2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2ème Régiment étranger d'infanterie)
Regimental badge of 2eREI
Active	3 Apr 1841 - 1 Apr 1943 1 Aug 1945 - 1 Jan 1968 1 Sept 1972 - Present
Country	France
Allegiance	French Foreign Legion
Branch	French Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Motorized infantry
Size	1230 men
Part of	6e brigade légère blindée
Garrison/HQ	Nîmes, France
Nickname	2e Étranger
Motto	Être prêt ("Be ready")
Colors	Green and Red
March	Anne-Marie du "2"
Mascot	Tapanar (mule)
Anniversaries	Camerone Day (April 30) and El-Moungar day (2 September)
Engagements	Battle of El-Moungar
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Hervé FOUILLAND
Notable commanders	François Certain Canrobert Patrice MacMahon
Insignia
Beret badge of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
Abbreviation	2e REI

The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (French: 2^e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 2^e REI) is an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion. It is one of two armoured infantry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade.^[1] Currently stationed at Quartier Vallongue, Nimes in the south of France.^[2]

A very mobile infantry regiment, it can be sent to any part of the world through naval or air means. The Regiment has taken on the responsibility of field testing new equipment for the French Army as whole.^[3]

History

The original 2nd Regiment was raised on April 3, 1841.^[4] It became the 2nd Foreign Regiment (French: 2^e Régiment Étranger, 2^e RE) in 1856.^[4] Took part in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71.

Became the 2nd Foreign Regiment of Infantry (French: 2^e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 2^e REI) in 1922.^[4] It was disbanded on April 1, 1943 with its remaining men transferred to the RMLE.

Indo-China

On August 1, 1945 a training regiment was raised known as the Régiment de marche de la Légion Etrangère d'Extrême-Orient (RMLE/EO).^[4] On January 1, 1946 this was renamed 2^e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie and was committed to action in Indo-China until 1954.^[4]

Algeria

After returning to North Africa the regiment participated in the Algerian War from 1956 to 1962.^[4] It was disbanded in 1968.^[4]

Recent

A new 2nd Foreign Regiment was formed 1 September 1972 in Corsica.^[4] It was renamed 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 1 July 1980.^[4] It has participated in several recent conflicts, most notably in the Gulf War (1991), in Bosnia, Chad and other parts of Africa.^[2]

Organization

The regiment is composed of around 1230 men organised into 10 companies, thus making it the largest regiment of the French army.^[1]

• Compagnie de Commandement et de Logistique (CCL) - Command and Logistics Company
• Compagnie d'Administration et de Soutien (CAS) - Administrative and Support Company
• 1er Compagnie de Combat (1er Cie) - 1st Combat Company (4 combat sections)
• 2e Compagnie de Combat (2e Cie) - 2nd Combat Company (4 combat sections)
• 3e Compagnie de Combat (3e Cie) - 3rd Combat Company (4 combat sections)
• 4e Compagnie de Combat (4e Cie) - 4th Combat Company (4 combat sections)
• 5e Compagnie de Combat (5e Cie) - 5th Combat Company (4 combat sections)
• Compagnie Antichar (CAC) - Anti-Tank Company (4 sections)
• Compagnie d'Eclairage et d'Appui (CEA) - Reconnaissance and Support Company (3 sections)
  • Section de reconnaissance régimentaire (SRR) - Regimental Recce Section (VBL)
  • Section antichars (SAC) - Anti-Tank Section (Milan)
  • Section de tireurs d'élite (STE) - Sniper Section (PGM 12.7mm)
• Compagnie de reserve (8 Cie) - 8th Reserve Company

Commanders

• Colonel Servanckx (1972–1974)
• Colonel Gilbert (1974–1976)
• Colonel Mougin (1976–1978)
• Colonel Liege (1978-19800
• Colonel de Montlebert (1980–1982)
• Colonel de Lajudie (1982–1984)
• Colonel François (1984–1986)
• Colonel Laffly (1986–1988)
• Colonel Soubirou (1988–1990)
• Colonel Derville (1990–1992)
• Colonel de Richoufftz de Manin (1992–1994)
• Colonel Lecerf (1994–1996)
• Colonel Verna (1996–1998)
• Colonel Bontoux (1998–2000)
• Colonel Bras (2000–2002)
• Colonel Margail (2002–2004)
• Colonel de Reviers de Mauny (2004–2006)
• Colonel Gillet (2006–2008)

Honours

Battle Honours

• Sevastopol 1855
• Kabilie 1857
• Magenta 1859
• Camerone 1863
• Extreme Orient 1884–1885
• Dahomey 1892
• Madagascar 1898–1905
• Maroc 1907–1913–1921–1934
• Indochine 1946–1954
• AFN 1952–1962

Decorations

• Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Extérieures with three palms
• Médaille d'or de la Ville de Milan

Gallery

Alliances

•  United Kingdom - The Rifles (Bond of Friendship)

Notes

References

• www.legion-etrangere.com
• Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion. Harper Collins, New York, 1991. ISBN 978-0-06-092308-2
• Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion 1914-1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-761-9. 
• Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion Since 1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-621-3. 

External links

• Official website - 2e Régiment étranger d'infanterie

v t e French Foreign Legion History of the French Foreign Legion— Képi Blanc (publication) Current Foreign Legion Units Administrative 1st Foreign Regiment — Foreign Legion Command — Foreign Legion Recruiting Group Infantry 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment — 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment — 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment — 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade — Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte Cavalry 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Engineering 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment — 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment Training 4th Foreign Regiment — Jungle Training Center — Combat Training Center at Arta Beach Defunct Foreign Legion Units Administrative and Training Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments Airborne 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment — 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment — 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company Infantry 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment — 21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers — 22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers — 23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers Cavalry 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment — 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division Miscellaneous Armored Train of the Foreign Legion — Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East