15 South African Infantry Battalion

15 South African Infantry Battalion
Active	1994 -
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Motorised infantry
Garrison/HQ	Thohoyandou, Limpopo
Superimposed on a Western European-traditional-shape shield, top half green and bottom half black, an elephant's head.[1]	Elephant
Insignia
Company level Inisgnia

15 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

History

This battalion was established in 1994 from the ranks of the former Venda Defence Force.^{[1] [2]}The unit badge reflects its location. Thohoyandou means “head of the elephant”.

Insignia

Previous Dress Insignia

15 SAI beret badge  15 SAI with Soutpansberg Military Area Tupper Flash  15 SAI stable belt

Current Dress Insignia

SANDF Infantry wide shoulder flash

SANDF's Motorised Infantry

SANDF’s Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Samil trucks, Mamba APC’s or other un-protected motor vehicles. Samil 20,50 and 100 trucks transport soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Samil trucks are all-wheel drive, in order to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain. Motorised infantry have an advantage in mobility allowing them to move to critical sectors of the battlefield faster, allowing better response to enemy movements, as well as the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.

References

1. Engelbrecht, Leon (2007). A guide to the SANDF - unpublished manuscript. Johannesburg. p. Chapter 9C, p.8.
2. Grundy, K.W. Soldiers without politics, Blacks in the South African Armed Forces, Perspectives on Southern Afrca, 33, University of California Press, Berkley. ISBN 0-520-04710-9 AACR2