The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion

Organisation

The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion is one of the three infantry battalions of the Belgian Para-Commando Brigade.

The Battalion is organised into four companies:

• a staff company with:
  • the company staff
  • a signals platoon
  • a supply platoon
  • a mortar platoon
  • a maintenance platoon
  • a medical support section
• 3 infantry companies with:
  • a small staff
  • a supply section
  • 3 infantry platoons with:
    • 2 infantry sections
    • an anti-tank section that can easily be converted into an infantry section if needed

Equipment

Each company is equipped with different means of transportation:

• 3 ILTIS jeeps
• 17 UNIMOG light trucks
• 3 MAN trucks
• 6 boats that can contain up to 10 persons
• 3 reconnaissance boats that can contain up to 3 persons

It also disposes of different types of armament to execute its missions:

• 6 MILAN launchers
• 4 heavy machine guns .50
• 3 mortars 60mm
• 9 light machine guns MAG 7,62mm
• 9 light machine guns MINIMI 5,56mm
• 9 sniper rifles AW

The mortars platoon of the staff company has, depending on its mission:

• 6 mortars 4,2 inch
• 6 mortars 81mm

The main weapon of every para-commando is the 5,56mm FNC rifle

 

Missions

In the framework of these allocations the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion can be appointed to:

• execute an airborne and/or airmobile operation
• execute a classical operation, which generally is attributed to a light or mechanised infantry battalion, such as the defence of the national territory
• execute a rescue operation
• execute peace keeping operations

Foreign Operations

Since its existence, the battalion has executed several foreign operations. A summary:

1964:	A unit of the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion  takes part in humanitarian actions in Congo. They were parachuted on Stanleyville and Paulis where they helped to save thousands of civilians from the hands of the rebels.
1978:	The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion as a whole conducts a short field operation in Kolwezi (Shaba) and saves hundreds of compatriots.
1990:	The 22nd company, reinforced by part of the 15th company, takes part in the operation "GREEN BEAM". They are sent to Rwanda to reinforce the 2nd Commando Battalion.
1991:	The battalion participates in the operation "BLUE BEAM" in Zaire and evacuates 2500 civilians. The headquarters company, reinforced by the 17th company, goes to Iran to take part in the operation "BLUE LODGE", in support of Kurdish refugees.
1993:	In January, the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion returns to Africa, to Congo-Brazzaville, for the operation "SUNNY WINTER". From August to December, the battalion takes part in the UN mission called UNOSOM, in Somalia.
1994:	April, the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion is called upon to evacuate Belgian and other civilians out of Rwanda, this operation is called "SILVER BACK".
1997:	The 22nd company reinforced by the 15th leaves once again for Africa to prepare the evacuation of Belgian and other nationals in the operation "GREEN STREAM".

History

Standard

The battalion standard flies the following citations :

• IMJIN
• HAKTANG-NI
• CHATKOL
• KOREA
• Campagne de Corée 1951-1953

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