In the Shadow of Bazeilles CBI (id:#57162)

Critical Hit (Dien Bien Phu ID: DBP13)   [next]   [previous]

Dien Bien Phu, French Indochina 1954-05-06 (0 others)

Overview:

Two fresh and revitalized Viet Minh divisions assaulted the ‘Eliane’ strongpoints in the third and final phase of the battle. Control of these hills was vital to dominating the entire valley. The elite 308th Division launched its first wave of 1,000 warriors as the sun set. From the slopes of Eliane 1 and the approach trenches at the base of Champs Elysees, the Viet Minh swept into the French positions. At 2300 sharp, a bunker and its surrounding trenches were destroyed when a massive mine exploded underneath the hill. Ironically, the only thing to stop the Viet Minh was the rain-slicked crater that was agonizingly difficult to traverse. Finally, a counterattack by Champs Elysees defenders forced the enemy to rout back into the crater. A handful of wounded and stunned Paras took advantage of this and fired into the mass of humanity stuck inside. Living up to their reputation of being as ‘tough as iron’, the Viet Minh rallied and surged forward yet again. Running low on both ammunition and men, the French commander on Champs Elysees fought back bitterly while awaiting reinforcements that never came. The survivors of Champs Elysees were eventually overwhelmed by the slowly advancing Viet Minh infantry. Several survivors being led away as prisoners heard the slow cough of a .50 cal. machine gun coming from the hulk of the tank “Bazeilles”. They were firing the last cartridges of Champs Elysees.

Defender: French (Remnants of the 5th BPVN and of 2nd and 3rd Companies, 1 BEP)  

Errata (source)