Active 1945 to present Type Regular artillery | Country South Africa | |
 | ||
Allegiance Republic of South Africa
Republic of South Africa Branch South African Army
South African Army Role Medium (self propelled) Artillery (G6) | ||
4 Artillery Regiment is based at Potchefstroom, responsible for the training of soldiers allotted to Field and Medium Artillery.
Contents
Origins
On May 28, 1945, authority was granted for the formation of 4 Field Artillery as a full-time regiment with effect 1 April 1945.
4 Artillery was the successor to 4 Field Brigade, which had made a name for itself at Combolcia, Dessie and Amba Alagi in Ethiopia. The regiment served at El Alamein under its own name – as part of 1 SA Division – and in Italy as part of 6 SA Armoured Division, notably at Monte Stanco.
In May 1946 the unit became part of the Permanent Force 11 Armoured Brigade. When the latter was disbanded in 1951, the unit continued as 10 Field Battery.
Based in Potchefstroom after the war, it became 4 Field Training Regiment in 1953 with 10, 11 and 12 Field Batteries at Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein and Oudtshoorn respectively. It was disestablished as a training institution in November 1967.
Border War
The Regiment reactivated in 1975 and took part in most operations since Operation Savannah in 1976. It was back in action in August and September 1981 in support of Operation Protea. In 1983 the Regiment became part of 10 Artillery Brigade (with 14 Artillery Regiment) and was renamed 4 Artillery Regiment the next year. By 1987 4 Artillery was structured as:
Internal Operations
In 1985 and 1986 the unit had tours as provisional infantry in Soweto, Thembisa, Alexandra and in the KwaNdebele homeland.
Namibian Independence
In 1987 the Regiment took part in Operation Moduler and in 1988 in Hooper, Displace and Prone. In 1989, the Regiment was part of the Merlin Brigade based at Grootfontein, returning home after Namibian independence.
The Artillery Brigade and 14 Artillery Regiment disbanded on January 1, 1993.
4 Artillery Today
The regiment is currently organised as a composite unit and has a growth capability for the establishment of additional regiments:
Regimental Colours
In March 1973 the unit broke with artillery tradition, which recognises the unit’s guns as its colours, and took possession of a regimental colour, becoming the first artillery regiment to be presented with a regimental colour and claims to be the first to have appointed an honorary colonel.
Leadership
Freedom of the City
The regiment was awarded the Freedom of Potchefstroom in 1984.