View source for FORFUSCO

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{{French Navy}}
'''FORFUSCO''' is a  [[syllabic abbreviation]] for the '''''For'''ce maritime des '''fus'''iliers marins et '''co'''mmandos'', headquartered in [[Lorient]], is the [[French Navy]] organisation responsible for and in command of the [[Fusiliers Marins]] and [[Commandos Marine]]. FORCUSCO is headed by a general officer with the title of '''A'''dmira'''l''''' commandant Les '''fus'''iliers marins et '''co'''mmandos'' (ALFUSCO).
 
This force carries out:
* Advanced force and reconnaissance operations from the sea
* [[Special forces|Special operations]]
* Protection of key sites and vessels of the [[French Navy]]
* Provision of security for elements of the naval forces.

A 2,700-man strong force, the FORFUSCO is the fourth organic force of the French Navy.

== Sailor Riflemen ==
{{Main|Fusiliers Marins}}
Battalions and companies of sailors are dedicated to the protection of sensitive naval sites (eg military ports, [[naval aviation]] bases, communications transmission stations, [[ammunition depot]]s). The sailors are also an integral part of buildings as domestic service - called "bidellerie" in navy slang.

There are seven companies of sailors (CIFUSIL), which provide protection for the following sites:
*Military port of [[Cherbourg]]
*[[Submarine base]] in [[Île Longue]] and [[pyrotechnics]] in [[Guenvénez]]
*[[Naval aviation]] base in [[Lorient South Brittany Airport|Lann Bihoué]]
*Communications center in [[Rosnay, Indre|Rosnay]], Indre
*Communications center in [[Sainte-Assise transmitter|Sainte-Assise]], [[Seine-et-Marne]]
*Communications center in [[Villepinte France]] and [[South Saissac]], [[Aude]]
*Naval aviation base in [[Lanvéoc-Poulmic]] (unit created on 1 September 2011 after the closure of the naval aviation base in [[Nimes-Garons]])
*Sailor riflemen and Commando training center Lorient

These seven companies send detachments who take turns every four to six months to ensure the protection of the communications centers of [[Fort-de-France]], [[Mahina Mahina Super]] and around [[Papeete]], of [[Ouen Toro]] in [[Noumea]], and [[Rufisque]] near [[Dakar]].
They also support operations of the Navy Commandos (Commandos Marine), augment boarding parties and provide military training to the French navy.

== Navy Commandos==
{{Main|Commandos Marine}}
The Commandos Marine are trained to targeted actions in places where it is not feasible or appropriate to deploy a larger force. They are primarily used by the [[Commandement des Opérations Spéciales|French Special Operations Command]] (COS) since 1992. They are seven in number: Commando Jaubert, Commando Ponchardier, Commando Trepel, Commando de Montfort, Commando de Penfentenyo, Commando Kieffer, and Commando Hubert, each with their own mission specialism.  They have evolved to be broadly comparable to the British [[Special Boat Service|SBS]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|France}}
* [[Fusiliers Marins]]
* [[Commandos Marine]]
* [[List of French paratrooper units]]
* [[Royal Marines#Group Fleet Protection (Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines ou FPG RM)|Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines]]
* [[Special Boat Service]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/organisation/les-forces/fusiliers-et-commandos/fusiliers-marins-et-commandos-marine Sailor riflemen and navy commandos] Site of the Navy
*[http://www.boc.sga.defense.gouv.fr/visu/boc_visu4.php?nor=DEFB0551362J&id=4985 instruction n° 31/DEF/EMM/PL/ORA June 16, 2005 ron the organization of the FORFUSCO]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://musee.fusco.lorient.free.fr Les fusiliers marins et les commandos marine - Musée] Site of the national Navy
* [http://www.fuscomarine.fr Les fusiliers marins et les commandos marine - Magazine LE LIEN]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Official Website Magazine
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120216183853/http://ecole.fusco.lorient.free.fr/ Les fusiliers marins et les commandos marine - École] School site sailor riflemen marine commandos

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[[Category:French naval components]]