Unconventional Warfare - The Unusual Tactics of the South African Defense Forces 

The most underrated army of the 20th century, it was proven and effective

And today we are seen as the "pig in the fairytale"... I also have served in the SADF during 1986/87 and some military camps there after. Including in the old Soweto.... Those were the day my friend.. We thought it will never end... As the song goes on... Respected to all the guys who have paid the ultimate price.. May you rest in peace... We salute you all......😢😢

I had a relief teacher for my engineering class who fought during the Rhodesian Bush War. He told us a lot about the war, and talked about how as soon as he left school all the men were made to join the army for a certain duration. There is an article on him because he was awarded the highest medal you could get back then similar to the Medal of Honor, for saving a bunch of soldiers who came under fire from RPGs and small arms while they were in a convoy. I also remember him talking about how they wouldn't land the helicopters they would hover just above the ground and they would have to jump out, and he explained that is why his knees are so bad now.

My uncle served in the SADF and was in Operation Protea. We as children had to look under our desks in classrooms to check for limpit mines in the 1980's. There was always a chart on the walls showing the different types of landmines used.

Yet it made us as the S.A.D.F one of the strongest defense forces in the world. Keep in mind, we didn't fight just one country in the Angolan border war. We fought against 3 countries and we still walked out with the littlest casualties. We fought Russia, Cuba, Angola S.W.A.P.O. at the same time. Not to mention the other operations that we as the 2nd best unit has done in other countries. The best was the V.F. 1st Then there was the 32BN 2nd. Then the rest. I am glad to say that I served with one of the best units there was. I will always defend and keep the brotherhood's loyalty to each other alive. Sgt Nortje. 32BN Bravo.

I was there. Riemvasmaak 1981. Omega 1982.

Glad too see that the South Africans are being recognised as the first to develop the MRAP. Thanks

We were formidable. I had first hand experience.

Knew a man who served in the Koevoet during the Bush War. His stories about the brutality of the foreign communists against local villages were unsettling

Still one of the best life experiences i have ever had. Ops Medic in the townships of Jozie. 92.

You refer to "PNLA" from the sound of it. There was no such group. When the fighting against the Portugeuse began there were three groups -- FNLA (Chinese support), MPLA (Russian support) and Unita (pro western). SWAPO decided on an "armend" struggle and killed locals. When SA got involved to protect the villagers SWAPO retreated into Angola and established their bases there - the reason why SA would cross the border was to destroy the bases. Unita was fighting against the "unity government" who had set up a defence force referred to as FAPLA. Thus SA fought against SWAPO, UNITA against FAPLA and the Cubans interfered which escalated the whole issue. FAPLA had Russian advisors and weapons, East European pilots for the Mig's and Cuban forces. SA supported UNITA with hardware - mostly artillery.

I'm currently reading about Portugal' defense of the Ultramar, a militarily successful and relatively monumental struggle by this tiny nation to protect its three whole different provinces from another continent. They were betrayed by the politicians in 1974, but undefeated in the field. The reason i mention Portugal is that it shared the same trouble South Africa and Rhodesia had: international treachery.

I'm a veteran of the conflict myself...my take is that we were very heavily disciplined throughout training and beyond..we were very fit as well however the discipline is what made us effective as a fighting force..we all knew our place and role and worked as a unit..for me that's the story in a nutshell and it kept casualties low...

From South Africa I was conscripted into service 1974, served 2 years between Rundu & Bagani... this presentation (so far, because it is by no means complete), is by far, the best portrayal of that war. Every other presentation I've ever watched is falsely skewed to make it seem the communist SWAPO Cuban backed where somhow in control, and actually the victors.....Let's be utterly clear we thrashed the life out of them completely. It would be very relevant to do a presentation on the paraat-heid of our men.... it was phenomenal To 7 SAI and all the rest

Thx. And yet we still remain silent on secrets 44 yrs later. That is called trustworthy. Unlike what we see today.

Fought in both Angola and Namibia with the SADF, was interesting times.

Thank you for this accurate documentary

Ignore my name served in Angola 86-87 served the 2 year conscription from 7SAI to Angola. Moduler

Thank you for the accurate content, we do appreciate it. Boere groete!

He quite correctly referred to PLAN which was the military wing of SWAPO. Holden Robertos FNLA were defeated in trying to take Luanda from the MPLA. The remnants of FNLA fled south where they were grouped under the SADF and became 32 Battalion. Savimbis UNITA had fought, along with FNLA and MPLA against the Portuguese. With the Communist coup in Portugal the Portuguese withdraw from all their colonies and the liberation armies then turned on each other. MPLA was Soviet backed, FNLA was US backed and no one backed Savimbi, who was also anti South Africa. The Cubans then were then sent in by the Soviets and by invite of the MPLA to help them against the FNLA and UNITA. The US and other African countries requested South African involvement. All went well until the final battle where Luanda would fall into FNLA hands but on the morning planned for the attack Roberto overslept and arrived some four hours too late and despite the US and SA advisors counseling him to call off the attack he chose to go it alone. SA withdrew their military force and the US withdrew their advisors. Roberto attacked, was defeated and he himself was executed by firing squad. The MPLA were sympathetic to SWAPO and allowed them to set up training and operations bases in Angola. This led to the regular operations inside Angola by the SADF. UNITA in the meanwhile came under immense attack by the newly formed Angolan army FAPLA with Cuban assistance and Soviet advisors and equipment. UNITA then became a South African ally until the ANC took over in South Africa. Short history of a long conflict that started when I was a child but in which I also fought as a South African.

Thank you kindly for this. I've been in Angola for 5 long years. Komeshu Nonyati 🍻

I am a ex SADF Bombardier. Appreciate your channel

Absolutely amazing. Great production and very thought out.❤

I love the informational videos you guys have been making.

My father’s best friend spent more than 60 days in the Angolan warzone once. He was leading a group of 24 locals. They fought hand and knees. Stayed in the bush for months on end and did recon missions. Once they had to walk 80km in the night in order to save 3 reccies who got compromised. They made it there- and went into battle. As the war was called off, he was reaching another village held by terrorists. He told his leadership that he didnt go all that way for nothing- and they proceeded to clear the town of ters. The stories ive heard are ruthless. Bodies hanging from the fronts of cars etc. The ters were inhumane.

Great work mane really puts in perspective the amount of strategy it took to form the correct pieces for the puzzle. The pattern 84 is great btw. One rig for all my 30 cal semi autos. Doing the lords work mane.

The Forgotten War

Nice work.

God i love you guys fr. Memories of back in the /k/ board when I first heard of ya and bought them almonds Tbh. Y'all definitely became my favorite milsurp shop ngl Anyway, great video as always

It's called the" silent war " fir reason , the experienced combat , and the facts of reality of the conflict of the minority of those whom actually fought ,....their. memories thereof shall never be known as , committing to never speak about is highly honoured and respected .

The local civilians really got the worst of both worlds. They were treated with disdain, cruelty, and indifference by the Security Forces and were intimidated, brutalized and often murdered by the guerrillas. This was especially true in the Rhodesian War were the rival liberation factions fought each other as much as the government. Hundreds of Namibian civilians were also killed or disfigured by indiscriminately lain landmines.

You mean to tell me they had no bases with McDonald's, volleyball and massage parlors???? 😂😂😂

4:19 Where can we find the three volumes?

Hi from south Africa, they dont teach us these things here, yes apartheid was bad, the soldiers and such were cool though

Thank you. Proudly ro have served in the SADF.

How in the world did you get hold of those booklets is what I want to know?

Where did you get your info?

He he it was safer than its now in sa

🐐’s

At the height of the offensive, Sa only had about 5000 troops in the operational areas, compared to about 15000 Cuban Russian and Angolan troops

Counter Insurgencies? Commies mate. Commies.

I served proudly in the SADF until 1994. After the country was given to the communists we where defending the country against, I resigned. Had some of my best times serving.

hehe he said "infranfry" at 0:55

Sterkte

Long hair like that?? Not when I was there.

Lots of stuff in Kommandostore out of stock or in stock sizes for men without muscle :/

what is this soundtrack bru

Since you are familiar with South Africa & South African culture. Which State in your opinion would be the most suited for South Africans to move to when immigrating to the US.

I know I was there fighting this unconventional war against terrorism. I was part of the COIN unit. We were the best in Africa at that stage I believe. Only Selous scouts of Rohdesia were parralel fighters. By God's grace and peotection we won the bush war and only lost the political war because our people turned their backs upon our God and are now in general indistinguishable from the world. If we as a nation once again humble ourselves and pray God will answer our prayers once more.

Today's SA army is f@#$# beyond repair.

SWAPO, not PLAN ... 1984 - 1986, 53BN, Ondangwa.

You sell your stuff quite expensive, it’s good stuff but it’s like 10 times more expensive than getting from South Africa, your pattern 83 is like 200 dollars, got mine for 750 rand, a fraction of the price.

What is that clown suit you have on ?

it was dutile had effective coin stratefy when yo didn't had support when insurgent ennjoy popular support this is why sadf lose the war in the end lol

Superb video sir. Baie dankie.

It was hell. Savage soldiering. I did 2 years of hell

Kind of look like tracers but it's just bad video

All (MPLA, FNLA and UNITA) not to mention Frelimo and PAIGC in Mozambique and Guinea Bissau against the Portuguese since 1961, yet the Portuguese held on, without much difficulty until 1975, when a Portuguese military coup changed all that. The Portuguese left, Rhodesia lasted only four years more, even with strong SA support and South Africa invaded Angola thinking it would be “a piece of cake “. Wrong! Turns out Soviet backed Cuba turns what was once a guerrilla war into a full conventional war. South Africans did well but that wasn’t enough. Cuba didn’t give a damn if cubans died by the hundreds, not to mention angolan civilians. But to South Africans to loose a few dozen men in foreign soil was unacceptable.

All your footage is not unconventional

nice