3rd Marine Infantry Regiment

3e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine
Regimental insignia
Active	1838
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	troupes de marine
Role	Infantry
Size	1,250 men and women
Part of	9th Marine Infantry Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Vannes, France
Nickname(s)	« Le Grand Trois »
Motto(s)	« Debout les morts »
Colors	Red and blue
Anniversaries	Bazeilles
Engagements	Franco-Prussian War World War I World War II Lebanese Civil War 1975-1990 United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Multinational Force 1982-1984 Gulf War War on Terror (2001 - present)
Battle honours	Magador 1844 Alma 1854 Palikao 1860 Ki-Hoa 1861 Bazeilles 1870 Sontay 1883 La Marne 1914 Champagne 1915 Dobropolje 1918 Koweït 1990-1991
Insignia
Beret badge of the Troupes de Marine
Abbreviation	3e RIMa

ThE 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment (Template:Lang-fr) is a unit of the French Army in the French Forces. The 3^e RIMa is one of the oldest of the troupes de marine. This regiment is one of the "Quatre Grands" of marine infantry ounce garrisoned within the four military ports, ready to embark : the « Grand Un » , the « Grand Deux », the « Grand Trois » and the « Grand Quatre ». The « Grand Trois » has participated actively to the various far expeditions of the 19th century in Africa, the Americas, Oceania and the Orient. Surnamed also the "3rd Marine", the unit was part of the « Blue Division » which illustrated capability at the Battle of Bazeilles August 31 and September 1 1870. The regiment was subordinated to the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade.

Creation and different nominations

• 1854 : the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment was stationed at Rochefort
• 1869 : the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment was spread between Rochefort, Cochinchine, Réunion, New Caledonia and Tahiti
• 1870 : the 3rd Marching Marine Infantry Regiment
• 1890 : the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment was doubled and formed the 7th Colonial Infantry Regiment (Template:Lang-fr)
• 1900 : the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment was designated 3rd Colonial Infantry Regiment (Template:Lang-fr), with none of the companies and battalions in the colonies
• 1914 : the 3rd Colonial Infantry Regiment was garrisoned at Rochefort. The regiment was part of the 3rd Colonial Brigade; 3rd Colonial Infantry Division 3^e DIC
• 1946 : 3rd Colonial Infantry Battalion 3^e BIC
• 1958 : Instruction Center of the 3^e RIC
• 1958 : Instruction Center of the 3^e RIMa
• 1963 : 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment

Missions

• Regularly screened overseas (including Guyana) and Africa (Chad, Gabon, Central) as all units that used to be called the "Colonial", the 3rd RIMa also distinguished itself in the division during the Daguet Gulf War and the former Yugoslavia, particularly in Sarajevo at the capture of the Vrbanja bridge in May 1995.
• Since 2002, the staffs are projected six months per year:
• 2002: NATO Kosovo Operation Trident - Bimoto then BATFRA 1
• 2003: Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire
• 2003: Democratic Rep. of Congo Ituri Bunia - En Ops Ops MAMBA + EU ARTEMIS
• 2004: Afghanistan, New Caledonia
• 2004-2005: Côte d'Ivoire
• 2005: Kosovo, RCA
• 2006-2007: Côte d'Ivoire
• 2008: Kosovo, RCA
• 2009: Afghanistan (Task Force Korrigan)
• 2012-2013 Mali

Organisation

The regiment is articulated into 8 companies with approximately 1300 men and women:

• Compagnie de Commandement et de Logistique (CCL) – Command and Logistics Company
• 1^re Compagnie de Combat (1^re Cie) – 1st Combat Company
• 2^e Compagnie de Combat (2^e Cie) – 2nd Combat Company
• 3^e Compagnie de Combat (3^e Cie) – 3rd Combat Company
• 4^e Compagnie de Combat (4^e Cie) – 4th Combat Company
• 5^e Compagnie de Combat (5^e Cie) – 5th Combat Company
• Compagnie Antichar (CAC) longue portée – Long Range Anti-Tank Company (dormant since 2008)
• Compagnie d'Eclairage et d'Appui (CEA) – Reconnaissance and Support Company
• 6^e Compagnie de reserve (6^e Cie) – 6th Reserve Company

Traditions

The anniversary is celebrated for combats in Bazeilles, the village which was apprehended and abandoned four consecutive times under orders, respectively on August 31 and September 1 1870.

Et au Nom de Dieu, vive la coloniale !

In the Name of God, vive la coloniale !

The Marsouins and the Bigors have for Saint, God. This war calling concludes intimate ceremonies which part life in the regiments. Often also at origin as an act of grace to Charles de Foucauld.

Regimental Colors

Decorations

• Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with 1 palm with 1 star, Serbian Memorial Medal.
• Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with 1 palm.
• commended in French Army orders 1978-1991.

Honours

Battle Honours

• Magador 1844
• Alma 1854
• Palikao 1860
• Ki-Hoa 1861
• Bazeilles 1870
• Sontay 1883
• La Marne 1914
• Champagne 1915
• Dobropolje 1918
• Koweït 1990-1991

Regimental Commanders

3^e RIC

• 1914 : Colonel Lamolle
• September 5 1914 : Lieutenant-Colonel Condamy
• November 1 1914 - December 6 1914 : Colonel Claudel

3^e RIMa

1870 : Colonel Lecamus 1886 : Colonel Vinckel-Mayer 1965 - 1967 : colonel de La Longray 1967 - 1969 : colonel Fournier 1969 - 1971 : colonel Barthelemy 1971 - 1973 : colonel Emile Mistral 1973 - 1975 : colonel Guillermet 1975 - 1977 : colonel Joubert

1977 - 1979 : colonel Hamel 1979 - 1981 : colonel Rousseau-Dumarcet 1981 - 1983 : colonel Fages 1983 - 1985 : colonel Canal 1985 - 1987 : colonel Mourgeon 1987 - 1989 : colonel Coste 1989 - 1991 : colonel Thorette 1991 - 1993 : colonel Thévenon 1993 - 1995 : colonel Montfort 1995 - 1997 : colonel Leclère

1997 - 1999 : colonel de Jong 1999 - 2001 : colonel Commins 2001 - 2003 : colonel Rochet 2003 - 2005 : colonel de Woillemont 2005 - 2007 : colonel Lecointre 2007 - 2009 : colonel Chanson 2009 - 2011 : colonel Schill 2011 - 2013 : colonel Steiger 2013 - 2015 : colonel Hervé 2015 - 201x : colonel Giraud

Notbale Officers & Marines

• Joseph Gallieni

Sources and bibliography

• Erwan Bergot, La coloniale du Rif au Tchad 1925-1980, imprimé en France : décembre 1982, n° d'éditeur 7576, n° d'imprimeur 31129, sur les presses de l'imprimerie Hérissey.