martylee Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I've sen several photos of french forces using Dodges in africa after the war. It seems that these were usually heavy armed trucks. I'd like to find out more about these troops and their use of the Dodge trucks. Does anyone have any suggested reading on the subject? Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 History of the French Foreign Legion by Douglas Boyd spends a few chapters in Algeria and Morocco. A lot of post-war FFL kit (vehicles, weapons and uniform) was US WW2 surplus. ISTR trucks tended to be Matra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 There was an aircrasft crash in North Africa, British aircraft, Dodge 51 and 52's were photgraphed with the survivors. French Forign Legion troops. The Avavation experts will no doubt fill in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martylee Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 Thanks to the both of you! Just waiting for some photos to show up! :-) Looking for the book at ebay now. Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 A mate has a SUMB which carries French Foreign Legion insignia on bodywork,............anyone a source for pic's in relation to this, (early to mid 60's I guess.) Cheers. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowtracdave Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 My brothers old SUMB also had Legion markings - might be the same one I guess . Can't remember the reg no just now . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les freathy Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 A couple of Dodge photos from the French in Africa period both probably in Morroco or algeria? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martylee Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Thank you all! The last photos were especially apriciated. I think I've seen a restored Dodge with a anti tank rifle in the back. Anyone else seen it? Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuno Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 There were also some Dodge trucks modified to makeshift armoured cars in Sirya which saw action around Bir Hakeim in 1942. If I recall correct they were called TANAKE... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I like the last piccy, makes a change seeing WW11 Dodges not in US colours/markings, would be nice to see one at a show if anybody is brave enough!! Mark :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martylee Posted March 14, 2009 Author Share Posted March 14, 2009 The book arrived from Germany today, only three days after I ordered it. With other words, I'm not going outside today! :-) Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Two pics of a Hotchkiss jeep in French desert markings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 refreshingly differnet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 refreshingly differnet Yes, the owner dresses in full French uniform as well, very effective and does make an interesting change from so much airborne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martylee Posted March 15, 2009 Author Share Posted March 15, 2009 Thanks Degsy! Nice photos! As a follow up on the subject I've started this morning with the movie "La battaglia di Algerie". This is the 1965 story that was nominated for 3 oscars and received the golden lion of the Venize film festival. A good movie with both 4x4 Dodges and 6x6 Dodges. And also several Jeeps. Thank you all! Please feel free to add more info/ photos, I'm not full yet! ;-) Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les freathy Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 A Dodge 6x6 in the Sahara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martylee Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Once again, thank you! By the way, what is that on the left fender? These are french legion, right? Then it's not a cappucino machine!? Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les freathy Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Marty i am sure that is a external air filter fitted for these conditions but i maybe wrong meantime heres a photo of a M3 halftrack in Algeria fitted with anti grenade screens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManuelK Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Sounds like an Dodge Tanake Here is an Data sheed http://www.warwheels.net/images/AMDodgeTanakeDATASHEET.pdf I build this as an modell. hope thats it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I've seen several in France, Belgium in the Forign Legion markings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I met an ex Foreign Legion guy at a show who told me that after they were issued with modern 4WD trucks to replace their old WW2 GMC's they found that although they were fitted with single balloon tyres they were useless in soft sand. The narrow twin rear wheels of the jimmys theoretically should be inferior in these conditions but they managed to retain a few jimmys which were used solely for recovery of the modern vehicles. He said that had it been possible they would have much preferred to keep the old vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Just finished reading the excellent book Legionnaire, which is the true story of a Brit in the FFL. Brilliant book with some very interesting photos. A very complicated and bloody campaign. You can see why the French were reluctant to get involved in any more foreign wars after that. Interesting to read that the Arabs were mostly using WW2 german weapons and that the legion had a large number of WW2 German veterans serving in it at that time. One of many interesting anecdotes was that a legionnaire deserted after a couple of weeks service and was picked up about 15 years later back in France. They sent him back to Africa to do his five years. Must have been very hard for him. Tim (too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 (edited) Legionnaire is a seminal work. So much so that when the history I referred to earlier came to the De Gaulle putsch, all it could do was quote Simon Murray's book as the only recorded first-hand account of what was going on in the two Foreign Parachute Regiments. Edited April 23, 2009 by AlienFTM I knew I hand't spelt De Gaulle right, but was too idle to google it. And then I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Interesting that. Before i read the book I never knew that France was so close to a succesful military coup. I was given an old Giles cartoon book many years ago. It had a strange cartoon which i never understood. It showed a column of French legionnaires marching in to a fort with the caption "Well there goes our two weeks in Paris then". Murrays book explained that very well. I saw some French Algerian war vehicles and reenactors at W&P some years back. I wish that i had taken more notice of them. Tim (too). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Elsdon Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 The French Foreign Legion were protecting the Airport at Sarajevo when i was on ops at UNPROFOR HQ. When they took over protection duties, they were regularly getting sniped at from a ruin of a village near the edge of the airport, U.N. engagement rules pretty much prevented them from taking action, but "allegedly" a couple of Legionnaires went for a stroll into said local village during the night and cut the snipers trigger fingers off! sniping on the airport dropped right off immediately afterwards! Never forget the French Forward Air Controllers callsign "Mickey Mouse" which came about because of Euro Disney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.