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The 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (Fr: 5e bataillon de parachutistes vietnamiens) was one of the Vietnamese National Army (VNA)'s airborne forces under the command of the Operational Group North-West (GONO), French Far East Expeditionary Corps. They were a paratrooper battalion formed in Hanoi, French Indochina in 1953.
| 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1953–1954 |
| Country |  State of Vietnam |
| Allegiance | French Army |
| Branch | Vietnamese National Army |
| Type | Airborne force |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Close-quarters combat Counterinsurgency Direct action Forward air control Jungle warfare Long-range penetration Mountain warfare Parachuting Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Urban warfare |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | Groupe d'Opération Nord-Ouest (GONO) |
| Nickname(s) | 5e Bawouan |
Operational history
editThe 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (5 BPVN) was one of five battalions of Vietnamese paratroopers raised by the French Army between 1951 and 1954 as part of General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's policy to establish a Vietnamese Army. Its cadre was drawn from 3rd and 23rd Indochinese companies of the 3rd Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion (3 BCCP).
The battalion participated in Operation Pike (September - October 1953), Operation Castor (November 1953) and the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
Commanding officers
edit- Capitaine Jacques Bouvery (September 1953 - December 1953)
- Commandant André Botella (December 1953 - May 1954)
- Capitaine Tholy (June 1954 - July 1954)
- Capitaine Lesaux (July 1954)
Sources
edit- Hell In A Very Small Place - Bernard Fall (1966)
