2 Special Service Battalion

2 Special Service Battalion was founded on 1 May 1946 at Potchefstroom. The Special Service Battalion had been formed to take in young men who could not find employment; before the Second World War it was reorganised into 1st and 2nd Special Service Battalions. In 1946 the South African Armoured Corps was officially proclaimed and the Special Service Battalion was included in the corps as its only full-time unit, its symbols and colours being incorporated.

Initially the sole purpose of 2 SSB was to train members of the Permanent Force as infantrymen. It was put into service officially on 21 February 1947, and on 26 January 1951 the name changed from 2 SSB to 1 South African Infantry Battalion (1 SAI). 2 SSB can thus be seen as the founding unit of the South African Infantry Corps.

C Squadron of 2 Armoured Car Regiment was founded in February 1962, based at Zeerust, and on 22 December 1966 was renamed C Squadron 1 SSB. On 1 October 1973 2 SSB, born from C Squadron 1 SSB, was re-established: regimental headquarters and C Squadron at Zeerust, with D Squadron 1 SSB detached to 2 South African Infantry Battalion at Walvis Bay.

Squadrons took part in the war in Namibia and Angola from 1974. From 8 October 1975 to 31 January 1976, B, C and D Squadrons took part in Operation Savannah, and border duty continued with significant participation in Operations Protea, Daisy, Hooper and Modular.

On 25 January 1988 2 SSB became the first unit in South Africa to receive the Right of Free Admission to a coloured community, namely Henryville.

On 31 December 1992, as part of the reduction of the SA Army following the withdrawal from South West Africa/Namibia under Resolution 435, 2 SSB changed role from an armoured car regiment to a motorised infantry battalion, gaining an operational A Company transferred from Group 20.

During the 1994 general election 2 SSB took part in Operation Baccarat, providing stability and border protection for Mmabatho and Passado as a peace force in the North West province. On 19 December 1994 the Bophuthatswana Defence Force Parachute Battalion at Gopane was placed under the operational command of 2 SSB as part of the founding of the SANDF, and 2 SSB withdrew simultaneously from Nietverdiend and Nooitgedacht. From August 1994 to 15 June 1995 it provided bridging training for 550 former non-statutory force members.

Early in 1997 the rationalisation of the SANDF was announced and 2 SSB was among the battalions disbanded. It amalgamated with 10 SAI on 1 April 1997 at Mafikeng, and was demobilised on 30 August 1997 after the base was transferred to 2 SAI Battalion.

--- Identity and insignia ---
Known in English as 2 Special Service Battalion and in Afrikaans as 2 Spesiale Diens Bataljon. Motto: "Agere Victoriam" -- Strive for Victory. Cap badge: a spray of three protea flowers bound by a ribbon bearing the initials and the motto. Beret: black. Unit colours: orange over blue, divided by silver, with white used in place of silver where silver is not possible. The battalion received its national colours on 30 June 1990.

--- Equipment and garrison ---
Garrisoned at Zeerust from 1962. Equipped with the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle, and received its first Rooikat armoured cars in May 1990.

--- Operation Adding, 10 February 1988 ---
In addition to the Border War operations above, the unit took part in Operation Adding on 10 February 1988, the intervention that restored the Bophuthatswana government after the coup attempt against President Mangope. This falls between the Henryville freedom-of-entry grant of 25 January 1988 and the unit's later change of role, and is not mentioned in the unit history supplied by John on 24 September 2026.