8 South African Division was established as an Armoured Formation on August 1, 1974, consisting of 81 Armoured Brigade, 82 Mechanised Brigade and 84 Motorised Brigade. It was, in many respects, a mirror of 7th South African Infantry Division.
A provisional 1977 order of battle had 8 Armoured Division organised as follows:
[1]
Divisional Breakdown
SADF original organigram 8 SA Armoured Division
Divisional Level Attached Units
Artillery, maintenance, engineers, signals and provost (Military Police)
SADF 8 Division with Chief of the Army Command Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Natal Mounted Rifles Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Umvoti Mounted Rifles Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Regiment Eastern Transvaal Flash. The regiment provided 20mm anti–aircraft support together with Regiment Overvaal with 35mm AA.
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Regiment Overvaal
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Regiment Northern Transvaal Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Regiment Port Natal Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Transvaal State Artillery Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division 26 Field Artillery Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division 2 Locating Regiment Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Provost Company Flash. During 1998, the unit was renamed to 18 Provost Company and transferred to 1 Provost Regiment of the Military Police Division. This was at the same time that units of the division and its brigades were transferred to Type Formations of the SA Army.
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division 19th Field Engineer Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division Signals Unit Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division 8 Maintenance Unit Flash
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division 15 Maintenance Unit Flash
Brigades
81 Armoured Brigade
Headquartered in Pretoria, 81 Armoured Brigade consisted of the following units:
During Operation Packer which succeeded Operation Hooper in March 1988, 82 Mechanised Brigade protected the eastern bank of the Cuito River. During this operation, FAPLA forces suffered losses and the situation on the eastern bank stabilised to such an extent that Operation Displace could be started. During this phase the South African forces withdrew from Angola.[2]
83 Mechanised Brigade
83 Mechanised Brigade was never activated.
84 Motorised Brigade
Headquartered in Durban, 84 Brigade was formed in Durban as part of 8 South African Armoured Armoured Division on August 1, 1974, and its official establishment was authorized on September 10 of that year. Brigadier G. Wolmarans was authorized as its first commanding officer with Commandant W.P. Sass, Maj H.L. Bosman, and Capt J.E. Samuales as staff officers posted to headquarters.
The new Brigade was located at Lords Grounds.
SADF 84 Motorised Brigade beret badge
84 Motorised Brigade consisted of the following units:
8 Division's Brigades were disbanded in 1992 and the battalions and regiments came to answer directly to the divisional headquarters - the thinking was that these would be grouped into task forces as required. The concept was never put to a serious test. The Formation was also renamed 8 South African Division.
Divisional Disbanding
The Division was effectively disbanded on April 1, 1997, when its former units became part of 7th South African Infantry Division as 74 Brigade.
SANDF 8 Division rebadge as 74 Brigade now with 7 Infantry Division tupper flashSADF era 8th Armoured Division commemorative letters 1988
