WesWorld

Theory

Definitions
- Doctrine: The French Army defines "doctrine" as the official high-level view of the nature of future conflicts, on the national state of military preparedness, and the armed forces' means of waging war. Under the current definition, doctrine does not cover tactical situations, although the word is often mis-used for this purpose.
- Military Art: The study of preparing and conducting combat actions in the battle-space.
- Strategy: The preparation of the armed forces and the nation for war. In contrast to Doctrine, Strategy attempts to solve concrete problems within a methodology established by the national Doctrine.
- Operational Art: The methodology of ordering and arranging forces and battles to achieve a strategic goal.
- Tactics: The methodology of arranging and employing units, subunits, and formations in combat. Always refers to units of division size or smaller.
- Unit: A small combined-arms force. This usually refers to a regiment, demi-brigade, or brigade.
- Sub-unit: A small unit composed of primarily one arm of a service (i.e. Infantry, Armour, etc). Generally refers to a battalion or smaller. (Some French battalions incorporate combined arms doctrine; and many units of the Armoured Cavalry Branch are designated 'regiments' even though they are battalion-sized. Thus the observer needs to exercise caution when regarding any particular military body.)
- Formation: A combined-arms force composed of several Units. (Generally a division or occasionally a brigade.)
- Battlespace: All zones of possible military operation: air, land, and sea.
- Battle Area: The zone of combat. While this may be termed the "front line" by other armies, the French increasingly believe in a gradation of control between friendly and hostile terrains.

General Principles of Tactics
The General Principles have been laid out elsewhere, and so this section identifies only overarching principles. In all cases, they are identified primarily as decision-making tools to aid a commanding officer in rapidly assessing a situation, swiftly determining on a course, and allowing immediate and understandable communication to one's superior and junior officers.

- Unity: Subunits, units and formations must maintain a unity of purpose through active and effective communication, command, and control. Basically, unity is designed to ensure the entire force fights the same battle as a coherent and effective body.
- Depth: The principle of engaging the enemy throughout the battle zone using all forces at the formation's disposal (air, armor, artillery, infantry, etc).
- Aggressiveness: Activity of purpose. An attacking unit is expected to portray aggressiveness in achieving victory, while a defending unit is expected to employ aggressiveness to lure the enemy into ambushes and battlefield situations enabling decisive counterattack.
- Surprise: Seeking out an aspect unforseen by the enemy (direction of advance, strength, timing, nature of an attack) and using it to catch the enemy in an unfavorable situation leading to their destruction.
- Mass: The concentration of forces at the time and place of an attack to achieve decision.
- Maneuver: The principle of using aggressive movement to focus mass in the battle area to achieve surprise.
- Combined Arms: A system of mutually-supporting types of units which aid each other in achieving the goals of the force. I.E., tanks require infantry, which require anti-tank support. Tanks require artillery and air support to suppress anti-tank forces.

Engagement
March Formations
The French Army moves primarily in "march formations", which are in turn divided into two different patterns: Administrative, and Expectant.

In Administrative March Formation, the march formation does not expect contact with an enemy, be it long-range artillery or strike aircraft. Oftentimes this is focused around transport by rail, airlift, or sealift resources.

In Expectant March Formation, movement is conducted under a high state of alert, with the deployment of security elements. When speed is essential and the enemy threat is light, a force shall deploy into this formation.

A division moving in expectant march formation may use anywhere from two to four march routes spread out across up to twenty-five kilometers of frontage. Reconnaissance elements may advance up to a hundred kilometers forward of the main body.

Behind the lead reconnaissance elements, but ahead of the main body, is the Forward Detachment, which is tasked with seizing crucial terrain, finding routes for the main body, and raiding exposed enemy assets if possible. It is in this role that the French heavily employ dedicated Reconnaissance Regiments, which mix motorized light infantry and armoured cars in up to three battalion-sized combined arms units. In forces lacking Reconnaissance Regiments, the Forward Detachment will often be a battalion drawn from a regiment in the second echelon of the march formation.

The Main Body is composed of two echelons. The first echelon or Advanced Guard is generally one regiment in strength, and in turn deploys a battalion-sized Forward Security Element ahead of itself to undertake screening against enemy reconnaissance elements and other security tasks. (In turn, the Forward Security Element sends squad or platoon-sized patrols up to five kilometers forward of itself.)

The second echelon consists of all of the division's remaining regiments - generally two to three in number, as well as the majority of support units.

In all cases, both the first and second-echelon regiments are responsible for deploying flank security elements, ranging from platoon to company size, as well as a Rear Security Element, likewise of company size.

The consistent theme of the Expectant March Formation, impressed upon all officers at all levels of the force, is an emphasis on finding the enemy first, permitting the formation time to react and maneuver after gaining contact. In theory, the Forward Security Element may engage to fix an enemy force in place to be outflanked and attacked by the Advanced Guard; which then allows the use of the Main Body, and then the Second Echelon.

Pre-Battle Formation
When a division expects to come into imminent contact with the enemy, the constituent units shift into Pre-Battle Formation. In general, this shift results in a unit moving from a one-column march formation into more numerous march columns. The divisional battle-drill gives rough estimates for when each type of force should shift to Pre-Battle Formation. For instance, battalion-sized units are suggested to shift at 4-6 kilometers from the enemy's forward positions. However, these distances are emphasized to be guidelines rather than strict requirements, and the commanding officer is required to select the appropriate distance based on terrain and other factors.

Meeting Engagement
In light of the focus on moving in March Formations and upon maneuver in general, a great deal of emphasis is placed on preparing units and subunits for meeting enemy units engaged in similar missions. In these cases, junior officers are pressured to make decisive and bold decisions in uncertain situations, acting within the spirit of aggressiveness. The general concept is always toward finding a way to fix the enemy in place with initial forces, outflank them with supporting elements, and then exploit success wherever possible.

In an ideal situation, the French Army would prefer to defeat the enemy entirely through a series of meeting engagements, but it is recognized that this is rarely possible.

Attack
In the event an advancing friendly force encounters a static enemy formation, the division changes to the attack mode. The division commander selects a route to attempt a breakthrough, keeping in mind the principles of mass and surprise. All of the division's major resources are focused on destroying the defending enemy at the point of the breakthrough and in the depths behind that point. Corps and Army-level assets (principally artillery) are expected to commit to these efforts on a major scale.

In general, units are expected to engage enemy forces one size smaller than themselves. Thus, a regiment will be tasked with destroying an enemy battalion, while a company will be tasked with destroying an enemy platoon. The commitment to maneuver is intended to create this favorable ratio.

Throughout the attack, though particularly at the time and place of the initial assault, division and corps-level firepower is used on a massive scale to shatter enemy defenses, demoralize the enemy, and suppress enemy defenders during the opening stages of the assault. Artillery, tanks, and infantry are drilled to operate in close concert, with the latter two elements advancing as soon as the former ceases firing. Increasingly, the French Army has been attracted to the use of Russian-style artillery rockets to deliver massive firepower in a short period of time.

After achieving a breakthrough, the division shifts back into Pre-Battle Formation to conduct pursuit. The objective in this stage is to prevent an enemy force from conducting an orderly withdrawal and regaining their footing. Where possible, mobile forces will attempt to outrun a fleeing enemy and cut off their retreat in order to ensure their destruction. Where available, paratroops may be dropped along the line of the enemy's retreat in order to seize blocking terrain, whether to ensure the destruction of enemy forces or prevent the friendly advance from bogging down.

If an attacking formation has suffered too many materiel casualties during the breakthrough, the success may be exploited either by the division's second echelon or by the corps-level second echelon, equipped with extensive fire and logistical support based on the requirements of the situation.

Defense
Defense is not seen as decisive form of combat, but a very useful one, so long as it is designed to achieve the goals of maneuver and aggressiveness. The goal of a defensive operation is to delay the enemy, attrite their forces, and allow time for friendly maneuver elements to respond and counterattack.

The French Army classifies two different methods of defense. The first is Defense In Contact. In this method, friendly forces are being actively engaged by an enemy force attempting to achieve a breakthrough. The second method is Defense Out of Contact.

In general, Defense In Contact is expected to occur in the aftermath of a failed attack on an enemy force. The unit's lead elements assume a defensive line on the best available ground while the Main Body withdraws and regroups in order to establish a main line of defense, to which the lead element can then safely withdraw.

Defense Out of Contact divides the battle area into several zones. The foremost of these, the security zone, may be quite deep, with a (preferably motorized) infantry battalion fighting in prepared positions of the platoon size. Each position receives supporting fire from the ones behind it, and in the event a withdrawal is required, the rearward positions help cover the retreat. Where possible, enemy attacks should culminate in this zone.

The Main Defensive Zone begins behind the security zone, with two distinct echelons (often of regimental size). The first echelon is designed to slow, break up, and ideally defeat the enemy attack. Meanwhile, the second echelon maneuvers either to restore the line, deal with infiltrating units, and provide covering activities for the first echelon. When armoured forces are present, the armour is generally placed in the second echelon. This helps preserve the armour for counterattacks after the enemy attack has been stopped. A successful defense should always be followed up by a counterattack where possible, in order to recover lost ground and complete the defensive victory.

During a defensive battle, engineering units are to be actively employed in the depth of the security and defensive zones in order to shape the battlefield against an enemy, laying minefields, clearing fields of fire, erecting obstacles, developing defensive positions for infantry and antitank subunits, and conducting all manner of required preparations for the success of continued operations.

Organization
Division d'Infanterie Motorisée: The motorized or mechanised infantry division (DIM) represents the main bulk of the French Army. As of 1944, sixteen divisions exist. On average, an un-motorized infantry division still requires approximately six hundred trucks and all-terrain cars, while motorized divisions require significantly larger numbers of vehicles. A variant of this formation is the Division d'Infanterie Mechanisée, which substitutes armoured infantry carriers for trucks in the transport of the infantry forces. Each division is composed of three infantry regiments, supported by one to two artillery regiments, a divisional reconnaissance group, and logistics forces.

Division Légère d'Infanterie:
Six infantry divisions (DLIs) are designated as "light infantry", and composed of nine "Chasseur a Pied" or "Infanterie legere" battalions, organized into three Regiments. In comparison to the regular infantry divisions, the Light Infantry divisions have more supporting arms at the battalion level (including a company of 120mm mortars and logistics elements), while heavy motorized elements are held at the regimental or divisional level. This keeps the battalions more mobile in rough terrain. Additionally, the artillery tends to include lighter guns (mountain guns are often preferred) or mortars. This pattern is also used by six French Army divisions deployed outside the Metropole (to Indochina or North Africa) as well as the colonial divisions. These divisions lack the "Light Infantry" designation, but are otherwise similar.

Division d'Infanterie Coloniale:
The DICs follow the DLI organization (see above), but are built around troops recruited in the French Union. Battalions of recruited European colonials are referred to as zouaves (infantry) or chasseurs d'Afrique (cavalry), while indiginous troops are referred to as tirailleurs (infantry) or spahis (cavalry). Like the DLIs, the DICs have greater emphasis on placing their supporting arms at the battalion level, with the goal of increasing effectiveness in rough terrain.

Division Blindée:
The French Armoured Division (DB) is composed of a mix of tank units, mechanised infantry, and supporting arms. Three brigades compose the core of the division: two are tank brigades, each with a battalion of mechanised infantry and two regiments (battalions) of tanks. The third brigade has a mechanised infantry regiment composed of three battalions, plus a regiment (battalion) of tanks. Finally, a reconnaissance regiment composed of a light infantry battalion and a light tank and armoured car battalion rounds out the force. There are six DBs currently drawn up, each with approximately two hundred medium tanks.

Division légère blindée:
A derivative of the standard DB, the DLB is designed for armoured operations in rough terrain or on the flanks of supporting forces. The DLB is composed of three brigades, each incorporating a regiment (battalion) of light tanks, a battalion of mechanised infantry, and a battalion of self-propelled artillery. All three DLBs are grouped in a Corps in North Africa.

Division Alpine:
The twelve divisions of mountain troops are listed either as Chasseurs Alpin (DCA) or Chasseurs Pyrenees (DCP) based on their location. Unlike the Light Infantry Divisions, the Alpine divisions retain a strong similarity to the regular infantry division pattern, albeit with mountain guns for the artillery, a pack animal transport group, and other geography-centric supporting units. In turn, they lack any form of motorization for the movements of the troops, but there are several Groupes de Transport de Personnel (GTPs) equipped with trucks and buses for strategic movements. These troops have extensive specialization in mountain warfare and are generally deployed in higher-altitude bases, so they require less adjustment time dealing with altitudes.

Dinassaut:
The Dinassaut (DINA) is an approximately division-sized grouping of troops trained in amphibious and riverine warfare. The 2nd Dinassaut, deployed in Indochina, is slightly smaller than the 1st Dinassaut, deployed in the Metropolitan; the 2nd has extensive sub-units deployed all through Indochina, specializing in riverine patrol and combat. It includes a number of colonial battalions in addition to European troops. The 1st Dinassaut, by contrast, is composed entirely of European troops and has less specialization in riverine warfare and more training in amphibious assaults. The 1st Dinassaut also has an amphibious light armour element.

Division de Parachutistes:
This division does not exist except as a technicality. In theory, the French Army has enough parachute regiments and battalions to form an oversized division. In practice, the "Division de Parachutistes" is composed of two Chasseurs Parachutistes regiments in Metropolitan France, plus the 13th Regiment de Dragons Parachutistes, which is in fact an overstrength battalion.

L'Armée de la Rhin -
Headquarters, Nancy
Overview: L'Armée de la Rhin is charged with overseeing the defense of the French border between Luxembourg and Switzerland. The army is composed of two infantry corps, each with three infantry divisions, one reconnaissance regiment, and one heavy artillery regiment. Two additional corps (six divisions) of the reserves are attached to the army, but these divisions would require time to reactivate.
Composition:
- 6x Infantry Divisions
- 3x Reserve Infantry Divisions
- 2x Corps Reconnaissance Regiments
- 2x Heavy Artillery Regiments
- 1x AA Artillery Regiment

L'Armée du Nord - Headquarters, Alencon
Overview: L'Armée du Nord is charged with the defense of the French border with Belgium as well as the northern coastline as far as Brest. With a peacetime strength of one infantry corps plus supporting units, this Army is the smallest Army in the Metropole. However, it has control of three reserve infantry divisions which may be activated in order to double its strength quickly.
Composition:
- 3x Infantry Divisions
- 3x Reseve Infantry Divisions
- 1x Brigade de Réaction Rapide (Armoured Brigade)
- 1x Heavy Artillery Regiment
- 2x Corps Reconnaissance Regiments

L'Armée des Alpes - Headquarters, Grenoble
Overview: L'Armée des Alpes is responsible for the defense of the southeastern border, covering against Switzerland and Italy. It is composed of two Alpine Corps and one Light Infantry Corps, backed by Army-level assets. One of the Light Infantry Divisions has strong assets deployed to Corsica.
Composition:
- 3x Light Infantry Divisions
- 6x Alpine Infantry Divisions
- 1x Brigade de Réaction Rapide (Armoured Brigade)
- 3x Corps Reconnaissance Regiments
- 1x Heavy Artillery Regiment
- 2x Rocket Artillery Regiments
- 1x AA Artillery Regiment

L'armée des Pyrénées - Headquarters, Toulouse
Overview: L'Armée des Pyrénées defends the southwestern border of France (with Iberia) and the Bay of Biscay. It is composed of two Alpine and one Light Infantry Corps, plus associated assets.
Composition:
- 3x Light Infantry Divisions
- 6x Alpine Infantry Divisions
- 3x Corps Reconnaissance Regiments
- 1x AA Artillery Regiment

L'armée des Île-de-France - Headquarters, Paris
Overview: This force, headquartered in the region of Paris, is primarily administrative, having two infantry corps composed of six reserve infantry divisions. Each division has a cadre and equipment assigned, but only has 1-2 battalions active at any given time, aside from Summer and Winter Maneuvers. However, this army is also responsible for the antiaircraft units in the region of Paris, and incorporates two combined arms rapid-reaction brigades to deploy to assist other armies in the Metropole.
Composition:
- 3x Brigade de Réaction Rapide (Armoured Brigade)
- 6x Reserve Infantry Divisions
- 2x AA Artillery Regiments
- 1x Rocket Artillery Regiment

Réserve d'armée - Headquarters, Paris
Overview: This force, although designated "Reserve", is in fact the main striking arm of the French Army. It is composed of three armoured corps, each in turn including two armoured divisions and one mechanized infantry division. Additionally, this army has one of the two Marine Divisions and three regiments of parachute infantry. This force often (but not always) receives the first cut of all new equipment.
Composition:
- 6x Armoured Divisions
- 3x Mechanized Infantry Divisions
- 1x Marine Division
- 2x Rocket Artillery Regiments
- 1x Heavy Artillery Regiment
- 3x Corps Reconnaissance Regiments
- 2x Parachute Chasseurs Regiments
- 1x Parachute Dragoons Regiment

Armée d'Afrique - Headquarters, Algiers
Overview: The Armée d'Afrique is responsible for the defense of all of French North Africa (excepting Djibouti) and is therefore the largest single Army Group. Two infantry corps (with a mix of regular and colonial infantry divisions) and one light armoured corps (with three light armoured divisions) compose the main body of the army. However, fifteen individual Tirailleurs regiments (composed of locally-raised and deployed troops under French officers) add significant manpower suitable for patrolling and defending the vast African territories. These Tirailleurs are backed by three motorized regiments and one parachute regiment of the French Foreign Legion (which may be formed into a march mechanized division in emergencies), as well as reconnaissance and artillery regiments.
Composition:
- 3x Light Armoured Divisions
- 3x Infantry Divisions
- 3x Colonial Infantry Divisions
- 3x Legion Etranger Regiments
- 3x Corps Reconnaissance Regiments
- 1x AA Artillery Regiment
- 1x Rocket Artillery Regiment
- 2x Colonial Artillery Regiments
- 15x Tirailleurs Regiments [1]
- 1x Legion Etranger Parachute Regiment

Armée de Leban - Headquarters, Beirut
Overview: Formerly responsible for the defense of both French Syria and Lebanon alike, this force was substantially downsized with Syrian independence in 1937. It is now composed of one regiment of the French Foreign Legion, and a second "march regiment" composed of one light infantry battalion, one motorized battalion, and one combined-arms battalion.
Composition:
- 1x Legion Etranger Regiment
- 1x Legion Etranger March Regiment

Armée de l'Indochine - Headquarters, Hanoi
Overview: The Armée de l'Indochine has authority for the defense of the Autonomous State of Indochina. This force operates under a unified command structure. The Army Group is composed of one Infantry Corps of three divisions drawn from the Metropole, a second infantry corps composed of two colonial infantry divisions (European officers and Indochinese soldiers), and one Indochinese infantry division (both Indochinese officers and soldiers). A small armoured group composed of one Foreign Legion and one Indochinese armoured brigade is currently being formed. The Indochinese Territorial Security Forces have additionally raised, on their own budget, four Tirailleurs regiments and other defense forces. Finally, the second French marine division is assigned to this force.
Composition:
- 3x Infantry Divisions
- 2x Colonial Infantry Divisions
- 1x Indochinese Infantry Division [2]
- 1x Marine Division
- 1x Legion Etranger Tank Brigade
- 1x Indochinese Tank Brigade [2]
- 2x Corps Reconnaissance Regiments
- 4x Indochinese Tirailleurs Regiments [2]
- 1x Indochinese Artillery Regiment [2]
- 1x Indochinese AA Artillery Regiment [2]
- 1x Indochinese Parachute Battalion [2]
- 1x Legion Etranger Parachute Battalion

Armée de l'Orient - Headquarters, Djibouti
Overview: This small army group, headquartered in Djibouti, is responsible for the land defense of this small enclave. Proposals to reduce this force to a regiment of the Legion have not yet resulted in any changes.
Composition:
- 1x Infantry Division
- 1x AA Artillery Regiment

Armée de l'Extreme Orient - Headquarters, Noumea
Overview: This Army Group is responsible for the land defense of all French Pacific Ocean possessions, primarily New Caledonia. Due to the island nature of the battlefield, all of the units are either organized as light infantry / amphibious forces or as fortress troops.
Composition:
- 1x Infantry Division
- 1x Legion Etranger Regiment
- 2x Tirailleurs Regiments (Fidji Regiment, Nouvelle Caledonie Regiment)
- 1x Artillery Regiment

[1] These units are recruited with native manpower. There are three from Senegal, two from French Soudan (Mali), two from Niger, one from Guinea, two from Cote d'Ivoire, three from Cote d'Or, and two from Upper Volta (Burkina Faso).
[2] These units are recruited out of local manpower and are under the control of an autonomous state.