Order
of Battle for the
DLM - Division Légère Mécanique
Light
Mechanised Division
DLM - Division Légère Mécanique
The Light Mechanized Division (DLM - Division
Légère Mécanique) was a mechanised
formation, containing 300 armoured vehicles of which 190 were tanks,
comparable to the German Panzer Division in strength. The word light in
its name referred to its ability to quickly deploy into combat order
and not to its equipment.
Since the beginning of the decade the 4th Cavalry Division
(DC) had been an experimental unit for motorization of the cavalry and
in 1935 it became the he 1st DLM. The following year saw the 5th DC
converted into the 2nd DLM and the 3rd DLM was created in February
1940. A 4th DLM was planned to be formed in July but is regiments were
included in what was to become the 4th DCR.
In June the four DLCs were converted into DLMs (4th through
7th) at the same time as the original three DLMs were reformed after
having fought in the north. These seven formations were at a much
reduced strength.
This OOB reflects the organisation of the DLMs on 10th May
1940.
The DLM contained the following combat units:
BLM - Brigade Légère Mécanique
The DLM was split into two Light Mechanized Brigades
(BLM - Brigade
Légère Mécanique). The two tank
regiments were brigaded together as were the motorised dragoons, the
deep reconnaissance regiment and the division’s anti-tank
squadron. Both these types of brigade were called Light Mechanized
Brigades (BLM). There were thus three different types of BLM all with
different compositions; two in the DLM and one in the DLC.
The DLM contained 2 combat tank regiments (RCC - Régiment de
Chars
de Combat)
. These had two battalions
each with two squadrons. One battalion was equipped with Somua S35
medium tanks and the other with Hotchkiss light tanks. The 1st and 2nd
DLM used H35 and the 3rd DLM used H39 light tanks.
Each squadron had:
- 1 command tank
- 4 platoons each with 5 tanks
The regimental commander had a Somua S35 command tank and the battalion
commanders had a command tank of the appropriate type. Thus the tank
regiment contained 87 tanks; 44 medium and 43
light (as well as 2 reserve tanks per squadron).
The platoon leader in each
Hotchkiss platoon received a tank with the new APX-R1 turret armed with
the
37mm SA38 L34 gun instead of the normal APX-R turret armed with the
shorter
37mm SA18 L20 gun. This is hard to represent if you use the scale 1
platoon equals 1 model tank.
The Deep Reconnaissance Regiment (RD - Régiment de
Découverte) contained two AMD reconnaissance squadrons
and two motorcycle squadrons.
The regiment was organized into 2 battalions comprising
one reconnaissance
squadron and one motorcycle squadron. Each battalion headquarters was
issued with an unarmed Panhard 178 fitted with a long-range radio.
Escadron d'AMD - AutoMitrailleuses
de
Découverte
The reconnaissance squadrons (Escadron AMD - AutoMitrailleuses
de
Découverte) were equipped with the Panhard
178 armoured cars and
contained:
- 1 command P178 AMD 35
- 4 platoons of 5 P178 AMD 35s each
Escadron Motocycliste
The motorcycle squadrons (Escadron Motocycliste) consisted of:
- 1 command platoon & 1 60mm mortar section
- 4 motorcycle platoons each
- 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.
The Motorised Dragoon Regiment (RDP - Régiment de
Dragons Portés) differed depending on whether it was
attached to a DLM or a DLC. This describes the RDP which was attached
to a DLM. The RDP consisted of 3 identical BDP battalions.
The truck intended to carry the dragoons (VDP) was originally
the Lorraine 28 VDP. The Laffly S20 TL VDP was a better vehicle and it
equipped the 2nd and 3rd DLM although the 1st DLM still had
the older Lorraine 28 VDP.
The Motorised Dragoon Battalion (BDP - Battalion de Dragons
Portés) attached to a DLM was organised as follows:
- 1 AMR Reconnaissance Squadron
- 1 Motorcycle Squadron (same organisation as in RD above)
- 2 Motorised Rifle Squadrons
- 1 Heavy Weapons Squadron
Escadron d'AMR - Automitrailleuse
de Reconnaissance
The reconnaissance squadron (AMR - Automitrailleuse de
Reconnaissance) was equipped with the Renault AMR 35 ZT1. The AMR 35
was no
longer in production and when the 3rd DLM was raised so its
reconnaissance
squadron received H39 light tanks instead. The squadron contained:
- 1 command platoon with 1 AMR,
- 4 platoons each of 5 AMRs
Escadron de Fusiliers Voltigeurs
The BDP contained two rifle squadrons. Each rifle squadron
contained the following:
- 1 command platoon & 1 60mm mortar section
in Laffly S20 TL trucks
- 3 rifle platoons each with
- 1 command in a Laffly S20 TL truck
- 3 combat sections each in a Laffly S20 TL truck
- 1 machinegun platoon with
- 2 machinegun sections each with 2 HMG and 1 Laffly S20 TL
truck.
Escadron de Mitrailleuses et Engins
The heavy weapons squadron contained:
- 1 command platoon in 3 Laffly S20 TL trucks.
- 2 machinegun platoons each with
- 2 machinegun sections each with 2 HMG and 1 Laffly S20 TL
truck.
- 1 mortar platoon with
- 2 mortar sections each with 2 81mm mortars and 2 Laffly
S20 TL trucks
- 1 anti-tank platoon with
- 2 anti-tank sections each with 2 25mm SA mle 34 anti-tank
guns and
2 Laffly S20 TL trucks. The guns are carried not towed.
The motorised field artillery regiment, cross-country (RATTT -
Régiment d'Artillerie Tractée Tous Terrains)
contained three battalions of field artillery: two bcompagnie
d'équipage de pont attalions of 12
75mm mle 1897
guns and one battalion of 12 105C mle 1936 howitzers. These were
organised in
batteries of 4 guns each.
It was intended to tow the guns
using Laffly S15T
trucks, but insuficient were available so the older Unic P107 BU
halftracks were still in use in many units.
The divisional anti-tank battery (BDAC – Batterie
Divisionnaire Anti Char) was attached to the RATTT 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 in many units.
The anti-aircraft battery was attached to the RATTT 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 divisional anti-tank squadron (EDAC – Escadron
Divisionnaire Anti Char) contained 12
cavalry-crewed 25mm SA-L mle 37 anti-tank guns. The battery was split
into 3 platoons each of four guns. The guns
were towed by Laffly V15T
trucks.
The motorised engineer company (compagnie de sapeurs-mineurs
portés) equipped the DLM, DCR and DLC. The company consisted
of 3 platoons each with 3 squads. The HQ had an
all-terrain reconnaissance car.
The first platoon was carried in 12 all-terrain trucks (probably Lorraine 28).
The second platoon was carried in trucks
and the third platoon on motorcycles.
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.
The compagnie de sapeurs-mineurs
portés in the DLM/DCR/DLM differed from
the compagnie de sapeurs-mineurs motorisé in the
DIM in that
the porté company
was fully motorised carrying both equipment and engineers
in motor vehicles.
The motorisé company carried its equipment
in motor vehicles but the engineers marched on foot.
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.
The bridging company (compagnie d'équipage de pont)
consisted
of 3 platoons each with 3 squads.
It equipment included 4
all-terrain tractors, 37 trucks or all-terrain tractors, 32 trailers
(24 long
and 8 short),
22 barges and 8 propellers. The all-terrain tractors were often Unic
P107 BU (engineer version) halftracks.
Such a company is able to built a complete bridge for vehicles of :
- 8 tons - 180 m long
- 13 tons - 142 m long
- 18 tons - 104 m long
Additionally they could build infantry footbridges and use the barges to
ship troops
accross larges rivers.
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