1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment | |
---|---|
1e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes | |
11th Parachute Brigade 3rd Division | |
Garrison/HQ | Pamiers, France |
Motto(s) | Vaincre ou mourir (Win or die) |
Anniversaries | Saint Michael, September 29 |
Engagements | World War II
Algerian War Global War on Terrorism
|
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Olivier Vidal[3] |
Notable commanders | Henri Sauvagnac Jacques Faure Paul Aussaresses |
Abbreviation | 1er RCP |
The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (
The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment is the only French parachute regiment that traces its roots to the French Air Force, hence the representation of a golden Hawk on the rank insignia and that of uniforms and which originally referred to the 601st Airborne Infantry Group and 602nd Airborne Infantry Group respectively (601e G.I.A, 602e G.I.A).
History, creation and different nominations
The Genesis
In 1935, the
On April 1, 1937, two Airborne Infantry Groups (
World War II
Vosges and Colmar Campaigns
With the outbreak of World War II on September 1, 1939, both the 601st and 602nd returned to France. In April 1940, an Air Marching Infantry Company was formed, under the command of Captain Sauvagnac, which served in the Niederbronn-les-Bains region of Alsace.[4] On August 25, 1940, the German offensive of May 1940 pushed the marching company to Marseille-Mérignane, where it boarded for Oran and then Algiers where it was subsequently disbanded.
In March 1941, the 1re C.I.A (
In October 1943, the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment was attached to the U.S.
Oldest French parachute regiment; the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment of the French Air Force fought during the
First Indochina War
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
On July 30, 1947, the unit was separated as a regiment and the I, II and III parachute battalions (I/1er RCP, II/ 1er RCP, III/ 1er RCP) took part separately in the First Indochina War and were referred to as the "III Indochina Battalions".[7] The three parachute battalions engaged successively in airborne operations in and around the delta of Tonkin.[7] The rapaces of the 1st Parachute Chasseur were the only ones dropped at night on Dien Bien Phu while encircled by Viêt-minh troops.[7] As an old combatant (French: un ancien) recalled: In this month of June, the rice fields were flooded, while we had to land smoothly and softly at night, we still had the inconvenience to extract from our pair of rangers (boots) a beautifully thick and sticky layer. The parachutes where submerged in water and doubled in weight... we tried to remain small because bullets were whistling near our ears.[7] The beginning of May 1954, the Viêt-minh troops gave way to the final assault.[7] On the night of May 1 to May 2; the first and second combat company rejoined the support point Eilane 4.[7] One week later, Eliane 4 fell and only 19 survivors all which were taken prisoners.[7] Dien Bien Phu was lost and fell on May 7, 1954, at 1730.[7] The couple of hectares today are filled with corn fields centered by a stele which commemorates the sacrifices of the paratroopers and Legionnaires who served with distinction in the French Foreign Legion and who wrote a painful and glorious page in the history of the airborne troops of France.[7] The sacrifice of 400 rapaces of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment since the Indochina engagement in 1947 earned the regiment a new decoration: the fourragère bearing colors of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures with 7 palms.[7]
Algeria
Algerian War
On November 1, 1954; it is Toussaint Rouge ("Red All Saints' Day") in Algeria.[8] During the day at Arris, rebel terrorist groups intercepted a transport vehicle carrying dozens of Muslims and one couple of young teachers.[8] The rebel terrorists killed the Qaid and the two Europeans.[8]
The insurrectionary debuted and the first bombs exploded in Algiers, and all over Algeria counted thirty-some coordinated suicides are targets.[8] It was the commencement of a seven-year war torn era.[8] Already on the ground since 1949, the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment quickly engaged in the first military operations to maintain order.[8] In the city of Alger, the regiment participated to the reestablishing of order and security.[8] Nevertheless, the conflict radicalized itself quickly.[8] The rebellion touched all the regions.[8] Recovery, search and patrol operations in the Djebel were distracted by combat engagements with the rebels that slowed down the progression and lead to the loss of human life from one side like the other.[8] Aflou, Ain Roua, Bordj Gasses, Ain Soltan, Masqueray, El Milia, Djebel Bezzez...combat engagements were violent.[8] Following a 15-year garrison on the Algerian soil; the regiment was repatriated to mainland France before the ceasefire.[8] The regiment headquartered garrison on July 3, 1959, at Moulins-Lès-Metz, Moselle.[8] The following year, the regiment followed Pau in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.[8] The campaign AFN 1952–1962 was inscribed on the regimental colors of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment.[8]
Lebanon
Lebanese Civil War
The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment participated at the request of the
Foreign operations
In 1970, the 1er RCP created and implemented a system of "rotating combat companies" in New Caledonia, Réunion and Gabon and that in order to make ready immediate pre-positioned forces in case of operational necessity.[12] Almost every year, a combat company is sent to these territories for missions lasting 4 months.[12]
The Rapaces (term for paratroopers of the 1er RCP) are deployed around the four corners of the globe where conflicts are born and or at the calling of the international community.[12]
At the stage theatre of exterior operations, the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment has both a military and humanitarian approach on callings.
In a situational crisis, the men of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment are known to always interpose between belligerents and protect civilians at all cost.[12] Dedicated to such a mission, the regiment sometimes pays the price heavily in losses.[12] Ten year later in June 1993, two combat companies of the 1er RCP land at the aerodrome of Phnom Penh, in the greater west of Cambodia.[12] Whether on Patrols in search for opposing rebel groups, or escorting the convoys of the United Nations and Non-governmental organization; the missions of the regiment took place in a tense climate with the Khmer Rouge.[12] Since 40 years, the Cambodians have been living in a civil war.[12] The situation degraded end of June with automatic arms firing and intensifying mortar fire rounds bursting the environment.[12] As a result, to maintain, the primary mission of the paratroopers of the 1er RCP focused on protecting the population.[12] The men of the 1er RCP operated through the seasonal unpredictable monsoon, the precarious life conditions, tropical diseases, and operations on the most mined terrain of the world.[12]
The arrival of the regiment at Pamiers in 1999 coincided with the professionalism of the French Army.[12] The 1er RCP changed status from regiment of calling to a professional regiment.[12] The tempo and projection rhythm accelerated and operations commenced.[12]
In 2000 the situation in
The beginning of the years 2000 witnessed a recurring engagement of the rapaces (paratroopers of the 1er RCP) on the
Afghanistan
The 2nd combat company made way to the Afghan capital in January 2006.[13] Near 200 paratroopers were deployed around the vicinity of Kabul or a mission duration of 5 months.[13] France has been engaged since 5 years amongst the ranks of the NATO-OTAN ISAF in this country situated at the intersection of civilizations.[13] Day and night, the 5 combat Para Platoons, patrol, assured a continuous presence, visible and promising near a population torn by more than 25 years of war.[13]
In 2007, the Rapaces (paratroopers of the 1er RCP) arrived in the Afghan theatre again, this time however as a constituted and formed battalion.[13] 5 new months of presence at Kabul with a principal mission to control the field of Chamalie, a diverse terrain of more than 250 km2, as well as protecting Camp Warehouse at the heart of Kabul.[13]
Following the projection of a team in 2009 to train the
Mali
On January 11, 2013; France intervened in Mali and launched Operation Serval.[14] Paratroopers of the 1st and 2nd combat company of the 1er RCP were part of the first elements engaged in the conflict.[14] Both combat companies were deployed within the regiment's "Guépard Alert".[14] As of January 26, 2013; both combat companies lead the dispositif and illustrated their tactical capabilities and conquered the Niger river while taking over the airport and the bridge of GAO through an air assault raid.[14] Shortly after, the paratroopers of the 1er RCP launched two air assault raids on February 2 at Kidal and February 8 at Tessalit to capture both airports.[14] Subsequently, the paratroopers were engaged in the Battle of Ifoghas at the heart of the enemy's sanctuary where they confronted at short range in heavy combat, determined insurgents tightly attached to the terrain.[14] The regiment imposed heavy casualties on the enemy, captured numerous prisoners and recouped a significant quantity of ammunitions.[14] On March 2, 2013; one rapace (paratrooper) was killed by enemy fire and accordingly a new name would be subsequently inscribed on the regiment's memorial.[14]
For actions lead in Mali in 2013 within Operation Serval, the regimental colors of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment received, from the Chief of Staff of the French Army général Jean-Pierre Bosser, a citation at the orders of the armed forces with attribution of the Cross for Military Valour with bronze palm.[14]
Organisation
- Command and Logistic Company
- Support and Reconnaissance Company
- 1st Combat Company
- 2nd Combat Company
- 3rd Combat Company
- 4th Combat Company
- 5th Combat Company
- 8th Company (reserve)
- 9th Company (reserve)
Traditions
Except for the Legionnaires of the 1er REG, 2e REG, 2e REP who wear the Green Beret, the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.
The Archangel Saint Michael, patron of the French paratroopers is celebrated on September 29.
The prière du Para (Prayer of the Paratrooper) was written by André Zirnheld in 1938.
Insignias
Just like the paratrooper Brevet of the French Army, the insignia of French Paratroopers was created in 1946. The French Army Insignia of metropolitan Paratroopers represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel which according to Liturgy[dubious ] is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions. The French Army Insignia of Marine Infantry Paratroopers is backgrounded by a Marine Anchor.
-
Co. Para du 3e REIInsignia
-
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment Regimental Insignia
Regimental colors
bearing, stitched in gold letters in the folds, the following inscriptions:
The flag was presented to the 1st Battalion of the Regiment 14 April 1944 in Paceco Sicily.
Regimental song
The Regimental Song features:[15]
Régiment de Rapaces
La gloire de tes anciens
Malgré le temps qui passe
Reste notre destin
Au Ménil et en Alsace
Les Paras du Premier
Ont déjà délivré la France
Rendu la liberté
Du Laos au Tonkin
Le bataillon sans fin
Dans les rizières et les Marais
fit la gloire du Premier
Sur la terre africaine
l'avion les a menés
Vers des combats et vers des peines
Qui furent notre fierté
Du Liban aux Balkans
Les Rapaces du premier
Ont toujours su verser leur sang
Pour rétablir la paix
Régiment de Rapaces
Reprenant le flambeau
Prêt à fondre sur la menace
Pour l'honneur du drapeau
Car sur la terre de France
Et ailleurs s'il le fallait
Nous resterions le fer de lance
De notre belle armée
Honours
Battle honours
Flag decorations
- Croix de guerre 1939–1945 w/2 palms and its Fourragère.[16]
- Legion of Honor.[16]
- Croix de la Valeur Militaire w/2 palms with its Fourragère for actions lead in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2011.[16]
-
Médaille militaire
-
Croix de guerre 1939–1945
-
Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieurs
-
Cross for Military Valor
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment Decorations
- Médaille militaire, awarded to the 3rd combat company of Captain Jacky Thomas[9] of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment.[17]
9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment Decorations
- Médaille militaire, awarded to 3 paratroopers of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.[17]
List of Air Infantry Commanders (1937–1954)
List of Airborne Infantry Commander (1937–1947)
Airborne Infantry Code Recognition | Commander | Rank | Tenure | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
601st Airborne Infantry Group (601e GIA) | Henri Sauvagnac | Captain | 1937–1941 | |
602nd Airborne Infantry Group (602e GIA) | Loizeau | Captain | 1937–1941 | |
1st Air Infantry Company (1re CIA no 1) | Sauvagnac | Captain | 1941–1943 | |
1st Parachute Chasseur Battalion (1er BCP no 1) | Sauvagnac | Captain | 1943-1943 | |
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP) | Hartmann | Commandant | 1943–1943 | |
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment | Sauvagnac | Battalion Commander | 1943-1943 | |
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment | Frederic Geille | Colonel | 1943–1944 | |
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment | Jacques Faure | Lieutenant Colonel | 1944–1945 | 2nd Battalion |
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment | Sauvagnac | Lieutenant Colonel | 1945–1947 |
List of Indochina Air Infantry Battalion Commander (1946–1954)
Indochina Air Infantry Battalions | Commander | Rank | Tenure | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st Indochina Air Infantry Battalion (I)/ 1er RCP | Vismes | Battalion Commander | 1946–1948 | |
1st Battalion (I) /1er RCP | Bastouil | Captain | 1948–1949 | |
1st Battalion (I) /1er RCP | Dangoumau | Battalion Commander | 1954-1954 | |
2nd Indochina Air Infantry Battalion (II)/ 1er RCP | Fossey-François | Battalion Commander | 1948–1948 | |
2nd Battalion (II) /1er RCP | Mollat | Captain | 1948–1949 | |
2nd Battalion (II) /1er RCP | Broizat | Captain | 1949–1950 | |
2nd Battalion (II) /1er RCP | Bréchignac | Battalion Commander | 1952–1954 | |
2nd Battalion (II) /1er RCP | Peaudecerf | Captain | 1954–1954 | |
3rd Indochina Air Infantry Battalion (III)/ 1er RCP | Fossey-François | Battalion Commander | 1946–1948 | |
3rd Battalion (III) /1er RCP | Ducruc | Battalion Commander | 1954-1954 |
Foreign Legion companies (C.E.Ps) attached to 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP)
- 3rd Indochina Air Infantry Battalion (III)/ 1er RCP.
List of Regimental Commanders (1955–present)
(1955–1975) Tenure
|
(1975–1995) Tenure
|
(1995–present) Tenure
|
Chasseurs Officers, Legion Officers, Chasseurs and Legionnaires
See also
- 24th Airborne Division
- 25th Airborne Division
- Pierre Jeanpierre
- List of French paratrooper units
- 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment
- 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
- 10th Parachute Division (France)
- 25th Parachute Division (France)
- 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment
Notes
- ^ a b United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Peacekeeping in between the Blue Line
- ^ a b [1] Badges by company and mission of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ [2] French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b c d e [3] Archived 2014-06-22 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, The Genesis of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b [4] Archived 2015-04-04 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, L'épopée du régiment of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b c d e [5] Archived 2015-04-04 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, L'épopée du régiment of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j [6] Archived 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, L'Indochine of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o [7] Archived 2015-04-04 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, L'Algérie of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b [8] French paratrooper Captain Jacky Thomas
- ^ a b c [9] Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, Drakkar of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ [10] Badges by company and mission of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "1er RCP - Site officiel -". 2015-07-02. Archived from the original on 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k [11] Archived 2015-07-02 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, Afghanistan, the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ a b c d e f g h i [12] Archived 2015-07-02 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1er RCP, Section Historique, Mali, the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
- ^ [13] Archived 2015-10-29 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, Section Chant Régimentaire
- ^ a b c d e f g h [14] Archived 2015-03-11 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, Section Attributs, Le Drapeau du 1er RCP
- ^ a b [15] Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine French Ministry of Defense, Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1er RCP); list of fallen and injured paratroopers by rank and regiment including 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (9e RCP disbanded 1999 and merged with 1er R.C.P)
External links
- Official site at Ministry of Armed Forces website
- Official site (archived)
- "Pamiers. Visite à la présidence du Liban" Commander-in-Chief of Lebanese Armed ForcesJean Kahwaji in a hommage ceremonie to pay tribute to the victims of Drakkar on 23 October 2013; while Lebanon was celebrating its 70th Independence Anniversary; assuring the President of Lebanon "France remains and hopes to remain a lead partner for Lebanon in the mobilization of the international community to ensure political stability"
- History of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 14th Parachute Chasseur Regiment and 18th Parachute Chasseur Regiment