21 Motorised Infantry Brigade (Namibia)

Last updated

21 Motorised Infantry Brigade
21 Motorised Infantry Brigade logo.png
Emblem of 21 Mot Inf Bde.
CountryFlag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
BranchFlag of the Namibian Army.svg  Namibian Army
TypeMotorised Infantry
SizeBrigade
Part of Namibian Army
Garrison/HQSuiderhof, [1] Windhoek
Colors    Blue, Yellow, Green
Commanders
General Officer CommandingBrigadier General Martin Shikomba
Notable
commanders
Victor Simunja

21 Motorised Infantry Brigade [2] (pronounced as Two One Motorised Infantry Brigade) is a brigade of the Namibian Army based at Suiderhof, Windhoek. The prefix "21" is taken from 21 March 1990, Namibia's independence day. The brigade is responsible for the defence of the central areas of Namibia. Its subordinate units are situated in the Khomas. Apart from its Motorised battalions it also consists of a Mechanized Infantry Battalion. It also provides a ceremonial guard battalion for the Head of State.

Contents

Equipment

The Brigade uses the following equipment:

Units

The standard Namibian Infantry Brigade consists of a brigade Headquarters, a transport company, logistics company and a medical company supporting three Infantry battalions an artillery regiment and an air defence regiment. It also has a ceremonial guard battalion attached to it. [3]

The following units are based at the brigade headquarters in Windhoek:

21 Ceremonial Guard Battalion

21 Ceremonial Guard Battalion is a guard of honour unit of the NDF. It was also responsible for protecting the President of Namibia till President Hifikepunye Pohamba stopped the practice. It has 500 members and is based in the capital where it performs public duties. [5] [6] It uses Russian/German foot drill when marching, in part due to the country returning to the traditional goose step. [7] International leaders that have been honored by the battalion include Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Chair of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki. [8] Deputy Defence Minister Victor Simunja served as captain of the unit in 1990. [9]

Leadership

21 Motorised Infantry Brigade
FromGeneral Officer CommandingTo
Unknown dateBrigadier General Philipus Shikuma Kamati [10] 19 July 2011
19 July 2011Brigadier General Erastus Kashopola 25 July 2019
25 July 2019Brigadier General Martin Nangolo Shikomba [11] Incumbent

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibian Defence Force</span> Combined military forces of Namibia

The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) comprises the national military forces of Namibia. It was created when the country, then known as South West Africa, gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Chapter 15 of the Constitution of Namibia establishes the NDF and defines its role and purpose as, " ... to defend the territory and national interests of Namibia".

A division is a large military unit or formation, usually consisting of between 6,000 and 25,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades; in turn, several divisions typically make up a corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment</span> Military unit

A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigade</span> Large military formation (3–6 battalions / 3–10 thousand troops

A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Army</span> Branch of the South African National Defence Force

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South West Africa Territorial Force</span> Military unit

The South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) was an auxiliary arm of the South African Defence Force (SADF) and comprised the armed forces of South West Africa from 1977 to 1989. It emerged as a product of South Africa's political control of the territory which was granted to the former as a League of Nations mandate following World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf</span> Military unit

Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" is the core unit of the Lithuanian Army and forms the country's contribution to NATO collective defence. The name of the brigade relates to the Lithuanian mythical character from the medieval foundation legend of the Vilnius city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">72nd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Ukrainian Ground Forces formation

The 72nd Mechanized Brigade named after theBlack Zaporozhians is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It was previously named the 29th Rifle Division and then the 72nd Guards Rifle Division of the Soviet Ground Forces. In 1957, it became a motor rifle division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">128th Mountain Assault Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 128th Mountain Assault Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">93rd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">92nd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 92nd Mechanized Brigade "Ivan Sirko", abbreviated 92 OMBr, is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Its honorific name is after Cossack military leader Ivan Sirko. The unit was formed in 1999 as the 6th Mechanized Division based on the 6th Division of the National Guard of Ukraine. In 2000 it was reorganized as the 92nd Mechanized Brigade. Following the Russo-Ukrainian war and the 2015 decommunization in Ukraine, the brigade's Soviet honors and heritage were purged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanized Infantry (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

Mechanized Infantry Forces of Ukraine are the general basis and primary combat formations of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. They execute tasks of holding the occupied areas, lines and positions tasks of enemy's impacts repelling, of penetrating the enemy's defense lines, defeating the enemy forces, capturing the important areas, lines and objectives, and can operate in structure of marine and landing troops.

Victor Simunja is a Namibian politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Simunja was appointed to the National Assembly of Namibia in 2000 and served as Deputy Minister of Defense from 2000 to 2009. Simunja rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Namibian Defence Force prior to entering political office. He is a member of the Mafwe ethnic group, indigenous to the Caprivi Strip.

This article provides formation lists of the Polish People's Army order of battle at various points in history between 1943 and 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibian Army</span> Land warfare branch of the Namibian armed forces

The Namibian Army is the ground warfare branch of the Namibian Defence Force.

4 Artillery Brigade(pronounced as Four Artillery Brigade) and colloquially known as "Gunners", is the artillery arm of the Namibian Army based at Otjiwarongo. It functions as the Army's artillery Formation and hosts all the Artillery regiments of the Army.

12 Motorised Infantry Brigade(pronounced as One Two Motorised Infantry Brigade) is a brigade of the Namibian Army based at Keetmanshoop. The prefix "12" is taken from 12 May 1929, Namibia's first president's birthday day. The brigade is responsible for the defence of the southern areas of Namibia. Its subordinate units are situated in the Omaheke, Hardap, Karas and Erongo regions.

26 Motorised Infantry Brigade(pronounced as Two Six Motorised Infantry Brigade) is a brigade of the Namibian Army based at Grootfontein. The prefix "26" is taken from 26 August 1966, the day on which SWAPO guerrillas first encountered the South African security forces at Ongulumbashe. The brigade is responsible for defence of the Northern areas of Namibia. Its subordinate units are situated in Zambezi, Kavango, Omusati, Kunene and Oshana regions.

Brigadier General Erastus Nomongula Kashopola is a retired Namibian military officer. His last command was as the General Officer Commanding 21 Motorised Infantry Brigade.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "21 Brigade champions crowned - Sports - Namibian Sun". 18 November 2019.
  2. "Russia's 200th Motorized Infantry Brigade in the Donbass: The Hero of Russia". bellingcat. 21 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 http://wwwisis.unam.na/theses/shipena2011.pdf [ dead link ]
  4. Marketing, Intouch Interactive (18 November 2019). "21 Brigade champions crowned - Sports - Namibian Sun". www.namibiansun.com. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  5. Colletta, Nat J.; Kostner, Markus; Wiederhofer, Ingo (1996). Case Studies in War-to-peace Transition: The Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-combatants in Ethiopia, Namibia, and Uganda. ISBN   9780821336748.
  6. "Promoting national reconciliation and regional integration: The Namibian Defence Force from 1990–2005" (PDF).
  7. NDF parade. Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March 2016.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Simunja Victor". Namibian Parliament. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  10. Ministry of Defence, M (September 2011). "Inauguration of 21 Inf Bde Commander". NDF Journal. 41: 4.
  11. "21 BDE Change of Command - GRN Portal". Mod.gov.na. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2022.