Diên Biên Phu 10 - Castor Dies - Campaign Series Vietnam 1948-1967
0 - 0 - 0
| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 4 |
| Turns: | 15 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | France |
| Second Side: | N. Vietnam |
David Galster
6 May 1954
[Diên Biên Phu, Indochina]: [SIDE B / H2H] [HIS] [CSL]:
On 6 May, the French situation was grim. Ammunition stocks were low, and could be depleted in three hours heavy combat.
Airdrops were planned for that evening, but if an attack began, the supplies could not be recovered. And, because the perimeter had shrunken so, many drops would fall outside. Enemy counterbattery fire had reduced artillery to seven 105-mm howitzers and one 155-mm howitzer. The last parachute reinforcements were 91 men of the 1BPC.
The French still held strongpoints in Claudine, H3, Epervier, and Eliane 2 and 4. Isabelle was hanging on, but had only one usable howitzer left.
At dark, the Viet Minh began preliminary attacks. In the west, Regiment 36 of the 308 Division was preparing to attack Claudine 5. To the north, Regiment 165 of the 312 Division pressed against Huguette 2 and 3 and Epervier. On the east side of the Nam Youn, Regiment 174 faced D3, the 308 Division Regiment 88 faced E4, and Regiment 102 was attempting to mine E2 (The Viet Minh called it A-1).
Defending Claudine was the 1/2 REI battalion. The composite "Battalion de March" or BMEP made of Legionnaire remnants of 1BEP and 2BEP was stationed at Huguette 2 and 3. The 8BPC was at Epervier. A company of 1/13 DBLE defended D3. The 5BPVN and II/RCP were on E4. The newly dropped 1BPC was on E2.
Initial attacks on E2 at 1845 were easily repelled by French artillery salvos on Viet Minh on the open slopes.
However, the Viet Minh 102 Regiment had been tunneling under the main E2 bunker. They placed one ton of explosives under it. At 2300 this was exploded.
It destroyed the main bunker, and threw huge chunks of earth and debris into the sky. The blast left a huge crater. The 2nd Company of 1BCP was stunned by this, and for several moments, the Viet Minh hesitated. Then their advancing waves found it difficult to advance in the soft, slippery rain-soaked earth. For a while, 2nd Company regrouped and pushed the attackers back. But unable to get reinforcements, and with virtually no artillery support left, the 35 men had to abandon E2 at 0400.
Similarly, French troops on E4 were low on ammunition, and gradually pulled back under heavy Viet Minh artillery and assaults.
Finally, at 0900, E4 defenses caved in as hordes of fresh Viet Minh troops swarmed the strongpoint remnants. With E2 and E4 in Viet Minh hands, artillery spotters had had line of sight on remaining outposts and the main French command post. Now augmented with Katyusha rockets, Viet Minh artillery pounded the shrinking Dien Bien Phu perimeter.
Colonel d'C radioed Isabelle and gave them permission to activate "Operation Albatross," a breakout plan. On the west, the Viet Minh captured Claudine 5 during the night and were threatening Lily 2 and Claudine 2 by 0700.
By the afternoon 7 May, many units, particularly Moroccan were abandoning their positions and surrendering.
By 1700, a cease-fire was arranged, and the French began destroying their heavy weapons and documents.
The last message from Colonel dC's 9-DMO transmitter was: "We're blowing up everything. Adieu.".
[ALL: NO ECAS: NO VV] [CSEE] [1.00]
6 May 1954
[Diên Biên Phu, Indochina]: [SIDE B / H2H] [HIS] [CSL]:
On 6 May, the French situation was grim. Ammunition stocks were low, and could be depleted in three hours heavy combat.
Airdrops were planned for that evening, but if an attack began, the supplies could not be recovered. And, because the perimeter had shrunken so, many drops would fall outside. Enemy counterbattery fire had reduced artillery to seven 105-mm howitzers and one 155-mm howitzer. The last parachute reinforcements were 91 men of the 1BPC.
The French still held strongpoints in Claudine, H3, Epervier, and Eliane 2 and 4. Isabelle was hanging on, but had only one usable howitzer left.
At dark, the Viet Minh began preliminary attacks. In the west, Regiment 36 of the 308 Division was preparing to attack Claudine 5. To the north, Regiment 165 of the 312 Division pressed against Huguette 2 and 3 and Epervier. On the east side of the Nam Youn, Regiment 174 faced D3, the 308 Division Regiment 88 faced E4, and Regiment 102 was attempting to mine E2 (The Viet Minh called it A-1).
Defending Claudine was the 1/2 REI battalion. The composite "Battalion de March" or BMEP made of Legionnaire remnants of 1BEP and 2BEP was stationed at Huguette 2 and 3. The 8BPC was at Epervier. A company of 1/13 DBLE defended D3. The 5BPVN and II/RCP were on E4. The newly dropped 1BPC was on E2.
Initial attacks on E2 at 1845 were easily repelled by French artillery salvos on Viet Minh on the open slopes.
However, the Viet Minh 102 Regiment had been tunneling under the main E2 bunker. They placed one ton of explosives under it. At 2300 this was exploded.
It destroyed the main bunker, and threw huge chunks of earth and debris into the sky. The blast left a huge crater. The 2nd Company of 1BCP was stunned by this, and for several moments, the Viet Minh hesitated. Then their advancing waves found it difficult to advance in the soft, slippery rain-soaked earth. For a while, 2nd Company regrouped and pushed the attackers back. But unable to get reinforcements, and with virtually no artillery support left, the 35 men had to abandon E2 at 0400.
Similarly, French troops on E4 were low on ammunition, and gradually pulled back under heavy Viet Minh artillery and assaults.
Finally, at 0900, E4 defenses caved in as hordes of fresh Viet Minh troops swarmed the strongpoint remnants. With E2 and E4 in Viet Minh hands, artillery spotters had had line of sight on remaining outposts and the main French command post. Now augmented with Katyusha rockets, Viet Minh artillery pounded the shrinking Dien Bien Phu perimeter.
Colonel d'C radioed Isabelle and gave them permission to activate "Operation Albatross," a breakout plan. On the west, the Viet Minh captured Claudine 5 during the night and were threatening Lily 2 and Claudine 2 by 0700.
By the afternoon 7 May, many units, particularly Moroccan were abandoning their positions and surrendering.
By 1700, a cease-fire was arranged, and the French began destroying their heavy weapons and documents.
The last message from Colonel dC's 9-DMO transmitter was: "We're blowing up everything. Adieu.".
[ALL: NO ECAS: NO VV] [CSEE] [1.00]
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