

A border conflict with Ecuador led to a brief war in 1941, and a major success for Peruvian forces. Peru had established the first paratroop unit in the region and used it to good effect; the first combat in the hemisphere involving airborne troops resulted in the capture of Ecuador's Puerto Bolívar on August 27, 1941.
As of 1990 there existed three commando and one paratrooper battalions.

©2000 Herbert Holeman, Ph.D.