Diên Biên Phu 6 - Battle of Five Hills - Campaign Series Vietnam 1948-1967
0 - 0 - 0
| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 5 |
| Turns: | 30 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | France |
| Second Side: | N. Vietnam |
David Galster
30 March 1954
[Diên Biên Phu, Indochina]:
[SIDE B / H2H] [HIS] [CSL]:
The French command believed the 28 March FlaK raid proved their strength in the west sector lowlands. As a result, they predicted the next Viet Minh offensive would be the hill positions of the east sector, Dominque and Eliane.
They abandoned the isolated strongpoint strategy, and instead adopted large centers of interconnected resistance. There was no longer a separation of Dominque and Eliane, and all strongpoints were interconnected, with trenches, barbed wire, and mines.
The Viet Minh issued a new field manual for attacking fortified positions, calling for an overall manpower superiority of three-to-one, and firepower of five-to-one. The opening of the first breach must penetrate into the fortification interior, and hold to the "bitter end," relying on successive assault waves to overrun the defenses.
The French East Sector commander toured the defenses, and decided to reinforce Dominque 1 with the 4th company of the 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (5BPVN). The rest of this battalion would reinforce the 1/4 Moroccan Rifles on Eliane 4 and behind them he placed the 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion (6BPC).
A new strongpoint, at D4 called Epervier (Sparrowhawk,) was formed on the west bank of the Nam Yum with the 8th Assault Battalion (8BPC). Also, a company of engineers was brought in to form D11, on the east bank of the Nam Yum behind E4.
In late afternoon, the Vietnamese 4th company moved into position, bunched up in communications trenches and collecting their equipment and other paraphernalia. Murderous Viet Minh artillery fire began to land on the Dominques, Elianes, and headquarters areas. Assault waves of two Viet Minh Divisions, the 312 and 316, appeared and rapidly blasted their way through the barbed wire and mine fields.
The battle of the five hills raged through the night. Eliane 1 and Dominque 2 were in Viet Minh hands by midnight. But the French organized a counterattack.
8 BPC attacked D2. 6BPC attacked E1, and Legionnaire paratroopers of 1BEP attacked E2. Although the counterattack on D2 succeeded, losses were high and 8BPC had to pull back.
But as of the end of March 31, the French had at least regained E1 and E2.
[ALL, NO VV] [CSEE] [1.00]
30 March 1954
[Diên Biên Phu, Indochina]:
[SIDE B / H2H] [HIS] [CSL]:
The French command believed the 28 March FlaK raid proved their strength in the west sector lowlands. As a result, they predicted the next Viet Minh offensive would be the hill positions of the east sector, Dominque and Eliane.
They abandoned the isolated strongpoint strategy, and instead adopted large centers of interconnected resistance. There was no longer a separation of Dominque and Eliane, and all strongpoints were interconnected, with trenches, barbed wire, and mines.
The Viet Minh issued a new field manual for attacking fortified positions, calling for an overall manpower superiority of three-to-one, and firepower of five-to-one. The opening of the first breach must penetrate into the fortification interior, and hold to the "bitter end," relying on successive assault waves to overrun the defenses.
The French East Sector commander toured the defenses, and decided to reinforce Dominque 1 with the 4th company of the 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (5BPVN). The rest of this battalion would reinforce the 1/4 Moroccan Rifles on Eliane 4 and behind them he placed the 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion (6BPC).
A new strongpoint, at D4 called Epervier (Sparrowhawk,) was formed on the west bank of the Nam Yum with the 8th Assault Battalion (8BPC). Also, a company of engineers was brought in to form D11, on the east bank of the Nam Yum behind E4.
In late afternoon, the Vietnamese 4th company moved into position, bunched up in communications trenches and collecting their equipment and other paraphernalia. Murderous Viet Minh artillery fire began to land on the Dominques, Elianes, and headquarters areas. Assault waves of two Viet Minh Divisions, the 312 and 316, appeared and rapidly blasted their way through the barbed wire and mine fields.
The battle of the five hills raged through the night. Eliane 1 and Dominque 2 were in Viet Minh hands by midnight. But the French organized a counterattack.
8 BPC attacked D2. 6BPC attacked E1, and Legionnaire paratroopers of 1BEP attacked E2. Although the counterattack on D2 succeeded, losses were high and 8BPC had to pull back.
But as of the end of March 31, the French had at least regained E1 and E2.
[ALL, NO VV] [CSEE] [1.00]
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