10 Armoured Car Squadron was a contingent of the South African Armoured Corps posted in Sector 10, South West Africa, during the South African Border War.

History

Origin

10 Armoured Squadron's home unit was

1 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 () ...

(1SSB), Bloemfontein. In addition to the personnel from 1 SSB or 2 SSB in South Africa, the Squadron also had a small contingent of infantry. These alternated with personnel from 2 SAI (Walvis Bay) to 7 SAI (Phalaborwa). These infantry soldiers were tasked with duties around Oshakati, such as manning check points at the gates.

Oshikati base

10 Armoured Squadron was housed in the Sector 10 Oshakati HQ compound at first, but by 1983 a purpose built base for 10 Armoured Squadron was completed and it subsequently moved in. The unit was based in the camp north-west of the white compound of Oshakati, but not part of the Sector HQ compound. It was surrounded by the familiar bulldozed soil walls. About all that could be seen of the 10 Armoured Squadron camp from the road was the steel hall building. Most of the troops seemed to be accommodated in tents. There were some brick buildings, which included a chaplain's work space and coffee bar. The senior officers had prefabricated offices.

Attack on Calueque Dam

The Cubans opened a second front on 27 June 1988 against the South Africans and launched a ground offensive in the direction of Calueque Dam in Southern Angola. The area to the north of the dam became the scene of fighting. MiG-23 aircraft attacked the facilities, bombing a bridge, sluice gates, a pump, a generator, and a pipeline to Ovamboland in three waves. 7 soldiers from 8 SAI and 4 from 1 SSB/10 Armoured Squadron lost their lives in this engagement.

Unit emblem

By 1984, a unit flash was worn.

External Operations

10 Armoured Squadron appears to have been involved in

Operation Askari Operation Askari was a military operation during 1983 in Angola by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the South African Border War. Background Operation Askari, launched on 6 December 1983, was the SADF's sixth large-scale cross- ...

. 10 Armoured Squadron conducted escort duty for civilian movements in the operation area as well.

Known Commanders

* 1982: Captain Eddie van Jaarsveld and WO2 JJ Jacobs. * 1983: WO2 John Wahl.

References

{{SA Army Units Company sized units Armoured units and formations of South Africa Military units and formations established in 1982 Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War