---
product_id: 17718986
title: "Battle on the Lomba 1987: The Day a South African Armoured Battalion shattered Angola’s Last Mechanized Offensive - A Crew Commander's Account Paperback – November 19, 2014"
brand: "david mannall"
price: "€ 59.00"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 12
url: https://www.desertcart.fi/products/17718986-battle-on-the-lomba-1987-the-day-a-south-african
store_origin: FI
region: Finland
---

# Battle on the Lomba 1987: The Day a South African Armoured Battalion shattered Angola’s Last Mechanized Offensive - A Crew Commander's Account Paperback – November 19, 2014

**Brand:** david mannall
**Price:** € 59.00
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Battle on the Lomba 1987: The Day a South African Armoured Battalion shattered Angola’s Last Mechanized Offensive - A Crew Commander's Account Paperback – November 19, 2014 by david mannall
- **How much does it cost?** € 59.00 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.fi](https://www.desertcart.fi/products/17718986-battle-on-the-lomba-1987-the-day-a-south-african)

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- david mannall enthusiasts

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## Description

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## Images

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Fantastic book, I could not put it down.
  

*by J***A on Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017*

I could not put this book down. The author writes a very readable story of his experiences as a Soldier in the SA Army in the late 1980s that include his war time experience. While I never served in Africa but in the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can testify to the realism and relatable experiences of war from the Soldier's point of view. I had a very limited knowledge of the state of political affairs at the time of writing but the author informs the reader brilliantly. The author begins with his enlistment and is very honest about his motivations and abilities in the Army. The bulk of the book is taken up by his experiences fighting in 1987 as a Ratel 90 crewmember. Again, a very readable, relatable story thanks to the author.I recommend this book with no reservations to enthusiasts of modern African warfare, historians and the general reader.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Great read
  

*by W***O on Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2016*

This was a well written account of the firsthand experience of national service in the SADF as well as combat in a place many people have no idea exists.  I really connected with the author...reminded me of my national service  with 5SAI.  Thanks David  Mannell.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Out-gunned and against largely superior numbers the small South African armoured units out-maneuvered and ...
  

*by J***L on Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2015*

As a former SADF, conscripted recruit in the early 1970s - I also served in the Rhodesian Light Infantry in the Rhodesian bush war in the late 1970s. So David Mannall’s personal account of the ‘Battle on the Lomba’ provides some genuine familiarity for me – but also a riveting insight into one of the bigger, and largely unknown crucial battles that took place in Angola between the South Africans - and the Cuban and Russian backed MPLA of Angola. Out-gunned and against largely superior numbers the small South African armoured units out-maneuvered and blew away the enemy. Maybe ‘blew away’ is an understatement – actually crucified the enemy is more like it. Superior South African training, discipline, tactics and gunmanship won the day. I was living in Durban at the time (1987), and like most of the S. African public – was blissfully unaware of these events that the SA military was facing which could eventually have threatened S. Africa itself.The Russians had poured in over $ 1 billion (yes $ 1 billion in the 1980s) worth of equipment, tanks, arms and MiG combat jets in support of 25,000 Cubans and large numbers of the Angolan MPLA and FNLA troops. The Cuban/Russian foray into Angola was proven to be largely a failure. Castro had a senior Cuban general executed for his failure in the advance of the Cuban and MPLA units through southern Angola against the S. Africans. The Battle on the Lomba was an example of this enemy failure.Some typos and grammatical errors here and there in the book – but this is insignificant in view of a little known confrontation. A well told and gripping account of this battle from someone there in the thick of armoured conflict – that puts the reader there.Well done David.Jeremy Hall (author of Weep for Africa).

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*Product available on Desertcart Finland*
*Store origin: FI*
*Last updated: 2026-03-20*