Airborne HistoryAirborne History The CanadianThe Canadian ParatroopersParatroopers Weapons & EquipmentsWeapons & Equipments The SCP 70/90The SCP 70/90 The Folgore’s rifleThe Folgore’s rifle Aircrafts & VehiclesAircrafts & Vehicles The Antonov ANThe Antonov AN--22 Code Name “Colt”Code Name “Colt” Wings & BadgesWings & Badges The US ArmyThe US Army Parachutist BadgeParachutist Badge

Pag. 3

News Informations & Press Release

Pag. 5

Events Courses & Operations

Pag. 9

Reports Articles & Abstracts

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EDITORS AND STAFF

Editor-in-Chief

Giulio Festa

Deputy Editor

Dean Hutson

Editorial Assistant

Edyta Wilowska

Editorial Staff &

Collaborators

Richard Low Casey Anderson

Chris Goodall Tiziano La Mura

Georgios Tsatsaros Paulo Fernandes

Graphic Design

WNS88

Website

www.europeanparatroopers.org

E-mail

info@europeanparatroopers.org

Copyright

Here and abroad of all editorial material is held by the publishers.

No reproduction is permitted whatsoever without prior

consent in writing.

Cover Image: Greek Police Commando

Team during the SWAT Course

The European Paratroopers Association's Magazine

New Edition

Issue N.10 - Winter 2010 DDD ear Comrades, We are glad to introduce our new edition of “ParatrooperNews”, the magazine of European Para-troopers Association, which should reflect an essential

synthesis and expression of EPA’s activities and a convenient medium to comunicate with our members as well. “ParatrooperNews” is designed to keep you informed of the developments within our Association, as well as to provide key information on our events. Like you can see from this issue “ParatrooperNews”, changed from a newsletter to a magazine with a new graphic design, a larger number of pages and greater number of articles and re-ports. It will be published quarterly in both the printed and onli-ne versions. The online version, in pdf file format, can be easy downloaded from on our web site and printed. Inside this issue you can find articles, reports on our activities in this firsth months of 2010 and news about our planned events and opera-tions. We are sure that you will appreciate our work and we look forward to receiving your feedback. Giulio Festa

News 3 Planned Events 2010 Mobile Training Team European Wings Press Release SWAT Advanced Course Assault Rifle Course Training Centers

Events 5 Upcoming Events Membership 2010 Custom courses

Reports 6 EPA’s SWAT Corse EPA’s Combat Pistol Course US Army Marksman Test

Airborne History 10 The Canadian Paratroopers

Weapons & Equipments 12 The SCP 70/90

Aircrafts & Vehicles 13 The Antonov AN-2

Wings & Badges 14 The US Army Parachutist Badge

Airborne Soldiers 15 The British Paratrooper 2010

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T hrough our excellent contacts, also this year the European Paratroopers Association is organizing basic and advanced airborne courses and

several military parachuting, tactical and marksmanship training events in various European Countries. All active, reserve and retired soldiers can join us as members and take part in our events. With us you will get the opportunities to train and jump with airborne units and paratrooper reserve associations to earn their parachute wings and much more... For further information go on: www.europeanparatroopers.org

EPA’s CTC Director

WWW e are proud

to welcome LTC Dean Hutson to our elite t r a i n i n g cadre as the Director of the EPA’s Combat Training Center. Dean has a 20 year career with a Nationally Certified Police Force as a Command Level Officer and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class 217) - Quantico, Virginia. POST Certified Advanced Police Instructor and NTOA Tactical Team Member for over 15 years. He is also a US Army Reserve Officer, and as an Army Lieutenant Colonel he is the Commander of a Special Marksmanship Unit of the United States Army with several years of combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. EPA’s ATC Director

WWW e are proud

to welcome SGT Roman Štengl to our elite training cadre as the Director of the EPA’s Airborne Training Center. With 4 years of military parachuting expertise and over 9300+ total jumps, Roman is internationally recognized as an expert in his field. Jumpmaster and Airborne Instructor of the Czech Army he has served as Sergent with the 22. Airborne Regiment and now he is a reserve NCO of the Czech Army and a civilian instructor USPA Coach, USPA Tandem Instructor, USPA AFF instructor, he is as well UPT Tandem and AFF Examiner and senior rigger. Roman is also national ispector and supervisor of the Czech Aeroclub.

F or those, units and groups, who can’t joined our courses (airborne and tactical) at our Centers, we have designed specific Teams. If you can't make it to us, we'll come to you! All EPA

curriculums can be exported to any location via the EPA Mobile Training Team (MTT). All EPA curriculums can be amended or specifically developed for a particular unit. Contact us to discuss the specific needs

of your law enforcement or military unit. EPA MTT classes will have a special pricing plan based on the course and number of students. EPA can modify any of our current curriculum to design custom classes for their members that can't find what they need within our normal curriculum.

For answers to specific questions concerning the EPA Mobile Training Team please do not hesitate to contact us at: info@europeanparatroopers.org

A ll members of the European Paratroopers Association can earn the European Wings (European Paratroopers Jump Badge) after completing the jumps. A light blue wings with a white parachute

in the center, which is surrounded on the base by twelve yellow stars, embroidered on a piece of black cloth represents this brevet. The members of the European Paratroopers Association can earn the Eu-ropean Wings after completing 3 (three) jumps during one of our para-chuting events. The expert parachutist members who cannot join our jump e- vents can be awarded the European Wings on pro- of of valid jump qualification. T h e beginner members can earn the Eu-

ropean Wings after having suc-cessfully completed one of our basic airborne training cour-ses organized every year in

several Parachutist School in Europe under the control of the European Paratroopers As-sociation’s Airborne Training Centre.

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EPA’s CTC E u r o p e a n Paratroopers Association's

CTC (Combat Training Center)

was formed with the expressed mission of training and assisting our members (law enforcement, military and government personnel) in the advanced tactical arena.The Combat Training Center offers the European Paratroopers Association members comprehensive basic and advanced training in all aspects of physical security and protective operations and have designed specific courses for the military and law enforcement community. The courses take into account "worst case scenarios" enabling our members to develop true proficiency in the high-r isk tact ical environment. For further information go on: europeanparatroopers.org

EPA’s ATC E u r o p e a n Paratroopers Association's

ATC (Airborne Training Center)

was formed with the expressed mission of training and assisting our members in every aspect of military parachuting. The Airborne Training Center offers to the European Paratroopers members comprehensive basic and advanced training in parachuting and organizes parachute training exercises with round-canopy systems with automatic opening, jumps with weapon and equipment, night jumps, water jumps and jumps into unknown terrain as well basic and advanced training in free fall parachuting. For further information go on: europeanparatroopers.org

Y ou have learned what it takes to be a SWAT Operator – now learn what it

takes to LEAD them! This advanced tactical management course wil l teach you the fundamentals needed to plan and execute SWAT and tactical operations. In this corse you will learn to select, test and interview members for your team, to plan and o r g a n i z e operational missions, to dentify sources of intelligence in your own community and use them for your operations, to develop and write 5 paragraph operations orders, to perform risk assessments and identify what can go wrong, to perform an actual ‘Site Survey’ of locations in your area, to work with other Military, Police and Government agencies both before, during and after the incident ,the equipment evaluation and testing guidelines, the managing negotiators, the tactics, the proper planning and use of Snipers, Chemical Agents, Scouts, Grenadiers etc… From your successful graduation of our SWAT Operators Course you already know how a SWAT Operator performs his mission – now learn how to plan and lead that group of SWAT Operators in the successful performance of that same mission! Your primary instructor has successfully used these exact same SWAT Team Leader fundamentals in real world operations from the mountains and killing fields of Afghanistan as a US Army Special Operations Officer to the wild and violent streets of the United States as a Police SWAT Team Commander. For answers to specific questions concerning the this course, please do not hesitate to contact us at: info@europeanparatroopers.org

T his advanced rifle course will introduce the students to the latest tactics and techniques used

by front line, veteran Police Officers on the mean streets of America and by Soldiers on the village streets of Afghanistan. With increased use of high powered weapons

and body armor by both criminals and terrorist the use of the Assault Rifle has taken on even more importance. Bank of

America Shootout, Beslan, Mumbai, Helmand Province - these are all locations where the aggressive use of an Assault Rifle has - or could have - made the difference. Your primary instructor has developed and refined these tactics by using them on real world combat operations in Iraq, Bosnia, Afghanistan and during actual, active SWAT missions in the United States. These are NOT your standard 'stand and shoot' tactics - this is an aggressive and fast paced Assault Rifle Course that will teach you to take the fight to the criminal/terrorist. 'Shoot & Move, Reload on the Move, Weapon Failure Drills, Rapid Target Engagement, Weapon Transition Techniques, Immediate Action Drills and much more. You will graduate from this course with a better understanding of this weapon, a greater confidence in your abilities and most of all - the ability to shoot, move and take the fight to the enemy! Students are strongly encouraged to bring any and all combat/tactical gear that they have so as to see what works and share these observations with each other. For answers to specific questions concerning the this course, please do not hesitate to contact us at: info@europeanparatroopers.org

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T he European Paratroopers Association is or-ganizing several military parachuting, mar-ksmanship and other training events (as

SWAT, combat arms, scuba diving or field me-dical training) in various European Countries, as well as basic airborne courses designed e-specially for beginners, that are provided regu-larly during the complete year by our Airborne Training Center in Pribram/Czech Republic. We would like to welcome your participation in one of our upcoming events. Our next jump appointment will be Operation Eastern Eagles at our airfield in Pribram/Czech Republic on 1-4 April. During the event we will have on p l a c e Czech, Slovak, Polish, Ukrainian and US Army JM that will award their wings.

From 13 to 16 of May we will go in Ukraine to jump with the Ukrainian paratroopers on

Operation Archangel. We will award Ukrainian parachute wings

a f t e r the jumps. Besides the Ukrainian wings there will be also awarded Polish and Russian wings. For those of our members who haven't yet joined a mili-tary airbor- ne course we have organized a basic Airborne Course in Czech Republic on 15-19 April. At the end of the Course stu- dents will be awarded Czech wings. About marksmanship our next appointment will be the Assault Rifle Course at our training center in Thessaloniki/Greece on 6-7 April. Upon successful completion of the training you will be awarded the Police Assault Rifle (Patrol) Badge and Certificate.

For detailed event information please visit our web site: www.europeanparatroopers.org

Our events are open only to our members. You must be a current member of European Paratroopers Association - i.e. have paid your annual EPA membership fees 2010. If you haven't yet joined Us or if you need to renew your membership please go to the Membership page of our web site: www.europeanparatroopers.org

For answers to specific questions concerning the membership, please do not hesitate to contact us at: info@europeanparatroopers.org

Airborne Courses Custom airborne courses can be arranged and designed e-specially for you. For answers to spec i f i c quest ions concerning the Airborne Training Courses please do not hesitate to contact us. Tactical Courses Custom basic and advanced training courses in mar-ksmanship and combat te-chniques and tactics can be arranged and designed espe-cially for you. For answers to specific questions concerning the Combat Training Courses please do not hesitate to contact us. Airborne Course For those of our members who haven't yet joined a military airborne course at a military airborne school, we have designed specific basic and advanced airborne courses to give them the opportunity to qualify as military parachutists. Our military parachute training courses are being taught by highly qualified military parachute instructors coming from the NATO countries’ Armed Forces. The courses are held at Pribram airfield in Czech Republic by our Airborne Training Center. This courses are also opened to former military parachutists that need a refresh and will include military parachute static line descents. At the end of the Course, after the jumps, according to host Country’s regulations, students will be awarded Czech wings. On request, besides the Czech wings, there will be also awarded Slovak wings. Once our members have successfully completed the basic airborne training course and earned their military parachutists wings, they will receive the European Wings.

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The European Paratroopers A’ssociation’s Combat Training Center train in the SWAT tactics elements of the Greek Military and Police Special Forces Reserve

TTT he European Paratroo-pers Association’s Combat Training Center used the Mobile Training

Team – MTT – concept to train ele-ments of the Greek Military (Special Forces) and Police (Commando) from 8-10 January, 2010. The Special Weapons And Tactics – S.W.A.T. – Operators Course was conducted in Thessalonica, Greece. This full course – consisted of training in tactics and techniques for Special Operators of both Police and Military units. The fundamentals needed to con-duct SWAT operations were tho-roughly instructed and then practi-ced under a variety of conditions – both day and night – inside and outside. The facilities used for this consi-sted of theatres, multi story buil-dings, busses and automobiles. Planning, approach, assault and domination of the objective were practiced and demonstrated. Leadership roles among the stu-dents were often rotated so others could experience leading their va-rious squads and teams on mis-sions and operations. Range facilities for live fire were also utilized as the students had the opportunity to conduct live fire training in pistol, rifle and shotgun combat tactics. Shooting on the move and tactical combat shooting were stressed – it’s never just a day of ‘stand and shoot’ at a Euro-pean Paratroopers Association – Combat Training Center course!!! Extensive training on building as-

By Dean Hutson

Greek Police Commando Team moving tactically during SWAT Course. On the next page: Combined Army SF and Police Commando in Training

7

sault techniques and room clearing movements were taught and exe-cuted by all team members. ‘Active Shooter’ training was intro-duced and the Greek Forces de-monstrated that they are now well trained in hunting down those who are actively shooting and assaul-ting innocent civilians in a variety of situations. Vehicle assault tactics were taught and practiced during full scale as-sault training on large busses and cars that could normally be expec-ted to be used by terrorist and cri-minals. The vital techniques required to re-

cover a fellow injured Operator we-re taught and practiced over and over until they are now second na-ture to these professionals. The course wrapped up with a very impressive graduation attended by many dignitaries, Generals, mem-bers of their community that they protect and best of all – the fami-lies of the new SWAT Operators! Their hard work, long and difficult days and absolute commitment to this training was rewarded with the awarding of the prestigious United States Police SWAT Operators Badge. They were also awarded – due to the primary instructor also

being a LTC in the United States Army Reserve – the US Army Mar-ksmanship Badge. And as a final testimony to their new status as SWAT Operators they were presented a new combat knife per the traditions of United States SWAT Forces. The Greek Forces are very well known as excellent students who are smart, resourceful and brave! Their devotion to both their com-munities and the citizens of Greece showed both their honor and their loyalty. The European Paratrooper Associa-tion – Combat Training Center

The SWAT Operator badge (SWAT Basic Badge) is adopted by the Police agencies around the USA as their official SWAT qualification badge. Beside the SWAT Basic Badge there is also the SWAT Senior Badge and the SWAT Master Badge.

THE SWAT LOGO MEANING EAGLE: Strength, Endurance, & Observation; LIGHTNING BOLT: Speed & Surprise when called upon or forced to act.; KNIFE & ASSAULT RIFLE: The tools we use in SWAT.

8

would also like to point out the a-mazing hospitality of the Greek people and of the Professional Poli-ce and Military members who at-tended this course. Their willingness to train hard, to ask intelligent questions, to be in-novative and most of all to be ab-

solutely fearless in the execution of the mission was most impressive to the International Training Cadre of the EPA. I can say without reservation that I would go into battle with any of these men! The staff of the EPA Combat

Training Center looks forward to coming back to Greece to conduct training once again and we invite you to also attend the SWAT Ope-rators and SWAT Team Leaders Courses or any of our outstanding tactical courses this year in the Czech Republic or at your location!

Graduation Ceremony For Greek SWAT Operators Course. On the left: The poster of the EPA SWAT Course “Macedonian Eagle” in Greece.

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9

O n 4th February 2010 a group of our members, Italian policemen, from

"Guardia di F inanza” and "Carabinieri" of counterterrorism quick reaction force took part in the Combat Pistol Course organized in Italy by the Combat Training Center of the European paratroopers Association. The purpose of this course consisted

besides the training in basic and advanced combat pistol tactics and techniques in the exchange of experience and skills between the participants coming from different police forces. The day spent on the shooting range was an opportunity of exchanging experience, ability, skills and knowledge in a hight level environment. The students

had the opportunity to conduct live fire training in pistol (Beretta 92 FS and Glock 17) combat tac-tics. Shooting on the move and tactical combat shooting were stressed such as extensive training on room clearing movements were taught and executed by all teams. At the end of the corse the partici-pants was awrded with the EPA’s CTC Certificate of Training.

T hanks to the Commander of 5 1 5 0 t h S p e c i a l Marksmanship Unit of

United States Army, last 12th January the Combat Training Cen t e r o f t h e Eu r opean Paratrooper Association had

organized in Rome/Italy a training day with the objective being to give our members the opportunity to train with one of the most famouse marksmanship unit of the United States of America in order to qualified for and to earn the US

Army Marksman Badge. The training day was reserved to our comrades of the Italian Reserve Officers Association and over 20 active and reserve soldiers found themselves on the range representing all the four Italian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, air Force and Carabinieri). At the end of the day all the O f f i c e r s and NCOs we re successfully qualified for the US Army Pistol and Rifle Badges.

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WWW ith the growing popularity of paratroopers during the Second World

War, Canada followed suit to its Allies. On July 1st 1942, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (1CPB) was formed from overseas volunteers. The initial volunteers trained at Fort Benning, in the US. Following their training, Parachute Training centres were opened in Shilo, Manitoba in Canada to qualify more members using a mix of American and British doctrine. By early 1943, the main strength of 1CPB was attached to the British 6th Airborne for service in Europe. Once overseas, the battalion participated in the D-Day invasion, fought through Belgium and Holland, joined in the Airborne crossing of the Rhine and advanced to Wismar, Germany However, early in the post war era, the Battalion was disbanded upon its return to Canada. A second force with Canadian soldiers in an airborne role was also established in 1942. Using a mix of Canadian and American soldiers, the First Special Service Force (FSSF) was created. This unit, formed in Montana, made its way overseas where it participated, and distinguished itself, in many operations throughout the Italian theatre. The FSSF later on went to form the famous US Green Berets. The men of the 1CPB and FSSF who remained in the army post WW2 formed in the Canadian Special Air Service Regiment in 1947. |This unit was disbanded in

By Casey Anderson

Canadian Jumpmaster drop paratroopers out of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

The proud history of the Canadian Paratroopers from the D-Day invasion and the fight in Europe in the IIWW to the UN Mission in Somalia in the early 1990s

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1949 to form the Mobile Strike Force, designated with the important role of being a rapidly deployable defence force across Canada. Maintaining Canadian sovereignty at the height of the Cold War in the Arctic regions in the Northern area of the country was their principle mission. By 1958 this unit was once again reformed to a diminished role and renamed the Defence of Canada Force, where the paratroopers found themselves limited to several infantry-company strength sub-units dispersed within Infantry battalions with the same task of protecting the Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. The Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR) became the first parachute regiment since the 1CPB in 1968. This Regiment served proudly throughout many United Nations Operations. It held 3 Infantry Commandos, as well as mechanized support, an Airborne Artillery element from 2 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2RCHA), and Airborne Engineers. Following the UN Mission in Somalia in the early 1990s, for both political and

economic reasons, the CAR was disbanded in 1995 to the detriment of the Canadian Forces. Since then, parachute capabilities in Canada have been reduced to company sized strength within 3 Regular Force infantry regiments. The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and the Royal 22eme Regiment (R22eR), as well as being supported by the only Reserve Regiment with a Parachute role, the Queens Own Rifles of Canada (QOR). All of these units are supported by the Canadian Forces Land Advance Warfare Centre which trains soldiers in parachuting operations and also encompasses the Parachute Maintenance Depot, at Canadian Forces Base Trenton. In 2006, the Department of National Defence announced the formation of a new regiment with

a rapid deployment role. The Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) is a tier-two Special Forces unit which supports, and supplements Canada’s anti-terrorist unit and tier-one unit, Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2). The CSOR has adopted the distinctive tan beret (associated with Special Forces units worldwide), which was a departure from the maroon berets of the CSOR’s ancestor regiments. Canada’s Paratrooper Lineage 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, 1942-45. - First Special Service Force (Devil’s Brigade), 1942-44. - Canadian Special Air Service Company, 1947-49. - Mobile Strike Force, 1948-50. - Defence of Canada Force, 1958-68. - Canadian

Airborne Regiment, 1968-95. - Joint Task

Force II, 1993-Present. - Three independent parachute companies within light infantry battalions, 1995-Present as well as a reserve regiment. - Canadian Special

Operations Regiment, 2006-present.

Left From Top: Jumpmaster chech. Parachute landing falls. Canadian Patrol. Canadian paratroopers waiting CH-47 Helicopter.

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he Beretta SCP-70/90 is the stan-dard carabine of Ita-lian Paratroopers. The SCP-70/90 is the Airborne troops

modifications of the basic Italian Army AR-70/90 assault rifle. The famous Italian arms company Pietro Beretta Spa began to develop a new assault rifle, chambered for Ameri-can 5.56mm cartridge in 1968. The resulting design appeared circa 1972 and after trials was adopted by the Ita-lian Special Forces, as well as by some foreign armies, like those of Jordan, Malaysia and others. The rifle was desi-gnated AR-70/223, and was available in three basic versions (standard as-sault rifle AR-70/223, carbine SC-70/223 with same barrel and folding butt, and a special carbine SCS-70/223 with shortened barrel and folding butt). The basic design showed some minor flaws, and when Italian army decided to replace its ageing 7.62mm Beretta BM59 automatic rifles with the new 5.56mm NATO assault rifle, Beretta entered the contest with the upgraded version of the 70/223. This upgraded version appeared in 1985, and even-tually won the following trials. In 1990 it was adopted as the basic AR-70/90 assault rifle, with the available modifi-cations of SC-70/90 (same rifle but with the folding buttstock for Muntain troops “Alpini”) and SCP-70/90 (Airborne troops carbine with shorte-ned barrel and folding butt). The Beret-ta AR-70/90 is a general issue shoulder arm with the Italian Army, and also is offered for export. Technical description. The AR-70/90 series rifles is a gas ope-rated, magazine fed, selective fire wea-pon. The receiver is made from stam-ped sheet steel, and consist of two hal-ves, upper and lover, connected by two cross-pins, at the rear and at the front. For maintenance and field stripping the rear pin is pushed out and the receiver is hinged around the front pin. If requi-

red, the front pin can be removed too, so the receiver halves will be separated completely. This design proved to be not strong enough, so the AR-70/90 features a trapezoid-shaped upper re-ceiver cross-section, with separate bolt guides welded in place. The gas operated action of the AR-70/90 is fairy conventional, with the long stroke gas piston, located above the barrel. The gas piston rod is linked to the bolt carrier by using a cocking handle as a lock, and the return spring is located around the gas piston, above the barrel. The gas block featured a two positions gas regulator (for normal and adverse conditions), and the gas cutoff, integral with raising grenade sight. When grenade sight is raised in-to the firing position, it automatically closes the gas port. The rotating bolt is somewhat similar to one, found in the Kalashnikov AK-47 rifles, and has two massive lugs, which are locked into the barrel sleeve, which is welded into the receiver. The charging handle is atta-ched to the bolt carrier. The barrel is fixed to the receiver using the threaded barrel nut, allowing for quick barrel re-placement (for repair purposes only, not in the field), without the extensive headspace adjustments. The barrel bo-re is chrome-plated. The conventional trigger / hammer mechanism allows for single shots, 3 rounds bursts (optional) and full auto. The safety /selector is

ambidextrous. The feeding of AR-70/90 series weapons is achieved by using STANAG (M16-type) compliant magazi-nes, with the ambidextrous magazine release button located at the both si-des of the magazine housing in the lo-wer receiver. The AR-70/90 series ri-fles featured a bolt stop device, which holds the bolt open when the last round from the magazine is fired. The bolt release button is located at the left side of the receiver, above the magazine housing. The sights of the AR-70/90 rifles consists of the hooded front blade, mounted on the top of the gas block, and the flip-up aperture re-ar, marked for 250 and 400 meters range. The top surface of the receiver is fitted with the NATO-standard sco-pe / accessory rail. A detachable car-rying handle with the see-through base is available for all AR-70/90 series ri-fles. The AR-70/90 also can be equip-ped with Zeiss "Orion" night-vision sight or the Aimpoint 4X telescope sight (any other sights with compatible mountings also can be easily installed, if required). The furniture on all rifles is made from plastic, with the standard rifles having the fixed plastic buttstocks. The SC-70/90 Muntain troops carbines are dif-ferent from AR rifles only by having the side-folding, skeleton type metallic buttstocks, covered with plastic. The SCP-70/90 carbine is similar to the SC-70/90 except that it has a shortened barrel which cannot be used to launch rifle grenades directly. However, a special detachable rifle grenade laun-cher is available for short barreled car-bines, which could be easily clamped onto the muzzle of the gun. A wide va-riety of accessories is available for AR-70/90 rifles, including knife-type bayo-nets, firing adaptors, etc.

T

Caliber 5.56x45mm NATO (SS109/M855)

Length 908 mm / 663 mm with folded butt

Barrel length 360 mm

Weight, empty 3.80 kg

Magazine capacity 30 rounds

Rate of fire 670 rounds per minute

Effective range 350 meters

13

ating back to 1947, the Antonov AN-2 is an extremely durable, light, single-engine aircraft and has had

a varied career, used by the military, commercial and agricultural sectors. This huge Russian biplane has been used as a paratroopers transport, light bomber, glider tug, navigation trainer and utility transport. Despite being a versatile and adaptable machine, the large, fabric-covered An-2 biplane remains firmly rooted in much earlier days of aviation. he AN-2 prototype was first flown on August 31, 1947, and the aircraft is still in production, although the Antonov Bureau has not produced any since 1960. The An-2s designer, Oleg Antonov, had been an aircraft designer during the Second World War. He then formed his own bureau with the intention of creating an aircraft capable of almost any task. He succeeded. Originally designed for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in the former Soviet Union, the aircraft was soon adopted by the Soviet Air Force and built for its client states. It is ideally suited to less developed countries because it requires little maintenance and is easy to fly. The AN-2's admittedly-antiquated design gives it extremely short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities. This is partly achieved not only by the high-lift double wings, but by the use of the drooping ailerons which can be lowered 20 degrees to compliment the flaps. The wings are covered in fabric aft of the front spar and the tailplane is also covered with fabric,

making field repairs easy. It has a crew of two in a heated crew compartment and a single bay running the length of the aircraft. More than 12,000 AN-2 have been produced at the PZL Mielec plant in Poland since it signed a licensing deal in 1960. The Antonov plant in Kiev produced 5,000 before it stopped production in 1965. The design was also licensed to China, where 1,500 were completed as the Harbin Y-5

transport airplane between 1957 and 1970, and more were produced as the Fongshu 2. The AN-2 is still in service with over 30 air forces and has been used by Aeroflot and other eastern airlines. With the collapse of the communist regime over two decade ago, a small number of AN-2s have begun to appear on some airfield in Europe where it is frequented used for parachute drops, capable of carrying 12 jumpers.

D

Specifications (An-2P) Engine: One 1,000-hp Shvetsov ASh-62IR radial piston engine Weight: Empty 7605 lbs., Max Takeoff 12,125 lbs. Wing Span: 59ft. 7.75in.(Upper), 46ft. 8.5in. (Lower). Length: 41ft. 9.5in. Height: 13ft. 1.5in. Performance: Maximum Speed at 5,700 ft: 160 mph Economy Cruising Speed: 115 mph

Ceiling: 14,425 ft. Range: 560 miles with 1,100-pound payload Armament: None Accommodation: 2 crew + 12 passengers Number Built: 20,000+ Number Still Airworthy: Unknown, but believed to be at least 2,000. Nicknames: кукуру́зник kukuruznik - ("Corn-Eater") and Annushka ("Little Annie"); Colt (NATO code name.

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he first Parachute badge was designed during World War II by Captain (later Lieutenant General) William P. Yarbo-

rough of the 501st Parachute Batta-lion. A memorandum of record writ-ten by Captain Yarborough on April 22, 1941, tells the story of the birth of the parachute badge. "On March 3, 1941, I was ordered to Washington to report to the Adjutant General for temporary duty in the Office of the Chief of Infantry. My mission was the procurement of a suitable parachutist badge with would meet with the approval both of the War Department and the Comman-ding Officer of the 501st Parachute Battalion. Major Miley (commander of the 501st), before my departure, gave me full authority to approve any design that I considered acceptable, and to do so in his name. The same authority was delegated to me in the name of the Chief of Infantry. "I drew the original sketch in the office of Lieutenant Colonel Beuchner, G-3; a finished copy of my original sketch was prepared in the office of the Quartermaster General. Through the help of Mr. A.E. Dubois, in the Quartermaster General's office, 350 of the badges were procured from the Bailey, Banks & Biddle Company in Philadelphia and were in the hands of the Commanding Officer of the 501st Parachute Battalion by March 14, 19-41. This is believed to have been an all time speed record for War Depar-tment Procurement." "I personally took the correspondence relative to the badge's approval from one office to another until the tran-saction was complete. This operation took me one entire week, eight hours a day." Captain Yarborough even ap-

plied for a patent to protect the de-sign from unauthorized reproduc-tion. On Fe-bruary 2, 19-43, Patent #134963 was gran-ted for "A Para-chutist's B a d g e " for a pe-riod of three and one-half years. The Parachutist Badge was formally approved on 10 March 1941. The se-nior and master parachutists badges were authorized by Headquarters, Department of the Army in 1949 and were announced by Change 4, Army Regulation 600-70, dated 24 January 1950. Description: An oxidized silver badge 1 13/64 in-ches in height and 1 1/2 inches in width, consisting of an open parachu-te on and over a pair of stylized wings displayed and curving inward. A star and wreath are added above the pa-rachute canopy to indicate the degree of qualification. A star above the ca-nopy indicates a Senior Parachutist; the star surrounded by a laurel wre-ath indicates a Master Parachutist. Symbolism: The wings suggest flight and, toge-ther with the open parachute, symbo-lize individual proficiency and para-chute qualifications Basic Parachutist: Awarded to any individual who has satisfactorily completed the prescri-bed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the

Airborne Department of the Infantry School; or participated in at least one combat parachute jump. Senior Parachutist: Participated in a minimum of 30 jumps to include 15 jumps with combat equipment; two night jumps, one of which is as jumpmaster of a stick; two mass tactical jumps which culminate in an airborne assault pro-blem; graduated from the Jumpma-ster Course; and served on jump sta-tus with an airborne unit or other or-ganization authorized parachutists for a total of at least 24 months. Master Parachutist: Participated in 65 jumps to include 25 jumps with combat equipment; four night jumps, one of which is as a jumpmaster of a stick; five mass tac-tical jumps which culminate in an air-borne assault problem with a unit e-quivalent to a battalion or larger; se-parate company/battery or organic staff of a regiment size or larger; gra-duated from the Jumpmaster Course; and served in jump status with an airborne unit or other organization authorized parachutists for a total of at least 36 months.

T

Basic Parachutist Senior Parachutist Master Parachutist

15

REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS

DEPOT PARA RECRUIT COY

1 PARA 2 PARA 3 PARA 4 PARA RESERVE

AIRBORNE FORCES

UK 16 AIR ASSAULT BDE

PATHFINDER PLATOON

SPECIAL FORCES SUPPORT GROUP

THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT

PARACHUTE HELMET

UK PARACHUTE WINGS (ARMY)

IRVIN LOW LEVEL PARACHUTE

(LLP)

PARACHUTE SMOCK WINDPROOF WITH

STORMCUFFS

L7A2 GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUN (GPMG) 7.62 NATO BELT FED

UK COMBAT 95 DISRUPTIVE PATTERN MATERIAL

CARRYING STRAPS PERSONAL EQUIPMENT PARACHUTIST (CSPEP)

SHORTBACK BERGEN (INFANTRY)

DZ FLASH AND WINGS RIGHT SHOULDER

CSPEP LEG STRAP HOOK

16

InvictusInvictusInvictus Out of the night that covers me,Out of the night that covers me,Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may beI thank whatever gods may beI thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. For my unconquerable soul. For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstanceIn the fell clutch of circumstanceIn the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. I have not winced nor cried aloud. I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chanceUnder the bludgeonings of chanceUnder the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. My head is bloody, but unbowed. My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tearsBeyond this place of wrath and tearsBeyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, Looms but the Horror of the shade, Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the yearsAnd yet the menace of the yearsAnd yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate,It matters not how strait the gate,It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, How charged with punishments the scroll, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate:I am the master of my fate:I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. I am the captain of my soul. I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley.William Ernest Henley.William Ernest Henley. 184918491849–––190319031903