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!