Special Operations Command (France)

The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (COS; "Special Operations Command") is the organisation which coordinates the use of the French special forces of all military branches (Army, Navy, and Air Force). Similar to USSOCOM or UKSF, COS was created on 24 June 1992, following the Gulf War. Its role is to direct and coordinate missions for special forces units; these are permanently under its direct command and immediately available for action.The command is led by a Général de brigade or Contre-Amiral, a NATO OF-6 post.

Organisation

Armée de Terre (Army)

• Army Special Forces Brigade
  • 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1^er RPIMa)
  • 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13^e RDP)
  • 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4^e RHFS)

Marine Nationale (Navy)

• Force des Fusiliers Marins et Commandos (FORFUSCO)
  • Commando Hubert
  • Commando de Penfentenyo
  • Commando Jaubert
  • Commando de Montfort
  • Commando Trépel
  • Commando Kieffer
  • Commando Ponchardier

Armée de l'Air (Air Force)

• Air Parachute Commando n° 10, CPA 10 (French: Commando parachutiste de l'air n° 10) (CPA 10; "No. 10 Air Parachute Commando")
• Division des Opérations Spéciales (DOS; "Special Operations Division")
  • Division des Opérations Spéciales/Transport (DOS/T; "Special Operations Division, Transport section") today, the Escadron de transport 3/61 "Poitou" – Uses C-130 Hercules and C-160 Transall.
  • Division des Opérations Spéciales / Hélicoptères (DOS/H; "Special Operations Division, Helicopter section"). Integrated into the 4th RHFS.

See also

• List of special forces units
• List of French paratrooper units

External links

• Specwarnet.com
• (French) Le.cos.free.fr
• (French) Netmarine.net