page_title: Walvis Bay Military Area
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Walvis Bay Military Area / History
caption_attribution_description: English: SADF 2 SAI exercise on Dune 7
context_page_description: The Walvis Bay Military Area was a specific militarised zone bordering South West Africa during the South African Border War. Military equipment was freighted through the harbour to support operations throughout South West Africa.
context_section_description: Walvis Bay was managed as a South African enclave for eighty-four years. The Walvis Bay Military Area, with ten other regional Commands of South Africa, made up the Territorial Force of the South African Defence Force. 
  Based in Walvis Bay, this Command was responsible for the security of the enclave, forming the primary level of command for military operations.
  This Command also provided logistic, administrative and service support to units and formations operating in its area of responsibility. 
  2 South African Infantry Battalion Group was based here and was often used in operations.
  The military areas main base, Rooikop was situated further inland due to problems with corrosion on equipment closer to the shore.
  The military area also housed a large airfield called Air Force Base Rooikop. Both the harbor and the airfield were used in large scale equipment and personnel movement.
  During its history, other major units such as 4 South African Infantry Battalion Group and 61 Mech Battle Group was also billeted here.
  The local populace of Walvis Bay was also militarised through a South African Citizen Force commando unit, known as the Walvis Bay Commando.
caption: SADF 2 SAI exercise on Dune 7
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