4 Artillery Regiment (South Africa)

Last updated

4 Field Artillery
SADF era 4 Artillery Regiment emblem v2.jpg
SANDF 4 Artillery Regiment emblem
Active1945 to present
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeRegular artillery
RoleMedium (self propelled) Artillery (G6)
SizeRegiment
Part of South African Army Artillery Formation
Army Conventional
Garrison/HQPotchefstroom, Northwest Province
Patron St Barbara [ citation needed ]
Motto(s)Always in support
ColorsThe launchers
Anniversaries29 June
Equipment GV6 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
Engagements World War II
South African Border War
Battle honours South West Africa
Insignia
Collar BadgeBursting grenade with seven flames
Beret ColourOxford Blue
Artillery Battery Emblems SANDF Artillery Battery emblems.jpg
Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992 SANDF Artillery Beret Bar.jpg

4 Artillery Regiment is based at Potchefstroom, responsible for the training of soldiers allotted to Field and Medium Artillery.

Contents

History

SADF era 4 Artillery Commemorative Letter 1991 SADF 4 Artillery Commemorative Letter.png
SADF era 4 Artillery Commemorative Letter 1991

Origins

Under the UDF

On 28 May 1945, authority was granted for the formation of 4 Field Artillery as a full-time regiment with effect 1 April 1945.

Successor to 4 Field Brigade

4 Artillery was the successor to 4 Field Brigade, which had made a name for itself at Combolcia, Dessie and Amba Alagi in Ethiopia. The regiment served at El Alamein under its own name – as part of 1 SA Division – and in Italy as part of 6 SA Armoured Division, notably at Monte Stanco.

In May 1946 the unit became part of the Permanent Force's 11 Armoured Brigade. When the latter was disbanded in 1951, the unit continued on as 10 Field Battery.

4 Field Training Regiment

Based in Potchefstroom, it became 4 Field Training Regiment in 1953 with 10, 11 and 12 Field Batteries at Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein and Oudtshoorn respectively. It was disestablished as a training institution in November 1967. It continued as 4 Field Regiment from 1967 to 1975 with 1 Medium, 41 and 42 batteries based at Potchefstroom and 43 battery in Walvis Bay. 1 Medium battery used the BL5.5-inch medium howitzer (eighty pounder) whereas 41, 42 and 43 batteries used the Ordnance QF 25-pounder.

Under the SADF

Border War

The regiment reactivated in 1975 and took part in most operations since Operation Savannah in 1976. It was back in action in August and September 1981 in support of Operation Protea with 41 Bty (120 mm mortar) and 43 Bty (120 mm mortar) and Operation Daisy with 43 Bty (120 mm mortar) in support of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group. In 1983 the regiment became part of 10 Artillery Brigade (with 14 Artillery Regiment) and was renamed 4 Artillery Regiment the next year. By 1987 4 Artillery was structured as:

  • 41 Battery
  • 42 Battery
  • 43 Battery and
  • 1 Medium Battery

In 1987 the regiment took part in Operation Moduler and in 1988 in Operation Hooper, Operation Displace and Operation Prone. In 1989, the regiment was part of the Merlyn Brigade based at Grootfontein, returning home after Namibian independence. The Artillery Brigade and 14 Artillery Regiment disbanded on 1 January 1993.

4 Artillery was part of the Sector 10 response to the Cuban buildup and SWAPO incursions, known as the Merlyn Forces in 1989 South West Africa SADF Merlyn Forces emblem 1989 South West Africa.jpg
4 Artillery was part of the Sector 10 response to the Cuban buildup and SWAPO incursions, known as the Merlyn Forces in 1989 South West Africa

Internal operations

In 1985 and 1986 the unit had tours as provisional infantry in Soweto, Tembisa, Alexandra and in the KwaNdebele homeland.

Under the SANDF

Organisation
Cavallo transporter with a G6 self-propelled gun Cavallo G6 artillery transporter.jpg
Cavallo transporter with a G6 self-propelled gun

The regiment is currently organised as a composite unit and has a growth capability for the establishment of additional regiments if required:

Regimental Colours

In March 1973 the unit broke with artillery tradition, which recognises the unit's guns as its colours, and took possession of a regimental colour, becoming the first artillery regiment to be presented with a regimental colour and claims to be the first to have appointed an honorary colonel.

Insignia

Master Gunners

At least six people serving with 4 Artillery have had the prestigious award conferred on them of Master.Gunner. This includes three commanding officers, two second-in-commands and at least one Battery Sgt Major.

Master Gunner Badge
(Qualification and Decoration)
SANDF Arty Master Gunner badge embossed.png
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed
Crossed gun barrels

Previous Dress Insignia

SADF era 4 Artillery Regiment insignia SADF era 4 Artillery Regiment insignia ver 2.jpg
SADF era 4 Artillery Regiment insignia

Leadership

4 Artillery Regiment Leadership
FromHonorary ColonelsTo
1984Col (Hon) Johann Oosthuizen2012
FromOfficers Commanding
4 Field Regiment
To
1946Lt Col Nick Bierman SSA SM CBE 1947
1950Lt Col Bob Meintjies DSO [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] 1953
ndLt Col Ronald McWilliam1962
1962Lt Col Hendrik Greyvenstein SM 1963
1963Lt Col Jack Hawtayne1968
1968Lt Col Richard Frederick "Shorty" Brown SM MMM 1969
1969Lt Col Piet van der Waltnd
FromOfficers Commanding
4 Artillery Regiment
To
1991Cmdt Sarel Buijs1993
1993Lt Col Chris Roux SM MMM [lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 2] 1994
1994Col Deon Holtzhausen SM MMM [lower-alpha 4] [lower-alpha 2] 1997
1997Lt Col Phillip van Dyk [lower-alpha 2] nd
ndLt Col Sarel Kruger [lower-alpha 2] nd
2004Lt Col Thulani Zungu 4004
2004Lt Col André J. Claassen [lower-alpha 2] 2006
2006Lt Col Victor Khasapane [lower-alpha 2] 2010
ndLt Col Matloki Misapitso2014
2014Lt Col Jongile Maso [lower-alpha 2] 2016
2017Lt Col Mimy Matimbe [lower-alpha 2] 2020
2020Lt Col Joe Tshabalala [lower-alpha 2] nd
FromRegimental Sergeants MajorTo

Freedom of the City

The regiment was awarded the Freedom of Potchefstroom in 1984.

Notes

  1. Later Major General
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Master Gunner
  3. Later Brigadier General
  4. Later Major General

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artillery battery</span> Artillery unit size designation

In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit or multiple systems of artillery, mortar systems, rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers, surface-to-surface missiles, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, etc., so grouped to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems. The term is also used in a naval context to describe groups of guns on warships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery</span> Military unit

The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery is the artillery regiment of the New Zealand Army. It is effectively a military administrative corps, and can comprise multiple component regiments. This nomenclature stems from its heritage as an offshoot of the British Army's Royal Artillery. In its current form it was founded in 1947 with the amalgamation of the regular and volunteer corps of artillery in New Zealand. In 1958 in recognition of services rendered it was given the title the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Army Artillery Formation</span> Military unit

The South African Army Artillery Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army artillery units. It draws much of its history from the South African Artillery, established in 1934 but with roots that reach back to 1921. The formation consists of both regular and reserve units. There is a separate South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation that directs army anti-aircraft warfare units.

The 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery is an artillery unit of the Australian Army. Currently it provides close artillery support to the 3rd Brigade and is based at Chau Pha Lines, Lavarack Barracks in Townsville, Queensland. The regiment was raised in its current form in 1960 and is currently re-equipping with M777A2 lightweight towed howitzers. The regiment deployed during Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War and has subsequently deployed to Singapore and East Timor.

39 Regiment Royal Artillery (RA) was part of the British Army's Royal Artillery. Its name is pronounced "three nine", The Regiment was one of the Depth fire units of 1st Artillery Brigade, part of the British Army. It was formed in 1947, and placed into suspended animation on 20 February 2015. The Regiment was based at Albemarle Barracks in Northumberland.

3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. They are currently based at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland, England.

1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. It currently serves in the armoured field artillery role, and is equipped with the AS90 self-propelled gun. The regiment is currently based at Larkhill Garrison, Larkhill. The regiment completed its move from Assaye Barracks, Tidworth, to Larkhill in June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Artillery</span> Military unit

The Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) is the artillery arm of the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of ten regular regiments and two volunteer regiments. The SLA is headquartered at Panagoda Cantonment, Panagoda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment of Artillery (India)</span> Artillery arm of the Indian Army

The Regiment of Artillery is a combat/fighting arm of the Indian Army, which provides massive firepower during all ground operations of the Indian Army. It is a successor to the Royal Indian Artillery (RIA) of British Indian Army, which itself traces its origins to the formation of Bombay Artillery in 1827.

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

The Steve Biko Artillery Regiment is a airborne artillery regiment of the South African Artillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Home Counties Brigade, Royal Field Artillery</span> Military unit

The IV Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery was a new volunteer unit formed in Kent as part of the Territorial Force (TF) in 1908. It saw active service on the Western Front during World War I and was reconstituted as medium artillery in the interwar years. Later it converted to anti-aircraft artillery, in which role it served in The Blitz, North Africa and Italy during World War II and continued under various designations until its disbandment in 1969.

The London Heavy Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery was a unit of the British Territorial Force formed in 1908. It fought on the Western Front during World War I, and its successors served in the Mediterranean and North-West Europe theatres during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10 Artillery Brigade (South Africa)</span> Military unit

10 Artillery Brigade was a South African Defence Force formation designed for mass artillery barrages, mainly for the 7 South African Infantry Division or 8 South African Armoured Division, as well as an ad hoc formation during Operation Prone, when needed and detached and reattached where required. Smaller components would then be used at the battlegroup level.

The 2nd Kent Artillery Volunteers, later 4th London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, popularly known as the Lewisham Gunners, was a volunteer unit of the British Army from 1860 until 1967. Initially raised in suburban West Kent, its recruiting area was later incorporated within the County of London. It provided two active service units in each of the World Wars, operating as far afield as Sicily, Burma and Madagascar, and later provided an airborne unit in the Territorial Army of the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Devonshire Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 1st Devonshire Artillery Volunteers and its successor units served in the British Army's Reserve Forces from 1859 to 1961. During World War I it carried out garrison duty in British India but went on to see active service in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Converting to an air defence role before World War II its units participated in the Norwegian campaign and the Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain and then the campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and Burma

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14 Field Artillery Regiment</span> Military unit

14 Artillery Regiment was a South African Artillery unit whose name was used twice. It was re-established in Potchefstroom in 1974 and was a full-time unit responsible for the training of Permanent Force and National Service personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers</span> Military unit

The 2nd Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers was a part-time unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery from 1890 to 1955. Raised as coastal defence artillery, it later served as field artillery in Mesopotamia during the First World War and in the Battle of France and Second Battle of El Alamein during the Second World War. Its successor units later operated as medium artillery in North West Europe, and as jungle artillery in Burma. Postwar, it became an anti-aircraft unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edinburgh City Artillery</span> Military unit of Britains Volunteer Force, later its Territorial Force

The Edinburgh City Artillery was a part-time unit of Britain's Volunteer Force raised around Edinburgh in 1859. It was the parent unit for a number of batteries in the later Territorial Force, including heavy batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery that fought on the Western Front during World War I. It later formed a heavy regiment that served in the Battle of France and the campaign in North West Europe during World War II, while a spin-off medium regiment fought in Sicily and Italy. Its successor units continued in the postwar Territorial Army until the 1960s.

The Cheshire Artillery Volunteers was a brigade of Volunteer artillery units raised in the county of Cheshire in the mid-19th century. Their successors served as field artillery in Palestine during World War I and as anti-aircraft (AA) gunners in the Middle East in World War II. They continued in the air defence role in the Territorial Army until 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Lancashire Artillery Volunteers</span> British Army military unit

The 4th Lancashire Artillery Volunteers, later renamed to the 4th West Lancashire Brigade, known as 'The Old 4th', was a part-time unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery founded in Liverpool in 1859. It served on the Western Front during World War I, one of its members winning the Victoria Cross at Cambrai. Between the world wars the unit pioneered mechanical traction methods. During World War II it formed three regiments that saw action at Dunkirk, in East Africa, on Crete, at Tobruk, in Burma, and in the final campaigns in Italy and North West Europe. It continued in the post-war Territorial Army until 1973.

References