CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY THIPAPO MILITARY CAMP A/BN HQS, NAMIBIA (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90T00784R000100280002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 1, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: July 6, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01 :CIA-RDP90T00784R000100280002-3
Q
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01 :CIA-RDP90T00784R000100280002-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01 :CIA-RDP90T00784R000100280002-3
SECRET
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page 1 of ~ Attachment to Z -15 7 61 / 8 2
Copy
NPIC/IEG (7/82)
6 JULY_ 19 8 2
THIPAPO MTT.ITARY ('AMA A RN uQS, NAMIBIA
1. (S/D) SIGNIFICANCE: CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT FACILITIES
AT THE D1AIN BASE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY'S 32ND BATTALION
IN NAMIBIA.
FIELD HAD BEEN ADDED TO THIS INSTALLATION SINCE
2. (S/D) REMARKS: THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY IS UPGRADING AND
EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES AT THIPAPO MILITARY CAMP AND/
BATTALION HEADQUARTERS IN THE WESTERN CAPRIVI STRIP IN
NORTHERN NAMIBIA. EVEALED THAT AT LEAST
28 BARRACKS, 16 STORAGE/SUPPORT BUILDINGS, EIGHT BUILDINGS
STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND A PARADE GROUND/ATHLETIC
(GRAPHIC 1 OF 2). IN JUNE 1980 THIS PORTION OF THE
CAMP CONSISTED OF AT LEAST 20 STORAGE/SUPPORT BUILDINGS AND
APPROXIMATELY 100 TENTS (GRAPHIC 2 OF 2). tiVITH THE
EXCEPTION OF A HELICOPTER LANDING AREA THAT IS STILL UNDER
CONSTRUCTION, NO APPRECIABLE CHANGE SINCE 1980 WAS APPARENT
IN THE STORAGE AND SUPPORT AREA OF THE CAMP (NOT ON
GRAPHICS). THIS AREA CONTAINS AN AMMUNITION STORAGE
BUNKER, A MOTOR POOL, A SMALL-ARMS FIRING RANGE, A HELIPAD,
AND AT LEAST 30 BUILDINGS.
(S/D) AT THIPAPO MILITARY/REFUGEE CAMP SOUTHEAST (BE
APPROXIMATELY 3 NM SOUTHEAST OF THE MILITARY
CAMP, AT LEAST 450 PRE-FABRICATED, SINGLE-FAMILY BUILDINGS
HAVE REPLACED THE APPROXIMATE 250 TENTS THAT WERE IN USE IN
JUNE 1980 (NOT ON GRAPHICS).
(S/D) THIPAPO, WHICH IS CALLED BUFFALO BASE OR CAMP BUFFALO
BY THE SOUTH AFRICANS, IS THE N,AIN BASE OF THE SOUTH
AFRICAN ARMY'S 32ND BATTALION, A MUCH-PUBLICIZED
COUNTER-INSURGENCY UNIT OFTEN UTILIZED AGAINST SWAPO IN
CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN ANGOLA. THE 32ND IS
LARGELY COMPOSED OF FORMER FNLA AND UNITA INSURGENTS AND
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE RHODESIAN AND PORTUGESE ARMED
FORCES. THE NEARBY THIPAPO REFUGEE CAb~IP, WHICH IS REFERRED
TO BY THE SOUTH AFRICANS AS WOODPECKER BASE, IS AN ANGOLAN
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed ana-
lytical work. Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for
and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
Intelligence Sources
and Methods Involved
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01 :CIA-RDP90T00784R000100280002-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01 :CIA-RDP90T00784R000100280002-3
~~ SECRET
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page
? of 2
Attachment to Z -15 7 61 / 8 2
NPIC/IEG (7/82)
6 JULY 1982
Copy
REFUGEE CAMP WHI CRUITS FOR THE
32ND BATTALION.
3. (S) COORDINATES 18-07'-20S 021-40-54E.
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed ana-
lytical work. Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for
and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
Intelligence Sources
and Methods Involved
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01 :CIA-RDP90T00784R000100280002-3