Commandement des Opérations Spéciales
Encyclopedia
The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (COS; "Special Operations Command") is the organisation which coordinates the use of the French
special forces
of all military branches (Army
, Navy
, and Air Force
). The COS was created on 24 June 1992, following the Gulf War
. Its role is to direct and coordinate missions for special forces units; these are permanently under its direct command and immediately available for action.
Armée de Terre (Army)
The French Army special operations forces are under command of Brigade des Forces Spéciales Terre (BFST, army special forces command).
Marine Nationale (Navy)
Armée de l'Air (Air Force)
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
of all military branches (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...
, Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
, and Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
). The COS was created on 24 June 1992, following 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...
. Its role is to direct and coordinate missions for special forces units; these are permanently under its direct command and immediately available for action.
Armée de Terre (Army)French ArmyThe 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...
The French Army special operations forces are under command of Brigade des Forces Spéciales Terre (BFST, army special forces command).
- 1er régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine1st Marine Infantry Parachute RegimentThe 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment is one of three regiments in the French Army Special Forces Brigade. Based in Bayonne in the local Citadel...
: SAS-typeSpecial Air ServiceSpecial Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
unit for direct action - 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes13th Parachute Dragoon RegimentThe 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment is an airborne special forces regiment of the French Army. It is one of two regiments in the French Army Special Forces Brigade, which is under the control of the COS...
: long range reconnaissance unit - 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales (4e RHFS) (4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment), equipped with GazellesAérospatiale GazelleThe Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
, Pumas, CougarsEurocopter EC 725-See also:-External links:* * * *...
and TigersEurocopter TigerThe Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.-Origins:...
helicopters.
Marine Nationale (Navy)French NavyThe French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
- Commandos-MarineNaval commandos (France)The Naval Commandos are the special forces of the French Navy. They are made up of ~500 members, mostly based in northwestern France , with several bases across the country for specific training needs. The Naval Commandos are nicknamed bérets verts . Their qualification training is one of the...
: organised in- six Commandos (in the original sense of a small unit/command), each of which has a specialisation
- a separate Escouade de Contre-Terrorisme et de Libération d'Otages ("Counter-Terrorism and Liberation of Hostages Squad")
Armée de l'Air (Air Force)French Air ForceThe French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
- Commando parachutiste de l'air n°10 (CPA 10; "No. 10 (Air Parachute) CommandoCommandoIn English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
" (in the same sense as the naval Commandos; see above) - Division des Opérations Spéciales (DOS; "Special Operations Division")
- Division des Opérations Spéciales/Transport (DOS/T; "Special Operations Division, Transport Section"), which uses C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
and C-160 TransallTransall C-160|-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.-External links:*... - Division des Opérations Spéciales / Hélicoptères (DOS/H; "Special Operations Division, Helicopter Section")
- Division des Opérations Spéciales/Transport (DOS/T; "Special Operations Division, Transport Section"), which uses C-130 Hercules