61 Mechanised Battalion Group

61 Mechanised Battalion Group
61 Mechanised Battalion emblem
Active	1978 – 2005
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Mechanised Battle Group
Part of	South African Infantry Corps
Garrison	Otavi, Tsumeb, Omuthiya
Nickname(s)	61 Mech
Motto(s)	Mobilitate vincere
Equipment	Ratel Eland Mk7 90mm and 60mm Armoured Cars Rooikat Buffel G5 howitzer
Engagements	South African Border War
Battle honours	Awarded Cuito Cuanaval South West Africa/Angola 1976-1989 Mulemba/Mulola Xangongo/Ongiva Mavinga II Mavinga III Calueque
Disbanded	2005

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^[1] 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.^[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.

61 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

The start of 1992 saw 61 Mech 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.

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

Insignia

Standard Dress

61 Mech beret badge

61 Mech patch badge nutria  61 Mech patch badge

61 Mech nutria shoulder flash with South West Africa Command Bar  61 Mech nutria shoulder flash with Lohatla Command Bar  61 Mech nutria shoulder flash with Chief of the Army Command Bar

61 Mech stable belt with 61 Mech colours  61 Mech stable belt with Army Battle School colours  61 Mech stable belt with Mech Infantry colours

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 knife point always faced the heart of the wearer.^[4]

Companies

Each company or element in the Battalion (group) had its own flag and identifying badge.

Company Insignia
HQ Company  Alpha Company - Infantry  Bravo Company - Infantry  61 Mech Charlie Squadron - Armour  61 Mech Sierra Battery - Artillery

Leadership

Honoris Crux recipients

• du Toit, J.J. Lt, 1980, Operation Sceptic
• Rutherford, G.T. LCPL, 1980, Operation Sceptic
• van der Westhizen, D.R. 2nd Lt, 1981, Operation Carrot
• Anderson, L.A. Maj, 1981, Operation Daisy
• Steyn, S.S. 2nd Lt, 1982, Operation Daisy
• le Roux, H.C. 2nd Lt, 1983, Operation Phoenix (South Africa)
• Macaskill, A. 2nd Lt, 1984, Operation Askari
• Kooij, J. 2nd Lt, 1987, Operation Modular
• Bremer, H.M. 2nd Lt, 1987, Operation Modular
• Green, G.W. Rfn, 1987, Operation Modular

Further developments

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

See also

• South Africa portal

Notes

References

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. ^{(pp174–186)}
• 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 9780624054108. 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. 

External links

• 61 Mech Association