French Troops With Thompsons In Indo China

[rpbcps]

I am a former French Foreign Legionnaire, who served in the legion para regiment (2eme REP), and our regiment had a lot of history and battle honours won fighting in Indo China, so I am always interested in reading about that period.

 

It was while doing that I stumbled upon some photos of a French commando training school in Indo China from 1951, which shows local recruits armed with Thompsons.

 

One of particular interest, weapon stripped for cleaning, looking at the actuator and spring, looks like it may be a model 1921, maybe one of the original 3,000 bought by the French in 1939.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2013 by rpbcps

[Canuck]

Seeing as how the bolt is closed on the guard's drum magazine it makes me wonder if the picture was posed. Or perhaps guards were just "for show". Wouldn't be the first or last time "security" had no ammo in the firearm.

 

My bet is the gun being cleaned is a '21.

[reconbob]

I think so too. M1921. The mag catch thumb pad and fire control levers look correct. And while you cant read it you can tell that there is no Patent Block engraved at the right rear of the receiver which would also indicate a Colt.

In the first photo the 2nd guy on the left has what looks like a 21A...

Great photos thanks for posting!

Did you carry a MAT-49?

 

Bob

Edited February 16, 2013 by reconbob

[rpbcps]

I think so too. M1921. The mag catch thumb pad and fire control levers look correct. And while you cant read it you can tell that there is no Patent Block engraved at the right rear of the receiver which would also indicate a Colt.

In the first photo the 2nd guy on the left has what looks like a 21A...

Great photos thanks for posting!

Did you carry a MAT-49?

 

Bob

 

Bob,

Only time I used the MAT 49, was when I did a commando course in the Republic of Djibouti in 1986. When I joined in 1984, the FAMAS was the standard issue weapon which had replaced the MAT 49 and the MAS 49/56.

 

Richard

[rpbcps]

Here is an earlier picture from 1940 in France

 

 

One showing a Moroccan soldier serving with the French Army in WW2

 

 

another from Indo China, 1953, showing legionnaires from the 3rd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment (3eme REI), which is now based in French Guiana, with M1/M1A1's.

 

 

and one from Laos,1954, showing a local recruit to the French Army with M1/M1A1.

 

[dalbert]

rpbcps,

 

This is an excellent post. French Colt Thompsons are of particular interest to me. I really appreciate the new photos. What is their origin?

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[bug]

WOW. That Colt looks to be in really nice condition.

[rpbcps]

David,

I did a search on 'Google.fr' asking 'Pistolet mitrailleur Thompson armee francaise' and came up with loads of links.

 

Some good, as above prove, some not so good, luck of the draw.

 

This is were I found the 1940 picture

 

http://atf40.forumculture.net/t109-pistolet-mitrailleur

 

If I find any more, I'll add them to this post.

[reconbob]

I have to agree the gun in the photo with the guy next to the truck looks

awesome in that lighting! Most pics of Thompsons look about the same but

that one is excellent!

 

Bob

[765 21D]

 

I am a former French Foreign Legionnaire, who served in the legion para regiment (2eme REP), and our regiment had a lot of history and battle honours won fighting in Indo China, so I am always interested in reading about that period.

It was while doing that I stumbled upon some photos of a French commando training school in Indo China from 1951, which shows local recruits armed with Thompsons.

One of particular interest, weapon stripped for cleaning, looking at the actuator and spring, looks like it may be a model 1921, maybe one of the original 3,000 bought by the French in 1939.

Hi Richard,

It's Wonderful to see these photos.They are probably all Colt Thompsons. I love the last one
It's a Colt for sure and the parts are 1921!!!

The Bolt looks parkerized or blackened to me? and you can just see the Blish Lock behind it!!

Thanks for posting all of these fantastic photos,


Regards,

D Edited June 25, 2013 by 765 21D

[TD.]

Great pictures. Thank you for sharing.

 

It definitely looks like a 21A Colt and probably a Colt 21AC or 28AC. When looking at the picture of the soldier cleaning what appears to be a Colt 21A bullets (from the drum?) are visible in the background. I wonder if they may have figured out a way to close the bolt with a loaded drum installed without chambering a round. I don't carry a Thompson around loaded so I have never tried to do this or figure out a way to do it. Perhaps the drum is only partially loaded. I do think the bolt down on a empty chamber, safety off, and a loaded magazine installed is the safest way to carry a loaded Thompson for extended periods like guard duty and patrol. Simply cock the actuator and pull the trigger when the need arises. I would not want to trust the safety with the bolt locked back when the weapon could be dropped, especially around concrete.

[rpbcps]

Here is another I found from, Laos 1954, with M1/M1A1.:

 

[Big Al]

One showing a Moroccan soldier serving with the French Army in WW2

 

That one reminds me of the the film Timbuktu with Victor Mature as an arms dealer in North Africa selling weapons to Tuareg rebels.

Edited February 21, 2013 by Annihilator I

[rpbcps]

Came across this photo recently.

 

 

The caption said it is French troops in Algeria, so that would date this to the early 1950's, judging by the uniforms. The weapon being carried by the soldier in front of the 'cavalry' is the one that has stumped me though, is it a German MP 44, I need to get my eyes tested perhaps?

 

Stay safe

Richard

[Ron Mills]

The guy on the left with no hat? My guess is a rifle with the shadow of sling showing. But then, my eyes ain't what they used to be either. It's like Yogi Berra said, "I'm not as fast as I used to be, and I never was".

Edited April 10, 2013 by Ron Mills

[mnshooter]

I am a former French Foreign Legionnaire, who served in the legion para regiment (2eme REP), and our regiment had a lot of history and battle honours won fighting in Indo China, so I am always interested in reading about that period.

 

It was while doing that I stumbled upon some photos of a French commando training school in Indo China from 1951, which shows local recruits armed with Thompsons.

 

One of particular interest, weapon stripped for cleaning, looking at the actuator and spring, looks like it may be a model 1921, maybe one of the original 3,000 bought by the French in 1939.

 

Command Trg school Vandenberghe indo china.jpg

 

TONK-51-104-R01.jpg

 

TONK-51-104-R02.jpg

 

TONK-51-104-R03.jpg

Is there a sling swivel attached at the midpoint of the buttstock?

[reconbob]

I am going to guess its a Garand and the shadow is playing the trick. The one guy has a M1928A1,

the other guy a Garand, the guy on the mule has a BAR so they are equipped with US small arms.

 

Bob

[TSMG28]

mnshooter,

 

It's a little hard to confirm the swivel placement from these pics, but the French did place swivels at the mid-point bottom of the buttstock on Colt Thompsons. This placement is shown in at least one French Thompson manual and some pics of French Thompsons.

 

Roger

[rpbcps]

Here are a few more of French troops with what appears to be 1928A1's in Tunisia during WW2.

 

 

 

 

 

and a couple more from Indo China in 1947.

 

 

Edited June 24, 2013 by dalbert

[rpbcps]

The Photo I posted on the 17th February "Here is an earlier picture from 1940 in France" has the incorrect date.

 

Further research today informs me the photo is called "Souvenir de Bonneville", and shows a non commissioned officer of the Gendarme "Escadron de la Garde", the name used during the occupation by the 'Garde Républicaine Mobile'.

 

The photo, I am informed, dates from early 1944 and the Gendarme in question was participating in an operation against the resistance in the area of 'Haute-Savoie', Eastern France.

[rpbcps]

and today while looking for something on the internet.... I stumbled upon a 'portrait' of a French Resistance member, dated Aug 1944, holding a Thompson.

 

 

and I still have not found what I was looking for.....

 

[rpbcps]

Just stumbled on the attached photo of a French Auxiliary unit member, serving in French in Indochina in the late 1940's, who is armed with a Thompson.

 

 

Stay Safe

Richard

 

 

 

 

[TSMG28]

Richard,

 

Thanks for posting this new pic. A few observations:

 

1. He is using an L-drum magazine, not common in military applications after the Brits dropped their use in early 1941 (U.S. Marines in the Pacific theatre were an exception)

2. The drum is empty, because the bolt is forward

3. The vertical foregrip appears to have a sling swivel on the left side (hard to see for sure), common with both British and French setups

4. The other end of the sling appears to be attached to a standard U.S. buttstock swivel

[geefal]

Seeing as how the bolt is closed on the guard's drum magazine it makes me wonder if the picture was posed. Or perhaps guards were just "for show". Wouldn't be the first or last time "security" had no ammo in the firearm.

 

 

 

Or, he could have done what I have done. Load the magazine but do not wind spring leaving a open space in the feed slot. Insert magazine with bolt open. lower bolt to closed position. wind magazine. Presto, bolt closed on full magazine ready to be cocked and used. If you were carrying the gun in a dirty environment for a long time frame without anticipation of having to use the gun immediately it would be a way to keep the chamber clear of foreign material.

[shadycon]

As far as guard duty goes; I was in Bamburg, Ger. 72-73 [Army] , When we pulled reg. guard duty, no ammo. When we guarded the ammo bunkers we had 5 rds.