6th Light Armoured Brigade (France)

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6th Light Armoured Brigade
6e Brigade Légère Blindée
Badge of the brigade
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) one of the eight inter-arm brigades which are at the disposition of the Commandement de la force d'action terrestre. The headquarters of the brigade is situated in Nîmes. The brigade is capable of deploying to any exterior theatre of operation while delivering fire power, agility, and mobility.

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)

Following the reforms of the French Army in 1999, the division was renamed the 6th Light Armoured Brigade (French: 6^e Brigade Légère Blindée, 6^e B.L.B).

Organization in 1984[]

In 1984, the unit was named 6th Light Armoured Division 6^e 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 French Foreign Legion:

• 21st Marine Infantry Regiment, 21^e RIMa, a regimental component 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[]

Strong with the French Foreign Legion and Troupes de Marine consisting of 6000 service personnel with 2100 wheeled vehicles, this brigade is composed of the following 6 regiments and one transmission company:

• 21st Marine Infantry Regiment, 21^e RIMa
• 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment, 3^e RAMa
• 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, 2^e REI
• 1st Spahi Regiment, 1^er RS
• 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, 1^er REC
• 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment, 1^er REG
• 6th Command and Support Regiment, 6^e RCS

Organization in 2009[]

Strong with 6000 service personnel, legionnaires and Troupes de Marine the brigade is composed of:^[1]

• 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 - 20xx: général de brigade Benoit Durieux

See also[]

• French Navy

References[]

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)