We cannot consider as an armored division the 3 French Light Mechanized Division (DLM) of 1939/40 whose main mission were those of the cavalry, lighting and in-depth reconnaissance on the battlefield as well as security. Their organization, however, had many points in common with that of the DCR (Strategic Reserve Armored Division) articulated around two half brigades of B tanks and nine battalions of mechanized riflemen.
The number of DCRs increased thereafter. In May 1940 there were three and a fourth in formation.
In addition, each DCR now included a squadron group of 34 B heavy tanks and a second of 45 H light tanks per half brigade (total 158), a battalion of mechanized infantry and 2 groups of towed artillery.
The whole was badly balanced, with too little infantry for the number of tanks, and yet the results obtained were satisfactory. The DML and the DCR were at the two extremes compared to the panzerdivision:the first being more mobile but much less powerful, the second having a higher striking power but mediocre mobility.