Modern
French Armoured Units

1951-54 Indochina

List F26M

by Mark Bevis

1. Teeth Arm

Armoured Group GB

    Bttn HQ: 2 rifle/SMG sqds, 2 trucks or M3 H/T, 1 LMG, 1 BAR, 2 Jeeps
    1 Tank Company:
      CHQ: 1x M24 Chaffee
      4 platoons@ 3-4x M24 Chaffee, 2x M3 H/T, 2 rifle sqds, 2 BAR, 2 LMG

    2 Companies@

      CHQ: 2x M3 H/T, 2 rifle sqds, 1 BAR, 1 LMG, 1 MAW, 1x M3 H/T, 2x 60mm M2 mortars
      4 platoons@ 4x M3 H/T, 4(9 man) rifle sqds, 4 MAW, 3 BAR, 2 LMG

Colonial Armoured Regiment

    RHQ (Bttn HQ): 3x M4A2 Sherman
    1 Squadron:
      SHQ: 1x M36B2 Jackson
      3 Troops@ 3-4x M36B2 Jackson

    3? Squadrons@

      SHQ: 1x M4A1 or M4A2 Sherman
      4 Troops@ 3-4x M4A1 or M4A2 Sherman

Armoured Regiment

    RHQ (Bttn HQ): 3x M4A2 Sherman or M24 Chaffee
    4? Squadrons@
      SHQ: 2x M4A2 or M4A1 or M24
      4 Troops@ 3-4x tanks as in CHQ

GER Recce Squadron Group

    BHQ: 2 rifle/SMG sqds, 3 trucks, 1 LMG, 2 Jeeps
    1 Company:
      CHQ: 1x M24 Chaffee or M5A1 Stuart, 1x M5 H/T-ARV
      4 platoons@ 3x M24 Chaffee or M5A1 Stuart

    1 Recce Troop:

      THQ: 2x M8 Greyhound
      3 platoons@ 5x M8 Greyhound
      1 Gun Platoon: 3x M8 HMC Stuart

0-1 Native Troop Motorised Company

    CHQ: 1 rifle/carbine sqd, 1 BAR, 1 truck
    3 platoons@ 3-4(9 man) rifle/carbine sqds, 3 BAR, 2 LMG, 4 trucks

1 Tank Squadron at Dien Bien Phu

    SHQ: 1x M24 Chaffee
    3 Troops@ 3x M24 Chaffee

Amphibious Group GA (1951-March 1953)

    RHQ (Bttn HQ): 1x LVTC-4, 2 SMG sqds, 1x M29C Weasel
    2 Crab Companies@
      CHQ: 1x M29C Weasel
      4 platoons@ 1x M29C PHQ, 1x 60mm M2 mortar, M29C/LMG, 2x M29C/57mm M18

    3 Alligator Companies@

      CHQ: 2x LVT-4 Buffalo
      3 platoons@ 3x LVT-4
      1 Battery: 6x LVT(A)-4

Amphibious Group GEA (April 1953+)

    Bttn HQ: 1x LVTC-4, 2x M29C, 2 SMG sqds
    1 Company:
      CHQ: 3x M29C, 1 SMG sqd, 1 BAR, 1x 60mm M2 mortar
      3 platoons@ 3x M29C/LMG, 1x M29C/57mm M18, 1x MAW

      1 Company:

        CHQ: 1x LVTC-4, 1x LVT-4-ARV
        4 platoons@ 1x LVT-4 Buffalo, 3 native or 2 French sqds@ 9 men, 1 BAR, 1 LMG
        1 platoon: 2x LVT(A)-4 or (6 on D6): 2x LVT-4-CS

    5 Vietnamese Armoured Squadrons@ #x M8 Greyhound

2. Notes

    a) Radios are in all AFV and other PHQ.
    b) Infantry may have rifle grenades. MAW is probably 2.36" bazooka.
    c) There were 2 Armoured Groups in 1951, four by 1954; 1 Colonial Armoured Regiment; 4 Armoured Regiments; 3 GER Recce Squadron Groups; and 2 GA Amphibious Groups.
    d) From April 1953 the two GA became regiments each of 3 GEA Amphibious Groups.
    e) The LVT-4 Buffalo are usually with 2x .50", 2x .30", and often a pivot 75mm M20 recoilless rifle at bow or rear.
    f) LVTC-4 is command version of the LVT-4. The LVT-4-CS has a field fitted turret with 40mmL60 Bofors and coax twin .50".
    g) Tank platoons have 4 tanks from 1953.
    h) Armoured units can be mixed with infantry units from List F16MA.


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© Copyright 1997-2002 by Mark Bevis and MicroMark.
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