Operation Excite/Hilti (aka Operation Hilti and Operation Prone) was a set of military operations by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War.
Background
With a stalemate around Cuito Cuanavale in the south-eastern Angola, the Cuban interest moved to the far south-west. Fidel Castro developed a strategy to increase Cuban influence in the region and develop plans to push the Cuban forces as far as the South-West African/Namibian border.
On 11 March, the Cuban 40 Tank Brigade was moved as far as Tchibemba and with the goal of reinforcing the towns at Cahama, Xangongo, Mupa and Cuvelai that were currently garrisoned by the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) and SWAPO soldiers. At the same time there was a need to move aircraft, radar and air defences further south and this meant the construction and extensions of the existing airfields. This occurred at Cahama and Xangongo with the construction being completed by early to late June. These extensions and the expansion of radar and air defences brought about the end of SAAF air superiority in this region allowing Cuban aircraft to attack bases in SWA/Namibia if required.
This Cuban plan would clash with the interests of South Africa in the region. The South Africans had free rein in this region of Angola for a number of years and had been in control of the Calueque hydroelectric and irrigation scheme since 1975 that supplied energy and water to South-West Africa/Namibia.
Order of battle
South African and South West Africa Territorial Forces
51 Battalion - Commandant Leon Lambrechts
one company - 1 SWA Specialised Unit
one company - 911 Battalion
one company - 101 Battalion
61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group - Commandant Mike Muller
two Ratel-20 mechanized companies
one Armoured Car squadron
one Ratel-90 anti-tank platoon
one Olifant tank squadron
one Ratel ZT3 troop
one company - 1 Parachute Battalion
32 Battalion - Commandant Jan Hougard
three companies - 32 Battalion
one troop 20mm AA
one company - 701 Battalion
one company - 102 Battalion
one company - 210 Battalion
combat element - Sector 20
three intelligence teams
three 81-mm mortar sections - 32 Battalion
two reconnaissance teams - 32 Battalion
Eland armoured car squadron - Sector 20
one troop G-1 88-mm artillery
10 Artillery Brigade - Commandant George Swanepoel
one G-5 battery - S Battery
one G-2 battery - K Battery
one MRL troop
one 120-mm mortar battery
one meteorological section
one 20-mm AA Ystervark troop
Cuban forces
Battles
With the Cuban movements southwards and continuing SADF/South West African Territorial Force operations against SWAPO in same area, both forces would soon come into contact with each other.
Skirmishes begin
On 18 April, a SWATF unit, 101 Battalion, chasing a SWAPO unit was ambushed by Cuban elements from Xangongo near Chipeque. The battle ended with the South Africans losing two men and eleven wounded. Thereafter the Cubans continued patrolling southwards from Xangongo towards the SADF garrison at Calueque.
Aerial attack
On 2 May, SAAF Mirages attacked FAPLA positions south of Techipa. The Cubans retaliated fearing a South African advance and planned another ambush.
Ongoing tripartite talks
During the first round tripartite talks in London on the 3 May, behind the scene talks between the military contingents of Cuba and South Africa was tense. The Cubans threatened to invade SWA/Namibia if the South Africans did not agree to the Cuban proposals while the South African indicated if they tried, it would be Cuba's darkest day. The talks ended the following day.
Cuban ambush
The ambush site was in position by 4 May less than 2 km south of Donguena. An SADF unit, 101 Battalion, with twenty Casspirs and two trucks had been sent forward to occupy Donguena. They ran into an ambush with Cubans destroying or damaging four Casspirs. The South Africans withdrew at dusk having lost seven men and one captured, Sergeant Johan Papenfus and failed to retrieve the fourth Casspir and its equipment. The Cubans were said to have lost forty five soldiers.
Later that evening, a further three companies from 201 and 101 Battalions were sent forward to capture Donguena, but with Cuban tank positions south of the town, withdrew. The Cuban later withdrew the same evening.