Chu Dreh Pass, July 1954: AAR

by General Castries Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:14 pm

Set out below are some pre-game photos from a game I played last year.

The game was loosely based on "Operation Myosotis", in July 1954. Group Mobile 42 (with the 1st Korea Battalion) was to carry out a sweep operation north of Ban Me Thuot, but was ambushed coming out of the Chu Dreh Pass. The French column was cut in two, and the 1st Korea (which was acting as the column's rearguard) was overrun and destroyed before the French armour could fight its way back to the Pass to relieve them.

The game focused on the southern exit to the Chu Dreh Pass, along a road already littered with trunks and jeeps burnt-out from the initial VietMinh attack. The French Player had two tanks and a half-track, and a platoon of (reluctant) infantry. The French had to get at least one AFV from the bottom of the pass to the top of the pass. They would then be in a position to relieve the 1st Korea (and win the game).

These vehicles represent elements of the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cuirassiers, which had been assigned to GM42 for this mission. A platoon of the 3/5th Cuir would normally consist of 3 x M5 Stuart tanks, 2 x M8 HMC self-propelled guns, and 2 half-tracks.

These figures represent infantry from the 8th Montagnard Battalion, which was part of GM42. The 8BM was recruited in central Vietnam, and was badly hit in the initial VietMinh ambush. In the game, this force consisted of 2 infantry squads, with a command element, an MG team, and a mortar team.

An "aerial photograph" of the only thing moving on the road at the start of the game - Vietnamese civilians getting out while they could.

To be continued ...

by General Castries Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:28 pm

Another "aerial photo" (which was used as part of the pre-game briefing). This photo is from the top of the Chu Dreh Pass (the French objective). The French will have to fight up this road, past burning vehicles, to this objective.

Colour at last! This photo is taken from the French start line at the bottom of the Pass.

A similar shot from the bottom of the Pass.

The VietMinh defence was based on a full platoon of infantry, with a bazooka and a RCL attached. The Vietminh defence was designed around an initial infantry ambush, to separate the French armour from their infantry, with a second ambush further up the Pass to block the armour and (hopefully) win the game. The French only had 10 turns to complete the mission, after which it is assumed that the French rearguard had been overrun.

Outcome:

In the game, the first Vietminh ambush was very effective in throwing back the French infantry (and keeping them at the foot of the Pass). The French infantry were rated as "Shirkers" and "Inexperienced", so not much could be expected of them. But the French armour (rated "Veteran" pushed on through the first ambush and a gauntlet of RCL and bazooka fire from the second ambush. The French lost 1 tank immobilized, but the other 2 AFVs were able to reach the top of the Pass just within the time-limit to win the game.

Tim