This is a brief
study on uniforms
used by the French Forces in Indochina
The uniforms of the French Indochina
war are varied and evolved to release
of WWII Foreign uniform
stocks.
French Paratroopers
Despite the lack of insignias,
Paratroopers regiments and battalions can
some time be identified by their uniforms
if you know the approximate time the photo
was taken (specific known uniform stock
were released at specific times to
specific Para Regiment or Battalion). French Para Dien Bien Phu
"Adjudant Coloniale"
Senior NCO, from the French Marines
Again a typical Colonial
soldier "silhouette" wearing
French uniform but still with the British
WWII pistol belt and holster. The Shirt is
one of the locally made one by the
French Army in Saigon.
French Foreign Legion Infantry Typical
Legionnaire armed with the WWII French
bottle action riffle MAS 36, British WWII
webbing and French M47 uniform with the
French bush hat.
left
Lt from 5e Regiment de Cuirassiers
"Royal Pologne" Tank regiment
Right
Lt 1er RCC
(Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval)
Light armoured tank Reg
GCMA officer.
The GCMA did not have a specific uniform
and as it did not
appear in the French Army Table of
Organisation and Equipment,
procuring new equipment was always a
battle in itself!
As most members were recruited from
the Airborne regiments and battalion,
often the GCMA NCO or Officer would wear
their Red Paratrooper beret or Airborne
issued jump suit.
(see reconstructed top and bottom
mannequins)
GCMA officer
The "Corps Expeditionnaire Francais
d'Extreme-Orient" CEFEO during the war suffered from a shortage of equipment as well as man power. During the first four years of the war, most of its troops were
equipped with a mixture of WWII British, US and French equipment. You would find amongst the weapons the following calibers: 7.5mm, 7.65mm, 8mm, .30 &.45 US cal, British 9mm and .303, which made a logistic nightmare. By around 1950, things did improved with French designed uniforms,
equipment and weapons filtering in most units.
Examples of the most common hat worn
by the French Troops in Indochina "Le Chapeau de Brousse" These came from French contractors as well as from local sources
and in various colors from dark kaki green to sand colour.
The
red TAP (Troupe Aeroportees) beret was also worn as well as
locally produced beret or caps made out of camo parachute silk or
other camouflaged material.
The beret shown in the photos is the
early 3 piece, typical of the Indochina war.
Typical
50's load bearing equipment, this comprise of French
"TAP" 1950 model suspenders attached to French modified
US M1 Carbine ammo pouches, with US first Aid pouch and M3
fighting knife. The web belt is the the 1936 US model, with a
Mle
1950 French water bottle.
A WWII US pineapple grenade and an
DF37 French grenade can also be seen.
M1951 water canteen, cup
and the two types of covers.
The early type is the one on the right with the WWII stud type closure,
the later type has got poppers. The belt loop was not big enough to go on
the TAP or the WWII US pistol belt, so the US hooks were often seen attached
to the loops. (as seen on the left cover).
The French Mle 1861 "musette" haversack
was
often used to carry more ammo as well as food.
From left to right French DF37
(defensive type),
OF37 (offensive type) and
US WWII pineapple grenades. The WWII
British Mills type 36 grenades were also used early
in the war.
Photos showing US WWII cammo jacket as well as the WWII British Para smock heavily used by the French Para during the war, photos
from "Soldats d'Indochine" taken during the Beltring show in 2002 and 2004
