French Army Special Forces Brigade
Encyclopedia
The Army Special Forces Brigade is the French Army's
special forces unit. It is based in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
and a special operations flight belonging to the 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat et de Manœuvre (4e RHCM, 4th attack and manoeuvre helicopters regiment) of the ALAT
.
In 1998, the Détachement ALAT des Opérations Spéciales (DAOS, ALAT
detachment for special operations) was created. In 1999 the GSA became the Commandement des Forces Spéciales Terre (CFST, special forces command, army).
The BFST was activated on 1 July 2002 instead of the CFST and included the 13e RDP
. The BFST conduct an annual exercise called Gorgones (gorgon
s) to ensure interoperability of the three units. The name Gorgones refers to the three units, as the three mythological figures.
The BFST has supported the peacekeeping operation in Côte d'Ivoire
(Operation Licorne
) and Afghanistan
(Operation Héracles).
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...
special forces unit. It is based in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
History
The BFST is the heir of the Groupement Spécial Autonome (GSA, independent special grouping) created in 1997 and then commanded the 1er RPIMa1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
The 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment is one of three regiments in the French Army Special Forces Brigade. Based in Bayonne in the local Citadel...
and a special operations flight belonging to the 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat et de Manœuvre (4e RHCM, 4th attack and manoeuvre helicopters regiment) of the ALAT
French Army Light Aviation
The French Army Light Aviation is the aviation service of the French Army.-History:The French Army Light Aviation was established on 22 November 1954 for observation, reconnaissance, assault and supply duties.-Composition:...
.
In 1998, the Détachement ALAT des Opérations Spéciales (DAOS, ALAT
French Army Light Aviation
The French Army Light Aviation is the aviation service of the French Army.-History:The French Army Light Aviation was established on 22 November 1954 for observation, reconnaissance, assault and supply duties.-Composition:...
detachment for special operations) was created. In 1999 the GSA became the Commandement des Forces Spéciales Terre (CFST, special forces command, army).
The BFST was activated on 1 July 2002 instead of the CFST and included the 13e RDP
13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment
The 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...
. The BFST conduct an annual exercise called Gorgones (gorgon
Gorgon
In Greek mythology, the Gorgon was a terrifying female creature. The name derives from the Greek word gorgós, which means "dreadful." While descriptions of Gorgons vary across Greek literature, the term commonly refers to any of three sisters who had hair of living, venomous snakes, and a...
s) to ensure interoperability of the three units. The name Gorgones refers to the three units, as the three mythological figures.
The BFST has supported the peacekeeping operation in Côte d'Ivoire
Civil war in Côte d'Ivoire
The Ivorian Civil War was a conflict in Côte d'Ivoire that began on 19 September 2002. Although most of the fighting ended by late 2004, the country remains split in two, with a rebel-held north and a government-held south. Hostility increased and raids on foreign troops and civilians rose...
(Operation 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...
) and 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...
(Operation Héracles).
Composition
- Brigade HQ based in Pau
- 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RPIMa) based in BayonneBayonneBayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
. - 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...
(13e RDP) based in Martignas-sur-JalleMartignas-sur-JalleMartignas-sur-Jalle is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. - 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales (4e RHFS) based in Pau.
Equipment
- GIAT / NexterNexterNexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
FAMAS-F1 InfantryFAMASThe FAMAS is a bullpup-styled assault rifle designed and manufactured in France by MAS located in Saint-Étienne, which is now a member of the French government-owned Nexter group...
(5.56x45mm NATO) - ColtColt's Manufacturing CompanyColt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
M16A2M16A2M16A2 is a designation for two pieces of military hardware:* M16A2 rifle* M16A2 mine...
with M203 (5.56x45mm NATO) - ColtColt's Manufacturing CompanyColt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
M16 723M16 rifleThe M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
with M203 (5.56x45mm NATO) - ColtColt's Manufacturing CompanyColt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
M4 CarbineM4 CarbineThe M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
(5.56x45mm NATO) - SIG SG550 (5.56x45mm NATO)
- SIG SG551 (5.56x45mm NATO)
- Heckler & Koch HK416 (5.56x45mm NATO)
- Heckler & Koch G36Heckler & Koch G36The Heckler & Koch G36 is a 5.56×45mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch in Germany as a replacement for the 7.62mm G3 battle rifle. It was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr in 1997, replacing the G3...
(many version and mix of version) (5.56x45mm NATO) - FN SCARFN SCARThe Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle, or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by FN Herstal for the United States Special Operations Command to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. This family of rifles consist of two main types...
Mark 16 Light (5.56x45mm NATO) - GIAT / NexterNexterNexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
MAT Modèle 1949 Submachingun (MAT49) in (9x19mm Parabellum) - Heckler & Koch MP5Heckler & Koch MP5The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
HK MP5A5, MP5SD6 ( build by GIAT / NexterNexterNexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
& STOPSON TFM slincer) - FN P90FN P90The FN P90 is a selective fire personal defense weapon designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. The P90's name is taken from 1990, the year it was introduced...
- GIAT / NexterNexterNexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
PA MAC Modèle 1950 (MAC50)MAC mle 1950The MAC-50 is a standard semi-automatic pistol of the French army and adopted in 1950. It replaced the previous series of French pistols, the Modèle 1935A & Modèle 1935S, and was produced between 1950 and 1970.... - GIAT / NexterNexterNexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
PAMAS-G1S (Licence Beretta 92GBeretta 92The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
) - Heckler & Koch USPHeckler & Koch USPThe USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.-History:...
expert with silencer - Glock 17
- BenelliBenelli (firearms)Benelli Armi SpA is an Italian firearm manufacturer founded in 1967, located in Urbino, Italy, best known for high quality shotguns used by military, law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Particularly famous is the Benelli M3 12 gauge, used extensively by American SWAT teams...
M3T (Tactical) Super 90 - FN MinimiFN MinimiThe Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
(5.56x45mm NATO) - FN MinimiFN MinimiThe Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
(7.62x51mm NATO) - GIAT / NexterNexterNexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
ANF1 (7.62x51mm NATO) - GIAT / NexterNexterNexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
FR F2 sniper rifle (7.62x51mm NATO) - Heckler & Koch G3Heckler & Koch G3The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....
tuned version with scope & G3-SG1 (7.62x51mm NATO) - Heckler & Koch G3Heckler & Koch G3The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....
-SG1 (7.62x51mm NATO) - Heckler & Koch MSG90 (7.62x51mm NATO)
- Heckler & Koch HK417(7.62x51mm NATO)
- SakoSAKOSAKO, Limited is a Finnish firearm manufacturer located in Riihimäki....
TR42 Folding stock in 300 Win Mag - PGM Hecate IIPGM Hecate IIThe Hecate II is the standard heavy sniper rifle of the French Army, sometimes known as the FR-12,7 .It is manufactured by PGM Précision of France...
with Scrome J10 10 × 40 (.50BMG) - M2 Browning machine gun
- Mk 19 grenade launcherMk 19 grenade launcherThe Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.-Overview:...
- AT4AT4The AT4 is an 84-mm unguided, portable, single-shot recoilless smoothbore weapon built in Sweden by Saab Bofors Dynamics...
- ERYXERYXERYX is a short-range portable SACLOS-based wire-guided anti-tank missile produced by European company MBDA. It is used by several countries, including the Canadian Army, French, and Norwegian armies. The weapon can also be used against bunkers and pillboxes. It also has some capability in the...
- MILANMILANMILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...