DienBienPhu- How difficult to convert?

[Mallard57]

This is my first post to the Forum, although I have been playing the game for a number of years (my sincere thanks go to the team for this marvellous game)!

Some time ago I began researching some of the history of Vietnam, and felt it would be good to create some battle scenarios that had not been covered by other people.

So here is my scenario to cover this siege which I hope others may enjoy, and maybe suggest improvements to. Of course there is no substitute for properly modelling the battle in a Campaign format, my excuse was time available.

This is a long game 90 moves,with one map containing many imperfections (and interpretations) as you might expect with such a large area to capture in one map. I have tried to include as many units as I can from references, within the limits available. This has led to some oversize units, which are challeging to finish off in the battle. Enjoy.

[Gurachn]

Hey Mallard,
Great to see an interest in this ver underrepresented battle!
I actually started looking into having a go at making one myself, but never got much further than the planning stage.

I did manage to come up with what I think is an accurate map of the battle field as it stood during the various stages of the battle (based on topographical maps, and aerial photos).
Comparing this to your map I can see there are a few fairly significant divergences from the actual terrain, e.g your map is a lot hillier than the actual site, especially west of the Nam Youn, which is very flat. Some of your firebases are a bit off also, especially the key Dominique's and Eliane's.
I was also a bit surprised to see some Sherman's and AMX APC's! I'm pretty sure the only armor they had were those few Chaffee's.

I can see that you wanted to include the whole scene, but it might have been better to not include Gabrielle and Isabelle, as they are actually quite far away from the main areas near the airfield. Removing those would have let you keep the area proportional, without the map getting crazy huge. In any case, these (along with Beatrice) were almost separate battles in their own right.

Of course as you said, ideally this battle really needs to be split into several parts to cover the various major actions.
If you ever feel up for having a stab at that, I would be happy to share my maps and research notes.
-G

[Palle]

I know quite a bit of DBP and my 5 Eurocent is that it is too large and complex a battle to be realistically covered in SPMBT. How do you portray "The Rats of Myon Than"? The extreme morale and dedication of Les Paras and La Legion? The 40 man assault on Elaine that threw out a battalion of Viets? The sheer scale of the battle? Would you allow the French to garrision DBP with only Legionnaires and Paras instead of mixing Viets and N. Africans in? ETC.
I am sorry, but I think it cannot be done at this scale.

[phil74501]

I've been playing your DBP scenario. I've made it to turn 10. I've spent all of that time trying to get troops into positions. Which is kinda boring. I have almost all of my troops on the ground, and still have large parts of my entrenched areas uncovered. The troops seem to land in about 3 areas only. So I end up moving them long distances, by foot obviously. I've already lost 4 or 5 VP hexes because my troops started too far away from them.

I'm not an expert on that battle. I do remember reading about it at least once. Seems to me like it would've made for a faster played scenario if it had started at least 10 turns later than it did. In other words, with the French troops already in place.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I would recommend book #1 from Post #15 if this project is still being worked on. I got mine from the ALBERIS site for around $15.00 in very good condition. I bring this up because I was checking to see if their was any info on the type of 105mm arty tubes that were being used then. The Appendix is very thorough to include complete Order of Battles for both armies. By example from the FOB:
"I Battery, North Viet-Nam AAA Group (FTA-NVN)
1 section of 2 quad-.50 mounts Dominque 4
1 section of 2 quad-.50 mounts Huguette 1"

I used the above example as I believe it was brought in the thread about these units. They are the only ones listed in the FOB. This might be worth your while as of course the story, along with drawings and pictures show the progression of the battle which might be useful on the scenario approach you take to refine what you have now. The Falklands scenario might be useful here(?).

Regards,
Pat

[shahadi]

I came across what appears at first glance an exciting reference source covering DienBien Phu and the IndoChina War in general. Interestingly, it is a Wild Bill site using TOAW game. He has well documented OOBs for both sides in the conflict and a TOAW scenario map that I think could be translated into winSPMBT without much difficulty.

links: Dien Bien Phu – A Fatal Gamble by Wild Bill

The TOAW scenario link: DIEN BIEN PHU 1954 v1.1b by Karim Marc HASANIC

[Warhero]

Thanks about very challenging and quite difficult scenario! It was difficult but after tough fighting I got marginal victory. After 70th turn I noticed that Vietminh had used all infantry units (no more attacks against my troops) and rest of turns I started to send "task forces" all over the map to destroy most(?) of artillery/mortar/rocket units...