11th Parachute Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 11th Parachute Brigade is an airborne
unit. It contains most of the parachute units in the French army
.
The brigade numbers around 8,500 personnel and includes eight regiments. It is under command of a général de brigade (Brigadier General
). French paratrooper
s wear a red beret
, except for the 2e REP
who wear a green beret
.
created two parachute divisions in 1956, the 10th parachute division (10e Division Parachutiste, 10e DP) under the command of General Jacques Massu
and the 25th Parachute Division (25e Division Parachutiste, 25e DP) under the command of General Sauvagnac. The 10e DP formed from a looser 1955-formed previous Groupement Parachutiste d'Intervention, the 25e DP was established from the 25th Airportable Division which had been previously stationed in Provence.
In the aftermath of the Algiers putsch
, both formations were disbanded and their regiments merged into the Light Intervention Division (Division Légère d'Intervention). It became the 11th Parachute Division (11e Division Parachutiste, 11e DP) in 1971.
In the aftermath of the Cold War
, the French Army reorganised and the 11e DP became the 11th Parachute Brigade in 1999.
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
unit. It contains most of the parachute units in the French army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
.
The brigade numbers around 8,500 personnel and includes eight regiments. It is under command of a général de brigade (Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
). French paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
s wear a red beret
Red beret
The red beret is a military beret worn by many military police, paramilitary, commando and police forces around the world. The maroon beret has become a symbol of airborne forces, though this is often known as a "red beret", particularly when referring to the British Parachute...
, except for the 2e REP
2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment is an Airborne regiment of the French Foreign Legion. It is a part of the 11e Brigade Parachutiste and the spearhead of the French Rapid reaction force.-Indochina:...
who wear a green beret
Green beret
The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos of World War II. It is still worn with pride by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course and any member of the British Military who has passed the All Arms Commando Course.There are certain other military...
.
History
The French ArmyFrench Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
created two parachute divisions in 1956, the 10th parachute division (10e Division Parachutiste, 10e DP) under the command of General Jacques Massu
Jacques Massu
Jacques Émile Massu was a French general who fought in World War II, the First Indochina War, the Algerian War and the Suez crisis.-Early life:Jacques Massu was born in Châlons-sur-Marne to a family of military officers; his father was an artillery officer...
and the 25th Parachute Division (25e Division Parachutiste, 25e DP) under the command of General Sauvagnac. The 10e DP formed from a looser 1955-formed previous Groupement Parachutiste d'Intervention, the 25e DP was established from the 25th Airportable Division which had been previously stationed in Provence.
In the aftermath of the Algiers putsch
Algiers putsch
The Algiers putsch , also known as the Generals' putsch , was a failed coup d'état to overthrow French President Charles De Gaulle and establish an anti-communist military junta...
, both formations were disbanded and their regiments merged into the Light Intervention Division (Division Légère d'Intervention). It became the 11th Parachute Division (11e Division Parachutiste, 11e DP) in 1971.
In the aftermath of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the French Army reorganised and the 11e DP became the 11th Parachute Brigade in 1999.
Organisation
- Headquarters in BalmaBalmaBalma is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It is east of Toulouse.The name of the town comes from the old Provençal word meaning "cave" or "grotto".-History:...
- 1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes1st Parachute Hussar RegimentThe 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment is an airborne cavalry unit in the French army. It is stationed in Tarbes and is a part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.- Composition :The 1st RHP consists of:*Command and Logistics Squadron...
(1er RHP) Parachute Hussar Regiment in TarbesTarbesTarbes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.It is part of the historical region of Gascony. It is the second largest metropolitan area of Midi-Pyrénées, with 110,000 inhabitants....
with ERC 90ERC 90 SagaieThe Panhard ERC 90 is a French six-wheeled armoured all terrain vehicle which is highly mobile and amphibious with an option of being NBC-proof. While various models were tested, only two versions of the ERC were developed and produced: the Lynx and the Sagaie... - 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes1st Parachute Chasseur RegimentThe 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment is an airborne unit of the French Army. It was the first French parachute regiment and is today part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.-Organisation:*Command and Logistic “Yellow” Company*Support and Lightning “Blue” Company...
(1er RCP) Parachute Chasseur Regiment in PamiersPamiersPamiers is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Although Pamiers is the largest city in Ariège, the capital is the smaller town of Foix... - 2e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes2nd Foreign Parachute RegimentThe 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment is an Airborne regiment of the French Foreign Legion. It is a part of the 11e Brigade Parachutiste and the spearhead of the French Rapid reaction force.-Indochina:...
(2e REP) French Foreign LegionFrench Foreign LegionThe French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
Parachute Regiment in Calvi - 3e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa) Marine Parachute Regiment in CarcassonneCarcassonneCarcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
- 8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine8th Marine Infantry Parachute RegimentThe 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment is an airborne regiment in the French Army. It is an elite unit that can be rapidly sent anywhere in the world...
(8e RPIMa) Marine Parachute Regiment in CastresCastresCastres is a commune, and arrondissement capital in the Tarn department and Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It lies in the former French province of Languedoc.... - 35e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste35th Parachute Artillery RegimentThe 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment is the only airborne artillery unit of the French Army, it forms the artillery component of the 11th Parachute Brigade...
(35e RAP) Parachute Artillery Regiment in TarbesTarbesTarbes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.It is part of the historical region of Gascony. It is the second largest metropolitan area of Midi-Pyrénées, with 110,000 inhabitants....
with TRF1TRF1The 155mm towed cannon Tr-F1 is a French towed howitzer produced by Nexter and used by the French army.-Performance:*Setting out of battery: 2 min*Crossing of slopes of 60%, fords of 1.20m....
howitzers and RTF1Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1The MO-120 RT-61 or MO-120-RT is a heavy mortar of French origin. It was designed by Thomson-Brandt as the successor for the MO-120 AM-50...
mortars - 17e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste17th Parachute Engineer RegimentThe 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment is the only airborne engineer unit of the French Army. It forms the engineering component of the 11th Parachute Brigade.-Organization:The Regiment consists of 7 companies:*1 Command and logistic company...
(17e RGP) Parachute Engineer Regiment in MontaubanMontaubanMontauban is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is the capital of the department and lies north of Toulouse.... - 1er Régiment du Train Parachutiste (1er RTP) Parachute Supply Regiment in ToulouseToulouseToulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
- 11e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11e CCTP) Command and Signas Company in BalmaBalmaBalma is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. It is east of Toulouse.The name of the town comes from the old Provençal word meaning "cave" or "grotto".-History:...
- It also includes the Commando Parachute GroupCommando Parachute GroupThe Commando Parachute Group is a special forces unit in the 11th Parachute Brigade of the French Army that is within the second "circle" of authority of the Commandement des Opérations Spéciales....
, composed of members of the various regiments.