The Chasseurs Alpins (Alpine Rifles) are the mountaininfantry of French Army. They are trained to operate in mountainous terrain and in urban warfare. Since 1999 they have been (with other units) part of the 27th Mountain Infantry Division (Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne), and are currently organised into three battalions:
All three battalions are based in cities in the French Alps, thus the name of the units.
Chasseurs alpins in battle snow camouflage, with FAMAS rifles.
Training includes climbing, skiing, plus winter and summer mountain leadership and mountain guiding skills. Troops may be transported in all-terrain tracked [1] (http://www.bca7.terre.defense.gouv.fr/pages/bataillon/materiels/VMB.htm)[2] (http://www.bca7.terre.defense.gouv.fr/pages/bataillon/materiels/VAC.htm) or untracked VAB personnel carriers. Personal weaponry includes the FAMASassault rifle, Minimimachine gun, FRF-2 sniper rifle, PGM heavy sniper rifle, and LGI light mortar, while group weapons included the M2 machine gun, LLR 81mm mortar, and vehicle-mounted 20mm autocannon, plus AT4, ERYX and MILAN anti-tank missiles.
The Chasseurs are easily recognized by their wide beret (when not in battle uniform). The British Army adopted the wearing of the beret in the 1920s after having seen similar berets worn by the 70th Chasseurs Alpins (now disbanded).
Chasseurs a Pied (hunters on foot) were a small branch of the French Army whose training emphasized marksmanship and scouting.
The Chasseurs were especially active in the Vosges region of France where the terrain was more mountainous and conditions were better suited for their training.
The Chasseurs a Pied and ChasseursAlpins (mountain hunters), were especially active in these areas and held long stretches of the line around the Hartmann Willerkopf/ Linge sector, scene of some of the most bitter fighting of the war in near alpine conditions.
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