1 Reconnaissance Commando (South Africa)

The 1 Reconnaissance Commando was the first South African special forces unit, founded by General Fritz Loots - the founder of the South African Special Forces, and the first General Officer Commanding of the South African Special Forces. He appointed 11[1] qualified paratroopers (known as "The Dirty Dozen", although they were made up of only 11 men) as the founder members. Included in these 11 paratroopers was Jan Breytenbach, who was placed in command of the Founder Members by General Loots.

1 Reconnaissance Commando
Active1972
Disbanded1997
CountrySouth Africa
Allegiance Republic of South Africa
Branch South African Army
TypeSpecial forces
RoleAir assault
Airborne force
Direct action
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Unconventional warfare
Part ofSouth African Defence Force
Garrison/HQDurban
Motto(s)Through Stealth Our Strength
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Cmdt Jan Breytenbach

History

Major General Loots and the Chief of the Army, Lt. General Willem Louw realised the need for a South African Defence Force to have a special operations capability, but the Chief of the SADFTooltip South African Defence Force, General Rudolph Hiemstra resisted. It was not until Admiral Hugo Biermann became Chief of the South African Defence Force in 1972 that the go-ahead was granted.[2]

The unit was originally based at Oudtshoorn in the Cape Province, but was moved to Durban in 1974,[3] where it was formally named 1 Reconnaissance Commando. In the early 1980s, the unit had less than 40 Recce's based at 1RR of which the majority were white. It was renamed 1 Reconnaissance Regiment in 1996, but was disbanded and integrated into 4 Reconnaissance Regiment and 5 Reconnaissance Regiment in 1997.

The South African Special Forces is a unit under the South African National Defence Force and were originally called the Reconnaissance Regiments. "South African Special Forces: Salary, World Rating, Weapons, Quick Facts", published by the website BuzzSouthAfrica. As the BuzzSouthAfrica article states, capabilities for a special forces unit was established in 1968. However, the actual unit was not created until 1972. According to the South African History website, legislation was passed in 1912 that allowed for the development for a special forces unit. The unit is still intact today. The creation of the Reconnaissance Commando was created in Outdshoorn, South Africa. The unit currently operates out of Durban, South Africa. The Reconnaissance Commando was formed in order to increase the strength of the South African military. This unit makes soldiers with very specialized and rare skills that make them an extremely valuable asset to South Africa's military.[4][5]

Leadership
1 Reconnaissance Commando
From Commanding Officers[6] To
1972 Cmdt Jan Breytenbach 1975
1975 Maj (T/Cmdt) J. C. Swart 1981
1981 Col. E. Olckers 1983
1983 Col. A. Bestbier 1988
1988 Col. G. Keulder 25 October 2023
From Regimental Sergeant's Major To

The South African Special Forces Association website shed a light onto the leader of the Reconnaissance Commando and the 11 men who first served in the unit. Commander JD Breytenbach led these men and pioneered a standard of training and professionalism that the SASF has followed since. A Special Forces unit was created by two Generals who pushed for permission to create it. Once they were given the go-ahead, the Generals appointed 12 troopers to the unit and began training them.[7]

  • "S. African Reccee (description of selection)". SpecWarNet.net. SpecWarNet. Retrieved 28 October 2014.

References
  1. Strachan, Alexander (2018). 1 Recce. Cape Town: NB Publishers. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-624-08152-4.
  2. "Admiral Hugo Biermann". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. "1 Reconnaissance Regiment / 1 Special Forces Regiment". recce.co.za. South African Special Forces Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  4. 3. South African Special Forces: Salary, World Rating, Weapons, Quick Facts. (2018, March 09). Retrieved from https://buzzsouthafrica.com/south-african-special-forces/
  5. HERITAGE – THE FOUNDERS. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.recce.co.za/heritage-the-founders/
  6. "Volume 2, Chapter 3, Sub-Section 69, Paragraph 50". TRC Final Report. SABC. p. 322. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  7. Sahoboss. (2018, July 27). South African Defence Force (SADF). Retrieved from https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-african-defence-force-sadf
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