Legacy Conversations – The Battle of Savate – 21 May 1980 - 32 Bn - FESTIVE SEASON REPEAT

The British Paratroopers talk about Arnhem, 1944, and the French Foreign Legion talks about Dien Bien Phu, 1954. 32 Battalion, known in Portuguese as Os Terríveis (The Terrible Ones), talks about the Battle of Savate.

It was at Savate, known as Operation Tiro-Tiro, that about 250 members of the famous South African light infantry unit attacked a FAPLA (Angolan Army) Brigade. They were up against approximately 1,200 entrenched troops armed with anti-aircraft guns as well as two light tanks. The attacking 32 Battalion members had no air support, no artillery support, and no friendly armour to assist. They only had an 81mm mortar platoon that failed to provide effective cover. Nevertheless, the soldiers relentlessly advanced to battle. In a furious battle, they succeeded in overrunning the enemy but lost 15 men to God and another 30 wounded.

This is the story of the Battle of Savate as told by those participating:
Alpha Coy – Leon Grobler
Foxtrot Coy – Renier “Doiby” Coetzee,
Recce Wing – Rick Lobb (Stopper Groups), and for the HQ Element advancing with the companies – Justin Taylor.

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Links:
Justin Taylor’s book – “A Whisper in the Reeds” is available http://www.justinswtaylor.com/ (local SA) ~ Amazon ~ Apple Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Google Play ~ Rakuten kobo ~ Scribd ~ and others

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