View source for South African Army Engineer Formation


{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = South African Engineer Formation
| image                         = 
| caption                       = SANDF Engineer Formation emblem
| dates                         = 1982 to present
| country                       = {{ZAF}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{army|South Africa}} [[File:Emblem of the South African Army.svg|150px|SANDF Army emblem]]
| type                          = [[Military engineering]]
| role                          = To enhance mobility and survivability of own forces<ref name=DWFactFile />
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = 
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = {{plainlist|
* {{lang|la|Ubique}} (Everywhere)
* {{lang|la|Primus incidere exire ultimus}} (First in and last out)
}}
| colors                        = Guardsman Red and Oxford Blue<ref name=DWFactFile>{{cite web|last1=Englebrecht|first1=Leon|title=Fact file: The SA Engineering Corps|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6558:fact-file-the-sa-engineering-corps-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159|website=DefenceWeb.co.za|publisher=DefenceWeb|access-date=20 October 2014|date=9 February 2010}}</ref>
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = Brigadier General [[Charles Buyse]]
| commander1_label              = General Officer Commanding
| commander2                    = Chief of Staff Col G.H. Janse Van Vuuren
| commander2_label              = 
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = Bursting grenade with nine flames
| identification_symbol_label   = Collar Badge
| identification_symbol_2       = Oxford blue
| identification_symbol_2_label = Beret Colour
| identification_symbol_3       = [[File:SANDF Engineers Company emblems.jpg|200px|SANDF Engineers Company emblems]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = Engineers Company Emblems
| identification_symbol_4       = [[File:SANDF engineers beret bar.jpg|200px|SANDF engineers beret bar]]
| identification_symbol_4_label = Engineers Beret Bar circa 1992
}}
[[File:Sa army engineer formation phone image.jpg|alt=emblem|thumb|SA Army Engineer Formation emblem]]
The '''South African Army Engineer Formation''' is the controlling entity of all [[South African Army]] [[military engineering]] units. The Formation is currently commanded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC); Brigadier General [[Willis Nkosi|C. Buyse]]

==History==
===Relationship with the Corps of Royal Engineers===

====Cape Volunteers Engineer Corps====
Military Engineers first made their appearance in South Africa during the Colonial era in 1859 the Governor of the Cape Colony authorised the establishment of the Cape Engineers (Volunteers), which in 1861 became simply the Cape Engineers. In 1865, the title was changed to the Cape Volunteer Engineer Corps, but in 1869, the Corps literally faded away. Ten years later in 1879, the Corps was resuscitated under the name Cape Town Volunteer Engineers. These sappers supported the ground forces during the Frontier Wars and even as far afield as Basutoland.

====Natal Engineer Corps====
In 1910, the Natal Engineer Corps was formed but ceased to exist in 1913, a year after the passing of the Defence Act in 1912. Just before the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Cape Fortress Engineers were formed to relieve Imperial Troops occupied on sapper tasks in the fixed defences of the Cape Peninsula.

====South African Engineer Corps====
The South African Engineer Corps was established in 1922 when the [[Royal Engineers]] withdrew from South Africa with the rest of the British Army garrison.<ref name="SAEC">{{cite journal | url=https://www.academia.edu/462145 | title=The origin and establishment of the South African Engineer Corps (SAEC), 1918-1939 | author=van der Waag, Ian | journal=Journal for Contemporary History: Military History 1912–2012 |date=December 2012 | volume=37 | issue=2 | pages=1–31}}</ref> The [[Cape Fortress Engineers]] was disbanded in 1933 and two more Field Companies were formed in 1935 and numbered one to six, being located in order at: [[Durban]], [[Uitenhage]], [[Cape Town]], [[Bloemfontein]], [[Johannesburg]] and [[Pretoria]].

====World War II====
During the period 1940–1945, the SA Army Engineer Corps which had started the war with a strength of 54 officers and 585 sappers, rose to the strength of approximately 16 000 men belonging to over 70 different companies or units.
[[File:Union Defence Force World War 2 era Engineer Corps Cap badge.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Union Defence Force World War II era Engineer Corps Cap badge]]

In the development of the Corps, three aspects of military engineering had to be considered and the obvious sapper groups were the Base, Lines of Communication and Field or Fighting Groups, each with its own particular tasks but motivated by the basic requirements of maintaining the mobility and comfort of the ground forces.<ref>Visser, G.E. and Nyanchaga, E., 2012, ‘The South African Engineer Corp’s water supply operations in Kenya during the Second World War: Its wartime impact
and postwar legacy’ in Journal for Contemporary History 30 (2)</ref>

Hence, the 70 different units covered the whole spectrum of military engineering, such as:
*close support Field Companies and their Field Park Companies,
*Road Construction Companies,
*[[Railway troops|Railways]],
*Harbours and Tunneling Companies,
*Survey Companies,
*Water Supply and Treatment Companies,
*Workshop and Engineer Stores Units and [[Chemical warfare|Chemical Warfare]],
*Bomb Disposal and Camouflage Units, in all, 31 different functions and disciplines.

=====The origin of the bursting grenade=====
On 29 December 1944, in recognition of outstanding achievements by the SA Army Engineer Corps during World War II, [[King George VI]] approved the design of the Corps emblem, a bursting grenade, to be a device of 9 flames instead of the original seven, and authorised the use of the motto "Ubique", meaning "Everywhere". This is the same as that of the [[Corps of Royal Engineers]] and has been incorporated in the cap badge.

====Post World War II====
The Active Citizen Force was resurrected in early 1946 and Government Notice 1540 of 19 July 1946 announced the establishment and designation of several ACF units including two engineer regiments.

One of these regiments was 2nd Regiment S.A.E.C. which consisted of Headquarters 2nd Regiment S.A.E.C. and 1, 2 and 3 Field Squadrons and 8 Field Park Squadron.<ref name=Crook71Bge>{{cite book|first1=Lionel, Col (Rtd)|last1=Crook|editor1-first=Michele|editor1-last=Greenbank|title=71 Motorised Brigade: a history of the headquarters 71 Motorised Brigade and of the citizen force units under its command|publisher=L. Crook in conjunction with the South African Legion|year=1994|place=Brackenfell, South Africa|isbn=9780620165242|oclc=35814757}}</ref>{{Rp|91 & 136}} The regiment was disbanded in 1966 and ''3rd Field Squadron'' became independent.

In 1957 the ''Mobile Battalion'' was established, which later became the ''[[Mobile Watch]]'', then ''1 Comp Construction Regiment'', then ''1 Construction Regiment'' before being disbanded in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottensoldiers.co.za/engineers.asp|title=FSSA - ENGINEERS|work=forgottensoldiers.co.za}}</ref>

[[File:UDF era 1 Mobile Watch Shoulder title.png|thumb|center|300px|UDF era 1 Mobile Watch Shoulder title]]

[[File:SANDF Pontoon Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|400px|SANDF Pontoon Bridge]]

In 1962, the Regular Force was formed and 17 Field Squadron was created to support this force, stationed in Potchefstroom. However, in 1967 it was moved to Bethlehem and became a purely training unit. In 1974, it became two new squadrons, 24 and 25 Field Squadrons as support squadrons in the operational area of South West Africa.

In 1969, the Directorate of Engineers was established at [[Kroonstad]], but in 1972 it was moved to SA Army Headquarters, [[Pretoria]] where it was developed to what it is today.
In 1968, the 35 Field Park Squadron was established as a Regular Force Unit and in 1974 was renamed 35 Engineer Support Unit and stationed at Kroonstad. In 1975, the South West Africa Engineer Support Unit was formed and stationed at [[Grootfontein]]. Also in 1975, arising out of all the Survey and Printing activities of the Survey and Printing Units of World War II, the 47 Survey Squadron, a Regular Force Unit, was formed. This Unit trained all the National Servicemen posted to it and in turn fed the two DF Survey Units which had been established - the 46 Survey Squadron at Cape Town in 1959 and the 45 Survey Squadron at Pietermaritzburg in 1969

[[File:SANDF Pontoon Bridge and boat.jpg|thumb|left|400px|SANDF Pontoon Bridge and boat]]

1 Construction Regiment was re-established at the end of 1976 at Marievale near Springs, Gauteng and towards the end of 1977 was tasked with the construction of the Military Base at Dukuduku on the Natal North Coast. Subsequently, due to policy changes, its activities were confined to the operational area, in support of the SA Army, with great success.

In 1982 the [[Chief of the South African Army]] decided to create the SA Army Engineer Formation, with the Director of Engineers as Officer Commanding, which would give him increased functional and operational control over all Engineer units. On 26 November 1982, the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General [[Johannes Geldenhuys]] presented the Command Directive for the formation to the Director of Engineers.

[[File:SANDF Husky mine detection vehicle.jpg|thumb|left|400px|SANDF Husky mine detection vehicle]]

====From Corps to Formation in the SANDF====
With the creation of 'type' formations after the [[South African Defence Review 1998]], the Engineer Formation was reformed and all units of the South African Engineer Corps were placed within a single-corps grouping.

==Units==
The Formation consists of both regular and reserve units:<ref>{{cite web|title=Engineer Formation Structure|url=http://www.army.mil.za/hq_units/engineer_fmn/structure.htm|website=South African Army|publisher=SANDF|access-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> Its headquarters is at [[Thaba Tshwane]].

===Regular Units===
* [[School of Engineers (South Africa)]]. ([[Kroonstad, Free State|Kroonstad]]) - Primary Training Centre for the [[SAAEF]]. (Part of General Support Base Kroonstad)
* [[2 Field Engineer Regiment (South Africa)|2 Field Engineer Regiment]]. ([[Bethlehem, Free State|Bethlehem]]) - Primary Deployment Unit of the [[SAAEF]]. The regiment was formed in 1973 from 17 Field Squadron, which had relocated to Bethlehem from Potchefstroom in 1967.<ref>Leon Englebrecht, A Guide to the SANDF, Unpublished Manuscript (via Internet), Johannesburg, 2007, 58.</ref> The main function of 2 Field Engineer Regiment is to provide mobility to, and ensuring the survivability of the landward forces of the SANDF, and to deny the mobility of the enemy when needed. This is done through mine warfare, water purification, bridge building, demolitions, basic field engineering, obstacles, defensive works and watermanship. The unit was deployed extensively during the war in Namibia, but has also rendered support in disaster relief operations, such as Merriespruit and during floods in KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo.
* [[35 Engineer Support Regiment]]. ([[Dunnottar]]) - Unit responsible for the maintenance of all Engineering equipment. (Part of Military Base Dunnottar)
* [[1 Construction Regiment SAEC]]. ([[Dunnottar]]) - Unit responsible for all construction and Building maintenance work. Mostly Plumbers, Electricians and Builders are stationed here. (Part of Military Base Dunnottar)
* [[Engineer Terrain Intelligence Unit]] ([[Thaba Tshwane]]) - Compilation and production of maps and other printed material. (Formed from the merger of 1 Military Printing Regiment and 4 Survey and Mapping Regiment.)

===Reserve Units===
* [[Ihawu Field Engineer Regiment]], in [[Cape Town, Western Cape|Cape Town]]. In 1966 with the disestablishment of 2 Regiment SAEC, 3rd Field Squadron became independent. On 25 January 1983 3 Fd Eng Sqn was expanded to a regiment.<ref name=Crook71Bge />{{Rp|91/136}}{{Rp|93/136}} The Regiment attended "Exercise Thunder Chariot" in 1984 and in the years that followed saw riot control service before once again proving their worth in 1988 and 1989 as conventional warfare troops.
* [[Umkhonto Field Engineer Regiment]], [[Durban]]
* [[44 Parachute Engineer Regiment SAEC|Ukhosi Parachute Engineer Regiment]]
3 Field Squadron took part in Operation Savannah in 1976

===Closed Units===
* [[14 Engineer Regiment]] - Same as 1 Construction Regiment.
* [[4 Field Engineer Regiment]] - Field Regiment.
* [[6 Field Engineer Regiment]] - Field Regiment.
* [[9 Field Engineer Regiment]] - Field Regiment.
* [[20 Field Engineer Regiment]] - Field Regiment.
'''Engineer Formation Structure'''

[[File:Structure Engineer units.png|alt=Engineer units structure|thumb|SA Army Engineer Formation and units structure]]



== Insignia ==
{{see also|List of badges of the South African Army#Demolitions Qualifications}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Engineer Insignia
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| {{Badge Display|Dems1|150px}}
| {{Badge Display|Dems2|150px}}
| {{Badge Display|IEDD|150px}}
|}

==Leadership==
{{Post-start|caption=SA Army Engineer Formation Leadership|float=}}
{{Post-header|post-name=General Officers Commanding}}
{{Post-member|from-date={{Circa|2000}}|post-incumbent=Brig Gen [[David Masters (general)|David Masters]]|to-date={{Circa|2003}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Marida|title=Lieutenant: I will kill him!|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Lieutenant-I-will-kill-him-20030410|website=News24 Archives|access-date=29 January 2015|date=10 April 2003}}</ref>}}
{{Post-member|from-date={{Circa|2009}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Defence: soldiers to get pay rises by Christmas|url=http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=32991|website=witness.co.za|publisher=[[SAPA]]|access-date=27 January 2015|date=19 December 2009}}</ref>|post-incumbent=Brig Gen [[Luvuyo Nobanda]]|to-date=31 October 2011<ref name=EngCOC>{{cite web|last1=Rademeyer|first1=Annelize, Lt Col|title=Media Invitation by Department of Defence: South African Army Engineer Formation - Change of Command Parade: Military Base Dunottar|url=http://www.dod.mil.za/media/media2012/media_in18012012.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330040402/http://dod.mil.za/media/media2012/media_in18012012.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 March 2015|publisher=DOD|access-date=27 January 2015|date=18 January 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Post-member|from-date=1 November 2011<ref name=EngCOC />|post-incumbent=Brig Gen [[Mbulelo Msi]]|to-date=nd}}
{{Post-member|from-date=nd|post-incumbent=Brig Gen [[Willis Nkosi]]|to-date=nd}}
{{Post-header|post-name=Formation Sergeants Major}}
<!-- {{Post-member|from-date=XXX|post-incumbent=XXX|to-date=XXX}} -->
{{Post-end}}

==Equipment==
The Formation uses the following equipment, among others:

===Combat Engineering===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Variant !! Origin/Design!! Comment !! Image
|-
| '''KMW/MAN Leguan 8X8 Bridge Layer''' || {{GER}} ||Kraus Maffei Leguan bridge system on MAN 8X8 heavy truck platform || [[File:Krauss Maffei Leguan MAN 8X8 bridge layer.jpg|300px|Krauss Maffei Leguan MAN 8X8 bridge layer]]
|-
| '''Oliphant Bridge Layer Tank''' || {{ZAF}}||Armoured bridge layer||[[File:Oliphant Bridge Layer Tank.jpg|300px|Oliphant Bridge Layer Tank]]
|-
| '''Modular Bailey Bridge''' || {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{ZAF}}||Temporary bridge made of prefabricated steel panels that can be rapidly assembled||[[File:SANDF bailey bridge.jpg|400px|SANDF bailey bridge]]
|-
| '''Foldable Floating Bridge System''' ||{{ZAF}}|| ||
|-
| '''Assault boat Mark 4''' ||{{ZAF}}||Rigid type outboard-powered shallow draft crew of 2, can carry 13 troops and or 2 tons of cargo||
|-
| '''Meerkat Mine Detection Vehicle''' || {{ZAF}}||Primary mine detector, 3 meter wide array with metal detection and ground penetrating radar||[[File:SANDF Meerkat mine detection vehicle.jpg|200px|SANDF Meerkat mine detection vehicle]]
|-
| '''Husky with Mine Detonation Trailers''' || {{ZAF}}||Towed mine detonation, high pressure will set off nonmetallic mines, each trailer has 2 axles of different length, so that all 3 trailers provide a full 3 meter wide cover||[[File:SANDF Meerkat with mine detonation trailers.jpg|400px|SANDF Meerkat with mine detonation trailers]]
|-
| '''Zettelmeir Vlakvark''' ||{{ZAF}}||Battle tractor, landmine protected, different attachments for excavation, front end loading, back hoe or forklifting. Can create or enhance obstacles, clear fire lanes and rubble, create river crossings, can move parts of girder bridges and unload bulk cargo.||[[File:SANDF Zettelmeir Vlakvark Battle Tractor.jpg|250px|SANDF Zettelmeir Vlakvark Battle Tractor]]
|-
| '''Plofadder 160 AT''' ||{{ZAF}}||Rocket propelled minefield clearing system, usually mounted on Buffel or Casper APCs, can clear mines up to 160m long by 8m wide using about 500&nbsp;kg of exsplosives||[[File:Plofadder backpack mount.jpg|60px|Plofadder backpack mount]]
|-
| '''MMD Mark 3''' ||{{ZAF}}||Metal Detector||[[File:SANDF MMD Marks 3 Metal Detector.jpg|100px|SANDF MMD Marks 3 Metal Detector]]
|-
|}

===Construction Engineering===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Variant !! Origin/Design!! Comment !! Image
|-
| '''Waterbuffel''' ||{{ZAF}}||Mobile water pumping, filtering, purification and storage system||[[File:Waterbuffel water purification system.jpg|300px|Waterbuffel water purification system]]
|-
| '''MOGS''' ||{{ZAF}}||Mobile Operational Geographic System||
|-
| '''Heavy duty Hauler and Lowbeds''' ||{{GER}}||Various types, Mainly MAN and Mercedes Benz||
|-
| '''Wheeled dozer''' ||{{flag|Japan}}||Various types, mainly [[Komatsu Limited|Komatsu]], used also to create obstacles for opposing forces and defensive positions||
|-
| '''Full tracked dozer''' ||{{USA}}||Various types, mainly [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] and Michigan||[[File:SANDF D11 bulldozer.jpg|200px|SANDF D11 bulldozer]]
|-
| '''Dump trucks''' ||{{ZAF}} {{flag|Japan}}||Various types, mainly SAMAG and Nissan Diesels||[[File:SANDF SAMAG 120 Tipper.jpg|200px|SANDF SAMAG 120 Tipper]]
|-
| '''Road Graders''' ||{{USA}}||Various types, mainly Cat Wright and Galion||[[File:SANDF Road Grader.jpg|200px|SANDF Road Grader]]
|-
| '''Front end loaders''' ||{{ZAF}}||Various types||
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{SA Army Units}}

[[Category:South African administrative corps]]
[[Category:Military engineer corps]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1982]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in South Africa]]