Operation Savannah (Angola)

Operation Savannah
Part of South African Border War and the Angolan Civil War
Date 14 October 1975 – 1 January 1976 Location Angola Result MPLA-Cuban victory
Belligerents
MPLA Cuba Supported by:  Soviet Union	South Africa FNLA UNITA Zaire Supported by:  United States
Commanders and leaders
Agostinho Neto António França Jorge Risquet	Constand Viljoen Holden Roberto Colonel Callan
Units involved
MPLA: FNLC  Cuba: 3rd Motorized Infantry Battalion 9th Motorized Infantry Brigade	South Africa Task Force Zulu Task Force Foxbat FNLA Special Commando Company Zaire French mercenaries
Strength
MPLA: 30,000 soldiers[1]  Cuba: 4,000–6,000 soldiers (supported by T-34 and T-55 tanks and 122 mm guns)[2]  Soviet Union: 1,000 advisors	FNLA: 20,000 soldiers[3] UNITA: 10,000 soldiers[4] Zaire: 1,200 soldiers  South Africa: Start of Operation: 500 soldiers End of Operation: 2,900–3,000 soldiers 2 frigates 1 replenishment oiler
Casualties and losses
MPLA: 500-550 killed Cuba: 200 killed Soviet Union: 7 killed[5]	FNLA: Unknown UNITA: 612 killed Zaire: Hundreds killed South Africa: 49 killed[6] 100 wounded[5] 7 captured 9–10+ armoured cars destroyed 2 SA 330 Puma helicopter destroyed[7][8] 1 recon plane destroyed[9]

Operation Savannah was the South African code name for their military incursion into Angola in 1975–1976. It was part of the South African Border War and arose due to the Angolan War of Independence. The operation also materially influenced the subsequent Angolan Civil War. South African forces invaded deep into Angola with the objective of driving the MPLA, Soviet and Cuban forces out of southern Angola so as to strengthen the position of UNITA, the main opponent of the MPLA and an ally of South Africa.

South Africa as well as UNITA and FNLA had been receiving material and tacit support of the United States as part of their Cold War opposition to the Soviet Union which emboldened them to pursue this incursion. South African and UNITA fortunes were overturned and their forces were compelled to withdraw due to MPLA, Cuban and Soviet pressure. Victory was claimed by the MPLA who were actively supported by Cuba and the Soviet Union, over the combined forces of UNITA, FNLA, Zaire and South Africa. For the MPLA, the victory was essential for the proclamation of independence and subsequent political control over Angola.