| NASChem Commando | |
|---|---|
 Industrial Commando Naschem emblem | |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve, Group 30 |
| Garrison/HQ | Initially Lenz then Boskop outside Potchefstroom |
| Motto(s) | Perseverate en Vincere - Persevere and win |
.svg/23px-Flag_of_South_Africa_(1928–1994).svg.png){kind=small}
.svg/23px-Ensign_of_the_South_African_Defence_Force_(1981–1994).svg.png){kind=small}
.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_South_African_Army_(1994–2002).svg.png){kind=small}
Military unit
NasChem 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.
History
Origin
Industrial Protection Commando
NasChem started as an explosives depot for the gold industry around 1896 at Lenz, near Johannesburg.
During World War 2, it produced about 25 million pieces of ammunition for the campaign in North Africa.
The facility was reactivated around 1970 for the design, development and manufacture mainly of artillery armaments.
Operations
With the SADF
As the facility was considered a National Key Point and thee personnel of the facility had military service requirements to fulfill, it made sense to activate a commando and in doing so assist in the security of the facility.
The unit, initially at company strength reported to Regiment President Kruger.
The new commando was finally unit status on 14 May 1984 and established its own headquarters at Lenz, falling under the command of Group 18.
By 1986, NasChem moved its factory to Boskop, Potchefstroom and the commando then reported to North West Command.
During 1992, NasChem became a division of Denel Ordnance.
With the SANDF
Disbandment
Unlike other Commando units disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units,[1][2] this unit had closed earlier as Denel no longer required it and had privatised its security.
The Commando system had been 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.[3]
Leadership
Insignia
The design of the insignia depicts the front view of a cannon barrel.
References
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
See also
South African Commandos | |
|---|---|
| Group 1 (HQ Kelvin) | |
| Group 2 (HQ Oudtshoorn) |
|
| Group 3 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 4 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 5 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 6 (HQ Port Elizabeth) | |
| Group 7 (HQ Grahamstown) |
|
| Group 8 (HQ East London) | |
| Group 9 (HQ Pietermaritzburg) |
|
| Group 10 (HQ Montclair, Durban) | |
| Group 11 (HQ Dundee) | |
| Group 12 (HQ Ermelo) | |
| Group 13 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 14 (HQ Pietersburg) |
|
| Group 15 (HQ Thaba Tshwane) | |
| Group 16 (HQ Marievale) |
|
| Group 17 (HQ Midvaal) | |
| Group 18 (HQ Doornkop) | |
| Group 19 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 20 (HQ Mmabatho) | |
| Group 21 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 22 (HQ Diskobolos) | |
| Group 23 (HQ Upington) |
|
| Group 24 (HQ Kroonstad) | |
| Group 25 (HQ Bethlehem) | |
| Group 26 (HQ, Jacobsdal) | |
| Group 27 (HQ Eshowe) | |
| Group 28 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 29 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 30 (HQ Potchefstroom) | |
| Group 31 (HQ Wellington) | |
| Group 32 (HQ Graaff-Reinet) | |
| Group 33 (HQ Nelspruit) | |
| Group 34 (HQ Welkom) | |
| Group 35 (HQ Bloemfontein) | |
| Group 36 (HQ Tempe/Ladybrand) |
|
| Group 39 (HQ Queenstown) | |
| Group 40 (HQ Wingsfield) | |
| Group 41 (HQ Primrose) | |
| Group 42 (HQ Lenz) |
|
| Group 46 (HQ Umtata) |
|
| Walvis Bay Military Area | |
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| Armoured Formation (SAAAFTooltip South African Army Armoured Formation) |
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| Infantry Formation (SAAIF) |
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| Artillery Formation |
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| Air Defence Artillery Formation |
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| Engineer Formation |
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| Training Formation |
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| Support Formation |
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| Signals Formation |
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| Disbanded or Amalgamated Units |
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This page was last edited on 2 January 2021, at 21:45