13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes


caption= 13th regiment of Dragoons, 1857
dates= 1676-1815, 1856-1940,
1944-1946, 1948,
1952-
country= France
allegiance=
branch= French Army
type= Special forces
role= Reconnaissance
size= One regiment
command_structure= Army Special Forces Brigade
garrison= Dieuze
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motto= "Au-delà du possible" (Beyond the possible)
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current_commander=Colonel Pierre Liot de Nortbecourt
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The 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment ( _fr. 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes, 13e RDP) is an Airborne Special forces Regiment of the French Army. It is one of two regiments in the Army Special Forces Brigade, which is under the control of the COS (special operations command). The regiment's primary duties are airborne reconnaissance operations.

History

Origins

Marquis de Barbezières raised a dragoon regiment in Languedoc on 4 October, 1676. In 1724 the name was changed to "dragons de Condé".

Post-World War II

After World War II, the 13e RDP was transformed into a long-range recon unit. During the Cold War, the main mission of the 13e RDP was to provide intelligence for the 1st Army, while each company of the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa) should provide intelligence for one Army Corps.

Since the end of the Cold War, the 1er RPIMa has become a direct-action unit while the 13e RDP specialised in recon for planning special operations, similar to the role of the US Army Long Range Surveillance Detachment or Long Range Surveillance Company or the British Special Reconnaissance Regiment.

The 13e RDP took part to the Gulf War. This was highlighted when three operators were captured by the Iraqis in late 1990. The 13e RDP was, along with other French units, heavily involved in the Kosovo War and used tactics and technology to force Serbian Armor to attempt to engage Kosovo Liberation Army and other allied forces in the open, which enabled them to be destroyed by Allied bombing, particularly by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The 13e RDP also contributed to the capture of Momčilo Krajišnik in 2001 by close range recons.

Mission

The 13e RDP performs reconnaissance in hostile terrain, and acts as special forces.

The high level of 13e RDP operatives in long-range recon makes that they are often requested by other forces. The "Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale" keeps a close relationship with the 13e RDP to train its "gendarmes" in forward recon for hostage rescue operations in hostile environment. The "Équipes d'Observation dans la Profondeur" (EOP, forward control teams) of French artillery regiments use the standard operating procedures of the 13e RDP. 13e RDP operators are also reported to be highly requested to join the action service of the "direction générale de la sécurité extérieure" (DGSE, French intelligence service).

Honours

Battle Honours

*Valmy 1792
*Hohenlinden 1800
*Austerlitz 1805
*Iéna 1806
*La Moskowa 1812
*Ypres 1914
*Verdun 1916
*AFN 1952–1962

Decorations

*Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with one palme.
*Médaille d'Or de la ville de Milan

External links

* [http://www.rdp13.terre.defense.gouv.fr/ Official site of the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment] fr icon
* [http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/terre/decouverte/presentation_de_l_armee_de_terre/armes_et_composantes/arme_blindee_cavalerie/13e_regiment_de_dragons_parachutistes site du Ministère de la défense : Présentation of the régiment.] fr icon
* [http://www.liendragonpara.net/ Official site of the 13th Regiment veterans] fr icon
* [http://www.gign.org/unites-françaises/13rdp.php GIGN.org site on the 13th Regiment] fr icon