French Division Daguet

French Division Daguet
Unit name	Division Daguet
Native name	Division Daguet
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Division
Role	Combined arms
Garrison	Metz
Battles	Gulf War (1991)
Commander1	General Michel Roquejeoffre

French Division Daguet is a temporary military unit formed by the French Army in 1990–1991 for participation in the Gulf War under the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm coalitions. It was created quickly from elements of the 2nd Armored Division, 4th Armored Division, and other units to project French power alongside forces from the United States Army, British Army, Royal Saudi Land Forces, and Kuwait Armed Forces. The division operated in Saudi Arabia and conducted offensive operations into Iraq and occupied Kuwait during the liberation campaign.

Background and Formation

Division Daguet was constituted as part of France's commitment after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorizing force. French political leadership, including President François Mitterrand and Minister of Defence Jean-Pierre Chevènement, ordered deployment of forces drawn from units based in Metz, Strasbourg, and other garrisons. Command was given to General Michel Roquejeoffre, who assembled mechanized, armored, and support brigades under a single divisional headquarters in coordination with the United States Central Command and Coalition (Gulf War) partners such as the Royal Marines, 1st Infantry Division, and 3rd Armored Division.

Organization and Units

The division comprised a mix of regiments from different French arms: elements of the Régiment de Tirailleurs, 1er Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique, Régiment de Marche du Tchad, and mechanized infantry from the 1st Marine Infantry Regiment. Armor was provided by units equipped with AMX-30 main battle tanks and AMX-10 RC reconnaissance vehicles drawn from the 501e Régiment de Chars de Combat and 3e Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique. Artillery support came from regiments operating the Giat 155mm systems and Canon de 105 modèle F1 pieces, while engineers from the 1er Régiment du Génie handled mobility and counter-mobility tasks. Aviation assets included detachments of Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters and transport aircraft coordinated with the French Air Force and coalition aviation such as the USAF and Royal Air Force.

Role in the 1991 Gulf War

Division Daguet served as France's principal ground contribution to the Coalition forces in the Gulf War. Tasked with securing the eastern flank of the coalition offensive and conducting a left-hook maneuver complementary to the Arab Coalition, the division coordinated with XVIII Airborne Corps and VII Corps operations. It occupied sector responsibilities in Saudi Arabia near the Wadi al-Batin and prepared for cross-border operations into Iraq and Kuwait in concert with forces such as the 2nd Airmobile Brigade and French Airborne Forces.

Operations and Engagements

During the ground offensive, Division Daguet advanced into Iraq as part of the broader maneuver to liberate Kuwait City and neutralize Iraqi Armed Forces. Its units engaged Iraqi detachments, including elements of the Iraqi Republican Guard and regular Iraqi Army formations, with combined arms actions integrating armor, infantry, artillery, and aviation. Notable operations involved coordinated assaults on Iraqi defensive positions, interdiction of retreating units along supply routes used during the Iraq–Kuwait conflict, and securing key terrain such as border crossings and communication nodes. The division worked alongside coalition partners including the French Navy for logistics, the United States Marine Corps for joint maneuvering, and multinational logistics networks involving NATO members.

Casualties and Aftermath

French losses during the campaign included personnel killed in action, wounded, and non-battle casualties sustained in the harsh environment of Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations. Several soldiers were killed during engagements with Iraqi forces and from accidents during high-tempo maneuvers; others later received treatment in coalition medical facilities such as those run by the US Army Medical Department. The campaign produced operational lessons for the French Army about force projection, interoperability with United States Armed Forces, and combined arms doctrine. Post-conflict inquiries involved the Ministry of Defence (France) and parliamentary reviews overseen by members of the Assemblée nationale (France) and Senate (France).

Legacy and Commemoration

Division Daguet influenced subsequent French expeditionary concepts, contributing to reforms in armored doctrine, logistics, and rapid deployment exemplified in later operations such as Opération Licorne, Operation Trident, and deployments to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Afghanistan. Veterans and units involved have been commemorated with ceremonies at military sites including Les Invalides and regimental memorials in Metz, Toulon, and other garrisons. Memorials and commemorations involve partnerships with organizations like the Office national des anciens combattants et victimes de guerre and veteran associations such as the Fédération nationale André Maginot.

Category:Military units and formations of France Category:French involvement in the Gulf War