44 Parachute Regiment (South Africa)

44 Parachute Regiment 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.

History

The first South African airborne unit was formed in August 1943, when a Parachute Platoon of the South African Air Force 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.

Parachute Regiment

Parachute Regiment may refer to:

Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)

The Parachute Regiment, colloquially known as the Paras, is an airborne infantry regiment of the British Army. One battalion is permanently under the command of the Director Special Forces in the Special Forces Support Group. The other battalions are the parachute infantry component of the British Army's rapid response formation, 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Paras are the only line infantry regiment of the British Army that has not been amalgamated with another unit since the end of the Second World War.

The Parachute Regiment was formed in 1941 during the Second World War and eventually raised 17 battalions. In Europe, these battalions formed part of the 1st Airborne Division, the 6th Airborne Division and the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group. Another three battalions served with the British Indian Army in India and Burma. The regiment took part in six major parachute assault operations in North Africa, Italy, Greece, France, the Netherlands and Germany, often landing ahead of all other troops.

Parachute Regiment (India)

The Parachute Regiment is the airborne infantry regiment of the Indian Army.

History

The first Indian airborne formation was the 50th Parachute Brigade raised on 29 October 1941, with 151 British, 152 Indian, and 153 Gurkha Parachute Battalions and other support units.

Lt (later Col Retd) AG Rangaraj, MVC, of the Indian Medical Service and RMO of the 152 Indian Para Bn, became the first Indian along with Hav Maj Mathura Singh to make a parachute descent. In 1942-43, the formation saw limited action at Nara against the Pathan tribals in NWFP and some intelligence-gathering missions in Burma, utilizing their somewhat-limited airborne capabilities. Later, in March 1944, less the British battalion (which was transferred to Britain and renamed the 156th Para Bn and formed part of the 4th Parachute Brigade of the 1st Airborne Division), the brigade, less 154 Gurkha Para Bn, saw extensive action at Sangshak and later in the Imphal Plains on the Burmese border against two reinforced Japanese divisions. 154 Gurkha Para Bn, had not completed its air training, stayed back to attain the airborne status.