1st Spahi Regiment

1st Spahi Regiment
1e Régiment de Spahis
Regimental insignia of the 1st Spahi Regiment
Active1914 – present
  • Régiment de marche de chasseurs indigènes à cheval
    R.M.C.I.C
  • Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains
    R.M.S.M
  • 21e Régiment de Spahis Marocains
    21e R.S.M
  • 1er Régiment de Spahis Marocains
    1er R.S.M
  • 1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains
    1er R.M.S.M
CountryFrance
BranchFrench Army
TypeCavalry, Light Infantry, Armor (current)
RoleArmored Reconnaissance
Part of6th Light Armoured Brigade
Garrison/HQValence, Drôme, France
Mottos"Faire Face"(Fr)
"Facing Forward" (Eng)
MascotA Ram
Equipment48 AMX 10 RC, 90 VAB and 110 Trucks
EngagementsWorld War I
World War II
French Indochina War
Gulf War
War on terror (2001 - present)
Battle honours
  • La Marne 1914
  • Pogradec 1917
  • Skumbi 1917
  • Bofnia 1918
  • Uskub 1918
  • Danube 1918
  • Levant 1920-1927
  • Erythrée 1941
  • El Alamein 1942
  • Tunisie 1943
  • Paris 1944
  • Strasbourg 1944
  • AFN 1952-1962
  • Koweit 1990-1991

The 1st Spahi Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis) is an armored regiment of the modern French Army, previously called the 1st Moroccan Spahi Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Spahis Marocains). It was established in 1914 as a mounted cavalry unit recruited primarily from indigenous Moroccan horsemen. The regiment saw service in the First World War, and in the Second World War as part of the Forces Françaises Libres, as well as post-war service in the French-Indochina War and elsewhere. The modern regiment continues the traditions of all former Spahi regiments in the French Army of Africa.