1 he regiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine

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Badge of the 1st RPIMa

The 1 er régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine (1 er RPIMa) ( German  1st paratrooper regiment of the marine infantry ) is a paratrooper , special unit - association in regimental strength of the French army , whose name for reasons of tradition for the overseas deployment in the former French Colonies the designation de marine is added.

The headquarters of the one he RPIMa located in the Citadelle Général Bergé in Bayonne , Pyrénées-Atlantiques in the region Nouvelle-Aquitaine . The commander of the regiment is at the rank of Colonel .

The motto is: Qui ose gagne (“He who dares wins”). It goes back to the founding time of the regiment in World War II , when it was under the British SAS as part of the Free French Armed Forces . The current regiment was formed from the 2 e régiment de chasseurs parachutistes and the 3 e régiment de chasseurs parachutistes of the SAS.

classification

The 1 er RPIMa is part of the Commandement des forces spéciales terrestres (Eng. "Army Special Operations Command"), in which the special forces of the Army are summarized. The Commandement des forces spéciales terrestres itself is part of the cross- armed forces Commandement des opérations spéciales (COS) (Eng. "High Command for Special Operations ") of the French armed forces .

With the primary specialization in commando operations , unconventional warfare and counter-terrorism , the regiment's operational profile goes beyond that of normal paratrooper units.

history

The basic stock of the regiment was set up on September 15, 1940 in Ringway , England, initially as 1 er compagnie d'infanterie de l'air (Eng. "1st Air Infantry Company") by Capitaine Georges Bergé with only 50 men. Shortly afterwards, which was company in Compagnie de Chasseurs parachutistes (1 he CCP) (dt. "1st Parachute Company") renamed. David Stirling , the founder and commander of the British Special Air Service, arranged in late summer 1941 that this company was integrated into the SAS as part of the Armed Forces of Free France . It served as Free French Special Air Services (SAS) with the 3 SAS (2 e RCP) and 4 SAS (3 e RCP) under British command.

In 1941, the association was one of the British defenders in the airborne battle for Crete , when German paratroopers managed to conquer the island in bitter fighting as part of the largest airborne operation in military history. However, she was able to be evacuated in time together with numerous British troops.

In 1942 the association took part in the fighting in Libya against the German Africa Corps , which was under the command of Erwin Rommel , and carried out, together with the British part of the SAS, mainly the so-called Long Range Desert Patrols , long-range reconnaissance patrols deep behind enemy lines.

In 1943, the association took part in the fighting in the Battle of Tunisia , which ended in early May with the surrender of the Axis powers at Cap Bon .

Triumphal entry into Paris , August 24, 1944

During the battles for the liberation of Paris in 1944, the association was one of the Free French troops that occupied the city together with the Resistance after the German garrison commander Dietrich von Choltitz declared surrender against Hitler's orders from the Führer .

In the winter of 1944–1945 the association was surprised by the Ardennes Offensive , the last major German offensive in World War II. After initial successes, however, the German goals - reaching Liège and smashing the coherent Allied defense - could not be achieved, because after a few days the weather allowed the Allied air superiority to deploy again.

On October 1, 1945, the two associations were detached from the SAS, placed under French command again and united into one regiment. After operations in the Indochina War (1946–1954) it was reorganized and served during the Algerian War (1954–1962) as a training unit for the colonial paratrooper group.

The regiment retained its status as a training unit until 1974, when it was reorganized again in the same year. This time it was converted into a special task force with a focus on command operations.

Parts of the 1 er RPIMa were used between 1990 and 1991 in the Second Gulf War.

Calls

Since the 1970s, the regiment has been involved in numerous operations on the African continent , in overseas territories, but also in the Middle East :

assignment

The mission of the one he régiment d'parachutiste infantry de marine moves typically on the lower tactical level and in the framework of general military operations.

The bandage is suitable for jumping throughout, parts are HAHO and trained in special infiltration techniques.

Classic deployment profiles are command operations with the targeted capture, rendering useless or destruction of key enemy positions such as airfields, communication and command facilities, artillery and missile positions, bridges, ports, supply bases, bunkers or other special enemy positions. These direct action are carried out both in the Close Combat Zone and, after successful infiltration in the enemy hinterland, in the Deep Combat Zone.

Another area of ​​responsibility is sabotage , operational reconnaissance in the depths of the enemy area and the recovery of personnel and equipment from behind enemy lines. One focus of the training is the execution of search and rescue operations under combat conditions (CSAR). Soldiers of the regiment can also be used as advanced artillery observers and target markers for smart bombs .

The association is the primary component of the French military's counter-terrorism activities. Although the Groupe d'intervention de la gendarmerie nationale (GIGN) of the national gendarmerie also belongs to the Ministry of Defense and enjoys an excellent reputation in security circles, foreign missions in France are traditionally carried out by the military and not by the police.

The 1 er RPIMa is also trained in personal protection and protects high-ranking French military personnel abroad. Soldiers of the regiment are often deployed as military advisers abroad, where they train and support local forces in military and security issues and, if necessary, also act as crisis intervention forces. In this function they are comparable to the US Special Forces .

organization

The 1 er RPIMa consists of seven companies

Each command company consists of four platoons ( sections ), each with two teams . In each company, each platoon has a different specialization. The first is a sniper and long-distance spy train (TELD: tireur d'élite longue distance et courte distance ), the second is a telecommunication and imaging reconnaissance train (Gattri: acquisition de rens par téléobjectif et capture vidéo et transmission par moyen sattélitaire ), the third, an anti-terrorist platoon for urban warfare, access and hostage liberation (Invex: libération d'otage, arrestation de criminel de guerre, combat en milieu clos ) and the fourth a mixed commando and anti-terrorist platoon (RCO: Rapas chuteur Opérationnel tout formé Invex et Gdc ). This means that every company is fully capable of working independently.

structure

According to the original list under the command of the British Special Air Service, the structure and orders of the individual companies of the 1er RPIMa are based on that of the SAS. One company each specializes in a specific type of transport and operation - maritime missions, airmobile and parachute jump missions or landmobile missions with (ground-based) reconnaissance vehicles.

A staff and supply company and four combat companies with

  • 1. / Company (freefall parachutist HAHO / driver for combat vehicles / local and urban warfare / counter-terrorism and personal protection)
  • 2nd / company (mountain combat and combat under arctic conditions, desert combat and jungle combat)
  • 3rd / company (reconnaissance missions with reconnaissance wheeled vehicles)
  • 4. / Company (reconnaissance, selection and training).

Recruitment and training

Every aspirant is first tested for his or her physical and psychological suitability before being admitted to the actual selection process. Since mental stability is particularly important for a commando soldier, particular importance is attached to this aspect.

The selection phase lasts nine months with a failure rate of over 50%. First of all, it begins with a so-called basic training, which lasts two months and in which the basics of infantry combat management are practiced, followed by the basic training in command and control (course 1).

If the candidate has successfully passed this selection phase, an active member of the unit is assigned as a mentor , with whom he can learn and deepen a certain special skill.

When this has been completed, the soldier receives his active mission status, is now a full member of the 1st RPIMa and is assigned to one of the three command companies (RAPAS). Nevertheless, the newcomer has to go through one or more advanced additional training sections (specializations), such as courses in HAHO jumping technique, tele-intelligence, communication, demolition and sniper courses as well as courses in alpine, jungle, desert and littoral warfare.

If the soldier has proven himself, he goes through the 15-month RAPAS-CT1 course in advanced command and control (course 2).

In addition to regular exercises in jungle warfare in French Guiana and desert warfare in Djibouti, the regiment also regularly conducts joint exercises with the British SAS, which is traditionally closely associated with it.

equipment

weapons

FAMAS
HK MP5 SD3 with integrated silencer
PGM Hécate II
Véhicule Blindé Léger (VBL)

The regiment performs as a standard weapon, the FAMAS - assault rifle in different versions in caliber 5.56 mm, but there are also a number of foreign weapons in use, such as the German Heckler & Koch G3 A3 , the M4 from US production including an optional mounting grenade launcher of the type M203 as accessories, HK416 , HK417 .

For fighting in a tight space ( close quarters combat , CQB), such as the urban warfare that uses 1er RPIMa , as well as most other special forces in the world, the HK MP5 - submachine gun by Heckler & Koch in various versions, but mainly in the HK MP SD3 version with integrated silencer ., FN P90s are also used for personal protection tasks , as these can be easily concealed. Likewise also grenade launchers type HK69 A1 , which also glare and tear gas grenades can be fired used. Forearm rifles ( pump guns ) are used as "door openers" .

For fire support, the regiment has machine guns of the types AA-52 7.62 mm ("Cinquante-Deux", German "52") from French and M249 SAW (Minimi) and M2 machine guns in caliber 12.7 mm from American production. The snipers use the PGM Hécate II (with silencer), HK MSG90 and Sako TRG42 long guns .

The systems MILAN and Armor Piercing Infantry Light Arm System (APILAS) as well as Stinger and Mistral are available for anti-tank and aircraft defense ; various types of mortars are used for battlefield support .

equipment

Normally the army's combat suit is worn, but black flame-retardant Nomex suits with integrated Kevlar inserts are worn for anti-terrorist operations, hostage liberation and undercover operations . Above that, a combat vest with numerous pockets is worn, with space for secondary and tertiary weapons and ordnance (pistol, knife and hand grenades ), ammunition and equipment such as an NBC protective mask . Special digitally encrypted communication systems (headsets) are used for such operations. Instead of the usual standard combat boots for paratroopers, the boots made by the British company Hi-Tec with non-slip soles, which are preferred in security circles, are worn.

The one he RPIMa bears, like all French paratroopers traditional red berets . Only the 2nd e régiment étranger de parachutistes (2 er REP) of the Foreign Legion wears green ( Béret vert ).

The regiment is equipped with various vehicles such as the Véhicule Blindé Léger (VBL), the VLRA , Peugeot P4 and VRI, for maritime use there are zodiac boats and kayaks for the quiet approach from the sea.

literature

  • James Shortt, Angus McBride: The Special Air Service: and Royal Marines Special Boat Squadron . Osprey, London 1981, ISBN 0-85045-396-8 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See under Missions at cos.free.fr ( accessed July 8, 2008)
  2. ↑ Deployment in West Africa French soldiers die in hostage rescue May 10, 2019, 6:16 p.m. | AFP, dpa, dru
  3. ^ [...] The 1 er Regiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (1 er RPIMa) - (1st Marine Parachute Infantry Regiment) - is the French Army's primary special operations unit. The Regiment operates in a manner similar to the US Army's Special Forces, or British SAS. It's tasked with conducting three primary types of missions: special instruction / assistance (Foreign Internal Defense); direct action; and intelligence gathering. It is also capable of conducting counter terrorist operations in conjunction with GIGN. [...] Order from specialoperations.com ( Memento from June 19, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed July 30, 2008)
  4. ↑ The 1er RPIMa has developed into France's elite Special Operations unit. The 1 er RPIMa has now been tasked with Counterterrorist and Hostage Rescue missions outside (and maybe inside) France. Although GIGN has been the main unit for this; they have slowly been only allowed to operate inside France, with the belief that police shouldn't operate outside their own country. This is traditionally a military role. at specwarnet.net ( accessed July 8, 2008)
  5. ↑ For the order profiles, see rpima1.terre.defense.gouv.fr ( Memento of September 13, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on July 1, 2008)
  6. ↑ Equipier observateur RAPAS - Transmetteur RAPAS - Equipier acquisition du renseignement - Spécialiste traitement des images - RAPAS chuteur opérationnel - RAPAS plongeur offensive - RAPAS spécialiste montagne - RAPAS spécialiste jungle - RAPAS spécialiste démolition - Equipur démolition démolition - Equipier démolition démolition - extraction SAS élite longue distance. See at cos.free.fr ( accessed July 8, 2008)
  7. ↑ The main weapon used by the 1er RPIMa is the FAMAS 5.56 assault rifle. For CQB the MP-5 series (esp the MP-5SD) is used as the main weapons. The Beretta 9mm is the standard sidearm carried by the soldiers. at specwarnet.net ( accessed July 8, 2008)
  8. ↑ CQB kit includes a black balaclava, black nomex coveralls, non-slip boots (such as Hi-Tech), special webbing and holsters, medical kit (for teams medics), gas masks, and special communications equipment. at specwarnet.net ( accessed July 8, 2008)