picture 169717

Combat experiences during Operation Moduler quickly taught the SADF to remove the side-skirts which were often damaged in movement through the thick bush of south-eastern Angola. Olifant Mk.1s assigned to F-Squadron and Mk.1As assigned to E-Squadron, 61st mechanised Battalion thus mostly fought in the configuration shown here. During their first taste of combat, they engaged the FAPLA’s 16th Brigade at Chambinga, on 9 November 1987, and knocked out two T-55s. During Operation Hooper, F-Squadron clashed with the 21st Brigade at the Cuatir River, and knocked out up to 21 T-55s, but in turn was forced to leave behind two Mk.1s de-tracked by anti-tank mines and a third that threw its track. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)