O d green 47/51 TAP uniform

[john]

I've got a set of these 47/51 uniforms in non camo green. I'm curious which airborne units may have used them in combat in indochina. Thanks much for any advice and pics. John

[lew]

The intended scheme was to issue a set or two each of camo and OD TAP uniforms to each soldier, which was really only feasible during the Algerian War, where OD tenues TAP Mles. 47/54 and 47/56 are somewhat commonly seen in the first half of that war. They OD Mle. 47/56 was standard for a couple years after the war, as the camo ("lizard", "léopard") had some negative associations.

Back to Indochina, some units were seen with OD TAP sets clothing every soldier. The books Les Paras Français en Indochine 1945-1954 and Les Paras Français en Algérie 1954-1962 by Éric Adam and Patrice Pavetta cover these uniforms and show them in use. If I remember correctly, there is a picture of 2e BEP on parade in Hanoi in 1952, and all are wearing the Far East-made TAP uniform (with the suede shoulder reinforcements).

As for the 47/51 in OD, Most any airborne unit could have used it, as most used an assortment of uniforms concurrently at any one time. For example, 8e BPChoc at Dien Bien Phu could be seen in 47/51 and 47/52 camo sets, Denison Smocks, British Windproofs (Type 1 and 2), and US P42/43/44 "frogskin" camo, sometimes all in the same picture. The GCMA used a lot of both versions of the 47/51.

So, in short, you have a lot of leeway in applying that uniform to a unit.

If you haven't already, please make an introductory post in the "Report In!" subforum.

Cheers!

[john]

Excellent information and thank you immensely. Both books are on my to get list!

[lew]

As always, I am delighted to help. Salut!

[craigtx]

Also helpful, even if you're not interested specifically the Legion is, The French Foreign Legion in Indochina, 1946-1956: History Uniforms Headgear Insignia Weapons Equipment by Raymond Guyader. I refer to all three books frequently.

[john]

That reference I have.  Until I get the other refs on Indochine and Algerie Paras this pro board and you folks and that last ref have been my saving grace.  Again much obliged for all the kind help.

[lew]

Even with those reference materials, plus all the dozen tomes and and close to two dozen magazines I have, I'll still feel the need to pose a question here. That's what keeps us around.

[john]

Well. I'm feeling much more confident about my 1er BEP impression because of you fellows.

[lew]

We do demand pictures of the finished product, of course. You don't exactly see those OD uniforms all too often- if you do, they're typically Mle. 47/56's, maybe 47/54- so you have an interesting get up to work around.

[john]

I dont see a button to add attachments....I looked at the help page and it suggested I look for the attachment button...

[lew]

Host the pictures on a photo hosting site. Photobucket.com seems to be the most stable. That's what I use. There will be a box listing [/img] codes, picture's web address, and a copy/paste box. Use the image attachment box in the "reply" dialog box (not the quick reply box) at the bottom of the the thread.

[lew]

Or e-mail them to me and I can do it.

[lew]

Uniformes magazine No. 288 May/June 2013 has an excellent write-up of 2e BEP in Indochine and featuring heavily the OD Mle. 47/51 tenue TAP: fr.1001mags.com/parution/uniformes/numero-288-mai-jun-2013 as does No. 296 Sept./Oct. 2014: fr.1001mags.com/parution/uniformes/numero-296-sep-oct-2014

Correction: Issue No. 296 with the 1e and 3e BPVNs feature the Mle. 47 TAP uniform, but the 47/51 was also used by those units.