Discussion group for 61 Mechanised Battalion Group. 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group (61 Mech) 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. It was formed in 1978 as Battle Group Juliet (or Combat Group Juliet) in South-West Africa as a force to prevent attacks on the region from SWAPO forces in southern Angola and was located at Omuthya in northern SWA.