8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=DecemberApril 20122020}}

|unit_name=8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment<br>(''
|native_name=8<{{sup>|e</sup>}} Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine'')

|dates= February 28 February 1951 -– present<br>

[[List of French paratrooper units|8^e B.P.Colonial]] 1951<br>[[List of French paratrooper units|8^e G.C.P]] 1952<br>[[List of French paratrooper units|8^e B.P.Choc]] 1953<br>[[List of French paratrooper units|8^e R.P.C]] 1956 - 19581956–1958<br>[[List of French paratrooper units|8^e R.P.I.Ma]] 1958 -– present

|branch=[[French{{Tree Army]]list}}

|type= [[troupesAirborne deforces|Airborne]] marine[[regiment]]

|battles=[[First Indochina War]]<br/>[[Battle of HoaHòa BinhBình]]<br/>[[Battle of Dien Bien Phu]]<br/>[[Algerian War]]<br/>[[Lebanese Civil War|Lebanese Civil War 1975-19901975–1990]]

*[[Multinational Force in Lebanon|Multinational Force 1982-19841982–1984]]

*[[War in Afghanistan (2001–20142001–present)]]

The '''8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment''' ({{lang-fr|[[List of French paratrooper units|8^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine]]}}, [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e RPIMa]]}}) is an [[Airborne forces|airborne]] regiment of the [[FrenchTroupes Armyde Marine]]. The 8^e RPIMa was created on 28 February 28, 1951 and the men wear the red beret. This elite regimentIt is part of the [[11th Parachute Brigade (France)|11th Parachute Brigade]].

The regiment is garrisoned at [[Castres]], France.<ref name=8erpima>{{cite web|title=8e RPIMa|url=http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/troupes-de-marine/8e-regiment-de-parachutistes-d-infanterie-de-marine|publisher=French government|accessdateaccess-date=2012-02-17}}</ref> Current missions of the 8^e RPIMa revolve around [[peacekeeping]] and assistance to [[world]] populations, and in that regard at the service and disposition of [[NATO]] or the [[United Nations]] directives. The regiment intervenes around the world protecting French interests in and not limited to : [[TchadChad]], [[Lebanon]], [[New Caledonia]], [[Kuwait]], [[Rwanda]], [[Gabon]], [[Kurdistan]], [[ZaïreDemocratic Republic of Congo]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Republic of the Congo|Congo-Brazzaville]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|RDC]], ex-[[Yugoslavia]], [[Cambodia]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Kosovo]], [[Ivory Coast]], and [[Afghanistan]]. In outremerOverseas, the regiment is engaged in operations defending French interests, or countries that are in liaison with France in security missions. In [[Europe]], the regiment is engaged in defending the national French territory at the corps of the terrestrial action force. This regiment can be rapidly deployed anywhere in the world. The regiment parts various [[Commando Parachute Group]]s, a group of French [[List of French paratrooper units|elite units]]. Parachute training is conducted at the [[École des troupes aéroportées]] (ETAP) in [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]].

* 28 February 28, 1951 : creation of the [[List of French paratrooper units|8th Colonial Parachute Battalion]], [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e BPC]].

* 12 September 12, 1952 : became the [[List of French paratrooper units|8th Commando Parachute Groupment]], [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e GCP]].

* 1 August 1, 1953 : became the [[List of French paratrooper units|8th Parachute Choc Battalion]], [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e BPC]].

* 31 May 31, 1954 : dissolution of the 8th Parachute Choc Battalion, 8^e BPC.

* May 1, May 1956 : creation of the [[List of French paratrooper units|8th Colonial Parachute Regiment]] [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e RCP]] at the corps of the [[25th Parachute Division (France)|25th Parachute Division]] [[List of French paratrooper units|25^e DP]].

* December 1, December 1958: became [[List of French paratrooper units|8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment]], [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e RPIMa]].

== History since 1951Campaigns ==

'''Campaign Participation Engagement '''<br/>

'''(1951 - 19541951–1954)'''

* 1951 - 1954 1951–1954: [[Indochina War]]

'''(1956 - 19581956–1958)'''

* 1956 - 1961 1956–1961: [[Algerian War]]

'''(1958–present )'''

* 1970 : Chad

* 1978 - 19791978–1979: [[Lebanon]], [[UNIFIL]]

* 1980 : [[New Hebrides]] with [[Royal Marines]]

* 1982 : Lebanon, [[UNIFIL]]

* 1983 : Chad, [[Operation Manta]]

* 1982 - 1983 1982–1983: Lebanon, [[Multinational Force in Lebanon]]

* 1984 : Chad

* 1986 : [[New Caledonia]]

* 1986 : Chad, [[Opération Épervier]]

* 1988 : New Caledonia

* 1989 : Chad, Opération Épervier

* 1990 : Gabon, Opération Requin

* 1991 : [[Kuwait]]

* 1991 : [[Kurdistan]]

* 1991 - 19921991–1992: [[Zaire]]

* 1992 : [[Cambodia]]

* 1993 : [[Central African Republic]], RCA

* 1993 - 1995 1993–1995: [[Sarajevo]]

* 1995 : [[Tahiti]]

* 1996 - 1997 1996–1997: RCA

* 1996 : Sarajevo

* 1997 : DRC

* 1997 : Congo-Brazzaville

* 1998 : Macedonia

* 1999 : [[Kosovo]]

* 2002 : Kosovo

* 2002 : [[Ivory Coast]], [[OperationOpération UnicornLicorne]]

* 2003 - 2005 2003–2005: Kosovo

* 2006 -2007 2006–2007: DRC

* 2008 - 2009 2008–2009: [[Afghanistan]]

* 2010 - 2011 2010–2011: Kosovo with [[1st Parachute Hussard Regiment|1^er RHP]] and [[17th Parachute Engineer Regiment|17^e RGP]]

* 2013 - 2014 2013–2014: RCA

The unit was created on 28 February 1951, in Hanoi as the "8th Colonial Parachute Battalion,", as a part of the French union forces. Present since 1951 and to 1954, the "8th Colonial Parachute Battalion" fought at Lai-Chau, HoaHòa BinhBình, Langson and Dien Bien Phu heavily superiorly outnumbered. The Battalion was cited at the orders of the armed forces and mentioned in dispatches four times for acts of valor. The quasi totality of the battalion disappeared and was subsequently dissolved on 19 May 1954, after the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

=== 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 8^e RPIMa (1958 -– present) ===

The regiment is composed of around 1200 marine infantry parachute personnel articulated intoin eight combat companies:<ref name="8erpima"/>

* '''Compagnie de commandement et de logistique (CCL)'''<ref name="8erpima"/> -– Command and logistics company

* '''Compagnie d'éclairage et d'appui (CEA)'''<ref name="8erpima"/> -– Reconnaissance and support company

* '''1^re Compagnie de combat'''<ref name="8erpima"/> -– 1st Combat company

* '''2^e Compagnie de combat'''<ref name="8erpima"/> -– 2nd Combat company

* '''3^e Compagnie de combat'''<ref name="8erpima"/> -– 3rd Combat company

* '''4^e Compagnie de combat'''<ref name="8erpima"/> -– 4th Combat company

* '''Compagnie de réserve opérationnelle (CRO)'''<ref name="8erpima"/> -– Operational reserve company

Except for the [[French Foreign Legion|Legionnaires]] of the [[List of French paratrooper units|1^er REG]], [[List of French paratrooper units|2^ème REG]], [[List of French paratrooper units|2^ème REP]] that conserve the [[Green beret#French commandos|Green Beret]]; the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.

File:Brevet Parachutiste.jpg|[[List of French paratrooper units|French]] andArmy [[List of French paratrooper units|Foreign Legion]] [[List of French paratrooper units|Parachute Brevet]].

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|date=March 2019}} 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.

File:Insigne du 8° BPC.jpg|<{{center>|Right chest insignia of the [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e B.P.C]]</center>}}

File:Insigne du 8e GCP.JPG|<{{center>|Right chest insignia of the [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e G.C.P]]</center>}}

File:Insigne du 8e RPC.JPG|<{{center>|Right chest insignia of the [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e R.P.C]]</center>}}

File:Parachutistes coloniaux-béret.jpg|<{{center>|Beret insignia of the [[List of French paratrooper units|Marine Parachute Units]]</center>}}

File:Insigne infanterie de marine.png|<{{center>|Left arm insignia of the [[Troupes de Marine]]</center>}}

The regimental colors of the [[List of French paratrooper units|8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment]] ([[List of French paratrooper units|8^e RPIMa]]) isare decorated with:

** 1 palm (21 May 21, 2012 for service in Afghanistan ).

** 1 palm (31 August 31, 2012 for service in [[Lebanon]] -– Regularization of the citation at the orders of the armed forces received in 1979).

** 1 palm (1 October 1, 2013 for service in Afghanistan ).

File:AVERS Croix de Guerre TOE France 2 citations.jpg|<{{center>|Croix de Guerre TOE</center>}}

File:Croix de la Valeur Militaire France AVERS.jpg|<{{center>|Croix de la Valeur militaire</center>}}

* INDOCHINE 1951-19541951–1954

* AFN 1952-19621952–1962

* '''[[List of French paratrooper units|8th Colonial Parachute Regiment]]'''

* Colonel Philippe du Chaxel (2009-20112009–2011)

* Colonel Eric Chasboeuf (2011-20132011–2013)

* Colonel Tassel (2013-20152013–2015)

* Colonel Danigo (2015-20172015–2017)

* Colonel Debray (2017-2017–2019)

* In 1979 and commanded by [[Ranks in the French Army|captain]] Marchand, a company from the regiment was engaged fully in Chad in support of the [[peacekeeping|peace]] effort.

* In 2008 and supporting the [[peacekeeping|peace]] effort, the regiment endured the loss of eight [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e RPIMa]] paratroopers fighting in Afghanistan.

* In 2013 and supporting the peace effort in an intervention confrontation, the regiment endured the loss two [[List of French paratrooper units|8^e RPIMa]]two paratroopers in RCA.

== Notable members of the 8^e RPIMaregiment ==

* [[Guy Le Borgne]], regimental commander (1952-19531952–1953)

* [[Patrice Le Nepvou de Carfort]] (1952-19591952–1959)

* [[René de Salins]] (1920-20141920–2014)

* [[Pierre Tourret]], regimental commander (1953-19541953–1954)

* [[François Cann]], regimental commander ( 1977-19791977–1979)

* Frédéric Pons, ''Opérations extérieures -– Les volontaires du 8^e RPIMa, Lebanon 1978 -– Afghanistan 2009'', Presses de la Cité, June 25, 2009

* Official site -– [http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/troupes-de-marine/8e-regiment-de-parachutistes-d-infanterie-de-marine ''8e RPIMa'']

[[Category:Parachute infantry regiments of France]]

[[Category:Military units and formations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present2001–2021)]]