South African Army Infantry Formation

South African Army Infantry Formation

Infantry Formation badge
Country  South Africa
Branch  South African Army
Type Infantry
Motto Gladium Practamus (Wielders of the Sword)
Colors Green and black
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major General Lindile Yam
Insignia
Collar Badge Springbok head
Beret Colour Green (motorised, mechanised and light infantry)
Maroon (parachute infantry)

The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army.

The unit originated as the Infantry Branch of the Union Defence Forces in 1913.

In 1915, the defence forces established the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force for war service outside southern Africa. It included the South African Infantry, comprising twelve battalions, and the Cape Corps, comprising two battalions of Coloured volunteers. These units were disbanded in 1919.

The Infantry Branch was enlarged in 1934, and the mounted rifles regiments were converted to infantry in 1935.

In 1943, the Infantry Branch was incorporated into the new South African Armoured Corps, which was divided into armour and infantry branches after World War II.

Based on the findings of a committee led by Brigader H.B. Klopper in late 1953, it was recommended that some English-speaking units be converted to Afrikaans medium units, while other regiments should be amalgamated or contracted.[1]:16 Despite representations made by some of the units affected, the reorganization went ahead from January 1954. In 1956 a further reorganization was made necessary by the considerable increase in the number of citizens balloted for training in some areas. The Army was accordingly reorganized to consist of 32 Afrikaan-speaking units (including five infantry regiments, 5 tank units and 4 armoured car units) and 20 English medium units (including ten infantry regiments, 4 tank units and 1 armoured car unit). The changes were implemented with effect from 22 September 1956.

In 1954, the SAAC's infantry branch, and the personnel of the South African Instructional Corps, were formed into the South African Infantry Corps.[2]

In 1972, continuous national service was increased to twelve months and by 1974, there were 10 full-time motorised infantry battalions, besides the parachute battalion.[3]:363 The infantry reserve comprised 42 citizen force infantry battalions, a parachute regiment and over 200 commando internal defence units. Plans were in place to establish volunteer black infantry units along ethnic lines, comparable to the Cape Corps.

The volunteer black infantry unit plans eventually bore fruit with the formation of 21, 111, 113, 115, 116 (Northern Sotho, Messina), 117, 118, 121 and 151 Battalions.[4] Another battalion, 114 Battalion, was planned but not actually formed. Many of their members were Service Volunteers, members of all the population groups who were not compelled to do National Service (hence excluding white males). Eventually the various black battalions amounted to about 16,000, and some of the members of these battalions became Auxiliary or Permanent Force members.

In 1997 several units were reorganised. 13 SAI was amalgamated with 14 SAI at Umtata, and 16 SAI was disbanded 1997.

In the 1980s Regiment Port Natal appears to have been a component of 84 Motorised Brigade (South Africa). It was amalgamated with Durban Light Infantry c. 1999.[5]

In 2000 the Corps became known as the South African Army Infantry Formation.[2] The first woman battalion commander appears to have been appointed in 2001.[6] The specialised horse/motorcycle/dog-using battalion, 12 South African Infantry Battalion, was disbanded in April 2005.[7] The previous General Officer Commanding up to 2012 was Lieutenant General Themba Nkabinde.[8]

Units

South African Infantry during Operation Shared Accord 2013

The infantry corps contains a total of 15 regular battalions in a variety of different roles:[9]

The infantry corps contains a total of 26 reserve battalions in the following roles:

Parachute Infantry

44 Parachute Regiment (Bloemfontein) – a brigade sized regiment consisting of the following units:

Regular Force
Reserve Force

Air Assault

Regular Force
Reserve Force

Seaborne

Regular Force
Reserve Force

Light Infantry

Regular Force
Reserve Force

Mechanised Infantry

Regular Force
Reserve Force

Motorised Infantry

Regular Force
Reserve Force

Basic training

All basic infantry training is done at:

It is a Regular Force unit.

Alliances

While South Africa was part of the British Commonwealth, many units formed alliances with British and other units. With the advent of the Republic in 1961, almost all of these alliances fell away either as a natural consequence of changing alliances or on instructions from the authorities. Some units have maintained the alliances unofficially.

With the change of government in 1994, South Africa once again became officially part of the Commonwealth, so alliances are once again possible.

Some examples of alliances:

Battle Honours

Many South African units have a proud history. This is particularly reflected in the many Battle Honours they have received.

References

  1. ↑ Dorning, W.A. (28 February 2012). "A concise history of the South African Defence Force (1912-1987)" (ONLINE). Scientia Militaria - South African Journal of Military Studies 17 (2). doi:10.5787/17-2-420. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Infantry Formation: About Us". army.mil.za. RSA Department of Defence. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Warwick, Rodney (February 2003). "Operation Savannah: A Measure of SADF Decline, Resourcefulness and Modernisation" (ONLINE). Scientia Militaria - South African Journal of Military Studies (Stellenbosch) 40 (3). doi:10.5787/40-3-1042. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Peled, Alon, A Question of Loyalty: Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States. Cornell University Press, 1998, p.54
  5. ↑ "Defunct regiments of the Old SA Army, info needed please". The SAAF Forum. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Jane's Defence Weekly 29 June 2001
  7. ↑ "Potch special unit disbanded". News 24 Archives. SAPA. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Rakoma, Ally (5 March 2012). "SA Army Infantry Formation Changing of Command Parade". RSA Department of Defence. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Englebrecht, Leon (17 August 2009). "Fact file: The SA Infantry Corps". Defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Meyer, Merle, Maj (March 2003). "The biggest medal parade" (PDF). SA Soldier 10 (3). ISSN 1609-5014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.