13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment
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| 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1676–1815, 1856–1940 1944–1946, 1948 1952– |
| Country |  France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Special Reconnaissance |
| Size | One regiment |
| Part of | Army Special Forces Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Martignas-sur-Jalle |
| Motto | Au-delà du possible (Possible above and beyond the impossible) |
| Insignia | |
| Circled Winged Armed Dextrochere Insign of Badge of the 13th worn on Red Berets. This insign is also worn by French Foreign Legion Paratroopers on Green Berets. |  |
| Abbreviation | 13 RDP |
The 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (French: 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes, 13e RDP) is a specialized Airborne Regiment of the French Army. It is one of two regiments in the French Army Special Forces Brigade, which is under the control of the COS (special operations command). The regiment's primary duties are airborne reconnaissance operations.
Contents
History
Origins
Marquis de Barbezières raised a dragoon regiment in Languedoc on 4 October 1676. In 1724 the name was changed to dragons de Condé.
Post–World War II
After World War II, the 13e RDP was transformed into a long-range recon unit. During the Cold War, the main mission of the 13e RDP was to provide intelligence for the 1st Army, while each company of the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa) should provide intelligence for one Army Corps.
From July 1957 onwards, it was part of the 10th Parachute Division during the Algerian War.
Since the end of the Cold War, the 1er RPIMa has become a direct-action unit while the 13e RDP specialized in reconnaissance/surveillance operations in hostile environment, gathering intelligence for special operations. In a way they're similar to the role of the US Army Long Range Surveillance Detachment or Long Range Surveillance Company.
The 13e RDP took part in the Gulf War. This was highlighted when three operators were captured by the Iraqis in late 1990. The 13e RDP was, along with other French units, heavily involved in the Kosovo War and used tactics and technology to force Serbian armour to attempt to engage Kosovo Liberation Army and other Allied forces in the open, which enabled them to be destroyed by Allied bombing, particularly by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The 13e RDP also contributed to the capture of Momčilo Krajišnik in 2001 by close range recons.
Mission
Its mission is to acquire human intelligence at any time and in any hostile environments (aquatic, cold mountain, equatorial forest, desert), behind enemy lines, using small autonomous and discreet units, able to position itself closer to acquire intelligence, and transmit. For this kind of mission, units of the 13th practice what they call "hideout", that is to say, operations camouflage living areas for observation and transmission, but also evolved into more modern and urban modes of action (installation of cameras / sensors and remote viewing). The regiment is officially in charge of the research of strategic intelligence.
The high skill level of 13e RDP operatives in special reconnaissance means that they are often requested by other forces. The Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale keeps a close relationship with the 13e RDP to train its gendarmes in forward recon for hostage rescue operations in hostile environments. The Équipes d'Observation en Profondeur (EOP, forward control teams) of French artillery regiments use the standard operating procedures of the 13e RDP. 13e RDP operators are also reported to be highly requested to join the Service Action of the Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure (DGSE, French intelligence service).
13 RDP and Intelligence role
In April 1960, French Army in Germany decided to create an experimental long range intelligence company , the 7th company of Commandos. Developed by the 7th company , life procedures behind enemy lines and message encoding are collected by the 13th RDP. This way from 1963 the regiment acquired its current Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol mission.
Finally in 1968 , the French Army defines the conditions for implementation of the regiment. Pending the creation of the 1st Army in 1972 , EMA decided to implement the regiment. The 13th RDP is then made available to the Army to be used in Germany in case of war.
The Regiment is subordinate to the BGRE (French Army's military intelligence and electronic warfare Brigade). Although not part of French Special Operations Command 13 RDP is tasked to support Special Operations operations and regularly conducts training with Special Forces units.
Organization
The Regiment is currently composed of seven squadrons:
- three "search", or intelligence, squadrons. They provide the Regiment's recon teams.
- Two long-range communications squadrons. They provide a secure communications link between deployed recon teams and higher headquarters.
- Two training squadrons. They are responsible for providing in-house training courses and certifying new unit members.
Equipment
13 RDP is equipped with standard French Army material, but has access to specialized weapons and equipment when needed. In the event that a "silenced" weapon is required teams can be equipped with MP5SD submachine guns. When heavy fire power is considered necessary, recon teams are known to carry the M-203 40mm grenade launcher, and the 5.56mm Minimi LMG. Vehicle mounted teams may arm their vehicles with a variety of heavy weapons including Browning .50 cal heavy machine guns, US MK-19 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, and light machine guns.
The vehicle-mounted teams are equipped with Panhard VPSs, heavily armed P-4 Jeeps and Peugeot motorcycles.
Combat history
From 1945 the Regiment has taken part in several French Army operations and campaigns:
- Algerian War 1954-1962
- Mauritania 1977
- Zaire: Kolwezi 1978
- Central African Republic in 1979 (Operation Barracuda )
- Chad 1983-1986 (Operation Manta and operation Épervier )
- Togo 1986
- Second Gulf War in 1990
- Rwanda 1991
- Somalia and Cambodia 1993
- Rwanda 1994 ( operations Noroit, Chimère, Amaryllis and Turquoise)
- Comoros in 1995 (Operation Azalée )
- Central African Republic 1996 ( 2 and operations almandine almandine 2to )
- Albania 1997
- Gabon 1998
- Macedonia 1999
- Kosovo in 1999
- Afghanistan in 2001-2014
- Mali 2013
Honours
Battle honours
- Valmy 1792
- Hohenlinden 1800
- Austerlitz 1805
- Iéna 1806
- La Moskowa 1812
- Ypres 1914
- Verdun 1916
- AFN 1952–1962
Decorations
External links
- 13e RDP official site (French)
- 13e RDP official Facebook webpage (French)
- Official site of the 13th Regiment veterans (French)
- Articles containing French-language text
- Articles with French-language external links
- 20th-century regiments of France
- 21st-century regiments of France
- Cavalry regiments of France
- French regiments of the Ancien Régime
- Military units and formations established in 1954
- Parachute regiments of France
- Recipients of the Gold Medal of the City of Milan (France)
- Reconnaissance
- Regiments of the First French Empire
- Regiments of the French First Republic
- Special forces of France
