62 Mechanised Battalion Group
| 62 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1982 – 1994 |
| Country |
 South Africa |
| Allegiance |
South Africa |
| Branch |
.svg.png){kind=small} South African Army |
| Type | Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Middelburg |
| Nickname(s) | 62 Mech |
| Equipment |
|
| Engagements | South African Border War |
62 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Army (SADF); although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion forming the core of the group, Main Battle Tank Squadron, Armoured Car Squadron, Air-defence Battery, Engineer Squadron, Artillery Battery, specialists ie EW, MAOT, etc and all the supporting staff and functions required for such a force.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/SADF_62_Mech_beret_badge_dull.jpg
History
4 South African Infantry Battalion was transformed from a Motorised Infantry Battalion to a Mechanised Infantry Battalion in the early 1980's. The name 62 Mechanised Battalion Group was used to indicate when the unit was grouped with the other elements allocated to the battalion for conventional warfare, but was never formally approved as the unit name. This grouping only took place when the unit deployed for operational purposes as a mechanised force.
Operation Agree
62 Mech actively participated, on a permanent basis, in the operations carried out in SWA from June 1988 to November 1989 as part of 60 Brigade. The complete battle group was effectively deployed to the operational area from September 1987 to November 1989. Various bases were used for the HQ, ie Etale, Eenhana, Ondangwa, Okatope and Rooikop (Walvisbay).
62 Mech Group withdrew with the majority of SADF Forces from Namibia on 31 Nov 1989.
It must please be noted that the badge for the operational unit is the same as the beret badge. The emblem your are showing with the number 62 was never used by the Battalion. Further the G5 Battery was Quebec Battery which was 42 Battery and 142 Battery depending on if it was 4 Arty or 14 Arty Regt that was supplying the personnel.
Disbandment
The unit was never disbanded, the allocated elements just returned to their respective mother units. This took place in 1989 after the withdrawal from the then SWA. The unit remained a mechanised unit until 1994 when it once again reverted to a motorised role. The Ratel vehicles were returned to the Vehicle Reserve Park and replaced with Casspir vehicles.
References
1. Scholtz, L. The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989, Cape Town Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8. 2013. 2. Oosthuizen, J.J. The South African Defence Force and Operation Hooper, south east Angola, December 1987 to March 1988, North West University. 3. Davies, R.M. South African Forces in the Border War (Angola and South West Africa) 1980 to 1989. 4. De Vries, R. The influence of the Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle on Mobile Warfare in Southern Africa, Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 2, 2015. pp 174–186. External links
External links
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