Operation Brochet took place during the
French Indochina War
The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...
, between August and October, 1953. A
combined arms operation, ''Brochet'' involved 18 battalions of the
French Expeditionary and
Vietnamese National Armies fighting against the 42nd and 50th
Viet Minh Regiments,
fighting in the southern reaches of the
Red River Delta near
Tonkin in
North Vietnam.
[Windrow, p. 195.] The 1st and 2nd Parachute Battalions of the
French Foreign Legion (BEP),
[Windrow, p. 245.] and the 1st and 3rd Colonial Parachute Battalions (BPC) took part,
[Windrow, p. 249.] as did forces of the
Vietnamese National Army.
[Windrow and Chappell, p. 39.] Their objective was to sweep the Delta and remove Viet Minh influence.
''Brochet'' enjoyed only limited success.
By October 11, 1 BEP had lost 96 men against only 10 confirmed Viet Minh war dead,
and despite French efforts between 5,000 and 7,000 of the Delta villages remained under Viet Minh control.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brochet, Operation
Battles involving Vietnam
Military operations involving France
Battles and operations of the First Indochina War
Conflicts in 1953
1953 in French Indochina
Vietnamese independence movement
1953 in Vietnam
August 1953 events in Asia
October 1953 events in Asia
September 1953 events in Asia
History of Nam Định Province