25 Field Artillery

25 Field Artillery Regiment was an artillery regiment of the South African Artillery.

This unit was originally formed as 25 Composite Regiment on 17 May 1977 and was based in Potchefstroom. As a composite unit, it comprised

• a couple of gun batteries,
• heavy mortars and,
• counter artillery locating radar elements.(typically using the Cymbeline Mk1 locating radar)^[1]

By 1984 the regiment was altered with the removal of its mortar and radar and its conversion to a medium regiment.

On 3 May 1984 the regiment was added to the operational control of Far North Command. As a Citizen Force Regiment, its primary function was artillery support and it secondary function as infantry. The regiment was operational in the border area with Zimbabwe in 1980 and in South West Africa in 1983.

The regiment had a typical artillery tradition and instead of having colours considered its cannons its colours. The unit received its ceremonial emblems on 21 September 1984. The emblem has the traditional artillery background colours of red and dark blue separated by a gold glowing line depicting the Mooi River. The gold penny represents efficiency while the strikes typify artillery fire. This design also can be seen to show the radar element which was previously part of the unit.

Commanding officers were issued a ceremonial saber for the taking over of command.

• Commandant J.P. Aukamp
• Commandant H.A. Labuschagne

• Further reading: Wilsworth, Clive (2010). First In, Last Out: The South African Artillery in Action: 1975-1988. 30 Degrees South. ISBN 978-1-920143-40-4.

• Defenceweb fact file
• Gunner's Association