11th Marine Artillery Regiment

11e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine.

Regimental insigne
Active 1951–present
Country France
Branch French Army
Type troupes de marine
Role Artillery
Part of 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade
Garrison/HQ Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, France
Motto "The other terror after lightning"
Colors Red and blue
Anniversaries Bazeilles
Insignia
Beret badge of the Troupes de Marine
Abbreviation 11e RAMa

The 11th Marine Artillery Regiment (French: 11e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine, 11e RAMa) is an artillery regiment of the French Army. It constitutes the fire support unit of the 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade. It employs around 950 men, fielding TRF1 155mm howitzers and MO-120-RT-61 120mm mortars. It was founded in 1951, although it uses insignia and the motto of a former older artillery regiment to which it has no direct link.

Organic role

The 11th RAMa is organically attached to the 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (9e BLBMa), where it fulfills the role of fixed artillery fire support. It is nevertheless a highly mobile unit, trained for amphibious warfare from the initial formation.

History

Foundation

The 11e RAMa stems from the former 1st Colonial Artillery Regiment (1e RAC) and the 1st Colonial Artillery Levant Regiment (RACL).

The 1e RAC was twice subdivided into child units named "11th Colonial Artillery Regiment"; the "Colonial" units are now named Troupes de marine. The 11 RAMa thus keeps the motto Alter Post Fulmina Terror ("the other terror after lighning").

The current regiment was founded in 1951 and was renamed 11e RAMa in June 1963. Since the 1970s, it has been a completely professional unit. In 1979, it took garrison in Camp La Lande d'Ouée near Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier.

Overseas operations

The 11th RAMa has been deployed overseas more times than any other artillery unit of the French Army. From 1978 to 1980, the regiment was involved in Opération Tacaud, in Chad. It took part in the battle of Ati in support of storm troops of the 3rd RIMa and armoured vehicles of the 1st REC. On 5 March 1979, it took part in the battle of Abéché; in a notable incident, artillery batteries had to shoot in direct fire to protect themselves with 105HM2 howitzers.[1] From 1984 to 1985, the regiment was involved in Opération Manta.

It took part in the peacekeeping Multinational Force in Lebanon in 1983 and 1984.

The 11th RAMa was engaged in the Gulf War in 1991, in ex-Yugoslavia from 1993 to 2000, and in Opération Turquoise in 1994, in Rwanda. It then intervened in the Comoros.

Presently, the 11th RAMa is involved in Opération Licorne in Côte d'Ivoire; in the current War in Afghanistan with the French forces in Afghanistan, notably the GTIA Kapisa; in Lebanon with Opération Baliste; in Kosovo and in Mali (Operation Serval).

Commanders

Regimental Standard

The regimental standard of the 11e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine

The following battles are listed on the regimental standard:

Honours

The regiment was awarded the Legion of Honour on 20 May 1910.[2] In was also awarded the War Cross 1914-1918 (two citations to the order of the army). As such, its men wear the fourragère of the Croix de guerre 14-18.

The regiment was awarded the Overseas Operations War Cross for the capture of As Salman in February 1991.

Decorations

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Operation Tacaud, site de l'Amicale du 3e RIMa
  2. ↑ Collectivité décorées de la Légion d’honneur, 1er régiment d'artillerie coloniale - Ordre de la Légion d’honneur, France-Phaleristique.com
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Artillerie de Marine.

Sources and bibliography