Graphic by Martin
Operation Mousquestaire
French participating units
Aeronavale Units
French Commandos
French Paras
French Navy
l'Armee de'l Air

The Name of Operation Musketeer was in France as ( Mousquestaire ) From July 31th 1956, the counter-attack was viewed by UK and French Military

Headquarters;
The operation was led by general Keightley, helped by Vice-Admiral Barjot.
The operation was called "Mousquestaire" and the goal was to land at Alexandria and to take Cairo.

October 29th, The attack began on French paratroops were dropped from Nord-1500 Noratlases over Sinaï. Some F-86Fs of the French Air Force also took part in the operation from Ramat-David and Lod-Tel Aviv AFBs. They especially struck tanks and eighteen Llyouchine-28s on October 30th.

October 31th, 2h 30 AM, The DE Kersaint (D 622), destroyed the DD Ibrahim el Awal off Haïfa.

November 1st, The CC Georges Leygues (C 604) supported Israelian artillery at Rafah. Corsairs took off from the CVL Lafayette in order to try to strike an Egyptian DD ; but without success. A second strike took off from the CVL, and struck Alexandria AFB.

November 3rd, Eighteen aircraft coming from the CVL Lafayette and the CV Arromanches struck Cairo airfield. LV Lancrenon was killed by anti-aircraft guns.

November 5th Additional French (2ème RPC/ 2nd Paratroop Regiment) and British paratroops were dropped over Port-Saïd and Port-Fouad in order to take both towns. British troops seized Gamil - west of Port-Saïd, while French troops seized Port-Fouad and its bridge, which controlled the access of Port-Saïd.

November 6th The next day, first landings from LSDs, LCTs, LSTs and LCMs were carried on. British commandos landed at the east of Port-Saïd and took the town in the afternoon. French marines landed at Port-Fouad. Under the pressure of Americans and Soviets, the ceasefire was ordered on November 7th 1956. French carriers came back to NS Toulon in December. Only the north of the canal was taken by French-British troops.

Britain has committed itself to participate in the war with the Following number of Navy marine ships, transport, supply, landing, hospital and supporting vessels:
5 Aircraft carriers
4 Cruisers, 1 in Red Sea, Newfoundland
13 Destroyers, 1 in Red Sea
6 Frigates, 2 in Red Sea
5 Subs
 

Aeronavale units
14F squadron 18 F4U-7 Corsairs Arromanches
15F squadron 18 F4U-7 Corsairs Arromanches
23S squadron 2 HUP-2s Pedro Arromanches
9F squadron 5 TBM-3Ws Lafayette
9F squadron 5 TBM-3S Lafayette
23S squadron 2 HUP-2s Pedro Arromanches

French Navy Commandos
De Montfort Navy Commando Unit
De Penfentenyo Navy Commando Unit
Hubert Navy Commando Unit





French Paras
2ème RPC Regiment Parachute Coloniale
1 èr REP Regiment Legion Etranger Parachutiste
100 Soldiers of Shock Battalion of Legion Etranger Parachutiste Regiment
1 RCP Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutiste
21 RIC Reinforcement Companie





French Navy
France had committed itsself to participate in the war with the following number of marine ships, transport, supply, landing, hospital and supporting vessels:
2 Aircraft carriers
1 Battleship
2 Cruisers
4 Destroyers
8 Frigates
2 Subs
 
Type Name Penant History
CV Multipurpose Aircraft carrier Arromanches  R 95 ex HM Colossus
CVL Light Aircraft carrier Multipurpose Lafayette R 96 ex US Langley
SS Attack Submarine La Créole S 606 was attacked by the French A/C during 4 /11 attacks
BB Battleship Jean Bart B 61  
CC Cruiser Georges Leygues C 604  
DE Destroyers Arabe F 717  
  Kabyle F 718  
  Bambara F 719  
  Sakalave F 720  
  Touareg F 721  
  Soudanais F 722  
  Berbère F 723  
  Malgache F 724  
  Surcouf D 621  
  Kersaint D 622  
  Cassard D 623  
  Bouvet  D 624  
  Dupetit-Thouars D 625  
  Vauquelin D 628  
FS FIGHTING Ships ( Patrol ) Le Corse F 761  
  Le Brestois F 762  
  Gazelle F 736  
  La Pérouse F 750  
  Le Boulonnais F 763  
  Le Bordelais F 764  
  Le Normand F 765  
  Le Picard F 766  
  Amiral Mouchez F 752  
  Marcel Le Bihan F 753  
MSC Acacia M 638  
  Pivoine M 633  
  Chrysanthème M 672  
  Cyclamen M 674  
  Acanthe M 639  
  Jasmin M 663  
  Ajonc M 667  
  Azalée M 668  
  Bégonia M 669  
  Bleuet M 670  
  Camélia  M 671  
  Glaïeul M 678  
  Lilas M 682  
  Liseron M 683  
  Mimosa M 687  
  Muguet M 688  
  Pavot M 693  
LSD Foudre A 646  
LST Laita L 9001  
  Orne L 9002  
  Rance L 9004  
  Odet L 9005  
  Cheliff L 9006  
LCT LCT-9070    
  LCT-9071    
  LCT-9083    
  LCT-9084    
LCH LCH-9055    
AS Gustave Zédé A 641 Ship of Admirale Robert Boufre HQ
ABU Criquet  A 761  
AOT La Baise  A 625  
  Elorn A 620  
  Lac Tonlé Sap A 630  
  Lac Tchad A 631  
AK Sahel A 638  
  Giboulée A 741  
  Liamone A 760  
ATA Pachyderme A 718  
  Bélier A 719  
  Filao  Y 638  

l'Armee de'l Air
Unit
Aircraft
Base
EC 1/33 Belfort Cyprus
EC 2 Mystere IVA Akrotiri, Cyprus (later part of unit based in Israel)
EC 3 F-84F Akrotiri, Cyprus (later part of unit based in Israel)
ET 61 Noratlas Akrotiri, Cyprus (later part of unit based in Israel)
ET 63 Noratlas Akrotiri, Cyprus

We are very grateful to Yahia Al Shaer for supplying the above information

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