Active 1943
1951
2016 Allegiance French Army Size 30000 | Country France Type Interarm Division Garrison/HQ Marseille | |
 | ||
The 3rd Armoured Division (French: 3e Division Blindée, 3e DB) is a unit of the French Army.
Contents
- Creation and different nominations
- Heraldy
- 1943 to 1946
- 1951 to 1991
- Organigram in 1991
- 1999 to 2015
- Since 2016
- Composition in 2016
- 2e brigade blinde 2nd Armored Brigade
- 6e brigade lgre blinde 6th Light Armoured Brigade
- 11e brigade parachutiste 11th Parachute Brigade
- References
The Division is the heir 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA) formed in 1943 and dissolved in 1946.
The 3rd Armoured Division was created in 1951 then dissolved in 1991. The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM), created in 1999 became designated as 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (3e BLB), inherited the traditions of the division.
The 3rd Division (3e DIV) was recreated on June 20 2016 within the cadre of the reorganization of the French Army.
Creation and different nominations
Heraldy
It was under the signs of latin traditions that général de Monsabert wanted to place the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division 3e DIA during creation on May 1 1943.
The insignia of "Victory" (French: La Victoire) of Cirta (province of Numidia, today Constantine (provence in Algeria)) is supported by three crescents representing the Muslims, which composed the majority of the division, Allied to the "métros" (blue white red).Origin of the insignia, La Victoire de Cirta
The "Victory" (French: La Victoire) was a Roman goddess protector of the Emperors that the Legio III Augusta de Cirta particularly venerated. She was found within a search at Constantine in the 19th century.
The motto of the 3rd Armoured Division is : « Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs » in French which translates literally to « More honor than the honors ». The motto of the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade was : « Un seul but : La victoire ».
1943 to 1946
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA), formed on April 15 1943, illustrated capability during World War II under the orders général de Monsabert puis du général Guillaume. The division was dissolved on April 15 1946.
1951 to 1991
The 3rd Division was reconstituted in 1951 at the corps of the French Forces in Germany (French: Forces françaises en Allemagne, FFA). This was a grand unit of almost 15000 men covering the Western part of Germany and comprising three brigades:
the division became the 3rd Armoured Division in 1978. Three infantry regiments, two tank reigments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, and one command and support regiment. During the transformation of the FFA into FFECSA (French: forces françaises et élément civil stationnés en Allemagne) (French Forces and Civilian Element), the division was redimensioned and dissolved in 1991.
Organigram in 1991
Two tank regiments, three infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, one command and support regiment:
Based in Fribourg-en-Brisgau.
Support:
Other support :
1999 to 2015
The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM) created in 1999 retook traditions. The headquarter staff was based in Limoges. In 2011, the headquarter staff of the 3e BM garrisoned at Clermont-Ferrand.
On March 18 2014, the 3rd Mechanised Brigade became designated as the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (3e BLB).
Since 2016
The 3rd Division (3e DIV) was recreated during a ceremony on June 20 2016. Interarm, the division is formed of three brigades part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division, units stationed in outre-mer and overseas. Headquarter staff is garrisoned in Marseille.
Composition in 2016
The 3rd Division is subordinated to the Commandement des Forces Terrestres CFT. At creation, the division managed 25 regiments, 4 headquarter staffs and one instruction school. Effectifs form 25000 men and 4000 reservists in:
2e brigade blindée – 2nd Armored Brigade
Based in Illkirch-Graffenstaden.
6e brigade légère blindée – 6th Light Armoured Brigade
Based in Nîmes.
11e brigade parachutiste – 11th Parachute Brigade
Based in Balma.