3 Parachute Battalion

3 Parachute Battalion
3 Parachute Battalion
	SANDF 3 Para emblem
Active	July 1977 – present
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa; Republic of South Africa;
Branch	South African Army; South African Army;
Type	Infantry (Paratroopers)
Role	Airborne infantry
Size	Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps; Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Tempe, Bloemfontein
Nickname(s)	Parabats

3 Parachute Battalion is a Citizen Force paratroop unit of the South African Army. It was established in July 1977 within the formation of the Parachute Battalion. Later it was a battalion within 44 Parachute Brigade. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

History

With the implementation of one year National Service in South Africa in 1968, 1 Parachute Battalion struggled to administer the Permanent Force and the Citizen Force Parabats.^[1] To prevent the loss of these trained national servicemen at the end of their one-year service to other units of the South African Defence Force, it was decided to form a new citizen force parachute unit to take these men. The battalion was formed at Tempe in July 1977 of five rifle companies.

On 20 April 1978, 3 Parachute Battalion and other parachute units became part of the newly formed 44 Parachute Brigade.

Operations

3 Parachute Battalion would take part in Operation Reindeer in Angola during 1978, Elements of this battalion took part in the parachute drop over Cassinga.^[2]

Leadership

Leadership
From	Honorary Colonel	To
From	Officer Commanding	To
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To

Battle honours

Battle Honours
Awarded to 3 Parachute Battalion

References

^ Pitta, Robert (1993). South African Special Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855322943.
^ Angola, The War In. "War In Angola: - HOME". www.warinangola.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.