Learn about the 2nd Legion Saharan Motorized Company (2e CSPL), an autonomous motorized infantry unit of the French Foreign Legion serving in the Algerian Sahara between the 1940s and 1960s. Very little known today, equipped with Dodges WC 4×4 and 6×6, and also by AMM8 Greyhound armored cars, it became a Saharan rapid reaction force during the Algerian War.
Legion’s first Saharan motorized unit
Though little known today, four autonomous Saharan companies ranked among the most prestigious Foreign Legion’s units in the 1950s – 1960s. They kept the old traditions of the legionnaires riding camels through the North African desert and oasis, serving in the old cool-looking fortresses. Even the official recruiting posters of the Legion in the 1950s and 1960s portrayed Saharan units to attract new volunteers to join in. Today, the Legion’s first Saharan motorized unit will be presented here.
3e REI: Operation Hermes 2014 Documentary
The newest French documentary, being released in May 2014, shows a journalist who joined for four days a group of the legionnaires from the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI), participating in Operation Hermes, in the Amazon jungle of French Guiana…
Rare Foreign Legion’s photos from the 1980s & Gulf War
Chad, Djibouti, Mayotte and the Gulf War… See the interesting slideshows created by Ch. R., a former legionnaire and NCO of the French Foreign Legion, who served in the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) during the 1980s and 1990s. Hundreds of rare, cool photos from places known by almost all legionnaires and from the Gulf War 1990-91.
Read moreRare Foreign Legion’s photos from the 1980s & Gulf War
2e REI: Tapanar II left the regiment
On May 16, Caporal-chef Tapanar II left the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), after more than 28 years of service in the French Foreign Legion. Nevertheless, it must be said that the Caporal-chef Tapanar II is a mule in fact and it was a mascot of 2e REI. A ceremony to say goodbye to Tapanar II took place in 2e REI’s barracks.
1er REC: A concert to say goodbye to Orange
On June 3, 2014, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) of the Foreign Legion organized a concert in Orange, to say goodbye to that southern France’s old town. The regiment will depart from Orange next month, on July 9. It will be placed in the Carpiagne military camp near Marseille, on July 11. The 1er REC has been based in Orange since 1967.
2e REP: 82nd Airborne Division trained with the Foreign Legion
During May 25 – June 02, 2014, about 120 paratroopers from across the United States’ 82nd Airborne Division trained with the legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) of the Foreign Legion, on the island of Corsica, the 2e REP’s base.
Read more2e REP: 82nd Airborne Division trained with the Foreign Legion
2e REG in Mali in April 2014
As noted, a team of the Surveillance & Direct Action Platoon (Section de renseignement et d’intervention offensive, SRIO) of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) of the Foreign Legion is participating, together with other regiment’s and Legion’s units, in Operation Serval in Mali right now. See some nice images from an operation, in which the legionnaires-sappers of SRIO secured a road clearing for a military convoy of the French regular army forces.
13e DBLE: How to avoid the danger of IED
Yesterday, on May 28, the Foreign Legion launched a video showing an instruction to avoid the danger of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) during military operations. The instruction took place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a garrison of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE), in March 2014.
The legionnaires, who built up the largest military camp in Western Europe
Legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion have kept the long tradition of their Pioneers-Sappers history. The bearded Legion Pioneers are well known, an inseparable part of every larger parade of legionnaires. In the 1970s, the modern Legion Pioneers from the very little-known 61st Engineer Legion Mixed Battalion (61e BMGL) participated in the construction of the largest military camp in Western Europe: Camp Canjuers. See the 61e BMGL’s rare images & history.
Read moreThe legionnaires, who built up the largest military camp in Western Europe
2e REP: Pay Homage Ceremony to Sergent-chef Kalafut
On May 13, 2014, the ceremony to pay homage to the Sergent-chef Marcel Kalafut was organized within the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP). The legionnaire Kalafut was killed in Mali on May 8, during Operation Serval. The ceremony was headed by the French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Read more2e REP: Pay Homage Ceremony to Sergent-chef Kalafut