The South West Africa Territorial Force was officially formed in 1980, though in many cases it was a case of bringing existing units under a central command. Seven sectors were set up and numbered from 10 to 70, with sectors 10, 20, and 70 along the Angola-SWA border. Seven battalions of infantry were formed for service along the border, while an eighth would serve as a reserve. In addition, the CF elements existing in SWA were to be transferred from the control of the SADF to that of the SWATF. Of the units formed, six of the battalions were permanently stationed along the border among the tribal groups living there. These battalions were recruited in the areas that they served, as part of the "hearts and minds" approach of the South African government. (The amounts spent by the government in setting up these units, and the payroll that was paid out on a monthly basis, had a dramatic effect on the economy in these sectors.) Due to the fact that these were permanent units, no two battalions ever ended up with the exact same TO&E, as each force ended up with a structure that fitted the task at hand. A rundown of these units produces the following information: 101st INFANTRY BATTALION Romeo Mike and Recce Teams Veteran; Morale: 10 Other Elements Regular; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks Reconnaissance Wing 6 tracker patrols 4 Special Service Companies, each with: Company Headquarters, with 1 command stand and 1 support stand 3 Romeo Mike Teams, each with: 1 command stand 1 tracker infantry stand 1 Casspir APC 2 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 1 weapons stand 3 infantry stands Support Company, with: 1 command stand 2 81mm mortar stands (ds) 1 engineer stand 1 tracker infantry stand 1 jeep with 106mm RR Notes 1. The 101st was formed in Owambo in order to block SWAPO infiltration into that area. 2. Tracker infantry stands function as recon stands with an additional +3 modifier to their spotting rolls, and they suffer no penalty for spotting while moving. They can be broken into two tracker patrols. 3. The Romeo Mike (Afrikaans for Reaksiemag or Reaction Force) Teams operated with the tracker infantry stand broken into two patrols, and while one patrol ran on foot following the trail, the command stand and other patrol rode in the APC. After an hour, the two patrols switched. If the SWAPO stand they were following was located, the APC would close and attack the stand. The first two companies, 901 and 903, were formed in 1984, while 902 and 904 were formed in 1985. The tactic did not originate with the 101st, but was copied from Operation Koevoet. 4. The tracker patrols of the Reconnaissance Wing were not used as combat units, but rather as long-range recon units. 5. No MAW was carried. 102nd INFANTRY BATTALION All Elements Regular; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks 4 Buffel APCs 4 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 1 weapons stand 3 infantry stands Support Company, with: 1 command stand 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) 1 engineer stand 1 tracker infantry stand 1 jeep with 106mm RR Notes 1. The 102nd was also formed in Owambo, but served mainly as a garrison force. Some companies took part in "externals" during the 1980s. 2. The Buffel APCs were assigned as needed. 3. No MAW was carried. 201st INFANTRY BATTALION Veteran; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks 4 Buffel APCs Reconnaissance Wing 6 tracker patrols 5 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 2 tracker infantry stands 1 infantry stand Support Company, with: 1 command stand 2 81mm mortar stands (ds) 1 engineer stand 1 jeep with 106mm RR Notes 1. The 201st was formed from Bushmen refugees from Angola and the Caprivi Strip. 2. Tracker infantry stands function as recon stands with an additional +3 modifier to their spotting rolls, and they suffer no penalty for spotting while moving. They can be broken into two tracker patrols. 3. One company of the 20 1 st was reinforced and attached to one of the Modular Battalions of the South African Army. This company was rotated on a yearly basis. 4. The tracker patrols of the Reconnaissance Wing were not used as combat units, but rather as long-range recon units. 5. The Buffel APCs were assigned as needed. 6. No MAW was carried. 202nd INFANTRY BATTALION Regular; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks 4 Buffel APCs 4 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 1 weapons stand 4 infantry stands Support Company, with: 1 command stand 2 81mm mortar stands (ds) 1 engineer stand 1 tracker infantry stand 1 jeep with 106mm RR Armored Car Squadron, with: 1 command EL-90 1 recon EL-90 1 recon EL-60 Notes 1. The 202nd was also formed in Kavango, but served mainly as a garrison force. Some companies took part in "externals" during the 1980s. One company of the 202nd was reinforced and attached to one of the Modular Battalions of the South African Army. This company was rotated on a yearly basis. 2. No MAW was carried. The standard SAM was the SA-7, which was issued as needed for external operations with two teams per battalion. 3. The Buffel APCs were assigned as needed. 4. The Armored Car Squadron was attached and made up of white SWA males who had been made subject to NMS. 203rd INFANTRY BATTALION Experienced; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks 3 Buffel APCs 3 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 3 tracker infantry stands Support Company, with: 1 command stand 1 81mm mortar stand (ds) 1 engineer stand Notes 1. The 203rd was also formed from Bushmen along the Botswana border. It provided trackers to the 54th, 55th, and 102nd Infantry Battalions on rotation. 2. The Buffel APCs were assigned as needed. 3. No MAW was carried. 301st INFANTRY BATTALION Veteran; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks 1 Buffel APC 3 Infantry Companies, each with: command stand 3 infantry stands 3 Buffel APCs Support Company, with: 1 command stand 2 81mm mortar stands (ds) 2 medium trucks 1 engineer stand 1 Buffel APC 2 EL-90s Notes 1. The 301st was formed from elements that had been serving with the 61st Mechanized Battalion. One company was usually rotated to serve with the 51st Modular Battalion, while the remainder of the battalion continued to serve with the 61st. 2. No MAW was carried. The standard SAM was the SA-7, which was issued as needed for external operations with two teams per battalion. 701st INFANTRY BATTALION Veteran; Morale: 9 Marine Company, Experienced; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks 4 Buffel APCs 3 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 1 weapons stand 3 infantry stands Support Company, with: 1 command stand 2 81mm mortar stands (ds) 1 engineer stand 1 jeep with 106mm RR Attached Units SWATF Artillery Battery, with: 1 command stand 1 FO 2 Landrovers 2 tractors 2 medium supply trucks 2 gun crew stands (DS) 2 support stands 2 25# field guns SWATF Armored Car Squadron, with: 1 command EL-90 1 recon EL-90 1 recon EL-60 Marine Company, with: 1 command stand 3 marine stands Notes 1. The 701st was formed in what is known as the Caprivi Strip. A measure of the confidence that the 701st was held in is that with the exception of the South African Marine Company, there were no other SADF units assigned to this sector. 2. No MAW was carried. The standard SAM was the SA-7, which was issued as needed for external operations with 2 teams added to the support battalion. 3. The Buffel APCs were assigned as needed. 901st INFANTRY BATTALION Veteran; Morale: 9 Marine Company, Experienced; Morale: 9 Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 Buffel APC 1 light staff radio truck 2 support stands 2 medium trucks 4 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 1 weapons stand 3 infantry stands 4 Buffel. APCs Support Company, with: 1 command stand 2 81mm mortar stands (ds) 1 engineer stand 1 Buffel APC 2 medium trucks 1 jeep with 106mm RR Notes 1. The 901st was recruited from SWA at large, and was used as a reserve force. One company was assigned to serve with the 51st Modular Battalion, with this duty rotating on a yearly basis. 2. The MAW was the Carl Gustav 84mm RR. The standard SAM was the SA-7, which was issued as needed for external operations with two teams added to the support battalion. Remaining Forces The remaining forces under SWATF's control were the following: Reaction Force (ex-SADF CF units raised in SWA, and turned over in 1980. Never were fully called out into active service.) Recon Armored Car Regiment (EI-60, EL-90) 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Ratel) 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Buffel) 1 Artillery Regiment (5.5" field guns) 1st SWA Specialist Unit: As already mentioned, this formation supplied the motorcycle, cavalry, and dog patrols to the modular battalions. 2nd SWA Specialist Unit: This was formed from the 1st SWA Parachute Company, and elements of the 1st SWA Reconnaissance Regiment. This command consisted of recon patrol stands that would operate deep in Angola to find targets for the external operations to hit. It was not designed to serve as a combat force. More Externals 1980-1989: SW Africa and Angola Introduction: 1915-1979 SADF: South African Defense Forces in South West Africa SWATF: South West Africa Territorial Forces Koevoet: Operation Crowbar SWAPO: South West Africa People's Organization FAPLA: People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola Cuban Forces in Angola UNITA: National Union for the Total Liberation of Angola South Africa Specs: Combined Arms Charts Externals Mini Campaign Game Part I, II, III Part IV, V, VI, VII Appendix 1: South African Forces Appendix 2: Angolan Forces Appendix 3: Terrain Campaign Map Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly #2 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com