61 Mechanised Battalion Group

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.

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. 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.

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.

• Operation Carrot (1979)
• Operation Sceptic (1980)
• Operation Protea (1981)
• Operation Daisy (1981)
• Operation Meebos (1982)
• Operation Yahoo (1982)
• Operation Dolfyn (1983)
• Operation Askari (1983)
• Operation Vasvat (1984)
• Operation Nekomdraai (1984)
• Operation Pronkertjie (1985)
• Operation Viper (1985)
• Operation Benzine
• Operation Moduler
• Operation Hooper
• Operation Packer
• Operation Excite (1988)
• Operation Linger
• Operation Merlyn (1989)
• Operation Arson I
• Operation Arson II
• Operation Light Foot
• Operation Ventic
• Operation Pikadel
• Operation Reward
• Operation Displace
• Operation Jamba
• Operation Hulti (1988)
• Operation Prone (1988)
• Operation Makro (1981)

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 81mm mortar platoon in Ratel-81s,
• an anti-aircraft troop and
• 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's Immediate Response Unit, due to its versatility.

Equipment

Armour

• Eland 60
• Eland 90
• Olifant MBT

Armoured Personnel Carrier

• Buffel
• Casspir

Artillery

• 5.5(140mm)
• 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

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. The badge had a yellow backing and was awarded initially only for cross border operations into Angola. 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. | File:SANDF 61 Mech Operational Participation bar 2.png | Operational Participation Bar | File:61 Mech - Operational Participation Bar Field Dress ver 2.png | Operational Participation Bar Field Dress (Old Style) | File:SANDF 61 Mech Ops Badge embossed ver 2.png | Operational Participation Bar Field Dress (New Style) | File:SANDF 61 Mech Veteran bar.jpg | 61 Mech Veteran Bar

This knifepoint always faced the heart of the wearer.

Companies

Each company or element in the Battalion (group) had its own flag and identifying badge. |File:61 Mech HQ Company.png |HQ Company |File:61 Mech Alpha Company - Infantry.png |Alpha Company - Infantry |File:61 Mech Bravo Company - Infantry.png |Bravo Company - Infantry |File:61 Mech Charlie Squadron - Armour.png |61 Mech Charlie Squadron - Armour |File:61 Mech Golf Battery - Artillery.png |61 Mech Sierra Battery - Artillery

Leadership

Honoris Crux recipients

Main article: Honoris Crux

Battle Honours

Further developments

From 61 Mech's success, 62 Mechanised Battalion Group and 63 Mechanised Battalion Group, were developed, encompassing similar battlegroup principles.

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.

Notes

References

Other sources

References

1. 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.
2. (2007). ""Starting Out" Collecting South African Militaria". Just Done Productions Publishing.
3. (2016). "Mobility Conquers: The Story Of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1978-2005 plate iii". Helion & Company.
4. (2016). "Mobility Conquers. The Story of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1978-2005". Helion & Company.
5. "61 Mech: 1979: Overview by the Commander".