2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

The 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 2e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 2e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the French Army created in 1947. The regiment is heir to the traditions of the 2nd Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion 2eB.C.C.P. As of 2008, the regiment is stationed at Saint-Pierre, Réunion.

2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
2e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine

Regimental Insignia of the 2e BCCP
Regimental Insignia of the 2e RPIMa
Active1947 - present

(same unit, different designations)

1947-1953
1955-1962
1965-present
CountryFrance
BranchFrench Army
Typetroupes de marine
RoleAirborne
Garrison/HQSaint-Pierre, Réunion
Motto(s)"À la vie. À la mort"

(until July 5, 1962)

Since : Ne pas subir
AnniversariesSaint-Michel Day
EngagementsFirst Indochina War
Algerian War
Suez Crisis
Commanders
Current
commander		Thierry Chigot
Notable
commanders		Roger Trinquier
Insignia
Insignia of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
Abbreviation2e RPIMa

History
Main article: List of French paratrooper units

In 1947, the 2nd Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion 2eB.C.C.P was posted to Indochina, combat engaging until 1953 in two rounds (1947-1949 and 1950-1953), being cited three times at the orders of the armed forces.

In 1954, the 2nd Colonial Parachute Battalion 2e BPC made way to Morocco and was then subsequently dissolved on July 31, 1955.

In 1955, the regiment was redesignated as the 2nd Colonial Parachute Regiment 2e RPC by regrouping the dissolved components of the 1e BPC, 5e BPC and 8e BPC and then in 1958, designated again as the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment. The unit served from 1955 until 1962 in North Africa at the corps 10th Parachute Division. On 5 November 1956, the unit jumped in the second wave of the French/British attack on the Suez Canal over Port Said and was cited at the orders of the armed forces.

In July 1961, the regiment jumped over Bizerte and broke the Tunisian siege of the French airport installations. The regiment was then dissolved on 5 July 1962 and recreated 1 January 1965 in Ivato, Madagascar from the 5th Marine Infantry Parachute Battalion 5e BPIM.

The regiment was then transferred to Reunion in 1973. Since then, the regiment has participated in various operations: Djibouti (1993/1994), Comoros (1990), Rwanda (1994) and Comors (1995/1996).

In May and October 2009 the regiment performed a parachute jump and participated in a major military exercise in the Bay of Saint-Paul with GAM (Groupe d'assaut par mer).[1][2]

Traditions
The Archangel Michael featured in Mont Saint-Michel and the Insignia of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

Except for the Legionnaires of the 1ème REG, 2ème REG, 2ème REP that conserve the Green Beret; the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.

The Archangel Saint Michael, patron of the French paratroopers is celebrated on September 29.

The prière du Para (Prayer of the Paratrooper) was written by André Zirnheld in 1938.

Insignias

Just like the paratrooper Brevet of the French Army; the Insignia of French Paratroopers was created in 1946. The French Army Insignia of metropolitan Paratroopers represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel which according to Liturgy is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions. The French Army Insignia of Marine Infantry Paratroopers is backgrounded by a Marine Anchor.

Regimental Colors
Regimental Colors of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment.

Sewn in gold letters in the respective folds, the following inscriptions:[3][4]

Decorations

The regimental colors of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e RPIMa) is decorated with:

  • Cited 4 times at the orders of the armed forces.

The regiment bears wearing the Fourragère:

  • Fourragère aux couleurs de la Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures

Battle Honors

Regimental Commanders
  • Major André Dupuis (1947–1948)
  • Captain Roger Trinquier (1948–1949)
  • Captain Toce (1950–1952)
  • Captain Lenoir (1952–1953)
  • Major Ferrano (1955)
  • Colonel Pierre Chateau-Jobert (1955–1957)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Albert Fossey-François (1957–1958)
  • Colonel Olivier Le Mire (1958–1960)
  • Colonel Toce (1960–1961)
  • Major Mollo (1961–1962)
  • Major Yves Gras (1965–1966)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Le Borgne (1966–1968)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Le Boudec (1968–1970)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Foucher (1970–1972)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Firth (1972–1974)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Subregis (1974–1976)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Salaun (1976–1978)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Viard (1978–1980)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Sepulchre (1980–1982)
  • Colonel Cluset (1982–1984)
  • Colonel Fruchard (1984–1986)
  • Colonel Meaudre-Desgouttes (1986–1988)
  • Colonel Raffenne (1988–1990)
  • Colonel Joana (1990–1992)
  • Colonel Jean Brantschen (1992–1994)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Soum (1994–1996)
  • Colonel André Helly (1996–1998)
  • Colonel Philippe Beny (1998–2000)
  • Colonel Fernand Georges (2000–2002)
  • Colonel Franck Reignier (2002–2004)
  • Colonel Eric de Vathaire (2004–2006)
  • Colonel T. de la Doucette (2006–2008)
  • Colonel Chigot (2008–2010)
  • Colonel Lafargue (2010-2012).
  • Colonel Alexandre (2012-2014).
  • Colonel Demont (2014- 2016).
  • Lieutenant-colonel Murat (2016-).

Officers and marines

See also

Sources and bibliography
  • Collective,"History of French paratroopers, Literary Production Company, 1975".
  • Colonel Roger Fleming, Paras "Free France, Editions Presses de la Cité, 1976".
  • Henry Corta,"The Red Berets, Association of Former SAS paratrooper, 1952".

References
  1. Saut en parachute au-dessus de la baie(Photos) Archived 2009-05-23 at the Wayback Machine, 'Le Quotidien de la Réunion', 20 May 2009
  2. Bizerte: Les grandes manœuvres du 2e RPIMA(Photos), 'Le Quotidien de la Réunion', 7 October 2009
  3. 12350/SGA/DPMA/SHD/DAT Decision No. 14 September 2007 relating to registration of names of battles on flags and banners of army corps of the army, the army medical service and fuel service armed forces of the Official Gazette, No. 27, November 9, 2007
  4. Order on the award 1952-1962 NFA registration on flags and banners and training of armed services, November 19, 2004 (A) NORDEF0452926A Michele Alliot-Marie
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