The Fusiliers marins (lit. "Sailor Riflemen") are the specialized naval infantry of the Marine nationale (French Navy). The Fusiliers marins serve primarily as the Navy’s security forces, providing protection for naval vessels and naval installations on land. Created in 1856 and with a modern strength of about 1,800 personnel, the Fusiliers marins should not be confused with the larger Troupes de Marine of the Armée de terre (French Army) whom are often referred to as the French ‘marines.’
Missions
The Fusiliers marins are tasked with:
the protection of sensitive sites of the Navy (Naval bases, French Naval Aviation, transmission stations etc.);
reinforcement of protection duties provided by Naval forces (maintaining order on board ship and the protection of naval vessels against attack).
The Fusiliers marins should not be confused with the Troupes de Marine of the modern French Army. The latter corps has undergone several changes in role from marine infantry to colonial troops (Troupes coloniales) to overseas forces. It has however remained as an essentially land force while the Fusiliers marins have throughout their history been an integral part of the French Navy.
History of the French Fusiliers marins
Creation of a specialized corps in 1856
These companies lacked specialized personnel trained for combat on land.
An Imperial decree dated 5 June 1856, created the Fusiliers marins, whose formation and training were undertaken by a battalion stationed at Lorient, Brittany. This specialized corps was put under the command of the captains and sergeants-at-arms of the various naval vessels of the French fleet, and was the direct ancestor of the modern Fusiliers.
Since that date, the Fusiliers have participated the following conflicts:
The expeditions in China, Cochinchina, Tonkin and Madagascar,
The European conflicts in 1870, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945.
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, following the disaster of Sedan, several brigades of Fusiliers marins and naval artillerymen were engaged in combat at Bapaume and subsequently participated in the defense of Paris, notably at the Bourget and at L'Haÿ-les-Roses. This force formed part of the Government Armée versaillaise (French: armée versaillaise) employed in the suppression of the Paris Commune in 1871.
The first engagement of the Fusiliers marins in the Nord department, in November 1914
The Brigade de Fusiliers marins distinguished themselves at Dixmude, on the Yser, at Longewaede, Hailles and Laffaux during the early stages of World War I. Three French ships have been named after Dixmude.
In 1945, the Far Eastern Marine Brigade (BMEO) was created with personnel from the RBFM and the 1er RFM, and was part of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps. The Marine Brigade formed riverine brigades (flottilles fluviales) in 1945–1946. They became the Dinassaut, which were created by GeneralLeclerc in 1947 in order to replace the flottilles fluviales created by Jaubert, and operated in Tonkin and Cochinchina from 1947 to 1954. In 1956, with operational cadres serving in Algeria, the Demi-Brigade of Fusiliers Marins (DBFM) was created to play a leading role in securing the borders between Algeria and Morocco until 1962. This demi-brigade was under the command of Vessel Commander (CV) Ponchardier.
The Sailor Riflemen wear a dark blue beret with their combat uniforms, pulled right with their own distinctive badge worn over the left eye or temple. Along with the Naval Commandos, they are unique among French forces in wearing the beret this way. When wearing regular dress uniforms, the sailor cap is worn by junior ratings and the peaked cap by senior petty officers and officers.
Lieutenant Commander Robert Detroyat, first commandant of the legendary 1st battalion of Fusilier marins, died during operation Exporter in Syria (1941)
Sub-Lieutenant Paul Henry, Fusilier marin officer, died defending the legation quarter of Peking (1900)
LieutenantPierre Guillaume, a famous Fusilier officer of the French Indochina war, inspired the character of "Drummer Crab", the hero of the French film Le Crabe-tambour.
Edward L Bimberg, Tricolor over the Sahara the desert battles of the Free French, 1940–1942, Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2002, ISBN0-313-01097-8 or ISBN978-0-313-01097-2.
Fleury Georges, Les fusiliers marins de la France libre, Grasset, 1980, ISBN2-246-09659-6 or 978-2-246-09659-7.
Major General USMC Paul J. Kennedy, Dinassaut Operations in Indochina: 1946–1954, 2001.
Contre-Amiral Robert Kilian, Les Fusiliers marins en Indochine : La Brigade marine du corps expéditionnaire d'Extrême-Orient, septembre 1945 – mars 1947, Berger-Levrault, 1948.
Amiral La Roncière-Le Noury, La marine au siège de Paris, Plon, 1872.
Georges Le Bail, La Brigade des Jean le Gouin; Histoire documentaire et anecdotique des Fusiliers marins, Paris, 1917.
Adolphe Auguste Marie Lepotier, Les fusiliers marins, Editions France, 1962.
L’évolution des opérations amphibies, La Revue maritime, n° 198, avril 1963, p. 424.
Raymond Maggiar, Les fusiliers marins dans la division Leclerc, du débarquement en Normandie, en passant par Paris et Strasbourg jusqu'à Berchtesgaden, Paris : Albin Michel, 1947.
Raymond Maggiar, Les fusiliers marins de Leclerc: une route difficile vers de Gaulle, Editions France-Empire, 1984, ISBN2-7048-0341-2 or ISBN978-2-7048-0341-5.
Jean Pinguet, Trois Etapes de la Brigade des Fusiliers Marins – La Marne, Gand, Dixmude, 1918.
France
French Navy
