9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (France)
9e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine | |
---|---|
Badge | |
Active |
1943 - 1947 1963 - 1976 1976 - 1999 1999 - 2013 2013 - present |
Country | France |
Branch | French Army |
Type | Armour |
Role | Amphibious warfare |
Size |
6,154 men R.I.C.M1er R.I.Ma 2e R.I.Ma 3e R.I.Ma) 126e R.I. 11e R.A.Ma 6e R.G. |
Part of |
CFAT Rapid Reaction Force (FAR) |
Garrison/HQ | Poitiers |
Motto(s) | Semper et Ubique ("Always and Everywhere") |
Engagements |
9th Colonial Infantry Division Indochina War Gulf War |
The 9th Marine Infantry Brigade (French: 9e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine, 9e BIMa) is a light armoured, amphibious unit of the Troupes de marine of the French Army, similar to the 6th Light Armoured Brigade (French: 6e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6e BLB) of the Commandement de la force d'action terrestre.
In July 1963, the 9e Marine Infantry Division was created in Brittany. On 1 January 1976, the 9th Division became the 9th Marine Infantry Division (9e division d'Infanterie de Marine, 9e DIMa), attached to the land intervention force, then the Rapid Action Force from 1983. On 1 July 1999, the 9th Marine Infantry Division became the 9th Marine Light Armoured Brigade. On 1 January 2013, the unit was renamed and downsized to the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade (French: 9e Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine, 9e BIMa).
Creation and different nominations
- 1943 - 1947 : creation of the 9th Colonial Infantry Division (French: 9e Division d'Infanterie Coloniale, 9e D.I.C )
- 1963 - 1976 : designated as 9th Brigade (French: 9e brigade, 9eB )
- 1976 - 1999 : designated as 9th Marine Infantry Division (French: 9e division d'infanterie de marine, 9e D.I.Ma )
- 1999 - 2013 : designated as 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (French: 9e Brigade Légère Blindée de Marine, 9e B.L.B.Ma )
- 2013–present : designated as 9th Marine Infantry Brigade (French: Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine, 9e B.I.Ma )
History
The 9e is heir to the Blue Division which illustrated capability during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, in particular during the Battle of Bazeilles and the 9th Colonial Infantry Division, part of the Free French Forces , which distinguished themselves of the apprehending of Elba in June 1944 and the disembarking in Provence on August 15 of the same year. The Division then made way to Indochina, where it was placed dormant (without being dissolved) in December 1947. The unit was reactivated in July 1963 in Brittany under the designation of 9th Brigade. On January 1, 1976, the division was baptized as 9th Marine Infantry Division 9e DIMa. Accordingly, the division was attached to the terrestrial intervention force, then the Rapid Reaction Force, FAR since 1983. On July 1, 1999, was restructured in a brigade and was designated as 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (BLBMa). On January 1, 2013, the brigade was named to the current designation as the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade (9e BIMa).
The headquarter staff is stationed in Poitiers since July 1, 2010. The motto of the brigade is « Semper et Ulbique », Latin for « Always and Anywhere ».
The « 9th » illustrated capability on all exterior theatres of operations where France has been engaged since World War II: Indochina, Lebanon, Kuwait, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Congo, Tchad, Ivory Coast. From October 2010 to May 2011, the Brigade armed essentially Brigade La Fayette in Afghanistan by projecting a headquarter staff ( composed 50% of marouins, bigors, Marine sapeurs of the 9e BIMa) and the tactical interam groupment of Richelieu armed by the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment. On January 2013, elements of the Brigade took part in Operation Serval.
In all combat engagement theatres, the 9e BIMa illustrated worth of the oldest traditions of the French Troop de Marine.
Missions
The principal mission of the 9e BIMa, for the which the brigade is apt for revolve around:
- Amphibious actions: quick projection of a headquarter staff and one reinforced battalion (1,400 men) by naval marine means, such as Mistral-class amphibious assault ship.
- Security missions, securitization of urbain oriented combat designated areas.
- Deep decentralization action of search and reconnaissance oriented missions.
- Rapid and deep incursions (armored raids, 100 Km range)
The 9eBIMa is present around the globe and also relieves missions of short duration such as in Senegal, Guyana in Mayotte and Djibouti. The 9eBIMa actively participates to missions with the French Navy as the land terrestrial land component of Amphibious groups.
The 9eBIMa is the twinned with 3rd Royal Marines Commando Brigade of the British Armed Forces. Within this title, from May 28 to June 1, 2012, the center of amphibious operations of the headquarter staff embarked on BPC Mistral with the designated exercise Narval. 10 officersof the headquarter staff of the (twin brigade) participated in light of preperation to exercise Corsican Lion which took place from October 17 to October 26, 2012.
Organization 2016
- 9e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (9e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Poitiers with VAB
- Régiment d'Infanterie-Chars de Marine (RICM) - Armoured Marine Infantry Regiment (light cavalry) in Poitiers with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
- 1er Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RIMa) - Armoured Marine Infantry Regiment (light cavalry) in Angoulême with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
- 2e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (2e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Le Mans with VBCI
- 3e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Vannes with VAB
- 126e Régiment d'Infanterie (126e RI) - Infantry Regiment in Brive-la-Gaillarde with VAB
- 11e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (11e RAMa) - Marine Artillery Regiment in Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
- 6e Régiment du Génie (6e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Angers
Brigade Commanders
- 2003 - 2005 : Général Jean-Paul Thonier
- 2005 - 2007 : Général Hervé Charpentier
- 2007 - 2009 : Général Éric Bonnemaison
- 2009 - 2011 : Général Jean-François Hogard (frère du colonel Jacques Hogard)
- 2011 - 2013 : Général François Lecointre
- 2013 - 2015 : Général Vincent Guionie
- 2015 - : Général François Labuze
See also
External links
- (French)
- Page consacrée à la 9e BIMa sur le site du Ministère de la Défense
- Site de la fanfare et du bagad de la 9
- L'ordre de bataille de l'armée de terre
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