History Royal Lao Army Airborne

1 history

1.1 first indochina war operations 1948–1954
1.2 post-war operations 1955–1960
1.3 kong le s coup , splintering of laotian airborne forces
1.4 civil war operations 1960–1964
1.5 reorganization , expansion 1965–1970
1.6 final years 1971–75

history

the laotian paratroopers owed origin , traditions french airborne forces of first indochina war, , after years of american, filipino, indonesian, , thai assistance distinctive french influence seen. along irregular ethnic special guerrilla units (sgus), regular airborne , para-commando battalions effective units in rla.

first indochina war operations 1948–1954

the first laotian airborne unit formed on 1 july 1948, when detached 3rd company 1st laotian rifle battalion (french: 1er bataillon de chasseurs laotiens – 1er bcl) began airborne training , renamed 1st laotian para-commando company (french: 1ére compagnie de commandos parachutistes laotiens – 1ére ccpl) of french union army. september, 1ére ccpl strength had risen headquarters (hq) section , 3 commando sections, totalling 132 laotians , 22 french officers , senior ncos seconded french far east expeditionary corps (cefeo) parachute units. during same month, 1ére ccpl headquarters , airborne training centre manned french instructors established @ french air force s wattay airbase outside vientiane, laos capital city. on 11 may 1949, 1ére ccpl performed first combat jump, dropping 18 commandos reinforce luang namtha garrison. 6 more airborne operations conducted company during year, including 112-man jump reinforce sam neua in sam neua province, close laotian-vietnamese border, on 16 december. on 29 april 1951 company increased 6 commando sections. in october, however, commandos 4, 5, , 6 removed form 2nd company of new 1st laotian parachute battalion. remainer of 1ére ccpl conducted 5 airborne reinforcement jumps around country during year. on 1 march 1952 1ére ccpl renamed 1st laotian commando company (french: 1ére compagnie de commandos laotiens – 1ére ccl). numerous jumps conducted during year, part of counter-insurgency sweeps north of vientiane. on 27 april 1953 1ére ccl dropped @ nam bac valley, north of luang prabang establish forward defensive line in face of vietminh invasion. company decimated, , not reconstitute headquarters section , 4 commando sections until 4 august. on 15 june 1954 company transferred french union army laotian national army (french: armée nationale laotiènne – anl), changing name 1st group of laotian para-commandos (french: 1er groupement de commandos parachutistes laotiens – 1er gcpl). french officers left group august, after been replaced hand-picked laotian officers , ncos.

a second airborne unit, 1st laotian parachute battalion (french: 1er bataillon de parachutistes laotiens – 1er bpl), began forming in october 1951. 1 april 1952 battalion brought strength 853 officers , enlisted men, divided headquarters , 3 companies. based @ chinaimo, outside vientiane, 1er bpl participated in twenty operations, 6 involving parachute jumps, during 1952. on 15–24 december 576 members of unit conducted reinforcement drop sam neua garrison during operation noel . eighty more members of battalion jumped sam neua in february 1953, enabling bpl create fourth company. on 15 april 1953, vietminh invaded northeastern laos 40,000 troops commanded general võ nguyên giáp , crushed sam neua garrison, sending remnants of bpl fleeing toward plain of jars. month later, battalion reconstituted @ chinaimo, , conducted several reconnaissance , commando operations north of luang prabang – such operation dampieres in september 1953 – remainer of year. in march 1954 bpl began preparing operation condor , planned relief of besieged dien bien phu garrison in north vietnam. during april , may battalion advanced toward laotian-vietnamese border, withdrawn in mid-may after garrison fell. on 18 june bpl regrouped @ french air force s seno airbase near savannakhet. 2–4 august battalion performed last airborne operation of first indochina war, jumping town of phanop in khammouane province link local militia units , sweep territory strategic mụ giạ pass, located in annamite range on laotian-vietnamese border.

the fall of dien bien phu brought indochina war close , drove french government enter peace negotiations vietminh. following signing of agreement on cessation of hostilities in laos on 20 july 1954 , implementation of indochina ceasefire on 6 august, 981-strong bpl brought seno , turned on anl. after french officers left bpl in october, name of unit simplified 1st parachute battalion (french: 1er bataillon parachutiste – 1er bp).

post-war operations 1955–1960

in 1955, 1ére gcpl integrated 1er bp @ seno. reinforced battalion conducted parachute reinforcement jump muong peun during year. 2nd parachute battalion (french: 2e bataillon de parachutistes – 2e bp) began formed @ wattay in 1957, being brought strength following year after return philippines of laotian contingent trained @ scout ranger course @ fort william mckinley in manila. although both units grouped understrength two-battalion airborne regiment, deployed @ different locations: 2e bp, based @ wattay, given responsibility operations in northern laos while 1er bp, based @ seno, handled missons in southern provinces of country.

the deteriorating domestic political situation towards late 1950s, along threat posed home-grown marxist pathet lao insurgency backed neighbouring democratic republic of vietnam (e.g. north vietnam), presented largely unprepared laotian armed forces (french: forces armées laotiènnes – fal) – officially created in july 1959 , redesignated in september 1961 royal lao armed forces (french: forces armées du royaume – far) – first major challenges since first indochina war. due poor state of readiness, anl (renamed in 1961 royal lao army or rla), had rely exclusively on crack parachute battalions confront pathet lao insurgents: in may 1959, 2e bp dropped near tha thom, south of plain of jars, cut off pathet lao guerrilla battalion fleeing toward north vietnamese border. operation failed prevent guerrillas crossing border, , further aggrieve matters, of 2e bp fell ill malaria. disease-ridden battalion withdrawn wattay following month. in july, unit rushed sam neua engage alleged joint pathet lao/north vietnamese army (nva) incursion threatened city. although of anl units had fled area, 2e bp encountered minimal insurgent activity , found no trace of nva troops. on 29 july, 2e bp sent again sam neua province in futile attempt reinforce local anl outposts threatened pathet lao attacks. on 22 august, 1er bp brought seno conduct parachute reinforcement jump moung peun, , both battalions engaged in small skirmishes in northern laos. however, disgruntled anl s failure pay wages while on assignment, deputy commander of 2e bp captain kong le led disaffected paratroopers participate in 25 december 1959 coup d état brought major-general phoumi nosavan power. although prince tiao samsanith appointed prime-minister, true power rested in hands of maj. gen. phoumi, defense minister of new government , de facto ruler of laos.

in 1960, 2e bp rushed down attapeu province counter increased pathet lao guerrilla activity in region. battalion carried out counter-insurgency sweeps along laotian-cambodian border until flown wattay on 27 april. provide additional training laotian para battalions, 2 new airborne training centres established in february 1960 @ vang vieng, located 17 kilometers (10.56 miles) vientiane , set of u.s. military assistance advisory group (laos) advisors, , @ seno, assisted french military misson in laos (french: mission militaire française près du gouvernment royale du laos) advisors. same month, company 1er bp began receiving instruction @ vang vieng , elements of 2e bp assembled there in april, withdrawn , parachuted north of vientiane on 25 may in unsuccessful attempt apprehend group of pathet lao political leaders escaped prison in capital. further airborne , ranger training provided royal thai army (rta) @ special warfare centre , recondo school co-located @ fort narai in lopburi province, thailand. companies 2e bp rotated through ft. narai in first half of 1960, followed entire 1er bp on 6 june. @ same time, new para battalion, 3e bp, activated @ wattay.

kong le s coup , splintering of laotian airborne forces

as 1959 ended, anl undertook wider offensive against pathet lao, , active in counter-insurgency operations crack 2e bp led capt. kong le. when situation worsened airborne forces after several weary months of combat, kong le decided take matters own hands. on 9 august 1960, while royal lao government dignitaries in luang prabang attending king sisavang vong s funeral, 2e bp under command of capt. kong le seized control of vientiane in bloodless coup d état in order restore neutrality laos . after dissolving right-wing cabinet of prince samsanith, kong le invited prince souvanna phouma form neutralist coalition government , announced new cabinet open both royalists , marxist pathet lao. latter took immediate advantage of kong le s offer, , began sending forces capital. soviet union assisted pathet lao airlifting in supplies , nva artillery battery equipped captured m101a1 105mm howitzers. however, royalists, growing approval (and support) of u.s. , thailand, regrouped in savannakhet under command of maj. gen. phoumi nosavan , prepared counter-coup on vientiane. anl split along political lines, parachute units joining opposing factions: 1er bp returned training in thailand seno, , declared loyalty royalists; 3e bp, still 4 months graduation, had 1 company defect kong le neutralist faction; remainder of unit refused support neutralists , held hostage @ vientiane.

early civil war operations 1960–1964

during september 1960, company of 1er bp flown reinforce sam neua in face of pressure joint neutralist/pathet lao forces. in same month, 2e bp parachuted team near mahaxay harass royalist forces. during november, contingent 1er bp flown luang prabang reinforce royalist elements. late month, royalists began offensive retake vientiane, , 8 december 1er bp had advanced paksane. led defense minister maj. gen. phoumi nosavan, royalist forces launched combined ground , airborne assault on vientiane. between 14 , 16 december, during battle vientiane 1er bp parachuted east of laotian capital, linking 3e bp , other sympathetic anl units. defeated after 2 days of fighting, kong le s neutralist paratroopers , pathet lao guerrilla forces withdrew north capital in organized fashion, gathering recruits neutralist cause along way. veered east, , conquered strategic plain of jars in central xieng khouang province new year s eve. once established on plain, capt. kong le (self-appointed major-general in december 1962) set headquarters @ former royal lao air force (rlaf) muang soui airfield, , on 4 january 1961 formed neutralist armed forces (french: forces armées neutralistes – fan). neutralists controlled plain of jars muang soui hq extending eastwards along route 7 border north vietnam. along other ex-anl units, both 2e bp , company 3e bp provided nuclei of new force. original 2e bp, had swelled 6 companies during battle of vientiane in late 1960, sub-divided, each of first 5 companies becoming separate neutralist para battalion – 1er, 2e, 3e, 4e, , 5e bps – , sixth company becoming airborne training centre @ muang phanh. however, because of lack of transport aircraft, few of neutralist paratroopers airborne-qualified.

once secure in vientiane, anl command repeatedly delayed all-out attack recapture plain of jars. on 2–3 january 1961, 1er bp dropped on southern edge of plain in attempt rally government forces, forced withdraw on foot tha thom 8 january. on next month royal lao government attempted several offensives against fan. during period, airborne designations became confused new para battalions added official order-of-battle. elements of 1er bp occupying tha thom redesignated 11er bp, , 12e bp raised in seno in mid-january, 2 of companies flown luang prabang on 17 january. understrength 3e bp remained stationed in vientiane.

during february , march, 12e bp remained @ luang prabang, 3e bp operated north of vientiane, , 11er bp kept @ tha tom, 100 paratroopers 12e bp dropped reinforcements on 4 february. in addition, new 55e bp had been raised @ seno, elements of battalion sent paksane. on 5 april, 1 company reconstituted 1er bp dropped on muong kassy trap neutralist contingent fighting along route 13, main paved road linking vientiane luang prabang; remainder of battalion heli-lifted vicinity later day. however, after anl reinforcements failed arrive, 1er bp forced evacuate on foot luang prabang on 14 april. on 24 april, airborne formations gathered under new regimental-sized airborne mobile group 15 (french: groupement mobile 15 aeroportée – gm 15) @ seno. during may, understrength 3e bp , 12e bp absorbed 55e bp, leaving 1er, 11er, , 55e bp in gm 15. remainder of 1961, gm 15 carried out small-scale sweeps north , east of savannakhet.

by may 1961 ceasefire signed , hostilities dropped off. laotian army, renamed royal lao army (rla) in september of year, concentrated on small-scale sweeps until heavy fighting broke out again in february 1962 when pathet lao began exerting heavy pressure on north-western garrison @ luang namtha. on 12 february, during battle of luang namtha, 1er bp withdrawn static defense positions east of savannakhet , parachuted town. enemy pressure built around luang namtha, 55e bp , assigned u.s. special forces (ussf) white star mobile training team advisors dropped in on 27 march, followed 11er bp on 16 april. after weeks of heavy enemy pressure during april, 1er bp began advancing towards nearby enemy-held town of muong sing on 3 may. battalion smashed, sending paratroopers fleeing luang namtha , on 5 may garrison began collapse, precipitating mass exodus; on 2,000 rla troops headed thai border, many not stopping until had crossed mekong river thailand. 55e bp offered resistance, losing half of strength in process. badly mauled, gm 15 not reconstituted @ seno until 25 april. laotian paratroopers spent rest of 1962 replacing losses, , in beginning of following year, revigorated 55e bp sent on small-scale clearing operations in military region 5 (pakse).

under new tripartite coalition government, peace in laos lasted 6 months. however, 1963 relations between pathet lao , maj. gen. kong le neutralists began fray, , on 6 april pathet lao launched several simultaneous surprise attacks on fan forces. same month, colonel deuane sunnalath (a former 2e bp company commander , kong le s chief rival) , brig. gen. khamouane boupha defected fan troops, included 1er bp , 4e bp, form separate faction called variously deuanist neutralists or patriotic neutralists, , allied pathet lao. neutralist 5e bp, stationed since 1962 @ central laotian town of nhommarath, pulled in june 1963 after clashing pathet lao guerrillas. heavy clashes flared across plain of jars, , in may 1964 concerted pathet lao offensive swept across strategic plain.

the remaining neutralist forces pulled west of plain of jars; muang phanh airborne training centre shut down pathet lao offensive forced training staff relocate vang vieng. kong le gathered remaining loyal paratroopers of 2e bp , 5e bp, , turned royal lao government support. mindful of kong le s deceit in august 1960, far high command nevertheless entered loose alliance neutralists. while maintaining façade of separate army, fan reduced subordinate branch of rla.

the alliance put test in november 1963, when neutralist 5e bp participated alongside royalist 11er , 55e bps in battle of lak sao. month, rla , fan agreed cooperate on joint ground operation against nva , pathet lao forces in upper laotian panhandle. after assembling @ nhommarath, rla/fan task-force under command of general sang kittarath – comprised 5e bp, 1 royalist infantry battalion , 1 neutralist armored company equipped soviet pt-76 amphibious light tanks – advanced northwards route 8 relieve isolated lak sao garrison, hoping cut north vietnamese units in 2 turning northeast towards nape pass, entry point north vietnam. although laotian allied forces successful, confronted strong north vietnamese counter-attack on 15 december. while sending 1 column down route 8 engage laotian task-force head-on, north vietnamese circled around southwards through mụ giạ pass strike towards nhommarath. following day, 11er bp dropped khamkheut , tried work way through route 8 lak sao, repulsed nva , forced retreat nak sao, before returning original drop zone. when khamkheut came under nva mortar fire, 11er bp retrated additional 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) west nam theun riverbank. battalion in risk of being destroyed, 55e bp parachuted ban, east of lak sao rescue 11er bp, strong winds blew off-course half of battalion on ridge adjacent predicted drop zone. second drop following morning more successful, , both para battalions bypassed khamkheut relieve rla garrison still holding ground @ lak sao. confused withdrawal down route 8 followed. january 1964, rla task-force – 5e bp included – had been chased field nva , pathet lao, , dispersed woods; regrouped @ thakhek. after coalescing @ phon tiou, 55e bp provided cover 11er bp withdrew towards mekong river.

in july 1964 rla , neutralists went offensive again, when launched operation triangle, first combined arms operation of laotian civil war, aim of recapturing strategic plain of jars. after assembling separately @ luang prabang, vientiane , muang soui, rla/fan task-force divided 3 columns under command of major-general kouprasith abhay – composed of neutralist 2e bp, 2 mobile groups (gms) , 3 adc hill tribal militia battalions backed thai artillery battalion, air support provided rlaf, royal thai air force (rtaf) , u.s. raven forward air controllers (a.k.a. raven facs) – converged on three-pronged assault against isolated pathet lao garrison occupying vital intersection of routes 7 , 13 @ sala phou khoun. however, operation partial success since 2e bp unable capture phou kout mountain, pathet lao stronghold overlooking muang soui blocked rla s advance plain of jars, after 4 failed attempts seize heights, in lost 106 men enemy minefields.

in november 1964, gm 15 launched operation victorious arrow, clearing operation east of savannakhet. during following year elements of each gm 15 para battalions brought ft. narai in thailand reconnaissance , commando training.

reorganization , expansion 1965–1970

on 1–3 february 1965, directorate of national coordination (dnc) paramilitary security agency led brigadier-general siho lamphouthacoul, had held de facto control on vientiane during previous year, defeated , disbanded rla in wake of coup d état led maj. gen. kouprasith abhay held same month. brig. gen. siho forced exile in thailand , after 2 days of negotiations, dnc s 3 airborne-qualified border police special battalions (french: bataillons speciales – bs) – bs 33, bs 11, , bs 99 – , commander, lieutenant-colonel thao ty agreed lay down arms option of transferring rla s airborne forces. mid-year had been moved seno , consolidated new parachute regiment, airborne mobile group 21 (french: groupement mobile 21 aeroportée – gm 21) under thao ty s command. gm 21 became best airborne regiment in rla. in november 1965 unit rushed thakhek after 2 nva infantry battalions came close overrunning town.

meanwhile, laotian airborne forces continued expand creation of additional parachute regiments. in october 1966, maj. gen. kong le went exile in indonesia , neutralist troops reorganized 2 mobile groups: gm 801, based @ muang soui, composed of newly formed 85e bp , 2 regular infantry battalions, , gm 802, formed @ pakse out of 2e bp, 5e bp, , reconstituted 4e bp. airborne-qualified 1st special commando battalion (french: 1er bataillon commando speciale – 1er bcs), had been trained in 1965 indonesian army @ airborne training centre located @ batujajar, near bandung, indonesia, disbanded , members dispersed other para battalions.

during 1967, gm 15 remained in static defense positions around muong phalane. 1 of battalions, 55e bp, briefly sent extreme north-western corner of country confront warring opium smugglers. gm 21 rotated 2 of para battalions military region 4 operations around khong sedone, saravane, , lao ngam.

in opening days of january 1968, laotian airborne forces faced perhaps greatest test @ battle of nam bac, when entire gm 15 rushed namesake valley reinforce local rla garrison, under heavy pressure nva s 316th division. on 8 january, pressure nearing breaking point, 99e bp landed north of garrison, failed prevent been encircled nva. following day, garrison fell when third of rla troops defending began withdrawing nam bac valley. however, withdrawal turned rout on january 13 when nva launched final assault on garrison, came out of heavy mist , hit rla command post, cutting radio communications defenders. nam bac debacle shattering defeat far, never managed recover, , severe blow prestige of airborne forces since resulted in total destruction of 99e bp , near disintegration of gm 15.

in august, mobile groups in laotian ground forces abolished , replaced independent battalions. 2 battalions of gm 21 , remnants of gm 15 consolidated 3 new independent para battalions, 101er, 102e, , 103e bps based @ seno. neutralist mobile groups not disbanded until following year after gm 801 crushed @ muang soui , brought thailand retraining. para elements of gm 801 regrouped new 208th commando battalion (french: bataillon commando 208 – bc 208), , sent vang vieng. gm 802, 5e bp converted 104e bp, , other airborne elements gathered 207th commando battalion (french: bataillon commando 207 – bc 207). both 104e bp , bc 207 stationed @ pakse.

during 1969, 3 airborne battalions of rla shuttled across country in reinforcement operations. in january, 3 bps launched successful attacks east of savannakhet north vietnamese-held territory. 1 battalion heli-lifted thateng in military region 4 on 4 april. 103e bp sent northern laos rla units briefly capture enemy-held town of xieng khouangville in xieng khouang province. in july, during operation off balance, 101er bp heli-lifted ban na, southeast of muang soui support hmong sgu , rla forces in unsuccessful counter-offensive recapture namesake rlaf airfield, had been seized nva s 312th division during campaign toan thang earlier in june. in august, during successful operation face, 101er bp assisted 2 rla infantry battalions in capture of moung phanh nva, , in september, 101er bp replaced 103e bp in north , used in unsuccessful attempt recapture town of muang soui.

the final years 1971–75

in 1970, 101er bp sent luang prabang halt nva advance toward city, , during operation honorable dragon in december year 102e bp in turn sent reinforce special guerrilla group staging base, ps 22, on eastern rim of bolovens plateau.

in mid-1971, following fall of southern city of paksong nva, neutralist 104e bp , bc 207 used during prolonged far counter-offensive retake city. used rla s 7th infantry battalion (french: 7éme bataillon de infanterie – 7e bi) based @ pakse, had been allowed send of men through airborne training @ seno, because commander brother of military region 4 commander, brigadier-general soutchay vongsavanh. late year, vietnamisation process in full swing in south vietnam, similar effort attempted towards making demoralized , reduced in strength rla more effective, self-sufficient force. following u.s. army system of organization, regular infantry , paratrooper , commando battalions consolidated 2 light divisions, formally created on 23 march 1972 , locally designated strike divisions (french: divisions d intervention). based @ luang prabang, 1st strike division (french: 1er division d intervention) commanded brig. gen. bounchanh savathphayphane, tasked operations in northern laos whilst 2nd strike division (french: 2éme division d intervention), commanded brig. gen. thao ty , based @ seno, oriented towards south. 3 independent airborne battalions – 101er, 102e, , 103e bps – dissolved , integrated new 22nd brigade of 2nd strike division.

in may 1974 far high command dissolved ineffective 1st , 2nd strike divisions , elements of latter s 3 understrength brigades re-organized 3 new parachute battalions, 711er, 712e, , 713e bps, grouped rla s new 7th para brigade (french: 7éme brigade de parachutistes) began forming @ seno. in process, absorbed specom, battalion-sized special forces unit part of 2nd strike division, converted brigade s fourth parachute battalion, 714e bp.

elements of 714e bp deployed in 1975 thakhek reinforce local royal lao police , rla infantry units in unsuccessful attempt quell pro-communist demonstrations. may 1975 7th para brigade, along other independent bps , airborne-qualified commando units, disbanded after pathet lao guerrilla forces took control of vientiane; ex-members of these airborne formations did managed though escape laos thailand , ultimately, exile in united states.