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Falcon Leap 2019 |
Latest update: September 2019 |
Exercise Falcon Leap is a dedicated airborne (paratrooper jump) exercise organized by the Royal Netherlands Army 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade (RNLA - 11LMB – 11 Air Assault Brigade). Falcon Leap is held in the week prior to the annual commemoration of WWII operation Market Garden. On September 17, 1944 the allied forces commenced Market (airborne) Garden (ground) to capture bridges over rivers and canals from the Belgian border until Arnhem. Three divisions (one British, two United States) and one brigade (Poland) jumped at three locations to secure these bridges paving the way for the ground forces. Operation Market Garden is commemorated annually by ‘reenactment’ para jumps made by hundreds of paratroopers from 11LMB paratroopers and their NATO airborne colleagues. Until 2014 these paratroopers gathered only to conduct these jumps. It led to the decision by 11LMB to organize an exercise for the attending paratroopers. Aimed at interoperability, exchanging experiences and bonding Falcon Leap was born. |
11 Luchtmobiele Brigade |
11LMB is a quickly deployable light infantry combat unit specialized in
airborne and air assault operations. The brigade was activated in 1992
and achieved its operational readiness status in October 2003. In June
2014 11LMB became subordinate to the German Army Division Schnelle
Kräfte (DSK – Rapid Reaction Division). Within 7 to 20 days the brigade
can be deployed for defense of The Netherlands or its allies or be
tasked for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.
Within the Netherlands 11LMB cooperates closely with Royal Netherlands
Air Force (RNLAF) helicopter and air transport squadrons. When working
together the brigade is renumbered to 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade (11AMB). Four of the RNLAF squadrons are assigned to support 11LMB during its operations: 298 squadron (DHC): CH-47D Chinook. 300 squadron (DHC): AS-532U2 Cougar. 301 squadron (DHC): AH-64D Apache. 336 squadron: C-130H and C-130H.30 Hercules. The Defence Helicopter Command (DHC) supports 11LMB to execute its air assault operations. Apache helicopters will provide reconnaissance and combat air support while the Cougar and Chinook transport helicopters will transport personnel and equipment. The later by underslung loads when required. Airborne operations are carried out by the Hercules aircraft. They are used to insert paratroopers or drop cargo to (re)supply the battalions of 11LMB. Currently 11LMB is in the process of reorganization its three battalions. Each of the three had one dedicated airborne company and two air assault companies assigned. The airborne companies will be realigned under one battalion with the other two being full air assault battalions. 11LMB operates from two barracks (Oranjekazerne, Schaarsbergen and Johan Willem Frisokazerne, Assen). 11LMB lineage traces back to World War II. It often uses AASLT (Air Assault) and “December 7” to its name. The brigade continues the tradition of the disbanded First Division while December 7 refers to a radio speech held by Queen Wilhelmina on that date. Its batch is a praying falcon, with 2 crossed swords in a wine-red shield. The shield also depicts EM ‘Expeditionaire Macht’ (Expeditionary Force) and has as motto: "Nec temere, nec timid", neither reckless nor fearful. |
11LMB structure |
11LMB is composed of three infantry battalions, one reconnaissance
squadron, five support companies and one reserve battalion: 11 Infantry battalion, three companies. 12 Infantry battalion, three companies. 13 Infantry battalion, three companies. 11 Brigade reconnaissance squadron. 11 Engineer company. 11 Maintenance company. 11 Supply company. 11 Medical company. 11 Staff company. 20 Natres battalion (Reserves). 11 Brigade Reconnaissance squadron consists two reconnaissance squadrons and one pathfinder platoon. The later are working in teams of around six persons these soldiers will jump ahead of the main force using the military freefall parachutes. They will secure the landing zone and provide directions for the air transport and helicopters to execute their para/cargo drop or landing. The airborne companies will use the “round” parachute during mass landings while their Air Assault colleagues will be flown in by the C-130 Hercules (TALO – tactical air landing operation) or the transport helicopters. |
Falcon Leap 2019 |
Until 2018 the exercise was held for four days and closed by the Market
Garden commemoration jumps. This year the exercise was held for two
weeks equally split between Cargo Delivery System (CDS) and paratrooper
drops. To support all operations Eindhoven Air Base accommodated the
transport aircraft. CDS is a relatively new missions for 336 squadron
and its Hercules.
11LMB has personnel ‘riggers’ from 11 Supply company detached with 336
squadron. The riggers are responsible for preparing all pallets to be
dropped. Once ready these will be loaded into the transport aircraft
together with the loadmaster who is responsible for all operations in
the cargo hold. The Dutch squadron took part with one or two C-130H.30’s
depending on mission requirements. Both the German and Italian Air
Forces send one aircraft, a C-160D Transall and C-27J Spartan
respectively.
In the first period that the RNLA and RNLAF conducted the CDS drop only
Deelen reserve base was used. 11LMB now also has RNLA artillery gunnery
range ‘t Harde and MoD complex Maarnewaard available for these drops. The second week of Falcon Leap was dedicated to the drop of the paratroopers. On Wednesday the three missions were dedicated to commemorating the Market Garden jumps in Groesbeek, municipality Berg en Dal. In 1944 the US Army 82nd Airborne Division was allocated several landing zones around Nijmegen and Groesbeek. Its 508th PIR jumped at the Wylerbaan which was designated drop zone Tango. The same location was used for the Falcon Leap drops. During the three missions 787 paratroopers from eight countries made the jump on this historic location. On Thursday the same location was used. On Friday the location changed to drop zone Yankee at the Ginkelse heide, city of Ede. In 1944 the British 1st Airborne Division was allocated the drop zone near Arnhem including the Ginkelse heide. Three missions were flown here. It was repeated the next day during the official commemoration of Market Garden. Planed were 1.125 paratroopers from eight countries including 43 VIP’s. Although all flights took off from Eindhoven and the formations made their flights over the drop zone not all paratroopers could make their jump. The total exercise saw 4.035 successful jumps, both static line and MFF. |
Parachutes |
Falcon Leap distinguishes itself from other airborne exercise as it
focusses on earning the jump wing from another country. Jumps are only
made with parachutes while other exercises see a complete airborne or
air assault operation. Each country has its own specific parachute which
result in other jump parameters. One of this is the restriction of the
wind force. This resulted in the paratroopers who carried the German
chutes saw their jump on September 21 cancelled Sergeant Patrick assigned to 11 infantry battalion explained the differences in parachutes after he made his jump on Saturday. During Falcon Leap Sgt. Patrick made jumps with parachutes from four countries. “Jumps with the round chutes are made from 1.000ft (330 meters). Before and during the runs over the landing zone the pathfinders are measuring the wind force. It’s done on both the drop and ground level. When either one is out of limits for the parachute carried the drop is cancelled. Our Dutch chutes are made with valves which can make a 180-degree turn. We use the strums to make a turn to land so we can land in the landing direction the winds blow. Our chutes are designed for operations up to 16 knots (4 Beaufort, 20-28 km/hr, 5-6 mtr/sec). It takes us on average 90 seconds to reach the ground. Just before hitting the ground at 30 meters we tighten our muscles and on landing make a role." For each drop made with another countries parachute a wing is earned. During the wing ceremony these are exchanged. Dutch paratroopers a certified for one year period. To extend their certification paratroopers return to the Defence Para School. All facets of para jumps (safety) are trained again. 11LMB pathfinders are using the free fall parachutes making a free fall of between 40 – 60 seconds. The other paratroopers are attached to the aircraft with a static line. After the jumps the round parachutes open immediately. 11LMB and DSK have signed a letter of intent to jointly buy a new parachute when the current ones are due for replacement. Their Belgian and French colleagues operate the EPC parachute (Ensemble de Parachutage du Combattant - Combatant Parachuting Package). For interoperability between the different units it would be beneficial to operate the same parachute however a choice by Germany and The Netherlands hasn’t been made to date. |
Falcon Leap participants Army (AR) and Air Force (AF) |
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Comment(s): The Royal Canadian Army Royal 3e Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment 2nd CDSB, Valcartier, Quebec was unable to attend this year. South Africa send four of their paratroopers to the exercise. RAF 24 squadron serves as the operational conversion unit for the C-130J Hercules and A400M. Its sister squadron is tasked with the operational missions. |
Falcon Leap para drops in numbers |
The planned number of para jumps for the exercise at Groesbeek and the
Ginkelse heide are shown below. Noth dyas were also
dedicated to the 75th anniversary op WWII Operation Market Garden.
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The author would like to thank the municipalities of Berg en Dal and Ede and 11LMB PAO’s Maj. Gert-Jan, Capt. Roel and Erik. |
Photo gallery participants Falcon Leap |
Belgium C-130H Hercules | Germany C-160D Transall | Italy KC-130J Hercules |
Netherlands C-130H.30 Hercules | United Kingdom Super Hercules C.4 | United States C-130J.30 Super Hercules |
United States KC-130J Super Hercules |
Photo gallery Falcon Leap: week 1, cargo delivery drop |
German AFB C-160D Transall | Cargo dropped | RNLAF C-130H.30 Hercules |
Photo gallery Falcon Leap: week 2, Groesbeek September 18 |
The formation of five C-130's (Belgian (1), United States (2) and Netherlands (2) approaching the drop zone. |
Parachutes deployed over the landing zone. |
Landing on historic grounds where a PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division jumped in 1944. |
The Belgian Hercules commencing its drop overflying the paratroopers
dropped by the Dutch C-130. |
Belgium is on of the countries with aircraft marked with D-Day stripes. There Hercules entering the track for a new run to the landing zone. |
Dutch Hercules dropping paratroopers during one of the runs. |
37th AS, Ramstein AB, participated in previous years and returned to take part at Falcon Leap and Market Garden. | The USMC send a KC-130J (tanker) to the exercise. Normally flying transport and refuelling missions the Marines are | flying paratroop jumps mission during Falcon Leap and the 75th anniversary of operation Market Garden. |
Photo gallery Falcon Leap: week 2, Ginkelse heide September 20 |
Dutch C-130 and PC-7 with the later | tasked as photoship in the morning | USMC overflying the drop zone marking |
their first Falcon Leap participation | The Belgian AC "D-Day" marked C-130 | followed by ite RAF colleague |
Another run by the Marines Hercules |
Only a handful Transall remain in service with the German Air Force. | The Dutch and Belgian C-130's fly in |
formation after drops were completed | Last wave of the day with the formation | seen from the Arnhem direction. |