Dinassaut

Many parts of Indochina are criss-crossed with rivers, making land movement difficult and river
boats become an attractive alternative. The French were well aware of this, and from virtually the
start of the campaign against the Viet Minh they organised riverine units of ex-US landing craft
(which, due to their draught, were ideal for such shallow waterways) and locally produced smallcraft into combat and transport units with mixed naval and army personnel. The initial, somewhat
ad-hoc units evolved into the "Divisions navales d'assaut" - usually abbreviated to "Dinassaut". A
forgotten part of a forgotten war, these river forces developed workable battle-tactics and
equipment for the war in the deltas.
Vietnam (that is, Tonkin, Annam and Cochinchina) was a largely roadless area with multiple rivers
presenting difficulties to the movement of conventional forces. In Tonkin the Red River and its
delta provide a natural highway, and the Mekong gives a similar effect in Cochinchina, but Annam
has many shallow, narrow waterways restricting the size of river vessels.
To get over these difficulties, one approach was to use airborne troop deployment, and the
French invested a considerable portion of their limited resources into building up paratroops in
Indochina. But they could never manage to lift more than two battalions at any point - airborne
operations were obviously not the real answer to the French problems here. A more conventional
approach was required.
Thus "brown water" or riverine units were developed by the French Army and Navy for a variety of
purposes - transport, supply, escort and combat - using different types of vessel and organisation.
Apart from the Navy, three branches of the Army became involved in river operations: the
Transportation Corps, Engineer Corps and Armoured Corps.
The Transportation Corps had the longest history of dealing with river transport in Indochina, and
soon set about organising a river supply system as the newly-returned French forces spread over
the deltas in 1946. However, due to a lack of suitable equipment this supply system took some
time to develop. Some 50 DUKW amphibious trucks were acquired from the US Army in the
Philippines in 1948, but proved to be of little use. The Army eventually received numbers of LCMs
in 1951, which allowed the formation of river transport platoons (each of 8 LCMs, 1 officer and 80
men) - there were eventually three in Tonkin, one in Hue (serving Annam), three in Saigon (for
Cochinchina) and another in Phnom Penh (Cambodia). These units were used for routine
transport and supply of men and materials in the main, but were occasionally attached to combat
units as tactical transports.
The Engineers had two types of riverine unit - the first were river ferry companies using pontoon
barges (and occasionally LSTs) for river crossings. There were also specialist units with armoured
boats carrying heavy engineering equipment for the support of riverine combat operations. In
addition, the engineers were responsible for building and maintaining river harbours and other
facilities.
The Army branch with the least experience/tradition of brown-water warfare was the Armoured
Corps - but these proved to be very adaptable to the new environment. The first real example of
this was with reconnaissance units deployed in the deltas, some of which swapped their
armoured cars and other vehicles for STCAN/FOM boats to carry out patrols, liaison, etc. These
Army patrol boats operated independently, but could be attached to other units such as
Dinassauts or river convoys. The Armoured troops also developed the use of amphibious tracked
vehicles such as the Crab (M29 "Weasel"), LVT (sometimes equipped with 40mm Bofors guns)
and LVT(A) (with 75mm howitzer). These were used to great effect in the delta areas. In addition,
the Armoured troops provided crews for the turrets mounted on Navy LCM monitors.
The French Navy had a strong presence in Indochina before WW2, and it was involved in combat

right from the start of the reoccupation in 1945. When General Leclerc arrived with the vanguard
of the CEFEO, this comprised the 5e RIC - 5e Rgiment d'Infanterie Coloniale (including the SAS
Battalion of CC Ponchardier), a "March Group" - Bataillon de Marche (provisional formation) of
the 2e DB - 2e Division Blinde (2nd Armoured Division) under Lt-Col. Massu, elements of the 9e
DIC - 9e Division d'Infanterie Coloniale, and a company of Naval Infantry under Lieutenant de
Vaisseau Merlet. This last was the precursor to the "Brigade Marine d'Extrme-Orient" (BMEO Far Eastern Naval Brigade) under Capitaine de Vaisseau Kilian. This force landed at Saigon and
quickly re-established French control of the city.
There were riots and insurrections breaking out across Cochinchina, and Gen. Gracey (the C-inC of the British forces in South Vietnam) was forced to declare martial law. His orders were to
supervise the Japanese surrender, and not get involved with police actions - that was the
responsibility of Leclerc and his newly arrived French troops. On 12th October 1945, the French
and British launched a joint campaign to pacify the area around Saigon. Leclerc, with only 4500
troops at his disposal, decided to seize the nearest city - My Tho (60km south of Saigon). For this
operation he allocated an armoured group (Groupement Massu) which set out by road on the
15th October. However, they proceeded slowly as the road was cut in places, with bridges blown
and obstacles blocking the way. With the Army becoming bogged down, it was time for the Navy
to have a go.
Compagnie Merlet and the SAS Battalion were embarked on an LCI provided by the Royal Navy,
and the sloop Annamite. They sailed up the Mekong without incident and were landed close to My
Tho - which they took by surprise on the 25th October. Once Groupement Massu arrived in the
city, the Naval units re-embarked onto the Annamite on the 29th and captured Vinh Long in
similar fashion, going on to Can Tho on the following day (which also fell to the Naval Infantry). In
the face of such success (compared to the difficulties encountered by the Army) General Leclerc
charged Capitaine de Frgate Jaubert with the task of forming a riverine flotilla of transport and
landing craft from the BMEO and locally available resources.
Jaubert rapidly formed two small flotillas at Can Tho and My Tho from barges and launches which
had been hurriedly armed and armoured, together with two old ex-Japanese motorised junks
(renamed Arcachonnaise and Lorientaise). These were reinforced in December by the purchase
of some landing craft from the British at Singapore (LCAs, LCMs and LCVPs). At the same time a
base with workshops was set up at Phu My (a suburb of Saigon), with smaller facilities built at
Can Tho and My Tho in January 1946. Phu My became the headquarters of the "Flottille Fluviale
d'Indochine" (Indochina River Flotilla). As the CEFEO prepared for the return to Tonkin, the Flotilla
was reorganised into the "Flottilles Fluviales de Fusiliers-Marins" (FFFM - Naval Infantry River
Flotillas) on the 15th February 1946. The 1er FFFM was designated for service in the north, and
was commanded by Capitaine de Corvette Hbert. It included most of the landing craft, and had
the Naval Company under LV Merlet attached (this was now known as "Compagnie Jaubert", as
CF Jaubert had been mortally wounded in the taking of Tan Uyen on 25th January 1946). The
remaining landing craft, together with the armed junks and barges, formed the 2e FFFM under CF
Duchaine, which was to remain in Cochinchina.
The 1er FFFM went into action directly after their arrival in Haiphong on the 6th March, taking part
in a number of actions in the coastal zone at Cam Pha, Port Wallut, Tien Yen, Dam Ha, and then
from 19th to 30th November in the fighting at Haiphong.
The BMEO was dissolved on 1st January 1947, and the two flotillas were reorganised into the
"Force Amphibie de la Marine en Indochine" (FAMIC - Navy Amphibious Force in Indochina). This
was split into two groups, namely:
Northern group (Force Amphibie du Nord - FAN):
1re Flottille Amphibie (1st Amphibious Flotilla) with:
--1st Squadron

--3rd Squadron (under LV Franois, who was killed 3rd January, then LV Garnier)
Compagnie Jaubert
Base at Haiphong ; Various river and coastal posts
Southern group (Force Amphibie du Sud - FAS):
2e Flottille Amphibie
--2nd Squadron (CC Vedel)
--4th Squadron (CC Degoy)
2 platoons of Naval Infantry
Base at Phu My ; Various river and coastal posts .
These carried out various operations during their brief existences.
Operations by FAN: "Ddale" (reinforcement of Nam Dinh), 6-8th January; "Louis" (clearing of Nui
Deo), 17th February; The occupation of Quang Yen, 25th February; The occupation of Appowan
Island, 9th March; "Escale II" (relief of Nam Dinh), 3-15th March; "Catherine" (capture of Dong
Trieu), 18th March; "Georges" (occupation of Kien An and Do Son), 12-17th May.
Operations by FAS: "Andr" and "Franois" (relief of Tourane [Da Nang], Hu and Quang Tri),
26th December 1946 to 18th February 1947 ; Relief of Faifo (Hoi An), 6-16th March; Control of
the Mekong Delta re-established during April.
During the spring of 1947, a more formal division between Army and Navy riverine/amphibious
units was made. The Naval units became "Groupes de combat amphibies" in mid-June, then in
August they were reorganised into "Divisions Navales d'Assaut", or Dinassauts.
Typical Organisation and Equipment of a Dinassaut, 1947-49
Command and support: 1 LCI (LSIL from 1951)
Transport: 1 LCT (Later withdrawn and attached on an "as-needed" basis)
Transport and support: 2 LCMs
Patrol and support: 4 LCVPs (2 units of 2 each: sometimes replaced by LCAs early on), later also
used for mine sweeping
1 patrol/liaison boat (LCVP or LCA)
Other boats (such as LSSL, aircraft tenders, etc.), and Naval Commandos or Army troops were
added for specific tasks.
There were ten Dinassauts formed during the war (odd numbers based in Tonkin, evens in
Cochinchina - though this was later abandoned), and apart from No. 5 they all continued until the
French withdrawal (at which point most of the material was passed onto the new ARVN forces).
The units were:
Dinassaut 1
Formed in Tonkin, August 1947. Commanded by CC Landrot, then CC de Brossard from July
1950. Initially based in Haiphong, then moved in August 1949 to Sept Pagodes.
Operations: "La" and "Ceinture", Oct. -Nov. 1947 (in the Viet Bac - the VM stronghold in Tonkin);
"Pgase", Dec. '48 - Jan. '49 (Phu Ly region); "Bastille", Jul. - Aug. '49 (Bac Ninh - Phu Lang
Thuong sector); "Grgoire", Sep. '50 (Bamboo Canal); "Pataugas", Mar. '51 (Song Thai Binh);
Battle of Dong Trieu, Apr. '51; "Tango", May '52 (Upper Song Thai Binh); "Nice", Feb. '53 (Canal
des Rapides); "Ventoux", Nov. '53 (Sept Pagodes area)

Returned to Haiphong May '54, and was disbanded on 11th August '54.
Composition:
Oct. '49: 1 LCI, 1 LCT, 4 LCVPs/LCAs
Late '50: 1 LCI, 6 LCMs or LCVPs, 1 CLA
Jul. '52: 1 LCI, 4 LCMs, 2 EAs, 1 CLA
1 Jan. '54: 1 LCI, 2 LCM monitors, 3 LCMs, 2 EAs, 1 platoon of STCAN/FOM boats
The infantry attachment varied through the existence of Dinassaut 1. "Compagnie Jaubert" was
attached during the autumn campaigns of 1947, followed by a company of BM/7e RTM, then a
native auxiliary unit with the radio call-sign "Matou", and finally Commando 64.
Dinassaut 2
Formed in Cochinchina, August '47, under CC Lost, and termed an "intervention" unit, this
served alternatively on the Mekong or Saigon Rivers.
Operations:
"Iota", Jan. '48 (Phuoc An region)
"Jonquille", Jun. '49 (Plain of Reeds)
"Gamma", Sep. '50 (Mocay region)
"Tourbillon V", Aug. '51 (Canal Commercial)
"Jupiter", Sep. '52 (Go Quao region)
"Jura", Feb. '53 (Baria sector)
On 1st Jan. 1954, the unit comprised 1 LSIL, 2 LCMs and 2 EAs.
The infantry attachment varied, including:
a platoon of the RMSEO - Rgiment de Marche de Spahis d'Extrme-Orient
a company of BM/4e RTM - Bataillon de Marche/4e Rgiment de Tirailleurs Marocains
a company of 1/43e RIC - 1e Bataillon/43e Rgiment d'Infanterie Coloniale
the Commando Marine "Francois", attached for several weeks in 1949
Dinassaut 3
Formed in Tonkin, August 1947, under LV Garnier and then CC Acloque. Based at Nam Dinh.
Operations:
"La", Oct. '47
"Ondine", Nov. '48 (Vietri region)
"Anthracite", Oct. '49 (Phat Diem region)
"Tonneau", Feb. '50 (Thai Binh sector)
The Battle of Day, 29th May to 3rd June '51 (Then relieved by an ephemeral group known as
"Dinassaut A", under LV Schloesing, consisting of LSSL 6, with LCMs 30, 32, 34 and 59)
"Mercure", Apr.-May '52 (Thai Binh)
"Tarentaise" (Bui Chu), "Brochet" (Canal des Bambous), "Gerfaut" (Bui Chu) and "Mouette" (Phu
No Quan), Aug. - Nov. '53
Composition:
Oct. '49: 1 LCI, 1 LCT, 4 LCVPs and/or LCAs
Late '50: 1 LCI, 6 LCMs or LCVPs, 1 CLA

Jul. '52: 1 LCI, 4 LCMs, 1 CLA

Mar. '54: (Dinassaut 22) 1 LSIL, 2 LCM monitors, 5 LCMs
This unit was transferred to the Vietnamese Navy on 11th March 1954, becoming "Dinassaut 22".
In June it took part in Operation "Auvergne" (withdrawal from the Phat Diem, Nam Dinh and Bui
Chu sectors), and left North Vietnam on 11th August 1954 for relocation in the Tourane (Da Nang)
area.
The infantry attachment was first Commando "Sieffer", then Commando 63.
Dinassaut 4
Formed as an "intervention" unit in Cochinchina, August 1947. Initially under the command of CC
Degoy, then CC Rossignol, it was based alternatively on the Mekong or Saigon Rivers.
Operations:
"Vga", Feb. '48 (Plain of Reeds)
"Huron", Jun. '48 (Phuoc An region)
"Ramadan", Jul. '50 (Mocay)
"Jeanne d'Arc", May '51 (Badong)
Moved to Tonkin at the end of Dec. '51, for operations on the Black River. After the evacuation of
Hoa Binh in Feb. '52 relieved Dinassaut 12 at Ninh Giang.
"Ouragan", Mar. '52 (Thai Binh)
"Delta" (Haiphong), "Bordeaux" (Haiphong), "Claude" (Tien Lang) and "Brochet" (Bamboo Canal),
Jul. - Oct. '53
"Auvergne", Jun. '54
Stationed at Haiphong on 8th August 1954.
In July 1952 the unit was composed of 1 LCI, 2 LCM monitors, 2 LCMs, 2 EAs, 1 CLA.
Infantry attachment varied:
- In Cochinchina it was one company of BM/1er RTM - Bataillon de Marche/1er Rgiment de
Tirailleurs Marocains, then 1 coy. of the BM/4e RTM - , Bataillon de Marche/4e Rgiment de
Tirailleurs Marocains and finally one coy. from BM/6e RTA - Bataillon de Marche/6e Rgiment de
Tirailleurs Algerians
- In Tonkin the attachment was a company of native auxiliaries (CLA 4 - Compagnie Lgre
d'Accompagnement)
Dinassaut 5
Formed in Tonkin, August 1947, under first LV Nivet-Doumer, then CC Mangin d'Ouince, this unit
served for only a brief period. Based at Hanoi, and including the requisitioned (civilian) LCT San
Juan, this temporary group included 2 LCTS, 2 LCMs and 2 LCAs.
Dinassaut 5 was involved in "La" (Oct. '47) and then "Ceinture" (being active in the occupations
of Phu Lang Thuong, Bo Ha and Seven Pagodas) during Nov. '47. The unit was then disbanded.
Dinassaut 6
This unit was formed in August 1947 in Cochinchina, under the command of CC Buot de l'Epine.
From its base at Vinh Long, this Dinassaut was involved in the following operations:
"Sainte-Barbe" (Thu Dau Mot), Nov. - Dec. '50

"Marcage" (Song Long Tranh), Mar. '51

"Croisade" (Badong), Sep. '51
"Etrave" (My Duc Tay), Apr. '52
"Croisiere II" (Eastern Vaico River), Nov. '52
"Ardeche" (Hoa Thuan), Feb. '53
Transferred to the Vietnamese Navy on 11th June 1953, becoming part of the Forces Fluviales de
Vinh Long (Vinh Long Riverine Force).
On the 1st Jan. 1954, the unit had 1 command LCM, 4 LCMs and 4 LCVPs.
The infantry attachment included a company of the GRC - Garde Republicaine de Cochinchine,
and the "de Montfort" Marine Commando (during the last four months of 1947).
Dinassaut 8
Formed Jan. 1948 in Cochinchina under CF Ponchardier, and based at Long Xuyen. Known as
the "Dinassaut rapide", it was built around the aircraft-tender Cdt. Robert-Giraud (exKriegsmarine Immelmann which could carry 1 Sea Otter or Goose seaplane and 4 LCVPs or 2
LCVPs and 2 STCAN/FOM boats), the group made various raids on the coast around the Gulf of
Siam and strikes into the Plain of Reeds and western Vaco River during early 1948. They carried
into action a section of sailors from the Escort Carrier Dixmude (ex-HMS Biter), the 5e
Compagnie of 2e BCCP- Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes and a platoon of
Crabes from the 1st Squadron of the 1er REC - Rgiment Etranger de Cavalerie.
Disbanded on the 12th March 1948, the unit was reformed on the 1st August under CC Pasquier
de Franclieu as a specialist unit to operate in the large rice-growing area of the Transbassac (i.e.
around the Bassac River) which was unnavigable for larger craft. At this point the unit consisted
of two armoured barges (Lave and Dvastation), two LCMs and four LCVPs, based at Cantho.
Their primary duty was convoy escort, and so the unit was termed the "Dinassaut d'escorte". The
barges were used as the large number of low bridges in the area were impassable to LCIs.
Operations:
"Bougie" (Cau Ke), Dec. '49
"Sarcelle" (Phu Nuu Canal), Mar. '50
"Pamplemousse" (Nha Man), Mar. '51
"Helice" (Nicolai Canal), Jan. '52
"Plante" (Thot Not Canal), Aug. '52
"Anjou" (Can Tho), Jan. '53
Transferred to the Vietnamese Navy on the 10th April 1953, the unit was absorbed into the
Forces Fluviales de Cantho (Cantho Riverine Forces). On 1st Jan. 1954 it comprised 1 command
LCM, 4 LCMs and 2 LCVPs.
Dinassaut 10
Formed in Cochinchine in March 1951, under CC Gasnier-Duparc, and termed an "intervention"
unit, this was based alternatively on the Mekong and Saigon Rivers.
Operations:
"Aquarium" (Hiep Ho), May '51
"Grapefruits" (Sadec), Jul. '51
"Barnab" (Tay Ninh) and "Tourbillon VII" (Tong Doc Loc Canal), Jun. '52
"Grenache" (Badong), Aug. '52
"Khenifra" (Plain of Reeds), Apr. '53
On 1st Jan. 1954 consisted of 1 LSIL, 2 LCMs and 2 LCVPs.
Dinassaut 12

Formed in Tonkin, Jan. '51, under CC de Kersauzon. Based first at Qui Cao, then Ninh Giang, its'
mission was to patrol the Bamboo Canal (the main link between the Red River and Song Thai
Binh). Relieved by Dinassaut 4 in March '52, then based partly in Hanoi, partly in Son Tay.
Operations:
"Citron" (Bamboo Canal), Sep. '51
"Antilope" (Hung Yen), Jun. '52
"Lorraine" (Phu To - Phu Bien region), Nov. '52
"Artois" (Thai Binh), Jan. '53
"Brochet" and "Mouette", Sep.-Nov. '53
Stationed at Haiphong on 21st September 1954.
In July 1952 the unit consisted of 1 LCI, 2 LCM monitors, 2 LCMs, 2 EAs, 1 CLA.
CLA: Commando 61
Dinassaut Haiphong
Formed on the 1st February 1953 by redesignation of the Haiphong Maritime Patrol ("Patmar"),
and transformed into a Dinassaut on 25th May 1953. Under LV Bardet, the unit consisted of an
LSIL, 5 LCMs and 3 LCVPs. It took part in all operations in the Haiphong area during 1953 and
1954, notably "Tarentaise", "Delta", "Echo" and "Claude" in Aug.-Sep. '53. Taking the name of
Dinassaut 3 in July 1954 and leaving North Vietnam for relocation to Tourane on 11th August, the
unit was dissolved on 1st June 1955.
On 1st Jan. 1954, consisted of 1 LSIL, 1 LCM monitors, 3 LCMs, 3 EAs, and 1 platoon of
STCAN/FOM boats.
CLA: Commando 65

DUKW amphibious trucks

LCMs
LSTs
STCAN/FOM
Crab (M29 "Weasel")
LVT (sometimes equipped with 40mm Bofors guns)
LVT(A) (with 75mm howitzer)
LCM monitors.
"Brigade Marine d'Extrme-Orient" (BMEO - Far Eastern Naval Brigade)
LCI
(LCAs, LCMs and LCVPs)
LSIL
LCT
LCVPs
CLA
EAs

Main Sources

Lt. Col. Victor CROIZAT, USMC; "Vietnam River Warfare 1945-1975"; Blandford; 1986; ISBN 07137-1830-7
Jean-Pierre PISSARDY; "Flottilles Fluviales et Dinassaut"; Militaria Magazine No.17; Feb. 1987;
Histoire et Collections, Paris.
LCM
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