Regiment Vrystaat

Last updated
Regiment Vrystaat
SADF Regiment Oranjerivier flash emblem.jpg
Regiment Vrystaat emblem
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeArmoured Regiment
Part of South African Armoured Corps
Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQ Bloemfontein
Motto(s) Libertas Virtus Fidelitas (Freedom; Power; Fealty)
Equipment Eland 90 armoured car
Battle honours
  • East Africa 1940 - 1941
  • Western Desert 1941 - 1943
  • Sidi Rezegh
  • Gazala
  • Alamein Defence
  • El Alamein
Commanders
OC 1982Commandant J.J. van der Merwe
honorary Colonel (1982)Judge M.T. Steyn
Insignia
Beret ColourBlack
Armour Squadron emblems SANDF Armour squadron emblems.jpg
Armour beret bar circa 1992 SANDF Armour beret bar.jpg

Regiment Vrystaat was an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. Formed from 2 Regiment President Steyn which had been formed in 1975, when 1 Regiment President Steyn was converted to tanks and 2 Regiment President Steyn formed with armored cars. It was part of the South African Army Armour Formation.

Contents

History

Origin

Originally designated 2 Regiment President Steyn on 1 August 1975, Regiment Vrystaat was only formed the following year by the transfer of excess personnel from Regiment President Steyn. [1] At the same time a decision was taken to redesignate the unit.

Border War

Regiment Vrystaat's Eland-90 armoured cars saw service during the South African Border War.

Eland facility marker at Tempe Noddysideview.png
Eland facility marker at Tempe

The regiment conducted its first border operations in 1976. The regiment was at that stage one of very few conventional armoured car regiments in South Africa and acted as backup reserve for South African forces leaving Angola in that period.

Regiment Vrystaat conducted further border duty in 1977 and 1978. [2]

The regiment supported Operations Hooper and Packer with 20 Ratel Drivers in 1988.

Affiliations

Regiment Vrystaat was assigned to 73 Motorised Brigade of 7 Division and then to 9 Division by 1991.

Reamalgamation

By 2000, the two regiments re-amalgamated and became a single regiment once again.

Regimental symbols

Dress Insignia

SADF era Regiment Vrystaat insignia SADF era Regiment Vrystaat insignia ver 3.png
SADF era Regiment Vrystaat insignia

Unit colours

Regiment Vrystaat retained the original colours of Regiment President Steyn which is old gold, white and black, but adopted the tree of freedom the Orange Free State as its unit badge.

Officers Commanding

Leadership
FromOfficer CommandingTo
1975Cmdt Jurie van der Merwec.nd
1991Cmdt Andre de Beerc.nd
FromRegimental Sergeant MajorTo

Battle honours

As an offshoot of Regiment President Steyn, Regiment Vrystaat was allowed to carry that units battle honours as well:

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References

  1. http://www.rfdiv.mil.za/docs/REGIMENT%20PRESIDENT%20STEYN.pdf [ dead link ]
  2. Paratus August 1982