Was able to find this in a forum online about the 2 consecutive Operations Hooper and Packer
FAPLA
He lists 9 FAPLA brigades (in addition to aircraft which he says number 80+ jet aircraft and 123 helicopters) :
47th, 59th, Tactical Group 1 (essentially T55 tank battalion)
16th, 21st, Tactical Group 2 (essentially T55 tank battalion)
13th, 24th (at Cuito Cuanavale)
25th, 66th (at Tumpo, near Cuito Cuanavale)
8th (protecting link between Menongue-Cuito Cuanavale)
He also describes a FAPLA brigade as being 1,500—2000 (typically 1,900) men, so I guess that equals 13,500—18,000?
He describe each brigade as consisting of:
- 3x Motorised Infantry battalions ... BTR-60 (APCs)
........6x 82mm mortar
........6x Sagger (ATGM)
........6x AGS17 (grenade launcher)
........3x SA-7 teams
........4x 14.5mm ZPU (AA)
- 1x Tank company (10x T54/55 tanks)
- 1x Artillery battalion
........2x batteries each with 6x 120mm D-30 (2A18)
........2x batteries each with 4x 76mm
........1x battery with 8x BM-21 (MRLs) and
........6x 120 mm mortars
- 1x Recon company (PT-76 tanks, BRDM-2 apc)
SADF
MODULAR
(split into 3 battle groups, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie)
- 5x rifle companies — 32 Battalion
- 2x companies — 101 Battalion
- 1x battery MRL (Valkiri 127mm)
- 1x battery 120mm mortar
- 2x troops of 20mm AA ("Ystervark" self propelled truck)
- 1x battery (8 pieces) G5 155mm artillery — 4SAI (South African Infantry regiment)
- 1x "battery" (3 pieces) G6 self propelled 155mm
- 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion
- 55x Ratels (Ratel-20 apc, Ratel-90 with 90mm tank-gun)
- 62x logistical vehicles
- 1x squadron Olifant tanks (13 tanks)
HOOPER
Similar, but 4SAI rotated with 82 South African Brigade
PACKER
(troops again rotated)
- 1x squadron Olifant tanks ...... Regiment President Steyn
- 1 sqdn x Ratel-90 .................. Regiment Mooi Rivier
- 2 Bn. x Mech. Infantry .......... Regiment de la Rey / Great Karoo
- 1 troop x 120mm mortar ....... 44 Para Brigade
- 1 troop x MRL ...................... 19 Rocket Regiment
- 3 company x infantry ........... 32 Battalion
- Recon elements ................... 4 Reconnaisance Regiment ("Recce")
- 3 battalion x regular ............. UNITA 3rd, 4th, 5th
- 2 battalion x semi-regular..... UNITA
https://sites.google.com/site/sabushwarsite/Home/modularhooperpacker2/the-sadf-and-unita-during-ops-modular-hooper-and-packer/sadf-oefen