13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment

The 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes, 13e RDP) is an airborne special forces regiment of the French Army. It is one of two regiments in the French Army Special Forces Brigade, which is under the control of the COS (special operations command). The regiment's primary duties are airborne reconnaissance operations.

Origins
Marquis de Barbezières raised a dragoon regiment in Languedoc on 4 October 1676. In 1724 the name was changed to dragons de Condé.

Post-World War II
After World War II, the 13e RDP was transformed into a long-range recon unit. During the Cold War, the main mission of the 13e RDP was to provide intelligence for the 1st Army, while each company of the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa) should provide intelligence for one Army Corps.

Since the end of the Cold War, the 1er RPIMa has become a direct-action unit while the 13e RDP specialized in reconnaissance/surveillance operations in hostile environment, gathering intelligence for special operations. In a way they're similar to the role of the US Army Long Range Surveillance Detachment or Long Range Surveillance Company.

The 13e RDP took part in the Gulf War. This was highlighted when three operators were captured by the Iraqis in late 1990. The 13e RDP was, along with other French units, heavily involved in the Kosovo War and used tactics and technology to force Serbian armour to attempt to engage Kosovo Liberation Army and other Allied forces in the open, which enabled them to be destroyed by Allied bombing, particularly by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The 13e RDP also contributed to the capture of Momčilo Krajišnik in 2001 by close range recons.

Mission
Its mission is to acquire human intelligence at any time and in any hostile environments (aquatic, cold mountain, equatorial forest, desert), behind enemy lines, using small autonomous and discreet units, able to position itself closer to acquire intelligence, and transmit. For this kind of mission, units of the 13th practice what they call "hideout", that is to say, operations camouflage living areas for observation and transmission, but also evolved into more modern and urban modes of action (installation of cameras / sensors and remote viewing). The regiment is officially in charge of the research of strategic intelligence.

The high level of 13e RDP operatives in long-range recon makes that they are often requested by other forces. The Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale keeps a close relationship with the 13e RDP to train its gendarmes in forward recon for hostage rescue operations in hostile environment. The Équipes d'Observation en Profondeur (EOP, forward control teams) of French artillery regiments use the standard operating procedures of the 13e RDP. 13e RDP operators are also reported to be highly requested to join the action service of the direction générale de la sécurité extérieure (DGSE, French intelligence service).

Battle Honours

 * Valmy 1792
 * Hohenlinden 1800
 * Austerlitz 1805
 * Iéna 1806
 * La Moskowa 1812
 * Ypres 1914
 * Verdun 1916
 * AFN 1952–1962

Decorations

 * Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with 1 palm
 * Gold Medal of the City of Milan