Battle of Na San

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Na San
partof=First Indochina War
date=October-2 December 1952
place=Na San, Son La Province, Vietnam
result= French Union victory and successful evacuation
combatant1=flagicon|France French Union
*flagicon|France France
*flagicon|South Vietnam State of Vietnam
combatant2=flagicon|North Vietnam|1945 Viet Minh
commander1=Jean Gilles
commander2=Vo Nguyen Giap
strength1=-
strength2=-
casualties1=-
casualties2=3,000 casualties
notes=The Battle of Na San was fought between French Union forces and the communist forces of the Viet Minh at Na San, Son La Province during the First Indochina War.

the "Hedgehog"

During the battle French commanders used a new tactic, called "the hedgehog" ("le hérisson"), for the first time. The hedgehog defense consisted of an outpost surrounded by several armed positions ("Point d'appui" or "P.A."). The objective was to provoke an enemy frontal assault, rather than fighting off hit and run attacks or falling into ambushes.

This tactic earned the French a victory at the battle of Na San. As a result, the hedgehog defense became standard practice, until the defeat of Dien Bien Phu.

The evacuation of a similar outpost at An Khe led to the disastrous Battle of Mang Yang Pass that ended the war in 1954. Though the Na San camp was successfully evacuated itself in August 1953.

Outposts

In early October 1952, there was a single outpost and a short airstrip at Na San, however by late November the Hanoi-based French Air Force Dakotas transported troops and material there in order to complete a fortified outpost allowing a direct confrontation with the Viet Minh division.

Operation Lorraine

Up north between the Red River and the Clear River, General Raoul Salan launched Operation Lorraine as a diversion on 9 November, it lasted until November 19.

ee also

*Operation Lorraine
*Battle of Dien Bien Phu

Media links

* [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x23b0v_na-san-une-bataille-dans-la-jungle "Views upon Indo-China #4: Na San, a battle in the jungle", French Army Cinematographic Service (SCA#64), May 7th 1953]

External links

*fr [http://www.flottille9f.net/cd/sb2c-11.htm "The battle of Na San, October-December 1952", R. Vercken & P. Gras] (airforce in the battle)