Pathfinder platoon
| Pathfinder Platoon | |
|---|---|
 Pathfinder DZ Flash
|
|
| Active | 1985–Present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Allegiance |
 British Army
|
| Branch | Infantry |
| Type | Airborne Special Reconnaissance |
| Role | Advance Force Operations, Special Operations |
| Size | ~50 men |
| Part of |
 16 Air Assault Brigade
|
| Garrison/HQ | Colchester, England |
| Nickname(s) | "The PF" "The Finders" |
| Motto(s) | "First In" |
| Engagements | Operation Agricola Operation Palliser Operation Essential Harvest Operation Veritas Operation Telic Operation Herrick |
The Pathfinder Platoon is a pathfinder unit of the British Army, and an integral part of 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Pathfinder Platoon acts as the brigade's advance force and reconnaissance force. Its role includes locating and marking drop zones and helicopter landing zones for air landing operations. Once the main force has landed, the platoon provides tactical intelligence and offensive action rolls for the brigade.
During the Second World War small groups of parachute soldiers were formed into pathfinder units, to parachute ahead of the main force. Their tasks were to mark the drop zones (DZ) or landing zones (LZ), set up radio beacons as a guide for the aircraft carrying the main force and to clear and protect the area as the main force arrive. The units were formed into two company's to work with the two airborne divisions. The 21st Independent Parachute Company served with the 1st Airborne Division and the 22nd Independent Parachute Company served with the 6th Airborne Division. The 22nd Independent Parachute Company were the amongst lead elements of the 6th Airborne division's drop into Normandy as part of Operation Tonga. While the 21st Independent Parachute Company took part in Operation Market Garden landing at Arnhem on the night 17 September 1944. After marking the DZs and LSs The Company was trapped with the rest of the division in the Oosterbeek Perimeter.
After the war the both companies were disbanded and in 1948, the army's parachute force was reduced to the 16 Parachute Brigade. Part of this reduction saw the formation of the No. 1 Guards Independent Parachute Company which became the pathfinder unit for the newly formed brigade. The Company deployed on a wide variety of operations between 1948 and 1977. It was deployed to Borneo during the Borneo Confrontation where it was trained as a special reconnaissance unit.
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