11th Marine Artillery Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 11th Marine Artillery Regiment is an artillery
regiment of the French Army
. It constitutes the fire support unit of the 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade
. It employs around 950 men, fielding TRF1
155mm howitzers and MO-120-RT-61
120mm mortars.
(9e BLBMa), where it fulfills the role of fixed artillery fire support. It is nevertheless a highly mobile unit, trained for amphibious warfare from the initial formation.
The 1e RAC was twice subdivided into child units named "11th Colonial Artillery Regiment"; the "Colonial" units are now named Troupes de marine
. The 11 RAMa thus keeps the motto Alter Post Fulmina Terror ("the other terror after lighning").
The regiment founded during the later days of the Second World War was renamed 11e RAMa in June 1963. Since the 1970s, it has been a completely professional unit. In 1979, it took garrison in Camp La Lande d'Ouée near Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier
.
, in Chad. It took part in the battle of Ati in support of storm troops of the 1st and 3rd RIMa and armoured vehicles of the 1st REC. On 5 March 1979, it took part in the battle of Abéché; in a notable incident, artillery batteries had to shoot in direct fire to protect themselves with 105HM2 howitzers
. From 1984 to 1985, the regiment was involved in Opération Manta
.
It took part in the peacekeeping Multinational Force in Lebanon
in 1983 and 1984.
The 11th RAMa was engaged in the Gulf War
in 1991, in ex-Yugoslavia from 1993 to 2000, and in Opération Turquoise
in 1994, in Rwanda. It then intervened in the Comoros
.
Presently, the 11th RAMa is involved in Opération Licorne
in Côte d'Ivoire
; in the current War in Afghanistan
with the French forces in Afghanistan
, notably the GTIA Kapisa
; in Lebanon with Opération Baliste
; and in Kosovo.
of the Croix de guerre
14-18.
The regiment was awarded the Overseas Operations War Cross for the capture of As Salman in February 1991.
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
regiment of the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
. It constitutes the fire support unit of the 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade
9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (France)
The 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade is a light armoured, amphibious unit of the Troupes de marine of the French Army.- Composition :*Headquarters Poitiers...
. It employs around 950 men, fielding TRF1
TRF1
The 155mm towed cannon Tr-F1 is a French towed howitzer produced by Nexter and used by the French army.-Performance:*Setting out of battery: 2 min*Crossing of slopes of 60%, fords of 1.20m....
155mm howitzers and MO-120-RT-61
Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1
The MO-120 RT-61 or MO-120-RT is a heavy mortar of French origin. It was designed by Thomson-Brandt as the successor for the MO-120 AM-50...
120mm mortars.
Organic role
The 11th RAMa is organically attached to the 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (France)
The 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade is a light armoured, amphibious unit of the Troupes de marine of the French Army.- Composition :*Headquarters Poitiers...
(9e BLBMa), where it fulfills the role of fixed artillery fire support. It is nevertheless a highly mobile unit, trained for amphibious warfare from the initial formation.
Foundation
The 11e RAMa stems from the former 1st Colonial Artillery Regiment (1e RAC) and the 1st Colonial Artillery Levant Regiment (RACL).The 1e RAC was twice subdivided into child units named "11th Colonial Artillery Regiment"; the "Colonial" units are now named Troupes de marine
Troupes de marine
The or Infanterie de marine, formerly Troupes coloniales, are an arm of the French Army with a colonial heritage. The Troupes de marine have a dedicated overseas service role. Despite their title they have been a part of the Army since 1958...
. The 11 RAMa thus keeps the motto Alter Post Fulmina Terror ("the other terror after lighning").
The regiment founded during the later days of the Second World War was renamed 11e RAMa in June 1963. Since the 1970s, it has been a completely professional unit. In 1979, it took garrison in Camp La Lande d'Ouée near Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier
Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier
Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier is located at northeast of Rennes and south of Mont Saint-Michel....
.
Overseas operations
The 11th RAMa has been deployed overseas more times than any other unit of the French Army. From 1978 to 1980, the regiment was involved in Opération TacaudOpération Tacaud
Opération Tacaud was a French military operation in Chad, that took place between 20 February 1978 and May 1980. Its aim was to support the Chadian army in protecting N'Djamena from the FROLINAT.- History :...
, in Chad. It took part in the battle of Ati in support of storm troops of the 1st and 3rd RIMa and armoured vehicles of the 1st REC. On 5 March 1979, it took part in the battle of Abéché; in a notable incident, artillery batteries had to shoot in direct fire to protect themselves with 105HM2 howitzers
M101 howitzer
The 105 mm M2A1 howitzer was the standard light field howitzer for the United States in World War II, seeing action in both European and Pacific theaters. Entering production in 1941, it quickly entered the war against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Pacific, where it gained a reputation...
. From 1984 to 1985, the regiment was involved in Opération Manta
Operation Manta
Operation Manta is the code name for the French military intervention in Chad between 1983 and 1984, during the Chadian-Libyan conflict. The operation was prompted by the invasion of Chad by a joint force of Libyan units and Chadian Transitional Government of National Unity rebels in June 1983...
.
It took part in the peacekeeping Multinational Force in Lebanon
Multinational Force in Lebanon
The Multinational Force in Lebanon was an international peacekeeping force created in 1982 and sent to Lebanon to oversee the withdrawal of the Palestine Liberation Organization...
in 1983 and 1984.
The 11th RAMa was engaged in the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in 1991, in ex-Yugoslavia from 1993 to 2000, and in Opération Turquoise
Opération Turquoise
Opération Turquoise was a French-led military operation in Rwanda in 1994 under the mandate of the United Nations.- Background :On 6 April 1994 Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira were assassinated, sparking the 1994 Rwandan Genocide...
in 1994, in Rwanda. It then intervened in the Comoros
Comoros
The Comoros , officially the Union of the Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar...
.
Presently, the 11th RAMa is involved in Opération Licorne
Operation Licorne
Operation Unicorn is the name of the French Armed Forces's peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. The French forces have been stationed in the country since shortly after the outbreak of the Ivorian Civil War...
in Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
; in the current War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
with the French forces in Afghanistan
French forces in Afghanistan
French forces in Afghanistan have been involved in the ongoing War in Afghanistan since late 2001. They operate within two distinct frameworks:* the International Security Assistance Force , carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate...
, notably the GTIA Kapisa
Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa
The Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa , also called Task Force Korrigan, is a battalion-sized unit of the French Army, based in Kapisa Province, in Afghanistan...
; in Lebanon with Opération Baliste
Opération Baliste
Opération Baliste is the codename for the French aeronaval operation off Lebanon aiming at securing citizens of the European Union, since July 2006, in the context of the 2006 Lebanon War.- Components :...
; and in Kosovo.
Commanders
- 1992-1994 : Colonel Lanclume
- 1994-1996 : Colonel Laberibe
- 1996-1998 : Colonel Bonnet
- 1998-2000 : Colonel Frétille
- 2000-2002 : Colonel Durand
- 2002-2004 : Colonel Soriano
- 2004-2006 : Colonel Royal
- 2006-2008 : Colonel Metz
- 2008-2010 : Colonel Goguenheim
Regimental Standard
The following battles are listed on the regimental standard:- Lützen 1813;
- Mexique 1838-1863;
- Sébastopol 1855;
- Sontay Lang Son 1883-1884;
- Dahomey 1892;
- Madagascar 1895;
- Champagne 1915-1918;
- La Somme 1916.
Honours
The regiment was awarded the Legion of Honour on 20 May 1910. In was also awarded the War Cross 1914-1918 (two citations to the order of the army). As such, its men wear the fourragèreFourragère
The fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, that is shaped as a braided cord. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...
of the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
14-18.
The regiment was awarded the Overseas Operations War Cross for the capture of As Salman in February 1991.
Decorations
- Cross of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. - Croix de guerre 1914-1918Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 is a French military decoration.-Creation:Soon after the outbreak of World War I, French military officials felt that a new military award had to be created...
with 2 palms.
Sources and bibliography
- Erwan Bergot, La coloniale du RifRifThe Rif or Riff is a mainly mountainous region of northern Morocco, with some fertile plains, stretching from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Ras Kebdana and the Melwiyya River in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Wergha in the south.It is part of the...
au Tchad 1925-1980, imprimé en France : décembre 1982, n° d'éditeur 7576, n° d'imprimeur 31129, sur les presses de l'imprimerie Hérissey.