Special Operations Command (France) (original) (raw)
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Special Operations Command | |
---|---|
Commandement des opérations spéciales (COS) | |
Founded | 24 June 1992 |
Country | France |
Type | Operational command |
Role | Special operations |
Size | 3,746 authorized personnel307 general staff 3,439 operatives |
Part of | Ministry of Armed Forces |
Headquarters | Hexagone Balard, Paris, France |
Nickname(s) | COS |
Commanders | |
Currentcommander | Major General Michel Delpit |
Military unit
The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (French pronunciation: [kɔmɑ̃dmɑ̃ dez‿ɔpeʁasjɔ̃ spesjal], "Special Operations Command") or COS is a joint staff charged with overseeing the various special forces of the French Army, Navy and Air and Space Force, bringing them all under a single operational authority. The command is placed under the orders of the Chief of Defence Staff and under the direct authority of the President of the French Republic.[1]
Similar in purpose to the USSOCOM or UKSF, the COS was created on June 24, 1992. The need for such a federation became apparent after France's participation in the First Gulf War.
- Army Special Forces Command
- 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa)
* Command and Logistics Company
* 1 SAS Company - HAHO/HALO paratroopers and divers
* 2 SAS Company - Extreme environments
* 3 SAS Company - Vehicle-borne operations
* 4 SAS Company - Urban warfare
* Training company - 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP)
* ECP Squadron - Command and logistics
* 1e Squadron - Training and evaluation unit nicknamed "Intelligence Academy"
* 2e Squadron - Combat divers
* 3e Squadron - Extreme environments
* 4e Squadron - Vehicle-borne operations
* 5e Squadron - HAHO/HALO paratroopers
* 6e Squadron - Signals
* 7e Squadron - Intelligence - 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e RHFS)
* Squadron 1 - equipped with 10 Cougar and 2 Puma helicopters
* Squadron 2 - equipped with 12 Gazelle helicopters
* Squadron 3 - equipped with 10 Caracal helicopters
* Squadron 4 - equipped with 5 Puma helicopters
* Squadron 5 - equipped with 2 Puma helicopters
* Squadron 6 - equipped with 6 Tigre helicopters - Special Operations Support Group
- Special Forces Academy
- 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa)
Force des Fusiliers Marins et Commandos (FORFUSCO)
- Commandos Marine
- Commando Hubert - Combat divers, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue
- Commando Jaubert - Direct action, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue
- Commando Trépel - Direct action, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue
- Commando de Penfentenyo - Reconnaissance
- Commando de Montfort - Reconnaissance
- Commando Kieffer - Electronic warfare
- Commando Ponchardier - Operational Support
- Air and Space Force Special Forces Brigade (BFSA)
- Air Parachute Commando No. 10 - Direct Action & Counter-terrorism
- Air Parachute Commando n° 30 (CPA 30) - Combat Search and Rescue
- Special Operations Division (DOS)
- Special Operations Division, Transport section (3/61 Poitou)
- Special Operations Division, Helicopter section (1/67 Pyrénées) - Integrated into the 4th RHFS.
- GIGN
- List of special forces units
- List of French paratrooper units
- United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) - US equivalent command
- United Kingdom Special Forces - British equivalent command
- ^ Aleksander Olech, French and Polish fight against terrorism, Poznan 2022, p. 106; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359135918_French_and_Polish_fight_against_terrorism
- Specwarnet.com
- Le.cos.free.fr (in French)
- Netmarine.net (in French)
- Dogs of the French Special Forces, published by Le Monde