The Belgian Infantry Company
Based on AMI 9_Mai 40_Le régiment d'infanterie.pdf under documentation on http://www.freewebs.com/3th-chasseurs-a ... eenacting/
with all the problems of my not being able to read French (or Dutch/Flemish)
I am uncertain of the correct terms for unit levels below that of the platoon and have translated equipe as squad and used section as a level between platoon and squad. Terms in brackets are the ones used in the original French.
A Belgian Infantry Battalion had 3 infantry companies (3 companies (Cie) de Fusiliers) numbered consecutively
I Battalion: 1, 2 and 3
II Battalion: 5, 6 and 7
III Battalion: 9, 10 and 11
within the regiment.
Each company had:
company commander (e.g. a Captain)
1 support Platoon consisting of:
Liaison section (echelon) with 1 sous-officier d’elite (note 1), 2 corporals, 8 men
Fuel and ammo section (echelon) with 1 sergeant and 10 men
Food, equipment and baggage section (echelon) with 1 sous-officier d’elite, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 8 men
3 Platoons (peloton de fusiliers) each with
Platoon HQ:
Platoon commander (e.g. a Lieutenant)
Ordnance (ordonnance)
Bugler
1 D.B.T. squad (equipe de Lance-Grenade ) with a total of 3 D.B.T.
1 sergeant
3 gunners
6 men
4 Combat Sections (groupes de combat) each of:
1 sergeant chef de groupe
1 squad (equipe fusil-mitrailleur FM ) of
1 corporal
1 gunner
4 men
1 squad (equipe de fusiliers grenadiers, FG)
1 corporal
5 men
An infantry company had in total
4 officers, 226 NCOs and men with
6 draught horses, 3 horse drawn vehicles, 1 car, 12 bicycles.
Calculating the numbers from the unit figures
Officers:1 commanding company + 3 commanding platoons = 4 officers
NCOs and men:
Company HQ platoon
Liaison, fuel and food sections = 33
Pl HQ 3 x 3 = 9
DBT section 3 x 10 = 30
Platoon infantry sections 3 x 4 x 13 = 156
TOTAL = 228
I am not sure where the additional 2 men have come from……
This all looks well and good but it differs from 2 other company organisations I have seen:
Rifle company (1940)
Erwin Sablon [email protected] for this.
http://www-solar.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/~aaro ... /belg.html
CHQ: 1 officer (pistol)
1 NCO
10 Riflemen
3 Pltns: PHQ: 1 officer
1 NCO
4 riflemen
4 Secs: 1 NCO with SMG
1 Browning automatic rifle
8 riflemen
Mort. Sec: 1 NCO
1 rifleman
3 50 mm mortars with 3 crew each
Compared with the first suggested organisation the following differences can be seen
The AMI 9 company HQ and its support platoon total 1 officer, 7 NCOs 26 men
the Rifle company (1940) has 1 officer 1 NCO and 10 men
The AMI 9 Platoon HQ has 1 Officer, 1 NCO and 2 men
Rifle company (1940) has 1 Officer, 1NCO and 4 men
In the AMI 9 platoon there are 4 sections are split into
1 of 1 NCO and 5 man with 1 LMG
1 of 1 NCO and 5 men
Total 1 LMG 2 NCOs and 10 men.
The rifle company (1940) has 4 sections, not split, with a total of 1 LMG 1 NCO and 8 men
AMI 9 Mortar section has an NCO and 9 men manning 3 D.B.T.
And the rifle company (1940) an NCO, a rifleman and 9 men manning 3 D.B.T.
There are thus differences at every point except for both having 4 officers (1 company and 3 platoon commanders)
The rifle company (1940) has a total of 4 officers and 201 men, some 27 men fewer than the AMI 9 company.
The variations are
AMI 9 rifle company (1940) AMI 9 rifle company (1940)
Company HQ + 22 1 per Co. +22
Platoon HQ +2 3 per Co. +6
Mortar section +1 1 per Co. +1
Infantry section +3 4 per Co. +12
There is also the following company organisation:
Info from The Journal of The Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers
Belgium Infantry Battalion Organisation
- Jeff Mason
http://www-solar.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/~aaro ... /belg.html
3 Rifle Companies: (4 Off, 213 Riflemen)
3 Rifle Platoons:
4 Double Sections: Light Automatic Section (6 men) 5 Rifles, 1Light/Auto + Pistol
Rifle Section (8 men) 8 Rifles, 1 Grenade Launcher/Mortar
1 MG Platoon: 2 MMG
As can be seen the total for Mason’s company lies between that of the AMI 9 company and the rifle company 1940 with the same 4 officers but 15 fewer men than AMI 9 and 14 more than rifle company 1940.
The light automatic section of Mason’s company agrees with the AMI 9 organisation and the grenade launcher section has 8 riflemen, but lacks the NCO of the rifle company 1940 organisation.
IF (a big if) the Mason organisation actually has grenade launchers rather than mortars in its second section one possibility arises. This is that the Mason organisation is for a company prior to the introduction of the D.B.T. mortar.
Initially, every rifle section had a grenade launcher (the VB) in the fusiliers grenadiers (FG) squad. However, once a regiment received its D.B.T.s, its VBs were withdrawn, leaving that unit only with the separate section of D.B.T.s. The withdrawn VBs were relegated to second-line units. The fusiliers grenadiers (FG) squad then had just riflemen in it.
The smaller size of the FG squad in the AMI 9 company organisation may be the result of moving some men from the FG squad into the new, separate, D.B.T section.
The MMG section of Mason’s company disappears in AMI 9 presumably effectively being replaced by the D.B.T. section.
Note 1: A sous officier d’elite was a rank given to all NCOs above the rank of sergeant, e.g. sergeant major, adjutant
The various questions I have been posting in the Allied and Neutral Armies section have been directed towards attempting to create and accurate organistion for various unit types and levels for the Belgian army in May 1940. Hence their appearance here rather than say the artillery section…
Any comments, corrections and help will be much appreciated
The Belgian Infantry Company
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Bob_Mackenzie
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- Joined: 22 Nov 2003, 12:02
- Location: UK
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Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
Dear Sir
A Belgian gentleman I corresponded with a while back sent be this. Unfortunately i don't have contact details or sources so FWIW...
Cheers
Bob
______________________________________________________
2) Breakdown of the Belgian Inf Coy (Compagnie d'infanterie)
A Coy is commanded by a "Capitaine-Commandant" (Kapitein-Commandant)
3 x platoons of 4 squads each Weapons:
12x (one for each squad) Browning 1930 automatic rifle, 600 rpm, Fabrique Nationale (FN)
9x (3 for each platoon) DBT rifle grenade launchers (600 m max range)
1x (yes, only one!) "pistolet mitrailleur", I think a Schmeisser 1934 but I'm not sure
Mauser 1935 rifles for the men (120 cartridges to each)
Note : There was a severe shortage of NCO's in the infantry. The shortage of officers was less acute, but
strangely enough, promotions were slow and many officers were too old for the job (old captains and
lieutenants)
Note: Chasseurs ardennais Coys had 4 Maxim HMG in addition to the above.
3) Organisation of 1st Division de Chasseurs Ardennais (the Chasseurs ardennais divisions were 100%
French-speaking units recruted locally in the Ardennes)
I will take the organisation depicted by dr Niehorster's site as a base. My first sources confirm this
organisation with the following corrections:
http://www.freeport-tech.com/WWII/021_b ... _div-ard.h tml
1. ALL 3 regimental inf bn's are cyclist (not 2 motorised and 1 cyclist as is stated on Niehorster's)
2. A Cha ardennais bn has 3 inf Coys with 4 MG's each, while the regular infantry Bn has 3 Inf Coys
without MG's but with an additional MG Coy (12xMaxim HMG).
3. The regimental motorised Atk Coy has 8 x T-13, not 9
4. The three armored cars in the regimental motorcycle company are T-15's
Note : On may 10-12, The 1st Chasseurs ardennais div. Had no artillery (its artillery regt had been sent
North to Eben Emael). The 2nd Chasseurs ardennais division had no T-13's.
4) Belgian mortars
I think I have solved the problem. It seems we were all right.
The Belgians did indeed use the old German 76 mm mortar (designated as M-76), but they also used a
newer version produced by the Fabrique Royale de Canons and designated 76 FRC. The range of the
M-76 was 2300 m. The shells weighed 4.46 kg. The mortars were mounted on a wheels but they were true
mortars. Each regt had one mortar Coy with 8 x M-76 or 8 x 76 FRC. Second reserve divisions (divisions
numbered 13 through 18) didn't have any mortars.
This page has a b&w picture of the thing !
http://www.mil.be/landmacht/paginas/een ... rchagb.htm
I haven't been able to find anything about Belgian 76 mm infantry guns but each Infantry divisions had 9
artillery batteries of 75 mm guns and those have been used in close support on several occasions.
5) Sources
La Campagne de l'Armée belge en 1940, de Fabribeckers, éditions Rossel, 1978 Histoire de l'armée belge,
Tome 2, Centre de documentation historique des Forces Armées, 1988
____
Concerning 1st Chasseurs ardennais, when I said the armored cars were T-15'
s, I meant to say the motorcycle company in each REGIMENT had 3 x T-15. That
's 9 x T-15 for the whole division.
I didn't mean to say the DIVISIONAL recon company also had T-15's.
Niehorster says it is equipped with 9 x armored cars. My sources do not
mention that recon unit when they deal with the distribution of T-15's and
T-13's among the various divisions. I'm pretty sure it did NOT have any T-13
's as the T-13 was considered a motorised anti-tank weapon, not an armored
car. I would not be surprised if that recon Coy was all cyclist, like in the
regular infantry divisions.
If we leave out the divisional recon Coy, our sources agree : each Cha regt
had 3x T-15, making a total of 9 for the division.
About the T-13, my Belgian sources say each Cha regt of the 1st Cha division
had an AT Coy with 8 x T-13 so that's 24 to the division.
Infantry divisions :
Not all infantry divisions were equipped with the T-13. According to this
source :
http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/bel/Belgium.htm
and Fabribeckers, the following divisions were equipped with one Coy of 12x
T-13's each :
Divisions 1-4 and 7-11
Note :
* Inf divisions numbered 1-12 had 1x Coy of 12x towed 47 mm FRC ATG's to
each regt (That's 36 ATG's to the division)
* Divisions 13-18 had not ATG or T-13 at all
In addition, some border cyclist regiments were also equiped with a T13 Coy.
PS
Even Belgian sources do not agree !!
Bernard Vanden Bloock
A Belgian gentleman I corresponded with a while back sent be this. Unfortunately i don't have contact details or sources so FWIW...
Cheers
Bob
______________________________________________________
2) Breakdown of the Belgian Inf Coy (Compagnie d'infanterie)
A Coy is commanded by a "Capitaine-Commandant" (Kapitein-Commandant)
3 x platoons of 4 squads each Weapons:
12x (one for each squad) Browning 1930 automatic rifle, 600 rpm, Fabrique Nationale (FN)
9x (3 for each platoon) DBT rifle grenade launchers (600 m max range)
1x (yes, only one!) "pistolet mitrailleur", I think a Schmeisser 1934 but I'm not sure
Mauser 1935 rifles for the men (120 cartridges to each)
Note : There was a severe shortage of NCO's in the infantry. The shortage of officers was less acute, but
strangely enough, promotions were slow and many officers were too old for the job (old captains and
lieutenants)
Note: Chasseurs ardennais Coys had 4 Maxim HMG in addition to the above.
3) Organisation of 1st Division de Chasseurs Ardennais (the Chasseurs ardennais divisions were 100%
French-speaking units recruted locally in the Ardennes)
I will take the organisation depicted by dr Niehorster's site as a base. My first sources confirm this
organisation with the following corrections:
http://www.freeport-tech.com/WWII/021_b ... _div-ard.h tml
1. ALL 3 regimental inf bn's are cyclist (not 2 motorised and 1 cyclist as is stated on Niehorster's)
2. A Cha ardennais bn has 3 inf Coys with 4 MG's each, while the regular infantry Bn has 3 Inf Coys
without MG's but with an additional MG Coy (12xMaxim HMG).
3. The regimental motorised Atk Coy has 8 x T-13, not 9
4. The three armored cars in the regimental motorcycle company are T-15's
Note : On may 10-12, The 1st Chasseurs ardennais div. Had no artillery (its artillery regt had been sent
North to Eben Emael). The 2nd Chasseurs ardennais division had no T-13's.
4) Belgian mortars
I think I have solved the problem. It seems we were all right.
The Belgians did indeed use the old German 76 mm mortar (designated as M-76), but they also used a
newer version produced by the Fabrique Royale de Canons and designated 76 FRC. The range of the
M-76 was 2300 m. The shells weighed 4.46 kg. The mortars were mounted on a wheels but they were true
mortars. Each regt had one mortar Coy with 8 x M-76 or 8 x 76 FRC. Second reserve divisions (divisions
numbered 13 through 18) didn't have any mortars.
This page has a b&w picture of the thing !
http://www.mil.be/landmacht/paginas/een ... rchagb.htm
I haven't been able to find anything about Belgian 76 mm infantry guns but each Infantry divisions had 9
artillery batteries of 75 mm guns and those have been used in close support on several occasions.
5) Sources
La Campagne de l'Armée belge en 1940, de Fabribeckers, éditions Rossel, 1978 Histoire de l'armée belge,
Tome 2, Centre de documentation historique des Forces Armées, 1988
____
Concerning 1st Chasseurs ardennais, when I said the armored cars were T-15'
s, I meant to say the motorcycle company in each REGIMENT had 3 x T-15. That
's 9 x T-15 for the whole division.
I didn't mean to say the DIVISIONAL recon company also had T-15's.
Niehorster says it is equipped with 9 x armored cars. My sources do not
mention that recon unit when they deal with the distribution of T-15's and
T-13's among the various divisions. I'm pretty sure it did NOT have any T-13
's as the T-13 was considered a motorised anti-tank weapon, not an armored
car. I would not be surprised if that recon Coy was all cyclist, like in the
regular infantry divisions.
If we leave out the divisional recon Coy, our sources agree : each Cha regt
had 3x T-15, making a total of 9 for the division.
About the T-13, my Belgian sources say each Cha regt of the 1st Cha division
had an AT Coy with 8 x T-13 so that's 24 to the division.
Infantry divisions :
Not all infantry divisions were equipped with the T-13. According to this
source :
http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/bel/Belgium.htm
and Fabribeckers, the following divisions were equipped with one Coy of 12x
T-13's each :
Divisions 1-4 and 7-11
Note :
* Inf divisions numbered 1-12 had 1x Coy of 12x towed 47 mm FRC ATG's to
each regt (That's 36 ATG's to the division)
* Divisions 13-18 had not ATG or T-13 at all
In addition, some border cyclist regiments were also equiped with a T13 Coy.
PS
Even Belgian sources do not agree !!
Bernard Vanden Bloock
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
Nice to know the Belgian sources are at times as confused as I am! I will take some time to study your interesting post and see where this takes me. I will also see what I can find on the topic of Belgians use of sub machine guns, I seem to remember reading something somewhere...
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
hello,
This is how a typical first grade "line" infantry regiment is organized just before the out break of WW2:
- Regimental staff company
- Three battalions with each:
- three rifle companies
- one MG company
- One heavy weapons battalion with:
- one MG company
- one anti-tank gun company (C47)
- one mortar company (M76)
- one reconnaissance platoon
- One medic company (its members devided in all units of the regiment)
I battalion : 1st company (rifle) 2nd company (rifle) 3th company (rifle) 4th company (MG)
II battalion: 5th company (rifle) 6th company (rifle) 7th company (rifle) 8th company (MG)
III battallion: 9th company (rifle) 10th company (rifle) 11th company (rifle) 12th company (MG)
IV battalion: 13th company (MG) 14th company (Anti-tank) 15th company (mortar)
My source: the offical history of the 5th line regiment
& my personal research about this unit in the Belgian army archives (CDH) in Evere.
+ my personal archive & personal conversations with several veterans.
I hope it helps.
Cheers,
Peter
This is how a typical first grade "line" infantry regiment is organized just before the out break of WW2:
- Regimental staff company
- Three battalions with each:
- three rifle companies
- one MG company
- One heavy weapons battalion with:
- one MG company
- one anti-tank gun company (C47)
- one mortar company (M76)
- one reconnaissance platoon
- One medic company (its members devided in all units of the regiment)
I battalion : 1st company (rifle) 2nd company (rifle) 3th company (rifle) 4th company (MG)
II battalion: 5th company (rifle) 6th company (rifle) 7th company (rifle) 8th company (MG)
III battallion: 9th company (rifle) 10th company (rifle) 11th company (rifle) 12th company (MG)
IV battalion: 13th company (MG) 14th company (Anti-tank) 15th company (mortar)
My source: the offical history of the 5th line regiment
& my personal research about this unit in the Belgian army archives (CDH) in Evere.
+ my personal archive & personal conversations with several veterans.
I hope it helps.
Cheers,
Peter
-
Bob_Mackenzie
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: 22 Nov 2003, 12:02
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
Interesting. Was the recce platoon on foot? Mounted or perhaps bicycles?
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
hello Bob,
The recce platoon was (in theory) made up of 1 officer and 48 men.
Their vehicles (in theory): 1 car, 10 motor-cycles & 34 bicycle.
Cheers,
Peter
The recce platoon was (in theory) made up of 1 officer and 48 men.
Their vehicles (in theory): 1 car, 10 motor-cycles & 34 bicycle.
Cheers,
Peter
-
Bob_Mackenzie
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: 22 Nov 2003, 12:02
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
The recce platoon was divided into
HQ:
1 Officer + 1 man (ordnance)+ driver in a motorcycle and sidecar
1 mechanic on a motorcycle
2 men and a driver in a light truck
2 cyclist groups each of:
1 NCO
2 squads each of 1 NCO and 7 men
1 motorcyclist group:
2 NCOs 6 men all on motorbikes
HQ:
1 Officer + 1 man (ordnance)+ driver in a motorcycle and sidecar
1 mechanic on a motorcycle
2 men and a driver in a light truck
2 cyclist groups each of:
1 NCO
2 squads each of 1 NCO and 7 men
1 motorcyclist group:
2 NCOs 6 men all on motorbikes
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
The additional 2 men were warrant officers (?) serving as the company CO's staff, they are listed as being a "sous officier d'elite" and a "sous officier d'elite comptable".daveh wrote:The Belgian Infantry Company
Each company had:
company commander (e.g. a Captain)
1 support Platoon consisting of:
Liaison section (echelon) with 1 sous-officier d’elite (note 1), 2 corporals, 8 men
Fuel and ammo section (echelon) with 1 sergeant and 10 men
Food, equipment and baggage section (echelon) with 1 sous-officier d’elite, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 8 men
3 Platoons (peloton de fusiliers) each with
Platoon HQ:
Platoon commander (e.g. a Lieutenant)
Ordnance (ordonnance)
Bugler
1 D.B.T. squad (equipe de Lance-Grenade ) with a total of 3 D.B.T.
1 sergeant
3 gunners
6 men
4 Combat Sections (groupes de combat) each of:
1 sergeant chef de groupe
1 squad (equipe fusil-mitrailleur FM ) of
1 corporal
1 gunner
4 men
1 squad (equipe de fusiliers grenadiers, FG)
1 corporal
5 men
An infantry company had in total
4 officers, 226 NCOs and men with
6 draught horses, 3 horse drawn vehicles, 1 car, 12 bicycles.
Calculating the numbers from the unit figures
Officers:1 commanding company + 3 commanding platoons = 4 officers
NCOs and men:
Company HQ platoon
Liaison, fuel and food sections = 33
Pl HQ 3 x 3 = 9
DBT section 3 x 10 = 30
Platoon infantry sections 3 x 4 x 13 = 156
TOTAL = 228
I am not sure where the additional 2 men have come from……
Remco
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
Belgian infatry Company active
COMPAGNIES DE FUSILIERS
(ACTIVE: 4 + 19 + 207 = 230 H)
PELOTON HORS RANG (CLASSE DE COMPLEMENT 1936)
(ACTIVE: 1 + 4 + 30 = 35 H)
1er ECHELON LIAISONS (1 + 1 + 10 = 12 H)
Commandement (1 + 1 + 2 = 4 H)
1 Commandant ou capitaine: commandant de compagnie (pistolet GP + vélo + lampe de poche)
1 Sous-officier d’élite: adjoint & instructeur (pistolet GP + hachette à marteau)
2 Soldats: ordonnance (mitraillette MP + pelle) + aide-comptable (mitraillette MP + pelle + vélo)
Transmissions (0 + 0 + 5 = 5 H)
1 Caporal: transmissions (fusil FN + pince coupe-fil pliante + vélo)
4 Soldats: téléphonistes-signaleurs (fusil FN + pelle)
Observation (0 + 0 + 3 = 3 H)
1 Caporal: observation (fusil FN à lunette + hachette à marteau + vélo)
2 Soldats: observateurs (fusil FN à lunette + pelle + vélo)
2e ECHELON RAVITAILLEMENT EN MUNITIONS OU ECHELON DE COMBAT (0 + 1 + 11 = 12 H)
1 Sergent: munitions (fusil FN + hachette à marteau)
2 Soldats: 1 conducteur (fusil FN) + 1 armurier (fusil FN)
9 Soldats: 9 ravitailleurs (fusil FN + pelle + 2 sacs à grenades DBT sur la voiture de combat pendant la marche)
2 Chevaux de trait + 1 voiture hippomobile (combat)
3e ECHELON VIVRES-OUVRIERS-BAGAGES (0 + 2 + 9 = 11 H)
1 Sous-officier d’élite: adjoint & comptable (pistolet GP)
1 Sergent: fourrier & aide-comptable (fusil FN + vélo)
5 Soldats: 1 chauffeur (pistolet FN) + 2 conducteurs (fusil FN) + 1 cordonnier (fusil FN) + 1 tailleur (fusil FN)
1 Caporal: ordinaire & cuisine (fusil FN + vélo) + 3 Soldats: 1 chef cuisinier (fusil FN + vélo) + 2 cuisiniers (fusil FN + 2 serpes)
4 Chevaux de trait + 2 voitures hippomobiles (cuisine roulante + fourragère à vivres & archives)
1 Camion lourd (porte-sacs)
ORGANISATION DE LA COMPAGNIE DE FUSILIERS (4 + 19 + 207 = 230 H)
Peloton hors rang (classe 1936): commandant ou capitaine (1 + 4 + 30 = 35 H)
1er Peloton de fusiliers (classe 1939): lieutenant ou sous-lieutenant (1 + 5 + 59 = 65 H)
2e Peloton de fusiliers (classe 1938): lieutenant ou sous-lieutenant (1 + 5 + 59 = 65 H)
3e Peloton de fusiliers (classe 1937): lieutenant ou sous-lieutenant (1 + 5 + 59 = 65 H)
EQUIPEMENT DE LA COMPAGNIE DE FUSILIERS (ACTIVE)
Armement & charroi & outillage & munitions
Armement
9 Lance-grenades DBT-50 (calibre 50)
6 Pistolets lance-fusées Hebel (calibre 26,65)
1 Pistolet FN-1910 ou 1910/22 (calibre 7,65 court modèle Browning/ACP)
30 Pistolets Browning GP-35 + 2 mitraillettes Pieper MP-1934 (calibre 9 modèle parabellum)
12 Fusils-mitrailleurs FM-1930 + 3 fusils FN-1935/36 à lunette + 182 fusils FN-1935/36 (calibre 7,65 long modèle-1930)
Charroi
Cie: 2 chevaux de trait + 1 voiture hippomobile (combat) + 12 vélos
CT: 1 camion lourd (porte-sacs) + 4 chevaux de trait + 2 voitures hippomobiles (cuisine roulante + fourragère à vivres & archives)
Outillage
182 Pelles d’infanterie + 18 hachettes à marteau + 13 pinces coupe-fil + 2 serpes
Munitions (emportées par les fantassins du peloton hors-rang)
- Par pistolet GP-1935: 39 cartouches 9 modèle parabellum (3 chargeurs de 13 cartouches)
- Par mitraillette Pieper MP-1934: 224 cartouches 9 modèle parabellum (7 chargeurs de 32 cartouches)
- Par pistolet FN-1910 ou 1910/22: 21 cartouches 7,65 court modèle ACP (3 chargeurs de 7 cartouches)
- Par fusil FN-1935/36 (autres): 60 cartouches 7,65 modèle-1930 (4 paquets de 3 lames-chargeurs de 5 cartouches)
- Par fusil FN-1935/36 (équipe FM): 30 cartouches 7,65 modèle-1930 (2 paquets de 3 lames-chargeurs de 5 cartouches)
Matériel embarqué dans les véhicules de la compagnie
Voiture de combat (1.700 Kg)
Avant-train: - Périscope «Carvallo» + filet de camouflage 5 x 5 m (soldat aide-comptable)
(620 Kg) - 2 Paires de jumelles d’infanterie + 2 boussoles + 2 jeux de fanions + 4 disques (soldats TS n° 1 et 2)
- Lampe de poche & 2 carnets de message (caporal TS) + 2 lanternes de 130 mm type I (soldats TS n° 3 et 4)
- Jumelles d’artillerie + boussole + lampe à signaux + carnet de messages + carnet de croquis & calques (caporal observateur)
- Jumelles d’artillerie & boussole (soldat observateur n° 1) + planchette pliante, rapporteur, double décimètre (soldat observateur n°2)
- 9 Lance-grenades «DBT-50» + 4 jeux de cartes de Belgique au 1:40.000 + 2 carnets de message (réserve) + 8 batteries pour lanternes
- Jumelles d’artillerie + boussole + planchette pliante + carnet croquis + carnet campagne + carnet messages + crayons + gomme (commandant)
Arrière-train: - 240 Grenades «DBT» (??? explosives + ?? signalisations + ?? éclairantes avec parachute)
(1.080 Kg) - 200 Grenades «OF» (4 caisses de 50 pièces) + 200 allumeurs «OF» (4 caissettes de 50 pièces)
- Outillage de la voiture (1 pelle à manche + 1 pioche) + 12 maillets de tente + matériel de pansage des chevaux
- 33 Havresacs de combat (12 tireurs FM + 12 premiers pourvoyeurs FM + 9 ravitailleurs) + armes & bagages du conducteur
- 160 Fusées éclairantes Hebel sans parachute (2 caisses) + 128 feux de Bengale + 7.920 cartouches 7,65 modèle-1930 (528 paquets de 15 cartouches)
Cuisine roulante
- Deux réserves dans les flancs (papier + bois + charbon)
- Armoires pour batterie de cuisine + ingrédients + accessoires (bidons + louches + pelle + scie)
- 1 Chaudière à bois avec cheminée fixe + four + 2 cuves chauffantes pour marmites de 150 L + 2 bidons thermos sur le timon
Fourragère à vivres & archives
- Citerne à eau potable & petits vivres
- Rations d’avoine de réserve pour chaque cheval de l’unité
- 15 Paires de bottes en caoutchouc + 200 caleçons de bain
- Une ration complète de vivres de réserve (biscuits & viande conservée)
- Le complément non distribué de la ration du sac (biscuits & viande conservée)
- La partie non distribuée de la ration de vivres frais du jour (pain & viande cuite)
- Eventuellement la ration complète des aliments frais du lendemain (pain & viande cuite)
- Réserve d’effets + cantines officiers + archives de l’unité + réserve d’imprimés (coffre administratif)
- Graisses (armes & outillage & chaussures & cuirs & oléonaphte) + petit matériel de réparation + trousses d’ouvriers (cordonnier & tailleur)
- Outillage supplémentaire (12 pinces coupe fil + 6 commandes de 4,5 m + 6 hachettes à marteau + 3 pelles à manche + 3 pioches + 3 scies articulées + 3 scies à main + 2 limes tiers-point + 1 hache + 1 pince rosette + 1 tournevis + 1 tricoises + seaux en toile + sacs + lanternes)
Camion lourd porte-sacs
- Bagages des officiers & adjudants + sacs à bagages individuels (sacs bleus)
- Cantines des officiers et adjudants + sacs à tente des hommes de la compagnie
Organes de ravitaillement
- Service de Santé (échelon Bn): poste de secours du bataillon organisé par l’officier médecin du bataillon (500 à 1.000 m en arrière du front).
- Service des munitions (échelon Bn): lieu de ravitaillement du bataillon organisé par l’officier ravitailleur du bataillon (1 Km en arrière du front).
- Administration & habillement (échelon Rgt): dépend de la compagnie état-major régimentaire (à l’emplacement du P.C. de régiment)
- Service des bagages (échelon Rgt): peloton d’équipages régimentaire dirigé par l’officier matériel du régiment (2 Km en arrière du front)
- Service de l’alimentation (échelon Rgt): lieu de rassemblement des vivres régimentaires organisé par un officier du C.T. (2 Km en arrière du front)
COMPAGNIES DE FUSILIERS
(ACTIVE: 4 + 19 + 207 = 230 H)
PELOTON HORS RANG (CLASSE DE COMPLEMENT 1936)
(ACTIVE: 1 + 4 + 30 = 35 H)
1er ECHELON LIAISONS (1 + 1 + 10 = 12 H)
Commandement (1 + 1 + 2 = 4 H)
1 Commandant ou capitaine: commandant de compagnie (pistolet GP + vélo + lampe de poche)
1 Sous-officier d’élite: adjoint & instructeur (pistolet GP + hachette à marteau)
2 Soldats: ordonnance (mitraillette MP + pelle) + aide-comptable (mitraillette MP + pelle + vélo)
Transmissions (0 + 0 + 5 = 5 H)
1 Caporal: transmissions (fusil FN + pince coupe-fil pliante + vélo)
4 Soldats: téléphonistes-signaleurs (fusil FN + pelle)
Observation (0 + 0 + 3 = 3 H)
1 Caporal: observation (fusil FN à lunette + hachette à marteau + vélo)
2 Soldats: observateurs (fusil FN à lunette + pelle + vélo)
2e ECHELON RAVITAILLEMENT EN MUNITIONS OU ECHELON DE COMBAT (0 + 1 + 11 = 12 H)
1 Sergent: munitions (fusil FN + hachette à marteau)
2 Soldats: 1 conducteur (fusil FN) + 1 armurier (fusil FN)
9 Soldats: 9 ravitailleurs (fusil FN + pelle + 2 sacs à grenades DBT sur la voiture de combat pendant la marche)
2 Chevaux de trait + 1 voiture hippomobile (combat)
3e ECHELON VIVRES-OUVRIERS-BAGAGES (0 + 2 + 9 = 11 H)
1 Sous-officier d’élite: adjoint & comptable (pistolet GP)
1 Sergent: fourrier & aide-comptable (fusil FN + vélo)
5 Soldats: 1 chauffeur (pistolet FN) + 2 conducteurs (fusil FN) + 1 cordonnier (fusil FN) + 1 tailleur (fusil FN)
1 Caporal: ordinaire & cuisine (fusil FN + vélo) + 3 Soldats: 1 chef cuisinier (fusil FN + vélo) + 2 cuisiniers (fusil FN + 2 serpes)
4 Chevaux de trait + 2 voitures hippomobiles (cuisine roulante + fourragère à vivres & archives)
1 Camion lourd (porte-sacs)
ORGANISATION DE LA COMPAGNIE DE FUSILIERS (4 + 19 + 207 = 230 H)
Peloton hors rang (classe 1936): commandant ou capitaine (1 + 4 + 30 = 35 H)
1er Peloton de fusiliers (classe 1939): lieutenant ou sous-lieutenant (1 + 5 + 59 = 65 H)
2e Peloton de fusiliers (classe 1938): lieutenant ou sous-lieutenant (1 + 5 + 59 = 65 H)
3e Peloton de fusiliers (classe 1937): lieutenant ou sous-lieutenant (1 + 5 + 59 = 65 H)
EQUIPEMENT DE LA COMPAGNIE DE FUSILIERS (ACTIVE)
Armement & charroi & outillage & munitions
Armement
9 Lance-grenades DBT-50 (calibre 50)
6 Pistolets lance-fusées Hebel (calibre 26,65)
1 Pistolet FN-1910 ou 1910/22 (calibre 7,65 court modèle Browning/ACP)
30 Pistolets Browning GP-35 + 2 mitraillettes Pieper MP-1934 (calibre 9 modèle parabellum)
12 Fusils-mitrailleurs FM-1930 + 3 fusils FN-1935/36 à lunette + 182 fusils FN-1935/36 (calibre 7,65 long modèle-1930)
Charroi
Cie: 2 chevaux de trait + 1 voiture hippomobile (combat) + 12 vélos
CT: 1 camion lourd (porte-sacs) + 4 chevaux de trait + 2 voitures hippomobiles (cuisine roulante + fourragère à vivres & archives)
Outillage
182 Pelles d’infanterie + 18 hachettes à marteau + 13 pinces coupe-fil + 2 serpes
Munitions (emportées par les fantassins du peloton hors-rang)
- Par pistolet GP-1935: 39 cartouches 9 modèle parabellum (3 chargeurs de 13 cartouches)
- Par mitraillette Pieper MP-1934: 224 cartouches 9 modèle parabellum (7 chargeurs de 32 cartouches)
- Par pistolet FN-1910 ou 1910/22: 21 cartouches 7,65 court modèle ACP (3 chargeurs de 7 cartouches)
- Par fusil FN-1935/36 (autres): 60 cartouches 7,65 modèle-1930 (4 paquets de 3 lames-chargeurs de 5 cartouches)
- Par fusil FN-1935/36 (équipe FM): 30 cartouches 7,65 modèle-1930 (2 paquets de 3 lames-chargeurs de 5 cartouches)
Matériel embarqué dans les véhicules de la compagnie
Voiture de combat (1.700 Kg)
Avant-train: - Périscope «Carvallo» + filet de camouflage 5 x 5 m (soldat aide-comptable)
(620 Kg) - 2 Paires de jumelles d’infanterie + 2 boussoles + 2 jeux de fanions + 4 disques (soldats TS n° 1 et 2)
- Lampe de poche & 2 carnets de message (caporal TS) + 2 lanternes de 130 mm type I (soldats TS n° 3 et 4)
- Jumelles d’artillerie + boussole + lampe à signaux + carnet de messages + carnet de croquis & calques (caporal observateur)
- Jumelles d’artillerie & boussole (soldat observateur n° 1) + planchette pliante, rapporteur, double décimètre (soldat observateur n°2)
- 9 Lance-grenades «DBT-50» + 4 jeux de cartes de Belgique au 1:40.000 + 2 carnets de message (réserve) + 8 batteries pour lanternes
- Jumelles d’artillerie + boussole + planchette pliante + carnet croquis + carnet campagne + carnet messages + crayons + gomme (commandant)
Arrière-train: - 240 Grenades «DBT» (??? explosives + ?? signalisations + ?? éclairantes avec parachute)
(1.080 Kg) - 200 Grenades «OF» (4 caisses de 50 pièces) + 200 allumeurs «OF» (4 caissettes de 50 pièces)
- Outillage de la voiture (1 pelle à manche + 1 pioche) + 12 maillets de tente + matériel de pansage des chevaux
- 33 Havresacs de combat (12 tireurs FM + 12 premiers pourvoyeurs FM + 9 ravitailleurs) + armes & bagages du conducteur
- 160 Fusées éclairantes Hebel sans parachute (2 caisses) + 128 feux de Bengale + 7.920 cartouches 7,65 modèle-1930 (528 paquets de 15 cartouches)
Cuisine roulante
- Deux réserves dans les flancs (papier + bois + charbon)
- Armoires pour batterie de cuisine + ingrédients + accessoires (bidons + louches + pelle + scie)
- 1 Chaudière à bois avec cheminée fixe + four + 2 cuves chauffantes pour marmites de 150 L + 2 bidons thermos sur le timon
Fourragère à vivres & archives
- Citerne à eau potable & petits vivres
- Rations d’avoine de réserve pour chaque cheval de l’unité
- 15 Paires de bottes en caoutchouc + 200 caleçons de bain
- Une ration complète de vivres de réserve (biscuits & viande conservée)
- Le complément non distribué de la ration du sac (biscuits & viande conservée)
- La partie non distribuée de la ration de vivres frais du jour (pain & viande cuite)
- Eventuellement la ration complète des aliments frais du lendemain (pain & viande cuite)
- Réserve d’effets + cantines officiers + archives de l’unité + réserve d’imprimés (coffre administratif)
- Graisses (armes & outillage & chaussures & cuirs & oléonaphte) + petit matériel de réparation + trousses d’ouvriers (cordonnier & tailleur)
- Outillage supplémentaire (12 pinces coupe fil + 6 commandes de 4,5 m + 6 hachettes à marteau + 3 pelles à manche + 3 pioches + 3 scies articulées + 3 scies à main + 2 limes tiers-point + 1 hache + 1 pince rosette + 1 tournevis + 1 tricoises + seaux en toile + sacs + lanternes)
Camion lourd porte-sacs
- Bagages des officiers & adjudants + sacs à bagages individuels (sacs bleus)
- Cantines des officiers et adjudants + sacs à tente des hommes de la compagnie
Organes de ravitaillement
- Service de Santé (échelon Bn): poste de secours du bataillon organisé par l’officier médecin du bataillon (500 à 1.000 m en arrière du front).
- Service des munitions (échelon Bn): lieu de ravitaillement du bataillon organisé par l’officier ravitailleur du bataillon (1 Km en arrière du front).
- Administration & habillement (échelon Rgt): dépend de la compagnie état-major régimentaire (à l’emplacement du P.C. de régiment)
- Service des bagages (échelon Rgt): peloton d’équipages régimentaire dirigé par l’officier matériel du régiment (2 Km en arrière du front)
- Service de l’alimentation (échelon Rgt): lieu de rassemblement des vivres régimentaires organisé par un officier du C.T. (2 Km en arrière du front)
Re: The Belgian Infantry Company
Rather an old post, but does anyone know how this TOE might compare to the Force Publique in Abyssinia in 1941?