French Army Trains Chadian Soldiers on 82mm Mortar Use

The armored operational instruction detachment (DIO) of the French forces in Gabon trained Chadian soldiers on the operation of 82 mm mortars ahead of their mission in Mali scheduled in few months.

The training took place in the capital N’Djamena from November 29 to December 18. It aimed at transmitting to the Chadians the technical and tactical know-how specific to the implementation of the 82 mm mortar, in staffing within the Chadian National Army (ANT), the French defense ministry said in a statement.

The first week of training focused mainly on topographical work which is an essential and necessary step to fully understand the mastery of this weapon.

The second and third weeks were devoted to the part school with the learning of the service of the 82 mm mortar around the different functions: head of part, pointer, outfitter, fireworks. 27 Chadian trainees were thus trained and demonstrated their technical skills in mastering this weapon.

This three-week course will be supplemented by a second of the same duration which will take place in January in Chad and during which live fire will take place.

Chad is part of the regional organization G5 Sahel (Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad) fighting Islamist insurgents in the Sahel since 2017.

Last year, France delivered at least nine ERC-90 Sagaie 6×6 light tanks to the Chadian Army.

The defense ministry added that the European Takuba Task Force (TF) deployed in the Ménaka sector and on the Malo-Niger border benefited from the MQ-9 Reaper Block 5 drone on December 18 and 19.