• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

SA Army Armour Formation

The SA Army Armour Formation is mandated by the Chief of the SA Army to provide the armour component of the landward defence capability. This capability needs to be a combat-ready user systems (US) including 1st and 2nd line support. The armour component of the landward defence capability must be combat ready and cost effective. The continuous care and equity improvement of the processes, people, information, equipment and facilities of the SA Army Armour Formation must be reflected in the SA plan. The main focus of the SA Army Armour Formation is on preparing the armour force (structuring, equipping, facilities and doctrine). Combat ready armour forces will be provided to Chief of the SA National Defence Force / Chief Joint Operations for force employment in a specific mission.

The SA Army Armour Formation relocated from the Bester building in Dequar Road to the Sebokeng buildings in Patriot street at the end of 2003. The SA Army Artillery Formation, SA Army Air Defence Artillery Formation and the SA Army Intelligence Formation are also situated in the Sebokeng buildings. The SA Army Infantry Formation, SA Army Support Formation and SA Army Training Formation Headquarters are still situated at Army Headquarters. The SA Army Engineer Formation is in the larger Pretoria. The SA Army Armour Formation Headquarters is the headquarters of three regular force units and seven reserve units. The formation headquarters is under direct command of the SA Army.

The establishment of the South African Armoured Corps (SAAC) was proclaimed shortly after the Second World War in Government Gazette No 3716 of 18 October 1946. The history of Armour in South Africa, however, dates back much further. Armour and the principles of firepower, mobility and shock effect, date back to the cavalry that once was a decisive arm of battle. Cavalry was introduced to Southern Africa by the British forces before the turn of the 20th century. The principle of mounted operations was used by the British forces and, although on a far more informal scale, also used extensively by the Boer forces during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902.

The first real Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) were introduced to Southern Africa by the Royal Naval Air Service when they used armoured cars to support South African forces in capturing German South West Africa (Namibia) in 1915. After the First World War the South African government acquired in a single Whippet Tank from Britain and used it to control the 1922 Witwatersrand Strike. In February 1922, two Grossley Armoured Cars were also acquired.

During the severe economic depression of 1933, the government established a Special Service Battalion on 1 May 1933 as a job opportunity and social upliftment project. The Springbok was first used as a symbol for the unit until it was changed to the national flower - the Protea - in July 1934, which is still used today.

The Special Service Battalion was converted to an armoured car regiment at the start of the Second World War, and later to a tank regiment. In April 1943, the Special Service Battalion was deployed in North Africa and used a black beret sporting silver proteas as a badge and a "flash" with red/orange, white and blue as its colours. When the South African Armoured Corps was thus officially proclaimed in 1946 and Special Service Battalion was included in the corps as the only full-time unit, its symbols and colours were incorporated.

Army Training Instruction 7/59 authorised the South African Armour Corps colours as Orange (BS 1557) over Blue (BS 1104). The colours orange and blue were, however, divided by a metal colour namely silver. Any regimental numbering, tactical call signs and other indicators were to be in silver.

The School of Armour was established on 1 April 1966 and adopted these South African Armour Corps colours and the proteas in their insignia and emblems. The South African Army started using stable-belts in 1983 and the South African Armour Corps adopted the colours of the beret flash for the belt. On 24 July 1996, the Chief of the South African National Defence Force approved the colours (and flag) for the South African Armour Corps as orange over blue, divided by silver/white.

On its 50th anniversary in 1996 the South African Armour Corps officially adopted the mailed fist emblem with protea as the corps symbol to clearly distinguish it from the Special Service Battalion's emblem adopted and used since 1946.

Through political changes in 1948 and 1994, the colours and symbols of the South African Armour Corps have been retained and to date these colours have distinguished the South African Armour Corps that ha loyal served various governments with distinction. The SA Armoured Corps is known for its professional and dedicated soldiers who proudly serve their country under their traditional corps symbols and colours.

Although a more specific culture has emerged over the years through the active participation of the Part-time Component in the activities of the South African National Defence Force, and this culture has also been projected in the South African Armour Corps through its Reserve Force Units, the South African Armour Corps traditions only gained momentum in the early 1990s. The then command cadre at the School of Armour created an environment in which customs and traditions were exercised frequently and executed with the necessary pomp, dignity and ceremony. Leaders of the School of Armour gave form to the customs and traditions.

This effort also coincided with the early years of building on and creating a new military culture subsequent to the formation of our new South African National Defence Force. Tradition is certainly an important building block in the creation of our distinct Armour culture. It should therefore be all-inclusive. It should be accepted by all and practised by all. The Armour again takes the lead in building bridges based on sound and healthy human relations.