121 South African Infantry Battalion

121 South African Infantry Battalion
SANDF 121 SAI emblem
Active	1979 to present
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Motorised infantry
Part of	South African Infantry Formation
Garrison/HQ	Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal
Engagements	South African Border War
Commanders
OC 1981	Major E Pretorius
OC 1982 -1984	Commandant J Quinn
OC 1984 -1989	Commandant J. Lotheringham
OC 1990 -1992	Commandant P. Smythe
Insignia
Company level Inisgnia

121 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

A decision was made around 1979 to develop a Zulu speaking infantry battalion. On 20 January men who had reported for duty at the Josini Base were sent to 21 Battalion in Lenz near Johannesburg where 79 complete training.

On 23 April 1979, 121 Battalion was established and allocated lines near an old Water Affairs compound at Jozini. By 1980 a platoon of 121 Battalion was despatched for duty in South West Africa.

By 1981 121 Battalion was relocated to a new base at Dukuduku where the leopard head was adopted as the beret badge. 121 Battalion received its national colours in 1989.

Freedom of the city was issued to 121 Battalion by:

SANDF’s Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Samil trucks, Mamba APC’s or other un-protected motor vehicles. Samil 20,50 and 100 trucks transport soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Samil trucks are 2x4 and 4x6 drive, in order to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain. Motorised infantry have an advantage in mobility allowing them to move to critical sectors of the battlefield faster, allowing better response to enemy movements, as well as the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.