11th Parachute Brigade (France)

11e Brigade Parachutiste
Active	1999-
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Airborne Infantry
Size	8,500 personnel
Part of	Commandement de la force d'action terrestre
Garrison/HQ	Balma
Commanders
Current commander	Jean-Pierre Bosser
Insignia
Badge of the 11th Parachute Brigade worn on Maroon Berets. This badge is also worn by French Foreign Legion Paratroopers on Foreign Legion Berets.	File:Insigne de béret Parachutiste métro et légion.jpg
Abbreviation	11 BP

French paratroopers in Lebanon in 1983

The 11th Parachute Brigade (French) is an airborne unit. It contains most of the parachute units in the French army. The brigade numbers around 8,500 personnel and includes eight regiments. It is under command of a général de brigade (Brigadier General). French paratroopers wear a red beret, except for the 2e REP who wears the French Foreign Legion Beret (light green).

History

The French Army created two parachute divisions in 1956, the 10th parachute division (10^e Division Parachutiste, 10^e DP) under the command of General Jacques Massu and the 25th Parachute Division (25^e Division Parachutiste, 25^e DP) under the command of General Sauvagnac. The 10^e DP formed from a looser 1955-formed previous Groupement Parachutiste d'Intervention, the 25^e DP was established from the 25th Airportable Division which had been previously stationed in Provence.

In the aftermath of the Algiers putsch, both formations were disbanded and their regiments merged into the Light Intervention Division (Division Légère d'Intervention). It became the 11th Parachute Division (11^e Division Parachutiste, 11^e DP) in 1971. In the aftermath of the Cold War, the French Army reorganised and the 11^e DP became the 11th Parachute Brigade in 1999.

Organisation

Organizational Chart of the 11th Parachute Brigade in 2011

• Headquarters in Balma
• 1^er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1^er RHP) Parachute Hussar Regiment in Tarbes with ERC 90
• 1^er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1^er RCP) Parachute Chasseur Regiment in Pamiers
• 2^e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2^e REP) French Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment in Calvi
• 3^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (3^e RPIMa) Marine Parachute Regiment in Carcassonne
• 8^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (8^e RPIMa) Marine Parachute Regiment in Castres
• 35^e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste (35^e RAP) Parachute Artillery Regiment in Tarbes with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
• 17^e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (17^e RGP) Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban
• 1^er Régiment du Train Parachutiste (1^er RTP) Parachute Supply Regiment in Toulouse
• 11^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11e CCTP) Command and Signas Company in Balma

It also includes the Commando Parachute Group, composed of members of the various regiments.

Sources and See also

• (French) 11^e BP official page on the French Ministry of Defence