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2 South African Infantry Battalion is a
An artillery battery, 43 Field Battery, was also added.
This accounts for the unit insignia including at the top the number "2" in infantry colours, with the St Barbara's lightning flash representing the artillery in the middle and armour's old heraldic colours at the bottom. 
These elements and the Transport Park and quartermaster were based at Rooikop, a distance inland because of the rust at the coast.
As a national servicemen at 2 SAI in 1975, I can categorically state that the beret badges for 1975 were small brass Springboks, without a bar underneath. The instructors still wore the large brass Springbok on their berets.
motorised infantry
Motorized infantry is infantry that is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, and from light infantry, whic ...
unit of the South African Army.
History
Origin: Walvis Bay and South West Africa
2 SAI was established on 1 January 1962, atWalvis Bay
Walvis Bay ( en, lit. Whale Bay; af, Walvisbaai; ger, Walfischbucht or Walfischbai) is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. It is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. The ci ...
an enclave of South Africa surrounded by South-West Africa (Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
). The first officer to command the battalion was Major G.N. Mcloughlin and the first RSM was WO1 J.A.J. Steenkamp. Initially the base consisted of tents, but was later replaced by prefabricated buildings. Basic training took place in the desert and running up Dune 7 became part of that regime.
Units Colours
The unit was awarded its colours by the local municipality in 1969, and adopted the town's motto and flamingo emblem as a consequence.Freedom of Walvis Bay
On 30 August 1974, the freedom of Walvis Bay was granted to 2 SAI.Mechanised Battlegroup
While at Walvis Bay, 2 SAI was organised as a battlegroup when on 1 October 1973, an armoured car subunit, D Squadron, from1 Special Service Battalion
1 Special Service Battalion (usually abbreviated to ) is an armoured regiment of the South African Army and only one of two such in its regular force. The Regiment is based at Tempe near Bloemfontein.
It was previously known in Afrikaans as () ...
's became a part of 2 SSB and subsequently 2 SAI. An artillery battery, 43 Field Battery, was also added.
This accounts for the unit insignia including at the top the number "2" in infantry colours, with the St Barbara's lightning flash representing the artillery in the middle and armour's old heraldic colours at the bottom.
These elements and the Transport Park and quartermaster were based at Rooikop, a distance inland because of the rust at the coast.
Training the fledgling SWATF
Since 1981, national servicemen of the SWA Territorial Force were also trained by the battalion.Operations
2 SAI first saw deployment to the South-West Africa/Angola
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, image_map =
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border in 1968.
2 SAI took part in Operation Savannah
Operation Savanna (or Operation Savannah) was the first insertion of SOE trained Free French paratroops into German-occupied France during World War II.
This SOE mission, requested by the Air Ministry, was to ambush and kill as many pilots as ...
during 1975, when South African troops covertly involved themselves in the Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War ( pt, Guerra Civil Angolana) was a civil war in Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with interludes, until 2002. The war immediately began after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. The war was ...
.
Disbandment
The unit disbanded at the end of 1989 when Namibia gained independence.Reactivation in South Africa
Pomfret, South Africa
On 1 July 1993, the unit was reformed atPomfret
Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across seven genera. Several species are important food sources for humans, especially ''Brama brama'' in South Asia. The earlier form of ...
from old members of 32 Battalion, it then resorted under Northern Cape Command.
Zeerust, South Africa
By 1998, the unit was transferred to North West Command and then based inZeerust
Zeerust is a commercial town situated in Ngaka Modiri Molema district North West Province, South Africa. It lies in the Marico valley, approximately 240 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg. It lies on the N4, the main road link between Sout ...
.
2 SAI today: SANDF Motorised Infantry
On its reactivation back in South Africa, 2 SAI was transformed into a motorised infantry unit using mostly 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 outmanoeuvre the enemy.Leadership
Leadership
Insignia
Previous Dress Insignia
As a national servicemen at 2 SAI in 1975, I can categorically state that the beret badges for 1975 were small brass Springboks, without a bar underneath. The instructors still wore the large brass Springbok on their berets.
Current Dress Insignia
References
{{SA Army Units Infantry battalions of South Africa Infantry regiments of South Africa Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War Military units and formations established in 1962