4 Artillery Regiment is based at Potchefstroom, responsible for the training of soldiers allotted to Field and Medium Artillery.
History
SADF era 4 Artillery Commemorative Letter 1991
Origins
Under the UDF
On 28 May 1945, authority was granted for the formation of 4 Field Artillery as a full-time regiment with effect 1 April 1945.
Successor to 4 Field Brigade
4 Artillery was the successor to 4 Field Brigade, which had made a name for itself at Combolcia, Dessie and Amba Alagi in Ethiopia. The regiment served at El Alamein under its own name – as part of 1 SA Division – and in Italy as part of 6 SA Armoured Division, notably at Monte Stanco.
In May 1946 the unit became part of the Permanent Force's 11 Armoured Brigade. When the latter was disbanded in 1951, the unit continued on as 10 Field Battery.
4 Field Training Regiment
Based in Potchefstroom, it became 4 Field Training Regiment in 1953 with 10, 11 and 12 Field Batteries at Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein and Oudtshoorn respectively. It was disestablished as a training institution in November 1967. It continued as 4 Field Regiment from 1967 to 1975 with 1 Medium, 41 and 42 batteries based at Potchefstroom and 43 battery in Walvis Bay. 1 Medium battery used the BL5.5-inch medium howitzer (eighty pounder) whereas 41, 42 and 43 batteries used the Ordnance QF 25-pounder.
Under the SADF
Border War
The Regiment reactivated in 1975 and took part in most operations since Operation Savannah in 1976. It was back in action in August and September 1981 in support of Operation Protea with 41 Bty (120mm mortar) and 43 Bty (120mm mortar) and Operation Daisy with 43 Bty (120mm mortar) in support of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group. In 1983 the Regiment became part of 10 Artillery Brigade (with 14 Artillery Regiment) and was renamed 4 Artillery Regiment the next year. By 1987 4 Artillery was structured as:
41 Battery
42 Battery
43 Battery and
1 Medium Battery
In 1987 the Regiment took part in Operation Moduler and in 1988 in Operation Hooper, Operation Displace and Operation Prone. In 1989, the Regiment was part of the Merlyn Brigade based at Grootfontein, returning home after Namibian independence. The Artillery Brigade and 14 Artillery Regiment disbanded on 1 January 1993.
4 Artillery was part of the Sector 10 response to the Cuban buildup and SWAPO incursions, known as the Merlyn Forces in 1989 South West Africa
Internal operations
In 1985 and 1986 the unit had tours as provisional infantry in Soweto, Tembisa, Alexandra and in the KwaNdebele homeland.
Under the SANDF
Organisation
Cavallo transporter with a G6 self-propelled gun
The regiment is currently organised as a composite unit and has a growth capability for the establishment of additional regiments if required:
In March 1973 the unit broke with artillery tradition, which recognises the unit's guns as its colours, and took possession of a regimental colour, becoming the first artillery regiment to be presented with a regimental colour and claims to be the first to have appointed an honorary colonel.
Insignia
Master Gunners
At least six people serving with 4 Artillery have had the prestigious award conferred on them of Master.Gunner. This includes three commanding officers, two second-in-commands and at least one Battery Sgt Major.
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