The Legion, formly known as La Légion Étrangère, is an elite corps composed predominantly of German, Italian, Belgian as well as French nationals. The unit was introduced in Wargame: European Escalation as an ordinary Rifle Squad, and was split as Light Infantry in Wargame: Red Dragon.
History[]
La Légion Étrangère (French Foreign Legion) was created in 1831 by Louis-Philippe I during La Monarchie de Juillet (July Monarchy) to incorporate foreign troops into the French army.
The legion contributed roughly 30,000 troops during the French Indochina War (1946–54). That war witnessed the birth of parachute battalions, one of which eventually became the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1er Régiment étranger de parachutistes; 1er REP). In the Mekong delta the Foreign Cavalry Regiment adapted commercial tracked vehicles called “crabs” and “alligators” into what was commonly known as the “cavalry of the rice paddies.” Yet even a heroic performance by several battalions of legionnaires at Dien Bien Phu in early 1954 could not salvage the doomed French imperial enterprise or crown with victory the deaths of more than 10,000 legionnaires. The defeat of legion paratroops by Viet Minh Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap’s 308th “Iron Division” on May 4, 1954, was the death knell of Dien Bien Phu, which the French surrendered three days later.
Hardly had the smoke cleared from that battlefield than the legion was repatriated to Algeria, where it formed the backbone of the mobile units that, despite enjoying military success against the Algerian National Liberation Front, could not win the war. Disgust at the decision made by de Gaulle to abandon Algeria, considered the legion’s home and its raison d’être, pushed the 1er REP to join a military rebellion against the president in April 1961. Allegedly, Defense Minister Pierre Messmer, who had served with the 13th Demi-Brigade in World War II, narrowly dissuaded an enraged de Gaulle from abolishing the legion altogether. However, the 1er REP was disbanded, and the remainder of the legion’s units were scattered in garrisons on the mainland and in the French territories. After 1962 the legion headquarters was transferred to Aubagne, where the essential traditions evolved at Sidi Bel Abbès continue to be nurtured.
Legionnaires served as part of French and allied expeditions in Chad in 1969–70; in Kolwezi, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), in 1978; and in Lebanon in the early 1980s. In the 1990s legion units served in the Persian Gulf War (as part of the French army’s Opération Daguet) and in the Balkans. In the early 21st century the legion continued to participate in various peacekeeping efforts and military operations in Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, Côte d’Ivoire, and many other places around the world.
6th Division Legere Blindee has 2nd Regt Etrangere d'Infanterie, a VAB mounted regiment. The various overseas garrisons has either Marine formations or Legion elements.
Overview[]
AirLand Battle[]
The Legion is now a single infantry unit as opposed to European Escalation, where they were split into the Legion and the Legion FAMAS.
Red Dragon[]
The Legion is categorized in the armory as light infantry, though they are trained as shock infantry and use weapons optimized in shorter ranged combat.
Available transports[]
European Escalation[]
AirLand Battle[]
Red Dragon[]
Weapons[]
European Escalation[]
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | SMG | LAW | Grenade |
| Name | MAT 49 | SARPAC | Alsetex |
| Caliber | 9mm PB | 68mm HEAT | Fragmentation |
| Ammo | x 1800 rounds | x 6 rockets | x 8 rounds |
| Range | Ground = 700 m Helicopters = N/A m  Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 700 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 263 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
| Accuracy | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| AP Power | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| HE Power | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Rate of fire | 642 r/min | 7 r/min | 5 r/min |
AirLand Battle[]
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Assault Rifle | LAW | SAW |
| Name | FAMAS | LRAC | AA-52 |
| Caliber | 5.56mm | 84mm HEAT [HEAT] [STAT] |
7.5mm [CQC] |
| Ammo | x 3200 | x 6 | x 1000 |
| Range | Ground = 525 m Helicopters = 525 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 525 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 875 m Helicopters = 525 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
| Accuracy | 12 | 14 | 9 |
| AP Power | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| HE Power | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Suppression | 40 | 388 | 55 |
| Rate of fire | 320 r/min | 10 r/min | 461 r/min |
Red Dragon[]
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Assault Rifle | LAW | SAW |
| Name | FAMAS | LRAC F1 | AA-52 |
| Caliber | 5.56mm | 84mm HEAT [HEAT] [STAT] |
7.62m [CQC] |
| Ammo | x 1800 | x 9 | x 1500 |
| Range | Ground = 525 m Helicopters = 525 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 700 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 875 m Helicopters = 595 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
| Accuracy | 45% | 60% | 30% |
| Stabilizer | 30% | N/A | 15% |
| AP Power | N/A | 19 | N/A |
| HE Power | 1 | N/A | .5 |
| Suppression | 40 | 336 | 55 |
| Rate of fire | 232 r/min | 10 r/min | 428 r/min |
Gallery[]
See also[]
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