| Regiment Vrystaat | |
|---|---|
 Regiment Vrystaat emblem | |
| Country |
 South Africa |
| Allegiance |
|
| Branch | |
| Type | Armoured Regiment |
| Part of |
South African Armoured Corps Army Conventional Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Bloemfontein |
| Motto(s) | Libertas Virtus Fidelitas (Freedom; Power; Fealty) |
| Equipment | Eland 90 armoured car |
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| OC 1982 | Commandant J.J. van der Merwe |
| honourary Colonel (1982) | Judge M.T. Steyn |
| Insignia | |
| Beret Colour | Black |
| Armour Squadron emblems |
 |
| Armour beret bar circa 1992 |
 |
Regiment Vrystaat was an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. Formed from 2 Regiment President Steyn which had been formed in 1975, when 1 Regiment President Steyn was converted to tanks and 2 Regiment President Steyn formed with armored cars. It was part of the South African Army Armour Formation.
History[]
Origin[]
Originally designated 2 Regiment President Steyn on 1 August 1975, Regiment Vrystaat was only formed the following year by the transfer of excess personnel from Regiment President Steyn.[1] At the same time a decision was taken to redesignate the unit.
Border War[]
Regiment Vrystaat's Eland-90 armoured cars saw service during the South African Border War.
The regiment conducted its first border operations in 1976. The regiment was at that stage one of very few convensional armoured car regiments in South Africa and acted as backup reserve for South African forces leaving Angola in that period.
Regiment Vrystaat conducted further border duty in 1977 and 1978.[2]
Affiliations[]
Regiment Vrystaat was assigned to 7 Division and then to 9 Division.
Reamalgamation[]
By 2000, the two regiments re-amalgamated and became a single regiment once again.
Regimental symbols[]
Dress Insignia[]
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Unit colours[]
Regiment Vrystaat retained the original colours of Regiment President Steyn which is old gold, white and black, but adopted the tree of freedom the Orange Free State as its unit badge.
Battle honours[]
As an offshoot of Regiment President Steyn, Regiment Vrystaat was allowed to carry that units battle honours as well:
- East Africa 1940 - 1941
- Western Desert 1941 - 1943
- Sidi Rezegh
- Gazala
- Alamein Defence
- El Alamein
References[]
- ↑ http://www.rfdiv.mil.za/docs/REGIMENT%20PRESIDENT%20STEYN.pdf
- ↑ Paratus August 1982
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The original article can be found at Regiment Vrystaat and the edit history here.