Beatrice: The Second Assault

Following a short and inefficient artillery barrage, two fresh VM battalions swept out of their approach trenches. Then after the French missed most of their opening shots, the VM drew the Charismatic Leader Card, which gives the player a free activation for ALL units! This could be vital if the VM assault troops can move inside the expected French artillery barrage. Note there are only two Legionaire riflemen and a MMG facing this front..

The only result on the west side is a single VM Shaken! The French luck this round is terrible!  But the VM commander realizes at the end of the Turn that a dramatic error has crept into the attack. The Battalion in the west was supposed to attack B2 (upper-center)and not B1 where it appears to be headed (bottom and center)! Someone will pay for that gaffe!

Finally, shots but no hits are exchanged over at B3...

Turn 20 started with a bang (ha) as the first card drawn was French and they chose the commander on B1. He succeeded in making contact through his battalion with the awaiting French artillery. Two companies of 120mm mortars responded. One fired on prepared area to the East of the stronghold and the VM took casualties. Some of the VM were more fortunate as they had reached inside the barrage...

On the NE quadrant, the French barrage succeeded also in bringing down the VM. The Viet commander began redeploying his men to their right to assault the correct target, but the forward elements on the left were out of contact and continued their advance (left and center)...

Then very unexpectently, the "Coffee Break" was drawn after only the one French activation card! The luck returned to the French!

Turn 21 saw French artillery and defensive fire (even though it was only two riflemen and one MMG) slaughter the VM. The Viets completely missed with their return fire...

Furthermore, the Viets who mistakenly assaulted B1 were now nearly wiped out. The only good news here for the VM is a 81mm mortar took out the LMG in the destroyed bunker. The rest of the assault company is now poised to begin their attack on the correct position....

On B3, one can say that the Legion is certainly not shy. Undercover fire from the LMG, the lone Legionaire rushes forward and guns down one of the two Viets in front of the captured command bunker. The LMG pins the other. Perhaps the Legion can regain B3!

VM inside B1 take down two of the Legion at point blank range (one survivor of the 'lost' company seen at right gets a Shaken) while the 2nd company approaches. Turn 22 ended so quickly that French artillery was not called in!

At B2, as the remainder of the 'lost' company pour through the wire, supporting VM 81mm mortar get a Shaken on an important LMG (and again, no French artillery!)...

On B3, the lone French LMG finally gets the VM next to him while the Viet officer goes to guide the 3rd Company which has been redirected towards the stronghold...

Turn 23 saw the French fail to call in close artillery (this time because of failed radio connection!) and as a result the Viets 2nd company got closer...

On B2, the Viets captured a LMG and others made it to the trench. Unfortunately French fire took down three VM who hadn't quite made it to the stronghold...

On B3, the Legion LMG didn't get to activate, so did not begin his withdraw to friendly B4...

By Turn 24 (6 hrs of fighting), B1 is in seriously trouble. Even with  French barrage called on the outer trenches, t he 2nd VM company is well within the stronghold and has even assaulted the Command Bunker (top center). Hidden beneath the top shell smoke, is the lone Legion rifleman still fighting (although now Shaken by friendly fire!)...

Back at B2, things for the French took an upswing as artillery was finally called in successfully. A French counterattack w/n the stronghold has eliminated all but one Viet from the 1st company.

B3 has finally fallen. The lone Legion LMG made it to B4! (top center, between the two kepi blancs)

Turn 25: On B1, while a LMG tries to hold back the overwhelming VM, the Co, radio and MMG try to withdraw to B2. Note a Viet has already reached the bunker at the top right of photo, so they may be cut off..

Back on B2, w/o artillery fire, the Legionaires are hard-pressed to hold back the VM coming through the wire. On B4, the Co has now ordered the men to withdraw to B3 for a final stand. Their 82mm mortar is destroyed by incoming VM mortar fire...

On B1 on Turn 26, one lone Legionaire is manning his LMG and refusing to give up, making the VM pay dearly. (center/photo) The Radioman, Co, and MMG have been cut off, but inflicted further casualties on the Viets...

At B2, a Viet remains in the trench next to two others in the destroyed bunker. The French rolled well and inflicted numerous casualties and Pin/Shaken. As they fought, most of the 4th company has left B4 and is deploying in B2. The MMG in the destroyed bunker left of center was instrumental in raking the Viets flank. You can also just make out the Viet company commander at the bottom looking over the slim remnants of his force. He needs the 3rd Company who have been held up in the approach trenches...

The time ran out for the French Co on B1 on Turn 27 as he was KIA. The lone LMG was also Shaken which could lead to him being taking as a POW if he doesn't get activated before the VM next turn. Viets engaged the other two French in pointblank range...

The French counterattack has virtually destroyed the VM in B2. If the French draw the right activation next turn, they could end Viet resistance in that stronghold...

Turn 28 saw the VM trying to coordinate the final assault from three different companies as part of two separate battalions. The western most company, on its own began to push on while in the east, a company occupying B1 has moved its assault engineers to the front trench prior to its attack. Unfortunately the company moving up to B3 had missed an activation due to en early end to the last turn...

The remnants of the proud 3/13 DBLE also, were reorganizing B2 for the expected assault...

Turns 29-34 went by very quickly. With fewer cards in the deck, the "Coffee Break" would come up much faster. It made the decisions each side made regarding which unit to activate more challenging. You never knew when the turn would end.

It began with a brief VM barrage brought down on B2. No sooner had the last French MMG taken position in the bunker (top, near Yellow Cap), the a direct hit smashed it. The team was lucky to survive with light wounds. (Every time the French suffer a casualty, they roll a 6x to determine seriousness; 1-2 Light; 3-4 serious; 5-6 KIA. A 1-2 and the figure remains on station. while the WIA are taken to the company aid station. Only one Legionaire was KIA!

The Viet Assault engineers rush out and set their bangalores to tear the wire separating B1 from B2, while the VM await in the trenches. Ironically, this particular time, 0015 hours, was historically, when the last radio on B2 went dead. The French in this game are still holding...

French artillery fire was finally called down north of B2, catching the VM again and inflicting numerous casualties...

The Viets were extremely lucky this round as they pulled two activations then the Charismatic Leader to give all their units the free activation. the Viets north of B2 (bottom-right of photo) used it to their advantage. The Viets in B1 also rushed forward...

The Viets (marked with blue on their bases) swarmed into the trenches of B2 but failed miserably when they opened fire, missing four pointblank shots and only getting one Shaken. French fire (inc more artillery) devastated them. Meanwhile the company coming from B1 (left/photo) are filling the trenches of abandoned B4...

At the end of Turn 34, the Viets here are taking losses as well...

Turn 35 sees the 'Blue" btn bringing up btn troops to try to keep the pressure on...

The French commander is able to order two rounds of artillery brought down on B4, inflicting casualties on the Viets. The French then were able to get two platoons a free action  that further hurt the VM (in addition to the Charismatic Leader, the other cards are a) MG, b) Lt/NCO get up to ten figures in one platoon, c) Pla Lt gets two platoons, and Captain who gets an entire company free activation) ..

The VM finally get an activation over at B3. Lucky for the French this turn ended when it did...the very next card was the VM Charismatic Leader Card!

Turn 36 and the "Blue Btn troops are reaching the wire as a handful of their compatriots are clinging to the stronghold...

The second round of the French artillery strikes empty ground...

The VM on B3 are using their own bodies to cross the wire (all their engineers are casualties)...

Turn 37 and only the Btn troops are left in the north, just coming through the wire...

Disaster for the French; actually two. A barrage of two rounds is called in, but in the first only one lands on target dropping one Viet. Then VM 81mm smashes the Command Bunker and the last French radio goes silent. Only 30 minutes later than history...

At Turn 38, the end is near with only 11 Legionaires remaining on Beatrice. Viets have reached the trenches in two spots, while yet mor VM approach now from B1...

Turn 39 and the French are down to 8 men. I didn't hel them that the VM pulled the Charismatic Leader again...

On Turn 40, the final French surrendered, all six of them. One was Pinned, one Shaken, and all were surrounded. Beatrice had fallen. General Giap's first assault has been successful and the 3/13 DBLE is no more...

Dien Bien Phu Part II

 For Turns 6/7 at B1, French artillery was finally called inside their own wire to devastate VM followup troops. This permitted French troops to regain much of the position, although with some losses. Two Viets remain isolated at the center while the 2nd assault company approaches the wire (right)

Over at B2, the 3 Viet assault companies have shot their bolt. What remains is huddled in the front trench line but with no officers alive, will not advance. Two unfortunate Viets lay pinned down at the wire...

At B3, all that is left of the 1st assault company, holds out precariously at top center while it awaits the second wave at left...

Turns 8/9 at B1, saw the final VM assault company approaching the wire as the 2nd company was completely destroyed. The French artillery still blasters the open ground between the trenches and the wire...

At B2, the desperate close in fighting continues as neither side can finish the other. The two Viets pinned at the wire are till there!

But at B3, the situation is bloody for both sides. The VM have a toehold in the bunker at the top but only two men from the initial two companies remain! It will be up to the 3rd company now coming up the hill to finish the French. They hold on to the Command bunker and adjacent trench...

During Turns 10/11, the third and last VM company managed to get some troops in the trenches temporarily. All that remains is a handful trying to reach the trench and their commander (seen to the right edge) is trying to get word to HQ that they need reinforcements to continue the struggle...

The French gained a slight advantage at B2, but fighting continues. The Viets appear to outnumber the Legionaires, but there are two LMGs in the bottom and lefthand bunkers. Note only one lone Viet is stuck at the wire...

At B3, the Viets took numerous casualties as they fell to French artillery, but their numbers are starting to tell. One Viet (top bunker), sole survivor of the first two companies, succeeded in taking out two Legionaires in close action...

The next seven Turns were very brief. The fighting in B1 and B2 ended with the French barely in control and down to a handful of men. B3 saw continued fighting with dwindling men on both sides (main reason for the shortness of the turns). The unlucky Legionaire at the center next to the Command bunker (where the French RTO was KIA at his post as the VM broke in), will be captured in the very next Turn...

While the struggle on B3 wore on, the French consolidated their forces, on B1...

B2...

Seen below, are the positions at the end on Turn 18. Note that only two Frenchmen are left on B3 (upper left). There is a French LMG standing in a destroyed bunker next to another man marked with a red Pin marker. You can also see the Legionaire who was captured (marked with the Yellow Shaken Marker next to the Command bunker. The time is 2130 and the struggle for Beatrice has been going on for over four hours. The VM have lost the better part of three battalions! But two reserve battalions have now take up their positions and following a brief artillery barrage, are ready to reignite the fighting. The 3/13 DBLE has lost the better portions of three companies, and the few remaining Legionaires are preparing to sell their lives to hold on to Beatrice. French artillery has been called on to attempt to save the position! Viva la Legion!

To be continued...

Dien Bien Phu: Beatrice, March 13, 1953

 Using a very detailed Artillery Prep and Supply Rules originally established back in the 70s and 80s, and later edited and further developed in the last four years, the battle begins. The view has now changed to from the north. Beatrice actually had three linked hilltops labelled B1 (north or bottom of photo); B2 (top-right); B3 (top-left) and B4 (mid photo, although this position is sometimes shown as part of one of the other). Bunkers are those square/rectangular posts covered with sandbagged roof. Some have already been penetrated and uncovered. Note this at the lowest point of the French position shown near where the road (RP41-Route Provinciale 41) leaves the Battle Board. You can also see the approach trenches of the Viet Minh from both east and west. These were simply poster board outlined with the same playdough sand bags. They are easily place throughout the various games so provides numerous options.

Three Viet Minh Battalions have begun their assaults: One from the east (left), and two from the west (right top and bottom). The French Foreign Legion 3/13 DBLE consists of about 80 some 15mm figures, divided into four copies, one found on each of the positions, with Btn HQ on B4. Each Viet Minh Btn consists of about 100 figures in three companies each. Both have already suffered casualties from artillery fire. (Which was the big killer at Dien Bien Phu). The caps seen on the figures are, 1) Red=Pinned (figure can't move next turn but can shoot); 2) Yellow=Shaken )figure can't move or shoot and if contacted by enemy based figure will surrender); Green=KIA (found on heavy weapon stands with more than one figure such as mortars or MMG).

If you zoom in, you will be able to spot sections of the barbed wire breached by artillery fire...

Zooming on to B1. One French Platoon has brought the initial VM assault troops under fire. There is a French LMG in the bunker (left/center). The rules provide one dice per rifle, three for LMG, and five for MMG. You can also notice a single red dot on the VM figure to the right. I can identify each company/battalion with dot for company and color for btn. This particular figure is first company of the red btn. Companies is the smallest unit i use for the VM while the French break down to platoons.

Next we turn to B2 where all five bunkers survived the VM artillery. The leading VM company has also suffered more severely from French artillery as shown by large gaps in the assault line. Look closely and you can just spot a French MMG poking out from under the bunker roof in the right hand bunker...

The last shot taken from Turn one is now at B3. Here the VM have suffered slightly less casualties while the one of the French bunkers (top edge of position) and two gaps already show in the perimeter fence...

Turn 2 at B1. The VM have two gaps in the wire (VM marked with Yellow cap in one and second seen in front of bunker in top right). The smashed bunker at bottom had seen the two man company MMG crew KIA, but two Legionaires found the gun operative and have turned to gun on the VM! Notice the Legion Platoon NCO who has come out of his bunker to scout the conditions (seen above the fore-mentioned bunker).

An overview of the battlefield at the end of Turn 3/4, and the Viet Minh have reached the trenches at B1, 2 and 3!:

Having suffered tremendous casualties passing through French artillery fire, the Viet Minh succeed only in one Pin at B1...

Over at B2, the Viets are more successful. A lucky shot into a key bunker (manned by a company MMG) causes a KIA on one of the crew and a Pin on the other! One Viet jumps into the enemy trench while the 2nd and 3rd coompanies begin to pass through the wire...

But the greatest success for the VM is at B3. Some of the Viets secure a destroyed bunker (note the retiring VM sapper to its left) and continue further into the trench (bottom right). The 2nd company can't come up too fast however, as they Viets have suffered heavy casualties here as well...

At the very end of Turn 5, a French counterattack is launched from B4 (right side). The Turn comes to an unexpected quick end as the "Coffee Break" Card is pulled. Each turn sees the players pull a card to activate a unit. There are also five special cards attached each turn, including 4 drawn from each players special deck containing: 1) Charismatic Leader that permits every unit on that side to gain a free activation; very handy indeed! 2) Company Captain which provides a player to activate any/all units w/n a company; 3) Company Lt provides 2 Platoon activations; 4) Lt/NCO allows ten figures from any platoon to activate; and 5) MG allowing the activation of one MG. Each turn the players select two cards randomly to place w/n the cards used for the Turn making it a surprise each turn. The "Coffee Break" is always shuffled into the deck and therefore it appears randomly, sometimes early, sometimes later. You never know, an added fog of war...

Turn 6 sees the VM 2nd Co at B1, struggling to make it to the trenches. French artillery fire has been called down just outside the wire (note the green marker). Three such soldiers however have made it into the trenches (center photo). French reserves are arriving from the left...

At B2, murderous point blank fire is raking the trenches at top, while below, the VM have wiped out the MMG crew and cleared the bunker...

At B3, the Viets have just about cleared the first line of trenches/bunkers, with one lone legionaire remaining. The Counterattack is moving up to the command bunker in the center...

To be continued...

French Indochina: 1953

Back in 2019, (and it that does seem a long time ago!) The Gaming Group fought a number of battles recreating the French Indochina War. We fought through 1949 and 1950 and had reached the massive struggle at Dong Ke on RC4. Then we turned our sights elsewhere.

At a slightly earlier time, i had the opportunity to watch the film Dien Bien Phu, directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer on UTube. The only version at that time was in French, but the film mesmerized me. Then suddenly I found that someone had added English subtitles and I was in heaven. Then ALL the copies disappeared from the net and that remained for years. I keep looking, but could find no copy that would play in the States, until last month. For about $30, I purchased through Amazon a beautiful BluRay edition and when it arrived, i watched it three straight nights. I have read many reviews that didn't rate it highly, but for me personally, I appreciated it more and more. Even since I read Bernard Fall's Hell in a Very Small Place back in the early 70s (1970 that is), I have been fascinated by this incredible battle. I and friends have fought numerous miniature games over the years, and i have constructed a massive battle board covering the entire French position in 15mm. Had the set up at a Convention years ago and fought it over three days. Watching the film has reignited my passion for the French and Viet Minh struggle all those years again.

A lot of research has been undertaken in those years, and many more books on the topic have been read. The Group even recreated Operation Castor, again in 15mm that was a blast.  But last week, i dug out the figures, reset the rules, and pulled out the boards necessary for the first major struggle in the valley of Dien Bien Phu in March of 1953.

This view of the French position of Beatrice, is from the SW as the Viet Minh artillery barrage is pounding the shocked French Foreign Legion defenders of the famous 3/13DBLE. This was the unit that held Rommel's forces at bay at Bir Hakeim in North Africa in 1942. In spite of their history and experience, they, like the rest of the French Union forces at Dien Bien Phu, had never experienced the intensity of the artillery barrage that General Giap unleashed upon them. No one believed that the Viets could accomplish what was necessary to bring heavy guns through trackless jungled-covered hills, and then supply them with enough ammunition to make a difference. The boards themselves are based on old 2'x4' ceiling tiles. Beatrice is covering approximately 6'x4'. The trenches and bunkers were carved into the boards and then lined with individually molded sand bags out of playdough! I know, crazy. But the result was quite effective i believe. There will be more photos in the future postings that you can study.