6th Light Armoured Brigade (France)

6th Light Armoured Brigade
6th Light Armoured Brigade
6e Brigade Légère Blindée
Active	6th Light Armoured Division; 1984 - 1999; 6th Light Armoured Brigade; 1 July 1999 – present;
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Light Armour Brigade
Role	Motorised Infantry
Size	~7,500
Part of	3rd Division
Garrison/HQ	Nîmes
Nickname(s)	Division Daguet
Motto(s)	Vite, fort et bien ("Swiftly, Powerfully and Well")
Engagements	6th Light Armoured Division; Koweït 1990–1991; 6th Light Armoured Brigade; Global War on Terrorism (2001–present)

The 6th Light Armoured Brigade (French: 6^e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6^e BLB) is one of the eight inter-arm brigades which are at the disposition of the Commandement des Forces Terrestres. The headquarters of the brigade is situated in Nîmes.[1] The brigade is capable of deploying to any exterior theatre of operation while delivering fire power, agility, and mobility.[2]

History

The brigade is heir to the 6th Cavalry Division (French: 6^e Division de cavalerie) of 1914, the 6th Light Cavalry Division of 1940 (French: 6^e Division Légère de Cavalerie), and the 6th Armoured Division, stationed in Compiègne (1951-1957) and then in Strasbourg (1977-1984)

In 1984, the formation was reorganised as the 6th Light Armoured Division (6e DLB) and was part of the Rapid Action Force (1984-1999). The division then was formed of 7 regiments, 5 professionals out which 3 are part of the Foreign Legion:

21st Marine Infantry Regiment, 21^e RIMa, which had been part of the 31st Brigade (1981-1984)
68th Artillery Regiment, 68^e RA
6th Command and Support Regiment, 6^e RCS
1st Spahi Regiment, 1^er RS
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, 1^er REC, attached to the 31st Brigade
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, 2^e REI, a regimental component of the 31st Brigade
6th Foreign Engineer Regiment, 6^e REG

Structure in 2007

Following Army reorganisation in 1999, the division was renamed the 6th Light Armoured Brigade (French: 6^e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6^e B.L.B). It consists of 6000 service personnel with 2100 wheeled vehicles, and includes 6 regiments and one transmission company:

It includes significant numbers of the Foreign Legion and Troupes de Marine.

Organization in 2009

Strong with 6000 service personnel, legionnaires and Troupes de Marine the brigade is composed of:[3]

General H.Q. in Nîmes
6th Command and Support Regiment, 6^e RCS
21st Marine Infantry Regiment, 21^e RIMa
3rd Marine Artillery Regiment, 3^e RAMa
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, 2^e REI
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, 1^er REC
1st Foreign Engineer Regiment, 1^er REG

Organization in 2016

Mostly manned with troops from the Foreign Legion and Troupes de Marine, the brigade is composed of:

General H.Q. in Nîmes
6^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (6^e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Nîmes with VAB
1^er Régiment de Spahis – Cavalry Regiment in Valence with AMX 10 RC
1^er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (1^er REC) Foreign Legion - Cavalry Regiment in Marseille with AMX 10 RC
2^e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie (2^e REI) - Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in Nîmes with VBCI
13^e Demi Brigade de Légion Etrangère (13^e DBLE) - Foreign Legion regiment in La Cavalerie with VAB
21^e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (21^e RIMa) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Fréjus with VAB
3^e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (3^e RAMa) - Marine Artillery Regiment in Canjuers with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
1^er Régiment Étranger de Génie (1^er REG) - Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment in Laudun

Division & Brigade Commanders

(1984 - 1999)

1984 - 1986 : général de division Moreau
1986 - 1988 : général de brigade Favreau
1988 - 1990 : général de brigade Pincemin
1990 - 1991 : général de brigade Mouscardès
1991 - 1993 : général de division Bernard Janvier
1993 - 1994 : général de division Bâton
1994 - 1996 : général de division Rideau
1996 - 1999 : général de brigade Schwrdorffer

(1999 - present)

1999 - 2000: général de brigade Barro
2000 - 2002: général de brigade de Kermabon
2002 – 2004: général de brigade Bruno Dary
2006 – 2008: général de brigade Bertrand Clément-Bollée
2008 – 2010: général de brigade Eric Margail
2010 – 2012: général de brigade Antoine Windeck
2012 – 2014: général de brigade Laurent Kolodziej
2014 – 2016: général de brigade Pierre Gillet
2016 - 2017: général de brigade Benoît Durieux
2017 - 2019: général de brigade Franck Nicol
2019 - 2021: général de brigade Jean-Christophe Bechon
2021 - : général de brigade Eric Ozanne

References

"6e brigade légère blindée". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
"6th Light Armoured Brigade - Armée de terre". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
"6^e Brigade Légère Blindée". French government. Retrieved 17 February 2012.

External links

6e DLB Official site
Page de la 6° BLB sur le site du ministère français de la Défense
servir-et-defendre.com L'ordre de bataille de la force terrestre.(in French)

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[1] "6e brigade légère blindée". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.

[2] "6th Light Armoured Brigade - Armée de terre". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.

[comp-3] "6^e Brigade Légère Blindée". French government. Retrieved 17 February 2012.