Companies Saharan meharists

The Compagnies Saharan meharists were units of the French Army intended to control the territories of the the Sahara at the time of French colonization, they played a great part at the time of the conquest of south-Algerian, then of the French presence in the the Sahara.

Using Dromedary S in these areas where the first Automobile S could not venture, they were also indicated under the name of Compagnies Méhariste S.

True sentinels of the desert, these companies were then in charge of the pacification of the zones Tuareg, topographic work , the monitoring of the caravans and the tracks, the monitoring of the borders, etc

History

If the first units meharists existed as of 1885, they were officially create only starting from 1901 under the impulse of the Commander François-Henry Laperrine. Their names, number and localizations evolved/moved with time.

The Loi of the March 30th 1902 created five Compagnie S Saharan respectively based in Fort-Polignac (Tassili), Tindouff, El Oued, Adrar and Tamanrasset. These companies were ordered by Officier S of the indigenous Businesses and depended the direction on the Infanterie. They were autonomous and counted approximately 68 méharis.

Saharan Compagnies ranges were when with them create with Ouargla, Colomb-Béchar and Ain Sefra, Laghouat and Sebha for the Saharan companies carried of Foreign legion (CSPLE).

Later, these companies were amalgamated to give rise to four Saharan Companies Ranges of the Foreign legion (CSPL).

1st Saharan squadron carried of Foreign legion (ESPL)

January 1st 1961, the 1st Saharan Company Carried of the Legion became 1st Saharan Squadron Carried of the Foreign legion (1 ESPLE), equipped with Blindé S light and compared to a unit of the armor-plated Arme cavalry. The 1 CSPL had been made up on March 31st, 1946 by unfolding of the single initial CSPL.

This unit forms body, as well as a Régiment, and is thus very independent, as well in its equipment as in its missions. The squadron is stationed with Laghouat and carries out rounds of police force in the desert as well as raids flashes on located positions of the enemy.

In 1961, at the conclusion of the Putsch of Algiers, the squadron receives the mission of ensuring the monitoring of the civil and military personalities stopped before their repatriation in France.

In August 1962, the 1st ESPLE loses three men, of which lieutenant Gélas, which will be last deaths of the Guerre of Algeria.

Stationed with Reggane and Aoulef starting from 1962, the squadron is dissolved and integrated into the 2 {{E}} foreign Régiment of infantry on March 1st 1963, date on which it becomes the 7th company carried of the regiment. The 1st Saharan Company Carried of the Legion had been stationed in Ain Sefra as from 1954, then in Fort-Flatters one year later.

2ère Saharan Company range of Foreign legion (CSPL)

Create on April 1st, 1946 by unfolding of the Saharan Company carried of the Foreign legion was installed with Ouargla. It was integrated on March 30th, 1963 into the 4th foreign Regiment of infantry.

3ère Saharan Company range of Foreign legion (CSPL)

Create on February 1st, 1949, 3ère CSPL was initially in charge of the monitoring of the Fezzan until 1956 before joining the department of the Oases. It was dissolved on April 30th, 1963 to be integrated into the 4th foreign Regiment of infantry.

4ère Saharan Company range of Foreign legion (CSPL)

Charged with supervising the area of Reggane, this unit was creates on January 1st, 1956. It was dissolved on March 30th, 1963 to be integrated into the 2 {{E}} foreign Régiment of infantry and to constitute her 2nd company carried.

Organization

Companies meharists

With their creation in 1902, four of these companies were made up assembled infantrymen and meharists (gone up on Dromadaire S or méharis ) whereas the fifth had vehicles adapted to the desert.

These companies can be in normal configuration or reduced . They are composed then of a Peloton of command and two or three groups of meharists for total staff complement of 142 or 178 men.

Saharan companies ranges (CSP)

These companies are all the five organized according to the same structure:

1 Section of command
1 Group of Armoured car
3 sections carried of Fusilier - acrobat
1 section of gun S of 75 mm (undoubtedly the Canon of 75 Model 1897)

They count 195 men with vehicles of all types.

Saharan grouping of appendices

Saharan Grouping of appendix of Algeria

In Algeria, four Saharan groups of appendix constitute police force assigned in reinforcement to the stations of the territories of the South. It are in general stationed with Touggourt, Colomb-Béchar, Laghouat and Ouargla and count each one approximately 320 men.

Saharan Grouping of the Tunisian South

This grouping, which comprises a group of command, three motorized groups meharists and four groups, account approximately 720 confused men, all ranks, more than 100 Dromadaire S and 80 vehicles.

Saharan company of infantry of the Fezzan

This unit was created by the France after the Second world war to control this old Italian colony. It is stationed with Sebha and counts more than 300 men and of many vehicles.

Uniform

The uniforms of the Saharan Companies resulted at the same time from the traditions of the Foreign legion and those of the first units meharists.

white Kepi (black for the Officer S and Warrant officer S)
Jacket of white fabric
Shoulder pads of tradition " green and rouge"
Seroual (full pants) black or white (according to the unit)
Burnous out of black cloth doubled of white (according to the unit)
blue Belt (carried under the belt and the cross-belt)
Belt and cross-belt carry-cartridge forming a V on the chest and in the back
Nails (Sandal S)

After the Second world war, this uniform was more used only like uniform of parade and became khaki plain.

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