5 South African Infantry Battalion
5 South African Infantry Battalion |
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SANDF 5 SAI emblem |
Active |
1 January 1962 to present |
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Country |
South Africa |
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Branch |
South African Army |
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Type |
Motorised infantry |
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Part of |
South African Army Infantry Formation
RSA Battalion ( FIB) (2014 – 2015) |
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Parent unit | |
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Components |
- Battalion Headquarters (5 SAI)
- Alpha Company (5 SAI)
- Bravo Company (5 SAI)
- Charlie Company
- Machinegun Platoon (Call-Sign 50)
- Mortar Platoon (Call-Sign 60)
- Reconnaissance Platoon (Call-Sign 90)
- Engineer Troop
- Medical Personnel
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Garrison/HQ |
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal |
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Motto(s) |
Avante! |
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Equipment |
Mamba APC |
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Engagements |
South African Border War |
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Insignia |
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Company level Inisgnia |
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SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992 |
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar |
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5 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
History
Based in Ladysmith
5 SAI was established on January 1, 1962, at Ladysmith, Natal Province.[1] The battalion became operational on the 1 April 1962.[1]
The Insizwa Proficiency
5 SAI had a very unusual proficiency in the 1970s and 1980s, called the Insizwa, the Zulu word for a strong young man. The criteria required that only sharpshooters on a tabel 4 level were allowed to compete. A 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) run had to be done under ten mins with battle kit on, followed by 20 kilometres (12 mi) route march also with battle kit. The route march would end at the 200 metres (220 yd) firing line where the competitor would have to shoot 8 shots in the bull. The soldier would also have to successfully complete all other shooting exercises with an 80% success rate.
SADF 5 SAI Insizwa proficiency
Bushwar
5 SAI took part in Operation Savannah during 1975 in Angola,[1] and Operation Protea in 1980 where it deployed companies continuously on rotation to the operational area, taking part in many of the large operations across the border into Angola in the years which followed, right up to the withdrawal of South African forces from Namibia in 1989.
Training Area
Land to the east of Ladysmith was allocated by the Department of Defence in 1990 as Boschhoek Training Area.
Peacekeeping operations
In 2009, the battalion was one of several South African units who took part as peacekeepers in the United Nations Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).[2] The battalion was deployed again in May 2014 to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade.[3]
SADF 5 SAI Commemorative letter
SANDF's Motorised Infantry
SANDF’s Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Samil trucks, Mamba APC’s or other un-protected motor vehicles. Samil 20,50 and 100 trucks transport soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Samil trucks are all-wheel drive, in order to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain. Motorised infantry have an advantage in mobility allowing them to move to critical sectors of the battlefield faster, allowing better response to enemy movements, as well as the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.
Insignia
Previous Dress Insignia
| 5 SAI Nutria shoulder flash with Natal Command Bar |
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Current Dress Insignia
| SANDF Infantry wide cloth beret badge |
| SANDF Infantry wide shoulder flash |
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Leadership
Leadership of 5 South African Infantry Battalion
From |
Commanding Officers |
To |
1962-04-01 | Cmdt M.N. Horner | 1963-07-30 |
1963-08-01 | Cmdt H.K.J. Van Noorden SM | 1966-09-28 |
1966-09-29 | Cmdt J. Marshall MC | 1968-08-07 |
1968-08-08 | Col M.N. Horner | 1968-09-15 |
1968-09-16 | Cmdt J.P.F. Botha | 1970-06-24 |
1970-06-25 | Cmdt G.P.H. Kruys SM | 1973-08-16 |
1973-08-17 | Cmdt L.C. vd B. Heap | 1975-03-31 |
1975-04-01 | Cmdt A.J.M. Joubert | 1976-12-01 |
1976-12-02 | Cmdt D. C. Benade | 1977-12-30 |
1977-12-31 | Cmdt T.J. Van Schalkwyk | 1981-01-02 |
1981-01-03 | Cmdt K.V. Harris | 1983-12-31 |
1984-01-01 | Col K.V. Harris | 1986-12-31 |
1987-01-01 | Col M.S. Smuts | 1989-12-31 |
1990-01-01 | Col J.B. Pieterse | 1992-12-31 |
1993-01-01 | Col P.M. Smythe MMM | 1995-05-05 |
1995-05-06 | Col S.P. Zeeman MMM | 2000-08-04 |
2000-08-05 | Lt Col V.E. White | 2004-12-31 |
2005-01-01 | Lt Col N.P. Bobelo | 2007-12-31 |
2008-01-01 | Lt Col C. Els | 2011-10-23 |
2011-10-24 | Lt Col S.T. Hloka | c. 2013 |
c. 2013 | Lt Col M. Dyakopu | 2014 |
From |
Regimental Sgts Major |
To |
Notes
References
South African Army Units |
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Divisions and Brigades | |
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Armoured Formation (SAAAF) | |
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Infantry Formation (SAAIF) | Training | |
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Parachute Infantry | |
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Air Assault Infantry | |
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Seaborne Infantry | |
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Light Infantry | |
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Mechanised Infantry | |
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Motorised Infantry | |
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Artillery Formation | |
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Air Defence Artillery Formation | |
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Engineer Formation | |
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Training Formation | |
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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
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Signals Formation | Regular |
- 1 Signal Regt
- 2 Signal Regt
- 3 Signal Regt
- 4 Signal Regt
- 5 Signal Regt
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Reserve | 6 Signal Regt
7 Signal Group
11 Field Postal Unit
- 71 Signals Unit
- 84 Signal Unit
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Disbanded or Amalgamated Units | SADF Commands | |
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SADF Corps | |
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SADF Divisions | |
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SADF Brigades | |
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UDF and SADF Regiments and Battalions | |
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SADF Homeland Battalions | |
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SADF Military Areas | |
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SADF Commando System | |
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SADF State Presidents Guard | |
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SADF Mobilisation Units |
- 14 Reception Depot
- 15 Reception Depot
- 16 Reception Depot
- 17 Reception Depot
- 19 Reception Depot
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- 1 BDF Infantry Battalion
- 2 BDF Infantry Battalion
- BDF Parachute Battalion
- BDF Military School
- BDF Special Forces
- 1 BDF Military Area
- 2 BDF Military Area
- 3 BDF Military Area
- BDF Signals Unit
- BDF Bafokeng base
- BDF Mankwe base
- BDF Odi base
- BDF Thaba'Nchu base
- BDF Taung base
- BDF Air Wing
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- VDF Headquarters Sibasa
- 1 VDF Battalion Manenu
- 2 VDF Battalion Maunavhathu
- VDF Vuwani Military Base
- VDF Signals Unit
- VDF Air Wing
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- 1 CDF Battalion
- CDF Special Forces
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- 1 TDF Battalion
- TDF Special Forces
- TDF Mounted Battalion
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Volunteers of Union of South Africa World War 1 Europe Campaign 1914-1918 | |
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Volunteers of Union of South Africa World War 1 East Africa Campaign 1914-1915 |
- 1st Infantry ACF
- 2nd Infantry ACF
- 5th Infantry ACF
- 9th Infantry ACF
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