Reddit mentions of Battle on the Lomba 1987: The Day a South African Armoured Battalion shattered Angola’s Last Mechanized Offensive - A Crew Commander's Account

Resubmitted as I forgot to add the resolution of the image.


The Ratel 90 was often the only vehicle on the battlefield capable of taking on the enemy T-55's and T-62's. Often requiring multiple shots to penetrate the enemy armour. The Ratel had one thing in favour of it and that was mobility. The Ratel crews would exploit that capability to circle enemy T-55's to try and get around the rear where they would be able to penetrate with a single shot.

For a general understanding of the war and detailed analysis and some first hand accounts of battles during the numerous operations then check out The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989 by Leopold Scholtz.

Another good one is 32 Battalion by Piet Nortje which is a book I really enjoyed albeit it is a bit difficult to follow some parts due to how complex the war itself was with multiple belligerents on both sides each with different goals and ambitions. But nevertheless an excellent book with first hand accounts from the likes of Jan Breytenbach the founder of 32 Battalion and South Africa's special forces known as the Recces.

There is also Battle on the Lomba which is written by a Ratel 90 commander but I have never read it so cannot tell you how good it is.

There is also a website that has first hand accounts by veterans and some pictures as well The sentinel projects.