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1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company
(1re Compagnie étrangère parachutiste de mortiers lourds)
Insigne 1°CEPML
Company Insignia
Active September 1953 - August 1954
Disbanded August 1954
Country Flag of France France
Allegiance Flag of legionFrench Foreign Legion
Branch France French Army
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[]

1er CEPML

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. 1.0 1.1 Braby & Windrow, Wayne & Martin (1985). French Foreign Legion Paratroops. Osprey Books Ltd. pp. 12. ISBN 978-0-85045-629-5. 
  2. 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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