View source for 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (France)

{{short description|Light}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=3<sup>e</sup> Brigade Légère Blindée
|image=Insigne 3e Brigade Mécanisée.svg
|caption=The insignia represents three [[crescents]] 
|dates= 1999–2016
|country= France
|allegiance=
|branch=[[French Army]]
|type=[[Mechanised infantry]]
|role=
|size= ~ 5,000 
|command_structure=[[Commandement de la Force d'Action Terrestre|CFAT]]
|current_commander=
|garrison=[[Clermont-Ferrand]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto="Un seul but : la victoire" 
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=
}}
The '''3rd Light Armoured Brigade''' ({{langx|fr|3{{sup|e}} Brigade Légère Blindée, 3{{sup|e}} BLB}}), the previous '''3rd Mechanised Brigade''', was a unit of the [[French Army]].

The brigade was heir to the traditions of the [[3rd Armored Division (France)|3rd Armored Division]], an heir of the [[3rd Algerian Infantry Division]].

The 3rd Light Armoured Brigade was dissolved on 16 June 2016.

The [[3rd Armored Division (France)|3rd Division]] was recreated on 20 June 2016 within the cadre of the reorganization of the French Army.

== History of the brigade ==

=== 3rd Algerian Infantry Division ===
{{Main|3rd Algerian Infantry Division}}

The 3rd Mechanised Brigade is heir of the [[3rd Algerian Infantry Division]] 3<sup>e</sup> DIA which illustrated capability during [[World War II]] under the orders of [[Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert|général de Monsabert]] puis du [[Augustin Guillaume|général Guillaume]].

=== 3rd Armoured Division ===
{{Main|3rd Armored Division (France)}}

The [[3rd Armored Division (France)|3rd Division]] was reconstituted in 1951 at the corps of the [[French Forces in Germany]] ({{langx|fr|[[:fr:Forces françaises en Allemagne|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 regiments, two [[artillery]] regiments, one engineer regiment, and one command and support regiment. During the transformation of the FFA into FFECSA ({{langx|fr|forces françaises et élément civil stationnés en Allemagne}}) (French Forces and Civilian Element), the division was redimensioned and dissolved in 1991.

=== 3rd Mechanised Brigade ===
[[File:1rima insigne 3bm.png|thumb|right|250px|Insignia of the 3rd Mechanised Brigade 3<sup>e</sup> BM.]]

In 1999, the 3rd Mechanised Brigade was created within the cadres of reforms of the [[French Army]]. The brigade adopted the traditions of the 3rd Armoured Division.

The brigade regrouped six tactical regimental formations with a mission to prepare for engagement in an interarm, national and multinational context.

The headquarter staff of the Mechanised Brigade garrisoned at Clermont-Ferrand on 1 July 2011.

=== 3rd Light Armoured Brigade ===

On 18 March 2014, the brigade became designated as 3rd Light Armoured Brigade. This formation counted at that date 5 regiments with an effectif of 5000 men.

Following the modeling presentation of the French Army in 2016, the brigade disappeared, the headquarter staff at Clermont-Ferrand was retaken by the headquarter staff of the 4th Aero-Combat Brigade (4<sup>e</sup> BAC), newly created, and the regiments integrated in the following brigades

- [[1st Marine Infantry Regiment|1<sup>er</sup> RIMa]] d'angoulème: [[9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (France)|9<sup>e</sup> BIMa]] de Poitiers

- [[126th Infantry Regiment (France)|126<sup>e</sup> RI]] de Brive: 9<sup>e</sup> BIMa de Poitiers

- 92<sup>e</sup> RI de Clermont: 2<sup>e</sup> BB de Strasbourg

- 68<sup>e</sup> RAA de la Valbonne:7<sup>e</sup> BB de Besançon

- 31<sup>e</sup> RG de Castelsarrasin: did not join a brigade, directly subordinated to the 3rd Division

== Composition until 2009 ==

Besides of the 31st Engineer Regiment ({{langx|fr|[[:fr:31e régiment du génie|31<sup>e</sup> Régiment du génie]], 31<sup>e</sup> RG}}), the 3rd Mechanised Brigade 
consisted of the following units from 1999 to 2009 :

* [[1st Marine Infantry Regiment|1<sup>er</sup> Régiment d'infanterie de marine]], 1<sup>er</sup> RIMa  
* 92nd Infantry Regiment ({{langx|fr|[[:fr:92e régiment d'infanterie de ligne|92<sup>e</sup> Régiment d'infanterie]], 92<sup>e</sup> RI}})
* [[126th Infantry Regiment (France)|126<sup>e</sup> Régiment d'infanterie]], 126<sup>e</sup> RI 
* Company anti-tank (CAC)
* 68th Artillery Regiment ({{langx|fr|[[:fr:68e régiment d'artillerie|68<sup>e</sup> régiment d'artillerie]], 68<sup>e</sup> RA}}) 
* Command and Transmission Company

== Composition since 2009 ==

* The 3rd Mechanised Brigade counted 7000 in:
* [[1st Marine Infantry Regiment|1<sup>er</sup> Régiment d'infanterie de marine]] de Angoulême ;
* [[126th Infantry Regiment (France)|126<sup>e</sup> Régiment d'infanterie]] de Brive-la-Gaillarde ;
* 92<sup>e</sup> régiment d'infanterie de ligne de Clermont-Ferrand ;
* 68<sup>e</sup> régiment d'artillerie d'afrique de La Valbonne ;
* 31<sup>e</sup> régiment du génie de Castelsarrasin.

== Heraly & Traditions ==

=== Origin ===

It was under the signs of [[Latin]] traditions that général de Monsabert wanted to place the [[3rd Algerian Infantry Division]] 3<sup>e</sup> DIA during creation on 1 May 1943.

The insignia of "Victory" ({{langx|fr|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).[http://www.engival.fr/const-victoire.htm Origin of the insignia, La Victoire]

The "Victory" ({{langx|fr|La Victoire}}) was a [[List of Roman deities|Roman]] [[Goddess]] protector of the [[List of Roman emperors|Emperors]] that the [[Legio III Augusta]] de Cirta particularly venerated. She was found within a search at Constantine in the 19th century.

=== Emblem & insignia ===

The units of the 3rd Mechanised Brigade bore the shoulder insignia of 3 tricolor crescents on champ d'azur.

The 3 crescents, formed themselves a styled "3", symbolizing the union in 1943 of the Muslim volunteers (the crescents) and metropole (the three colors) for the Liberation of [[France]].

== Motto  ==

The motto of the 3rd Brigade was : "Un seul but : La victoire" which translated to "One purpose : La victoire".

== See also ==

*[[Moroccan Division (France)|Moroccan Division]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*Official site {{in lang|fr}} – [http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/brigades/3e-brigade-mecanisee\ 3{{sup|e}} BM]
*www.defense.gouv.fr

{{CFAT}}

[[Category:Brigades of France|Light Armoured Brigade, 3rd]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1999]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2016]]