101 Battalion (South Africa)


 * See also: 101st Battalion (disambiguation)

101 Battalion (pronounced as one-o-one Battalion) was a quick-reaction unit of the South West African Territorial Force.

History
The unit was formed in January 1976 as 1 Owambo Battalion, renamed to 35 Battalion in January 1978, and to 101 Battalion of the South-West Africa Territory Force (SWATF) in 1980. It was disbanded upon the independence of Namibia in 1990-91.

101 Battalion recruited exclusively among the Owambo. and were only given basic training, but this changed after 1978 when the training intensived with a emphasis on rural counterinsurgency operations.

Until 1980 101 battalion was used is small teams attached to SADF units as trackers and interpreters. By 1981 101 converted to a light infantry battalion.

By 1983 at least 2700 men had been recruited and trained, many converted SWAPO insurgents. 101 Battalion translated Police tracking concepts to suit Army operations. These formed two Reaction Force companies,:


 * 901 and
 * 903 Special Service Companies.

These Companies concentrated on external operations and pursuit of infiltrators. By 1985 101 Battalion fought under its own command instead of being detached to external units.



101 Battalion Recon Wing emblem.

101 Battalions reaction force teams averaged about 200 contacts annually.