Battles of Cabin Creek

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Rank comparison charts of armies/land forces of apartheid states and territories in Southern Africa.

This chart includes of the nominally independent Bantustans,[a][b][c][d] apartheid South Africa,[1] and South West Africa.[1] These states were all under the control of the apartheid regime of South Africa,[2] with the defence forces of the Bantustans being made of units that were nominally independent of the SADF, but were selected and trained by the SADF, and who placed former South African and Rhodesian military officers in senior positions within the defence forces.[3] The South West Africa Territorial Force was an auxiliary arm of the SADF and formed the armed forces of South West Africa from 1977 to 1989.[4]

Armies

Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Bophuthatswana Army[5]
Major general
Generaal-majoor
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant
2nd lieutenant
Tweede luitenant
Officer candidate
Kandidaat offisier


Ciskei Army[6]
Lieutenant general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant


South African Army
(1961–1994)[7]
General
Generaal[note 1]
Lieutenant General
Luitenant-Generaal
Major General
Generaal-Majoor[note 2]
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Chief Commandant
Hoofkommandant[note 3]
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant[note 4]
Second Lieutenant
Tweede Luitenant[note 5]
Officer Candidate
Kandidaatoffisier


South West African Army[7]
Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Officer candidate


Transkei Army[8][6]
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant


Venda Ground Forces[6]
Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant


Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Other ranks
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Bophuthatswana Army[5]
No insignia
Warrant officer class 1
Warrant officer class 2
Staff sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal
Lance corporal
Private


Ciskei Army[6]
No insignia
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private


South African Army
(1961–1994)[7]
No insignia
Sergeant Major of the Army
Sersant-Majoor van die Leër
Warrant officer class 1
Adjudant-Offisier Klas I
Warrant officer class 2
Adjudant-Offisier Klas II
Staff sergeant
Stafsersant
Sergeant
Sersant
Corporal
Korporaal
Lance corporal
Onderkorporaal
Private
Soldaat


South West African Army[7]
No insignia
Formation warrant officer Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private


Transkei Army[8][6]
No insignia
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private


Venda Ground Forces[6]
No insignia
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private


Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Air forces

Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Bophuthatswana Air Force[5]
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant
Second lieutenant
Tweede luitenant
Officer candidate
Kandidaat offisier


South African Air Force
(1961–1994)
General
Generaal
Lieutenant General
Luitenant-Generaal
Major General
Generaal-Majoor
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant
Second Lieutenant
Tweede Luitenant


Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Other ranks
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Bophuthatswana Air Force[5]
No insignia
Sergeant Major of the Air Force
Sersant-Majoor van die Lugmag
Warrant officer class 1
Adjudant-Offisier Klass I
Warrant officer class 2
Adjudant-Offisier Klass II
Staff sergeant
Staf-Sersant
Sergeant
Sersant
Corporal
Korporaal
Lance corporal
Onderkorporaal
Private
Soldaat


South African Air Force
(1961–1994)
No insignia
Sergeant Major of the SA Air Force
Sersant-Majoor van die SA Lugmag
Warrant Officer class 1
Adjudant-Offisier Klas I
Warrant Officer class 2
Adjudant-Offisier Klas II
Flight sergeant
Vlugsersant
Sergeant
Sersant[note 6]
Corporal
Korporaal[note 7]
Lance corporal
Onderkorporaal[note 8]
Aircraftman
Vliegtuigman[note 9]


Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Transkei was granted "independence" by the Status of Transkei Act 100 of 1976 with effect from 26 October 1976.
  2. ^ The Status of Bophuthatswana Act 89 of 1977 granted Bophuthatswana "independence" with effect from 6 December 1977.
  3. ^ Venda was granted "independence" by the Status of Venda Act 107 of 1979 with effect from 13 September 1979.
  4. ^ The Status of Ciskei Act 110 of 1981 granted Ciskei "independence" with effect from 4 December 1981.
  1. ^ Called Commandant general (Kommandant-generaal) from 1956 to 1968
  2. ^ Called Combat general (Bestry generaal) from 1960 to 1968
  3. ^ Only in the Commandos from 1968 to 1970
  4. ^ Called Field cornet (Veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
  5. ^ Called Assistant field cornet (Assistent veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
  6. ^ Called Air Sergeant (Lugsersant) from 1960 to 1968
  7. ^ Called Air Corporal (Lugkorporaal) from 1960 to 1968
  8. ^ Called Leading air mechanic (Leiend Lugwerktuigkundige) until 1970
  9. ^ Called Air mechanic (Lugwerktuigkundige) from 1920 to 1970
    Called Private (Soldaat) from 1970 to 1982

References

  1. ^ a b Radburn, Arthur (1990). "South African Army Ranks and Insignia". South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 2.
  2. ^ "The Homelands". South African History Online. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  3. ^ Timothy J. Stapleton (9 April 2010). A Military History of South Africa: From the Dutch-Khoi Wars to the End of Apartheid. Praeger Security International. ISBN 978-0313365898.
  4. ^ Duignan, Peter. Politics and Government in African States 1960–1985. pp. 345–377.
  5. ^ a b c d "Bophuthatswana Defence Force". Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Cilliers, Jakkie (1993). "An Overview of the Armed Forces of the TBVC Countries". South African Defence Review (13). Archived from the original on 24 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d Radburn, A. (22 February 2012). "SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY RANKS AND INSIGNIA". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 1–4. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Transkeian Defence Force Badges of Rank". Retrieved 3 June 2021.

External links