3 Parachute Battalion
{{infobox military unit
|unit_name=3 Parachute Battalion
|image= SANDF 3 Para emblem.jpg
|caption= SANDF 3 Para emblem
|dates=July 1977 – present
|country={{ZAF}}
|allegiance={{plainlist|
- {{flag|South Africa|1928|name=Republic of South Africa}}
- {{flag|South Africa|1994|name=Republic of South Africa}}
}}
|branch={{plainlist|
- {{army|South Africa|1981}}
- {{army|South Africa|1994}}
}}
|type= Infantry (Paratroopers)
|role= Airborne infantry
|size= Battalion
|command_structure=South African Infantry Corps
Army Conventional Reserve
|garrison=Tempe, Bloemfontein
|garrison_label=
|nickname= Parabats
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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.{{cite book | title=South African Special Forces | publisher=Osprey Publishing | author=Pitta, Robert | year=1993 | isbn=1855322943}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.warinangola.com/|title=War In Angola: - HOME|last=Angola|first=The War In|website=www.warinangola.com|access-date=2017-07-13}}
Leadership
{{Post-start|caption=Leadership|float=}}
{{Post-header|post-name=Honorary Colonel}}
{{Post-header|post-name=Officer Commanding}}
{{Post-header|post-name=Regimental Sergeants Major}}
{{Post-end}}
Battle honours
{{BattleHonour|Title=Awarded to 3 Parachute Battalion|Cassinga_Chetequera}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Further reading
- {{cite book|last1=Pitta|first1=Robert|title=South African Special Forces|date=27 May 1993|series=Elite (Book 47)|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=1855322943|type=eBook}}
{{SA Army Units}}
Category:Infantry battalions of South Africa
Category:Airborne units and formations of South Africa
Category:Military units and formations in Bloemfontein
Category:Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War