Malaysian Commandos

Arena SG

Just went JB this morning, was at City Square. While walking pass a newspaper vendor, I get a copy of The STAR and it boast about the capability of their commandos from 10th Brigade or something.... They recently held an exercise at Chuping, Penang and demostrated their army and air force co-ordinated attacks and the commandos fighting capability...
Anybody read it?

Btw how do you rate their elite or special forces?

38 SG

My own experience:

1 n half year ago, I was in Mt Ophir area for a weekend. there were military vehicles moving around the country roads there. I was with a local friend climbing the mountain casually. on the way, met some MAF soldiers training, they asked food or anything could eat from us. during the talking, they had to finish climbing to top and then down in 1 day. the "sir" didn't agree them to eat, so they were extremely exhausted and hungry.

Judged from their strength of training, I believed they should belong to elite force.

bcoy SG

Its an airborne drop by members of the 17th airborne infantry battalion, Royal Malay Regiment - part of the 10th Parachute Brigade (RDF).

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/5/25/nation/11040771&sec=nation

PADANG BESAR: Villagers here had their eyes glued to the sky as hundreds of paratroopers landed at the Chuping sugarcane field.

The 400-odd paratroopers were part of the Royal Malaysian Army's elite 10th Brigade Para based at Kem Terendak in Malacca.

They were involved in a simulated army exercise, and among their tasks was to destroy an enemy outpost located 40km away from Bukit Telaga Batu.

The parachute jump was held to mark the 62th birthday celebrations of the Raja of Perlis.

Among those present were the Regent of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah, 10th Brigade Para commanding officer Brigadier-Jen Mazelan Kasap, State Speaker Che Sulaiman Shafie, state MCA Wanita head Oui Ah Lan and state exco members.

The 60-minute display saw Hawk 2000 fighter aircraft from the Royal Malaysian Air Force in Butterworth simulate the dropping of duct bombs to soften the drop zone.

Then came the parachute jump of elite pathfinders whose task was to carefully mark the drop zone for the main invasion force.

The climax was when the paratroopers led by the 17th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment commanding officer Lt-Kol Hashim Mat performed a static jump to the awe of the crowd.

The elite troops jumped from five C-130H aircraft.

Joshua1975 SG

400-odd paratroopers in five C-130H???

must be cock up somewhere? or they talk big oni.

Accommodation for C-130H ~ Seats 92 troops, or 64 paratroops, or 74 stretchers and two medical crew attendants. Can carry light armoured vehicles, artillery pieces and 4WDs.

quivalen SG

hehehe i see from the picture in the article that our malaysian friends are just as good as we are when it comes to wayang - they're wearing their berets on the way to "destroy an enemy outpost" and one fellow is kneeling while the other prones - makes for better photo composition? ;-p

bcoy SG

Actually - in many of the photos I've seen of the Malaysian RDF troops, they seem to be very closely based on the British parachute units - red airborne berets with airborne wings pinned on.

Their special forces group wear green berets - like the British commandos.

Just to share some info - the Malaysian 10th Parachute brigade consists of 3 airborne infantry battalions -

9th and 17th airborne infantry battalions, of the Royal Malay Regiment, and the 8th airborne infantry battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment. (Malaysian "ranger" regiments are not special forces or commando units)There should be a light artillery battalion as well.

The 21st special forces group consists of 3 battalions - 2 for direct action, 1 for special forces type missions.

21Alpha SG

The TUDM operates the C-130H-30, which can accomodate 92 paratroopers.

But I agree it's a very wayang picture, wearing beret and all.

Ito_^ SG

x2 Laughing next they gonna cg all their adverts like ours in mrt

84mmrr SG

RDF in Malacca and Cdo in Johor. Well, SAF must be honoured that MAF had placed the best in the south.

BTW, what is their chance of success if their RDF & Cdo conduct an "Out of the blue attack" on SAF?

storywolf SG

They may be using the scretched version of C-130 so can take more. Maybe their soldiers are thinner and weight less so can take more.

Anyway with 400 person jumping all over it kind of look impressive, but the question of whether it is effective or for show !

Nowadays, modern concept of modern army already move alway from massive airdrop ! In turn they are turning to deployment by chinooks to put in place massive troops - all intact in their units and ready to fight as a group when hit the ground. Also support light vehicles is brought in for support fire power.

Gone are the days of big groups of soldiers jumping. 1st they are sitting ducks when they come down. Next when they are on the ground still need to get themselves sort out and organised into units or groups before they can form a effective forces. This may prove to be too costly, which only bigger nations that have much better forces should attempt.

spencer99 SG

There are reasons for air drop and heli-inertions....

C130s' range is much further then a chinook so an airdrop is still valid in the modern context to reach out to targets beyond helicopter range.....

Joshua1975 SG

so the cock up is the report... it not C-130H but C-130H-30...

Laughing

bcoy SG

In Malaysia’s case – its best for them to have a parachute brigade – they have to cover both East and West Malaysian territories. Logically – they would have to beef up their amphibious forces as well – transporting of military assets across the South China sea.

storywolf SG

well there is something call mid-air refuelling to extend range .

spencer99 SG

Unless you want a "covert" low level insertion the logistical burden of fueling the chinooks will be tremendous!

And a helicopter's speed is very slow... that is why the USMC are looking at the V-22.

baer SG

WTF is a "duct bomb"

Is it a dud bomb or a bomb held together by duct tape.

Malaysian press so wayang that basic writing goes out the window.

bcoy SG

The same thing ("duct bomb") is discussed over at the Malaysian forums.

storywolf SG

At least it bring in a force that is intact and ready for action the moment it land also bring along better support platforms, which is totally worth the trouble of logistic.

Till the V-22 is available , then Heli is still the best .