Indochine jellyfish
French Foreign legion paratroopers during Operation Camargue, Quang Tri, Indochina, July 1953. (Source: ecpad.fr)
In the bad old days of the nearly 8-year long war in Indochina, which cost the French Union an amazing 75,581 dead, the French Army made extensive use of airborne forces to both try and encircle the Viet Minh and reinforce isolated bases.
The 2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment, which at the time included a pretty large German contingent. (Paracas del 2º REP en Dien Bien Phu, 1954.) Note the mix of US helmets, M1 carbine pouches and the surplus USMC ‘Duck Hunter’ camo left over from WWII (Source: ecpad.fr)
This included, in emergency situations, having the soldier’s first live paradrop take place under intense combat conditions.
No pressure…
The last combat for 5e REI of the French Foreign Legion, who carried the monicker of Régiment du Tonkin, was when their 2er and 3e Battalions were dropped into the green hell of Dien Bien Phu in March 1954 via quickly learned parachutes– although they were a “leg” infantry unit.Talk about a crash course.
It suffered so many casualties there that the unit was disbanded in 1955.
Légionnaires from 3e bataillon of 5e REI (Régiment Etranger d’Infanterie) during the “Brochet” operation. This legionnaire is armed with a MAS 36 rifle and an OF 37 offensive grenade. In the background is a classic MAT49 subgun. September 1953 (Source: ecpad.fr) Hattip Tales of War.
By the way, you have to love the old-school MAS36 on the legionnaire.
The 7.5×54mm 5-shot bolt action beast remained in service with the French military in one form or another from before World War II until it was finally replaced for good in 1978 by the FAMAS. The MAS49 semi-auto which was supposed to replace it never really did.