Saharan Companies of the French Foreign Legion

These units were different from the Saharan Méharistes Companies (a separate camel corps with Arab/Berbers personnel recruited from Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, with French officers).

Mules continued to be used for carrying supplies but no operational requirements justifying the employment of camels emerged until French expansion reached the boundaries of the Sahara.

The squadron was stationed at ksar El Hirane, near Laghouat and mounted police patrols in the desert as well launched raids on spotted positions of the enemy.

In 1961, following the generals putsch, the 1st Mounted Saharan Squadron of the Foreign Legion was charged with guarding arrested civilian and military participants, before their repatriation to France.

In August 1962, the 1st Mounted Saharan Squadron of the Foreign Legion (French: 1er Escadron Saharien Porté de la Légion Etrangère, 1er ESPLE) lost three men in action, including lieutenant Gélas.

Stationed at Reggane and at Aoulef since July 1962, the squadron was dissolved and integrated into the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) on March 1, 1963.

Commandants of 1re ESPLE The 2nd Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (French: 2e Compagnie Saharienne Portée de la Légion, 2e CSPL) was created on March 15, 1946 by doubling the Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (CSPL) and garrisoned at Ouargla, then in 1948 garrisoned at Laghouat.

The 3rd Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (French: 2e Compagnie Saharienne Portée de la Légion, 3e CSPL) was created on February 1, 1949 in French Algeria at Sidi-bel-Abbas and garrisoned at Fort Leclerc near the oasis of Sebha where the latter was charged with the surveillance of Fezzan until 1956 before rejoining the department of the Oasis.

The 4th Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (French: 2e Compagnie Saharienne Portée de la Légion, 3e CSPL) was formed on January 1, 1956 at Ain-Sefra from the 24e CPLE dissolved during the same date.

Separate units of méharistes consisted of locally recruited (Arab and Berber) personnel mounted on Arabian Camels or Méharis) When created during the 1930s the 5th CSP was motorized, making use of vehicles specially adapted for desert conditions.

In Algeria, four Saharans Annex Groupment constituted police forces assigned in support to the posts south of the territory.

Organized in companies (compagnies) or squadrons ( escadrons méhariste) units, they made use of Arabian camels in terrain which early motor vehicles could not traverse.