The Dinassaut (French: [dinaso], Division Navale d'Assaut, "Naval Assault Division") was a type of riverine military unit employed by the French Navy during the first Indochina War. It's an example of Riverine artillery.

Insignia of the 1st Dinassaut

The 'Dinassaut' were created by General Leclerc in 1947 in order to replace the flottilles fluviales created by Jaubert in 1945–1946. Ten groups were created.

Organization

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Each Dinassaut consisted of approximately 12 craft, often American landing craft modified with armour and using tank turrets as weapons. Other craft carried 81mm mortars to be employed as riverine artillery.[1]

The ships were converted LCVP && Armored Troop Carrier (LCM):

The ten naval assault divisions were located in the Mekong Delta (Cochinchina) and the Red River Delta (Tonkin) as follows:

  • Dinassaut 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, in Cochinchine;
  • Dinassaut 1, 3, 5, 12 and Haiphong Dinassaut in Tonkin.

Each one has a company of Commandos Marine (created off Fusiliers Marins) attached to it.

Operations

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They were notably involved in:

Notable people who served in Dinassaut

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The following people have served there:

Second Indochina War

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Dinassaut 6 & 8 had been transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy (VNN) in 1953.

The concept was reused by the US Navy during the Vietnam War. This leads to the creation of the Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force later named Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) after May 1967.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bernard B. Fall (1994). Street Without Joy. Stackpole Books. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-0-8117-1700-7.
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