News Three French soldiers killed during op in Mali

[Combat-Master]

Three French soldiers were killed in operation in Mali on Monday, as their armored vehicle was hit by an explosive device in the Hombori region, the Elysee said #AFP

The deaths of these three soldiers belonging to the 1st regiment of hunters of Thierville-sur-Meuse (Meuse) bring to 47 the number of French soldiers killed in Operation Serval

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1343634478770630656

 

[Combat-Master]

 

[Deliorman]

May they Rest In Peace. Such young guys that leave parents and family behind... Very sad.

 

[Vergennes]

May they Rest In Peace.

It saddens and angers me at the same time our soldiers are being sent in totally outdated vehicles that aren't adapted to the IED threat. Countless lives could have been saved had soldiers better protected vehicles.

 

[Nilgiri]

Rest in peace.

 

[Costin84]

May they Rest in Peace.Amin

 

[Vergennes]

RIP. Today in Mali two French soldiers were killed in similar circonstances,in the same vehicle and due to the same modus operandi.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1345492768571928577

 

[Vergennes]

Terrorists have found a new weak point by attacking light armored vehicles known as VBL,knowing they have weak protection against mines and IEDs. In the past they used to attack VAB vehicles in ambulance configuration but changed their strategy after VBCIs with ambulance kits were used instead.

Those losses shouldn't make to forget the tactical successes of the French army on the ground with the neutralization in recent weeks of hundreds of terrorists including several leaders. Surely with these recent losses will rise questions about the French engagement in Sahel as well as pressures from the public opinion.

 

[Kartal1]

RIP. Today in Mali two French soldiers were killed in similar circonstances,in the same vehicle and due to the same modus operandi.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1345492768571928577

Sgt. Huynh the female casualty is reported to be the first female French soldier sent to the Sahel region. She has symbolical importance as the first female soldier there and fallen soldiers like her proves that to be warrior is not a thing of sex. Males, females all can be warriors.

The Turkish Gendarmerie also gave a female symbolical figure loss to an IED not long ago in 2019.
EOD specialist Sgt. Maj. Esma CEVIK fell martyr to an IED as the only female EOD specialist in the Turkish security forces. May they rest in peace.

 

[Ryder]

Terrorists have found a new weak point by attacking light armored vehicles known as VBL,knowing they have weak protection against mines and IEDs. In the past they used to attack VAB vehicles in ambulance configuration but changed their strategy after VBCIs with ambulance kits were used instead.

Those losses shouldn't make to forget the tactical successes of the French army on the ground with the neutralization in recent weeks of hundreds of terrorists including several leaders. Surely with these recent losses will rise questions about the French engagement in Sahel as well as pressures from the public opinion.

Insurgents rig the place with explosives using rocks and trees you name it. To counter such problems is by having proper armoured vehicles also minesweepers. There is also the problem of leftover bombs that they left behind.

 

[Ryder]

May they Rest In Peace.

It saddens and angers me at the same time our soldiers are being sent in totally outdated vehicles that aren't adapted to the IED threat. Countless lives could have been saved had soldiers better protected vehicles.

Higher ups just dont care for them well they have the gear who cares about improving or lessening the chances of their soldiers getting killed. I betcha this ied attack that got these French soldiers killed will be treated as a mere accident rather than improving or learning from mistakes.

There is also the problem of money.

 

[Madokafc]

VAB is old vehicles, why not trying to bought MRAP from ready to supply supplier countries such as US, Australia or South Africa. JLTV or Thales Hawkey would be ideal choices

 

[Vergennes]

Higher ups just dont care for them well they have the gear who cares about improving or lessening the chances of their soldiers getting killed. I betcha this ied attack that got these French soldiers killed will be treated as a mere accident rather than improving or learning from mistakes.

There is also the problem of money.

Sadly this is true. The programs to renew armored vehicles of the French army were delayed delayed and delayed again years ago for economic reasons. New vehicles have begun being delivered but aren't deployed yet in operations.

VAB is old vehicles, why not trying to bought MRAP from ready to supply supplier countries such as US, Australia or South Africa. JLTV or Thales Hawkey would be ideal choices

It wasn't a VAB but a VBL.

Much of the VABs sent to the Sahel were upgraded with better armor and V hulls to protect against IEDs.

There's planned program to replace the VBLs,but (unless accelerated) it will be launched not before 2025. The army hopes to accelerate the program during the update of the military programming law this year. Hawkey from Thales,Scarabee from Arquus or a totally new platform are potential candidates.

Problem in the Sahel is with the terrain and the enemy. The enemy is highly mobile and the terrain forces us to use highly mobile and light armored vehicles.

 

[Ryder]

Sadly this is true. The programs to renew armored vehicles of the French army were delayed delayed and delayed again years ago for economic reasons. New vehicles have begun being delivered but aren't deployed yet in operations.



It wasn't a VAB but a VBL.

View attachment 10524

Much of the VABs sent to the Sahel were upgraded with better armor and V hulls to protect against IEDs.

There's planned program to replace the VBLs,but (unless accelerated) it will be launched not before 2025. The army hopes to accelerate the program during the update of the military programming law this year. Hawkey from Thales,Scarabee from Arquus or a totally new platform are potential candidates.

Problem in the Sahel is with the terrain and the enemy. The enemy is highly mobile and the terrain forces us to use highly mobile and light armored vehicles.

That explains why using tanks in the sahel is a death sentence for any army.

You have a lot of people saying just use tanks its not that simple just to say use tanks when tanks can easily get caught out in such terrain there is also the problem of atgms.

Nearly every damn terrorist group has atgms. Only way to fight such an enemy that uses hit and run tactics is to use mobile and hit them with lightening strikes.

The Constant delays does no good for soldiers especially situations like these.