South African Army Artillery Formation

The South African Permanent Force, created in 1913 as the Permanent Force and re-designated with effect from 23 February 1923, included the South African Field Artillery (SAFA), and the South African Permanent Garrison Artillery (SAPGA). The SAPGA had begun operations some time before, when the coastal defences of the Cape Peninsula (manned by the Cape Garrison Artillery) had been handed over to South Africa in December 1921.File:SANDF G5 artillery Lohatla.jpg

In Proclamation No. 246 of 1934,{{Cite journal |journal=South Africa Government Gazette|url=https://gazettes.africa/akn/za/officialGazette/government-gazette/1934-12-14/2238/eng@1934-12-14 |title=South Africa Government Gazette number 2238 - Gazettemachine |date=1934-12-14 |language=en|volume=XCVIII|issue=2238|place=Pretoria|pages=525–526}} the Governor General of the Union of South Africa merged the two organisations with effect from 1 September 1934 and created one Corps titled the South African Artillery (SAA) (see South African Army corps and branches).

Nine field regiments, two medium regiments, and three anti-tank regiments served in North Africa and Italy during the Second World War.{{cite web|author=Nigel F Evans |url=http://nigelef.tripod.com/saregt.htm |title=South African Artillery Regiments |publisher=Nigelef.tripod.com |date=2014-06-14 |accessdate=2021-11-19}}

1st Medium Regiment SAA (SAHA) was formed briefly from 1 October 1939 - July 1941, when it was broken up in Egypt to provide replacements for the field regiments of the SAA. It was reformed with headquarters at Cape Town from 1 January 1946. It was transferred from Cape Town and out of Cape Command to Oudtshoorn from 31 December 1953, but was then disbanded after a Citizen Force reorganisation on 1 March 1960.{{Cite journal |first1=A.K.A. |last1=Clinometer |date=1986 |title=1 Medium Regiment, (S.A.H.A.), S.A.A. |url=https://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/464 |journal=Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies |language=en |volume=16 |issue=4 |doi=10.5787/16-4-464 |issn=2224-0020|doi-access=free }}

From 1 July 1951 8 Field Regiment SAA was active, but was redesignated the Johannesburg Regiment in 1960.

10 Artillery Brigade South Africa, was active with 4 and 14 Regiments since 1983, and 14 Artillery Regiment disbanded on January 1, 1993.

The army's reorganisation after the creation of the new South African National Defence Force was lengthy. The SA Army Office was established. The Corps were restructured with Regular and Reserve Regiments under command. The so-called “Type Formations” were established which assumed responsibility for the provisioning of combat-ready forces to be employed under the direction of Joint Operations Division.

File:SANDF G6 Rhino Klipdrift Military base.jpg

• In 1997 the 7th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, active since the 1960s, was disestablished.
• Regiment Overvaal (ROV) which was established on 1 April 1969 as an Anti-Aircraft Regiment based on Vereeniging Military Base in Vereeniging. P Battery of Regiment Vaalrivier was transferred on 1 October 1969 to form 8th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (8LLA). The name changed from 8LLA to ROV on 27 April 1993. The regiment was disestablished in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.warinangola.com|title=War In Angola: - HOME|work=warinangola.com}}

The South African Artillery re-organised itself into the South African Army Artillery Formation, directed by the SA Army

Artillery Formation Headquarters.{{cite web|url = http://www.gunners.org.za/modules/news/article.php?storyid=63|title = Artillery School : SA Army Artillery Formation Officers' Dinner|date = 22 June 2014|access-date = 25 September 2014|website = Gunner's Association South Africa|publisher = Gunner's Association}}

The South African Army Artillery Formation HQ was established in April 1999.{{cite journal |url=http://www.rfdiv.mil.za/pdfs/publications/gunner/gunner.pdf |title=South African Artillery |journal=South African Gunner|access-date=14 April 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613003404/http://www.rfdiv.mil.za/pdfs/publications/gunner/gunner.pdf |archive-date=13 June 2013 }}{{rp|4–5}}

File:Vulture Launcher System at Ysterplaat Airshow, Cape Town (2).jpg.]]

The GOC Artillery Formation is responsible for managing the appointment of Master Gunners of the Artillery.

In the annual report for the 2013-14 fiscal year, the SANDF reported the development of artillery cooperation and the establishment of the Namibian Army School of Artillery.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Guy |date=2014-11-06 |title=South African Army overstretched – DoD |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/south-african-army-overstretched-dod/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA}} The SA Army assisted the Namibian Defence Force with the development of courses and ultimately the establishment of the Namibian School of Artillery.

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• School of Artillery
• 4 Artillery Regiment (Composite Regiment) (Potchefstroom)
• Artillery Mobilisation Regiment

File:NFA - Gunner's Memorial 2014 02.JPG with the GOC, Brig Gen Deon Holtzhausen, and Sgt Maj of the Formation accompanied by the NFA OC, Major Craig Nel, just after the NFA gunners fired the salute at the Gunner's Memorial Service in Durban 2014]]

• Nelson Mandela Artillery Regiment - equipped with G5 155 mm towed howitzers, Cape Town
• General Dan Pienaar Artillery Regiment - equipped with G5 155 mm towed howitzers, Kroonstad
• King Cetshwayo Artillery Regiment - equipped with G6 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, Durban
• Sandfontein Artillery Regiment - equipped with G6 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, Johannesburg
• State Artillery Regiment - equipped with Bateleur 127 mm MLRS, Pretoria
• Regiment Potchefstroom Universiteit - equipped with Bateleur 127 mm MLRS, Potchefstroom
• Steve Biko Artillery Regiment - equipped with 120 mm mortars, Pretoria (Airborne unit that supports 44 Parachute Regiment)

The Formation uses the following equipment, among others:

• GV6 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (43)
• GV5 155 mm howitzer (75) replaced the G4 155 mm gun and the G2 140 mm gun
• Bateleur 127 mm 40 tube self-propelled multiple rocket launcher (25)
• 1 Battery of ATE Vulture Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicles for daytime reconnaissance and artillery spotting
• M5 120 mm air deployable mortar

To be acquired:

• G7 lightweight 105 mm gun still under development by Denel Land Systems

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• Further reading: {{cite book|first1=Clive|last1=Wilsworth|title=First In, Last Out: The South African Artillery in Action: 1975-1988|year=2010|publisher=30 Degrees South|url=http://www.30degreessouth.co.za/first_in_last_out.htm|isbn=978-1-920143-40-4}}

• [http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6561:fact-file-the-sa-artillery-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159 Defenceweb fact file]
• [http://www.gunners.org.za/ Gunner's Association]

{{SA Army Units}}

Category:Artillery units and formations of South Africa