Galeshewe Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Galeshewe Anti-Aircraft Regiment (formerly Regiment Vaalriver) is a reserve air defence artillery regiment of the South African Army.

Regiment Vaalrivier
Galeshewe Anti-Aircraft Regiment
SANDF Regiment Vaalriver emblem
Active1 January 1960 -
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeReserve Air Defence Artillery
Part of
Garrison/HQVereeniging, Brakpan, Kimberly
Motto(s)
Insignia
Collar BadgeBursting grenade with seven flames
Beret ColourOxford Blue
Battery emblems
Beret bar circa 1992
AbbreviationGAAR

History

Origin

Regiment Vaalrivier was established on 1 January 1960 as one of the Afrikaans medium anti-aircraft units. The unit was headquartered in Vereeniging.[1]

Border War

Regiment Vaalrivier provided air defence in the Border War from 1976 to 1984 as part of 7 South African Infantry Division.

Equipment and operations

Regiment Vaalrivier was initially armed with 35mm Oerlikon and 40mm Bofors units. By 1975, the regiment only had three 35mm batteries of 12 guns per battery.

Regiment Vaalrivier provided air defence artillery for the border war in 1976 to 1980, stationing batteries at Grootfontein, Rundu, Ondwanga, Ruacana and Oshakati and once again Ruacana in 1980.

By 1984 forward, the regiment was involved in cross border operations as well.

Amalgamation

In 1997 members of Regiment Overvaal were amalgamated into the Regiment.

Migration

Regiment Vaalrivier moved to Apex Base in Brakpan in 2008, but eventually was transferred to Kimberley.

Name Change

In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa.[2] Regiment Vaalriver became the Galeshewe Anti-Aircraft Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.[3]

Regimental Symbols

Previous Dress Insignia
SADF era Regiment Vaalrivier insignia

Battle honours

Freedom of the City

Regiment Vaalrivier received the Freedom of Vereeniging on 27 April 1963 and the Freedom of Vanderbijlpark on 31 October 1970.

References
  1. http://www.rfdiv.mil.za/docs/REGIMENT%20VAAL%20RIVIER.pdf
  2. "New Reserve Force unit names". defenceWeb. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. "Renaming process has resulted in an Army structure that truly represents SA". IOL. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
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