Cangamba is an Angolan town in the province of Moxico. It was garrisoned by 818 soldiers of FAPLA's 32 Brigade, and 92 Cuban advisors/instructors, and a small number of ODP combatants and border guard troops. Due to the conditions of the roads in the region, was supplied by air from Menongue. During late July, UNITA had briefly raided the town but FAPLA failed to strengthen its defences. UNITA sought the help of the SADF for mortar and artillery training as well as fire support in the next attack against Cangamba. A SADF artillery team was formed and flown to a secret special forces base in the Caprivi where they met to train the UNITA artillerymen in captured Soviet 120 mm mortars and 76 mm artillery before moving northwards into Angola.

Savimbi anticipated that his forces would need nine hours to capture the town...

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