Vietnamese National Army (AVN) 1st Battalion to 10th BVN

Hi,
I have been collecting info on the French Union Troops Indochina. I will start with the AVN Infantry. If there are errors or additions to the information, I would like to update my information. Regards.

AVN Infantry:


1 Battalion, Indochinese Formations (Formations de Partisans de Cao Bang) AKA Bataillon Leger de Suppletifs Militaires BLMS :
11/47, Tonkin, Formations de Partisans de Cao Bang formed in Cao Bang from 136, 138, 140, 142 Light Infantry Suppletif Company (CLSM).
1950, Tonkin, Formation renamed 1st Battalion, Indochinese Formations.
10/4/50, Tonkin, Left Cao Bang and withdrew down RC 4.
10/5/50, Tonkin, 138, & 142 LCMS moved with Column, while 140 LCMS escorted the civilians fleeing Cao Bang.
10/6/50, Tonkin, RC 4 the 136, 138, & 142 LCMS took hill 590.
10/7/50, Tonkin, RC 4 the 138 LCMS joined the column and took hills near Ban Ca.
10/9/50, Tonkin, Battalion destroyed in RC 4 battles. Survivors of RC 4 were three of ten officers, six of fifty NCO’s, & ten of nine hundred and thirty seven troopers.


GM Franco-Vietnamese  #1,
11/49, Tonkin, Group formed near Hanoi.
1/50, Tonkin, Group assigned to pacification duty near Hung Yen.
2/50, Tonkin, Group renamed 4th BVN.
See: 4th BVN.


1st BVN:
10/1/48, Cochin China, Battalion ordered to be formed with Cadre from the 1, 2, & 3 Regiments of Guard of Vietnam Sud & from elements of GVNS (400 soldiers from the 2 & 3 Squadrons Commandos) & Sect Troops (250 soldiers from the Cao Dai, UMDC, Hoa Hao). AO = Bac Lieu.
CO Major Trong Van Xuong from the Cao Dai.
1949, Sector Mocay.
2/1/50, Cochin China, Battalion moved from Bentre to Bac Lieu.
1951, Sector Bac Lien was part of 1st Vietnamese Division, had a Vietnamese Commanding Officer.
4/1/51, Cochin China, operations & security sweeps.
12/1/53, Cochin China, became part of GM 11.
11/1/54, South Vietnam, Battalion renamed I/11th Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, I/11th IR renamed I/31st IR of ARVN 11th Division.
See: I/11th Infantry Regiment.
(During the war served in or near Long Hai, Mocay, Bac Lieu, Camau, Giaardi, Sadec, Phu Yen)


2nd BVN:
7/1/49, Tonkin, formed at Hanoi from GVNN with Catholics from Bui Chu & Phat Diem without a French cadre.
9/10/49, Tonkin, Battalion finished training & moved to Nam Dinh.
1/14/51, Tonkin, Battalion replaced at Bac Ninh by 2nd BEP.
1951, Tonkin, part of 3rd Division Vietnamese, had a Vietnamese Commanding Officer.
2 quarter 1951, near Thai Binh, later near Vinh Yen.
1/1/54, Tonkin, part of GM 31.
7/10/54, Tonkin, 2nd DMT near Ke Sat part of GM 31.
10/54, Moved from Haiphong to Tourane with GM 31.
11/1/54, South Vietnam, Battalion absorbed 723rd TD & Renamed I/31st Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, I/31st IR renamed as I/6th IR of ARVN 2nd Division.
See: I/31st Infantry Regiment.


3rd BVN:
10/1/49, Cochin China, Battalion ordered to be created from elements of GVNS.
4/1/50, Cochin China, Battalion moved from Nuoc Ngot to Rach Gia.
1951, Cochin China, part of 1 Vietnamese Division, had a Vietnamese Commanding Officer.
1/51 thru 3/55, Cochin China, AO = Can Tho.
4/1/51, Cochin China, operations & security sweeps.
Served with GM 11.
7/20/54, Annam, AO = Nha Trang.
11/1/54, South Vietnam, Battalion renamed II/11 Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, II/11 IR renamed II/31 IR of ARVN 11 Division.
See: II/11 Infantry Regiment.


4th BVN:
11/15/49, Tonkin, Battalion created with Cadre from 3 LMGR, GVNN instruction troops & parts of former GMFV 1
10/15/50, Tonkin, AO = Hung Yen. Battalion took part in Operations near Phu Ly.
Tonkin, Part of 1 DMT, served with GM 8.
1951, Tonkin, part of 3 Division Vietnamese, had a Vietnamese Commanding Officer.
2/51, Tonkin, Battalion in Operation PHU LY.
10/15/52, Tonkin, Sector Hung Yen. Battalion had Vietnamese cadre.
1953, Tonkin, AO = Dong Van near Bac Ninh.
9/1/53, Tonkin, became part of GM 31.
6/18/54 thru 7/5/54, Tonkin, Withdrew from Ninh Binh in Operation AUVERGE. Held open the road at My Coi.
8/54, Moved from Haiphong to Saigon.
11/1/54, South Vietnam, Battalion renamed I/156 Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, I/156 IR renamed I/47 IR of ARVN 16 Division.
See: I/156 Infantry Regiment.


5 BVN:
5/20/50, Annam, created from elements of the Guard of South Viet Nam near Quang Tre in Quang Trung. Battalion had Cao Dai members among the men.
10/19/50, two Companies of 2 BMEO in this sector.
9/50, Finished training. AO = Sa Dec.
10/25/50, Cochin China, Battalion moved from Quang Tre to Soc Trang. Stationed near 6 GCCP.
1951, Battalion part of 1 Division Vietnamese, had a French Commanding Officer.
4/1/51, Cochin China, operations & security sweeps.
8/1/55, South Vietnam, Battalion renamed I/101 Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, I/101 IR renamed I/32 IR of ARVN 11 Division.
See: I/101 Infantry Regiment.


6th BVN:
12/15/49, Tonkin, Battalion ordered to be formed at Phu Ly from GVNN & from part of GMFV 2 of Bui Chi (Non CEFEO Unit). Cadre from 3 LMGR. Part of 1 DMT, AO = Ban Yen Nhan near Ha Nam & Bui Chi.
1951, Battalion part of 3 Division Vietnamese, had a Vietnamese Commanding Officer.
4/1/51, Tonkin, part of the De Lature Defense Line for the Red River Delta.
11/13/51, Tonkin, Battalion part of GM 7.
5/53, AO = Hanoi. US MAAG Report listed the Battalion as in “poor shape”.
9/1/53, Tonkin, became part of GM 31.
12/1/53, Cochin China, became part of GM 11.
1/1/54, part of GM 32.
7/10/54, Tonkin, 4 DMT LOC duty on RC 5 with GM 32.
10/54, Moved from Haiphong to Tourane with GM 32.
11/1/54, South Vietnam, Battalion absorbed the 716 TD & 722 TD and renamed I/32 Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, I/32 IR renamed I/4 IR of ARVN 2 Division.
See: I/32 Infantry Regiment.


7th BVN:
3/20/50, Annam, Battalion formed from GVNC near Quang Tri,
9/1/50, Annam, Battalion moved to Hue.
1951, part of 2 Vietnamese Division, had a French Commanding Officer.
12/16/51, Part of GM Center Vietnam.
2/52, Annam, near Quang Tri.
6/14/54, Annam, Battalion in Operation LEXA.
11/1/54, South Vietnam, Battalion renamed I/23 Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, I/23 IR renamed I/3 IR of ARVN 1 Division.
See: I/23 Infantry Regiment.


8th BVN:
4/15/50, Annam, created from GVNC instruction Companies near Hue. AO = My Chanh near Hue.
1951, Part of 2 Division Vietnamese, had a Vietnamese Commanding Officer.
9/1/53, Annam, became part of GM 21.
10/16/54, South Vietnam, Battalion renamed I/21 Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, Quang Tri, I/21 IR renamed I/1 IR/ARVN 1 Division.
See: I/21 Infantry Regiment.


9th BVN:
6/1/50, Tonkin, Battalion ordered to be formed from GVNN instruction troops & Recruits from Hanoi. It’s Cadre was from 3 LMGR.
Tonkin, Battalion moved to Thai Binh where it was considered an Elite unit.
8/50, Tonkin, Battalion in Operations near Thai Binh
4/53, Tonkin, operations with III/6 RIC.
9/1/53, Tonkin, became part of GM 31.
1/1/54, Tonkin, part of GM 31.
7/10/54, Tonkin, 2 DMT near Ke Sat part of GM 31.
10/54, Moved from Haiphong to Tourane with GM 31.
11/1/54, South Vietnam, Battalion absorbed 703 TD & renamed II/31 Infantry Rgt.
11/1/55, South Vietnam, II/31 IR renamed II/6 IR/ARVN 2 Division.
See: II/31 Infantry Regiment.


10th BVN:
8/15/50, Tonkin, Battalion created from GVNN instruction troops at Phu Luu near Hung Yen. Battalion cadre came from French Military Mission.
Tonkin, Battalion moved from Phu Luu to Hai Duong after training.
4/1/51, Tonkin, part of the De Lature Defense Line for the Red River Delta.
9/24/51 to 9/29/51, Tonkin, near Ninh Giang in Operation CITRON with GM 1, GM 3 (attached 7 BPC), GN 4, 1 BPC, 5 BPC, 8 BPC, III/2 RTA, 10 BVN, BM/RICN, DNA 3, DNA 12 against 664/42 IR, 50 Btl (Hai Duong), 59 Btl (Hung Yen) VNPA.
1951, part of 3 Division Vietnamese, had a French Commanding Officer.
1952, Tonkin, near Hung Yen. Battalion had Vietnamese cadre.
3/1/53, Transferred to FAVN.
4/53, Tonkin, Battalion AO = Hung Yen.
1/1/54, Tonkin, part of GM 32.
7/10/54, Tonkin, 4 DMT LOC duty on RC 5 with GM 32.
11/54, Moved from Haiphong to Tourane with GM 32.
11/1/54, SVN, Battalion absorbed the 725 TD and renamed II/32 Infantry Regiment.
11/1/55, SVN, II/32 IR renamed II/4 Infantry Regiment/ARVN 2 Division.
See: II/32 Infantry Regiment.