Rapid Action Force (France)
The Rapid Action Force (French: Force d'action rapide (FAR)) was an army corps of the French Army, created on July 1, 1984 during the reorganization of the later within the law n°83-606 of July 8, 1983 bearing approbation of the military programming for the years 1984 to 1988; the force would have been in means to deploy in Central-Europe and exterior theatres of operations in case of crisis undergone in intermediary conflicts. The force was dissolved in 1999.
Force d'Action Rapide | |
---|---|
Insignia | |
Active | 1984-1999 |
Country | France |
Branch | French Army |
Type | Army Corps |
Size | 47,000 |
During the 1980s, this army corps was the 3rd pillar of the French Army with the 1st Army and the operational defense of the territory (French: défense opérationnelle du territoire).
The FAR comprised 47,000 men, 240 combat and utility helicopters, 216 armored vehicles (72 AMX 10 RC, 72 ERC-90 and 72 Panhard AML), 200 artillery tubes, 5000 man-portable anti-tank systems and anti-tank missiles in 1990.
Principal formations
- 4th Airmobile Division
- 6th Light Armoured Division
- 9th Marine Infantry Division
- 11th Parachute Division
- 27th Alpine Division
- FAR Logistics Brigade
- 19th Artillery Brigade
- 28th Transmission regiment
Commandants
- 1984-1985 : général de corps d'armée Gilbert Forray
- 1986-1988 : général de corps d'armée Paul Lardry
- 1988-xxxx : général de corps d'armée Henry Préaud
- 1989-1990 : général de brigade Jacques Vidal
- 1990-xxxx : général de corps d'armée Michel Roquejeoffre
- 1993-1994 : général de corps d’armée Bertrand Guillaume de Sauville de Lapresle
- 1994-1996 : général de corps d'armée Philippe Morillon
- 1996-1999 : général de corps d'armée Jacques Bâton
See also
References
Bibliography
- Olivier Latremoliere, La force d'action rapide, Midev, 1993. ISBN 290993800X
- Général Henri Préaud, « La force d'action rapide », in Les Cahiers de Mars n° 120, 1989