1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (1re Compagnie étrangère parachutiste de mortiers lourds) | |
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![]() Company Insignia | |
Active | September 1953 - August 1954 |
Disbanded | August 1954 |
Country |
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Allegiance |
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Branch |
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Type | Airborne forces |
Role | Infantry support |
Size | 71 men |
Garrison/HQ | Quynh Loi, Hanoi, French Indochina |
Colors | Green & Red |
Equipment | Eight 120mm mortars |
Engagements |
Operation Castor Battle of Dien Bien Phu |
The 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (French) was an airborne heavy mortar company that briefly existed during the First Indochina War from September 1953 to 31 May 1954.
History[]

Members of the 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company in Indochina.
The company was established in Hanoi on September 1, 1953 from elements of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion and the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion,[1] mostly of artillery specialists. It was attached to the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion[1] for administrative purposes. The 1re CEPML was created with the challenge to be operational within two months of its foundation. In this regard the 1re CEPML was successful and the company was able to participate in Operation Castor making its first combat jump on November 20, 1953 over Dien Bien Phu.[2] The 1st CEPML made a combat jump alongside Chef de Battalion Marcel Bigeard's 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion.
See also[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Braby & Windrow, Wayne & Martin (1985). French Foreign Legion Paratroops. Osprey Books Ltd. pp. 12. ISBN 978-0-85045-629-5.
- ↑ Braby & Windrow, Wayne & Martin (1985). French Foreign Legion Paratroops. Osprey Books Ltd. pp. 13. ISBN 978-0-85045-629-5.
References[]
- Braby, Wayne & Windrow, Martin. French Foreign Legion Paratroops. London: Osprey Publishing, 1985. ISBN 978-0-85045-629-5
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The original article can be found at 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company and the edit history here.