19 Rocket Regiment

19 Rocket Regiment SADF 19 Rocket Regiment shoulder flash.png 19 Rocket Regiment emblem 1979 South Africa 1928 Republic of South Africa South Africa 1981 Multiple Rocket Artillery Regiment South African Army Artillery CorpsArmy Conventional Reserve Pretoria Bursting grenade with seven flames Collar Badge Oxford Blue Beret Colour 200px|SANDF Artillery Battery emblems Artillery Battery Emblems 200px|SANDF Artillery Beret Bar Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992 19 Rocket Regiment was a rocket artillery regiment of the South African Artillery. History Origin This Citizen Force Regiment was formed as 19 Missile Regiment on 1 January 1979 in Potchefstroom. Captured Soviet rocket artillery weapons allowed South Africa to develop its own rocket artillery systems. The introduction of rocket artillery such as the Valkiri launcher system activated the requirement for units such as this to train and then integrate into battlegroups. The Valkiri launcher first saw service in 1982. Command The regiment resorted originally under the Artillery School for administrative purposes. By 1963 the regiment was transferred to Eastern Transvaal Command, and again for administrative purposes it was then added to 26 Field Artillery Regiment. From 1986, the regiment finally operated independently. For conventional purposes the regiment was affiliated to 7 Infantry Division. Weapons 19 Rocket Regiment comprised 191 Battery, utilizing the Valkiri in six launcher batteries. On 24 October 1984, Lance Bombardier Evans and Gunner English successfully fired the first rockets. Associated Units relationships Batteries of this regiment were allocated to full-time regiments such as 32 Battalion and Transvaal State Artillery. Insignia The regiment's insignia was approved in June 1986.Nothling C.J. Editor, Ultima Ratio Regum (The Last Argument of Kings) Military Information Bureau, SADF, Pretoria, 1987. 0621102172 Dress Insignia thumb|center|500px|SADF era 19 Rocket Regiment insignia Amalgamated Amalgamated into the Transvaal State Artillery. References 2 Further reading: Clive Wilsworth First In, Last Out: The South African Artillery in Action: 1975-1988 30 Degrees South http://www.30degreessouth.co.za/first_in_last_out.htm 978-1-920143-40-4 External links Defenceweb fact file Gunner's Association South Africa Category:Artillery regiments of South Africa Category:Artillery units and formations of South Africa Category:Disbanded military units and formations in Pretoria Category:Military units and formations established in 1979 Category:Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War