The 5th Heavy Weight Transport Company (french: 5
e Compagnie de Transport Gros Porteurs, 5
e CTGP) was a heavy weight transport company of the
Foreign Legion in the
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...
. On April 30, 1964, following the dissolution of the
4th Foreign Regiment 4
e RE, the 6th Mounted Company of the
4th Foreign Infantry Regiment 4
e REI (french: 6
e Compagnie Portée du 4
e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie, 6
e CP 4
e REI) became the 5th Mounted Company of the
2nd Foreign Regiment 2
e REI (french: 5
e Compagnie Portée du 2
e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie, 5
e CP 2
e REI). On May 1, 1965, the company was designated as the 5th Heavy Weight Transport Company (french: 5
e Compagnie de Transport Gros Porteurs, 5
e CTGP). Transformed into a Military Train Unit (french:
Train Militaire), the activities of the company revolved mainly, around the evacuation of the
Sahara
, photo = Sahara real color.jpg
, photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972
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.
The 5th Heavy Weight Transport Company 5
e CTGP of the
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment was divided in several platoons corresponding to the different types of vehicles and missions. The commandment, the GLR and GBO Berliet platoons were based at
Reggane
Reggane (from Berber "Argan"; ar, رقان) is a town and commune, and the capital of Reggane District, in Adrar Province, central Algeria. Reggane lies in the Sahara Desert near an oasis. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 20,4 ...
; the Willeme platoon at
Béchar
Béchar ( ar, بشار) is the capital city of Béchar Province, Algeria. It is also a commune, coextensive with Béchar District, of Béchar Province. In 2008 the city had a population of 165,627, up from 134,954 in 1998, with an annual growth ...
.
The vehicles of the company circulated from the confines of the in-between of the
Sahara
, photo = Sahara real color.jpg
, photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972
, map =
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and the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
, on the
Mers El Kébir
Mers El Kébir ( ar, المرسى الكبير, translit=al-Marsā al-Kabīr, lit=The Great Harbor ) is a port on the Mediterranean Sea, near Oran in Oran Province, northwest Algeria. It is famous for the attack on the French fleet in 1940, in t ...
axis - In Amguel (french:
In Amguel
In Amguel (Arabic: عين امقل, lit. ''Amguel spring'') is a town and commune in Tamanrasset District, Tamanrasset Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has a population of 4,208, up from 3,030 in 1998, with an annual growth rate ...
).
The 5th Heavy Weight Transport Company of the
2e REI was dissolved on July 1, 1967, during the implantation of the regiment at Bou-Sfer.
Insignia
Golden crown bearing the inscription : « 5
e COMPAGNIE TRANSPORT - LÉGION ETRANGERE »; in the center, a Silver
Minaret
A minaret (; ar, منارة, translit=manāra, or ar, مِئْذَنة, translit=miʾḏana, links=no; tr, minare; fa, گلدسته, translit=goldaste) is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generall ...
(Fire Lighthouse Tower at origin, then would be found adjacent in numbers, to
Mosque
A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
s) (french:
Minaret
A minaret (; ar, منارة, translit=manāra, or ar, مِئْذَنة, translit=miʾḏana, links=no; tr, minare; fa, گلدسته, translit=goldaste) is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generall ...
) centered in a five branched golden Star. Heir to the traditions of the 6th Mounted Company of the
4e REI., the 5
e CTGP has retaken the symbols (Star and Minaret). The insignia was created for Camerone 1966, by Captain Oui, Commandant of the company.
References
Sources
*Centre de documentation de la Légion étrangère
{{French Foreign Legion navbox
Units of the French Foreign Legion
Transport units and formations
Company sized units
Military units and formations established in 1965
Military units and formations disestablished in 1967