A Chasseur (a French term for "hunter") is the designation given to certain regiments ofFrench light infantry (Chasseurs-à-Pied) or light cavalry (Chasseurs-à-Cheval) troops, trained for rapid action. The name was originally used for infantry units in the French Army recruited from hunters or woodsmen. Recognized for their marksmanship and skirmishing skills, the chasseurs were comparable to the German Jäger or the British Rifles. The Chasseurs-à-Pied, as the Marksmen of the French army, were regarded as elite light companies and regiments. The Chasseurs-à-Cheval, however, were generally not held in as high esteem as their infantry counterparts, or the identically armed light cavalry units of Hussars. During the French occupation of Algeria regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique were raised. These were light cavalry recruited originally from French volunteers and subsequently from the French settlers in North Africa doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the Zouaves. Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers or marines who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units. ... An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ... The word woodsman, meaning man of the woods, can be applied to any person coming from or living in a wooded area. ... Jäger (plural also Jäger, both pronounced as the surname Yeager) is a German word for hunter. In English it is often written with the plural Jägers, or as jaeger (pl. ... A marksman (also designated marksman) is a profession which is mostly to be found in military context. ... A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ... Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. ...

The modern French Army comprises regiments of Chasseurs-à-Pied, Chasseurs-à-Cheval and Chasseurs-Alpins (mountain troops). In addition one regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique has been re-raised to commemorate this branch of the French cavalry.

The "Chasseur" was also the name of the ship of one of the most famous of the American privateers was Captain Thomas Boyle, who sailed his Baltimore Clipper, Chasseur, out of Fells Point, where she had been launched from Thomas Kemp's shipyard in 1812. On his first voyage as master of Chasseur in 1814, Boyle unexpectedly sailed east, directly to the British Isles, where he unmercifully harassed the British merchant fleet. In a characteristically audacious act, he sent a notice to the King by way of a captured merchant vessel that he had released for the purpose. The notice, he commanded, was to be posted on the door of Lloyd's of London, the famous shipping underwriters. In it he declared that the entire British Isles were under naval blockade by Chasseur alone! This affront sent the shipping community into panic and caused the Admiralty to call vessels home from the American war to guard merchant ships which had to sail in convoys. In all, Chasseur captured or sank 17 vessels before returning home. A privateer was a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a countrys government to attack and seize cargo from another countrys ships. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Lloyd’s Building, London (with the blue cranes). ...

On Chasseur's triumphal return to Baltimore on March 25, 1815, the Niles Weekly Register dubbed the ship, her captain, and crew the "pride of Baltimore" for their daring exploits. (See Pride of Baltimore for a later ship.) March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

A chasseur cap is another name for a kepi, which is a cap with a flat, round top and a stiff visor. French Kepis. ...

--- The Chasseur is also the name of a Light Fighter in the mod for Freelancer (computer game) called Asgard. Freelancer is a space simulation computer game developed by Digital Anvil and published by Microsoft in March 2003. ...

See also

• Light infantry