23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault)
23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) are Royal Engineers unit and the combat engineering element of 16 Air Assault Brigade (16 AA BDE).
The sappers of 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) typically attach to infantry units such as the Paras and accompany them on operations, ready to carry out any engineering tasks that may be required. These tasks may include building fortifications, building or destroying bridges, clearing minefields and blowing entry holes in walls and buildings.
The regiment consists of the following elements:
- 12 Parachute Headquarters & Support Squadron
includes Recce Troop, who may deploy with forward elements (Pathfinders, PARA Patrols Troop) to carry out engineering reconnaissance. - 9 Parachute Squadron
- 51 Parachute Squadron
- 299 Parachute Squadron (Royal Engineers) (TA)
As with other elements within 16 Air Assault Brigade, members of 23 Engineer Regiment are parachute trained.
Since 2003, 23 Engineering Regiment (Air Assault) have deployed with 16 Air Assault Brigade in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
