4 Reconnaissance Commando (South Africa)

4 Reconnaissance Commando
Active	17 July 1978
Disbanded	31 July 1993
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Special forces
Role	Air assault Amphibious reconnaissance Amphibious warfare Artillery observer Anti-tank warfare Bomb disposal Clandestine operation Close-quarters battle Counterinsurgency Desert warfare Direct action Forward air control HUMINT Irregular warfare Jungle warfare Long-range penetration Mountain warfare Naval boarding Parachuting Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Special reconnaissance Tracking Underwater demolition Urban warfare
Size	Regiment
Part of	South African Defence Force
Garrison/HQ	Langebaan, Western Cape
Motto(s)	Iron Fist From The Sea

The 4 Reconnaissance Commando was a South African Special Forces unit of the South African Defence Force that was formed in July 1978, specialising in air assault and airborne operations, amphibious warfare, clandestine operation, commando style raids, counterinsurgency, long-range penetration, naval boarding, special reconnaissance, special warfare, and underwater demolition.

History

In 1976, during Operation Savannah, a need was identified for more operational special forces units and in particular units with more specialised skills.[1]: Ch2  In March 1976, Major Malcolm Kinghorn formed a sub-unit specialising in amphibious warfare operations and special reconnaissance for use in Angola during Operation Savannah.[1]: Ch2  It was formed at Salisbury Island, Durban and consisted of a headquarters unit of Kinghorn and a NCO and two units of six men each and was called Charlie (C) Group of 1 Reconnaissance Commando.[1]: Ch2 

On 1 May 1976, the Defence Minister approved the formation of 4 Reconnaissance Commando but it would take a further two years before it was formally established.[1]: Ch2  The unit was formed on the 17 July 1978 as 4 Reconnaissance Commando at Langebaan with Major Kinghorn as the first commanding officer and the first RSM was Warrant Officer “Chili” du Plessis.[1]: Ch2  It was initially made up of members of 1 Reconnaissance Commando.[2] On 1 January 1979, Major Kinghorn was given a temporary rank of Commandant. During the 1981 reorganisation, 4 Reconnaissance Commando was renamed 4 Reconnaissance Regiment (4RR).[2] The unit was said to be small with mainly white soldiers who operated in Angola and Mozambique[3]: Chp3 

Structure

In 1978, 4 Reconnaissance Commando was initially structured into three groups:[1]: Ch3 

• Alpha Group – amphibious operations training,
• Bravo Group – operational,
• Charlie Group – diving,

but when 4 Reconnaissance Commando was renamed 4 Reconnaissance Regiment in 1981 it was structured as:

4.1 Commando – operational component with five teams:[1]: Ch3 

• Diving Team – offensive operational attack divers
• Boat Team – maintain and operate the teams boats and work with the naval vessels crews
• Offensive Team – carried out the special forces tasks
• Small Teams – carry out reconnaissance and lead the offensive teams to the targets
• Reconnaissance Team – handle intelligence gathering operations in larger teams

4.2 Commando – training element later called Special Forces Amphibious and Urban School[1]: Ch3 

Re-organisation after 1992

The next reorganisation occurred in 1992 when the Special Forces HQ was disbanded and renamed the Directorate Reconnaissance Forces and 4 RR remained but 2RR, the citizen force unit, was disbanded.[2] In 1993, a further reorganisation occurred when the Directorate Reconnaissance Forces was renamed as the 45 Para Brigade and 4 Reconnaissance Commando was renamed the 453 Para Battalion.[2] The last change occurred in 1995, 45 Para Brigade became the Special Forces Brigade and subsequently 453 Para Battalion is now called 4 Special Forces Regiment.[2]

Commanding officers

Officers commanding were:[4]

• 1978–1982: Cmdt. M. Kinghorn
• 1982–1994: Col. J. Venter
• 1994–n.d.: Col. K. Nel

References

1. Söderlund, Arné; Steyn, Douw (2015). Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978-1988. Solihull, West Midlands: Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1909982284.
2. "4 Reconnaissance Regiment / 4 Special Forces Regiment". South African Special Forces Association. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
3. O'Brien, Kevin A. (2011). The South African Intelligence Services: From Apartheid to Democracy, 1948-2005 (eBook). Studies in Intelligence Series. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-84061-0.
4. "TRC Final Report". SABC. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2015.

Further reading

• Steyn, Douw; Söderlund, Arné (2015). Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978-1988 (Kindle ed.). Solihull, West Midlands: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1909982284.

External links

• http://www.recce.co.za/cold-war-africa/