Girish Mahajan (Editor)

11th Parachute Brigade (France)

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Country
  
France

Garrison/HQ
  
Balma, Toulouse

Branch
  
French Army

11th Parachute Brigade (France)

Active
  
11th Light Intervention Division (1961-1963) 11th Division (1963-1971) 11th Parachute Division (1971-1999) 11th Parachute Brigade (1999-present)

Type
  
French Airborne Brigade

Size
  
8,500 1 RCP 1 RHP 1 RTP 2 REP 3 RPIMa 8 RPIMa 11 CCTP 17 RGP 35 RAP

The 11th Parachute Brigade (French: 11e Brigade Parachutiste, 11e BP) is a unit of the French Army, dominantly infantry, part of the French Airborne Units and specialized in air combat and air assault. The Brigade's primary vocation is to project in emergency in order to contribute a first response to a situational crisis. An elite unit of the French Army, the brigade is commanded by a général de brigade (Brigadier General) with headquarters based in Balma near Toulouse. The Brigade's soldiers and airborne Marines wear the red beret (amaranth) except for the Legionnaires of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment who wear Green beret of the French Foreign Legion.

Contents

The 11th Parachute Brigade originally the 11th Light Intervention Division (11e DLI) was created from airborne units contingents of the 10th Parachute Division 10e D.P and 25th Parachute Division 25e D.P of France, both dissolved following the Algiers putsch of 1961 during the Algerian War.

Creation and different nominations

  • On May 1, 1961; the 11th Light Intervention Division (French: 11e division légère d'intervention) was created from dissolved airborne units of the 10th and 25th Parachute Division.
  • On December 1, 1963; the 11th Division was created by merging the 11th Light Intervention Division and the 9th Brigade 9e B.D.E.
  • On April 1, 1971; the 11th Division became the 11th Parachute Division (11e DP).
  • On June 1999; the 11th Parachute Division became the 11th Parachute Brigade (11e BP).
  • 11th Light Intervention Division - 11e DLI

    the 11th Light Interventtion Division was created on May 1, 1961, from airborne elements of the 10th Parachute Division and 25th Parachute Division, both dissolved following the Algiers putsch of 1961, and from the 11th Intervention Division (11e DI), set at the time to form the 3rd Parachute Division. The division commanded by General Marzloff rejoins the metropole on July 1, 1961. On August 1, 1963, the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment leaves the Division and takes garrison in Lorraine at Dieuze and Nancy.

    Order of battle

    Since creation the 11th Light Intervention Division is constituted of the following:

  • Command and Support Structure
  • 61st Headquarters Company (61e CQG)
  • 61st Transmission Company (61e CT)
  • French Army Light Aviation (ALAT) Platoon
  • Transport Group 513 (GT 513)
  • 61st Airborne Engineer Company (61e CGAP)
  • 61st Repair Division Company (61e CRD)
  • 61st Medical Company (61e CMA)
  • 61st Provision Section (61e SRI)
  • Parachure Infantry
  • 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP)
  • 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (9e RCP)
  • 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (3e RPMIa)
  • 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (6e RPMIa)
  • 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (8e RPMIa)
  • Parachute Artillery
  • 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e RALP)
  • Parachute Cavalry
  • 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (1er RHP)
  • At the time, regiments of the French Foreign Legion did not compromise the newly enacted division. On October 1, 1963; the division integrated the BOMAP (Airborne Operational Mobile Base).

    11th Division - 11e DIV

    On December 1, 1963, the 11th Light Intervention Division merged with the 9th Colonial Infantry Division and became the 11th Division. Starting July 1966 and excluding elements of Division support; the unit activiated and operated around three distinct Brigades, the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade at Saint-Malo, the 20th Airborne Brigade (20e BAP) at Toulouse and the 25th Airborne Brigade (25e BAP) at Pau.

    A support battalion, the 61e BS was created on February 1, 1964, at Auch. The 61e BS supervised health services and provisions in the Division. In March, the 61st Transmission Airborne Brigade (61e BTAP) steps in at Pau and regroups the existing transmission companies.

    On July 1966, the 11th Division reached 16,000 men and was composed of two brigades (the 20e BAP at Toulouse and the 25e BAP at Pau) forming five parachute regiments.

    Order of battle

  • Command and Support Structure
  • 61st Headquarters Company (61e CQG)
  • 61st Transmission Airborne Battalion (61e BTAP)
  • 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (1er RHP)
  • Régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine (RICM), formerly part of the Moroccan Division
  • 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e RAP)
  • 11th Marine Artillery Regiment (11e RAMa) part of current 9th Marine Infantry Brigade
  • 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment (17e RGAP)
  • 5th Helicopter Combat Regiment (5e RHC); Light Aviation Group of the 11th Division (GALDIV 11)
  • Air Mobil Command Post 50/351 (PCAM)
  • Airborne Operational Mobile Base (BOMAP)
  • 61st Support Battalion (61e BS)
  • 61e CMLAP
  • 11e CLRM
  • 511e CRRM
  • 11e and 61e SEI
  • 9th Outremer Brigade (9e BOM)
  • 1st Marine Infantry Regiment (1e RIMa)
  • 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment (2e RIMa)
  • 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment (3e RIMa)
  • 409e BS
  • 20th Airborne Brigade (20e BAP)
  • 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (9e RCP)
  • 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (3e RPMIa)
  • 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (8e RPMIa)
  • CLT N5
  • 25th Airborne Brigade (25e BAP)
  • 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP)
  • 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (6e RPMIa)
  • CLT N6
  • 11th Parachute Division - 11e DP

    The 11th division disappeared on April 1, 1971, to give formation to the 11th Parachute Division at Toulouse. The 9th Outremer Brigade (9e BOM) left the Division and the 20th Airborne Brigade (20e BAP), the 25th Airborne Brigade (25e BAP) became subsequently the 1st and 2nd Parachute Brigades and integrated each one support battalion. The three support regiments were reorganized in two interam regiments of intervention that conserved nevertheless their original nominations (1st Parachute Hussar Regiment and the 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment). The 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment disappeared.

    Order of battle

    On July 1, 1971, the 11th Parachute Division is composed of the following:

  • Command and Support Structure
  • 61st Headquarter Squadron (61e EQG)
  • 61st Transmission Company (61e CT)
  • 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment (5e RHC); Light Aviation Group Division (GALDIV 11)
  • Airborne Operational Mobile Base (BOMAP)
  • Air Mobile Command Post 50/351 (PCAM)
  • 1st Parachute Brigade (1re BP)
  • 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (9e RCP)
  • 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (3e RPMIa)
  • 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (8e RPMIa)
  • 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e RAP)
  • 420th Command and Support Battalion (420e BCS)
  • 2nd Parachute Brigade (2e BP)
  • 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP)
  • 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP)
  • 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (6e RPMIa)
  • 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (1er RHP)
  • 425th Command and Support Battalion (425e BCS)
  • On August 1, 1973; the 61st Headquarter Squadron and the 61st Transmission Company were regrouped and form the 61e BCT. The following year in 1974, the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment was recreated and the interarm regiments find their specialities. On August 1, 1974, the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1e RPIMa) was reattached to the Division.

    Units belonging to the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) and the 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e RAP) took part in Operation Tacaud starting from 1978 in Tchad.

    Still in 1978, and within the cadre of military cooperation with Zaïre which anticipates assistance and formation, the 2nd Foreign Prachute Regiment is parachuted during the Battle of Kolwezi, and participated in alliance with Belgium Paratroopers to the Rescue of Kolwezi. During this intervention, two teams of the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment and one team from the 1st Marine Parachute Infantry Regiment (1e RPIMa) were deployed to forward operating terrain on observation and reconnaissance missions.

    During this time, France was manned with an intervention force of 20,000 strong composed of the 11th Parachute Division, the 9th Marine Infantry Division (9e DIMa), aerial forces and Naval contingents.

    On October 23, 1983; one company of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment stationed in Lebanon within the Multinational Force in Lebanon was victim to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and occasions 55 paratrooper deaths within the ranks of the 1er RCP and the 3 paratroopers within the ranks of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

    In the aftermath of the Cold War, the French Army reorganised and the 11e DP which became the 11th Parachute Brigade in 1999.

    11th Parachute Brigade - 11e BP

    The 11th Parachute Brigade was formed in 1999 at Balma (Balman Toulouse Garrison) on the base of the 11 Parachute Division on the occasion of the restructuring of the French Army. The brigade was engaged in Afghanistan and Africa.

    Africa

    The 11th Parachute Brigade and mainly the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP took part in Operation Licorne in the Ivory Coast.

    Afghanistan

    The parachute brigade intervened in Afghanistan starting 2006 within and part of the French Detachment of NATO International Force. The brigade was relieved in September 2007 by the mountain infantry Alpines Chasseurs of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27e BIM).

    On August 18, 2008; a section of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (8e RPMIa) lost eight men during the Ambush of Uzbin.

    The paratroopers of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP) made up the first rotation. The first rotation were in place by Sunday May 1, 2011, in the region of Kapisa Province and four more rotations will follow. A total of 650 military personnel were scheduled for a zone mission securitization.

    On May 10, 2011; two combat parachute companies of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1e RCP), almost 200 men, commanded by général Maurin, commander of the 11th Parachute Brigade, were projected East of the country towards Nijrab District for a mission of months. As a result, 1000 paratroopers were engaged in Afghanistan, hailing principally from the 11th Parachute Brigade and mainly the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment while being supported by the 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment, the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment, 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment and the 1st Train Parachute Regiment.

    While preparing this mission, the 11th Parachute Brigade conducted long rehearsals of realistic situational outcomes and that in order to achieve the operational readiness of the military that constitute the command of the brigade La Fayette from April to October 2001. In Afghanistan, these reinforcements served from a 6-month period to a year at Nijrab District in the provence of North of Kapisa while being part of and attached to the Tactical Interam Group of Kapisa (TIGK).

    As of June 20, 2011; the 11th Parachute Brigade is the brigade that endured the most losses with 18 casualties in Afghanistan.

    Subordinations

    The 11th Parachute Brigade, the only parachute brigade of the French Army, is at the disposition of the Ground Forces Command. The brigade does not include all the parachutes regiments of France, the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa) and the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP) are attached to the French Army Special Forces Brigade while the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e RPIMa) stationed permanently in outre-mer near the island of the Réunion was attached at the disposition of the Armed Forces Zones of the Indian Ocean (FAZSOI).

    Order of battle

    the 11th Prachute Brigade is a unit composed primarily in majority of infantry with capable elements of artillery, light cavalry and combat engineer regiments. The brigade also includes Commando Parachute Group, GCP ; an elite operational unit belonging to the circle of French Special Forces.

    At the beginning of the year 2000, the brigade was located in south-west of France except for the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP situated in Calvi in Corse. The brigade is 8500 men, women and legionnaires strong and forms a central command with 8 operational regiments within the following composition:

  • Central Command
  • General Headquarters in Balma.
  • 11th Parachute Command Transmission Company 11e PCTC at Balma.
  • Commando Parachute Group Teams.
  • Combat Parachute Regiments
  • 1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1er RHP) Parachute Hussar Regiment in Tarbes with ERC 90.
  • 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1er RCP) Parachute Chasseur Regiment in Pamiers.
  • 2e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) French Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment in Calvi.
  • 3e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa) Marine Parachute Regiment in Carcassonne.
  • 8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (8e RPIMa) Marine Parachute Regiment in Castres.
  • Combat Parachute Support Regiments
  • 1st Train Parachute Regiment, Parachute Supply Regiment in Toulouse
  • 35e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste (35e RAP) Parachute Artillery Regiment in Tarbes with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars.
  • 17e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (17e RGP) Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban.
  • Since 2013

    In January 2013, 250 French paratroopers from the 11th Parachute Brigade jumped into Northern Mali to support an offensive to capture the city of Timbuktu.

    Mission

    The 11th Parachute Brigade is a light mobile brigade capable of projecting in emergency around the world in order to contribute a first response to a situational crisis.

    Vehicles

  • ERC-90 Sagaie
  • Véhicule Blindé Léger Panhard (VBL)
  • Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB)
  • Airmobil Logistical Vehicle Auverland A3F (ALV)
  • Small Protected Vehicle (SPV)
  • All Terrain Vehicle Peugeot P4 (ATVP P4)
  • Light Recon Support Vehicle (LRSV)
  • TRM 2000 Truck (TRM)
  • Vehicle Transport Logistique (VTL)
  • Tracto-chargeur TC 910
  • Mini benne TWAITES TND3
  • Caterpillar D3 air-transportable
  • Armament

    Artillery
  • CAESAR self-propelled howitzers
  • 120mm F1 Mortars
  • Mistral Surface to Air Missiles
  • Support Weapons
  • 81 mm Mortar
  • Anti-Tank Firing Missile Milan (Milan)
  • Anti-Tank Firing Missile Eryx (Eryx)
  • Small Arms
  • Anti-Tank 84mm Rocket (AT4)
  • FN Light Machine Gun (Minimi)
  • 51mm Grenade Launcher F1 Model (GLF1)
  • 12.7mm High Caliber Precision (12.7 PGM II)
  • 7.62 FRF2 Precision Rifle (FRF2)
  • 5.56 Famas Assault Rifle F1 (FAMAS)
  • Traditions

    Except for the Legionnaires of the 1e REG, 2e REG, 2e 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.

    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 grounded by a Marine Anchor.

    References

    11th Parachute Brigade (France) Wikipedia