M2 Carbine use in French Indochina?

[thirtyround]

I know French forces were in possession of M1 carbines after WW2 and used such in Indochina Vietnam. Is there any evidence US provided the French with aid that included the M2, and the use of the M2 carbine up to the defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 54? Thanks in advance.

 

[dalbert]

I don't know of any evidence of M2's in French hands, either in France, or in Vietnam. They definitely had M1's, and several manuals exist to document this. I just don't know of any M2 documentation. I would not be surprised if the French had some M2's, but I just have not seen anything to support it.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[thirtyround]

Dave, Thanks for the reply. Setting around with some friends conversing about the supposed AYP marked 30rd magazines manufactured by FN of Belgium. Sometime back, not that long ago they were "confirmed" as FN manufacture after WW2. I'm not doubting it, but dont know where the confirmation came from. Anyway, were hypothesizing - speculating the reason for the FN manufacture would have been ordered for the French operating in Indochina for their M1 / M2's. The US would not need them as they would of had them done, if needed by US manufactures. Best idea anyway. Any info to offer on the confirmation?

[1gewehr]

I don't know of 'proof'. But I seem to recall that the book 'Devil's Guard' (George R. Elford, about former SS in Indochina) mentions use of US carbines. I'll have to dig out my copy and see what it says.

 

Interesting, absolutely non-PC book!

[thirtyround]

-Uncovering more info myself the last few days... The French received over 14,000 carbines from the US Army during ww2. There is no evidence they returned them... high probability they did not. Further, after the French determined that recovery of the Indochina colony wasn't going to be a cake walk, the US further equipped the French to keep communism from expanding. That aid was lots of different stuff including more M1 Carbines in standard configuration and the M1A1 models for their paratroopers, how many of each I dont know. How many M2 Carbines in the bunch?, who knows. There are many many photos of french forces in Indochina with M1A1 carbines.

-I guess my main inquiry was the source of the AYP marked 30rd magazine confirmation as FN manufacture. Now I understand that CMP confirmed such, but if so whats the proof? They understand the collector and historian aspect of martial arms and equipment is important. Therefore to know and pass on that "proof detail" would have been awesome to know. That proof is what I'm after.

-This week I'll attempt a call to CMP and hopefully get some answers.

[jim c 351]

If the French, or for that matter any of our allies, didn't receive M2 carbines, then I would wonder who was in charge of sorting thru 14,000 carbines and pulling all the M2's out.

Jim C

[thirtyround]

Jim, I'm with you on that. The only caveat to that would possibly be the M2 would have been still in US inventory as primary issue, the M1's were categorized below M2's. However that brings up a whole other big question.....that is the "T17" kits I believe they called them, supposedly sent out to the field abroad to convert M1's to M2's ??!! Just so much we don't know, but very intriguing.

[HANS]

I don't know of any evidence of M2's in French hands, either in France, or in Vietnam. They definitely had M1's, and several manuals exist to document this. I just don't know of any M2 documentation. I would not be surprised if the French had some M2's, but I just have not seen anything to support it.

 

Ezell in SMALL ARMS TODAY states that 155,356 carbines were shipped to France prior to 1964, both M1 and M2.

Huon in UN SIÈCLE D'ARMEMENT MONDIAL states that the M2 was used by the French in Korea and Germany (post-WWII). He does not mention Indochina.

 

Cheers

 

HANS