Battle for Nha Do, 23 Feb, 1950

Following on General Giap's successful trial run with his new division at Pho Lu, 8-13 Feb, 1950, he began pulling his troops out of the region to move them towards Colonial Route 4 on the northeastern border of Indochina. The small post of Nha Do was literally on the way, so it was attacked. The battle turned out to be bigger than he planned. The photos below show the model battlefield that will be fought over this coming Wednesday and a report will follow. *NOTE, my VM commander was sick today, so game has been rescheduled for next Wednesday.

Looking north past the French fort to the village of Nha Do at top of photo. A French T'ai battalion with attached irregular forces hold the position. A VM regiment will attack from the tree line north of Nha Do, while a second regiment will be located about middle of the photo.

Village of Nha Do from the west, with the French post in upper right corner.

Sub-hamlets to the south of the post as viewed from the west. Its the dry season so the paddies (for the most part) are dry as well.

On the 23 of Feb, 1950. General Giap was moving his men eastward following the successful attack on Pho Lu. In the next valley on their way towards their goal of Route Colonial 4, the Viet Minh launched a hurried assault on Nha Do. At the bottom of photo is one battalion moving on the French post, but look carefully at the top and you will see another full regiment moving across the valley floor to attack from the east:

A regimental 57mm RR is firing on the western bunker (just off the top edge of photo) held by the Tai's troops in the post:

After the first hour of fighting, and the Viet assault troops smashing through the barriers surrounding the post, the French air support from Hanoi finally arrives. Two P63 Kingcrobra's drop bombs and strafe the massed VM, first to the east by the village:

and then to the west of the post. Here the casulties are severe as the VM were badly bunched up:

Wider angle view of above, but still a lot of VM out there!:

At the eastern edge of the post, the waves of VM are breaching the barriers as well. The bunker there as been all but silenced as its roof was smashed by concentrated 81mm mortar fire:

But then, after an hour and 20 minutes of heavy fighting, the first of the reinforcements arrive! The 3BCCP begins its drop west of the attacking VM, trapping them between the air drop and the post itself. You may notice the three Ju52, which the French were still using in 1950, calling them Toucans. Notice the VM at the top of the photo still assaulting the post:

This photo is just to the right of the preceding shot. The 3BCCP find themselves closer to the VM support weapons then the regiment itself:

A Spitfire Mk IX races over and bombs/strafes the now retreating VM on the west flank, as they desperately attempt to make it to the safety of the jungle:

The final turn of the game sees the 3BCCP overrun all regimental/battalion mortars, MMGs, and a rearguard VM company as the remainder of Giap's battered forces escape to the east. It proved to be a very close affair for the French,  just as it had occurred back in 1950. Unfortunately for the French, the next season's campaign on Route Colonial 4 would lead a massive French disaster that would almost end the four year war. More to come!

Battle of the Brown Water Navy

Continuing our French Indochina tour, the gang played a small Dinasault engagement.  French forces included two small motor launches armed with MGs, one LCA, three LCMs with 20mm guns, and a command Vedette FOM 11m. On board where two French Commando units but the main mission was to come ashore further upriver to pick up a small unit of Commandos that had captured an important Viet Minh intelligence officer. The LCMs would land their troops near a village to draw local forces away from the recovery point. They were bait for the larger picture. An interesting point to the game is that the Viet Minh commander didn't know that his platoon stationed up river were actually French Commandos! It would lead to an amusing escapade!

With the mother launches leading the way followed by the LCA (to recover their assets from the enemy shore (the small dock at top left), the LCMs begin to turn towards their own target with the Command Vedette behind them.

The enemy village on the left with two smaller hamlets nearer the river bank. The VM had sentries out but the French had been able to approach at very slow speed for five turns before they were spotted!

As the LCMs head for shore, the first VM mortar shells begin falling around the boats, but there are no hits.

The Launches and LCA are pushing up river at top speed, while more and more shells fall around the LCMs, amazingly with still no hits!

By now, two full VM platoons have taken their station along the river. You can just make out some mortars and a Recoilless Rifle on the right side of photo. Hits are now finally striking the approaching French, knocking out one of the 20mms.

LCMs still boring in, their return fire now inflicting casualties on the VM!

An overall view of the battlefield

French 20mm fire falling around one of the VM 57mmRR.

Finally two of the LCMs reach shore, while one more RR strikes an LCM and takes out another 20mm. The Commandos begin to disembark to keep the VM attention of them and not the launches still moving upriver.

Under close watch of their Launches, the LCA pulls up to the dock. Its at this moment that the "VM' in this hamlet jump up and move onto the dock. The VM commander wondering why his men are moving out in the open!

With the infiltrated Commandos successfully recovered, the LCMs begin their withdrawal, their own Commandos having taken heavy losses during the brief skirmish. It had been a fun little engagement.

The River Mat comes from Cigar Box, while the Brown Water Boats are from The Scene and Old Glory. With balsa and poster board, and using the website Into:Wargaing the First Indochinese War (which I highly recommend), I think some nice little models were put together.

Sorry about the reflecting lights, I experimented with clear plastic pin the river to make it shine,, but it affected the photos. Oh well, perhaps they are the reflections form the flares the VM were putting up! Hope you enjoyed!