For book research I am looking for "inside information", preferably
with anecdotes, regarding Israeli paratroopers - how do they fight,
train, survival techniques etc.
No standard cursory sites please - only if you can really add value

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Request for Question Clarification by thx1138-ga on 09 Jun 2003 10:31 PDT

Hello dogsbollocks.
"inside information" is going to be a tall order.  What kind of detail
of information do you already have?

Best regards

THX1138

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Clarification of Question by dogsbollocks-ga on 10 Jun 2003 01:54 PDT

Hi thx1138,
I know the standard stuff - they have red shoes & berets, they are
used for heliborne ops, there's a high level of camaraderie.
What I need to know is how do they attack a target e.g. bunker - blow
by blow, are there any anecdotes, what tactics and strategy they use.
I know this may take some work - for a good answer I will pay another
$5 tip, but it really must be "off the beaten track" stuff...

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 10 Jun 2003 03:15 PDT

Dear dogsbollocks, 

I imagine that at least some of the strategies and tectics are kept
secret. I could locate some articles on their strategy, as well as
sites relating to their activity in further details than those you
have mentioned as already known to you. These sites claim to have
"insider" information. Would you like me to post those sites/articles
as an answer, or are you expecting non-published material?

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Clarification of Question by dogsbollocks-ga on 10 Jun 2003 12:35 PDT

Hi politicalguru,
It doesn't have to be unpublished stuff. To be precise, I need to
describe a battle in Jerusalem between Israeli Paras and the Arab
Legion (Jordanian forces)during the Six Day War. There are number of
these battles that took place - the most famous is "ammunition Hill",
but it is clichéd as it's so famous. I was looking at another one - at
the Police School in Sheikh Jarrah. If you can obtain a "blow by blow"
account of this battle this will be good.
If you can throw in 1 or 2 sites about operational tactics claiming to
have "insider information" that will be a bonus

Here is some info you might or might not have:

IDF official website:
http://www.idf.il/english/organization/paratroopers/paratroopers.stm

"The Israel Defense Forces"
General structure:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0erg0

"The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) renowned Parachuting School is
located in the Tel-Nof Air Force Base (AFB). Better known as the
Airborne Organization Center ("Merkaz Eirgun Hatasa - MARA" in
Hebrew), the school is only military parachuting school in Israel and
is under the command of the Israeli Air Force (IAF)."
http://www.isayeret.com/schools/para/para.htm


About the paras training centre:
"Tel Nof Airbase
(Canaf 8). Completed in 1941 as RAF Aqir (arab name Akir), to the
IDF/AF in May 1948. Major RAF base during WW2. Located East of Ashdod,
on the East coast. Also known as Ekron. ICAO code: LLEK. Location
coordinates: N31 50 E034 50, elevation: 295 ft (90 m). Three runways:
15/33 degrees of 9022 ft (2750 m) length, 00/18 degrees of 9022 ft
(2750 m) length and 09/27 degrees of 6004 ft (1830 m) length. Home
base for 106, 114, 118, 119, 133, 148, 201, 505, the Flight Test
Center and unit 669. Used by the Flight School up until April 1966.
Key base for IDF/AF nuclear weapons, and also operational and training
centre for all IDF paratroopers. Today more a military town than just
and airbase. Note: correct spelling is NOT Tel Nov"
http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/israel/iafbase.htm

Also:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/tel_nof.htm

Training:
"IDF Paratroopers are trained to overcome obstacles and minefields, to
fight alone, or jointly with other forces and services in integrated
combat. They can be transported by helicopter or dropped behind enemy
lines, or be landed from amphibious landing craft. They can fight
mounted on jeeps, or on APC's and can operate against armor, attack
helicopters and infantry."
http://flashpoint.xaos.ru/nland/IDF/idf_troops.html

All the best

THX1138