2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

2e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine
Regimental insigne
Active	1947-1953 1955-1962 1965-
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	troupes de marine
Role	Airborne
Garrison/HQ	Saint-Pierre, Réunion
Motto(s)	Ne pas subir
Anniversaries	Saint-Michel Day
Engagements	First Indochina War Algerian War Suez Crisis
Commanders
Current commander	Thierry Chigot
Notable commanders	Roger Trinquier
Insignia
Beret badge of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
Abbreviation	2e RPIMa

The 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French) is an Airborne regiment in the French Army. It is heir to the traditions of the Free French and colonial paratroopers. As of 2008 it is stationed at Saint-Pierre, Réunion.

History

Formed in England from the companies of the air, 400 men of the 2nd RCP were dropped over Brittany as part of the Normandy Landings. The unit was used as flank-guard to Patton’s Third army during the Battle of Normandy.

In 1947, the 2nd Colonial Commondo Parachute Battalion was posted to Indochina, where it fought until 1953, being mentioned three times in the order of the army.

In 1955, the unit was renamed 2nd Colonial Parachute Regiment; and then in 1958, the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment. It served from 1955 until 1962 in North Africa in the 10th Parachute Division. On 5 November 1956, it jumped in the second wave of the French/British attack on the Suez Canal over Port Said and was mentioned in the order of the army.

In July 1961, the regiment jumped over Bizerte and broke the Tunisian siege of the French airport installations. It was dissolved 5 July 1962, but recreated 1 January 1965 in Ivato, Madagascar from the 5th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment.

It was transferred to Reunion in 1973. Since then it has participated in various operations: Djibouti (1993/1994), Comoros (1990), Rwanda (1994) and Comors (1995/1996).

Commanders

Major André Dupuis (1947–1948) Captain Roger Trinquier (1948–1949) Captain Toce (1950–1952) Captain Lenoir (1952–1953) Major Ferrano (1955) Colonel Pierre Chateau-Jobert (1955–1957) Lieutenant Colonel Albert Fossey-François (1957–1958) Colonel Olivier Le Mire (1958–1960) Colonel Toce (1960–1961) Major Mollo (1961–1962) Major Yves Gras (1965–1966) Lieutenant Colonel Le Borgne (1966–1968) Lieutenant Colonel Le Boudec (1968–1970) Lieutenant Colonel Foucher (1970–1972) Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Firth (1972–1974) Lieutenant Colonel Subregis (1974–1976)

Lieutenant Colonel Salaun (1976–1978) Lieutenant Colonel Viard (1978–1980) Lieutenant Colonel Sepulchre (1980–1982) Colonel Cluset (1982–1984) Colonel Fruchard (1984–1986) Colonel Meaudre-Desgouttes (1986–1988) Colonel Raffenne (1988–1990) Colonel Joana (1990–1992) Colonel Jean Brantschen (1992–1994) Lieutenant Colonel Soum (1994–1996) Colonel André Helly (1996–1998) Colonel Philippe Beny (1998–2000) Colonel Fernand Georges (2000–2002) Colonel Franck Reignier (2002–2004) Colonel Eric de Vathaire (2004–2006) Colonel T. de la Doucette (2006–2008) Colonel Chigot (2008–present)

Officers and marines

• Raymond Duc
• Elrick Irastorza

Lineage

• 1948: 2nd Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion
• 1951: 2nd Colonial Parachute Battalion
• 1955: 2nd Colonial Parachute Regiment
• 1958: 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

Flag

It is, sewn in gold letters in its folds, the following inscriptions:

Honours

Battle Honours

• Indochine 1947-1954
• Port Saïd 1956
• AFN 1952-1962

Decorations

• Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures with 4 palms.

Sources and bibliography

• Collective,"History of French paratroopers, Literary Production Company, 1975".
• Colonel Roger Fleming, Paras "Free France, Editions Presses de la Cité, 1976".
• Henry Corta,"The Red Berets, Association of Former SAS paratrooper, 1952".

External links

• Friends of the 2e RPIMa
• Le 2e RPIMA en action
• Bizerte: Large maneuvers du 2e RPIMA(Photos), 'Le Quotidien de la Réunion', 7 octobre 2009.