Quote:
Originally Posted by T. A. Gardner
One thing that really needs to be understood is just what the French armored formation TO&E's were. The DLC's for example were divisions in name only. They were really large regiment sized units more closely comparable to US mechanized- horse cavalry regiments of the same period. That is, a couple of battalion sized cavalry and infantry units with a small armored component. For the role they were given, it is absurd to think they could do more than present a thin screen that maintained contact prior to engagement at a MLR.
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In that respect they were closer to the US Armys Armored Cavalry Groups that were used in Europe in 1944-45. Perhaps a bit heavier on artillery and a bit lighter in tank size. The DLC had a properly organized artillery group ad only light tanks, the US Armored Cav Grp had some medium tanks, but the artillery divided amoung the squadrons. The DLC also had the residual horse mounted brigades attached. These were to be be detached, but had not yet been removed in may 1940.
The DLC were certainly inadaquate for their mission. The French of course failed to anticipate the advance of three armored corps in that area, they thought maybe one. And, it was assumed the Belgians would delay the enemy east of a line along the Ourthe river for three or more days. The DLC cavalry screen was expected to delay the enemy five days, until after the 16th of May. Instead it was chased back across the Meuse on the evening of the 12th, hardly two days. This left the preperations of the French 2d and 9th Armys nearly a week behind schedule when the Germans assualted the river defenses on the 13th.