5e bataillon parachutiste de choc

The 5e Bataillon parachutiste de choc (5e BPC) « Commandos d’Afrique » is an elite para-commando unit in the French Union Army currently engaged in the Sahel War.

=History= 5e BPC was raised in France in 2005 as a para-commando battalion. It conducted operations in the « la zone mortre » during 2006 and 2007, earning a reputation for ruthless efficiency in what, at times, seemed to be a personal war with its German fallschirmjäger counterparts.

The battalion transferred to West Africa in 2008 as part of Groupement Aéroporté n° 3 (GAP 3), where it conducted operations during the Second Senegal-Mauritania War (2008) (March-August 2008). It transferred to Côte d'Ivoire in December 2008, helping to crush a coup d’etat in the capital, Abidjan, and then supporting government forces during the Third Ivorian Civil War.

In November 2009, GAP 3 with 5e BPC returned to France for a period of rest, refit, and reinforcement. On Bastille Day, 14 July, 2010, the French government awarded 5e BPC the ceremonial title « Commandos d’Afrique ».

=Organization= 5e BPC organization, 1 January 2010:
 * Compagnie de commandement et de soutien (CCS)
 * 1re Compagnie de choc
 * 2e Compagnie de choc
 * 3e Compagnie de choc

=Status= =Equipment= The battalion is equipped with standard French Union small arms, including the FAMAS F1 and FAMAS G2 rifles, the FN FNC rifle, the FN Minimi light machine gun, and the ANF1 general purpose machine gun.
 * Subordination: Groupement Aéroporté n° 3
 * Current Location:
 * Manpower:
 * Armoured Vehicles: 0
 * Aircraft: 0