Fusiliers Marins

The Fusiliers Marins ("Naval Fusiliers") are specialized naval infantry trained for combat in land and coastal regions. The Fusiliers Marins are also in charge of providing protection for naval vessels and French Navy key sites on land.

The Fusiliers Marins are tasked with :

In size and roles the Fusiliers Marins are hardly comparable to the United States Marine Corps. While the modern designation of French Marine excluding the Foreign Legion equivalent of the U.S.M.C is the Troupes de Marine of the French Army ( In 1890, the ministry of the colonies separated from the Ministère de la Marine. The troops were finally attached in 1900 (by the decreed law of July 7 1900) to the Département de la Guerre and were designated then as Troupes coloniales). The Fusiliers Marins nevertheless, are and remain since founding, the primary naval infantry of the French Navy.

In 1627 Cardinal Richelieu undertook the creation of a Naval Regiment, intended to provide soldiers for service on naval ships. Their roles were to include combat on both land or sea, under the orders of the officers of the ship. These sea-going soldiers formed part of the ship's company and helped with its sailing. The basic units were the Compagnies Franches de la Marine: separate detachments of about 70 men, each commanded by a royal lieutenant des vaisseaux, supported by two ensigns. The marine companies served in the French colonies of the period and particularly in Nouvelle-France. These formations existed under differing titles until 1825 when they were dissolved by a royal ordinance decreeing that landing parties (compagnies de débarquement) be made up of sailors. The Régiments de la Marine were subsequently succeeded by the Troupes de la marine, which later became the colonial troops (Troupes Coloniales) of the French Army, specifically raised for overseas service.

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