| 117 Battalion | |
|---|---|
 117 Battalion emblem | |
| Active | 1993-1997 |
| Country |
 South Africa |
| Branch |
 South Africa Army |
| Type | Motorised infantry |
| Part of | South African Army Infantry Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Soekmekaar |
| Motto(s) | Tiro sano |
| Equipment | Buffel APC, Samil 20 |
| Insignia | |
| Company level Inisgnia |
 |
| SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992 |
  SA Motorised Infantry beret bar |
111 Battalion was a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
History[]
Origin of the black battalions[]
By the late 1970s the South African government had abandoned its opposition to arming black soldiers.[1]
By early 1979, the government approved a plan to form a number of regional African battalions, each with a particular ethnic identity, which would serve in their homeland or under regional SADF commands.[2]
Location of the 100 Battalions in relation to their respective homelands
Development of the Lebowa Defence Force[]
Two additional Northern Sotho Battalions were established, the 117 and the 118. Troops for 117 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of Lebowa.
Higher Command[]
117 Battalion resorted under the command of Group 14 from Potgietersrus.[3]
Disbandment[]
117 Battalion was converted into a training unit around 1997 and was finally amalgamated into 3 South African Infantry Battalion as part of the new SANDF.
Insignia[]
Notes[]
Peled, A. A question of Loyalty Military Manpower Policy in Multiethinic States, Cornell University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8014-3239-1 Chapter 2: South Africa: From Exclusion to Inclusion
References[]
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The original article can be found at 117 Battalion and the edit history here.