62 Mechanised Battalion Group

62 Mechanised Battalion Group
SADF 62 Mechanised unit emblem
Active	1985 – 1994
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Mechanised Battle Group
Part of	South African Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Middelburg, Walvis Bay, Omithuya, Lohatla Army Battle School
Nickname(s)	62 Mech
Equipment	Ratel 20,60,90 Rooikat G5 howitzer Samil
Engagements	South African Border War
Disbanded	1994
Insignia
62 Mech beret badge

62 Mechanised Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Infantry Corps; although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of infantry, armour and artillery.

Insignia

A red shield, two lightning bolts, one bar and the number 62.

History

62 Mechanised Battalion Group was formed in 1985 mainly from the operational battalion of 4 South African Infantry Battalion and Ratel Squadrons from 1 Special Service Battalion. 62 Mech Group was part of 60 Brigade, based at Lohatla Army Battle School, together with 61 Mech and 63 Mech encompassing battlegroup principles.

Operation Agree

62 Mech Group withdrew with the majority of SADF Forces from Namibia on 31 Nov 1989.

Organisation

62 Mech Group structure was designed to be modified. The unit usually included:

Two mechanised infantry companies (A and B Companies) from 4 SAI
One tank squadron (C Squadron) from the School of Armour
One G5 battery (S Battery) from 4 Art
One armoured car squadron (E Squadron) from 1 SSB, Bloemfontein
One air defence troop (F Squadron) from
One engineer troop
One Support Company which included mortar, antitank and assault pioneer platoons

63 Mech echelon layout

Disbandment

By 1994, the unit was disbanded. Its infantry elements were returned to 4 SAI at Middelburg, its armour elements returned to 1 SSB in Bloemfontein, while its artillery was returned to that respective Corps.

References

1. Scholtz, L. The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989, Cape Town Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8. 2013. 2. Oosthuizen, J.J. The South African Defence Force and Operation Hooper, south east Angola, December 1987 to March 1988, North West University. 3. Davies, R.M. South African Forces in the Border War (Angola and South West Africa) 1980 to 1989. 4. De Vries, R. The influence of the Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle on Mobile Warfare in Southern Africa, Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 2, 2015. pp 174–186. External links

External links

South African Army Units

Department of Defence, South African National Defence Force, South African Army

Joint Operations Division

Joint Tactical Headquarters	Nine Joint Operational Tactical HQs (one per province) (eg Joint Tactical HQ Limpopo)

Divisions and Brigades

Brigades	43 South African Brigade 44 Parachute Brigade 46 South African Brigade Special Forces Brigade

Armoured Formation (SAAAF)

Training	School of Armour

Tank	Regular 1 South African Tank Regiment Reserve Pretoria Regiment Natal Mounted Rifles Regiment President Steyn

Armoured Car	Regular 1 Special Service Battalion Reserve Umvoti Mounted Rifles Regiment Oranjerivier Regiment Mooirivier Light Horse Regiment

Infantry Formation (SAAIF)

Training	South African Infantry School

Parachute Infantry	Regular 44 Para 1 Para 44 Pathfinders 13 Signal Squadron 18 Light Regiment 44 Medical Task Group 101 Air Supply Unit SAOSC 44 Training Wing Parachute Packing Wing Reserve 2 Para 3 Para

Air Assault	Regular 6 SAI Reserve First City Regiment PAG

Seaborne	Regular 9 SAI Reserve Cape Town Rifles ("Duke's")

Light Infantry	Regular 21 SAI Reserve Rand Light Infantry Regiment Oos Rand Regiment Paul Kruger

Mechanised Infantry	Regular 1 SAI 8 SAI Reserve Regiment De La Rey Regiment Northern Transvaal Cape Town Highlanders Durban Light Infantry Regiment Western Province Witwatersrand Rifles

Motorised Infantry	Regular 2 SAI 4 SAI 5 SAI 7 SAI 10 SAI 13 SAI 14 SAI 15 SAI 121 SAI Reserve Regiment Botha Regiment Christiaan Beyers Johannesburg Regiment South African Irish Transvaal Scottish Tshwane Regiment Buffalo Volunteer Regiment Durban Regiment Kimberly Regiment Natal Carbineers Regiment Bloemspruit Regiment Piet Retief

Artillery Formation

Training	School of Artillery (South Africa)

Regular	HQ 4 Artillery Regiment Artillery Mobilisation Regiment

Reserve	Cape Field Artillery Natal Field Artillery Transvaal Horse Artillery Regiment Potchefstroom Universiteit Transvaalse Staatsartillerie Vrystaatse Artillerie Regiment Pretoria Highlanders 18 Light Regiment

Air Defence Artillery Formation

Training	School of Air Defence Artillery (South Africa)

Regular	HQ 6th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 10th Anti-Aircraft Regiment 44 Parachute Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Reserve	Cape Garrison Artillery Regiment Vaalriver Regiment Oos Transvaal 7th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (1969–97) Regiment Overvaal

Engineer Formation (SAAEF)

Training	South African Army Engineer School

Regular	HQ 2 Field Regiment 35 Support Regiment 1 Construction Regiment Engineer Terrain Intelligence Unit

Reserve	3 Field Regiment 19 Field Regiment 44 Para Engineer Regiment

Training Formation

3 SAI (Training Depot)
SAACTC
Army Gym
Army College
Military Academy

Support Formation

Army Support Bases (Eastern Cape, Johannesburg, Kimberley, KZN, Limpopo, Potcheftstroom, Western Cape, Mpumalanga)
Mobilisation Centre
Main Ordnance Depot
National Ceremonial Guard
15 Maint Unit
Other Maintenance Units
37 Field Workshop SAOSC
Other Field Workshops

Signals Formation

Regular	1 Sig Regt 2 Sig Regt 3 Sig Regt 4 Sig Regt 5 Sig Regt

Reserve	6 Signal Regt 7 Signal Group 11 Field Postal Unit 71 Sigs Unit 84 Sigs Unit

Disbanded Units

Commands	Eastern Province Command (Port Elizabeth) Natal Command Northern Transvaal Command Northern Cape Command Orange Free State Command (Bloemfontein) Western Province Command (Cape Town) West Transvaal Command Witwatersrand Command (Johannesburg) Far North Command

Corps	I South African Corps

Divisions	1st South African Infantry Division 2nd South African Division 6th South African Armoured Division 7th South African Division 8th South African Armoured Division 9 South African Division 10 South African Division (Operation Prone)

Brigades	16 Brigade 17 Brigade 18 Brigade 19 Brigade 20 Brigade 60 Brigade 71 Motorised Brigade 72 Motorised Brigade 73 Motorised Brigade 74 Brigade 75 Brigade 81 Armoured Brigade 82 Mechanised Brigade 83 Brigade 84 Motorised Brigade 10 Artillery Brigade Other brigades

Battlegroups	61 Mech 62 Mech 63 Mech

SWATF	Regular Infantry Battalions 31/201 Battalion 33/701 Battalion 34/202 Battalion 35/101 Battalion 301 Battalion 36/203 Battalion 37/102 Battalion 41/911 Battalion/Regiment Windhoek 912 Battalion/Regiment Erongo 913 Battalion/Regiment Namutoni Modular Infantry Battalions 51 Battalion 52 Battalion 53 Battalion 54 Battalion 55 Battalion SWATF Brigade 91 Reaction Force Brigade Support Structures Logistics Brigade SWA Mil School Special Forces 1 SWA Specialist Unit 2 SWA Specialist Unit 1 SWA Parachute Battalion Air Component 1 SWA Commando Squadron

Other	32 Battalion SSB 2 Special Service Battalion 12 SAI Cape Corps RPN Regiment Skoonspruit 111 Battalion 112 Battalion 113 Battalion 115 Battalion 116 Battalion 117 Battalion 121 Battalion 151 Battalion

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