3rd Armored Division (France)

3e Division
Insignia of the 3e DIV.
Active	1943 1951 2016
Country	France
Allegiance	French Army
Type	Interarm Division
Size	30000
Garrison/HQ	Marseille
Motto(s)	« Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs »
Engagements	World War II

The 3rd Armoured Division (French: 3^e Division Blindée, 3^e DB) is a unit of the French Army.

The Division is the heir 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3^e DIA) formed in 1943 and dissolved in 1946.

The 3rd Armoured Division was created in 1951 then dissolved in 1991. The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3^e BM), created in 1999 became designated as 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (3^e BLB), inherited the traditions of the division.

The 3rd Division (3^e DIV) was recreated on June 20 2016 within the cadre of the reorganization of the French Army.

Creation and different nominations

• The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3^e DIA) was created on April 15 1943;
• Dissolution on April 15 1946;
• The 3rd Armored Division (3^e DB), heir of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division, was created in 1951;
• The 3rd Armored Division was dissolved on July 1991;
• The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3^e BM), created on July 1999 inherited traditions of the division. The brigade became designated as 3rd Light Armored Brigade (3^e BLB) in 2014;
• The 3rd Division was recreated on June 20 2016 part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division.

• 

  3^e DIA

• 

  3^e DB

• 

  3^e BM

Heraldy

It was under the signs of latin traditions that général de Monsabert wanted to place the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division 3^e DIA during creation on May 1 1943.

The insignia of "Victory" (French: La Victoire) of Cirta (province of Numidia, today Constantine (provence in Algeria)) is supported by three crescents representing the Muslims, which composed the majority of the division, Allied to the "métros" (blue white red).Origin of the insignia, La Victoire de Cirta

The "Victory" (French: La Victoire) was a Roman goddess protector of the Emperors that the Legio III Augusta de Cirta particularly venerated. She was found within a search at Constantine in the 19th century.

The motto of the 3rd Armoured Division is : « Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs » in French which translates literally to « More honor than the honors ». The motto of the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade was : « Un seul but : La victoire ».

History

1943 to 1946

The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3^e DIA), formed on April 15 1943, illustrated capability during World War II under the orders général de Monsabert puis du général Guillaume. The division was dissolved on April 15 1946.

1951 to 1991

The 3rd Division was reconstituted in 1951 at the corps of the French Forces in Germany (French: Forces françaises en Allemagne, FFA). This was a grand unit of almost 15000 men covering the Western part of Germany and comprising three brigades:

• The 5th Mechanised Brigade at Tübingen;
• The 12th Mechanised Brigade at Offenbourg;
• The 13th Motoryzed Brigade at Konstanz

the division became the 3rd Armoured Division in 1978. Three infantry regiments, two tank reigments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, and one command and support regiment. During the transformation of the FFA into FFECSA (French: forces françaises et élément civil stationnés en Allemagne) (French Forces and Civilian Element), the division was redimensioned and dissolved in 1991.

Organigram in 1991

Two tank regiments, three infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, one command and support regiment:

Based in Fribourg-en-Brisgau.

• 3rd Dragoon Regiment (French: 3^e Régiment de dragons, 3^e RD)
• 12th Cuirassiers Regiment (French: 12^e Régiment de cuirassiers, 12^e RC)
• 19th Group Mounted Chasseurs (French: 19^e Groupe de chasseurs portés, 19^eGCP)
• 42nd Infantry Regiment (French: 42^e Régiment d'infanterie, 42^e RI)
• 152nd Infantry Regiment (French: 152^e Régiment d'infanterie, 152^e RI)

Support:

• 11th Artillery Regiment (French: 11^e Régiment d'artillerie, 11^e RA)
• 34th Artillery Regiment (French: 34^e Régiment d'artillerie, 34^e RA)
• 11th Engineer Regiment (French: 11^e Régiment du génie, 11^e RG)

Other support :

• 3rd Command and Support Regiment (French: 3^e Régiment de commandement et de soutien, 3^e RCS)

1999 to 2015

The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3^e BM) created in 1999 retook traditions. The headquarter staff was based in Limoges. In 2011, the headquarter staff of the 3^e BM garrisoned at Clermont-Ferrand.

On March 18 2014, the 3rd Mechanised Brigade became designated as the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (3^e BLB).

Since 2016

The 3rd Division (3^e DIV) was recreated during a ceremony on June 20 2016. Interarm, the division is formed of three brigades part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division, units stationed in outre-mer and overseas. Headquarter staff is garrisoned in Marseille.

Composition in 2016

The 3rd Division is subordinated to the Commandement des Forces Terrestres CFT. At creation, the division managed 25 regiments, 4 headquarter staffs and one instruction school. Effectifs form 25000 men and 4000 reservists in:

• 2^e Régiment de Dragons (2^e RD-NBC) - Défense Nucléaire Biologique et chimique NBC-defense Regiment in Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
• 54^e Régiment d'Artillerie (54^e RA) - Air-defense Regiment in Hyères with Mistral
• 31^e Régiment du Génie (31^e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Castelsarrasin

2^e brigade blindée – 2nd Armored Brigade

Insignia of the 2^e BB.

Based in Illkirch-Graffenstaden.

• 2^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (2^e CCT) - Command and Signals Company in Illkirch-Graffenstaden with VAB
• 12^e Régiment de Cuirassiers (12^e RC) - Armoured Regiment in Olivet with 60 Leclerc
• 501^e Régiment de chars de combat (501^e RCC) - Armoured Regiment in Mourmelon-le-Grand with 60 Leclerc
• Régiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) - Marine Infantry Regiment in Meyenheim with VBCI
• 16^e Bataillon de Chasseurs (16^e BC) - Infantry Battalion in Bitche with VBCI
• 92^e Régiment d'Infanterie (92^e RI) - Infantry Regiment in Clermont-Ferrand with VBCI
• 40^e Régiment d'Artillerie (40^e RA) Self-propelled Howitzer Regiment in Suippes with 32 GCT 155mm and 12 120mm mortars
• 13^e Régiment du Génie (13^e RG) - Engineer Regiment in Valdahon

6^e brigade légère blindée – 6th Light Armoured Brigade

Insignia of the 6^eBLB.

Based 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 and ERC 90
• 1^er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (1^er REC) Foreign Legion - Cavalry Regiment in Orange with AMX 10 RC and ERC 90
• 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 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

11^e brigade parachutiste – 11th Parachute Brigade

Insignia of the 11^e BP.

Based in Balma.

• 11^e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11^e CCTP) - Command and Signals Company in Balma
• 1^er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1^er RHP) - Parachute Hussar Regiment in Tarbes with ERC 90
• 1^er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1^er RCP) Parachute Chasseur Regiment in Pamiers
• 2^e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2^e REP) French Foreign Legion - Parachute Regiment in Calvi
• 3^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (3^e RPIMa) - Marine Parachute Regiment in Carcassonne
• 8^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (8^e RPIMa) - Marine Parachute Regiment in Castres
• 35^e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste (35^e RAP) - Parachute Artillery Regiment in Tarbes with TRF1 howitzers, CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and RTF1 mortars
• 17^e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (17^e RGP) - Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban
• 1^er Régiment du Train Parachutiste (1^er RTP) - Parachute Supply Regiment in Toulouse

Notes

References

• David Isby and Charles Kamps Jr., Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company, 1985. ISBN 0-7106-0341-X
• Ian Sumner and Charles Vauvillier, The French Army 1939-45 (2), Osprey, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-707-4