French army

This article covers the state of the French Army from 2016 onwards. Until then, see French Army (until 2015)

French army Armée de terre
Lineup	May 26, 1445
Country	France
Armed forces	French armed forces
Branch of service	Armed forces
Type	Land Forces
Strength	114,500 (2020)
Commandement de la force d'action terrestre	Kleber quarter, Lille
Nickname	La Grande Muette ("The Great Mute")
motto	Honneur et Patrie ("Honor and Fatherland")
management
Chef d'état-major de l'Armée de terre	Général d'armée Thierry Burkhard

Armée de terre is the name of the land forces of France . It is the largest branch of the French military and comprises 114,500 soldiers .

history

→ Main article : History of the French Army

assignment

As the largest branch of the French armed forces, the army has the task of protecting the territorial integrity of France and its overseas territories and, if necessary, of enforcing the government's policy by force of arms. In addition, the French military, especially the French army, provides military support in Africa. Agreements have been concluded with individual states that allow the army to station troops and operate bases in these countries in order to strengthen the national defense of the host country and to train and advise local forces on security and military issues.

In addition to the usual army units , the French army also includes the marine infantry and the Foreign Legion . The marine infantry is comparable to the US Marine Corps to a limited extent , but does not have its own aircraft. This fact has not yet been changed.

equipment

→ Main article : Equipment of the French Army

organization

For the organization of the Armée de terre until December 2015, see French Army (until 2015)

Reorganization 2015

In view of the attacks on Charlie Hebdo and on November 13, 2015, the reorganization of the land forces planned since 2014 was passed by law in 2015. The decline in the armed forces, which had been progressing steadily over the last twenty years, was halted. From now on the tendency was again to strengthen the operational forces of the army. In doing so, they returned to the division as the largest body of troops, after having renounced it for many years and in the meantime given preference to the brigade as the largest unit.

With the reorganization of the land forces, a rapid reaction force of combined arms (force d'intervention rapide interarme) - known as the "Scorpion", consisting of two divisions with six combat brigades, the overseas armed forces and the Franco-German brigade .

An air combat brigade (4 ^e brigade d'aérocombat) was set up and is directly subordinate to the Army Aviation Command. There was also a logistics brigade (1 ^re brigade logistique). With the reform, several special commands, as well as a 5th company as a combat company in the infantry regiments, emerged . Furthermore, each cavalry regiment received a reconnaissance squadron, the " 13 ^e demi-brigade de Légion étrangère " will set up an infantry regiment, and the 5 ^e régiment de dragons was re-established as a training regiment within the framework of the CENTAC.

Name of the associations

In the French army, names are used for some regiments that have traditional roots and no longer correspond to the circumstances. When regiments are converted to another type of weapon, the original names are sometimes used with the appropriate addition, e.g. B. the "2 ^e régiment de dragons - nucléaire, biologique et chimique" as an ABC defense regiment, which was a normal cavalry ( dragoon ) regiment until its conversion .

Schematic representation

Commandement des forces terrestres in Lille

The 1st and 3rd Divisions form the combined arms forces (la force interarmes) under the name "Scorpion".

1 ^he division blindée (1st Armored Division) in Besançon

Division units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment
1 he regiment d'artillerie	1 er RA	Belfort	MLRS
19 e regiment du génie	19 e RG	Besançon	Panzer Engineer Regiment
132 e regiment d'infanterie cynotechnique	132 e RIC	Suippes	Service dog unit

7 ^e brigade blindée (7th armored brigade) in Besançon

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
35 e régiment d'infantry	35 e RI	Belfort	VBCI
152 e régiment d'infantry	152 e RI	Colmar	VBCI
1 he regiment de tirailleurs	1 e RTIR	Epinal	VBCI
1 he regiment de chasseurs	1 e RCH	Thierville-sur-Meuse	Leclerc main battle tank
5 e regiment de dragons	5 e RD	Mailly le camp	Leclerc main battle tank / tank regiment
68 e régiment d'artillerie d'Afrique	68 e RAA	Camp de la Valbonne	CAESAR
3 e regiment du génie	3 e RG	Charleville-Mezieres	Engineer Regiment
7 e compagnie de commandement et de transmissions	7 e CCT	Besançon	Headquarters and telecommunications company (to 19 e régiment du génie)

9 ^e brigade légère blindée de marine (9th light armored naval brigade) in Poitiers

units	Abbreviations	garrison	Primary equipment / function
1 he regiment d'infanterie de marine	1 he RIMA	Angoulême	AMX-10 RC / Light Tank Regiment
2 e regiment d'infanterie de marine	2 e RIMA	Champagne	VBCI / Mechanized Infantry Regiment
3 e régiment d'infanterie de marine	3 e RIMA	Vannes	VAB
126 e regiment d'infanterie	126 e RI	Brive-la-Gaillarde	VAB / Mechanized Infantry Regiment
Régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine	RICM	Poitiers	AMX-10 RC / Light Tank Regiment
11 e régiment d'artillerie de marine	11 e RAMA	Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier	CAESAR / Field Artillery Regiment
6 e regiment du génie	6 e RG	Angers	Engineer Regiment
9 e compagnie de commandement et de transmissions de marine	9 e CCTMa	Poitiers	Headquarters and telecommunications company

27 ^e Brigade d'infanterie de montagne (27th Mountain Infantry Brigade) in Varces

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
7 e battalion de chasseurs alpins	7 e BCA	Varces	VAB - Bandvagn 206
13 e battalion de chasseurs alpins	13 e BCA	Barby	VAB
27 e battalion de chasseurs alpins	27 e BCA	Cran-Gevrier	VAB
4 e regiment de chasseurs	4 e RC	Gap	AMX-10 RC ; ERC 90
93 e regiment d'artillerie de montagne	93 e RAM	Varces	CAESAR
2 e régiment étranger du génie	2 e REG	Saint-Christol	Pioneer Foreign Regiment
27 e compagnie de commandement et de transmissions de montagne	27 e CCTM	Varces	Mountain headquarters and telecommunications company

Brigade franco-allemande ( German-French Brigade ) in Müllheim

The French units are also subordinate to the 1st division.

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
1 he regiment d'infanterie	1 he RI	Sarrebourg	VAB
3 e régiment de hussards	3 e RH	Metz	AMX-10 RC
Battalion de commandement et de soutien de la brigade franco-allemande	BCS BFA	Muellheim (Baden)	Staff and Support Battalion

3 ^e division blindée (3rd armored division) in Marseille

Division units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
2 e régiment de dragons - nucléaire, biologique et chimique	2 e RD	Fontevraud	NBC defense regiment
31 e regiment du génie	31 e RG	Castelsarrasin	Engineer Regiment
54 e régiment d'artillerie	54 e RA	Hyeres	Anti-aircraft regiment

2 ^e brigade blindée (2nd tank brigade) in Illkirch-Graffenstaden

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
Regiment de marche du Tchad	RMT	Base aérienne 132 Colmar-Meyenheim	VBCI / Mechanized Infantry Regiment
16 e battalion de chasseurs à pied	16 e BC	Bitche	VBCI / Mechanized Infantry Battalion
92 e régiment d'infantry	92 e RI	Clermont-Ferrand	VBCI / Mechanized Infantry Regiment
12 e regiment de cuirassiers	12 e RC	Olivet	Leclerc main battle tank / tank regiment
501 e regiment de chars de combat	501 e RCC	Mourmelon-le-Grand	Leclerc main battle tank / tank regiment
40 e régiment d'artillerie	40 e RA	Suippes	AUF1 / Panzer Artillery Regiment
13 e regiment du génie	13 e RG	Valdahon	Panzer Engineer Regiment
2 e compagnie de commandement et de transmissions	2 e CCT	Illkirch-Graffenstaden	Headquarters and telecommunications company

6 ^e brigade légère blindée (6th light armored brigade) in Nîmes

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
1 he regiment étranger de cavalerie	1 er REC	Carpiagne	AMX-10 RC / light tank regiment
2 e rétranger d'infanterie	2 e REI	Nîmes	VBCI / Mechanized Infantry Regiment
13 e demi-brigade de la Légion étrangère	13 e DBLE	Camp du Larzac	VBCI / Mechanized Infantry Regiment
21 e régiment d'infantry de marine	21 e RIMA	Fréjus	VAB / Mechanized Infantry Regiment
1 he regiment de spahis	1 he RS	Valence	AMX-10 RC / light tank training regiment
3 e régiment d'artillerie de marine	3 e RAMA	Trp ÜbPl "Plan de Canjuers"	CAESAR / Field Artillery Regiment
1 er régiment étranger de génie	1 e REG	Laudun	Pioneer Foreign Regiment
6e compagnie de commandement et de transmissions	6 e CCT	Nîmes	Headquarters and telecommunications company

11 ^e brigade parachutiste (11th Paratrooper Brigade) in Balma

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
1 he régiment de hussards parachutistes	1 er RHP	Tarbes	AMX-10 RC ; ERC 90 / armored cavalry regiment
1 he régiment de chasseurs parachutistes	1 er RCP	Pamiers	VAB
2 e régiment étranger de parachutistes	2 e REP	Calvi	VAB
3 e régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine	3 e RPIMA	Carcassonne	VAB
8 e régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine	8 e RPIMA	Castres (Tarn)	VAB
35 e régiment d'artillerie parachutiste	35 e RAP	Tarbes	CAESAR
17 e régiment de génie parachutiste	17 e RGP	Montauban	Paratrooper Engineer Regiment
1 he régiment du train parachutiste	1 he RTP	Toulouse	Paratrooper Supply Regiment
11 e compagnie de commandement et de transmissions parachutiste	11 e CCTP	Balma	Paratrooper Headquarters and Telecommunication Company

Commandements spécialisés (Specialized Command)

The four commands are subordinate to the Commandement des forces terrestres.

Commandement des systèmes d'information et de communications (Command for system information and telecommunications) in Cesson-Sévigné

units	Short name	garrison
28 e régiment de transmissions	28 e RT	Issoire
40 e régiment de transmissions	40 e RT	Thionville
41 e régiment de transmissions	41 e RT	Douai
48 e régiment de transmissions	48 e RT	Agen
53 e régiment de transmissions	53 e RT	Luneville

Commandement du renseignement (reconnaissance command ) in Strasbourg

units	Short name	garrison	function
2 e régiment de hussards	2 e RH	Haguenau	Armored Reconnaissance Regiment
28 e groupe geographique	28 e GG	Haguenau	Topography Battalion
44 e régiment de transmissions	44 e RT	Dirty	Electronic warfare
54 e régiment de transmissions	54 e RT	Haguenau	Electronic warfare
61 e régiment d'artillerie	61 e RA	Chaumont	Drone regiment

Commandement de la logistique (Logistics Command) in Lille

units	Short name	garrison	function
121 e regiment du train	121 e RT	Linas , Montlhéry	Supply regiment
503 e regiment du train	503 e RT	Nîmes	Supply regiment
511e regiment du train	511 e RT	Auxonne	Supply regiment
515 e regiment du train	515 e RT	Brie -Forêt de la Braconne	Supply regiment
516 e regiment du train	516 e RT	Toul	Supply regiment
519 e regiment du train	519 e RT	Toulon	Maritime transport regiment
Medical regiment	RMED	Valbonne	Medical regiment
14 e regiment d'infanterie et de soutien logistique parachutiste	14 e RISLP	Toulouse	Parachute Support and Supply Regiment
24 e régiment d'infantry - battalion de réserve Ile de France	24 e RI	Vincennes	Cadre association

Commandement de la maintenance des forces (armed forces repair brigade) in Lille and Versailles

units	Short name	garrison	function
2 e régiment du matériel	2 e RMAT	Bruz	Repair regiment
3 e régiment du matériel	3 e RMAT	Muret	Repair regiment
4 e régiment du matériel	4 e RMAT	Nîmes	Repair regiment
6 e régiment du matériel	6 e RMAT	Besançon , Gresswiller	Repair regiment
7 e régiment du matériel	7 e RMAT	Lyon	Repair regiment
8 e régiment du matériel	8 e RMAT	Mourmelon , Woippy	Repair regiment

Further commands

Commandement de Aviation légère de l'armée de Terre (Light Army Aviation Command ) in Villacoublay

The “9 ^e régiment de soutien aéromobile” - 9 ^e RSAM (9th Air Support Regiment) in Montauban is directly subordinate to COM ALAT.

4 ^e brigade d'aérocombat - 4 ^e BAC (4th Air Combat Brigade ) in Clermont-Ferrand  :

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
1 he regiment d'hélicoptères de combat	1 he RHC	Base aérienne de Phalsbourg-Bourscheid	29 Gazelle 25 Puma ? NH90
3 e régiment d'hélicoptères de combat	3 e RHC	Base aérienne d'Étain-Rouvres	30 Gazelle 17 Puma
5 e régiment d'hélicoptères de combat	5 e RHC	Pau	19 Gazelle 18 Puma 7 Cougar 11 Tiger

Commandement des forces spéciales terrestres (special command of the land forces) in Pau

units	Short name	garrison	Primary equipment / function
4 e régiment d'hélicoptères des forces spéciales	4 e RHFS	Pau	Special forces helicopter regiment
13 e régiment de dragons parachutistes	13 e RDP	Martignas-sur-Jalle	Long-range reconnaissance regiment
1 he regiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine	1 er RPIMA	Bayonne	Rapid reaction regiment special operations

Commandement de la Légion étrangère (Command of the Foreign Legion) in Aubagne

units	Short name	garrison	function
1 er regiment étranger	1 er RE	Aubagne	Support regiment
4 e régiment étranger	4 e RE	Castelnaudary	Training regiment

Commandement pour le territoire national (National Territorial Command)

units	Short name	garrison	function
Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris	BSPP	Paris	Civil defense
Unité d'instruction et d'intervention de la sécurité civile number 1	UIISC 1	Nogent-le-Rotrou	Civil defense
Unité d'instruction et d'intervention de la sécurité civile number 5	UIISC 5	Corte	Civil defense
Unité d'instruction et d'intervention de la sécurité civile Numéro 7	UIISC 7	Brignoles	Civil defense
Service militaire volontaire	SMV	-	Voluntary military service
Service militaire adapté	SMA	-	Young talent organization

In the event of a defense, the COM TN also includes the military reserve.

Commandement des centres de preparation des forces (Command of the training centers)

units	Short name	garrison	function
1 he régiment de chasseurs d'Afrique	1 he RCA	TrpÜbPl "Plan de Canjuers"	Infantry training regiment
17 e groupe d'artillerie	17 e GA	Biscarrosse	Artillery training regiment
Center d'entraînement des postes de commandement	CEPC	Camp de Mailly	Training center for management tasks
Commission national de contrôle interarmes	CNCIA	Camp de Mailly
Center d'entraînement au combat 1 er groupe de chasseurs	CENTAC / 1 he GC	Camp de Mailly	Combat troop training center
Center d'entraînement aux actions in zone urbaine	CENZUB / 94 e RI	Camp de Sissonne	Training center for urban warfare with the tradition of the 94 e régiment d'infanterie
Center d'entraînement interarmes et du soutien logistique	CENTIAL / 51 e RI	Mourmelon-le-Grand	Training center for combined arms and the supply of the tradition of the / 51 e régiment d'infanterie
Center national d'entrainement commando	CNEC	Mont-Louis	National Commando Training Center with the tradition of "one he battalion parachutiste de choc"
École du combat interarmes	ECIA	Draguignan	Combat Force School for the Associated Arms

Direction centrale de la Structure intégrée du maintien en condition opérationnelle des matériels terrestres (Central Directorate for Ensuring the Maintenance of Operational Equipment of the Land Forces) in Versailles

The "Service de la maintenance industrial terrestre" (civil repair service of the land forces) (SMITer) is subordinate to the DC SIMMT.

units	Short name	garrison	function
5 e base de soutien du matériel	5 e BSMAT	Draguignan	Replenishment depot
12 e base de soutien du matériel	12 e BSMAT	Neuvy-Pailloux	Replenishment depot
13 e base de soutien du matériel	13 e BSMAT	Clermont-Ferrand	Replenishment depot

Direction des ressources humaines de l'Armée de terre (Directorate for the youth of the army)

DRHAT is responsible for recruiting for the “Lycées de la Défense”, the “Écoles militaires en France”, the Écoles de Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan and the “École nationale des sous-officiers d'active”.

Unités outre-mer et à l'étranger (units in the French overseas territories and in other countries)

units	Short name	garrison
5 e regiment de cuirassiers	5 e RC	Camp Zayed ( Abu Dhabi )
2 e régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine	2 e RPIMA	Saint-Pierre ( Reunion Island )
3 e rétranger d'infanterie	3 e REI	Kourou ( Guyane )
5 e régiment interarmes d'outre-mer	5 e RIAOM	Djibouti
6 e battalion d'infanterie de marine	6 e BIMA	Libreville ( Gabon )
9 e régiment d'infantry de marine	9 e RIMA	Cayenne ( Guyana )
33 e regiment d'infanterie de marine	33 e RIMA	Martinique / Guadeloupe
Régiment d'infanterie de marine du Pacifique - Nouvelle-Calédonie	RIMAP-NC	Nouméa ( Nouvelle-Calédonie )
Forces armées en Polynésie française / Détachement Terre Polynésie	DTP / RIMaP-P	Papeete ( French Polynesia )
Forces françaises aux Émirats arabes unis	FFEAU	Abu Dhabi
Détachement de Légion étrangère de Mayotte	DLEM	Dzaoudzi ( Mayotte )
French Forces in Côte d'Ivoire	FFCI	Abidjan ( Cote d'Ivoire )

Note on naming

The translation of the standard names is not to be taken literally, but only serves the better understanding of the German reader, since in France no formal distinctions are made between an armored brigade and an armored (Panzergrenadier) brigade. B. "2 ^e brigade blindée" with "2. armored brigade "literally translated, it is definitely what one understands in Germany under a tank brigade. Hence “2. Panzerbrigade ”- while the“ 7 ^e brigade blinde ”would be called the Panzergrenadierbrigade.

See also

• History of the French Army
• French Army (until 2015)
• Foreign Legion (since 1831)
• Marine infantry of the French Navy
• Defense cooperation agreements between France and Great Britain 2010
• Franco-German Brigade (since 1989, here under Brigade franco-allemande)
• Armée de terre (cycling team)

Web links

Commons : French Army  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website of the French Army
• Les formations de l'Armée de terre en 2016 ,
• Restructurations du Ministère de la Défense - Principales mesures 2016 ,
• "You mouvement dans les armées: une dissolution à Douai, des créations à Lille et la renaissance de la 13e DBLE" , article La Voix du Nord du 3 août 2015.
• Defense.gouv site officiel

Footnotes

1. ↑ High Command of the Land Forces
2. ↑ Promoted from Battalion to Regiment on March 10, 2018
3. ↑ organization-des-forces