Operation Beanbag

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Operation Beanbag
Operation Beanbag is located in Mozambique
Maputo
Maputo
Matola
Matola
Operation Beanbag (Mozambique)
Date30 January 1981
Location
Maputo, Matola, Mozambique
Result South African victory
Belligerents
 South Africa Flag of the African National Congress.svg ANC (Umkhonto we Sizwe)
Flag of Mozambique (1975–1983).svg Mozambique
Commanders and leaders
 South Africa Unknown Flag of the African National Congress.svg Unknown
Flag of Mozambique (1975–1983).svg Unknown
Units involved
SADF unknown
Strength
20 unknown
Casualties and losses
2 killed
1 missing		 Flag of the African National Congress.svg 30 killed
Flag of Mozambique (1975–1983).svg 11 killed
1 civilian killed

Operation Beanbag was a military operation conducted by the South African Defence Force (SADF) special forces against an African National Congress (ANC) headquarters in the Matola suburb of Maputo.

Background[]

South African intelligence had discovered what they believed was the planning and control headquarters of the ANC for operations planned and executed in the Transvaal, South Africa.[1]: 178  The South African team was made up of members from 1 and 6 Reconnaissance Regiments, the latter being made up of old Rhodesian SAS personnel. The operation occurred on 30 January 1981, the target being three houses in the suburb of Matola which lay 16 km from the centre of Maputo.

The Mozambican government claims that the twenty SADF special forces members were driven from the border in vehicles that resembled Mozambican army vehicles.[1]: 178  One part of the team maintained a roadblock on the main road between Maputo and Matola,[1]: 178  while a second team attacked the three ANC buildings. A firefight broke out between the SADF and the ANC inhabitants. The reconnaissance team took two prisoners during the attack.[1]: 178  The reconnaissance teams rejoined and returned to the border with South Africa and were said to have been withdrawn by helicopter.[1]: 178 

Aftermath[]

The SADF lost three reconnaissance soldiers, one of whom could not be found during the withdrawal at the end of the operation and he was left behind.[1]: 178  6 Reconnaissance Regiment was disbanded later during the year and the remaining members integrated into the remaining special forces regiments.[2] The ANC lost 30 personnel, a SADF figure, while the Mozambique government claimed eleven dead and one civilian.[1]: 178 

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Heitman, Helmoed-Romer (1985). South African War Machine. England: Bison Books Ltd. ISBN 094699580X.
  2. ^ "Special Forces History - SA Special Forces League". Recce.co.za. Retrieved 2014-02-09.

Further reading[]

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