Royal Lao Army - Knowledge

2258: 2966: 3156: 3163: 3008: 2959: 2987: 3170: 41: 3001: 2952: 2945: 2980: 2973: 2994: 2938: 3184: 3177: 3191: 1179:. The ANL ended the year with a strength of 5,091 officers and enlisted men, though it was plagued by lack of Laotian leadership, and its weaponry was a hodge-podge. To alleviate this problem, the French began training Laotian officers and non-commissioned officers even as they continued to lead and train the new army. By the end of 1952, the ANL had been expanded to include a battalion of troops commanded by Laotian officers, as well as 17 other companies, which were subsequently integrated with the FTL and the BCLs on July 16, 1954, into the new Laotian army, whose strength rose to 25,000 men. 2625: 3198: 65: 3146: 2928: 3341: 2617: 908: 2668:. Berets made of camouflage cloth in the "Duck hunter", "Leopard", "Tigerstripe" and "Highland" patterns were also used in the field, particularly by elite units within the RLA and by the irregular SGU formations. According to the 1959 regulations, General Service and corps' berets were worn with the standard RLA beret badge placed above the right eye. Issued in gilt metal for officers and in silver metal for the rank-and-file, it consisted of a 2409: 2266: 2909:) buttoned or pinned to the shirt's front fly following French Army practice. By the late 1960s, an American-style system was adopted in which metal pin-on or embroidered cloth rank insignia – either in yellow-on-green full-colour or black-on-green subdued form – were worn on the right collar, though photographic evidence shows that officers on the field also had the habit of displaying their rank insignia on berets, 1695: 1603:, total Royal Lao Army strength stood at 45,000 troops on paper, but is estimated that the actual number was no less than 30,000-35,000, with its combat elements organized solely into fifty-eight independent light infantry battalions, one armoured regiment comprising three recce squadrons and one tank squadron, and a single artillery regiment consisting of four artillery battalions. 1289: 2385:

successors until 1975. The new khaki dress consisted of an eight-buttoned tunic with a standing collar, provided with two breast pockets and two side pockets, all unpleated and closed by clip-cornered straight flaps, worn with matching khaki slacks. The tunic's front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt metal buttons bearing the FAR wreathed "Vishnu" trident.

2570:) with a lacquered black leather peak in both light khaki and white summer versions (the latter with gold embroidered flame decoration on the black cap band for general officers), to wear with the khaki service dress and the white high-collared full dress uniforms, respectively. The peaked caps were worn with the standard gilt metal ANL cap device, a wreathed 1683: 2769:). Later, the RLA standardized on the modernized U.S. M-1 model 1964 helmet, though the older American and French M1951 helmet patterns could still be encountered in the field among certain regular and irregular Laotian troops late as 1971. ANL armoured crews initially received the French M1951 and M1958/65 dark olive green leather 3317:

Like the South Vietnamese ARVN, the RLA was given to creating unit insignia for formations even down to the company level. Following the French example, ANL officers initially wore metal unit insignia suspended from pocket hangers over their right breast button; enlisted personnel wore cloth versions

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White low laced leather shoes were prescribed to wear the earlier ANL white cotton full dress, whilst brown ones were worn with the khaki service/work uniform for all-ranks and, after 1954 the latter were required for RLA officers wearing the new FAR officers’ khaki dress uniform on formal occasions.

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officers – with the standard gilt metal FAR wreathed trident cap device, again set on a black background though some field officers still wore the old ANL badge on their caps up until the mid-1960s. Like its predecessor, the new RLA service peaked cap also came in both khaki and white versions, with

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received in 1969. The RLA suffered from a serious fire-support shortfall throughout the War, since its small artillery corps was incapable to counter effectively the threat posed by the Soviet 122 mm and 130 mm long-range towed howitzers employed from 1970 onwards by the NVA and the Pathet

1614:, a similar effort was attempted towards making the RLA a more effective, self-sufficient force. Following a U.S. Army system of organization, the regular infantry battalions were consolidated into two light divisions, formally created on March 23, 1972, and locally designated as "Strike Divisions" ( 2400:). The open-collar jacket had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps and two unpleated at the side closed by straight ones whilst the sleeves had false turnbacks; the front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt buttons. It was worn with a Khaki shirt and black tie on service dress. 1361:

forces – GM B –, with two or more being allocated per each Military Region. By late 1966 the number of mobile groups had increased to twelve, with the addition of the airborne GMs 21 and 802, and the mixed GM 801. In practice, the Military Region's commanders used the GMs as their private armies to

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RLA skill and trade badges also came in gilt metal and/or enamelled pin-on and cloth embroidered yellow or black-on-green subdued variants. On dress and service uniforms, they were worn on both collars by all-ranks if shoulder boards were worn, but in the field officers wore them on the left shirt

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operations against remnant bands of Lao Issara insurgents over the next three years, assuming responsibility for internal security duties in the areas located along the Thai border. Later in May that year, the French established the Laotian Gendarmerie, a paramilitary force of 1,200 men, which was

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with the aim of creating a local anti-Japanese resistance network. Under the command of their Free French cadres, the battalion's Laotian soldiers engaged in guerrilla actions alongside the irregular 'Maquisards' against the Japanese occupation forces in Laos until Japan's surrender on August 15,

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also came into use in 1970-71. Local variants of the OG-107 fatigues often featured modifications to the original design – shirts with shoulder straps, two "cigarrete pockets" closed by buttoned straight flaps on both upper sleeves, or a pen pocket added on the left sleeve above the elbow, an

2648:); it was made of wool in either one or two pieces, attached to a black leather rim with two black tightening straps at the back. In the FAR, berets were still being worn pulled to the left in typical French fashion, with the color sequence for the ground forces as follows: General Service – 2384:

A French-style, colonial-era white summer cotton dress uniform was initially worn by ANL officers for formal occasions, replaced in 1954 by an almost identical light khaki cotton version first adopted by senior officers serving in the ANL General Staff, and continued to be worn by their FAR

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SGU guerrilla forces managed to capture from the NVA some twenty-five PT-76B tanks and immediately pressed them into service, being subsequently engaged in the 1970 wet season offensive in the Plain of Jars, but once again maintenance problems soon rendered the vehicles inoperable.

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It was common RLA practice to place regimental or divisional insignia on the left shoulder, whilst insignia for military regions or the General Staff went on the right. Battalion insignia, on the rare occasions worn, usually went on a chest pocket. Elite formations such as the

1661:, who were highly prejudiced towards the country's ethnic minorities. In addition, the decreasing in pay and other privileges sharply dulled the cutting edge of what had been an effective fighting force, and left them incapable of halting the takeover of the country by the 1883:

the Laotian National Army (ANL) weaponry was a hodgepodge, with most of its poorly trained units equipped in a haphazard way with an array of French, American, Australian, British and German weapon systems, mostly of WWII-vintage. ANL Infantry battalions were issued with

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Logistics were the responsibility of the transport corps, equipped with a variety of liaison and transportation vehicles handed down by the French or supplied by the Americans. The early ANL motor pool in the mid-1950s consisted in a mixed inventory of WWII-vintage U.S.

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a gold cord chinstrap and plain black leather peak for intermediate rank officers whereas general officers' caps had gold embroidered flame decoration on both the black cap band and black leather peak and a gold braid chinstrap. French M1946 and M1957 light khaki

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on the left shoulder. By the 1960s pocket hangers had been phased out in the RLA and all ranks wore shoulder unit insignia. Parachute wings were worn above the right shirt or jacket pocket, whilst foreign airborne qualification badges went over the left pocket.

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In the field, officers' shoulder boards were initially replaced by metal rank insignia pinned to simple rectangular red cloth tabs sewn over the right shirt or combat jacket pocket, but some senior officers kept the custom of wearing instead a single chest tab

2199:, with the vehicles being subsequently taken into RLA service in 1963 and employed on offensive operations, only to be withdrawn from frontline service in November of the following year due to shortages of spare parts and ammunition. In August 1969, during the 1673:

By late 1974 a thinning of RLA ranks forced the FAR High Command to replace the two ineffective strike divisions by a series of smaller, understrength brigades. These were maintained until May 1975, when the Pathet Lao entered Vientiane and dissolved the FAR.

1112:) – the 1er, 2e, 3e, 4e, 5e, and 6e BCLs – led by a cadre of French officers and senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs), which participated actively in the French reoccupation of Laos. That month, the Laotian battalions provided infantry support to 2693:. There were however exceptions to this rule, such as the Laotian airborne battalions who retained the silver closed "winged armed dextrochere", consisting of a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards, previously adopted by the 2826:) black leather jump-boot models. Black leather combat boots were also provided by the Americans who issued both the early U.S. Army M-1962 "McNamara" model and the M-1967 model with "ripple" pattern rubbler sole; the highly prized U.S. Army 2345:

Upon its formation at the early 1950s, ANL units were initially outfitted as were French CEFEO troops of the period – the basic Laotian Army working dress for all-ranks was the French Army's M1945 tropical light khaki cotton shirt and pants

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was not issued to the RLA but saw limited use after 1971 amongst members of elite units (e.g. Paratroopers, Special Forces) or by irregular guerrilla troops fighting in the jungle environment of southern Laos. Local copies of the Canadian

1349:. Being essentially a regimental-sized combat task-force, a typical Laotian GM consisted of two or three battalions' assembled for specific operations. Originally raised on a temporary basis, the Mobile Groups were re-structured in 1028:

and sensing their own imminent defeat, the Japanese military authorities in Laos began stirring up local anti-French nationalistic sentiments. In October of that year, a group of supporters of Laotian independence led by Prince

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and the Nationalist Chinese. The Lao Issara "Army" was essentially a lightly armed militia force, provided with a mixed assortment of small-arms captured from the Japanese, looted from French colonial depots, or sold by the

1414:, the new RLA remained essentially a light infantry force devoted primarily to static defense and internal security rather than national defense; most units were kept stationed near the main population centers (including 2855:

until 1959, when the Royal Lao Army adopted a new distinctively Laotian-designed system of military ranks, which became in September 1961 the standard rank chart for all branches of service of the newly created

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light tanks to the RLA armoured corps in order to provide better armor support to the Hmong SGU guerrillas, but the request was declined by Washington, who provided instead in 1970-71 some second-hand fifteen

2177:. These obsolete armored vehicles were used mainly for convoy escort duty and static defense of local provincial capitals, being rarely engaged in more offensive operations against the Pathet Lao or the NVA. 1069:

for short. Taking advantage of the temporary absence of French authority in the country's main cities, the Lao Issara promptly established an armed defense force to exercise its authority with the support of

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ranging from guns to aircraft. Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. provided Laos with direct military assistance, but not including the cost of equipping and training irregular and paramilitary forces by the

1569:), all placed under the responsibility of the Service Directorates subordinated to the Ministry of National Defense. A uniformed female auxiliary service, the Royal Laotian Women's Army Corps – RLWAC ( 1009:

1945. In November of that same year, the various Laotian guerrilla groups were consolidated into four regular light infantry battalions and, together with the 1st BCL, integrated into the newly founded

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tropical "Chino" working dress, it consisted of a shirt with a six-buttoned front, two patch breast pockets closed by clip-cornered straight flaps and shoulder straps; the short-sleeved M1946 shirt (

1499:– RM) were also organized into independent battalions or companies. Later in the 1960s, the RLA technical branch services were re-organized and expanded to corps' strength, in order to include 5018: 1418:

and the provincial capitals) guarding vital facilities such as depots, airfields, and lines of communication. As with its ANL predecessor, the RLA was capable only of limited offensive and

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took the role as the main foreign sponsor for the Royal Laotian Armed Forces at the beginning of the 1960s, French military influence was still perceptible in their uniforms and insignia.

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The process of formation of the new Laotian army started on March 23, 1950, when its first regular units were raised, consisting of light infantry battalions officered by the French. By

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and later by the U.S. aid programs(together with locally produced copies), continued to be worn by RLA officers and enlisted men as a service dress or for walking-out with a khaki tie.

2710:) and U.S. M-1943 HBT "Walker caps" and M-1951 field caps (soon replaced by a locally-designed stiffened fatigue/field cap provided with a short peak and a false cloth chinstrap), to 3912: 2371:) could be worn as an alternative in hot weather. Both shirt models' were worn with the matching M1945 pants, which featured two pleats at the front hips; the M1946 khaki shorts ( 1575:– CFARL), was established in the early 1960s, whose members served in the RLA on administrative, staff, communications, political warfare, medical and other non-combatant duties. 2722:

fatigue caps (similar in shape to the U.S. Marines utility cap). Camouflage versions of these headpieces also found their way into the RLA and the SGUs from the United States,

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model into a battalion headquarters (HQ), three company HQs and three rifle companies. Long-standing major formations above battalion level, such as Regiments, Half-brigades (

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Yellow and subdued nametapes were occasionally worn above the right shirt or jacket pocket on field dress; plastic nameplates were worn with the service and dress uniforms.

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the Volunteer Battalions were disbanded and merged with the Regional Battalions, whilst the rural ADC militia companies were grouped with the irregular GM B to form the

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U.S. Combat Vehicle Crew (CVC) T-56-6 helmet (dubbed the "bone dome"), though neither models offered any satisfactory protection against shrapnel or small arms rounds.

1168:– FTL), a gathering of several indigenous irregular auxiliary units made of ex-Lao Issara guerrillas raised early by the French to reinforce their regular CEFEO units. 1799: 1370:, when all GMs in the Laotian ground forces were abolished – the GMs 801 and 802 were not disbanded until the following year – and replaced by independent battalions. 2011:(a.k.a "Swedish K") submachine gun was provided in small numbers by the Americans, eventually finding its way into the irregular SGU units. An undisclosed number of 1407: 1753: 2588:(FAR) in September 1961, the Royal Lao Army (RLA) adopted a new service peaked cap with crown of "Germanic" shape – very similar to that worn by South Vietnamese 2701: 325: 2149:

were also employed by elite commando units and the irregular SGUs while on special operations in the enemy-held areas of north-eastern and south-eastern Laos.

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affection common to all Laotian, South Vietnamese and Cambodian military officers, and additional side "cargo" pockets on the trousers. Olive green U.S.

1871:, who provided since the late 1940s and mid-1950s respectively everything that the RLA used, from uniforms and boots to rifles, artillery and vehicles. 1599:(RLAF). This move however, placed an additional heavy burden on these already overstretched elite formations that actually did most of the fighting. By 1251:(PEO). Military organization and tactical training reflected French traditions. Most of the equipment was of U.S. origin, however, because early in the 1805: 1272:, the PEO believed "...the Laotian army continued to distinguish itself primarily by its lassitude and incompetence." PEO also noted that CIA-trained 2257: 2488:

By the mid-1960s, RLA units in the field were using a wide variety of uniforms depending on availability from foreign aid sources, namely the U.S.,

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Laotian National Army strength in May 1959 peaked at 29,000 officers and enlisted men organized into twelve independent battalions – ten infantry (

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the Laotian Army fielded nine such Groups, eight composed of regular units – GMs 12, 13, 14, 15 (Airborne), 16, 17, and 18 – and one of irregular

4719: 5237: 5058: 2887:) had a gold leaf design around the lower half of their shoulder boards plus two or more five-pointed silver stars. Senior and junior NCOs ( 2584:

standing on a pedestal and surmounted by a pointed parasol – set on a black cloth teardrop-shaped background patch. Upon the creation of the

225: 2642:), made of light khaki cotton cloth, but later the RLA standardized on a beret pattern whose design was based on the French M1953/59 model ( 1653:, the old ethnic SGU guerrilla forces were scheduled for integration into the RLA. However, most guerrillas – in particular those from the 1300: 4877: 3920: 3466: 318: 1707: 2516:

up until 1975, and new camouflage patterns were adopted by the RLA and the irregular SGUs throughout the 1960s-1970s. First was the

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jungle utilities, which was adopted as standard field dress by all the Laotian military regular and paramilitary irregular forces;

5585: 2881:) had a single lotus leaf rosette, plus an appropriate number of five-pointed gold stars. Field Marshals and General officers ( 2700:

Laotian troops in the field could be encountered wearing a wide range of Khaki or OG jungle hats and patrol caps, ranging from

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ANL personnel on the field initially wore a mixture of American and French regulation footwear, including brown leather U.S.

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Assault rifle were acquired from the British for evaluation, but they were never adopted as standard weapons by the RLA. The

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Under the new regulations, officers were entitled to wear on their service or dress uniforms stiffened red shoulder boards (

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RLA Officers continued to wear the standard ANL summer service dress uniform in khaki cotton, which was patterned after the

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and airborne units; standardisation to the CAR-15, the M16 and M60 in the RLA and the irregular SGUs was completed by 1971.

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collar only if worn alongside collar rank insignia; enlisted ranks usually wore branch insignia on both collars instead.

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with a straight lacquered black leather peak and gold braid chinstrap to wear with their ceremonial full dress uniform.

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The Royal Lao Army owed its origin and traditions to the Laotian colonial ANL and CEFEO troops on French service of the

1345:– GMs) or "Mobiles" for short, a tactical expedient inherited from the French who had employed it previously during the 5535: 5497: 5268: 5152: 1587:, the demoralized Royal Lao Army reverted to its earlier static defense role of the main population centres along the 5560: 5482: 5468: 5402: 5354: 5331: 5223: 5138: 5110: 5087: 5006: 3405: 3385: 2299: 888: 348: 5241: 988:. The battalion then retreated into the mountains, where they linked with the Laotian irregular guerrilla fighters ( 5515: 3440: 2694: 2629: 5530: 2965: 5565: 3359: 2589: 4694: 1964:

After 1955, the ANL began the process of standardisation on U.S. equipment. Airborne units took delivery of the

2485:) camouflage M1947/51, M1947/52 and M1947/53-54 TAP jump-smocks and M1947/52 TTA vests with matching trousers. 2221: 1935: 1530: 655: 2636:

The most common headgear for the ANL personnel during the 1950s was the French M1946 "Gourka" tropical beret (

2318: 454: 2475:. Such early camouflage fatigues were gradually phased out from the early 1950s in favour of French-designed 2037:

ANL and RLA infantry, airborne, and commando formations were equipped with a variety of crew-served weapons.

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Initially, ANL troops wore the same rank insignia as their French counterparts, whose sequence followed the

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infantry and Paratrooper battalions began to be brought together to form loosely organized "mobile groups" (

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trainers, the instructors found that 19 out of 20 Laotian soldiers had fewer than three years of education.

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to defend Laos. Its formation actually began earlier in 1947, with the creation of the Land Forces of Laos (

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The standard ANL field dress during the Indochina War was the French all-arms M1947 drab green fatigues (

1846: 1403: 1261: 1106:, the French Union Army aligned some 4,000 Laotian troops organized into five light infantry battalions ( 1087: 494: 3643: 2986: 960:

colonial authorities. Intended to be used on internal security operations to bolster the local colonial

5590: 3169: 2465: 1989: 1985: 1977: 1939: 1927: 1248: 557: 426: 2875:) added an appropriate number of five-pointed gold stars to their boards whilst field grade officers ( 2420:

inspecting an honour guard of the Laotian Royal Guard at left wearing their ceremonial dress uniform,

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At War in the Shadow of Vietnam: United States Military Aid to the Royal Lao Government, 1955–1975

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or "Woodland pattern"), the latter being either supplied by the same sources or locally produced.

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RLA Willys M38 MC jeep and a Jeepster Commando hardtop SUV parked at Luang Prabang airfield, 1967

2080:. In addition, individual portable rocket weapons were issued, in the form of the shoulder-fired 2000: 1841: 1474: 1176: 1030: 828: 592: 536: 5435: 5416: 5369: 1276:

guerrillas were the only troops fighting to preserve northeastern Laos. When the PEO brought in

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Les marques de grade de l'armée française, 1945-1990 (2e partie-les differents types de galons)

5291:, Center for the Study of Intelligence, Washington D.C. 2006. Classified control no. C05303949. 4881: 2857: 2585: 2217: 2089: 1931: 1716: 1132:. Upon the successful conclusion of the campaign, the Laotian battalions continued with small 1021: 973: 880: 807: 779: 571: 481: 375: 354: 281: 215: 2512:

Camouflage was very popular among the Laotian military. Airborne formations continued to wear

3545: 3365: 3190: 2365:), which had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps, or the "Chino"-style M1949 ( 2306: 2290:. These obsolete vehicles were partly superseded in the 1960s and early 1970s by modern U.S. 2093: 2012: 1560: 1550: 814: 800: 793: 704: 606: 515: 438: 370: 161: 4687:

US Army Technical Manual of Foreign Military Sales: Battlefield Damage Assessment and Repair

2738: 4628: 3234: 2893:) – including Private 1st class – wore cloth chevrons on both upper sleeves; enlisted men ( 2085: 2074: 2070: 2066: 2062: 1277: 1186:, the ANL, the Laotian Navy, and the Laotian Aviation were gathered into the newly created 771: 746: 718: 697: 634: 620: 613: 543: 388: 189: 157: 121: 79: 3326:

of the 2nd RLA Strike Division had their unit designation printed over their left pocket.

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Throughout its existence, the Royal Laotian Army received military assistance mainly from

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or MMFI-GRL), headed by a general officer, an exceptional arrangement permitted under the

8: 3420: 2521: 2513: 2506: 2476: 2330: 1908: 1904: 1880: 1650: 1596: 1346: 1265: 1252: 1117: 1051: 835: 501: 364: 256: 197: 193: 129: 3197: 1595:

units, the irregular ethnic SGUs, the Project "Unity" Thai volunteer battalions and the

4713: 3657:"Naissance et développement des armées nationales cambodgienne et laotienne, 1946-1950" 3585:"Naissance et développement des armées nationales cambodgienne et laotienne, 1946-1950" 3571: 3370: 3081: 3037: 2869:) edged with gold braid and a gold wreathed trident at the inner end. Junior officers ( 2356: 2212: 2054: 1817: 1520: 1510: 1419: 1218:

The chain of command of the Royal Lao Army was placed under the Ministry of Defense in

1133: 1091: 786: 641: 578: 564: 550: 508: 449: 432: 419: 413: 400: 381: 360: 165: 113: 5493: 5478: 5464: 5450: 5431: 5412: 5398: 5365: 5350: 5327: 5313: 5299: 5278: 5264: 5229: 5219: 5205: 5191: 5177: 5163: 5148: 5134: 5120: 5106: 5083: 5069: 5027: 5010: 5002: 3551: 3415: 3278: 3125: 3059: 2417: 2303: 1996: 1973: 1942: 1889: 1811: 1793: 1766: 1758: 1627: 1584: 1389: 1335:), Brigades or even Divisions, were virtually nonexistent at the time. Instead, from 1293: 1233:

insurgency, the Royal Lao Army depended on a small French military training mission (

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tropical boots; paratroopers received the calf-length French M1950 or M1950/53 TAP (

2609:) were also worn by all-ranks. The Laotian Royal Guards received a French-style red 5475:

Victory in Vietnam: The Official History of the People's Army of Vietnam, 1954–1975

5430:, in Militaria Magazine No. 161, December 1998, Histoire & Collections, Paris. 3475: 3430: 3114: 2836: 2616: 2146: 2077: 2042: 2008: 1950: 1737: 1682: 1540: 1159: 977: 690: 487: 293: 169: 153: 141: 5411:, in Militaria Magazine No. 159, October 1998, Histoire & Collections, Paris. 5001:(3rd ed.), Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 1995. 3523: 2564:

ANL officers received a service peaked cap copied after the French M1927 pattern (

948:, when the first entirely Laotian military unit, the 1st Laotian Rifle Battalion ( 5501: 5439: 5420: 5373: 3340: 3223: 2653: 2649: 2393: 2377:) were also worn in lieu. The "Chino" working uniform was initially furnished by 2279: 2161:

light tanks whilst the reconnaissance armoured squadron was provided with twenty

2127: 2038: 2027: 1893: 1730: 1426: 996:) operating there. These guerrillas were supplied, trained, and led by teams of 989: 965: 949: 884: 868: 289: 181: 109: 69: 5477:(translated by Merle Pribbenow), Lawrence KS: University of Kansas Press, 2002. 5364:, in Militaria Magazine No. 188, March 2001, Histoire & Collections, Paris. 2747:) models were standard issue in the ANL, with paratroopers receiving either the 2446:, plus red cotton trousers with a line of gold braid down the outer side-seams. 3976: 3354: 3289: 3245: 3212: 3103: 2665: 2657: 2581: 2283: 2131: 2115: 2108: 1981: 1923: 1825: 1723: 1687: 1607: 1411: 1269: 1207: 842: 648: 585: 464: 459: 285: 185: 149: 5409:

Les marques de grade de l'armée française, 1945-1990 (1er partie-introduction)

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Les marques de grade de l'armée française, 1945-1990 (1er partie-introduction)

1633:, was tasked with operations in northern Laos whilst the 2nd Strike Division ( 1116:(CEFEO) armoured units fighting Lao Issara troops at the Battle of Thakhek in 5554: 5097: 3410: 3048: 3015: 2839:

black canvas-and-rubber Indigenous Combat Boots were also worn in the south.

2727: 2673: 2541: 2493: 2472: 2421: 2334: 2245: 2241: 2233: 2170: 1868: 1790: 1782: 1774: 1750: 1611: 1600: 1448: 1399: 1336: 1244: 1125: 1034: 1005: 470: 145: 117: 2438:) were given a ceremonial dress uniform of French pattern, comprising a red 5174:

The Erawan War – Volume 2: The CIA Paramilitary Campaign in Laos, 1969-1974

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The Erawan War – Volume 1: The CIA Paramilitary Campaign in Laos, 1961-1969

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The Erawan War – Volume 1: The CIA Paramilitary Campaign in Laos, 1961-1969

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The Erawan War – Volume 1: The CIA Paramilitary Campaign in Laos, 1961-1969

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The Erawan War – Volume 1: The CIA Paramilitary Campaign in Laos, 1961-1969

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The Erawan War – Volume 2: The CIA Paramilitary Campaign in Laos, 1969-1974

3380: 3092: 2910: 2770: 2711: 2690: 2549: 2461: 2442:, white eight-buttoned cotton tunic with a standing collar and red fringed 2353: 2295: 2204: 2196: 2174: 2166: 2162: 1958: 1885: 1654: 1647: 1588: 1422:

operations, and consequently its conventional military value was very low.

1363: 1296: 1273: 1172: 1042: 1025: 1010: 972:), the 1st BCL did not see much action until after March 9, 1945, when the 961: 957: 945: 860: 739: 599: 529: 407: 137: 5317: 3479: 5014: 3435: 3346: 2848: 2827: 2529: 2413: 2389: 2158: 2015: 1993: 1954: 1912: 1896: 1367: 1326: 1120:. By the end of April, they had assisted the French in the recapture of 1071: 997: 821: 264: 133: 101: 5490:

Officiers et soldats de l'armée française d'après le TTA 148 (1943-1956)

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Officiers et soldats de l'armée française d'après le TTA 148 (1943-1956)

2157:

By the mid-1950s, the ANL armoured corps inventory consisted of fifteen

1591:, relinquishing all offensive operations to the Paratrooper battalions, 1256: 907: 5388: 5254: 5094:

Special Air Warfare and the Secret War in Laos: Air Commandos 1964–1975

5048: 3520:"History of Laos - the official website for Visit Laos Years 1999-2000" 3390: 2832: 2788: 2748: 2715: 2291: 2058: 2050: 2046: 1969: 1900: 1662: 1658: 1657:– felt unwelcome in the regular army, still dominated as it was by the 1350: 1325:). A Laotian regular infantry battalion was organized according to the 1230: 1103: 1066: 1062: 676: 173: 5190:, Asia@War Volume 37, Helion & Company Limited, Warwick UK 2022b. 5176:, Asia@War Volume 28, Helion & Company Limited, Warwick UK 2022a. 2697:

in 1946, simply replacing the dagger by a Laotian trident after 1961.

2096:

single-shot grenade launchers, and the expendable anti-tank, one-shot

5162:, Asia@War Volume 24, Helion & Company Limited, Warwick UK 2021. 4685: 3644:

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query2/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+la0030)

2734: 2656:' national color); Paratroopers, Para-Commandos and Special Forces – 2632:, also used by the Royal Laotian Army Paratroopers from 1951 to 1975. 2517: 2468: 2443: 2310: 2275: 2104: 2023: 1965: 1484: 1415: 1373:

The regular units were supplemented by eighteen Regional Battalions (

1358: 1354: 1219: 1183: 1175:, the ANL added two more battalions of infantry and begun training a 1141: 1121: 1075: 1000:

agents who had been trained in special jungle warfare by the British

229: 5261:

Shooting at the Moon: The Story of America's Clandestine War in Laos

4693:. Washington, D.C. 18 December 1987. p. 262. TM 9-2320-356-BD. 1643:

and based at Seno near Savannakhet, was oriented towards the south.

1226:, roughly corresponding to the areas of the country's 13 provinces. 3267: 3256: 2817: 2723: 2680: 2572: 2533: 2489: 2240:, the artillery corps fielded since 1963 twenty-five U.S.-supplied 2200: 2004: 1988:

revolvers. The ANL (renamed RLA in 1961) was equally provided with

1777: 1699: 1592: 1458: 1386: 1129: 1017: 522: 3547:

Embodied Nation: Sport, Masculinity, and the Making of Modern Laos

2787:); after 1971, Laotian M-706 and M113 APC crewmen were issued the 1004:(SOE) in India and were subsequently parachuted into Indochina in 3070: 3026: 2669: 2594: 2460:), whilst airborne battalions received in the late 1940s surplus 2408: 2265: 2112: 2097: 2081: 1829: 1769: 1640: 1500: 1362:

further their own interests, rarely dispatching them outside the

1145: 333: 4624: 4622: 2103:

Captured infantry weapons of Soviet and Chinese origin, such as

5188: