2 Special Service Battalion (usually abbreviated to ''2SSB'') was an

armour Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...

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. ...

and only one of two such in its regular force. The Regiment was based at Zeerust. It was known in English as, ''2 Special Service Battalion'', and in the Afrikaans language as, ''2 Spesiale Diens Bataljon'' (''2 SSB'' and ''2 SDB'').

History

2 Special Service Battalion was founded on 1 May 1946 at

Potchefstroom Potchefstroom (, colloquially known as Potch) is an academic city in the North West Province of South Africa. It hosts the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. Potchefstroom is on the Mooi Rivier (Afrikaans for "pretty river" ...

. The S.S.B. was a military unit formed to take in young men who were unable to find employment. Before World War II, the Special Service Battalion was reorganized into two battalions – 1st and 2nd Special Service Battalions. In 1946, the South African Armoured Corps was officially proclaimed and the Special Service Battalion was included in the corps as the only full-time unit and its symbols and colours were incorporated.

Infantry

Initially, the sole purpose of 2 SSB was to train members of the Permanent Force as infantrymen. 2 SSB was put into service officially on 21 February 1947 and on 26 January 1951, the name changed from 2 SSB to 1 South African Infantry Battalion (1 SAI). 2 SSB can thus be seen as the founding unit of the South African Infantry Corps.

Armour changeover

C-Squadron of 2 Armoured Car Regiment was founded during February 1962 with its official base at

Zeerust 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 ...

. On 22 December 1966 the name was adapted to C-Squadron 1 SSB. On 1 October 1973, 2 SSB, born from C-Squadron 1 SSB, was resettled. The headquarters of the regiment, as well as C-Squadron 1 SSB, was stationed at Zeerust, while D-Squadron 1 SSB was detached to 2 South African Infantry Battalion at

Walvis 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 c ...

Border War

Several squadrons have taken part in the war in Namibia and Angola since 1974. From 8 October 1975 to 31 January 1976, B-, C- and D-Squadron took part in Operation Savannah. This border duty was continued with significant participations in Operation Protea, Daisy, Hooper and Modular. On 25 January 1988, 2 SSB became the first unit in South Africa to receive the Right Of Free Admission to a coloured community, namely Henryville. 2 SSB squadron training exercise

Bophuthatswana coup d'état

On 10 February 1988, 2 SSB took part in Operation Adding during which President Lucas Mangope and his government was returned to power, after a failed coup d’état.

Rooikat Conversion

In May 1990, 2 SSB received the first Rooikat armoured cars and on 30 June its national colours.

Corps Change ARMOUR to INFANTRY

On 31 December 1992, as part of the reduction of the SA Army after withdrawal from SWA- Namibia (Resolution 435), 2 SSB underwent a change in role. The unit was transformed from an armoured car regiment to a motorised infantry battalion and provided with an operational company (A-Company) which was transferred from Group 20. During the

1994 South African general election General elections were held in South Africa between 26 and 29 April 1994. The elections were the first in which citizens of all races were allowed to take part, and were therefore also the first held with universal suffrage. The election was c ...

, 2 SSB took part in Operation Baccarat, providing stability and border protection for Mmabatho and Passado as a peace force ensuring stability in the North West province. On 19 December 1994, the Bophuthatswana Defence Force Parachute Battalion at Gopane was placed under operational command of 2 SSB, as part of the founding of the SANDF. 2 SSB withdrew simultaneously from Nietverdiend and Nooitgedacht. From August 1994 to 15 June 1995, successful bridging training was provided for 550 formerly non-statutory force members.

Disbandment

Early in 1997, the rationalisation of the

South African National Defence Force The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the Military, armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the Military branch, armed services. They are in turn a ...

was announced and 2 SSB was one of the battalions that was disbanded. 2 SSB amalgamated with 10 SAI on 1 April 1997 in Mafikeng. 2 SSB was

demobilized Demobilization or demobilisation (see spelling differences) is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and milita ...

on 30 August 1997 after the base was transferred to 2 SAI Battalion.

Regimental symbols

*The cap badge is a spray of three

protea ''Protea'' () is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes (Afrikaans: ''suikerbos''). Etymology The genus ''Protea'' was named in 1735 by Carl Linnaeus, possibly after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form a ...

flowers, bound by a ribbon bearing the initials and motto. *Regimental honour roll : Soldiers who died during active combat duty and soldiers who died during training. Se
2 SSB Roll of Honour

Dress Insignia

SADF era 2 Special Services Battalion insignia

Honour Roll

* Baker, E. 1990 * Bridgeman, T.M. 1975 * Brink, C.M.1978 * Burger, W.J.1974 * Cronje, D.J. 1987 * De Lange, J.H. 1983 * De Lange, P.H. 1983 * Du Plessis, J.C. 1988 * Elsworthy, D.M. 1978 * Erasmus, E. 1988 * Eybers, P.G. 1975 * Hanekom, J.M. 1981 * Helm, H.C. 1985 * Jansen van Vuuren, F.H. 1984 * Lecuona, M.J. 1988 * Meerholz, J.R. 1980 * Muller, A. 1976 * Muller, D.M. 1979 * Muller, P.J. 1982 * Naude, D. 1983 * Obbes, G.M.F. 1975 * Oberholzer, W. 1981 * Randall, J.A.S.T. 1984 * Schoeman G.F. 1975 * Scott, G. 1988 * Stassen, P.I.M. 1983 * Steyn, D.A. 1981 * Taljaard, J.J. 1975 * Truebody, H.C. 1978 * van Rooyen, G. 1988 * van Wyk, W.A. 1988 * Viljoen, M. 1987 * Volgraff, G. 1975 * Ziemkendorf, H. 1987

Alliances

Leadership

Notes

References

External links

SA Armour Museum

SA Armour Association

Exercise Seboka

1 SSB Roll of Honour
{{DEFAULTSORT:Battalion, 2 Special Service Armoured regiments of South Africa Military units and formations established in 1946 Military units and formations disestablished in 1997