4 South African Infantry Battalion

4 South African Infantry Battalion
Active	1 January 1962
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Motorised infantry
Garrison/HQ	Middelburg, Mpumalanga
Engagements	South African Border War
Commanders
OC early 90's	Izan Leibrand
Insignia
Company level Inisgnia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

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

History

4 SAI was established on January 1, 1962 at Voortrekkerhoogte in Pretoria, but within a month was moved to Middelburg, South Africa.^[1]

First troops began training in April 1962 and became an operational motorised unit in 1969.^[1]

From motorised to mechanised Infantry

In 1982, 4 SAI converted to a mechanised infantry battalion mainly consisting of Ratel-20 IFVs.

SADF 4 SAI Ratels were known for their conspicuous red call sign markings

Operations in Border War

4 SAI took part in many external operations during the South African border war such as:

• Dolfyn,
• Askari,
• Alpha Centauri,
• Moduler,
• Hooper and
• Prone.^[1]

For these operations, 4 SAI became a detached unit supplying mechanised infantry to 62 Mechanised Battalion Group. A artillery battery of G5 howitzers, a Ratel-90 armoured car squadron and a ^[1] in some operations, an Oilfant tank squadron was also temporarily attached to the battalion.^[1]

SADF 4 SAI medalion

Operations in South Africa

4SAI also supported the signing of the Nkomati accord between South Africa and Mozambique in March 1984 and took part in Exercise Thunder Chariot in September of that year. The exercise was, at the time, billed as the largest mobilisation of South African forces since World War II.

Reverting to motorised infantry

4 SAI reverted to a motorised infantry unit after 1994.

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

Insignia

Previous Dress Insignia

4 SAI and 62 Mech beret badge

4 SAI cloth badge  4 SAI Nutria shoulder flash with Eastern Transvaal Command Bar

4 SAI stable belt

Current Dress Insignia

Standard Dress
SANDF Infantry wide shoulder flash

References

1. "Fact file: 4 SA Infantry Battalion". defenceWeb. Retrieved 2 March 2014.