Order
of Battle for the
DI - Division d’Infanterie
Infantry Division
DI - Division d’Infanterie
The infantry were organised into metropolitan, North African and
colonial troops. Excluding fortress troops, the peacetime metropolitan
army consisted of 44 infantry regiments, 11 battalions of chasseurs
à
pied and 12 battalions of chasseurs alpin. Instead of being formed into
regiments the chasseur battalions were grouped into demi-brigades
usually of three battalions.
Infantry were classed as “Regular” from
the peacetime army,
“Type A” reserves comprising a regular cadre built
up to strength with
reservists and “Type B” reserves comprised of older
reservists over 30
years of age. Some “Type B” reserve divisions had
only one artillery
regiment. The infantry’s type should not be thought as an
indication of
quality; the Dunkirk perimeter being held so bravely by “Type
B”
reservists.
The division d’infanterie (DI)
was the standard component used by the high command to build armies. It
contained approximately 500 officers and 17,000 men in three infantry
regiments. Even the North African and colonial infantry divisions had
the
same basic structure; these included the division
d’infanterie nord-africane (DINA), division
d’infanterie d’Afrique (DIA) division
d’infanterie marocaine (DM) and division
d’infanterie coloniale (DIC).
Seven infantry divisions were motorised (DIM -division
d’infanterie motorisée) containing the 20 regular
motorised infantry regiments and one Zouave motorised infantry
regiment.
Three light infantry divisions (two DLCh - division
légère de chasseurs and one DLI - division
légère d’infanterie) were formed for
the Norwegian campaign with only six battalions, a company of light
tanks (CACC) and a single artillery group although only the 1st DLCh
actually took part.
The infantry also formed independent machinegun battalions
which were not part of a division but attached to the general reserve.
The DI contained the following combat units:
Some "Type B" Reserve Infantry Division had the normal two
artillery regiments replaced by:
The DI contained 3 infantry regiments (RI - Régiment
d'Infanterie).
An infantry regiment consisted of:
- 1 HQ Company (supply,
medical, signals, pioneer and motorcycle reconnaissance platoons),
- 1 Supply Company with 6 Renault UE tracked carriers
- 1 Regimental Heavy Weapons Company.
- 3 Infantry Battalions
Section Eclaireurs Motocyclistes
The motorcycle reconnaissance platoon consisted of:
- 1 command section, 6 men, 1 VB grenade launcher, 3
motorcycles with side-cars.
- 2 combat sections each with 10 men, 2 Chatellerault
Fusil-Mitrailleur FM 24/29 7.5mm LMGs, 1 VB grenade launcher, 5
motorcycles with side-cars.
Companie de Engins
The regimental heavy weapons company contained:
- 2 Anti-Tank Gun platoons each with 3 horse-drawn 25mm SA
mle 34 guns.
- 1 Mortar section with 2 81mm Mortars with horse-drawn mle
37 cart.
Not all infantry regiments had 25mm guns in their anti-tank
platoons, some had to make do with the World War One vintage
37mm Mle 16 TRP.
The organisation of the infantry battalion and the chasseurs a
pied was the same. Note that the organisation of the mechanised chasseurs (BCP
- Battalion de Chasseurs Portés) is covered together with
the DCR.
An infantry battalion contained :
- A Headquarters and command platoon including a signals
section
- 3 Rifle Companies
- 1 Battalion Heavy Weapons Company.
Compagnie de Fusiliers-Voltigeurs
The rifle company (compagnie de Fusiliers-Voltigeurs)
contained:
- 1 Command platoon
- 1 Command Section
- 1 Supply Section
- 1 Mortar Section with 1 60mm Mortar
- 4 Rifle
platoons
Companie de Mitrailleuses et Engins
The battalion heavy weapons company contained:
- 1 Mortar and Gun platoon
- 2 Mortar sections each with 2 81mm mortar and cart
- 1 Anti-Tank Gun section with 2 25mm SA mle 34 horse-drawn
anti-tank gun
- 4 Machinegun platoons each with
- 2 Machinegun sections each with 2 8mm 1914 Hotchkiss
machineguns and 1-horse cart
Not all
infantry battalions had 25mm guns, some had to make do with
the World War One vintage
37mm Mle 16 TRP.
The Reconnaissance
Battalion (GRDI - Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie)
was the only cavalry unit in the infantry division and provided it with
a reconnaissance capability.
It consisted of:
- 1 horsed cavalry squadron
- 1 motorcycle squadron
- 1 heavy weapons squadron
Cavalry Squadron
The horsed cavalry squadron contained:
- 1 command troop including a 60mm mortar (pack horses)
- 4 cavalry troops with 35 men and 2 LMG divided into a
command and two combat sections
- 1 machinegun section with 2 8mm 1914 Hotchkiss
machineguns (horse-drawn)
- 1 anti-tank section with two 25mm SA38 AT guns
(horse-drawn). Not all GRDIs had this section.
Motorcycle Squadron
The Motorcycle Squadron consisted of:
- 1 command troop including 1 60mm mortar section in
motorcycles with side-cars.
- 4 motorcycle troops each with
- 1 command section, 6 men, 1
VB grenade launcher, 3 motorcycles with side-cars.
- 2 combat sections each
with 10 men, 2 Chatellerault Fusil-Mitrailleur FM 24/29 7.5mm LMGs, 1
VB grenade launcher, 5 motorcycles with side-cars.
Heavy Weapons Squadron
The Heavy Weapons Squadron contained:
- 2 motorcycle machinegun platoons each with 4 8mm 1914
Hotchkiss
machineguns and heavy motorcycle and
sidecar combinations.
- 1 anti-tank section with 2 25mm SA38 anti-tank guns
transported by light trucks. One of these anti-tank guns could be
replaced by a 37mm infantry gun.
The divisional anti-tank company (CDAC –
Compagnie Divisionnaire Anti Char) contained 12 infantry-crewed 25mm SA
mle 34 anti-tank guns. The battery was split
into 3 platoons each of four guns. The guns
were horse-drawn and had horse-drawn ammunition carts..
The light field artillery regiment (RAD Régiment
d'Artillerie Divisionnaire) contained three battalions of 12 mle 1897
75mm horse-drawn guns divided into 3 batteries each of 4 guns.
Also attached to this regiment, was the divisional anti-tank
battery (BDAC) and an anti-aircraft battery (BCA).
The divisional anti-tank battery (BDAC –
Batterie
Divisionnaire Anti Char) was attached to the RAD and contained 8
artillery-crewed 47mm SA37 APX anti-tank guns. The battery was split
into 4 sections each of two guns. It was intended to tow the guns
using Laffly W15T
trucks, but insuficient were available so the older Citroen P17 were
still in use.
The anti-aircraft battery was attached to the RAD and
contained 6
artillery-crewed Hotchkiss 25mm mle 1939 anti-aircraft guns.
It was intended to tow the guns
using Laffly W15T
trucks, but insuficient were available so the older Citroen P17 were
still in use in many units.
The heavy field artillery regiment (RALD - Régiment
d'Artillerie Lourde Divisionnaire) contained two battalions of 12 mle
1917 155mm horse-drawn howitzers divided into 3 batteries each of 4
guns. One battalion could be equipped with mle 1935 105mm howitzers
instead.
The mixed field artillery regiment (RAMD - Régiment
d'Artillerie Mixte Divisionnaire) equipped some “Type
B”
Reserve Infantry Division instead of the normal two regiments (RAD and
RALD).
The RAMD contained three battalions of 12 mle 1897 75mm
horse-drawn
guns divided into 3 batteries each of 4 guns and one battalion of 12
mle 1917 155mm horse-drawn howitzers divided into 3 batteries each of 4
guns.
Like the RAD, the RAMD also had an attached BDAC and BAC.
The engineer company (compagnie de sapeurs-mineurs) consisted
of 4 platoons each with 3 squads. The company had 36 horse-drawn
wagons,
2 liason cars and 8 trucks
to carry its stores and equipment; the engineers themselves marched on
foot.
The engineers were not intended to be used as combat troops.
They were mainly armed with small arms (revolvers/pistols for the
officers
and rifles/carbines for the men). There were no LMGs. There were 2
Hotchkiss mle 1914 MGs or
Saint-Etienne mle 1907 MGs in each company, mounted on tripods and used
as AAMGs for convoy protection when moving.
In 1939 the Enginner regiments and battalions were disbanded and the
companies were then
officially independent. However these remained under the command of the
engineer HQ at the
division level.
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