French unit sizes as an indication of casualites they have taken in the war

[Olefin]

I agree with you there James - i.e. they make the 1st back into a combat unit and move the administrative elements to possibly the 4th regiment which was a training regiment - so now its responsible for both administration and training.

They could use some of the NCO's and officers from the original 1st as the officers and men for the "new" 1st Regiment.

One reason could be the big casualties that the other regiments took - i.e. they needed more punch in the field so they added a new regiment to give the Legion more combat punch.

By the way - another idea could be they convert one of the Engineering Regiments to a combat one and then rename it from Engineering to Infantry.

[Ironside]

Could disease have contributed to the losses? France could be unable to deliver adequate medical supplies to its forces in Africa.

Historically, until the discovery of anti-biotics, disease was the biggest killer of troops.

[Olefin]

I think that the losses are a combination of combat losses in Djibouti and Western Africa (the RDF does mention the FAR was in combat against pro-Soviet guerrillas in Mauritania and Senegal) as well as disease. And there could be another factor as well - i.e. they may have had ships sunk by Soviet submarines as well.

Even though the canon doesnt mention it neutrals have always been fair game in wartime - and France seems very committed to staying out of the war at all costs - even if it means ignoring attacks on its shipping by a Soviet submarine commander who shoots first and does ship recognition second. So could a ship full of AMX 10 RC armored cars have been sunk by a Soviet sub and thus explain why unit has no armored vehicles left at all?

Very possible.

Their is one other factor which would be desertion. As was mentioned in the Survivors Guide to the UK there are a sizeable minority of French officers and presumably soldiers who feel that France should be in this war against the Soviets. Possibly some of those who felt that way went over the hill once they got to the RDF and joined up with the Americans (or if they were Jewish possibly the Israeli forces in the area).

I wouldnt see a large number doing that - but it could explain some of the losses. (and open up a way for players who want to have French characters show up in the game in non-French units)