DienBienPhu- How difficult to convert?

[iCaMpWiThAWP]

Alternatively, you could get some maps on the area if you want a much more precise one, you can get amazing detail in winSPMBT if you can use the tools at your disposal.
There's this french site about it, there's an interesting read, i'm not sure if all the website was translated into english, i couldn't find any maps though.
http://www.dienbienphu.org/english/index.htm

[RazGator]

I'm looking into doing a DBP scenario or two. Right now, I'm trying to dig up enough tactical info to do something with the March 22 clearing of Route 41 through Ban Kho Lai from Isabelle to the main French position. Meanwhile, here is a good topo map of DBP http://www.rjsmith.com/Dien_Bien_Phu_Cropped.html

[Gurachn]

Originally Posted by RazGator

I'm looking into doing a DBP scenario or two. Right now, I'm trying to dig up enough tactical info to do something with the March 22 clearing of Route 41 through Ban Kho Lai from Isabelle to the main French position. Meanwhile, here is a good topo map of DBP http://www.rjsmith.com/Dien_Bien_Phu_Cropped.html

Hi RazGator,
Thanks for the link.
I actually already have a copy of the topo map that Ray Smith based that one on. Unfortunately it's a USGS map from 1966, and it seems that the terrain in the area, especially the course of the Nam Youn, has changed a fair bit since '54.
In the years after the battle there was a tremendous amount of construction also, so the road lines also are a bit off from where they ran during the battle.
Ray also seems to be a bit out with his placements of some of the firebases.

I've been piecing together a number of maps/photos/diagrams from March-April '54, and attempting to overlay them with this topo and another I have, and am getting pretty close to having a decently detailed and scaled outline of the ground as it stood during the period.
I've even overlayed it with a 50m. hex grid so it should be fairly useful as a basis for making a game map.

Unfortunately I have no experience with making SP maps or scenarios.
Might you be interested in a bit of collaboration?

[Gurachn]

Originally Posted by RazGator

I'm looking into doing a DBP scenario or two. Right now, I'm trying to dig up enough tactical info to do something with the March 22 clearing of Route 41 through Ban Kho Lai from Isabelle to the main French position. Meanwhile, here is a good topo map of DBP http://www.rjsmith.com/Dien_Bien_Phu_Cropped.html

I'm mainly focusing on the Northern and Central firebases at the moment, but I have done a bit of work on the area down towards Isabelle (see sample)


If you like I could send you a copy of the area between Isabelle and Claudine.

-G

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Have just started following this thread and I hope it gets main streamed into the game, unless I missed something and it's already available in the game? But if I may take the liberty to recommend a couple of excellent books on the topic. Both written by Frenchman one who would die in South Vietnam and the next served as an officer in the French Army two years after the battle. When published in 1966 it's purported that this book gave Pres. Johnson pause about our involvement in Vietnam.

1. Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of DIEN BIEN PHU by BERNARD B. FALL Pub. 1966. He was killed by a booby trap in Feb. 1967 in South Vietnam.

2. Valley of Death: The Tragedy at DIEN BIEN PHU that led America into the Vietnam War by Pulitzer Prize winning author TED MORGAN Pub. 2010. Extensively uses recently declassified documents from all involved.

Basically I subscribe to know your enemy just asked how that worked out for Lt.Gen. Harold G. Moore(Ret.) at Ia Drang, who it's well known studied this battle in depth as well as the French involvement in Indochina. I believe he even read Dr. Falls "Streets of Joy" that covers Frances overall involvement.

Thanks for the time, I really like the idea of all this for what's it worth.

Regards,
Pat