2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
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2e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine | |
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Active | 1947-1953 1955-1962 1965- |
Country | France |
Branch | French Army |
Type | troupes de marine |
Role | Airborne |
Garrison/HQ | Saint-Pierre, Réunion |
Motto(s) | Ne pas subir |
Anniversaries | Saint-Michel Day |
Engagements | First Indochina War Algerian War Suez Crisis |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Thierry Chigot |
Notable commanders | Roger Trinquier |
Insignia | |
Beret badge of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment | |
Abbreviation | 2e RPIMa |
The 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 2e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 2e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the French Army. It is heir to the traditions of the Free French and colonial paratroopers. As of 2008 it is stationed at Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
History
Formed in England from the Air Infantry Companies, 400 men of the 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment were dropped over Brittany as part of the Normandy Landings.[1] The unit flank-guarded General George S. Patton's U.S. 3rd Army during the Battle of Normandy.
In 1947, the 2nd Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion was posted to Indochina, combat engaging until 1953, being cited three times at the orders of the armed forces.
In 1955, the unit was renamed 2nd Colonial Parachute Regiment; and then in 1958, the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment. The unit served from 1955 until 1962 in North Africa in the 10th Parachute Division. On 5 November 1956, the unit jumped in the second wave of the French/British attack on the Suez Canal over Port Said and was mentioned and was cited at the orders of the armed forces.
In July 1961, the regiment jumped over Bizerte and broke the Tunisian siege of the French airport installations. It was dissolved 5 July 1962, but recreated 1 January 1965 in Ivato, Madagascar from the 5th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment.
It was transferred to Reunion in 1973. Since then it has participated in various operations: Djibouti (1993/1994), Comoros (1990), Rwanda (1994) and Comors (1995/1996).
Commanders
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Officers and marines
Lineage
- 1948: 2nd Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion
- 1951: 2nd Colonial Parachute Battalion
- 1955: 2nd Colonial Parachute Regiment
- 1958: 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
Flag
It is, sewn in gold letters in its folds, the following inscriptions:[2][3]
Honours
Battle Honours
Decorations
- Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures with 4 palms.
See Also
Sources and bibliography
- Collective,"History of French paratroopers, Literary Production Company, 1975".
- Colonel Roger Fleming, Paras "Free France, Editions Presses de la Cité, 1976".
- Henry Corta,"The Red Berets, Association of Former SAS paratrooper, 1952".
References
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E6DF143AF934A35755C0A962958260
- ^ 12350/SGA/DPMA/SHD/DAT Decision No. 14 September 2007 relating to registration of names of battles on flags and banners of army corps of the army, the army medical service and fuel service armed forces of the Official Gazette, No. 27, November 9, 2007
- ^ Order on the award 1952-1962 NFA registration on flags and banners and training of armed services, November 19, 2004 (A) NORDEF0452926A Michele Alliot-Marie
External links
- Friends of the 2e RPIMa
- Le 2e RPIMA en action
- Bizerte: Large maneuvers du 2e RPIMA(Photos), 'Le Quotidien de la Réunion', 7 octobre 2009.