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113 Battalion

113 Battalion
113 Battalion emblem
Active	1980–1994
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Motorised infantry
Part of	South African Army Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Phalaborwa
Motto(s)	Servamus We Serve
Equipment	Buffel APC, Samil 20
Insignia
Company level insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992

113 Battalion was a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

History[edit]

Origin of the black battalions[edit]

By the late 1970s the South African government had abandoned its opposition to arming black soldiers.^[1]

In early 1979, the government approved a plan to form a number of regional African battalions, each with a particular ethnic identity, which would serve in their homeland or under regional SADF commands.

Development of the Gazankulu Defence Force[edit]

This led to the formation of 113 Battalion for the Tsongas tribe. It is believed that the original intention was for this battalion to form the basis of a future Gazankulu Defence Force.

113 Battalion was raised in 1980 at Phalaborwa in the then Eastern Transvaal.^[2] Troops for 113 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of Gazankulu.

Higher Command[edit]

113 Battalion resorted under the command of Group 13.^[3] 64 soldiers from 113 Battalion was transferred to 116 Battalion when that unit was expanded.

Disbandment[edit]

113 Battalion was later absorbed into 7 South African Infantry Battalion to form a single battalion in the new SANDF.

Insignia[edit]

Leadership[edit]

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Notes[edit]

Peled, A. A question of Loyalty Military Manpower Policy in Multiethinic States, Cornell University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8014-3239-1 Chapter 2: South Africa: From Exclusion to Inclusion

References[edit]