| 8 South African Infantry Battalion (8 SAI) | |
|---|---|
 8 SAI Insignia | |
| Active | October 1973 – present |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | South Africa |
| Branch |  South African Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Mechanised infantry |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Formation |
| Garrison/HQ | Upington Northern Cape Province |
| Motto(s) | 'Perservate et Superate[1] (Conquer through perseverance) |
| Mascot(s) | Gemsbok |
| Equipment | Ratel IFV, Ratel 90[a], Ratel 81[a], Ratel 60 |
| Engagements |
|
| Insignia | |
| Company level Insignia |  |
| SA Mechanised Infantry beret bar circa 1992 |  |
8 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army.[2] The battalion is equipped with Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) used for fast transport and combat mobility across rough ground. Support weapons for mechanized infantry are also provided with motorized transport, or are built directly into these IFVs, in order to keep pace with the IFVs in combat. The battalion was raised at Upington in the Northern Cape in 1973 as part of the South African Infantry Corps, and since the change in structure, has been assigned to the Infantry Formation.
8 SAI continues to train for conventional warfare and forms part of the annual brigade-level Lohatla Army Battle School exercise.[3] Training includes IFV-mounted and dismounted fire-and-move drills, and integration with Engineers, Armour, Artillery and Air Force elements.[4]
- ^ "8 SAI Infantry Battalion /Infanterie Bataljon". sadf.info. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ "SA Army Infantry Formation: Contact Us". army.mil.za. RSA Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ Meyer, Maj Merle. "Exercise Seboka ... an apt tribute to members who lost their lives during the exercise" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ Monick, S. (1992). "The forging of a strike force". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 22 (3). doi:10.5787/22-3-324. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
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