South West Africa Command

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South West Africa Command
SADF era South West Africa Command flash.jpg
Active1939–1988
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Type Command
Headquarters Windhoek
Insignia
South West Africa Command Bar SADF era South West Africa Command Bar.jpg

South West Africa Command was a command of the South African Army.

Contents

History

Origin

South West Africa Command was one of the South African Defence Force's regional commands, which made up the Territorial Force.

Based in Windhoek, it was initially responsible for the security of the entire South West Africa, forming the main level of command for military operations providing logistic, administrative and service support to all units and formations operating in its area of responsibility as well as support for the Police. [1]

South West Africa Command was established in 1939 under a Union Government Proclamation, No 234 of 1939. At that stage it consisted of a citizen force component with a support company and signals.

Establishment of local Infantry

By December 1939, the Commands first unit, 1 SWA Infantry Battalion was established.

Establishment of a local commando system

By 1940, 32 defence rifle clubs were also established but were upgraded by 1948 to rifle commandos.

In 1957 the Infantry Battalion was converted to an armored car regiment and the rifle commandos were upgraded to full commandos.

Formation of the SWATF

With the formation of the South West Africa Territorial Force in 1977, South West Africa Command's area of responsibility was diminished by 1980 to the frontline sectors of the territory.

SADF Frontline Sectors Control

By the 1990s, South West Africa Command controlled Sectors 10, 20 and 70. [2] All local SWATF forces in these sectors also fell directly under SWA Command.

SADF units in Sector 10

  • SADF's Air Force Base Ondangwa,
  • SADF's 5 Maintenance Unit at Ondangwa,
  • SADF's Sector 10 Training Unit at Oshivelo,
  • SADF's Sector 10 Signals Unit at Oshikati,
  • SADF's Sector 10 Maintenance Unit at Oshikati,
  • SADF's Sector 10 Provost Unit at Oshikati,
  • SADF's 25 Engineering Squadron at Oshakati, and
  • SADF's 61 Mechanised Battalion Group at Omuthiya (although not SWATF, 61 Mech had its origins in South West Africa)

SADF units in Sector 20

  • SADF's Air Force Base Rundu and
  • SADF's 6 Maintenance Unit at Rundu.

SADF units in Sector 70

  • SADF's Air Force Base at Mpacha,
  • SADF's Navy Marine Company utilized for river patrols and
  • SADF's 9 Maintenance Unit at Mpacha.

Modular Battalions

Modular Battalions main function was internal operations. Sub units were attached according to the requirements of a specific situation, i.e. the "modular nature".

These units were made up from temporary elements (or ‘modules’) from a variety of units and would be deployed in company patrol bases along the border. 53 Battalion for example would have companies from 1 SAI, the Cape Town Highlanders, Rand Light Infantry and 6 SAI allocated to it for a particular season, while 54 Battalion would source its infantry elements from 8 SAI and the SACC. [3]

There was usually a company of SWATF attached to each Modular Battalion on rotation to provide ‘local knowledge’ and various elements of 1 SWA Specialist Unit were also attached to provide tracking and patrolling expertise. Koevoet or Romeo-Mike teams were also frequently stationed in these company bases for mutual protection, but would generally operate independently.

The Modular Battalions’ heavy weapons often included a wide variety of captured Soviet and obsolete British World War II-era items, which were usually static, being primarily intended for base defence. Motor transport was limited, with a few Buffels being retained for patrolling and SAAF helicopters often being utilised for inter-base liaison. The companies of a Modular Battalion were generally weak during the quiet dry season (maybe 30- 50% strength), but would each be brought up to the full strength of five platoons in time for the wet season, which was when the bush would become jungle and SWAPO-PLAN infiltration teams would stream southwards. Their main responsibility was to secure their assigned area in which they conducted cordon and search operations, patrols, checkpoints, mine sweeping and the protection of roads and water systems.

  • Five ‘Modular’ Infantry Battalions
    • 51 Battalion at Ruacana,
      51 Battalion 51 SWATF Battalion.jpg
      51 Battalion
    • 52 Battalion at Oshakati,
      52 Battalion emblem SWATF 51 Battalion emblem.jpg
      52 Battalion emblem
    • 53 Battalion at Ondangwa,
      53 Battalion emblem SWATF 53 Battalion emblem.jpg
      53 Battalion emblem
    • 54 Battalion at Eenhana
      54 Battalion 54 SWATF battalion.jpg
      54 Battalion
      and
    • 55 Battalion at Nepara.
      55 Battalion SWATF 55 Battalion.jpg
      55 Battalion

Insignia of South West Africa Command 1980s

SWA Command Headquarters insignia

South West Africa Command insignia SADF era South West Africa Command insignia.jpg
South West Africa Command insignia

SWA Command Units insignia

SWA Command Sector Units insignia

Leadership

Related Research Articles

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<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.

Operation Prone was a proposed military operation by the South African Defence Force (SADF) and South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War between May and September 1988. With the advance of the 50th Cuban Division towards Calueque and the South-West Africa border, the SADF formed the 10 SA Division to counter this threat. The plan for Operation Prone had two phases. Operation Linger was to be a counterinsurgency phase and Operation Pact a conventional phase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">44 Parachute Brigade (South Africa)</span> Military unit

44 Parachute Brigade was a parachute infantry brigade of the South African Army. It was founded on 20 April 1978, by Colonel Jan Breytenbach, following the disbandment of 1 SA Corps and the battle of Cassinga. Upon formation, the brigade was commanded by Brigadier M. J. du Plessis, who was assigned the task of establishing by working with the Parachute Staff Officer, Colonel Jan Breytenbach. At the time du Plessis was the commanding officer of the Orange Free State Command and had previous experience serving in 1 Parachute Battalion. Breytenbach had also been a member of 1 Parachute Battalion and had also founded the South African Special Forces Brigade and 32 Battalion. The location that was chosen for the brigade's headquarters was in the lines of the OFS Cmd Headquarters, next to the old Tempe Airfield in Bloemfontein.

Operation Boswilger was a military operation executed by the South West Africa Territorial Force in June 1985 during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War. The SADF soldiers pursued SWAPO's, PLAN insurgents, who had attacked infrastructure, out of South West Africa/Namibia across the border into Angola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">44 Pathfinder Platoon</span> Military unit

The 44 Pathfinder Platoon is part of the 44 Parachute Regiment. The pathfinder is a trained and specialized paratrooper, who performs covertly behind enemy lines, either in small groups or in collaboration with other reconnaissance units.

Operation Excite/Hilti was a set of military operations by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7 South African Infantry Battalion</span> Military unit

7 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

Operation Merlyn was a military operation by the South African Defence Force (SADF), South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) and South West African Police (SWAPOL) during the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War in April 1989. The aim of the operation was to prevent the incursion of PLAN (SWAPO) insurgents into South West Africa/Namibia from bases in Angola. These incursions were in violation of a ceasefire which came into effect on 1 April 1989 via the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 and the Tripartite Accord. Initially, these PLAN incursions were tackled by South West African police units and eventually by SADF and SWATF units, released to assist the police having been confined to their bases by the peace agreements. These incursions and the conflict that occurred ended after hastily arranged talks resulted in the Mount Etjo Declaration and an eventual ceasefire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8 South African Infantry Battalion</span> Military unit

8 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army. The battalion is equipped with Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) used for fast transport and combat mobility across rough ground. Support weapons for mechanized infantry are also provided with motorized transport, or are built directly into these IFVs, in order to keep pace with the IFVs in combat. The battalion was raised at Upington in the Northern Cape in 1973 as part of the South African Infantry Corps, and since the change in structure, has been assigned to the Infantry Formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">34 Battalion (SWATF)</span> Military unit

34 Battalion was a light infantry battalion that was part of the SWATF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">33 Battalion (SWATF)</span> Military unit

33 Battalion or the Eastern Caprivi Battalion, was a light infantry battalion that was part of the SWATF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">36 Battalion (SWATF)</span> Military unit

36 Battalion was a light infantry battalion in the South African Army and in later years became part of the SWATF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">37 Battalion (SWATF)</span> Military unit

102 Battalion(pronounced as one-o-two Battalion) was a quick-reaction unit of the South West African Territorial Force. The battalion lost 36 men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">301 Battalion</span> Military unit

301 Battalion was part of Sector 30 of the South West African Territorial Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">912 Battalion (SWATF)</span> Military unit

Regiment Erongo was a quick-reaction unit of the South West African Territorial Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">913 Battalion (SWATF)</span> Military unit

913 Battalion was part of 91 South West African Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">62 Mechanised Battalion Group</span> Military unit

62 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Army (SADF); although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion forming the core of the group, Main Battle Tank Squadron, Armoured Car Squadron, Air-defence Battery, Engineer Squadron, Artillery Battery, specialists i.e. EW, MAOT, etc. and all the supporting staff and functions required for such a force.

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

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

Regiment Uitenhage was an infantry regiment of the South African Army.

References

  1. http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/inventories/inv_pdfo/AG1977/AG1977-A5-11-001-jpeg.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  2. Liebenberg, I. Risquet,J. A far away war, Angola 1975–1989, Sun Press Stellenbosch 2015
  3. http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/inventories/inv_pdfo/A3079/A3079-F3-001-jpeg.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]