A detachment from the Command and Logistics Company (CCL) of the 33rd Marine Infantry Regiment (33rd RIMa) based in Martinique arrived in the territory of Saint-Martin last Friday. The soldiers left this Monday, October 23 aboard the spectacular A400M.
As Hurricane Tammy approached the Caribbean arc at the end of last week, the Armed Forces in the Antilles (FAA) prepared to provide, at short notice, the necessary support to state services as well as to the population facing this meteorological event with a particularly changing trajectory.
From the Lamentin aeronautical center in Martinique, a CASA plane (Airbus C295) from the Armed Forces in Guyana transported during the night of last Friday a detachment of the 33rd RIMa to Saint-Martin composed of twenty-five soldiers plus freight. The only army regiment deployed in the Caribbean and with more than 400 men, the 33rd RIMa benefits from the presence of units of the national navy and the air force while being the guarantor of sovereignty from France. The 25 soldiers present on the territory this weekend were tasked with ensuring the protection of the population, carrying out an inventory in the event of damage, carrying out the first clearing of the roads, re-establishing communications and preparing welcoming reinforcements if they prove necessary.
The detachment therefore pre-positioned itself for information gathering and reconnaissance of the territory in order to ensure that the axes were clear as the cyclonic phenomenon approached. This Monday, October 23 around 12:20 p.m., an A400M aircraft, which had just taken over from the Panther helicopter of the FAA aeromaritime component, completed the delivery to Saint-Martin with heavy equipment: tactical vehicles and means of transmission . The systems put in place are now able to carry out reconnaissance following the passage of Cyclone Tammy. Tactical arrival, very short landing, very low altitude flight, the aircraft, as majestic as it is impressive with its 4 TP400-D6 engines with a unit power of 11.600 horsepower and its wingspan of 42,4m, did not lack arouse the curiosity of visitors and airport staff. They are not ready to forget the experience, worthy of one of the greatest American war films. The aerial juggernaut which can easily transport three combat helicopters and 116 soldiers took off again around 14 p.m. with the soldiers of the 33rd RIMa on board. _VX
https://faxinfo.fr/en/aviation-armee-lairbus-a400m-sur-le-tarmac-de-laeroport-de-grand-case/
