8 South African Armoured Division
| 8 South African Armoured Division | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1974-1997 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Branch | South African Army |
| Type | Armour |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Durban |
| Major battles | Operation Packer |
| Commanders | |
| Founding Commander | Brigadier Ben Roos (1974-1975) |
| Insignia | |
| SADF 8th Armour Division beret badge |  |
| SADF 8th Armoured Division beret bar |  |
| SADF 8th Armoured Division flag |  |
| SADF 8th Armoured Division stable belt |  |
8 South African Armoured Division was a formation of the South African Army, active from the 1970s to 1999.
History
8 South African Division was established as an Armoured Formation on August 1, 1974, consisting of 81 Armoured Brigade, 82 Mechanised Brigade and 84 Motorised Brigade. It was, in many respects, a mirror of 7th South African Infantry Division.
A provisional 1977 order of battle had 8 Armoured Division organised as follows: [1]
Divisional Breakdown
Divisional Level Attached Units
Artillery, maintenance, engineers, signals and provost
-
SADF 8 Division with Chief of the Army Command Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division Natal Mounted Rifles Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division Umvoti Mounted Rifles Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division Regiment Eastern Transvaal Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division Regiment Northern Transvaal Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division 1 Light Horse Regiment Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division Transvaal State Artillery Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division 26 Field Artillery Flash -
SADF 2 Locating Regiment with 8 Armoured Division Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division Provost Company Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division 19th Provost Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division Signals Unit Flash -
SADF 8th Armoured Division 15 Maintenance Unit Flash
Brigades
81 Armoured Brigade
Headquartered in Pretoria, 81 Armoured Brigade consisted of the following units:
-
SADF 81 Armoured Brigade Headquarters Flash -
SADF 81 Armoured Brigade Regiment Pretoria Flash -
SADF Regiment Northern Transvaal -
SADF 81 Armoured Brigade 15 Field Engineer Flash
82 Mechanised Brigade
Headquartered in Potchefstroom, 82 Mechanised Brigade consisted of the following units:
-
SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade 1 Regiment de la Rey Flash -
SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade Regiment Groot Karoo Flash -
SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade 13 Field Engineer Flash
South West Africa Angolan theater
During Operation Packer which succeeded Operation Hooper in March 1988, 82 Mechanised Brigade protected the eastern bank of the Cuito River. During this operation, FAPLA forces suffered losses and the situation on the eastern bank stabilised to such an extent that Operation Displace could be started. During this phase the South African forces withdrew from Angola.[2]
83 Mechanised Brigade
83 Mechanised Brigade was never activated.
84 Motorised Brigade
Headquartered in Durban, 84 Brigade was formed in Durban as part of 8th Armoured Division on August 1 1974 and its official establishment was authorized on September 10 of that year. Brigadier G.J. Wolmarans was authorized as its first commanding officer with Commandant W.P.Sass, Maj H.L. Bosman, and Capt J.E. Samuales as staff officers posted to headquarters. The new Brigade was located at Lords Grounds. 84 Motorised Brigade consisted of the following units:
-
SADF Natal Mounted Rifles with 84 Brigade Flash -
SADF 84 Motorised Brigade Artillery Regiment Flash -
SADF 84 Brigade 38 Field Workshop Flash
Previous commanders Brig G.S.Wolmarans Col H.F.P. Riekert Col F.J. van Deventer Col Peter Hall (former OC of bushmen battalion at Omega Caprivi)
Inter-divisional Reorganizing
By 1985, 8 Division consisted of 81 Armoured Brigade, 84 Motorised Brigade and 72 Motorised Brigade. 82 Mechanised Brigade had been transferred to the command of 7th South African Infantry Division.
Mobilisation
Insignia
Disbanding
Brigade Disbanding
8 Division’s Brigades were disbanded in 1992 and the battalions and regiments came to answer directly to the divisional headquarters - the thinking was that these would be grouped into task forces as required. The concept was never put to a serious test. The Formation was also renamed 8 South African Division.
Divisional Disbanding
The Division was effectively disbanded on April 1, 1997, when its former units became part of 7th South African Infantry Division as 74 Brigade.
References
- Cock, J. Laurie, N. War and Society: The Militarisation of South Africa, published by David Phillip, 1989 ISBN 978-0864861153
