added to the mix, bringing
the SADF strength up to about 3000 men the biggest of the entire campaign.[34]
During this phase the SADF units were supported by heavy artillery and air strikes. The airstrip at Cuito
Cuanavale was extensively bombarded, causing the Cubans to withdraw their aircraft to Menongue and to
abandon the Cuanavale airstrip.[34]
The SADF tactics were based closely on the tactics used by the German commander Erwin Rommel in World
War 2, when he crushed the British at Gazala.[35]
On 9 November the SADF attacked the FAPLA 16th brigade. Air strikes and artillery were used, and tanks went
into battle alongside the armoured vehicles. UNITA infantry also participated. The 16th brigade was mauled, and
withdrew in disarray back across the river. The battle ended after half a day, when the SADF vehicles ran low on
ammunition and broke off the attack. FAPLA had 10 tanks destroyed and 3 captured, various artillery pieces

destroyed or captured, and 75 men killed. The SADF had 7 killed and 9 wounded, plus one armoured vehicle
destroyed, one damaged and a tank damaged.[36]
The second attack, on 11 November, again targeted the 16th brigade. Again 16th brigade escaped annihilation by
crossing the river, but this time they lost 14 tanks and 394 men. The SADF had 5 men killed and 19 more
wounded, with 2 armoured vehicles destroyed and one tank damaged.[37] The recovery, under fire, of a crippled
tank and the subsequent re-entry of a minefield where the tank was extracted from to rescue a wounded soldier,
earned Captain Petrus van Zyl and Lieutenant De Villers Vosloo of 32 Battalion both Honoris Crux decorations.
[38]

The FAPLA 21st brigade withdrew rapidly across the river, and was pursued. On 17 November they were
engaged again, and suffered 131 men killed, along with 9 tanks destroyed and about 300 other vehicles. The
SADF lost 6 dead and 19 wounded, plus 4 armoured vehicles. A final attack on 25 November bogged down in
heavy bush, and was eventually abandoned.[39]
Operation Moduler achieved the objective of halting the FAPLA advance against UNITA, and inflicted heavy
losses on FAPLA.
Operation Hooper

South African Ratel-90 infantry fighting vehicle. The vehicle's large cannon allowed it to be
employed against FAPLA T-54/55 tanks at Cuito Cuanavale.
Main article: Operation Hooper

By November, the SADF had cornered the remnants of three FAPLA units on the east of the Cuito River, across
from the town itself and was poised to destroy them.[5] The quite demoralised 59th FAPLA motorised infantry
brigade, 21st and 25th FAPLA light infantry brigades, in positions near Tumpo and east of the Cuito River, were
effectively cut off due to SADF artillery control of both the bridge and airstrip and to UNITA guerrilla control of
the road from Menongue, which they had mined and were prepared to ambush.[40][41] With no functioning armour
or artillery remaining, the FAPLA-units faced annihilation.[42]
On 15 November, the Angolan government requested urgent military assistance from Cuba. In Fidel Castro's
view, a South African victory would have meant not only the capture of Cuito and the destruction of the best
Angolan military formations, but, quite probably, the end of Angola's existence as an independent country. Thus,
[Castro responded immediately by sending in what was called "Maniobra XXXI Aniversario de las FAR"
materiel and 15 000 elite troops, retaking the initiative from the Soviets.[41] The first Cuban reinforcements in
Cuito arrived by helicopter on 5 December with about 160[43]200[44] technicians, advisers, officers, and special
forces.[45]
General Arnaldo Ochoa, a veteran of the 1976 Angola campaign and of tank battles in Ethiopia, was made
overall commander of the forces on the government side. Ochoa and Castro were to have serious disagreements
in the conduct of the war in Angola. These tensions were to have repercussions both during the war where

Castro's interference with defense plans may have cost the Cubans dozens of lives[46] and in the aftermath of
Angolan hostilities a year later when Ochoa was arrested, tried and executed by firing squad after being found
guilty of treason.[47] General Cintras Frias was made commander at Cuito Cuanavale. The Cuban's initial priority
was securing Cuito Cuanavale, but while reinforcements were arriving at the besieged garrison they made
preparations for a second front to the west of Cuito Cuanavale in Lubango where the SADF had been operating
unhindered for 8 years.[48][49]
On 25 November the UN Security Council demanded the SADF's unconditional withdrawal from Angola by 10
December, yet, without threatening any sanctions.[50][51]
The SADF units received fresh troops and equipment, but the units were reduced to about 2000 men and 24
tanks for the rest of the operation. The new arrivals had to be acclimatised first. The SADF objective was defined
as being to destroy the enemy east of the river or at least to drive them back across the river, inflicting maximum
casualties but suffering minimum losses of their own. The river crossings were to be fortified and handed over to
UNITA, and the SADF were to withdraw from Angola as soon as that was achieved. The order was that the town
of Cuito Cuanavale would not be attacked unless it fell into SADF hands almost without a fight.[24][25]
The bombardment started on 2 January 1988, with a mix of artillery and air strikes, and a UNITA infantry attack
that failed. On 3 January the SADF destroyed the important bridge across the Cuito River using a smart bomb.[52]
The Cubans managed to construct a wooden footbridge in its place which they baptised Patria o Muerte
(fatherland or death).[53] They partly buried disabled tanks so that their turrets could be used as fixed artillery
pieces.[54]
32 Battalion and elements of other units harried the road convoys for weeks, destroying several hundred tanks
and other vehicles, and inflicting an unknown number of casualties.[55]

FAPLA or Cuban T-55 tank. A number engaged a force of Olifant Mk1As in the counter-attack
against SADF advance units on 14 February.

On 13 January the SADF attacked the 21st brigade, starting with air strikes and artillery bombardments. Over
two days the FAPLA unit was driven out of their positions, and lost 7 tanks with 5 more captured, various other
vehicles destroyed and captured, and 150 men dead or captured. UNITA lost 4 dead and 18 wounded, and the
SADF had one man wounded and one armoured vehicle damaged.[56] However the SADF was again unable to
exploit the momentum, due to a shortage of reserves and supplies. UNITA occupied the captured positions, and
the SADF withdrew, but UNITA lost the positions later to a FAPLA counter-attack. A large Cuban and FAPLA
column was on the way from Menongue for the relief of Cuito Cuanavale, but progress in the rainy season was
slow due to the need to clear the UNITA minefields and guard against possible ambushes. They did not reach
Cuito Cuanavale in time to take part in the first engagement.[40]
The next attack was only on 14 February, against the positions of 21st brigade that UNITA had lost, and the
neighbouring positions of the 59th brigade. They were counter-attacked by Cuban tanks. Both 21st brigade and

59th brigade were forced to withdraw. The FAPLA lost 500 men and a further 32 Cuban soldiers, along with 15
tanks and 11 armoured vehicles. The SADF had 4 killed and 11 wounded, plus some vehicles damaged.[57]
FAPLA withdrew to the Tumpo (river) triangle, a smaller area east of the river and across from Cuito Cuanavale.
The terrain was ideally suited to defence, and they laid extensive minefields.
In a skirmish on 19 February a FAPLA position was disrupted, and it resulted in the FAPLA 59th brigade being
withdrawn across the river. However the SADF had two vehicles damaged in the minefield. In the following
days the Cubans stepped up their air attacks against South African positions. On 25 February another assault on
the bridgehead ran into a minefield, and bogged down. FAPLA lost 172 men, plus 10 Cubans, and 6 tanks. The
SADF lost 4 killed and 10 wounded, plus several vehicles damaged. However the bridgehead survived, and the
objective of driving the enemy across the river had still not been achieved.[58]
This concluded Operation Hooper.
Operation Packer
Main article: Operation Packer

Fresh troops and equipment were brought in, designated 82 Mechanised brigade, and yet another attempt was
made on 23 March to drive the FAPLA back across the bridge. Once again it bogged down in minefields.
Although the SADF suffered no losses, UNITA was taking heavy casualties, and the assault "was brought to a
grinding and definite halt".[5][48][59] Artillery fire was mounting and air attacks were intense, so to avoid casualties
the attack was called off. Several damaged SADF tanks were abandoned in the minefield, and were subsequently
captured by the Cubans. This provided a huge propaganda victory for Castro.[60][61] The SADF equipment, men
and supplies were exhausted, and the SADF command determined that destroying the small FAPLA force
remaining on the eastern bank of the river was not worth further casualties. The objective of protecting UNITA
was deemed to have been achieved, and Operation Packer ended.[62]

Operation Displace
Main article: Operation Displace

Rear view of a G5 howitzer.

A small SADF force continued to harry the FAPLA in the Tumpo region, to create the impression that the full
force was still present, and to prevent the FAPLA from resuming their advance against UNITA. For months it
continued to shell Cuito Cuanavale and the airstrip across the river using their long-range G-5 artillery from a
distance of 30 to 40 km.[48][59][63][64][65][66] This continued until the end of August, after which all SADF troops
returned to South West Africa.[67][68]
Eventually Cuban troop strength in Angola increased to about 55,000, with 40,000 deployed in the south. Due to
the international arms embargo since 1977, South Africas aging air force was outclassed by sophisticated

Soviet-supplied air defence systems and air-strike capabilities fielded by the Cubans and Angolans and it was
unable to uphold the air supremacy it had enjoyed for years; its loss in turn proved to be critical to the outcome
of the battle on the ground.[69] The Cuito airstrip was kept in repair, but since it was under constant observation
by the SADF artillery and air force it could not be safely used by fixed wing aircraft.[70]

Weapons
The SADF used a mix of British, French, Israeli, captured Soviet and indigenously developed weaponry. Their
allies, UNITA used a mix of Soviet and South African-supplied weaponry. The United States covertly supplied
UNITA guerillas with Stingers for anti-aircraft defense.[71] The South Africans were hampered by United Nations
Security Council Resolution 418, an international arms embargo that prevented them from acquiring materiel
such as modern aircraft.[72] The Cubans and FAPLA were armed with Soviet weaponry.
Type
AFVs

APCs/IFVs

Angola (FAPLA), Cuba (FAR)

South Africa (SADF), UNITA

T-34-85, T-54B, T-55, T-62, PT-76, SU100 World War II vintage selfOlifant, Ratel IFV, Eland Mk7
propelled guns were not used.
BTR-40, BTR-152, BTR-50, BTR-60PB,
BRDM-2, BMP-1 and MT-LB (tracked Buffel, Casspir
light-armoured towing vehicle)

Artillery

Zis-2 (57 mm),ZIS-3 (76 mm), D-44

(85 mm), D-30 (122 mm), ML-20
(152 mm), D-1 (152 mm), M-46
(130 mm) BM-21 Grad (MLR) and
BM-14

G5 howitzer, G6 Self-Propelled Gun,

Valkiri 127mm Multiple rocket
launcher, Ordnance QF 25 pounder

Aircraft

MiG-23ML, MiG-21bis, MiG-23BM

Dassault Mirage F-1, Blackburn

Buccaneer, Dassault Mirage III,
English Electric Canberra, Impala,

AN-26 AN-12, AN-22, IL-76

C-130B Hercules and C-160Z Transall

Mi-8/Mi-17, Mi-24/Mi-35

Super Frelon, Arospatiale SA 330

Puma, Westland Wasp, Arospatiale
Alouette III, Atlas Oryx

Transport Aircraft
Helicopters

Reconnaissance/obse
MiG-21R, Antonov An-30
rvation

AAW

Infantry weapons
and anti tank
support

Bosbok, UAV's

2K12 Kub/Kwadrat, 9K33 Osa-AK, S125 Pechora, S-75 Dvina, ZSU-23-4

Shilka, ZU-23-2 Zeushka, Strela-2M,
Strela-3, Strela-10, Igla, ZPU-4, ZPU2, ZGU-1

Cactus, Tigercat, Bofors 40 mm,

Ystervark self-propelled 20 mm AA
vehicles, FIM-92 Stinger (used by
UNITA)[71]

AK-47, AKM, AKMS,RPK, RPD, PK,

PKM, DShK, DShKM, KPV KPVT, 9K11
Malyutka, RPG-7, B-10 recoilless
rifle, B-11 recoilless rifle

Heckler & Koch G3, R1, R4 assault

rifle, FN MAG, M2 Browning, M40
recoilless rifle, RPG-7, ENTAC, MILAN
and ZT3 Ingwe anti-tank guided

missiles
Air-to-Air Missiles

K-13, R-60

Matra 530, V3B, R.550 Matra Magic

Trucks used by FAPLA Engesa-15, Engesa-25, Engesa-50 (Brazilian) Mercedes (West Germany) Pegaso (Spain)
IFAW50 (GDR) GAZ-66, ZIL-131, URAL-375/URAL-4320 GAZ-51 and GAZ-63 (were used by Cubans
outside Cuito) KAMAZ and ZIL-130 (civil trucks): ZIL-157 (all were used outside Cuito)
Jeeps UAZ-469 UAZ-69 (GAZ-69) (used by Cubans outside Cuito) Niva Land Rover 109 Land Rover 110 Land
Rover Defender
Miniubuses RAF-2203 and UAZ-452
Pistols Walther P38 TT-33 (TT) MP (Makarov) APS (Stechkin) Beretta 92

Aftermath
Before and during the battle of Cuito Cuanavale, US-brokered peace negotiations were in progress to remove all
foreign belligerents from Angola. This was linked to the attempt to secure independence for Namibia. After the
battles all sides resumed negotiations.[12]
During that process Cuban, FAPLA and SWAPO units under General Cintras Fras opened a second front to the
west at Lubango with a force of 40,000 Cuban troops and a 30,000 of Angolan forces,[73][74] and with support
from MiG-23 fighter bombers. Various engagements took place over the next three months, starting near
Calueque on 15 March 1988. This eventually gave rise to Operation Excite/Hilti and Operation Displace, in
which skirmishes took place in Donguena, Xangongo, Techipa and other cities. The battles in the Southwest
front ended when Cuban MiG-23s bombed Calueque Dam, causing the last South African loss of life in the
conflict when they killed 12 soldiers from 8 SAI. Just before the air attack over Calueque, a heavy combat
happened in the area when 3 columns of the FAPLA/FAR forces advanced towards Calueque dam. SADF forces,
composed of regulars, 32 Bn and SWATF troops, halted the Cuban offensive inflicting approximately 300
casualties among the enemy forces.
The Cubans claimed to have killed 20 SADF troops, but the clash discouraged the Cubans from undertaking
further ground engagements. On 8 June 1988, the South African government issued call-ups to 140,000 men of
the Citizen Force reserves, however when hostilities ceased the call-up was cancelled. Following the battles the
South Africans recognised that further confrontation with the Cubans would unnecessarilly escalate the conflict
and with all risks considered then retired the combat groups still operating in Angola back to Namibia. On the
other side, the Cubans were shocked at the heavy casualties suffered and placed their forces on maximum alert
awaiting a revenge attack from the South Africans, which never came. With the withdrawal of the SADF into
Namibia an 27 June the hostilities ceased,[75] and a formal peace treaty was signed at Ruacana on 22 August
1988. A peace accord, mediated by Chester Crocker, was finally signed on 22 December 1988 in New York,
leading to the withdrawal of all foreign belligerents and to the independence of Namibia.
On a visit to Cuba, Nelson Mandela told the Cuban people that the FAPLA-Cuban "success" at Cuito and in
Lubango was "a turning point for the liberation of our continent and my people" as well as the Angolan civil war
and the struggle for Namibian independence.[76]
The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale is commemorated in several countries in southern Africa. The 20th anniversary in
2008 was especially celebrated in Namibia.