Special Operations Command (France) Explained

Unit Name:	Special Operations Command
Native Name:	French: Commandement des opérations spéciales (COS)
Size:	3,746 authorized personnel 307 general staff 3,439 operatives
Start Date:	24 June 1992
Type:	Operational command
Role:	Special operations
Command Structure:	Ministry of Armed Forces
Current Commander:	Major General Michel Delpit
Garrison:	Hexagone Balard, Paris, France
Garrison Label:	Headquarters
Nickname:	COS

The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (English: 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.

Organisation

• Army Special Forces Command
  • 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1^er 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 (13^e RDP)
    • ECP Squadron - Command and logistics
    • 1^e Squadron - Training and evaluation unit nicknamed "Intelligence Academy"
    • 2^e Squadron - Combat divers
    • 3^e Squadron - Extreme environments
    • 4^e Squadron - Vehicle-borne operations
    • 5^e Squadron - HAHO/HALO paratroopers
    • 6^e Squadron - Signals
    • 7^e Squadron - Intelligence
  • 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4^e 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

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.

See also

• 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

External links

• Specwarnet.com
• Le.cos.free.fr
• Netmarine.net
• Dogs of the French Special Forces, published by Le Monde

Notes and References

1. Aleksander Olech, French and Polish fight against terrorism, Poznan 2022, p. 106; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359135918_French_and_Polish_fight_against_terrorism