5 Forward Delivery Squadron was an armour recovery and replenishment squadron of the

South African Army Armoured Corps South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...

. The squadron was responsible for reissuing and moving tanks and heavy armour between bases and operational areas utilising heavy duty flatbed vehicles.

Origin

Tanks suffer mechanical or electrical breakdown and have to be repaired from time to time. Crews would mend problems if they could. The next step would be that tanks squadron's fitters, then the field workshops and finally the Brigades workshops. After the tank had been repaired it could either go back to its unit or could go to the Brigades Forward Delivery Squadron. The FDS was the channel for new or re-worked tanks and for replacement crews."Customs, Traditions, History and Insignia" (PDF). SA Armour Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2012. SADF Process of Tank Recovery Repair and Replenishment

SADF Process of Tank Recovery Repair and Replenishment

Command Structure

5 Forward Air Delivery was seconded to the Command of 81 Armoured Brigade.

Insignia

SADF era 5 Forward Delivery Squadron emblem

References

Armoured regiments of South Africa Military units and formations established in 1972 Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War {{SouthAfrica-mil-stub