Khmer National Army - Knowledge (XXG)

1652:, the Cambodians soon produced their own interesting variety of versions of these jungle utilities or had tailors to modify them to suit their tastes and needs, with mix-and-match combinations being far from uncommon. It was not infrequent to see Cambodian male and female soldiers wearing an OG-107 shirt accompanied by a pair of M1967 Jungle Utility trousers or vice versa. The OG-107 trousers were often converted by the addition of cargo pouches; shirts and jackets had their sleeves cut at elbow level, shoulder straps were added, single-buttoned pocket flaps could be replaced by two-button versions (with either clip or round corners) or concealed ones, and – a common practice for officers – the addition of a shoulder pocket on the upper left sleeve for ballpoint pens, which were the symbol of authority in Indo-Chinese armed forces. Sometimes fatigue shirts were converted into light 490:

branch services. However, due to the lack of a clear development plan for the FANC, and to compensate for the shortages of trained officers, its officer corps was expanded by replacing the departing French cadres with poorly-trained Khmer reserve officers, who were simply incorporated into the active duty officers' and NCO corps. Certain Khmer reserve officers were placed in the territorial commands, while the upper echelons of command were filled by Khmer senior civil servants hastily commissioned as military officers, whose grade was based on their civilian rank. In this system, a provincial governor or the president of a tribunal could become a

1808:) to wear with the khaki service dress, whilst a white summer top version was worn with the FARK white full dress uniform; both versions were worn with a gilded metal FARK cap badge bearing the royal coat-of-arms. After March 1970 these caps were replaced by an Olive Green version – incidentally, the change of colour made it to resemble more the U.S. M1954 Visor Cap – for wear with the new Americanized dress uniform adopted by the ANK, worn with a new distinctive gilded metal FANK cap badge now bearing the Khmer Republic coat-of-arms. An olive green 1963:) wore their stars above gold laurel-like leaf embroidery on the outer edge, and a miniature royal coat-of-arms featuring a combined crown-and-crossed spears device was incorporated on the inner end of the shoulder boards for all-ranks. The colour sequence of the FARK shoulder boards also varied according to the arm of service: general service – very dark blue or black; airborne troops – light green; medical corps – maroon. On both the khaki working and olive green (OG) field uniforms, Generals' and senior officers' ranks (French: 1637:); for formal occasions, a light summer version in white cotton (which was the standard FARK full dress uniform) was also issued. The open-collar jacket had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps and two unpleated at the side closed by straight ones whilst the sleeves had false turnbacks; the front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt buttons. The uniform was worn with a matching Khaki shirt and black tie on service dress whereas the white version was worn with a white shirt and a black tie instead. 84: 46: 1399:

proved insufficient to carry the increasing number of troops mobilized, let alone resupplying them over long distances. To remedy the inequities of its transportation system during the first year of the War, Army field commanders resorted to commandeering civilian buses and other commercial vehicles to get their troops to the front. In 1971–72, the transport corps was re-organized and expanded with the help of the U.S. and Australia, who provided 350

1395:, their requests were declined by Washington. Thus Cambodian armoured units continued to rely on their ageing fleet of U.S. M24 and French AMX-13 light tanks and M8, M20 and AML armoured cars until 1974, when mounting combat losses and maintenance problems forced the withdrawal of most of these vehicles (in particular the French ones, after France placed a spare parts embargo) from frontline service, being gradually replaced by M113 APCs. 2537: 2493: 1486: 526: 72: 1169:– GBI), each comprising two brigades and roughly the size of a Division, but lacking support units. Of these, only three were military effective by January 1972, other three were still undergoing training, and the remaining nine were only marginally reliable. The Artillery, Signals, Engineer, Transport, and Armoured Half-Brigades were also brought to brigade strength, with the latter becoming the 1685:) camouflage M1947/51, M1947/52 and M1947/53-54 TAP jump-smocks and M1947/52 TTA vests with matching trousers were issued to ARK airborne troops since the 1950s, though later shortages in the early 1970s limited its use to officers and NCOs only. Enlisted-rank paratroopers received a locally produced spotted camouflage uniform (known as the "Spot pattern") during the 1960s, which consisted of 1781:; berets made of "Tigerstripe" and "Highland" camouflage cloth were also issued to elite units. With the exception of the light khaki and camouflage versions – which were manufactured in three pieces –, all other corps' berets were made of wool in a single piece attached to a black (or tan) leather rim provided with two black tightening straps at the back, following the French M1946 (French: 292:– ARK) was officially created on 20 November 1946, after the signing of a French–Khmer military agreement which defined the provisional organization of both the ARK and the mixed French-Cambodian troops. The terms of the agreement stipulated that the new armed forces would consist of indigenous territorial units stationed within Cambodia to help maintain order and a mobile reserve (French: 809:. Although a sizeable reserve cadre of trained officers and NCOs did exist, there was a persistent lack of reserve units. Some units were posted to the General reserve forces, which consisted merely of the Phnom Penh garrison troops – a half-brigade made of two light infantry battalions – and the combat support units (signals, engineers, armoured, and artillery half-brigades). 1669:

the FANK General Headquarters. Female personnel were issued a service and working olive green OG-107-style short-sleeved blouse based on their male counterparts' versions, provided with two patch breast pockets closed by straight or pointed flaps and shoulder straps. The blouse was worn with a matching service and working olive green knee-length skirt.

2455: 445:, Khmer military personnel began not only to participate in anti-French nationalistic demonstrations calling for complete Cambodian independence, but they also deserted French-led units by the hundreds. Following a world tour to publicize his campaign for independence, King Sihanouk retired to a "free zone of independence" set up at 1268:, five support services' brigades, 15 regional infantry brigades attached to the Military Regions (MR), and one air defense half-brigade. Territorial units included 58 infantry battalions assigned to each of the military sub-districts within the larger MRs, 529 independent infantry companies, and 76 field artillery batteries. 1948:, who replaced the French-style military ranks previously worn during the colonial period with their own devised rank insignia after 1954, the standard FARK rank chart continued to follow closely the French pattern. The Cambodian Armed Forces' system of military ranks was almost identical to the sequence laid out by the 441:). The ARK General Staff was filled entirely by French senior and intermediate rank officers, who did most of the command-and-control support, intelligence work and training, and supervised weaponry and equipment deliveries to the Khmer military units. By mid-1953, however, at the instigation of their youthful King 1871:). During the Republic, the ANK standardized on the M-1 model 1964 provided with the U.S. Army Mitchell "Clouds" camouflage pattern cover, though some units retained the older U.S. and French steel helmets throughout the war. ARK armoured crews received the French M1951 and M1958/65 dark olive green leather 1260:, two airborne battalions under the personal command of Lon Nol. The ANK order-of-battle by mid-1973 thus consisted of four infantry divisions, nine independent infantry brigades, two airborne brigades (one of which was never brought to strength, and was disbanded that same year), one armored brigade, one 1668:

and the earlier French-style M1946/56 khaki dress; it had two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps and two unpleated at the side closed by straight ones whilst the sleeves had false turnbacks. The front fly and pocket flaps were secured by gilt buttons bearing the combined service emblem of

1296:

with a mix of surplus World War II-vintage French and U.S. and modern Soviet and Chinese infantry weapons either inherited from Khmer Royal Army stocks or delivered as emergency aid by the Americans. ANK infantry battalions later sent to South Vietnam for retraining between February 1971 and November

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was later raised in April 1974. The Armour, Artillery, Signals, Transport, and Engineer arms were left untouched by this reorganization and retained their separate brigade structure under their own commands. The General Reserve was also reorganized by Marshal Lon Nol in April 1972 by sub-dividing it

452:

In October that year, the French High Command finally agreed to transfer responsibility for Cambodian national security to the ARK and for that effect, another French-Khmer military agreement was signed. Under the terms of this agreement, the French-led Khmer military units were to be transferred to

1990:

This basic system was maintained during the Republic, though standard black shoulder boards without the royal crest were adopted in 1970 for all services and from 1972 onwards some Cambodian officers began wearing metal pin-on collar rank insignia, obviously inspired by American practice. Although

1548:

The same fate befell on the remaining Cambodian Army units and garrisons still holding on to the provincial capitals and some key towns. Throughout the country, thousands of demoralized Cambodian men and women who had the misfortune of being captured wearing the Army uniform – ranging from officers

1276:

Cambodian army strength stood at 220,000–230,000 troops on paper by mid-1972, but is estimated that the actual number was no less than 150,000, armed by the United States with US$ 1.18 billion-worth of weaponry and equipment. Its inventory included 241,630 rifles, 7,079 machine guns, 2,726 mortars,

388:

force consisting of one independent Khmer infantry company. Late that year, a military assistance agreement was signed between the United States and France, which provided for the expansion of indigenous military forces in Indochina, and by 1952 ARK strength had reached 13,000 men, outnumbering the

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or not – were rounded up by Khmer Rouge guerrilla units and massacred. In Phnom Penh and elsewhere, some officers and enlisted men narrowly avoided capture by quickly changing to civilian clothes and went into hiding. While scores of surrendering Cambodian soldiers were simply shot by firing squad

1398:

The ANK also received after 1970 a new influx of much-needed softskin transport and liaison vehicles. Early in the War, the Army Command was confronted with a serious logistical problem – the small number of outdated U.S., Soviet, and Chinese military trucks available from its transport corps soon

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were also provided to the ANK, eventually finding their way into Cambodian elite troops, such as the Khmer Special Forces and the Recondo companies. Although the UITG and MEDTC aid programs allowed the ANK to standardise on modern U.S. weapons, they never superseded entirely the earlier weaponry,

2523:

ARK skill and trade badges came in gilt metal and/or ennamelled pin-on versions, with cloth embroidered yellow or black-on-green subdued variants being introduced after 1970. On dress and service uniforms, they were worn on both collars by all-ranks if shoulder boards were worn, but in the field

489:

In early 1954, the "Khmerization" of the FANC units still under the command of French officers and NCOs began to be implemented, with most of these cadres assuming the roles of technical advisors or instructors, while others kept their posts in the various unit headquarters' staffs and technical

436:

Although French-trained Khmer junior officers and NCOs slowly began to take a leading role over time, the ARK was still kept firmly under the control of the French High Command through its military training mission, renamed in 1951 "French Military Mission to the Government of Cambodia" (French:

1193:

model. By January 1973, all brigade group headquarters (HQs), 17 regimental HQs, 16 brigade HQs, and 13 battalions had been dissolved, replaced by newly created 32 infantry brigades, 202 infantry battalions, and 465 territorial infantry companies. Out of these totals, 128 battalions formed the

1138:

issued a general mobilization order and, after securing American, Thai and South Vietnamese military support, promptly set up ambitious plans to expand the Cambodian armed forces. Shortly after the coup, however, China and the Soviet Union severed their military assistance programs, and the

1983:), they wore metal or cloth chevrons pinned to the chest; NCOs serving in combat units were entitled to wear their chevrons pointed upwards whereas their counterparts assigned to non-combatant, rear-echelon support formations had to wear their chevrons pointed downwards. Privates (French: 1663:

Reflecting the increasing American influence, ANK senior officers adopted in 1970–71 a new dress uniform, which consisted of an Olive Green tunic and slacks worn with a white shirt and black tie. The cut of the four-buttoned tunic was a hybrid design resembling both the U.S. Army

420:

in Kandal Province, bringing total strength up to 6,000 men, with about half serving in the Khmer National Guard and half in the mobile reserve. The latter at this time comprised three rifle battalions, with one of its battalions been allocated to French Union forces elsewhere in

1162:– BI) had been created, but only fourteen – the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Inf. Bdes – were properly manned, the other six – 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th Inf. Bdes – were never brought to strength or remained on paper. 560:

in South Vietnam, Prince Sihanouk cancelled on 20 November 1963 all American aid, and on 15 January 1964 the U.S. MAAG aid program was suspended when Cambodia adopted a neutrality policy. The ARK continued to rely on French military assistance but at the same time turned to the

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With the exception of a few specialized units, most of these formations actually fell below strength, were poorly trained and equipped in a haphazard way with an array of French, American, British, Belgian, West German, Czechoslovakian, Chinese and Soviet weapon systems.

1899:

White low laced leather shoes were worn with the FARK white cotton full dress, with brown shoes being prescribed to wear with the khaki working uniform, and later, black ones with the new ANK OG dress uniform. On the field, all Army personnel wore brown leather U.S.

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and on the Phnom Penh area; the latter was the headquarters of the six main Half-Brigades and supporting services whereas infantry formations were deployed throughout the country. The small armoured corps was also organized into an Armoured Half-Brigade (French:

482:. The Kingdom of Cambodia was granted full independence on 20 November and King Sihanouk officially took command of the 17,000-strong FANC, though France maintained the right to station CEFEO units in north-eastern Cambodia to guard its communications links with 461:

inside Cambodia. The only elements that remained subordinated to the French Commander-in-Chief in Cambodia were the Military Mission and the GOBM. The ARK and the Khmer National Guard were consolidated into a new national defense force comprising 17,000 men, the

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and Kampong Thom provinces. Under an additional protocol signed in June 1950, Cambodian provincial governors were assigned the responsibility for the pacification of the provinces under their jurisdictions; to accomplish this mission they were given each a

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the control of the Cambodian national authorities, and that an operational zone was to be created in the east bank of the Mekong and assigned to the French Union forces. The latter was held jointly by the French Lower Mekong Operational Group (French:

473:

On 9 November 1953, the Kingdom of Cambodia officially proclaimed its independence from France. Meanwhile, the expansion of the newly created FANC continued with the addition that same month of two new light infantry battalions, the 9th BCK raised in

1151:– ANK), had rapidly expanded to 110,000 men and women, though most of them were untrained raw recruits organized into a confusing array of French- and American-modelled combat formations, staffed by elderly NCOs and inexperienced young officers. 2248: 2202: 1839:

and Thailand though they never displaced entirely the earlier headgear. Period photos do show that the old French bush hat remained popular with the troops, who also wore Cambodian- or South Vietnamese-made versions in camouflage cloth.

2156: 2110: 2317: 2271: 2294: 2179: 1586:, and even after the United States took the role as the main foreign sponsor for the Khmer National Armed Forces at the beginning of the 1970s, French military influence was still perceptible in their uniforms and insignia. 2363: 2087: 1085:

Logistics were the responsibility of the transport corps, equipped with a variety of liaison and transportation vehicles. The motor pool consisted in a mixed inventory totalling 150 vehicles, including WWII-vintage U.S.

1753:, who copied it from a tropical beret pattern previously worn by British troops in the Far East during WWII. Berets were worn pulled to the left in French fashion, with the colour sequence as follows: General Service – 958:

assault rifles were reportedly acquired from Belgium and West Germany, but they were never adopted as standard weapons. ARK infantry and airborne formations were also equipped with crew-served weapons, comprising

1721:) origin were also provided to the ANK. Cambodian students that attended the Para-Commando course at the Batujajar Airborne Commando School, near Bandung in Indonesia between March–November 1972, received the 346:

Led by a cadre of French officers and senior NCOs, and intended to be used on internal security operations to reinforce CEFEO regular troops, the new Khmer battalions saw their first combat in 1947 against

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To streamline the mass of ground forces' combat formations, a major reshuffle was implemented between July and December 1972 along American lines. The old organizational structure modelled after the

4180: 1566:. Only a few Army personnel in April–May 1975 escaped by foot or by vehicle across the border into Thailand, where in the late 1970s they would provide the founding cadre for the anti-Vietnamese 513:– MRK) was officially established on 1 March. By April 1954, the FANC consisted of ground and naval branches, with the former reverting to its original designation of Khmer Royal Army (ARK). 300:(CEFEO), placed at the disposal of the French High Commissioner for Indochina. The formation and instruction of the ARK units was entrusted to a French Military Training Mission (French: 389:

French CEFEO forces stationed in Cambodia. New Khmer rifle battalions were formed, specialized combat-support units were established, and a framework for logistical support was set up.

470:– FANC). At this stage the FANC consisted of ground forces only, although plans were being laid by the French for the creation in a foreseeable future of Air and Naval components. 2567:

Full-color and subdued nametapes were occasionally worn above the right shirt or jacket pocket on field dress; plastic nameplates were worn with the service and dress uniforms.

375:

This period saw a rapid expansion of ARK units and by January 1947, its effective strength stood at about 4,000 men, of which 3,000 served in the Khmer National Guard (French:

1640:

After March 1970, as part of the U.S.-sponsored MAP re-equipment program, the Cambodian Army (ANK) was supplied with new American olive green tropical uniforms, the U.S. Army

1602:

tropical "Chino" khaki working dress. The M1945 shirt had a six-buttoned front, two patch breast pockets closed by clip-cornered straight flaps and shoulder straps (French:

2592: 1891:

U.S. Combat Vehicle Crew (CVC) T-56-6 helmet (dubbed the "bone dome"), though neither models offered any satisfactory protection against shrapnel or small arms rounds.

1622:) were also issued and worn according to weather conditions. In the field, Cambodian officers and enlisted men wore French all-arms M1947 drab green fatigues (French: 1154:

At the same time, there were several changes regarding field organization. Regular infantry battalions were at first amalgamated into autonomous regiments (French:

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officers did not wore them on the shirt collars if metal pin-on collar rank insignia was being worn; enlisted ranks usually wore branch insignia on both collars.

1827:

version was adopted as the standard ANK fatigue headgear for all-ranks, though the South Vietnamese ARVN fatigue cap in OG cotton cloth, whose shape recalled the

501:

The FANC continued to expand in the following months to accommodate new ground units and branches of service. An autonomous Cambodian armored battalion (French:

1562:") promptly set up by the Khmer Rouge shortly after their victory, where they were forced to endure the camps' terrible living and working conditions until the 1194:

maneuver elements for the 32 brigades, of which 20 would remain independent and 12 were to be distributed among new four Mechanized Infantry Divisions (French:

2432: 1075: 2409: 2225: 1571: 597:

model into 53 regiments (actually, battalions) and 13–15 regional independent companies; slightly over half were designated infantry battalions (French:

4080: 4066: 416:– 1st BPK) was officially created in December 1952. Two additional infantry battalions were raised in April 1953 – 7th BCK in Siem Reap and 8th BCK at 1920:) black leather jump-boot models. After 1970, the ANK standardized on the American black leather M-1967 model with "ripple" pattern rubbler sole and 2587: 883:

pistols. In September 1950, the ARK began the process of standardisation on U.S. equipment, with infantry and airborne units taking delivery of the

1741:

The most common headgear for ARK/ANK all-ranks was a lightweight beret made of light khaki cotton cloth surnamed the "gourka", adopted by the

4170: 3794: 379:). In July 1949, a second French–Khmer military agreement was signed, granting Cambodian military forces further operational autonomy in the 1554:

and had their bodies dumped into shallow graves dug in forest areas, a considerable number of them were sent to be 're-educated' in the new

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suspended all cooperation with Cambodia, thus depriving its Army of vital training and technical assistance. By June 1970, the rechristened

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rebel movement, continued over the next three years, during which the Khmer battalions gradually assumed responsibility for the defence of

1408: 872: 77: 3934: 2852: 1446:, meant to replace the Soviet and Chinese artillery pieces gradually withdrawn from service due to a lack of spare parts and ammunition. 3940: 3937: 1055: 297: 4113: 3924: 3826: 3784: 2647: 1594:

The basic Royal Cambodian Army (ARK) work uniform for all-ranks was a local copy of the French Army's tropical working dress (French:

760:) of unequal size roughly corresponding to the areas of the country's 23 provinces and districts. They comprised the 1st MR (French: 1537:

and other FANK senior staff officers and top officials of the Khmer Republic government were summarily executed without trial at the

1400: 4175: 4132: 4014: 3972: 3910: 3896: 3882: 3868: 3854: 3840: 1460: 1424: 1420: 1387:

In October 1970, the ANK command sought to expand its armoured corps but, despite repeated requests for the delivery of more modern

1158:– RIA), soon abolished in favour of a brigade grouping several battalions. By early May 1970, twenty new Infantry Brigades (French: 1298: 296:) comprising 8,000 Khmer soldiers, to be divided on equal halves of 4,000 each between the ARK and the mixed infantry units of the 1823:) and privately purchased civilian sun hats in white, Khaki or OG cotton cloth. Later, a khaki patrol cap resembling a simplified 505:– BBC) was set up by the French, equipped with US armored cars, half-tracks and scout cars, and a naval and riverine service, the 1244: 425:. Cambodian military units were given wider responsibility, including the protection of the rubber plantations along the middle 2576: 1941: 1649: 1278: 1067: 570: 3958: 3812: 1322: 860: 698: 593:

By January 1970, the Royal Khmer Army stood at about 35,000 officers and enlisted men and women, organized according to the

2454: 2637: 1815:

In the field, ARK officers and enlisted men wore a mixture of light khaki tropical berets, U.S. M-1951 cotton field caps,

566: 1606:) whilst the M1945 "Chino" pants featured two pleats at the front hips. In alternative, the short-sleeved M1946 (French: 1563: 1140: 2627: 1971:) but, if the issued combat jacket or shirt was not provided with buttoned shoulder straps, a single chest tab (French: 1959:) were worn by officers on their dress uniforms as per in the French practice, except that Cambodian Generals’ (French: 1392: 1107: 1079: 1051: 429:

region, and surveillance of the coastal areas of the southern Cambodian provinces and of the eastern border areas with

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The Cambodian Army owed its origin and traditions to the Khmer colonial ARK and CEFEO troops on French service of the

1412: 1232: 1222: 1212: 1202: 1036: 265: 157: 1648:, which quickly replaced the older ARK khaki working uniform and the drab green French fatigue clothing. As with the 1289: 745:) were placed under the responsibility of the Service Directorates subordinated to the Ministry of National Defense. 1629:

ARK Officers received the standard FARK summer service dress uniform in khaki cotton, which was patterned after the

458: 1828: 1542: 1326: 1314: 1306: 900: 868: 864: 852: 557: 1645: 1567: 907:. After U.S. military assistance was renounced in 1964, the ARK received from China, the Soviet Union and other 3477: 1455: 1170: 702: 1949: 152: 1470: 1261: 311:

Three days later, the first entirely Cambodian regular military unit, the 1st Khmer Rifle Battalion (French:

4165: 3919:, Area Handbook Series (Third edition), Department of the Army, American University, Washington D.C. 1987. 1403:(a number of which were converted into makeshift armoured cars for security and road convoy escort duties), 826: 2431: 1816: 2642: 2408: 1945: 1131: 1005: 924: 856: 1916:

tropical boots, and sandals; paratroopers received the calf-length French M1950 or M1950/53 TAP (French:

1610:), which featured two pleated breast pockets closed by pointed flaps or the "Chino"-style M1949 (French: 2224: 1372: 983: 979: 806: 364: 1848: 1430:

The Artillery Corps was also re-structured under US lines in 1972–73, receiving additional twenty-five

610: 328: 1614:) shirts could be worn; a long-sleeved version also existed, based on the French M1948 shirt (French: 2632: 1770: 1665: 1538: 1465: 1376: 1350: 1334: 1265: 975: 971: 955: 284:

The oldest and largest branch of the Cambodian armed forces in terms of personnel and matériel, the

2622: 2582: 1975:) pinned to the front fly following French practice could be worn instead. As for senior (French: 1932:

black canvas-and-rubber Indigenous Combat Boots, which replaced much of the older combat footwear.

1750: 1726: 1678: 1657: 1583: 1526: 1360: 1282: 837: 794: 785: 506: 446: 360: 319:, formed by elements transferred from both the Khmer National Guard or "Indigenous Guard" (French: 273: 196: 192: 1804:

ARK officers received a light khaki service peaked cap based on the French M1927 pattern (French:

666: 3496: 2617: 1522: 1388: 1190: 964: 682: 630: 491: 396:, followed in January 1951 by other two rifle battalions (5th BCK and 6th BCK) at the French-run 385: 380: 352: 221: 4094: 4047: 4028: 3995: 802: 4040:

Les marques de grade de l'armée française, 1945–1990 (2e partie-les differents types de galons)

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Les marques de grade de l'armée française, 1945–1990 (2e partie-les differents types de galons)

793:) consisting of two independent tank battalions – one stationed at Phnom Penh and the other at 449:, where he was soon joined by 30,000 ARK troops and Police in a show of support and strength. 4128: 4109: 4090: 4076: 4062: 4043: 4024: 4010: 3991: 3968: 3954: 3920: 3906: 3892: 3878: 3864: 3850: 3836: 3822: 3808: 3780: 1091: 1017: 896: 876: 749: 475: 393: 204: 3470:

US Army Technical Manual of Foreign Military Sales: Battlefield Damage Assessment and Repair

1929: 1812:

was adopted by female personnel to wear with their Olive Green service and working uniform.

1416: 1353: 960: 947: 479: 442: 340: 100: 45: 3155: 2385: 830: 4117: 4098: 4051: 4032: 3999: 1905: 1774: 1722: 1368: 967: 928: 718: 618: 417: 343:

in December that year. Both battalions were posted to the mobile reserve in January 1947.

253: 1384:

particularly in the case of the territorial units and rear-echelon support formations.

404:– CEI). Two armoured car squadrons were formed, the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (French: 4125:

Vietnam, the air war over south-east Asia: From JFK to Nixon – the Vietnam War in detail

3336: 1952:

1956 regulations and common to all branches of service, differing only in some details.

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From mid-1970, Infantry units began to be formed into larger 15 Brigade Groups (French:

2597: 2000: 1778: 1690: 1559: 1302: 1111: 932: 848: 574: 367:, which had been part of the territory returned to Cambodia by Thailand in early 1947. 269: 245: 172: 89: 3821:(Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series), Marine Corps Association, 1990. 2536: 2492: 1541:

complex, while Army troops in the city were disarmed, being subsequently taken to the

1485: 821:

During the First Indochina War, ARK Infantry battalions were issued with WWII-vintage

525: 4159: 1992: 1836: 1758: 1714: 1686: 1443: 1439: 1435: 1431: 1119: 1047: 1043: 1021: 710: 650: 356: 225: 116: 4145: 3933:, U.S. Army Center of Military History, Washington D.C. 1980. – available online at 2063: 335:– 2nd BCK), created out from locally recruited Khmer irregular auxiliaries (French: 4042:, in Militaria Magazine No. 161, December 1998, Histoire & Collections, Paris. 2132: 1872: 1824: 1698: 1310: 1025: 1009: 1002: 908: 880: 822: 582: 562: 426: 4023:, in Militaria Magazine No. 159, October 1998, Histoire & Collections, Paris. 2339: 3990:, in Militaria Magazine No. 188, March 2001, Histoire & Collections, Paris. 4089:, in Militaria Magazine No. 369, April 2016, Histoire & Collections, Paris. 2612: 2602: 1921: 1855:) models were standard issue in the ARK, with paratroopers receiving either the 1831:

utility cap, was sometimes seen. In addition, a wide range of OG or camouflage

1742: 1706: 1653: 1630: 1555: 1293: 1186: 1103: 1013: 990: 904: 841: 833: 594: 430: 412:– 2nd ERB) in July 1951 at Phnom Penh, and a Khmer Parachute Battalion (French: 305: 200: 4021:

Les marques de grade de l'armée française, 1945–1990 (1er partie-introduction)

3721:

Les marques de grade de l'armée française, 1945–1990 (1er partie-introduction)

2607: 2247: 1925: 1888: 1856: 1832: 1598:), consisting of a light khaki cotton shirt and pants modelled after the WWII 1550: 1530: 1380: 1346: 1342: 892: 888: 316: 168: 134: 1844: 1404: 1357: 1318: 1087: 884: 690: 642: 422: 2201: 1189:

was abandoned in favour of a modern conventional organization based on the

2155: 2109: 1656:

by adding two-buttoned patch pockets on the lower skirt. Olive green U.S.

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to NCOs, and even ordinary soldiers, regardless if they had committed any

1913: 1288:

In the early months of the War, most Cambodian infantry units fought the

1071: 348: 4106:

Officiers et soldats de l'armée française d'après le TTA 148 (1943–1956)

3695:

Officiers et soldats de l'armée française d'après le TTA 148 (1943–1956)

3798: 2316: 2270: 2004: 1809: 1790: 1599: 1534: 1338: 1135: 1033: 578: 495: 457:– GOBM) and ARK units, which provided security to the entire length of 408:– 1st ERB) in August 1950 and the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron (French: 229: 105: 2293: 439:

Mission Militaire Française près du Gouvernment du Royaume du Cambodge

3468: 1766: 1641: 1364: 1115: 1099: 1095: 1066:

140 mm MBRLs. Air Defense units were equipped with British-made

1029: 994: 951: 916: 845: 483: 397: 4150: 3476:. Washington, D.C. 18 December 1987. p. 262. TM 9-2320-356-BD. 2178: 1277:

20,481 grenade launchers, 304 recoilless rifles, 289 howitzers, 202

2362: 2086: 1835:

and baseball caps also found their way into the ANK from the U.S.,

308:

officers and NCOs, who acted as instructors and military advisers.

1762: 1754: 1694: 1063: 1059: 944: 940: 920: 3151: 3149: 3147: 3145: 1330: 936: 2922: 2920: 2918: 1016:

armoured cars. Mechanized infantry battalions were issued with

392:

A third Rifle Battalion (3rd BCK) was raised in August 1948 at

3967:, New Vanguard series 77, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2003. 3877:, Men-at-arms series 209, Osprey Publishing Ltd, London 1989. 2531: 2487: 1480: 912: 871:

were also used as company weapons. Officers and NCOs received

520: 433:

to prevent infiltration attempts by Vietminh guerrilla units.

3805:

When the War was over Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge Revolution

3530:

When the War was over Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge Revolution

1991:

the system of military ranks remained unchanged, the rank of

1635:

Vareuse d'officier Mle 1946/56 et Pantalon droit Mle 1946/56

1285:

equipped with a 107 mm heavy mortar) and 4,316 trucks.

797:– and an armoured reconnaissance regiment, 1st ARR (French: 673:). Other technical branch services such as Medical (French: 498:

without having ever received military training of any sort.

2853:"Post-WWII use of the MAS-36 rifle: Part II (export users)" 327:– RTC), comprising three rifle battalions, of the colonial 3988:

L'Escadron Parachutiste de la Garde Sud-Vietnam, 1947–1951

3951:

Sideshow: Kissinger, Nixon and the Destruction of Cambodia

3656:

L'Escadron Parachutiste de la Garde Sud-Vietnam, 1947–1951

3014: 3012: 3010: 1887:); after 1970, Cambodian M113 APC crewmen were issued the 1256:, the General Staff reserve comprising five brigades; and 756:) encompassing one to ten military sub-districts (French: 315:– 1st BCK), was raised by the French Military Mission in 4075:, Weapon series 23, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2013. 4061:, Weapon series 57, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2017. 3847: