1st Mechanised Brigade (France)

1^re Brigade Mécanisée
Insignia of the 1st Mechanised Brigade
Active	1999 –
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Mechanised
Size	5,700 soldiers
Part of	CFAT
Garrison/HQ	Châlons-en-Champagne
Motto	Nomine et virtute prima ("First in name and in spirit")

The 1st Mechanised Brigade (French: 1^re Brigade Mécanisée, 1^re BM) is a mechanised unit of the French Army. The brigade is heir to the honours and traditions of the 1st Armoured Division, created during World War II.

History

The 1st Armoured Division was dissolved with the reorganisation of the French Army in 1999, and the dissolution of the French Forces in Germany. The division’s honours and traditions are carried on with the formation of the 1st Mechanised Brigade in Châlons-en-Champagne. The brigade took part in the Operation Trident in Kosovo in 1999.

Organization

General Bruno Guibert commanding 1st Mechanised Brigade

The brigade consists of around 5700 personnel in 6 regiments and 3 brigade units.^[1]

• 1^er Régiment de Spahis – wheeled armored regiment in Valence with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
• 1^er Régiment de Tirailleurs (1^er RTir) – infantry regiment in Epinal with VBCI
• 1^er Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (1^er RAMa) – self-propelled marine artillery regiment in Laon with 12x CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and 16x 120mm RTF1 mortars
• 402^e Régiment d'artillerie (402^e RA) – artillery regiment in Châlons-en-Champagne
• 3^e Régiment du Génie (3^e RG) – engineer regiment in Charleville-Mézières
• 1^re Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (1^re CCT) – command and signals company in Châlons-en-Champagne with VAB
• Escadron d'éclairage et d'investigation – brigade reconnaissance squadron
• Batterie de renseignement brigade

Notes

1. "1^re brigade mécanisée". French government. Archived from the original on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 17 February 2012.

References

www.defense.gouv.fr

External links

• Official site (French) – 1^er BM