View source for 1 Reconnaissance Commando (South Africa)

{{more citations needed|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use South African English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=1 Reconnaissance Commando
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1972
|country=South Africa
|allegiance={{flag|South Africa|1928|name=Republic of South Africa}}
|branch={{army|South Africa|1981}}
|type=[[Special forces]]
|size=
|command_structure=[[South African Defence Force]]
|current_commander= 
|garrison=[[Durban]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|ceremonial_chief_label=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto= ''Through Stealth Our Strength''
|colors=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders= Cmdt [[Jan Breytenbach]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|disbanded=1997
}}
The '''1 Reconnaissance Commando''' was the first [[South Africa]]n [[South African Special Forces Brigade|special forces]] unit, founded by General [[Fritz Loots]] - the founder of the South African Special Forces, and the first General Officer Commanding of the South African Special Forces. He appointed 11<ref>{{Cite book|title=1 Recce|last=Strachan|first=Alexander|publisher=NB Publishers|year=2018|isbn=978-0-624-08152-4|location=Cape Town|pages=51}}</ref> qualified paratroopers (known as "The Dirty Dozen", although they were made up of only 11 men) as the founder members. Included in these 11 paratroopers was [[Jan Breytenbach]], who was placed in command of the Founder Members by General Loots.

== History ==
Major General Loots and the Chief of the Army, Lt. General [[Willem Louw]] realised the need for a [[South African Defence Force]] to have a special operations capability, but the Chief of the {{abbrlink|SADF|South African Defence Force}}, General [[Rudolph Hiemstra]] resisted. It was not until Admiral [[Hugo Biermann]] became Chief of the South African Defence Force in 1972 that the go-ahead was granted.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Admiral Hugo Biermann|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/9265607/Admiral-Hugo-Biermann.html|access-date=2021-06-04|website=The Telegraph |date=14 May 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218091117/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/9265607/Admiral-Hugo-Biermann.html |archive-date=Dec 18, 2021  }}</ref>

The unit was originally based at [[Oudtshoorn]] in the [[Cape Province]], but was moved to [[Durban]] in 1974,<ref>{{cite web|title=1 Reconnaissance Regiment / 1 Special Forces Regiment|url=http://www.recce.co.za/special-forces-history/1rr-1sfr-history|website=SA Special Forces League |accessdate=28 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616182218/http://www.recce.co.za/special-forces-history/1rr-1sfr-history|archive-date=16 June 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> where it was formally named 1 Reconnaissance Commando. In the early 1980s, the unit had less than 40 Recce's based at 1RR of which the majority were white. It was renamed ''1 Reconnaissance Regiment'' in 1996, but was disbanded and integrated into [[4 Reconnaissance Commando (South Africa)|4 Reconnaissance Regiment]] and [[5 Reconnaissance Commando (South Africa) ⋅|5 Reconnaissance Regiment]] in 1997.

The South African Special Forces is a unit under the South African National Defence Force and were originally called the Reconnaissance Regiments. "South African Special Forces: Salary, World Rating, Weapons, Quick Facts", published by the website BuzzSouthAfrica. As the BuzzSouthAfrica article states, capabilities for a special forces unit was established in 1968. However, the actual unit was not created until 1972. According to the South African History website, legislation was passed in 1912 that allowed for the development for a special forces unit. The unit is still intact today. The creation of the Reconnaissance Commando was created in Outdshoorn, South Africa. The unit currently operates out of Durban, South Africa. The Reconnaissance Commando was formed in order to increase the strength of the South African military. This unit makes soldiers with very specialized and rare skills that make them an extremely valuable asset to South Africa's military.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Andile |title=South African Special Forces: Salary, World Rating & Weapons |url=https://buzzsouthafrica.com/south-african-special-forces/ |website=BuzzSouthAfrica|date=30 May 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Heritage – The Founders |url=https://www.recce.co.za/heritage-the-founders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104020527/https://www.recce.co.za/heritage-the-founders/ |archive-date=Jan 4, 2024 |website=SASFA}}</ref>

==Leadership==
{{Post-start|caption=1 Reconnaissance Commando |float=}}
{{Post-header|post-name=Commanding Officers<ref name=TRCV2C3SS69P50>{{cite book|title=TRC Final Report |url=http://www.sabctrc.saha.org.za/reports/volume2/chapter3/subsection69.htm |publisher=SABC |accessdate=24 December 2014 |page=322 |chapter=Volume 2, Chapter 3, Sub-Section 69, Paragraph 50 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224105920/http://www.sabctrc.saha.org.za/reports/volume2/chapter3/subsection69.htm |archivedate=24 December 2014 }}</ref>}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1972|post-incumbent=Cmdt [[Jan Breytenbach]]|to-date=1975}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1975|post-incumbent=Maj (T/Cmdt) J. C. Swart|to-date=1981}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1981|post-incumbent=Col. E. Olckers|to-date=1983}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1983|post-incumbent=Col. [[André Bestbier|A. Bestbier]]|to-date=1988}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1988|post-incumbent=Col. G. Keulder|to-date=n.d.}}
<!--{{Post-member|from-date=XXX|Col. A. Diedericks HCS, HC, SM, MMM Des 94=XXX}}-->
<!--{{Post-member|Jan 1995=XXX|Col. F.E. Fourie HC, SM, MMM to-March 1996e=XXX}}-->
<!--{{Post-member|Apr 1996=XXX|Col. F. Wilke HC,MMM to-e=XXX}}-->
{{Post-header|post-name=Regimental Sergeant's Major}}
{{Post-end}}

The South African Special Forces Association website shed a light onto the leader of the Reconnaissance Commando and the 11 men who first served in the unit. Commander JD Breytenbach led these men and pioneered a standard of training and professionalism that the SASF has followed since. A Special Forces unit was created by two Generals who pushed for permission to create it. Once they were given the go-ahead, the Generals appointed 12 troopers to the unit and began training them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African Defence Force (SADF) |url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-african-defence-force-sadf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115045735/https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-african-defence-force-sadf |archive-date=Jan 15, 2024 |website=South African History Online}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|title=S. African Reccee (description of selection)|url=http://www.specwarnet.net/world/sarecee.htm|website=SpecWarNet.net|publisher=SpecWarNet|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

{{portal|South Africa}}

{{SA Army Units}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1 Reconnaissance Commando (South Africa)}}
[[Category:Special forces of South Africa]]
[[Category:Defunct organisations based in South Africa]]
[[Category:Disbanded military units and formations in Durban]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1972]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1997]]