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. ...
is divided into functional branches, known as corps. Most consist of units, but some, such as the SA Staff Corps, consist only of personnel who are assigned to headquarters and units. The following is a list of corps established since 1912; those which still exist are shown in bold.
The SA Defence Act Amendment Act, No. 22 of 1922 re-organised the Permanent Force. From 1 February 1923 the Permanent Force consisted of:
*the SA Staff Corps,
*SA Instructional Corps,
*SA Naval Service,
*SA Field Artillery,
*1st Regiment,
*SAM.R.,
*the SA Permanent Garrison Artillery,
*the
South African Engineer Corps
The South African Army Engineer Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army military engineering units. The Formation is currently commanded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC); Brigadier General D.W. Nkosi, as of early 201 ...
,
*the
South African Air Force
"Through hardships to the stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment ...
,
*SA Service Corps,
*SA Medical Corps,
*
SA Ordnance Corps,
*SA Veterinary Corps and the
*SA Administrative, Pay and Clerical Corps.
Staff
Staff
*Permanent Force Staff (1912–23)
*SA Staff Corps (formed 1923)
*SA Instructional Corps (1923–54)''incorporated into SA Infantry Corps''
Combat Services
Artillery
*Field Artillery Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–34) ''incorporated into SAA''
*SA Field Artillery (1915–19)
*SA Heavy Artillery (1915–19)
*SA Field Artillery (1923–34) - ''incorporated into SA Artillery''
*SA Permanent Garrison Artillery (1921–34) ''incorporated into SAA''
*SA Garrison Artillery (1913–34) - ''incorporated into SAA''
*
South African Artillery
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 ...
(SAA) (formed 1934)
*SA Anti-Aircraft (formed 1984)
Mounted Rifles
*SA Mounted Riflemen (1913–26)
*Mounted Rifles Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–35) - ''incorporated into infantry''
Dismounted Rifles
*Dismounted Rifles Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–29)
Infantry
*Infantry Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–43) - ''incorporated into SA Armoured Corps''
*
SA Infantry Corps (born 1954)
Armour
*SA Tank Corps (1940–43)
*
South African Armoured Corps
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 Armour Corps units previously under the command of various different brigades ...
(formed 1943) - ''included infantry until 1954''
Combat Support
Engineers
*SA Engineer Corps (1914–16)
*
South African Engineer Corps
The South African Army Engineer Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army military engineering units. The Formation is currently commanded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC); Brigadier General D.W. Nkosi, as of early 201 ...
(formed 1923)
Signals
*Communication Branch (Citizen Force) (1913–23)
*SA Field Post and Telegraph Corps (1914–19)
*South African Corps of Signals (formed 1923)
*SA Military Pigeon Service (1939-?45)
Supporting Services
Administration and Logistics
*SA Service Corps (1913–39) - ''incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps''
*
SA Ordnance Corps (1923–39) - ''incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps''
*SA Corps of Mechanics (1939-39) - ''incorporated into 'Q' Services Corps''
*
'Q' Services Corps (1939–49) - ''later Administrative Services Corps''
*Administrative Services Corps (1949–1975)
*Army Postal Service (1940–45)
*Personnel Services Corps (formed 1975)
* Ordnance Services Corps (formed 1975)
*Technical Services Corps (formed 1939)
*SA Caterers Corps (formed 1969)
*SA Ammunition Corps (formed 1973)
*Corps of Professional Officers (formed 1975)
Medical
*SA Medical Corps (1913–70) - ''incorporated into
SA Medical Service''
*SA Veterinary Corps (1913–46) - ''incorporated into SAMC''
*SA Military Nursing Service (1914–70)
*SA Military Nursing Corps (1970–72) - ''incorporated into SAMS''
Financial
*SA Administrative, Pay & Clerical Corps (1923–39) - ''incorporated into QSC''
*SA Pay Corps (1940–45)
*Finance Services Corps (1972–75)
*Finance Services Corps (formed 1979)
Military Police
*SA Corps of Military Police (formed 1938)
Intelligence
*SA Intelligence Corps (1940–45)
*SA Army Intelligence Corps (formed 1977)
Chaplains
*SA Corps of Chaplains (1946–68) - ''incorporated into SA Chaplains Service''
Science
*SA Corps of Scientists (1947–72)
Women's Services
*Women's Auxiliary Army Service (1940–47)
*Women's Auxiliary Military Police Corps (1942–46)
*Women's Defence Corps (1947–71)
*Civil Defence Corps (1971–77)
*SA Army Women's Corps (1977–98)
Special Services
*Special Service Corps (born 1964)
Music
*SA Corps of Bandsmen (born 1969)
"Non-European" Services
*
South African Native Labour Corps
The South African Native Labour Corps (SANLC) was a force of workers formed in 1916 in response to a British request for workers at French ports. About 25,000 South Africans joined the Corps. The SANLC was utilized in various menial noncombat tas ...
(1915–19)
*
Cape Corps
The Cape Corps and its predecessor units were the main military organisations in which the Coloured members of South Africa's population served.
History
As one of the military units of South Africa with one of the longest histories, the Cape ...
(1940–50)
*Indian Service Corps (1940–42)
*
Native Military Corps (1940–50)
*
SA Cape Corps (1963-90s)
*SA Supporting Services Corps (1974-90s)
*SA Indian Corps (1975-90s)
Commandos
*Defence Rifle Associations (1913–49)
*Rifle Commandos (1949–58)
*Commandos ('
South African Commando System
The Commando System was a mostly voluntary, part-time force of the South African Army, but in their role as local militia the units were often deployed in support of and under the authority of the South African Police.
Mission
South Africa's ...
') (1958–2007)
See Also
*
References
{{reflist, 30em
Military history of South Africa
South African administrative corps