Operation Gordian Knot

Operation Gordian Knot
Part of Mozambican War of Independence
Date1 July – 6 August 1970
Location
Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
 Portugal Mozambique FRELIMO
Commanders and leaders
Portugal Kaúlza de Arriaga Mozambique Samora Machel
Mozambique Alberto Chipande
Units involved

Portugal Forças Armadas

Forças Populares de Libertação de Moçambique
Strength
34,000-35,000 soldiers 9,000-11,000 guerillas
Casualties and losses
132 killed
82 wounded
15 vehicles destroyed/damaged
651 killed
1,840 captured
61 bases destroyed
165 camps and sanctuaries destroyed
4 civilians killed

Operation Gordian Knot (Operação Nó Górdio) was the largest and most expensive Portuguese military campaign in the Portuguese overseas province of Mozambique, East Africa. The operation was carried out in 1970, during the Portuguese Colonial War (1961–1974). The objectives of the campaign were to close down the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO)'s infiltration routes across the Tanzanian border and to destroy permanent FRELIMO bases inside the liberated zones in Northern Mozambique. Gordian Knot was a seven-month long campaign ultimately employing 35,000 men, and was almost successful since it destroyed most guerrilla camps located inside FRELIMO's liberated zones and captured large numbers of rebels and armaments, forcing FRELIMO to retreat from their bases and outposts in the provinces.[1][2][3][4][5]

  1. ^ (in Portuguese and English) Parte 2 - Operação "NÓ-GÓRDIO", RTPN (youtube.com)
  2. ^ (in Portuguese and English) Parte 3 - Operação "NÓ-GÓRDIO", RTPN (youtube.com)
  3. ^ (in Portuguese and English) Parte 4 - Operação "NÓ-GÓRDIO", RTPN (youtube.com)
  4. ^ (in Portuguese and English) Parte 5 - Operação "NÓ-GÓRDIO", RTPN (youtube.com)
  5. ^ (in Portuguese and English) Parte 6 - Operação "NÓ-GÓRDIO", RTPN (youtube.com)