Early Soviet support of the MPLA included food and clothing as well as weapons and increased progressively during the course of the war from goods valued at $25,000 in 1961 to $220,000 in 1973.  Large scale Soviet assistance did not come until 1975 though.  In this year another foreign power would join the equation, with Cuba's shipment of two shiploads of T-55 tanks and 500 military advisories.  Though the Cubans and Soviets would work together closely in Angola, early actions were not coordinated as is widely assumed.