As the other regiments of the French Foreign Legion in 2020, even the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) have deployed several of its companies overseas, including the “Cheetahs” of the 2nd Combat Company. The latter returned back to the former homeland of the 13e DBLE, Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. See some images.
13e DBLE: Three companies to deploy overseas in 2020
In 2020, at least three compagnies of the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) are to be deployed overseas this year, according to their commanding officer, Colonel Jacques Bouffard. Two of them will serve in Africa.
Read more13e DBLE: Three companies to deploy overseas in 2020
Rescue mission in Loyada: 44th anniversary
The paratroopers of the French Foreign Legion, together with French elite counter-terrorism policemen and cavalrymen of the Legion’s 13th Half-brigade, participated in a hostage rescue mission 44 years ago, in early February 1976. The mission to rescue 31 French children kidnapped by local militants took place at Loyada, a small border village in then French Somaliland, today’s Djibouti (Horn of Africa). See more information.
13e DBLE: BACCARAT 2019 starts today
In northeastern France, in the regions of Champagne and Alsace, a large multinational ten-day exercise starts today: BACCARAT 2019. The exercise is aimed at adaptation to air assault and its perfection. It has been organized since 2017, by the 4th Air Assault Brigade (4e BAC). Apart from British, Spanish and French military helicopter units, the Foreign Legion’s 13th Half Brigade (13e DBLE) also participates in the exercise.
13e DBLE: Foreign Legion marksmen win US Army Europe sniper contest
In late July 2019, marksmen of the French Foreign Legion’s 13th Half Brigade (13e DBLE) won the U.S. Army’s 2019 European Best Sniper Team Competition that took place at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The legionnaires became the winners among 32 teams from 16 countries being involved in the contest.
Read more13e DBLE: Foreign Legion marksmen win US Army Europe sniper contest
Foreign Legion: 2019 Bastille Day
On the 14th July 2019, Foreign Legion regiments participated in ceremonies in their garrison towns to celebrate the French National Day (called Bastille Day in the English-speaking world). See some nice images.
13e DBLE: 4th Company in Indian Ocean
Legionnaires of the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) are currently being deployed for four months to Réunion, an island and an overseas department of France in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. They formed a rotational infantry company of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e RPIMa) there, to maintain order in the region.
Foreign Legion: 2019 Camerone Day
On April 30, 2019, the French Foreign Legion commemorated the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the legendary and most important event in its history. Camerone Day is the most important day of the year for all current or former legionnaires of the Foreign Legion. See 2019 Camerone Day videos and images from several Legion regiments.