Dien Bien Phu: The Final Gamble (2nd Edition)

2nd Edition

Dien Bien Phu depicts the decisive battle which took place in a distant jungle valley in northern Vietnam. It was a battle where both sides knew from start would be a final showdown. The French were desperately seeking for an opportunity to bring the Viet Minh main battle force into battle on French terms. Dien Bien Phu was a trap where superior units and weapons would crush the Viet Minh onslaught. Viet Minh felt they could not win the war unless they managed to upgrade their mode of fighting into a full scale war. The French were too strong in the delta but in a distant valley they had gathered almost all their best units without whom France would lose their will to continue. Dien Bien Phu was the place where France would be dealt a crushing defeat. 

It was a battle of preparation, assault and reaction. Viet Minh dug approaching trenches before assaulting the French strongpoints. The overwhelmed French defenders were forced to react by throwing reserve battalions into the pyre in order to save their position. The game will be fast and furious. The Viet Minh player will try to make the French defense collapse, and the French player will try to make the Viet Minh steam run dry and force them to stop.

click image to enlarge   Game Map Game Counters Rules Book Player Aids Scenarios Errata 22" x 34"  352 each .6" Counters 24 pages 3 ea. 8 1/2" x 11" 1 ea. 11"x17" Four Scenarios Yes   Map Scale 150 meters per hex Unit Size Regiments/Battalions Time Scale 3 days per turn Players 1 2       Complexity    Low   Med-Low Medium Med-High High Solitaire    Low   Med-Low Medium Med-High High Play by Email Components Cyberboard Vassal ZunTzu Yes Yes No