“Sandblasted and blown away: The Armed Forces invade Table View”

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Out in Table Bay, the black fin of the Type 209 submarine SAS Manthatisi (S101) broke the surface. Closer to shore, a pair of of special forces operatives was dropped off by a Zodiac inflatable to swim through the surf, and secure Table View beach.

Their mission: to confirm the presence of the two diplomats, who had been taken hostage and were being held in a small building (an ablutions block) on the beach. Once confirmed, they were to mark a possible landing zone for an Oryx helicopter to bring in an eight-man assault team.

Published in the Military Despatches, Volume 22, April 2019.