South African Army Armoured Formation
| South African Army Armoured Formation | |
|---|---|
SANDF Army Armoured Formation emblem
|
|
| Active | 1946 - present (SAAC) |
| Country |
 South Africa
|
| Branch |
South African Army
|
| Type | Armor |
| Role | Provides the Army with “battle winning shock action and firepower.” “To provide combat-ready armour forces to CSANDF.” |
| Motto(s) | Pectore Sicut Ferro (With a chest of steel) |
| Colors | Blue and Orange |
| Equipment |
Olifant tank(current) |
| Commanders | |
| General Officer Commanding | Andre Retief |
| Insignia | |
| Beret Colour | Black |
| Armour Squadron emblems |  |
| Armour beret bar circa 1992 |  |
Olifant tank(current)
Rooikat Armoured car(current)
Ratel 90(current)
Ratel ZT3(current)
Eland Mk7 Armoured car(retired)
Centurion tank(retired)
Stuart light tank(retired)
Saracen Armoured car(retired)
Sherman tank(retired)
Marmon Herrington Armoured car(retired)
The South African Army Armour Formation provides an Armour capability to the South African Army. The Formation came into being as part of a restructure. South African Armoured Corps units previously under the command of various different brigades and other formations were all grouped under one formation. All armour is assigned to the SA Army Armour Formation under the charge of a General Officer Commanding.
South Africa employed armoured cars as early as 1915 during its invasion of the then-German South West Africa (now Namibia).
After the end of the First World War a single Medium Mark A Whippet light tank was purchased for the Union Defence Force and was operationally employed during the 1922 Rand revolt. The tank in question is now on display at the Army College at Thaba Tshwane.
The formation of an armoured corps was proposed in 1924. An armoured car section was formed the next year when two Vickers machine gun-armed Crossley armoured cars and two medium tanks were imported from Britain.
During the severe economic depression of 1933, the government established the Special Service Battalion (SSB) on 1 May 1933 as a job opportunities and social upliftment project. The Springbok was first used as symbol for this unit until it was changed to the national flower - the Protea - in July 1934, which is still used today.
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Wikipedia