2 Locating Regiment Explained

Unit Name:2 Locating Regiment
Dates:1 March 1950
Allegiance:
Branch:
    Type:Artillery
    Size:Regiment
    Command Structure:South African Army Artillery Corps
    Garrison:Auckland Park, Doornkop
    Motto:Pete et dele (Search and destroy)

    2 Locating Regiment was an artillery regiment of the South African Artillery. The regiment provided divisional troops but was typically organized to allocate locating batteries to brigades.

    History

    Origin

    This unit can trace its origins back to its creation at the University of Witwatersrand. Major H.B. Gilliland was its first commander. The unit struggled initially but by June 1951 a command nucleus could conduct its first training camp in Potchefstroom. By 1956 the unit had grown to such an extent that it could make personnel available to other units.By 1966 the unit moved from Auckland Park to Doornkop Military Base. Its last headquarters was however in Johannesburg.

    Command affiliation

    With the reorganization of the SA Army in August 1974, the unit, now a regiment was placed under the divisional command of 7 South African Infantry Division, but was also allocated to 8th Armoured Division (South Africa) later.[1]

    Renamed and amalgamated

    The unit was renamed to the Johannesburg Artillery Regiment around 1990 but was finally amalgamated together with 7 Medium Artillery Regiment into the Transvaal Horse Artillery Regiment.

    Specialization

    The regiment consisted of 22 Battery. The regiment specialized in the technical search of enemy battery fire by means of delicate and sophisticated measuring equipment, such as radar and meteorology. The battery typically comprised an Intelligence Section, a Meteorological Section, and a Radar Troop of three radar section each with a radar set, a Sound Ranging Troop, a Survey Troop and an observation Troop.Three batteries of this unit conducted border service in the operational area in 1976.

    Insignia

    Commanding officers

    Insignia

    The regiment’s emblem is a blue background with a red diamond and a gold eagle holding a flash of lightning in its right claw and a grenade in its left claw. On its chest is a Roman letter II in red.

    Dress insignia

    References

    Further reading

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Ploeger. Jan. Ultima Ratio Regum (The last argument of kings). Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 18. 1. 2012. 2224-0020. 10.5787/18-1-416. free.