911 Battalion (SWATF)
| 41/911 Battalion | |
|---|---|
 SWATF 911 Battalion emblem | |
| Active | 1977 |
| Country |  Namibia,  South Africa |
| Allegiance | South Africa |
| Branch |  South African Army, |
| Type | Infantry |
| Part of | South West African Territorial Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Windhoek, Luiperdsvlei |
| Equipment | Casspir, Buffel |
| Commanders | |
| Ceremonial chief | Commandant Gert Uys |
| Insignia | |
| Part of the South West African Territorial Force |  |
| SWATF Regiment Windhoek beret badge |  |
| Regiment Windhoek bonnie cap |  |
911 Battalion was part of the South West African Territorial Force's 91 Brigade.[1]
History
[edit]This unit was formed in 1977 situated sixty kilometres south of Windhoek at Oamites an old disused copper mine. 911 Battalion was made up of various ethnic groups from SWA, such as Hereros, Damaras, Tswanas, Basters and Coloureds. 911 Battalion became known as "Swing Force" due to its ability to operate as a conventional unit or as a Counter-insurgency (COIN) unit. It recruited from South West Africa at large and deployed predominantly as a reserve force. An infantry element, a mechanised contingent, artillery, and a regiment of Eland armoured cars was included.[2] The unit was never mobilised en masse.
911 Battalion was part of 91 Brigade.
Operational area
[edit] |
The battalion's main operational area was Owamboland, via Oshivello, about two hundred kilometres south of the SWA/Angola border. On entering the Oshivello gate, soldiers had passed over the so-called 'red line' which meant in effect that they were officially on the border and in the operational area.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Introducing the SWATF" (PDF). Financial Mail (Supplement). 10 July 1987. pp. 44–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2018.
- ^ Helmoed-Römer Heitman (1991). Modern African Wars: South West Africa (1991 ed.). Osprey Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 978-1855321229.
- Snyman, PHR (1989). "Beeld Van Die SWA Gebiedsmag". Archived from the original on 2014-11-07.
Further reading
[edit]- Helmoed-Romer Heitman (Author), Paul Hannon (Illustrator), Modern African Wars (3): South-West Africa (Men-At-Arms Series, 242), Osprey Publishing (November 28, 1991) ISBN 1-85532-122-X.