[烛光生存狂]-法国机枪营

FRENCH MACHINE GUN BATTALIONS

1. History

In August 1914, each French infantry regiment had 6 MGs. This number increased to 8 in 1915 and 24 in 1916. In 1917, each infantry regiment had 36 MGs, 1 37mm TR16 infantry gun and 1 81mm mortar. The MGs played an important role during WW1 and at the end of WW1 each infantry division had therefore 108 MMGs/HMGs plus numerous LMGs.

After the war the importance of the MGs is not forgotten. In March 1923, 13 BCM (Bataillon de Chasseurs Mitrailleurs) are created. 9 of them are garrisoned in occupied Germany and the others are deployed on the borders.

11 colonial MG battalions are also created (BCMIC = Bataillons de Chasseurs Mitrailleurs Indigènes Coloniaux) : 6 Malagasy (series 40) and 5 Indochinese (series 50).

In 1925-1926, 5 battalions are deployed overseas :

- 3e BCM and 43e BCMIC in the Levant (Lebanon, Syria)

- 6e BCM, 53e BCMIC and 55e BCMIC in Morocco

In 1928, all the MG battalions are disbanded and used in infantry regiments.

In 1931, the colonial MG battalions reappear as part of 4 MG regiments :

- 41e and 42e RMIC (Régiment de Mitrailleurs Indigènes Coloniaux) with Malagasy troops

- 51e and 52e RMIC (Régiment de Mitrailleurs Indigènes Coloniaux) with Indochinese troops

In 1933, only the 41e and 51e RMIC remain beside 2 battalions (42e and 52e BMIC). In 1934, the 51e RMIC is disbanded.

In 1932, 8 metropolitan MG battalions are created and deployed in pairs to infantry regiments along the Rhine in Alsace (35e, 152e, 158e and 170e RI).

In 1935, most of the planned Maginot Line fortifications in the North-East are achieved. These defense works require specialized troops and 11 RIF (Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse = Fortress Infantry Regiment) are created. The 8 MG battalions are used to create two of these RIF : 171e RIF (Mulhouse) and 172e RIF (Strasbourg).

At the mobilization in August 1939, 19 metropolitan MG battalions are again created :

- 8 motorized (51e to 58e BMM = Bataillon de Mitrailleurs Motorisés)

- 1 mountain type (6e BCM = 6th Bataillon de Chasseurs Mitrailleurs), which includes a SES (Section d'Eclaireurs Skieurs = ski scout platoon)

- 10 horse drawn (1e to 5e and 7e to 11e BMM = Bataillon de Mitrailleurs)

Each battalion includes :

- 1 battalion staff and command platoon (état major et section de commandement)

- 1 SES (only for the 6e BCM)

- 1 headquarters company (compagnie hors-rang)

- 3 MG companies (companies de mitrailleurs)

- 1 weapons and rifle company (compagnie d'engins et de fusiliers voltigeurs)

- 1 transport company (compagnie de transport) (only in the motorized battalions and only until 2nd October 1939) – after that only a transport detachment remained and was scattered in the different staffs of the battalion.

The colonial troops constitute 2 regiments (41e and 51e RMIC) and 2 half-brigades (42e and 52e DBMC = Demi-Brigade de Mitrailleurs Coloniaux). A 55e BMIC is formed beginning June 1940 and takes part to the last combats with the 237e DLI (Division Légère d'Infanterie). There were apparently 3 MG battalions in a regiment and 2 MG battalions in a half-brigade. The composition of the colonial MG battalions seems similar to the metropolitan ones.

The 54e and 56e BMM are attached to the cavalry corps and enter in Belgium in May 1940. The 6e BCM, 9e and 10e BM are facing Italy and all the other MG battalions, half-brigades or regiments are used as interval troops in the north and north-east fortified areas. Most of these units will be destroyed during the German push of May-June 1940, except the 2e, 51e, 52e, 54e and 56e BM, which manage to retreat in the center of France. The 3 battalions deployed in the south-east will resist to the Italian assaults and they will be disbanded in July 1940. The "machine gun" subdivision of the infantry ceases to exist after the summer 1940.

The MG battalions are generally rather mobile units (horse drawn or motor vehicles) but completely static MG companies were also created at the mobilization (CMP = Compagnie de Mitrailleuses de Position). They are coastal defense units : CMP 201 to 214 on the Atlantic and Channel coast (from Dunkirk to Bordeaux), CMP 215 to 218 on the Mediterranean coast (from Port-de-Bouc to Vallauris).

The CMP 201, 202 and 203 fought in the north from 20th May to 4th June. For example, the CMP 202 (capitaine Chassaigne) took part to the battle of Calais (23rd to 27th May 1940). The CMP 205 and 206 take part to the last fights of the 53e DLI from 15th to 20th June.

NOTE : The "colonial infantry" is born from the previously "Infanterie de Marine" (Marine Infantry), also called or "Marsouins" or "Bigors". The marine infantry is still existing today as part of the army.

Most of these units had a high amount of Europeans in 1940 but included also indigenous troops, mostly Senegalese tirailleurs. Among the officers there were also Africans, there is at least an example of a Senegalese captain. The colonial troops do not include the North-African divisions (DINA = Division d'Infanterie Nord Africaine) were the single Europeans units were generally the Zouaves regiments.

There are initially 4 DIC (Division d'Infanterie Coloniale) in the active army plus 3 DIC formed at the mobilization. The colonial divisions were not in fact part of the French Army but officially under the control of the Minister of the Colonies. This is probably also the case for the colonial MG units. Among the 3 infantry regiments there could be 3 European regiments (RIC = Régiment d'Infanterie Colonial), 2 European and 1 African (RTS = Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais), 1 European and 2 Africans but also mixed regiments with the RICMS (Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale Mixte Sénégalais), which includes one or more Senegalese battalion beside the European ones (when the colonial divisions without Africans received several Senegalese battalions).

In the colonial infantry units there were Europeans and Senegalese troops, in the colonial artillery units there were Europeans but also Malagasy troops and in the colonial MG units there were Europeans, Malagasy and Indochinese troops.

The MG battalion is only a defense unit. It is thought to control a front of 3-4 km with its firepower. In comparison a typical "north east" infantry division should defend a front of 5-7 km with 2 regiments on the front line and 1 regiment in reserve. Each infantry regiment has 2.5-3.5 km in charge and each of its 3 infantry battalion has 0.8-1.2 km to defend. One MG battalion has therefore to defend a front about 3-4 times larger in comparison to a typical infantry battalion.

2. Hotchkiss Mle1914 machine gun

- Type : Medium / heavy machinegun (air cooled)

- Total length : 1310 mm

- Weight (empty) : 25 kg + 24 kg with tripod (Mle1916)

- Barrel Length : 785 mm (4 grooves from right to left)

- Caliber : 8x50R mm

- Magazine : 24 rounds metal trays or 251 rounds flexible belts

- Rate of fire : 500 rpm (practical rate of fire = 200-400 rpm)

- V° : 690 m/s (Mle1932 N cartridges) or 701 m/s (Mle1886 D (am) cartridges)

- Practical range : 2400m (iron sights) to 3500m (spirit level) (maximum range 5500m)

8x50R mm cartridges :

- Cartouche Mle1886 D (am) (12.8 gram heavy ball)

V° = 701 m/s (3145 J)

- Cartouche Mle1932 N (15.05 gram heavy ball)

V° = 690 m/s (3583 J)

- Cartouche de 8mm à balle perforante (P) (9.6 gram AP ball)

A 4.2 gram special stubs steel core and brass

V° = 840 m/s (3387 J)

Penetration : 6mm /0° at 400m

- Cartouche de 8mm à balle traceuse (T) (11.2 gram tracer ball)

V° = 750 m/s (3150 J)

Ball is tracing only in the first 600m

There are 2 different tracer cartridges

magnesium + baryum nirate = WHITE color

magnesium + strontium nitra

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