French MG battalions in 1940 (and the Hotchkiss MG)

[David Lehmann]

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 nitrate = RED color

Very accurate even at long range, able to engage targets up to 2500m in direct fire with the Mle1932 N bullet. Also used in indirect fire mode at a range of 1500-3500m (one MG company covers an area of 200m long and 400m wide in indirect fire). The MG can be used in anti-aircraft role up to 1000m.

The metal trays could also be assembled to have 48, 96 etc. rounds. The 251 rounds belt is a series of 3 rounds strips connected together. The belt is 4.2m long and with the cartridges it weights about 8.5 kg. The Hotchkiss MG had an advantage over the Vickers and the Maxim HMGs in that they emitted no tell-tale plume of steam from the water cooling systems they didn't have. If the "steam cans" for the steam-water condensation were not connected to the above water-cooled MGs, there was a steam geyser after 150-200 rounds of fire.

Several of the accessories that can be used with the Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs :
- Tripod (Omnibus Mle1915, Hotchkiss Mle1916) (standard)
- Iron sight Mle1918 (standard) (used up to 2400m)
- Spirit level Mle1918 (used from ranges > to 2400m and up to 3500m)
- Replacement barrels
- Case extractor Mle1907
- Flash hider
- Telemeter (S.O.M. Mle1925 or older Barr and Stroud Mle1909M, Mle1909-1912 and Mle1912)
- Periscope (Carvallo, S.O.M., Valette-Colmont)
- Compass-goniometer Mle1917 (for indirect fire) on a separate tripod
- MG goniometer Mle1936 (for indirect fire) mounted directly on the MG
- Tripod extension (for AA fire) (Rallonge Mle1928)
- Specific sight for AA fire (correteur Cazaux-Labat modifié)
- Specific stock for AA fire

A French typical infantry regiment (type "north-east") had 48 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs (16 in each battalion of the 3 battalions). There were also 3 replacement ones (1 in each battalion) for a total of 51 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs available.

A motorized infantry regiment should theoretically have 56 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs : 12 in each of the 3 battalions, 8 in a regimental motorcycle company and 12 in the regimental weapons company. In reality there was only one motorcycle platoon in the regimental staff and command company and it had only FM 24/29 LMGs. Therefore the motorized infantry regiment has also only 48 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs. Nonetheless there were 18 extra Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs (6 in each battalion) that were intended for self defense if needed or replacement. There are therefore up to 66 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs available. A motorized regiment has more extra collective weapons for self-defense and/or replacement than a typical infantry regiment (there are also 6 extra 60mm Mle1935 mortars and 3 extra 81mm Mle1927/31 mortars but only 3 extra 81mm Mle1927/31 mortars in a typical infantry regiment). In both cases there are also extra weapons in the artillery divisional park of the division.

In the infantry regiments, each battalion has 1 MG platoon specialized in AA fire. In theory, each infantry regiment was to have 12x 20mm CA Mle1939 (Oerlikon) AA guns, in 3 platoons of 4 guns, in replacement of 12x Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs.
In a typical "north east" infantry regiment, one AA platoon with four 20mm AA guns was part of each of the 3 battalion support companies, as one of its 4x MG platoons, normally armed with 8mm Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs, but specialized in AA protection was armed with the 20mm AA guns.
In a motorized infantry regiment, all three 20mm AA platoons were instead assigned to the regimental weapons company.
But even this moderate level of weapons allocation was far from achieved by May 1940 and there were apparently only 237x 20mm CA Mle1939 by 10th May 1940 among the units stationed in metropolitan France.

A MG battalion (horse drawn or motorized) has 36 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs. As previously indicated an infantry battalion in comparison has only 12 to 16 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs.

For each MG the typical "north east" infantry regiment had about 6150 cartridges (2 flexible belts of 251 rounds and metal trays for each MG) :
- 5394 standard and heavy cartridges (D and N types cartridges)
- 540 armor piercing cartridges
- 216 tracer cartridges
In a motorized infantry regiment there were more than 9000 cartridges for each MG.


Concerning the available ammunition :

--> Estimation of the total ammunition available in the "north east" infantry battalion / regiment :

- BATTALION (16 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs) :
• About 63,000 rifle / carbine cartridges
• About 128,000 FM cartridges (including about 12,800 AP/APT cartridges)
• About 100,000 MG cartridges (including about 9,000 AP and 3,500 tracer cartridges)
• About 600 VB rifle grenades
• About 320 F1 hand grenades
• About 430 OF hand grenades
• About 130 incendiary hand grenades
• About 310 25mm AP shells for the AT guns (including about 25 APT shells)
• About 600 60mm mortar shells
• About 300 81mm mortar shells (including 30 high capacity HE shells and 288 smoke shells)

- REGIMENT (48 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs) :
• About 195,000 rifle / carbine cartridges
• About 400,000 FM cartridges (including about 40,000 AP/APT cartridges)
• About 300,000 MG cartridges (including about 26,000 AP and 10,500 tracer cartridges)
• About 2,000 VB rifle grenades
• About 1,000 F1 hand grenades
• About 1,300 OF hand grenades
• About 400 incendiary hand grenades
• About 1,900 25mm AP shells for the AT guns (including about 150 APT shells)
• About 1,800 60mm mortar shells
• About 1,400 81mm mortar shells (including 30 high capacity HE shells and 288 smoke shells)
• Probably about 500 AT mines
• At least 108 explosive charges (135g melenite), 46 detonators, 15 igniters and 20 meters of detonator fuse
• A number of B5 Mle1935 smoke dispensers (15kg) to create smoke screens

--> Estimation of the ammunition available in the motorized infantry battalion / regiment :

- BATTALION (12 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs) :
• About 63,000 rifle / carbine cartridges
• About 190,000 FM cartridges (including about 19,000 AP/APT cartridges)
• About 110,000 MG cartridges (including about 10,000 AP and 3,800 tracer cartridges)
• About 600 VB rifle grenades
• About 300 F1 hand grenades
• About 600 OF hand grenades
• About 130 incendiary hand grenades
• About 310 25mm AP shells for the AT guns (including about 25 APT shells)
• About 750 60mm mortar shells
• About 450 81mm mortar shells (including 60 smoke shells)

- REGIMENT (48 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs) :
• About 210,000 rifle / carbine cartridges
• About 600,000 FM cartridges (including about 60,000 AP/APT cartridges)
• About 470,000 MG cartridges (including about 41,000 AP and 16,500 tracer cartridges)
• About 2,000 VB rifle grenades
• About 1,000 F1 hand grenades
• About 1,900 OF hand grenades
• About 400 incendiary hand grenades
• About 1,900 25mm AP shells for the AT guns (including about 150 APT shells)
• About 2,200 60mm mortar shells
• About 1,950 81mm mortar shells (including about 40 high capacity HE shells and 360 smoke shells)
• Probably about 1,500 AT mines
• At least 108 explosive charges (135g melenite), 46 detonators, 15 igniters and 20 meters of detonator fuse (probably more in the motorized regiment)
• A number of B5 Mle1935 smoke dispensers (15kg) to create smoke screens

--> Estimation of the total ammunition available in the MG battalion (36 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs) :
• About 60,000 rifle / carbine cartridges
• About 160,000 FM cartridges (including about 16,000 AP/APT cartridges)
• About 300,000 MG cartridges (including about 26,000 AP and 10,500 tracer cartridges)
• About 450 VB rifle grenades
• About 250 F1 hand grenades
• About 450 OF hand grenades
• About 100 incendiary hand grenades
• About 1,750 25mm AP shells for the AT guns (including about 110 APT shells)
• About 750 60mm mortar shells
• About 1,400 81mm mortar shells (including probably at least 30 high capacity HE shells and 288 smoke shells)

3. Organization

3.1 MG squad

The best thing is to make a jpeg with the table in my MS Word file

[David Lehmann]

3.2 MG platoon

[David Lehmann]

3.4 MG "company"

Extra signals means available in the command platoon of the company :
• men : 5 messengers, 1 motorcyclist or cyclist
• 2 VB launchers + VB message grenades
• 2 signal panels' pairs for visual communication
• (eventually one ER40 radio set from the battalion)

Extra observation equipments available in the command platoon of the company :
• men : 2 observers and 2 range finders
• 2 telemeters
• 1 compass-goniometer Mle1917 (for indirect fire)
• 1 goniometer
• 1 MG goniometer Mle1936 (for indirect fire) on 1 MG to direct the fire of the other MGs (eventually)
• 1 8x30 prismatic binoculars
• 1 hand periscope Mle1930
• 1 compass Mle1922
• 1 compass Mle1926

3.4.1 Heavy weapons company of the typical "North East" infantry battalion

1 company commander (capitaine) and 1 horse

• Command platoon

1 NCO command platoon commander

--o Signals / intelligence squad
1 NCO, 10 men, 2 bicycles

--o Supply / services squad
3 NCOs, 3 corporals, 9 men, 5 horses, 3 wagons (one field kitchen, one for baggage and one for ammunition), 1 truck (ammunitions, equipments, food), 2 bicycles

• 4x MG platoons (one platoon is specialized in AA fire)

• Heavy weapons platoon :

--o 25mm AT guns squad
3 NCOs, 2 corporals, 12 men, 3 horses, 3 wagons
2 25mm SA34/37 AT guns

--o 81mm mortars squad
1 NCOs, 2 corporals, 18 men, 4 horses, 4 wagons
2 Mle1927/31 81mm mortars

In each MG platoon there are 16696 MG rounds (= 66784 rounds). In the supplies of the weapons company of the battalion there are about 19000 MG rounds available and in the supplies of the battalion there are about 18000 MG rounds available = 37000 extra rounds for the MG platoons. That makes a total of about 104000 MG rounds and a mean of about 6500 rounds per MG in the regiment.


3.4.2 Heavy weapons company of the motorized infantry battalion

1 company commander (capitaine)

• Command platoon
1 NCO command platoon commander

--o Signals / intelligence squad
1 NCO, 9 men, 1 motorcycle, 1 bicycle

--o Supply / services squad
2 NCOs, 3 corporals, 9 men, 3 trucks (1 for supplementary weapons – an extra 6 HMGs and a 81mm mortar principally for defensive fire – and ammunitions, 1 for ammunitions and 1 relief vehicle), 1 heavy truck (food, baggage and towing the field kitchen), 1 motorcycle, 1 bicycle

• 3x MG platoons (the platoon specialized in AA fire is in the regimental weapons company)

• Heavy weapons platoon :

--o weapons platoon command
1 officer, 2 men, 1 motorcycle

--o 25mm AT guns squad
1 NCO, 2 corporals, 9 men, 2 Renault UE chenillettes
2 25mm SA34/37 AT guns

--o 81mm mortars squad
1 NCO, 2 corporals, 16 men, 2 horses, 2 wagons
2 Mle1927/31 81mm mortars

In each MG platoon there are 16696 MG rounds (= about 50088 rounds). In the supplies of the weapons company of the battalion there are about 58000 MG rounds available and in the supplies of the battalion there are about 23000 MG rounds available = 81000 extra rounds for the MG platoons. That makes a total of about 131000 MG rounds (about 11000 rounds / MG in each battalion).
At the regiment level there are also extra 34000 rounds available but they are used by the regimental weapons company, which includes 12 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs (about 7000 rounds / MG for each MG of the regimental weapons company). That makes a mean of about 9000 rounds per MG in the regiment.

3.4.3 MG company in the horse drawn MG battalion

1 company commander (capitaine), 1 horse

• Command platoon
1 NCO command platoon commander, 1 horse

--o Signals / intelligence
1 NC0, 2 corporals, 19 men, 1 motorcycle, 1 bicycle

--o Resupply / services
2 NCOs, 3 corporals, 10 men, 3 horses, 2 wagons (food & baggage and field kitchen), 3 trucks (1 for food & baggage and 2 for ammunition), 1 bicycle

• 3x MG platoons

• Rifle platoon
1 officer, 4 NCOs, 4 corporals, 32 men = 41 soldiers including 1 sniper or sharpshooter (the best rifleman of the 3 squads), 1 bicycle
[3 FM 24/29 LMGs, 34 rifles (including 1 scoped rifle), 4 VB launchers, 5 pistols]
[2385 rifle / carbine rounds 3975 FM rounds (including 300 AP/APT) (105 LMG magazines + 1350 LMG cartridges), 44 VB rifle grenades and about 40 OF or F1 hand grenades and a few incendiary hand grenades]

Total for the horse drawn MG company :
• 4 officers, 18 NC0s, 27 corporals and 154 men = 203 soldiers
• 16-22 horses, 14-20 wagons, 3 trucks, 1 motorcycle, 9 bicycles
• [12 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs, 9 FM 24/29 LMGs, 4 VB launchers, 20 pistols, 139 carbines / rifles, about 160 grenades]

3.4.4 MG battalion (horse drawn)

• Battalion staff and command platoon
1 battalion commander, 1 horse

--o Battalion staff
5 officers, 5 horses

--o Command platoon
-----* Staff
5 NCOs, 1 corporal, 14 men, 1 liaison car, 1 truck, 3 motorcycles, 5 bicycles
-----* Signals / intelligence
4 NC0s, 9 corporals, 47 men, 1 truck, 2 motorcycles, 8 bicycles
-----* Pioneers
1 officer, 1 NCO, 3 corporals, 20 men, 4 horses, 2 wagons, 2 bicycles
-----* Motorcycle scouts
1 officer, 2 NCOs, 2 corporals, 11 men, 8 side-cars [including 2 FM 24/29 LMGs]

Total :
9 officers, 12 NCOs, 15 corporals and 92 men = 128 soldiers
10 horses, 2 wagons, 1 liaison car, 2 trucks, 13 motorcycles and side-cars, 15 bicycles
[the armament includes 2 FM 24/29 LMGs]

• Headquarters company
1 company commander (capitaine), 1 horse

--o Services platoon
2 NCOs, 2 corporals, 8 men, 2 horses, 1 wagon, 1 truck, 2 bicycles
--o Logistics platoon
-----* Resupply
3 NCOs, 2 corporals, 22 men, 8 horses, 4 wagons, 1 truck, 6 Renault UE chenillettes, 1 motorcycle
-----* Supplies
2 NCOs, 2 corporals, 14 men, 8 horses, 4 wagons, 1 liaison car, 5 trucks, 1 motorcycle, 2 bicycles
-----* Workshops
3 NCOs, 1 corporal, 14 men, 7 horses, 2 wagons, 2 heavy trucks (one tank fuel and one recovery truck for the chenillettes), 2 motorcycles

Total :
2 officers, 14 NCOs, 9 corporals and 88 men = 113 soldiers
28 horses, 12 wagons, 1 liaison car, 8 trucks, 2 heavy trucks, 6 Renault UE chenillettes, 5 motorcycles, 5 bicycles

• 3x MG companies

Total :
12 officers, 54 NCOs, 81 corporals and 462 men = 609 soldiers
48-66 horses, 42-60 wagons, 9 trucks, 3 motorcycles, 27 bicycles
[36 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs, 27 FM 24/29 LMGs, 12 VB launchers, 60 pistols, 417 carbines / rifles, about 480 grenades]

• Weapons and rifle company
1 company commander (capitaine), 1 horse

--o Command platoon
1 NCO
-----* Signals / intelligence
1 NCO, 10 men, 8 horses, 2 motorcycles, 1 bicycle
-----* Resupply / services
2 NCOs, 2 corporals, 14 men, 3 horses, 2 wagons, 4 trucks, 3 Renault UE chenillettes, 1 bicycle

--o 1x mortar platoon
1 officer, 4 NCOs, 6 corporals, 57 men, 12 horses, 12 wagons, 3 bicycles
4 Mle1927/31 81mm mortars

--o 3x anti-tank platoons
3 officers, 12 NCOs, 9 corporals, 57 men, 12 horses, 12 wagons, 9 bicycles
6 25mm SA34 AT guns

--o 2x rifle platoons
1 officer, 9 NCOs, 8 corporals, 64 men, 1 bicycle
[6 FM 24/29 LMGs, 68 rifles (including 2 scoped rifle), 8 VB launchers, 10 pistols and about 80 OF or F1 hand grenades and a few incendiary hand grenades]

Total :
6 officers, 29 NCOs, 25 corporals and 202 men = 262 soldiers
28 horses, 26 wagons, 4 trucks, 3 Renault UE chenillettes, 2 motorcycles, 16 bicycles
[the armament includes 4 Mle1927/31 81mm mortars, 6 25mm SA34 AT guns, 6 FM 24/29 LMGs, 68 rifles (including 2 scoped rifle), 8 VB launchers, 10 pistols and about 80 OF or F1 hand grenades and a few incendiary hand grenades]

Total for the horse drawn MG battalion :
• 26 officers, 109 NCOs, 130 corporals, 844 men = 1112 soldiers
• 114-132 horses, 82-100 wagons, 2 liaison cars, 23 trucks, 2 heavy trucks, 9 Renault UE chenillettes, 23 motorcycles / side-cars, 54 bicycles
• The collective armament consists in : 4 Mle1927/31 81mm mortars, 6 25mm SA34 AT guns, 36 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs, 29 FM 24/29 LMGs.

3.4.5 motorized MG battalion

In the motorized MG battalion the composition of the platoons and companies is similar (see Lee Sharp's volume III for more details). The men strength is slightly reduced since there are not so many wagons, horses and therefore drivers required.
In the motorized battalion, there are no horses and of course more motor vehicles. In the MG platoons, the horse drawn wagons are replaced by carts without horses and the bicycles are replaced by motorcycles.
The 1939 transport company adds 5 officers, 16 NCOs, 27 corporals and 251 men (299 soldiers) as well as 8 all-terrain cars, 13 liaison cars, 22 trucks, 53 heavy trucks, 50 buses, 11 motorcycles and 2 bicycles.
In October 1939, this company is removed. The remaining transport detachment consists in 1 officer, 3 NCOs, 9 corporals and 77 men (90 soldiers) as well as 8 all-terrain cars, 4 liaison cars, 18 trucks, 21 heavy trucks and 3 motorcycles. This detachment is scattered in the various staffs of the different companies.

Total for the 1940 motorized MG company :
• 4 officers, 18 NCOs, 25 corporals and 136 men = 183 soldiers
• 1 all-terrain car, 6 trucks, 1 heavy truck, 1 field kitchen, 1 bicycle (and 20 carts)
• The armament includes 12 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs and 9 FM 24/29 LMGs

Total for the 1940 motorized MG battalion :
• 30 officers, 109 NCOs, 128 corporals, 775 men = 1042 soldiers
• 8 all-terrain cars, 4 liaison cars, 18 trucks, 21 heavy trucks, 9 Renault UE chenillettes, 52 motorcycles / side-cars 20 bicycles
• The collective armament consists in : 4 Mle1927/31 81mm mortars, 6 25mm SA34 AT guns, 36 Hotchkiss Mle1914 MGs, 29 FM 24/29 LMGs.

A good example of the action of a MG battalion is the II/42e DBMC at Monthermé (on the Meuse River) from 13th to 15th May 1940.
A detailed report can be found here : http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=84761



SOURCES :
• "Aide-mémoire de l'officier de réserve d'infanterie" (Lieutenant-Colonel Arendt, 1940)
• "Aide-mémoire du mitrailleur" (Capitaine Vidal, 1939)
• "Aide-mémoire pour les travaux d'état-major" (Ecole Supérieure de Guerre, 1939)
• "Hommes et ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot" (Jean-Yves Mary et Alain Hohnadel) – 3 volumes
• "L'enseignement du combat" (2 volumes, Commandant Bouron, 1936)
• "Manuel du gradé d'infanterie" (Ministère de la Guerre, 1940)
• "Précis de tir et armement de l'infanterie" (Lieutenant-Colonel G. Paillé, 1939)
• "The French army 1939-1940 – organisation, order of battle, operational history" (Lee Sharp)
• Militaria magazine n°15

Regards,

David

[Bob_Mackenzie]

Dear David

Great info - Ive saved all that to my disk

Do you have any info on the Hotchkiss 13.2mm?

Cheers

Bob

[Bob_Mackenzie]

Dear David

One other question

Have you any historical accounts of French MG units using indirect fire in the 1940 campaign?

Cheers

Bob

[Pachy]

Hi David, a few questions if you don't mind

NOTE : The "colonial infantry" is the today so-called "Infanterie de Marine" (Marine Infantry) also called "Fusiliers Marins" or "Marsouins".

While it is appropriate to remember that North African units are not part of "colonial units", I think you did a little mistake here, mixing sailors with soldiers. The "Fusiliers Marins" are part of the Marine Nationale and are typically tasked with protecting military harbours or airbases of the Aéronautique Navale. The "Infanterie de Marine" as you correctly point out inherits from the "Infanterie coloniale" and hence is part of the Armée de Terre.

- Weight (empty) : 24 kg with tripod

My copy of Aide-mémoire de l'officier de réserve d'infanterie states 24 kg for the gun itself, and 25 kg for the tripod (affût mle 1915 dit Omnibus).

[David Lehmann]

Hi David, a few questions if you don't mind

NOTE : The "colonial infantry" is the today so-called "Infanterie de Marine" (Marine Infantry) also called "Fusiliers Marins" or "Marsouins".

While it is appropriate to remember that North African units are not part of "colonial units", I think you did a little mistake here, mixing sailors with soldiers. The "Fusiliers Marins" are part of the Marine Nationale and are typically tasked with protecting military harbours or airbases of the Aéronautique Navale. The "Infanterie de Marine" as you correctly point out inherits from the "Infanterie coloniale" and hence is part of the Armée de Terre.

- Weight (empty) : 24 kg with tripod

My copy of Aide-mémoire de l'officier de réserve d'infanterie states 24 kg for the gun itself, and 25 kg for the tripod (affût mle 1915 dit Omnibus).

Hello Gaël,

You are perfectly right about the today "fusiliers marins" which are par of the marine whereas the lineage of the colonial troops is part of the Army.
The "colonial infantry" is the previously (and today) "Infanterie de Marine" (Marine Infantry) also called or "Marsouins" or "Bigors".

In fact if I remember well there were at first the royal marine corps (whose men were later called fusiliers marins, marsouins, bigors). They gave birth to the colonial units which are today part of the army but are not anymore called colonial but simply marine infantry. On its side the marine has still infantry units with the fusiliers marins.

The history is rather intricate but for what I know already in the 17th century there are ancestors of the colonial troops and on the 18th century there are the "compagnies franches de la marine" which are detached to the army.
In 1762, a royal marine artillery and infantry corps is created. It is transformed in marine royal corps in 1772 (with infantry and artillerymen). The 8 regimens have the task to protect and defend the harbors and their dumps as well as to service the guns on the ships.
In 1822, the marine gunners abandon the service of the guns to the crews of the ships and the are used to create 1 marine artillery regiment and 2 marine infantry regiments.
The marine played an important role in the creation of the French empire. Around 1900 forces are required to defend the colonies. But will they be dependent from the department of the marine, of the war or a new one ? The 3rd solution is accepted and a colonial army is created with 12 infantry regiments in France, 2 battalions and 2 companies overseas and 3 artillery regiments.
In 1940, the colonial troops are depending officially from the Minister of the Colonies.

Thanks to point the typing error concerning the weight, I have probably lost part of the text in a bad copy/paste operation.
In "Précis de tir et armement de l'infanterie" (Lieutenant-Colonel G. Paillé, 1939) it is indicated
Weight (empty) : 25 kg + 24 kg with tripod
In this case the tripod is the Mle1916 one.

The AP bullet allows also a penetration of 6mm at 400m and not 300m.

Regards,

David

[David Lehmann]

Dear David

Great info - Ive saved all that to my disk

Do you have any info on the Hotchkiss 13.2mm?

Cheers

Bob

Hi Bob,

Don't forget to add the previous corrections

Already before WW2 the French army wanted to have a heavier MG that would also be able to engage enemy tanks and aircrafts.
Around 1921 the MAC presented their 13.5mm HMG (see the French SPAA thread for a photo) but it was abandoned. Apparently partly due to the ammunition but the Hotchkiss Mle1930 in 13.2mm was preferred (it had the same basic functioning as the 8mm MG).
It was not really adopted by the army which said it was too heavy but by the cavalry and the navy. Then started an army program for a new HMG but in 9mm ... it was never achieved in 1940 and in 1938 the French army units had no organic AA HMGs/guns. They adopted the 20mm Oerlikon for the task (which had been previously tested since ex-Spanish Oerlikons had been seized).
In 1940, most of the AA guns were lacking. The 13.2mm Hotchkiss HMG had been available and in 1940 each French infantry division could have had about 40 of them if there were not all these discussions.


The 13.2mm Hotchkiss Mle1930 HMG (German : sMG 271(f)) was used by the army in several bunkers (96 HMGs in the Maginot Line on the Rhine River and in the Vosges fortifications), by the anti-aircraft forces (twin AAMG) and by the cavalry units (Laffly AM80 and AMR-35 ZT1). The French navy adopted it largely unlike the French army and installed them on double and quadruple AA mounts. It was exported to Japan, Italy, Japan and Romania. The Polish navy used the 13.2 mm AAMG Hotchkiss. It could be used in "anti-tank" role and heavy support by the vehicles.
Caliber : 13.2x99 mm
Telescopic sight : 2.3x (e.g. L.660 sight)
Rate of fire : 450 rpm
Capacity : 30 rounds magazine
V° : 800 m/s
Practical range : 1200m - 2500m (maximum range 6500m against ground targets)

Concerning the AAMG 13.2mm Mle1930 twin AA gun :
Caliber : 13.2x99 mm
Barrel length : 1670 mm (1000 mm rifling)
Battle-station weight : 375 kg
Rate of fire : 900 rpm (450 rpm for the single mount)
Muzzle velocity : 800 m/s
Magazine : 2x 30 rounds magazines
Traverse : 360°
Elevation: 0°, +90°
Practical range : 2500m against ground targets, 1500m - 3500m against aircrafts at 400 km/h - 300 km/h
Penetration : 20mm /0° at 400m
Could also be found also on quadruple mounts (navy)
Crew of 1 NCO and 8 men.
The aiming device (correcteur L.P.R. Le Prieur-Ricordel) consists in a 12x magnification telemeter and a 1x magnification sight with big a field of view.

Ammunitions :

- Cartouche Mle1935 (heavy ball)
Penetration : 17mm /25° at 200 m

- Cartouche Mle1935 T (tracer)

- Cartouche Mle1935 PT (APT) - in German service : Pzgr 823(f)-
Weight of projectile : 0.052 kg (tungsten core)
Length of projectile : 62mm
Penetration : 20mm /0° at 400m

- Cartouche Mle1935 P (AP) - in German service : Pzgr 821(f)-
Weight of projectile : 0.052 kg (tungsten core)
Length of projectile : 62mm
Penetration : 20mm /0° at 400m

German tests :
The test was carried out with 13.2mm Pzgr 821(f) on a 120 kg/mm2 armor plate.
(source : "Kennblätter fremden geräts heft 8a, Munition bis 3,6 cm" Released in Berlin 1941)

100 meters = 12mm /30°
300 meters = 10mm /30°
500 meters = 8mm /30°

100 meters = 22.5mm /0°
300 meters = 18mm /0°
500 meters = 14mm /0°


Regards,

David

[David Lehmann]

Dear David

One other question

Have you any historical accounts of French MG units using indirect fire in the 1940 campaign?

Cheers

Bob

Hi Bob,

Not really no, I haven't sufficiently detaild reports from MG units.
I will later complete the thread with the various fire rates used, the different fire missions etc.
The indirect fire seems to be mainly used for harrassement fire.

Regards,

David

[Bob_Mackenzie]

Thanks very much for your answers - did the French perform accuracy tests on the 13.2mm?

Cheers

Bob

[David Lehmann]

Hi,

Probably yes, but I have not the information.

David

[Pachy]

did the French perform accuracy tests on the 13.2mm?

From Manuel du mitrailleur de terre contre avions, annexe IV (1935): "dispersion is 5 mils with a barrel in good condition, and exceptionally up to 8 mils with a worn out barrel".

[Bob_Mackenzie]

Thank you

[David Lehmann]

Hello,

More data about the Hotchkiss Mle1914 MG ...

2. Hotchkiss Mle1914 machine gun

2.1 Characteristics

- see previous posts -

And a few photos, credits :
1 & 2 from Stéphane Ferrard's books
3 from "L'armée française" by J. de Gigord (1939)
4 from "1939-1940 Batailles pour la France" by Patrick de Gmeline (1989)
5 from the newspaper "Le Miroir" from 11th February 1940

[David Lehmann]

2.2 Number of machine guns in the battalions and regiments

- see previous posts -

2.3 The different rates of fire of the MG squad

The rate of fire for each MG can reach 500 rpm but only for a short period of time (barrel is overheating and has to be cooled down or to be changed) and the practical rate of fire is rather limited to 200-400 rpm. One has nonetheless always to keep in mind that ammunition consumption is an important factor during battle and that the supplies are not infinite. The chief of the MG or the leader of the MG squad/platoon is responsible for ammunition consumption control.

According to "Aide-mémoire du mitrailleur" (Capitaine Vidal, 1939), the usual basic MG unit is not the individual MG but the MG squad (group of 2 MGs).
For sustained fire of these 2 MGs together, there are 4 rates of fire :
• Slow : 50 rpm
• Normal : 100 rpm
• Speeded-up : 200 rpm
• Fast : 400 rpm

For the three first rates of fire there are 2 possibilities :
• Each MG fires half of the rounds
• One MG is cooling down while only the second one is firing and vice versa (alternate fire)

For the fast mode, both MGs are always firing together. Each MG has to cool down after about 500 rounds in the fast mode and about 1,500 rounds in the normal mode.

The different rates of fire of the MG squad can be maintained continuously during :
• Slow : depending only from the ammunition supply
• Normal : 30 min with 2 firing MGs or 60 minutes in alternate fire (3,000-6,000 rounds)
• Speeded-up : 5 min with 2 firing MGs or 10 minutes in alternate fire (1,000-2,000 rounds)
• Fast : 2 min with always 2 firing MGs (800 rounds)

In fact, in a typical infantry BATTALION, there is sufficient ammunition to maintain fire during :
• Slow : 250 min (3h10)
• Normal : 125 min (2h05)
• Speeded-up : 62 min (1h02)
• Fast : 30 min (0h30)

2.4 The different firing mode

• Direct fire
• Indirect fire
• Concealed fire (always an indirect fire, the MGs are hidden behind an obstacle and cannot be seen by the enemy)

If the enemy is in the 0-1600 m range (and up to 2400 m), the fire is generally direct, with a direct line of sight between the firing MG and the target. Indirect / concealed fire can generally be used between 800 and 4500 m. The task is always to support the troops or to hinder / block the enemy progression.

2.5 The different kind of fires