Attack by Fire at the Chambinga River – Graviteam Tactics: The Day of the Olifant

Savimbi’s finest have outflanked the FAPLA ( Forças Armadas Populares de Libertação de Angola) and Cuban dwellers of the Canoka strongpoint. The UNITA warriors proved to be excellent at patrolling/infiltrating and after a day of maneuvers and deception, they managed to isolate the Canoka village, where enemy mechanized and armored forces await are expecting an attack.

Welcome to a great DLC by Graviteam, The Day of the Olifant, featuring the actions at the Chambinga River which followed the FAPLA/Cuban catastrophic defeat at the Battle of the Lomba (see previous DLC).

Please be advised: this battle happened at 2000 local time and in order to provide a better view, some screenshots have been adjusted for levels and contrast.

A UNITA company has maneuvered and positioned itself west of Canoka, effectively isolating the FAPLA/Cuban forces. With the daylight waning and knowing that mechanized/armored enemy forces await at Canoka, I ordered the UNITA forces to stay put west of Canoka, and the South African troop (3 Ratel 20 platoons and one Olifant platoon) to attack Canoka by fire. Little did I know that the enemy would try to break towards the west.

This is what happened.

In a remarkable feat of gunnery, an Olifant tank managed to disable this T-55 with a long distance shot. Note the dug in position of the T-55, in the outskirts of Canoke.

The battle ended in a draw. Disappointing result for our forces, since we only managed to destroy just two vehicles (with plenty of others immobilized and/or abandoned). No doubt we will see them again. The majority of our casualties were UNITA forces in Samungure, which received multiple artillery rounds.

Cheers,