Regiment University of Cape Town was an

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

of the

South African Army The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. ...

. As a reserve unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States

Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States A ...

unit. It was part of the

South African Army Artillery Corps The South African Army Artillery Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army artillery units. It draws much of its history from the South African Artillery, established in 1934 but with roots that reach back to 1921. The format ...

History

By the 1950s, South Africa dedicated military units to each large university. The University of

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

was issued an anti-aircraft regiment transferred from the SA Marine Corps and composed of 51, 52 and 54 batteries known up to then as 4 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment.Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 10. Nr 1 1980 The idea was for students to honour their obligatory military training in such units. Training would also be organised so as not to disproportionately affect university work. The Regiment's first deployment was during a State of Emergency in March and April 1960 where it was utilised as infantry outside townships around the Cape Peninsula. Early in the 1960s,the Regiment moved from Youngsfield to its new headquarters at Wingfield.

Training

Until 1967, annual training lasted three weeks and was held at Eerste River while seaward gunnery practices were held at Strandfontein.

Equipment

The Regiment used the standard 3.7 inch gun was replaced by a 35mm anti-aircraft gun requiring a conversion camp was held in December 1969. A second conversion camp was held at Wingfield from 5–25 October 1973.

Regimental Command

* Commandant C.D. Stark 1960 * Commandant D.C. Robertson, JCD 1962 * Commandant J.K. van der Merwe 1967 * Commandant F.T. Croswell 1970 * Commandant W. Bannatyne, JCD 1973 * Honorary Colonel: Maj the Hon P.V.G. van der Byl

Notable Members

Prof Maj. Christiaan Barnard was at one stage, the Regiments’ medical officer.

References

South African Army Artillery regiments of South Africa

University of Cape Town The University of Cape Town (UCT) ( af, Universiteit van Kaapstad, xh, Yunibesithi ya yaseKapa) is a public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university statu ...

Military units and formations established in 1958 Military units and formations disestablished in 1968 1958 establishments in South Africa {{SouthAfrica-mil-stub