Battle of Cassinga
Controversial South African airborne attack on a SWAPO military base / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Battle of Cassinga also known as the Cassinga Raid or Kassinga Massacre was a controversial[3] South African airborne attack on a South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) military camp at the town of Cassinga, Angola on 4 May 1978. Conducted as one of the three major actions of Operation Reindeer during the South African Border War, it was the South African Army's first major air assault operation.
Quick Facts Date, Location ...
Battle of Cassinga | |||||||
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Part of the South African Border War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
South Africa |
SWAPO Cuba | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Constand Viljoen Ian Gleeson | Dimo Hamaambo | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
SADF |
SWAPO: Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
370 soldiers 4 Canberra B-12 bombers 5 Buccaneer fighters 4 Mirage III fighters 4 C-130 Hercules transport planes 5 Transall C-160 transport planes 13 Aerospatiale Puma helicopters 6 Super Frelon helicopters |
SWAPO: 300–600 guerrillas[1] 2 ZPU-4 AA guns 1 ZU-23-2 AA gun 1–2 ZSU AA guns 3,000–4,000 refugees [1][2] Cuba: 144–400 soldiers 4 T-34 tanks 17 BTR-152 APCs 7 trucks 4 AA guns | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
3 killed 11 wounded 1 missing |
Cuba: 150 soldiers killed[2] 3 T-34 destroyed 17 BTR-152 destroyed SWAPO: unknown 40 captured | ||||||
624 dead and 611 wounded in total (Angolan government claim)[2] 582 dead and 400 wounded in total (SWAPO claim)[1] |
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