[烛光生存狂]-法国工兵和突击工兵简介

FRENCH ENGINEERS AND PIONEERS IN 1940

A) THE ENGINEERS

The French engineers can be found in :

- The engineers companies and battalions (sapeurs-mineurs)

- The bridging companies (pontonniers and compagnie d'équipage de ponts)

- The signals units (telegraph, radio, pigeon-carriers) (transmetteurs, télégraphistes, radio-télégraphistes, colombophiles)

- Specific engineer units like the ones for the railways

The tasks of the engineers :

- Destruction (roads, bridges)

- Building / reparation (roads, bridges)

- Crossing of obstacles (destroyed areas, rivers)

- Preparation of fortifications (trenches, field fortification and/or concrete fortifications)

- Camouflage of other units

- Mine laying (AT mines, explosive charges, mine and stake mines using 75mm shells)

- Mine clearing

- Logistics (deployment of signals, water, electricity etc. facilities)

In 1939, the French active army contains 13 engineer regiments (RG = Régiment du Génie), which are generally not endivisioned except :

- The 5e and 15e RG, which form the railway brigade (HQ in Versailles)

- The 8e, 18e, 28e and 38e RG specialized in the signals (telegraph brigade based in Paris)

On 2nd September 1939, the engineer regiments are disbanded and form 17 mobilizing centers. They will create the organic engineer battalions (present in the armies, army corps, divisions and fortified sectors), instruction battalions and reserve units.

On 16th November 1939, the battalions are disbanded and the companies are then officially independent but remain under the command of the engineer HQ at the scale of the division, the army or the army corps.

In 1939-1940 the engineers are present at different levels :

1) ARMY

- 1 army engineer battalion of the "150" series (150 + the number of the army considered) (bataillon de sapeurs-mineurs d'armée)

- 1 railway engineer battalion (bataillon de sapeurs de chemin de fer) (sometimes)

- 1 army bridging battalion (bataillon de sapeurs-pontonniers d'armée)

- 1 army telegraph battalion (bataillon de sapeurs-télégraphistes d'armée)

- 1 army radio company (compagnie radio-télégraphique d'armée)

- 1 army radio direction-finding company (compagnie radiogoniométrique d'armée)

- 1 company of electro-mechanical engineers (compagnie d'électro-mécaniciens)

- 1 army road repair battalion (bataillon de cantonniers d'armée)

-1 army engineer park (parc du génie d'armée)

and several specialized platoons.

2) ARMY CORPS

- 1 army corps engineer battalion of the "100" series (100 + the number of the army corps considered) (bataillon de sapeurs-mineurs de corps d'armée)

- 1 army corps bridging company (compagnie d'équipage de pont de corps d'armée) - 16th company (e.g. 101/16 for the company of the 1st Army Corps).

- 1 army corps telegraph company (compagnie de sapeurs-télégraphistes de corps d'armée) - 81st company

- 1 army corps radio company (compagnie radio-télégraphique de corps d'armée) - 82nd company

- 1 army corps carrier-pigeon detachment (détachement colombophile de corps d'armée) - detachment n°83

- 1 army corps engineer park company (compagnie du parc du génie de corps armée) - 21st company

3) FORTRESS TROOPS

All the fortress engineer units are numbered in the "200" series.

For the fortified regions (RF = region fortifiée)

- 1 fortress engineer battalion (bataillon du génie de forteresse)

- 1-2 companies of electro-mechanical engineers (compagnie d'électro-mécaniciens)

- 1 fortress railway engineer battalion (bataillon de sapeurs de chemin de fer type spécial) (sometimes in 1939)

- 1 telegraph company (compagnie de sapeurs-télégraphistes) - 81st company

- 1 radio company (compagnie radio-télégraphique) - 82nd company

- 1 carrier-pigeon detachment (détachement colombophile) - detachment n°83

- 1 engineer park company (compagnie de parc du génie)

The RF is the equivalent of an army corps and controls 3 (Lauter RF) to 4 (Metz RF) SF (secteurs fortifiés). The Belfort RF controls no SF, only the city of Belfort and the surrounding gap.

The RF are disbanded beginning 1940 and transformed in 6 fortress army corps with :

- 2 fortress engineer companies (compagnie de sapeurs-mineurs de forteresse) (not always)

- 1 fortess telegraph company (compagnie télégraphique de forteresse)

- 1 fortress radio company (compagnie radio-télégraphique de forteresse)

- 1 carrier-pigeon detachment (détachement colombophile de corps d'armée de forteresse)

- 1 fortress army corps park company (compagnie de parc du génie de corps d'armée de forteresse) (not always)

For the fortified / defensive sectors there is generally :

- 1 fortress engineer battalion (bataillon de sapeurs-mineurs de forteresse)

- 1 telegraph company (compagnie de sapeurs-télégraphistes) - 81st company

- 1 radio company (compagnie radio-télégraphique) - 82nd company

For the DIF (division d'infanterie de forteresse) (101e to 105e DIF) there is generally :

- 1 fortress engineer company (compagnie de sapeurs-mineurs de forteresse) (2 companies for the 103e DIF)

- 1 fortress telegraph company (compagnie télégraphique de forteresse) (103e DIF only)

- 1 fortress radio company (compagnie radio-télégraphique de forteresse) (103e DIF only)

- 1 mixed signals company (compagnie mixte de transmission) (104e and 105e DIF only)

During the phoney war, all the engineer battalions are used to reinforce the fortifications on the borders, between the Maginot Line defensive works and on the Maginot Line itself. There are also used to provide advice to other units (infantry, artillery, pioneers). They will build or supervise the building of the MOM and STG fortifications of the Maginot Line (MOM = main d'oeuvre militaire = army craft and STG = service technique du genie = engineer technical service).

Between 1927 and 1935, the CORF (Commision d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées = commission for the organization of the fortified areas) had built the main defence works of the Maginot Line :

- 46 artillery defence works (23 in the north-east and 23 in the south-east)

- 62 infantry defence works (35 in the north-east and 27 in the south-east)

- 340 big blockhouses/casemates and bunkers

- 17 observation bunkers

- 89 shelter bunkers

- floodable areas, barracks, underground telephone networks, dedicated roads and railroads etc.

After 1935, the CORF had ended its mission. The fortified areas are in charge of the generals in command of theses sectors. Between 1935 and 1940 thousands of smaller and less protected positions were built, mainly small blockhouses in the intervals between the bigger defence works. They were erected by regular troops and reservists with the direct or indirect help of the engineer battalions. These new bunkers are supposed to give more depth in the defensive line of the Maginot Line.

The engineers also dig trench networks, protected by barbed wire and including shelters, observation posts etc.

After what happened in Poland, the engineers have also the special task to prepare anti-tank ditches, anti-tank blockades (iron barriers, rails/stakes networks, minefields etc.) and to prepare the mining of many roads and bridges that should be ready to be blown immediately if needed.

4) DIVISION

"NORTH EAST" INFANTRY DIVISION :

- 1 engineer battalion (bataillon de sapeurs-mineurs) with 2 companies

- 1 telegraph company – 81st company

- 1 radio company – 82nd company

- (1 divisional engineer park) according to the 1936 manual, not found in Lee Sharp's TO&E (perhaps a misunderstanding on my side)

MOTORIZED INFANTRY DIVISION :

- 1 motorized engineer battalion (bataillon de sapeurs-mineurs motorisé) with 2 companies

- 1 telegraph company – 81st company

- 1 radio company – 82nd company

1) Anti-tank stakes or "piquet Ollivier" :

This was an improvised AT mine using a 3.5kg explosive charge or an old 120mm artillery shell (4.2kg explosive) dug vertically in the ground, with a 1m stake attached to the explosive charge or fuze. A tank hitting it would detonate the charge or shell. The "piquet Ollivier" was directed against the wheels, tracks and bottom armor of the tanks when they rolled over it. This device was mainly used in the Maginot line, it was often hidden in bushes and hedges but mainly deployed around the fortifications :

• among the rails of anti-tank obstacle

• among the stacks of barbed wire networks

2) Anti-tank mines

Mine anti-char légère Mle1935/1936 (light AT mine) - German : lePzMi 407(f) -

Length : 240mm

Width : 140mm

Height : 114mm

Weight : 6.6kg

Type of filling : picric acid (about 3kg explosive)

Firing pressure : 190-225kg

On 10th May 1940, the French army should have had 500,000 of these AT mines for its motorized units but only 440,000 had been delivered.

Mine anti-char lourde Mle1939 (I think so) (heavy AT mines) - German : sPzMi 420(f) -

Length : 406mm

Width : 254mm

Height : 120mm

Weight : 12kg (about 6kg explosive)

Type of filling : picric acid

Firing pressure : 363kg

French had AT mines, despite the popular misconception, and these were quite commonly issued and used during the campaign and not only by engineer units but for example all cavalry, reconnaissance, mechanized or motorized infantry battalions were equipped with AT-mines. At least two types of AT mines were available.

A typical 'north-east' type motorized infantry division had at least about 9280 AT mines : about 4500 AT mines the infantry regiments, the BDAC has 700 AT mines (2 lorries transporting 350 AT mines each), the GRDI has about 580 AT mines and the CDAC has about 3500 AT mines (if I am not wrong with this estimated number, they were transported in 10 light trucks). The engineer battalion has also probably a number of AT mines available.

A typical 'north-east' type infantry division had at least 2080 AT mines : about 1500 AT mines the infantry regiments, the GRDI has about 580 AT mines and the engineer battalion has also probably a number of AT mines available.

The French doctrine planned the deployment of 1370 mines/km on 1 row or 2740 mines/km on 2 staggered rows. The mines were placed in linear groups of 5 on a length of 2.50m, the groups being separated by 1.40m gaps. Such a minefield was usually prepared in 8 hours.

From a temporary table of regulation issue of AT mines for cavalry units, dated 3rd February 1939 (often even 1 AT mine per side-car)

- a cavalry/Spahis regiment (horse-mounted cavalry) had 448 AT mines

- an armored car regiment (RAM) had 342 AT mines

- a Dragons Portés (motorized infantry) regiment had 404 AT mines

- the divisional 25mm AT gun squadron in a DLC or a DLM had 248 AT mines

- a tank regiment from a DLM had 140 AT mines

etc.

They were used extensively at Gembloux where they formed an integrated part of the overwhelmingly successful AT defense and at this defensive area the German never break through the French lines. Numerous mines were laid before the battle. One account by Louis Brindejonc, commanding a 25mm SA34 AT gun mentions a Renault UE chenillette coming up to resupply them during a pause in the battle. As well as ammunition it brought 20 Mle1935 light AT mines. The mines are deployed 100m in front of their position.

At Sedan thousands of AT mines had been laid months before the campaign. Unfortunately they were reported to have been adversely affected by damp and so were dug up to be fixed. Sadly time did not permit them to be laid again, which was kind of unfortunate. The Germans also later extensively used French captured AT mines, especially during the battles in North Africa.

One can also mention the fortified houses in front of the Maginot line. Located close to the border and on the edge of towns bordering Germany, they have to control all approaches. They were designed to provide early warning of a potential enemy attack. Their main mission is to activate explosive charges to destroy or block accesses, roads, bridges etc. and to warn the rear lines (direct telephone line, liaison motorcycle).

Each of the fortified house consists in :

• a bunker surmounted by a house (or two bunkers side by side with a house) and surrounded by a barbed wire fence

• an armored barrier on the road, manned from inside the bunker

• 100x AT mines

• 20x AT stakes or "piquets Ollivier"

• barbed wire networks

6 soldiers inside the bunker equipped with :

• 1x 37mm AT gun

• 2-4x FM 24/29 LMGs

• 2x VB launchers (rifle grenade)

• crenels for the small arms (rifles, carbines)

• 2x "goulotte lance-grenade" : a very close defense device to eject defensive F1 hand grenades around the bunker without exposing the soldiers.

• 1x liaison motorcycle

3) Anti-personnel mine, bounding, Mle1939

This AP mine is designed to throw a 60mm mortar bomb (the 60 mm mortar bomb was prefragmentated) into the air so that it will explode at a height of between 0.5m and 2.0m. The flash from the cap in the igniter fires the propelling charge. The gases produced from this charge expand into the space in the base of the projector tube and throw up the pressed steel cap together with the mortar bomb screwed to it. At the same time the delay pellet is ignited and after a delay of about 1/5th second the detonator and bomb are exploded.

The mine consists of a steel 60.3 mm bore tube closed at its upper end by a cap, with a rubber sealing washer, which is held in position by clips. At its lower end it is closed by a machined base plate, driven in position and fixed by dowels, into which is screwed a flash tube. An igniter adapter is screwed on to the open end of the flash tube. Located in the flash tube is a propelling charge, consisting of 0.8g of black powder. Inside the projector tube, the pressed steel cap, to which is welded the fuze holder is a push fit over the base plate. The fuze holder is threaded externally to fit into the mortar bomb and internally to take the holder containing a detonator. The bush containing a delay pellet is screwed into the fuse holder. There is a small distance piece to prevent the detonator from being screwed down on to the delay pellet. The projector tube and flash tube are fixed to a rectangular plate. This plate is designed to fit over the hole, in which the lower part of the mine is placed, to ensure that the mine remains vertical and also to prevent it from sinking if it is used with a pressure igniter. A winged plug is provided to screw into the tail of the bomb to assist screwing it on to the fuze assembly. The later US M2A4 anti-personnel mine (standard issue for the US Army during the early 50's) is almost an exact twin of the French one.

This AP mine was used by the French troops at least during the phoney war, along the Maginot line, and later during the 1940 western campaign. I have found 3 mentions of it in various books, including one groupe franc patrol using it in front of the Maginot line in 1939. In one case the description was clearly this AP mine. I have also seen a British document dated from 1944, with photos of these mines which were found in a forest during the liberation.

In "Denkschrift über die französiche Landesbefestigung" (OKH, 1.10.1941, Berlin) there is a very long study of all the components of the Maginot line. Concerning the mines the Germans mention :

- the 2 AT mines

- the "piquet Ollivier" (but they write Oliver)

- the AP bouncing mine

- fragmentation mines = F1 defensive grenades in the barbed wire networks as booby traps

- derivating naval mines in the Rhine

I guess this should be a good evidence of the use of these mines on the front.

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