My 10mm NVA Battlegroups
Introduction
Well equipped and reasonably well trained, the North Vietnamese Army has built up something of a legend. Despite the overwhelming resources of the Allies in both men and material, history has tended to portray the NVA as fanatical, fearless and unstoppable. All of these attributes can be challenged but there can be little doubt that they were prepared to take the fight to their enemies.
NVA draftees, unlike their American opponents, were called up for the duration of the War which meant serving until victory was achieved or death released them. It is sometimes said that the NVA fought a single war lasting a decade whereas the Americans fought ten Wars lasting one year each.
As a consequence of their service, NVA cadre and veterans became exceptionally good soldiers and probably the best light-infantry in the world by the time the War ended (they subsequently fought the Chinese in the Northern Provinces with a great deal of success).
One thing that they always suffered from however was a lack of artillery and air support. In the North, in the DMZ, they did get cross-border artillery support but the skies were always commanded by the US.
It was not until the last months of the War following US withdrawal, that they were able to bring armour and artillery south and operate as a fully combined-arms force.
During the American presence they very rarely achieved major combat successes against Allied forces without at least sustaining high casulaties.
You will kill 10 of our men, and we will kill 1 of yours, and in the end it will be you who tire of it.
- Ho Chi Minh
North Vietnamese Army, Vietnam (1968)
| Command | ||
| 1 x Company HQ | ||
| 1 x Forward Artillery Officer | ||
| 1 x Recce Unit (Scouts) | ||
| 1 x Ambush Asset (+1 Hidden Bunker) | ||
| 3 x Engineer Units (Sappers) | ||
| Rifle Platoon (x3) | ||
| 1 x HQ | ||
| 3 x Infantry Units (NVA Regulars) | ||
| 3 x Upgrade (RPG-2) | ||
| Weapons Platoon | ||
| 1 x Support, 82mm Mortar | ||
| 1 x Support, HMG | ||
| 1 x Support, 57mm Recoiless Rifle | ||
| Artillery Support (off-table) | ||
| 1 x 82mm Mortar | ||
| 1 x 75-76mm | ||
| 5 x HE Assets | ||
Notes
The list represents an NVA Rifle Company at 1:1 or a Battalion if playing at higher level.
The Company has the following elements; Company HQ with an attached FAO, a reconnaissance unit, three Rifle Platoons (HQ and 3 infantry stands, all upgraded to RPG-2), a Company Combat Support Platoon, a Sapper Platoon and some artillery support.
Since the NVA were not indiginous to South Vietnam it is likely that the Recce Unit and Engineers (sappers) would consist of Main Force VC.
All infantry stands are upgraded to use the RPG. The NVA made prodigious use of this weapon in an anti-infantry role as well as for combating armour.
Strictly speaking, south of the DMZ it was rare to have artillery support of anything larger than mortars.