Active 1946 - present (SAAC) Branch South African Army | Country South Africa Type Armor | |
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Role Provides the Army with “battle winning shock action and firepower.”
“To provide combat-ready armour forces to CSANDF.” Motto(s) Pectore Sicut Ferro (With a chest of steel) | ||
The South African Army Armour Formation provides an Armour capability to the South African Army. The Formation came into being as part of a restructure. South African Armoured Corps units previously under the command of various different brigades and other formations were all grouped under one formation. All armour is assigned to the SA Army Armour Formation under the charge of a General Officer Commanding.
Contents
Armoured Origins
South Africa employed armoured cars as early as 1915 during its invasion of the then-German South West Africa (now Namibia).
After the end of the First World War a single Medium Mark A Whippet light tank was purchased for the Union Defence Force and was operationally employed during the 1922 Rand revolt. The tank in question is now on display at the Army College at Thaba Tshwane.
The formation of an armoured corps was proposed in 1924. An armoured car section was formed the next year when two Vickers machine gun-armed Crossley armoured cars and two medium tanks were imported from Britain.
During the severe economic depression of 1933, the government established the Special Service Battalion (SSB) on 1 May 1933 as a job opportunities and social upliftment project. The Springbok was first used as symbol for this unit until it was changed to the national flower - the Protea - in July 1934, which is still used today.
World War Two
The SSB was converted to an Armoured Car Regiment at the start of the Second World War, and later to a Tank Regiment. In April 1943 the SSB was deployed in North Africa and used a black beret sporting silver proteas as badge and a flash with orange, white and blue as its colours.
Armoured Corps
When the SA Armoured Corps was officially proclaimed in 1946 and the SSB included in the corps as the only full-time unit, its symbols and colours were incorporated
Armoured Formation
On 24 January 2014 the General Officer Commanding (GOC) SA Army Armour Formation, Brigadier General Chris Gildenhuys SM MMM handed over command to Brigadier General Andre Retief SM & Bar MMM at a parade at the Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein.
The South African Army Armour Formation marked its 70th anniversary in October 2016 in Bloemfontein with the fourth Armour Symposium and a thanksgiving service.
Structure
The Formation is structured as follows:
Training
Tank units
These units are equipped with the Olifant Mk1B or Olifant Mk2 main battle tank.
Regular Force
Reserve Force
Armoured Car Units
These units are equipped with the Rooikat armoured fighting vehicle.