Day 2 - Border Tour 2008 - To 'Nam and back - A nostalgic tour of the South West African ('Nam) / Angolan War Zone of the 70's and '80's
Map : Grootfontein to Oshivello
On our way north (’83) Eland 90 and Kwevoel (’81)
Convoy going north (’81) Otjikoto Lake (’77)
Up early morning, gather under the trees closest to the tarred road for rollcall, then onto the "Wit Olifante" and north we go, joining a convoy just outside town, taking supplies to the other areas north..... escorted by Eland 90 armoured cars and soldiers, nicknamed "supporties" in Buffel APV’s.. these convoys are the lifeline of everybody in the northern area… convoys are often ambushed, so keep your eyes peeled… let's hope this is a case of security and protection in numbers for this trip.... quite a long, uncomfortable, hot and boring drive…. firstly we'll stop at Otjikoto Lake - for a smoke and to stretch legs – then past the turn-off to the Etosha Game Reserve… roughly east is Tsumeb and the Kombat area to the South-West, once the base of 61 Mech Bn, when about 150 members of an elite Swapo unit code named 'Vulcan' infiltrated the farming area around Grootfontein, Tsumeb, Otavi and Tsintsabis. Several farmers and farm workers were killed, as were 7 members of Alpha Company of 61 Mech Bn on 15 April 1982. They were Rfn B.J. Wolfaardt, M. Petersen (buried in Stikland Cemetery , Cape Town), J.H. Potgieter, L.P. Hough, L/Cpl J.J. van der Berg, Cpl M.J. van Jaarsveld, 2Lt D. van der Westhuizen ("Oom Daan").
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["Whilst on patrol the Lt. sent out a section (1 Ratel) to follow a couple of tracks that the tracker had picked up. The Ratel hit an ambush just after 10 am. By the time backup had formed up and went to their aid a group of soldiers had been killed. "
On different ROH's - surname is spelt either Petersen or Peterson... Unit either 61 Mech or 1 SAI]
Rfn. Marius Petersen’s grave – Stikland Cemetery, Bellville, Cape Town
Further north is Operet and the Owambo check point .... when we're through the check point, you'll be just north of the redline, in the real Operational Area.... SWAPO country.... "leeu wereld" .... to the immediate east is Oshivello, a training area, or better known as Oshi-vliee (The place of flies).... just a few quick facts about the border area…
Owambo border (’77) Owambo check point (’77)
the S.W.A./Namibian/Angolan front covers an east-west (from Foz de Kunene in the west to the joint Zambia/Zimbabwe/Botswana/S.W.A border in the east) distance of 1600kms. It is roughly equal to the distance between London and the Lithuanian-Belarus-Ukraine Border; or London and the Algave in Portugal, or London and the North-African Coast. Long distances, sparse population, water scarcity, flat featureless terrain, loose sand and dust, thick bush, all make warfare in this area very difficult. The environment ranges from the Namib desert in the west, semi desert in the centre of the common border area, to savannah and dense bush towards the Caprivi strip. All soldiers, new to the operational area, are re-trained here at Oshivelo (Oshawello), the Sector 10 (One-Zero) Training Unit, in new tactics, both own and enemy, new weapons, new types of vehicles, they are given time to acclimatize and time to become use to 2 meals a day… brunch and supper… as with most military meals it will always look the same, but never taste the same, heaven knows why… won't even think of asking as well. After training for a week or so they are considered combat ready and are deployed in their designated areas of operation. During Operation Savannah this base was the home of Battle Team Juliet, which later became 61 Mechanized Battalion.
As some of us are new to the area, we'll be instructed in the utilization of the R4 assault rifle.... a bit different and easier to use than the trusty old .303.... as well as the FN MAG LMG.... the replacement for the BREN..... jip... time will be spent to familiarize our self with the M79 Grenade launcher and the 60mm Patmore as well.....times have changed.... you'll be instructed in patrol formations, radio procedures, casevac procedures, vehicle patrols and ambush techniques.... a long day .... enjoy.... we'll overnight in this base...... the pub will be open later and the prices as low as only the Army can sell booze..... just a friendly word of warning, should you decide to stroll around in base, might be due to a weak bladder or whatever...... watch out for lions.... real lions.... the Etosha Game reserve is just down the road and lions are often found in this area..... hope you all enjoy a good nights rest in the tents to the west of the HQ, closest to the Nature Reserve..... tomorrow we'll travel by tarred road north to Ondangwa and Oshikati ..... another long journey on "Wit Olifante" ... this will be the last stretch of tarred road you'll see for many a day....
