platoon 12
Jan. 1981 to Dec. 1982
Trained by the same officers and NCOs as Pl. 11. - same intake as Pl. 11
OPS:
Sept. 1981 to June 1982:
Pl. Com: 2/Lt. Earl Pheiffer
Pl. Sgt: Cpl. Grant Petersen
June to Dec 82:
2/Lt J J N Hagen — RIP? per JB Cloete
Cpl. Yuri Maree
Section Leaders:
Cpl. Sakkie de Jager
Cpl. Danie Fourie
Cpl. Wouter Trieloff
2ICs:
L/Cpl. Colin Blignaut
L/Cpl. Steinvaart
L/Cpl J T du Plessis
Riflemen:
Angus Du Toit — Involved in the SADF bike testing at Gerotek and Riemvasmaak in 1983
HAPS du Plessis
M J G du Plessis
Philipus Luwes — Casevaced, after failed decapitation effort by a wire fence
Fritz Beudeker
Merrick Douglas
Larry Ingalls — Australia
Johan ‘Johnny’ Welsh
John ‘Slang’ Reeves
Richard Sutton
Eddie Heath
Dawie Nieuwoudt — '6 foot 4 Dave’ -- RIP? per Sakkie
Andre Geeringh — crashed at 120 km/h, broken leg, casevaced
Ricky Myburgh — ‘Brommer’ in Australia
Patrick Banks — NZ citizen, was 16 at the time -- back in NZ now
Vorster
Jansen van Rensburg — aka ‘Van’
Steyn
Le Roux
Pieter Van Nieuwenhuizen — not on ops
Mike Burleigh — not on ops
Mark Keating — not on ops
Johan H. Esterhuizen — shot himself at Tsintsabis and was court-martialled, not on ops
Barend Botha — aka 'Baardbek' or 'Nugget'
Awie Geldenhuys — Geldenhuys and Botha got caught with weed at SWASPES in June 82 and disappeared. To DB?
stories
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I recall that Otavi rally - Reeves and myself teamed up while we still jaaging around Otavi, before we even got into the bush. From the get go we weren't interested in any treasure. We were trying to pull the carburetor slide out of the top of the carb twisting that throttle so heavily. It's always a race!
Somewhere along the route some oke in browns jumped into the road and tried to stop us. We were having none of that shit and dodged past him. Later we were on the tar road back to Otavi when Reeves ran out of petrol. We then realised the oke in browns was actually the refueling stop!
There was a bit of petrol in my tank but not enough to get us both back to Otavi. Not even for one bike.
Some more of the section came screaming past us but they were also trying to extract the carb slider and wanted none of our shit.
A railway truck stopped and asked us what the problem was. We told him and he said don't sweat, the bikes will run on diesel. We were apprehensive but he drained diesel from some little tap under his vehicle which I assumed was for bleeding purpose, shared the remaining petrol from my bike with Reeves' and started the bikes. We then topped up with diesel and he told us to take off which we did.
The bikes pinged like a triangle in an orchestra but they got us back to camp where we flushed the tanks out with petrol from other bikes. The engines never had any ill effects.
Quarry races at SWASPES
Pl. 12 was not allowed into Tsintsabis, a preview of Ovamboland later, and slept in a small rectangular livestock camp south of the base. Note water cart, the only amenity. We slept along the fence, just visible where the bush starts. SADF at its best!
Bike training at Potch, note bungalow number T260 and round bike squad insignia, which was the symbol for 'C Company' in the rest of the army. L to R: Rick Myburgh, Colin Blignaut, Fritz Beudeker.
Soon after 2/Lt Hagen arrived Platoon 12 took part in the Otavi Rally, a social event organised by the German Club in town. Before the start, L to R: Le Roux, Reeves, Welsh, Beudeker, De Jager, Douglas, Hagen.
Platoon 12 at Tsintsabis, late 1981 or early 82 . L to R: Colin Blignaut, Fritz Beudeker, Dave Nieuwoudt, Eddie Heath.
Another training ride, from Tsumeb to Otavi on the rail line service road. The XR in front is a 1981 model, at right a 1982. Only difference was the shape of the front fender.
New XR ProLinks in the bike park at SWASPES. The condition of the paint on the bikes date this to May or June 1982.
Kawasaki KX Buffel. Landmines were a constant threat in Ovamboland and SWAPO specifically targeted pipelines. Water Dept. aka 'waterwese' okes drove around like this.
Returning to SWASPES from Oshivelo to fetch the bikes. Along the edge L to R: Beudeker, Le Roux, Reeves, Van Rensburg (standing), De Jager, ? medic, Luwes, HAPS du Plessis, Geeringh. In the Kwevoel bed, front to rear: Steinvaart, Sutton, Heath, Steyn.
Cold morning at the SWASPES LWT in Otavi, Yuri Maree looking unimpressed.
Platoon 12 training in the gravel quarry just east of SWASPES after getting brand new XR 500R ProLinks in May 1982.
Kwevoel ride back to SWASPES from Oshivelo. Steinvaart's best side at centre and clockwise from left: Geeringh, Welsh, medic corporal assigned to Pl. 12 for the COIN refresher at Oshivelo, Hagen, Maree, Vorster, ?, Beudeker.
On the railway service road between Tsumeb and Otavi. Reeves (L) and Welsh overshoot a blind corner at 80 while playing 'falling behind and catching up' games. Note the rest of the platoon at top left, enjoying the show.
Pl. 12 boyz with their collective girlfriend 'Sandy' at Tsintsabis around Christmas 1981. L to R: MJG du Plessis, Eddie Heath, Ricky 'Brommer' Myburgh, Colin Blignaut, Dave Nieuwoudt.
GRENSVEGTER!! An embarrassing but informative shot of Yuri Maree on a recce ride into southern Angola. Note bush hat instead of helmet, and position of R4 which was the result of a learning moment during Ops Yahoo six months before.
Same bunch, L to R: Le Roux, Reeves, Steyn, 'Van', De Jager, berede medic. In front, L/Cpl. Steinvaart with Sutton under his armpit. At right, front to rear: Welsh, Geeringh, HAPS du Plessis, Luwes. Photo taken on the road between Tsumeb and Otavi.
'Decanting Windhoek Light after a night of Windhoek Lager in Tsintsabis'. Fritz Beudeker caught with his pants down. Note open ventilation panel on driver compartment, tree dragged behind the Buffel to sweep the cutline, and apparent babalas casualties.
Platoon 12 party some time after klaaring out, per Fritz Beudeker. At left is Mike Burley, right Dave Nieuwoudt, front Richard Sutton.
First week at Ogongo, Hagen and Maree with Luwes at right. Of note is the high sand wall, the water tower, and the fool at left doing PT while bike squad does 'onderhoud'.
Platoon 12's first patrol, in southern Angola north of Ogongo/Okalongo. The learning curve was steep despite all previous experience. Note bush hats instead of helmets and bright headlight on the bike at left.
Interestingly, almost all the flats we had occurred in the first two or three weeks in Ovamboland. Note red foot pump front left, borrowed from the family in the kraal.
Bike maintenance at the SWASPES LWT (Light Works Troop) aka workshop, a former petrol station in Otavi. The sergeant at far right was in charge of the LWT, at far left is Richard Sutton, 3rd from left looks like Vorster.
A XR 500 is not a horse, as Captain Gobrechts of Ops Wing found out when he rode with us during training at SWASPES. He was a nice oke, so we didn't laugh at him.
Same quarry, same clown.
Civvie dirtbikes at SWASPES HQ in Otavi. L to R: 2/Lt Herbert Schubert tying down his 1982 Honda CR 480; 2/Lt Kevin Robinson (RIP) the SWASPES Adjudant and his 1982 Suzuki RM 250; Angus du Toit, Colin Blignaut (hidden) and Mike Burley in foreground.
Mike Burley on a bigwheel XR at SWASPES.
ProLinks in the bike park at SWASPES. The condition of the paint was a chronological marker, this photo was taken in June, 99% certain.
Staff-Sergeant Tourney, who fulfilled an unknown role at SWASPES, maybe the chief tracker? He could be difficult at times but was a decent oke, especially after he got his "own" XR 500.
Quarry racing (as most rides turned into) at SWASPES, May 1982.
New ProLink at SWASPES, May 1982.
Bike squad bungalows at Potch were basically plywood huts. Beudeker in front, Vorster flexing at right rear.
Training ride in the area south-east of Otavi, May 1982.
Training ride south-east of Otavi.
Staff Tourney was semi-famous for being on the cover of Soldier of Fortune magazine after Operation Sceptic (Smokeshell) in late 1980, when he was a sergeant.
Just west of Kombat was another primitive MX track at the entrance to a farm on the south side of the tar road. Cpl. Maree photos.
Training at Potch, winter 1981. Rear, L to R: Van Nieuwenhuizen, Botha, Welsh, Heath, Beudeker. Front, L to R: Blignaut, Banks, Sutton.
After the Otavi Rally, having achieved the official result of DQ. L to R: Maree, Hagen, Douglas.
'Ovamboland jacuzzi'....Tsintsabis actually, but same thing. Front to rear: Colin Blignaut, Johnny Welsh, Fritz Beudeker, Eddie Heath.
On the Bravo cutline between Tsintsabis and Oshivelo. 'Brommer' Myburgh sitting on the bike, Cpl. Fourie next to him and standing far right is Eddie Heath.
Maree in one of the 90 degree turns on the Bravo cutline, a few kays west of Tsintsabis.
Platoon 12's first patrol was a day trip recce ride into southern Angola. Crossing a fence by pushing the wires down instead of cutting them.
Cpl. Grant Petersen wins a bet. Officers and NCOs were standing around the bike office when this goat ran past and someone told Grant "bet you a Rand (or was it a beer?) you can't catch it". This was him almost an hour later, a winner. Note MX boots.
All units entering Ovamboland had to do a 'COIN refresher' course at Oshivelo. 10 days of infantry rondfok without bikes was NOT well received. L to R: Hagen, Maree, SWASPES medic, De Jager.
Platoon 12 swam in every dam we saw. Early patrol with no helmets, identified are: far left 'Van', standing side-on Geeringh, at centre Maree, standing right Steinvaart's best side and HAPS du Plessis
Platoon 12 on the road between Tsumeb and Otavi, after we laughed at the camper Colonel at Tsintsabis who made a fool of himself on the Bravo cutline and were promptly sent back to SWASPES.
Tsnintsabis races, outside the south wall of the base. Rider in white helmet is on starting line. Note large and enthusiastic crowd.
Smoke break on a training ride south-east of Otavi, May 1982. At centre without helmet is JT du Plessis, with Banks' backside at right and Steyn beyond him. Far right is Cpl. Grant Petersen returning to SWASPES with a flat front tyre.
Platoon 12 leaving the Kombat MX track, in the clearing at right. Looking south, Kombat mine is behind the trees in background, 500m away. This road goes north, and was an interesting longer route back to SWASPES.
Practice track in the bush behind the stables and dog kennels at SWASPES, named 'Back of the Stables' after the MX track 'Back of the Moon' near Pretoria in SA.
Photos of Cpl. Maree riding at the Otavi quarry, May 1982.
Another weekend, another braai at the school in Otavi. Cpl. Yuri Maree with the necessary and the SWASPES Signals NCO Cpl. Loots. 2/Lt at left was an unidentified berede pelbev.
Another improvised MX track at the entrance to a farm a few kays west of Kombat..
Kombat MX, Yuri Maree running the track anti-clockwise.
Platoon 12 went to Tsintsabis for the second time in early June 1982, this time with bikes. On the road south of the base after arriving late in the afternoon, waiting for the PFs to decide where we would sleep. Shades of things to come.....
Kombat farm MX.
Richard Sutton and Eddie Heath at Oshivelo.
Fixing flats, September 1982 in Ovamboland. L to R: Le Roux, Hagen, Fourie, De Jager.
Sweeping the cutline at Tsintsabis, rear L to R: Beudeker, Sutton, Myburgh. Front L to R: Welsh, Blignaut, Heath or Banks?, Nieuwoudt, Fourie
Rfn. Patrick Banks, at 16 the youngest and one of the best riders in Platoon 12, showing 2/Lt. Hagen how to jump a XR 500 during training at SWASPES.
Platoon 12's first patrol, Maree in front in southern Angola.
Smoke break on the Bravo cutline, returning to Tsintsabis from Oshivelo. Yuri Maree airing his armpits, Eddie Heath at right with cigarette.
Refresher training -- and ProLink familiarisation -- at SWASPES, May 1982.
In May 1982 the first batch of Honda XR 500R 'ProLinks' arrived at SWASPES. Cpl. Maree's first ProLink at SWASPES, paint still mostly intact.
First patrol in perfect bike terrain. Hagen standing at left.
Maree at 'Kombat west MX'
Kombat MX! Dave Nieuwoudt catchin' air.
Bush hats no good: Johnny Welsh after another Ovamboland-early-days lesson when the platoon hit a dormant mahangu field in single file at 70 km/h. He got scalped by his R4 and the M79 'snotneus' he carried, and we wore our pisspot helmets religiously from then on.
Platoon 12's ride back to Otavi from Tisntsabis after teaching a camper Colonel about riding in deep sand. This was taken at the junction where the road splits, right to Oshivelo gate and straight on, through Tsumeb to Otavi. 2/Lt Hagen standing.
Kombat races. Nieuwoudt at speed in the sand.
Last day at Oshivelo. Hagen and Maree before Platoon 12 was 'evaluated' on a live-ammo night ambush. We aced it, of course....."fuck this land".
Kombat MX, Maree going clockwise.
2/Lt. J J N Hagen at SWASPES, May 1982. Note bike park full of new ProLinks in background.
Fixing flats, note red pump at left. Standing at right are L to R: 'Van' van Rensburg, MJG du Plessis, Douglas.
First patrol, a day trip into Angola. Yuri Maree looking neat and well-dressed compared to later. Note bush hat on handlebar, ie. no helmets, and large anthill leaning north.
Platoon 12 almost lost a man in the first weeks in Ovamboland, when Luwes rode through a steel wire fence at 60 km/h and the top wire caught him by the neck. Here he is standing 4th from right after getting up slowly and painfully. He was emergency caseveaced shortly after this photo was taken when his neck started swelling up from air escaping under the skin through his torn windpipe. From L to R: ?, Johnny Welsh, Geeringh kneeling, Sutton, Heath, HAPS du Plessis, Hagen (rear view), ?, ?, ?, Luwes, Reeves, JT du Plessis, Vorster. The photo doesn't convey it, but it was well after sunset. Luwes only rejoined the platoon in mid-December when we left for SWASPES and SA.
Another hot day in Ovamboland, another cool swimming hole. Note PB woman fetching water, and half the platoon swimming and half keeping watch.
Part of Platoon 12 in Ovamboland, shortly after our mortal enemy the Ogongo 2IC, an "Intelligence" Corps Captain, made us get buzz cuts just because he could. Le Roux was the only escapee, for some reason he wasn't present when the platoon was rounded up. Rear row, L to R: Banks, Sutton, Hath, Douglas, Vorster. 2nd row from rear L to R: Ingalls, Beudeker, Steinvaart, Geeringh. 2nd row from front L to R: Welsh, Reeves, Le Roux, HAPS du Plessis. Front: Van Rensburg, Maree.
Taken seconds after the previous one, almost everyone is laughing and Steyn the Wheelie King crashed the shot at right rear.
A school in western Ovamboland, far from the bigger towns like Oshakati and Ondangwa. Can't remember where this was, but near the cutline.