INCREASED SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY ACTIVITY CHANGONGO, ANGOLA (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000300700001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 16, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 8, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000300700001-2
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000300700001-2
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000300700001-2
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INCREASED SOUTH AFRICAN MIITARY ACTIVITY
CHANGONGO ANGOLA SWN
2-14427-83
NPIC/IEG (12/83)
8 DECEMBER 1983
1. SIGNIFICANCE: AN INCREASED LEVEL OF MILITARY ACTIVITY HAS
BEEN OBERVED SINCE MID-NOVEMBER AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUPPORT
BASE AT CHANGONGO IN SOUTHERN ANGOLA. (SWN)
2. REMARKS: SINCEI ITHE APPROXIMATELY 1,900-METER 25X1
GRDEARTH RUNWAY AT CHANGONGO AIRFIELD HAS BEEN PARTIALLY
SURFACED WITH PROBABLE ASPHALT, AND A PROBABLE SUPPORT AREA
WAS BEING ESTABLISHED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. IN
ADDITION, SINCE AT LEAST 20 NET/CANVAS-COVERED 25X1
VEHICLES AND PIECES OF EQUIPMENT (NOT ALL ON GRAPHIC) HAVE
BEEN DISPERSED OFF THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY AND ADJACENT TO
PARTIALLY DESTROYED BUILDINGS WITHIN THE TOWN OF CHANGONGO.
(SWN)
OTHER ADDITIONS TO THIS SOUTH AFRICAN BASE SINCE MID-NOVEMBER
INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF A RADIO MAST ADJACENT TO. THE
DESTROYED FORMER PORTUGUESE FORT AND THE INSTALLATION OF TWO
ADDITIONAL FUEL BLADDERS (FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR) AND-A BERM AT
THE HELICOPTER LANDING AREA (NOT ON GRAPHIC). THE HIGHWAY
BRIDGE SPANNING THE CUNENE RIVER AT CHANGONGO (NOT ON
GRAPHIC), WHICH THE SOUTH AFRICANS SEVERELY DAMAGED IN AUGUST
1981 AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, REMAINS
SERVICEABLE. IN EARLY NOVEMBER, ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT SEEN
NEAR THE BRIDGE WAS POSSIBLY ENGAGED IN CONDUCTING FURTHER
REPAIRS TO THIS STRUCTURE. (SWN)
ANALYST'S COMMENTS--THIS RECENT INCREASE IN ACTIVITY AT
CHANGONGO, ALONG WITH SIGHTINGS OF ACTIVITY AT SEVERAL OTHER
MAJOR AIR AND GROUND INSTALLATIONS IN NORTHERN NAMIBIA DURING
NOVEMBER,MAY INDICATE A FORTHCOMING OPERATION BY THE SOUTH
AFRICANS IN SOUTHERN ANGOLA. IN NORTHERN NAMIBIA, CANBERRA
AND POSSIBLE MIRAGE AIRCRAFT WERE SEEN AT ONDANGWA AIRFIELD
IN THE PAST, CANBERRA HAVE STAGED FROM 25X1
ONDANGWA AND CONDUCTED BOTH RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS AND
AIRSTRIKES IN SOUTHERN ANGOLA. AN INCREASED TEMPO OF.TRAINING
HAS BEEN SEEN AT OSHIVELO MILITARY CAMP A 25X1
FACILITY WHERE UNITS HAVE BEEN SEEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
EARLIER IN 1983 PREPARING FOR CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS.
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work.
Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered
valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
SECRET
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000300700001-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000300700001-2
Page 2 of 2
Copy
Attachment to Z-14427-83
INPIC/IEG (12/83)
8 DECEMBER 1983
ANALYSIS OF RECENT SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY ACTIVITY IN BOTH
NORTHERN NAMIBIA AND SOUTHERN ANGOLA HAS BEEN SEVERELY
HAMPERED BY FREQUENT AND HEAVY CLOUD-COVER RESULTING FROM THE
ONSET OF THE RAINY SEASON DURING NOVEMBER. IN THE PAST, THE
MAJORITY OF MAJOR OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES
AGAINST GUERRILLAS OF THE SOUTHWEST AFRICAN PEOPLE'S
ORGANIZATION (SWAPO) HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED FROM JUNE TO EARLY
SEPTEMBER DURING THE ZENITH OF THE DRY SEASON, AN EXCEPTION;
HOWEVER, WAS "OPERATION DAISY" WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING
NOVEMBER, 1981. (SWN)
3. I (COORDINATES 16-45-16S 014-58-05E (S)
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work.
Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must he considered
valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
SECRET
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000300700001-2