Former South African Army unit
Military unit
1 South West African Specialist Unit, also known as 1 SWASpes, was part of the South West African Territorial Force.[1][2]
History
The South West African Territorial Force Command identified an urgent need for horse mounted and motorbike mounted units and dogs for the operational areas.
The conclusions reached was for a unit organisation such as 202 Battalion to be adjusted so as to accommodate horse and dog units for operational use, and specifically, the urgent need for the acquisition of two platoons of mounted infantry. This included the furnishing of horses and equine related equipment, as well as the training and appointing of a qualified platoon commanding officer, full-time veterinarian and farriers.
The Equestrian Centre became involved in the first purpose-built frontline horse and motorcycle mounted infantry base in the Operational Area.
By 1978, 1 SWASpes had diversified into the application of motorcycles, trackers and later the introduction of tracking and explosives detection dogs. 1 SWASpes was among the first to combine conventional infantry forces on the ground with the skills of trackers, the abilities of dogs and the quick reaction abilities afforded by horses and motorcycle units.
Equestrian platoons were detached to bases across the Operational Area, though the main equestrian unit in South West Africa was stationed at Oshivelo.
1 SWASpes introduced to counter insurgency, the application of the Packhound; using dogs to track, run down, and corner quarry for infantry or mounted soldiers to interdict. These packs could keep a speed of 15 km for over four hours, peaking at 30 km for 15 minutes.
Organization
By 1978, it comprised two companies of mounted infantry, two platoons of trackers and two platoons of motorcyclists, and a force of 60 dogs.[3][4]
See also
References
- ^ "South African Unit Profiles". www.warinangola.com. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
- ^ Modern African Wars (3): South West Africa (Men-At-Arms Series, 242) by Helmoed-Romer Heitman, Osprey Publishing (28 November 1991) ISBN 1-85532-122-X and ISBN 978-1-85532-122-9
- ^ "South African Unit Profiles". www.warinangola.com. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
- ^ Modern African Wars (3): South West Africa (Men-At-Arms Series, 242) by Helmoed-Romer Heitman, Osprey Publishing (28 November 1991) ISBN 1-85532-122-X and ISBN 978-1-85532-122-9
- Snyman, PHR (1989). "Beeld Van Die SWA Gebiedsmag". Archived from the original on 2014-11-07.
Further reading
- Helmoed-Romer Heitman (Author), Paul Hannon (Illustrator), Modern African Wars (3): South-West Africa (Men-At-Arms Series, 242), Osprey Publishing (November 28, 1991) ISBN 1-85532-122-X
South African Army Units
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| Training | |
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| Parachute Infantry | |
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| Air Assault Infantry | |
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| Seaborne Infantry | |
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| Light Infantry | |
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| Mechanised Infantry | |
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| Motorised Infantry | |
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| Training | - School of Artillery (South Africa)
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| Regular | |
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| Reserve | |
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| Training | - School of Air Defence Artillery (South Africa)
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| Reserve | |
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- Army Support Bases (Eastern Cape, Johannesburg, Kimberley, KZN, Limpopo, Potcheftstroom, Western Cape, Mpumalanga)
- Mobilisation Centre
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| Regular | - 1 Signal Regt
- 2 Signal Regt
- 3 Signal Regt
- 4 Signal Regt
- 5 Signal Regt
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| Reserve | 6 Signal Regt - Gauteng Reserve Signal Unit
11 Field Postal Unit - Western Cape Signal Unit
- Kwa-Zulu Natal Signal Unit
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| Commands | |
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| Corps | |
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| Divisions | |
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| Brigades | - 16 Brigade (see 81 Armoured Brigade)
- 17 Brigade (see 71 Motorised Brigade )
- 18 Brigade (see 72 Motorised Brigade)
- 19 Brigade (see 82 Mechanised Brigade)
- 20 Brigade
- 60 Brigade (Battlegroups HQ Lohatla)
- 71 Motorised Brigade SADF era
- 72 Motorised Brigade SADF era
- 73 Motorised Brigade SADF era
- 74 Brigade SADF and SANDF era (see 8th Armoured Division)
- 75 Brigade SADF and SANDF era (see 9th Division)
- 81 Armoured Brigade SADF era
- 82 Mechanised Brigade SADF era
- 83 Brigade (planned but never existed)
- 84 Motorised Brigade SADF era
- 10 Artillery Brigade SADF era
- Other brigades
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| Battlegroups | |
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UDF and SADF
Regiments and Battalions | |
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| Homeland Battalions | |
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| Military Areas | | Training Areas | - Boschhoek
- Grahamstown
- Hellsgate
- Mosita
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| UDF and SADF Commando System | |
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| State Presidents Guard | |
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| Mobilisation Units (Reception Depots) | |
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Bantustan Defence Forces (1977/1981–1994) |
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Bophuthatswana Defence Force
1977–1994 | - 1 BDF Infantry Battalion
- 2 BDF Infantry Battalion
- BDF Parachute Battalion
- BDF Military School
- BDF Special Forces
- 1 BDF Military Area
- 2 BDF Military Area
- 3 BDF Military Area
- BDF Signals Unit
- BDF Bafokeng base
- BDF Mankwe base
- BDF Odi base
- BDF Thaba'Nchu base
- BDF Taung base
- BDF Air Wing
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Venda Defence Force
1979–1994 | - VDF Headquarters Sibasa
- 1 VDF Battalion Manenu
- 2 VDF Battalion Maunavhathu
- VDF Vuwani Military Base
- VDF Signals Unit
- VDF Air Wing
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| Ciskei Defence Force 1981–1994 | - 1 CDF Battalion
- CDF Special Forces
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Transkei Defence Force
1981–1994 | - 1 TDF Battalion
- TDF Special Forces
- TDF Mounted Battalion
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- Regular Infantry Battalions
- 31/201 Battalion
- 33/701 Battalion
- 34/202 Battalion
- 35/101 Battalion
- 301 Battalion
- 36/203 Battalion
- 37/102 Battalion
- SWATF Brigade
- 91 Reaction Force Brigade
- 41/911 Battalion/Regiment Windhoek
- 912 Battalion/Regiment Erongo
- 913 Battalion/Regiment Namutoni
- 91 Armoured Car Regiment
- 91 Composite Field Regiment
- 91 Engineers Squadron
- 91 Field Ambulance
- 91 Mobilisation Centre
- 91 Technical Workshop
- 91 Maintenance Workshop
- Support Structures
- Logistics Brigade
- SWA Mil School
- SWA Military Academy
- Special Forces
- 1 SWA Specialist Unit
- 2 SWA Specialist Unit
- 1 SWA Parachute Battalion
- Air Component
- 1 SWA Commando Squadron
- Alte Feste Commando (SWATF)
- Aranos Commando (SWATF)
- Auob Commando (SWATF)
- Bo-Nossob Commando (SWATF)
- Etosha Commando (SWATF)
- Gobabis Commando (SWATF)
- Grootfontein Commando (SWATF)
- Hochi Commando (SWATF)
- Karasburg Commando (SWATF)
- Keetmanshoop Commando (SWATF)
- Maltahohe Commando (SWATF)
- Mariental Commando (SWATF)
- Okanhanja Commando (SWATF)
- Omaruru Commando (SWATF)
- Oranjemund Commando (SWATF)
- Otjiwarongo Commando (SWATF)
- Outjo Commando (SWATF)
- Rehoboth Commando (SWATF)
- Swakopmund Commando (SWATF)
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Union Defence Force 1912–1957 |
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| Brigades | - 1st Reserve
- 4th Field
- 7th Motorised
- 1st Armoured
- Field Artillery
- Coast Artillery
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| Citizens Batteries | - 1st Citizen Battery
- 2nd Citizen Battery
- 3rd Citizen Battery
- 4th Citizen Battery
- 5th Citizen Battery
- 6th Citizen Battery
- 7th Citizen Battery
- 8th and 9th Citizen Batteries
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| Military Districts | - 1st (Cape Town)
- 2nd (Port Elizabeth)
- 3rd (East London)
- 4th (Pietermaritzburg)
- 5th (Durban)
- 6th (Standerton)
- 7th (Potchefstroom)
- 8th (Johannesburg)
- 9th (Pretoria)
- 10th (Kroonstad)
- 11th (Bloemfontein)
- 12th (Prieska)
- 13th (De Aar)
- 14th (Worcester)
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World War I 1914–1918 |
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| Europe Campaign 1914–1918 | |
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| East Africa Campaign 1914–1915 | - 1st Infantry ACF
- 2nd Infantry ACF
- 5th Infantry ACF
- 9th Infantry ACF
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| German South West Africa Campaign 1915 | |
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Volunteer Militias 1903–1909 |
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Non-Statutory Forces 1961–1994 |
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Colonial Armies 1885–1902 |
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Namibia, 
South Africa
South African Army,
