Units of French Army

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60. Laffly S15 PC

The Laffly S15 was a family of all-terrain military vehicles from French manufacturer Laffly that shared the same six-wheel drive chassis. Lafflys were 6x6 vehicles (the V15T was a 4x4) of advanced design, with fully independent suspension, two small anti-ditching wheels beside the radiator, and two small anti-bellying wheels below the front seats. In 1936 the French Army began ordering a whole series of cross-country wheeled vehicles from the Laffly firm. The Laffly S15T was a light artillery tractor that was used to tow light field artillery pieces such as modernized variants of the 75 mm mle 1897 field gun and Canon de 105 court mle 1935 B howitzer. 396 S15T were built for towing 75mm field guns and 105mm field howitzers. By May of 1940 all S15T had been issued to various motorized artillery groupes. A personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle based on the same chassis was designated as Laffly S15R. It had a different, lighter rear cab and a different transmission that allowed for higher road speed. The Laffly company itself only manufactured the first batch of 100 V15s, the rest of the production being taken over by Corre La Licorne. The Laffly V15T was a French light 4x4 artillery tractor accepted in August 1938 and used to tow the 25 mm SA anti-tank gun. 100 were delivered during the winter of 1939-40, and about a hundred more, built by Licorne, were produced in May-June of 1940. The Laffly S15TOE was a scout car designed and built for service in French African colonies. The S15 chassis was preserved, but an armoured cabin protected the engine and crew, with a small turret that was armed with one single Reibel machine gun. The Laffly W15T was a low-profile version of the S15T. It was made by Hotchkiss and was used to tow the 47 mm Model 1931 anti-tank gun. The Voiture de Dragons Fortés S20TL was Laffly's replacement for the Lorraine 28 truck previously used to transport the fusiliers posies and heavy weapons. Five main versions were produced: command, squad transport, MG transport, mortar transport, and prime mover for the 25mm anti-tank gun. "L" in the name stood for Long, indicating a lengthened chassis. A total of 935 S20TL trucks were ordered through the end of May 1940, of which about 630 were delivered, the last 190 or so actually built by Hotchkiss.

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61. Peugeot 202 armée

An improvised fighting vehicle is an ad hoc combat vehicle resulting from modified or upgraded civilian or military non-combat vehicle, often constructed and employed by civilians. Such modifications usually consist of grafting armor plating and weapon systems onto a vehicle. The absence of a doctrine for the military use of automobiles or of an industry dedicated to producing them lead to a great deal of improvisation in the creation of early armored cars and similar vehicles. The Peugeot 202 is a supermini developed and designed by the French car manufacturer Peugeot. Production of the car ran between 1938 and 1942 and then, after a brief production run of 20 in early 1945, restarted in mid-1946. Like other nationalities, the French Army utilized many different types of softskin vehicles. In the automobile class over 4,000 Simcas, Renaults and Peugeots were used, plus tens of thousands more cars requisitioned from the public. One car that could be armed for use in combat was the Peugeot 202, a petite four-seater whose convertible version sometimes carried a LMG. About 900 were delivered. They were often employed in Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie and Groupe de Reconnaissance de Corps d'Armée, and as replacements for motorcycles and sidecars in some units. The French Army employed some 400,000 cars and trucks in 1940; almost all were 4x2 civilian designs, and about 75% were requisitioned from civilian use. The overall total included a number of trucks purchased from the U.S., including 1,500 Dodge VH-48 3-ton 4x2, several hundred Studebaker K30 5-ton 4x4, and the GMC ACK 353 1 ½ ton 4x4 (the last used in the 5th Division Légère de Cavalerie).

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62. Citroen Type 23

In the light truck (camionnette) class, the most common vehicle was the 1½-ton Citroen Type 23. Ordered at the time of mobilization in September 1939, about 12,500 were delivered through June of 1940. Some other light trucks used were the 1½-ton Renault ADK and AGC, and the 1.2-ton Peugeot DK5J. The U23, or Type 23, was a light (2-ton) truck introduced by Citroën in 1935. Although the engine cowling and front body appeared similar to the Citroën Traction Avant's, the U23 had a conventional rear-wheel-drive layout. The truck was powered by a 1911 cc four-cylinder petrol engine, with a 1767 cc four-cylinder Diesel engine made available in 1936. Although the engine cowling and front body was looking similar with the Citroën Traction Avant's, the U23 had a conventional rear-drive transmission. The French Army ordered large quantities of Type 23s after the declaration of World War II. At the time of the German invasion, more than 12,000 had been delivered in less than ten months. About 6,000 were pressed into German service after the French defeat of June 1940. Citroen produced 32,248 vehicles for Germans and 2,052 for French clients. For example, were produced for the Germans between 1941 and 1944: 3,700 Type 23 trucks, 6,000 Type 32U trucks and 15,300 Type 45 trucks. Citroen president at the time, Pierre-Jules Boulanger refused to meet Dr. Ferdinand Porsche or communicate with the German authorities except through intermediaries, organizing a “go slow” on production of trucks for the Wehrmacht, many of which were sabotaged at the factory, by putting the notch on the oil dipstick in the wrong place, resulting in engine seizure.

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63. Renault AGR2

The Renault AGx was a range of light/medium/heavy trucks produced by the French manufacturer Renault between 1937 and 1941. The range includes both conventional (AGC, AGT) and forward control (AGK, AGP, AGR, AGOD, AGLD) trucks. The forward control Renault AGR, produced between 1937 and 1941, is a medium truck with a payload of 3.5 tonnes. For military use, it was delivered in various versions: the most produced has a 3,250 millimetres wheelbase (which was common to all versions), a 6,450 millimetres length and a 2,310 millimetres width. The engine is a 4-litre inline-four engine with a power output of 62 metric horsepower at 2,200 rpm. The truck also has a gasifier-equipped version. The gearbox is a 4-speed manual unit. One of the most common medium trucks in French service was the 3½-ton Renault AGR2, a cab-over-engine design of which approximately 3,150 were delivered. Another medium type truck was the 3½ -ton Citroen Type 45, which was produced in greater numbers (about 4,000 in all) but was sometimes used as a SPAA vehicle. Both types were also used as Porte-canons; i.e., to carry various kinds of artillery pieces en portée. A civilian and military truck with a designed payload of 3.5 tonnes, produced from 1937 - 1941. The new cab over engine (C-O-E) design allowed for a longer load-bed on the same length chassis as older cab designs. Various load bed types were available. It was extensively used by both the French army and German Wehrmacht, with some of the later models converted to use holzgas fuel to save on petrol useage.

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64. French Cyclist Corps

Bicycle infantry are infantry soldiers who maneuver on (or, more often, between) battlefields using military bicycles. Troops on bikes were able to move through rough territory faster, and could outpace a motor column. The term dates from the late 19th century, when the "safety bicycle" became popular in Europe, the United States, and Australia. Troops on bikes date back to pre WWI times. Historically, bicycles lessened the need for horses, fuel and vehicle maintenance. Bicycle were far more important than tanks, even though the latter typically get all the glory thanks to shallow sensationalist historians. Usage of bicycles allowed to concentrate tanks and trucks into armored divisions, thus facilitating mechanized portion. There were both issued bikes and “appropriated” civilian bikes where necessary. Some bikes had racks, some ammunition boxes. Bicycle infantry carried everything from medical kits and radio sets to light machine guns, rifles and submachine guns, on their bikes. Although bikes were used to carry machine guns, while others were simply just used as transportation with no special accoutrements. While bicycles were used on all sides during WWII, paratroopers were supplied with a unique lightweight version that could be folded along a pair of hinges in the frame center and carried. The airborne bicycle was used in battle, but not as much as originally planned. The plan was that the bicycles would be mass produced and make the airborne soldiers mobile once they had landed. Some bicycles have been used on the first airborne raid into Norway. The Resistance in France, and elsewhere, depended upon bicycles to move radios, arms and more.

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65. Groupes Franc Motorisé de Cavalerie

The Groupes Franc Motorisé de Cavalerie or GFC was a type of autonomous unit of the French Army created during the German Invasion. Taking inspiration for their name from the Corps Francs which had played an important role in the Phoney War, they were a very early attempt to create truly independent Combined Arms Combat Teams. Although little more than Company sized, they had organic Armored, Artillery, and Infantry elements all rolled into one small and highly mobile force. Although they were found to be quite effective, their existence died with the Third Republic. The Groupes Francs Motorisés de Cavalerie were formed in the chaos of late May 1940 during the Battle of France. They were composed of two squadrons each, principally by regrouping the remnants of the Groupes de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie. These were a special type of Division level mechanised reconnaissance element. They also included young recruits pulled from training at the Montlhéry School of Mechanised Combat. They were created entirely from volunteers and had a high degree of morale and esprit de corps. They were small units, approximately Company sized, and commanded by a captain. They grouped together the combat power of tanks, machine gun carriers, 25mm and 47mm anti-tank guns, infantry equipped with Heavy Machine Guns, armed motorcycle and sidecar teams, as well as organic truck transport for all personnel and mobile fuel supplies for all vehicles. Their equipment was all newly issued and of the latest version. This included medium tanks (Somua modèle 1935 & Renault AMC 35), AMD Panhard 178 light armored reconnaissance vehicles armed with 25mm Autocannons, Hotchkiss H39 light tanks, and Laffly W15 TCC Trucks.

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66. French Cavalry Brigade

The 1st Cavalry Brigade was a partly horse-mounted unit, it fought in the Battle of Belgium and the Battle of France in May 1940. After the Armistice of 22 June 1940, the brigade was reformed as a unit of Vichy France, but it was disbanded in November 1942. The unit served directly under the Second Army during the opening stages of the Western Front of the Second World War, during which the unit was augmented with the 4th Tank Battalion. The cavalry of the Second Army was deployed into Belgium on the morning of 10 May 1940, after the German invasion. The 2nd Light Cavalry Division became engaged in heavy fighting with the advanced German units and was pushed back from near Étalle to Jamoigne. The 1st Cavalry Brigade was ordered to occupy a position between Jamoigne, Suxy and Straimont to defend the line. A horse troop was deployed within Suxy itself. The horse troop in Suxy held off the Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland until guns from the 16th Assault Gun Company forced them back. The unit was afterwards deployed in France to defend the rear of the Maginot Line from a German advance from Sedan. The unit fought alongside the 3rd Spahi Brigade of African cavalry to defend the Ourthe River. With other units pushed back the 1st Cavalry Brigade covered the French withdrawal south to Chagny. On 14 May the unit attempted to defend Vendresse against the 1st Panzer Division, with the 5th Light Cavalry Division. The units, many of whom were horse-mounted, held up the German armour for the entire day, before withdrawing, when ordered, at 5 p.m. A horse troop from the 1st Cavalry Brigade took part in the defence of Chagny against the 1st and 2nd Panzer Regiments and suffered heavy losses, withdrawing to Hill 250.

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67. French Vedette Torpilleur

The French fast attack boat programme began after the end of the First World War, influenced by the success of the Italian and the British boats. In France these boats are known as Vedette Torpilleur, commonly shortened to VT. They made 37 knots with a 500 hp Lorraine aircraft engine on a 5.4-ton hull, and carried one stern-launched 45-cm torpedo. They were not a success, particularly with respect to their seakeeping. The French went for a new home-made design from Société Silbur. Two boats were built (VTB8 and 9) with a similar specification, designed for 46 knots on Lorraine engines and with two side-dropping torpedoes. An Anglo-French prototype boat, 40K, used the hard chine design and several were sold to the Spanish Republicans during the Civil War. These made 40 knots, and were armed with two 20-mm cannons, two 53.3-cm torpedoes and 12 depth charges. VTB10 was designed and built by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, and intended to make 45 knots at 21 tons with four 650-hp Hispano-Suiza engines and two side-dropping torpedoes. Unladen, the boat made 55 knots on trials. VTB11 and 12 were similar, apart from their engines which were dual 1100-hp Lorraine engines. The final series of French designed and built boats, VTB13-22, followed the same basic design as VTB10. These were to be built by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Chantiers Navals de Meulan, and Chantiers Jouett, but the armistice interfered and only VTB13 and VTB14 were laid down. 18 boats were also ordered from the British, VTB23-40, and these were a British Powerboat Company design. These boats had four 45.7-cm torpedo tubes, two 13.2-mm machineguns (one each side of the bridge), eight depth charges and a smoke generator. They made 42 knots with three 1100-hp Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

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68. French Foot Pontoon

A pontoon bridge (or pontoon bridge), also known as a floating bridge, uses floats or shallow-draft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. The buoyancy of the supports limits the maximum load that they can carry. The First World War saw developments on "trestles" to form the link between a river bank and the pontoon bridge. Some infantry bridges in WW1 used any material available, including petrol cans as flotation devices. Most pontoon bridges are temporary and used in wartime and civil emergencies. There are permanent pontoon bridges in civilian use and carry highway traffic and allowing ships or boats to pass on the river or lake being crossed. Permanent floating bridges are useful for sheltered water crossings if it is not considered economically feasible to suspend a bridge from anchored piers. Such bridges can require a section that is elevated or can be raised or removed to allow waterborne traffic to pass. The water obstacles should be crossed from the march to preclude major halts in the offense. This doctrine includes crossing these obstacles at multiple points along a broad front to overwhelm enemy defenses. This doctrine also calls for river crossings to be made at night; however, French units rarely train in night river crossings. Smoke is used extensively to mask assault crossings conducted during daylight hours. The purpose of any river crossing is to project combat power across a water obstacle in order to accomplish a mission. A river crossing is a special operation. It re-quires specific procedures for success, because the water obstacle prevents normal ground maneuver. It also requires unique technical support and more detailed planning and control measures than normal tactical operations.

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69. French Vehicular Pontoon

River meanders form salient and re-entrant angles along the shore. A salient on the threat shore is a desirable crossing area for two reasons. It allows friendly fires from a wide stretch of the near shore to concentrate against a small area on the far shore and limits the length of threat shore that must be cleared of direct fire and observation. Additionally, salient on the threat shore generally mean that the friendly shore banks are steeper and the water is deeper, while the threat shore tends to have shallow water and less challenging banks. An offensive deliberate river crossing operation has four phases. They are distinct phases for planning, but there is no pause between them in execution.
Phase I: Advance to the river. The first phase is the deliberate attack to seize and secure the near shore of a water obstacle.
Phase II: Assault across the river. The second phase involves units assaulting across a water obstacle to secure a lodgment on the far shore, eliminating direct fire on the crossing sites.
Phase III: Advance from the exit bank. The third phase is the attack to seize and secure exit-bank and intermediate objectives that eliminate direct and observed indirect fire into the crossing area.
Phase IV: Secure the bridgehead line. The final phase involves units that seize and secure bridgehead objectives to protect the bridgehead against counterattack. This gains additional time and space for build up of forces for the attack out of the bridgehead.
Smoke is not normally used to support the first wave of a covert crossing because of the risk of losing surprise, but it hides later waves as they cross. If the crossing is opposed, a smoke haze should cover the first wave before it enters the water to reduce direct-fire effectiveness.