Le 1' Regiment de Hussards Parachutistes

lntruductlon Most soldiers assigned to USAREUR have some knowledge of their French comrades. They meet them during field exercises and social functions in various parts of Germany. They know the French units represent France’s commitment to a common defense in Europe, particularly the armored divisions of the 1st French Army. Less known to American personnel is another part of the French The 11 th Airborne DMsion An ERC 90 armored car in front of the unit HQ at Tarbes, France Army forces called: La Force dXc-sions as well as the ones peculiar to tion Rapide (rapid action force or FAR). This force includes 5 cavalry regiments (larger than a U. S. squadron, but much smaller than an ACR). One of these regiments is a very particular and unique one: An airborne cavalry airborne regiment, le 1’ Reginrent de Hiissards Para-clirrtistes. This article deals with the missions, capabilities, equipment, organization, and training of this famous cavalry unit. Le Premier Reginrent de Hiissards Pamcliiitistes is an old cavalry regiment, established in 1720 by a Hungarian patriot, Count Ladislas de Bercheny. Involved in all of France’s main battles of the last two centuries, the regiment was reorganized as airborne in 1946. Located in Tarbes on the Pyrenees border, (between France and Spain) it is the cavalry unit of the 11th Airborne Division. (see figure 1). This light armored regiment conducts most of the classic cavalry mis-the 11th Airborne Division. By TO&E, it is capable of swift deployment to support an airborne assault and can dcploy to action quickly. About the FAR The Force d’tlctioi Rapide is a strategic asset and, thus, an instrument of national policy. The FAR’S main roles are: to participate in operations in the European theater in coordination with the 1st Army; to deploy forces overseas; and to participate in the territorial defense of France. FAR is made up of 5 divisions: airborne, marine, light armor, alpine, and airmobile. Totilling 47,000 soldiers, mainly volunteers and not draftees, it is capable of conducting amphibious, airborne, or airmobile operations. It may be task-organized for specific missions. It may be employed inde-ARMOR - November-December 7987 33 I pendently or in support of Frcnch and security for the.. or allied forces. Missions and Capabilities Of the 1" Regiment de Hussards Parachutistes Le 10 Regirlrent de Hiissurds Paracltutistes is the airborne division'stool of counter-surprise, providing freedom of maneuver to the division commander. It is used as the combined instantaneous antitank reserve, with 36 ERC 90-mm guns and 24 ATGM Milan (4 rounddminute, 1,800-m range). Employed in a large area of operations, the regiment must be able to quickly engage an enemy up to a tank hattalion in strength. The regiment also provides reconnaissance in depth Fig. 2 TheRa id Action p o r e 6 11 27 commander, operating in a completely new area of opcra-lions, by giving early warning of enemy forces ahead, by screening, covering, and Central Africa in July 1987. helping to support offensive and 0 I tactical HU spent five months defensive operations. as TF, HV in Chad (Epcn&r Opera-lion). Le Io Regiiiterrt de Htissards Paracltiitistes can carry out these Organization and Equipment missions in Europe as well as overseas; for example: (see Fig 3). With its 800 men, 270 vehicles, 3G ERC, 24 ATGM, 20 pathfinders, 20 0 Reinforcement of the 1st French Army if needed. 0 Protection of vital interests of any country with which France is linked by defense agreements. 0 Participation in an international peacekeeping force. Recent Missions Here are some examples of the unit's overseas missions in 0 2 armored troops (ERC 90) spent 4 months in Central Africa. 0 1 armored troop

W) 1986-1987: served 4 months in C h a d (Eyervier Operation). troop went to Milan ATGMs. 0 1 armored The unit is also equipped with Jeepmounted 34 ARMOR - November-December 7987

F. _.d airborne instructors, and 6 forward air controllers, Le 1' Regiiiiciit de Hiissards Puracliiitisles is a true combined-arms unit made up of seven troops ahle to conduct operations with optimum efliciency. The regiment consists of: three light armored cavalry troops, ERC 90-mm equipped; one antitank troop ATGM Milan vehicles; two basic training troops (instruction of new enlisted soldiers), and one HO & Services troop. Each ERC troop has four platoons with three ERC and three jeeps. The antitank troop consists of four platoons with six ATGM mounted on jeeps; the HU/Svc troop supports one ADA platoon (20-mm guns); and one long-range pathfinder and reconnaissance airbornc platoon. All the troops are designed to dcploy easily, therefore they use light, wheeled vehicles which require minimum logistic support, and are capable of air, land, or air-drop delivery. This is one of the reasons why France is the only major Western nation that has made a sub-An ERC armored car patrols in Central Africa. stantial commitment to wheeled combat vehicles. The main combat asset is the ERC Suguie vehicles (Eiigiit Roues Caiiuii), fitted with a 90-mm gun and a 7.62-mm machinegun. Crewed by three men, this 8-ton vehicle mounts a laser ran-geGnder and can lire an APFS-DS or HEAT round with a high probability of lirst-round hit up to 1,800 meters. It is amphibious, and its low fuel consumption allows it to run 450 km without refueling. The main antitank weapon is the well-known Milan; the use of the MlRA night sight enables the missile to be fired by night at a range of 1,800 meters. An older type vehicle, the AML 90 (Aiitoiiiilrailleuse lcgere), is sometimes pre-positioned overseas and tactically employed like the ERC YO when our soldiers are deployed overseas without their T0&E vehicles. Training Our missions demand top-quality soldiers and training. All the Hiissards Parac1ii1tis1e.s are volunteers. The training requires the continuous pursuit of excellence, excellence as paratroopers, excellence as gunners, loaders, and drivers. All the soldiers of this airborne cavalry unit must reach optimum readiness to be involved in the shortest time either in Central Europe or overseas. For instance, when a troop is under the systems of alert called Giiepwd, it must be able to move 5,000 kms from its garrison in less than 72 hours, fully equipped. The regiment conducts specific training focused on airborne and armor skills. As paratroopers, soldiers and leaders train for air-drop and air-land operations, with or without vehicles. They train to use sling techniques, prepare drop ARMOR - November-December 7987 35 zones, and serve as forward controllers (FAC). The French FAC serves the same function as the U. S. FAC in the combined arms team. The French FAC, however, is not composed of air force oflicers, but usually the troop executive officers. Every man jumps 10 times a year (minimum) by day or night. The men train in commando techniques and mountain techniques, both in winter and summer. As ERC crew-Two AML 90 armored cars patrol a desert area in Chad (see map at left), where French troops have been supporting the local government in its continuing fight against Libyan troops in the Aozou Strip (shaded area along Chadian-Libyan border). men or ATtiM be effectively emploved from the team members, t h e y a r e evaluated during National Live Gunnery exercises Five times a year. The ERC crewmen also train in river-crossing operations and are proficient in amphibious techniques. Le 1" Regirttent de Htis-sares Paracltiitis-tes, in 2986, performed 8,fH)o parachute jumps, drove 100,OOO km, and fired 1,()0! IO-mm rounds. 415 men were deployed overseas. This continuous training is the guaranty of our capacity to be committed anytime, anywhcre. With its.three gun troops, its antitank troop, and its 18 professional platoons, le 1" Reginrent de Hirssards Paracltiitis-tes provides the needed reconnaissance, security, and antitank power for the airborne division, which can - first minute of an airborne operation. Because of its strategic and tactical mobility and firepower, the regiment increases the division's ability to deploy rapidly with the optimum force structure to accomplish the mission. Le 1' Regiment de Himard.y Paraclttitistes is the best among cavalry because it is a parachute unit and is the best among parachute units because it is cavalry. CPT Emmanuel Legendre graduated from France's St. Cyr military academy in

1980. He was assigned to the 1 Regiment de Hussards Parachutistes in 1985 and served as XO of an EBR-equipped troop, serving 4 months in Central Africa with this troop in 1986. He is a 1987 graduate of the AOAC at Fort Knox and has been chosen to assume a command next spring. I36 ARMOR - November-December 7987 I