French Army

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Current revision as of 12:46, 7 October 2007

The French Army, officially the Royal Land Army (French: Armée Royale de Terre), is the land-based component of the French military and its largest. As of 2007, the army employs 402,000 regular soldiers, 46,500 reservists, and 77,250 civilians. All soldiers are considered professionals; the country does not have conscription. Soldiers strictly adhere to the principles and values laid out in the Code of the French Soldier:

"Mastering his own strength, he respects his opponent and is careful to spare civilians. He obeys orders while respecting laws, customs of war and international conventions. He is aware of global societies and respects their differences."

French soldiers are renowned for their motivation, commitment to duty, loyalty to country and King, and high standards of training. The French Army is regarded by most as one of the best in the world. The bulk of its equipment is of domestic origin, although France also purchases some hardware from its allies, notably the United States of America.

The King of France (currently Henri VI) is the designated commander-in-chief of the French Army (as well as the other components of the armed forces), as prescribed by the constitution. In practice, however, the King's role is mainly titular and ceremonial, and de facto administration and command of the military is relegated to the Ministry of Defense, which carries out these functions on the King's behalf. Commanding the French Army is the distinguished Field Marshal François Bordereau.

[edit] Organization

The French Army is divided into different Corps, or armes. These Corps retain both symbolic and administrative values.

Marine troops, composed of:
- Marine Infantry (Infanterie de Marine, including airborne and light cavalry units)
- Marine Artillery (Artillerie de Marine)
Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère)
Armored Cavalry (Arme Blindée cavalerie)
Artillery (Artillerie);
Army Light Aviation (Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre - ALAT), including combat helicopters;
Military engineers (Génie Militaire);
Infantry (Infanterie),
- Mountain Troops (Chasseurs Alpins)
Supply (Materiel)
Logistics (Logistique)
Transport (Train)
Signals (Transmissions)
Commissary

[edit] Structure

[edit] CFAT

CFAT (Commandement de la Force d’Action Terrestre, or Command of the Terrestrial Fighting Forces) commands the following divisions interarmes ("interarm divisions"):

1st Mechanized Division (1re Division Mécanisée) in Chalons en Champagne
- 501st-503rd Tank Brigade (501e-503e Brigade de Chars de Combat) in Mourmelon le Grand
- 1st Tirailleur Brigade (1er Brigade de Tirailleurs) in Epinal
- 1st Infantry Brigade (1er Brigade d'Infanterie) in Sarrebourg
- 40th Artillery Brigade (40e Brigade d'Artillerie) in Suippes
- 3rd Engineer Brigade (3e Brigade du Génie) in Charleville-Mézières
- 1st Command and Signal Battalion (1re Bataillon de Commandement et de Transmissions) in Châlons-en-Champagne
2nd Armored Division (2e Division Blindée) in Orléans
- Tchad March Brigade (Brigade de Marche du Tchad) in Noyon
- 16th Chasseur Regiment (16e Régiment de Chasseurs) near Saarburg
- 1st Marine Artillery Brigade (1er Brigade d'Artillerie de Marine) in Laon
- 13th Engineer Brigade (13e Brigade du Génie) in Le Valdahon
- 2nd Command and Signal Battalion (1re Bataillon de Commandement et de Transmissions) in Orléans
- 6th-12th Cuirassier Regiment (6e-12e Régiment de Cuirassiers) in Olivet, Loiret
3rd Mechanized Division (3e Division Mécanisée) in Limoges
- 1st-11th Cuirassier Brigade (1er-11e Régiment de Cuirassiers) in Carpiagne
- 92nd Infantry Brigade (92e Brigade d'Infanterie) in Clermont-Ferrand
- 126th Infantry Brigade (126e Brigade d'Infanterie) in Brive-la-Gaillarde
- 68th Artillery Brigade (68e Brigade d'Artillerie) in La Valbonne
- 31st Engineer Brigade (31e Brigade du Génie) in Castelsarrasin
- 3rd Command and Signal Battalion (3e Bataillon de Commandement et de Transmissions) in Limoges
6th Light Armored Division (6e Division Légère Blindée) in Nimes
- 1st Foreign Cavalry Brigade (1er Brigade Etranger de Cavalerie) in Orange
- 1st Spahis Brigade (1er Brigade de Spahis) in Valence
- 2nd Foreign Infantry Brigade (2e Brigade Etranger d'Infanterie) in Nimes
- 21st Marine Infantry Brigade (21e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine) in Frejus
- 3rd Marine Artillery Brigade (3e Brigade d'Artillerie de Marine) in Monferrat
- 1st Foreign Engineer Brigade (1er Brigade Etranger de Génie) in Laudun
- 6th Command and Signal Battalion (6e Bataillon de Commandement et de Transmissions) in Nimes
7th Armored Division (7ème Division Blindée) in Besançon
- 1st-2nd Chasseur Brigade (1er-2e Brigade de Chasseurs) in Thierville sur Meuse
- 35th Infantry Brigade (35e Brigade d'Infanterie) in Belfort
- 152nd Infantry Brigade (152e Brigade d'Infanterie) in Colmar
- 8th Artillery Brigade (8e Brigade d'Artillerie) in Commercy
- 19th Engineer Brigade (19e Brigade du Génie) in Besançon
- 7th Command and Signal Battalion (7e Bataillon de Commandement et de Transmissions) in Besançon
9th Light Armored Marine Division (9e Division Légère Blindée de Marine) in Nantes
- 1st Marine Infantry Brigade (1er Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine) in Angoulême
- Marine Infantry Tank Brigade (Brigade d'Infanterie Chars de Marine) in Poitiers
- 2nd Marine Infantry Brigade (2e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine) in Champagné
- 3rd Marine Infantry Brigade (3e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine) in Vannes
- 11th Marine Artillery Brigade (11e Brigade d'Artillerie de Marine) in St. Aubin du Cormier
- 6th Engineer Brigade (6e Brigade du Génie) in Angers
11th Parachute Division (11ème Division Parachutiste) in Balma
- 1st Parachute Chasseur Brigade (1er Brigade de Chasseurs Parachutistes) in Pamiers
- 1st Parachute Hussar Brigade (1er Brigade de Hussards Parachutistes) in Tarbes
- 1st Parachute Transport Brigade (1er Brigade du Train Parachutiste) in Toulouse
- 2nd Foreign Parachute Brigade (2e Brigade Étranger de Parachutistes) in Calvi
- 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Brigade (3e Brigade Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine) in Carcassonne
- 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Brigade (8e Brigade Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine) in Castres
- 17th Parachute Engineer Brigade (17e Brigade de Génie Parachutiste) in Montauban
- 35th Parachute Artillery Brigade (35e Brigade d'Artillerie Parachutiste) in Tarbes
27th Mountain Infantry Division (27e Division d’infanterie de Montagne) in Varces
- 7th Alpine Hunters Regiment (7e Régiment de Chasseurs Alpins) in Bourg St. Maurice
- 13th Alpine Hunters Regiment (13e Régiment de Chasseurs Alpins) in Barby
- 27th Alpine Hunters Regiment (27e Régiment de Chasseurs Alpins) in Gran Gevrier
- 4th Hunters Brigade (4e Brigade de Chasseurs) in Gap
- 93rd Mountain Artillery Brigade (93e Brigade d'Artillerie de Montagne) in Varces
- 2nd Foreign Engineer Brigade (2e Brigade Etranger de Génie) in St. Christol
4th Airmobile Division (4e Division Aéromobile) in Essey les Nancy
- 1st Combat Helicopter Brigade (1er d'Hélicoptères de Combat) in Phalsbourg
- 3rd Combat Helicopter Brigade (3e Brigade d'Hélicoptères de Combat) in Etain
- 5th Combat Helicopter Brigade (5e Brigade d'Hélicoptères de Combat) in Pau
- 6th Combat Helicopter Brigade (6e Brigade d'Hélicoptères de Combat) in Margny les Compiegne
- 4th Command and Signal Battalion (4e Bataillon de Commandement et de Transmissions) in Essey les Nancy
Army Special Forces Division (Division des forces spéciales) in Pau
- 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Brigade (1er Brigade Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine) in Bayonne
- 13th Parachute Dragoon Brigade (13e Brigade de Dragons Parachutistes) in Dieuze
- ALAT Detachment for Special Operations (Détachement ALAT des Opérations Spéciales) in Pau

[edit] CFLT

CFLT (Commandement de la Force logistique Terrestre, or Command of the Terrestrial Logistical Forces) commands the following support divisions of the French Army:

Signal Division (Division de Transmissions) in Lunéville
- 43rd Infantry Brigade (43e Brigade d'Infanterie) in Lille
- 18th Signal Brigade (18e Brigade de Transmissions) in Bretteville-sur-Odon
- 28th Signal Brigade (28e Brigade de Transmissions) in Issoire
- 40th Signal Brigade (40e Brigade de Transmissions) in Thionville
- 42nd Signal Brigade (42e Brigade de Transmissions) in Laval
- 48th Signal Brigade (48e Brigade de Transmissions) in Agen
- 53rd Signal Brigade (53e Brigade de Transmissions) in Lunéville
Recon Division (Division de Renseignement) in Montigny
- 2nd Hussar Brigade (2e Brigade de Hussards) (surveillance) in Sourdun
- 44th Signal Brigade (44e Brigade de Transmissions) (electronic warfare) in Mutzig
- 54th Signal Brigade (54e Brigade de Transmissions) (electronic warfare) in Haguenau
- 61st Artillery Brigade (61e Brigade d'artillerie) (aerial surveillance) in Chaumont
Artillery Division (Division d’artillerie) in Haguenau
- 1st Artillery Brigade (1er Brigade d'Artillerie) (rocket artillery) in Belfort
- 12th Artillery Brigade (12e Brigade d'Artillerie) (rocket artillery) in Haguenau
- 54th Artillery Brigade (54e Brigade d'Artillerie) (air defense) in Hyeres
- 57th Artillery Brigade (57e Brigade d'Artillerie) (air defense) in Bitche
- 402nd Artillery Brigade (402e Brigade d'Artillerie) (air defense) in Chalons en Champagne
Engineer Division (Division du Génie) in Strasbourg
- 1st Engineer Brigade (1er Brigade du Génie) in Illkirch Graffenstaden
- 2nd Engineer Brigade (2e Brigade du Génie) in Metz
- 5th Engineer Brigade (5e Brigade du Génie) in Versailles
- 2nd Dragons Brigade - NBC Defense (2e Brigade de Dragons - Défense Nucléaire Biologique et chimique) in Draguigan
1st Logistics Division (1re Division Logistique) in Montlhéry
- 121st Transport Brigade (121e Brigade du Train) in Linas-Montlhéry
- 511th Transport Brigade (511e Brigade du Train) in Auxonne
- 516th Transport Brigade (516e Brigade du Train) in Toul
- 1st Material Brigade (1er Brigade du Matériel) in Metz
- 6th Material Brigade (6e Brigade du Matériel) in Phalsbourg
- 8th Material Brigade (8e Brigade du Matériel) in Mourmelon
- 9th Material Brigade (9e Brigade du Matériel) in Montlhéry
- 601st Transport Support Brigade (601e Brigade de Circulation Routière) in Arras
2nd Logistics Division (2e Division Logistique) in Souge
- 503rd Transport Brigade (503e Brigade du Train) in Martignas
- 515th Transport Brigade (515e Brigade du Train) in Brie (Charente)
- 517th Transport Brigade (517e Brigade du Train) in La Martinerie
- 2nd Material Brigade (2e Brigade du Matériel) in Bruz
- 3rd Material Brigade (3e Brigade du Matériel) in Muret
- 4th Material Brigade (4e Brigade du Matériel) in Nimes
- 7th Mountain Material Brigade (9e Brigade du Matériel Montagne) in Montlhéry
- 3rd Medical Brigade (3e Brigade Médical) in La Valbonne

[edit] Other units

[edit] Support units of the 5 regional headquarters

526th Transport Brigade supports the region Île-de-France headquarter in Saint-Germain-en-Laye
4th Armored Group supports the North-East region headquarter in Metz
22nd Infantry Brigade supports the South-East region headquarter in Lyon
57th Infantry Brigade supports the South-West region headquarter in Bordeaux
16th Artillery Group supports the Nord-West region headquarter in Rennes

[edit] Support units of the 4 forward deployable headquarters (EMF)

7th Transport Brigade supports EMF 1 in Besançon
22nd Marine Infantry Brigade supports EMF 2 in Nantes
72nd Marine Infantry Brigade supports EMF 3 in Marseille
15th Transport Brigade supports EMF4 in Limoges

[edit] Units permanently deployed overseas

[edit] Africa

5th Mixed Marine Regiment in Djibouti
13th Foreign Legion Regiment in Djibouti
6th Marine Infantry Battalion in Gabon
23rd Marine Infantry Battalion in Senegal
43rd Marine Infantry Battalion in Côte d’Ivoire

[edit] French Guiana

3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (tasked with the protection of the European Guiana Space Center in Kourou)
9th Marine Infantry Regiment in Cayenne

[edit] Caribbean

41st Marine Infantry Battalion in Guadeloupe
33rd Marine Infantry Regiment in Martinique

[edit] Indian Ocean

2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment in Saint-Pierre, Réunion
Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (Détachement de Légion Etrangère de Mayotte, or DLEM) with 240 men

[edit] Pacific Ocean

Marine Infantry Regiment in New Caledonia (Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique Nouvelle Calédonie)
Marine Infantry Regiment in the Pacific-Polynesia (Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique–Polynésie)

[edit] Training and Formation units

1st Armored Training Regiment in Draguignan
4th Foreign Legion Training Regiment in Castelnaudary
17th Air Defense Artillery Training Battalion in Landes
132nd Dog Training Battalion in Suippes

[edit] Signals and Electronic Warfare units

8th Signal Regiment (responsible for the communication needs of the Ministry of Defence and the general staff)
41st Signal Regiment (satellite communications regiment in Senlis)
43rd Signal Battalion (responsible for the Army IT needs; based in Orléans)
785th Electronic Warfare Center in Orléans

[edit] Commissary and Materials units

5th Material Battalion in Draguignan
1st Support Center in Bretigny sur Orge
2nd Support Center in Rennes
3rd Support Center in Marseille
4th Support Center in Toulouse
5th Support Center in Nancy
11th Materials Base in Montauban
12th Materials Base in Salbris
13th Materials Base in Clermont-Ferrand
15th Materials Base in Phalsbourg
17th Materials Base in Versailles

[edit] Miscellaneous

1st Foreign Regiment (supports the Foreign Legion General Staff in Aubagne)
1st Field Hospital Regiment in St. Germain
25th Air Engineer Regiment in Istres (tasked with construction and maintenance of forward airbases)
519th Transport Regiment (tasked with amphibious operations support)
28th Cartography Battalion in Joigny
Brigade de Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (BSPP) Fire Brigade for the city of Paris and surrounding suburbs, part of the Engineer Corps

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Individual weapons

SIG P220 9mm pistol
GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1) 9mm pistol
FAMAS 5.56mm assault rifle
FN Minimi 5.56mm light machine gun
M2 12.7mm heavy machine gun
FRF2 7.62mm sniper rifle
PGM Hecate II 12.7mm heavy sniper rifle
LGI Mle F1 grenade launcher
APILAS anti-tank rocket launcher
AT4 CS anti-tank rocket launcher
ERYX and MILAN anti-tank missiles

[edit] Artillery

[edit] Surface-to-surface artillery

AMX 30 AuF1 155mm self-propelled howitzer
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
CAESAR 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer
TRF1 155mm towed howitzer
RTF1 120mm mortar
LLR 81mm mortar

[edit] Anti-aircraft artillery

Mistral surface-to-air missile
Roland 2 surface-to-air missile
20mm Mle F2 anti-aircraft gun

[edit] Vehicles

[edit] Armored vehicles

AMX-56 Leclerc main battle tank
- Leclerc AZUR (Action en Zone Urbaine): Urban warfare variant
- Leclerc EPG (Engin Principal du Génie): Armored engineering vehicle
- Leclerc DNG (Dépanneur Nouvelle Génération): Repair tank
- Leclerc MARS (Moyen Adapté de Remorquage Spécifique): Tugboat tank
AMX 30 main battle tank
- AMX 30 D: Repair tank
- AMX 30 EBG: Armored engineering vehicle
- AMX 30 ROLAND: Roland ground-air missile system
- AMX 30 PLUTON: Pluton tactical nuclear missile
- AMX 30 B2: Improved version with new onboard computers
- AMX 30 EBD: Armored minesweeper
- AMX 30 BRENUS: Improved version with reactive armor
- AMX 30 FORAD: Cosmetically modified version, to play the role of foreign tanks during exercises
AMX-13 light tank
- AMX-13 T75 (Char Lance SS-11): Fitted with SS-11 ATGM launchers
- AMX-DCA aka AMX-13/S530: SPAAG version armed with two HS 831 30mm cannons
- AMX-13 [Training Tank]: AMX-13 with turret removed and used for driver training
- AMX-13 Modèle 55 (AMX-D): Recovery version
- AMX-13 PDP (Poseur De Pont) Modèle 51: Scissors-type bridgelayer
AMX-10P tracked armored personnel carrier
- AMX-10P: Variant with Milan or HOT ATGM launcher
- AMX-10P/Milan: ATGM launcher vehicle, with two launchers
- AMX/HOT: ATGM launcher vehicle (Toucan II turret, 4 launchers)
- AMX-10 TM: Mortar carrier towing 120mm RT-61 mortar
- AMX-10 PAC 90: Fire support/AT variant with Giat 90mm gun
- AMX-10P Marine: Improved swim variant with 12.7/25/90mm gun
- AMX-10 PC: Command variant with varied command stations
Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB) wheeled armored personnel carrier
- VAB-VOA: Artillery observation vehicle
- VAB-RATAC: Radar artillery target acquisition vehicle
- VAB HOT: HOT anti-tank missile vehicle, HOT with a range of 4000m
- VAB Portee: Mortar carrier with an 81mm mortar or for towing a 120mm mortar
- VAB SAN: Armored ambulance
- VAB NBC: NBC reconnaissance vehicle
- VAB ATLAS: Artillery fire command and control vehicle
- VAB AZURE: Urban warfare vehicle
- VBRG (Véhicule Blindé de Reconnaissance de la Gendarmerie): Riot control variant
Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI) wheeled armored personnel carrier
- VCI: Infantry combat vehicle
- VPC: Command post vehicle
Véhicule Blindé Léger (VBL) light armored vehicle
- VBL MILAN: Anti-tank medium range (up to 2000 meters) combat
- VBL ERYX: Anti-tank short range (up to 600 meters) combat
- VB2L POSTE DE COMMANDEMENT: Command version
- VBL RECO 12.7: Reconnaissance and troop engagement version
- VBL AT4CS: Anti-tank very short range (<250 meters)
- VBL TOW: Anti-tank long range (up to 3750 meters)
- VBL ALBI-MISTRAL: Air defense version
Véhicule articulé chenillé Haute Mobilité (VHM) all-terrain support vehicle
AMX 10 RC armored car
ERC 90 Sagaie NBC reconnaissance vehicle
- EMC 91: Fire support version armed with 81mm mortar in an Hispano-Suiza EMC turret
- ERC 20: Anti-aircraft version with 2x20mm autocannons
- ERC 60-20: Fitted with Hispano-Suiza 60-20 Serval turret armed with a 60mm mortar and a 20mm autocannon
- ERC 90 (Diesel): Fitted with a diesel engine
- ERC 90 F1: Fitted with the Hispano-Suiza Lynx 90 turret
- ERC 90 Sagaie: Fitted with GIAT TS 90 turret
- ERC 90 Sagaie 2: Slightly larger version fitted with twin engines and improved turret
Chubby mine detection system
- Meerkat mine-detection vehicle
- Husky towing mine-detection vehicle
- Duisendpoot mine-detonating trailer set

[edit] Unarmored vehicles

Peugeot P4 4x4 utility vehicle
TRM 10000 heavy truck
TRM 2000 medium truck
GBC 180 medium truck
VLRA light truck

[edit] Aircraft

[edit] Helicopters

Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter
NHI NH90 TTH medium transport/utility helicopter
Eurocopter Ecureuil light utility helicopter
Eurocopter Cougar medium transport helicopter
Aérospatiale Puma medium transport/utility helicopter
Aérospatiale Gazelle utility/attack helicopter
Cougar Horizon airborne battlefield surveillance radar helicopter

[edit] Fixed-wing aircraft

Socata TBM 700 liaison/utility aircraft
Pilatus PC-6 STOL passenger/utility aircraft
Reims-Cessna 406 Caravan II liaison/utility aircraft

[edit] UAVs

Crecerelle
CL-289
Sperwer