1 Special Service Battalion

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1 Special Service Battalion
Active	1 May 1933 - present
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Armoured
Motto	Eendrag Maakt Mag (Unity is Strength)
Equipment	Ratel armoured personnel carriers Rooikat armoured cars
Engagements	World War II South African Border War Operation Boleas

1 Special Service Battalion (usually abbreviated to 1SSB) is an armoured regiment of the South African Army and only one of two such in its regular forces. The Regiment is based at Tempe near Bloemfontein.

1 History
2 Equipment
3 Regimental Symbols
4 Alliances
5 Battle honours
6 Future

[edit] History

The Special Service Battalion was formed on 1 May 1933 as a training unit and a means of employment for young men. It converted to armour in 1943.

As part of the 11th South African Armoured Brigade, South African 6th Armoured Division, 1SSB took part in World War II, seeing service mainly in Italy.

After World War II, the SSB became a training unit.

1SSB also took part in the South African Border War, serving in South-West Africa and Angola.

More recently, the unit also took part in Operation Boleas, which was a South African intervention in its neighbouring country of Lesotho in 1998.

1SSB had a sister unit for a number of years in the post-World War II era, designated 2 Special Service Battalion, which was based in the town of Zeerust. This unit has now been disbanded.

[edit] Equipment

The regiment is equipped primarily with Ratel armoured personnel carriers and Rooikat armoured cars.

It will most likely be re-equipped with new Hoefyster armoured personnel carriers (Finnish Patria AMVs) in the near future.

[edit] Regimental Symbols

The cap badge is a spray of three protea flowers, bound by a ribbon bearing the initials and motto.
Regimental motto: Eendrag Maakt Mag (Unity is Strength)