In this audio, we take a look at men from the South African army in an armoured reconnaissance unit, 1 special service battalion, who were sent into the South West African and Angolan bush war during the 1970's and 1980's. This unit was made up of conscripts, who were to fight against the insurgency as well as play often a more conventional role against Russian, Cuban and Angolan forces in Angola.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Angola was in the middle of an incredibly bloody and protracted civil war. This 1 special service battalion was deployed to play an active role and be in combat in Angola on a number of occasions. In this video we explore what it was like to be part of a resupply echelon who would drive deep into the Angolan bush to keep the combat units resupplied with food, ammunition and fuel. This is a story of bravery as it is a frightening experience to be driving vehicles loaded with fuel and ammunition in an active war zone.