France Page 13

 

Aviation Regiment TO: Example 1^st Helicopter Regiment[1]

 

Here is a 2002 TO for 1^st RHC, which is described as a battlefield surveillance unit, even though it is organized like the combat helicopter regiments. . We have the 2005 figure for numbers of helicopters assigned to this unit; the TO and the equipment numbers do not necessarily match.

 

58 helicopters

30 Gazelle atk/recon

8 Puma tpt

16 Cougar tpt

4 Cougar (EW)

 

The numbers imply an attack/recon escadrille has 10 helicopters; an assault transport escadrille has 8, and the EW escadrille has 4. This adds up to 7 escadrilles, which matches our figure for 1^st RHC, but not the www.scramble.nl  list, which has 9 escadrilles.

 

           

 

E = Escadrille

            H = Helicopter

 

EHA1              SA342M          Attack

EHA2             SA342M          Attack

EHAP              SA341F           Attack/Escort

EHM1              SA330Ba         Manuvere

EHM2              SA330Ba         Manuever

EHM                AS532UL        Manuever

EHM                AS532UL        Manuever

EHOR              AS532UL        EW/Horizon battlefield radar

EHR                 SA342L           Reconnaissance

 

Aircraft Inventory (Major types only; treat with caution)

 

Aérospatiale SA-330B Puma                           101

Aérospatiale SA-342F/L/M Gazelle                 320

Eurocopter AS-532UL Cougar/HORIZON      25

Eurocopter AS-555UN Fennec                        17

Eurocopter Tigre HAC/HAP                            215 (under delivery)

NH Industries NH-90                                      133 (under delivery)