French Marine Corps (FMC) within the French Army

• Definition :
  French Marine Corps (FMC) is an assault troop specialized in Oversea Operations.

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DON'T WORRY ! : Here's more explanation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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French Forces are divided into three Arms

Army	Air Force	Navy

The Army is made of Corps and Services where are gathered knowledge and know-how.

1- Corps

A - Assault Troops :

Infantry :

We call Infantrymen, soldiers fighting in close quarter conditions, who see the enemy ( Infantry is also called "The last 300 meters Arm" ), who are in direct contact with it. They are part of the Motorized Infantry when they are carried on the battle field by mechanical means: Light Tactical vehicles, Light Armored Vehicles (LAV), and having no heavy armored means to back-up their progression. They are part of the Mechanized Infantry when using half or full-track carriers or Light armored tanks ( AMX 10 P) when they follow the tanks progression, for which they intervene in case of resistance to be reduced before the progression of the Heavy Armored Tanks.

Armored Cavalry :

These men are fighting with armored vehicles. According to their mission they are gathered into units having different aims and materials.
Light Armored Cavalry : These are Hussars, Chasseurs , Spahis who are in charge, with Light Armored Vehicle (AML 60 or 90) and with Light Tanks ( Sagaie, AMX 10 RC), of the axial roads reconnaissance, of the enemy's columns harassment, of countering incidental skirmishes.
Heavy Armored Cavalry : These are Cuirassiers and Combat Tanks. These armored units have Heavy Combat Tanks ( AMX 30 B2, LECLERC) being the iron head of a fighting army.

FMC - French Marine Corps

Having as main mission to serve oversea, it is present in all French Oversea Territories. It is also present in some countries having a Defense Cooperation Agreement with France, mainly in Africa ( Djibouti, Chad, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal ..) and in countries where France acts under a UN or NATO mandates as in Lebanon ( FINUL) , Cambodia, ex Yugoslavia ( FORPRONU), Rwanda, etc. FMC is specialized in landing operations, aeromobile operations, and usually in actions and operations being carried-out in harsh conditions FMC has its own means such as : Infantry, Armored Units, Artillery, Transport, Transmissions, Paratroopers, Health Service........

Light Infantry ( Chasseurs)

It has three types of units : Mechanized Light Infantry,

Light Infantry

and Airborne Light Infantry. The well known Alpine Light Infantry is the major component of French Mountain Troops specially trained to fight in hostile weather condition and in altitude.

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French Foreign Legion :

We won't dare to present such a Corps gathering volunteers of all countries around the world wishing to serve France. Made of several regiments having each one its own specialty ( Airborne, Engineers, Infantry, Armored Cavalry .) Legionnaires are one of the best Elite Corps around the world .... After the Marines of course ( Long Live the Marines !!) .

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To be able to fight in the field, assault troops need to be supported and backed-up by :

B - Back-up Corps :

Engineers Corps

The Engineers Corps is made of sappers who organize the field ( Trenches digging, obstacles erection, bunkers, roads and bridges mining .).

It is also in charge to give means to cross natural obstacles ( Bridges erection, tunnels digging) and built-up obstacles (fortifications mining, mines clearing ) to allows assault troops to move on..

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Artillery

The artillery is divided into two specialties : Field Artillery which with its guns ( 155 GCT, AUF1,105 TR) and its Multiple Rocket Launchers ( MRL) will destroy the enemy holding points, will clear the field to allow assault units to move in. TheAir Defense Artillery, which with its flak and missiles (Roland, etc..) will ensure the anti aircraft protection of the units engaged.
The Field Artillery is also in charge of the nuclear component in its ground form (HADES Missiles). Furthermore, it is in this Corps we can find specialists knowing non-conventional weapons Nuclear-Biological-Chemical, also known as NBC).

C - Support Corps :

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Signal Corps

A Corps in charge of all means of transmission ( Radio, computer Networks, Satellite Channels, etc..). Made of specialists using hi-tech means to keep information, orders and all the rest, to flow in a reliable and secure way within all Army levels.

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Army Transportation Corps

Established by Napoleon, it is in charge of ensuring transportation of troops, material, ammunitions, and ensures the entire logistics operations. It is also in charge of the road traffic control along itineraries.

Ordnance

Is in charge of the maintenance of used materials : weapons, vehicles, transmission equipment, etc....

2 - Services

The Quartermaster (or Supply Services) :

This Service is in charge of providing food, clothes, materials ( except vehicles and ammunitions) and is also in charge of the administrative and accounting supervision of units.

Engineer Corps - Building Department

Builds barracks, maintain and manages the Army's real estate asset.

Fuels Service

Is in charge of providing fuels and lubricants. In war condition, is in charge of installing pipelines, pumping units etc....

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Medical Corps

Is in charge of the collection, dispatching, treatment and evacuation of sick or wounded personnel in the field.

He sets up Field Medical Units or Field Hospitals

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And now I see you coming ..! I'm going to get angry messages saying : You forgot some ! Not at all, here are those not mentioned above and for a good reason ! Explanation :

Paratroopers :

Paratroopers are not a Corps, it's a specialty. In fact paratroopers are present in every Corps ( even in some Services), they are gathered in the 11th Airborne Division being part of the Immediate Response Force (IRF) (just as the 9th Marine Division, the 27th Alpine Division, the 6th Light Armored Division and the Aeromobile Division).

Here are the Airborne Regiments with their Corps name:

Infantry : Light Infantry Airborne Regiment ( RCP)
Armored Cavalry: Airborne Hussars ( RHP) and Airborne Dragoons (RDP)
Marine Corps : Marine Airborne Regiments ( RPIMa)
Artillery : Airborne Artillery Regiment
Engineers Corps : Airborne Engineers Regiment
Transport : Air Delivery Group
Airborne Command and Support Regiments are made mainly of FMC Paratroopers.

Army Light Air Force ( ALAT):

ALAT mission is to take on the battle field assault troops elements ( PUMA SA 320 helicopter), to get an overview of the field ( Alouette I and II Helicopters), to carry on anti- tanks missions ( Gazelle Helicopters with HOT missiles) and also to ensure the injured soldiers evacuation. ALAT is made of pilots and maintenance technicians, coming from other Corps and specially trained on helicopters, being in no way part of the Air Force. ALAT units are part of Combat Helicopter Regiments (CHR and RHC in French). It is not a Corps but a specialty.

Gendarmerie :

It doesn't really belong to the Army, even if they are under the Defense Ministry supervision . It is in charge of various tasks such as :
- Administrative Task : Peace keeping, assistance and help, road traffic control, administrative police.
- Police or Judiciary Tasks
- Military Tasks : Territory Operational Defense, Mobilization preparation, Military Police
Furthermore, it has a special anti-terrorist unit (SWAT) named GIGN specialized in solving hostage cases and countering terrorist actions.
In the Gendarmerie we also find Paratroopers (Gendarmerie Airborne Intervention Squadron- EPIGN) working often with the GIGN

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