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Concept
Chasseurs Alpins
Summary
The chasseurs alpins (Alpine Hunters) are the elite mountain infantry force of the French Army. They are trained to operate in mountainous terrain and in urban warfare.
France created its own mountain corps in the late 19th century in order to oppose any Italian invasion through the Alps. In 1859–70 Italy became unified, forming a powerful state. The French army saw this geopolitical change as a potential threat to their Alpine border, especially as the Italian army was already creating troops specialized in mountain warfare (the Alpini). On December 24, 1888, the first troupes de montagne ("mountain troops") corps were created from 12 of the 31 existing Chasseurs à pied ("Hunters on Foot'"/"Foot Rifles'") battalions.
Initially these units were named bataillons alpins de chasseurs à pied ("Alpine Battalions of Hunters on Foot"/"Alpine Foot Rifle Battalions"). Later this was shortened to bataillons de chasseurs alpins ("Alpine Hunter Battalions"/"Alpine Rifle Battalions"). From their establishment the chasseurs Alpins wore a plain and practical uniform designed to be suitable for mountain service. This comprised a loose-fitting dark blue jacket and blue-grey breeches, together with a large beret carrying the yellow (daffodil) hunting horn insignia of the Chasseur branch. They are believed to have been the first regular military unit to have worn this form of headdress.
The 47e BCA was reformed at Bourg-Saint-Maurice in 1979, and dissolved on 1 July 1985.
Since 1999 they have been (with other units) part of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne), and are currently organised into three battalions:
7th Battalion, Varces (Grenoble)
13th Battalion, Chambéry
27th Battalion, Cran-Gevrier (Annecy)
All three battalions are based in cities in the French Alps, thus the name of the units.
Training includes climbing, Ski mountaineering, plus winter and summer mountain leadership and mountain guiding skills completed at the High Mountain Military School.
Official source
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