1 South African Infantry Battalion

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1 South African Infantry Battalion
SADF era 1 SAI insignia ver 3.jpg
1 SAI emblem
Founded26 January 1951;73 years ago (1951-01-26)
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
BranchFlag of the South African Army.svg  South African Army
Type Infantry
RoleMechanised infantry
SizeBattalion
Part of South African Infantry Formation
Garrison/HQTempe, Bloemfontein
Motto(s)Sevire parati
Equipment Ratel
Engagements
Insignia
Company level Insignia SA Army Company Insignia.png
SA Mechanised Infantry beret bar c.1992 SA mechanised infantry beret bar circa 1992.jpg

1 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army.

Contents

History

Oudtshoorn origin

With its establishment as 1 SA Infantry Training Battalion at Oudtshoorn on 26 January 1951, the unit became part of the infantry corps.

In 1953, the unit consisted of:

and

UDF era 1 SAI companies c. 1950s SADF era 1 SAI companies circa 1950s.jpg
UDF era 1 SAI companies c.1950s

The unit was reconstituted as 1 SA Infantry Battalion in November 1967 and moved to its current base at Tempe near Bloemfontein, in November 1973. [1]

1 SAI in the development of modern mechanised infantry

By 1976, infantry operations had transformed drastically when the Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) was introduced, with the first Ratel course presented by then Major Roland de Vries in November at 1 SAI.

In 1977, 1 SAI received its first consignment of 42 Ratel IFVs, along with a redesigned shoulder flash, depicting a wild honey badger.

For the next four years, mechanised infantry leadership students shared the same lines as 1 SAI's conventional companies, but were required to wear a nutria brassard on the right arm with a green and yellow embroidered honey badger insignia in order to stand out and ensure Espirit de Corps. The training wing, identified as the T&D Wing, was where all students attended the same course until the Section Leaders Phase had been completed, where they were then awarded their Lance Corporal stripes and then placed with regular rifle companies. The rest of the future NCOs also received their stripes and future Officers received their white Candidate Officer's tabs. These students were then evaluated and split into the Mechanised Platoon Commanders Course and Specialist Instructors Course. These platoon commanders were destined to either become future leaders of 1 SAIs rifle companies or instructors at the Training Wing, while the Specialist Instructors would become Officers and NCOs responsible for training Ratel gunners and drivers. The Platoon NCOs were responsible for the support of the vehicles, platoon weapons and signal equipment of a specific platoon. Platoon sergeants were responsible for the training and discipline of an allocated platoon.

SADF era 1 SAI Mechanised Leader Brassards, 1980s SADF era 1 SAI Mechanised Leader Brassards 1980s.png
SADF era 1 SAI Mechanised Leader Brassards, 1980s

By January 1981, the training wing had been renamed to the Mechanised Leadership Wing and moved to the Akkedisdorp premises outside the lines of 1 SAI and next to 1 SSB. The distinctive honey badger student brassard was discontinued during this period.

The mechanised techniques developed at 1 SAI was transferred to two additional mechanised infantry battalions under development at that time, namely 4 SAI and 8 SAI.

Battalion Pioneer Platoon

1 SAI also had an assault pioneer capability in the 1980s, usually designated Oscar Company. Assault pioneers were the integral combat engineering component of the battalion. Assault pioneers were trained in tasks such as:

The Pioneer Platoon provided small tasks and close support capabilities to the battalion ensuring immediacy of response and decreasing the workload of the engineer squadrons. By the 1990s this function was retired to the Engineering Corps however.

Bushwar

Operations

By 1978, 1 SAI took part in Operation Reindeer. 1 SAI was also later involved in:

Honouris Crux recipients

The following 1 SAI members were awarded the Honoris Crux decoration

Operation Sceptic;

  • Lt. J.J. du Toit
  • LCpl A.T. Rutherford

Operation Protea;

  • Cpl A.D. Burgers

Relationship with 61 Mech

1 SAI was also the main feeder unit for mechanised infantry companies for 61 Mechanised Battalion Group during this period. [2]

SADF Operation Hooper participation bar SADF Operation Hooper participation bar.png
SADF Operation Hooper participation bar
1 SAI commemorative coin Ops Vleuel SADF 1 SAI commemorative coin Ops Vleuel.jpg
1 SAI commemorative coin Ops Vleuel

Post 1994

Assimilation of 151 Battalion

Peled writes that after January 1993, 151 Battalion, formed from the Southern Sothos in the Orange Free area, was assimilated into 1 SAI. [3]

SADF 151 Battalion, this unit amalgamated with 1 SAI post 1994 SADF 151 Battalion emblem.jpg
SADF 151 Battalion, this unit amalgamated with 1 SAI post 1994
Murder at 1 SAI

In September 1999, Lt. S. Madubela from 1 SAI went on a shooting spree through the unit, killing seven personnel and injuring five, before being stopped and killed by his colleagues. [4]

Freedom of Entry

1 SAI received the freedom of entry to Bloemfontein in 1981.

Insignia

Previous Dress Insignia

SADF era 1 SAI insignia SADF era 1 SAI insignia ver 4.jpg
SADF era 1 SAI insignia

Current Dress Insignia

SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia.jpg
SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia

Ordnance

Current

Vehicle mounted weapons

1 SAI is equipped with Ratel 20 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, [5] Ratel 60 mm (2.4 in) Mortar Platform Vehicles, Ratel Command Vehicles with mounted 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns, Kwevoel 100 Armoured Trucks for IFV Recovery, field maintenance, fuel bunkers and water provision, [6] Samil 50 and 100 logistics trucks, Samil 20 trucks for its organic field workshops, Casspir APCs for its forward artillery observation party,[ citation needed ] and Rinkhals Field Ambulance. [7] 1 SAI has also used Buffel IFVs and Mambas at certain stages in its history. Ratel mounted weapons include the Denel Land Systems GI-2 20 mm (0.79 in) Quick Firing Cannon (QFC) (Ratel mounted), 60 mm (2.4 in) breech-loading mortar (Ratel mounted), Browning M1919 [8] Machine gun and the Browning M2 12.75 mm (0.502 in) Machine gun. [8]

Badger IFV earmarked for replacement of the Ratel Fleet 2016 onwards Denel Badger IFV.jpg
Badger IFV earmarked for replacement of the Ratel Fleet 2016 onwards
Ratel 20 IFV typical fighting section layout Ratel IFV typical fighting section.jpg
Ratel 20 IFV typical fighting section layout
SA Mechanised Infantry Ordnance SA Mechanised Infantry Ordnance.jpg
SA Mechanised Infantry Ordnance

Lighter and personal weapons

1 SAI is equipped with the Vektor SS77 Squad Automatic Machine gun, Fabrique Nationale 7.62 mm (0.300 in) Light Machine gun, Vektor R4 5.56 mm (0.219 in) assault rifle, 40 mm (1.6 in) Multiple Grenade Launcher (MGL), Rocket Propelled grenade launcher (RPG-7),[ citation needed ] M26 Fragmentation grenade, [9] M4 60 mm (2.4 in) patrol mortar (PATMOR), and the Denel 99 mm (3.9 in) FT5 rocket launcher. [10]

Future

Under Project Hoefyster, the SANDF will eventually replace the Ratel family of vehicles with the Badger system. [11] [12] [13] Nine versions are contemplated of which three are earmarked for mechanized Infantry Battalions such as 1 SAI: [14] [15] [16]

SANDF Badger IFV at AAD 2016.jpg
SANDF Badger IFV rear view.jpg
Badger IFV front and rear views

1 SAI Mechanised Fleet early 1990s

Fighting Echelon Vehicles

SA Infantry Alpha attack vehicles.jpg

1 Ratel 20 per section, 3 sections per platoon, 1 Ratel 60 per platoon, 3 platoons per company. 2 Ratel 12,7 per company.

A Echelon Vehicles

SA Infantry Charlie Support Vehicles.jpg

Unit Song

In 1 SAI wil ek bly,
dis die eenheid net vir my,
slaggereed en kommer vry,
met ons ratels veg ons ver,
onder die al en suider ster 1 SAI Bataljon,
1 SAI! Servire, servire, servire parati is ons lese as jy vra, 1 SAI Bataljon, 1 SAI!


From the shores of Cape Agulhas,
to the Northern bushveld trees,
We will fight our countries battles,
in the air, land and sea,
We will fight for right and freedom,
we will keep our honesty,
We are proud to claim the title of the 'Mechanised Infantry'.

Leadership

Training Battalion

Leadership
FromHonorary ColonelTo
FromOfficer CommandingTo
1967Cmdt H.N.H. Nortonc.1968
1969Cmdt B.P.U. Strydomc.1971
1975Cmdt Len Meyer c.1977
1977Cmdt A.J.M. Joebertc.1977
1977Cmdt Frank Bestbierc.1978
1981Col A. Savides [17] c.1983
1983Col G.A. van Zylc.1987
1990Col Cassie Schoemanc.1993
1993Col A. Bornmanc.1995
1995Col C.J. van der Merwec.1996
1996Lt Col Jan Wesselsc.1999
2004Lt Col T.C. Mokhosi c.2008
2013Col T. Mashalabac.2016
2016Lt Col T.S.A. Tsekic.2018
2020Lt Col M. MalatjiNd
FromRegimental Sergeants MajorTo
1969WO1 R.H. Uekermann1972
1973WO1 A.A. Calmeyer1976
1976WO1 L.B. Calitz1980
1980WO1 J.R. Stone1986
1987WO1 E.H. Heimann1988
1988WO1 W.P. Wiese1993
1993WO1 T.J. Visagie1996
1996WO1 H.C.A Smit1997
1998WO1 J.M Nel2004
2015WO1 J. A. KoekemoerNd

Mechanised Leadership Wing

Leadership
FromOfficer CommandingTo
1978Maj E. van Lillc.nd
1982Cmdt Cassie Schoemanc.1985
1995Lt Col. K. Schmidtc.nd

Notes

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