The airborne group, commanded by Colonel Ducourneau (the same as at Phu Doan) consisted of a staff, 6th and 8th Bns. colonials and the 2nd Bn. of the Foreign Legion. In addition there was a Sn. of Gn. which had 14 inflatable assault boats. The ground forces included three Bns. and two commandos, a few tanks and a Co. of Gn. with three bulldozers. In reserve, at the airfields of Gia Lam and Bach Mai in Hanoi, there was a Bn. Para and a Bie. of 75 mm recoilless guns.
So important was the secrecy, that General Gilles took care of all the preparation himself with the help only of a signals officer. The orders were written only two days before the operation and the units alerted on July 16 at 2:00 p.m.; after which they were consigned to their barracks. The commanders of Bn. received orders at 3:00 p.m. and the commanders of Cie. at 4:00 p.m.
Utica (in Latin Utica) is an ancient ancient port city founded by the Phoenicians and located in the north of present-day Tunisia. Location Utique is located in the governorate of Bizerte and is the largest archaeological site in this region. The delegation of Utique which houses it is located in t