61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group
Encyclopedia
61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was a unit
of the South African Infantry Corps
; although it was classed as mechanized infantry
, it was a mixed force of infantry, armour and artillery.
The Battalion Group was formed in 1978 as Battle Group Juliet in South-West Africa as a force to prevent attacks on the region from SWAPO forces in southern Angola
. The Battle Group first saw action in Operation Reindeer in early May 1978. In January 1979, the battle group was renamed 61 Mechanised Infantry and became part of the regular order of battle. The unit served for over a decade in the territory fighting both a guerrilla war against the South-West Africa People's Organisation
, as well as taking part in conventional operations against Cuba
n and Angola
n forces, before South-West Africa achieved independence as Namibia
.
61 Mech Inf was organised with three infantry companies, which were equipped with the Ratel
Infantry Fighting Vehicle, an armoured car squadron initially equipped with Eland 90mm and 60mm Armoured Cars and later the Rooikat Armoured Fighting Vehicle, and a support company consisting of an anti-tank platoon, a mortar platoon, an anti-aircraft troop and an artillery battery equipped with the G5 howitzer
. It was primarily tasked as the Army's
Immediate Response Unit, due to its versatility. The unit was disbanded and it's infantry elements merged into 8 South African Infantry Battalion at Upington after moving from Lohatla
. Other components (armour and artillery) were merged into other existing regular forces in the respective corps.
Battlegroup (army)
A battlegroup , or task force in modern military theory, is the basic building block of an army's fighting force. A battlegroup is formed around an infantry battalion or armoured regiment, which is usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel...
of the South African Infantry Corps
South African Infantry Corps
The South African Infantry Corps is the largest combat corps within the South African Army.The unit originated as the Infantry Branch of the Union Defence Forces in 1913....
; although it was classed as mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers , or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat ....
, it was a mixed force of infantry, armour and artillery.
The Battalion Group was formed in 1978 as Battle Group Juliet in South-West Africa as a force to prevent attacks on the region from SWAPO forces in southern Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. The Battle Group first saw action in Operation Reindeer in early May 1978. In January 1979, the battle group was renamed 61 Mechanised Infantry and became part of the regular order of battle. The unit served for over a decade in the territory fighting both a guerrilla war against the South-West Africa People's Organisation
South-West Africa People's Organisation
The South West Africa People's Organization is a political party and former liberation movement in Namibia. It has been the governing party in Namibia since achieving independence in 1990...
, as well as taking part in conventional operations against Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n and Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n forces, before South-West Africa achieved independence as Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
61 Mech Inf was organised with three infantry companies, which were equipped with the Ratel
Ratel IFV
The Ratel is the basic Infantry Fighting Vehicle of the South African National Defence Force's mechanized infantry battalions. Ratel is the Afrikaans name for the honey badger, which has a reputation as a ferocious fighter.-History:...
Infantry Fighting Vehicle, an armoured car squadron initially equipped with Eland 90mm and 60mm Armoured Cars and later the Rooikat Armoured Fighting Vehicle, and a support company consisting of an anti-tank platoon, a mortar platoon, an anti-aircraft troop and an artillery battery equipped with the G5 howitzer
G5 howitzer
The G5 is a South African towed howitzer of 155 mm calibre designed with the help of the Canadian scientist Gerald Bull and his company, Space Research Corporation and manufactured by Denel Land Systems.-Production history:...
. It was primarily tasked as the Army's
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
Immediate Response Unit, due to its versatility. The unit was disbanded and it's infantry elements merged into 8 South African Infantry Battalion at Upington after moving from Lohatla
Lohatla
Lohatla is a training area of the South African South African National Defence Force. It is located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa....
. Other components (armour and artillery) were merged into other existing regular forces in the respective corps.