WW2 French Units

 

This organization was used for the campaigns in Europe, and also in Syria and North West Africa. For Free French until 1943 use the British organizations, from then on use the US organizations with a mixture of British, American and France 1940 equipment.  After 1944 most equipment was standardized on the US model but commandos retained British organization and equipment.  The following tables are by division, starting with DLM, then DCR and finally Infantry. In Syria H35 tank battalions and Infantry units may be used. In Tunisia Infantry and S35 or H39 tanks can be used.

French DLM Tank Regiment Headquarters 1939 to 1940 (Commands 1 S35 and 1 H35/39 Battalion)           

 HQ                                                      1 HQ

                                   

French DLM Tank Battalion 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                       1 HQ

2 Tank Companies each                      2 Souma S35 or H35 or H39

French DLM Dragoon Portees Regiment Headquarters 1939 to 1941

            HQ                                                       1 HQ

2 Rifle Squadrons each                       3 Rifle, 3 Light Trucks

1 Motorcycle Squadron                        3 Rifle, 3 motorcycles

1 Cavalry Squadron                             3 AMR or AMC

1 Support Squadron                                                    2 MMG, 1 81M, 2 25ATG, 5 Light Trucks

French DLM Recce Groupe 1939 to 1940

HQ                                                       1 HQ

1 Motorcycle Squadron                        4 Scout, 4 motorcycle

1 Armored Car Squadron                     4 Panhard

French DLM Divisional Anti Tank Groupe 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                       1 HQ

2 Anti Tank Companies each               3 Lorraine, 3 25ATG

1 Anti Tank Company                          3 Lorraine, 3 47ATG

French DLM Divisional Artillery Groupe 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                       1 FAO

2 Light Artillery Battalions each          3 75H, 3 Medium Trucks

1 Medium Artillery Battalion                3 105H, 3 Medium Trucks

French DCR Medium Tank Regiment 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                       1 HQ

2 Tank Battalions each

            HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Tank Companies each          2 R35 or H39 or D1

French DCR Heavy Tank Regiment 1939 to 1940

            HQ                                           1 HQ    

            2 Tank Battalions each           

          HQ                                             1 HQ

                      3 Tank Companies each            2 B1 Bis

French DCR Chasseur Battalion 1939 to 1940 (Division only had one of these)

HQ                                                       1 HQ, 1 81M, 1 Light Truck

3 Infantry Companies each                  3 Rifle, 3 Lorraine

1 Anti Tank Company                          3 25ATG, 3 Loraine

1 Recce Company                                1 Panhard, 1 Scout, 1 Motorcycle 

French DCR Divisional Anti Tank Company 1939 to 1940 (Division only has one of these)

                                                            3 Lorraine, 3 47ATG      

French DCR Artillery Groupe 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                       1 FAO

2 Medium Artillery Battalions each      3 105H, 3 Medium Truck              

French DLC Light Cavalry Regiment Headquarters 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                                                                       1 HQ, 1 Engr, 1 Bridge, 2 Medium Trucks

1 Heavy Squadron                               1 25 ATG, 2 MMG, 3 Wagons

French DLC Light Cavalry Battalion 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                       1 HQ

4 Light Cavalry Squadrons each          4 Rifle, 4 Horse  

French DLC Armored Car Regimental Headquarters 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                                                                       1 HQ, 1 Engr, 1 Bridge, 2 Medium Trucks           

French DLC Armored Car Battalion 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                       1 HQ

1 Armored Car Squadron                     2 Panhard

1 Motorcycle Squadron                        4 Scout, 4 Motorcycles

French DLC Dragoon Portees Regiment Headquarters 1939 to 1941

            HQ                                                       1 HQ

2 Rifle Squadrons each                       3 Rifle, 3 Light Trucks

2 Motorcycle Squadron each               3 Rifle, 3 motorcycles

2 Cavalry Squadron each                    3 AMR or AMC

2 Support Squadron each                                2 MMG, 1 81M, 2 25ATG, 5 Light Trucks

French DLC Divisional Artillery Groupe 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                       1 FAO

2 Light Artillery Battalions each          3 75H, 3 Limbers

1 Medium Artillery Battalion                            3 105H, 3 Limbers

French DLC Divisional Anti Tank Groupe 1939 to 1941

HQ                                                       1 HQ

1 Anti Tank Squadron                          3 Limber, 3 25ATG

1 Anti Tank Battery                              3 Limber, 3 47ATG

French Infantry Division Infantry Regimental Headquarters 1939 to 1942 (Use for Motorized infantry as well, has 3 Battalions)

HQ                                                       1 HQ 

Regimental Anti Tank Company          2 Lorraine, 2 25ATG

Regimental Engineer Company           3 Engr

Note                                                                                                     The Anti-Tank Company is only in 1st Line Divisions, and a few Second Line Reservist Divisions.  The Engineer Company is only in colonial infantry regiments.

French Fortress Infantry Regimental Headquarters 1939 to 1942 (Commands 2 Fortress Infantry Battalions and 1 External Defense Battalion)

HQ                                                       1 HQ, 1 Engr, 1 Scout, 1 Motorcycles

Note                                                                                                     The Anti-Tank Company is only in 1st Line Divisions, and a few Second Line Reservist Divisions.  Not all regiments had an external defense battalion.  Only Fortress Infantry Regiments with 3 Fortress Infantry Battalions have an External Defense Battalion.

French Infantry Division Engineer Company 1939 to 1942      

3 Engr

French Infantry Battalion 1939 to 1943

HQ                                                                                                       1 HQ, 1 Limber, 1 25ATG, 1 81M

3 Infantry Companies each                  3 Rifle

1 Machinegun Company                      3 MMG

Note                                                     Second Line battalions 2 37IG in place of 81M

French Mountain Infantry Battalion 1939 to 1943

HQ                                                                                           1 HQ, 1 81M, 1 Scout

3 Infantry Companies each                  3 Rifle

1 Machinegun Company                      2 MMG

French Fortress Infantry Battalion 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                                                           1 HQ

3 Fortress Companies each                 2 MMG, 1 Rifle

1 Support Company                             1 MMG, 2 81M, 1 25ATG, 1 37IG

Note                                                                                                     This unit has no transport as it is designed to occupy a fortress.

French External Defense Infantry Battalion 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                                                           1 HQ

2 Infantry Companies each                  1 MMG, 3 Rifle

2 Support Companies each                 1 MMG, 3 Rifle, 1 25ATG, 1 Limber

French Fortress Machinegun Battalion 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                                                           1 HQ

4 Machinegun Companies each          4 MMG, 1 Rifle

French Infantry Machinegun Battalion 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                                                           1 HQ

3 Machinegun Companies each          3 MMG, 1 Rifle

1 Support Company                             1 81M, 2 25ATG, 2 Limber

French Motorized Infantry Machinegun Battalion 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                                                           1 HQ

3 Machinegun Companies each          3 MMG, 1 Rifle, 4 Light Truck

1 Support Company                             1 81M, 2 25ATG, 2 Rifle, 5 Light Truck

French Infantry Division Recce Battalion 1939 to 1942

HQ                                                       1 HQ, 1 25ATG, 1 81M, 2 Light Trucks   

1 Motorcycle Company                        3 Scout, 3 motorcycle

1 Mounted Company                            3 Scout, 3 Horse

1 Machinegun Company                      3 MMG, 3 Wagon

Note                                                     Note on Infantry Battalion above applies

French Motorized Division Recce Regiment 1939 to 1942

            HQ                                                       1 HQ

1 Battalion      

HQ                                           1 HQ

            1 Armored Car Company         3 Panhard  

            1 Motorcycle Company            3 Scout, 3 motorcycle   

1 Battalion      

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 25ATG, 1 Lorraine, 1 81M, 1 Light Truck    

            1 Motorcycle Company            3 Scout, 3 motorcycle

            1 Recce Tank Company           3 AMR

            1 Machinegun Company          3 MMG, 3 Light Trucks  

  

French Corps Recce Groupe 1939 to 1942

            HQ                                                       1 HQ

3 Motorcycle Company                        3 Scout, 3 motorcycle   

            1 Heavy Weapons Company                3 MMG, 1 25ATG, 1 81M, 5 Light Truck  

French Infantry or Motorized Division Light Artillery Group 1939 to 1942 (Division has 1 of these)

HQ                                                       1 FAO

3 Light Artillery Battalions each          3 75H, 3 Limbers

1 Anti Tank Company                                                  2 25ATG, 2 Lorraine

Note                                                                                                     Motorized divisions have trucks; infantry divisions have wagons and limbers.

French Infantry or Motorized Division Artillery Group 1939 to 1942 (Division has 1 of these)

HQ                                                       1 FAO

2 Medium Artillery Battalions each      3 105H, 3 Limbers

1 Heavy Artillery Battalion                               3 155H, 3 Limbers

Note                                                                                                     Motorized divisions have trucks; infantry divisions have wagons and limbers.

French Infantry Corps Heavy Artillery Regiment 1939 to 1940

HQ                                                       1 FAO

2 Artillery Battalions each                               3 105H, 3 Limbers

2 Artillery Battalions each                               3 155H, 3 Limbers

French Motorized Infantry and Armored Corps Heavy Artillery Regiment 1939 to 1940

HQ                                                       1 FAO

2 Artillery Battalions each                   3 105H, 3 Medium Trucks

2 Artillery Battalions each                   3 155H, 3 Medium Trucks

French Horsed Cavalry Corps Heavy Artillery Regiment 1939 to 1940

HQ                                                       1 FAO

4 Artillery Battalions each                   3 75H, 3 Medium Trucks

Large Units:

Infantry Division – 2 to 4 Infantry Regiments, 1 Machinegun Battalion, 1 Light Artillery Group, 1 Heavy Artillery Group, 1 Recce Battalion, 6 Engineer Platoons, 3 FT-17 Tank Companies (Regular army units only)

Mountain Infantry Division – 2 Infantry Demi-brigades (3 Mountain Infantry Battalions each), 1 Light Artillery Battalion, 3 Motorized Engineer Platoons, 1 H39 Tank Companies, 1 anti aircraft company (25AAG), 1 ski company (3 Rifle, 1 37IG, 1 Wagon).

Motorized Infantry Division - 3 Motorized Infantry Regiments, 1 Motorized Machinegun Battalion, 1 Motorized Light Artillery Group, 1 Motorized Heavy Artillery Group, 1 Motorized Recce Regiment, 6 Motorized Engineer Platoons, 1 Infantry Tank Company (R35 or H35)

DLM (Division Light Mechanized) – 1 DLM Armored Brigade (2 DLM Tank Regiments), 1 DLM Recce Groupe, 1 Dragoons Portees Regiment, 1 DLM Anti-Tank Groupe, 1 DLM Artillery Groupe, 1 Motorized Machinegun Battalion, 9 Motorized Engineer Platoons

DCR (Division Armored (“Chars”)) – 1 DCR Armored Brigade (1 DCR Medium Tank Regiment, 1 DCR Heavy Tank Regiment), 1 DCR Chasseur Battalion, 1 DCR Artillery Groupe, 1 Motorized Machinegun Battalion, 3 Motorized Engineer Platoons

DCL (Division Cavalry Light) – 1 Light Cavalry Brigade (2 Cavalry Regiments), 1 Light Mechanized Brigade (1 Armored Car Regiment, 1 Reconnaissance Battalion, 1 Tank Battalion (H35), 1 Dragoons Portees Regiment), 1 DCL Artillery Groupe, 1 DCL Anti Tank Groupe, 1 Motorized Machinegun Battalion, 1 DCL Anti Aircraft Battery (1 25 AAG, 1 Limber), 3 Motorized Engineer Platoons

Independent Cavalry Brigade – 2 Cavalry Regiments