1 South African Tank Regiment

1 South African Tank Regiment SANDF 1 South African Tank Regiment emblem ver 2.png SANDF 1 SA Tank Regiment emblem 1999 to present South Africa Armoured Regiment South African Armoured Formation Tempe, Bloemfontein We make the rules. Olifant Mk.2 main battle tank Lt Colonel William Nondala 2nd OC Lt Colonel W.O. Jansen OC 2012 Black Beret Colour 200px|SANDF Armour squadron emblems Armour Squadron emblems 200px|SANDF Armour beret bar Armour beret bar circa 1992 1 South African Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the South African Army, based at the Tempe military base in Bloemfontein as part of the South African Army Armour Formation.Armour Formation: About Us http://www.army.mil.za/hq_units/armour_fmn/aboutus.htm www.army.mil.za RSA Department of Defence 4 November 2014 29 August 2013 4 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141104105914/http://www.army.mil.za/hq_units/armour_fmn/aboutus.htm dead History Origin The Regiment was established in April 1999,Engelbrecht Leon Fact file: 1 SA Tank Regiment http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6906:1-sa-tank-regiment&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159 18 December 2015 Defence Web 1 March 2010 composed of members of the old Tank Wing of the National Defence Force's School of Armour. Lt Col William Nondala, the second CO, was the first black commanding officer appointed in the country's Armoured Corps. Role This unit supplies the only full-time tank force to the SA Army.Armour Formation: Structure http://www.army.mil.za/hq_units/armour_fmn/structure.htm www.army.mil.za RSA Department of Defence 4 November 2014 13 December 2010 23 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173939/http://www.army.mil.za/hq_units/armour_fmn/structure.htm dead In the draft South African Army Vision 2020 force design, the 2007 organograms published with Leon Engelbrecht's unpublished manuscript A Guide to the SANDF chart 1 SA Tank Regiment as a tank regiment in the Armoured Brigade (Free State) of the Mechanised Division (headquarters Wallmansthal), alongside a paired reserve tank regiment (Pretoria Regiment / Regiment President Steyn), 1 SSB as the brigade armoured-car regiment, and 1 SAI as mechanised infantry.Engelbrecht Leon A Guide to the SANDF - Chapter 9G: Vision 2020 organograms Unpublished manuscript appendix Johannesburg 2007 https://www.defenceweb.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Repository/A-Guide-to-the-SANDF/A-guide-to-the-SANDF-chapter-9-army-app-g-vision-2020-organograms.pdf 10 September 2026 Equipment and Operations The unit trains jointly with the reserve force units to enhance the ‘one force’ concept, because the reserve force is the expansionary capability of the SANDF in times of national defence. There is however only a small percentage of active reserves, because training call-ups are limited, due to budgetary constraints. There were 724 available posts, but only 335 were staffed and 389 vacant in 2005. The highest shortage level (75%) was experienced at the level of trooper.Portfolio Committee on Defence report 2004 http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2005/comreports/050329pcdefencereport.htm pmg.org.za Parliamentary Monitoring Group 4 November 2014 2005 It is equipped with the Olifant Mk.2 main battle tank. The unit's structure is a ‘type 38 regiment’, with 2 tanks at regimental headquarters and 12 tanks each in the three operational squadrons. There are also support squadrons and tank transport squadrons. thumb|Olifants parked at 1 Tank Regiment, Tempe The Olifant tanks have been significantly upgraded with new power packs and stabilized night vision equipment. The vehicles are also capable of fire on the move manoeuvres. The Olifants may be replaced with a small number of new Main Battle Tanks some time after 2018. thumb|center|400px|SANDF Oliphant mark 2 main battle tank at African Aerospace and Defence 2016 thumb|Tank transporter at SANDF Armed Forces Day 2017 in Durban Due to a lack of funds for their primary armoured role and a shortage of regular infantry, the unit has recently been deployed in their secondary line infantry role on border patrol and external peacekeeping operations in central Africa. The C (or third) squadron was deployed from April to July 2004 along the Lesotho border and received praise from the Tactical headquarters, police and the farming community. Another squadron was deployed from December 2004 to March 2005. Several members of the unit have also been deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC as part of the United Nations’ peacekeeping force MONUSCO and in Burundi as VIP protectors. Insignia Previous Dress Insignia 360 200 center File:SANDF 1 South African Tank Regiment beret badge.png SANDF 1 South African Tank Regiment beret badge File:SANDF 1 South African Tank Regiment Tupper Flash.png SANDF 1 South African Tank Regiment Tupper Flash Current Dress Insignia 360 200 center File:SANDF Armoured Formation beret badge.png SANDF Armoured Formation beret badge circa 1996 forward References 2 Category:Armoured regiments of South Africa Category:Military units and formations in Bloemfontein Category:Military units and formations established in 1999 Category:1999 establishments in South Africa