8th Armoured Division (South Africa)

8 South African Armoured Division was a formation of the South African Army, active from the 1970s to 1999.

8 South African Armoured Division
8th Armoured Division emblem
Active	1974-1997
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Armour
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Durban
Major battles	Operation Packer
Commanders
Founding Commander	Brigadier Ben Roos (1974-1975)
Insignia
SADF 8th Armour Division beret badge
SADF 8th Armoured Division beret bar
SADF 8th Armoured Division flag
SADF 8th Armoured Division stable belt

History

8 South African Division was established as an Armoured Formation on August 1, 1974, consisting of 81 Armoured Brigade, 82 Mechanised Brigade and 84 Motorised Brigade. It was, in many respects, a mirror of 7th South African Infantry Division.

A provisional 1977 order of battle had 8 Armoured Division organised as follows: [1]

Divisional Breakdown

SADF original organigram 8th SA Armoured Division

Artillery, maintenance, engineers, signals and provost (Military Police)

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  SADF 8 Division with Chief of the Army Command Flash
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  SADF 8th Division Natal Mounted Rifles Flash
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  SADF 8th Division Umvoti Mounted Rifles Flash
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  SADF 8th Division Regiment Eastern Transvaal Flash. The regiment provided 20mm anti- aircraft support together with Regiment Overvaal with 35mm AA.
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  SADF 8th Division Regiment Overvaal
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  SADF 8th Division Regiment Northern Transvaal Flash
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  SADF 8th Division 1 Light Horse Regiment Flash
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  SADF 8th Division Regiment Port Natal Flash
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  SADF 8th Division Transvaal State Artillery Flash
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  SADF 8th Division 26 Field Artillery Flash
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  SADF 8th Division 2 Locating Regiment Flash
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  SADF 8th Division Provost Company Flash. During 1998, the unit was renamed to 18 Provost Company and transferred to 1 Provost Regiment of the Military Police Division. This was at the same time that units of the division and its brigades were transferred to Type Formations of the SA Army.
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  SADF 8th Division 19th Field Engineer Flash
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  SADF 8th Division Signals Unit Flash
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  SADF 8th Division 8 Maintenance Unit Flash
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  SADF 8th Division 15 Maintenance Unit Flash

81 Armoured Brigade

Headquartered in Pretoria, 81 Armoured Brigade consisted of the following units:

Structure SADF 81 Armoured Brigade

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  SADF 81 Armoured Brigade Headquarters Flash
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  SADF 81 Armoured Brigade Regiment Pretoria Flash
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  SADF 81 Atrmoured Brigade Regiment Northern Transvaal
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  SADF 81 Armoured Brigade 15 Field Engineer Flash

82 Mechanised Brigade

Headquartered in Potchefstroom, 82 Mechanised Brigade consisted of the following units:

Structure SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade circa 1988

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  SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade 1 Regiment de la Rey Flash
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  SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade Regiment Groot Karoo Flash
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  SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade Regiment President Steyn Flash
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  SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade 13 Field Engineer Flash
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  SADF 82 Mechanised Brigade Regiment Mooirivier Flash

South West Africa Angolan theater

During Operation Packer which succeeded Operation Hooper in March 1988, 82 Mechanised Brigade protected the eastern bank of the Cuito River. During this operation, FAPLA forces suffered losses and the situation on the eastern bank stabilised to such an extent that Operation Displace could be started. During this phase the South African forces withdrew from Angola.[2]

83 Mechanised Brigade

83 Mechanised Brigade was never activated.

84 Motorised Brigade

Headquartered in Durban, 84 Brigade was formed in Durban as part of 8th Armoured Division on August 1, 1974 and its official establishment was authorized on September 10 of that year. Brigadier G. Wolmarans was authorized as its first commanding officer with Commandant W.P. Sass, Maj H.L. Bosman, and Capt J.E. Samuales as staff officers posted to headquarters. The new Brigade was located at Lords Grounds.

SADF 84 Motorised Brigade beret badge

84 Motorised Brigade consisted of the following units:

Structure SADF 84 Motorised Brigade

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  SADF 8 Division 84 Brigade Headquarters Flash
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  SADF 84 Brigade 19 Field Engineer Unit Flash
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  SADF 84 Brigade Signals Unit Flash
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  SADF 84 Brigade Umvoti Mounted Rifles Flash
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  SADF 84 Motorised Brigade Natal Mounted Rifles Flash
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  SADF 84 Motorised Brigade Artillery Regiment Flash
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  SADF 84 Motorised Brigade 38 Field Workshop Flash

Previous commanders:

• Brig G. Wolmarans
• Col H.F.P. Riekert
• Col F.J. van Deventer
• Col Peter Hall, former OC of 31 Battalion (SWATF) at Omega, Caprivi.

Inter-divisional Reorganizing

By 1985, 8 Division consisted of 81 Armoured Brigade, 84 Motorised Brigade and 72 Motorised Brigade. 82 Mechanised Brigade had been transferred to the command of 7th South African Infantry Division.

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  SADF 72 Brigade with 8th Armoured Division Command Flash
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  SADF 82 Brigade with 7th Division Command Flash

Mobilisation

SADF 8 Division Mobilisation Unit transferred to Lohatla Army Battle School and eventually became the Rapid Deployment Force Mobilisation Unit

Insignia

SADF 8th Armoured Division Warrant Officer insignia

Disbanding

Brigade Disbanding

8 Division’s Brigades were disbanded in 1992 and the battalions and regiments came to answer directly to the divisional headquarters - the thinking was that these would be grouped into task forces as required. The concept was never put to a serious test. The Formation was also renamed 8 South African Division.

Divisional Disbanding

The Division was effectively disbanded on April 1, 1997, when its former units became part of 7th South African Infantry Division as 74 Brigade.

SANDF 8 Division rebadge as 74 Brigade now with 7 Infantry Division tupper flash

SADF era 8th Armoured Division commemorative letters 1988

References

• Cock, J. Laurie, N. War and Society: The Militarisation of South Africa, published by David Phillip, 1989 ISBN 978-0864861153

1. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6706:fact-file-1-sa-corps&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159
2. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1039