The Wargamer

Changing Fortunes of War

Defeats of French forces in 1950 in Indochina had given the initiative to General Giap’s People’s Army, known as the Viet Minh. The victories secured had opened supply lines badly needed by the Communist forces to further build their strength for a final open confrontation with their enemies.

French troops, however, had rebounded in the spring and summer of 1951. A series of French victories at Dong Trieu, Vinh Yen, and the battle at the Day River, had shocked the rebels. Giap became more concerned that his supply lines might again come under French control. To forestall that, he ordered the 312th Viet Minh Division in the Nghia Lo valley to occupy the area.

The only effective resistance to the Vietminh was the 1st Tai Battalion, divided into ten groups and scattered throughout the valley in fortified outposts. It was commanded by a French officer, Major Girardin. It consisted of 150 French officers and more than 1,000 local militiamen. It included a command post in Nghia Lo itself, four rifle companies, a support company and a 75mm Howitzer battery.

The Communists would counter this force with the use of an entire division, the 312th. It was a fresh unit, full of enthusiasm; they were ready to fight. The commander of the 312th, Colonel Le Trong Tan, decided to enter from the Northeast. He sent two regiments, the 141st and the 209th, in different directions, and open the supply line to the Tai border. The third regiment, the 165th, would initiate attacks from the east and cut off the southeastern exit from the valley.

The Nghia Lo valley is nestled in a depression between the Red and Black rivers. The valley is over 10 kilometers long and a little more than 4 kilometers wide, and is surrounded by mountainous terrain on all sides. Through the northeast corner of the valley ran Highway 134, which linked with Highway 13 some 15 miles to the east.

The Famed French “Paras”

The increased presence of Viet Minh troops in the area in the middle of September 1951 prompted French leaders in Indochina to suspect an attack.. General de Lattre’s second in command, General Raoul Salan, decided to reinforce the area with four companies of civilian irregulars.

On September 20th, Salan, in a long distance conference with de Lattre (who was soliciting material support in Washington D.C.), determined that the French would make a stand at Nghia Lo. It would be a serious test of arms and will on both sides.

On the night of October 1st, the Viet Minh 165th Regiment launched its first assault against outposts in the area of Ca Vinh. Finding strong resistance, the Communist troops by-passed the fort and moved to capture Ba Khe to the southeast. By the next day, the Viet Minh were in control of the entrances and exits to the valley. It was then that Salan decided to call in the “paras.”

The first unit to go in was the 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion (8th BPC) near Gia Hoi. That way they could attack the Viet Minh from the rear. The aircraft used in the drop were not sufficient for only one flight, so two were arranged. The planes were C-47 Skytrains and obsolescent German Ju-52s. The flights and drops were executed flawlessly. Soon the paratroopers were in position and began their attacks.

The next day, the 141st initiated the first attacks against the town of Nghia Lo itself. The first two assault waves were beaten back by the Tai defenders but the relentless push of the enemy soon had them within 50 yards of the central command bunker.

Volleys of rifle fire and the staccato thunder of .50 caliber machine guns finally brought the Viet Minh to a standstill. They withdrew, leaving over 100 dead in the wire and littering the ground around Tai positions.

As advancing French paras ran into battalions of enemy troops on the 4th, numerous firefights took place all over the northeast corner of the valley.  The superior numbers of the Viet Minh took its toll on the French. The 16th Company suddenly found itself surrounded at Van Ban and had to fight its way to safety.