Toaw Scenario: Nghia Lo 51 (by Joao Lima)

Briefing
Nghia Lo 51 1. Background After the series of Viet Minh victories in the year of 1950, a series of French victories in 1951 brought some worries to Giap, most of all he was worried that his supply lines open and cleared in 1950 could again fall under French control. In order to avoid that he sent the newly raised 312th Division to the Nghia Lo valley to secure the area. In the valley the French could only field the 1st Thai Battalion that was spread over the valley in 10 outposts. With the increase of VM presence the French commanders decided to reinforce the area and make a stand there. In order to do it, the first unit to arrive in the valley was the 8th Parachute Battalion. Later the intensity of the fighting caused a need for more troops and so the 2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Battalion dropped onto the valley followed later by the 10th Parachute Battalion. This ad to a change in the nature of the battle with the VM turning from aggressor to defender, the trap was set and the commander of the 312th VM Div turned onto a defensive stance hoping to be able to extricate himself of the delicate situation he was in. After fierce fighting the VM suffered a severe setback which proved to be quite disconcerting to Giap and would lead him to revert for the moment to guerrilla tactics. 2. The forces in presence and their objectives 2.1. VIET MINH The freshly assembled Bem Tre Division , missing one of it?s regiments, is an effective fighting formation, even if green. The most powerful components are the Infantry Battalions, however the only with combat experience are the specialized and HQ units. This mix should be enough to overrun the meagre forces that the CEFEO can deploy at the scenario start and seize, or at least get very near, Nghia Lo; however greater care should be exerted when it concerns to fighting the Parachutists. 2.2. CEFEO The French units in presence are the typical mixed bag which composed the CEFEO in Indochina. They range from the poorly equipped and motivated 1er Battalion Thai, composed of locals, to the highly specialized and efficient airborne forces composed of volunteers with a high degree of motivation and combat experience. Also highly valuable for the French player is the possibility of using his air force in combat support without any opposition. All in all the French forces biggest opponent is the fact that they are committed piecemeal and can therefore be faced with a much higher number of troops. If the French player can afford though to commit all these units in an unified force, then there is little hope for the VM , even if they manage to overcome the initial resistance of the 1er Bat Thai. 3. Strategies 3.1. VIET MINH For the VM this battle has a very simple approach, seize quickly control of Nghia Lo and then fend off the Parachutists. The secret here is how quickly can the VM reach Nghia Lo and control it, because when the airborne forces start to arrive the French player will have enough punch to defeat the VM troops. Two things the VM player must keep in mind though is that his troops are green, they have just been assembled as a division and are now on their first real assignment, also the supply lines for the VM run from the right and top edges through jungle , so it?s a good idea to keep those lines open. 3.2. CEFEO Also a very simple affair, to hold as long as possible and then to drop the Parachutists into the battle and move the VM away from Nghia Lo. Another thing all together is how to do it. A great deal of the CEFEO strategy is dictated by the way in which the VM player approaches Nghia Lo, that will dictate the best place to drop the airborne forces, which given that they will arrive with several turns of difference also will have a varied deployment according to the general changing situation. Joao Lima

Briefing

Nghia Lo 51

1. Background

After the series of Viet Minh victories in the year of 1950, a series of French victories in 1951 brought some worries to Giap, most of all he was worried that his supply lines open and cleared in 1950 could again fall under French control. In order to avoid that he sent the newly raised 312th Division to the Nghia Lo valley to secure the area.

In the valley the French could only field the 1st Thai Battalion that was spread over the valley in 10 outposts. With the increase of VM presence the French commanders decided to reinforce the area and make a stand there.

In order to do it, the first unit to arrive in the valley was the 8th Parachute Battalion. Later the intensity of the fighting caused a need for more troops and so the 2nd Foreign Legion Parachute Battalion dropped onto the valley followed later by the 10th Parachute Battalion.

This ad to a change in the nature of the battle with the VM turning from aggressor to defender, the trap was set and the commander of the 312th VM Div turned onto a defensive stance hoping to be able to extricate himself of the delicate situation he was in.

After fierce fighting the VM suffered a severe setback which proved to be quite disconcerting to Giap and would lead him to revert for the moment to guerrilla tactics.

2. The forces in presence and their objectives

2.1. VIET MINH

The freshly assembled Bem Tre Division , missing one of it?s regiments, is an effective fighting formation, even if green. The most powerful components are the Infantry Battalions, however the only with combat experience are the specialized and HQ units. This mix should be enough to overrun the meagre forces that the CEFEO can deploy at the scenario start and seize, or at least get very near, Nghia Lo; however greater care should be exerted when it concerns to fighting the Parachutists.

2.2. CEFEO

The French units in presence are the typical mixed bag which composed the CEFEO in Indochina. They range from the poorly equipped and motivated 1er Battalion Thai, composed of locals, to the highly specialized and efficient airborne forces composed of volunteers with a high degree of motivation and combat experience. Also highly valuable for the French player is the possibility of using his air force in combat support without any opposition. All in all the French forces biggest opponent is the fact that they are committed piecemeal and can therefore be faced with a much higher number of troops. If the French player can afford though to commit all these units in an unified force, then there is little hope for the VM , even if they manage to overcome the initial resistance of the 1er Bat Thai.

3. Strategies

3.1. VIET MINH

For the VM this battle has a very simple approach, seize quickly control of Nghia Lo and then fend off the Parachutists. The secret here is how quickly can the VM reach Nghia Lo and control it, because when the airborne forces start to arrive the French player will have enough punch to defeat the VM troops. Two things the VM player must keep in mind though is that his troops are green, they have just been assembled as a division and are now on their first real assignment, also the supply lines for the VM run from the right and top edges through jungle , so it?s a good idea to keep those lines open.

3.2. CEFEO

Also a very simple affair, to hold as long as possible and then to drop the Parachutists into the battle and move the VM away from Nghia Lo. Another thing all together is how to do it. A great deal of the CEFEO strategy is dictated by the way in which the VM player approaches Nghia Lo, that will dictate the best place to drop the airborne forces, which given that they will arrive with several turns of difference also will have a varied deployment according to the general changing situation.

Joao Lima