(Hypothetical/DIY) Preview: 4e Division Aéromobile
Before presenting this new DIY battlegroup concept, I would first like to sincerely thank everyone who commented on and criticized my previous DIY works. I fully accept these comments and suggestions with humility.
As someone based in mainland China, collecting reliable historical materials can sometimes be quite difficult. In addition, my own language ability is limited mainly to Chinese, English, and Japanese. This means that when dealing with French, German, or Russian-language sources, I often face considerable difficulties in reading and verifying materials directly. Because of this, some of my previous research and interpretations may have contained mistakes, omissions, or overly bold assumptions. I am very grateful to everyone who pointed these issues out, provided corrections, or offered additional historical context.
At the same time, regarding the existing French Aéromobiles unit currently represented in WARNO, I would like to raise two points for discussion.
First, the current in-game model appears to use the special helmet associated with French airmobile reconnaissance personnel. However, historically, this type of helmet seems to have been issued specifically to reconnaissance troops of the 4e Division Aéromobile, rather than being standard equipment for all airmobile infantry. In other words, while this model may be appropriate for reconnaissance-oriented Aéromobile units, it may not accurately represent every infantry element within the division.
soldiers from 1er RCAM with blue berets and yellow neckerchiefs
Second, the infantry of the 4e Division Aéromobile should not be understood as conventional infantry in the usual sense. Their primary role was highly specialized around anti-tank warfare. The division’s airmobile infantry elements were designed to deploy rapidly and form an anti-tank screen against Warsaw Pact armored forces, rather than to function like a traditional line infantry formation. Because of this, I believe the current in-game Aéromobiles have some issues in terms of organization, equipment, and visual modeling. Their present representation does not fully reflect the specialized anti-tank character of the real 4e DAM infantry.
Therefore, this DIY concept is not intended as a rejection of WARNO’s current design, but rather as an attempt to reinterpret the 4e DAM from a more historically focused angle. I hope this version can provide an interesting discussion point for both historical enthusiasts and WARNO players. As always, corrections, criticism, and additional sources are very welcome.
Commanders, Welcome to our new Issue of hypothetical Nemesis！
Today, we bring you a new Nemesis series: EuroCorps. This will be a Nemesis release paying tribute to the EuroCorps deck from the classic Wargame: Red Dragon, featuring a large number of inspirations and Nemesis pairings drawn from that iconic deck. Without further ado, let us begin with today’s battlegroup: one of the most distinctive experimental large formations of French Army Aviation at the end of the Cold War — the French 4e Division Aéromobile, abbreviated as 4e DAM.
French 4e Division Aéromobile
The real-life 4e DAM was established on July 1, 1985, in Nancy, having been reorganized from an experimental airmobile brigade. It integrated three combat helicopter regiments, one airmobile combat regiment, and one command/support helicopter regiment. It belonged to the French Force d’Action Rapide, or FAR — the same corps that also included the mysterious and stealthy 9th Marine Infantry Division, the 27th Mountain Division, which lost its Nemesis revival round, as well as the already implemented 11th Parachute Division and 6th Light Armoured Division. In theory, the 4e DAM could deploy combat forces within half a day toward an area 350 kilometers from its base, relying on 240 helicopters and more than 400 ready-to-fire anti-tank missiles to establish an anti-tank barrier.
The 1984–1988 Military Planning Law guided broad reforms within the French Army. This law prioritized enhancing the army’s firepower and mobility, which soon made the 4e DAM, alongside the 6th Light Armoured Division, an important component of FAR. These two divisions were regarded as major tools for delaying large-scale Warsaw Pact armored thrusts. The role of the 4e DAM was to rapidly establish an anti-tank network in front of NATO’s main deployed forces, or in response to enemy armored offensives. However, due to the lack of heavy transport helicopters such as the CH-53 or CH-47, some of its ground equipment could not be airlifted and therefore had to reach the battlefield by road. The division placed a heavy emphasis on anti-tank warfare. Through the use of combat helicopters, as well as the reconnaissance and anti-tank infantry companies under its airmobile infantry regiment, the division was estimated to be capable of attriting one to two Soviet tank divisions and effectively “buying time” for the deployment of suitable anti-tank forces, while also using helicopter transport to facilitate the deployment of anti-tank combat companies.
However, it should be noted that the 4e DAM was not a traditional NATO/U.S.-style air assault division. It did not have three air assault brigades, nor did it possess large numbers of UH-60s or CH-47s capable of dropping entire infantry battalions deep behind enemy lines. As historical Cold War French Army ORBAT assessments stated rather bluntly: the name “4e Division Aéromobile” sounded grand, but in essence it was closer to “a very weak light infantry brigade plus a large number of helicopters.” Its core tactic was to project an airborne anti-tank “skirmish screen” forward of NATO’s main line of resistance. This means that the 4e DAM needed additional combat units attached to it in order to form an effective fighting force — at least in our game.
the compagnie légère de renseignement
Historically, the 4e DAM participated in the Gulf War in 1991. When FAR was dissolved in 1999, the division was reorganized into a brigade. In 2010, the 4th Airmobile Brigade was finally disbanded.
Details of the French 4e Division Aéromobile
As mentioned above, the French 4e Division Aéromobile itself consisted of three combat aviation regiments, one airmobile infantry regiment, one command and signals regiment, and one airmobile support regiment, with only 7,500 personnel in the entire division.
The division’s only airmobile infantry regiment, the 1er Régiment de Combat Aéromobile, or 1er RCAM, had a very specific mission: within less than 12 hours, it was to depart from its base and deploy more than 350 kilometers away to conduct anti-tank operations. Against a moving armored or mechanized division, the regiment’s maximum instantaneous firepower amounted to 400 MILAN anti-tank missiles. The 1er RCAM consisted of seven companies: one light reconnaissance company, one command and support company, one fire support company, three reconnaissance and anti-tank combat companies, and one counter-mobility company.
soldiers from the compagnie légère de renseignement
This means that the 4e DAM not only lacked infantry in general, but given that its only infantry regiment — the 1er RCAM — was primarily focused on anti-tank warfare, it also lacked conventional infantry combat units. Therefore, available reinforcements near the division’s stationing area would be attached to reinforce the 4e DAM. These units mainly include:
79e RI Réserve: the 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment, a cadre unit that would be mobilized and brought up to full strength in wartime.
26e RI Réserve: the 26th Reserve Infantry Regiment. Unlike the 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment, this unit retained part of its personnel as the 8th Commando Training Center, or Centre Commando le “n° 8”, meaning that the regiment could provide more specialized combat personnel than the 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment.
17e Groupement de Gendarmerie Mobile: stationed in Metz under the 6th Regional Command, the Lorraine 17th Mobile Gendarmerie Group would be the gendarmerie unit most likely to be attached to the 4e DAM. They would operate alongside the 4e DAM in combat operations.
In addition, several small independent units would also be attached to the 4e DAM for joint operations.
French 4e Division Aéromobile In-Game
LOG Tab
For an air assault division, the LOG tab is fairly strong. Not only does the 4e DAM have its own dedicated airmobile support regiment responsible for logistics, but it also receives conventional ground logistics units from nearby reserve formations.
First, regarding supply units: because this is an air assault force, the 4e DAM cannot deploy an FOB. Other supply units include the TRM-2000 LOG. and Puma Kangourou. New supply units include:
Auverland A3 LOG.: a small supply jeep heavily used by the 4e DAM.
Cougar Kangourou: the Cougar helicopter, successor to the Puma, had already entered limited service with the French Army by this time.
Command units include the Gazelle PC, Puma PC, VBL PC, and the M201 PC brought in by reserve forces. The new command unit will be the Fennec PC, the Fennec command helicopter. This helicopter was the twin-engine successor to the Écureuil light helicopter. After testing the Écureuil, the French Army did not place an order. However, after issuing a requirement for a modern twin-engine helicopter, the Fennec received an order from the French Army.
INF Tab
The INF tab is reasonably good. Thanks to reinforcements from two reserve infantry regiments, the 4e DAM barely manages to field infantry combat strength equivalent to three infantry regiments.
The division’s main infantry units are primarily Reservistes provided by the 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment and the 26th Reserve Infantry Regiment. These include regular infantry squads, LRAC variants, FR-F1 variants, command squads, and attached reserve engineer units. In addition, the command unit of the 26th Reserve Infantry Regiment is replaced by the new Commandos Instruct. — commando instructors from the 8th Commando Training Center, or Centre Commando le “n° 8”. This is a 10-man squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, one Minimi light machine gun, one FR-F1 sniper rifle, and an LRAC F1 anti-tank rocket launcher. It has the Special Forces, Shock, and Instructor traits.
Next are the various airmobile infantry units provided by the 1er RCAM. Some of these units will receive the Security trait, in order to represent the regiment’s three main companies — the compagnies d’éclairage et de combat antichar, or reconnaissance and anti-tank combat companies. These soldiers performed both reconnaissance and anti-tank duties. However, please note that the number of cards available for these units will be strictly limited, so use them carefully:
AeroMobiles (Milan): a 7-man squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles and two Milan 1 anti-tank missile launchers. It has the Shock and Security traits. We know this sounds wild, but this was indeed the foundation of the 4e DAM’s combat concept: masses of MILAN missiles to counter the steel flood of the Warsaw Pact. We even found training photos of the 4e DAM in order to recreate this organization.
AeroMobiles (Eryx): a 10-man squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, one AANF1 light machine gun, an LRAC F1 anti-tank rocket launcher, and an Eryx anti-tank missile. It has the Shock and Security traits.
CMDT AeroMobiles (Apilas): a 3-man command squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, smoke grenades, and an Apilas anti-tank rocket launcher. It has the Shock and Security traits.
Aero. Groupe Antichar: a 7-man anti-tank team equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, smoke grenades, and two Apilas anti-tank rocket launchers. It has the Shock and Security traits.
Reservistes AeroMobiles: the reserve company under the 1er RCAM, or compagnie de réserve. This is a 10-man squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, one AANF1 light machine gun, smoke grenades, and an LRAC F1 anti-tank rocket launcher. As a reserve airmobile infantry unit, and to reflect its higher training standards, it does not have the Reservist trait. However, it also does not have the Shock trait commonly seen among its peers, and its veterancy will also be limited.
Contre-Mobiles: the counter-mobility company under the 1er RCAM, or compagnie de contre-mobilité. Its predecessor was the airmobile engineer company. This is an 8-man squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, one AANF1 light machine gun, an Apilas anti-tank rocket launcher, and demolition charges. It has the Shock trait.
All of the above 1er RCAM units can ride in ground vehicles or Super Puma transport helicopters. A small number of units will receive the more advanced Cougar transport helicopter, while some units will receive dedicated French airmobile infantry models with blue berets and yellow neckerchiefs.
The Lorraine 17th Mobile Gendarmerie Group provides gendarmerie reinforcements to the 4e DAM, including gendarmerie command squads, 4-man gendarmerie teams, and larger Gendarmerie mobiles formations. The new unit from the Lorraine 17th Mobile Gendarmerie Group is the PIA — Peloton d’Intervention Action, or intervention platoon assault group. These were elite gendarmerie units established by regional gendarmerie forces based on GIGN training regulations. Although their level of specialization was not equal to that of GIGN, they were still elite personnel within the regional gendarmerie forces, and all of them had received rotational training at GIGN headquarters.
PIA: a 9-man squad equipped with four MP5 submachine guns, three FAMAS assault rifles, one AA-52 light machine gun, and one FR-F1 sniper rifle. It has the Shock, Gendarmerie, and Security traits, and will receive a veteran bonus. In addition to regular gendarmerie vehicle options, they can also ride in Super Puma helicopters provided by the 4e DAM, allowing them to operate alongside the 4e DAM’s airmobile infantry.
In addition, the 4e DAM also receives reinforcements from French Air Force special forces:
Escorte Commandos de l’Air: French Air Force commando escort patrols, later known as CPA 20, or Commando Parachutiste de l’Air n° 20. Their main task was to protect the 4e DAM’s forward field helicopter airfields, ensuring that temporary airfields were not harassed by enemy special forces or low-flying units. This is a 9-man squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, one FR-F2 sniper rifle, a WASP 58 anti-tank rocket launcher, and a Mistral MANPADS. It has the Special Forces, Shock, Mechanized Infantry, Airborne, and Security traits, and can ride in the VIB wheeled armored vehicle — the same one seen in 152.
Weapon teams include Aero. Milan 2, Aero. Milan 2T, Aero. M2HB 12.7mm, and Aero. AANF1 7.62mm provided by the 1er RCAM. These Aero-prefixed weapon teams will all receive the Security trait. Reserve forces also provide the M40A1 recoilless rifle and Res. AANF1 7.62mm heavy machine gun. The division’s Milan 1 missiles have all been integrated into infantry squads.
ART Tab
This is a very poor category. The 4e DAM has no dedicated artillery regiment. Its divisional artillery is mainly composed of mortars, while additional towed howitzers are provided by reserve units.
The new Aero. Mo-120-RT61 represents the 4e DAM’s own mortar troops, while reserve units provide the HM2A1 105mm Res. howitzer and the Res. Mo-81-61-C 81mm mortar. Both of the latter units have the Reservist trait.
TANK Tab
This is an average category. The 4e DAM’s TANK tab lacks actual tanks and is mainly based on light anti-tank missile vehicles.
The 4e DAM is equipped with the Aero. Auverland A3 Milan and Aero. Auverland A3 Milan 2T, the latter using the more advanced Milan 2T anti-tank missile, which was still under testing. Reserve forces provide the M201 Milan.
A small number of new VBL HOT vehicles represent test armed variants based on the VBL chassis. These are equipped with twin HOT 2 anti-tank missile launchers and offer superior range compared with the numerous mobile MILAN missile platforms.
In addition, a small number of AMX-10 RC PC and AMX-10 RC Spahis are borrowed from the 6th Light Armoured Division. This is in return for the 6th Light Armoured Division borrowing armed helicopters and Puma Orchidée radar reconnaissance helicopters from the 4e DAM.
REC Tab
This is a very strong category. The 4e DAM possesses many different types of infantry and aerial reconnaissance forces. Thanks to the division’s anti-tank combat role, some reconnaissance infantry are also highly capable against enemy armored forces.
The two reinforced reserve infantry regiments provide Reserv. Eclaireurs and M201 106SR, both of which have previously appeared in the game. In addition, there are the VBL Reco and VBL Milan, two light reconnaissance vehicles already seen in the 11th Parachute Division. The 4e DAM also provides a considerable number of new units:
Aero-Eclaireurs (Apilas): reconnaissance personnel from the compagnie légère de renseignement, the light reconnaissance company under the 1er RCAM. This is a 4-man squad equipped with three FAMAS assault rifles, one FR-F1 sniper rifle, and an Apilas anti-tank rocket launcher. It has the Shock and Ground Surveillance Radar traits.
soldiers from compagnie légère de renseignement
Aero-Eclaireurs (Eryx): also from the compagnie légère de renseignement under the 1er RCAM. This is a 6-man squad equipped with five FAMAS assault rifles, one AANF1 light machine gun, and an Eryx anti-tank missile. It has the Shock trait.
CPA 30: another French Air Force special operations unit, the Commando Parachutiste de l’Air n° 30. Unlike CPA 20, which was responsible for long-range airfield security, CPA 30’s main mission was airborne rescue operations to recover downed pilots in combat zones. This is a 12-man squad equipped with FAMAS assault rifles, two Minimi light machine guns, one FR-F2 sniper rifle, and a high-ammunition ABL anti-tank rocket launcher — the ABL being the French designation for the AT-4, Anti Blindé Lourd. It has the Shock, Special Forces, Airborne, and Ground Surveillance Radar traits. Its dedicated transport, the Puma SAR, an Air Force search-and-rescue Puma helicopter, can also be used as a reconnaissance helicopter while performing transport duties, and has exceptional optics.
Auverland Milan Reco: a reconnaissance Auverland jeep equipped with Milan 2 anti-tank missiles.
VBL Cannon: a VBL reconnaissance vehicle equipped with a 20mm autocannon.
Aerial reconnaissance is also powerful. It includes the common Gazelle Lisse and Gazelle Cannon, as well as a large number of new reconnaissance helicopters:
Ecureuil Cannon: the French Air Force was not the only user of the Écureuil light helicopter. The French Army also ordered two new Écureuil helicopters for testing, equipped with a 20mm cannon for reconnaissance operations.
Cougar Horizon: the successor to the Puma Orchidée. The successful use of the Puma Orchidée during the Gulf War revived French interest in radar reconnaissance helicopters, leading to the Horizon — Hélicoptère d’Observation Radar et d’Investigation sur Zone, or radar observation and zone investigation helicopter. Fortunately, the first of these radar reconnaissance helicopters was delivered in 1991, while the remaining three were not delivered until 1996. The Cougar had better ECM than the Puma, meaning that the Cougar Horizon will have better survivability than the Puma Orchidée.(I am not sure about the delivered time, some resources show it was delivered in 1991, and the others show it was delivered in 1993 or 1996)
AA Tab
This is a relatively weak category. The 4e DAM lacks heavy air-defense equipment. Its air-defense assets consist of Aero. Mistral air-defense teams, Aero. 53T2 20mm anti-aircraft guns, TRM-2000 Tarasque anti-aircraft gun trucks, TRM-2000 Pamela air-defense missile trucks, and Gazelle Celtic air-defense helicopters.
HEL Tab
This is an excellent category and can be considered the 4e DAM’s signature strength. Given the division’s exaggerated proportion of helicopter equipment, it will have the richest helicopter tab in all of WARNO, with its equipment list even including some systems still under testing.
First is the Gazelle fleet, including the already implemented Gazelle Cannon, Gazelle HOT, and Gazelle HOT 2. The new Gazelle variant is the Gazelle Viviane — Viseur valorisé par intégration et adaptation de nuit et écartométrie, an improved sighting system upgraded through night adaptation and ranging integration. This model was selected in 1980 to enhance night-fighting capability through thermal imaging, and testing began in June 1990. In game, the Gazelle Viviane is still armed with HOT 2 missiles, but its base accuracy will be improved.
Next is the Puma fleet, including the already implemented Puma Pirate and the new Puma Cassiopée — an armed Puma helicopter fitted with a 30mm cannon in the nose.
The final heavyweight guest is the Tigre attack helicopter. This specialized attack helicopter, jointly developed by France and Germany, saw its first prototype achieve its maiden flight in April 1991. Considering the later development of its prototype armament, we will provide two different armed variants:
Tigre HAP: a cannon-equipped support and escort variant, armed with four Mistral air-to-air missiles and two SNEB rocket pods. This variant was successfully developed earlier.
Tigre PT1: a gunless prototype test version, armed with eight HOT-2 missiles and two SNEB rocket pods. Since the dedicated anti-tank version of the Tigre developed more slowly, the prototype test aircraft must temporarily perform anti-tank duties.
AIR Tab
This is a fairly good category. Support from the French Air Force will compensate to some extent for the 4e DAM’s weak ground combat capabilities, especially its lack of air-defense strength.
The 3e Escadre de Chasse, stationed at Nancy, will provide the main air-support assets for the 4e DAM. All three squadrons under this wing were equipped with Mirage IIIE multirole fighters, although one squadron has already been assigned to reinforce the Rhine Division. In addition to the AA and SEAD variants already present in game, the 3e Escadre de Chasse provides several new Mirage IIIE loadouts:
Mirage IIIE [AA2]: equipped with two R550 Magic 2 missiles and one R530E air-to-air missile, the latter being the fire-and-forget version of the R530.
Mirage IIIE [HE]: equipped with three 400kg SAMP T200 high-explosive bombs.
Mirage IIIE [CLU]: equipped with three BLG-66 anti-tank cluster bombs.
Mirage IIIE [RKT]: equipped with four SNEB rocket pods and one FZ49 high-explosive armor-piercing rocket pods.
In addition, several aircraft still in the testing stage will also be committed to battle:
Mirage 2000D: this dedicated ground-attack version of the Mirage 2000 was developed from the nuclear-strike Mirage 2000N and achieved its first successful flight in 1991. In game, the Mirage 2000D will participate in combat in AT and LGB forms, respectively armed with two AS.30L anti-tank missiles, or one BGL-1000 plus two BGL-400 laser-guided bombs.
Rafale C F1: and now, the protagonist arrives! The Rafale C achieved its first flight in 1991, while its associated MICA series missiles were also successfully test-fired that same year. Naturally, the Rafale C F1 has every reason to become an important aerial shield for the 4e DAM. Of course, given the real service-entry date of the MICA missile, the Rafale C F1 will only have a loadout of four MICA-EM and six R550 Magic 2 air-to-air missiles. It cannot fully recreate its powerful loadout from Wargame: Red Dragon, but this will still be deadly enough !
Conclusion
In conclusion, just as French Army Aviation was historically experimental, the French 4e Division Aéromobile will also be one of the most unconventional battlegroups currently in the game. It possesses excellent helicopters and reconnaissance forces, as well as fairly strong air and infantry assets, but it suffers from an extreme lack of support and heavy forces.
Next time, we will bring you an introduction to the other West German battlegroup from Nemesis: EuroCorps!
Finally, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to my friend, AirCavalryTroo, who kindly provided me with a great deal of valuable French-language material. As someone with deep expertise in the history of the Cold War French Army, his assistance was invaluable in helping me better understand the historical background of the 4e Division Aéromobile. Any remaining mistakes or misunderstandings in this article are, of course, entirely my own.
