berthier rifles and carbines continued in service during the second world war in all branches of french service, including infantry and mounted units. colonial and foreign legion forces in particular continued to use the mdle 1916 berthier due to a shortage of the new mas-36 bolt-action rifle. despite the advent of the mas-36, the french army did not have enough of the new rifles to equip even half of its frontline interior troops. berthier model 1916 (original and converted) 5-shot rifles and carbines saw action in both france and norway. after the fall of france in 1940, the berthier could be found in service with both vichy and free french units. selected berthier mle 1907/15-m16 (fusil mle 1916) rifles were fitted with telescopic sights and used, along with scoped mle 1886/m93 rifles, by marksmen detailed to serve with some french units. in september 1938, the french army also introduced the "corps franc", special formations of infiltration and deep reconnaissance soldiers formed into "l'equipe" or assault teams. these elite reconnaissance and infiltration troops were equipped with a variety of small arms, including a combat knife, a handgun, grenades, and berthier mle 1892/m16 carbines.