French operation Serval in Mali 12/1/13

[Arjan]

According to news sources a French pilot from 4RHC based at Pau, got killed during a raid in Mali.
The raid was part of the intervention of French forces in the Mali conflict, the name of this operation is Serval.

[Stratofreighter]

Type involved may have been a Gazelle

http://www.lepoint.fr/chroniqueurs-du-p ... 810_53.php
translated at
http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... 810_53.php

[Stratofreighter]

See
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/sh ... ost6528608
and
http://augengeradeaus.net/2013/01/frank ... im-norden/

January 11, 2013, at the request of the Malian authorities and the UN, France launched a military operation called Serval in support of the Malian armed forces .

It aims to put an abrupt end to the progress of jihadi groups to the south of Mali and the safety of the 5,000 French nationals in the country. Hundreds of soldiers are now deployed in Mali.

The French intervention began in the afternoon of 11 January by a raid of attack helicopters to stop the progression of a column of jihadists elements en route to Konna, not far from the city of Mopti.

This first action led by French Gazelle helicopters Gazelle HOT and 20mm caliber gun helicopter regiment of the 4th Special Forces (4th HRTS) has allowed the destruction of four enemy vehicles and led to the withdrawal of the column.

On the night of January 11 to 12, four Mirage 2000D of the group Epervier conducted air strikes in the north of the country.

To perform these missions, the fighter patrols were supported by two tankers C135.

Taking advantage of scheduled rotation of the Mirage 2000D, it was decided to delay the return of the fighter jets to France and keep them in N'Djamena.

It is now currently two Mirage F1 CR, six Mirage 2000D, 3 C135, 1 C and 1 130 Transall C160 which arm the air force group "Sparrowhawk" (Epervier).

Simultaneously, first in Chad, a sub-group of nearly 200 soldiers belonging to the land force group Epervier was prepared to reach Bamako. It was projected by C-130 Hercules and Transalls from N'Djamena to the Malian capital.

The sub-group is composed with "Porpoises" (like SEALs) of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment of Frejus (21st RIMa) and a platoon of the 1st Regiment Foreign Legion Cavalry Orange (1st REC).

In France, it is a company of the 2nd regiment of marines stationed in Auvours which has been designated to reach Bamako in the day of January 12.
The company's mission is to strengthen the system in place. (130112-validation 4:36)

On 11 January 2013, during the first phase of the operation consisting Serval, supporting Malian armed forces to stop the advance of jihadi groups to the south of Mali, a helicopter pilot was fatally injured.

The French intervention began in the afternoon of 11 January by a helicopter raid in the region Konna, near Mopti in the center of the country.

During this mission by attack helicopters Gazelle helicopter regiment of the 4th Special Forces (4th HRTS), four enemy vehicles were destroyed.

Despite accurate shots and destructive causing the decline of the column, the patrol party were taken from the ground by small arms fire.

In one of these skirmishes, a Gazelle pilot was shot. Wounded, Lieutenant rejoined, flying his helicopter, the nearest French military medical unit before succumbing to his injuries.

With thanks to the original poster!

[Joris van Boven]

Another source is the French FB page https://www.facebook.com/armeefrancaise

[f4phantom]

Does Mali still operates the Mig 21 ?

[hammarö]

A battle erupted with al-Shabab militants after commando swooped on the town of Bulo Marer overnight (south of Mogadishu).

The raid came after French troops intervened in the west African state of Mali.

It seems likely that the operation was linked to the intervention in Mali, the BBCs Hugh Schofield reports from Paris.

France have troops and equipment based in Djibouti.

It was also reporting a loss of a helicopter pilot in Mali!!

See
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20996963

[maurits]

Three deux-milles could be identified coded 133-JC,133-XV and 133-IQ..

[mainsail2011]

(649) 133-XY Mirage 2000D EC03.003

tdy bamako

(1634) DBO SA.330
DAK SA.330
DBF SA.330

tdy Thajd/Dakar

R86 61-ZD C-160 ET03.061
R157 61-ZW C-160 ET03.061

152 62-IP CASA 235 ET01.062

[maurits]

Another addition: 659/133-XR.....

[NLExile]

Three Rafale B and one Rafale C fully loaded with GBU-49, AASM and Damoclès designation pods are reported having left Saint-Dizier early this morning (13th January) supported by two C-135FR tankers. A total of three Tiger helicopters from Pau are to be deployed to Mali with the full support of RAF C-17 transport a/c.
Source: http://lemamouth.blogspot.be/2013/01/le ... nt-n5.html V.P.

[lawrence brincat]

The pilot of the Helicopter who was killed was piloting an Armee De Terre Gazelle as a photo was posted on the internet of the crewman via Facebook.

[Preben]

Italian tv news talks about the French helo being shot down... Is it non correct? Was able the gazelle to come back?

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[michel N]

What I've read about this is that the pilot was badly wounded during the mission and managed to return to base. There he sadly died of his injuries.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Tintin]

To Preben: the ALAT Gazelle was not shot down but hit by small arm shots which wounded the pilot, who managed to turn back, but died later while on medical treatments...

[maurits]

Two serials of the 4 Rafales (3 B and 1 C) which left St. Dizier are identified on official video as 319/113-HN and 322/113-HU.

Update C = 139/113-GR newest a/c and B
3../118-I.