2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie

By Chris Downes-Ward

Index
 
History
Current Status
Organisation
Regimental HQ
Cavalry Squadrons
Equipment

History

The 2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie has to be one of the most often disbanded units in the Légion. It was first raised as part of the expansion of the Légion in July 1939. The regiment traces it's roots back to Régiment Dauphin Étranger Cavalerie formed by Louis XIV in the name of his son. It's contribution to World War II was to remain in Algeria and be disbanded by the German Armistice commission on 15th November 1940. The regiment was re-raised on 26th April 1946 in order to provide reinforcements for 1e REC in Indochina, however it soon saw combat itself in Morocco.

The next major action for 2e REC was when the 2e Escadron was detached to support 1e REP for the Suez operation. During the Algerian conflict 2e REC took part in the battle of the frontiers acting against ALN insurgents attempting to enter Algeria from Tunisia. Later in the war 2e REC operated in southern Algeria before being disbanded again on 12th June 1962 at Biskra and absorbed into 1e REC.

With the outbreak of the WWIII the Légion expanded again and once more 2 REC came into existance, this time it was equipped with obsolete armoured cars manned by refugees, deserters and other people that France would rather have die for her than making trouble. The reformed regiment was sent to police the Dead Zone along the Rhine Frontier.

The regiment was still in existance at the outbreak of the Saudi War in 2010 as was swiftly shipped to the Gulf to support the British, French, Bavarian, Japanese and Egyptian forces fighting agains the Iranians.

After the Saudi War the regiment spent several years moving around French possessions in Africa, performing the kind of unromantic role where just the presence of a unit of displined soldiers was all that was needed.

In 2030 Canton moved to occupy Indochina, 2e REC was one of the units slated to be part of the French response, and indeed staged to Thailand before the Cantonese backed down.

The next 35 years saw the French peace being forged and 2e REC were part of that process, shuttling from one trouble spot to another, indeed the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2065 found it in Burkina-Faso watching the border of Berbera and dealing with the frequent incursions from that chaotic state, there, much to it's chagrin it remained. As more French troops were sucked into the war the regiment's remit grew to cover the whole of central Africa.

By 2082 the French peace looked secure and the Defence budget did not. Once again 2e REC folded its flags and disappeared from the Légion roster. It did not reappear until the tensions surrounding the Alpha Centauri War caused it's reform in 2162.

Until the outbreak of the Central Asian War (in 2282) 2e REC specialised in low key dispersed operations with its squadrons operating independantly. The squadrons mostly operated on Earth but one long stint on Provence Nouveau and another on Beta Canum Veanticorum added new variety to the places that a légionnaire could serve.

In 2282 the Central Asian War exploded and for the first time in ages 2e REC deployed as a regiment. This time to the plains of central Asia. Soon the regiment was joined by 1e REC and the newly formed 3e REC as GMLE - Groupement Mobile Légion Étrangère. Although the steppes were well suited to 2e REC's fast moving style the 5 years of warfare caused a steady drain of casualties, especially in the later phases of the war before the Japanese intervention. The regiment was very heavily handled during the Battle of Orsk even though it was one of the few units that succesfully broke out of the Machurian encirclement. By the time the war ended 2e REC was but a shadow and badly in need of a long period of rest and rebuilding.

The regiment was shipped to the colony world of Beta Canum Venaticorum to rebuild and there it remained restoring it's manpower, but defintely on the low priority list for equipment.

The regiment was still on Beta Canum Venaticorum when the war of German Reunification started in 2292 and there it remained garrisoning the vital Beanstalk area and patrolling the hinterland of the French continent. Plans were drawn up to ship the regiment back to Earth to take part in the defence of France but the armistice came before the transports.

Five years later the regiment was shipped further up French arm to Aurore just in time to meet the Kafer onslaught, it has remained there to this day.

Below: 2e REC Pocket Badge

Current Status

The 2e REC is stationed on Aurore where it has taken part in much fighting against the Kafers along the Ecumant river valley. The regiment has what is considered to be second line equipment but due to the distance from Earth and the pressure of the Kafer war it has to make do.

The regiment operates over a large area and is normally split into squadron sized task forces using hit and run tactics against the Kafers. For these operations the regiment is often reinforced by a Compagnie d'artillerie equipped with VALR-12’s and an Aero Scout platoon of 6 Guerrin-Rousette AG-7 Tilt-Rotor scouts attached to regimental headquarters.

Alternatively 2e REC can be concentrated to spearhead larger attacks or to act as a Divisional reserve or screening force. Occasionally the regiment acts in squadron groups to provide and armoured punch to infantry battalions.

Officially 1e Régiment Cavalrie d’Aurore has the same organisation as 2e REC, however its is seriously under strength and its 1e and 3e Esqadrons have only one Aero Char and one Aero Cavalrie troop and the 2e Escadron is organised as a pure Aero Char Escadron of 3 troops each of 3 German Mark IX Lukis.

The other Légion Étrangère cavalry regiments are 1e REC on Tirane with the crack 2e Division Légère Blindée which is equipped with modern ACL-7 medium hovertanks, and 3e REC with the similarly equipped 1e Division Légère Blindée on Earth.

Organisation

The regiment consists of the Regimental Headquarters and three Cavalry Squadrdons.

All personel numbers given here a theoretical. If practice, combat losses, illness, desertion, detachment to junior leaders courses or any number of other causes will result in units being below strength.

The regimental total is 24 officers, 82 NCO's and 324 légionnaires. This gives a total stength of 430.

Regimental Headquarters (Etat Major)

The regimental headquarters consists of Escadron de Commandement et des Services, Section des Services and Section de la Réparation.

Escadron de Commandement et des Services

Subordinate to the Escadron de Commandement et des Services are the Section des Services and the Section de la Réparation.

The squadron has 5 officers, 8 NCO's and 25 légionnaires. Also part of the headquarters is the Regimental Chaplain, the Chaplain is assigned one of the ASL-12's and a légionnaire as a Driver and bodyguard. The current Chaplain's driver seems determined to compensate for the fact that the Chaplain does not carry weapons and is known as 'The Padre's Private Army' (L'Armée Privée De Padre). The Chaplain is counted as one of the officers.

Including the Section des Services and Section de Réparation there are 6 officers, 10 NCO's and 63 légionnaires in the Squadron.

Section des Services

The section has 1 Officer (the Medical Officer), 1 NCO and 27 légionnaires of whom 5 are trained medical attendants.

Section de Réparation

The Section has 1 NCO and 11 légionnaires, 3 of whom are trained mechanics.

Below: Organisational diagram for 2e REC

Cavalry Squadrons

There are three numbered squadrons, 1e Escadron, 2e Escadron and 3e Escadron. Each squadron has a Troupe de Commandement et des Services, 2 Troupe Aéro Char and 2 Troupe Cavalrie.

In total there are 6 officers, 24 NCO's and 87 légionnaires in a Squadron.

Troupe de Commandement et des Services

The Troupe de Commandement et des Services often has a forward observer attached from a supporting artillery formation, these observers normally ride in an ACVI-3/VOA (Véhicule de Observateur d' Artillerie). Subordinate to the Troupe de Commandement et des Services are the Group des Services and the Group de la Réparation.

There are 2 Officers, 3 NCO's and 10 légionnaires in the Troupe. Including the Groupe des Services and the Groupe de Réparation there are 2 officers 6 NCO's and 25 légionnaires in the Troupe de Commandement et des Services.

Groupe des Services

There are 2 NCO's and 6 légionnaires in the Groupe, 2 of whom are trained as medical assistants.

Groupe de Réparation

There is 1 NCO and 9 légionnaires in the Groupe all of whom are trained in various maintenance duties.

Below: Organisational diagram for an Escadron de Cavalerie

Troupe Aéro Char

There are 2 hover tank troops, designated A and B. each troop has 3 AC-8’s.

A troop has 1 officer, 2 NCO's and 6 other légionnaires for a total of 9 personnel.

Troupe Cavalerie

There are 2 cavalry troops, designated C and D. Each troop has 3 ACVI-3’s and 24 infantry. The infantry are organised as 3 x 6 man dismounted squads and a 6 man troop headquarters. The troop headquarters is distributed between the ACVI-3’s. The infantry are equipped with FAM-90’s with the designated sniper as part of the troop headquarters been equipped with an FTE-10. Each dismount squad consists of a 4-man fire team (with FAM-90’s) and a 2-man support team with a Quinn-Darlan Mk 2-A2 PGMP and one FAM-90.

The headquarters squad consists of the troop commander (normally a Sous Lieutenant or a Lieutenant), the troop sergeant, a communications specialist, a sniper and a 2 man team equipped with a Guiscard Martel light anti-air missile. During operations against Kafers (who have little air power) the Guiscard Martel team often carry a Quinn-Darlan Mk 2-A2 PGMP instead.

All the troopers have ballistic fatigues and a Cuirasse de Combat as well as a 2245 pattern helmet.

A troop has 1 officer, a troop sergant, 6 other NCO's (3 normally command the ACVI-3’s) and 3 the dismount squads), 6 other vehicle crew and 19 légionnaires in the dismount sections. In total there is 1 office, 7 NCO's and 25 légionnaires for a total of 33 personnel.

Below: Organisational diagram for a Troupe de Cavalerie

Equipment

Aéro Char - 8 Tons (AC-8)

Now considered obsolete and replaced by the AC-12 the AC-8 continues in service with colonial and second line units on the grounds that 'it’s a tank and it’s got a gun'. The AC-8 has a sponson mounted 8cm mass driver and a turret mounting a 25mm auto cannon, 7.5mm machine gun and a Guiscard Aero-12 missile launcher and 8 missiles.

It has a crew of 3, a driver, a commander and a gunner.

Aéro Vehicle Combat D’Infanterie, 3 Ton (ACVI-3)

Commonly know as the 'Bessieres' the regiment makes use of 5 variants of this elderly ACV APC. Attached forward observers often use the VOA variant while attached artillery use the VALR-12.

Transporte de Troupes (TT)

This is the standard variant of the ACVI-3 used to carry 8 infantry. It is armed with a Guiscard Aero-12 missile launcher and 6 missiles, a 25mm auto cannon and a 5.5mm machine-gun.

It has a crew of three, a driver, a commander and a gunner. It can carry up to 8 passengers, or with 2000kg of cargo.

Poste Commandement (PC)

This is a command post variant equiped with extra communications equipment and an extendible shelter at the rear. This variant retains the 25mm auto cannon and a 5.5mm machine-gun but discards the missiles to gain space.

Some Poste Commandement versions have a small hangar from which they can operate up to 4 'Minibee' reconaisance drones.

It has a crew of three, a driver, a commander and a gunner. It can carry up to 6 passengers, of whom 2 are system operators.

Sanitaire (S)

An ambulance variant, this was greeted as an improvement over the ACVI-2 Transporteur de Blessé carrying as it does two stretcher cases and 4 walking wounded, however it lacks facilities compared to the more modern ACVI-4/Ambulance variant. This variant is normally unarmed but as the Kafers have not heard of the Geneva Convention a number of field expedient machine-gun mounts have been introduced on Aurore.

It has a crew of three, a driver and 2 attendants.

Transmission (T)

A complement to the ACVI-3/PC this is a specialised communication vehicle mounting a full ground to orbit communications facility. This variant retains the 25mm auto cannon and a 5.5mm machine-gun but discards the missiles to gain space.

It has a crew of three, a driver, a commander and a gunner. It can carry up to 4 system operators.

Échelon (E)

This is the light repair and recovery variant mounting a crane, in place of the turret, rated to 8 tons when stationary with the stabilising struts deployed. This discards all armament and has a single 5.5mm pintel mounted machine-gun.

It has a crew of 4, a driver and 3 support staff.

Véhicule de Observateur d' Artillerie (VOA)

This is a specialised artillery observation variant which has an enlarged turret mounting sighting devices and a laser designator. It is armed with a Guiscard Aero-12 missile launcher and 6 missiles, a 25mm auto cannon and a 5.5mm machine-gun.

It has a crew of 5, a driver, a gunner, a commander, an observer and a systems operator

Véhicule Autopropulse Lance-Roquettes, 12cm (VALR-12)

This vehicle is identical to the standard ACVI-3 except that two eight-tube, box launchers for 12cm rockets have replaced the armament.

It has a crew of 3, a driver, a commander and a gunner.

Aéroglisseur Services (Léger) ASL-12

In function, if not appearance, this is the French version of the Bridgeport Swift Warbird, it is used for general liaison duties and is occasionally pressed into service for scouting roles. It has a single pintel mount which normally carries some sort of machine gun although some have been seen with a CLP-1A (Cannon Legere Pyrotechnique-1A) mounted.

The ASL-12 has a driver and can carry up to 5 passengers.

Aéroglisseur Services (Moyen) ASM-2

This vehicle is a general utility hovercraft designed to carry palletised loads of up to 2000Kg. It is also used as the basis of a number of more specialised vehicles such as the AEM-18. The ASM-2 is normally unarmed but has a single pintel/ring mount above the cab.

The ASM-2 has a driver and can carry up to 2 passengers in the cab.

Aéroglisseur Échelon (Moyen) AEM-18

Essentially an ASM-2 with a workshop mounted on the truck bed, the AEM-18 is used to provide local engineering and maintenance facilities. The AEM-18 is normally unarmed but has a single pintel/ring mount above the cab.

The AEM-18 has a driver and can carry up to 4 passengers. These passengers are normally the workshop staff.