Chasseurs d ' Afrique The Chasseurs d ' Afrique ( literally Huntsmen of Africa ) were a light cavalry corps in the French Armée d ' Afrique ( Army of Africa ) . First raised in the 1830s from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria , they numbered five regiment s by World War II . For most of their history they were recruited from either French volunteers or French settlers in North Africa doing their military service . As such they were the mounted equivalent of the French Zouave infantry . The other major cavalry element in the Armee d ' Afrique were the Spahi s — recruited from the indigenous peoples of Algeria , Tunisia , and Morocco with mostly French officers . History . In addition to numerous campaigns in North Africa , these colorful regiments also served in the Crimean War , Franco - Prussian War , Indochina , France ' s invasion of Mexico and both world war s . The " Chass . d ' Af . " distinguished themselves by securing the flank of Lord Cardigan during the ill - fated Charge of the Light Brigade . On this and other occasions they used their characteristic African tactic of advancing rapidly in open order , in contrast to the rigid lines of the Light Brigade . World War I . At the outbreak of WWI in 1914 , six regiments of Chasseurs d ' Afrique were in existence . The 1er and 2e RCA had detached squadrons on active service in eastern Morocco while the four remaining regiments were on garrison duty in Algeria and Tunisia . Seven regiments of Chasseurs d ' Afrique ( including three " regiments de marche " or active service units created for a particular campaign ) were transferred to France between 1914 and 1918 . The 1er and 4e RCA ended the war in the Middle East fighting against the Turks , while the 5e RCA detached squadrons to serve in the Balkans . Mechanisation . In 1933 the " regiments de chasseurs d ' Afrique " ( RCA ) began the process of conversion to mechanised units . The first vehicles adopted were White TBC armoured cars , followed by White - Laffly 50 AMs . Both models were obsolete for European warfare but suitable for colonial campaigning . Other vehicles were provided for individual squadrons and in 1939 Hotchkiss H35 and H39 light tanks were received by the 1er RCA . On the outbreak of World War II ( September 1939 ) regiments of chasseurs d ' Afrique were deployed as follows : 1er RCA in Morocco ; < br > 2e , 3e , and 5e RCA in Algeria ; < br > 4e RCA in Tunisia ; < br > 6e and 7e RCA in the Levant , that is in Syria and the Lebanon . Only the 1er and 4e RCA were fully mechanised at this date , the other regiments comprising a mix of mounted and mechanised squadron s . In the course of WWII the process of mechanisation was completed . The 3e and 5e RCA were equipped with M4 Sherman and M5 light tanks . The 5e RCA notably landed in Provence in August 1944 , and was one of the first units to be fully operational for combat . It was engaged in several battles during the taking of Toulon , in the Rhone valley , through Burgundy , Alsace , and in the Black Forest . The regiment earned the Rhine and Danube badge . The 6e and 7e RCA , involved in heavy fighting against Allied forces in 1941 Operation Exporter , were equipped with 90 tanks ( mostly Renault R - 35 with a few Renault FT - 17 ) and a similar number of armoured cars . Modern regiment . Algerian independence brought an end to the corps through a series of disbandments and transfers between 1962 and 1964 , after over a century of service . However one regiment ( " 1er Regiment de Chasseurs d ' Afrique " ) was re - raised in 1998 to preserve the traditions of this famous cavalry . The modern regiment is one of the mechanised units of the French Army . It is divided into one instruction squadron and three combat squadrons and is equipped with approximately 45 armoured vehicles . Uniforms . The Chasseurs d ' Afrique were until 1914 clothed in light blue tunics tucked into a red sash and red breeches . Their normal headdress was the " taconnet " — a light blue and red shako , similar in shape to that worn by the equivalent light cavalry regiments ( hussars and chasseurs à cheval ) of the metropolitan army , but worn with a white or light khaki cover . Prior to 1873 the casquette d ' Afrique had been worn . The traditional fez and sash were worn off duty or when in barracks until World War II . The light blue tunics had yellow facings and reportedly earned the Chasseurs d ' Afrique the nickname of " Blue Butchers " amongst some of their opponents . The khaki uniforms worn by the Chasseurs d ' Afrique from 1915 onwards were distinguished by dark blue collar patches with yellow braiding and regimental numbers . The modern armoured regiment does not retain any of its historical distinctions but wears the light blue and red kepi of the French cavalry . US Civil War Chasseurs d ' Afrique . The name was also applied to the first all African - American regiment formed by the United States Army in New Orleans in 1862 .