British Paratroopers have jumped into action in Afghanistan for the first time since 1956. Men from 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment dropped from a C130 Hercules to take on unsuspecting fighters. Defences sources said more than 100 Paratroopers took part in the operations. The Paras carried little equipment and jumped from as low as 250ft The fact that we have used the tactic albeit on a small basis ,has demonstrated how valuable it is. 1,2 and 3 Para are all based in Afghanistan. from The Sunday Times
Normal jumping height for the Paras in Rhodesia - looks like we are learning from the Rhodesian Fireforce concept
Was this a Special Forces Operation? I ask because I believe that 1 Para now operate mainly in the SF support role ..........
Heard lots of talk about paras never being used again in a drop because its far too dangerous. That would focus the mind of the Taliban! 250ft thats a quick trip down!!! Nice one
Heard lots of talk about paras never being used again in a drop because its far too dangerous. That would focus the mind of the Taliban! and hopefully the bean counters in Whitehall..........
Heard lots of talk about paras never being used again in a drop because its far too dangerous. I think that is based on using Paratroops in a conventional conflict against an enemy with a half decent Air Defence System!
Defences sources said more than 100 Paratroopers took part in the operations So why do we need 3 battalions of paras who haven't made a combat jump for 54 years when only 100 were used?
To have a reservoir of trained personnel and to retain the parachute capability - one of the post-war problems with large scale deployments was the lack of RAF lift capability and of course the appropriate mission - the paratrooper by training, tradition AND expertise is still a vital tool in the military order of battle - many air assault missions are now undertaken by helicopter although where helicopters are in short supply the parachute assault is a good and viable alternative. (We still have submarines which have only fired torpedos in anger once since WWII)
To have a reservoir of trained personnel and to retain the parachute capability - one of the post-war problems with large scale deployments was the lack of RAF lift capability and of course the appropriate mission - the paratrooper by training, tradition AND expertise is still a vital tool in the military order of battle - many air assault missions are now undertaken by helicopter although where helicopters are in short supply the parachute assault is a good and viable alternative. (We still have submarines which have only fired torpedos in anger once since WWII) A point well made Steve.
Here is the full write up apparently this has now been removed from the Times website opsec maybe bit late! 'PARAS MAKE FIRST JUMP SINCE SUEZ Michael Smith, Sunday Times, 26th December 2010 British Paratroopers have jumped into action for the first time since the 1956 Suez crisis in special operations against Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan. Men from the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment, who have the role of special forces support group, dropped from RAF Hercules C130 aircraft to take on unsuspecting fighters. Senior officers point out that the jumps come during the year in which the regiment celebrates its 70th anniversary. They are seen as evidence that parachuting still has a future, despite suggestions that the regiment should be confined to the role of helicopter-borne light infantry. A senior defence source said more than 100 paratroopers had taken part in the missions, which were approved after commanders highlighted the benefit of putting troops on the ground fast with the element of surprise. The soldiers carried little equipment and used low-level parachutes that allow them to jump from as low as 250 ft. "The fact that we have used the tactic [parachuting], albeit on a small basis, has demonstrated how valuable it is," a senior source said. Parachuting allowed rapid reinforcement and the opportunity to surprise the enemy, he added. "We are not talking about mass drops - these are small operations with no more than a company group, going out of the door to secure ground and to attack the enemy." All three battalions of the Parachute Regiment are deployed in Southern Afghanistan, with 1 Para working as part of the special forces support group, and 2 Para and 3 Para carrying out standard operations in central Helmand.
And just for Owen, because we know he loves Para's The Navy Net: Rum Ration › Forums › The Rough Bit › Diamond Lil's › 1 para makes an operational jump Paras make first operational jump since Suez, apparently.
I note we captured some Iranian Revolutionary Guards smuggling weapons to the Taliban in Afghanistan just before Christmas, looks like 2011 could prove interesting
A link to a Dutch jump in Stan, Secret para deployment of commandos in Afghanistan | Ministry of Defence
To have a reservoir of trained personnel and to retain the parachute capability - one of the post-war problems with large scale deployments was the lack of RAF lift capability and of course the appropriate mission - the paratrooper by training, tradition AND expertise is still a vital tool in the military order of battle - many air assault missions are now undertaken by helicopter although where helicopters are in short supply the parachute assault is a good and viable alternative. (We still have submarines which have only fired torpedos in anger once since WWII) I personally don't see the point of the Paras. The Royal Marines have the same high-fitness and training and are often para trained already. They also have the amphibious abilities that the Para's don't have.
Lots of paras do Amphib training as a matter of course - just Elite units with different roles cross training really - I seem to recall the Marines being given the Commando role post war to prevent disbandment! Thus both units have a common lineage to the Army Commandos of WWII
