 | This biographical article is written like a résumé .(June 2023) |
Major Willem Petrus Steenkamp | |
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| Born | 2 May 1940 Cape Town |
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| Service/ | |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Cape Town Highlanders Regiment (CTH) |
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Willem Steenkamp is a South African author, journalist, historian, [1] military analyst and citizen soldier. [2] He has published a number of books and consults widely in military affairs.
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| Five Years Voluntary Service Black on Thatch beige, Embossed |
| Title | Author | Type | Genre | Topic | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola [3] | Willem Steenkamp | Non-Fiction | Military History | Military | 2006 |
| Assegais, Drums & Dragoons: A Military and Social History of the Cape [4] [5] | Willem Steenkamp | Non-Fiction | Military History | Military | 2012 |
| South Africa's border war, 1966–1989 [6] | Willem Steenkamp | Non-Fiction | Military History | Military | 1989 |
| Soldiers Verse: An Anthology of Poetry [7] | John Dovey (Editor) | Non-Fiction | Poetry | Military | 2006 |
| Jim Zulu [8] | Willem Steenkamp | Fiction | Historical | Novel | 2006 |
| Blake's Woman [9] | Willem Steenkamp | Fiction | Historical | Novel | 2007 |
| Freedom Park: Roots and Solutions [10] | Willem Steenkamp | Non-Fiction | Editorial | Military | 2007 |
| Aphorisms and Observations for the Fighting Soldier [11] | Willem Steenkamp | Non-Fiction | Military | Military | 2007 |
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. The Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army, who is subordinate to the Chief of the SANDF.
The South African Special Forces Brigade, colloquially known as the Recces, is South Africa's principal special operations unit, specialising in various types of operations, including counter-insurgency, long-range-reconnaissance, unconventional-warfare, special operations, hostage-rescue, and direct-action operations. The brigade operates with two active-duty groups, with 4 Special Forces Regiment focusing on maritime operations, and 5 Special Forces Regiment focusing on land and airborne operations. Only about 8% of recruits who undergo South African special forces training pass the course.
The Ratel is a South African infantry fighting vehicle. It was the first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle to enter service worldwide and was built on a modified MAN truck chassis. The Ratel was designed in response to a South African Army specification for a light armoured vehicle suited to the demands of rapid offensives, providing maximum firepower and strategic mobility to mechanised infantry units intended to operate across the vast distances of Southern Africa. Primarily envisaged in SADF doctrine as a vehicle that could deliver mechanised infantry and supporting fire to tanks in conventional warfare, it was also anticipated that the Ratel could form the centrepiece for semi-independent battlegroups where logistics or politics precluded the use of tanks. The Ratel was a simple, economical design which helped reduce the significant logistical commitment necessary to keep heavier combat vehicles operational in undeveloped regions. It was generally regarded as an influential concept which incorporated a number of novel features, such as a mine-protected hull, an extended operating range of 1,000 kilometres, and a 20 mm autocannon fitted with what was then a unique twin-linked ammunition feed, allowing turret gunners to rapidly swap between ammunition types during combat.
ENTAC or MGM-32A was a French MCLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile. Developed in the early 1950s, the weapon entered service with the French Army in 1957. Production ended in 1974 after approximately 140,000 had been built.
The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army.
61 Mechanised Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Infantry Corps; although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of infantry, armour and artillery.
SAS Tafelberg was a replenishment ship (AOR) of the South African Navy. The ship started life as the Danish tanker Annam before undergoing various conversions into her final configuration.
The Rand Light Infantry (RLI) is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve unit or United States Army National Guard unit.
The Umvoti Mounted Rifles is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. It is part of the South African Army Armour Formation and is based in the town of Pinetown.
The Blaauwberg Armoured Regiment is a reserve armoured regiment of the South African Army.
Operation Savannah was the South African code name for their military incursion into Angola in 1975–1976. It was part of the South African Border War and arose due to the Angolan War of Independence. The operation also materially influenced the subsequent Angolan Civil War. South African forces invaded deep into Angola with the objective of driving the MPLA, Soviet and Cuban forces out of southern Angola so as to strengthen the position of UNITA, the main opponent of the MPLA and an ally of South Africa.
The Honoris Crux Silver, post-nominal letters HCS, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for exceptional acts of bravery while in great danger. The Honoris Crux Silver was the third most senior in a set of four classes of Honoris Crux decorations, which together replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.
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Ashraf Johaardien is a multi-award-winning playwright, actor, and producer. He was the recipient of the inaugural PANSA Jury Award (2002), was listed as one of Mail & Guardian's 'Top 200 Young South Africans' (2008) and he received a Legends Award (2012) for his achievements in arts and culture.
The General de la Rey Regiment is an reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army.
The Honoris Crux of 1975, post-nominal letters HC, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. The decoration was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for bravery in dangerous circumstances. It was the junior in a set of four Honoris Crux decorations in four classes, which together replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.
The South African Defence Force deployed a number of Combat Groups comprising South African and Angolan elements during Operation Savannah (Angola). Initially, only Combat Groups A and B were deployed, with the remaining groups being mobilised and deployed into Angola later in the campaign. There has been much dispute the overall size of Task Force Zulu. Current evidence indicates that the Task Force started with approximately 500 men and grew to a total of 2,900 with the formation of Battle Groups Foxbat, Orange and X-Ray.
Rear Admiral Chris Bennett was the author of a number of books.
The King Shaka Regiment is a reserve motorised infantry battalion of the South African Army.
Operation Ignition was an operation undertaken by the Selous Scouts of the Rhodesian Army on 18 September 1976 against the forces of the guerrilla group ZIPRA Francistown.
For the first time, a little-known chapter in the history of the South African Infantry has been brought to light with the publication of the first in a series of books dealing with the history of the "Queen of Battles"
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