Quote:
Originally Posted by RN7
The French had ground and air forces based across Africa in the years leading up to the Twilight War. Most French army units in Africa were Foreign Legion and Marine forces, largely composed of light and motorised infantry equipped with light armoured vehicles, 81mm and 120mm mortars and Milan ATGW. There were also a few armoured cavalry units, field artillery batteries and some helicopters, particularly in Djibouti and the Central African Republic. The relatively light French forces in the region could however be quickly reinforced from France. The French Air Force also had small detachments or combat jets, transports and helicopters located in air bases across Africa, with a full combat jet fighter squadron in Djibouti. In the mid-1980's Chad became a focus of French activity in Africa due to the Libyan invasion of the northern Chad and its support for guerrillas in Africa. French special forces were rumoured to be operating in Chad at this time and there was a powerful Air Force component stationed in the country. French forces in Africa are listed from the NATO Order of Battle 1989/V8.5 and the IISS Military Balance 1990/91 and 1991/92.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (Bagui): (1,200 troops)
Air Force: (100 troops) (2x Jaguar, 1x C-160)
Army: (1,100 troop) (6x AML-90, 17x VAB, 6x 105mm, 1x Cessna O-1E, 3x Puma)
CHAD (Abeche, Moussoro, N'Djamena): (1,100 troop)
Air Force: (200 troops) (6x Mirage F1, 2x C-160, 2x Puma, 4x Crotale SAM)
Army: (900 troops) (4x Hawk SAM)
DJIBOUTI (Djibouti City): (4,000 troops)
Air Force: (500 troops) (10x F-1C, 1x C-160, 3x Alouette III)
Army: (3,500 troops) (24x AMX-10RC, 51x VAB, 12x 155mm, 5x Puma)
GABON (Libreville): (800 troops)
Air Force: (100 troops) (2x Jaguar, 1x C-160, 2x Alouette III)
Army: (650 troops)
Navy: (50 troops) (1x Atlantic)
IVORY COAST (Abidjan): (500 troops)
Army: (500 troops) (1x Ecureuil)
SENEGAL (Dakar): (1,250 troops)
Air Force: (100 troops) (1x C-160, 1x Alouette III)
Army: (1,100 troops)
Navy: (50 troops) (1x Atlantic)
LA REUNION (Mayotte): (4,200 troop)
Air Force: (100 troops) (1x C-160, 2x Alouette III)
Army: (3,200 troops)
Navy: (900 troops) (1x Atlantic)
12x Ships (4x Frigates, 4x Patrol Craft, 1x Amphibious Vessel, 3x Support Vessel)
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and we know, per the RDF canon, that more got moved in starting in 1995 both in Western Africa and Djibouti
RDF page 19
1995. The Foreign Legion Operational Group was activated and
sent to Djibouti to assist in internal security duties. A task force
of French Marine Infantry was stationed at Dakar at the request
of the Senegalese government. In 1998, when the Franco-
Belgian Union was formed, Senegal and Djibouti became
member nations.
The biggest break came when the governments
of Kuwayt and Saudi Arabia gave permission for France to station
troops in their countries (to the chagrin of some Americans
in the region). The Paris government responded quickly and by
fall of 1998, the 9th Marine Infantry Division and the 2nd Brigade
of the 1 1 th Airborne Division were in the region along with supporting
elements. There they have remained, providing a visible
symbol of France's commitment to the stability of the region
(and to assure that France gets its share when the Americans
leave).
Structure: The FAR, like CENTCOM, is composed of forces
from all the military services of the nation. The ground force
component consists of the 9th Marine Infantry Division, the 11th
Airborne Division, the 1st Light Armored Division, and the
Foreign Legion Operational Group. The naval component is built
around the Guided Missile Cruiser Jean Bart, and her escorts.
Special operations are handled through the Unconventional Warfare
Operations Group, which controls the Marine Commando
Group (naval commandos) and the 1 st Marine Parachute Regiment.
Not all of these units are fully deployed in the Persian Gulf
area as France has other responsibilities, mainly in west Africa.