The history of French

airborne Airborne or Airborn may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis * ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film * ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...

units began in the

Interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the First World War to the beginning of the Second World War. The interwar period was relative ...

when the

French Armed Forces The French Armed Forces (french: Forces armées françaises) encompass the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Force and the Gendarmerie of the French Republic. The President of France heads the armed forces as Chief of the Armed Forces. France ...

formed specialized

paratroopers A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during Worl ...

units. First formed in the

French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Ar ...

, they were rapidly integrated into the

French Army History Early history The first permanent army, paid with regular wages, instead of feudal levies, was established under Charles VII of France, Charles VII in the 1420 to 1430s. The Kings of France needed reliable troops during and after the ...

French Navy The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...

National Gendarmerie The National Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie nationale, ) is one of two national law enforcement forces of France, along with the National Police. The Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Mini ...

and from the

British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, s ...

. Some were later included in the postwar

French Army

Parachute and airborne divisions

* 24th Airborne Division (24^e DAP, 25th Motorized Infantry Division 25^e DIM, then 25th Airborne Division 25^e DAP). * 25th Airborne Division (25th Motorised Infantry Division 25^e DIM; then, 25th Airborne Division 25^e DAP dissolved). * 25th Parachute Division (25th Parachute Division 25^e DP, dissolved). * 10th Parachute Division (10th Parachute Division 10e DP, dissolved). * 11th Light Intervention Division (11th Light Intervention Division 11^e DLI formed from 10th Parachute Division 10^e DP and 25th Parachute Division 25^e DP). * 11th Division (11th Division 11^e DIV formed from merger of 11th Light Intervention Division 11^e DLI and 9^e Brigade 9^e BDE). * 11th Parachute Division (11th Division 11^e DIV, then 11th Parachute Division 11^e DP). *

11th Parachute Brigade The 11th Parachute Brigade (french: 11e Brigade Parachutiste, 11e BP) is a unit of the French Army, predominantly infantry, part of the French Airborne Units and specialized in air combat and air assault. The brigade's primary vocation is to pr ...

(11th Parachute Division 11^eDP, then 11th Parachute Brigade 11^e BP).

Parachute Brigades and Groups

* The

(11^e B.P) of the French Army includes: **

Commando Parachute Group The Commando Parachute Group (french: Groupement des Commandos Parachutistes, GCP) is a unit of elite pathfinders within the French Army's 11th Parachute Brigade (11e BP). These pathfinders are paratroopers drawn from the various regiments of t ...

(G.C.P Teams) ***

1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (french: 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes, 1er R.C.P) is the oldest and among the most decorated airborne regiments of the French Army. Established in the French Army in 1943 and formerly part of the Fr ...

, (1^er RCP) (G.C.P

commando Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin">40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured A commando is a combatant, or operativ ...

Teams). ***

1st Parachute Hussar Regiment The 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (french: 1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes, 1er RHP) is an airborne cavalry unit in the French Army, founded in 1720 by Hungarian noble Ladislas Ignace de Bercheny. It is stationed in Tarbes and is a p ...

, (1^er RHP) (G.C.P Teams). *** 1st Train Parachute Regiment (1^er RTP). ***

2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP) is the only airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of the four infantry regiments of the 11th Parachute Brigade and part o ...

, (2^e REP) (G.C.P Teams). *** 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, (3^e RPIMa) (G.C.P Teams). ***

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (french: 8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, (8e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the French Army. The 8e RPIMa was created on 28 February 1951 and the men wear the red beret. It is par ...

, (8^e RPIMa) (G.C.P Teams). *** 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment, (7^e RGP) (G.C.P Teams). ***

35th Parachute Artillery Regiment The 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (french: 35e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste, 35e RAP) is the only airborne artillery unit of the French Army forming the air artillery component of the 11th Parachute Brigade. It is based in Tarbes ...

, (35^e RAP) (G.C.P Teams). * Airborne Groupment, GAP ().

Parachute Demi-Brigades

* SAS Parachute Demi-Brigade (D-B.P-SAS, later 1^er RPIMa). * Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (D-B.CCP, later 1^er RPIMa). * 1st Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade () (1^re DBCCP, later 1^er RPIMa). * 2nd Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (2^e DBCCP, later 1^er RPIMa). * Parachute Marching Demi-Brigade () (DBMP - dissolved). * 11th Parachute Choc Demi-Brigade ( 11^e Demi-Brigade Parachutiste de Choc) (11^e D-B.PC - dissolved).

Parachute centers of formation and schools

* ) (BETAP), Base School of Airborne Troops . * School of Airborne Troops (ETAP). * School Brigade of Colonial Paratroopers. * National Parachute Instruction Center (NPIC)

Orléans Orléans (;"Orleans"
(US) and

Legion parachute companies, battalions and regiments

* Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (C.P. du 3e R.E.I. attached to the III^e/1^er R.C.P - dissolved then 1^er B.E.P). * Foreign Air Supply Company (CERA - dissolved). * 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (1re C.E.P de M.L - dissolved). *

1st Foreign Parachute Battalion The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: 1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes (1er BEP)) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion formed from the Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment. History 1er Bataillon E ...

(1e BEP, III Formations; then, 1^er R.E.P - dissolved). *

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 1er Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes, 1er REP) was an airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army which dated its origins to 1948. The regiment fought in the First Indochina War as th ...

(1e REP - dissolved). *

3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion The 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: Foreign Legion formed based on the Parachute Instruction Company (C.I.P) of the 7th combat company of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment">1st Foreign Infantry Regiment. History, Creation a ...

(3^e B.E.P, IV Formations with 1^er B.E.P and 2^e B.E.P; then, 3^e R.E.P - dissolved). * 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment (3^e R.E.P - dissolved, merged with 2^e B.E.P, then 2^e R.E.P). *

2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: 2e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 2e B.E.P) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion in the French Army initially composed of volunteers of the 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion ...

(2^e B.E.P, V Formations with 3^e B.E.P then 2^e R.E.P - dissolved). *

, 2^e R.E.P,Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
/ref> (

Teams) File:Cie para 3REI.JPG, C.P du 3^e R.E.I in the 1^er B.E.P and 1^er R.E.P File:Insigne1erBEP.jpg, 1^er B.E.P File:Insigne 2e régiment étranger de parachutistes.jpg, 2^e B.E.P File:Insigne3REP.jpg, 3^e B.E.P & 3^e R.E.P File:Insigne du 1° REP.jpg, 1^er R.E.P File:Insigne 1°CEPML.jpg, 1^re C.E.P de M.L of the 1^er B.E.P File:CERA.JPG, C.E.R.A

Parachute (Airborne) Commandos of the Foreign Legion

Parachute

Commando Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin">40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured A commando is a combatant, or operativ ...

s of the

(11^e BP) include: *

(2^e REP) ** GCP Teams (

, french: Groupement des Commandos Parachutistes), these

Airborne Airborne or Airborn may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis * ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film * ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...

Commandos are elite operational pathfinder units specializing in

Reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops ( skirmishe ...

and Deep Action. Parachute, Underwater Demolition and Diving Units of the

6th Light Armoured Brigade The 6th Light Armoured Brigade (french: 6e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6e BLB) is one of the eight inter-arm brigades which are at the disposition of the '' Commandement des Forces Terrestres''. The headquarters of the brigade is situated in Nîmes ...

(french: 6^e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6^e BLB) include: * 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1^er REG) ** PCG Teams (Combat Engineer Divers, french: Plongeurs du Combat du Génie), former DINOPS Teams of Nautical Subaquatic Intervention Operational Detachment specialized in Parachute, Underwater Demolition and Diving. Parachute, Underwater Demolition, Diving Units and Commandos of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27^e MIB) include: * 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2^e REG) ** PCG Teams (Combat Engineer Divers, french: Plongeurs du Combat du Génie), former DINOPS Teams of Nautical Subaquatic Intervention Operational Detachment specialized in Parachute, Underwater Demolition and Diving. ** Mountain Commando Groups (GCM) File:Insigne 27e brigade d'infanterie de montagne.svg, 27^e B.I.M , 2^e R.E.G

Troupes de Marine

Marine Infantry Parachute Regiments

* 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment ( 1^re CIA, 1^re CP, PPL, 1^re CCP, French SAS, 1^er BIA, 4^e BIA, 2^e RCP or 4th French SAS, 1^er BC.SAS, 1^er BP.SAS, 2^e BP.SAS, 1^er BPARA.SAS, 1^er BCCP, 1^er GCCP, 1^er BPC, 1^re D-B.P.SAS, D-B.CCP, D-B.CCP.SAS, 1^re DBCCP, 2^e DBCCP, B.P.Colonial BPC, BEPC, BP-OM, B.P.I.Ma, then 1^er R.P.I.Ma part of

COS Cos, COS, CoS, coS or Cos. may refer to: Mathematics, science and technology * Carbonyl sulfide * Class of service (CoS or COS), a network header field defined by the IEEE 802.1p task group * Class of service (COS), a parameter in telephone syst ...

). *

2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 2e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the French Army created in 1947. The regiment is heir to the traditions of the 2nd Colonial Command ...

(2^e BCCP, 2^e B.P.Colonial 2^e BPC, 2nd Colonial Parachute Regiment 2^e RPC, then 2^e RPIMa). * 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (3^e BCCP, 3^e GCCP, 3^e BCCP, 3^e B.P.Colonial 3^e BPC, 3rd Colonial Parachute Regiment 3^e RPC, then 3^e RPIMa), (

Teams). * ( (5^e BPIC, 5^e BCCP, 5^eBPC, 5^e BPIMa - dissolved). *

6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (french: 6e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 6e RPIMa ) is an airborne infantry unit of the French Army. Creation and different nominations since 1951 * May 16, 1948: creation at ...

(6^e BCCP, 6^e GCCP, 6^eB.P.Colonial 6^e BPC, 6th Colonial Parachute Regiment 6^e RPC, then 6^e RPIMa - dissolved). * ) (7^e BCCP, 7^eGCCP, 7^e BCCP, 7^e BPC, 4^eBCCP, 7th Colonial Parachute Regiment 7^e RPC, 7^e RPIMa, then 7^e RPCS - dissolved). *

(8^e B.P.Colonial 8^e BPC, 8^e GCP, 8^e B.P.Choc 8^e BPC, 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment 8^e RPC, then 8^e RPIMa), (

Teams).

Battalions and Colonial Parachute Groups

* 1st Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (1e BCCP, 1e GCCP, 1e BPC, then B.P.C.). * 2nd Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (2e BCCP, 2e GCCP, 2e BPC, then 2e RPC). * 3rd Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (3e BCCP, 3e BPC, then 3e RPC, 3e RPIMa). * 4th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (4e BCCP - dissolved). * 5th Colonial Parachute Infantry Battalion (5e BPIC - dissolved). * 5th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (5e BCCP then 5^e BPC - dissolved). * 6th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (6e régiment parachutiste d'infanterie de marine) (6^e BCCP, 6^e GCCP then 6^e BPC, then 6^e R.P.C - 6^e R.P.I.Ma). * 7th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (7e BCCP, 7e GCCP then 7e BPC - dissolved). *

8th Colonial Parachute Battalion 8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9. In mathematics 8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number o ...

(8^e Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux) (8^e BPC, then 8^e R.P.C - 8^e R.P.I.Ma). * 10th Colonial Parachute Battalion (10e BPC). * Colonial Group Parachute Commando of Madagascar (GCCP Madagascar - dissolved). * Colonial Group of Parachute Commandos of Afrique équatoriale française AEF (GCCP AEF - dissolved). * Marine Infantry Parachute Company (CPIMA and 6^e CPIMa - dissolved). File:Insigne du 1° BCCP.jpg, 1^er B.C.C.P File:Insigne du 2° BCCP.jpg, 2^e B.C.C.P File:Insigne du 3e BCCP.jpg, 3^e B.C.C.P File:Insigne du 3° RPC.jpg, 3^e R.P.C File:Insigne du 5° BPIC.JPG, 5^e B.P.I.C File:Insigne du 5° BCCP.JPG, 5^e B.C.C.P File:Insigne du 6° BCCP.jpg, 6^e B.C.C.P File:Insigne du 7° BCCP.jpg, 7^e B.C.C.P File:Insigne du 8° BPC.jpg, 8^e B.P.C File:Insigne du 8e GCP.JPG, 8^e G.C.P File:Insigne du 8e RPC.JPG, 8^e R.P.C File:Insigne du 10° BPC.jpg, 10^e B.P.C File:Insigne du GCCPM.JPG, G.C.C.P.M File:Insigne du GCCP AEF.jpg, G.C.C.P A.E.F File:Insigne de la CPIMA.JPG, C.P.I.Ma

Parachute Artillery

* 5th Airborne Artillery Campaign Regiment (20^e RAP, 5^e RAP, 5^e RACAP - dissolved). * 6th Light Parachute Artillery Regiment (6^e RALP - dissolved). * 20th Light Parachute Artillery Regiment (20^e RALP - dissolved; then, 20th Parachute Group Artillery, 20^e GAP - dissolved). *

(35^e R.A, 35^e RALP, then 35^e RAP), (

Teams). File:Insigne régimentaire du 5e Régiment d’Artillerie de Campagne Aéroporté.jpg, 5^e R.A.C.A.P File:Insigne régimentaire du 35e régiment d'artillerie parachutistes.jpg, 35^e R.A.P

Parachute Cavalry

( 1^er RHP), (

Teams). *

13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment The 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes ( en, 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment) or 13e RDP is a special reconnaissance regiment of the French Army. It is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, the latter itself being under the Spec ...

( 13^e RDP). File:Insigne régimentaire du 1er régiment de hussards parachutistes.jpg, 1^er R.H.P File:Insigne du 13e RDP.jpg, 13^e R.D.P

Parachute Engineer

* 17th Parachute Engineer Battalion (17^e BGAP - dissolved). * 61st and 71st Parachute Engineer Battalions of the

Far East The ''Far East'' was a European term to refer to the geographical regions that includes East and Southeast Asia as well as the Russian Far East to a lesser extent. South Asia is sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons. The t ...

(Extrême-Orient) (61^e BG and 71^e BG - dissolved). * 60th, 61st and 75th Parachute Engineer Companies (60^e CGAP, 61^e CGAP, 75^e CGAP - dissolved). * 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment ( 17^e RGAP, then 17^e RGP), (

Teams).

Parachute Infantry

Patrol Chasseurs

* (5^e BCAP, 5th Patrol Chasseur Battalion - dissolved). * ) (10^e BPCP, 10th Patrol Chasseur Battalion - dissolved). File:5° BCAP.jpg, 5^e B.C.A.P File:10° BPCP.jpg, 10^e B.P.C.P

General Parachute Infantry

* (18^e RIPC, "18th Parachute Infantry Regiment" - dissolved). * (21^e RIAP, " 21st Parachute Infantry Regiment " - dissolved).

French Air Force Commando de l'Air, Parachute Chasseur, British Army Special Air Service (S.A.S) & 1^er R.P.I.Ma

/ 1st Air Infantry Battalion (french: 1^e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (601^e G.I.A, 602^e G.I.A, 1^re C.I.A, 1^er BCP, then 1^er RCP), (

Teams). *

2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment The 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment (french: 2e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) or 2e RCP, is one of the most decorated French units of the Second World War, the only land unit awarded the red fourragère in that war, including six citation ...

/4th Air Infantry Battalion (french: 2^e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (4^e BIA, 2^e RCP SAS, then 1^er RPIMa ''French''); also known as 4th Special Air Service of

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkha ...

and assigned to

Special Air Service Troops The Special Air Service Troops was a brigade sized formation of the Special Air Service, which was founded on 7 January 1944 in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. The formation was also known as the SAS Brigade. The brigade was a mu ...

). *

3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment The 3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment (french: 3e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) or 3e RCP was a French unit of Second World War known in the British Army as the 3rd SAS Regiment and originally named the 3rd Air Infantry Battalion. Involved ...

/3rd Air Infantry Battalion (french: 3^e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) (3^e BIA, 3^e RCP, 2^e RCP SAS, then 1^er RPIMa ''French''); also known as 3rd Special Air Service of British Army and was assigned to

). * 4th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (french: 4^e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes), (4^e RCP - dissolved). * 5th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (french: 5^e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes), (5^e RCP - dissolved). *

9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment The 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (french: 9e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes, 9e RCP) was an airborne unit of the French Army that was part of the French Airborne Units and all three histories of the 10th Parachute Division, 25th Para ...

(french: 9^e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes), (9^e RCP, merged with 1^er RCP). * ('14th Parachute Chasseur Regiment' (14^e RCP - dissolved). * ("18th Parachute Chasseur Regiment") (18^e RCP - dissolved). File:Insigne du 1°RCP.jpg, 1^er R.C.P Image:Insigne du 1° BCCP SAS.jpg, Insignia of the 2^e R.C.P, 1^er B.C.C.P-SAS and 1^er B.P.C File:Insigne du 3° RCP.jpg, 3^e R.C.P or 3rd French

Special Air Service The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling and in 1950, it was reconstituted as a corps. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-te ...

of H.M.'s British Army File:Insigne du 3° bataillon du 2° RCP.jpg, 3^e Bataillon du 2^e R.C.P or 4th French

of H.M.'s British Army Patch de bras du 3e RCP.JPG, File:Insigne de béret SAS Tissu.jpg, 3rd ( 3^e R.C.P) and 4th ( 2^e R.C.P) French

of H.M.'s

File:Insigne en tissu des Forces Française Libre..jpg, Para Chasseur Company of Free French Forces (F.F.L) File:Ecusson des parachutites SAS de la France Libre.jpg, F.F.L.-SAS reserved for SAS paratroopers of Free France 1940-1945 File:Insigne du 9° RCP.jpg, 9^e R.C.P File:Insigne du 14° RCP.jpg, 14^e R.C.P File:Insigne du 18° RCP.JPG, 18^e R.C.P Wings SAS.jpg,

Shock Paratroopers

* 1st Shock Battalion (french: 1^er Bataillon de Choc) (1^er BC - dissolved). * 2nd Shock Battalion/ ''Bataillon Janson-de-Sailly'' or Bataillon Gayardon (2^e BC - dissolved). * 3rd Shock Battalion / Commando Group of France (3^e BC - dissolved). * 4th Shock Battalion / (4^e BC - dissolved). * 5th Shock Battalion / (5^e BC - dissolved). * 6th Shock Battalion / (6^e BC - dissolved). * 1st Parachute Shock Battalion (1^er BPC - dissolved). * 2nd Parachute Shock Battalion (2^e BPC - dissolved). * 1st Shock Parachute Infantry Regiment 1er régiment d'infanterie de choc aéroporté(1^er RICAP - dissolved). * 11th Shock Parachute Regiment 11e régiment parachutiste de choc (11^e BPC, 11^e DBPC and 11^e RPC - dissolved). * 12th Shock Parachute Battalion (12^e BPC - dissolved). * Mixed Airborne Commando Groupment (G.C.M.A - dissolved). File:Insigne du bataillon de choc type 5.jpg, 1^er B.C File:Insigne du 2e Bataillon de Choc,.jpg, 2^e B.C File:Insigne des commandos de France.JPG, 3^e B.C File:Insigne des commandos d'Afrique.JPG, 5^e B.C File:Insigne 2e bataillon parachutiste de choc.jpg, 2^e B.P.C File:Insigne du 11° BPC.jpg, 11^e B.P.C File:Insigne du 12° BPC.jpg, 12^e B.P.C File:GCMA Groupement de Commandos Mixtes Aéroportés.JPG, G.C.M.A

French Train Parachute Regiments

Parachute Companies and Regiments

* Air Support Companies (CRA). * Air Delivery Regiment (RLA - dissolved). * 1st Train Parachute Regiment (french: 1^er Régiment du Train Parachutiste) (1^er RTP). Insigne régimentaire du 1er Régiment du Train Parachutiste

Insigne régimentaire du 1er Régiment du Train Parachutiste

Airborne Bases

* Northern Airborne Base (french: Base Aéroportée Nord) (B.AP.N - dissolved). * Southern Airborne Base (french: Bases Aéroportée Sud) (B.AP.S - dissolved). * North African Airborne Base (french: Base Aéroportée d'Afrique du Nord) (B.AP/AF.N - dissolved). * Airborne Operational Mobile Base (B.O.M.AP). File:BAPN.jpg, B.AP.N File:BAPS.jpg, B.AP.S File:BAP-AFN.jpg, B.AP/AF.N

Parachute Command and Support

* 14th Parachute Logistic and Support Regiment (french: 14^e Régiment d'Infanterie et de Soutien Logistique Parachutiste) (14^e RISLP) - former 14th Parachute Command and Support Regiment. * 7th Parachute Command and Support Regiment (french: 7^e Régiment Parachutiste de Commandement et de Soutien) (7^e RPCS - dissolved). File:7e Régiment Parachutiste de Commandement et Soutien.jpg, 7^e R.P.C.S

Matériel

* 3rd Matériel Regiment (french: 3^e Régiment du Matériel) (3^e RMAT).

Vietnamese, Laotien and Cambodian Parachute Units

* 1st Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (french: 1^er Bataillon de Parachutistes Vietnamiens) (1^er BPVN - dissolved). * 3rd Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (french: 3^e Bataillon de Parachutistes Vietnamiens) (3^e BPVN - dissolved). *

5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion The 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion ( Fr: ''5e bataillon de parachutistes vietnamiens'') was a French- Vietnamese paratroop battalion formed in Hanoi, French Indochina in 1953. Operational history The 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (5 B ...

(french: 5^e Bataillon de Parachutistes Vietnamiens) (5^e BPVN - dissolved). * 6th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (dissolved). * 7th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (dissolved). * 1st Khmers Parachute Battalion (created on December 1, 1952 in

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand ...

). * 1st Laotian Parachute Battalion (created on October 1, 1951 in

Vientiane Vientiane ( , ; lo, ວຽງຈັນ, ''Viangchan'', ) is the capital and largest city of Laos. Vientiane is divided administratively into 9 cities with a total area of only approx. 3,920 square kilometres and is located on the banks of ...

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist s ...

Algerian Parachute Units

* 19th Algerian Parachute Battalion * 14th Algerian Parachute Tirailleur Brigade

French Air and Space Force Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air

Past and present Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air units have included: * 601st Airborne Infantry Group (601e G.I.A, 1e CIA, 1e BCP, then

(1e RCP)). * 602nd Airborne Infantry Group (602e G.I.A, 1e CIA, 1e BCP, then 1e RCP). * Air Marching Infantry Company (CIAM), 1e RCP. * 1st Air Infantry Company (1er CIA, 1er BCP, then 1er RCP). *

(1er RCP of the

transferred to the

). * Air Force Security and Intervention Forces Brigade (France) ** Air Parachute Commando n° 10, C.P.A. 10, part of Special Operations Command (France) (COS). ** Air Parachute Commando n° 20, C.P.A. 20 ** Air Parachute Commando n° 30, C.P.A. 30 ** Protection Squadrons ().

French Navy

Naval Fusiliers and Commandos include the following Forces Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine FORFUSCO * Aeronautical Naval Parachute Commando (dissolved). *

Commando Ponchardier The Commandos Marine are the Special Operation Forces (SOF) of the French Navy. The Commandos Marine are nicknamed ''Bérets Verts'' (Green Berets). They operate under the Sailor Riflemen and Special Operations Forces Command (FORFUSCO) and ...

(french: Commando Ponchardier) (SAS B). * Commando Hubert (french: Commando Hubert) (part of Special Operations Command (COS). *

Fusiliers Marins Commandos Group Fusilier is a name given to various kinds of soldiers; its meaning depends on the historical context. While fusilier is derived from the 17th-century French language, French word ''fusil'' – meaning a type of flintlock musket – the term has ...

(GROUFUMACO - dissolved). * Commando François (dissolved). * Commando de Penfentenyo (french: Commando de Penfentenyo) (part of COS). *

Commando Jaubert The Commandos Marine are the Special Operation Forces (SOF) of the French Navy. The Commandos Marine are nicknamed ''Bérets Verts'' ( Green Berets). They operate under the Sailor Riflemen and Special Operations Forces Command (FORFUSCO) an ...

(french: Commando Jaubert) (part of COS). * Commando de Montfort (french: Commando de Montfort) (part of COS). * Commando Trépel (french: Commando Trépel) (part of COS). * Naval Fusiliers Instruction Center. ''École des fusiliers marins'' (ECOFUS) * Naval Fusiliers and Commando Base (BASEFUSCO). *

Commando Kieffer The Commandos Marine are the Special Operation Forces (SOF) of the French Navy. The Commandos Marine are nicknamed ''Bérets Verts'' ( Green Berets). They operate under the Sailor Riflemen and Special Operations Forces Command (FORFUSCO) an ...

(french: Commando Kieffer) (part of COS).

National Gendarmerie

Paratroopers of the

include: * National Gendarmerie Parachute Intervention Squadron (EPIGN), part of the

National Gendarmerie Intervention Group National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

(french: Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale), the GIGN.

Medics

Combat medic A combat medic, or healthcare specialist, is responsible for providing emergency medical treatment at a point of wounding in a combat or training environment, as well as primary care and health protection and evacuation from a point of injur ...

s in the

are part of the French Defence Health Service. Each French

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions ...

company A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of people, whether natural, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specific, declared ...

and unit has its own specialized combat

medic A medic is a person involved in medicine such as a medical doctor, medical student, paramedic or an emergency medical responder. Among physicians in the UK, the term "medic" indicates someone who has followed a "medical" career path in postgra ...

s, with ranks designating various unit level sizes. For French Regiments engaged in combat, the leading Medical leadership would be a colonel or Lieutenant-colonel and can also be designated as Parachute Medical-Colonel of the Army (french: Médecin-Colonel Parachutiste de l'Armée). For Foreign Legion Regiments, Medics can be French and Legionnaires, while the leading Medical leadership would be a Colonel or Lieutenant-colonel and can also be designated as Foreign Parachute Medical-Colonel (french: Médecin-Chef Parachutiste des Régiments, Bataillons et Compagnies Etranger de Parachutistes).

References

Bibliography

* E. Micheletti et J. Baltzer, ''Insignes et brevets parachutistes de l'armée française'', éditions Histoires et Collections, 2001, . * Collectif, ''Histoire des parachutistes français'' (History of French Paratroopers), Société de Production Littéraire, 1975.

External links

History of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 14th Parachute Chasseur Regiment and 18th Parachute Chasseur Regiment
{{French Foreign Legion navbox .

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

Military parachuting in France .

Paratroopers A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during Worl ...