Chasseur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Chasseur (a French term for "hunter") is the designation given to certain regiments of French light infantry (Chasseurs-à-Pied) or light cavalry (Chasseurs-à-Cheval) troops, trained for rapid action. The name was originally used for infantry units in the French Army recruited from hunters or woodsmen. Recognized for their marksmanship and skirmishing skills, the chasseurs were comparable to the German Jäger or the British Rifles. The Chasseurs-à-Pied, as the Marksmen of the French army, were regarded as elite light companies and regiments. The Chasseurs-à-Cheval, however, were generally not held in as high esteem as their infantry counterparts, or the identically armed light cavalry units of Hussars. During the French occupation of Algeria regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique were raised. These were light cavalry recruited originally from French volunteers and subsequently from the French settlers in North Africa doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the Zouaves.
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[edit] Modern French Army
The modern French Army comprises bataillons of Chasseurs-à-Pied (mechanized infantry : 16e BC),Chasseurs-Alpins (mountain troops : 7e, 13e, 27e BCA) and regiments of Chasseurs-à-Cheval (1er-2e RCh and 4e RCh : light armored regiments). In addition one regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique (training unit : 1er RCA) has been re-raised to commemorate this branch of the French cavalry. Since May 1943 there has been a "Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes" (1er RCP).
All of these units have different traditions :
Bataillons de Chasseurs are light infantry units created after 1838. Some of these bataillons were converted to specialized mountain units as "Bataillons de Chasseurs Alpins" in 1888, as an answer to the Italian "Alpini" regiments stationed along the Alpine frontier.
Régiments de Chasseurs are units of the "Arme Blindée Cavalerie" : armoured units. The basic organic unit is called regiment and not bataillon to avoid confusing cavalary and infantry chasseurs.
The airborne infantry units called Régiments de Chasseurs Parachutistes" were created in 1943 with airborne troops from the French Airforce (GIA or "Groupe d'Infanterie de l'Air), who were transferred into the Army.
Although the traditions of these different branches of the French Army are very different, there is still a tendency to confuse one with the other. For example when WWI veteran Léon Weil died, the AFP press agency stated that he was a member of the 5th "Regiment de Chasseurs Alpins". It was in fact the 5th Bataillon.
[edit] American Privateer
Chasseur was the Baltimore Clipper commanded by Captain Thomas Boyle, one of the most famous American privateers. She sailed from Fells Point, where she had been launched from Thomas Kemp's shipyard in 1812. On his first voyage as master of Chasseur in 1814, Boyle unexpectedly sailed east, directly to the British Isles, where he harassed the British merchant fleet. In a characteristically audacious act, he sent a notice to the King by way of a captured merchant vessel that he had released for the purpose. The notice, he commanded, was to be posted on the door of Lloyd's of London, the famous shipping underwriters. In it he declared that the entire British Isles were under naval blockade by Chasseur alone. This affront sent the shipping community into panic and caused the Admiralty to call vessels home from the American war to guard merchant ships which had to sail in convoys. In all, Chasseur captured or sank 17 vessels before returning home.
On Chasseur’s triumphal return to Baltimore on March 25, 1815, the Niles Weekly Register dubbed the ship, her captain, and crew the "pride of Baltimore" for their daring exploits. (See Pride of Baltimore for a later ship.)
[edit] Cap
A chasseur cap is another name for a kepi, which is a cap with a flat, round top and a stiff visor.
