Long Tom Commando

Long Tom Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

Long Tom Commando
Long Tom Commando emblem
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve, Group 33
Garrison/HQGraskop

History

Origin

This commando was founded in the mid eighties in Graskop covering areas on the escarpment and Buschbuckridge. The units mascot was a Long Tom gun from the Anglo Boer War[1][2]

Operations

With the SADF

During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.

The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 33.

With the SANDF
Disbandment

This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[3][4] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.[5]

Unit Insignia
SADF era Long Tom Commando insignia

Leadership

References
  1. http://www.sa-cannon.com/long_tom.html#.XDh2XFwzaUk
  2. http://sabie.co.za/blog/?p=1715
  3. Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  5. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also
  • South African Commando System


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