kBob
Member
Should not have been in the hands of the French in French Indochina though they bought a few for testing they had their own M1949 rifle that was also developed initially before the Germans arrived. Their rifle used a gas system similar to the AR 15s and a ten round magazine as well and like the SAFN the French rifle was not intended for swapping mags with every reload and was loaded with the same stripper clip as the MAS 1936bolt actions. The French used an upgeared model of their 1949 rifle the 49/56 right up to the introduction of Le Clarone 5.56mm bull pup in the late 1970's. They typically wore one extra magazine incasae the one in the rifle failed and the rest of their ammo on stripper clips.
My understanding is that some French units in Indo China actually used the Kar 98k bolt action in 7,92mm Mauser. They also used a fair bit of US equipment to included M1 carbines and 1919 and M2 Machineguns in some units. They also used some US armored vehicles and unarmored military transport. The then US Vice President visited in 1951 and his advise was to support the French and non communist Viet government with equipment and stay the hell out...Richard Nixon was smarter than some folks give him credit.
Both Models of the M 1935 pistol saw service in FIC but I do not know if the 9mm replacement made it there though both US supplied M1911series pistols and Walther or Manhurin P38 pistols made it their. I always wondered if the heavily German Legion units tended to get the German equipment
The French did buy a few SAFN for testing but by then their own rifle was a done deal.
-kBob
My understanding is that some French units in Indo China actually used the Kar 98k bolt action in 7,92mm Mauser. They also used a fair bit of US equipment to included M1 carbines and 1919 and M2 Machineguns in some units. They also used some US armored vehicles and unarmored military transport. The then US Vice President visited in 1951 and his advise was to support the French and non communist Viet government with equipment and stay the hell out...Richard Nixon was smarter than some folks give him credit.
Both Models of the M 1935 pistol saw service in FIC but I do not know if the 9mm replacement made it there though both US supplied M1911series pistols and Walther or Manhurin P38 pistols made it their. I always wondered if the heavily German Legion units tended to get the German equipment
The French did buy a few SAFN for testing but by then their own rifle was a done deal.
-kBob