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South African Army Artillery Formation | |
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Active | 1999 to date |
Country | South Africa |
Allegiance | South African Army |
Branch | South African Army |
Type | Artillery |
Size | Brigade size |
Part of | South African Army |
Garrison/HQ | Sebokeng Military Complex, Pretoria |
Nickname(s) | The Gunners |
Patron | St Barbara |
Motto(s) | First in, last out |
Colors | Guardsmen Red and Oxford Blue [1] |
Anniversaries | 1 April |
Commanders | |
General Officer Commanding (GOC) | Brig Gen Jongile Maso |
General of the Gunners | Lt Gen Jabu Mbuli |
Chief of Staff (CoS) | Col JK Moraka |
Notable commanders |
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Insignia | |
Collar Badge | Bursting grenade with seven flames |
Beret Colour | Oxford Blue |
Artillery Battery Emblems | |
Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992 | |
Branch of Service |
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 South African Permanent Force, created in 1913 as the Permanent Force and re-designated with effect from 23 February 1923, included the South African Field Artillery (SAFA), and the South African Permanent Garrison Artillery (SAPGA). The SAPGA had begun operations some time before, when the coastal defences of the Cape Peninsula (manned by the Cape Garrison Artillery) had been handed over to South Africa in December 1921.
In Proclamation No. 246 of 1934, [2] the Governor General of the Union of South Africa merged the two organisations with effect from 1 September 1934 and created one Corps titled the South African Artillery (SAA) (see South African Army corps and branches).
Nine field regiments, two medium regiments, and three anti-tank regiments served in North Africa and Italy during the Second World War. [3]
1st Medium Regiment SAA (SAHA) was formed briefly from 1 October 1939 - July 1941, when it was broken up in Egypt to provide replacements for the field regiments of the SAA. It was reformed with headquarters at Cape Town from 1 January 1946. It was transferred from Cape Town and out of Cape Command to Oudtshoorn from 31 December 1953, but was then disbanded after a Citizen Force reorganisation on 1 March 1960. [4]
From 1 July 1951 8 Field Regiment SAA was active, but was redesignated the Johannesburg Regiment in 1960.
10 Artillery Brigade South Africa, was active with 4 and 14 Regiments since 1983, and 14 Artillery Regiment disbanded on January 1, 1993.
The army's reorganisation after the creation of the new South African National Defence Force was lengthy. The SA Army Office was established. The Corps were restructured with Regular and Reserve Regiments under command. The so-called “Type Formations” were established which assumed responsibility for the provisioning of combat-ready forces to be employed under the direction of Joint Operations Division.
The South African Artillery re-organised itself into the South African Army Artillery Formation, directed by the SA Army Artillery Formation Headquarters. [1] [6] The South African Army Artillery Formation HQ was established in April 1999. [7] : 4–5
The GOC Artillery Formation is responsible for managing the appointment of Master Gunners of the Artillery.
In the annual report for the 2013-14 fiscal year, the SANDF reported the development of artillery cooperation and the establishment of the Namibian Army School of Artillery. [8] The SA Army assisted the Namibian Defence Force with the development of courses and ultimately the establishment of the Namibian School of Artillery.
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Crossed gun barrels with grenade |
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Crossed gun barrels |
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Gun image |
The Formation uses the following equipment, among others:
To be acquired:
Variant | Description | Comment | Image |
---|---|---|---|
G1 Gun Quick Firing | 25-pounder, high explosive, anti tank and smoke shells | United Kingdom design | |
G2 Gun Breach Loading | 5.5 inch medium gun, high explosive | United Kingdom design | |
G4 Gun Breach Loading | 155mm, high explosive | Israel design, stopgap until the G5 cannon entered service | |
G5 Gun/Howitzer | 155mm, high explosive, Samil 100 Gun tractor | South Africa design | |
G6 Gun/Howitzer | 155mm, high explosive, Self driven | South Africa design | |
Vulture UAV | Vulture Forward Observation | South Africa design. Used for target acquisition, fall-of-shot detection and fire correction in support of Towed and Self Propelled Gun Howitzer Systems. [9] |
Variant | Description | Comment | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Valkiri MLRS | 127mm rocket MLRS | South Africa design Unimog chassis, pre fragmented warhead, 24 launch tubes | |
Bateleur MLRS | 127mm rocket MLRS | South Africa design Kwevoel chassis, pre fragmented warhead, 40 launch tubes |
The AS-90, known officially as Gun Equipment 155 mm L131, is an armoured self-propelled artillery used by the British Army.
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.
The G6, sometimes denoted as the G6 Rhino, is a South African mine-protected self-propelled howitzer. It was developed as a turreted, self-propelled variant of the G5 howitzer series, mating the gun to a six-wheeled armoured chassis. Design work on the G6 began in the late 1970s to replace the obsolescent Sexton being retired from service with the artillery regiments of the South African Army. Serial production commenced between 1988 and 1999.
The G5 is a South African towed howitzer of 155 mm calibre developed in South Africa by Denel Land Systems. The G5 design was based on the Canadian GC-45 155mm gun which was highly modified to suit southern African conditions.
The Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment is a reserve air defence artillery regiment of the South African Army.
The Valkiri is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. It is a 127mm system with a wheeled launcher vehicle, and fire control equipment developed by Armscor. Contemporary models consist of a single launch module with five eight-cell rocket pods on a Unimog or SAMIL-100 carrier. Its mission is to engage in counter-battery strikes against hostile artillery and air defences as far as 36 km (22 mi) away. Other potential warheads include cluster and an anti-tank mine dispenser.
The 7th Division is one of nine active divisions of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The division is the only armored division of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. It is subordinated to the Northern Army and is headquartered in Chitose, Hokkaidō. Its responsibility is the defense of North Hokkaidō against potential conflicts, mostly from Russia.
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.
The South African Army is divided into functional branches, known as corps. Most consist of units, but some, such as the SA Staff Corps, consist only of personnel who are assigned to headquarters and units. The following is a list of corps established since 1912.
The South African Army Armour Formation provides an Armour capability to the South African Army. The Formation came into being as part of a restructure. South African Armour Corps units previously under the command of various different brigades and other formations were all grouped under one formation. All armour is assigned to the SA Army Armour Formation under the charge of a General Officer Commanding.
The School of Artillery is the South African Army's specialized artillery training school
The South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army Air Defence Artillery units. This Formation consists of both regular and reserve units.
7 South African Infantry Division was a formation of the South African Army, active from the 1960s to 1999.
4 Artillery Regiment is based at Potchefstroom, responsible for the training of soldiers allotted to Field and Medium Artillery.
10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment is an anti-aircraft artillery regiment of the South African Army.
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.
105 mm is a common NATO-standard artillery and tank gun calibre. The rifled tank round is defined by STANAG 4458. The artillery round is defined by AOP-29 part 3 with reference to STANAG 4425.
The Field Artillery Regiment "a Cavallo" is a field artillery regiment of the Italian Army. The regiment carries and maintains the traditions of all Royal Sardinian Army, Royal Italian Army and Italian Army horse artillery units and includes a historic section with horse-drawn guns. The Royal Sardinian Army formed the first horse batteries in 1831, which in 1887 were merged to create the Horse Artillery Regiment. In World War I the regiment's batteries were assigned to the Royal Italian Army's four cavalry divisions, which fought on the Italian front.
The South African Heavy Artillery (SAHA) was a regiment formed in 1915 as part of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force to serve under British command during World War I. It never fought as a single formation, but contributed a number of batteries and brigades to the Royal Garrison Artillery that fought on the Western Front from 1916 until the Armistice.