61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Infantry Corps; although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a mixed force of infantry, armour and artillery. The Battalion Group was formed in 1978 as Battle Group Juliet in South-West Africa as a force to prevent attacks on the region from SWAPO forces in southern Angola. The Battle Group first saw action in Operation Reindeer in early May 1978. In January 1979, the battle group was renamed 61 Mechanised Infantry and became part of the regular order of battle. The unit served for over a decade in the territory fighting both a guerrilla war against the South-West Africa People's Organisation, as well as taking part in conventional operations against Cuban and Angolan forces, before South-West Africa achieved