Dien Bien Phu order of battle
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This is a list of units and commands that took part in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu during the First Indochina War, with the major commands that took part in operations.
Operational Group North-West (GONO)
Command
| Group | Commander | Main Units |
|---|---|---|
| Operational Group North-West (GONO) | Colonel Christian de Castries | |
| Group Mobile 6 (GM 6) | Lieutenant Colonel André Lalande | 3/3 REI 2/1 RTA 5/7 RTA |
| Group Mobile 9 (GM 9) | Lieutenant Colonel Jules Gaucher | 1/13 DBLE 3/13 DBLE 1/2 REI 3/3 RTA |
| 2nd Airborne Brigade (GAP 2) | Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Langlais | 1 BEP 8 BPC 5 BPVN |
| Artillery | Colonel Charles Piroth | |
Infantry
| Unit | Commander | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (1/13 DBLE) | Major de Brinon/Major Robert Coutant | Claudine |
| 3rd Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (3/13 DBLE) | Major Paul Pégot | Béatrice |
| 1st Battalion/2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (1/2 REI) | Major Clémençon | Huguette |
| 3rd Battalion/3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3/3 REI) | Major Henri Grand d'Esnon | Isabelle |
| 2nd Battalion/1st Algerian Rifle Regiment (2/1 RTA) | Capitaine Jean Sallot des Noyers; Capitaine Pierre Jeancenelle | Isabelle |
| 3rd Battalion/3rd Algerian Rifle Regiment (3/3 RTA) | Capitaine Jean Garandeau | Dominique |
| 5th Battalion/7th Algerian Rifle Regiment (5/7 RTA) | Major Roland de Mecquenem | Gabrielle |
| 1st Battalion/4th Moroccan Rifle Regiment (1/4 RTM) | Major Jean Nicolas | Eliane |
| 2nd Thai Battalion (BT 2) | Major Maurice Chenel | Eliane |
| 3rd Thai Battalion (BT 3) | Major Léopold Thimonnier | Anne-Marie |
Parachute Infantry
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1st BEP) | Major Maurice Guiraud |
| 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2nd BEP) | Major Hubert Liesenfelt |
| 1st Colonial Parachute Battalion (1st BPC) | Capitaine Guy Bazin de Bezon |
| 6th Colonial Parachute Battalion (6th BPC) | Major Marcel Bigeard |
| 8th Shock Parachute Battalion (8th BPC) | Major Pierre Tourret |
| 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (5th BPVN) | Capitaine André Botella |
| 2nd Battalion/1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (II/1RCP) | Major Jean Bréchignac |
Armoured Cavalry
| Unit | Commander | Tank | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Squadron/1st Light Horse Regiment (3/1 RCC) | Capitaine Yves Hervouët | M24 Chaffee (x10) | Claudine Isabelle |
Artillery
| Unit | Commander | - | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Group/4th Colonial Artillery Regiment (II/4 RAC) | Major Guy Knecht | HM2 105mm howitzer (x12) | Dominique |
| 3rd Group/10th Colonial Artillery Regiment (III/10 RAC) | Major Alliou | HM2 105mm howitzer (x12) | Isabelle Claudine |
| 11th Battery/4th Group/4th Colonial Artillery Regiment (11/IV/4 RAC) | Capitaine Déal | HM1 155mm howitzer (x4) | Claudine |
| Platoon/1st Colonial Far East Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (I GAACEO) | Lieutenant Paul Redon | Quad-50 M2 0.50cal MG (x4) | Epervier |
| 1st Foreign Composite Heavy Mortar Company (1 CMMLE) | Lieutenant René Colcy | 120mm mortar (x8) | Claudine |
| 2nd Foreign Composite Heavy Mortar Company (2 CMMLE) | Lieutenant Fetter | 120mm mortar (x8) | Gabrielle Anne-Marie |
| 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (1 CEPML) | Lieutenant Paul Turcy | 120mm mortar (x12) | Claudine Dominique |
Engineers
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 31st Engineer Battalion (31 BG) | Major André Sudrat/Major Maurice Durieux |
Service Units
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 2nd Company/822nd Signals Battalion (2/822 BT) | - |
| 2nd Company/823rd Signals Battalion (2/823 BT) | - |
| 342nd Parachute Signals Company (342 CPT) | - |
| 2nd Platoon/5th Foreign Legion Medium Repair Company (2/5 CRMLE) | Lieutenant Bugeat |
| 3rd Ammunition Resupply Company (detachment) (3 CM) | Sous Lieutenant Léonard |
| 730th Fuel Resupply Company (detachment) (730 CR) | - |
| 712th Traffic Company (712 CCR) | - |
| 3rd General Staff Transport Company (3 CTQG) | - |
| 1st Exploitation Group (Quartermaster Corps) (GEO 1) | - |
| 3rd Marching Battalion/Republican Guard Mobile Gendarmerie (detachment) (3 LM/GRGM) | - |
| 403rd Military Post Office (403 BPM) | - |
Medical Service Units
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 29th Mobile Surgical Team (ACM 29) | Major Paul Grauwin |
| 44th Mobile Surgical Team (ACM 44) | Lieutenant Jacques Gindrey |
| 3rd Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 3) | Lieutenant Louis Résillot |
| 5th Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 5) | Capitaine Ernest Hantz |
| 6th Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 6) | Lieutenant Jean Vidal |
Intelligence
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 8th Commando Group/Mixed Intervention Group (GC 8/GMI) | Capitaine Hébert |
| Operations-Patrols Detachment (DOP) | - |
Air Force
| Unit | Commander | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Airfield Control Post 'Torri Rouge' (PCIA) | Major Jacques Guérin | |
| Fighter Squadron 1/22 'Saintonge' | Capitaine Claude Payen | F8F-1 Bearcat (x6) |
| 21st Artillery Air Observation Squadron (GAOA 21) | Lieutenant Asselineau | MS-500 Criquet |
| 1st Light Medical Evacuation Company (1 CLES) | – | Sikorsky H-19 S-55 |
| 21/374th Air Force Signals Company (CT 21/374) | – | |
| 195th Air Base Detachment (DB 195) | – | |
| Air Force Marching Company | Capitaine Jean Charnod | |
Air Units Support
Air Force
| Unit | Aircraft | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter Squadron 2/22 'Languedoc' | F8F-1 Bearcat | Haiphong (Cat Bi) |
| Bomber Squadron 1/19 'Gascogne' | B-26 Invader | Haiphong (Cat Bi) |
| Bomber Squadron 1/25 'Tunisie' | B-26 Invader | Haiphong (Cat Bi) |
| Transport Squadron 2/62 'Franche-Comté' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield) |
| Transport Squadron 2/63 'Sénégal' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Gia Lam) |
| Transport Squadron 1/64 'Béarn' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Gia Lam) |
| Transport Squadron 2/64 'Anjou' | Dakota DC-3 | Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield) |
| 23rd Artillery Air Observation Squadron (GAOA 23) | MS-500 Criquet | Muong Sai |
| 80th Overseas Reconnaissance Squadron (EROM 80) | RF-8F Bearcat (reco) B-26C Invader (reco) | Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield) |
| 52nd Air Liaison Squadron (ELA 52) | Sikorsky H-19 S-55 | Bien Hoa |
| 53rd Air Liaison Squadron (ELA 53) | Sikorsky H-19 S-55 | Hanoi (Gia Lam) |
Naval Air Arm
An US-built F4U-7 Corsair of the 14.F flotilla at Airexpo 2007.
| Unit | Aircraft | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Carrier Attack Squadron (3F) | SB2C-5 Helldiver | Carrier Arromanches (Tourane) Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield) |
| 11th Carrier Fighter Squadron (11F) | F6F-5 Hellcat | Carrier Arromanches (Tourane) Hai Phong (Cat Bi) |
| 14th Carrier Fighter Squadron (14F) | F4U-7 Corsair AU-1 Corsair | Carrier Bois Belleau (Halong Bay) Hanoi (Bach Mai Airfield) |
| 28th Bomber Squadron (28F) | PB4Y Privateer | Hai Phong (Cat Bi) |
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
| Unit | Aircraft | Base | Pilots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Air Transport (CAT) | Dakota DC-3 C-119 Flying Boxcar | Hai Phong (Cat Bi) | 37 |
Viet Minh
Command
| Commander | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam People's Army (VPA) | General Vo Nguyen Giap | Muong Phang |
Infantry
| Unit | Commander | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Division 304 (less) Title: Vinh Quang (Glory) Codename: 'Nam Dinh' |
Commissar Le Chuong Chief of Staff: Nam Long | |
| Infantry regiment 9 | Tran Thanh Tu | Infantry battalions 353, 375, 400 |
| Infantry regiment 57 | Nguyen Can | Infantry battalions 265, 346, 418 |
| Division 308 Title: Quan Tien Phong (Vanguard) Codename: 'Viet Bac' |
Colonel Vuong Thua Vu Commissar Song Hao | |
| Infantry regiment 36 Title: Bac Bac Alias: Sa Pa |
Pham Hong Son | Infantry battalions 80, 84, 89 |
| Infantry regiment 88 Title: Tu Vu Alias: Tam Dao |
Nam Ha | Infantry battalions 22, 29, 322 |
| Infantry regiment 102 Title: Thu Do (Capital) Alias: Ba Vi |
Nguyen Hung Sinh | Infantry battalions 18, 59, 79 |
| Division 312 Title: Chien Thang (Victory) Codename: 'Ben Tre' |
Colonel Le Trong Tan Commissar Tran Do | |
| Infantry regiment 141 Title: Ba Vi |
Quang Tuyen | Infantry battalions 11, 16, 428 |
| Infantry regiment 165 Title: Lao Ha Yen, Thanh Dong Bien Gioi Alias: Dong Trieu |
Le Thuy | Infantry battalions 115, 542, 564 |
| Infantry regiment 209 Title: Song Lo |
Hoang Cam | Infantry battalions 130, 154, 166 |
| Division 316 Alias: Bien Hoa |
Colonel Le Quang Ba Commissar Chu Huy Man | |
| Infantry regiment 98 | Vu Lang | Infantry battalions 215, 439, 938 |
| Infantry regiment 174 Title: Cao Bac Lang Alias: Soc Trang |
Nguyen Huu An | Infantry battalions 249, 251, 255 |
| Infantry regiment 176 | Infantry battalions 888, 910, 999 |
Artillery
| Unit | Commander | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Artillery-Engineer Division 351 Alias:Long Chau |
Dao Van Truong Commissar Pham Ngoc Mau | |
| Artillery Regiment 45 Title:Tat Thang (Inevitable Victory) |
Nguyen Huu My | 24 M101 105mm howitzers 632nd artillery battalion (12 M101 105mm howitzers) 954th artillery battalion (12 M101 105mm howitzers) |
| Artillery Regiment 675 Title:Anh Dung (Valiant) |
Doan Tue | 20 Type-41 75mm mountain guns 16 M1938 120mm mortars 175th mountain gun battalion 275th mountain gun battalion 83rd mortar battalion |
| AAA Regiment 367 (less) | Le Van Tri | 2 AAA battalions (12 M1939 37mm AA guns each) |
| Heavy Weapon Regiment 237 | Mortar battalion 413(54 M-37 82mm mortars) H6 rocket battalion (12 Chinese six-barrel 75mm H6 rocket launchers) 75mm recoilless gun battalion | |
| Engineer Regiment 151 | Pham Hoang |
References
- Bergot, Erwan. Les 170 jours de Dien Bien Phu. Presses de la Cité, 1979
- Brancion, Henri de. Dien Bien Phu: Artilleurs dans la fournaise. Presses de la Cité, 1993
- Bruge, Roger. Les hommes de Dien Bien Phu. Perrin, 1999
- Fall, Bernard. Hell in a very small place. Lippincott, 1967
- Rocolle, Pierre. Pourquoi Dien Bien Phu. Flammarion, 1968
- Windrow, Martin. The last valley. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2004
- Võ, Nguyên Giáp. "Tổng tập hồi ký". Nhà xuất bản Quân Đội Nhân Dân, 2006
(Vo, Nguyen Giap. "Memoirs Collection". People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006) - "Lịch sử Bộ Tổng tham mưu trong kháng chiến chống thực dân Pháp 1945-1954". Nhà xuất bản Quân Đội Nhân Dân, 1991
("History of the General Staff in the Resistance War against French Colonialists 1945-1954". People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 1991) - "Đại đoàn Quân Tiên Phong". Nhà xuất bản Quân Đội Nhân Dân, 1966.
(The "Vanguard" Division. People’s Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 1966) - "Sư đoàn 304 - Tập 1: 1950-1954". Nhà xuất bản Quân đội Nhân dân, 1980
("The 304th Division - Volume 1 (1950-1954)". People’s Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 1980) - "Lịch sử sư đoàn bộ binh 312 1950-2000". Nhà xuất bản Quân đội Nhân dân, 2001.
("History of the 312th Infantry Division 1950-2000". People’s Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2001) - "Sư đoàn 316 - Tập 1: 1951-1954". Nhà xuất bản Quân đội Nhân dân, 1981
("The 316th division - Volume 1 (1951-1954)". People’s Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 1981) - "Pháo binh nhân dân Việt Nam: Những chặng đường chiến đấu". Nhà xuất bản Quân đội Nhân dân, 1982
("Vietnamese People’s Artillery: Tracks of Combat". People’s Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 1982)
External links
- Official website of the battle
- Source for Airplane crash at Dien Bien Phu (Aviation-Safety.net)
- Knights of the Legion of Honor to seven CAT pilots at Dien Bien Phu US secret involvement made official (French ambassy in USA)
- CAT pilots to be honored by France
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