13 DBLE info?

[Stoeng]

I had a chat (in a cocktail) the other day with the French Admiral commanding the forces in the Indian Ocean. He is based in Abu Dhabi and he is indeed very happy with the 13ème DBLE.
Very pleased with their operational standard and fitness level even for “night operations” in hostile and urban areas, the Admiral was all smiles for the 13ème DBLE.
When one knows who this Admiral is and his background it is not bad at all.

[RMD]

I had a chat (in a cocktail) the other day with the French Admiral commanding the forces in the Indian Ocean. He is based in Abu Dhabi and he is indeed very happy with the 13ème DBLE.
Very pleased with their operational standard and fitness level even for “night operations” in hostile and urban areas, the Admiral was all smiles for the 13ème DBLE.
When one knows who this Admiral is and his background it is not bad at all.

To be a fly on the wall.

[okidoki]

To be a fly on the wall.

I'd rather be close to the buffet.

[Pampaldo]

When one knows who this Admiral is and his background it is not bad at all.

I take it the Commandos Marine are one of the regular French troops even the Legion has respect for...

[Samtoo]

I take it the Commandos Marine are one of the regular French troops even the Legion has respect for...

You would be wrong....they were all schlapours to us.

[Madmonk 7.5]

I take it the Commandos Marine are one of the regular French troops even the Legion has respect for...

Definitely true in my time.

[a1b2c3]

I take it the Commandos Marine are one of the regular French troops even the Legion has respect for...

Depends on the Commandos Marine in question... Just like any other unit, some are GTG and others are ass clowns.

[Stoeng]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Jefferson'86]

I take it the Commandos Marine are one of the regular French troops even the Legion has respect for...

HAHAHAHAHA... well, my view anyway.

[Rapace]

I take it the Commandos Marine are one of the regular French troops even the Legion has respect for...

Surely, but there's often a confusion made. In the French Navy, you've got Fusiliers Marins – whose role is essentially to protect naval bases and ships when they are not at sea – and Commandos Marine who often (but not exclusively) tap into the Fusiliers Marins ‘workforce’ to select and train new recruits.
Speaking under the control of Chas, Commandos Marine are more or less equivalent to the Royal Navy SBS or US Navy SEALs and form 6 highly trained Spec Ops units.
For those interested, you can check [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

[Pampaldo]

Surely, but there's often a confusion made. In the French Navy, you've got Fusiliers Marins – whose role is essentially to protect naval bases and ships when they are not at sea – and Commandos Marine who often (but not exclusively) tap into the Fusiliers Marins ‘workforce’ to select and train new recruits.
Speaking under the control of Chas, Commandos Marine are more or less equivalent to the Royal Navy SBS or US Navy SEALs and form 6 highly trained Spec Ops units.
For those interested, you can check [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

Yeah, I guess many people confuse the two. When Stoeng said about the admiral's good background, I thought one reason was his Commando Marine beret. There's also a documentary about their selection: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Stoeng]

No need to make such fuss about the CM, but for once I was pleased to see an admiral that was first of all fit as f**k, speaking perfectly Arabic, and really understanding the Persian Gulf situation. If all our generals were like this, it would have been a pleasure.

Just as a little additional info, this admiral was in charge of this operation: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Efficient, swift, and deadly. No big deal but VIVE LA FRANCE !!!!

[Jefferson'86]

In Djibouti we at P4 ER Commando worked with three of the CM units. The first had to be med evaced off the Grand Barre during a route marche. They had the best kit, Addidas combat boots, Camel Pac bidons, combat vests, the best ration packs, but they were SH!T. Absolutely no bottle. As soon as the temp hit 45°C they dropped like stones.

The second a few months later was fit enough but tactically crap. We did reciprocal ambush drills with them and rolled them up every time with simple baited 'L' shapped ambushes. We broke and flanked them every time an hit their rally points before they did.

The last one we worked with actually knew their trade and impressed us with their approach to the job. They were clearly better than us in every way. Perhaps the other two units had other specialties and were not suited to desert or mountain work.

One thing that we did learn is that in those days, the CM's hated each other at unit level. Not just rivalry but total contempt. I was surprised at that. We never saw that in the Legion. A bit of regimental pizz taking but nothing like the CM's hate for each other. It seemed more than rivalry. Never found out why that was.

Did tour guides to some Mat Fusiliers and got invited back to their ship 'Le Terrible'. They were good lads... and of course there was that Arta thing with one of those CM units...

[MaiYun]

Is 13ème DBLE already in Dubai (or the place they were meant to moved into)??

[Rapace]

On the same topic, a link to an article about a ceremony held on 4.Jun.2012, presided by the French Joint Chiefs of Staff (another Admiral) to celebrate [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Some good pictures...