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.
History
Origins
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.
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]
Post World War 2
From 1 July 1951 8 Field Regiment SAA was active, but was redesignated the Johannesburg Regiment in 1960.
Bush War period
10 Artillery Brigade South Africa, was active with 4 and 14 Regiments since 1983, and 14 Artillery Regiment disbanded on January 1, 1993.
National Defence Force Reorganisation
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.
G6 Rhino Howitzers at the Klipdrift military base
Air Defence Artillery becomes a separate formation
Regiment Overvaal (ROV) which was established on 1 April 1969 as an Anti-Aircraft Regiment based on Vereeniging Military Base in Vereeniging. P Battery of Regiment Vaalrivier was transferred on 1 October 1969 to form 8th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (8LLA). The name changed from 8LLA to ROV on 27 April 1993. The regiment was disestablished in 1997.[5]
The Artillery Formation
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
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.
Qualification and Appointment insignia
General of the Gunners (Post)
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Crossed gun barrels with grenade
Maj Gen Roy Andersen with the GOC, Brig Gen Deon Holtzhausen, and Sgt Maj of the Formation accompanied by the NFA OC, Major Craig Nel, just after the NFA gunners fired the salute at the Gunner's Memorial Service in Durban 2014
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]
Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems
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
References
^ abEngelbrecht, Leon (9 February 2010). "Fact file: The SA Artillery". DefenceWeb. ITWEB. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
^"South Africa Government Gazette number 2238 - Gazettemachine". South Africa Government Gazette. XCVIII (2238). Pretoria: 525–526. 1934-12-14.
^Clinometer, A.K.A. (1986). "1 Medium Regiment, (S.A.H.A.), S.A.A." Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 16 (4). doi:10.5787/16-4-464. ISSN 2224-0020.
^"Artillery School : SA Army Artillery Formation Officers' Dinner". Gunner's Association South Africa. Gunner's Association. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
^"South African Artillery" (PDF). South African Gunner. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
^Martin, Guy (2014-11-06). "South African Army overstretched – DoD". defenceWeb. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
Further reading: Wilsworth, Clive (2010). First In, Last Out: The South African Artillery in Action: 1975-1988. 30 Degrees South. ISBN 978-1-920143-40-4.
South Africa
South African Army
United Kingdom design
Israel design, stopgap until the G5 cannon entered service
