Born to War Episode 4:Lightning on the Lomba

[@danielbtwd]

Thank you so much for this. I was at Quito for 8 months as a ratel gunner. The unit that I was in were part of the spearhead in the attacks against the 21,25 and 59th brigades. I then served as the gunner for the co of Displace. This is the only doc that shows what was happening on the ground. During Hooper we were in the field for 4 months. Living out of our vehicles. Moving our hide every two weeks to avoid detection. Sometimes no food, water only for drinking. No fires. Daily attacks from migs. Sometimes very very close. Where ever we stop we dig our fox holes and hide our vehicles. This is done like a religion and with efficiency. Those migs were terrifying for all of us. At the first sound of aircraft people would dive into their holes. Sometimes if we were somewhere for long enough we would build bunkers. A lot of guys got sick. Around 20% casavaced because of illness. Dysentery was terrible, then an outbreak of hepatitis and of course the malaria. The combat scenes are very good. The visability during the fighting was very close. We were obliged to lock down our hatches because of the artillery. Sometimes you could be drawing direct fire and not know where it was coming from. Those battles took days of combat. It took 50 hrs to take 21 brigade positions and within a week they took them back. However it was Unita left to hold those positions. The attack on the 59th took even longer to complete. We would have to endure concentrated artillery for several hours before making contact with the outer defences. Then several kilometres of trenches to go through before getting to the hq. Then is when all hell breaks loose. The level of violence is absolute. When we get to sleep it is about 4 AM the next morning. Then we run and hide and lick our wounds and plan the next attack.

[@bryangreenway]

Yes , a lot of time as it was so difficult to move in that sand and thick bush. Many days spent waiting too... and those flies . I was 61 Mech , Bravo Co , Ops Modular

[@danielbtwd]

@@bryangreenway did you go to Dale?

[@skuzapo9365]

@@danielbtwd ......awesome story ol boet.

[@echohunter4199]

I’m an American retired Infantryman-Tank Destroyer and I know exactly what dealt with, being under so much pressure is something we don’t see very often today. Most don’t know what it’s like to prepare your soul to meet Christ a few times so just surviving seems incredible. If the enemy had been more intelligent and better trained, it might have been different but I’ve fought Iraqis twice and they’re a pure joke on the battlefield. Yes, they’ll get lucky now and then but we have our Air Force and artillery soften them up before we roll forward. So in your case, you had minimal support from air and indirect fire so it’s not so simple.

[@driesdeklerk6880]

Any war is terrible - there ate no winners, everybody loses... Somehow many ( non combatants) have thos romantic idea of war. Highest respect for 61 Meg - at timrs firing 90mm's at 8 sevond intervals -else be shot out by enemy tanks. I lost many good friends during the bush war. However, I salute, respect and appreciate Your (and others) contribution and sacrifice(s)

[@jhelm1712]

SADF outsmarted and overwhelmed FAPLA , Brilliant footage.

[@Kevin-sp7wp]

We were part of the Cuito conflict, 4 SAI Charlie company and in approaching the conflict zone, my Rarel 20's right tyre was blown out where an artillery round landed just meters from us. Myself and a friend in the ratel section were brave enough to climb out under heavy artillery fire and replaced it, even placing the blown out Tire back on top the vehicle. This was harrowing enough but continued. Sad though one our ratel sections went out in front who had lost radio comms and was blown out by own forces, the driver, gunner and section leader survived, the vehicle was buried in honour of the lives lost that day.

[@chanellegouws2078]

Our guys were awesome🎉 what would the wonderful men who lost there lifes say about what is going on now? 😢 We must remember where we came from and who we are

[@suzannekapp9238]

Salute daddy, grew up in rundu proudly part of this

[@martinbrandt3907]

Rundu was my 1st deployment (around the runway) - 10 Anti Aircraft - 35mm Oerlikon guns + Fire Control Units - end of '87.

[@TheSilmarallion]

My brother was there and he told me the exact same Mig bombing run.

[@stewartlumgair9482]

Wow! So proud of all you guys.

[@ianhinrichsendrummer2113]

So glad you guys gave them carrots!

[@obieoberholster4187]

Thanks again and well done..

[@cam-man7350]

Brilliant!

[@borntowar5581]

Thank You

[@bryangreenway]

Well done , good summary . I was in 61 Mech, Ops Moduler in ‘87 . I’m glad you’ve pulled this together. I notice you have still & video footage. Where/ who shot the video- I don’t remember any cameras. You can DM me if you want any additional still pics.

[@borntowar5581]

There is very little actual footage of the conflict. The SADF staff college made a video during Operation Packer and most of my artillery footage comes from there. AP also shot some footage but the art of a Documentary filmaker is to create the scenes out of stock footage.Much of it from exercises etc, also the Cubans filmed their side a lot.

[@shavukadavid9062]

Afternoon sir !! i am Andreas Shavuka David from Windhoek Namibia, I really am reeling to sit down with the war vet and experience from the horse mouth while you mans are alive ,, I know sometimes its not an easy thing or memory which you would wanna share but i beg you

[@Vlerkies]

Hi, thx for great series. This end bit is interesting though, used mirages from SA to lure out Migs, then after the fact destroyed the runway? Just do that first maybe? Just a humble national serviceman here.

[@TheSilmarallion]

Might be to force them to go more north to a safer base. A runway can be repaired and they might be able to put them to use. So if further north have more time and warning of incoming enemy aircraft. Just as a thought.

[@groeisterk]

Nie luck nie, God se genade

[@warwickrailton619]

I knew a Duncan (not well) from Subway nite club, I saw him when I was stationed at 2SAI Rooikop in 1989. He was with 61 Mech when they returned there, he looked a state. I wonder if this is same the Duncan that was part of that bombing of the ratels?

[@obieoberholster4187]

Thanks for covering a little of the South West. Have a few questions though. Although I will 1st chat to the 101Bn chaps that were in that area.. Again well done..

[@josephnakale7343]

Is there anywhere one can find a book about 101 BN especially the Romeo Mike's teams? I have read so many books about Bushwar,but I am yet to ce across one I hope they must be the interesting books to read.

[@groeisterk]

Great thx

[@garylubbe3286]

LUCK WAS ON THEIR SIDE on that day..? It has a popular “tone or ring” to it.. but what an insult to the great job this author did. BUT, it was GOD who helped the soldiers and SA against the communists, through the prayers of their people back in SA and the Christian believers in these fighting squads! (SA’s on aggregate knew what communism was before the liberals of today were even born. Pity however, it also turned out that more unbelieving conservatives in SA also did not get the part of calling on God in Christ for Him to heal our land? Even to this day we have Afrikaners believing they must be the chosen race, what a travesty and deep deception their religious leaders had bestowed upon them). Kind regards, from an Afrikaner.

[@Ghoulza]

oh my dog, what utter rubbish. there is no god, Christianity is based on proven lies. and you are taking the hard work of soldiers and making it nothing, claim your imaginary fairy did all the work. that is truly pathetic. I'm willing to bet I know far more about your religion than you do, and yet you are the so-called Christian. seriously you going to make comments try make intelligent ones, not pathetic stupid baseless god comments

[@joseesteves3744]

Why do you credit every thing to the Reconnaissance units

[@vcab6875]

It should be noted that 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. Soviet command did not include the Cuban forces in Angola and the Cubans initially did not actively engage in combat, but only took over support functions. The Soviets again FOOLISHLY 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. But for the Cubans, the Soviets would have totally failed in Africa and LatAm.

[@Daniel-yr8yc]

Whoever made this video completely exised Unita from this video. They died in their thousands for the protection of the south Africans and the war

[@christobosman5710]

Yes they did die but it was South Africa that fought their war for them it should have been the Americans seing they got us into this war but they were too scared that time to face the Rusians openly .

[@hughdavies7150]

Unita was not of much use, poorly trained and weak disciplined

[@Thextoastxisxbob]

@14:30 this battle is missing from most top 10 stunning defeats

[@PetreBuzzed]

@13:50 The information is inaccurate since it totally ignores the UNITA casualties, that fought alongside the SADF

[@danielbtwd]

​@@PetreBuzzedtrue, Unita lost almost as many men as FAPLA. Around 5000. FAPLA around 7000. That's mainly Operations Modular and Hooper. About 6 months.

[@Amantla]

Dankie

[@grimreaper6089]

Narrator, it is not "sixty-one" mech...it is "six - one" mech

[@bryangreenway]

Yes was at Dale, ‘82-‘85

[@danielbtwd]

Small world. Presbyterian house.

[@africaster]

Frank Joubert, ‘84-‘86

[@cw7661]

Dale AMMMA...DO..DA.

[@pietskiet42-_]

Huraah!

[@multibillionair7910]

amazing really

[@cezarytrabski4729]

Messa requiem Libera me Obrońcom Helu Bym był wieczność w Twojej pamięci Panie zbaw mnie od wiecznej śmierci Dzień gdy niebo ziemia świat spłonie Wznosząc do niebios z błagań dłonie Nikt spłonie w proch w ognia jeziorze Przepłynąć na brzeg Pan wspomoże Miłość w nas płonie czas przymierza Przez pamięć to wieczność żołnierza Pan przyjdzie osądzić z ogniem świat Drżę ze strachu rozkwitnie Twój kwiat Pieśń przez wieki w słowach poniesie Jak huragan w czas pieśń przyniesie Wiedz rozmowa ma się odbyć gniew Niebo daj z ziemi Panie mnie wpierw Dzień ten mego gniewu nieszczęścia Wrzask mój gorzki z chwilą poczęcia Jeśli przyjdziesz świat ogniem sądzić Daj łaskę bym nie mógł dziś zbłądzić Wieczny sąd nad światłem się stanie Z mów wieczność odpoczynek Panie Niech świeci nad nami wieczny blask Twa pamięć jest w niebie miłość łask W miejscu śmierci mój kamień stanie W pamięci Polsce zmartwychwstanie

[@Rob-lx4dw]

Does anyone know what South African anti aircraft unit was involved in the battle?

[@Rob-lx4dw]

Hi Rene, Wingfield was Navy, I did basics at 10 AA Regt at Youngsfield, just down down the road from Wingfield. I was on the border from July 1981 to Dec 1982 and involved in the Ystervark in November 1982. As a camper I was with 6 LAA and got called up in November 1987 but could not make the camp but think it was 6 LAA that may have gone up to the Lomba area but just can't find proof.

[@heinzehrt4909]

@@ReneHvidsten AA was stationed @ Youngsfield. Wingfield in Goodwood was almost all Navy. I was serving at Wingfield at the time.

[@heinzehrt4909]

@@Rob-lx4dw Yes Rob Youngsfield was in Ottery Southern suburbs CT and Wingfield is between Kensington and Goodwood. Wingfield was all Navy.

[@martinbrandt3907]

Youngsfield. I was part of 10 AA - 35mm Oerlikon - 102 Battery ('87/'88). The 20mm "ystervark" was 101 Battery next door to us - they would have been used in this battle.