| RED DEVILS |
| < -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> |
 |
| THE MEN IN BAGGY PANTS The Infantry has straight legs. This web page is dedicated to the Paratroopers of the Indian Army. PATH FINDERS The thought of quick deployment of the soldiers behind enemy lines to attain vital objectives was always a Generals dream. The 20th century gave wing to this idea with the aircraft. This gave rise to a 'CRACK FORCE' to help the Bleitzkreig. The new terminology is ?Vertical Envelopment? specially used by Heliborne force like the US Air Cavalry in the Vietnam War. The Parachute units of the Indian Army are among the oldest Airborne units in the world. The first unit was raised on 15 May 1941 & by October 1941, 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade had been formed; comprising 152nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (Indian), 151st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (British) & 153rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (Gurkha). Though the Germans were the first to successfully deploy their paratroopers into action during World War-II. The name 'RED DEVILS' was given to them by the German soldiers of the Romel's 'Afrika Korps' fighting against them in North Africa. The name 'RED' came from the 'MAROON BERET' that the paratroopers wear, which is now a trade mark for all the paratroopers around the world. In 1944, it was decided to form a Division (44th Indian Parachute Division) & at the same time the formation of the Indian Parachute Regiment as a separate Regiment was authorised. The partition of India in 1947 led to the split of the Para units between India & Pakistan. The Pakistani side became the SSG (Special Service Group) & the Indian side remained The 50th (I) Para Brigade. It was quickly involved in Operations in Kashmir 1947-49 during the first Indo-Pak War. Subsequently, the 51st (I) Para Brigade was formed in 1961, but was converted in 1976 to an Infantry Brigade. In 1952, these specially trained Para units from the 1/2nd Battalion The Punjab Regiment, 3/5th Battalion The Maratha Light Infantry, & 1st Battalion The Kumaon Regiment were transferred to the newly raised Parachute Regiment becoming 1 Para (Punjab), 2 Para (Maratha), & 3 Para (Kumaon), respectively. Subsequently, to this five Para & two Para(Commando) Battalions were raised. However, 8 Para was converted in 1976 to 16th Battalion The Mahar Regiment & later to 12th Battalion The Mechanised Infantry Regiment. PARA (SF) During the 1965 Indo-Pak War, a special independent force called 'Meghdoodh' was raised to take on the task, creating the smaller 'Commando' force in the process. On 1 July 1966, the 9 Para was formed & a year later, part of the 9 Para was split to form 10 Para. In 1969, both units added the suffix 'Commando' to their titles, becoming 9 & 10 Para (Commando). Now the suffix has been changed to 'SPECIAL FORCES' (SF), but 'COMMANDO' is still written on either side of their uniform arms. On 1 Feburary 1996, 21st Battalion The Maratha Light Infantry joined the Regiment designated as the 21 Para(SF). OPERATIONS The Para saw their first action in 1945 when a Battalion Group was dropped at 'Elephant Point' in the 'Battle of Rangoon'. The Para Regiment under took its first post-independence Airborne Operation when 2 Para (Maratha) Battalion Group was dropped near Tangail in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) on 11 Dec 1971. It got the battle honor for Poongli bridge for defending it against a Pakistani bridge. The Regiment got the Theatre Honour for East Pakistan & was also the first of the Indian Army units to enter Dhaka during the Indo-Pak War 1971. The 9 & 10 Para (Cdo) proved their mettle in 1971 Indo-Pak War by conducting lightening raids in Mandhol (across Munawar Twai) & in Chachro (Sind), respectively. The Para took active part in the liberation of Goa in 1961 & in Op Pawan (SriLanka) as IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) with nearly 80% of the Regiment deployed in the island from 1987-89. The 3 & 6 Para conducted air landing operations in aid of the Government of Maldives. The Para have in addition to their participation in other campaigns, formed part of UN Operations in Gaza & Korea. Today, the Para is perhaps the only Regiment in the Indian Army to have taken part in every theatre & every operation in & outside the country. As a recognition of its distinguished service, the Regiment was presented with its new colours by the President of India on 6 October 1967. Recently, in 2000 the 2 Para(SF) had conducted a rescue operation in Sierra Lieone known as Op Khukri. It was a very successful operation done under the UN to save the UN observers of the Indian army & other armies who were held hostage by the rebel. They were all rescued without any casualty to the hostages or the rescue team but the rebels took heavy casualties. TRAINING All Indian paratroopers are volunteers; some enter the Regiment direct from civil life & others transfer in from regular Army units. The men undergo various physical & mental tests at The PRTC (Parachute Regiment Training Centre). There is a probationary period of 3 months when they join their respective units, during which many are rejected as everyone has to come in excellent grading to be selected. Those who pass are sent to the PTS (Paratroopers Training School) where 5 jumps, including 1 at night, entitle the trainee to wear the wings on their chest (earlier worn on the uniform's right arm) & the maroon beret. The Para (SF) volunteers undergo more specialized training of 6 months to suit them for their role. WEAPONS The stamdard (Sub-Machine Gun) Carbine of the Indian Army is the locally produced version of the British L2A3 Sterling 9mm which has been phased out of the Paras. The L34A1 silenced version is in service in small numbers. The Isreali 9mm Uzi is now in service in small numbers with the Para (SF). The Belgian FN 7.62mm FAL rifle is manufactured under licence in India as the SLR (Self Loading Rifle) was the standard weapon, but now the AK-47 & Checz M-58Vz are in service. The LMG (Light Machine Gun) is the very popular & successful British L4A4, the 7.62mm conversion of the old 0.303 inch Bren, is still in use. The 84mm RL (Recoil Less Gun) is a major anti-tank weapon. The South African 40 mm MGL (Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher) is also in use. The Russian Dragunov Sniper Rifle is in use. The Para also have the 9mm Beratta & Auto (Brownning) pistols. BATTLE HONOURS PRE-INDEPENDENCE. Lucknow, Sholinghur, Carnatic, Mysore, Mehidpore, Nagpur, Nowah, Central India, Ava, Pegu, Abyssinia, Afghanistan, Burma, China, Helles, Aden, Meggiddo, Baghdad, Basra, Laos, Suez Canal, Egypt, North West Frontier, Mesopotamia, East Africa, Defence of Kut-Al-Amara, Khan Baghdadi, Persia, Shaiba, Ctesiphon, Tigris, Sharon, Palestine, Nablus, British Somali Land, Pratelle Pass, San Martino Sogliano, Barbera, North Africa, Shweli, Kheren, Mersa Matruh, Monte Cavallo, Monte Farneto, II Castello, Monte Della Gorace, Indica Brigade Head, Italy, Magwe, Kama & Sittang. POST-INDEPENDENCE. Shelatang, Naushera, Poonch, Jhanger, Jammu & Kashmir, Hajipir, Poongli Brigade & Chachro. "MEN APART... EVERY MAN AN EMPEROR" - Field Marshal Montgomery of Alamein |
 |
| HAPPY LANDINGS |
| My Favorite Links: |
| RED DEVILS |
| A Hansen |
| Name: |
| Email: |
|
|
| < -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> |
|
   |