A visit to Base Lieutenant Étienne Mantoux
(Étain) arranged by the
GRASS
The 3e Régiment
d'Hélicoptères de Combat 3e RHC (3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment) is
stationed in Étain at Base Lieutenant Étienne Mantoux, formerly known as
the American Étain Air Base.
On the base several structures like hangers, barracks and even a cinema
are still present and in use from this period.
The history of the base started just before the
second WW in 1937 as the Rouvres aerodrome. During the war it was used
by the Germans and in 1944 the American Army started using the airbase,
during the fifties its lay-out was constructed as it is still today. The
last American unit to operate from Etain was the 366 TFW,
operating on the base until June 1963.
After the withdraw from NATO's
integrated military structures by France the base was returned to France
and renamed
Base Lieutenant Étienne Mantoux.
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The latest anti-tank and
reconnaissance versions, the SA342M, is armed with
Euromissile HOT missiles and also carry the Viviane thermal
imagery system.
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 3
RHC is one of three combat regiments left in the in the Armée de terre,
with the other two being 1 RHC at Phalsbourg and 5 RHC based at Pau
Today the 3 RHC consist of eleven squadrons divided in three Battalions:
Reconnaissance and Attack Helicopter Battalion
3 reconnaissance and attack helicopter squadrons EHRA
1, 2 and 3
1 light helicopter maintenance squadron
Battalion of Transport and Assault Helicopters
2 squadrons of Transport helicopters EHM
1 and 2
1 Transport helicopter maintenance squadron
Airmobile Support Battalion
Command and Logistics Squadron
Aerodrome Service Squadron
Defence and Protection Squadron
At the moment 3 RHC has around 32 SA342 Gazelle's and 18 SA330 Puma's on
its strength divided over the squadrons.
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The French have used
the Gazelle in many theatres of operations over the years,
especially during interventions in Africa and peacekeeping
operations.
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In operation, the 3rd RHC intervenes in support of troops on the
ground in many missions: to inform, support, recognize, destroy,
transport, evacuate and rescue.
In the last ten years, the unit has participated in deployments to Pamir
(Afghanistan), Harmattan (Libya), Serval (Mali) and Sangaris (Central
African Republic) and Barkhane (Sahel).
In 2018, the 3rd RHC is again deployed in the Sahel, Djibouti and the
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. He participates each year in the Sentinel,
Atalanta (fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean) and Hephaistos
(fight against forest fires in the South of France) operations
Around 2021 3 RHC will become the final French Army regiment to receive
the NH90, at which point the SA330 Puma will be retired. As where the
SA342 Gazelle will remain in service for year to come and will be
replaced probably by the Joint Light Helicopter. .
As for the Étain airbase it is now part of the futuristic project CAP
HNG 2021 which includes a reactivation of its runway for civil aviation
and large aircraft and the necessary renewal of the infrastructure and
equipment needed for this reactivation.
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Nicknamed "Night Regiment", 3 RHC became the specialist
in night fighting by using the VIVIANE viewfinder on Gazelle
from the beginning of its deployment.
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We would like to thank the Grass for arranging the visit and the public
affairs of 3e Régiment
d'Hélicoptères de Combat for their support and cooperation during the
visit. |
