NAM: Montagnards – The “Other” Local Force Battalion

By NDNG_Dane

Feature photo from Wikicommons, by 

The Montagnards are a tribal population dwelling in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The name “Montagna rd” was first used by the French Colonial Forces in Indochina, referring to the indigenous population of the Central Highland region of Vietnam.

The French Experience

During the Indochina War, which began on 19 December 1946, and lasted until 1 August 1954. Fighting between French forces and their Viet Minh opponents in the south, led by Ho Chi Minh and the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) led by Vo Nguyen Giap.  On V-J Day, 2 Sep 1945, Ho Chi Minh had proclaimed the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV).

The DRV ruled as “the only” civil government in all of Vietnam. Just 20 days later, on 23 Sep 1945, French forces overthrew the DRV government and declared French authority was restored in Indochina. On 24 Sep 1945, Guerrilla warfare began. The French were generally able to control both the South and North of Indochina. Hô Chi Minh agreed to negotiate in the “Paris Talks” for the future of Vietnam, but the talks failed to produce an acceptable solution. In December 1946 an insurgency war between French and Viet Minh forces began as Hô and his government went “underground”.

The first few years of the war involved low-level insurgency attacks against the French. However, after the Chinese communists established communications and supply routes along the northern border of Vietnam, the conflict turned into a conventional war between two armies equipped with modern weapons supplied by the United States, China and the Soviet Union. French Colonial

A Montagnard tribesman during training in 1962.

Forces operating in Vietnam included troops from the whole former empire (Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Laotian, Cambodian, and Vietnamese ethnic minorities), French Regular Army and units from the French Foreign Legion.

 

Fighting continued for the next eight years.  The Viet Minh gradually gained ground and finally, on 1 May 1954, launched a massed assault against the exhausted French in Dien Bien Phu.  On 7 May, General Giáp ordered an all-out attack against the remaining French units with over 25,000 Viet Minh against fewer than 3,000 remaining French Forces.  By nightfall, all French positions had been captured. The last radio transmission from the French headquarters reported that enemy troops were directly outside the headquarters bunker and that all the positions had been overrun.

Numerous publications have cited that the last words spoken during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, were: “Gott mit uns!” a phrase commonly used by the former German soldiers operating as part of the French Foreign Legion in Vietnam.

On 8 May, the Viet Minh counted 11,721 French prisoners.   8,000 French prisoners were force-marched 500 miles to prison camps in the north.  French prisoners were intermingled with Viet Minh soldiers to “discourage” French Air Support from staffing and bombing the column.   Less than half of the French survived the march, only 3,290 were officially repatriated back to France four months later.

New Allies

During the 1950’s President Eisenhower coined the phrase “The Domino effect” meaning that the fall of French Indochina could be the first in a long line of domino free counties to fall to the communists.  Though President Eisenhower did not like or trust his former war-time ally, nor did he want to have the United States participate in another World War, this time with Nuclear armed opponents.

With the election of President Kennedy, US Foreign policy changed to include deployment of forces to Vietnam.  Initially, these forces were advisors to the Diem Government in South Vietnam.  In 1961, President Kennedy established the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) and subsequently increase ed the size of the US Advisory Force in South Vietnam to 3,200 personnel.

By 1963, U.S. military advisors in Vietnam had grown to 16,000.  The Central Highlands of Vietnam was a key region in the fight against the invading communists.  Numerous U.S. Special Forces (SF or “Green Berets”) A-Teams were deployed throughout the highlands with orders to recruit and train local forces.  SF soldiers quickly determined that the Montagnards were fierce warriors.  Possessing personal courage, excellent fighting skills and loyalty to allies. It is estimated that 400,000 Montagnards served with the U.S. military as soldiers, scouts, and interpreters during the war in Vietnam.  Numerous Vietnam veterans have provided plentiful accounts of the Montagnards’ heroism and loyalty.

Montagnards as a Free World Local Forces Company in ‘Nam

Montagnards, were recruited from the local tribes. Operating in the areas they were raised in, the Montagnard local forces had superior knowledge of the local terrain.  Montagnard Local Forces Companies were trained by the SF to use modern weaponry, First aid, and communications.   Montagnard Local Forces could move through the jungle quickly and strike VC and PAVN enemy formations, often escaping before Nationalist forces could mount a defense or counterattack.  After numerous successful strikes against the VC and PAVN, their ranks swelled.  In some cases, to Battalion sized elements.

When playing Montagnard Local Force units, I recommend playing them similar to VC local force units in that they should be rated as: Courage 4+, Morale 3+, Ral ly 4+.  However, as their American Special Forces Trainers have trained them well, Montagnards should have a skill rating of 3+.

A full Local Montagnard local Forces Company should be comprised of 2-5 Montagnard local Forces Platoons.  Local force platoons should be comprised of 9x M16 infantry teams and  2x M60 LMG teams for 7 points.  With an option to add 1x 90mm Recoilless gun team for +1 point.

Because the Montagnards operated so closely with the U.S. SF A-Teams,  whenever fielding a Montagnard unit, A US Army Special Forces patrol may be taken as a unit core formation. (pg 70 NRB)

Force Support

U.S. SF teams were provided with ample support options.  The Military Commanders at MACV understood the importance of the SF mission in the Central Highlands and understood that an SF A-Team was only 10-12 soldiers.  When an SF team request for support came in, it received 1-A priority.  As such, Montagnard Local Force units, have the following support units available:

81mm Mortar Firebase

4.2-inch Mortar Firebase

105mm Firebase

155mm Firebase

Gunship Aeroweapons Platoon

A U.S. Army Ranger trains Degar guerrillas

Skyraider Air Support Flight

Skyhawk Air Support Flight

Special Rules

All Montagnard Local Forces units all have the Scout special rule.  Additionally, Montagnard d Local Force formations may also utilize:

Charlie Owns The Night

Guerrilla Fighters

One slow, four Quick

 

Montagnard Local Forces units may utilize the following Mission Special Rules:

Ambush

Already There

Guerilla Minefields

Booby Traps

Conclusions

For adding extra variety to free world forces, try this anti-guerilla, guerilla force.  Though it may appear to be a very light Infantry Company, its Special Forces formation and support options make it very powerful.   Combined with Mission Special Rules, this force adds  ‘Nam immersion into the Central Highlands of Vietnam to your gaming table.

Stand-by for next transmission on Scenario Special Mission:  Assault on SF A-Team Base.

This is November-Delta-Delta; Out!