IWombe Anti-Aircraft Regiment
military unit
The iWombe Anti-Aircraft Regiment (formerly Regiment Oos Transvaal) is a reserve air defence regiment of the South African Army.
History
Origin
Regiment Oos Transvaal was established on 1 October 1964. Its first headquarters was a Magistrates Court office in Brakpan in 1968, but by 1975, its headquarters had moved on to Benoni. Renamed Apex Military Base, it was opened officially by Lt Gen Geldenhuys in 1976.
Equipment
Regiment Oos Transvaal was originally meant to be equipped with 35 mm Oerlikon but by December 1964, a decision was made that Regiment Oos Transvaal would use Bofors and Oerlikon guns, comprising a Bofors regiment, two 40 mm Bofors batteries and a 35 mm Oerlikon battery. In 1977, however, the regiment had been equipped as a 20 mm anti-aircraft cannon regiment, with six batteries each of 18 guns.
Operations
Regiment Oos Transvaal supplied its R Battery for service in Operation Savannah in January/March 1976 while its P Battery served in the same border area from March to May.
Regiment Oos Transvaal formed part of a reaction force in 1980 but by 1983 forward, members of the Regiment were involved directly in a number of operations such as Operation Prone in 1988.
Present day
Regiment Oos Transvaal is currently equipped with the Oerlikon GDF Mk.5 35 mm gun.
Name Change
In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa.
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