8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment


8e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine
Image:8th RPIMa.jpg
Active 1951-1954
1956-
Country France
Branch French Army
Type Infantry
Role Airborne
Size 1,047 men and women
Part of 11th Parachute Brigade
Garrison/HQ Castres
Motto Volontaire (Volunteer)
Colors Blue and red
Anniversaries Saint-Michel Day
Engagements First Indochina War
*Battle of Hoa Binh
*Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Algerian War
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Aragones
Notable
commanders		 Guy Le Borgne, Pierre Tourret

The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 8e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine, 8e RPIMa) is an Airborne regiment in the French army.

Contents

History

Indochina

The unit was created on 28 February 1951, in Hanoi as the "8th Colonial Parachute Battalion," as a part of the French union forces.

The 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion fought at Lai-Chau, Hoa Binh, Langson and Dien Bien Phu. The Battalion was mentioned in dispatches four times for valor. It was dissolved on 19 May 1954, after Dien Bien Phu.

Algeria

The unit was recreated as the "8th Colonial Parachute Regiment" on 1 May 1956. The regiment parcipated in operations against the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), most notably at El Kiffene, Ain El Kesseub and Tarf.

Relocation to Metropolitan France

The regiment relocated to the town of Nancy, Metropolitan France, in 1961, to form a part of the 11th Light Division. The regimental headquarters moved to Castres in 1963.

Later Deployments

  • The regiment took part in the intervention in Chad between 1969 and 1972.
  • The regiment is currently serving with the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan. In a fierce battle on 18-19 August, ten French soldiers were killed and 21 wounded making it the largest loss of French troops in battle in many years. ISAF Press Release

Commanding Officers

  • Captain Gautier (1951-1952)
  • Captain Guy Le Borgne (1952-1953
  • Captain Pierre Tourret (1953-1954)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Kohler (1954-1955)
  • Colonel Louis Fourcade (1956-1958)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Hubert de Seguins-Pazzis (1958-1960)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Albert Lenoir (1960-1961)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Kohler (1961-1963)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Desfarges (1963-1965)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Drouin (1965-1967)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Mourier (1967-1969)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Guilleminot (1969-1971)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Bellamy (1971-1973)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Dominique (1973-1975)
  • Colonel Maurice Schmitt (1975-1977)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Cann (1977-1979)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Vidal (1979-1981)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Zeisser (1981-1983)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Lepage (1983-1985)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Theodoly-Lannes (1985-1987)
  • Colonel Lafourcade (1987-1989)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Thomann (1989-1991)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Irastorza (1991-1993)
  • Lieutenant Colonel de Haynin de Bry (1993-1995)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Reglat (1995-1997)
  • Lieutenant Colonel de Braquilanges (1997-1999)
  • Colonel Stollsteiner (1999-2001)
  • Colonel Bosser (2001-2003)
  • Colonel Brousse (2003-2005)
  • Colonel Guionie (2005-2007)
  • Colonel Aragones (2007- )

Officers and marines

Lineage

  • 1951: 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion
  • 1952: 8th Colonial Parachute Group
  • 1953: 8th Shock Parachute Battalion
  • 1954: Dissolved
  • 1956: 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment
  • 1958: 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

Honours

Battle Honours

Decorations

Composition

The regiment consists of over 1047 men and women, divided into seven companies:

  • 4 Combat companies
  • 1 Reconnaissance and Support company (d'éclairage et d'appui ) (CEA)
  • 1 Training company
  • 1 Command and Logistics company

The regiment has been headquartered in Castres, France, since 1963. Paratroop training is conducted at the École des troupes aéroportées (ETAP) in Pau.

Official Site







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