British Army
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| Company strength
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| Colchester, England
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| "The PF"
"Phantom Platoon"
"The Finders"
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| First In
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| Ride of the Valkyries
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| Kosavo 1999
Sierra Leone 2000
Iraq 2004
Afghanistan 2006
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The Pathfinder Platoon is an elite unit within the British Army's 16 Air Assault Brigade and is a part of the Parachute Regiment. The Pathfinders specialise in airborne (Helicopter, low-level parachute, H.A.L.O. and H.A.H.O.) insertion behind enemy lines and then conduct various long-range, intelligence-gathering tasks.Taskings can include providing light role defence for the incoming assault force, co-ordination and control of air defence assets and conducting high-priority direct action tasks.
The unit is seen as an elite, second only to SAS, which is to be expected due to the similar training, procedures and equipment used. The platoon was, originally split into an Air and Mountain troop, but since the War on Terror came to the fore all troops are cross trained in Air and Mobile skills and to a much lesser extent Mountain. In its short history, the Pathfinders have been at the forefront of all the UK's military deployments.
History
The original Pathfinder unit was formed during World War II. Its main role was to jump ahead of the main force and secure a DZ (or Drop Zone) for allied Paratroopers. In September of 1944 Pathfinders of the 21st Independent Company dropped into Arnhem in Netherlands to clear and secure a DZ. The operations went off with out a hitch. After the war the pathfinder unit was disbanded and all members were sent to other units.
In 1981, 2 Para again saw the need for a pathfinder platoon. Although it was officially called C Company, its strength was only that of a platoon. 16 soldiers took part in the first Selection process for the new Pathfinder Platoon. It had the same role as the original pathfinders of WWII. They were tasked with dropping in and securing a DZ, they would then dig in and perform reconnaissance duties. They became the Regiment's "eyes and ears".
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. Both units were trained the same and held much of the same duty as they did as Pathfinders and used in the Falklands War to direct troops towards the 'Start lines' of Goose Green.
In 1985, it was deemed that the 5th Airborne Brigade (Now 16 Air Assault Brigade) needed its own independent, intelligence gathering troops and so they formed the current Pathfinder Platoon from troops from 1, 2 and 3 PARA's Patrol Platoons. Again it would reach Company level but still retain the title of "platoon".
The unofficial motto of the pathfinders is "First In".
Function
Current PF roles include:
- Gathering intelligence behind enemy lines.
- Destroying targets far behind enemy lines.
- Protecting senior Brigade dignitaries.
- Training UK Forces in specialist skills.
- Training Forces of other nations.
- Performing Hearts and Minds operations.
Even though each troop has a designated role (Mountain and Air), each man is expected and trained to know and to execute the roles of the other troops. This leads to companionship and responsibility throughout the entire platoon.
See also
