List of French paratrooper units
The history of French airborne units began in the Interwar period when the French Armed Forces formed specialized paratroopers units. First formed in the French Air Force, they were rapidly integrated into the French Army, French Navy, National Gendarmerie and from the British Armed Forces. Some were later included in the postwar French Armed Forces.
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French Army
Parachute and airborne divisions
- 24th Airborne Division (24e DAP, 25th Motorized Infantry Division 25e DIM, then 25th Airborne Division 25e DAP).
- 25th Airborne Division (25th Motoryzed Infantry Division 25e DIM; then, 25th Airborne Division 25e DAP dissolved).
- 25th Parachute Division (25th Parachute Division 25e DP, dissolved).
- 10th Parachute Division (10th Parachute Division 10e DP, dissolved).
- 11th Light Intervention Division (11th Light Intervention Division 11e DLI formed from 10th Parachute Division 10e DP and 25th Parachute Division 25e DP).
- 11th Division (11th Division 11e DIV formed from merger of 11th Light Intervention Division 11e DLI and 9e Brigade 9e BDE).
- 11th Parachute Division (11th Division 11e DIV, then 11th Parachute Division 11e DP).
- 11th Parachute Brigade (11th Parachute Division 11eDP, then 11th Parachute Brigade 11e BP).
Parachute Brigades and Groups
- The 11th Parachute Brigade (11e B.P) of the French Army with the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e R.E.P) include:
- Commando Parachute Group (G.C.P Teams)
- 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment,[1] 1er RCP (G.C.P commando Teams).
- 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment, (1er RHP) (G.C.P Teams).
- 1st Train Parachute Regiment (1er RTP).
- 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment,[2] 2e REP (G.C.P Teams).
- 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 3e RPIMa (G.C.P Teams).
- 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 8e RPIMa (G.C.P Teams).
- 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment, 17e RGP (G.C.P Teams).
- 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment, 35e RAP (G.C.P Teams).
- Commando Parachute Group (G.C.P Teams)
- Airborne Groupment, GAP (French: Groupement Aéroporté).
Parachute Demi-Brigades
- SAS Parachute Demi-Brigade (D-B.P-SAS, later 1er RPIMa).
- Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (D-B.CCP, later 1er RPIMa).
- 1st Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (French: 1re Demi-Brigade Coloniale de Commandos Parachutistes) (1re DBCCP, later 1er RPIMa).
- 2nd Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (2e DBCCP, later 1er RPIMa).
- Parachute Marching Demi-Brigade (French: Demi-Brigade de Marche Parachutiste) (DBMP - dissolved).
- 11th Parachute Choc Demi-Brigade (French: 11e Demi-Brigade Parachutiste de Choc) (11e D-B.PC - dissolved).
Parachute Centers of Formation and Schools
- Base School of Airborne Troops (French: École des troupes aéroportées) (BETAP).
- School of Airborne Troops (ETAP).
- School Brigade of Colonial Paratroopers.
- National Parachute Instruction Center (NPIC) Orléans (Dissolved).
- C.E.T.A.P
- B.E.T.A.P
- E.T.A.P
French Foreign Legion
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Foreign parachute battalions, regiments, companies and units of the French Foreign Legion include:
Foreign Parachute Companies, Battalions & Regiments
- Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (C.P. du 3e R.E.I. attached to the IIIe/1er R.C.P - dissolved then 1er B.E.P).[4]
- Foreign Air Supply Company (CERA - dissolved).
- 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (1re C.E.P de M.L]] - dissolved).
- 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1e BEP, III Formations; then, 1er R.E.P - dissolved).[5]
- 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1e REP - dissolved).[6]
- 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (3e B.E.P, IV Formations with 1er B.E.P and 2e B.E.P; then, 3e R.E.P - dissolved).[7]
- 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment (3e R.E.P - dissolved, merged with 2e B.E.P, then 2e R.E.P).[7]
- 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e B.E.P, V Formations with 3e B.E.P then 2e R.E.P - dissolved).[8]
- 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, 2e R.E.P,[2][4] (Commando Parachute Group Teams)
- 1re C.E.P de M.L of the 1er B.E.P
D.I.N.O.P.S, P.C.G & Commandos of the French Foreign Legion
Parachute, Underwater Demolition and Diving Units of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade (French: 6e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6e BLB) include:
- 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment, (6e REG renamed 1er REG)[9] part of 6th Light Armoured Division (French: 6e Division Légère Blindée, 6e DLB).
- 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment, (1er REG)[9]
Parachute, Underwater Demolition, Diving Units and Commandos of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27e MIB) include:
- 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment, (2e REG)[10]
Parachute Artillery
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- 5th Airborne Artillery Campaign Regiment (20e RAP, 5e RAP, 5e RACAP - dissolved).
- 6th Light Parachute Artillery Regiment (6e RALP - dissolved).
- 20th Light Parachute Artillery Regiment (20e RALP - dissolved; then, 20th Parachute Group Artillery, 20e GAP - dissolved).
- 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e R.A, 35e RALP, then 35e RAP), (Commando Parachute Group Teams).
Parachute Cavalry
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- 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (1er RHP), (Commando Parachute Group Teams).
- 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP).
Parachute Engineer
- 17th Parachute Engineer Battalion (17e BGAP - dissolved).
- 61st and 71st Parachute Engineer Battalions of the Far East (Extrême-Orient) (61e BG and 71e BG - dissolved).
- 60th, 61st and 75th Parachute Engineer Companies (60e CGAP, 61e CGAP, 75e CGAP - dissolved).
- 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment (17e RGAP, then 17e RGP),[12] (Commando Parachute Group Teams).
Patrol Chasseurs
- 5th Patrol Chasseur Battalion (French: 5e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied) (5e BCAP - dissolved).
- 10th Patrol Chasseur Battalion (French: 10e Bataillon Parachutiste de Chasseurs à Pied) (10e BPCP - dissolved).
- 5e B.C.A.P
- 10e B.P.C.P
General Parachute Infantry
- 18th Parachute Infantry Regiment (French: 18e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (18e RIPC - dissolved).
- 21st Parachute Infantry Regiment (French: 21e Régiment d'Infanterie) (21e RIAP - dissolved).
- 21e R.I.A.P
French Air Force Commando de l'Air, Parachute Chasseur, British Army Special Air Service (S.A.S) & 1er R.P.I.Ma
- 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment / 1st Air Infantry Battalion (French: 1e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (601e G.I.A, 602e G.I.A, 1re C.I.A, 1er BCP, then 1er RCP),[1] ( Commando Parachute Group Teams).
- 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment/4th Air Infantry Battalion (French: 2e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (4e BIA, 2e RCP SAS, then 1er RPIMa French); also known as 4th Special Air Service of H.M.'s British Army).
- 3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment /3rd Air Infantry Battalion (French: 3e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (3e BIA, 3e RCP, 2e RCP SAS, then 1er RPIMa French); also known as 3rd Special Air Service of H.M.'s British Army).
- 4th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (French: 4e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes), (4e RCP - dissolved).
- 5th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (French: 5e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes), (5e RCP - dissolved).
- 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (French: 9e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes), (9e RCP, merged with 1er RCP).[1]
- 14th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (French: 14e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (14e RCP - dissolved).
- 18th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (French: 18e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (18e RCP - dissolved).
- Insignia of the 2e R.C.P, 1er B.C.C.P-SAS and 1er B.P.C
- Para Chasseur Company of Free French Forces (F.F.L)
- F.F.L.-SAS reserved for SAS paratroopers of Free France 1940-1945
- 14e R.C.P
- 18e R.C.P
SAS Operational Wings
Choc Paratroopers
- 1st Choc Battalion (French: 1er Bataillon de Choc) (1er BC - dissolved).
- 2nd Choc Battalion/ Bataillon Janson-de-Sailly or Bataillon Gayardon (French: 2e bataillon de choc) (2e BC - dissolved).
- 3rd Choc Battalion / Commando Group of France (French: Commandos de France) (3e BC - dissolved).
- 4th Choc Battalion / Commando de Cluny (French: Commando de Cluny) (4e BC - dissolved).
- 5th Choc Battalion / Commando Group of Africa (French: Commandos d'Afrique) (5e BC - dissolved).
- 6th Choc Battalion / Commando de Provence (French: Commandos de Provence) (6e BC - dissolved).
- 1st Parachute Choc Battalion (French: 1er Bataillon Parachutistes de Choc) (1er BPC - dissolved).
- 2nd Parachute Choc Battalion (French: 2e Bataillon Parachutiste de Choc) (2e BPC - dissolved).
- 1st Choc Parachute Infantry Regiment (French: 1er Régiment d'Infanterie de Choc Aéroporté) (1er RICAP - dissolved).
- 11th Choc Parachute Regiment (French: 11er Régiment Parachutiste de Choc) (11e BPC, 11e DBPC and 11e RPC - dissolved).
- 12th Choc Parachute Battalion (French: 12e Bataillon Parachutiste de Choc) (12e BPC - dissolved).
- Mixed Airborne Commando Groupment (French: Groupement de Commandos Mixtes Aéroportés) (G.C.M.A - dissolved).
- 1er B.C
- 2e B.C
- 3e B.C
- 5e B.C
- 2e B.P.C
- 11e B.P.C
- 12e B.P.C
- G.C.M.A
Colonial and Marine Infantry Parachute Regiments
- 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1re CIA, 1re CP, PPL, 1re CCP, French SAS, 1er BIA, 4e BIA, 2e RCP or 4th French SAS, 1er BC.SAS, 1er BP.SAS, 2e BP.SAS, 1er BPARA.SAS, 1er BCCP, 1er GCCP, 1er BPC, 1re D-B.P.SAS, D-B.CCP, D-B.CCP.SAS, 1re DBCCP, 2e DBCCP, B.P.Colonial BPC, BEPC, BP-OM, B.P.I.Ma, then 1er R.P.I.Ma part of COS).
- 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e BCCP, 2e B.P.Colonial 2e BPC, 2nd Colonial Parachute Regiment 2e RPC, then 2e RPIMa).
- 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (3e BCCP, 3e GCCP, 3e BCCP, 3e B.P.Colonial 3e BPC, 3rd Colonial Parachute Regiment 3e RPC, then 3e RPIMa), (Commando Parachute Group Teams).
- 5th Marine Infantry Parachute Battalion (French: 5e Bataillon de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine) (5e BPIC, 5e BCCP, 5eBPC, 5e BPIMa - dissolved).
- 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (6e BCCP, 6e GCCP, 6eB.P.Colonial 6e BPC, 6th Colonial Parachute Regiment 6e RPC, then 6e RPIMa - dissolved).
- 7th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 7e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine) (7e BCCP, 7eGCCP, 7e BCCP, 7e BPC, 4eBCCP, 7th Colonial Parachute Regiment 7e RPC, 7e RPIMa, then 7e RPCS - dissolved).
- 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (8e B.P.Colonial 8e BPC, 8e GCP, 8e B.P.Choc 8e BPC, 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment 8e RPC, then 8e RPIMa), (Commando Parachute Group Teams).
- 5e B.P.I.Ma
- 7e R.P.I.Ma
Battalions and Colonial Parachute Groups
- 1st Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (1e BCCP, 1e GCCP, 1e BPC, then B.P.C - 1er R.P.I.Ma).
- 2nd Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (2e BCCP, 2e GCCP, 2e BPC, then 2e RPC - 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment(2e RPIMa).
- 3rd Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (3e BCCP, 3e BPC, then 3e RPC, 3e RPIMa).
- 4th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (French: fr:4e bataillon colonial de commandos parachutistes) (4e BCCP - dissolved).
- 5th Colonial Parachute Infantry Battalion (French: 5e Bataillon Parachutiste d'Infanterie Colonial) (5e BPIC - dissolved).
- 5th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (French: 5e Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes) (5e BCCP then 5e BPC - dissolved).
- 6th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (French: 6e Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes) (6e BCCP, 6e GCCP then 6e BPC, then 6e R.P.C - 6e R.P.I.Ma).
- 7th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (French: 7e Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes) (7e BCCP, 7e GCCP then 7e BPC - dissolved).
- 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion (French: 8e Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux) (8e BPC, then 8e R.P.C - 8e R.P.I.Ma).
- 10th Colonial Parachute Battalion (French: 10e Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux) (10e BPC).
- Colonial Group Parachute Commando of Madagascar (French: Groupe Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes de Madagascar) (GCCP Madagascar - dissolved).
- Colonial Group Parachute Commando of AEF (French: Groupe Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes d'AEF) (GCCP AEF - dissolved).
- Marine Infantry Parachute Company (French: Compagnie Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine) (CPIMA and 6e CPIMa - dissolved).
- 5e B.P.I.C
- 5e B.C.C.P
- 7e B.C.C.P
- 10e B.P.C
- G.C.C.P.M
- G.C.C.P A.E.F
- C.P.I.Ma
Parachute Companies and Regiments
- Air Support Companies (CRA).
- Air Delivery Regiment (RLA - dissolved).
- 1st Train Parachute Regiment (French: 1er Régiment du Train Parachutiste) (1er RTP).
Airborne Bases
- Northern Airborne Base (French: Base Aéroportée Nord) (B.AP.N - dissolved).
- Southern Airborne Base (French: Bases Aéroportée Sud) (B.AP.S - dissolved).
- North African Airborne Base (French: Base Aéroportée d'Afrique du Nord) (B.AP/AF.N - dissolved).
- Airborne Operational Mobile Base (B.O.M.AP).
- B.AP.N
- B.AP.S
- B.AP/AF.N
Parachute Command and Support
- 14th Parachute Logistic and Support Regiment (French: 14e Régiment d'Infanterie et de Soutien Logistique Parachutiste) (14e RISLP) - former 14th Parachute Command and Support Regiment.
- 7th Parachute Command and Support Regiment (French: 7e Régiment Parachutiste de Commandement et de Soutien) (7e RPCS - dissolved).
- 7e R.P.C.S
Matériel
- 3rd Matériel Regiment (French: 3e Régiment du Matériel) (3e RMAT).
Vietnamese, Laotien and Cambodian Parachute Units
- 1st Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (French: 1er Bataillon de Parachutistes Vietnamiens) (1er BPVN - dissolved).
- 3rd Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (French: 3e Bataillon de Parachutistes Vietnamiens) (3e BPVN - dissolved).
- 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (French: 5e Bataillon de Parachutistes Vietnamiens) (5e BPVN - dissolved).
- 6th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (dissolved).
- 7th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (dissolved).
- 1st Khmers Parachute Battalion (created on December 1, 1952 in Cambodia).
- 1st Laotian Parachute Battalion (created on October 1, 1951 in Vientiane, Laos).
Algerian Parachute Units
- 19th Algerian Parachute Battalion
- 14th Algerian Parachute Tirailleur Brigade
French Air Force Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air
Past and present Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air units have included:
- 601st Airborne Infantry Group (601e G.I.A, 1e CIA, 1e BCP, then 1e RCP).[1]
- 602nd Airborne Infantry Group (602e G.I.A, 1e CIA, 1e BCP, then 1e RCP).[1]
- Air Marching Infantry Company (CIAM), 1e RCP).[1]
- 1st Air Infantry Company (1re CIA, 1er BCP, then 1er RCP).[1]
- 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP of the French Air Force transferred to the French Army).[1]
- Air Force Security and Intervention Forces Brigade (France)
- Air Parachute Commando n° 10, C.P.A 10, part of Special Operations Command (France) (COS).[1]
- Air Parachute Commando n° 20, C.P.A 20
- Air Parachute Commando n° 30, C.P.A 30
- Protection Squadrons (French: Escadron de protection).
French Navy
Naval Fusiliers and Commandos include the following Forces Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine FORFUSCO
- Aeronautical Naval Parachute Commando (dissolved).
- Commando Ponchardier (French: Commando Ponchardier) (SAS B).
- Commando Hubert (French: Commando Hubert) (part of COS).
- Fusiliers Marins Commandos Group (GROUFUMACO - dissolved).
- Commando François (dissolved).
- Commando de Penfentenyo (French: Commando de Penfentenyo) (part of COS).
- Commando Jaubert (French: Commando Jaubert) (part of COS).
- Commando de Montfort (French: Commando de Montfort) (part of COS).
- Commando Trépel (French: Commando Trépel) (part of COS).
- Naval Fusiliers Instruction Center. École des fusiliers marins (ECOFUS)
- Naval Fusiliers and Commando Base (BASEFUSCO).
- Commando Kieffer (French: Commando Kieffer) (part of COS).
National Gendarmerie
Paratroopers of the National Gendarmerie include:
- National Gendarmerie Parachute Intervention Squadron (EPIGN), part of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (French: Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale), the GIGN.
Medics
Combat medics in the French Armed Forces are part of the French Defence Health Service. However, each French regiment, battalion, company and unit has their own specialized combats medics, with ranks designating various unit level sizes.
For French Regiments engaged in combat, the leading Medical leadership would be a colonel or Lieutenant-colonel and can also be designated as Parachute Medical-Colonel of the Army (French: Médecin-Colonel Parachutiste de l'Armée).
For French Foreign Legion Regiments, Medics can be French and Foreign, while the leading Medical leadership would be a Colonel or Lieutenant-colonel and can also be designated as Foreign Parachute Medical-Colonel]] (French: Médecin-Chef Parachutiste des Régiments, Bataillons et Compagnies Etranger de Parachutistes).
See also
- French Special Operations Command (French: Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (COS))
- Direction générale de la Gendarmerie Nationale (French: Direction Générale de la Gendarmerie nationale (DGGN)) in liaison
References
- Frédéric AUTHIE. "1er RCP - Site officiel -". defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
- Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
- Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, Traditions, Chant du 2e REP
- GYI. "Les origines..." legion-etrangere.com.
- GYI. "1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes". legion-etrangere.com.
- GYI. "1er Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes". legion-etrangere.com.
- GYI. "3e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes". legion-etrangere.com.
- GYI. "2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes". legion-etrangere.com.
- GYI. "1er Régiment étranger de génie". legion-etrangere.com.
- GYI. "2e Régiment étranger de génie". legion-etrangere.com.
- GYI. "Structure du 2ème régiement étranger de génie". legion-etrangere.com.
- "17e régiment du génie parachutiste". defense.gouv.fr.
Bibliography
- E. Micheletti et J. Baltzer, Insignes et brevets parachutistes de l'armée française, éditions Histoires et Collections, 2001, ISBN 2-913903-11-8.
- Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français (History of French Paratroopers), Société de Production Littéraire, 1975.