Wikipedia

7 South African Infantry Division

7 South African Infantry Division was a formation of the South African Army, active from the 1960s to 1999.

7 Division SADF
SADF 7 Division original Flash
Active1965–1999
CountrySouth Africa
BranchSouth African Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Commanders
Officer Commanding 1972Major General Neil Webster
Officer Commanding 1980Brigadier G.P. Kruys
Officer Commanding 1983Brigadier General Helm Roos 1989
Officer Commanding 1987Brigadier General Gerrie Moolman
Officer CommandingBrigadier H.B. Smit
Officer Commanding 1996Brigadier General Roland de Vries
Insignia
SADF 7 Division Command Bar
SADF 7 Division Stable Belt

History

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Origin of 7 Division from existing and new Brigades

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7 Division and 17, 18 and 19 Brigades were established on 1 April 1965.[1] Difficulties with manning levels saw the disestablishment of 7 Division on 1 November 1967 and its replacement by the Army Task Force (HQ) and 16 Brigade.

Re-designated Headquarters

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On 2 April 1971, a small band of officers (Brigadier Webster, Colonel Klaus Von Lieres, Colonel Hugh Hardingham, Major Barry York, Major Gerrie Moolman, Captain Bertie Suter, and Captain Manus Bothma) were summoned to meet with Major General Stapelberg (Combat General, Witwatersrand Command) to inaugurate the establishment of 7 Division, South African Army. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Transvaal Irish Regiment in Johannesburg.

From 1 September 1972 Army Task Force Headquarters was redesignated HQ 7 Division.[2][3]

Sister Divisions

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Two years later, it was decided to organise the Army's conventional force into two divisions, 7th and 8th South African Armoured Divisions, under a Corps Headquarters. Both were primarily reserve (Citizen Force) formations, though the division and brigade HQs were Permanent Force. The headquarters of these two divisions were established on 1 August 1974. 1 South African Corps itself was established in August 1974 and was active until 30 January 1994.[4]

Leadership

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7 Division was commanded by:

Leadership
From Officer Commanding To
1972 Major General Neil Webster[a] 1983
1983 Brigadier General Heim Roos 1987
1987 Brigadier General Gerrie Moolman [b] 1996
From Regimental Sergeants Major To
nd Unknown nd


 
SADF 7th Division original structure c. 1974
 
SADF original 7 Division patch badge 1970's

It appears from Colonel Lionel Crook's book on 71 Brigade[5] that two of 7 Division's three brigades were redesignations of 17th and 18th Brigades. 71 Motorised Brigade was the former 17 Brigade, 72 Brigade was the former 18 Brigade, and 73 Brigade was a new formation.[5]

Divisional Level Attached Units

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

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    SADF 1 Locating Regiment Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 7 Light Anti aircraft Regiment Flash. This regiment with Regiment Vaalriver(35mm) and 6 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment(20mm) provided Divisional anti-aircraft support.
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    SADF 7 Division Cape Garrison Artillery Flash
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    SADF 7 Division Regiment Vaalrivier Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 7 Medium Artillery Regiment Unit Flash
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    SADF 7 Division University of Potchefstroom Regiment Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 19 Rocket Regiment Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 11 Maintenance Unit Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 15 Maintenance Unit Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 30 Maintenance Unit Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 6 Field Engineer Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 7 Signals Group Flash
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    SADF 7 Division Provost Company Flash. During 1998, this unit was re-named to 17 Provost Company and transferred to 1 Provost Regiment of the Military Police Division. This was the same time that units of the division were transferred to Type Formations of the SA Army.
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    SADF 7 Division 14 Field Workshop Flash

71 Motorised Brigade

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71 Motorised Brigade was established in Cape Town (in the Western Province Command area). Units transferred from Western Province Command to the new 71 Motorised Brigade included the Cape Field Artillery, the Cape Town Highlanders, Regiment Westelike Provinsie, Regiment Boland, Regiment Oranjerivier, South African Engineer Corps 3 field squadron, 74 Signal Squadron SACS, 4 Maintenance Unit SAOSC, 30 Field Workshop SAOSC, and 3 Field Ambulance.[5]: 16  12 Supply and Transport Company, originally established on 22 August 1961, became 4 Maintenance Unit on 1 September 1971.

 

 
SADF 7 Division 71 Brigade associated units
 
SADF 7 Division 71 Brigade stable belt
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    SADF 7 Division 71 Brigade HQ Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 71 Brigade Regiment Orange River Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 71 Brigade 3 Field Engineer Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 71 Brigade Signals Unit Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 71 Brigade 30 Technical Field Workshop Flash
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    SADF 4 Maintenance Unit with 71 Brigade Unit Flash

72 Motorised Brigade

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72 Motorised Brigade was established in Kensington, Johannesburg 72 Motorised Brigade appears to have been made up of the following units, soon after formation in 1972.[6] Infantry included 1st Battalion, Transvaal Scottish, the South African Irish Regiment, and the Johannesburg Regiment, artillery was provided by the Transvaal Horse Artillery, armour by the 1 Light Horse Regiment, engineer support by 12 Field Squadron SAEC, signals by 72 Signals Unit SACS, and service support by 31 Field Workshop and 7 Maintenance Unit.

 

 
SADF 7 Division 72 Brigade associated units
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    SADF 31 Field Workshop with 72 Brigade Unit Flash

73 Motorised Brigade

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73 Motorised Brigade was established in Pretoria.73 Motorised Brigade may have also had its headquarters at Kensington (Johannesburg) for some time.

 

 
SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade associated units over time
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    SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade HQ Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade Regiment Hillcrest Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade 6 Light Anti Aircraft Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade Vrystaat Artillerie Regiment Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade Regiment Oos Rand Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 10 Maintenance Unit Flash
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    SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade Regiment Northern Transvaal 2nd Battalion tupper flash
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    SADF 7 Division 73 Brigade Regiment Christiaan Beyers tupper flash
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    SADF era 73 Brigade regiment Molopo insignia tupper flash
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    SADF End state certificate 73 Brigade from 1998. Note how different the Brigade units were at this stage.
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    SADF 73 Brigade Pretoria Highlanders Commemorative letter

Mobilisation and Exercises

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7 Division had its own Mobilisation Centre based at de Brug near Bloemfontein.

 
SADF 7th Division Mobilisation Centre

7 Division's major training exercises were held at Lohatla Army Battle School in the Northern Cape, called Quick Silver and Thunder Chariot, one of the most notable was the Thunder Chariot of 1984:[7]

 
SADF 7 Division Exercise Thunder Chariot 1984

Command Theatres

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In the early 1980s, the Army was restructured to counter all forms of insurgency while at the same time maintaining a credible conventional force. To meet these requirements, the Army was subdivided into conventional and counterinsurgency forces. The Citizen Force, through the 7th and 8th Divisions, provided the Conventional Defence Force. In 1984 Northern Transvaal Command was subdivided and Far North Command (Pietersburg) formed. These two new Commands were regarded as theatres and as such also had responsibility for conventional operations (and units) within their areas.[8] Far North Command had 73 Motorised Brigade within its area; it is not clear how much influence HQ 7 SA Division then had over that Brigade.

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    SADF 73 Brigade with Far North Command Flash
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    SADF 73 Brigade with Chief of the Army Command Flash

Inter-divisional Reorganizing

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By 1985, 7 Division consisted of 71 Motorised Brigade, 73 Motorised Brigade and 82 Mechanised Brigade. 72 Motorised Brigade had been transferred to the command of 8th South African Armoured 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
7 South African Infantry Division
Active1991–1999
Country  South Africa
Allegiance  South Africa
BranchSouth African Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Insignia
SADF 7 SA Infantry Division flash 
7th SA Infantry Division Command Bar 
7th SA Infantry Division flag 
SADF 7 SA Infantry Division Stable belt 

Renaming

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In the latter half of 1991 the official division designation of 7 Division was altered to 7 South African Infantry Division.[9]

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    7 South African Infantry Division with Chief of Army Command
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    Regiment Potchefstroom Universiteit with 7 South African Infantry Division Command
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    Transvaal State Artillery with 7 South African Infantry Division Command
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    11 Maintenance Unit with 7 South African Infantry Division Command
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    Regiment de la Rey 1st Battalion with 7 South African Infantry Division
 
SADF 7 SA Infantry Division Pocket badge

Divisional restructuring

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Between 1992 until 1 April 1997, the Army reduced each division's size while creating a third divisional headquarters, 9th South African Division. Divisional headquarters remained in the Johannesburg area (7 Division).[10] These 3 Divisions each now consisted of :

  • a reconnaissance battalion,
  • two anti-aircraft defence battalions (AA guns),
  • two battalions of artillery (G-5s and G-6s),
  • a battalion of 127mm MRLs,
  • an engineer battalion,
  • two battalions of Olifant MBTs,
  • two infantry battalions mounted in Ratel ICVs, and
  • finally two infantry battalions mounted in Buffel APCs.

To provide part of these forces, 6th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment joined 7 Division in 1991.

Divisions re-designated as Brigades and returned to 7 South African Infantry Division

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74 Brigade

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8th South African Armoured Division's Brigades were disbanded in 1992 and the Battalions and Regiments came to answer directly to the Divisional headquarters. The Division itself was effectively disbanded on 1 April 1997, when its former units became part of 7 South African Division as 74 Brigade.

 
Early SANDF era 7 Division 74 Brigade with 7 Infantry Division tupper flash

75 Brigade

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9th South African Division, (the previous 71 Brigade) was also effectively disbanded on 1 April 1997, when its former units became part of 7 South African Infantry Division again. They were all amalgamated into the 7th South African Infantry Division on 1 April 1997, and became 75 Brigade.[11]

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    SANDF 9 Division redesignated as 75 Brigade with 7 Division

Final Divisional Structure

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SADF 7 South African Infantry Division structure

Disbandment

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7 South African Infantry Division itself was disbanded on 1 April 1999 and all army battalions were assigned to 'type' formations, in accordance with the recommendations of the South African Defence Review 1998.[12]

Insignia

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SADF 7 Division Brigade beret emblems
 
SADF 7 Infantry Division Warrant Officer Insignia
 
SADF 7 Infantry Division Company Flashes

References

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  1. ^ Dorning, W.A. (28 February 2012). "A concise history of the South African Defence Force (1912–1987)" (Online). Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 17 (2). doi:10.5787/17-2-420. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  2. ^ "7 SIG GROUP". A Signals Badge Collection. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  3. ^ Dorning, and Monick, 'The Forging of a Strike Force Part II,' Scientia Militaria, 22/3, 1992, p.32 fn 1.
  4. ^ "SACMP Corps History 1946–1988". redcap. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Crook, Lionel (1994). Greenbank, Michele (ed.). 71 Motorised Brigade: a history of the headquarters 71 Motorised Brigade and of the citizen force units under its command. Brackenfell, South Africa: L. Crook in conjunction with the South African Legion. ISBN 978-0-620-16524-2. OCLC 35814757.
  6. ^ Monick, Part II, 1992, p.31
  7. ^ Cowell, Alan. "MAJOR MANEUVERS HELD BY PRETORIA". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. ^ "A Short History of the South African Army". rhodesia.nl. From: South African Defence Force Review 1991. 1991. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. ^ Monick Part II, p.32 fn 1
  10. ^ See Jane's Defence Weekly 20 December 1992 and, earlier, 20 July 1991. Divisional HQ location source http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/asr/SADR13/Sass.html Archived 16 February 2003 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "SACMP Corps History 1988–98". redcap. Archived from the original on 5 September 2004. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  12. ^ Engelbrecht, Leon (17 February 2010). "Fact file: 7 SA Division". defenceweb.co.za. efenceWeb. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

Additional reading

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  • John Keegan, World Armies, p. 639, cited in Lt Cdr Carl T. Orbann USN, 'South African Defense Policy,' Thesis for the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA., June 1984. Keegan edited this volume, though a different author wrote the section on the South African Army. There are at least three errors in the listing of 7 and 8 Divisions described as being as of the date of the book (1979 or 1983). Two towns are misspelt, and one regiment still has the royal title incorporated despite the 'Royal' prefix having been dropped after 1965. Thus it is not clear how accurate the South African order-of-battle section is.

Notes

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  1. ^ Original commanding officer of 7th Division
  2. ^ Originally assigned to the Division in 1971, as a Major (TSO2), to assist with the establishment of the Division's headquarters.
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