Char AMX 30 B2 du
1/11e Cuirassiers au
camp de Carpiagne
Badge of the 1st Cuirassiers
The Armoured
and Cavalry
Cuirassiers
Background
The Cuirassiers corps, a heavy cavalry component, began in the Middle Ages, when lords, dressed in armour and coats of mail, riding armoured mettlesome horses, used to fight with spears and swords.
In the XVII century, King Louis XIV created the 1st Cuirassiers regiment, the « King’s Cuirassiers », which a century later, under Louis XVI, became known as the « grosse cavalerie (enlarged cavalry) » regiment.
Under the 1st Empire, Napoleon created 13 other regiments. Cuirassiers then became an arm, and fought in various battles such as the Waterloo , where both their sacrifice and efficiency brought them glory and honour.
They have always been remembered for their brave charges and enormous sacrifices during the Reichshoffen battle, on 6 August 1870.
1870 - 1871 Charge de cuirassiers
Paul Emile Léon Perboyre - Musée de l'Armée - Paris
During the First World War, with the introduction of new strategies and weapons, fighting on horseback turned out to be outdated and inappropriate for a prolonged war of this nature. Charges by the cavalry, in an attempt to break through fortified positions or to counter heavy artillery, became utter suicide missions.
Being at its first experience, the Armoured arm proved to be less efficient. The first ‘’tanks’’ were essentially used to back up the infantry.
Cuirassiers therefore fought on foot.
The Second World War on the contrary, witnessed the triumph of the Armoured arm, and former cavalry regiments were transformed into armoured regiments. In 1945, General de Gaulle, in glowing terms, paid tribute to the 1st Armoured regiment for its exceptional bravery during the war.
At the dawn of the XXI century, the 1-11th Armoured regiment, as well as the 6-12th are still operational and ready for deployment on any battleground as and when necessary. They have continued serving actively in countries like Lebanon or Kosovo within the framework of overseas campaigns.
Cavaliers du 1/11e Cuirassiers
Préparation des chars Leclerc
Equipage: 3 hommes,
Poids: 54 tonnes,
Armement: 1 canon de 120 mm
1 mitrailleuse de 12,7 mm,
1 mitrailleuse de 7,62 mm,
1 lance pots fumigènes
Vitesse max sur route: 70 km/h -
Photo FNCV
The 1-11th Cuir’, an offspring of the 1st and 11th armoured regiments, belongs to the Limoges mechanized unit. Its base and training ground are found in Carpiagne, between Marseille and Cassis, while the 6-12th Cuir’ is stationed at Olivet, near Orleans.
14 juillet 2007 - Champs Elysées - Paris
Le 1/11e régiment de cuirassiers - Devises:"Certum monstrat iter,
Toujours au chemin de l'honneur" Collection PC FNCV