8e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine
Active	1951-1954 1956-
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Airborne
Size	1,047 men and women
Part of	11th Parachute Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Castres
Motto	Volontaire (Volunteer)
Colors	Blue and red
Anniversaries	Saint-Michel Day
Engagements	First Indochina War *Battle of Hoa Binh *Battle of Dien Bien Phu Algerian War
Commanders
Current commander	Philippe du Chaxel
Notable commanders	Guy Le Borgne, Pierre Tourret

The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 8e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine, 8e RPIMa) is an Airborne regiment in the French army.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Indochina 1.2 Algeria 1.3 Relocation to Metropolitan France 1.4 Later Deployments 2 Commanding Officers 3 Officers and marines 4 Lineage 5 Honours 5.1 Battle Honours 5.2 Decorations 6 Composition 7 Official Site

[edit] History

[edit] Indochina

The unit was created on 28 February 1951, in Hanoi as the "8th Colonial Parachute Battalion," as a part of the French union forces.

The 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion fought at Lai-Chau, Hoa Binh, Langson and Dien Bien Phu. The Battalion was mentioned in dispatches four times for valor. It was dissolved on 19 May 1954, after Dien Bien Phu.

[edit] Algeria

The unit was recreated as the "8th Colonial Parachute Regiment" on 1 May 1956. The regiment parcipated in operations against the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), most notably at El Kiffene, Ain El Kesseub and Tarf.

[edit] Relocation to Metropolitan France

The regiment relocated to the town of Nancy, Metropolitan France, in 1961, to form a part of the 11th Light Division. The regimental headquarters moved to Castres in 1963.

[edit] Later Deployments

• The regiment took part in the intervention in Chad between 1969 and 1972.

• The regiment is currently serving with the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan. In a fierce battle on 18-19 August, ten French soldiers were killed and 21 wounded making it the largest loss of French troops in battle in many years. ISAF Press Release

[edit] Commanding Officers

Captain Gautier (1951-1952) Captain Guy Le Borgne (1952-1953 Captain Pierre Tourret (1953-1954) Lieutenant Colonel Kohler (1954-1955) Colonel Louis Fourcade (1956-1958) Lieutenant Colonel Hubert de Seguins-Pazzis (1958-1960) Lieutenant Colonel Albert Lenoir (1960-1961) Lieutenant Colonel Kohler (1961-1963) Lieutenant Colonel Desfarges (1963-1965) Lieutenant Colonel Drouin (1965-1967) Lieutenant Colonel Mourier (1967-1969) Lieutenant Colonel Guilleminot (1969-1971) Lieutenant Colonel Bellamy (1971-1973) Lieutenant Colonel Dominique (1973-1975) Colonel Maurice Schmitt (1975-1977) Lieutenant Colonel Cann (1977-1979)

Lieutenant Colonel Vidal (1979-1981) Lieutenant Colonel Zeisser (1981-1983) Lieutenant Colonel Lepage (1983-1985) Lieutenant Colonel Theodoly-Lannes (1985-1987) Colonel Lafourcade (1987-1989) Lieutenant Colonel Thomann (1989-1991) Lieutenant Colonel Elrick Irastorza (1991-1993) Lieutenant Colonel de Haynin de Bry (1993-1995) Lieutenant Colonel Reglat (1995-1997) Lieutenant Colonel de Braquilanges (1997-1999) Colonel Michel Stollsteiner (1999-2001) Colonel Bosser (2001-2003) Colonel Brousse (2003-2005) Colonel Guionie (2005-2007) Colonel Jacques Aragones (2007-2009) Colonel Philippe du Chaxel (2009- )

[edit] Officers and marines

• Maurice Amiot

[edit] Lineage

• 1951: 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion
• 1952: 8th Colonial Parachute Group
• 1953: 8th Shock Parachute Battalion
• 1954: Dissolved
• 1956: 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment
• 1958: 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

[edit] Honours

[edit] Battle Honours

• Indochine 1951-1954
• AFN 1952-1962

[edit] Decorations

• Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures with 3 palms.

[edit] Composition

The regiment consists of over 1047 men and women, divided into seven companies:

• 4 Combat companies
• 1 Reconnaissance and Support company (d'éclairage et d'appui ) (CEA)
• 1 Training company
• 1 Command and Logistics company

The regiment has been headquartered in Castres, France, since 1963. Paratroop training is conducted at the École des troupes aéroportées (ETAP) in Pau.

[edit] Official Site

• 8e régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine from Defense.gouv.fr