61 Mechanised Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Infantry Corps; although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of infantry, armour and artillery.
History
Combat Group Juliet
General Constand Viljoen, Chief of the Army, formulated a plan in 1978 to introduce a mechanized combat group to Ovamboland in the then South West Africa, to conduct operations against SWAPO.
Combat Group Juliet was then formed under the command of Commandant Frank Bestbier.
SADF temporary vehicle marker for Combat Group Juliet
Operation Reindeer
The Battle Group first saw action in Operation Reindeer in early May 1978, launching an attack on SWAPO's Western Front headquarters and logistics base, at Chetequera, 15 km north of the South West African border, with a mechanized assault force.[1]: 76 This attack formed part of Operation Reindeer during which paratroopers attacked a separate target at Cassinga, some 300 km into Angola.
After Operation Reindeer it was decided to establish a permanent conventional mechanized combat unit in the operational area and Commandant Johann Dippenaar was appointed to set up this unit.
By January 1979, the Battle Group was renamed 61 Mechanised Battalion and became part of the regular order of battle. 61 Mech 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 Cuban and Angolan forces.[2]
South West Africa Headquarters of 61 Mech
A tactical headquarters for 61 Mech was initially established at Otavi but during April 1979 this was moved to Tsumeb. 61 Mech was eventually resettled at Omuthiya, with a base headquarters in Tsumeb.
Further operations
61 Mech was primarily involved in these operations.
SADF Operation Sceptic Commemorative medallionSADF Operation Hooper participation bar61 Mech was part of the Sector 10 response to the Cuban buildup and SWAPO incursions, known as the Merlyn Forces in 1989 South West Africa
Relocation to South Africa and Lohatla Army Battle School
During September 1991 61 Mech Bn Gp, which was based at Rooikop in Namibia, resettled at the Army Battle School in Lohatla, South Africa. 61 Mech remained part of C Army's Reserve, under operational command of 60 Brigade HQ and administratively supported by the Army Battle School. During this time, C Army amended the organisation of the Battle School to execute two functions concurrently:
first, continuing to administer the facility as a large training institution for reserves and full-time forces as it had been in the past;
second, to provide the headquarters for a virtual Rapid Deployment Force (including 61 Mech), as part of its permanent order of battle.
Operations after relocation
61 Mech was primarily involved in these operations.
Operation Shobashobane
Operation Intexo (1995)
Operation Jumbo III (1996)
Operation Vlakhaas (1995)
Operation Sweepslag (1994)
Operation Sombre (1994)
Disbandment
By 2005, 61 Mech was disbanded and its infantry elements merged into 8 South African Infantry Battalion at Upington after moving from Lohatla. The Armour and Artillery components were merged into other existing regular units of their respective corps.
Organisation
61 Mech was organised along the following lines:
two infantry companies, which were equipped with the Ratel-20 Infantry Fighting Vehicle,
if necessary, a third infantry company was attached. On many occasions this was a company from 1 Parachute Battalion who were attached as a motorised company in Buffels
an armoured car squadron initially equipped with Eland Armoured Cars. During 1980 the Elands were replaced by the Ratel-90 and later the Rooikat Armoured Fighting Vehicle,
a support company consisting of an anti-tank platoon in Ratel-90s,
an artillery battery equipped with the G5 howitzer. Firepower was further augmented by the addition of the self-propelled version (G6 Rhino).
In 1988 61 Mech also received the first combat-deployed squadron of Olifant MBTs, to counter the ever-escalating FAPLA tank threat
61 Mech was primarily tasked as the Army'sImmediate Response Unit, due to its versatility.
Equipment
Armour
Eland 60
Eland 90
Olifant MBT
Armoured Personnel Carrier
Buffel
Casspir
Artillery
G2
G4
G5
G6
Anti Aircraft
Ystervark
Personal Weapons
R1
R4
R5
FN Mag
60mm patrol mortar
RPG
Fighting Vehicles
Ratel 20
Ratel 60
Ratel 81
Ratel 90
Ratel Command
Ratel ZT3
Logistics
samil 10 lappiespomp
Samil 20
Samil 50
Samil 100
Rinkhals ambulance
Insignia
Standard Dress
SADF era 61 Mech Battalion insignia
Ops Badge
61 Mech awarded a small badge called the Operational Badge for those in or attached to the unit who deployed with the unit on operational duties.[3]: 14 The badge had a yellow backing and was awarded initially only for cross border operations into Angola.[3]: 14 A subsequent version with a green backing was suggested which was to be for internal duties. This version was never authorised and the yellow badge was awarded for all operational deployments. The badge consisted of a dagger with three diagonal lightning bolts in red across it. A subdued version was produced for wear on nutria (brown's) uniforms. With the introduction of camouflage, a new version was produced on green thatching.
Badges
Operational Participation Bar
Operational Participation Bar Field Dress (Old Style)
Operational Participation Bar Field Dress (New Style)
61 Mech Veteran Bar
This knifepoint always faced the heart of the wearer.[4]
Companies
Each company or element in the Battalion (group) had its own flag and identifying badge.
Theoretically the three units would have formed 60 Brigade, South Africa's highly mobile brigade level response to a full conventional attack on South West Africa.
^In November 1978 Johan Dippenaar was appointed SO 1 Operation Planning at 2 Military Area Head Quarters (later to be known as Sector 10 headquarters) at Oshakati, as well as the commander of the newly established mechanized unit, which was to be stationed at Oshivello. He immediately started to plan for the establishment of this new mechanized unit[5] and he handed over to Roland De Vries in Jan 1981
^Later Major General
^ a b c d eRest in Peace
^Gereformeerde Kerk, Tsumeb
^For 1978 and 1979 the appointment was not permanent
References
^ a bSteenkamp, Willem; Heitman, Helmoed-Romer (2016). Mobility Conquers. The Story of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1978-2005. Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-911096-52-8.
^de Vries, Roland (2015-11-13). "The Influence of the Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle on Mobile Warfare in Southern Africa". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 43 (2). doi:10.5787/43-2-1129. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
^ a bWall, Dudley (2007). "Starting Out" Collecting South African Militaria (3rd ed.). Just Done Productions Publishing (published 15 October 2007). ISBN 978-1-9201-6970-1. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
^Steenkamp, Willem; Heitman, Helmoed Roemer (2016). Mobility Conquers: The Story Of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1978-2005 plate iii (Hardcover). Helion & Company (published 1 September 2016). ISBN 978-1-911096-52-8. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
^"61 Mech: 1979: Overview by the Commander". Retrieved 9 October 2022.
Other sources
de Vries, Roland (2015-11-13). "The Influence of the Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle on Mobile Warfare in Southern Africa". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 43 (2). doi:10.5787/43-2-1129. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 22 September 2016.: 174–186
Steenkamp, Willem; Heitman, Helmoed Roemer (2016). Mobility Conquers: The Story Of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1978-2005 (Hardcover). Helion & Company (published 1 September 2016). ISBN 978-1-911096-52-8. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
Scholtz, Leopold (2013). The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989 (Paperback). Cape Town: Tafelberg. p. 544. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
OOSTHUIZEN, Gerhard J.J. (November 2014). "The South African Defence Force and Operation Hooper, Southeast Angola, December 1987 to March 1988". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 42 (2). doi:10.5787/42-2-1095. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
Davies, R. Mark. South African Forces in the Border War (Angola and South West Africa) 1980 to 1989 (PDF). Retrieved 21 September 2016.
