Equipment, Gear and Weaponry of the Commandos
The equipment of the French commandos reflects their dual identity: a French unit fully integrated into British forces. This page outlines the key material elements that shaped their daily lives and combat capabilities.
Commando Uniforms
Over time, French commandos gradually adopted the appearance and gear of the British units they served alongside. The most visible change was in headgear: from June to November 1942, volunteers still wore naval caps or berets, but they later adopted the green beret, a symbol of the commandos, worn in the British style. Initially adorned with a fabric Cross of Lorraine patch, it was replaced in May 1944 by a bronze badge designed by Quartermaster Maurice Chauvet.
The commandos wore the standard British battle-dress, and from autumn 1944, they adopted the Denison smock camouflage jacket. Their uniforms featured fabric patches reading "France" and "Commando", sometimes supplemented by the parachutist badge.
Dague Fairbairn Sykes © Family Kieffer Collection
Weaponry Reflecting Commando Doctrine
Each commando carried the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife; officers and specialists used the .45 Colt pistol; some personnel were equipped with the Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifle, while the Thompson submachine gun remained the most common weapon.
The K-Gun section, established in spring 1944, used Vickers K machine guns adapted for ground combat.
Commandos also had access to Mills grenades and the PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank), an effective anti-tank weapon in close quarters.
Fusil Lee-Enfield
Colt .45 Pistol © Collection Famille Kieffer
Communication and Motorization Equipment
Communications relied on American radios:
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The SCR-536, a lightweight, chest-worn radio for voice communication.
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The SCR-300, a larger backpack radio capable of both voice and Morse code, though its weight limited the operator’s armament.
For mobility, the unit used light motorized vehicles—motorcycles and jeeps—for transporting equipment and evacuating the wounded.
SCR-536
