Armoured Origins South Africa employed armoured cars as early as 1915 during its invasion of the then-German
South West Africa (now Namibia). After the end of the First World War a single
Medium Mark A Whippet light tank was purchased for the Union Defence Force and was operationally employed during the
1922 Rand revolt. The tank in question is now on display at the Army College at
Thaba Tshwane. The formation of an armoured corps was proposed in 1924. An armoured car section was formed the next year when two Vickers machine gun-armed
Crossley armoured cars and two medium tanks were imported from Britain. During the severe economic depression of 1933, the government established the
Special Service Battalion (SSB) on 1 May 1933 as a job opportunities and social upliftment project. The Springbok was first used as symbol for this unit until it was changed to the national flower - the Protea - in July 1934, which is still used today.
World War Two The SSB was converted to an Armoured Car Regiment at the start of the
Second World War, and later to a Tank Regiment. In April 1943 the SSB was deployed in North Africa and used a black beret sporting silver proteas as badge and a flash with orange, white and blue as its colours.
Armoured Corps When the SA Armoured Corps was officially proclaimed in 1946 and the SSB included in the corps as the only full-time unit, its symbols and colours were incorporated
Armoured Formation On 24 January 2014 the
General Officer Commanding (GOC) SA Army Armour Formation, Brigadier General
Chris Gildenhuys handed over command to Brigadier General
Andre Retief at a parade at the Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein. The South African Army Armour Formation marked its 70th anniversary in October 2016 in
Bloemfontein with the fourth Armour Symposium and a thanksgiving service. File:Rooikat Armour de Brug.jpg|Rooikat Armour de Brug File:Olifant mk 2 concentrayed fire night shoot de Brug Training Area.jpg|Olifant mk 2 concentrated fire night shoot de Brug Training Area File:Olifant Mk2 AAD2014.JPG|Olifant Mk2 AAD2014
Insignia ==Structure==