Wednesday, April 18, 2007

LRRP takes major LTTE target

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) was humiliated when it's leader was killed in a claymore explosion which took place in rebel held Wanni district last week. Sri lanka army's Long Lange Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) units operating deep inside rebel territory carried out the attack which delivered a deadly blow to LTTE's deep penetration capabilities. The tractor transporting LTTE DPU leader and LTTE intelligence wing members was blasted into pieces by a powerful roadside claymore explosion.

LTTE's Deep Penetration Unit was behind many civilian massacres which took place during the recent times. Disrupting civilian life, defaming Sri Lankan government/armed forces and hunting down rival Tamil faction leaders were the main objectives of LTTE DPU. It was formed by current LTTE Batticaloa district commander Jeyam few years ago.

According to our information, specially trained Long Range Surveillance (LRS) units of the 3rd Special Forces regiment were used in the attack. Exact location and further details of the attack will not be revealed for security reasons.

29 comments:

  1. We salute our Special forces the dangerous job they are doing for our country . We owe very much to these brave soldirs . there are no words in the dictonary to show our gratitiudu to these Heros . you are the living hero's in Sri lanka .

    LONG live LRRP !!!

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  2. Never met any one of them personally, but I have a special place in my heart for them for the challenges they take on and their sacrifices. I don’t mean to belittle the other heroic soldiers at all, but these guys are almost unrivalled in SL history.

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  3. I also heard that LRRP consist of soldiers from all commnities (Sinhala, Tamil, Moor). Can somebody confirm this. If it is yes, I like it becuase that is what our forces should be.

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  4. ""I also heard that LRRP consist of soldiers from all commnities (Sinhala, Tamil, Moor).""

    Absolutely correct.

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  5. Late corneal Lafir was the founder of SF.
    Long live SF. I have met few SF solders. Maaan they are fit and brave as anything

    Long live the SF. We love u all..

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  6. "I also heard that LRRP consist of soldiers from all commnities (Sinhala, Tamil, Moor)"

    Certainly Sinhalese, Moor and Malay (and maybe a couple of Burghers!), but there aren't any Tamil soldiers per se in the SF or LRRPs. There are, however, Tamils attached to these units and employed by the Army, but they aren't regular soldiers.

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  7. Ahh so nice to see everyone voicing their gratitude to our boys in uniform... but they are only words… you can change them to action by making a contribution to the Sri Lanka Army Welfare Unit… http://www.army.lk/welfare.php go to this site and read about what the welfare unit is doing for our boys and if you want to take it a step further then call the director of the Army welfare unit on 2324157 and see how you can help…

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  8. These SF guys are unbelievable… I can’t just imagine how brave and gutsy they are!
    I agree with Sam Perera, I too have a very special place in my heart for the SF. I have met a couple of SF guys and believe me, they are the most disciplined and most down to earth people you will ever meet.
    I have been hearing stories of the SF from way back as 1996-1997.
    I don’t know whether late Colonel Fazly Lafir was the founder of the SF, correct me if I’m wrong, but he was the CO of the SF at the time of his death and he died while leading a rescue team when Mullaitive was under siege by the LTTE. The LTTE also mentions Col. Lafir’s name in their video of the capture of Mullaitive.
    Long live the SF and long live the 3 Armed Forces!
    May the triple gem bless you all…

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  9. I’m to sure about the LRRP but General Gamini Hettiarachchi was credited with starting the SF

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  10. YankeeZulu

    Machnag few of us already started sponsoring SF ranaviru kids here.
    I have a special place in my hart for them tooo…
    Does any body know how big is SF ???

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  11. According to the SLA the SF Regiment consists of 3 Battalions, each battalion consisting of 4 squardrons. Now the number of men comprising a squadron varies from Army to Army. Within the SLA, i'm not entirely sure how many.

    But looking at the British SAS, where a squadron comprises 64 men in 4*16 man squads. So based on that figure the SLA SF could consist of between 600 - 750 Officers and men.

    I remember in the old days when the SF was relatively unknown outside the SLA, it was the Commando regiment and the STF that were glorified by the public. Those days every kid, including me, wanted to join the SLA Commandos.

    These days one rarely hears much talk about the actions of our boys in the Commando regiment. Which is a real shame as they too have done more than their share for the country.

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  12. Good Job Hasalaka… This is the best form of thanks to our heroes… that is that the country looks after the well-being of their next of kin. I wonder what is come of Col. Lafir’s family… the armed forces and the public generally have short memories when it comes to remembering our fallen heroes.

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  13. Hey Yankeezulu, how logical is to assume that late Lt.Col Tuan Muthalif, late Lt.Col. Meedin along with (rank not known) Kapila Hendawitharana were responsible for forming the LRRP?
    Or is the SLA still keeping the details of the LRRP secret? If so, then Im willing to accept it and limit my self to admiring their missions...
    Btw, even I have heard that the current SF strength is around 800.

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  14. Puffy... not sure mate my area of interest and contacts are in the navy...

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  15. Reports indicate that SF squadrons are slightly larger than Commando groups (the latter are more the size of an SAS squadron), but they are still much smaller than their infantry counterpart (the company). When I wrote "A Cause Untrue" (http://www.ph-books.com/books.asp# sorry for the shameless plug!), I based both the SF squadrons and the Commando groups on the Brit SAS 64-man squadrons because it was easier to break down.

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  16. YankeeZulu,

    If it makes you happy, I want to say that I pay for education of kids of fallen and injured heroes. I have contributed to providing urgent needs to SLA a few times (no details can be given).

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  17. ""I have been hearing stories of the SF from way back as 1996-1997.
    I don’t know whether late Colonel Fazly Lafir was the founder of the SF,""

    SF was formed way back in 1985. It started with 1 officer and 38 soldiers. LRRP was formed much later in the 1990s.

    Today, SF manpower is over 1000 and was the second fastest growing unit in SLA (next to commando regiment) in first half of 2007.

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  18. DefenceNet,

    What differenciates SF from Commandos? What are their (SF) special skills over Commandos?

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  19. Hi Fellas,
    Actually I remember watching a passing out parade of the SLA commandos at Anurdhapura Airbase On Rupavahini in 1982 !They had H & K 5's even showed them in mock drill ! But, Special forces Units I like the bunch now ! laters !

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  20. YankeeZulu said...

    Hey do u know late lut comm Mudeep panditharathne inSLN. Good friend of mine. Still cant believed. Im really prod of him and what he did

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  21. Machang Sam Perera

    In the jungle warfare SF is second to none machoo .. commandos also good. But SF is far more superior. LTTE also knows that.
    We need to strength our SF units with new weapon systems and the techno.
    SF small units tactics will be more successful when start stepping to north

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  22. Machang Sam Perera

    In the jungle warfare SF is second to none machoo .. commandos also good. But SF is far more superior. LTTE also knows that.
    We need to strength our SF units with new weapon systems and the techno.
    SF small units tactics will be more successful when start stepping to north

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  23. We salute our heros. Well done!

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  24. DefenceNet! Thanks a lot for the info. given on the SF. With the current SF strength at over 1000, and with the current military and political leadership, I'm pretty sure we can wipe terrorism out of this country soon...

    Sam Perera! The Commandos and SF are bred for guerilla warfare. We can't take any credit off the commandos since they too have played a major role in recent battles. But the SF training is much more vigorous and lengthy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have heard that certain SF members are sent for the much feared "Guruka" training as well... and our SF guys are masters in operating behind enemy lines! :-)

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  25. One difference between SF units and Commando units is that SF units are trained to operate behind enemy lines for long peroiods of time. Especially on deep penetration recon missions.

    Commandos are more into the hit and run style attacks, spending only limited time behind enemy lines to carry out a specific Military objective and then return back to friendly lines as quickly as possible.

    Another thing is that commandos are trained in guerilla warfare in a conventional environment while SF units are trained for guerilla warfare in a unconventional environment i.e. counter terrorist operations.

    SF units and Commando units almost never operate together because the nature of operations each carries out differs from the other. From what i've heard SLA Commando units sometimes fight alongside the SLN SBS commandos.

    Is the SLAF Regiment Special Force engaged in active operations as of yet? Are they Meant to operate in a similar capacity as the SLA SF, or is the SLAF RSF more of a defensive unit used primarily to defend all out major airbases from LTTE commando style raids.

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  26. I thought the SF consist troops specifically trained in special areas. For example underwater operations etc.

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  27. "Commandos are more into the hit and run style attacks, spending only limited time behind enemy lines to carry out a specific Military objective and then return back to friendly lines as quickly as possible."

    Not sure how strictly true this is. For instance in the early '90s, the Commandos' Delta Group was designated as a 'deep recce' unit. However, you're correct that most of the Commando missions have been larger scale raids similar to the US 75th Rangers. The hostage rescue role is still with the Commandos, though there was recent talk that the SLAF special ops unit wanted the role.

    The LRRPs are clearly different, as their mission is obviously not just recce, but includes sabotage and assassination -- more like a guerrilla/terrorist unit such as the Rhodesian Selous Scouts or the South African Recces

    The SLAF special ops unit and the Navy SBS are definitely comparable to the US Rangers or the Brit Paras patrol groups.

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  28. These links have some info as well:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Regiment_%28Sri_Lanka%29

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka_Army_Commando_Regiment

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