South African 44 Parachute Regiment
Encyclopedia
44 Parachute Regiment (popularly known as the Parabats) is the South African Army
's chief airborne
infantry
unit. It was created in 2000 by redesignating 44 Parachute Brigade
, and is based at the Tempe military base near Bloemfontein
.
was established. However, this unit was disbanded before training could be completed.
There were no further attempts to establish any airborne units until 1961, when selected members of the South African Army received parachute training at RAF Abingdon
. This was followed by the establishment of 1 Parachute Battalion under Commandant Willem Louw
on 1 April 1961.
On 26 August 1966, units of 1 Parachute Battalion (called Parabats) first participated in operations as part of the South African Border War
in South-West Africa (now Namibia
). This involvement was eventually to last for more than twenty years.
In April 1978 44 Parachute Brigade
was established, with the addition of 2 and 3 Parachute Battalions.
On 4 May 1978 South Africa's first major airborne operation (Operation Reindeer
) took place. A large group of paratroopers, from 1,2 and 3 Battalions, attacked a large SWAPO base in Angola
, successfully capturing it. (See Battle of Cassinga
)
Following the end of the Border War in 1989, the Brigade was scaled down slightly and began preparing for a new role, that of conducting operations internally in South Africa in order to quell increasing levels of violence between various political groups.
In January 1991 the Brigade conducted its first operational jump in an urban counterinsurgency role when 2 Parachute Battalion deployed to Natal as part of Operation Eardrum to quell the violence. The Brigade took part in many similar operations in the following years, helping to minimise the violence sufficiently to allow South Africa's first democratic elections to go ahead in April 1994.
The Brigade's first operational deployment in the post-1994 period was Operation Boleas
in September 1998. It deployed two parachute companies and the Pathfinder Platoon to Lesotho
to prevent a coup d'état.
During 1998, the decision was taken to redesignate the unit as a multi-battalion
regiment, but it was only during the year 2000 that this change became official.
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
's chief airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
unit. It was created in 2000 by redesignating 44 Parachute Brigade
44 Parachute Brigade (South Africa)
44 Parachute Brigade was an all-arms formation of the South African Defence Force founded on the 20th of April 1978 following the disbandment of 1 SA Corps...
, and is based at the Tempe military base near Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
.
History
The first South African airborne unit was formed in August 1943, when a Parachute Platoon of the South African Air ForceSouth African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
was established. However, this unit was disbanded before training could be completed.
There were no further attempts to establish any airborne units until 1961, when selected members of the South African Army received parachute training at RAF Abingdon
RAF Abingdon
RAF Abingdon was a Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It is now known as Dalton Barracks and is used by the Royal Logistic Corps....
. This was followed by the establishment of 1 Parachute Battalion under Commandant Willem Louw
Willem Louw
Lieutenant-General Willem Louw SSA SM was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army in 1938, and served in Italy in World War II....
on 1 April 1961.
On 26 August 1966, units of 1 Parachute Battalion (called Parabats) first participated in operations as part of the South African Border War
South African Border War
The South African Border War, commonly referred to as the Angolan Bush War in South Africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa and Angola between South Africa and its allied forces on the one side and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's...
in South-West Africa (now Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
). This involvement was eventually to last for more than twenty years.
In April 1978 44 Parachute Brigade
44 Parachute Brigade (South Africa)
44 Parachute Brigade was an all-arms formation of the South African Defence Force founded on the 20th of April 1978 following the disbandment of 1 SA Corps...
was established, with the addition of 2 and 3 Parachute Battalions.
On 4 May 1978 South Africa's first major airborne operation (Operation Reindeer
Operation Reindeer
Operation Reindeer, which took place on 4 May 1978, was South Africa's second major military operation in Angola, the first being Operation Savannah....
) took place. A large group of paratroopers, from 1,2 and 3 Battalions, attacked a large SWAPO base in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, successfully capturing it. (See Battle of Cassinga
Battle of Cassinga
The Battle of Cassinga, Cassinga Raid or Kassinga Massacre was a controversial South African airborne attack on a South West Africa People's Organization refugee camp and military base at the former town of Cassinga, Angola on 4 May 1978...
)
Following the end of the Border War in 1989, the Brigade was scaled down slightly and began preparing for a new role, that of conducting operations internally in South Africa in order to quell increasing levels of violence between various political groups.
In January 1991 the Brigade conducted its first operational jump in an urban counterinsurgency role when 2 Parachute Battalion deployed to Natal as part of Operation Eardrum to quell the violence. The Brigade took part in many similar operations in the following years, helping to minimise the violence sufficiently to allow South Africa's first democratic elections to go ahead in April 1994.
The Brigade's first operational deployment in the post-1994 period was Operation Boleas
South African intervention in Lesotho
The 1998 military intervention in Lesotho, codenamed Operation Boleas, was a military invasion launched in the name of the Southern African Development Community , and led by South Africa through its South African National Defence Force . Troops from Botsawana were supposed to join SANDF forces...
in September 1998. It deployed two parachute companies and the Pathfinder Platoon to Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
to prevent a coup d'état.
During 1998, the decision was taken to redesignate the unit as a multi-battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
regiment, but it was only during the year 2000 that this change became official.
Current structure
As of 2004, the Regiment consists of the following units:- 44 Parachute Regiment Headquarters and Regimental Staff
- 1 Parachute Battalion (Regular Force)
- 2 Parachute Battalion (Reserve Force)
- 3 Parachute Battalion (Reserve Force)
- 44 Pathfinder Platoon
- 13 Signal Squadron
- 44 Medical Task Group
- Parachute Training Wing (South Africa)
- Parachute Packing Wing
- 101 Air Supply