2nd Armoured Brigade (France)

The 2nd Armoured Brigade (French: 2e Brigade Blindée, 2e BB) is an armoured unit of the French Army. It is heir to the honours and traditions of the 2nd Armoured Division commanded by Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque.

In 1970 the 2nd Armoured Brigade at Saint-Germain-en-Laye was part of the 8th Armoured Division, headquartered at Compiegne, alongside two mechanised brigades.^[1] In 1977 the 2nd Armoured Brigade appears to have been disbanded, and the 2nd Armoured Division reformed.

The reorganisation of the French Army in 1999 transformed the 2nd Armoured Division to the 2nd Armoured Brigade.

Composition

• 12e Régiment de Cuirassiers (12e RC) Armoured Regiment in Olivet with 60 Leclerc
• 501e Régiment de Chars de Combat (501e RCC) Armoured Regiment in Mourmelon-le-Grand with 60 Leclerc
• Régiment de marche du Tchad (RMT) mechanized Marine Infantry Regiment in Meyenheim with VBCI
• 16e Bataillon de Chasseurs (16e BC) mechanized Infantry Battalion in Bitche with VBCI
• 1x battalion of the 40e Régiment d'Artillerie (40e RA) Self-propelled Howitzer Regiment in Suippes with 32 AMX 30 AuF1 and 12 120mm mortars
• 1x battalion of the 1er Régiment d'Artillerie (1er RA) Rocket Artillery Regiment in Belfort equipped with MLRS
• 1x battalion of the 54e Régiment d'Artillerie (54e RA) Air-defense Regiment in Hyeres equipped with Roland and Mistral
• 13e Régiment du Génie (13e RG) Engineer Regiment in Valdahon
• 2e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (2e CCT) Command and Signals Company in Illkirch-Graffenstaden with VAB
• Escadron d'éclairage et d'investigation de la 2e Brigade blindée (EEI12 - 2e BB) Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron in Orléans with VBL

Notes

1. ^ Orbat.com, French Army 1970-96, accessed May 2010