8 South African Infantry Battalion

8 South African Infantry Battalion (8 SAI)
Active	October 1973 - present
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Mechanised infantry
Size	Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Upington Northern Cape Province
Motto(s)	Perservate et Superate[1] (Conquer through perseverance)
Mascot(s)	Gemsbok
Equipment	Ratel IFV
Engagements	South African Border War Operation Reindeer (1979) Operation Carrot (1980) Operation Sceptic (1980) Operation Protea (1981) Operation Daisy (1981) Operation Yahoo (1982) Operation Meebos (1982) Operation Phoenix (1983) Operation Dolfyn (1983) Operation Askari (1983/4) Operation Pronkertjie (1985) Operation Viper (1985) Operation Benzine (1986) Operation Moduler (1987) Operation Hooper (1988) Operation Excite (1988) Operation Linger (1988) Operation Merlyn (1989) Namibian Independence Operation Agree (1990) UN/AU peacekeeping Operation Curriculum (2001) Operation Mistral (2003) Operation Cordite (2006) Operation Triton (2007)
Battle honours	Southwest/Angola 1979-1989 Mulemba/Mulola Xangongo/Ongiva Mavinga II Mavinga III Cuito Cuanavale Calueque
Commanders
OC 1984	Commandant Piet Muller
OC early 90's	Colonel Jan Malan
Insignia
Company level Insignia
SA Mechanised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA mechanised infantry beret bar circa 1992

8 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army.^[2] It is equipped with Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) used for fast transport and combat. The battalion uses Ratel IFVs all-wheel drive vehicles (6×6), for mobility across rough ground. Support weapons for mechanized infantry are also provided with motorized transport, or are built directly into IFVs, in order to keep pace with the IFVs in combat. The battalion was raised at Upington in the Northern Cape in 1973, and assigned to the Infantry Formation.

8 SAI continues to train for conventional warfare and forms part of the annual brigade-level Lohatla Army Battle School exercise.^[3] Training includes IFV-mounted and dismounted fire-and-move drills, and integration with Engineers, Armour, Artillery and Air Force elements.^[4]

History

Activation

The unit was established at Upington in the Northern Cape in October 1973 and received its first batch of national service trainees the next January. They could, however, not cope with the Gordonia heat and the unit afterwards received trainees in July.

The Border War/Angolan Civil War

Between 1979 and 1989, 8 SAI participated in the Border War. Its contingent was known as 63 Mechanised Battalion Group, part of 60 Brigade. 8 SAI contributed troops to the following operations:

63 Mech Battalion Group emblem

• Operation Savannah (1975),
• Operation Reindeer (1979), attack on Cassinga, Southern Angola,
• Operation Sceptic (1980), destroy control and logistic structures at Chifufua, Southern Angola,
• Operation Carrot (1981), counter insurgency warfare in the farming districts of Tsumeb, Otavi and Grootfontein, in Sector 30, Namibia,^[5]
• Operation Protea (1981), destroy SWAPO command and training center at Xangongo and logistic bases at Xangongo and Ongiva. Southern Angola
• Operation Daisy (1981), attack on SWAPO center at Chitequeta, Southern Angola
• Operation Yahoo (1982), mobile skirmishes countering SWAPO infiltration in SWA in the Ogandjere tribal area, north of the Etosha pans and the Bakenkop farm. 55 insurgents killed and 16 apprehended. 1 Ratel lost by concentrated RPG fire.
• Operation Meebos (1982), attack SWAPO bases identified by reconnaissance teams, Southern Angola
• Operation Phoenix (1983), counter offensive to SWAPO infiltration into Owamboland, Namibia, 309 SWAPO killed.
• Operation Dolfyn (1983), attack PLAN bases and headquarters around the Angolan town of Cuvelai
• Operation Askari (1983/4), disrupt logistical support and command & control capabilities of PLAN to suppress an incursion planned for Jan 1984.
• Operation Pronkertjie (1985),
• Operation Viper (1985),
• Operation Benzine (1986),

Battle of Cuito Cuanavale

• Operation Moduler (1987), Lead up to the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
• Operation Hooper (1988), Part of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale

Attack on Calueque Dam

The Cubans opened a second front on 27 June 1988 against the South Africans and launched a ground offensive in the direction of Calueque Dam in Southern Angola. The area to the north of the dam became the scene of fighting. MiG-23 aircraft attacked the facilities, bombing a bridge, sluice gates, a pump, a generator, and a pipeline to Ovamboland in three waves.^[6] 12 soldiers from 8 SAI lost their lives in this engagement.^[7]

• Operation Excite/Hilti (1988), Draw Cubans out of Techipa, Southern Angola and ambush, preventing an advance to Calueque and SWA/Namibian border.
• Operation Linger (1988) and
• Operation Merlyn (1989). Prevent the incursion of PLAN (SWAPO) insurgents into South West Africa/Namibia in contravention of ceasefire effected 1 April 1989.

Namibian independence

8 SAI, as part of 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group and 63 Mech, was part of the last contingent of South African troops to withdraw from Namibia at independence in 1990 (Operation Agree) in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 handing over responsibility to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG).

South Africa internal operations

From 1990, the unit deployed internally in South Africa. Its main tasks at this time included counter insurgency in urban and rural areas.^[8]

8 SAI preparing for joint training with 61 Mech Battalion, Lohatla Army Battle School 1993

8 SAI COIN operations using airborne infil northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, 1993

Since 1994

In June 1994, the unit received its Colours, the first presented to a unit in the new South African National Defence Force.^[9]

8 SAI Ratel IFVs on maneuver at Lohatla Army Battle School, Northern Cape

In 2006, 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was disbanded and most of its members were transferred to 8 SAI.

61 Mech Battalion amalgamated with 8 SAI post 1994

8 SAI's main training area, at Riemvasmaak, north of Upington, was transferred to a civilian community. Since then 8 SAI uses the SA Army Combat Training Centre at Lohatla as it main training area currently.^[10][11]

Peacekeeping

• Operation Curriculum, 2001-2009, 8 SAI companies were involved in peacekeeping operations for the African Union in Burundi^[12]
• Operation Mistral, 2003 8 SAI companies were involved in peacekeeping operations for the African Union in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Operation Cordite, 2006, 8 SAI companies were involved in peacekeeping operations for the African Union in the Darfur, Sudan ^{[13] [14]}
• Operation Triton in the Comores oversaw the African Union Mission deployed during the elections. This was strengthened by a company of 8 SAI to provide stability.

8 SAI was again redeployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of Operation Mistral under the auspices of MONUSCO in December 2009 to May 2010 and in November 2011 to June 2012.

Mamba Mk 2 APC used by 8 SAI in peacekeeping operations

8 SAI Mechanised Fleet early 90's

Alpha or attack vehicles

1 Ratel 20 per section, 3 sections per platoon, 3 platoons per company. 1 Ratel command per platoon, 4 per company.

Charlie or support vehicles

Ordnance

Current

Vehicle mounted weapons

8 SAI is equipped with Ratel 20 Infantry Fighting Vehicles,^[15] Ratel 60 mm (2.4 in) Mortar Platform Vehicles, Ratel Command Vehicles with mounted 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns, Kwevoel 100 Armoured Trucks for IFV Recovery, field maintenance, fuel bunkers and water provision,^[16] Samil 50 and 100 logistics trucks, Samil 20 trucks for its organic field workshops, Casspir APCs for its forward artillery observation party, and Rinkhals Field Ambulance.^[17] 8 SAI has also used Buffel IFVs and Mambas at certain stages in its history. Ratel mounted weapons include the Denel Land Systems GI-2 20 mm (0.79 in) Quick Firing Canon (QFC) (Ratel mounted), 60 mm (2.4 in) breech-loading mortar (Ratel mounted), Browning M1919 ^[18] Machine gun and the Browning M2 12.75 mm (0.502 in) Machine gun.^[18]

Badger IFV earmarked for replacement of the Ratel Fleet 2016 onwards

SANDF exercise Seboka 2007 8 SAI Ratels with 1 SSB Rooikats

Lighter and personal weapons

8 SAI is equipped with the:

• Vektor SS77 Squad Automatic Machine gun,
• Fabrique Nationale 7.62 mm (0.300 in) Light Machine gun,
• Vektor R4 5.56 mm (0.219 in) assault rifle, 40 mm (1.6 in)
• Multiple Grenade Launcher (MGL),
• Rocket Propelled grenade launcher (RPG-7),
• M26 Fragmentation grenade,^[19]
• M4 60 mm (2.4 in) patrol mortar (PATMOR), and the Denel 99 mm (3.9 in)
• FT5 rocket launcher.^[20]

Future

Under Project Hoefyster, the SANDF will eventually replace the Ratel family of vehicles with the Badger system.^[21][22]

Nine versions are contemplated of which three are earmarked for mechanized infantry battalions such as 8 SAI:^{[23] [24] [25]}

• Command (turreted 12.7mm MG for self defence, multiple radios and command post equipment)
• Mortar (turreted 60mm breech loading long-range mortar)
• Missile (turreted Denel ZT3 Ingwe)
• Section (turreted 30mm cannon)
• Fire Support (turreted 30mm cannon, but with more ammunition than the section vehicle)
• Signal variant
• Ambulance variant
• Artillery variant

SANDF Badger IFV front view  SANDF Badger IFV rear view

Insignia

Previous dress insignia

8 SAI beret badge

8 SAI patch badge  8 SAI Nutria shoulder flash with North West Command Bar circa 1985 prior to the activation of Northern Cape Command  8 SAI Nutria shoulder flash with Northern Cape Command Bar circa 1988 forward (yellow diamonds)  8 SAI Nutria shoulder flash with Northern Cape Command Bar circa 1990 forward(black diamonds)  8 SAI Nutria shoulder flash step outs

8 SAI Stable belt original  8 SAI Stable belt ver 2  8 SAI Stable belt ver 3 mech infantry

Current dress insignia

SANDF Infantry wide shoulder flash

Unit song

1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 8SAISADFInfo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Battle honours

• Southwest/Angola 1979-1989
• Mulemba/Mulola
• Xangongo/Ongiva
• Mavinga II
• Mavinga III
• Cuito Cuanavale
• Calueque

8 SAI Commemorative medal

SADF 8 SAI affiliation certificate

Notes

References