Country France Type Armour | Branch French Army Role Amphibious warfare | |
 | ||
Active 1943 - 1947
1963 - 1976
1976 - 1999
1999 - 2013
2013 - present Size 6,154 men
R.I.C.M
1 R.I.Ma
2 R.I.Ma
3 R.I.Ma
126 R.I.
11 R.A.Ma
6 R.G. | ||
The 9th Marine Infantry Brigade (French: 9e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine, 9e BIMa) is a light armoured, amphibious unit of the Troupes de marine of the French Army, similar to the 6th Light Armoured Brigade (French: 6e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6e BLB) of the Commandement de la force d'action terrestre.
Contents
In July 1963, the 9e Marine Infantry Division was created in Brittany. On 1 January 1976, the 9th Division became the 9th Marine Infantry Division (9e division d'Infanterie de Marine, 9e DIMa), attached to the land intervention force, then the Rapid Action Force from 1983. On 1 July 1999, the 9th Marine Infantry Division became the 9th Marine Light Armoured Brigade. On 1 January 2013, the unit was renamed and downsized to the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade (French: 9e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine, 9e BIMa).
Creation and different nominations
History
The 9e is heir to the Blue Division which illustrated capability during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, in particular during the Battle of Bazeilles and the 9th Colonial Infantry Division, part of the Free French Forces , which distinguished themselves in the apprehending of Elba in June 1944 and the disembarking in Provence on August 15 of the same year. The Division then made way to Indochina, where it was placed dormant (without being dissolved) in December 1947. The unit was reactivated in July 1963 in Brittany under the designation of 9th Brigade. On January 1, 1976, the division was baptized as 9th Marine Infantry Division 9e DIMa. Accordingly, the division was attached to the terrestrial intervention force, then the Rapid Reaction Force, FAR since 1983. On July 1, 1999, the unit was restructured in a brigade and was designated as 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (BLBMa). On January 1, 2013, the brigade was named to the current designation as the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade (9e BIMa).
The headquarter staff is stationed in Poitiers since July 1, 2010. The motto of the brigade is « Semper et Ulbique », Latin for « Always and All over ».
The « 9th » illustrated capability on all exterior theatres of operations where France has been engaged since World War II: Indochina, Lebanon, Kuwait, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Congo, Tchad, Ivory Coast. From October 2010 to May 2011, the Brigade armed essentially Brigade La Fayette in Afghanistan by projecting a headquarter staff ( composed 50% of Marines, Bigors, Marine sapeurs of the 9e BIMa) and the tactical interam groupment of Richelieu armed by the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2e RIMa. On January 2013, elements of the Brigade took part in Operation Serval.
In all combat engagement theatres around the globe, the 9e BIMa illustrated worth of the oldest traditions of the French Troop de Marine.
Missions
The principal mission of the 9e BIMa, for the which the brigade is apt to revolve around:
The 9e BIMa is present around the globe and also relieves missions of short duration such as in Senegal, Guyana in Mayotte and Djibouti. The 9eBIMa actively participates to missions with the French Navy as the land terrestrial land component of Amphibious groups.
The 9e BIMa is twinned with 3rd Royal Marines Commando Brigade of the Royal Navy. Within this title, from May 28 to June 1, 2012, the center of amphibious operations of the headquarter staff embarked on BPC Mistral with the designated exercise Narval. 10 officers of the headquarter staff of the (twin brigade) participated in light of preparation to exercise Corsican Lion which took place from October 17 to October 26, 2012.