1 Special Service Battalion

1 Special Service Battalion
Active 1 May 1933 – present
Country  South Africa
Branch  South African Army
Type Armoured
Part of South African Armoured Corps
Garrison/HQ Tempe 29°05′0″S 26°11′0″E / 29.08333°S 26.18333°ECoordinates: 29°05′0″S 26°11′0″E / 29.08333°S 26.18333°E
Nickname
Motto Eendrag Maakt Mag (Unity is Strength)
Colors Blue and Orange
Equipment
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Cap Badge A spray of three protea flowers, bound by a ribbon bearing the initials and motto
Beret Colour Black

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 force. The Regiment is based at Tempe near Bloemfontein.

It was previously known both as in English 1 Special Service Battalion, and in the Afrikaans Language as 1 Spesiale Diens Bataljon (1 SSB and 1 SDB).

History

1 Special Service Battalion
1 Special Service Battalion

Following World War II, the Special Service Battalion was re-organised into 2 battalions - 1 Special Service Battalion and 1 South African Infantry Battalion.

When the South African Armoured Corps was thus officially proclaimed in 1946 and Special Service Battalion was included in the corps as the only full-time unit, its symbols and colours were incorporated.

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

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.

Commanding Officers

Equipment

pre 1995

Variant Description Comment Image
Eland 60  South AfricaMortar platform
Eland 90  South Africa Fire support platform and assault gun

Current

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

Variant Description Comment Image
Rooikat 76  South Africa76mm cannon

Future

Under Project Hoefyster, the SANDF will eventually replace the Ratel family of vehicles with the Badger system.[2] [3] Five versions are contemplated of which two are earmarked for 1 SSB:

Variant Description Comment Image
Denel Badger various types  South Africa Various armaments

Regimental symbols

Honour Roll

Killed in Action

Other causes

Alliances

Battle honours

Future

This unit will together with 1 SA Tank Regiment form the Armoured Brigade of the new Mechanized Division to be formed under Army vision 2020.

See also

South African Armoured Corps

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Engelbrecht, Leon (1 March 2010). "Fact File: 1 Special Service Battalion". defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
    2. ↑ Leon Engelbrecht. "SA Army horse shod by December? | defenceWeb". Archived from the original on 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
    3. ↑ Natalie Greve. "Land Systems SA secures sights contract for Denel’s Badger". Archived from the original on 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 Dovey, John. "SA Roll of Honour: 1 Special Service Battalion". justdone.co.za. Just Done Productions Publishing. Retrieved 4 November 2014.

    External links