French Foreign Legion paratrooper combat manual

271 Pages·1987·23.73 MB·English

by  Anonymous

FRENCII
FOREIGN
TEGIN
ROOPER
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Contents
Chapter I
The French Foreign Legion: History, Structure and Weapons . . . . I
Chapter 2
Legion Para Combat Training: Estimate of the Situation and Combat Orders ll
Chapter 3
Map Problems and Combat Reference Tables 39
Chapter 4
Marches, Security and Combat Development 5l
Chapter 5
Offensive Combat
83
Chapter 6
Defensive Combat tt7
Chapter 7
The Para Section in the Attack t3s
Chapter 8
The Para Section in Defense and Security . . . t43
Chapter 9
Weapons: Organization and Tactical Employment . . l5l
.
Chapter l0
Heavy Machine Gun
165
Chapter I I
The Para Battalion Anti-tank . . lE9
Chapter l2
The8lmmMortar
....ZOl
Chapter l3
Anti-aircraft Defense by Paratroop Units . . 213
Chapter l4
Tanks and Heavy Support Weapons in Paratroop Assault Units . . . . . . ZZs
Chapter l5
The Para Battalion Against the Tank Attack 24r
Appendix A
Combat Deployment of the Para Battalion 257
Appendix B
Operational Combat Jumps of the Legion Paras 267
lll
This manual is not the complete textbook on the combat training of Legion parachutists, since the train-
ing is continually updated. The translated text is the consolidated parachute company's instruction manuals
A Carnet de Combat and the pocket guide issued to every Legionnaire parachutist on completion of train-
ing in the "4th Compagnie." This manual covers the I BEP from its origin in Indochina to the present-day
2 REP operations in Africa in which the material from the Carnet de Combat and actual combat operations
combined.
are I
Also included is the I I Division of Parachutist requirements. The 2 REP is the leading element of
France's Rapid Action Force, "Force de Frape," or "Strike Force."
I
IY
Chapter
L
The French Foreigtt Legion:
History, Structure
and Weapons
The Legion has operated out of France for the last two decades, but its home will always be North
Africa, where Legion headquarters was established at Sidi Bel Abbes in 1832. North Africa was the scene of
the Legion's first big success: In 1837 it headed a French Army that conquered eastern Algeria. The Legion
stayed in Algeria until Algeria was declared free. The Legion headquarters then moved to Aubagne in
reside.
France where the headquarters now
{
There are 8,500 men who make up the force-6,700 Legionnaires, 1,400 NCOs and 400 officers. Forty
percent name French as their mother tongue; l5 to 20 percent, English; l0 to l5 percent,German;seven
pefcent, African; four percent, Slav; four percent, Nordic, with the remainder claiming everything from
Greek to Welsh. Men are assigned to one of the following regiments:
The lst Foreign Regtment has its main body in Aubagne and is in charge of administration for the entire
Legion.
The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, in Nimes, trains all signal, accounting, and motor transport special-
ists. All companies, except those responsible for training, can be called into metropolitan France as part of
operational defense forces, or called overseas to join intervention tasks as part of the Army Rapid Action
Force.
The 3rd Foreign Infanfty Regiment arrived in French Guiana, where its main depot is in Kourou, in
1973. Duties include security at the Ariane rocket site and surveillance of the Brazil border. The Legion
also has a jungle training center here in the equatorial forest.
The 4th Foreign Regimenr, in Castelnaudary, is the center for basic training of recruits and further
instruction of NCOs.
The Sth Foreign Regiment, located principally on Tahiti and Murua, represents France in the Pacific.
For the Pacific Experimentation Center it builds roads and works in power, supply, maintenance, and
transport.
The 13th Foreign Legion Hatf-Bri7ade, in Djibouti, helps as part of the French forces to ensure the
republic's independence and defense.
The lst Foreign Cavalry Reglment, in Orange, moves between Africa and Mayotte and is part of the
Frertch Army's Rapid Action Force.
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, on Corsica, is kept in constant readiness for overseas action.
I
t\
The Foreign Legion Detachment in Dzaoudzi on Mayotte, one of the Comoro Islands, offers security,
protecting the interests of the civil and military authorities. It is also always on operational alert.
The 6th Engineer Foreign Regiment, near Avignon, was created in 1984 and includes three combat
engineer companies. It succeeds the regiment founded in syria in 1939.
An indispensable asset for France in carrying out its African mission and in maintaining, as it has recenily
done, a presence in many regions throughout the world, has been the availability of military units specially
trained and equipped for intervention. Certainly the most famous of such units is the legendary Foreign
Legion 2nd REP, but the French Army's I lth Airborne Division is no less powerful and no less effective.
This unit, reinforced in the course of the reorganization of the French Arm6e de Terre in years past, has dis-
tinguished itself particularly in its intervention in Shaba province, Zaire, to prot"ct ,h"'ffi;;;prrtu,ion
against waves of xenophobic anti-white hatred connected with a series of insurrections.
The I l6me Division de Parachutistes is constantly in training and division units are scattered around the
world in a variety of permanent and temporary bases, including all the French Overseas Territories.
Today, the llth D.P. is structured as follows: two brigades, each with three paratroop regim.ntrJo-ou-l
command and support battalion. In addition the division includes a light armored regiment, - "*J\
regiment, an engineering regiment, and a command and communications regiment. "n "rjt'tJ.i
The organizational chart of the I I th D.p. breaks down as,follows:
E'O'D': l4th RCTP, BOMAP, lst RHP, 35th RAP, lTth RGP, lst RPIMa; lst Brigade: 4ZOthBpGS,
3rd RPIMA, 8th RPIMA, 9th RCP; 2Nd BrigAdC: 42SILBPCS, ISt RCP, 2Nd REP,6th RPIMA.
The division has the following manpower:766 officers, 2,50s non-commissioned officers, and 13,316
common soldiers and ratings, giving the division a total of 16,5g7 men.
The firepower of the I I th D.p. is based on the following weaponry:
Armor: l8 AML armored cars.
Artillery: l8 l05mm guns, 105/14, conceived by OTO-Melara
Mortars: l8 l20mm mortars,48 Slmm mortars
Anti-aircraft guns: 5l 20mm canons
Missiles: 105 MILAN anti-tank missile systems
Rockets: 535 89mm LRAC anti-tank rocket-launchers.
The division's mobility is based on 829 trucks and a number of jeeps, mak-in -g a total of over a thousand
vehicles, including some in light, air-transportable and air-droppable versior;.-
Air-transport capability depends on 20 SA-341 helicopters, l5 SA-330 helicopters, and 9 Alouette III
helicopters.
Engineering, logistics, and communications materiel includes 68 field health units, four INF bridge
gangways,92 two-man boats, 136 six-man boats, five light earth-moving vehicles, rjtj rnvu i+ro w
radios,'and 40 TRVM I 34 100 W radio sets.
The headquarters and main base area of the llth D.P. is at Tarbes, a charming city near Toulouse in
southern France. Naturally, with its weaponry and equipment making it so powerful and versatile a force
capable of going into action rapridly almost anywhere in the world, the division has to be based near suitable
air-transport facilities. The Armde de I'Air's nearby base provides air transport for the division, in the form
of 48 Transalls and the 54 Noratlases still in service with six squadrons, while waiting for the entry into
service of the 28 new Transalls on order.
However, it should be noted that this capability simply does not suffice for the rapid movement of the
entire llth Division when necessary; for instance, to provide support for legitimate African governments
threatened by insurgent movements. This is what happened to Zaire, when the Franco-Belgian paratroop
operation in the province of Shaba was made possible by a u.S. airlift.
And what of the men of the llth D.P.? They are heirs to a proud tradition of combat excellence and
indomitable courage. Their heritage comes down from the "paras" who fought and won the Battle of
Algiers against the Algerian FLN. But here, some second thoughts are called for. The "para" units fought
and won the battle on the ground, the only such victory ever obtained. Since that time no Western army
has managed to beat a people's liberation guerrilla movement. But it is also true that this was a substantial
force, with all its weapons and equipment and American support. In fact, it appears that France has reached
a kind of tacit agreement with the United States, whereby the Americans will ordinarily lend part of their
fleet of huge transport planes. Also, victory was achieved by methods that are at best somewhat distasteful,
such as the systematic torture of prisoners.
However, aside from the Battle of Algiers itself, bear in mind that a large part of the Algerian crisis was
the responsibility of the "paras" commanded by dissident or even rebel generals, who from Algeria pro-
claimed their opposition to the central government, De Gaulle's government, and threatened a ',march on
Paris" (or rather an air-drop on Paris), to overthrow the gou"rrrm"nt and install one inclined to seek a miti.
tary solution in Algeria, against the will of De Gaulle. This is still recent history, and for years, if not
decades, it has lacerated not just the paratroop units but the French Army as a whole. Only recently has
France gotten over its Algerian trauma, though there are still some people around who regret the eventual
granting of independence to the former department. The France of Giscard d'Estaing, however, saw the
I lth D.P. as a showpiece unit of the French armed forces. That is why, along with the 9th Marine Infantry
Division and the Foreign Legion, the I lth is the unit most often called upon to defend French interests
overseas.
A quick summary of the actions of the I I th D.P. in recent years is the easiest way to demonstrate the
central role of this unit in French policy and strategy. In Africa alone, the division has carried out the fol-
lowing actions: in 1977-78, military assistance to Mauritania against the Polisario guerrilla movement; in
1978, military aid to Chad, administering a beating to Colonel Quaddafi's troops; 1978, airlift and action in
Kolwezi, Shaba province, Zake;1978, participation in the FINUL contingent in Lebanon;1969-75, service
in support of the Chad government. As one can see, the I I th D.P. has not had time on its hands.
Certainly of interest will be a more detailed look at the traditions the I I th D.P. carries on. In fact, the
division is heir to 23 years of service. The lOth and the 25th "divisions parachutistes" were formed in 1956.
After the end of the Algerian independence war in 1962, these units were disbanded, their place being
taken by the "l16me division l6gere d'intervention." In 1963, this llth Light Division became the llth
Division, with three brigades, two paratroops, and one amphibious. In l97l the llth took on its present
name, I I th Division Parachutiste, and in 1977 it was designated, in addition , the 44thTerritorial Division.
The llth D.P. remairis a somewhat atypical unit for the French armed forces. Composed entirely of
long-term service volunteers, the division has a highly trained and qualified manpower base. This obviously
makes it an elite unit, with skills, capabilities, and dedication that cannot be obtained in uhits made up of
draftees who serve just l2 months.
The continuing involvement of the I I th D.P. in defense of Western interests, especially in Africa and the
Mediterranean, was in evidence yet again in the early weeks of 1980. On the morrow of the guerrilla raid on
the Tunisian town of Gafsa, which authorities blamed on Tunisian exiles supplied and financed by Libya
and based in that country, somc units of the llth D.P. were put on alert, ready to leave at a moment's
notice, if necessary, to defend the interests of France, the West, and their friends and allies. France and the
3
West, in the unstable and threatening world of the 1980s, have one ace always ready to play: the I lth
Division Parachutistes is ready.
ORIGIN OF 2 REP
October 2,1948 I REP Algeria
February 9,1949 Transfer-2 BEP Indochina
1950-1953 Operations Indochina
t954 I BEP-2 BEP (Combined) Indochina
fr
May 1954 2 BEP-Destroyed Indochina
(Dien Bien Phu)
tIH
t June 1954 3 BEP (+ 2 BEP Remains) Indochina
November 1955 Transfer Algeria
E 1956 2 REP (2 BEP + 3 REP) Algeria
1 t957 Operations Algeria
?
1959-1961 Station Algeria
1962-1957 Strategic Base Bous/fer Algeria
1967 Transfer2REPtollDP Calvi, Corsica
(R.D. Force)
1968-1986 Operations 1l DP Chad, Djibouti,
Kolwezi,Zaire,
Central African Republic
I CIE PARA 13 ET-l Para Company-3 Regiment of Infantry
I BEP-I Battalion of Foreign Legion Paratroops
2 BEP-2 Battalion of Foreign Legion Paratroops
I REP-I Regiment of Foreign Legion Paratroops
2 REP-2 Regiment of Foreign Legion Paratroops
LEGION PARATROOPER SECTION
(16 LEGrONnlinBs)
Commander/Lieutenant/Junior Lieutenant
Section
2 Command-Adjutant/Sergeant Chief
Command
Group Company Supply-Sergeant/Corporal Chief
Radio- I st Class Legionnaire
Group Leader-Corporal/ I st Class kgionnaire
Paratrooper- Lgio nnaire
Pantrooper- I*gio nnaire
Paratrooper- Legionnaire
Machine Gun-Legionnaire
Paratrooper-Legionnaire
Group Leader-Corporal/l st Class kgionnaire
Paratrooper- Legionnaire
Paratrooper- Legionnaire
Paratrooper- kgionnaire
Machine Gun-t*gionnaire/l st Class
Paratrooper- hgionnaire
Anti-Tank Anti-Tank-kgionnaire- I st Class
Team
Anti-Tank-kgionnaire/ I st Class
' Normal section varies from five to ten paratroop€rs per groupdepending on company strength. Usually remains at five
legionnaires per group unless anti-tank team is added on one or both attack groups if required.
o Commander-Capt. a 60 Mortar-IJgionnaire
a 2 Command-Sr. Lt. a Pantrooper-Legionnaire
a Company-Adjutant Chief a Anti-Tank-lst Class
a Radio-l*gionnaire o Paratrooper-Legionnaire
o
a Supply-Sgt. Paratrooper-Legionnaire
a Group l*ader-Chief o 60 Mortar-Legionnaire
a Paratrooper-Legionnaire o Paratrooper-Legio nnaire
a Paratrooper - Legionnaire o Anti-Tank-lst Class
o Commander-Lieutenant/Jr. Lt. o Commander-Lieutenant/Jr. Lt. o Commander-Lt.lh.Lt.
o 2 Command-Adjutant/Sgt. Chief o 2 Command-Adjutant/Sgf . Chief a 2 Command-Adjutant/Sgt. Chief
a Section Supply-Sgt./Corporal Chief a Section Supply-Sgt./Chief a Section Supply-Sgt./Chief
a Radio-l st Class Legionnaire a Radio-lst Class o Rsdio-lst Class
a Group Leader-Corporal a Group Leader-Corporal a Group Leader-Corporal
o Paratrooper- I-egionneire O Paratrooper- Legio nnaire o Paratrooper- Legionnaire
o Paratrooper- kgionnaire a Paratrooper- Legionnaire a Paratroo per- Legionnaire
a Paratrooper- I*gionnaire a Paratrooper- Legionnaire a Paratrooper-Legionnaire
o Machine Gun-Legionnaire-l st Class a Machine Gun-lst Class a Machine Gun-lst Class
a Paratrooper- Legionnaire a Pantrooper- Legionnaire o Paratrooper-I*gionnaire
a Group kader-Corponl a Group Leader-Corporal a Group Leader-Corporal
o Paratrooper- Lcgionnaire o Paratrooper- Legionnaire o Paratrooper- kgionnaire
a Pantro oper- kgionnaire a Paratro'oper- Legio nnaire a Paratrooper-I-egionnaire
a Paratrooper- Irgionnaire a Paratrooper- I*gionnaire a Paratrooper-Legionnaire
a Machine Gun-Legionnaire- l st Clas a Machine Gun-lst Class o Machine Gun-lst Class
a Paratrooper- kgionnaire a Paratrooper- kgionnaire o Paratrooper-Legionnaire
FOREIGN LEGION PARACHUTE COMPANY
(64 MEN)
5
AIR OR VEHICLE TRANSPORT_RE.ENFORCED PARA-BATTALION
Colonel-Command
Adjoint-Major
2 Command-Major, Sr. Capt.
Command Section
3 Combat Groups
Service Command
Heary Weapons
Company Base
Company
Company
Command Company
Command Section
Signals Section Quartermaster
Heary Mortar Section
Medical Section Mess
Recoilless Rifles 75 Section
Supply Section Base Area
Recoilless Rifles 106 Section
Armory
Heary M.G. (50 Cal.) Section
Storage
Anti-Tank (MILAN) Section Motor Transport Garage
Anti-Aircraft (20mm)-Section
(Loaded on Jeeps & Trucks)
Combat
Company 4
Vehicle
Command Section
Company
3 Combat Sections
Command Section
3 Section in 2 Jeeps
I Radio Jeep (Heary)
2 Groups in 2 Jeeps
with LightM.G. AA-52
2 Jeep Groups with 75 R.R.
Commandant{olonel
(Chief of Regiment)
Approx. Strength Companies are noted
50 Officers 2 Command-Lt. Colonel by colon.
220 N.C.O. Adminbtration O,ffices Strip of cloth
9fi) Corporals and Services around shoulder
and l"egionnaires ' Instruction Schools flap to armpit,
also on small
Hospital
twoinch circle
Technical Services
on baclc of helmet
Service Company (CCS) Heavy Weapons Company
Company: Command Section
Radio Section Pathfinder Section-Ilalo
Armory Heavy Mor-tar Section
Military Police Heavy M.G. Section
Garage-Trans. Anti.Aircraft Section
General Service Anti-Tank 2 Section
Base Offices (MTLAN)
(Pathfinden)
Yellow
Blue
Combat Company
I Combat Company
Command Section
Anti-Tank, Night Combat,
2 Groups
Urban Guerrilla Warfare
3 Combat Sections
ofCombat Groups
Each
2 Combat Company
Combat Company
Winter Snow Training
of Divers and Swimmen
and Mountain Warfare
Center of Amphibian
3 Company
I Section-Zodiac
2 Section-Combat Divers 3 Combat Company
3 Section-Combat Swimmers Arnphibious Lendinp
Black and Sea Paratroops
Black
4 Combat Company
Demo Teams
Snipers-Explosives
Gray or Dull Silver
' t
"".-***_.