The Pathfinder Platoon

16 Air Assault Brigade's Pathfinder Platoon are specially trained paratroopers tasked with advance force operations : moving in ahead of the main force, reconnoitering and marking the parachute drop zone or helicopter landing zone.

The Pathfinder Platoon is tri-service although it is almost entirely manned by soldiers from 2 and 3 Battalions of The Parachute Regiment, who provide troops to 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Pathfinders may be inserted up to a week ahead of the main force, usually in 4-man teams. The men of the pathfinder platoon are skilled in covert insertion, concealment and intelligence gathering. Pathfinder patrols may be parachuted or helicoptered into position. They may also insert by vehicles, usually heavily armed WMIK Land Rovers.

Although not technically a special forces unit the levels of discipline and skills required of Pathfinders are close to if not entirely comparable to SF. Indeed, a stint in the pathfinders is often a good grounding for those wishing to serve in the Special Air Service.

Pathfinders are highly skilled in insertion by parachute, including HALO and HAHO techniques.

Pathfinder Weapons

For much of the 80s and 90s the Pathfinders were issued with non-standard personal weapons such as:

• M16A1/A2 assault rifles
• M203 grenade launchers
• M72 LAW Rocket Launchers

In more recent times, Pathfinders reverted back to standard UK issue weapons:

• SA80A2
• UGL 40mm grenade launcher (attached to sa80a2)
• LMG (light machine gun)

Browing High Power 9mm pistols were the standard sidearm for the Pathfinders for many years.

Reports surfacing in 2007 suggest that the following weapons have been added to the Pathfinder Platoon arsenal:

• C8 SFW Carbine
• UGL 40mm grenade launcher (attached to C8 SFW)
• Sig Sauer P226 9mm pistol

update: watch a video clip showing Pathfinder Platoon troops, armed with C8s and P226s, operating in Afghanistan, April 2008.

Pathfinder Operations

Sierra Leone 2000
During Operation Palliser the Pathfinder Platoon engaged RUF troops at Lungi Loi, in which several enemy soldiers were killed. It was during the Pathfinder's engagements in Sierra Leone that shortcomings with the SA80a1 assault rifles - which were the standard rifle of the British Army - came to a head. In at least one contact, many of the Paras were unable to release the safety catch on their SA80s, due to the extreme heat. Fortunately the platoon was able to bring their GPMGs and HMGs to bear during the contact and no British lives were lost.

read more on : Parachute Regiment / Pathfinder Operations in Sierra Leone

Iraq 2003
During Operation Telic the Pathfinders drove into Southern Iraq on WMIK Land Rovers and carried out reconnaissance and offensive operations ahead of the main invasion force.

Afghanistan 2006
The Pathfinder Platoon proceded and accompanied 3 Para on operations in Helmand Province.

read more on the Pathfinder Platoon in Afghanistan