# 1 Special Service Battalion

1 Special Service Battalion (usually abbreviated to 1SSB) is an armoured regiment of the South African Army and only one of two such in its regular force. The Regiment is based at Tempe near Bloemfontein.
It was previously known in Afrikaans as 1 Spesiale Diens Bataljon (1 SDB).

## History

Following World War II, the Special Service Battalion was re-organised into 2 battalions - 1 Special Service Battalion and 1 South African Infantry Battalion.
When the South African Armoured Corps was thus officially proclaimed in 1946 and Special Service Battalion was included in the corps as the only full-time unit, its symbols and colours were incorporated.
1 SSB also took part in the South African Border War, serving in South-West Africa and Angola.
More recently, the unit also took part in Operation Boleas, which was a South African intervention in its neighbouring country of Lesotho in 1998.
1 SSB had a sister unit for a number of years in the post-World War II era, designated 2 Special Service Battalion, which was based in the town of Zeerust. This unit has now been disbanded.
1 SSB also detached squadrons to various battlegroups in the South West African campaign

## Equipment
### pre 1995

| Variant | Description | Comment | Image |
| Eland 60 | South Africa | 60 mm (2.4 in) Mortar platform | |
| Eland 90 | South Africa | 90 mm (3.5 in) Fire support platform and assault gun | |

### Current

The regiment is equipped primarily with Ratel infantry fighting vehicles and Rooikat armoured cars.
| Variant | Description | Comment |
| Rooikat 76 | South Africa | 76 mm (3.0 in) cannon |
| Ratel 90 | South Africa | 90 mm (3.5 in) cannon |
| Ratel ZT3 | South Africa | antitank missile |

### Future

Under Project Hoefyster, the SANDF will eventually replace the Ratel family of vehicles with the Badger system. Five versions are contemplated of which two are earmarked for 1 SSB:
* Missile (turreted Denel ZT3 Ingwe)
* Fire Support (turreted 30 mm (1.2 in) cannon, but with more ammunition than the section vehicle)
| Variant | Description | Comment | Image |
| Denel Badger various types | South Africa | Various armaments | |

## Regimental symbols

* The cap badge is a spray of three protea flowers, bound by a ribbon bearing the initials and motto.
* Regimental motto: Eendrag Maakt Mag (English: Unity is Strength)
* Regimental communications icon :
* Regimental deployment strength : 1,000 soldiers
* Regimental honour roll : Soldiers who died during active combat duty and soldiers who died during training.
* Regimental traditional contact meeting : Pantseraksie (Armour Action), once a year

### Current Dress Insignia

* SANDF Armoured Formation beret badge circa 1996 forward

## Leadership

1 Special Services Battalion Leadership :
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| May 1933 | Lt. Col. GE Poole DSO | November 1933 |
| December 1933 | Lt. Col. P de Waal | January 1934 |
| February 1934 | Lt. Col. William John Evered Poole CB CBE DSO LOM (USA) | April 1935 |
| May 1935 | Lt. Col. J Danie | January 1936 |
| February 1936 | Maj. JR Wocke | December 1937 |
| January 1938 | Lt. Col. HB Klopper | September 1939 |
| October 1939 | Lt. Col. HP van Noorden | December 1939 |
| January 1940 | Lt. Col. GCA van Dam | June 1940 |
| June 1940 | Lt. Col. CEG (Papa) Brits DSO | August 1946 |
| September 1946 | Lt. Col. GN Nauhaus OBE | May 1949 |
| June 1949 | Maj. EE Fodred MC | August 1949 |
| September 1949 | Maj. PE Ferguson MC | January 1951 |
| February 1951 | Cmdt. CS Leisegang DSO | September 1953 |
| October 1953 | Cmdt Werndly van der Riet SSA SM MC | December 1960 |
| January 1961 | Cmdt. S Hugo. SM | June 1963 |
| July 1963 | Cmdt. JJ Wahl. MC | October 1964 |
| November 1964 | Cmdt. JR Dutton. SSA SD | November 1967 |
| December 1967 | Cmdt. WH Matthews. SM | November 1968 |
| December 1968 | Cmdt. MB Anderson | May 1969 |
| April 1969 | Cmdt. WC Meyer | September 1972 |
| October 1972 | Cmdt. PJ Schalkwyk | July 1973 |
| August 1973 | Maj. AJ Snyman | November 1973 |
| November 1973 | Cmdt. APR Carstens | November 1976 |
| December 1976 | Cmdt Reginald Otto SD & Bar SM MMM | December 1979 |
| January 1980 | Cmdt. FA Botha | November 1981 |
| December 1981 | Cmdt. AJ van Niekerk | November 1983 |
| December 1983 | Cmdt. HT Heinze | November 1986 |
| December 1986 | Cmdt. AJ Kriel | May 1989 |
| June 1989 | Cmdt. AJ van Jaarsveld | November 1989 |
| December 1989 | Cmdt Chris GildenhuysSM MMM | December 1993 |
| January 1994 | Col. GM Louw. HC MMM | unk |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
| May 1933 | RSM J Whammond. MC DCM MM | February 1934 |
| March 1934 | RSM LJ van den Heever | May 1934 |
| June 1934 | RSM BS Scheepers | May 1935 |
| June 1935 | RSM SP Conje | June 1935 |
| September 1936 | RSM CEG Brits | March 1937 |
| April 1937 | RSM JO van Blommenstein | May 1940 |
| June 1940 | RSM JW Hamilton | January 1943 |
| February 1943 | WO1 S du Plessis. MC | August 1946 |
| September 1946 | WO1 WE Wocke | October 1951 |
| November 1950 | WO1 S du Plessis. MM | September 1953 |
| October 1953 | WO1 WJ van der Merwe. SM | December 1965 |
| January 1966 | WO1 BJP Ehlers. PMM | October 1972 |
| November 1972 | WO1 MA Booyens PMM MMM | September 1976 |
| October 1976 | WO1 JP. O'Neill | November 1978 |
| December 1978 | WO1 PH Rohrbeck PMM | January 1979 |
| February 1979 | WO1 GDF van Baalen PMM MMM | November 1984 |
| June 1984 | WO1 IJ Prinsloo | November 1988 |
| December 1988 | WO1 WF Snyman PMM MMM | November 1993 |
| December 1993 | WO1 JAB van Zyl | nd |
| From | Chaplains | To |
| December 1987 | Lt Heerden van Niekerk | December 1988 |

## Alliances

* United Kingdom - 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

## Battle honours

Battle Honours :
* List of Battle Honours for 1 SSB

## Future

This unit will together with 1 SA Tank Regiment form the Armoured Brigade of the new Mechanized Division to be formed under Army vision 2020.