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South African Army Infantry Formation
The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army. History Origins: Union Defence Force South African Infantry 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. Republic Defence Force (SADF) Separated by language Based on the findings of a committee led by Brigadier H.B. Popper in late 1953, it was recommended that some Engli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine infantry. Although disused in modern times, heavy infantry also commonly made up the bulk of many historic armies. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery have traditionally made up the core of the combat arms professions of various armies, with the infantry almost always comprising the largest portion of these forces. Etymology and terminology In English, use of the term ''infantry'' began about the 1570s, describing soldiers who march and fight on foot. The word derives from Middle French ''infanterie'', from older Italian (also Spanish) ''infanteria'' (foot soldiers too inexperienced for cavalry), from Latin '' īnfāns'' (without speech, newborn, foolish), from which English also gets '' infant''. The individual-soldier term ''infantry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
21 South African Infantry Battalion
21 South African Infantry Battalion is an infantry battalion of the South African Army. The unit has its origin as 21 Battalion, an apartheid era unit used to train black South African men as soldiers. History Origin In 1973 the apartheid government decided to train black soldiers.Engelbrecht, A Guide to the SANDF, 2007, Chapter 9C, p.8 On 21 January 1974, the Army Bantu Training Centre was established at Baviaanspoort, north of Pretoria. Sixteen recruits began basic training in March 1974 with another 38 men joining in August, now trained by the sixteen initial recruits. In April 1975, authority was given for blacks to attest in the then-Permanent Force. On 1 December 1975, the Army Bantu Training Centre became a self-accounting unit and moved to Lenz, south of Johannesburg. The centre was then renamed 21 Battalion on the 21st birthday of the South African Infantry Corps in 1975. Press releases during 1977 emphasised that these black soldiers would not be trained for South ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
8 South African Infantry Battalion
8 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army. The battalion is equipped with Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) used for fast transport and combat mobility across rough ground. Support weapons for mechanized infantry are also provided with motorized transport, or are built directly into these IFVs, in order to keep pace with the IFVs in combat. The battalion was raised at Upington in the Northern Cape in 1973 as part of the South African Infantry Corps, and since the change in structure, has been assigned to the Infantry Formation. 8 SAI continues to train for conventional warfare and forms part of the annual brigade-level Lohatla Army Battle School exercise. Training includes IFV-mounted and dismounted fire-and-move drills, and integration with Engineers, Armour, Artillery and Air Force elements. History Activation The unit was established at Upington in the Northern Cape in October 1973 and received its first batch of n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
61 Mechanised Battalion Group
61 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. History Combat Group Juliet General Constand Viljoen, Chief of the Army, formulated a plan in 1978 to introduce a mechanized combat group to Ovamboland in the then South West Africa, to conduct operations against SWAPO. Combat Group Juliet was then formed under the command of Commandant Frank Bestbier. Operation Reindeer The Battle Group first saw action in Operation Reindeer in early May 1978, launching an attack on SWAPO’s Western Front headquarters and logistics base, at Chetequera, 15 km north of the South West African border, with a mechanized assault force. This attack formed part of Operation Reindeer during which paratroopers attacked a separate target at Cassinga, some 300 km into Angola. After Operation Reindeer it was decided to establish a permanent conven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
7 South African Infantry Battalion
7 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army. History Origin 1973: 7 SAI was established on 1 October, at Bourke's Luck, Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga) by Commandant Eddie Webb. 1974:The first national servicemen began training in 1974. 1980: 7 SAI is relocated to Phalaborwa. Angola Bush War Deployment 1983: The July intake's training phase was shortened to accommodate a need to deploy a company for Operation Askari and Sector 10. This company would deploy with 101 Battalion (South Africa), 101 Battalion in a reaction force role. 1984: a Company was stationed at Rundu for reaction force duties under the command of 34 Battalion (SWATF), 202 Battalion for 6 months, whereafter they were posted to Nepara for a further 6-month deployment. After a period of leave they were posted back to Nepara for a third time, spending their 40 celebration on the 17/30 cutline in a fox camp (BF). Members of this company eventually joined the 905/6 r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1 South African Infantry Battalion
1 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army. History Oudtshoorn origin Established as 1 SA Infantry Training Battalion at Oudtshoorn, (hence the ostrich feathers on the unit insignia) on 26 January 1951, the unit became part of the infantry corps with its establishment in January 1951. In 1953, the unit consisted of: * a headquarters with companies at: ** 1 SAI itself in Oudsthoorn as A Company, ** 1 SSB in Bloemfontein as B Company; ** 4 Field Regiment in Potchefstroom as C Company; and **a supply & transport company, an attempt at all arms training. The unit was reconstituted as 1 SA Infantry Battalion in November 1967 and moved to its current base at Tempe near Bloemfontein, in November 1973. 1 SAI in the development of modern mechanised infantry By 1976 infantry operations transformed drastically when the Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) was introduced for the first time and in November the first Ratel course was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Umtata
Mthatha , formerly Umtata, is the main city of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa and the capital of OR Tambo District Municipality. The city has an airport, previously known as the K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima. Mthatha derives its name from the nearby Mthatha River which was named after the sneezewood (umtati) trees, famous for their wood and medicinal properties. History The settlement existed in the 1870s as a buffer-zone, in response to reported tensions between Pondo and neighbouring Thembu groups, and in 1875 a magistrate's office was opened. The first magistrate, appointed that year, was a man named J F Boyes. The settlement developed during the next few years, becoming a military post for the British colonial forces in 1882. The town itself was founded in 1883, along the banks of the Mthatha River. Nearly a century later, the Mthatha Dam was constructed about eight kilometers upstream o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
14 South African Infantry Battalion
14 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army. History Origin 14 SAI was established on 1 January 1994, at Umtata, Eastern Cape as a result of the amalgamation of Transkei Defence Force The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was established during March 1981, from the 141 Battalion of the South African Defence Force (SADF). It was the defence force of the Republic of Transkei, a nominally independent bantustan during the Apartheid er ... into the SANDF. Amalgamation Another unit, 13 SAI was amalgamated with 14 SAI by the late 1990s. Freedom of the city 14 SAI marked freedom of entry into Mthatha on 30 July 2011 in which the Mayor of King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, officiated. Insignia Previous Dress Insignia Current Dress Insignia 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, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
SADF Black Infantry Battalions Ver 3
The South African Defence Force (SADF) (Afrikaans: ''Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag'') comprised the armed forces of South Africa from 1957 until 1994. Shortly before the state reconstituted itself as a republic in 1961, the former Union Defence Force was officially succeeded by the SADF, which was established by the Defence Act (No. 44) of 1957. The SADF, in turn, was superseded by the South African National Defence Force in 1994. Mission and structure The SADF was organised to perform a dual mission: to counter possible insurgency in all forms, and to maintain a conventional military arm which could defend the republic's borders, making retaliatory strikes as necessary. As the military expanded during the 1970s, the SADF general staff was organised into six sections—finance, intelligence, logistics, operations, personnel, and planning; uniquely, the South African Medical Service (SAMS) was made co-equal with the South African Army, the South African Navy and the South African A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
121 South African Infantry Battalion
121 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army. History Origin A decision was made around 1979 to develop a Zulu speaking infantry battalion. On 20 January men who had reported for duty at the Jozini Base were sent to 21 SAI Battalion in Lenz near Johannesburg where 79 men completed training. Garrison On 23 April 1979, 121 SAI Battalion was established and allocated lines near an old Water Affairs compound at Jozini. By 1980, a platoon of 121 SAI Battalion was despatched for duty in South West Africa (Namibia). By 1981, 121 SAI Battalion was relocated to a new base at Dukuduku where the leopard head was adopted as the beret badge. 121 SAI Battalion received its national colours in 1989. Freedom of the City was issued to 121 SAI Battalion by: * uMhlanga in 1989 and * Mtubatuba in 1994 SANDF's Motorised Infantry SANDF's Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Mamba Mk3 Armoured Personnel Carrier, SAMIL Trucks SAMIL Truck ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Messina
Messina (, also , ) is a harbour city and the capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of more than 219,000 inhabitants in the city proper and about 650,000 in the Metropolitan City. It is located near the northeast corner of Sicily, at the Strait of Messina and it is an important access terminal to Calabria region, Villa San Giovanni, Reggio Calabria on the mainland. According to Eurostat the FUA of the metropolitan area of Messina has, in 2014, 277,584 inhabitants. The city's main resources are its seaports (commercial and military shipyards), cruise tourism, commerce, and agriculture (wine production and cultivating lemons, oranges, mandarin oranges, and olives). The city has been a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite seat since 1548 and is home to a locally important international fair. The city has the University of Messina, founded in 1548 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
