3rd Armored Division (France)
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3e Division Blindée | |
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![]() Insignia of the 3e DIV. | |
Active | April 15, 1943 - April 15, 1946 1951 - July 1991 June 20, 2016 - present |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Size | ~ 24,700 as of 2016 |
Garrison/HQ | Marseille |
Motto(s) | « Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs » |
Engagements | World War II |
The 3rd Armoured Division (French: 3e Division Blindée, 3e DB) is a unit of the French Army.
The Division is the heir 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA) formed in 1943 and dissolved in 1946.
The 3rd Armoured Division was created in 1951 then dissolved in 1991. The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM), created in 1999 inherited the traditions of the division.
The 3rd Division (3e DIV) was recreated on June 20, 2016 within the cadre of the reorganization of the French Army.
Creation and different nominations
- The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA) was created on April 15, 1943;
- Dissolution on April 15, 1946;
- The 3rd Armored Division (3e DB), heir of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division, was created in 1951;
- The 3rd Armored Division was dissolved on July 1991;
- The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM), created on July 1999 inherited traditions of the division. The brigade became designated as 3rd Light Armored Brigade (3e BLB) in 2014;
- The 3rd Division was recreated on June 20, 2016 part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division.
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3e DIA
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3e DB
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3e BM
Heraldry
It was under the signs of Latin traditions that général de Monsabert wanted to place the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division 3e DIA during creation on May 1, 1943.
The insignia of "Victory" (French: La Victoire) of Cirta (province of Numidia, today Constantine (provence in Algeria)) is supported by three crescents representing the Muslims, which composed the majority of the division, Allied to the "métros" (blue white red).Origin of the insignia, La Victoire de Cirta
The "Victory" (French: La Victoire) was a Roman goddess protector of the Emperors that the Legio III Augusta de Cirta particularly venerated. She was found within a search at Constantine in the 19th century.
The motto of the 3rd Armoured Division is : « Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs » in French which translates literally to « More honor than the honors ». The motto of the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade was : « Un seul but : La victoire ».
History
1943 to 1946
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA), formed on April 15, 1943, fought in the Italy and France during World War II under general Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert and Augustin Guillaume. The division was dissolved on April 15, 1946.
1951 to 1991
The 3rd Division was reconstituted in 1951 at the corps of the French Forces in Germany (French: Forces françaises en Allemagne, FFA). This was a grand unit of almost 15000 men covering the Western part of Germany and comprising three brigades:
- The 5th Mechanised Brigade at Tübingen;
- The 12th Mechanised Brigade at Offenbourg;
- The 13th Motoryzed Brigade at Konstanz
the division became the 3rd Armoured Division in 1978. Three infantry regiments, two tank regiments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, and one command and support regiment. During the transformation of the FFA into FFECSA (French: forces françaises et élément civil stationnés en Allemagne) (French Forces and Civilian Element), the division was redimensioned and dissolved in 1991.
Organigram in 1991
Two tank regiments, three infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, one command and support regiment:
Based in Fribourg-en-Brisgau.
- 3rd Dragoon Regiment (French: 3e Régiment de dragons, 3e RD)
- 12th Cuirassiers Regiment (French: 12e Régiment de cuirassiers, 12e RC)
- 19th Group Mounted Chasseurs (French: 19e Groupe de chasseurs portés, 19eGCP)
- 42nd Infantry Regiment (French: 42e Régiment d'infanterie, 42e RI)
- 152nd Infantry Regiment (French: 152e Régiment d'infanterie, 152e RI)
Support:
- 11th Artillery Regiment (French: 11e Régiment d'artillerie, 11e RA)
- 34th Artillery Regiment (French: 34e Régiment d'artillerie, 34e RA)
- 11th Engineer Regiment (French: 11e Régiment du génie, 11e RG)
Other support :
- 3rd Command and Support Regiment (French: 3e Régiment de commandement et de soutien, 3e RCS)
1999 to 2015
The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM) created in 1999 retook traditions. The headquarter staff was based in Limoges. In 2011, the headquarter staff of the 3e BM garrisoned at Clermont-Ferrand.
On March 18, 2014, the 3rd Mechanised Brigade became designated as the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (3e BLB).
Since 2016
The 3rd Division (3e DIV) was recreated during a ceremony on June 20, 2016. Interarm, the division is formed of three brigades part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division, units stationed in outre-mer and overseas. Headquarter staff is garrisoned in Marseille.
Composition in 2016
The 3rd Division is subordinated to the Commandement des Forces Terrestres CFT. At creation, the division managed 25 regiments, 4 headquarter staffs and one instruction school. Effectifs form 25000 men and 4000 reservists in:
- 2e Régiment de Dragons (2e RD-NBC) - Défense Nucléaire Biologique et chimique NBC-defense Regiment in Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
- 54e Régiment d'Artillerie (54e RA) - Air-defense Regiment in Hyères with Mistral
- 31e Régiment du Génie (31e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Castelsarrasin
2e brigade blindée – 2nd Armored Brigade
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/2eDB-insigne.jpg/100px-2eDB-insigne.jpg)
Based in Illkirch-Graffenstaden.
- 2e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (2e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Illkirch-Graffenstaden with VAB
- 12e Régiment de Cuirassiers (12e RC) - Armoured Regiment in Olivet with 60 Leclerc
- 501e Régiment de chars de combat (501e RCC) - Armoured Regiment in Mourmelon-le-Grand with 60 Leclerc
- Régiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Meyenheim with VBCI
- 16e Bataillon de Chasseurs (16e BC) - Infantry Battalion in Bitche with VBCI
- 92e Régiment d'Infanterie (92e RI) - Infantry Regiment in Clermont-Ferrand with VBCI
- 40e Régiment d'Artillerie (40e RA) Self-propelled Howitzer Regiment in Suippes with 32 GCT 155mm and 12 120mm mortars
- 13e Régiment du Génie (13e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Valdahon
6e brigade légère blindée – 6th Light Armoured Brigade
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Insigne_6e_BLB.jpg/100px-Insigne_6e_BLB.jpg)
Based in Nîmes.
- 6e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (6e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Nîmes with VAB
- 1er Régiment de Spahis – Cavalry Regiment in Valence with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
- 1er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (1er REC) Foreign Legion - Cavalry Regiment in Orange with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
- 2e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie (2e REI) - Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in Nîmes with VBCI
- 13e Demi Brigade de Légion Etrangère (13e DBLE) - Foreign Legion regiment in with VAB
- 21e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (21e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Fréjus with VAB
- 3e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (3e RAMa) - Marine Artillery Regiment in Canjuers with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
- 1er Régiment Étranger de Génie (1er REG) - Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment in Laudun
11e brigade parachutiste – 11th Parachute Brigade
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Le_11e.B.P..jpg/100px-Le_11e.B.P..jpg)
Based in Balma.
- 11e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11e CCTP) - Command and Signals Company in Balma
- 1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1er RHP) - Parachute Hussar Regiment in Tarbes with ERC 90
- 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1er RCP) Parachute Chasseur Regiment in Pamiers
- 2e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) French Foreign Legion - Parachute Regiment in Calvi
- 3e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa) - Marine Parachute Regiment in Carcassonne
- 8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (8e RPIMa) - Marine Parachute Regiment in Castres
- 35e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste (35e RAP) - Parachute Artillery Regiment in Tarbes with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
- 17e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (17e RGP) - Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban
- 1er Régiment du Train Parachutiste (1er RTP) - Parachute Supply Regiment in Toulouse
Notes
References
- David Isby and Charles Kamps Jr., Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company, 1985. ISBN 0-7106-0341-X
- Ian Sumner and Charles Vauvillier, The French Army 1939-45 (2), Osprey, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-707-4