Operation Phoenix (South Africa)
Operation Phoenix was an operation in 1983 by the South African Defence Force and South West African Territorial Force in response to a major incursion by PLAN fighters from Angola into the white farming areas of northern South West Africa. Background SWAPO's military wing PLAN had created a specialised infiltration unit called Volcano. Members of this unit had spent the second half of 1982 receiving training from East German, Cuban and Russian instructors and were regarded as best PLAN soldiers. By January 1983, 1000 to 1700 members of Volcano began the journey south to the Angolan/South West Africa border. They were then formed into fourteen companies of 50 to 70 soldiers. The mission was for thirteen of those companies, to cross the border and engage the SWATF and SADF forces while the last company would not engage those forces but instead head southwards to the white farming areas of northern South West Africa. Operation On the 13 February 1983, the thirteen companies headed into Kaokoland, Ovamboland and Kavango. The fourteenth company headed for the white farmers in Kamanjab, Outjo, Tsumeb and Otjiwarongo areas. The South African forces operation began on 15 February when the incursions came to their attention. By