Lang Son Aerial Resupply Company (CARA de Lang Son):
Raised at Lang Son by order of Colonel Constans, commander of the 3rd REI, the company was a mixed unit that included Legionnaires drawn from the 1st BEP and 3rd REI. Its mission was the aerial resupply of the Colonial Route 4 garrisons. In was inactivated with the loss of Lang Son in October 1950.
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Airborne Forces Training Center – Indochina (CITAPI):
A small number of officers and NCOs from both BEPS were detached for duties with the Airborne Forces Training Center – Indochina, which was based at Hanoi between February 12, 1951 and December 31, 1953. Besides its instructional duties, which were tactical in nature and included combat patrols and raids, the CITAPI was responsible for the operational planning and employment of Army Forces North Vietnam (FTNV) Commandos, a number of which were cadred by Legionnaires. At the time of its inactivation, one officer and 34 enlisted men from the 1st BEP, plus 20 enlisted men from the 2nd BEP, were assigned to the unit.
1st Headquarters and Service Company, Foreign Legion Engineers (1st CEMSGLE):
This unit was formed in March 1946. Engineering has always been the Legion’s secondary specialty, as Legionnaires often built their own posts from the ground up, before going to work on the road network that connected them with other posts. Indochina required a small number of specialized engineer formations.
40th Dump Truck Company (40th CCB):
Authorized in Algeria, but formed in France on September 30, 1945, the 40th CCB initially had three officers, 14 NCOs and 175 Legionnaires. It arrived in South Vietnam on January 13, 1946 and established its base at Gia Dinh. Its platoons operated throughout South, Central and North Vietnam on convoy operations. In 1948 it received collapsible boats, and in 1953 it integrated Vietnamese into its structure. The 1st Platoon received three unit citations, while the company as a whole was cited once.
Collapsible Boat Platoon, 1st CEMSGLE:
Formed in Da Nang in March 1946, it was integrated into the 40th CCB on August 16, 1948, and served throughout the war at Da Nang. Inactivated in 1955, the Collapsible Boat Platoon received one unit citation.
16th Engineer Maintenance Company (16th CEG):
Arriving in Saigon on February 8, 1946, the 16th CEG provided port security for Saigon, functioning as mechanics, truck drivers, crane operators, barge crewmen and at times barge operators. As French presence expanded, 16th CEG operations did likewise, moving to ports in other parts of South Vietnam, Central Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1952 the 16th CEG was disbanded to form the 28th Engineer Battalion (Foreign Legion), which performed similar functions before being inactivated at Saigon on May 15, 1955.
15th Engineer Maintenance Company (15th CEG):
Organized at Haiphong on December 15, 1947 by merging the 42nd Engineer Depot Company with Legionnaires from the 16th CEG, this unit specialized in engine and vehicle maintenance and modification. It was inactivated on October 31, 1952 to form the 22nd Legion Engineer Battalion (22nd BGL), which consisted of a bridge company, an equipment repair company, a service company and a bridge transport company. It was inactivated in 1955.
38th Dump Truck Company (38th CCB):
Formed in Hanoi in 1947 by merging the 1st Bridge Equipment Company with a contingent of troops from the 40th CCB, the 38th CCB was assigned to the Hanoi Engineer District and operated throughout the Red River Delta. It received one unit citation before being inactivated in Vietnam in 1955.
1st Foreign Legion Engineer Services and Training Company (1st CISGLE):
Formed in Saigon on August 16, 1948, the 1st CISGLE consisted of a headquarters command element, which cadred the headquarters for Legion Engineers in Indochina. It also functioned as a training company for Legion engineers. It was inactivated in 1950.
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One Comment to “Foreign Legion Specialized Units in Indochina”
Very good work!
Where I could get some images about?
Thank you in advance
By Leonard on Sep 14, 2008 at 3:56 pm