| Unit Name: | 1 Special Service Battalion |
| Dates: | 1 May 1933present |
| Type: | Armoured |
| Command Structure: | South African Armoured Formation |
| Garrison: | Tempe -29.0833°N 26.1833°W |
| Nickname: | 1 SSB Afrikaans: 1 SDB |
| Motto: | Afrikaans: Eendrag Maakt Mag (Unity is Strength) |
| Colors: | Orange over Blue which must be divided by Silver and where it is not possible to use silver white will be used in place |
| Equipment: | |
| Battles: |
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| Website: | www.saarmour.co.za |
| Notable Commanders: |
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| Identification Symbol: | A spray of three protea flowers, bound by a ribbon bearing the initials and motto |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Cap Badge |
| Identification Symbol 2: | Black |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Beret Colour |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Armour Squadron emblems |
| Identification Symbol 4 Label: | Armour beret bar |
1 Special Service Battalion (usually abbreviated to) is an armoured regiment of the South African Army and only one of two such in its regular force. The Regiment is based at Tempe near Bloemfontein.
It was previously known in Afrikaans as Afrikaans: 1 Spesiale Diens Bataljon (Afrikaans: 1 SDB).
See main article: Special Service Battalion. Following World War II, the Special Service Battalion was re-organised into 2 battalions - 1 Special Service Battalion and 1 South African Infantry Battalion.
When the South African Armoured Corps was thus officially proclaimed in 1946 and Special Service Battalion was included in the corps as the only full-time unit, its symbols and colours were incorporated.
1 SSB also took part in the South African Border War, serving in South-West Africa and Angola.[1]
More recently, the unit also took part in Operation Boleas, which was a South African intervention in its neighbouring country of Lesotho in 1998.
1 SSB had a sister unit for a number of years in the post-World War II era, designated 2 Special Service Battalion, which was based in the town of Zeerust. This unit has now been disbanded.
1 SSB also detached squadrons to various battlegroups in the South West African campaign
| Variant | Description | Comment | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eland 60 |  South Africa | 60mm Mortar platform | |
| Eland 90 | 90mm Fire support platform and assault gun | ||
The regiment is equipped primarily with Ratel infantry fighting vehicles and Rooikat armoured cars.
| Variant | Description | Comment | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooikat 76 | 76mm cannon | |||
| Ratel 90 | 90mm cannon | |||
| Ratel ZT3 | antitank missile |
Under Project Hoefyster, the SANDF will eventually replace the Ratel family of vehicles with the Badger system.[2] [3] Five versions are contemplated of which two are earmarked for 1 SSB:
See main article: List of South African Battle Honours.
This unit will together with 1 SA Tank Regiment form the Armoured Brigade of the new Mechanized Division to be formed under Army vision 2020.[5]