Thinly spread over the huge area of the south-eastern corner of Angola, the Portuguese forces initially, i.e. in 1967, only acted defensively. They were also poorly equipped. Essential equipment, like, for example, mine-resistant vehicles, were absent, while for a short period, in the entire Cuando-Cubango and the part of Moxico south of the Benguela railway line, there had been only one helicopter available. Here it was also impossible to protect the border (with Zambia) against infiltration. Poor communication links and the underdeveloped terrain made operational planning difficult.

On 24 November 1967 the commanding general of the Portuguese forces had drawn up...