Le Ratonnade*
*
*
July 6, 1959*
*
Alessa, Algeria*
*
French Defend v. Algerian Attack*
*
Design: C. Berry*
*
*
The French army shifted its tactics in Algeria at the end of 1958 from dependence on quadrillage to the use of mobile forces deployed on massive search-and-destroy missions (ratonnades or "rat hunts") against Front de'Liberation Nationale (FLN) strongholds. At he beginning of July,1959, General Challe initiated Operation Etincelles whose aim was to clear the rugged Hodna Mountain region of central Algeria.*
*
 On 6 July, scouting Harki units reported a large group of insurgents holed up in the remote village of Alessa. Challe immediately dispatched the a flying column of armored cars from the Foriegn Legion's 1er Regiment Etranger de Cavalerie (1er REC) which would approach from the northwest. Concurrently, the 4th Compagnie of the 6er Regiment de Parachutistes d’ Infanterie de Marine (6er RPIMa) was loaded aboard helicopters to be deployed in blocking positions along the south road and passes.*
*
The FLN became aware of the approaching Legion column well before it's arrival and the insurgents packed up to move out southward, deeper into the rugged mountains but as they exited Alessa, the sound of rotors greeted them from the south. With the trap about to close, the guerrillas decided that they had to break out south before 4er Compagnie could dig in. Now the Marine Paras were to experience the ferocity of the cornered rat.*
*
*
Notes: Due to the value and scarcity of helicopers to the French, helicopter units VP value has been substantially increased.*
*
Sources:*
"A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962"-Alistair Horne; 1977*
*
"French Foriegn Legion: Infantry and Cavalry Since 1945"-Martin Windrow; Osprey Publishing, 1997*
*
"The First Helicopter War: Logistics and Mobility in Algeria, 1954-1962"-Charles Shrader; Praeger Publishing, 1999*
