picture 169209

Perhaps the most powerful armoured formation of the FAPLA during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale was the 2nd Independent Tank Battalion. This unit operated 24 T-54s and reached the combat zone in late July and early August 1987. As far as is known, all of its tanks belonged to the early T-54A variant, recognizable by the small muzzle counterweight instead of the fume extractor more frequent by the 1980s. They were painted in olive green overall, and seem to have worn no tactical insignia. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)