Bagaka Regiment

  •  Republic of South Africa
  •  Republic of South Africa
Branch
  •  South African Army
  •  South African Army
TypeInfantry (Paratroopers)RoleAirborne infantrySizeBattalionPart ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Conventional ReserveGarrison/HQTempe, BloemfonteinNickname(s)ParabatsInsigniaAbbreviationBAGR
Military unit

The Bagaka Regiment (formerly 2 Parachute Battalion) is a reserve airborne infantry regiment of the South African Army.

History

Origins

With the implementation of one year National Service in South Africa in 1968, 1 Parachute Battalion struggled to administer the Permanent Force and the Citizen Force Parabats.[1] To prevent the loss of these trained national servicemen at the end of their one-year service to other units of the South African Defence Force, it was decided to form a new citizen force parachute unit to take these men.[1] The battalion was formed at Tempe in July 1971 of five rifle companies.[1] On 20 April 1978, the 2 Parachute Battalion and other parachute units became part of the newly formed 44 Parachute Brigade.[1]

Operations

2 Parachute Battalion would take part in Operation Savannah in Angola during 1975 and covered the withdrawal of the SADF forces from that country in early 1976.[1] In May 1978, elements of this battalion took part in the parachute drop over Cassinga during Operation Reindeer.[1] Companies from this battalion were based on the border with Angola in South-West Africa/Namibia and used as a rapid reaction force to counter incursions by SWAPO's PLAN forces into that country.[1] 2 Parachute Battalion companies were also deployed internally in South African black townships to suppress unrest to the governments Apartheid policies.[1]

Name change

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

Leadership

Leadership
From Honorary Colonel To
From Officer Commanding To
From Regimental Sergeants Major To


References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Pitta, Robert (1993). South African Special Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855322943.
  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.

Further reading

  • Pitta, Robert (27 May 1993). South African Special Forces (eBook). Elite (Book 47). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855322943.
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