South African Army

From Daily Escape

The South African Army is the branch of the South African military tasked with the land defense of the nation. It is the largest, best-trained, and best-equipped branch of the military, by a large margin, and is the backbone of the armed forces. It operates large expeditionary and fixed land forces to accomplish its missions. The State President serves as the largely ceremonial commander-in-chief of the Army. The Army's military commander is Lieutenant General Ken Walls.

Contents

Combat units

Active units

  • 22 light infantry divisions
  • 8 armored divisions
  • 5 mechanized infantry divisions
  • 4 motorized infantry divisions
  • 2 airborne divisions
  • 2 airmobile divisions
  • 12 special forces brigades
    • 9 counterinsurgency brigades
    • 3 commando brigades

Reserve units

  • 10 light infantry divisions
  • 5 armored divisions
  • 3 mechanized infantry divisions
  • 2 motorized infantry division
  • 1 airborne division
  • 1 airmobile division
  • 8 special forces brigades
    • 6 counterinsurgency brigades
    • 2 commando brigades

List of units

Active

Light infantry

1st Light Infantry Division
2nd Light Infantry Division
7th Light Infantry Division
8th Light Infantry Division
9th Light Infantry Division
10th Light Infantry Division
11th Light Infantry Division
12th Light Infantry Division
13th Light Infantry Division
14th Light Infantry Division
17th Light Infantry Division
20th Light Infantry Division
23rd Light Infantry Division
24th Light Infantry Division
25th Light Infantry Division
26th Light Infantry Division
27th Light Infantry Division
33rd Light Infantry Division
35th Light Infantry Division
41st Light Infantry Division
42nd Light Infantry Division
43rd Light Infantry Division

Armor

3rd Armored Division
4th Armored Division
21st Armored Division
22nd Armored Division
28th Armored Division
29th Armored Division
38th Armored Division
39th Armored Division

Mechanized infantry

5th Mechanized Infantry Division
6th Mechanized Infantry Division
18th Mechanized Infantry Division
19th Mechanized Infantry Division
36th Mechanized Infantry Division

Motorized infantry

31st Motorized Infantry Division
34th Motorized Infantry Division
37th Motorized Infantry Division
40th Motorized Infantry Division

Airborne

15th Airborne Division
30th Airborne Division

Airmobile

16th Airmobile Division
32nd Airmobile Division

Special forces

1st Commando Brigade
2nd Commando Brigade
3rd Commando Brigade
4th Counterinsurgency Brigade
5th Counterinsurgency Brigade
6th Counterinsurgency Brigade
7th Counterinsurgency Brigade
8th Counterinsurgency Brigade
9th Counterinsurgency Brigade
10th Counterinsurgency Brigade
11th Counterinsurgency Brigade
12th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Reserve

Light infantry

44th Light Infantry Division
45th Light Infantry Division
46th Light Infantry Division
47th Light Infantry Division
48th Light Infantry Division
61st Light Infantry Division
62nd Light Infantry Division
63rd Light Infantry Division
64th Light Infantry Division
65th Light Infantry Division

Armor

49th Armored Division
50th Armored Division
51st Armored Division
58th Armored Division
59th Armored Division

Mechanized infantry

54th Mechanized Infantry Division
56th Mechanized Infantry Division
57th Mechanized Infantry Division

Motorized infantry

52nd Motorized Infantry Division
53rd Motorized Infantry Division

Airborne

55th Airborne Division

Airmobile

60th Airmobile Division

Special forces

13th Counterinsurgency Brigade
14th Counterinsurgency Brigade
15th Counterinsurgency Brigade
16th Counterinsurgency Brigade
17th Counterinsurgency Brigade
18th Counterinsurgency Brigade
19th Commando Brigade
20th Commando Brigade

List of units by province

Cape Province

1st Light Infantry Division
2nd Light Infantry Division
44th Light Infantry Division
45th Light Infantry Division
48th Light Infantry Division
3rd Armored Division
4th Armored Division
28th Armored Division
29th Armored Division
5th Mechanized Infantry Division
6th Mechanized Infantry Division
54th Mechanized Infantry Division
57th Mechanized Infantry Division
4th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Orange Free State

8th Light Infantry Division
10th Light Infantry Division
46th Light Infantry Division
47th Light Infantry Division
38th Armored Division
36th Mechanized Infantry Division
40th Motorized Infantry Division
5th Counterinsurgency Brigade
14th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Transvaal

9th Light Infantry Division
11th Light Infantry Division
12th Light Infantry Division
61st Light Infantry Division
21st Armored Division
58th Armored Division
59th Armored Division
19th Mechanized Infantry Division
15th Airborne Division
6th Counterinsurgency Brigade
13th Counterinsurgency Brigade
15th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Natal

7th Light Infantry Division
62nd Light Infantry Division
63rd Light Infantry Division
22nd Armored Division
39th Armored Division
16th Airmobile Division
7th Counterinsurgency Brigade
16th Counterinsurgency Brigade

South-West Africa

20th Light Infantry Division
23rd Light Infantry Division
24th Light Infantry Division
64th Light Infantry Division
49th Armored Division
31st Motorized Infantry Division
55th Airborne Division
1st Commando Brigade
2nd Commando Brigade
8th Counterinsurgency Brigade
17th Counterinsurgency Brigade
18th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Rhodesia

14th Light Infantry Division
17th Light Infantry Division
25th Light Infantry Division
65th Light Infantry Division
50th Armored Division
56th Mechanized Infantry Division
37th Motorized Infantry Division
60th Airmobile Division
11th Counterinsurgency Brigade
12th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Botswana

13th Light Infantry Division
26th Light Infantry Division
27th Light Infantry Division
51st Armored Division
34th Motorized Infantry Division
3rd Commando Brigade

Lesotho

33rd Light Infantry Division
35th Light Infantry Division
18th Mechanized Infantry Division
52nd Motorized Infantry Division
19th Commando Brigade
9th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Swaziland

41st Light Infantry Division
42nd Light Infantry Division
43rd Light Infantry Division
53rd Motorized Infantry Division
30th Airborne Division
32nd Airmobile Division
20th Commando Brigade
10th Counterinsurgency Brigade

Combat unit types

Light infantry

The second-most deployable type of division in the Army, the light infantry division is organizationally similar to an airborne division, but differs in that it possess aircraft and a larger number of vehicles.

The light infantry division has the following advantages:

  1. Excellent tactical mobility
  2. Strong armament
  3. Minimal logistical requirements

It does, however, have one notable disadvantage:

  1. Poor protection

Armor

The heaviest type of division in the Army. It is intended to be used at the most difficult spots in both attack and defence. The weight of equipment fielded by an armored division means that it is relegated to a mainly defensive role.

An armored division has the following advantages:

  1. Excellent tactical mobility
  2. Strong armament
  3. Excellent protection

It also has the following disadvantage:

  1. Poor strategic mobility

Mechanized infantry

Organizationally, a mechanized division is the same as an armored division. It differs, however, in that it uses lighter equipment, and is thus more easily deployable.

A mechanized infantry division enjoys the following advantages:

  1. Excellent tactical mobility
  2. Strong armament
  3. Good protection
  4. Good strategic mobility

It has the following disadvantage:

  1. Less protection than an armored division

Motorized infantry

A motorized infantry division is structurally and organizationally almost identical to a mechanized infantry division; the only difference is that the former is transported by trucks and other motor vehicles, while the latter is transported by armored personnel carriers.

A motorized infantry division has the following advantages:

  1. Excellent tactical mobility
  2. Good strategic mobility

Its disadvantages are as follows:

  1. Poor armament
  2. Poor protection

Airborne

The airborne division forms a rapid reaction force. It is designed to be a self sufficient unit for a short time, containing all necessary maneuver, fire, and support units to operate alone.

An airborne division has the following advantages:

  1. Readiness within 72 hours
  2. Small logistical footprint
  3. Excellent tactical mobility

However, it has many disadvantages:

  1. Poor protection
  2. No tanks
  3. Lack of independence

Airmobile

Airmobile divisions are designed to have tactical mobility by helicopter. It has no tanks, and less artillery than other divisions, but more aircraft than any other type of division.

Its advantages are:

  1. Excellent tactical mobility
  2. No geographical limitations

Its disadvantages are:

  1. Poor protection
  2. No tanks
  3. Enormous logistical and technical support requirements

Special forces

The special forces brigade is trained in guerrilla warfare, counterinsurgency, counter-terrorism, paramilitary operations, and unconventional warfare. They are trained to fight in any type of combat or terrain, with minimal protection and technical support. The special forces brigade is comprised of two types of battalions: counterinsurgency and commando. Counterinsurgency battalions' primary function, as can be surmised by the name, is counterinsurgency warfare. The commando battalion is a raiding force which can be used anywhere in the world in units ranging in size from a four-man fireteam to a full brigade. The special forces are highly-trained, highly-mobile personnel whose operational and fighting capabilities are considered to be among the best in the world.

The special forces brigade has the following advantages:

  1. Ability to adapt to any terrain or climate
  2. Well-trained for both regular and irregular warfare
  3. Minimal logistical and technical requirements

It has the following disadvantages:

  1. Poor protection
  2. No tanks

Equipment

Individual weapons

  • R4 assault rifle
    • R5 carbine
    • R6 mini-assault rifle
  • Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle
  • Vektor SS-77 general purpose machine gun
  • BXP submachine gun
  • FN Minimi light machine gun
  • Milkor MGL semi-automatic grenade launcher
  • RBS 70 MANPADS
  • Armsel Striker shotgun
  • Vektor Z88 pistol
  • Denel NTW-20 20mm sniper rifle
  • Galat'z designated marksman rifle
  • Accuracy International Arctic Warfare folding sniper rifle
  • Starstreak lightweight multiple launcher

Armored vehicles

  • Olifant Mk 1A/1B main battle tank
  • Patria armored modular vehicle
  • Rooikat armored fighting vehicle
    • Rooikat 76
    • Rooikat 105: GT7 105mm anti-tank gun
  • Ratel infantry fighting vehicle
    • Ratel 20: Original version
    • Ratel 81: 81mm mortar carrier
    • Ratel 90: Fire support vehicle
    • Ratel Command: Command vehicle
    • Ratel Maintenance: Recovery and fitters vehicle
    • Ratel Logistic: Logistic vehicle
    • Ratel ZT3: Anti-tank guided missile carrier
  • Gila mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Mamba mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Buffel mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Casspir mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Reva mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • RG-31 Nyala multipurpose mine-protected vehicle
    • RG-31 Sabre: Cargo version
  • RG-32 Scout light command/liaison vehicle
  • Eland Mk7 light armored car


  • Leeu Main Battle Tank1
  • Olifant Main Battle Tank
    • Semel: 810 hp fuel-injected petrol engine, three-speed semi-automatic transmission
    • Olifant Mk 1: 750 hp diesel engine, semi-automatic transmission
      • Olifant Mk 1A: Mk1 with upgraded optics and fire control system
      • Olifant Mk 1B: Torsion bar suspension, redesigned hull floor, additional armor on the glacis plate and turret, V-12 950 hp diesel engine, computerised fire control system, laser rangefinder
    • Olifant Mk 2: redesigned turret, new fire control system. Can mount LIW 105mm GT-8 rifled gun or 120mm smooth bore gun
  • FV107 Scimitar Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle
  • Rooikat armored fighting vehicle
    • Rooikat 76
    • Rooikat 105: GT7 105mm anti-tank gun
  • FV430 Armored Fighting Vehicle
    • FV431 Armored Load Carrier
    • FV432 Armored Personnel Carrier
    • FV433 Field Artillery, Self-Propelled "Abbot": 105mm self propelled gun
    • FV434 "Carrier, Maintenance, Full Tracked" - REME Maintenance carrier with hydraulically driven crane
    • FV435 Wavell communications vehicle
    • FV436 Command and control: Some fitted with Green Archer radar, later Cymbeline radar
    • FV437 Pathfinder vehicle: based on FV432 with integral buoyancy and other waterjets
    • FV438 Swingfire: Guided missile launcher
    • FV439 Signals vehicle: Many variants
    • FV430 Mk3 Bulldog: Upgraded troop carrier
  • ERC 90 Sagaie Armored Vehicle
    • EMC 91: (Fire support version armed with 81mm mortar in an Hispano-Suiza EMC turret)
    • ERC 20: (Anti-aircraft version with 2x20mm autocannons)
    • ERC 60-20: (Fitted with Hispano-Suiza 60-20 Serval turret armed with a 60mm mortar and a 20mm autocannon)
    • ERC 90 Diesel: (Fitted with a diesel engine)
    • ERC 90 F1: (Fitted with the Hispano-Suiza Lynx 90 turret)
    • ERC 90 Sagaie: (Fitted with GIAT TS 90 turret)
    • ERC 90 Sagaie 2: (Slightly larger version fitted with twin engines and improved turret)
    • VCR: (APC based on ECR)
  • Eland Mk7 light armored car
  • AMX 10 RC Armored Car
  • Ratel infantry fighting vehicle
    • Ratel 20: Original version
    • Ratel 81: 81mm mortar carrier
    • Ratel 90: Fire support vehicle
    • Ratel Command: Command vehicle
    • Ratel Maintenance: Recovery and fitters vehicle
    • Ratel Logistic: Logistic vehicle
    • Ratel ZT3: Anti-tank guided missile carrier
  • Combat Vehicle 90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
    • CV9040: Armed with a 40mm Bofors autocannon
    • CV9030: Armed with a 30mm Bushmaster II autocannon
    • CV9035: Armed with a Bushmaster III 35/50 cannon
    • CV90105: 105mm smoothbore tank gun/turret
    • CV90120-T: Equipped with tank turret and smoothbore 120mm gun
    • CV9040 AAV: Anti-Air Vehicle, fitted with radar and 40mm autocannon
    • CV90: Command Vehicle
    • CV90: Forward Observation Vehicle
    • CV90: Armored Recovery Vehicle
    • CV9040C: Equipped with additional armor
    • CV9056: Equipped with the Bofors RB56 anti-tank missile
  • M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle
    • M2A1: Includes an improved TOW II missile system, a Gas Particulate Filter Units (GPFU) NBC system, and a fire-suppression system
    • M2A2: With improved 600-horsepower (447 kW) engine with a HMPT-500-3 Hydromechanical transmission and improved armor
    • M2A3: Improved existing electronics systems throughout improving target acquisition and fire control, navigation, and situational awareness
    • Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle (BSFV): Designed specifically for the carriage and support of a Stinger MANPADS team
    • Warhammer Bradley: Modified M2A2 ODSs with the TOW missile system replaced with a 2 tube Javelin Missile System
    • M6 Linebacker: Air defense variant
    • M7 Bradley Fire Support Team: Fire support variant
  • Wiesel AWC Airborne Armored Fighting Vehicle
    • Wiesel 1
      • Wiesel 1 Aufklärung: Reconnaissance
      • Wiesel 1 ATM HOT: Anti-tank vehicle fitted with HOT missiles
      • Wiesel 1 ATM HOT Variant 1: Fitted with UTM-800 turret
      • Wiesel 1 Radar: Fitted with RATAC-S multi-purpose radar
      • Wiesel 1 ATM TOW: Anti-tank vehicle fitted with TOW missiles
      • Wiesel 1 ATM TOW Resupply: Cargo carrier fitted with racks for TOW missiles
      • Wiesel 1 BTM208: Fitted with a SAMM BTM208 turret armed with a FN MAG and a M2HB machine guns
      • Wiesel 1 MK20: Fire support version with a Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh202 20mm cannon
      • Wiesel 1 MK20 Variant 1: Upgraded with new sight
      • Wiesel 1 MK25: 25mm armed version
    • Wiesel 2
      • Wiesel 2 BF/UF (LeFlaSys Command): Air defense unit command post
      • Wiesel 2 AFF (LeFlaSys Radar): Fitted with air defense radar
      • Wiesel 2 Ozelot (LeFlaSys Launcher): fitted with air defence missile launcher
      • Wiesel 2 Ozelot (LeFlaSys Launcher Variant 1): Retrofitted with box-type launchers
      • Wiesel 2 Ambulance
      • Wiesel 2 APC: 2 + 4 crew armored personnel carrier
      • Wiesel 2 Command: Battalion command post
      • Wiesel 2 Mortar: 120mm mortar
      • Wiesel 2 Mortar Variant 1: Mortar version with external supports
      • Wiesel 2 Argus: Reconnaissance
      • Wiesel 2 Carrier: Ammunition resupply
      • Wiesel 2 Pionier: Combat engineer reconnaissance
      • Wiesel 2 Primus: Reconnaissance and fire control
      • Wiesel 2 ATM HOT: Anti-tank vehicle fitted with HOT missiles
  • Patria Advanced Modular Vehicle
    • APC version
    • IFV version
    • Communications version
    • Ambulance version
    • Fire support version
  • Gila mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Mamba mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Buffel mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Casspir mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Reva mine-protected armored personnel carrier
  • Chaimite Armored Personnel Carrier
    • V-200: Armored personnel carrier
    • V-300: Heavy fire support with 90mm gun
    • V-400: Light fire support with 20 mm cannon
    • V-500: Anti-tank with Swingfire or HOT missile launcher
    • V-600: Mortar carrier with 81mm or 120mm mortars
    • V-700: Ambulance
    • V-800: Communications and command vehicle
    • V-900: Armored recovery vehicle
  • Cheetah medium mine-protected vehicle
  • RG-31 Nyala multipurpose mine-protected vehicle
    • RG-31 Sabre: Cargo version
  • RG-32 Scout light command/liaison vehicle
  • SK-105 Kurassier Tank Destroyer
  • M1097 Avenger Self-Propelled Surface-to-Air Missile System
  • MIM-72/M48 Chaparral Self-Propelled Surface-to-Air Missile System
  • Air Defense Anti-Tank System

1The Leeu is a South African variant of the M1 Abrams.

Support vehicles

  • SAMIL 20 4x4 truck
  • SAMIL 50 4x4 truck
  • SAMIL 100 6x6 truck
  • MAN heavy duty truck
  • Land Rover Defender 110
  • Land Rover Wolf military utility vehicle
  • M998 HMMWV AWD Motor Vehicle
    • M56 Coyote smoke generator carrier
    • M707 HMMWV
    • M966 HMMWV TOW (armored)
    • M996 Mini-Ambulance (armored)
    • M997 Maxi-Ambulance (armored)
    • M998 Cargo/troop carrier
    • M998 HMMWV Avenger
    • M1025 armament carrier (armored)
    • M1026 armament carrier (armored)
    • M1035 soft-top ambulance
    • M1036 TOW (armored)
    • M1037 S-250 shelter carrier
    • M1038 cargo/troop carrier
    • M1042 S-250 shelter carrier
    • M1043 armament carrier (armored)
    • M1044 armament carrier (armored)
    • M1045 TOW (armored)
    • M1046 TOW (armored
    • M1069 Tractor
    • M1097 Heavy
    • M1097 Heavy HMMWV Avenger
    • M1109 armament carrier (armored)
    • HLONS
    • M1114 armament carrier (armored)
    • M1116 HMMWV (armored)
    • M1123 Heavy
    • M1121 TOW (armored)
    • M1145 HMMWV
    • M1151 HMMWV (armored)
    • M1152 HMMWV (armored)
    • Packhorse - Attachment to convert an M1097 to tractor version for semi-trailers
    • Scorpion - Version fitted with Vasliyek 82mm automatic mortar
  • M1083 standard cargo truck
  • M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck
  • M978 fuel truck
  • M984 wrecker
  • Heavy Equipment Transport System
    • M911/M746/M747
    • M1070/M1000
  • Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
    • M977 and M985
    • M978
    • M983
    • M984
  • Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer
  • Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement all-terrain vehicle
    • MK23 Cargo
    • MK25 Cargo
    • MK27 Cargo
    • MK28 Cargo
    • MK29 Dump
    • MK30 Dump
    • MK31 Tractor
    • MK36 Wrecker
    • MK37 HIMARS Resupply Vehicle
  • Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle
    • M1009: Utility version
    • M1010: Ambulance version
    • M1010 Command: Command post vehicle
    • M1010 Ordnance: Ordnance repair truck
    • M1028: Shelter carrier version
    • M1028FF: Fire fighting version
    • M1028A1: Shelter carrier version
  • Logistics Vehicle System (LVS)
    • LVS MK48
    • LVS MK48A1
    • LVS MK14 Flatbed
    • LVS MK15 Recovery Vehicle
    • LVS MK16 Fifth-wheel
    • LVS MK17 Material Handling Crane
    • LVS MK18/18A1 Self-Loader
  • Bandvagn 206 small unit support vehicle
    • Bv 206A: Ambulance version
    • Bv 206F: Fire appliance variant
  • FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor
  • M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle
  • M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge

Artillery

  • G1 88mm towed artillery
  • G2 140mm towed artillery
  • G4 155mm towed artillery
  • G5 155mm towed howitzer
  • G6 155mm self-propelled howitzer
  • G7 105mm towed howitzer
  • Condor 155mm truck-mounted artillery piece
  • M40A1 106mm recoilless launcher
  • Bateleur 127mm 40 tube multiple rocket launcher
  • Valkiri-22 24 tube self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
  • Valkiri-5 towed multiple rocket launcher
  • M167 Vulcan air defense gun
  • Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft gun
  • Oerlikon 35mm anti-aircraft gun
  • Skysweeper 75mm anti-aircraft gun
  • M224 60mm lightweight mortar
  • Brandt 60mm long-range gun-mortar
  • M252 81mm medium mortar
  • Vasliyek 82mm automatic mortar
  • M120 120mm mortar
  • AMOS 120mm self-propelled mortar

Missiles

Surface-to-surface

  • MGM-52 Lance
  • MGM-140 ATACMS

Anti-tank

  • AGM-114 Hellfire
  • BGM-71 TOW
  • Bofors RB56
  • Euromissile HOT
  • FGM-148 Javelin
  • FGM-172 SRAW
  • Ingwe
  • MILAN

Surface-to-air

  • Crotale
  • FIM-92 Stinger
  • M1097 Avenger
  • MIM-23 Hawk
  • MIM-104 Patriot
  • Mistral
  • Umkhonto

Air-to-surface

  • AASM
  • AGM-65 Maverick
  • AM 39 Exocet
  • MBDA Apache
  • RBS15
  • Storm Shadow

Air-to-air

  • AIM-9 Sidewinder
  • AIM-92 Stinger
  • AIM-120 AMRAAM
  • AIM-152 AAAM
  • MBDA Meteor
  • MBDA MICA
  • R550 Magic

Aircraft

  • Denel AH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter
  • OH-58 Kiowa observation/scout helicopter
    • OH-58A Kiowa: Four place observation helicopter
    • OH-58C: Equipped with a more robust engine
    • OH-58D: Features additional mission capability of target acquisition and laser designation
    • Kiowa Warrior: Armed version of the OH-58D Kiowa
  • Atlas Oryx utility helicopter
  • Bell 412 multipurpose utility helicopter
    • Bell Griffin HT1 advanced training helicopter
    • Bell Griffin HAR2 search and rescue helicopter
    • Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone military utility/transport helicopter
  • Helibras HB 350 utility/attack helicopter
  • MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 medium utility/transport helicopter
  • Agusta A109 search and rescue/utility helicopter
    • A109LUH light utility helicopter
    • A109 A109A Mk.II MAX aeromedical evacuation helicopter
    • A109K2 search and rescue/air ambulance helicopter
  • CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift cargo helicopter
  • Eurocopter Panther military utility helicopter
    • AS 565 UA/UB: Utility version
    • AS 565 CA: Anti-tank version
  • Denel Aerospace Systems Bateleur surveillance and SIGINT UAV
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