Pathfinder Platoon
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| The Pathfinder Platoon | |
|---|---|
 Pathfinder Platoon Insignia |
|
| Active | 1985 - Present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Advanced Forces |
| Role | Reconnaissance |
| Size | 30+ Men |
| Garrison/HQ | Colchester, England |
| Motto | "First In" |
The Pathfinder Platoon is a special reconnaissance/raiding force who are an integral element of the UKs rapid deployment force, 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Formed in 1985, to conduct intelligence gathering and battlespace preparation operations behind enemy lines including the identification and marking of parachute drop zones (DZ's) for 5 Airborne Brigade, it now serves a far wider spectrum of roles[1] due to its extreme versatility and is fully capable of taking on any number of mission profiles.
The Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded to one former member of the Platoon, Cpl Bryan Budd, of the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment for his actions in Sangin, Afghanistan in 2006.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Function
Their current roles include:[3]
- Collection of intelligence behind enemy lines
- Battlespace preparation by sabotage and offensive raiding in the medium and deep battlespace
- Destruction of high priority targets behind enemy lines
- Training UK and UK friendly armed forces in long range patrol skills
- Conducting Hearts and Minds doctrine operations
[edit] History
[edit] World War 2
In 1942, the 21st Independent Parachute company was formed with the task of 'pathfinding' around war torn Europe and was a unique concept at that point. The concept of pathfinding had been pioneered by Major John Lander who set about raising a company of hand picked volunteers drawn from the Parachute Regiment. The operational role of the Pathfinders was to arrive at the drop zones half an hour in advance of the main body of airborne troops in order to set up beacons to pin-point the dropping area for the advancing aircraft, to clear any obstacles from the zone that would impede the gliders, and also to lightly secure the immediate area from enemy interference. During World War II, the Company saw action on a range of theatres including Sicily and Italy, although during Operation Market Garden where the Company awarded the Distinguished Service Order, a Distinguished Conduct Medal, two Military Crosses, five Military Medals, a Dutch Bronze Lion. Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning wrote to the Company Commander and said: "I have heard on every side how outstandingly your Company has done. To have earned this special praise from such gallant a body can only mean one thing - that your unit is unsurpassed by any other in the world. Please tell your chaps what a terrific reputation they have earned."[4]
[edit] 1945-1990s
After the war, the 21st Independent Company travelled to Norway with Divisional HQ and the 1st Airlanding Brigade to oversee the German surrender.
Thereafter they joined the 6th Airborne Division to serve in Palestine. The 21st Independent Parachute Company was disbanded here in September 1946, and its men were divided amongst the 6th Airborne Division. The role was then taken up by the Guards Independent Parachute Company up until 1977 when they became augmented into the Special Air Service as G (Guards) Squadron.[citation needed]
In 1981, 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment again saw the need for a pathfinding troops and resurrected C (Patrols) Company, its strength was only that of a platoon.[citation needed]
16 soldiers took part in a selection cadre for the new Patrols platoon. It had the same role as the original pathfinders of World War II.[citation needed]
They were tasked with parachuting into and securing a drop zone, they would then dig in and perform reconnaissance duties. They became the Regiment's "eyes and ears".[citation needed]
In 1982, 2 Para's C (Patrols) Company was broken up into two platoons (it was now at company strength): the Patrol Platoon and the Recce Platoon and were used to effect in the 1982, Falklands war.[citation needed]
In 1985, it was deemed that 5th Airborne Brigade (now 16 Air Assault Brigade) needed its own independent, intelligence gathering troops and so they formed the current 'Pathfinder Platoon' from the best troops within 1, 2 and 3 PARA's Patrol platoons.[citation needed]
The Platoon soon started to take shape and flourished in its independent status although the Ministry of Defence would see the arrangement as unofficial and so led to a long period where by they were dependent on the so-called Black Economy.[5]
Two years after their formation, they came under the command of an ex-Special Air Service officer who redesigned the selection cadre into the version that is still in place today.[citation needed]
His vision was to take recruits from throughout the Airborne Brigade and put them through a process which would be more intensive than the 'aptitude phase' of SAS Selection whilst introducing them to the particular skills required for Pathfinding.[citation needed]
This led to protests of elitism from some ranks and the pass rate was poor although in time this increased and on reflection, many members went on to Special Forces having passed with relative ease.[citation needed]
During the early 1990s, the net of recruitment was widened to all services within HM Forces although at this time no recruit from outside the British Army has completed 'The Cadre'.
[edit] Operations
| Operation | Country | Formation | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Palliser |  Sierra Leone |
United Kingdom |
1999 |
| Operation Agricola |  Serbia |
 NATO |
2000 |
| Operation Essential Harvest |  Republic of Macedonia |
NATO |
2001 |
| Operation Veritas |  Afghanistan |
NATO |
2001 - 2002 |
| Operation Telic |  Iraq |
United Kingdom |
2002 - 2003 |
| Operation Herrick | Afghanistan |
NATO |
2006 |
[edit] Operation Agricola, Kosovo
In June 1999, the platoon were the first NATO troops to deploy into enemy territory during the Kosovo war.[citation needed]
Their mission during the initial phase was to act as the "eyes and ears" for NATO commanders. The soldiers deployed onto the flanks along the Kacanik defile to provide early warning and protection in case of any Serbian military counter attacks directed towards the NATO forces heading towards the capital, Pristina.[citation needed]
Troops were then quickly re-roled and tasked to for a defensive screen around Pristina Airfield prior to the arrival of the pro-Serbian, Russian forces.[6]
[edit] Operation Palliser, Sierra Leone
The Pathfinder Platoon deployed into Operation Palliser in May 2000 and gained the world's attention for a gun battle that took place in the village of Lungi Loi located 40 miles (60 km) from the main UN base at Lungi Airport.[7]
RUF guerrillas, numbering between 40-100 men,[8] approached the village under the cover of darkness unaware of the number of Pathfinders located in defensive positions in and around the village. Using their Night vision goggles (NVG's) the Pathfinders unleashed a wall of fire at the enemy, killing 4. The platoon swept the area at day break following the large number of blood trails but to no avail. Intelligence reports[9] found that the number of dead was far greater than initially reports and military analyists estimate that it was a result of this engagement that led to a speedy conclusion of hostilities from the rebals[10]
There were no British casualties although one villager was hit by RUF fire but whose life was saved by a PF medic.[11]
A member of the platoon was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his actions in the gun battle.[12]
[edit] Operation Essential Harvest, Macedonia
With the rise in ethnic tension overspilling in to violence in Republic of Macedonia between ethnic Albanian, National Liberation Army (NLA) and Macedonian security forces, the British government sent a force comprising of troops from United Kingdom Special Forces and 16 Air Assault Brigade to oversee a NATO led ceasefire.[citation needed]
The Pathfinders worked alongside UKSF to monitor the uneasy truce in the mountainous regions overwatching the capital, Skopje.
[edit] Operation Veritas, Afghanistan
After the terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York the Pathfinder Platoon readied themselves for the impending retaliational attack on the Taliban heartland of Afghanistan.[citation needed]
The troops were augmented into the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and deployed into Bagram Airfield on December 2001. Their role was to establish links with local Warlords, Afghan security force commanders and military figureheads so as to establish nationally led policing structure without leaving a power vacuum in the capital.[citation needed]
[edit] Operation Telic, Iraq
The platoon deployed en mass into Kuwait desert as soon as it appeared that a war with Iraq was imminent.[citation needed] The primary mission for the teams was to conduct mobile surveillence/fighting patrols into the area known as the Tigris-Euphrates salt marsh in advance of the main UK forces. Once in position, reports would be sent to the UK and US military who were advancing to the north to Baghdad, on the Pathfinders' western flank. Fast jets were on call and should Iraqi forces conduct any counter attacks into the area of the coalition forces, then the Forward Air Controllers within the teams would co-ordinate air strikes onto the enemy positions.[citation needed]
In the initial outbreak of war, it was planned to drop an 8 man HALO team into the disused airfield, Qal At Sukkar, deep in enemy held territory.[citation needed] They would then orchastrate the insertion of a large scale heli-landing force who could use the site as a platform for the final drive into Baghdad. However this was aborted due to intelligence reports of a high level threat from Surface-to-air missiles (SAM's)in the area.[citation needed]
In cessation of hostilities in Iraq, the PF carried out a number of tasks including the monitoring and appehension of war criminals in the Maysan province as well as patrolling the porous Iraq/Iran border.[citation needed]
During the war, the Platoon members were awarded a Military Cross (MC) and five were Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) for bravery behind enemy lines.[citation needed]
[edit] Operation Herrick, Afghanistan
The Platoon was again, thrust into the relative glare of the media spotlight during the recent deployment to the southen, Afghan province of Helmand alongside the British 3 PARA Battle Group.[citation needed]
The Pathfinders first mission was a five day deployment on a pursuit of Taliban militants across this rugged landscape. The hunt culminated in their first engagement with the Taliban since 3,300 British troops arrived in Helmand province.[citation needed]
On May 17, they received a distress call from a local Afghan police force consisting of 100 in the town of Musa Qala who had been cornered by a much greater force of Taliban fighters.[citation needed]
By May 19, the Pathfinders joined the policemen in a counterattack in Taliban held territory. From there, a US B-1 Lancer bomber and A-10 's were directed by PF forward air controllers onto Taliban positions. They were then supplemented by French Super Etendards from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean.[citation needed]
The men then set out on a four-day mission to a town in the north of Helmand province in Afghanistan ended up spending 52 days under siege by the Taliban. 25 men, who have been first into several Taliban-held areas during the British deployment in southern Afghanistan, came under such ferocious attack that they were forced to stay in Musa Qala fighting almost daily battles.[citation needed]
The group was supposed to be reinforced by a company of 120 paratroops but they had to be diverted to the town of Sangin when they came under heavy assault by Taleban insurgents.[citation needed]
The platoon were finally replaced in Musa Qala when 500 British troops, in a mission codenamed Operation Snakebite — the largest so far in Helmand — broke through Taleban lines.[citation needed]
[edit] Command, control and organisation
The Pathfinder Platoon is a Brigade asset and directly attached to Headquarters 16 Air Assault Brigade, with the Officer Commanding reporting directly to the Brigade Commander and operating alongside the Brigade Headquarters element.[citation needed]
OC Pathfinder Platoon is a senior Captain or Major, and an Operations Warrant Officer (WO2) is his second in command.
A Captain and the Platoon Sergeant deploy into the field as part of the Field Headquarters team.
| Insignia | Rank |
|---|---|
 |
Brigadier, 16 Air Assault Brigade |
 |
Chief Of Staff, 16 Air Assault Brigade |
|
|
OC, Pathfinder Platoon |
 |
Field Commander |
 |
OPSWO (Operations Warrant Officer) |
 |
Platoon Sergeant |
[edit] Selection and training
Pathfinder Platoon is a tri-service organisation and therefore open for recruitment to all serving members of the British Armed Forces.[citation needed] The majority of the current manning is from the three battalions of the Parachute Regiment. The selection process is known as The Cadre and takes place over 5 consecutive weeks in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales.[citation needed] All candidates are already experienced personnel, with the majority already Parachute Qualified or having completed Pre Parachute Selection Course, Pegasus (P) Company.
The Cadre includes 4 phases:
[edit] Fitness and Navigation - Group
Phase 1 begins with the standard British Army fitness tests including Battle Fitness Test and swimming proficiency and includes the tests undertaken during P Company; '2 Miler' (3 km), '8 Miler' (13 km) and '10 Miler' (16 km) speed marches carrying SA-80 rifle and Bergen but with more demanding time objectives and at greater weight loads.
Candidates are trained in navigation and signals in the HF, VHF and UHF ranges, enabling them to proceed onto the next phase.
[edit] Fitness and Navigation - Individual
Phase 2 consists of a series of long, solo marches over the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and Elan Valley carrying heavy weights.
This phase is based on that carried out UKSF selection[13] with progress hampered by inclement weather and poor conditions underfoot.
Progress is at a minimum 4 km/h with patrols covering an average of 29 km with a 60 pound bergen and rifle.
Foot injuries and blisters are common, creating a psychological challenge and the loss rate at this stage in training is high.
The final challenge in this phase is a 40 mile (60 km) tab taking in all the highest peaks in the Southern Wales region.
[edit] Patrol Skills
Following the physical buildup candidates enter the skills phase, starting with a revision of basic fieldcraft and tactics before progressing onto reconnaissance training.
Candidates will be introduced to the operation of a 4-6 man team in a deep reconnaissance, rather than infantry fire team, role; moving with covertly inside hostile territory, establishing and sustaining an observation post(OP).
Other skills taught include an introduction into small group contact drills, basic demolition comprising of improvised Claymore mines, entry, shaped and cutting charges., covert helicopter procedures, ambushes and direct action tasks.
These skills build on the candidates existing military skills as an experienced individual.
[edit] Live Firing/Demolition Training
A consolidation of the patrolling and engagement skills is undertaken in the final operations phase, using live ammunition and munitions.
Starting with 1-2 man drills before moving to patrol drills of 4-6 and culminating in platoon-sized direct action assaults and ambush drills.
[edit] Combat Survival and Resistance to Interrogation
The final stage is a Combat Survival package, introducing personnel to survival skills, escape and evasion (E & E) tactics and resistance to interrogation.
The final element is an escape and evasion exercise with personnel dressed in greatcoats to slow them down. It comprises improvised Claymore mines, entry, shaped and cutting charges.
Personnel seek to avoid capture by the Hunter Force, usually comprising Parachute Regiment or Gurkha soldiers.
Personnel captured, or on reaching the final objective, are subjected to a tactical questioning activity by qualified interrogators.
[edit] Completion
Upon successful completion of the Cadre personnel are presented with their Pathfinder flash and join the trained strength of the Platoon.
The first twelve months are probationary and involves significant levels of continuation and development training in order to fully contribute to the Platoon.
Those who are deemed not to be achieving the standard required are returned to their parent unit.
[edit] Security
Due to the nature of operating behind enemy lines, Pathfinders along with UKSF, other deep battlespace patrol units and aircrew are designated 'Prone to capture'. Should these troops fall into enemy hands, all affiliations with the unit are denied.[citation needed] For this reason the platoon strives to avoid courting publicity and keep serving soldiers faces out of the lens although in 1996 members of the unit were used in a BBC television production, Defence of the Realm: Phantom Platoon.
[edit] Insertion Skills
[edit] Basic Para
Upon completion of the Cadre, non-Parachute trained troops are sent to RAF Brize Norton to complete the All Arms Basic Parachute course, jumping with the Irvin GQ L.L.P. (Low Level Parachute) at between 800 and 1,000 ft both day and night.
Once completed, troops are awarded their Basic Parachute Wings Badge.
[edit] HALO Parachuting
Personnel are now eligible to attend the Military Freefall (M.F.F.) course along with RAF jumpmasters and SAS Air Troop soldiers.
This 6-week course takes place in the UK, South Africa or the USA and starts with an introduction into basic skydiving at 12,000 ft, before progressing onto the HALO phase where soldiers are dispatched out of a C-130 Hercules transport plane at an altitude of up to 25,000 ft, using an Irvin BT-80 multi-mission parachute carrying training loads of up to 80+ pounds of equipment.
Due to the high altitudes, all the soldiers and the aircrew are fitted onto an oxygen system once they pass above 12,000 ft, with the soldiers moving onto their own bottled system prior to jumping.
As the course advances, the soldiers master the ability of landing in tight groups at both day and night, in all weathers.
Upon completion of the HALO course, the Pathfinder then becomes an Advanced Military Parachutist.
[edit] HAHO Parachuting
HAHO parachuting was introduced into the military as a way of inserting airborne troops into a location where there was a possibility that enemy air defence assets were in place.
The HAHO method of insertion allows troops to be dispatched from an aircraft at an altitude in excess of 30,000 ft (9000 m) and glide via GPS to a pre-designated position at distances of up to 40+ miles (60 km) (dependent on wind speeds).
[edit] Tandem Parachuting
Experienced jumpers are then given the opportunity to attend the Military Tandem course upon completion of minimum of 200 descents. This course normally run alongside the MFF package. Jumpers have to master jumping with other personnel and the progressing onto increasingly larger and heavier loads both day and night.
[edit] Mobility
Pathfinder troops are issued with the British Army, Land Rover 110 WMIK.
These were introduced into the order of battle (ORBAT) so as to keep up to speed with the fast-flowing, modern battlefield.
These gunships are armed with 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), MILAN Anti-Tank missiles and .50 inch (12.7 mm) calibre Heavy Machine Guns; which enables the teams to defend against an aggressor or be used as a fighting platform in an assault or fire support mode.
Training is carried out in a number of theatres including West Africa, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Kuwait.
All members of the Pathfinders have to be proficient in cross-country driving and maintenance of all the vehicles in the fleet.[citation needed]
[edit] Continuation Training
Due to the versatility of the platoon, many skills must be honed to perfection including medical, demolitions and signals.
Medics reach the highest level of proficiency as they can be used in many roles; from hearts and minds tasks to trauma management.
These skills are also put into practice in hospital placements around the UK.[citation needed]
Sniping has become another recent additional skill and used in DZ/LZ defence and high-priority stikes.[citation needed]
The learning process is on-going and new methods and skills are constantly being learned.
Pathfinders, especially in the early years, are constantly attending courses throughout the world and spend little time in the UK.
[edit] Miscellaneous information
The Pathfinders were the stars of the BBC television series, Defence Of The Realm, in 1996. An ex member of the Platoon was amongst the cast of the television series, Hunting Chris Ryan.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.army.mod.uk/16_air_asslt_bde/picture_gallery/pathfinders.htm Mod Website (Roles within 16 Bde)
- ^ MOD Press release dated 14 December 06
- ^ Defence of the realm:Phantom Platoon (BBC, 1996)
- ^ http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/unit_hist.htm
- ^ Defence of the realm:Phantom Platoon (BBC, 1996)
- ^ http://www.kosovo.mod.uk/brief170699.htm
- ^ A Dirty War in West Africa: the RUF and the destruction of Sierra Leone
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/05/18/wleon518.html
- ^ http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-64CDE6?OpenDocument
- ^ www.bisa.ac.uk/2006/pps/dorman.pdf
- ^ http://www.sierra-leone.org/slnews0500-A.html
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/04/06/nsas06.xml
- ^ Defence of the realm:Phantom Platoon (BBC, 1996)
[edit] Additional Reading
- Kent, Ron (1979). First in!: Parachute Pathfinder Company: a history of the 21st Independent Parachute Company. B.T. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-2199-1.
