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Regiment Overvaal
Regiment Overvaal
	SANDF Regiment Overvaal emblem
Active	1 April 1969 to form 8 Light Anti-Aircraft; 27 April 1973 as Regiment Overvaal;
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa; Republic of South Africa;
Branch	South African Army; South African Army;
Type	Reserve Artillery
Part of	South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation; Army Conventional Reserve;
Garrison/HQ	Vereeniging, Gauteng
Motto(s)	Ense Et Aratro Serving in war and peace
Commanders
OC 1969-1973	Commandant R.D.J. Coetzee
OC 1973-1983	Commandant L. Human
OC 1983-1988	Commandant P.J. Viljoen
OC 1988-1991	Commandant P.J. Roetz
OC 1991-1997	Lt Colonel J.C. Zelie
Insignia
Collar Badge	Bursting grenade with seven flames
Beret Colour	Oxford Blue
Battery emblems
Beret bar c. 1992

Regiment Overvaal is a reserve force regiment of the South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation.

History

Origin

8 Light Anti-Aircraft (8 LAA) was established in 1969 as a Medium Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment and was based on the Vereeniging Military Base. The unit was established without any troops. P Battery of Regiment Vaalrivier was therefore subsequently transferred on 1 October 1969 to form 8 LAA.^[1]

Organisation

The first Officer Commanding was Commandant R.D.J. Coetzee and the first RSM WO1 C.S. Feldtmann.^[2]

Major R.D.J. Coetzee was appointed as the acting Commanding Officer on formation of the unit and was accompanied by 420 members consisting of:

11 officers (2 majors, 1 captain, 3 lieutenants and 5 second lieutenants)
40 NCOs (1 WO2, 6 sergeants, 22 bombardiers and 11 lance-bombardiers)
369 Gunners^[3]

Renamed

8 LAA was renamed on 27 April 1973 as Regiment Overvaal.

Higher HQ

Regiment Overvaal fell under the regional jurisdiction of Witwatersrand Command from 1969 to 1974.

Divisional Command

Regiment Overvaal was assigned to support 8th Armoured Division from 1974 to 1984.

Regiment Overvaal then was assigned to Far Northern Command from 1984 to 1987.

The regiment was finally returned to 8th Armoured Division from 1987 to 1997.

Freedom of Entry

The Regiment was awarded the Right and Privilege of Freedom of Entry into Vereeniging on the 6 September 1986 with Commandant. P.J. Viljoen accepting that honour. This Freedom was exercised in the 15 September 1990 with Commandant. P.J.Roetz commanding.

Equipment

Regiment Overvaal is a unit which executes the Anti-Aircraft task independently, or in support of other arms using radar controlled Oerlikon GDF guns. These cannon can be used in all-weather conditions against low flying aircraft and can, if necessary be used in a ground role as well.

Operational Service

Ops Savannah 1976 (SWA)
Sector 10 – 1979/1980/1981 (SWA)
Sector 10 – 1983/1984 (SWA)
Ops Pebble – 1984/1985/1986 (Soutpansberg Military Area – Far North Command)
Ops Hilti – 1988 (81 Brigade - (SWA))
Ops Eardrum – 1990 (Pietermaritzburg – Natal Command)
Ops Jambu – 1994 (eShowe – Natal Command)

Riot Control

Mamelodi, Shoshanguwe and KwaNdebele - 1987/1988

Insignia

Previous Insignia

Leadership

Regiment Overvaal Leadership
From	Commanding Officers	To
1969	Cmdt R.D.J. Coetzee JCD	1973
1973	Cmdt L. Human MMM JCD	1983
1983	Cmdt P.J. Viljoen MMM JCD	1988
1988	Cmdt P.J. Roetz MMM JCD	1991
1991	Lt Col J.C. Zelie MMM	1997
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To
1969	WO1 C.S. Feldtmann MMM	1984
1984	WO1 G.D.J. Beukes MMM JCD	1988
1988	WO1 F.J. du Plooy MMM	1991
1991	WO1 J.J.G. Greyling JCD	1994
1994	WO1 J. Klonarides JCD	1997
From	Chaplains	To
nd	Unknown	nd

References

^ REGIMENT VAALRIVIER EENHEIDSORDER (DEEL 2) NR. 15/69. South African Army Orders.
^ Schoeman, Johan. "South African Unit Profiles". War in Angola. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
^ Zelie, Lt Col. J.C. History of Regiment Overvaal. Unpublished Manuscript.