The 2,875 men of the "Troupes du Katanga" constituted a semi-autonomous force of six companies: four "de marche" and two other infantry, plus a cyclist company and a battalion headquarters. In addition there was the "Compagnie d'Artillerie et de Génie" (Artillery and Engineers Company) manning Fort de Shinkakasa at the mouth of the Congo River in Boma. The fort contained eight 160mm guns manned by 200 men, plus an equal sized auxiliary force, which saw little or no service during the war.