Our South African Army today, by Bernard Marks

Our South African Army today, by Bernard Marks. Publisher: Purnell, London 1977. ISBN 0868430145 / ISBN 0-86-843014-5 / ISBN 9780868430140 / ISBN 978-0-86-843014-0

Our South African Army today, by Bernard Marks. Publisher: Purnell, London 1977. ISBN 0868430145 / ISBN 0-86-843014-5 / ISBN 9780868430140 / ISBN 978-0-86-843014-0

In a manner of speaking, I "shot" my way through our South African Army to gather the photographic material for this book, Bernard Marks writes in the introduction.

From all the bases I visited, all the officers and men I spoke to, I came away with an overwhelming impression of solidarity; of language and cultural differences put aside in the common interest. During one trip to the Caprivi I met a platoon on its way back from bush patrol. Clad in nutria battle dress, unshaven, tough-looking and self-assured, they reminded me of the remark made in a different context by the Duke of Wellington while reviewing a fresh draft of troops: "I don't know what effect they'll have on the enemy, but, by God, they terrify me." To a man, they admitted they preferred the hazards of the bush, living off ration packs and limited quantities of water, to the routine orderliness of life in the camp. One thing I know now from my visits to the border and the bases throughout the Republic: Given the calibre of our fighting forces, the excellence of their morale, the thoroughness of their training and the quality and sophistication of their arms, the South African Defence Force stands poised to see all-comers off the premises.

Organization of the SA Army

The complexity of modern warfare demands specialization. Major categories of specialization in the SA Army are achieved by dividing the Army into corps, each with a specific role. Each corps consists of various units of the Permanent Force and Citizen Force. Army formations for operations are formed by units from the different corps according to requirements.

SA Artillery (SAA) (Field and Anti-aircraft)
SA Infantry Corps (SAIC)
SA Armoured Corps (SAAC)
SA Engineer Corps (SAEC)
SA Corps of Signals (SACS)
Personnel Services Corps (PSC)
Ordnance Services Corps (OSC)
Technical Service Corps (TSC)
SA Corps of Military Police (SACMP)
SA Corps of Bandsmen (SACB)
SA Caterers Corps (SA CAT C)
SA Ammunition Corps (SA Ammo C)
SA Women's Corps (SAAWC)
SA Intelligence Corps (SA Int C)
SA Cape Corps (SACC)

Command and control of the SA Army is facilitated by dividing the RSA into nine territorial commands. A Command Headquarters is in command of the units within ts territory. The commands are the following:

Western Province Command
Eastern Province Command
Natal Command
Orange Free State Command
North Western Command
Northern Transvaal Command
Witwatersrand Command
Southern Cape Command
South West Africa Command

Each territorial command is responsible for counter-insurgency operations within its own area. For this purpose each command is allocated certain units of the Citizen Force and the Commando Force. Conventional force units of the SA Army resort under command of 1 SA Corps. The corps has under command divisions and brigades. Brigades are formed of Citizen Force units of the various corps of the SA Army. Each brigade consists of teeth arms units, supporting arms units and the required supporting services - a balanced force capable of independent action. The formation headquarters of the conventional force are staffed mainly by Citizen Force manpower with a small Permanent Force nucleus. Each formation headquarters is responsible for the administration and training of subordinate Citizen Force units. After mobilization they control the operations of the units under their command. The Citizen Force forms the fighting backbone of the SA Army and comprises the bulk of the offensive reaction force. Units of the Citizen Force are earmarked for either conventional or counter-insurgency operations. Many Citizen Force units of the various Corps of the South African Army have proud and illustrious histories. [...]

This is an excerpt from Our South African Army today, by Bernard Marks.

Title: Our South African Army today
Author: Bernard Marks
Publisher: Purnell
London, 1977
ISBN 0868430145 / ISBN 0-86-843014-5
ISBN 9780868430140 / ISBN 978-0-86-843014-0
Original hardcover, 21 x 30 cm, 112 pages, throughout bw photos

Marks, Bernard im Namibiana-Buchangebot

Our South African Army Today

Our South African Army Today

Our South African Army today is a contemporary introduction to the South African Defence Force of the 1970s.