The 1991 Persian Gulf War

France

by David Nilsen and Greg Novak

France had for years been Iraq's leading ally and supplier of arms, and it was only Iraq's increasing inability to pay for French weapons that was beginning to sour the relationship. Furthermore, France is predictably loathe to fall into line with any US foreign policy initiative, preferring to "chart its own course," more for the purpose of simply being different than actually having a reputable alternative goal. On the other hand, as a member of the brotherhood of civilized nations which professed to oppose naked aggression, France could hardly be expected to support Iraqi aggression. So the French response to the annexation of Kuwait was the understandably ambiguous one of someone caught with his hand in the coolde jar, as it were.

The first small force of French troops to arrive in the Gulf as part of Operation Salamandre were sent to demonstrate French interest, but were outspokenly not part of the multinational response being assembled under US leadership. However, while it was being debated whether this force was large enough to properly convey the French will (never mind what that will might have been), the pathologically self-destructive Saddam Hussein repeatedly assisted his opponents in coalescing against him: by closing foreign embassies in Kuwait, kidnapping French nationals (the French government actually covered up the existence of 27 French nationals in Saddam's "human shield" in order to protect its neutral stance), and angrily blaming France for the UN resolutions (on French TV, no less), thereby adding currency to anti-Iraq sentiment in the French government and France at large. The more ambitious Operation Daguet was begun on September 15, 1990 in response to Iraq's forced entry to the French Embassy in Kuwait.

Pro-Iraq sentiment in the French government was centered about the Defense Minister, Jean-Pierre Chevenement, who actually proposed redrawing Kuwait's border to give Saddam what he wanted. Chevenement was able to set the tone for France's military participation, but became increasingly isolated. He offerred twice to resign, but French President Mitterand twice refused, preferring to keep Chevenement for political balance. It was not until January 29, with the war already two weeks old and French public opinion firmly behind it, that Mitterand agreed to Chevenement's third resignation offer. From this point on, French cooperation with the US-led coalition was as close as the French ever come to cooperating with anyone. Despite this greasy performance atthenational political level, atthemilitary level, French troops cooperated closely and effectively with the US XVIII Airborne Corps, and particularly with the 82d Airborne Division.

France sent an interesting mix of units to the Gulf, pulled from the French rapid deployment force, the Force d'Action Rapide or FAR. This, the professional (non-conscript) element of the French Army, could be sent out of the country withoutthe approval of the French Assembly, unlike the French regular army. It should be stated at the outset that the term "Marine" in the French Army is the name given to the former Colonial troops (i.e., French volunteer troops used for service in the French colonies) after 1958. The 6th Light Armored Division made up the majority of the force though it was supplemented by units from the 4th Airmobile Division, the 11th Parachute Division, and the 9th Marine Division.

However, the FAR did not have an AMX-30 Tank Battalion, and volunteers had to be called for from the French Army. The 4th Dragoon Regiment was rebuilt with volunteers from the French Army at large to serve as the Tank Battalion with the 6th Light Armored Division.

The French Army (Armee de terre) follows the British style in calling its battalion-size units "regiments."

Finally, it is time to put an end once and for all to the myth that "Daguet," in Operation Daguet and the Daguet Division, means "dagger." Dague is French for dagger: Daguet is French for "stag" (or "hart," as some translate it).

French troops shouldberated as Veteran, Morale 10, with two exceptions. The 4th Dragoon Regiment should be Experienced, Morale 9, while the Foreign Legion elements can be rated as Elite, Morale 11. French pilots should be rated as Veteran, Morale 10.

6th Light Armored Division

(6e Division legere blindee, 6 DLB),

"Division Daguet" with:

Divisional Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 P4 light truck
    2 VAB TOC

Divisional Air Defense Battery, with:

    1 command stand
    1 P4 light truck
    1 maintenance van
    2 Crotale SP SAM launchers

2nd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment, (2e Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie, Nimes, 2 REI), with:

Battalion Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 P4 light truck
    1 VAB TOC

Headquarters Company, with:

    1 command stand
    2 Milan teams
    2 VAB
    1 T2 20mm AA gun mounted in light truck
    2 5-ton supply trucks

3 Infantry Companies, each with:

    1 command stand
    1 81 mm mortar stand
    3 infantry stands
    4 VAB

Support Company, with:

    1 command stand
    1 P4 light truck
    2 120mm mortars
    2 gun crew stands (ds)
    2 VTM (VAB mortar-towing vehicles)
    6 Milan teams
    3 VAB

Reconnaissance Company from the 1st Hussar Parachute Regiment (1er Riginient de Hussards Parachutistes, Tarbes, 1 RHP), with:

    1 command stand
    2 recon infantry stands
    2 Milan teams
    3 VAB

Squadron from the Marine Reconnaissance Regiment (Regiment d'Infanterie Chars de Marine, RICM), with:

    1 command AMX-10RC
    2 recon AMX-10RC

2nd Marine Infantry Regiment, (2e Regiment d'Infanterie de Marine, Le Mans, 2 RIMa), with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 P4 light truck
      1 VAB TOC

    Headquarters Company, with:

      1 command stand
      2 Milan teams
      2 VAB
      1 T2 20mm AA gun mounted in light truck
      2 5-ton supply trucks

    3 Infantry Companies, each with:

      1 command stand
      1 81mm mortar stand
      3 infantry stands
      4 VAB

3rd Marine Infantry Regiment, (3e Regiment d'Infanterie de Marine, Vannes, 3 RIMa), plus elements of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment (21e Regiment d'Infanterie de Marine, Frejus, 21 RIMa), with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 P4 light truck
      1 VAB TOC

    Headquarters Company, with:

      1 command stand
      4 Milan teams
      3 VABs
      2 T2 20nun AA gun mounted in light truck
      2 5-ton supply trucks

    4 Infantry Companies (3 from 3 RIMa, 1 from 21 RIMa), each with:

      1 command stand
      1 81mm mortar stand
      3 infantry stands
      4 VAB

    Support Company, with:

      1 command stand
      1 P4 light truck
      1 120mm mortar
      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 VTM (VAB mortar-towing vehicle)
      6 Milan teams
      3 VAB

    Squadron from the Marine Reconnaissance Regiment (Regiment d'Infanterie Chars de Marine, RICM), with:

      1 command AMX-10RC
      2 recon AMX-10RC

1st Spahl Regiment (1er Wgiment de Spahis, Valence, 1 RS), with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 VAB TOC

    Headquarters Company, with:

      1 command stand
      1 P4 light truck
      1 maintenance van
      1 T2 20mm AA gun mounted in light truck
      2 5-ton supply trucks

    3 Recon Squadrons, each with:

      1 command AMX-10RC
      2 recon AMX-10 RC

    Antitank Squadron, with:

      1 command stand
      1 P4 light truck
      3 VAB with HOT

1st Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment (1er Regtment Etranger de Cavalerie, Orange, 1 REC)
as 1 RS above

4th Dragoon Regiment (4e Rigiment de Dragons, Mourmelon, 4 RD), with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command AMX-3OB2 tank
      1 VAB TOC

    Headquarters Company, with:

      1 command stand
      1 VAB
      1 AMX-30D ARV
      1 AMX-13 AVLB
      1 T2 20mm AA gun mounted in light truck
      1 maintenance van
      3 5-ton supply trucks

    3 Squadrons, each with:

      1 command AMX-3OB2 tank
      2 AMX-30B2 tanks

    Reconnaissance Company from the 1st Hussar Parachute Regiment (1er Rigiment de Hussards Parachutistes, Tarbes, 1 RUP), with

      1 command ERC-90 F4 Sagaie
      2 ERC-90 F4 Sagaies

11th Marine Artillery Regiment, (11e Regiment d'Artillerie de Marine, La Lande d'Ouee, 11 RAMa) with elements of the 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (Rigiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste, 35 RAP) and 68th Marine Artillery Regiment (68e Rigiment d'Artillerie de Marine, 68 RAMa), with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 VAB TOC
      1 VAB/RATAC counterbattery radar
      3 VAB/ATELA FIST vehicles
      2 T2 20mm AA gun mounted in light truck
      3 5-ton supply trucks

    3 Firing Batteries, each with:

      1 gun crew stand (ds)
      1 TR 155mm towed howitzer
      1 5-ton truck

    Air Defense Battery, with: 4 ERC Mistral/SATCP SP SAM launchers

6th Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment (6e Regiment Etranger de Genie, Nimes, 6 REG), with elements of the 3rd and 5th Engineer Regiments (3eand 5e Regiments de Genie, Charleville-Mezieres and Versailles, 3 and 5 RG), with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 VAB TDC
      1 recon P4 light truck
      1 truck-mounted minelayer
      1 AMX-30K2 tank-mounted mineroller
      1 maintenance van
      2 5-ton supply trucks with trailers

    3 Engineer Companies, each with:

      1 command engineer stand
      2 engineer stands
      3 engineer VAB
      1 MPG scoop loader/earthmover

    Heavy Equipment Company, with:

      1 command engineer stand
      1 engineer VAB
      1 AMX-13 AVLB
      AMX-30 EBG combat engineer tractor
      1 MPG scoop loader/earthmover
      2 medium trucks
      1 line charge trailer

1st Combat Helicopter Regiment (1er Rdghnent d'Helicopteres de Combat, Phalsbourg, 1 RHQ, with:

    Headquarters, with: 1 command stand and 1 SA.330B Puma
    Liaison/Observation Squadron, with: 2 recon SA.341 Gazelle (unarmed)
    Armed Scout/Observation Squadron, with: 2 recon SA-341 Gazelle (armed)
    2 Attack Squadrons, each with: 1 command SA.342M Gazelle with HOT and 1 SA.342M Gazelle with HOT
    2 Tactical Transport Squadrons, each with: 2 SA.330B Puma

3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e Regiment d'Helicopteres de Combat, Etain, 3 RHQ, with:

    Headquarters, with: 1 command stand and 1 SA.330B Puma
    Liaison/Observation Squadron, with: 2 recon SA.341 Gazelle (unarmed)
    Armed Scout/Observation Squadron, with: 2 recon SA.341 Gazelle (armed)
    4 Attack Squadrons, each with: 1 command SA.342M Gazelle with HOT and 1 SA.342M Gazelle with HOT
    2 Tactical Transport Squadrons, each with: 2 SA.330B Puma

Commando Company (Commandos de Richerche et d'Action dans la Profondeur, CRAP), with:

    1 command stand
    3 recon infantry stands
    3 P4 light trucks

Attached Troops:

    2d Brigade, US 82d Airborne Divison, with: See note 3 below, and US TO&E section

Notes

1. The division headquarters has two identical TOCs which handle combat operations alternately, passing division control back and forth as one moves forward. These are PCs (Postes de Command) Vert and Rouge (Green and Red). During the initial advance into Iraq, the French advanced along two axes, requiring these to function as quasi-brigade headquarters, PC Vert with 3 RIMa, 4 RD, 2dBrigade, 82dAirborne Division (US), and l8th FABrigade (US), and PC Rouge with 2 REI, 1 RS, and 1 REC.

2. This French force was under the tactical control (TACON) of the US XVIII Airborne Corps for the duration of the ground war.

3. In addition to the above forces, the Division Daguet had operational control (OPCON) of the 2d Brigade, US 82d Airborne Division from the beginning of the ground war until 1400, 26 February, when it was released to return to 82d Airborne Division control.

4. A number of the organizations above are slightly distorted, from real world organizations of four platoons of three vehicles each to three CD platoons (four vehicles per stand).

5. Just so you know, "Desert Storm" in French is "Tempete du Desert"

6. No, I did not make up that part about CRAP.

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© Copyright 1994 by Greg Novak.
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