Indochina War TO&Es

INDOCHINA WAR
TO&Es
GROUPMENTS
SOUS-GROUPEMENTS BLINDES (SGB ; armored subgroupments ; 1951 – 1953 ?)

Organized from constituted units in Indochina, they had :
1 x escadron de chars légers (light tank squadron ; with 13 x M24 Chaffee, 9 x Halftracks), organized in
platoons of :
1 x M24 Chaffee (command tank)
3 x pelotons de chars légers (light tank platoons ; each with 4 x M24 Chaffee, 3 x Halftracks)
1 or 2 x escadron(s) d’infanterie mécanisée (mechanized infantry squadrons ; on Halftracks ; infantry
mounted on Halftrack gathered essentially Native, with French cadres)
or/and (1 + 1 squadron)
1 or 2 x escadron(s) d’infanterie motorisée (motorized infantry squadrons ; on trucks ; as for the
mechanized infantry squadron, units were mostly formed with French cadres and Native men)
SOUS-GROUPEMENTS BLINDES (SGB ; armored subgroupments ; 1953 - 1954)

Organized from constituted units in Indochina, they had :
1 x escadron de chars légers (light tank squadron ; with 13 x M24 Chaffee, 9 x Halftracks), organized in
platoons of :
2 x escadrons d’infanterie mécanisée (mechanized infantry squadrons ; on Halftracks ; infantry mounted
on Halftrack gathered essentially Native, with French cadres)
GROUPE D’ESCADRONS DE RECONNAISSANCE (GER ; Reconnaissance Squadrons Group)

Organized from armored units in Indochina, on a temporary base, they had :
1 x escadron de chars légers (light tank squadron)
1 x escadron d’automitrailleuses (armored car squadron)
5 x pelotons d’automitrailleuses (armored car squadron ; each with 3 x M8 Greyhound, 2 x
Halftracks, 1 x M8 HMC Scott)
GROUPEMENT AMPHIBIE (Amphibious groupment)

M29C Weasel were bought from US surplus in Philippines, in 1945 (like DUKW later) and sent in
Indochina. At first, they were used for reconnaissance, in platoon of 6 x M29C Weasel, without mounted
armament. Crew were inexperienced, no tactic existed and some of these vehicles, bogged down, had to
be abandonned and destroyed... Studies were made on the failure Weasel platoons and a new unit was
created in 1948, within the 1er REC : the 1er Groupe d'Escadrons Amphibie du 1er REC (1 er GEA ; 1st
Amphibious Squadrons Group of the 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment)
1er Groupe d'Escadrons Amphibie had :
Poste de commandement (PC ; headquarters ; with 3 x M29C Weasel/Crabes)
2 x escadrons de Crabes (Crabs squadrons)
 1 x peloton hors-rang (PHR ; command platoon ; 2 x M29C Weasel/Crabs ; 3 x recovery Crabs)
 3 x pelotons de Crabes (Crabs platoons ; 4 x men per vehicle), each with :
1 x M29C Weasel/Crabe (as command vehicle)
1 x mortar Crabe (with 60 mm M2 M29C Weasel/Crabe)
2 x patrols of Crabes each with 3 x M29C Weasel/Crabes ; often with only 2 x Crabs in each because
of men shortage)
1 x workshop unit (with wheeled vehicles ; not amphibious)
Squadrons of the GEA were used alone, without infantry, after initial success, Vietminh discovered the
vulnerability of the Weasel, unarmored. Moreover it was difficult to exploit opportunities against the
enemy without infantry. Tests were made during 1950, with commando units (see below), but result
weren’t conclusive : commando unit had’nt the training for this kind of amphibious operations and the
carrier capacity of the Weasel was too small.
The LVT Alligator was the solution...
With the introduction of the LVT, the TO&Es were changed. On 1st September 1951, the 1er
Groupement d’Escadrons Amphibie (1er GEA ; 1st Amphibious Squadrons Groupment) became the 1er
Groupement Amphibie (1er GA ; 1st Amphibious Groupment), with 3 x sous-groupements
(subgroupments) from the 1er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (1 er REC ; 1st French Foreign Legion
Cavalry Regiment). Another GA was created, the 2 e GA, with two squadrons of the 1 er REC and one of
the 1er Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval (an armored regiment).
Groupement amphibie (amphibious groupment) had :

1 x escadron de Crabes (Crabs squadron)
 1 x peloton hors-rang (PHR ; command platoon ; 2 x M29C Weasel/Crabes ?, 3 x recovery Crabes ?)
 3 x pelotons de Crabes (Crabes platoons ; each with 4 x Crabes and 1 x Crabe with 57 mm M18A1
RR)
1 x escadron de LVT (LVT squadron ; commanded by a 1st lieutnant) with :
 1 x peloton hors-rang (PHR ; headquarters ; 1 x LVT-4)
 Dépannage (Recovery ; 1 x recovery LVT-4, a standard LVT-4 modified with Wrecker parts)
 1 x peloton d’appui (support platoon ; 2 x LVT(A)-4)
 1 x peloton de LVT (LVT platoon ; 6 x LVT-4)
1 x compagnie d’infanterie portée (mounted light infantry company ; commanded by a 1st lieutnant) with :
 3 x pelotons d’infanterie (infantry platoons ; except for French Legionnary cadres, men of the light
infantry company were Native ; each platoon was organized in half platoon of 15 men, with 1 half
platoon embarked in each LVT-4 of the LVT platoon ; mounted light infantry company was sometimes
used as a motorized infantry unit, with GMCs)
Groupement amphibie (amphibious groupment ; April 1953)

1 x peloton de commandement (command group)
1 x peloton d'appui (support platoon ; with 6 x LVT(A)-4 ; some sources stated that this unit existed only
from 1954)
Elément de reconnaissance et de manoeuvre (Recon and manoeuver element)
3 x escadrons de Crabes (Crabs squadons)
 3 x pelotons de Crabes (each with 7 x M29C Weasel/Crabs, 2 x M29C Weasel/Crabs with 57 mm
M18A1 RR, 1 x M29C Weasel/Crabs with 60 mm M2 Mortar)
Elément de choc (Melee element)
3 x escadrons de LVT (LVT squadrons ; each with : 8 x LVT-4, 3 x LVT(A)-4 ; 6 x M18A1 RR, 3 x 60
mm M2 mortars) I don’t know the exact organization, but I suppose it was the following :
 Peloton hors-rang (PHR ; headquarters ; 1 x LVT-4)
 Dépannage (Recovery ; 1 x recovery LVT-4, as explained above)
 1 x peloton d’appui (support platoon ; 3 x LVT(A)-4 or perhaps mixed with LVT-4 Bofors)
 1 x peloton de LVT (LVT platoon ; 6 x LVT-4)
3 x compagnies d’infanterie portée (mounted light infantry companies ; as explained above)
GROUPEMENTS MOBILES (GM ; Mobile Groupments ; a regimental-size unit)

Organized from infantry and artillery units in Indochina, on a temporary base, they typically had :
1 x poste de commandement (PC ; headquarters ; motorized)
1 x compagnie de commandement (Command company ; administrative, signal and security)
 1 x section de transmissions (signal platoon)
 1 x section de sécurité (security platoon)
3 or 4 x bataillons d’infanterie (infantry battalions)
1 x bataillon d’artillerie (Artillery battalion ; motorized ; 12 x HM.2 howitzers)
Transport assets
In operation, GM were typically reinforced with :

1 x escadron d’automitrailleuses (armored car squadron)
or :
1 x escadron de chars (light tank squadron)
and :
1 x compagnie du génie (engineer company)
and, sometimes :
1 x commando company (see below for commando company-size units)
ARMORED UNITS
REGIMENT BLINDE (Armored Regiment)

Some examples :
In 1946, the Régiment d’Infanterie Coloniale du Maroc (RICM ; Morocco Colonial Infantry Regiment)
had :
1 x escadron de chars (Tank squadron)
3 x escadrons blindés (Armored squadrons)
2 x escadrons d’infanterie mécanisée (Mechanized Infantry squadrons ; Halftracks)
In October 1951, the 8e Régiment de Spahis (8e RS) arrived in Indochina. It included :
2 x escadrons de chars (Tank squadron ; M24 Chaffee)
1 x escadron blindé (Armored squadron ; M8 Greyhound)
1 x escadron d’infanterie mécanisée (Mechanized infantry squadron ; Halftracks and mounted infantry)
2 x escadrons d’infanterie motorisée (Motorized infantry squadrons ; Jeeps, Dodge and GMCs with
mounted infantry)
The same year, the Régiment Blindé Colonial d’Extrême-Orient (RBCEO ; Far East Colonial Armored
Regiment) was created, in the possibility of a Chinese invasion. It had :
3 x escadrons de chars (Tank squadron ; M4 Sherman)
1 x escadron de tanks destroyers (TD squadron ; M36B2 Jackson)
Tanks and TDs were used in small groups, in support of infantry operations.
ESCADRON BLINDE (Armored squadron)

Between May and November 1953, a 9 e Escadron Blindé du 1er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (9th
Armored Squadron of the 1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment) existed in Laos. This squadron was a
« compagnie de marche », constituted with 1 x armored car platoon of the 4 e Escadron and 1 x armored
car platoon of the 5e Escadron ; both units of the 1er REC. TO&Es of the unit were :
 1 x peloton hors-rang (PHR ; command platoon ; I assume it was on Jeeps and Dodge)
 2 x pelotons d’automitrailleuses (armored car platoons ; M8 Greyhound)
 1 x peloton de jeep blindées (armored jeep platoon) with :
1 x Dodge (command vehicle with 4 x men)
1 x recovery Dodge (3 x men)
12 x armored jeeps (each with 3 x men ; standard jeeps modified by Legionnaries with
armored plates, armed with 1 x Reibel LMG and 1 x FM 24/29 SAW)
TRAIN BLINDE (Armored train)

In November 1948, an armored train was built by men of the 2 e Régiment Etranger d’Infanterie (2 e REI ;
2nd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment). Before each travel, a reconnaissance mission was launched with
an armored Dodge, modified to roll on the rails tracks.
At the Summer 1949, another more sophisticated armored train was built. Foreign Legionnaries were
especially trained in Algeria. In Indochina, they were attached to the I/2 e Régiment Etranger d’Infanterie
(1st Battalion of the 2nd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment). The train was operational on February 1950. It
had :
Crew from command company of the 72e Bataillon de Génie (72nd Engineer Battalion)
1 x peloton d’intervention (intervention platoon ; composed of Legionnaries trained in
Algeria)
1 x commando d’intervention (intervention commando [see below for « commando »] from
Vietnamese Security Company of Hué ; around 100/120 men ; often reinforced by other units)
2 x flat wagons at the front of the train, loaded with rails tracks and sleepers, for reparations
and to detonate mines on along the railway ; an observation post was installed on the first of
these wagon.
1 x locomotive (steam engine)
1 x command wagon (armored)
1 x armored wagon with 1 Coventry armored car turret
1 x armored wagon with 1 x 40 mm Bofors in an open turret
1 x mortar armored wagon (81 mm)
1 x mortar armored wagon (60 mm mortar)
1 x support wagon (kitchen, first aid, workshop
Sometimes, one or two wagons for coolies
In May 1951, the train was under the command of the IV/2e REI, and during Summer 1952, under the
command of the 1er REC's command squadron.
In May 1953, the armored train had probably one of the strangest (craziest !) armored vehicle in
Indochina : an old German SDKFZ-251 !!! But I don't know if it could move or if it was used only as a
casemate on a flat wagon.
INFANTRY UNITS
SPECIAL AIR SERVICE BATTALION (SASB ; 1945 – 1946)

Etat-major (Headquarters ; 8 x men)
 Service de renseignement (Intelligence unit ; 5 x men)
 Service de Transmissions (Signal unit ; 4 x men)
 Services administratifs (Administrative unit ; 9 x men)
 Service médical (Medical unit ; 7 x men)
Commando B1
 Poste de commandement (PC ; headquarters ; 9 x officers)
 2 x sticks de commandos (Commando sticks ; 8 officers and 104 x NCOs and men for the
two sticks)
Commando B2
 2 x sticks de commandos (Commando sticks ; 11 x NCOs and 87 men for the two units)
Commando B3
 2 x sticks de commandos (Commando sticks ; 9 NCOs and 82 men for the two units)
Commando B4
 Poste de commandement (PC ; headquarters ; 2 x officers and 1 x NCO)
 Commando 1 (1 x officer)
Stick 1 (2 x NCOs, 8 x men)
Stick 2 (2 x officers, 5 x NCOs, 6 x men)
 Commando 2 (1 x officer)
Stick 3 (1 x officer, 14 x NCOs)
Stick 4 (2 x officers, 1 x NCO, 10 x men)
Weapons :
Handguns : Browning HP35 and Colt M1911A1
SMGs : Sten Mk.V
Carbines : Lee Enfield Mk.5
Sniper rifles : .303 n°4 Mk.I(T)
Rifles : Lee Enfield SMLE
SAWs : Bren
Grenade dischargers : Lee Enfield
Light mortars : 2-in and Knee mortars taken from the Japanese
COMMANDO-MARINE (Marines commando ; small company-size unit ; from 1950 ?)

 Groupe de commandement (Command group ; 8 x officers and men, more some Native)
 1 x groupe d’assaut (Assault group ; around 10 x men ; lot of SMGs)
 3 x sections de commandos-marine (Marines commando platoon)
2 x groupes de commandos-marines (Marines commando squad, 15 x men ; lot of SMGs, probably 1 x
sniper rifle, 1 x SAW)
 Groupe de mortiers (Mortar group ; with 1 x 60 mm mortar and 2 x 50 mm mortars)
Weapons :
Handguns : Colt M1911A1
SMGs : MP 40 (until 1950), MAT 49 (from 1951)
Carbines : M1
Semi-automatic rifles : some MAS 44 (before 1949/1950), some MAS 49 (after 1950 ; and NOT MAS
49/56)
Sniper rifles : .303 n°4 Mk.I(T) (?), Gewehr 43 (?), MAS 49 with APX L806 scope (from 1953)
Rifles : MAS 36
SAWs : FM 24/29
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36-48 (until 1951), MAS 36-51
Light mortars : 50 mm Mle 1937, 60 mm M2
AIRBORNE BATTALIONS
Bataillon Parachutiste SAS (SAS Parachute Battalion ; 1946)

1 x Etat-Major (headquarters)
1 x escadron de jeeps blindées (armored jeep squadron ; only in the 1er Battalion SAS)
 3 x pelotons de jeeps blindées (armored jeep platoon)
1 x jeep (command)
1 x groupe de jeeps blindées (Armored jeep section ; 3 x armored jeeps [each with 2 x Reibel LMGs], 1
x Dodge with a mounted squad of 12 x men)
2 x groupes de jeeps blindées (Armored jeep section ; 3 x armored jeeps [each with 2 x Reibel LMGs])
2 x compagnies commandos-parachutistes (Parachute commando companies)
 2 x sections de commandos-parachutistes (Parachute commando platoon)
8 x sticks de commandos-parachutistes (Parachute commando unit ; 15 x men each ? ; lot of SMGs and
some carbines, rifles, 1 x SAW)
The 1er Bataillon SAS had two Parachute commando companies and the 2 e Bataillon SAS three Parachute
commando companies.
Weapons :
Handguns : HP35 (?), M1911A1, PA35S, PA35A
SMGs : MAS 38, M1A1 Thompson
Carbines : M1
Rifles : MAS 36 and MAS 36CR39
SAWs : FM 24/29
Light mortars : 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 (?), 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Bataillon Parachutiste SAS de la 1re Demi-Brigade SAS (SAS Parachute Battalion of the SAS Half-
Brigade ; 1st July 1947)
1 x poste de commandement du bataillon (PC ; Headquarters)
1 x compagnie de commandement du bataillon (CCB ; Command Company of the Battalion)
 1 x section de mitrailleuses (Machine gun platoon)
2 x groupes de mitrailleuses (Machine gun squads ; 2 x MMGs each)
 1 x section de mortiers (Mortar platoon)
3 x groupes de mortiers (Mortar squads ; 2 x 81 mm mortars each)
2 x groupes commandos (GC ; commando group [company-size unit] ; with French paratroopers)
 1 x section de commandement (Command platoon)
 3 x sections de commandos-parachutistes (Parachute commando platoons)
1 x groupe de commandement (Command squad ; 1 x 50 mm mortar)
3 x sticks de commandos-parachutistes (Parachute commando units ; 15 x men each ; 1 x
sniper rifle, lot of SMGs and carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x SAW)
 Section de mitrailleuses et d’engins (SME ; weapons platoon)
1 x groupe de mortiers (Mortar squad ; 2 x 60 mm mortars or 1 x MMG and 1 x 60 mm mortar)
The 1er and the 2e Bataillon SAS were regrouped in the Demi-Brigade SAS (SAS Half Brigade) with 98 x
officers and 750 x NCOs and men. The Demi-Brigade SAS was headed by a Company d’Etat-Major et de
Services (CEMS, Headquarters and Services Company).
The Demi-Brigade SAS had also :

1 x compagnie d’instruction (Training company)
1 x école commando (Commando school)
1 x école de brousse (Jungle school)
1 x escadron de jeeps blindées (Armored jeep squadron ; only in the 1er Battalion SAS)
 3 x pelotons de jeeps blindées (Armored jeep platoon)
1 x jeep (Command)
2 x groupes de jeeps blindées (Armored jeep section ; 3 x armored jeeps [each with 2 x Reibel LMGs])
Weapons :
Handguns : M1911A1, PA35S, PA35A
Carbines : M1
Sniper rifles : Springfield M1903A4
SAWs : FM 24/29
Machine guns : M1919A4
Light mortars : 50 mm Mle 1937, 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 (?), 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes SAS de la 1re Demi-Brigade SAS (SAS Parachute
Battalion of the SAS Half-Brigade ; October 1947)
1 x compagnie de commandement du bataillon (CCB ; Command Company of the Battalion)
 Section de transmissions (Signal platoon)
 Section médicale (Medical platoon)
 Section de services (Administrative platoon)
 1 x section de mitrailleuses (Machine gun platoons)
 1 x section de mortiers (Mortar platoons)
2 x groupes commandos (GC ; commando group [company-size unit] ; with French paratroopers)
 3 x sections de commandos-parachutistes (Parachute commando platoons)
3 x sticks de commandos- parachutistes (Parachute commando units ; 15 x men each ; 1 x sniper rifle,
lot of SMGs and carbines, rifles, 1 x sniper rifle, 1 x SAW ; with casualties and men shortage, a SAS
stick could have 9 x men equipped with 8 x SMGs and 1 x SAW)
1 x groupe de mortiers (Mortar squad ; 2 x 60 mm mortars or 1 x MMG and 1 x 60 mm mortar
Within the 1re Demi-Brigade SAS, Compagnie d’Etat-Major et de Services (CEMS ; Headquarters and
Services Company) and the 1er Bataillon were dissolved ; the 2e Bataillon SAS became the 1er Bataillon
Colonial de Commandos Parachutiste SAS... The Demi-Brigade SAS was organized as follows :
Etat-major (Headquarters)
1x compagnie de base (Camp company)
1 x école de brousse (Jungle school)
1 x STU Para
1 x escadron de jeeps blindées (Armored jeep squadron)
 3 x pelotons de jeeps blindées (Armored jeep platoon)
1 x jeep (Command)
2 x groupes de jeeps blindées ( Armored jeep section ; 3 x armored jeeps [each with 2 x Reibel
LMGs])Détachement de Dau Tieng (Dau Tieng Detachment)
Commando de Hoa Hao (Hoa Hao Commando ; a battalion-size unit, with 500 x men of the Hoa Hao
sect ; see below for commando company-size units) with :
2e Commando (2nd Commando ; a company-size unit ; headed by 2 x officers and 8 x
French NCOs and men)
 1 x section commando (Commando platoon ; 72 x men from the Hoa Hao sect)
3e Commando (3rd Commando ; a company-size unit ; headed by 2 x officers and 8 x
4e Commando (4th Commando ; a company-size unit ; headed by 2 x officers and 8 x
Weapons :
Carbines : M1
Sniper rifles : Springfield M1903A4
SAWs : FM 24/29
Light mortars : 50 mm Mle 1937, 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 (?), 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Bataillon Etrangers de Parachutistes (BEP ; Foreign Legion Parachute Battalion ; from November 1948
to 1950)
1 x poste de commandement (PC ; Headquarters)
1 x compagnie Opérationnelle de Commandement du Bataillon (CCOB ; more commonly called
« Compagnie de Commandement du Bataillon », CCB ; Command Company of the Battalion)
4 x compagnies de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Rifle parachute companies ; only 3 x companies in
the 2e BEP)
 3 x sections de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Rifle parachute platoons)
3 x groupes de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Rifle parachute squads ; 1 x rifle with grenade
discharger, 1 SAW)
1 x groupe de mitrailleuses (Machine gun squad ; 2 x MMGs)
1 x groupe de mortiers légers (Light mortar squad ; 2 x 60 mm mortars)
Weapons :
Handguns : P08, P38, M1911A1, PA35S, PA35A
Carbines : M1, M1A1 (from 1950)
Sniper rifles : Gewehr 43, Springfield M1903A4
SAWs : FM 24/29, BAR (only in Laotian CIPs)
Machine guns : MAC 1931 Type A2, M1919A4
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36-48
Light mortars : 50 mm GrW 36, 50 mm Mle 1937, 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 (?), 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Bataillon parachutiste (Airborne Battalion ; Far East Pattern 1947 - 1950)

3 x compagnies de parachutistes (Parachute companies ; with French paratroopers ; in 1949 parachute
companies of around 70 men weren’t rare)
 3 x sections parachutistes (Parachute platoons)
3 x sticks de parachutistes (Parachute unit ; 15 x men each ; lot of SMGs and carbines, 1 x sniper rifle,
rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger, 1 x SAW)
1 x compagnie de parachutistes (Parachute company ; with Native paratroopers)
 3 x sections de parachutistes (Airborne platoons)
3 x sticks de parachutistes (Parachute unit ; 15 x men each ; lot of SMGs and carbines, 1 x sniper rifle,
rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger ; 1 x SAW)
Weapons :
Handguns : Smith & Wesson (5 x revolvers used in the 6 e Bataillon Parachutiste Colonial [6e BPC ; 6th
Colonial Airborne Battalion] until 1953), M1911A1, PA35S, PA35A
SMGs : MAS 38, MAS 48 (a « new » MAS 38 in 9 mm with MP 40 magazine ; used from Spring 1950 to
the end of 1951), M1A1 Thompson
Carbines : M1, M1A1 (from 1950)
Sniper rifles : Gewehr 43 (?), Springfield M1903A4
Machine guns : MAC 1931 Type A2, M1919A4
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36 LG CD 43 (Grenade discharger of the Lee Enfield fitted on the MAS 36 ;
used from 1947 by the 1er RCP), MAS 36-48
Light mortars : 50 mm Mle 1937, 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44, 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Groupements de commandos mixtes aéroportés (GCMA ; Mixed Airborne Commandos Group ; from
1951)
Under the control of the SDECE (Service de Documentation Extérieur et de Contre-Espionnage ; Foreign
Intelligence and Counter-spy Service ; the French « CIA » at this time), maquis were formed in Laos,
with ethnic minorities. Small groups of French officers, NCOs and specialists headed these maquis, in the
rear of the territories contolled by the VM, along their supply lines... US Special Forces will develop and
expand the concept of maquis, some years later.
The basic unit of the GCMA was the centaine (hundred), a company or a strong platoon-size :
Centaine (Hundred ; around 100 men if company-size, half for platoon-size)

 3 x sections de maquisards (Platoon of partisans ; some SMGs and carbines, sometimes a sniper rifle,
1 x rifle with grenade discharger or a light mortar, rifles, 1 x SAW)
Weapons :
SMGs : MAT 49, some rare M3 Grease Gun
Carbines : M1, M1A1, some rare M2 carbines
Semi-automatic rifles : MAS 49 (from November 1952/1953)
Sniper rifles : M1903A4, M1D Garand, MAS 49 with APX L806 scope (from November 1952/1953),
some M2 carbines with APX L806 scope fitted on it
Rifles : MAS 36
SAWs : BAR
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36-48, MAS 36-51
Light mortars : 50 mm Mle 1937
GCMA became Groupement Mixte d'Intervention (GMI ; Mixed Intervention Group) in 1953.
Bataillon Etrangers de Parachutistes (BEP ; Foreign Legion Parachute Battalion ; 1951 - 1954)
 Section de pionniers (Pioneers platoon ; with 4 x 57 mm M18A1 ?)
4 x compagnies de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Rifle parachute companies)
 4 x sections de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Parachute platoons)
1 x groupe de commandement (Command platoon ; 1 x 50 mm mortar)
1 x groupe de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Parachute automatic squad ; 15 x men each ; around
6 x SMGs, carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger, 1 x SAW)
1 x groupe de fusiliers parachutistes (Parachute squad ; 12 x men each ; at least 1 x SMG, some
carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger, 1 x SAW)
 1 x section de mitrailleuses et d’engins (SME ; weapons platoon)
1 x canon sans-recul (RR ; 1 x 57 mm M18A1)
1 x groupe de mortiers (Mortar squad ; 2 x 60 mm mortars)
1 x compagnie de parachutistes indochinois de la Légion Etrangère (CIPLE ; Indochinese Foreign Legion
Parachute Company ; with French cadres and Vietnamese paratroopers ; from April 1951)
 4 x sections de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Parachute platoons)
1 x groupe de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Parachute automatic squad ; 15 x men each ; around
6 x SMGs, carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger, 1 x SAW)
1 x groupe de fusiliers parachutistes (Parachute squad ; 12 x men each ; at least 1 x SMG, some
carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger, 1 x SAW or LMG)
 1 x section de mitrailleuses et d’engins (SME ; weapons platoon)
1 x canon sans-recul (RR ; 1 x 57 mm M18A1)
1 x groupe de mortiers (Mortar squad ; 2 x 60 mm mortars)
Weapons :
Handguns : P08 (until 1952), P38 (until 1952), M1911A1, PA35S, PA35A
SMGs : (not a typo ; MAS 48 was a « new » MAS 38 in 9 mm with MP 40 magazine ; used from Spring
1950 to the end of 1951), MAT 49
Carbines : M1, M1A1
Semi-automatic rifles : MAS 49 (from 1952/1953 ; a rare weapon)
Sniper rifles : Gewehr 43, M1903A4, MAS 49 with APX L806 scope (from 1953)
LMGs : M1919A6 (from 1953/1954 ; perhaps in CIPs not equipped with FM 24/29 SAWs ; Vietnamese
Airborne Battalion [BPVN] had M1919A6 LMGs rather than FM 24/29 SAWs)
Light mortars : 50 mm GrW 36 (until 1952 ?), 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 (? ; until 1951/1952 ?), 50
mm Mle 1937, 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Bataillon parachutiste (Airborne battalion ; Far East Pattern 1951 - 1954)

Poste de commandement du bataillon (PC ; Headquarters)
Compagnie Opérationnelle de Commandement du Bataillon (CCOB ; more commonly called
4 x compagnies de parachutistes (Parachute companies ; with French paratroopers ; from 1952, almost all
airborne battalion had only 2 x French parachute companies)
 1 x section de commandement (Command platoon ; with 1 x SAW)
 4 x sections de parachutistes (Parachute platoon)
1 x groupe de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Parachute automatic squad ; 12/13 x men each ;
around 6 x SMGs, carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger, 1 x SAW)
1 x groupe de fusiliers parachutistes (Parachute squad ; 12/13 x men each ; at least 1 x SMG, some
carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger, 1 x SAW)
1 x canon sans recul (RR ; 57 mm M18A1)
1 x compagnie de parachutistes (Parachute company ; with Native paratroopers ; from 1952, almost all
airborne battalion had 2 x Native parachute companies)
 Section de commandement (Command platoon ; with 1 x SAW or LMG)
 4 x sections de parachutistes (Parachute platoon)
1 x groupe de fusiliers-voltigeurs parachutistes (Parachute automatic squad ; 12/13 x men each ;
around 6 x SMGs, carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger , 1 x SAW or LMG)
1 x groupe fusil-mitrailleur (Parachute squad ; 12 x men ; 12 x men each ; 1 x
SMG, some carbines, 1 x sniper rifle, rifles, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger , 1 x SAW or LMG)
1 x canon sans recul (RR ; 57 mm M18A1)
Weapons :
SMGs : MAS 48 (not a typo ; MAS 48 was a « new » MAS 38 in 9 mm with MP 40 magazine ; used
from Spring 1950 to the end of 1951), MAT 49
Carbines : M1, M1A1
Sniper rifles : Gewehr 43 (?), Springfield M1903A4, MAS 49 with APX L806 scope (from November
1952 in the 6e Bataillon Parachutiste Colonial, 6e BPC ; 6th Colonial Airborne Battalion ; a rare weapon)
Semi-automatic rifles : MAS 49 (from November 1952 in the 6e BPC)
LMGs : M1919A6 (from 1953/1954 ; perhaps in CIPs not equipped with FM 24/29 SAWs ; Vietnamese
Airborne Battalion [BPVN] had M1919A6 LMGs rather than FM 24/29 SAWs)
Light mortars : 50 mm Mle 1937, 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 (until 1951/1952 ?), 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
MOROCCAN TABOR
TO&Es from WW2, but I think that they are right between 1946 – 1950.
Tabor marocain (Moroccan tabor ; 1949 – 1950)

1 x goum de commandement et d’engins (GCE ; Command and weapons goum ; goum was a company
size unit)
 1 x état-major (Headquarters)
2 x groupes de mortiers (Mortar squad ; 2 x 81 mm mortars)
3 x goums d’infanterie (Infantry goums ; 2 x officers, 16 x NCOs, 192 x men)
 3 x sections de goumiers (Rifle platoons)
1 x groupe de commandement (Command squad)
1 x groupe d’assaut (Assault squad ; SMGs, carbines, 1x rifle with grenade discharger, rifles)
2 x groupes fusils-mitrailleurs (Automatic rifle squad ; at least 1 x SMG, some carbines, 1 x rifle with
grenade discharger, rifles, 1 x SAW)
 1 x section de mortiers et d’engins (SME ; weapons platoon ; 4 x Bazookas, 2 x MMG, 1 x 60 mm
mortar ; 28 x mules)
It’s interesting to note that the TO&Es of tabor inspired much that of infantry battalion, Far East pattern.
Weapons :
SMGs : M1A1 Thompson (until 1950), MAT 49 (from 1951)
Carbines : M1
Rifles : MAS 36
SAWs : FM 24/29
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36-48 (from 1948) , MAS 36-51 (from 1951)
Light mortars : 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 ( ? ; until 1951/1952), 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Combination of weapons were typically :

M1A1 Thompson/M1 carbine/MAS 36/FM 24/29
MAT 49/M1 carbine/MAS 36/FM 24/29
INFANTRY BATTALION
At the first stages of the French intervention in Indochina, from September 1945, the organization was
identical to the US one. Thereafter, it changed and the French infantry battalion became a variation of the
US TO&Es for the same type of units.
Bataillon d’infanterie (Infantry Battalion ; normal type battalion ; 1946 – 1948/1949)

1 x poste de commandement du bataillon (PC ; Headquarters ; 2 x jeeps, 1 x Dodge ; 23 men)
1 x compagnie de commandement du bataillon (CCB ; command company of the battalion )
1 x groupe de commandement de la compagnie (Command group ; 9 x men ; 1 x Dodge)
1 x section de transmissions (Signal platoon ; 31 x men ; 3 x jeeps, 1 x Dodge)
1 x section médicale (Medical platoon ; 24 x men ; 2 x jeeps)
1 x section de reconnaissance (Recon platoon ; ?)
1 x section de surveillance et d’escorte ( ? ; Guard and escort platoon ; 15 x men ; 2 x jeeps, 2 x Dodge)
1 x section de pionniers (Pioneer platoon ; 24 x men ; 1 x Dodge)
3 x équipes de pionniers (Pioneer teams ; 7 x men)
3 x compagnies d’infanterie (Infantry companies)
 1 x section de commandement (Command section ; 20 x men ; 1 x jeep, 1 x Dodge)
 3 x sections d’infanterie (Infantry platoons)
3 x groupes de fusiliers-voltigeurs (Rifle squads ; each with 12 or 13 x men ; in 1947, some units of the
151e Régiment d’Infanterie [151st Infantry Regiment] had 15 men per squad ; 1 x SMG, 1 x carbine,
rifles, 1 x SAW, some units had 1 x Bazooka per squad)
 Section de mortiers et d’engins (SME ; weapons platoon ; 31 x men, 1 x truck)
1 x groupe de mitrailleuses (MMG squad ; 11 x men ; 2 x MMGs)
1 x groupe de mortiers légers (Light mortar squad ; 16 x men ; 3 x 60 mm mortars)
More often 1 x MMG and x mortar were taken in the field ; sometimes, none of these heavy weapons.
1 x compagnie d’appui (Weapons company)
 1 x section de commandement (Command platoon ; 27 x men ; 1 x jeep, 1 x truck)
 1 x section antichar (Antitank platoon ; 21 men ; 3 x 57 mm AT guns ; it seems that AT guns were
deployed until 1946, not after ; 3 x trucks)
 1 x section antiaérienne (Antiaircrafts platoon ; 2 x HMGs ?)
 2 x sections de mitrailleuses (Machine guns platoon ; 32 x men)
2 x groupes de mitrailleuses (13 x men ; 2 x HMGs)
 1 x section de mortiers (Medium mortar platoon ; 39 x men)
3 x groupes de mortiers (Mortar squad ; 11 x men ; 2 x 81 mm mortars ; 1 x truck)
Weapons :
At the end of 1945, after the initial deployment of French units, infantrymen were sent unarmed in
Indochina. Once arrived, they received available weapons. Thus, some colonial infantry units received
Japanese small arms and support weapons. This weapons were changed in the following weeks.
Handguns : revolver Mle 1892, M1911A1, PA35S, PA35A
SMGs : M1A1 Thompson, Sten, MAS 38
Carbines : M1
Rifles : SMLE Lee Enfield, MAS 36
SAWs : FM 24/29, Bren, BAR
Machine guns : M1917 (in the weapons company), M1919A4, MAC 1931 Type A2
Heavy machine guns : 12,7 mm watercooled M2 often (always ?) mounted on Dodges of the battalion,
12,7 mm M2HB (also mounted on Dodge)
Grenade discharger : Lee Enfield (in some units only)
Light mortars : 60 mm Mle 1935 modifié 44 (until 1951/1952 ?), 60 mm M2
Mortars : 81 mm M1
Sten/Lee Enfield SMLE/Bren (between 1945 and 1948)
MAS 38 or Thompson/M1 carbines/MAS 36/FM 24/29
Bataillon d’infanterie (Infantry battalion ; Far East Pattern ; 1948/1949 - 1950)

 1 x section des transmissions (Signal platoon)
 1 x section médicale (Medical platoon)
 1 x section de pionniers (Pioneer platoon)
2 x groupes de mortiers (Mortar groups ; 2 x 81 mm mortars)
Vehicles of the battalion (Jeeps, Dodges) were regrouped in the CCB.
4 x compagnies d’infanterie (Infantry companies ; note that the 1er Régiment de Marche Indochinois had 1
x command company and 6 x combat companies ; a combat company was theoretically headed by a
captain, but often there was only two officers by unit, so, the company was commanded by a lieutnant,
with another lieutnant of 2nd lieutnant acting as his NCO)
 1 x section de commandement (command platoon)
 3 x sections d’infanterie (infantry platoons ; theoretically, each commanded by a 1st or a
2nd lieutnant, but often by a 1st or 2nd sergeant ; platoons had often x 20/25 men due to men
shortage/operations casulaties and platoon of 15 x men after long period of combat were not rare)
3 x groupes d’infanterie (infantry squads ; theoretically, each commanded by a 1st or a 2nd sergeant, but
often by a corporal ; each with 12/13 x men ; 1 x SMG, some carbines, 1 x rifle with grenade
discharger [from 1948], rifles, 1 x SAW)
 1 x section de mitrailleuses et d’engins (SME ; machine guns and heavy weapons platoon ; often
headed by a 1st sergeant)
Without vehicles, around 50 Native coolies were attached to the SME ; coolies could be VM defectors
and during clashes with enemy forces, there was a high rate of desertions, but surprisingly, sometimes,
coolies crewed bravely machine guns and mortars ; they carried heavy weapons of the SME.
Sometimes, moreover the Compagnie Légère de Supplétifs (CLS ; Native light company ; see below), an
infantry company could have :
 1 x section de supplétifs (Native platoon ; and in some battalion, CLS was dissolved and
each one of its platoon were attached to each combat company)
1 x compagnie légère de supplétifs (CLS ; Native light company, headed by a 1st or 2nd French lieutnant
and two or three French/Native NCOs, but more often led by a 1 st or 2nd French sergeant with a Native
sergeant ; theoretically, around 100 x men with no MMG nor mortar ; the CLS was used as a
scouting/patrol/infiltration unit ; some CLS were good units, others were unreliable)
 3 x sections de supplétifs (Native platoon) each with :
3 groupes de supplétifs (Native squads ; each with around 10 x men ; some SMGs, carbines, rifles and
perhaps, after 1948, some squads with x 1 rifle with grenade discharger)
1 x équipe fusil-mitrailleur (LMG team ; so, only 3 x SAWs per CLS [1 x per platoon] instead of 9 x in
a combat company)
The battalion could be organized in two groupements (groupments), each one with 2 x combat companies.
Each groupment was headed by a captain.
Weapons :
SMGs : M1A1 Thompson, Sten (until 1948), MAS 38
Carbines : M1
Rifles : SMLE Lee Enfield (until 1948), MAS 36
SAWs : FM 24/29, Bren (until 1948), BAR (only in CLS)
Machine guns : M1919A4, MAC 1931 Type A2
Heavy machine guns : 12,7 mm M2HB (mounted on Dodges of the battalion)
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36-48 (from 1948/1949)
Mortars : 81 mm M1

Sten/Lee Enfield SMLE/Bren (until 1948 ; British armament was given to commando/militia units)
MAS 38 or Thompson/M1 carbines/MAS 36/FM 24/29 or BAR (by 1949 and only in CLS ; this
automatic weapon seems have been very rare before 1954 in Native company of French infantry
battalions).
Bataillon d’infanterie (Infantry battalion ; Far East Pattern ; 1951 - 1954)

Same remarks than for the Far-East Pattern 1948/1949 – 1950 infantry battalion, but with some changes
in the structures :
Poste de commandement du bataillon (PC ; Headquarters)
 Détachement de Liaison et d’Observation (DLO ; Liaison and Observation Detachment ;
from Automn 1951, each infantry headquarters had one DLO. The purpose of the DLO
was liaison with artillery units and acted as a kind of FO)
 1 x section médicale (Medical platoon)
 1 x section de génie (Pioneer platoon ; 4 x 57 mm RR usually distributed among the companies, 1 x
RR per company)
 1 x section de mortiers (Mortar platoon ; 4 x 81 mm mortars)
Compagnie Opérationnelle de Commandement du Bataillon (CCOB ; more commonly called
 Section de mortiers (Mortar platoon)
4 x compagnies d’infanterie (infantry companies)
 1 x section de commandement (command platoon ; 1 x SAW)
 4 x sections de fusiliers-voltigeurs (infantry platoons)
1 x groupe de fusiliers-voltigeurs (automatic rifle squad ; 6 x SMGs, some carbines, 1 x rifle with
grenade discharger, rifles, 1 x SAW)
1 x groupe de fusiliers-voltigeurs (rifle squad ; 1 x SMG, carbines, 1 x rifle with grenade discharger,
rifles, 1 x SAW)
 1 x section de mitrailleuses et d’engins (SME ; machine guns and heavy weapons platoon)
Without vehicles, around 50 Native coolies were attached to the SME ; coolies could be VM defectors
and during clashes with enemy forces, there was a high rate of desertions, but surprisingly, sometimes,
coolies crewed bravely machine guns and mortars ; they carried heavy weapons of the SME.
Sometimes, moreover the Compagnie Légère de Supplétifs (CLS ; Native light company ; see below), an
infantry company could have :
 1 x section de supplétifs (Native platoon ; and in some battalion, CLS was dissolved and
each one of its platoon were attached to each combat company)
1 x compagnie légère de supplétifs (CLS ; Native light company ; theoretically, around 100 x men with no
MMG nor mortar ; the CLS was used as a scouting/patrol/infiltration unit ; some CLS were good units,
others were unreliable)
 3 x sections de supplétifs (Native platoon) each with :
1 x groupe de fusiliers-voltigeurs (automatic rifle squad ; 6 x SMGs, 1 x SAW ; other men
armed with rifles, perhaps 1 x rifle with grenade discharger)
1 x groupe de fusiliers (rifle squad ; some SMGs and carbines, rifles, 1 x SAW)
The battalion could be organized in two groupements (groupments), each one with 2 x combat companies.
Each groupment was headed by a captain.
Moreover, as platoon were rather weak with the new TOE&Es, company commanders reorganized
sometimes their unit at their convenience on the field : the four « sections d’infanterie » were regrouped
in two « pelotons d"infanterie », for stronger platoon. With this « field TO&Es », the combat company
was organized as follows :
 1er Peloton (1st Platoon ; with 2 x sections of 2 x squads)
4 x groupes d’infanterie (Infantry squads)
 2e Peloton (2nd Platoon ; with 2 x sections of 2 x squads)
4 x groupes d’infanterie (Infantry squads)
 1 x section de mortiers et d’engins (Weapons platoon)
Weapons :
SMGs : M1A1 Thompson (in Native units only) ; MAT 49 (also in Native units)
Carbines : M1
Semi-automatic rifles : M1 Garand (from 1954, only in Vietnamese CLS ; Vietnamese were trained with
these rifles in 1954, but I don’t know if they used it in combat, against VM)
Rifles : MAS 36 (also in Vietnamese CLS)
SAWs : FM 24/29, BAR (only in CLS)
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36-48 (from 1948) , MAS 36-51 (from 1951)
Mortars : 81 mm M1

MAT 49/M1 carbine/MAS 36/FM 24/29 (also in Vietnamese CLS not equipped with M1 Garand)
MAT 49 or M1A1 Thompson/M1 carbine/MAS 36/FM 24/29 or BAR (only in Vietnamese CLS)
M1A1 Thompson/M1 carbine/M1 Garand/BAR (only in Vietnamese CLS)
M1A1 Thompson or MAT 49/M1 carbine/MAS 36/BAR (in Laotian and Cambodian CLS)
COMMANDO UNIT
A « Commando » was an independent light infantry company-size. Native and former Vietminh were the
core of the commando.
French cadres were the head, with typically :

1 x officer
4 x NCOs
1 x radioman
Often, French were reduced to 1 x officer (a 1 st lieutnant), 1 x sergeant, 1 x corporal and 1 x 1 radioman
(corporal), assisted by 2 x Native corporal.
Each commando had about 90/150 men, but more often around 100 men organized in :
 Groupe de commandement (command group, as explained above)
 3 x sections commandos (commando platoons ; headed by a French or a Native NCO,
each had 1 x SAW or LMG and often a rifle with a grenade discharger and rarely, 1 x 50 mm light
mortar)
1 x groupe commando (commando squads ; 8/15 x men each ; almost all with an SMGs)
1 x groupe commando (commando squads ; 8/15 x men each ; 1 x SMG, sometimes few M1
carbines, 1 x SAW or LMG, other men were armed with rifles)
Typically, there was a commando company for each Dinassaut, one by sector and some in reserve for the
territorial command.
A lot of French units organized their own commando, including artillery (Commando Bergerol). Quality
was inequal. Some were almost Strikers equivalent, used to patrol and to carry out recon and ambushes
missions on territories controlled by the Vietminh. Others were unreliable, infiltrated by Vietminh spies
and agents (and sometimes, also in the best ones commandos...), with a high rate of defection ; badly
trained, with a poor armament, no dresses for the men...
Weapons :
SMGs : Sten (in early stages of the war), MAS 38 (in early/mid stages of the war), Thompson M1A1,
Thompson M1928, or MAT-49, M3 Grease seems to have been introduced in Indochina in 1954 (and
NOT before) : they were very rare and, again, seems to have been used only by commandos and GCMA.
Sniper rifles : M49 with APX L806 scope (not before 1953/1954)
Semi-automatic rifles : some MAS 49 (and NOT MAS 49/56 ; not before 1953/1954 ; a rare rifle).
Rifles : Lee Enfield SMLE, MAS 36
SAWs : Bren, FM 24/29 ; from 1949/1950 : in Laos and Cambodia SAWs were rather BAR but some
Laotian commandos still used Bren.
Grenade dischargers : MAS 36-48 (from 1948), MAS 36-51 (from 1951)
Light mortars : 50 mm Mle 1937
Combination of weapons in a commando unit were typically the following :

Sten/Lee Enfield SMLE/Bren
MAS 38 or Thompson (in early/mid stages of the war)/M1 carbines/MAS 36/FM 24/29
Thompson/M1 carbines/Lee Enfield/Bren
Thompson or MAT 49 or M3 Grease Gun/M1 carbines/MAS 36/FM 24/29 or BAR
MILITIA UNITS
Created at the beginning of 1947, a militia unit had around 20 x men armed with old rifles. Militias were
forsaken before re-finding importance, in 1952, in the French pacification strategy, but units remained
weaks small section/platoon-size of 15/20/25 x men with a poor armament. It was changed in January
1953 and a company-size unit was formed for every ten villages. I assume the organization was almost
the same of commando company.
In April 1954, an inter-district battalion was created in Tonkin. It was also a militia unit, used as a reserve
unit, for the reinforcement of company-size militia units.
Militia company units and the inter-district battalion were ancestors of the South Vietnamese RF/PF
forces.
Hoa Hao sect

Moreover the Commando Hoa Hao organized for a short period within the Demi-Brigade SAS (see
above, Airborne units), members of the Hoa Hao formed commando company-size units that should be
considered as militia units, sometimes with French cadres. Each of these unit had 100 men, with rifles.
Hoa Hao commandos were totally unreliable.
Weapons :
Rifles : old French mousquetons Mle 1892 or mousquetons Mle 1916, Berthier, Lebel, probably some
Japanese rifles, perhaps Lee Enfield and some MAS 36 at the end of the war.
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION AND ARTILLERY DETACHMENT IN SUPPORT (see also
« Artillery units)
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION
Before the disaster of the RC4 in 1950, the arrival of De Lattre and the creation of Groupement Mobiles,
infantry battalions were heavily involved in the control of the territories, garrisonned in small fortified
posts, all over Indochina, Laos and Cambodia. Some of them were real small islands of French presence
in VM territories.
Between 1946 and 1952, sections de propagande (propaganda platoon) operated all over the controlled
territories under the command of territorial subdivisions. In 1953 these units were put under the authority
of the Bureau de la Guerre Psychologique (Psychological Warfare Bureau).
The organization of controlled territories was :
Zones (subdivision of the controlled territories over Indochina)

Secteurs (Sectors)
Sous-secteurs (Subsectors ; controlled by an infantry battalion ; reinforced by different
elements)
Quartier (District ; controlled by a company-size unit ; reinforced)
Under the impulse of De Lattre in 1950, infantry battalions were attached to Groupement Mobiles
(Mobile Groupments) subdivisions were considered as follows for the reorganization of French ground
forces in Far East :
Indochina (as a field army headquarters)
Territories (as corps headquarters)
Zones (as division headquarters)
Sectors (as regimental headquarters)
Subsectors (as battalion headquarters)
District (as company headquarters)
FORTIFIED POSTS
In 1950, there were 917 fortified posts in Tonkin, but 820 were weak and unable to resist to a strong
assault. A lot of them fell in the hands of the VM. De Lattre ordered the expansion of Groupements
Mobiles (Mobile Groupments ; see above) for offensive operations against the VM and the building of
new modern and stronger fortified posts. This whole of fortifications was called « Ligne de Lattre » (« De
Lattre Line »).
Before 1951, the armement of a fortified posts was a « bric à brac » of weapons. For exemple, in 1950,
the post of Bo Cung, held by a Foreign Legion squad and a platoon of Native had, as heavy weapons :
1 x 20 mm Flak 30 in a tower
1 x 12,7 mm M2HB in a tower
1 x Mortar 3-in
1 x Lee Enfield with a grenade discharger
And, as light weapons (not belonging to the Foreign Legion squad, nor to the Native but at disposal of the
garrison) :
2 x Thompson SMGs
2 x M1 carbines
1 x BAR SAW (very rare at this stage of the war, and rather used by commando units and Native
companies, not the French)
1 x Bren SAW
Finally, defensive systems were improvised with Mills grenades and US 60 mm mortar shells.
The Foreign Legion squad had :
6 x MAS 38 SMGs
7 x MAS 36 rifles
1 x FM 24/29 SAW
Native platoon was equipped with MAS 36 rifles, and perhaps at least 4 x MAS 38 SMGs for
NCOs/corporals, Legionnaries exanching their tiny MAS 38 for more powerful Thompson.
Artillery in support of fortified posts

In addition, some bigger fortified posts (held by at last a company) were reinforced by an artillery
detachment (see also « Artillery units »). Often 1 x gun/howitzer, sometimes, 2 x guns/howitzers.
Gun/howitzer could be :
105 mm HM2 howitzer (US)
105 mm HM3 howitzer (US)
105 mm C Bourges Mle 1935 (French)
3,7-in howitzer (British 94 mm)
25-Pdr gun (British 87/88 mm)
75 mm Mle1897 gun (French)
75 mm M Mle 1928 Schneider (French, mountain gun)
Japanese guns were also used, for a short period, as fixed artillery.
With the help of the United States, section of 2 x guns/howitzer was generalized by 1952. Later in the war
to small batteries of 4 x guns/howitzers were formed, but only for bigger posts. 105 mm HM.2 and 105
mm HM3 were affected to Groupements Mobiles (GM ; Mobile Groupments), and old (but valuable)
were used as fixed or semimobile artilley, more the few French 105 mm L Schneider Mle1936 guns and
US 155 mm HM1 howitzers 155 mm M1 Long Tom.
Different gun/howitzer types/calibres were mixed within the same detachment. Bo Cung (mentioned
above) could have the support of an artillery detachment in another fortified post, with 1 x 105 mm HM3
howitzer and 1 x 105 mm C Bourges Mle 1935... Logistic was a nightmare.
ARTILLERY UNITS
Before 1950, almost all artillery units were used in defensive, often attached in small detachments to
territorial subdivisions. Thereafter, with the creation and the expansion of Groupements Mobile (Mobile
Groupments), artillery was classified in two categories :
Field artillery ; with the most mobile howitzers (105 mm HM2 and 105 mm HM3), attached to
Groupements Mobiles.
Position artillery
 Fixed artillery (a gun/howitzer or a section of guns/howitzers emplaced in a fortified post ;
old French and British artillery ; see above)
 Semimobile artillery (with more modern artillery and long range heavy artillery, not suitable
for Groupements Mobiles (French 105 mm L Schneider Mle1936 guns and US 155 mm
HM1 howitzers 155 mm M1 Long Tom)
In 1950/1951, 228 guns or howitzers emplaced and 240 for mobile artillery units. In 1954, they were
respectivly 323 and 370 but on this total, mobile artillery units were used more agressively. The 323
pieces were distibuted between 160 positions.
BATAILLON D’ARTILLERIE (Artillery battalion)
Bataillon d’artillerie (Bataillon d’artillerie)

Theoretically, it was the same organization of a US equivalent, but a different thing on the battlefield.
1 x batterie de commandement (Command battery)
3 x batteries d’artillerie (Artillery batteries ; each with 4 guns or howitzers)
75 mm recoilless rifle battery

 2 x groupes de 75 (each with 3 x 75 mm M20)
Sometimes used in section of 2 x pieces as reiforcement for infantry battalion.
Compagnie de mortiers lourds (Heavy mortars company ; Foreign Legion)

8 x 120 mm Brandt Mle 1946 mortars
Laurent Touchard
Thanks to David Lehmann for his infos
This document represents a lot of work. If you want to use it, please, ask me. Thanks.

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INDOCHINA WAR

SOUS-GROUPEMENTS BLINDES (SGB ; armored subgroupments ; 1951 – 1953 ?)

SOUS-GROUPEMENTS BLINDES (SGB ; armored subgroupments ; 1953 - 1954)

GROUPE D’ESCADRONS DE RECONNAISSANCE (GER ; Reconnaissance Squadrons Group)

GROUPEMENT AMPHIBIE (Amphibious groupment)

The LVT Alligator was the solution...

Groupement amphibie (amphibious groupment) had :

Groupement amphibie (amphibious groupment ; April 1953)

GROUPEMENTS MOBILES (GM ; Mobile Groupments ; a regimental-size unit)

In operation, GM were typically reinforced with :

REGIMENT BLINDE (Armored Regiment)

ESCADRON BLINDE (Armored squadron)

TRAIN BLINDE (Armored train)

SPECIAL AIR SERVICE BATTALION (SASB ; 1945 – 1946)

COMMANDO-MARINE (Marines commando ; small company-size unit ; from 1950 ?)

Bataillon Parachutiste SAS (SAS Parachute Battalion ; 1946)

The Demi-Brigade SAS had also :

Bataillon parachutiste (Airborne Battalion ; Far East Pattern 1947 - 1950)

Centaine (Hundred ; around 100 men if company-size, half for platoon-size)

Bataillon parachutiste (Airborne battalion ; Far East Pattern 1951 - 1954)

Tabor marocain (Moroccan tabor ; 1949 – 1950)

Combination of weapons were typically :

Bataillon d’infanterie (Infantry Battalion ; normal type battalion ; 1946 – 1948/1949)

Bataillon d’infanterie (Infantry battalion ; Far East Pattern ; 1948/1949 - 1950)

Combination of weapons were typically :

Bataillon d’infanterie (Infantry battalion ; Far East Pattern ; 1951 - 1954)

Combination of weapons were typically :

French cadres were the head, with typically :

Combination of weapons in a commando unit were typically the following :

Hoa Hao sect

Hoa Hao commandos were totally unreliable.

The organization of controlled territories was :

Zones (subdivision of the controlled territories over Indochina)

Artillery in support of fortified posts

BATAILLON D’ARTILLERIE (Artillery battalion)

Bataillon d’artillerie (Bataillon d’artillerie)

75 mm recoilless rifle battery

Compagnie de mortiers lourds (Heavy mortars company ; Foreign Legion)

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