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.
Contents |
[edit] Operational Group North-West (GONO)
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Infantry
| Unit | Commander | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (1/13 DBLE) |
Major de Brinon/Major Robert Coutant | Claudine |
| 3rd Battalion/13th Foreign Legion Half-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 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 |
[edit] 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 Light Infantry Regiment (II/1RCP) |
Major Jean Bréchignac |
[edit] Armoured Cavalry
| Unit | Commander | Tank | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Squadron/1st Light Horse Regiment (3/1 RCC) |
Capitaine Yves Hervouët | M24 Chaffee (x10) | Claudine Isabelle |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Engineers
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 31st Engineer Battalion (31 BG) |
Major André Sudrat/Major Maurice Durieux |
[edit] Service Units
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 2nd Company/822nd Signals Battalion (2/822 BT) |
- |
| 2nd Company/823nd 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) |
- |
[edit] 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 |
| 5rd Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 5) |
Capitaine Ernest Hantz |
| 6rd Parachute Surgical Team (ACP 6) |
Lieutenant Jean Vidal |
[edit] Intelligence
| Unit | Commander |
|---|---|
| 8th Commando Group/Mixed Intervention Group (GC 8/GMI) |
Capitaine Hébert |
| Operations-Patrols Detachment (DOP) |
- |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Air Units Support
[edit] 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) |
| 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) |
| 23st 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 (Bac Mai) |
| 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) |
[edit] Naval Air Arm
| Unit | Aircraft | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Carrier Attack Squadron (3F) |
SB2C-5 Helldiver | Carrier Arromanches (Tourane) Hanoi (Bach Mai) |
| 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) |
| 28th Bomber Squadron (28F) |
PB4Y Privateer | Hai Phong (Cat Bi) |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Viet Minh
[edit] Command
| Commander | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam People's Army (VPA) |
General Vo Nguyen Giap | Muong Phang |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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)
[edit] 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
