South African 44th Para Brigade questions

[FuturePara]

Does anyone in here have an Order of Battle or organizational break down of the 44th SA Para-Brigade? Also, history on their operations in the 80's-present?
I've recently started reading Dale Brown's "Vortex" novel and one of the key characters is a member of this elite unit. It's sparked my interest. Also, what kind of uniform/camo/equipment/weapons do they have?
I read the bit on the training that was excellent earlier posted here. Info is greatly appreciated.

[hist2004]

The 44th Parachute Brigade has its historical roots with the paratroop company formed by the South African Air Force in August 1943. Unfortunately the unit was disbanded even before it completed jump training, there being other needs for South African military man-power during World War II. However, some 50 South Africans served in British airborne units, mostly with the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group in Italy, France, and Greece. In 1960 a group of 15 South African officers and enlisted men received airborne training at RAF Arlington, England. They then established 1 Parachute Battalion in Tempe, Bloemfontein, South Africa on 1 April 1961, under the command of Cmdt. W. P. Louw. The first of April is celebrated as the birthday of South African airborne forces.

On 26 August 1966, members of the 1st Parachute Battalion participated in a helicopter assault on a guerrilla base at Ongulumbeshe -- the first action of the war in South West Africa (SWA) and the first combat action for South Africa since World War II. South Africa’s paratroopers would continue to fight in SWA (Namibia) and Angola against insurgents of the South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO) for the next twenty-odd years. From their first combat action through 1991 a total of 43 South African paratroopers were killed in action or subsequently died of combat wounds.

The 2d and 3d Parachute Battalions were established for Citizen Force (reserve) paratroopers and in April 1976 the 44th parachute Brigade was formed. The brigade included additional airborne units, combat and support, to make the unit an “all arms” organization.

Although the 1st Parachute Battalion carried out several platoon and company sized parachute operations, the first major parachute assault by South African paratroopers was on 4 May 1978 when a composite battalion composed of elements of all three battalions and commanded by COL Jan Breytenbach raided the SWAPO base at Cassinga, Angola. His composite unit jumped directly into combat, engaging a heavily armed guerrilla force of over 2,000 SWAPO insurgents and their foreign advisors. It was an epic battle that included violent small unit assaults, running firefights, and a rear-guard action fought by anti-tank teams against a Cuban armored column. The 44th Paras also conducted Fire Force operations in South West Africa and Rhodesia, as well as border control operations in the Northern Transvaal. The 1st and 3d Para Battalions carried out other parachute operations in Angola, while several companies from the brigade made helicopter assaults during the conflicts in SWA.

The South African paratroopers ended their involvement in SWA with an air-land operation in the Kaokoveld by 1st and 4th Parachute Battalion Group to counter the last SWAPO incursion in April 1989. A company from the 4th Parachute Battalion was the last South African Army combat unit to withdraw from Owambo. South Africa’s paras were first in and last out.

Since then the paras have deployed internally throughout South Africa to stabilize unrest and in Ciskei (formerly a homeland state) in a counter-coup operation. All paratroopers, in both full time and part time units (active and reserve) are volunteers. They are trained by the 44th Parachute Brigade at the Parachute Training School, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa.

Regards,
Hist2004

[2RHPZ]

http://www.recce.co.za/

http://www.netpoint.co.za/~militaria/Special%20Forces.htm