36 South African Army

The South African Army is the ground warfare branch of South African National Defence Force. Its roots can be traced to its formation after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910. The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by Boer Commando (militia) forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies. It then fought as part of the wider British effort in World War II, but afterwards was cut off from its long-standing Commonwealth ties with the ascension to power of the National Party in South Africa in 1948. The army was involved in a long and bitter counter-insurgency campaign in Namibia from 1966 to 1990. It also played a key role in controlling sectarian political violence inside South Africa during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

1st SA Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the South African Army, during World War One.

2nd South African Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

3rd Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron was a detachment of 'Ratel IFVs' operating from Johannesburg in the 1980s.

4th SA Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the South African Army, during World War One.

10 Armoured Car Squadron was a contingent of the South African Armoured Corps posted in Sector 10, South West Africa, during the South African Border War.

16 Reception Depot was an administrative unit of the Personnel Service Corps of the South African Army.

The South African Army is the ground warfare branch of South African National Defence Force. Its roots can be traced to its formation after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910. The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by Boer Commando (militia) forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies. It then fought as part of the wider British effort in World War II, but afterwards was cut off from its long-standing Commonwealth ties with the ascension to power of the National Party in South Africa in 1948. The army was involved in a long and bitter counter-insurgency campaign in Namibia from 1966 to 1990. It also played a key role in controlling sectarian political violence inside South Africa during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Corporal Jackie was a baboon in the South African army during World War One. He was made their mascot when his owner was drafted into war, and would not leave Jackie at home. Jackie received various injuries during the war such as being shot in the shoulder and having his right leg blown off. Jackie was trained to salute when he saw a superior officer. After the war, Jackie was given the rank of corporal, and the Pretoria Citizens Service Medal, then he died a year later in a home fire.

The Johannesburg Regiment is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

The South African National Defence Force, like most around the world, has various insignia. The army badges authorised for wear are listed here. If members from other arms of service qualify for these badges, they are also permitted to wear them, The criteria are, in most cases, current but there is some historical information included.

Lohatla is a training area of the South African National Defence Force. It is located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa and is home to the SA Army Combat Training Centre, which is part of the South African Army Training Formation.

Regiment Algoa Bay was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment Boland was an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment Botha is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. The Regiment was named after General Louis Botha, the first prime minister of South Africa.

Regiment Christiaan Beyers is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. The Regiment was named after General Christian Frederick Beyers, a Boer general during the Second Boer War.

Regiment Dan Pienaar was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment de la Rey is an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment de Wet was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment Groot Karoo was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment Molopo 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.

Regiment North Natal was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment Potchefstroom Universiteit is an artillery regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. It is part of the South African Army Artillery Formation.

Regiment President Steyn / Thaba Bosiu Armour Regiment is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. The Regiment was named after Martinus Theunis Steyn, the last President of the Orange Free State Republic and is stationed in the city of Bloemfontein. It is part of the South African Army Armour Formation.

Regiment Springs was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Regiment University of Cape Town was an artillery 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. It was part of the South African Army Artillery Corps.

Regiment University of Stellenbosch was an infantry 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. It was part of the South African Army Infantry Corps.

Regiment University of Witwatersrand was an artillery 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. It was part of the South African Army Artillery Corps.

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.

SA Army Troop Information Unit was a South African Army Intelligence Corps COMOPS unit, utilizing conscripts who had completed university or worked in a professional capacity as cameramen, freelance journalists, photographers, public relations officers and journalists from practically every newspaper in South Africa. The unit drew upon these specialist skills and professions, providing staff to the State run broadcasting service, the South African Broadcasting Corporation. The personnel undertook their two year military service within this non-military institution as a media centre where a paper war was being played out.

The Sandfontein Artillery Regiment is an artillery regiment of the South African Army, up to 2019 it was called the Transvaal Horse Artillery. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. It is part of the South African Army Artillery Formation.

The South African Army College is a training unit of the South African Army.

The South African Infantry School is within the Army Base in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape. The Infantry School, now at Oudtshoorn, was established in November 1953, after a chequered career dating back to the South African Military School in Bloemfontein, established in 1912. It is the Infantry’s “centre of excellence” and offers a number of infantry-specific courses to regulars and Reservists.

The Special Service Battalion (SSB) is a South African military unit formed on 1 May 1933 under the patronage of Oswald Pirow, Minister of Defence. The object was to give training to youths, between the ages of 17 and 23, who, in the wake of the 1929 depression, could find no suitable employment on leaving school.

The Transvaalse Staatsartillerie / State Artillery is an artillery regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. It is part of the South African Army Artillery Formation.

The Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment was a mechanised infantry 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. The Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment ceased to exist when it was renamed Bambathat Rifles in August 2019.