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TChenArt In reply to BillyDBunny [2019-06-16 06:09:19 +0000 UTC]

There's only so much these tanks could've done to halt the meatgrinder. 

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BillyDBunny In reply to TChenArt [2019-06-16 16:38:24 +0000 UTC]

They were used until only one was running.  Without them, re-supply of some of the outworks would not have been possible.  Just to get water, never mind ammo and food, to Strongpoint Isabelle involved the daily loss of soldiers that could have been used elsewhere.  The 20 ton General Chaffee did well under the circumstances.  The ceasefire was to kick in May 8th, 1954, one more day.  The French and the Vietminh fought like demons, although the French were somewhat hampered by fighting in dozens of unconnected 'strongpoints' drowning in mud, and several thousand of their soldiers who had deserted to holes along the Nam Yung and were stealing vital airdrops at night.  France was served only too well by it's professional soldier class.  This is what happens when bureaucracy plans battles, the High Command apparently never saw the terrain except on maps.  The odd thing is that General Navarre was not a stupid or inexperienced man. 

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TChenArt In reply to BillyDBunny [2019-06-17 04:13:58 +0000 UTC]

The battle they planned just didn't reflect the situation on the ground. They underestimated the capabilities of the Viet Minh, both in numbers, positioning, equipment, and determination. All those the Viet Minh had in spades.
The French plan for DBP was based on their previous experience at Na San of an air-supplied hedgehog to bleed the Viet Minh, which was relatively successful. But this becomes a sort of a repeat of WW2, where the French had relied on their experience in WW1 to inform their strategy in the face of the Germans, expecting the same kind of grinding attrition warfare that they could expect could wear out the Germans before they do that fell apart in the lightning war the Germans conducted.
In Indochina, much like the Germans did after WW1, the Viet Minh adjusted their strategy and did not fight the French like before, and since the inflexible high command was so resistant to change they would be swept away once again, paid for once again in the blood of the rank and file.

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BillyDBunny In reply to TChenArt [2019-06-17 05:33:47 +0000 UTC]

Handsomely said, Sir, upon my word!  Spot on.

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