Division Mecanique Rapide
for Command Decision Miniatures Rules

In the aftermath of World War 2, the tactical organizations of the French Army heavily relied on US-based models introduced during the war. However, the French military was not convinced that such models suited its needs. The post-war French Army was greatly influenced by the devastating defeat suffered in 1940 inflicted by the more mobile and agile Wehrmacht forces. Moreover, it was cognizant of the fact that its next likely foe, the Soviet Army, was sufficiently large as to make any attrition-based approach a recipe for disaster, even more so than it did against the Wehrmacht. Since the pre-WW2 French doctrine of "methodical battle" (bataille methodique) was discredited by its failure in 1940 and inapplicability against the Soviet Army, the French military turned toward finding solutions to their tactical problems in maneuver warfare. As the US Army's doctrine of the time still emphasized attrition, with firepower taking precedence over maneuver, this doctrine was for obvious reasons also not seen as acceptable to an army with far fewer resources at its disposal. The result was experimentation with various tactical organizations more suited to implement a doctrine of rapid maneuver the French Army came to see as their best chance to prevail against their more unwieldy Soviet opponents. Experimental or testbed units of the 1950s included the Brigade Javelot formed in 1954 (which was also briefly considered as a model for future German units that would form part of the notional European army based chiefly on French and German forces), and the 7e Division Mecanique Rapide.

The 7e DMR was, along with various parachute units, listed as part of the French strategic reserve in 1950s, although it spent much of the decade in Algeria in active combat role. Due to its role as a mobile intervention unit, it should be properly viewed as the forerunner to the more recent Light Armored Divisions (reorganized post-2000 into brigades), including the 6th Light Armored Division (Division Daguet) that participated in the Gulf War. Reinforced with additional infantry regiments (for a total of 3), the division was active in the quadrillage counterinsurgency operations against the FLN in Algeria, where its combination of mobility and firepower against the comparatively very lightly armed Algerian insurgents proved to be a deadly combination. Its elements also participated in the successful, though ultimately abortive due to US pressure, invasion of Egypt's Suez Canal zone by Great Britain, France, and Israel in 1956. Following the French withdrawal from Algeria the division was deactivated, with its component regiments reassigned to other army divisions. However, the combined-arms organization that was used by the division would be reflected in the composition of tank and mechanized infantry regiments until the late 1990s. The French armored divisions of 1980s followed the philosophy embodied by the DMR in being relatively small divisions composed of large combined arms battalions ("regiments") capable of independent battlegroup-style mobile operations. Although the French Army reverted to "pure" regiments in the late 1990s, the doctrine of rapid maneuver developed starting in the 1950s in units like the 7e DMR remains the core of the French land battle tactics.

7e Division Mecanique Rapide
Command Decision Order of Battle

Division Headquarters
1 Command Stand, 1 Jeep, 1 Radio Staff Van

1 Armored Car Regiment, with:
Headquarters, with 1 Command EBR-75 armored car, 2 81mm mortar stands, 4 Jeeps
4 Armored Car Squadrons, each with 1 Command EBR-75 armored car, 2 EBR-75 armored cars, 3 Recon jeeps, 3 Patrol stands

2 Combined Arms Regiments (Regiments Inter-Armes), each with:
Headquarters, with 1 Command Stand, 1 Jeep
2 Light Tank Squadrons, with 1 Command AMX-13 tank, 2 AMX-13 tanks
2 Mechanized Infantry Companies, with 1 Command Infantry Stand, 2 Infantry Stands, 1 Weapons Stand, 4 APCs (M3 halftrack or AMX-VTT)
1 Mortar Company, with 1 120mm mortar, 1 Gun Crew, 1 Medium Truck

1 Infantry Regiment, with
Headquarters, with: 1 Command Stand, 1 Jeep
4 Infantry Companies, with: 1 Command Infantry Stand, 2 Infantry Stands, 1 Weapons Stand, 3 Medium Trucks
1 Mortar Battery, with: 1 81mm Mortar stand, 1 Light Truck
1 HMG Section, with: 1 .50cal HMG stand, 1 Light Truck
1 AT Section, with: 1 75mm RCL stand, 1 Light Truck

1 Artillery Regiment, with:
3 Batteries, each with: 1 FO stand, 1 Jeep, 1 M7 105mm SP howitzer, 1 heavy ammunition truck.

Notes:
1. Due to its front-line status and extensive combat experience, the 7.DMR should be rated as Veteran, Morale 10.
2. M24 Chafee tanks may have been used in lieu of AMX-13s in the early years of the division's existence. However, its elements that fought at Suez already had AMX-13s. 3. Weapons stands in infantry companies represent 81mm mortars and 57mm recoilless rifles held at company level. They may be replaced by 1 additional 81mm mortar stand and 2 57mm RCL stands at regiment level (infantry regiments only).
4. The 81mm mortars and Jeeps listed as assigned to the Armored Car Regiment HQ represent mortar sections at armored car squadrons which are too small to warrant a stand per squadron.
5. In 1961, the 7e DMR was headquartered at Tebessa, Algeria, and had the following regiments under its command: 2.Dragons (combined arms), 3.RCA (armored car), 4.Chasseurs (combined arms), 21.RIMa (infantry), 26.RIM (infantry), 60.RBIMa (infantry), plus 3 artillery battalions.

Mike J.
=====
The J-8 Shop
Wargame Rules and Variants
http://www.geocities.com/pmj6/