8 South African Armoured Division
8 South African Armoured Division emblem
Active	1974-1997
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Armour
Size	Division
Garrison/HQ	Durban
Major battles	Operation Packer
Commanders
Founding Commander	Brigadier Ben Roos (1974-1975)
Insignia
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division beret badge
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division beret bar
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division flag
SADF 8 South African Armoured Division stable belt

8 South African Armoured Division was aformation of theSouth African Army, active from the 1970s to 1999.

8 South African Division was established as an Armoured Formation on August 1, 1974, consisting of 81 Armoured Brigade,82 Mechanised Brigade and 84 Motorised Brigade. It was, in many respects, a mirror of7th South African Infantry Division.

A provisional 1977 order of battle had 8 Armoured Division organised as follows:^[1]

Headquartered inPretoria, 81 Armoured Brigade consisted of the following units:

Headquartered inPotchefstroom,82 Mechanised Brigade consisted of the following units:

DuringOperation Packer which succeededOperation Hooper in March 1988, 82 Mechanised Brigade protected the eastern bank of theCuito River. During this operation,FAPLA forces suffered losses and the situation on the eastern bank stabilised to such an extent that Operation Displace could be started. During this phase the South African forces withdrew from Angola.^[2]

83 Mechanised Brigade was never activated.

Headquartered inDurban, 84 Brigade was formed in Durban as part of 8 South African Armoured Armoured Division on August 1, 1974, and its official establishment was authorized on September 10 of that year. Brigadier G. Wolmarans was authorized as its first commanding officer with Commandant W.P. Sass, Maj H.L. Bosman, and Capt J.E. Samuales as staff officers posted to headquarters.The new Brigade was located at Lords Grounds.

84 Motorised Brigade consisted of the following units:

By 1985, 8 Division consisted of 81 Armoured Brigade, 84 Motorised Brigade and 72 Motorised Brigade.82 Mechanised Brigade had been transferred to the command of7 South African Infantry Division.

8 Division's Brigades were disbanded in 1992 and the battalions and regiments came to answer directly to the divisional headquarters - the thinking was that these would be grouped into task forces as required. The concept was never put to a serious test. The Formation was also renamed 8 South African Division.

The Division was effectively disbanded on April 1, 1997, when its former units became part of7th South African Infantry Division as 74 Brigade.

• Cock, J. Laurie, N.War and Society: The Militarisation of South Africa, published by David Phillip, 1989ISBN 978-0864861153

• Armoured units and formations of South Africa
• Infantry divisions of South Africa
• Disbanded military units and formations in Durban
• Military units and formations established in 1974
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1999
• 1999 establishments in South Africa

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