After the French success in the Battle of Na San, the battle of Dien Bien Phu is supposed to defeat the Viet Minh once and for all. But instead the weeks long siege becomes a symbol of the French defeat in Vietnam.
The main reason is the French lacked the absolutely overwhelming air power that the US brought to the fight. No matter how good the NVA/VC were at ambushing and besieging they couldn't counter the air dropped munitions. Other factors including poor planning were involved but without proper air support the French were operating at a distinct disadvantage.
I saw a lot of old French Bunkers. Some with walls maybe three feet of concrete. Some small and some huge. Big steel doors. The French tried to occupy with these forts and it didn't work. They didn't do Guerrilla warefare. I've been on patrols and stepped out of the jungle and there were white cross in rows about as far as you could see. I lived in one of these bunkers for a few weeks on the Cau Dou Bridge. It was a hexagon. Six rooms surrounding a pit in the middle. That's where they burned their trash. It was like a fireplace with a smoke stack. I remember one of the steel doors was warped and would not close. It looked like it had been hit with an RPG. I reckon at night they holed up in these bunkers or never left if under siege.
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The main reason is the French lacked the absolutely overwhelming air power that the US brought to the fight. No matter how good the NVA/VC were at ambushing and besieging they couldn't counter the air dropped munitions. Other factors including poor planning were involved but without proper air support the French were operating at a distinct disadvantage.
ReplyDeletePick an indefensible position with no possibility of being reinforced? Not a recipe for success. The French haven't won anything since Martel.
ReplyDeleteI saw a lot of old French Bunkers. Some with walls maybe three feet of concrete. Some small and some huge. Big steel doors. The French tried to occupy with these forts and it didn't work. They didn't do Guerrilla warefare. I've been on patrols and stepped out of the jungle and there were white cross in rows about as far as you could see. I lived in one of these bunkers for a few weeks on the Cau Dou Bridge. It was a hexagon. Six rooms surrounding a pit in the middle. That's where they burned their trash. It was like a fireplace with a smoke stack. I remember one of the steel doors was warped and would not close. It looked like it had been hit with an RPG. I reckon at night they holed up in these bunkers or never left if under siege.
ReplyDelete