L'Armee Francaise

This order of battle is my latest attempt to provide an up-to-date picture of the status and disposition of the French army. The information used in this order of battle is taken from several sources, but primarily from French army websites.

Generally, French regiments and battalions are similar in size to American battalions and squadrons, composed of multiple squadrons or companies that are similar in size to American troops and companies.

The French army underwent a major reorganization starting in 1996 under the "Organization 2002" plan, which included the restructuring of the former nine division formations (which were smaller than other NATO divisions) into nine brigades. Additionally, the former 3rd Army Corps and Force d'Action Rapide (FAR) were disbanded and replaced with four new force staffs (EMF), which would take control of various brigades in an emergency or deployment, providing the skeletons of possible division formations. The EMFs do not command brigades in peacetime.

Please e-mail me any questions or comments at baumgar.geo@yahoo.com.

Copyright © 1998, 2003 Neil Baumgardner

• French Army - Chef d'Etat-Major de l'Armée de Terre (CEMAT) (Paris, Ile de France)

• Commandement de la Force d'Action Terrestre (CFAT) (Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais)

• 1st Force Staff (EMF 1) (Besancon, Franche Comte)
• 7e Train Battalion (1e BT) (Overseas Transport) (Besancon, Franche Comte)
• 2nd Force Staff (EMF 2) (Nantes, Pays de Loire)
• 3rd Force Staff (EMF 3) (Marseille, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 72e Marine Infanterie Battalion (72e BIMa) (Transport) (Marseille, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 4th Force Staff (EMF 4) (Limoges, Limousin)
• 15e Train Battalion (15e BT) (Transport) (Limoges, Limousin)
• 2th Armored Brigade (2e BB) (Orleans, Centre)
• 2e Dragoons (2e RD) (Armor - Leclerc) (Fontevraud, Pays de Loire)
• 6e/12e Cuirassiers (6e/12e RC) (Armor - Leclerc) (Olivet, Centre)
• 16e Rifle Group (16e GC) (Armored  Infantry - AMX10/VAB) (Saarburg, Alsace)
• Tchad March Regiment (Marine) (RMT) (Armored Infantry - AMX10) (Noyon, Picardy)
• 1er Marine Artillerie (1er RAMa) (Self-Propelled Artillery - AUF1) (Laon, Picardy)
• 13e Engineers (13e RG) (Combat) (Epernay, Champagne)
• 2e Communications Company (2e CCT) (Orleans, Centre)
• 7th Armored Brigade (7e BB) (Besancon, Franche-Comte)
• 1er/2e Chasseurs (1er/2e RCh) (Armor - AMX30B2) (Thierville-sur-Meuse, Lorraine)
• 152e Infanterie (152e RI) (Armored Infantry - AMX10) (Colmar, Alsace)
• 35e Infanterie (35e RI) (Armored/Mechanized Infantry - AMX10/VAB) (Belfort, Franche-Comte)
• 8e Artillerie (8e RA) (Self-Propelled Artillery - AUF1) (Commercy, Lorraine)
• 19e Engineers (19e RG) (Combat) (Besancon, Franche-Comte)
• 7e Communications Company (7e CCT) (Besancon-Voitte, Franche-Comte)
• 1st Mechanized Brigade (1er BM) (Chalons-en-Champagne, Champagne)
• 501e/503e Tank Regiment (501e/503e RCC) (Armor - Leclerc) (Mourmelon Le Grande, Champagne Ardenne)
• 1er Rifles (1er R.TIR) (Armored Infantry - AMX10) (Epinal, Lorraine)
• 1er Infanterie (1er RI) (Mechanized Infantry - VAB) (Sarrebourg, Lorraine)
• 40e Artillerie (40e RA) (Self-Propelled Artillery - AUF1) (Suippes,
• 3e Engineers (3e RG) (Combat) (Charleville-Mezieres, Champagne Ardenne)
• 1er Communications Company (1er CCT) (Chalons-en-Champagne, Champagne)
• 3rd Mechanized Brigade (3e BM) (Limoges, Limousin)
• 1er/11e Cuirassiers (1er/11e RC) (Armor - AMX30B2) (Marseille, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 92e Infanterie (92e RI) (Mechanized Infantry - VAB) (Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne)
• 126e Infanterie (126e RI) (Mechanized Infantry - VAB) (Brive La Gaillarde, Limousin)
• 68e Artillerie (68e RA) (Self-Propelled Artillery - AUF1) (La Valbonne, Rhone-Alps)
• 31e Engineers (31e RG) (Combat) (Castlesarrasin, Pyrennes)
• 3e Communications Company (3e CCT) (Limoges, Limousin)
• 6th Light Armored Brigade (6e BLB) (Nimes, Languedoc)
• 1er Foreign Legion Cavalerie (1er REC) (Armor - AMX10RC) (Orange, Provence)
• 1er Spahis (1er RS) (Armor - AMX10RC) (Valence, Rhone-Alps)
• 21e Marine Infanterie (21e RIMa) (Mechanized Infantry - VAB) (Frejus, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 2e Foreign Legion Infanterie (2e REI) (Light Infantry) (Nimes, Languedoc)
• 3e Marine Artillerie (3e RAMa) (Self-Propelled Artillery - AUF1) (Canjuers, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 1er Foreign Legion Engineers (1er REG) (Laudun l'Ardoise, Languedoc Roussillon)
• 6e Communications Company (6e CCT) (Nimes, Languedoc)
• 9th Marine Light Armored Brigade (9e BLBM) (Nantes, Pays de Loire)
• Marine Tank Regiment (RICM) (Armor - AMX10RC) (Poitier, Poitou-Charantes)
• 1er Marine Infanterie (1er RIMa) (Armor - AMX10RC) (Angouleme, Poitou-Charantes)
• 2e Marine Infanterie (2e RIMa) (Mechanized Infantry - VAB) (Le Mans, Pays de Loire)
• 3e Marine Infanterie (3e RIMa) (Mechanized Infantry - VAB) (Vannes, Brittany)
• 11e Marine Artillerie (11e RAMa) (Towed Artillery - TRF1) (St Aubin du Cormier, Brittany)
• 6e Engineers (6e RG) (Combat) (Angers, Pays de Loire)
• 11th Parachute Brigade (11e BP) (Toulouse, Pyrennes)
• 1er Parachute Hussars (1er RHP) (Light Armor - ERC 90) (Tarbes, Pyrennes)
• 1er Parachute Rifles (1er RCP) (Mechanized Parachute Infantry - VAB) (Pamiers, Pyrennes)
• 2e Foreign Legion Parachutists (2e REP) (Mechanized Parachute Infantry - VAB) (Calvi, Cosica)
• 3e Marine Parachute Infanterie (3e RPIMa) (Mechanized Parachute Infantry - VAB) (Carcassonne, Languedoc Roussillon)
• 8e Marine Parachute Infanterie (8e RPIMa) (Mechanized Parachute Infantry - VAB) (Castres, Pyrennes)
• 35e Parachute Artillerie (35e RAP) (Towed Artillery - TRF1) (Tarbes, Pyrennes)
• 17e Parachute Engineers (17e RGP) (Combat) (Montaubon, Pyrennes)
• 1er Parachute Train Regiment (1er RTP) (Toulouse, Pyrennes)
• 27th Mountain Infanterie Brigade (27e BIM) (Varces, Rhone-Alps)
• 4e Chassuers (4e RCh) (Light Armor - ERC 90) (Gap, Provence)
• 7e Mountain Rifles (7e BCA) (Mechanized Mountain Infantry - VAB) (Bourg-St-Maurice, Rhone-Alps)
• 13e Mountain Rifles (13e BCA) (Mechanized Mountain Infantry - VAB) (Barby, Rhone-Alps)
• 27e Mountain Rifles (27e BCA) (Mechanized Mountain Infantry - VAB) (Cran Gevrier, Rhone-Alps)
• 93e Mountain Artillerie (93e RAM) (Towed Artillery - TRF1) (Varces, Rhone-Alps)
• 2e Foreign Legion Engineers (2e REG) (Saint-Christol, Pasy-de-Loire)
• Special Forces Brigade (BFST) (Pau, Aquitaine)
• 1er Marine Parachute Infanterie (1er RPIMa) (Parachute Infantry) (Bayonne, Aquitaine)
• Special Operations Aviation Detachment (DAOS) (Pau, Aquitaine)
• 4th Aeromobile Brigade (4e BA) (Essey les Nancy, Lorraine)
• 1er Combat Helicopter Regiment (1er RHC) (Gazelle/Puma) (Phalsbourg, Lorraine)
• 3e Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e RHC) (Gazelle/Puma) (Etain, Lorraine)
• 5e Combat Helicopter Regiment (5e RHC) (Gazelle/Puma) (Pau, Aquitaine)
• 6e Combat Helicopter Regiment (6e RHC) (Gazelle/Puma) (Compiegne, Picardy)
• 4e Communications Company (4e CCT) (Essey les Nancy, Lorraine)
• Reconnaissance Brigade (BRIGRENS) (Metz, Lorraine)
• 2e Hussars (2e RH) (Reconnaissance - VBL) (Sourdun, Ile de France)
• 4e Groupe of Squadrons of Hussars (4e GEH) (Metz, Lorraine)
• 13e Parachute Dragoons (13e RDP) (Parachute Reconnaissance) (Dieuze, Lorraine)
• 61e Artillerie (61e RA) (Drone) (Chaumont, Champagne Ardenne)
• 44e Communications Regiment (44e RT) (Electronic Warfare) (Mutzig, Alsace)
• 54e Communications Regiment (54e RT) (Electronic Intelligence) (Oberhoffen, Alsace)
• Artillerie Brigade (BRIGARTI) (Hagueneau, Alsace)
• 1er Artillerie (1er RA) (MLRS) (Belfort, Franche-Comte)
• 12e Artillerie (12e RA) (MLRS) (Hagueneau, Alsace)
• 54e Artillerie (54e RA) (Air Defense - Roland/Mistral) (Hyeres, Provence)
• 57e Artillerie (57e RA) (Air Defense - Roland/Mistral) (Bitche, Lorraine)
• 402e Artillerie (402e RA) (Air Defense - HAWK) (Chalons-en-Champagne, Champagne Ardenne)
• Engineer Brigade (BRIGENIE) (Strasbourg, Alsace)
• 1er Engineers (1er RG) (River Crossing, Obstacle Breaching) (Strasbourg, Alsace)
• 2e Engineers (2e RG) (Deployment Support) (Metz, Lorraine)
• 5e Engineers (5e RG) (Construction) (Versailles, Ile de France)
• NBC Defense Group (GDNBC) (Draguignan, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 28e Geographic Group (28e GG) (Joigny, Burgundy)
• Communication Brigade (BTAC) (Luneville, Lorraine)
• 43e Infanterie (43e RI) (Light Infantry) (Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais)
• 40e Communications Regiment (40e RT) (NATO/European Communications) (Thionville, Lorraine)
• 28e Communications Regiment (28e RT) (Overseas Communications) (Issoire, Auvergne)
• 42e Communications Regiment (42e RT) (Information Systems) (Laval, Pays de Loire)
• 53e Communications Regiment (53e RT) (Information Systems) (Luneville, Lorraine)
• Eurocorps (Strasbourg, Alsace)
• Multinational Command Support Brigade (Strasbourg, France)
• (3rd Force Staff (EMF 3) (Marseille, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur))
• (Armored Brigade)
• (Mechanized Brigade)
• German 10th Panzer Division (KRK) (Sigmaringen, Germany)
• Franco-German Brigade (KRK) (Mullheim, Germany)
• 3e Hussars (3e RH) (Armor - AMX10RC) (Immendingen, Germany)
• 110e Infanterie (110e RI) (Mechanized Infantry - VAB) (Donaueschingen, Germany)
• German Jäger Battalion 292 (Light Infantry) (Donaueschingen, Germany)
• German PanzerArtillerie Battalion 295 (PzH 2000) (Immendingen, Germany)
• Support Battalion (BCS) (Mullheim, Germany)
• Belgian Operational Command Land (Evere, Belgium)
• Spanish 1st Mechanized Infantry Division (Burgos, Spain)
• Foreign Legion Command (COMLE) (Aubagne, Provence)
• 4e Foreign Legion Regiment (4e RE) (Training) (Castelnaudery, Languedoc)
• 1er Foreign Legion Regiment (1er RE) (Support) (Aubagne, Provence)
• 17e Artillerie Group (17e GA) (Air Defense Training) (Biscarosse, Aquitaine)
• 25e Air Engineers (25e RGA) (Air Force support) (Istres airbase, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• Commandement de la Force Logistique Terrestre  (CFLT) (Paris)
• 1st Logistic Brigade (Montlhery, Ile de France)
• 516e Train Regiment (516e RT) (Heavy Equipment Transport) (Toul, Lorraine)
• 121e Train Regiment (121e RT) (Traffic Regulation, Transport) (Montlhery, Ile de France)
• 511e Train Regiment (511e RT) (Transport) (Auxonne, Burgundy)
• 1e Materiel Regiment (1e RMAT) (Maintenance, Supply) (Laon, Picardy)
• 6e Materiel Regiment (6e RMAT) (Maintenance) (Phalsbourg, Lorraine)
• 8e Materiel Regiment (8e RMAT) (Repair) (Mourmelon Le Grande, Champagne Ardenne)
• 9e Materiel Regiment (9e RMAT) (Depot Support) (Metz, Lorraine)
• 1er Logistics Group (1er GLCAT) (Bretigny-sur-Orge, Ile de France)
• 2e Logistics Group (2e GLCAT) (Rennes, Brittany)
• 5e Logistics Group (5e GLCAT) (Nancy, Lorraine)
• 15e Materiel Support Base (15e BSMAT) (Besancon, Franche Comte)
• 17e Material Support Base (17e BSMAT) (Versailles, Ile de France)
• 601e Traffic Regulation Regiment (601e RCR) (Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais)
• 1er Medical Regiment (1er RMED) (Chatel-Saint-Germain, Lorraine)
• 2nd Logistic Brigade (Martignas, Aquitaine)
• 517e Train Regiment (517e RT) (Heavy Equipment Transport) (La Martinerie-Terre, Upper Normandy?)
• 503e Train Regiment (503e RT) (Transport, Traffic Regulation) (Martignas-sur-Jalle, Aquitaine)
• 515e Train Regiment (515e RT) (Transport) (Brie, Ile de France)
• 2e Materiel Regiment (2e RMAT) (Maintenance) (Rennes, Brittany)
• 3e Materiel Regiment (3e RMAT) (Maintenance) (Muret, Pyrennes)
• 4e Materiel Regiment (4e RMAT) (Maintenance) (Saint-Cesaire, Languedoc)
• 7e Materiel Regiment (7e RMAT) (Maintenance) (Lyon, Rhone-Alps)
• 3e Logistics Group (3e GLCAT) (Marseille, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 4e Logistics Group (4e GLCAT) (Toulouse, Pyrennes)
• 11e Materiel Support Base (11e BSMAT) (Vayres, Limousin)
• 13e Material Support Base (13e BSMAT) (Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne)
• 16e Material Support Base (16e BSMAT) (Draguignan, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 3e Medical Regiment (3e RMED) (La Valbonne, Rhone-Alps)
• 519e Train Regiment (519e RT) (Maritime Transport) (La Rochelle, Poitou-Charantes)
• 526e Train Battalion (526e BT) (Transport) (Saint-Germain-En-Laye, Ile de France)
• 41e Communications Regiment (41e RT) (Strategic Communications) (Senlis, Ile de France)
• 8e Communications Regiment (8e RT) (Strategic Communications) (Mt-Valerien, Ile de France)
• 18e Communications Regiment (18e RT) (Mobile Telecommunications) (Bretteville-sur-Odon, Normandy)
• 43e Communications Regiment (43e RT) (Metz, Lorraine)
• 48e Communications Regiment (48e RT) (Satellite) (Agen, Languedoc)
• 43e Communications Battalion (43e BT) (Telecommunications & Information) (Orleans, Centre)
• 758e Communications Company (758e CGE) (Electronic Warfare Experimentation) (Orleans, Centre)
• Commandement de la Formation de l'Armée de Terre (CoFAT)
• 1er Chasseurs d'Afrique (1er RCA) ((Canjuers, Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur)
• 14e Material Support Base (14e BSMAT) (Poitiers, Poitou-Charantes)

Overseas (Sovereignty) Forces (Paris, Ile de France)

• Armed Forces in the Antilles (FAA) (Fort-de-France, Martinique)
• 33e Marine Infanterie (33e RIMa) (Light Infantry) (Fort-de-France, Martinique)
• 41e Marine Infanterie Battalion (41e BIMa) (Jarry, Guadeloupe)
• 1er Marine Support Regiment (1er RSMa) (Fort-de-France, Martinique)
• 3e Marine Support Regiment (3e RSMa) (Cayenne, Guyanne)
• Armed Forces in Guyanne (FAG?) (Cayenne?, Guyenne)
• 3e Foreign Legion Infanterie (3e REI) (Kourou, French Guiana)
• 9e Marine Infanterie (9e RIMa) (Light Infantry) (Cayenne, Guyanne)
• Armed Forces in West Africa? (Cap Vert, Senegal?)
• 6e Marine Infanterie Battalion (6e BIMa) (Parachute Infantry, Light Armor - ERC 90) (Libreville, Gabon)
• 23e Marine Infanterie Battalion (23e BIMa) (Light Infantry) (Cap Vert, Senegal)
• 43e Marine Infanterie Battalion (43e BIMa) (Light Infantry) (Port Bouet, Cote d'Ivoire)
• Armed Forces in East Africa? (Djibouti, Dkibouti)
• 13e Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) (Light Armor - ERC 90/Light Infantry/Engineer) (Djibouti, Djibouti)
• 5e Marine Over-Seas Marine Infanterie (5e RIAOM) (Motorized Infantry - VAB/Armor - AMX-10RC, Towed Artillery - TRF1) (Djiboouti, Dkibouti)
• 10e Support Battalion (10e BCS) (Djibouti, Djibouti)
• Armed Forcs in the Southern Zone of the Indian Ocean (FAZSOI) (St-Dennis, La Reunion)
• 2e Marine Parachute Infanterie (2e RPIMa) (Parachute Infantry) (St-Pierre, La Reunion)
• 4e Marine Support Regiment (4e RSMA) (St-Dennis, La Reunion)
• Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) (Nomea?, New Caledonia)
• Marine Pacific Infanterie (New Caledonia) (RIMaP(NC)) (Light/Parachute Infantry/Light Armor - ERC 90) (Noumea, New Caledonia)
• Armed Forces in French Polynesia (PAPC?) (Nomea, New Caledonia?)
• Marine Pacific Infanterie (Polynesia) (RIMaP(P)) (Light Infantry) (Papeete, French Polynesia)

 

Sources:

La Chaine des Forces
   Paris: Ministry of Defense

Arms et Composantes
   Paris: Ministry of Defense