South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation
| South African Air Defence Artillery Formation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1999 to date |
| Country |
 South Africa
|
| Allegiance |
 South African Army
|
| Branch |
South African Army 
|
| Type | Air Defense Artillery |
| Part of | South African Army |
| Colors | Turquoise and scarlet |
| Commanders | |
| General Officer Commanding (GOC) | Brig Gen G.S. Hlongwa |
| General of the Gunners | Maj Gen Roy Andersen CSSA SD SM MMM JCD JCD with 30 Yr Clasp |
| Insignia | |
| Collar Badge | Bursting grenade with seven flames |
| Beret Colour | Oxford Blue |
| Battery emblems |  |
| Beret bar circa 1992 |  |
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.
Air Defence Artillery in South Africa dates back to 1 April 1939 when the first Anti-Aircraft unit (1st Anti-Aircraft Battery) was established as part of the Coast Artillery Brigade. The first Anti-Aircraft training took place at Brooklyn airfield and at Klaasjagersberg, near Cape Point, in 1939. The 1st Anti-Aircraft Battery departed for active service in East Africa in 1940, and during the Second World War, gunners of Anti-Aircraft units won the respect of both friend and foe with their courageous actions.
From the first Anti-Aircraft unit in 1939, Cape Town was no doubt the home of the Anti-Aircraft gunner. It became increasingly more evident that the Anti-Aircraft School/10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, being situated at the southernmost centre of South Africa, lost out on valuable experience by not being able to regularly participate in integrated training with other South African Defence force fighting units. It was then decided to move the unit to Kimberley, and at the end of 1990, the whole unit with its personnel and equipment moved to Kimberley.
On 1 January 1962 the wartime concept of a training regiment was realised with the establishment of 10 Anti-Aircraft Battery. This was the forerunner of 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, which was established on 1 February 1968 together with the Artillery Air Defence School (AADS) in place of the Anti-Aircraft Training Centre. These two units amalgamated on 1 November 1969 and were designated Artillery Air Defence School/10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment. The name was changed in 1984 to Anti-Aircraft School/10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment.
The Army's reorganisation after the creation of the new South African National Defence Force, was lengthy. 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 Air Force's Air Defence Artillery Group was mainly responsible for air field defense, was also disbanded at this stage and responsibility for overall Air Defence was centralized under this new Formation. Equipment was transferred to the new Formation.
In 1997, the 7th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, active since the 1960s, was disestablished. Regiment Overvaal (ROV) was established on 1 April 1969 as an Afrikaans 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.
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Wikipedia