French Army: 2300AD

 

La Légion Étrangère

 

Introduction

 

The Légion Étrangère, the French Foreign Legion, is one of the iconic fighting forces. It is composed of both foreigners and Frenchmen, led by the cream of France’s officer corps.  It has a mystique and mythology surrounding it unmatched by any other modern military formation which sometimes obscures a fine fighting record. The Légion has been in French service for over four hundred and fifty years and remains a vital part of France’s defences and power projection. The modern Légion has no fewer than 33 combat battalions recruited from across the Earth and the off-world colonies, and in recent years it has proved its mettle against Manchurians, Germans and the alien Kafers. 

 

Narrative

 

The inhabitants of the Cité d’Aurore came out en-masse to line the streets of their city. They were mostly the young and old, most of the able bodied men and women had been conscripted into the Milice Coloniale as soldiers or for civil defence. There were many off-duty Miliciens around also, conspicuous in their desert camouflage fatigues and carrying old-fashioned Manchurian assault rifles.

 

The first noise was sound of marching soldiers, then the column of soldiers came into view as it made its way into town from where it bivouacked for the night on the outskirts. The soldiers were singing Le Boudin and the crowd broke out into applause and cheers. The column swung into town at a leisurely 88 paces a minute, its rumbling singing matching the slow speed of its march.

 

The officers and sous-officiers were at the head of the column in their dark blue képis contrasting with the famous képis blancs of the légionnaires who followed them. They carried the battalion’s colour with them on a short staff, while just behind the colours were the bearded pioneers. If the parade format seemed familiar the turnout of the men wasn’t.

 

Their combat ‘bleus’ were dusty, tattered and torn. Equipment and packs hung from their scuffed cuirasses de combat, whilst their helmets were clipped onto the webbing and rhythmically clanked away. The légionnaires marched with their issue weapons; stubby FAM-90s for most whilst others had heavier weapons propped on their shoulders. Most notably were the gaps in the ranks; where once 700 men would have marched there were fewer than 200.

 

The remnants of the II Batallion of the 2e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie were parading through the town prior to embarking at the spaceport. The battalion had come to Aurore in response to the discovery of the Kafers in neighbouring Arcturus and had provided a cornerstone for the defence of the colony. It was a unit comprised primarily of Bavarians; many with combat experience against France in the War of Reunification and now surplus to the requirements of the new Bundeswehr. It was a hard bitten, hard fighting unit that had taken on the Kafers and not yielded an inch. Yet it had nearly destroyed itself in its efforts and had now been replaced by fresh troops since the human fleet had forced away the besieging Kafers. 

 

The battalion broke into a new song, the anthem of the exiled Bavarians of the Légion.

“Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien.”              

 

Index

 

Order of Battle

Regiments

Organisation

Recruitment

Training

Culture

Uniform and Equipment

Personalities

Role Playing

Design Notes
Bibliography

 

Order of Battle 

1e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie
 
2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie
 
3e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie
   
1e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
 
2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
 
3e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
 
4e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
 
5e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
 
6e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
 
11e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
                IV Bataillon
                V Bataillon
 
13e Demi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
 
1e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
 
2e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
 
3e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
 
Régiment Étranger d'Aero-Infanterie
                I Bataillon  
 
6e Régiment Étranger de Génie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
                1e Compagnie Étranger de Génie de Parachutistes
 
1e Régiment Étranger d’Artillerie
                I Bataillon
                II Bataillon
                III Bataillon
                1e Compagnie Étranger d'Artillerie d'Élite de Parachutistes

INDEX

Regiments

 

1e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie

1e RECBCBL – 2e DLB, Kimanjano

The 1e REC is the Légion’s oldest cavalry unit, formed in the years following World War 1. It attracted a number of minor nobles to its ranks when it was formed and still carries the nickname of the Royale Étranger. The 1e REC has seen action recently in the Central Asian, German Reunification and Kafer Wars, although it is routinely stationed on Tirane. The 1e REC was heavily engaged in the Liberation of Kimanjano taking severe casualties against Kafer attacks on the landing zones and later fighting a mobile battle against Kafer reserves to the south of Fromme. The 1e REC is predominantly manned by Tiraneans; Néo-Provençales, Friehafeners and New Canberrans of Argentine extraction being most common although there are people from across the planet in its ranks.  

 

The regiment has been brought back up to strength since the Kimanjano operation. It remains part of the 2e DLB stationed on Kimanjano and tasked with reinforcing the Eta Bootis finger should a further Kafer incursion take place. 1e REC is still equipped with the ACL-7 light hovertanks in which it suffered such heavy casualties on the Kimanjano LZs. Many of the légionnaires would prefer to convert to the heavier AC-12s which are more survivable and morale has suffered because of this. The regiment normally works as a demi-brigade with the I/2e REI.

 

2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie

 

2e REC - BCB – 1e DMC, Aurore

 

The 2e REC has been formed and disbanded several times during its existence but in its latest incarnation it has seen almost a century and a half’s service. Known as the Dauphin Étranger it has primarily operated in the colonies although it served with distinction in the Central Asian War as part of the Groupe Mobile de la Légion Étrangère and was one of the few units to escape from the Battle of Omsk. After the war it was sent to Beta Canum where it remained until the Kafers invaded Aurore and it was dispatched as part of the expeditionary force to rescue the world.

 

The 2e REC has seen heavy fighting under its legendary Colonel Carnot including the famous victory at Marais Marmont and was the spearhead force against the Kafer landings in January 2302. With almost five years combat experience on Aurore the 2e REC is extremely combat experienced and morale remains high. Once a mixed armour-infantry task force, the 2e REC was reorganised in late 2300 as a pure hovertank unit with the latest AC-12bis. It works in a demi-brigade with I/13e DBLE so retains an all-arms capability. The unit is assigned to the 1e Division de Marche Coloniale under Général de Division Carnot.

 

Before deploying to Aurore, 2e REC was manned predominantly by French colonials, Central Asians with some Russians and a scattering of other nationalities. During its time on Aurore it has received a constant stream of replacements of many nationalities, the glamour of the 2e REC being a great recruiting sergeant and the unit is now very cosmopolitan. In addition it has gained many recruits from on-world recruitment, notably many refugees from Noyoa Kiyev as well as colonists from Tanstaafl and Aurore Français.     

 

3e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie

 

3e REC - BCB - 1e DLB, Beta Canum

   

The 3e REC is the youngest of the current Légion cavalry units being formed permanently only in 2283 when it saw sterling service in the Central Asian War including with the GMLE. In the aftermath of the war it served for several years in the CAR as part of the Armée de l’Asie Centrale and it missed the Reunification War as a result. It was then re-roled into the crack 1e DLB with the Force d’Action Rapide on Earth, ultimately being dispatched to Beowulf to become a part of the Armée de Libération with whom it saw heavy action on Kimanjano.

 

3e REC moved with 1e DLB to Beta Canum where it is still stationed, however unlike 1e REC the regiment has re-equipped with AC-12bis. 3e REC is mostly French, but with strong contingents of Germans (mostly Bavarians), Poles, Russians and Central Asians. The 3e REC operates in cooperation with III/2e REI.   

 

1e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie

 

                I/1e REIBFA – 102e DAM, Aurore  

                II/1e REIBFA – 8e DAM, Dijbouti

                III/1e REIBFACECdoGy, Guyana

 

The 1e REI is the oldest of the Légion’s infantry units and has a long and distinguished combat record stretching back for centuries. Today, like the other REIs, it operates as independent battalions. I/1e REI is stationed on Aurore in the airmobile role where it operates as an airmobile reaction force, seeing frequent low level action in the bled. II/1e REI has the same role as part of the regional airmobile reserve stationed in Djibouti in East Africa. III/1e REI is a specialist jungle warfare battalion stationed at the commando training centre in Guyana.

 

In terms of make up the 1e REI is typically mixed. I/1e REI has spent several decades on the French Arm and has a primarily colonial make-up, in recent years it has recruited many ex-Bavarians from Neumarkt. II/1e REI has a strong backbone of Central Asian NCOs left over from the years after the Central Asian War as well as a heavy representation of Indochinese. III/1e REI is also strong with Indochinese as well as a number of légionnaires from Madras and Sri Lanka.   

 

2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie

 

                I/2e REIBFAML – 2e DLB, Kimanjano

                II/2e REI – BFAM – 3e DMC, Beta Canum - 4

                III/2e REIBFAML – 1e DLB, Beta Canum

 

If 1e REI is the oldest 2e REI regards itself as having the best fighting reputation in recent years. Through its history it has been a pioneer of mechanised infantry techniques in the Légion and its battalions saw heavy action in the Central Asian War and III/2e REI distinguished itself in the Battle of Picardie against the Germans. All three of the regiment’s battalions have seen action against the Kafers.

 

I/2e and III/2 are light mechanised infantry of the FAR and operated alongside 1e and 3e REC were in the first wave of the Liberation of Kimanjano. II/2e had seen action in the first invasion of Aurore and was then an airmobile battalion stationed on Beta Canum when the Kafers invaded that world and it was destroyed defending the beanstalk terminal, survivors formed maquis bands or escaped to New Africa. The battalion has since been reformed and aided in the liberation of the Continent Français.

 

I/2e REI has been stationed on Tirane and has a similar make up to the 1e REC. The II/2e REI has been rebuilt around a hard kernel of pre-war Bavarians, reinforcements from Earth and large numbers of colonists from Beta Canum’s French and German colonies. III/2e REI is a battalion split between north Africans, Bavarians and Indochinese.     

 

3e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie

 

                II/3e REIBFAM – 2e DMC, Kimanjano

                III/3e REIBFL – Cabo Verde

 

The 3e REI is the heir to the traditions of the RMLE that fought in the first two world wars and remains the most heavily decorated unit in the Légion. It also sees itself as the most versatile and forward looking of the REIs; it was from the 3e REI that the first Légion paras were formed, 3e REI pioneered modern jungle warfare techniques in the French Army and I/3e REI was chosen to pioneer a new airmobile concepts. I/3e REI was all but destroyed in a delaying action by the German III Korps on the Meuse in 2293 before eventually being converted to the airmobile I/REAI.

 

II/3e REI was one of the French theatre reserve battalions in the 212e DI on Kimanjano and its survivors only just evacuated from that world during Operation ENTENTE. It was then reconstituted at Beowulf and integrated into the 2e DMC and was involved in the Liberation of Kimanjano. III/3e REI is stationed in the Cabo Verde islands to protect the trans-Atlantic lines of communication between French Africa and Brazil. III/3e REI is seen as a plum posting given only to légionnaires who have served with good conduct for ten years.

 

Both II/3e and III/3e REI are very polyglot units with no particularly outstanding ethnic groupings.  

 

4e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie

 

                I/4e REIBCPB – 2e DB, France

                II/4e REI – BFA – 1e DLA, Nouvelle Europe 

                III/4e REI – BFL – Polynésie   

 

4e REI was for many years the training unit for the Légion, however this role has now passed on to the 11e REI. I/4e REI is one of only two combat walker units in the Légion and is assigned to the famous 2e DB. The battalion converted during the Central Asian War, saw action in the War with Germany and completed a year long combat tour on Aurore in 2299-2300 and is one of the leading French CW units. 

 

The II/4e REI has been located at Nouvelle Europe on Beowulf for the last several decades. It forms the French airmobile reserve in this colony and frequently deploys to the Rhadamanthine Archipelago and has seen action against pirates and Alician forces. III/4e REI forms part of the garrison of French Polynesia, like III/3e REI in Cabo Verde it is regarded as a plum posting.

 

I/4e REI is a predominantly French unit but also has numbers of Manchurian, Bavarian and Japanese soldiers. I/4e REI is a prestigious unit and many légionnaires strive to be transferred into its ranks. II/4e REI is largely colonial French and African in composition, especially a large numbers of expatriate Elysians. III/4e REI is a polyglot unit.

 

5e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie

 

                I/5e REI – BFA – 102e DAM, Aurore

                II/5e REIBFA – Cadre, Nouvelle Europe

                III/5e REI – BFAM – 5e DM, Earth

 

5e REI has had a varied existence. It was formed initially as the garrison for Indochina, it then was a garrison for Polynesia and developed as the French reserve for the region during the Paix Français. It then became a garrison unit for Nouvelle Provence on Tirane. I/5e REI is currently an airmobile battalion and is deployed on Aurore on secondment from French Africa. II/5e REI was on Kimanjano for the Kafer invasion and was destroyed fighting in the perimeter around the city of Fromme, it has been reformed as a cadre on Nouvelle Europe and no date for its complete reestablishment has been given. III/5e REI is hovermobile infantry unit of the Armée de Manœuvre on Earth which has seen frequent deployments to the CAR, it has also served a tour on Auore.

 

I/5e is a mainly Asian battalion including Indochinese, Malays, Punjabis and a contingent of Nepalese who joined the Légion following the disbandment of an Independent Gorkha Rifles battalion. III/5e REI has large numbers of Bavarians, Francophone Flemish and north Africans.      

 

6e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie

 

                I/6e REI – BFJ – 106e DI, Algeria

                II/6e REI – BFAM – Division Europa, French Arm

 

The 6e REI is the Légion’s problem child regiment and used for generating bataillons de marche. Its permanent battalion is I/6e REI, the Légion’s punishment battalion, stationed deep in the Algerian Sahara. It is a harsh but very professional unit often used in the shock role, and lives up to its ‘Bataillon du Damné’ nickname. In the Central Asian War 6e REI included a number of battalions formed from turned Manchurian PoWs, while in the war with Germany it included battalions formed from anti-Reunificationist Bavarians. Although they were disbanded at the end of hostilities many of those soldiers transferred into mainstream Légion units.   

 

During the Kafer War volunteers from I/6e REI formed the Groupement Étranger de Choc which operated in the coup de main role in the liberation of Kimanjano, taking massive casualties in seizing the town of Galliarde-sur-Maine. II/6e REI is a bataillon de marche formed from soldiers of the Croat and Serbian militaries who have volunteered for service against the Kafers in the Division Europa. Given the near legendary antipathy between these two nations the harsh discipline of the II/6e matches that of I/6e REI. 

 

11e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie

 

                I/11e REI – BEF – Algeria

                II/11e REI – BEF – Algeria

                III/11e REI – BEF – Tirane

                IV/11e REI – BEF – Beta Canum

                V/11e REIBEF – Aurore 

 

The 11e REI is the Légion’s training regiment responsible for instruction of recruits. It has two battalions on  Earth at Sidi-Bel-Abbès, one on Tirane and one on Beta Canum. Its most recent addition has been the V/11e REI on Aurore to process on-planet recruits. The IV/11e REI was caught up in the invasion of Beta Canum where it mounted a stirring but doomed defence of its depot in the spirit of Camerone. It has only just been reformed. The core battalions have been in overdrive providing fresh manpower to replace the numerous casualties the Légion has suffered.    

 

13e Demi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère

 

                I/13e DBLEBFAM – 1e DMC, Aurore

                II/13e DBLEBFAM – 2e DMC, Kimanjano

                III/13e DBLEBFA – Beta Canum

 

13e DBLE has a reputation as being slightly different from the other Légion units, a tradition started when the unit backed de Gaulle in WW2. It has been deployed to the French Arm since the late 22nd Century and has a very colonial outlook, and until recently it has concentrated almost entirely on the light infantry role. I/13e DBLE was re-roled to hovermobile infantry to join the 1e DMC on Aurore late in 2300.

 

II/13e saw action on Aurore for two years taking part in the liberation of Aurore Francais, it was then transferred to Kimanjano where it saw heavy action in the invasion. A kernel of the unit escaped and was rebuilt as a mechanised unit in the 2e DMC; the battalion is immensely combat experienced. The III/13e DBLE was stationed on Nous Voila which was isolated and bombarded by the Kafers. The battalion survived only by imposing martial law on the surrounding areas. It has recently transferred to Beta Canum.   

 

13e DBLE as a whole is manned mostly by colonial volunteers. These include many Germans from ex-Bavarian colonies in the French Arm, expatriates from Elysia, refugees from Noyova Kiyev serve with I/13e DBLE, and some dissidents from Crater. Many of the refugees created recently by the Kafer War try to join this regiment which many of the colonial French see as ‘Notre Légion’.   

 

1e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes

 

                I/1e REPBFTIS – 1e BI, Nouvelle Europe 

                II/1e REPBFTIS – 1e BI, Nouvelle Europe

 

1e REP has had a mixed history often displaying almost suicidal bravery and superb professionalism but was once disbanded for mutiny. They are currently roled as crack TIS para-commandos and were assigned to Rochemont’s Fleet during the Kafer War where they earned the nickname of ‘les grognards’. Alongside US Marines they spearheaded the abortive, doomed first attempt to liberate Beta Canum and while badly mauled fought on from New Africa and conducted a notable stand at Zelberg on the German Continent. The units have been rebuilt with an influx of manpower and are training hard on Beowulf for further operations. 1e REP is a very cosmopolitan unit with the cream of the Légion competing to get into its ranks, however it has the major concentration of ‘Anglo-Saxon’ légionnaires.   

 

2e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes

 

                I/2e REP– BTS – GTS TIS, Nouvelle Europe

                II/2e REPBCPB – 1e BI, Nouvelle Europe

 

2e REP is a specialist regiment including the only special operations roled battalion as well as an airborne combat walker battalion. The II/2e REP provides combat walker support to the 1e REP battalions and has an intense rivalry with I/4e REI. I/2e REP is the Légion’s most elite unit and is a strategic special operations unit. Both of 2e REP’s battalions have seen heavy action in the Kafer War.

 

3e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes

 

                I/3e REFPBFEPCorsica

                II/3e REFPBFEP – Nouvelle Provence

 

3e REP is the Légion paras’ holding and training unit. It had three small battalions on three worlds providing continuation training and rehabilitation for injured paratroopers. Long service soldiers with good records or chronic injury problems are assigned to these units in a similar way to III/3e and III/4e REI. III/3e REP was caught up in the invasion of Beta Canum and destroyed as an operational unit, although some of the légionnaires escaped and later joined up with 1e REP. III/3e REP has not been reformed although consideration has been given to relocating it to Nouvelle Europe if it is. 

 

Régiment Étranger d'Aero-Infanterie

 

                I/REAIBAM – 101e DAM, Beta Canum-4

 

The REAI is an experimental unit designed to blend infantry, gunships, scouts and transports at the company level in a single airmobile battle group. I/3e REI was chosen to become the infantry element of this unit which wears the green beret of the Légion with the silver capbadge of the ALAT. The unit was deployed to Aurore to test the new concepts in action, it then returned to Beta Canum to refine its doctrine and organisation.

 

During the Kafer invasion it was one of the few units to escape destruction while taking a notable toll on the Kafers, however it was forced to escape to the British Continent from where it continued to make its presence felt on a number of raids. I/REAI played a major role in the subsequent 2nd Battle of Uethan and the liberation of the Continent Français. It continues to act as a fire force hunting down Kafer remnants. Alongside II/13e DBLE it is one of the most experienced units in the Légion and is famous across Beta Canum even with British and German colonists who usually disparage French military efforts.      

 

6e Régiment Étranger de Génie

 

                I/6e REGBGAML – 2e DLB, Kimanjano

                II/6e REG – BGL – Guyana

                III/6e REG – BGL – 102e DAM, Aurore

                1e CEGP1e BI, Nouvelle Europe

 

6e REG is the Légion’s combat engineering arm, a role that has always gone hand in hand with the Légion’s infantry duties. I/6e REG provides the combat engineering support for the 2e DLB and saw action with it on Kimanjano. II/6e REG is tasked with supporting French forces in Guyana. III/6e REG was tasked with providing engineering support for the 102e DAM on Aurore, and is largely responsible for the division’s excellent bases. The regiment also provides its best engineers for the elite 1e CEGP which works with the 1e REP.

 

1e Régiment Étranger d’Artillerie

 

                I/1e REABAAML – 1e DLB,

                II/1e REABAAML – 2e DMC, Kimanjano

                III/1e REA – BAL – Cadre, Continent Français  

                1e CEAEP – 1e BI, Nouvelle Europe

 

1e REA is the Légion’s artillery unit and it has been heavily hit in the Kafer War. The I/1e REA is the artillery for the 1e DLB and saw action with it in the liberation of Kimanjano where it was often firing over open sights in the defence of the LZs. II/1e REA was on Kimanjano when the Kafer invasion hit it and was forced to abandon its guns when it retreated off-planet, however incorporated in the 2e DMC it regained its honour in the liberation of Kimanjano. III/1e REA was the artillery component of the 101e DAM on Beta Canum and was destroyed in the defence of the Beanstalk station. The regiment also mans the 1e CEAEP which saw action with the 1e REP, although mostly in an infantry role.  

 

INDEX

Organisation

 

The modern Légion has a total strength of just under 22 000 soldiers, although due to confusion during the Kafer War the exact number cannot be currently ascertained as many are missing in action.

 

The Légion does not fight as a single body. There are no entirely Légion manned formations, although the 1e BI and 212e DI come close. The Légion is a ‘teeth’ force, it has only combat and combat support units, it provides no logisticians or administrative specialists beyond those found at the battalion level.

 

Instead it provides individual battalions of cavalry, infantry, engineers or artillery to formations of the French Army. The Légion usually finds itself in leading frontline units which are likely to see heavy action, or in far flung colonial garrisons. The infantry, artillery and engineer regiments do not fight as regiments and are dispersed as individual battalions. The cavalry is organised into battalion sized units called regiments. In general légionnaires will usually only serve within the one regiment through their careers.  

 

At the battalion level the Légion uses the same organisation as the rest of the French Army. Currently there are no fewer than 18 different battalion orders of battle in use in the Légion. 

 

Bataillon de Cavalerie Blindée

 

Both the 2e and 3e REC use this standard organisation, the 2e REC having recently converted from a Bataillon de Cavalerie Blindée Mixte and 3e REC from BCBL. The BCB is a pure hovertank battalion equipped with modern AC-12bis hovertank. The BCB does not have the integral all-arms capability of the BCBM it commonly operates with as a demi-brigade with a BFAM and divisional support elements giving it much more versatility and combat power.

 

The BCB is organised with 3 hovertank Escadrons and a command and service Escadron. The hovertank Escadron are organised with four 3 tank troops and a command troop. In total the BCB has 41 AC-12s and numerous support and service vehicles.

 

Bataillon de Cavalerie Blindée Légère

 

Only the 1e REC remains organised as a BCBL, which essentially is identical to the BCB except for its equipment with the light ACL-7 hovertank. The BCBL also trains for airmobile deployments.  

 

Bataillon de Fantassins Aéromobiles

 

The BFA has been almost the default organisation for the Légion’s infantry in recent years, although with the creation of the Divisions de Marche Coloniale this has changed somewhat. The BFA is a light role, airmobile infantry battalion and is a versatile infantry force capable of full spectrum combat operations. Some of the BFAs have environmental specialisations, most notably III/2e REI’s jungle training.

 

The BFA has four rifle companies, a support company (CEA) and a HQ company (CCS). The rifle companies have three rifle platoons and a HQ with small integral anti-tank and anti-aircraft elements. The support company has reconnaissance, mortar, anti-tank and anti-aircraft elements. The command company has the usual combat support elements and a pioneer platoon which also functions as a defence platoon.       

 

Bataillon des Fantassins Joyeux

 

The BFJ shares most of the organisation of the BFA, except it has a fifth rifle company rather than a CEA. The BFJ is a punishment battalion and is under much harsher discipline than any other unit, having integral military police. The I/6e REI is organised in this way.

 

Bataillon de Fantassins Légers

 

The BFL are conventional light infantry battalions primarily used in the static or garrison role. In the Légion there are two battalions with this organisation, both deployed on Earth the III/3e and III/4e REI. The BFL share the general organisation of the BFA but have less wide ranging training and less modern equipment. The Légion BFLs are manned by veteran légionnaires, many of whom are greatly experienced but are not in the first flush of youth.

 

Bataillon de Fantassins Aéro-Mécanisés

 

The BFAM has become and increasingly important organisation for the Légion with the conversion of several BFAs to BFAMs. There are now 6 Légion battalions with this order of battle which is the standard hovermobile mechanised infantry organisation in use in the French Army. BFAMs can be equipped with either the ACVI-4 or the obsolete ACVI-3.

 

The BFAM has four manoeuvre companies, a CEA and a CCS. The companies have three rifle platoons and a support platoon in addition to the usual headquarters. The BFAMs are trained to work in conjunction with BCBs, although the more recently converted Légion BFAMs are believed to be insufficiently trained in this regard. However their light role experience prior to re-roling have given them greater dismounted close combat effectiveness.    

 

Bataillon de Fantassins Légers Aéro-Mécanisés

 

The BFAML is almost identical to the BFAM except they operate with the BCBL in the 1e and 2e DLB. The difference is in the versatility of the training opportunities, but they are also equipped with ACVI-4s. Two battalions of the 2e REI are employed in this role.   

 

Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied Blindée

 

BCPB are French combat walker units of which there are two in the Légion. Each has 4 CW companies, a CEA and CSS. Each company has two platoons of walkers with a small HQ for a total of 24 walkers. In total the BCPB has 100 frontline walkers but also hold a reserve of 25 walkers to replace maintenance and combat losses. Both Légion units have this organisation, although I/4e REI works with an armoured division while II/2e REP is assigned to a TIS Bde, so their training routines are somewhat different. 

 

Bataillon de Fantassins des Troupes d’Intervention Spatiale

 

The BFTIS is France’s most capable light infantry organisation, used by its most elite intervention forces. It includes four rifle companies, a reinforced CEA and a CCS. It has double the normal complement of anti-tank weapons, its second AT platoon being manned by the pioneers, and an integral commando platoon. What makes the real difference for these units is the quality of training and rigorous selection of personnel. Both the battalions of the 1e REP have this organisation.

 

Bataillon de Troupes Spéciales  

 

The I/2e REP is organised as a BTS, which is France’s default special forces organisation. It includes 4 RAPAS companies as well as the usual support elements.

 

Bataillon d’Entraînement des Fantassins

 

The BEF is a basic training depot battalion used for the training of recruits. It includes a CCS and a number of training companies depending on the size of intakes expected. For example the I and II/11e REI at Sidi-Bel-Abbès each have four training companies, but the V/11e REI on Aurore only has the one.

 

Bataillon d’Entraînement des Fantassins Parachutistes

 

The BEFP are holding depots for légionnaires destined for the REPs. They have a small CCS and a single training company. Their role is to get légionnaires up to the required operational standards to be posted to a BFTIS. Due to the prestige BFTIS role the on the job training common in most units is not acceptable.  

 

Bataillon d’Aviation Mixte

 

There is only one BAM in the French forces, I/REAI. It is an integrated airmobile assault unit including scouts, gunships and infantry. It is grouped into 3 companies and a CCS. The companies have an air platoon with four Zephyr gunships and two AG-7 scouts and two infantry platoons each with two Dragon III transports and 35 légionnaires. The BAM is highly mobile, hard hitting, but is somewhat deficient in infantry. It is common for the companies to be regrouped to produce a task organised force and the BAM usually operates as a complete unit.   

 

Bataillon Légers du Génies Aéro-Mécanise

 

The BGAML is a versatile hovermobile engineer unit intended to support the 1e and 2e DLBs. The bulk of the vehicles are converted ACVI-3s although there is a vast range of specialist models. There are only two such battalions in the French Army and I/6e REG is one of them. The BGAML has three field engineer groups and two heavy engineer groups and a GCS.   

 

Bataillon Légers du Génies

 

The BGL are light engineering units. They have a single field engineering group, one heavy engineering group and a GCS. They have either un-armoured wheeled or hover vehicles in addition to their usual plant.   

 

Bataillon d’Artillerie Légère Aéro-Mécanise

 

BAAMLs are hovermobile MRL artillery units. They have three strong batteries and a command and support batteries.  

 

Cadre

 

There are currently two battalions in cadre, II/5e REI and III/1e REA. These units are currently non operational and have only a staff of fewer than 20 légionnaires. However it is planned that these units will be reactivated in the near future.

 

INDEX

Recruitment

 

Joining the Légion is relatively simple. All you need to do is walk through the door of a French Army recruitment centre, these are found across French territory on Earth and in the colonies, and volunteer.

 

The Légion will accept any male from the ages of 18-40 and of any nationality. The recruit centre will undertake a range of basic aptitude and intelligence tasks, whilst running a first background check. Any obviously unsuited people will be turned down here. The Légion will accept anyone who has no record of committing a major crime, although a petty criminal record will count against a marginal candidate. If the candidate passes this initial phase they are sent for further testing.

 

On Earth this means being dispatched to a reception unit at Sidi-Bel-Abbès, or on Tirane to the III/11e REI at Lancon-Nouvelle-Provence. If the candidate has volunteered on Aurore or Beta Canum then they are dispatched to the appropriate 11e REI battalion. If on another colony world the further assessment is done by a small Légion team located at one of the local garrisons. The two week assessment includes medical, fitness, further aptitude testing, interviews and a more detailed background checks. If successful the candidate will be loaded on the next training cycle, if on a world without a Légion training unit this will involve a passage on a French military troopship which may take some months to arrange.

 

There are two sets of terms for légionnaires, one for peacetime and the other for wartime. Peacetime recruits sign on for an initial five year contract, after which they are eligible for French citizenship and can sign extensions on their contract for flexible durations. The five year contract has proved very useful as it allows the légionnaires to be economically deployed to the off-world colonies. Throughout their service the légionnaires are paid at the same rates as their French colleagues and after 15 years the soldier is eligible for a pension.

There are also wartime contracts which last for the 'duration' of the particular conflict in a particular theatre. These are available only to those with verifiable previous military service and do not qualify the volunteer for pension or citizenship, although it is possible to transfer to a regular contract.

 

The Légion recruits from all nationalities including the French, who it no longer insists on classifying as ‘Swiss’ or similar nationalities. However the Légion gains influxes of different nationalities as a result of wars, political or economic unrest. As a result of this the composition of the Légion varies notably through the decades as new waves of volunteers join and progress through the ranks.

 

In recent years the Légion has had a third wave of South American recruits following the 3rd Rio Plato War including many Brazilians who now hold senior NCO and, in some cases, officer positions. The aftermath of the war saw a strong contingent of Incans join the Légion and the continuing instability in that country has seen a slow but sustained number of young Incans following the same route.   

 

Canton’s continuing political domination of Indochina following the war between the two states has led to many Vietnamese escaping the country and joining the Légion. The tough eastern Indochinese have been a major influence in the Légion, and some of their battles with Cantonese units serving with Manchuria during the Central Asian War have passed into Légion legend.   

 

The war in Central Asia and the continuing presence of French troops in the CAR has resulted in large numbers of Central Asians joining the Légion, especially those who have served as conscripts in the CARA. Indeed several Légion battalions have a backbone of Central Asian NCOs. Numerous Russians also joined the Légion during and after the CAW, as did veterans of the various European contingents. There were also some smaller contingents of Manchurians and their Cantonese and Korean allies recruited from PoW camps.

 

German Reunification resulted in an influx of Bavarians into the Légion, supplementing those who had served in the Central Asian War. The first were members of the Bavarian armed forces who disagreed vociferously with Bavaria becoming part of the new Germany. Labelled as extremists by the German authorities they were formed into ad-hoc units, 4e REC, II/6e and III/6e REI, and fought alongside the French in the War. They were joined in the years after the war by an increasing number of Bavarian soldiers made redundant by reforms to the Bundeswehr and those who resented the war. Prominent amongst them are many ex-officers who have quickly gone on to secure nearly 40% of the available positions as sous-officiers.

 

Although the Terran Bavarians were the most politically visible they were equal in numbers to the colonial Bavarians who had even less in common with the new German state. These included many Garteners/Freihafeners stationed on Earth, but there were also many volunteers from French Arm colonies. In particular the civil war in the colony of Neumark generated many anti-Reunificationist recruits for the Légion, but there is a steady stream from other colonies. The range of opinions amongst the Bavarians and other Germans has become a disciplinary problem for the Légion in recent years.

   

Two of the smaller, but influential, conflicts of recent years have also had an effect on Légion recruitment. The Elysian Revolt which saw that colony gain independence from France has generated a number of recruits for the Légion amongst the loyalist blanc and exile population. The independence of Flanders has also brought in many Francophone and French loyalists from that new country.   

 

People have many reasons for joining the Légion but all who succeed in earning the képi blanc have a desire to soldier, without that most basic pre-requisite the volunteer will not last long in its ranks. Indeed many légionnaires have previous military experience in their national armed forces before chancing their arm with the Légion. Essentially there are three main reasons for joining the Légion and there is often an element of all three in most volunteers: citizenship, fighting and reputation.   

Once a légionnaire has completed his first five year contract he becomes eligible for French citizenship. If he is serving in the colonies, as so many légionnaires do, he can choose to be discharged there and start a new life. This is a strong incentive for many recruits from non-starfaring nations on Earth and traditionally one taken up by many Eastern and Southern Europeans as well as people from Africa and Asia.

 

Many légionnaires who have previous military experience join the Légion because there is a strong chance they will see action in its ranks. There are many armies that have not fought in a major conflict for centuries and many of their keener soldiers despair of escaping the peacetime soldiering routine. For some of these fire eaters the Légion is the obvious answer. Other join because of the poor quality of their national armies have driven them to serve in a professional force; especially those from conscript armies. Most of these will serve with the Légion long enough to see action and then leave, while others go on to make excellent NCOs.       

 

Lastly the romantic image of the Légion attracts a fair number of recruits on its own. Media and film coverage of the Légion is almost ubiquitous and it is probably humanity’s best known military force. From the latest re-working or Beau Gest to fly-on-the wall combat documentaries from the frontlines of the Kafer War the mystique of the képi blanc is just about inescapable and a strong contributor to recruitment. In particular the few Japanese légionnaires are drawn almost totally by this allure. The glamour and reputation is also a major reason why so many Frenchmen serve in its ranks rather than those of more mundane units.   

 

The Légion is officered by Frenchmen, those légionnaires who take up French citizenship are eligible to be considered for commission. The Légion attracts the cream of France’s young officers from the leading military academies such as St. Cyr, Desaix and the AMC and serving in its ranks is often a stepping stone to the higher ranks. There is always room for légionnaires commissioned from the ranks and many of the finest fighting officers have come up from this route, although they rarely climb so highly outside the Légion.   

 

Nationalities

 

The latest figures released in mid-2300 by the French on the different nationalities within the Légion are:

 

 

%

Number

French (European)

10

2200

French (African)

12

2640

French (Néo-Provençal)

8

1760

French (Colonial)

6

1320

German (Terran)

11

2420

German (Colonial)

5

1100

Central Asian

10

2200

Indochinese

6

1320

Eastern European

5

1100

Western European

3

660

North African

3

660

Other African

6

1320

South American

3

660

Asian

3

660

Elysian

2

440

Middle Eastern

2

440

North American

1.5

330

Oceanian

0.5

110

Other Colonial

3

660

 

100

22000

 

INDEX

Training

 

Only one third of those who attempt to join the Légion are accepted into its ranks and become ‘engagés volontaires’ and are allowed to begin training with the 11e REI. The Légion’s basic training lasts a mere 16 weeks, which is short in comparison with most other French and foreign training course. However the Légion conducts its training at a very high intensity in some very remote places. There is no leave given or slackening of pace during this 16 weeks.

 

The légionnaires must learn French quickly during their training and all commands are given solely in French. Non-francophones are paired up with French speakers for the training and while there is no dedicated language training most pick up the necessary rudiments soon enough. However in the past the Académie Française has complained about the linguistic and grammatical standards of the average légionnaire. 

 

Légion training starts early and finishes late and puts the volunteer under immense physical and mental pressure and many fall by the wayside. However the légionnaires are ultimately self selecting, no one has forced them to be there, and have a very high standard of recruit with many having previous experience. Basic training is essentially as much about indoctrinating the recruits in the ways and traditions of the Légion as it is about simple fitness or weapon handling. At the end of the 16 weeks, finished with a march of 80 or more kilometres across harsh terrain, the legionnaire is then presented with his new Képi Blanc.

 

Soldiers are then usually dispatched on an advanced course, such as vehicle driving, heavy weapons, first aid or a commando course before being posted to his first unit. The Légion has full access to the full range of courses run by the French Army and makes frequent use of them. This is especially true of specialist units.

 

It is normal for most légionnaires to begin in an infantry unit before being posted to one of the specialist units, although it is not unknown for high quality candidates to go straight to them. These paras, cavalrymen, artillerists and engineers undertake comprehensive training in their new role whilst retaining their underlying infantry skills. The exception to this rule is 2e REP whose two battalions have their own selection process undertaken in Nouvelle Europe.    

 

Once at their new unit the legionnaire begins what is seen as their real training and start to earn the respect of their fellow légionnaires.     

 

INDEX

Culture

 

It goes without saying that the Légion is a unique institution. The Légion prizes its traditions and ensures that its new recruits are indoctrinated with them. During their time with the training units of 11e REI the new légionnaires will learn the Légion’s history, its traditions and especially its songs.

 

The Légion has over a hundred marching songs that it has acquired over the centuries. The bulk of these are in French, with a substantial number in German and a scattering in other languages. These songs are most frequently sung when leaving or returning from exercises, or during times of celebration and drinking. Many of the Légion’s songs are specific to individual regiments or units but are widely known regardless. The Légion is most famous for ‘Le Boudin’ its regimental song, while other tunes commemorate campaigns such as ‘Eugenie’ from its time in Mexico or ‘La Colonne’ glorifying 1e REC on operations in Syria in the 1920s.

 

While many of the Légion’s songs are very old, there are many more modern ones. ‘Avec les Viets’ comes from the Central Asian War and the tough fighting of Indochinese soldiers of 1e REI. ‘En Aurore’ is of a more recent vintage whilst the Légion’s Bavarians have re-adopted Edith Piaf’sJe ne regrette rien’ as their standard. The song 'Adieu Nouvelle Europe' is popular amongst units who served with the Armée de Libération. The Légion paras always sing ‘Il est un moulin’ when in the presence of Admiral Rochemont, something that apparently always sends him apoplectic once he is out of sight.

 

The Légion has two main festivals during the year; Camerone Day and Christmas Day which are celebrated by all légionnaires wherever they are stationed using the Terran calendar. Camerone Day always starts with a parade and a reading of an account of the Battle of Camerone, and at Sidi-Bel-Abbès the wooden hand of Captain Danjou, commander at Camerone, is paraded in front of the troops. In addition to these two main festivals there are regimental festivals. The Légion also plays a prominent part in the ceremonial Bastille Day parades.

 

The most asked-after tradition of the Légion amongst serving soldiers from other nations are its almost mythical mobile brothels or Bordel Mobile de Campangne. These were Légion controlled ‘clubs’ where légionnaires in remote locations could gain access to the opposite sex. Many officers from more straight laced nations regarded this with moralistic horror, but ultimately the Légion had a much lower STD infection rate.  The BMCs were revived in the colonial era, but were disbanded in the mid-2260s. However French military medical services provide medical checks on brothels close to Légion garrisons and publicise the addresses of those brothels that comply, so in effect not much has changed.    

 

For the first five years of their service légionnaires are not allowed to wear civilian clothing, or marry, or make long term financial commitments such as buying a house. Indeed as they have only military identity papers they cannot legally do these things. Consequently when any legionnaire leaves his barracks he does so in uniform, or ‘walking-out’ dress, and he is not allowed beyond the gates unless his turnout is of the highest order. This means that légionnaires are highly visible when out on the town, which helps the gendarmes should trouble break out, is an aid to recruiting but many légionnaires also find it helps breaks the ice with local women. 

 

One of the signature images of the Légion are its bearded pionniers or pioneers which are found in every battalion. The pioneers carry on the building tradition of the Légion which proved very useful in opening up France’s off-world colonies. In ceremonial duties the pioneers usually take their position at the head of the column and provide guards of honour. In non-infantry units there are pioneer platoons although these usually fill other roles when such combat engineers are not part of the order of battle; for example pioneers in 2e REP man one of the anti-tank platoons.

 

The Légion remains very much an ‘old school’ unit which maintains traditional discipline and a concentration on physical fitness. Other units of the French Army regard the Légion as shock troops of little subtlety and unthinking obedience. Indeed in the past the Légion has carried out orders that other French units would balk at. The Légion has a well deserved reputation for ruthlessness in pursuit of its missions, in fact this is as a result of the Légion’s particular brand of professionalism and its concentration on its internal integrity.  

 

The Légion has a relationship with France that is at once complicated but very simple. The légionnaires have a long and weary cynicism about their ultimate expendability in the achievement of French military and political aims. While the Légion is no longer barred from French soil and takes pride of place on Bastille Day, France likes the Légion deployed far away and in the most dangerous places. However the Légion glories in its near monastical purity of purpose which allows it to concentrate on soldiering.

 

It should be noted that with the exception of a few officers the Légion was not actively involved in the military coup that overthrew the 12th Republic. It was the main body of the French Army which became so disillusioned with the civilian direction of the war, the Légion wasn’t shocked – indeed it was used to being sacrificed for obscure political imperatives.

 

In the run up to the and in the early stages of the Kafer War the Légion suffered from tensions between the pro- and anti-Reunificationist Germans in its ranks. Indeed certain units on Aurore had severe disciplinary problems as a result of this, harsh punishments were implemented and moral was not good. During the war the Légion has taken severe casualties in action on several worlds, however their good showing compared with regular French units and ultimate success of the campaign has improved morale.

 

Just how ‘good’ the Légion actually is comparison with other forces is an often asked question. For all of its mystique the Légion undergoes essentially the same training, uses the same equipment and fights with the same doctrine as the rest of the French Army. Professionally it is regarded is a cut about the average Metropolitan French unit, but on a par with units of the Troupes de Marines or the Troupes Coloniales. However it seems that when the chips are down and when their backs are to the wall the Légion delivers, or dies trying. Although cynics note that the Légion just has better press coverage than other units. 

 

INDEX

Uniform and Equipment

 

As an integral part of the French Army the Légion uses standard issue military equipment and has no specially designed kit. However the Légion has numerous uniform peculiarities that make it stand out.

 

The best known is the distinctive képi blanc which was originally a khaki cover for the képi worn by every French unit deployed to Morocco prior to the 2nd World War. Deployed in the desert for months if not years these light brown covers were bleached by the sun and became white. It was first worn in Paris on Bastille Day in 1939 and permission to wear the képi was extended to all Légion units at the end of the war.

 

Today the képi is worn on all ceremonial and semi-ceremonial occasions. Its immaculate white surface gets dirty easily and is not a practical field cap. There are numerous photographs of légionnaires wearing the képi in action on Aurore and elsewhere, however it is believed that most of these are staged for the media. Only légionnaires up to the rank of Caporal-Chef wear the white képi all other NCOs and officers wear a midnight blue version. 

 

The other notable headgear worn by the Légion is the béret vert, its green beret. The beret was worn initially only by the paras in Indochina after 1945, however it was adopted by other units of the Légion following operations in Algeria. The beret is still widely worn as part of routine barracks dress and is sometimes worn in the field.

 

All Légion units wear the grenade écusson, or arm of service patch, of the Légion. This is a diamond shape patch worn on the left sleeve of almost all uniforms. The grenade is the symbol of the Légion and is widely used on insignia and provides the Légion’s capbadge for all units except the paras, who wear the TAP capbadge. The colours of the Légion are red and green, the colours of the old Swiss Guard which were adopted by the 2nd Légion raised in 1835, and are ubiquitous around Légion barracks.   

 

The Légion’s parade dress uniform is the Tenue de Parade Mle.2289 introduced in aftermath of the Central Asian War and replacing the Tenue de Parade Mle.2267. The latest parade dress is a two piece set in bleu horizon with a short jacket and worn with old style black combat boots. The Légion has several notable additions to this basic uniform including the wide ceinture bleue wrapped around the waist underneath a belt, the red and green épaulettes de tradition and a khaki coloured shirt worn with a green tie. In this dress the légionnaires wear their medals and a lanyard or fourragère which have different colours depending on the honours won by each regiment. The képi is always worn in this dress.

 

The Légion has two types of walking out dress one for winter and one for summer. The winter dress is based on the old Tenue de Parade Mle.2267 and is a khaki brown colour, resembling British Army service dress. It is worn with none of the embellishments of the current parade dress except the fourragère and having simple epaulettes and is worn open at the neck. The summer walking out dress is a shirt and slacks of a lighter brown colour with similar accoutrements as the winter dress. Most notable about this are the 19 creases that must be laboriously ironed into it every time it is worn. These include three on the upper chest above the pocket and one below, a double box crease on the arm, and five vertical and two horizontal creases on the back. It is perhaps fortunate that new légionnaires are not allowed to own civilian clothing as maintaining their military uniforms must be time consuming enough.    

 

On combat duties the légionnaires wear the standard Tenue de Combat Mle 2298 worn with the old Mle 2245 helmet. The much larger Mle 2298 helmet is available but not worn by the Légion, it is most commonly worn by Metropolitan soldiers of the Armée de Manœuvre. The Cuirasse de Combat is worn by all units of the Légion including the RECs. Insignia in this mode of dress is kept to a minimum, commonly rank and écusson only, and is usually worn on a removable brassard as it very difficult to sow through the ballistic protection of the TdC98. The French tricolour is worn on the cuirasse.     

 

INDEX

Personalities

 

Général de Division Victor Carnot

 

Victor Carnot is possibly the most famous living Légion officer, a man who has a had a extremely wide ranging career and who has suffered greatly at the hands of politicians. He was born at Orléans in European France and attended the Desaix Academy in Paris where he excelled. He was commissioned in to the Arme Blindée Cavalerie of the Armée Métropolitaine where he specialised in high intensity warfare with the ‘gros frères’ of the Cuirassiers. This served him in good stead when the Central Asian War broke out where thanks to sheer ability he was soon commanding his regiment in action and later would command a brigade. Carnot is not a political man, devoting himself to the military arts, but was a harsh critic of the Junta. He managed to retain enough friends in the army to gain command of one of the new Divisions de Marche as the crisis with German grew.

 

At first it seemed Carnot was being sidelined as his 3e Division de Marche was held in reserve whilst the French and German armies battered themselves bloody along the Rhine. However when the Germans broke through the Ardennes Carnot was the man who stopped the advance in Picardie. He they disobeyed the orders of his corps commander to help stop a further German offensive. Although the Germans had been stopped from reaching Paris the badly rattled junta sued for peace, and Carnot was one of the scapegoats. He ultimately accepted a demotion and a transfer to the Légion and command of 2e REC.

 

Carnot forged an already good regiment into an exceptional one and led it to the Liberation of Aurore in 2298. The immensely experienced Carnot not only successfully led his regiment into some of the fiercest fighting but he also help guide the strategic defence of the colony. Once again his forthright views alienate many of the more self-serving political leaders whilst becoming a legend to the colonists. The review of the defence of the colony saw the formation of the 1e Division de Marche Coloniale and Carnot was the obvious man to command it. Many of the French colonists are attempting to organise a campaign to get Carnot made Governor of Aurore Français.      

 

Lieutenant-Colonel Jaques Cissokho

   

Jaques Cissokho has been the commander of II/13e DBLE from early 2300 and has led it in action. Cissokho is a Franco-Senegalese descent and was born into a family of bureaucrats in Mirambeau. He attended the Académie Militaire Coloniale in Nouvelle Provence and was one of the leading students of his cohort. Cissokho chose to serve in the Légion rather than a local Néo-Provençal unit and was assigned to the 1/2e REI. He saw heavy action as a junior officer against the Manchurians in Central Asia, an experience which has shaped his ideas on tactics and leadership.

 

He was then transferred to I/13e DBLE for a long stint of colonial soldiering and led a company during operations on Adlerhorst. Cissohoko was already marked out for higher things and had stints at Staff College, seconded to a CARA air assault unit as a battalion commander as well as stints on the staff of the 212e DI. He was brought in to command the II/13e DBLE after a serious injury to its previous CO and he has led it with distinction on Aurore and Kimanjano twice. Cissokho is a man of culture and good humour who nevertheless insists on the highest standards of training, fitness and discipline.

 

Sergent-Chef Heinrich Ruhl

 

Heinrich Ruhl is a platoon sergeant in II/13e DBLE. He was born in Stuttgart and had previously been a Leutnant in Panzer Kavallerie Regiment Nr.7 in the Bavarian Army. PzKR 7 was stationed in Garten on Tirane during the Reunification War and chose repatriation at the end of the war. Ruhl was made redundant in the post-War reforms of the Bundeswehr, and like many others decided to chance his arm in the Légion. Ruhl has been promoted rapidly in the past decade and has reached Sergent-Chef.

 

Ruhl is pro-Reunification in his views, which makes him something of a minority in the Légion, indeed one of his best friends was murdered by anti-Reunification légionnaires on Aurore. Ruhl is a competent NCO but has enemies within the rank-and-file of the battalion. He is increasingly disillusioned with the Légion and his inability to gain a commission in spite of taking out French citizenship. In recent months Ruhl has been secretly contacted by an agent from the KNA.   

 

Légionnaire 1e Classe Aleksandr Tychinka

 

Aleksandr Tychinka is a PGMP tireur in the Légion’s I/1e REP. He is a Russian ethnic citizen of the Central Asian Republic who has joined the Légion after a stint as a conscript in the CAR Army. He had a childhood marred by the some of the worst fighting of the CAW and was a refugee on the steppes for most of his youth. He has joined the Légion with the aim of taking up French citizenship and making a better life for himself. He has been pitched into the Kafer War with the renowned I/1e REP in the abortive 1st Liberation of Beta Canum. Tychinka has proved an aggressive and capable fighter even by 1e REP’s standards, it seems that his hopes for a quiet life will not be fulfilled.

 

Légionnaire 1e Classe Colin Meek

 

Colin Meek is a grenadier-voltigeur of II/2e REI who has served less than a year. Meek is a 19 year old Englishman from the Home Counties who joined the Légion after having been thrown out of the British Army for brawling during the selection process. Meek is not well educated and while a competent sportsman he was something of a bully at school. His time in the Légion has not been easy; he has found picking up French difficult and whilst a hard man by the standards of his English secondary school he is in a different school in the Légion and has been on the wrong end of several bad beatings. Meek only just passed the training and has had even more trouble settling in with the battle hardened II/2e REI. Meek is increasingly thinking about desertion as the solution to his problems. 

 

INDEX

Role Playing

 

Initial Skills: Combat Rifleman – 3, Heavy Weapons – 2, Melee – 2, Hover Vehicle – 1, Ground Vehicle – 1, Survival – 2 and First Aid – 1 (Linguistics – 1 (French language only))

Primary Skills: Combat Skills, Ground Vehicle, Hover Vehicle, Stealth, General Skills (except Prospecting).
 

Quality

 

The average Légion unit has a skill breakdown of 10% Green, 30% Experienced, 40% Veteran and 20% Elite. However many Légion units are more highly trained, such as the REPs, and other have had sustained combat experience and will include greater proportions of Veteran and Elite Personnel.    

 

INDEX

Design Notes

 

The Légion is one of the few military units to be well described in 2300AD canon and gives a firm basis on which to base a fuller order of battle. However as usual the standard of GDW’s French leaves something to be desired and some of the unit names are not grammatically correct. As a result I have used current nomenclature throughout.

 

Page 12 of the 2nd Edition Director’s Guide describes the 13e DBLE as being comprised of 3 battalions, one serving on Aurore and the other two deployed elsewhere on the French Arm as a roving reserve. The Aurore Sourcebook on pages 87-89 describe the Légion presence on Aurore in 2300 as including the 2e RCE, I/4e RIE, III/5e RIE, II/13e DBLE and I/RIAE. When 2300 was written the Légion was organised into battalion sized regiments with some entirely in garrison roles, consequently I assumed the designers’ intent was to return to the old 3 battalion regiments, similar to the Légion of Indochina and Algeria, with battalions deployed independently. I applied this to the infantry regiments and then to the cavalry, parachute and engineer elements of the Légion. I added artillery into the mixture and given the unusual nature of I/REAI designated that as an experimental air assault unit.

 

The Aurore Sourcebook also notes the presence of large numbers of ex-Bavarians in the Légion of 2300. However the situation post the War of German Reunification was not like that after World War 2 when large numbers of Germans were recruited into the Légion. A more accurate analogy is the years after the Franco-Prussian War when the Germanic influence declined dramatically following France’s defeat and fears about the loyalty of the German légionnaires. To replace them Frenchmen from the now occupied Alsace and Lorraine were recruited instead.

 

Consequently I’ve put the presence of Bavarians and other Germans at around 3,500 as opposed to the 12,000 Germans recruited in the last three months of 1945. That 3,500 includes those Bavarians who disagree with German Reunification on political grounds, those soldiers who have lost their jobs through Bundeswehr reforms (the largest proportion) and other Germans in the Légion’s ranks. This is a significant influx of high quality manpower suitable for NCO leadership positions but it not an overwhelming proportion. For those who prefer a larger or smaller number, please feel free to go with whatever % you think fit.   

 

The ‘Rotten to the Core’ supplement mentions légionnaires being a part of the guard force for the ground terminal of the Beanstalk in Libreville. I find this an unusual use for the Légion. This orbat is for the Légion in 2303 but in the 2300 version I had a Légion battalion assigned to an airmobile division stationed in central Africa which provided a rotating Quick Reaction Force for the terminal. In 2303 however this battalion is stationed on Aurore.   

 

INDEX

Bibliography

 

Clayton, Anthony – Paths of Glory: The French Army 1914-18 – (London, Cassell, 2003)

Geraghty, Tony – March or Die: A New History of the Foreign Legion - (London, Grafton Books, 1986)

Horne, Alistair – A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962 - (London, Macmillan, 1977)

Simpson, Howard R. – The Paratroopers of the French Foreign Legion - (Virginia, Brassey's, 1997)

Parker, John – Inside the Foreign Legion – (London, Piaktus, 1998)

Windrow, Martin & Braby, Wayne – French Foreign Legion Paratroops - (London, Osprey, 1985)

 

Légion Étrangère Info - http://www.legion-etrangere.info/

Bureau de Recrutement de la Légion Étrangère (French MoD site) - http://www.br-legion.com/


05 May 2004

Copyright D Hebditch, 2004

Thanks to David Gillon and Laurent Esmiol for feedback and corrections.