Rapid Action Force (France)

Force d'Action Rapide
Insignia
Active	1984-1999
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Army Corps
Size	47,000

The Rapid Action Force (French: Force d'action rapide (FAR)) was an army corps of the French Army, created on 1 July 1984 during the reorganization of the later within the law n°83-606 of 8 July 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.

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.

The President François Mitterrand and Chancellor Helmut Kohl passing review of the troops of the Force d'action rapide stationed in Baden-Württemberg, on 24 September 1987 during a Franco-German manoeuver.

Principal formations

A French Panhard ERC 90 armoured car of Division Daguet moves across the desert as part of a display of Allied armor during Operation Desert Shield.

Logistics Convoy of the 511e Regiment du Train of Operation Daguet.

• 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
• 68th Artillery 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

• Structure of the French Army in 1989

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