Operation Reindeer

This article is about the South African military operation. For other uses of the term, see Operation Reindeer (disambiguation).

Operation Reindeer, which took place on 4 May 1978, was South Africa's second major military operation in Angola, the first being Operation Savannah.

The South African operation consisted of an assault by 2 South African Infantry Battalion on two South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) base complexes, Chetequera and Dombondola, near to the then-South-West Africa/Angola border; a heliborne assault by the elite 32 Battalion on SWAPO's Omepepa-Namuidi-Henhombe base complex around 20 km east of Chetequera; and finally, the attack the operation is most known for — a controversial airborne assault by paratroopers on Cassinga, a refugee camp and SWAPO's regional headquarters, 260 km inside Angola.

Order of battle

Chetequera and Dombondola

2 South African Infantry Battalion

• Combat Group Juliet (assault on Chetequera)
• Combat Group Joubert (assault on Dombondola)
• Combat Group Serfontein (assault on Dombondola)

Cassinga

Main article: Battle of Cassinga

Composite Parachute Battalion

• Made up of elements from 1, 2 and 3 Parachute Battalions

9 Rifle Platoon
11 Rifle Platoon
2 Hawk Groups from 1 Parachute Battalion

Omepepa-Namuidi-Henhombe

32 Battalion

See also

• Operation Protea
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 428