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4 Reconnaissance Commando
4 Reconnaissance Commando
Active	17 July 1978
Disbanded	31 July 1993
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Commando
Size	Regiment
Part of	South African Defence Force
Garrison/HQ	Langebaan, Western Cape
Motto(s)	Iron Fist From The Sea

The 4 Reconnaissance Commando was a one of six commando regiment unit of the South African Army and part of the South African Special Forces (Recces) that was formed in July 1978, specialising in air assault and airborne operations, amphibious warfare, combat diving, combat patrols, commando style raids, irregular warfare, long-range penetration, and special reconnaissance. It was the only commando regiment unit of the South African Army responsible for amphibious warfare operations and combat diving.

History

In 1976, during Operation Savannah, a need was identified for more operational special forces units and in particular units with more specialised skills.^[1]^: Ch2 In March 1976, Major Malcolm Kinghorn formed a sub-unit specialising in amphibious operations for use in Angola during Operation Savannah.^[1]^: Ch2 It was formed at Salisbury Island, Durban and consisted of a headquarters unit of Kinghorn and a NCO and two units of six men each and was called Charlie (C) Group of 1 Reconnaissance Commando.^[1]^: Ch2

On 1 May 1976, the Defence Minister approved the formation of 4 Reconnaissance Commando but it would take a further two years before it was formally established.^[1]^: Ch2 The unit was formed on the 17 July 1978 as 4 Reconnaissance Commando at Langebaan with Major Kinghorn as the first commanding officer and the first RSM was Warrant Officer “Chili” du Plessis.^[1]^: Ch2 It was initially made up of members of 1 Reconnaissance Commando.^[2] On 1 January 1979, Major Kinghorn was given a temporary rank of Commandant. During the 1981 reorganisation, 4 Reconnaissance Commando was renamed 4 Reconnaissance Regiment (4RR).^[2] The unit was said to be small with mainly white soldiers who operated in Angola and Mozambique^[3]^: Chp3

Structure

In 1978, 4 Reconnaissance Commando was initially structured into three groups:^[1]^: Ch3

Alpha Group – amphibious warfare operations training
Bravo Group – operational with commando styles
Charlie Group – combat diving

but when 4 Reconnaissance Commando was renamed 4 Reconnaissance Regiment in 1981 it was structured as:

4.1 Commando – operational component with five teams:^[1]^: Ch3

Diving Team – offensive operational attack divers
Boat Team – maintain and operate the teams boats and work with the naval vessels crews
Offensive Team – carried out the special forces tasks
Small Teams – carry out reconnaissance and lead the offensive teams to the targets
Reconnaissance Team – handle intelligence gathering operations in larger teams

4.2 Commando – training element later called Special Forces Amphibious and Urban School^[1]^: Ch3

Re-organisation after 1992

The next reorganisation occurred in 1992 when the Special Forces HQ was disbanded and renamed the Directorate Reconnaissance Forces and 4 RR remained but 2RR, the citizen force unit, was disbanded.^[2] In 1993, a further reorganisation occurred when the Directorate Reconnaissance Forces was renamed as the 45 Para Brigade and 4 Reconnaissance Commando was renamed the 453 Para Battalion.^[2] The last change occurred in 1995, 45 Para Brigade became the Special Forces Brigade and subsequently 453 Para Battalion is now called 4 Special Forces Regiment.^[2]

Commanding officers

Officers commanding were:^[4]

1978–1982: Cmdt. M. Kinghorn
1982–1994: Col. J. Venter
1994–n.d.: Col. K. Nel

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Söderlund, Arné; Steyn, Douw (2015). Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978-1988. Solihull, West Midlands: Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1909982284.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "4 Reconnaissance Regiment / 4 Special Forces Regiment". South African Special Forces Association. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
^ O'Brien, Kevin A. (2011). The South African Intelligence Services: From Apartheid to Democracy, 1948-2005 (eBook). Studies in Intelligence Series. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-84061-0.
^ "TRC Final Report". SABC. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2015.