911 Battalion (SWATF)

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41/911 Battalion
SWATF 911 Battalion emblem.jpg
SWATF 911 Battalion emblem
Active1977
CountryFlag of Namibia.svg  Namibia, Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
AllegianceFlag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
BranchEnsign of the South African Defence Force (1981-1994).svg  South African Army,
TypeInfantry
Part of South West African Territorial Force
Garrison/HQWindhoek, Luiperdsvlei
Equipment Casspir, Buffel
Commanders
Ceremonial chiefCommandant Gert Uys
Insignia
Part of the South West African Territorial Force Insignia of the South West African Territorial Force.svg
SWATF Regiment Windhoek beret badge SWATF Regiment Windhoek beret badge.jpg
Regiment Windhoek bonnie cap SWATF bonnie cap.jpg

911 Battalion was part of the South West African Territorial Force's 91 Brigade. [1]

Contents

History

This unit was formed in 1977 situated sixty kilometres south of Windhoek at Oamites an old disused copper mine. 911 Battalion was made up of various ethnic groups from SWA, such as Hereros, Damaras, Tswanas, Basters and Coloureds. 911 Battalion became known as "Swing Force" due to its ability to operate as a conventional unit or as a Counter-insurgency (COIN) unit. It recruited from South West Africa at large and deployed predominantly as a reserve force. An infantry element, a mechanised contingent, artillery, and a regiment of Eland armoured cars was included. [2] The unit was never mobilised en masse.

911 Battalion was part of 91 Brigade.

SWATF 91 Brigade structure v3.png

Operational area

The battalion's main operational area was Owamboland, via Oshivello, about two hundred kilometres south of the SWA/Angola border. On entering the Oshivello gate, soldiers had passed over the so-called 'red line' which meant in effect that they were officially on the border and in the operational area.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Introducing the SWATF" (PDF). Financial Mail (Supplement). 10 July 1987. pp. 44–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Helmoed-Römer Heitman (1991). Modern African Wars: South West Africa (1991 ed.). Osprey Publishing. p.  17. ISBN   978-1855321229.

Further reading

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